Adam and Wouter

This month’s theme – whether or not the gay print media still have a role – seems an odd one to be set by a gay print magazine. It’s a little like Shell asking whether or not we really still need petrol! Still, a little self-contemplation can be a good thing, as long as we avoid navel-gazing.

Gay magazines and papers are no longer needed, so runs the argument, because the so-called mainstream press now reports gay issues regularly. While this is true, as far as it goes, I don’t think I wish to rely on the Daily Mail to bring me news so important to me! Of course, that particular bile-spewing rag is not representative of the whole of Fleet Street, but it does serve as a reminder of an important consideration; for the most part, the “mainstream” media are reporting ABOUT us, not for or to us. This distinction is important.

After all, the mainstream press is precisely that – mainstream. Its audience encompasses a wide range of views, admittedly, but all generally fairly close to one another on the continuum. For example, people who read the dailies may disagree over gay marriage, but it’s likely that few, if any, would propound the burning of faggots at the stake!

All well and good; let’s be thankful we’ve achieved so much, close down the GScene offices, cancel the subscription to Attitude and spend the last of OutRage!’s funds on a retirement shindig for Peter Tatchell. Aren’t our laurels a lovely place to rest?

Suppose, however, that public opinion changes; the centre shifts, mainstream mood moves and our hard –fought –for –and –won rights become abominations. Who, then, will champion our cause? To have to start from scratch could be as damaging as appointing Jan Moir head of the Human Rights Commission! We are, and should be, happy with and proud of all that has been achieved, and the progressive and liberal reality of modern day Britain. But we should not become complacent, and forget that we are where we are because people fought for our rights.

It is said that a population is never truly free, without a free press. Neither, I contend, is a gay population free without a free gay press.

Part One …

There are a great many places in Brighton and Hove to eat, that are fabulous, serve excellent food, great service, good value … but where’s the fun in that? So, this is the first in – hopefully – a series of reviews of the terrible, disastrous, cock-ups!

Piccolo Restaurant

We were wandering around, looking for somewhere for a quick lunch, and came across Piccolo’s Restaurant, which seemed like a great deal – a little cheaper than the place next door, good selection of pizzas, in we went. I wish the write-up on their site were true; “The premier Italian restaurant in the heart of Brighton town centre, Piccolo is one of Brighton´s best-kept secrets.”

Perhaps the second part IS in fact true … if it weren’t a secret, it would surely have gone out of business by now!

I ordered a four cheese pizza; Wouter ordered a vegetarian. We ordered a half bottle of wine between us. The wine came, was opened, poured and the (inattentive) waiter buggered off again, without any chance for us to try it; probably intentionally, since the wine – while not corked – was only slightly better than a nice malt vinegar. Yum.

However, we were still optimistically waiting for our pizzas. What a shame …

The pizzas were about 25% smaller in diameter than every other Italian restaurant I’ve ever visited … so, a false economy there already. Still, perhaps the taste would prove worth it.

Oh dear …

The bases were, essentially, dry biscuits! The tomato sauce … was red, but, flavourless. Thin, watery, bland and tasteless.

And my four cheeses … two were visible, one was mozzarella and the other was … PROCESSED CHEESE! Truly awful. Wouter suffered through a bland, tasteless concoction of mushy vegetables, crappy sauce and pointless “cheese”.

Bottom line; don’t go.

Once again, up far too late … and though tired, not feeling the need to sleep.

Perhaps I ought to, but … in the last few days/weeks … I’ve been dreaming that my Dad’s death had been reported to us as a mistake (how, I have no idea) and, following apologies, we are reunited with him after months.

While, this would of course be wonderful, I know it’s not true. Why I’m imagining this, I have no idea.

It is truly upsetting me …..

Have had so very much to say, that I’ve not been able to select anything in particular to expound upon. So, I haven’t.

A no-particular-order list of things that have been on my mind:

• David Laws is an utter tit head – you might want to keep your private life private, but that’s not the way to do it – especially since you have no NEED for the money, you should just have claimed nothing, and no-one would have looked into it! Tit!
• CameronClegg – ugh, it’s sickening, and smug, and I’m still afraid of what it will mean.
• Labour Leadership – well, I support David Miliband for the leadership, but hope the contest WILL be open and lead to a reinvigoration of the party root and branch.
• Health – I’m still struggling with getting my asthma under control, but am hopeful that the latest addition to the medication panoply will make a difference. Fingers very much crossed!
• Life direction – we have possibly reached a decision which will give both of us new direction, but any more than that will have to wait ….

Hmmm …. was somewhat relieved in the aftermath of the election, and the cobbled together coalition, that there was no sign of Chris Grayling MP or Phillipa Stroud in the cabinet. Perhaps the Lib Dems really were exerting a moderating influence on the “same old nasty party”.

Not, apparently, so. Without fanfare, announcement or acknowledgement of what utter shits the two of them are, he is appointed a Minister of State and she becomes a “special advisor”, both reporting to Iain Duncan Smith.

These sickening homophobes don’t deserve even to be heard by government, let alone to be active at its heart. Please, visit my petition to remove them and sign it!

Would any of you like to recant? It’d be good for EVERYONE!!!

Best of luck to all … though primarily Labour of course! If any of my Conservative leaning friends/readers would care to sign up for my alarm call service, I’ll be happy to wake you in plenty of time tomorrow for the polls. Really. No, seriously …

I really, really liked all of Steven Moffat’s episodes over the last five years. I loved the launch of the new series … I am in love with the new Tardis interior, Matt Smith’s Doctor, the theme tune, title sequence … all of it.

I loved Prof. River Song … such a great character, so well introduced in the Library …

The Angels – in Blink – were terrifying and amazingly well conceived and executed …

SO ….

Why was I let down by the last two episodes? The Angels … didn’t work! They weren’t scary, they were out of context … and did anyone else notice that they were clearly staring at each other ALL THE TIME, which was the tenth Doctor’s way of trapping them!?

River Song … less interesting this time … can’t put my finger on it, but … I don’t care about her anywhere near as much now as I did before.

And please … can we stop having over-arching plots threatening the entirety of the universe pinned on a red-headed human female? Seriously … the stories DON’T need this nonsense. It’s almost boring … surely we can have a finale without all of creation being on the line!

Mr Moffat … you don’t have to copy Russel T Davies … the things I didn’t like about his series do not need to be replicated  in yours!

I’m currently watching David Cameron on TV … I’m not likely to agree with him about anything, that’s a given … but I REALLY disagree with him making a hustings speech like this in a school. I actually would disagree with any politician doing so … I agree that we need to involve “kids” in politics, but it just strikes me as wrong on some level to go preaching to schools. I can’t necessarily say why … it’s an instinctive reaction!

ANYWAY … back to the debate … I find it strange that the media have decided that Cameron won, closely followed by Clegg … were they watching the same debate? Brown was strong, assured, passionate and self-assured. I think he won … trying to put party affiliation to one side!