Missing You Craig

I've mentioned him before, but, as today is the anniversary of his death, I want to mention him again.
Craig Armet was probably the most influential friend I have had during my entire life. He sadly died 9 years ago today.

When I was 18 I was in quite a bad way, I had recently survived a suicide attempt, I was beginning to drift away from my friends and knew no other gay people. I put an advert in Record Mirror for some gay penpals and Craig was one of the respondents. He was the only one I actually kept in touch with. After about a year of writing and phoning I plucked up the courage to visit him in Torquay and have never regretted it.
We clicked in person more than we had as penpals and he introduced me a large circle of friends, many of whom I am still in contact with now. Without Craig I don't know where I would be in my life, or if I would have just given up and tried suicide again.
Craig had his faults, who doesn't, but he was an amazing friend to have. He gave me advice, was a great listener, was funny, always had something entertaining for me to do when I visited (which ended up being about 5 weeks of every year) and he became my best friend. If ever I had a problem of any kind he would be the first person I would phone.
A few years after visiting Torquay I moved down there, probably the best decision I ever made. I was finally able to be myself at work and at home and I feel that it wasn't until then that I really became ME. I really found out who I really was and my true personality came out.
Without Craig I would never have met my longest standing friends, Alexis and Francis, who I also miss a lot, but this time because they are still in Torquay and I'm in London.

Craig I miss you, but I am thankful that I met you every day.

Rest in Peace buddy.

Steelers Next Top Model

I had an amazingly good time last night, though I shouldn't be surprised as I normally do with the Steelers. I got to the 2 Brewers at 19:30 to be told by Humberto that he wasn't going. None of my other (non-Steelers) friends wanted to go either. I was a bit miffed to begin with, especially when I saw that there wasn't anyone there that I actually knew well enough to talk to.
After about 20 minutes of me playing with my phone ,I saw Tracy and started chatting to her and then some familiar faces came in and my evening really started. None of the four contestants in the Next Top Model contest were particularly attractive, except maybe Rob, on the right in the picture.

But half way through they got about 8 of the team up on stage in their rugby kit which was auctioned off. I thought I should do something and so asked the guys I was standing with who looked about my size, they suggested Tom and so I bid on his kit. Tom is a guy that I have a little bit of a crush on. He doesn't have the best body on the team, not that there is anything wrong with his body, but there is something about him that I really like. He has a fantastic honest-looking smile too and comes across as someone you could definitely introduce to your mother (not that I have that option). I wasn't expecting to win, but I did and had the privilege of stripping him of the top AND the shorts too all for the bargain price of £50 (I know, I can't really afford it, but it should get me out of having to do the 10km run next Saturday). I chatted briefly to him later and he seems even nicer than I had thought.There were a few other of my lesser crushes from the team there too. Ed, back from his South American trip, was talking to Kerry (who I have lusted after for years after initially chatting to him on Gaydar when he lived in New Zealand) and I chatted to both of them. I was introduced to Scott, the team captain, who I also have a major lusting for, and it turns out that he works at the company I have just transferred to! He has a boyfriend though, but is a nice guy, maybe I'll see him at work sometime.
At some point toward the end of the night I got talking to a handsome young guy, David, and brought him home, it must have been about 03:00 when we left the bar. He stayed the night and we had a good chat this morning when we woke. Nice guy.

Today though, I am really hungover, not a headache, but feeling tired and dizzy, but it was so worth it. Such a fantastic night.

New Record

I'm working nights tonight and out tomorrow night, so I thought I'd make the most of my afternoon and go to the gym. I started on the treadmill as normal and as soon as I started running I knew I wanted to try and beat my distance record and so aimed for 10km (as there is a fundraising 10km run next weekend for the Kings Cross Steelers to help pay for Bingham Cup expenses).
My previous distance record was 7km, which I had only managed once previously (in February). I managed this in 39 minutes and 58 seconds. I was just going to go on to 7.5km, but was distracted when I reached this, so went on to 8km and then pushed it to 8.5km (45 minutes and 59 seconds). I walked for 0.5km and then ran for the last 1km to the 10km mark which I reached, disappointingly, at a few seconds over the 1 hour mark.
I was really pleased, but my legs were exhausted and I walked for a couple of minutes to wind down, then did some stretches. I didn't do any other exercises and went back to the changing room and had a shower.
In the shower I noticed the guy opposite hadn't closed his curtain fully and I recognised him as having played around before with me in the showers (no touching). He followed me into the sauna, but there was company for a few minutes. When we were alone I asked if he wanted to come back to mine and he said yes.
We came back and "christened" the lower hallway of the flat. He has a boyfriend, which is fine as he wasn't boyfriend material for me, though I wouldn't say no to a return match.
Off to work in a couple of minutes for a night shift, at least it is only one night.