HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR one and all.

I am off out in the next 30 minutes to meet Humberto in Kazbar. It is certainly not my ideal place to spend New Year's Eve, but I was left with little choice, as I wanted to go out. All my other friends are staying in, so it was either Kazbar, stay in or go out to a venue that I like, but on my own (certainly not ideal for New Year's Eve).
Next year I hope I have some more adventurous and, dare I say it, fun friends. I'll make do this year, and at least it is with a fun friend. We are intending to head down to Vauxhall for midnight to watch the fireworks. I'll let you all know how it goes and, most importantly of all, if I get a decent midnight snog!

Strictly Well Done

Because I was working last night, I've only just caught up with the Strictly Come Dancing finale. Somehow I managed to avoid seeing who the winner actually was until I just watched it on playback. In the end my favourite won:

Mr Harry Judd

Since the start of this year's series I've liked Harry, seeing that he could dance from the very start, and hey, he's obviously VERY easy on the eyes.

But, I was also really surprised by how good Chelsee Healey was and all credit to her, I couldn't tell who was actually going to win this year.

There is something special about Harry Judd though. He is one of those gorgeous straight celebrities that, no matter how much I would like "do" him, I wouldn't change him for the world. He seems to be a very special guy, such a great personality. He, along with Ben Cohen, is a guy that I am greatly attracted to but I would never want them to be gay, I love them just the way they are. Perfection.

Well done Harry

World AIDS Day

It's Not Going Away

Stand Up Day

I just thought that I should do my bit to promote Stand-Up Day today, s initiated by my hero Ben Cohen and his Stand Up Foundation.The aim of the day it to introduce people to his Foundation and ultimately to promote the fantastic work that they are doing with tackling homophobia and bullying.
Today your task, should you choose to accept it, is to tell as many people as you can about the Ben Cohen Stand Up Foundation, but above all, if you encounter bullying or homophobia, tackle it in whatever way is best for you and that situation. Just don't ignore it.

Rugby

I had a good day yesterday. I knew that the Kings Cross Steelers' 1st & 2nd teams were both playing at home. I had hoped to get to their ground for 13:00 when the first match was starting, but I didn't make it until an hour later, when I saw the 2nd team complete their match with a strong win. The 1st team then played on the pitch nearest the clubhouse (much better), so I popped in to get a pint to enjoy in the blazing sun while I watched.
I got chatting to a couple of new people, and spoke briefly to PJ. The 1st team lost, but it was a good match, despite the few punches thrown.
I stayed for a few more drinks in the clubhouse. They had their usual drinking ceremony, where 3 of the players stand on chairs and down a pint of beer with Baileys in it as fast as possible. One of the guys, a newbie, had 2 pints (1 for being a newbie and one for being player of the match). He was the slowest drinker, obviously not used to this type of drinking, and threw up a bit in an empty glass (which was quickly put back in his pint). He then threw up the whole pint into another glass. One of the coaches, and former player (whose name I don't know) grabbed the unfinished pint and drank it all, without realising that it had vomit in it, at least until his mates told him. Disgusting, but funny when he realised.
There were about 4 guys there who I was really attracted to, but I didn't get to talk to any of them. It didn't matter though as I had a good afternoon and topped up my tan in the process.

It wasn't until I got home, at about 19:00, that I realised the money that I had spent was my last few pounds and had been earmarked for paying my Lotto syndicate subs. Oops. Luckily Mike has kindly agreed to pay a tenner for me until I can get some money to him next weekend.

I now have £5 to last me until Friday, including feeding me. I should be able to cope, but it's not a good feeling having to limit myself so much. I need a new job, with more money, it's getting desperate now.

Mark Cueto

Mark Cueto has long been my favourite England player, if not overall rugby player. I only follow international matches, so only noticed him when he began playing for the national team around the time of the 2007 World Cup, I think (it seems longer). He hardly ever gets any praise or accolades, but in my opinion, he is the absolute backbone of the England squad. He is always there saving the day, getting back the ball, passing to the right player and generally doing it all at the right time. AND he does it all with a smile on his face.

Yes I am shallow and tend to prefer players that are also easy on the eye, and Mark is certainly that, but I think Cueto is a true star of the game and I wish he got more attention. Or perhaps it is best that he doesn't. Maybe he doesn't want the attention, maybe he avoids headlines on purpose. If so, then keep it up Mark, know that we love you and appreciate your truly impressive play. You didn't need to score today's hat trick to gain this adoration, but it was nice for us, and you, that you got it.

Keep it up gorgeous.

Pamela J Boyce

Pamela J Boyce

1958 - 11th September 2001

Pamela was Assistant Vice-President of Accounting for Carr Futures working on the 92nd Floor of 1 World Trade Center, where she was working when the plane struck.
Known for her direct approach, sometimes thought of as harsh, which came from a sense of practicality. She was a hard worker who had recently graduated with a degree in accounting, for which she studied after work at a local community college.
Outside of work she was known for her love of disco dancing, competing competitively, though she also loved to relax.
Leaving behind her partner Catherine Anello, with whom she shared a home in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, she also left behind a family she loved, evidenced by her serving as Lamaze coach for her sister Desiree, at the birth of her niece Kristina.
Catherine has said that Pamela wasn't afraid to die, saying that she knew she was going to a beautiful place. If only we all had that certainty.

Brandhorst-Gamboa Family

Daniel Brandhorst / Ronald Gamboa / David Gamboa-Brandhorst

On this horrid anniversary the story of the Brandhorst-Gamboa family is both a heart-rending one. Daniel and Ronald met about 13 years prior to 9/11 while living on the US east coast. When Daniel got transferred to a Pricewaterhouse/Cooper office in Los Angeles, the couple moved to facilitate this and with Ronald eventually settling as a manager of The Gap store in Santa Monica. The couple adopted a son, David, through a surrogate mother, looking after her during the pregnancy, birth and afterwards. Initially needing some help as all new parents so, they quickly settled in to become natural parents, Daniel becoming "Papa" and Ronald "Daddy" to the beautiful, bright, energetic and very caring young boy. Daniel was variously described as happy, inspirational, a good friend and generous, but was also the "serious one" in the relationship. Ronald was the joker who could apparently "make a rainy day look happy." Both parents have inspired their co-workers to greater things and are remembered fondly by many of them, some of whom have had their lives changed dramatically by the advice given by the two men. The one thing that can be taken from this terrible day is that in the end the loving family were together.
I would have been honoured to meet the trio who, even though they are gone, stand as examples to show the bigots still out there that a family is what individuals make it and does not need to be formulaic or standardised. Some of the best families are those which are chosen, not moulded. The Brandhorst-Gamboas are fine examples of all that a family can and should be and should be used as role models for gay marriage, gay adoption, happiness and good parenting.

To read an incredibly touching tribute to David Gamboa-Brandhorst please visit here.

Please also visit 2996 Project to read about all the other victims of this terrible day. Every one has a story.