Sunday 2 August 2009

Brighton Gay Pride

I wrote a little while ago about this, the country's largest such annual event outside London - and that for me it feels like the loneliest place on earth when you've no one to go with . Well, it took place yesterday and I went this time determined to at least talk to someone there, anyone! But it turned out to have the usual outcome. Came back feeling unwanted and dejected. Something is stopping me from participating fully, but exactly what, I don't know. Well, I do know, actually. It's that fiendish demon inside which grins and gloats whenever it succeeds in making me feel inadequate through my own actions/inactions. I can even now feel it swelling with the satisfaction and schadenfreude it has 'earned'. Having said that, even though the event was very well-attended (it always is - surely at least 100.000, probably a lot more) the weather left a lot to be desired. So those religious zealots who each year pray for God to rain on our parade, this year, very unusually, got their way - though it only really started after the parade had reached the park for the funfair and festivities. But even though I was there for only a little over 3 hours all that standing around and walking with very slow-moving crowds took their toll on my legs, especially feet and knees. When I got back home felt completely 'plum tuckered out'! And this morning could only hobble painfully to the newsagent to collect my usual Sunday morning paper (liberal-leaning, natch!) So it seems that age is quite evidently taking its toll too - which must additionally delight that little demon inside. Oh well, so that was 2009. We'll have to try harder next year - but that very same resolution is also a repeated annual event.

4 comments:

  1. My friend who lives in London went to Brighton Pride on Saturday and didn't have a very good time. He said it was muddy and people there were overly drunk :-(

    Hope for better weather next year.

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  2. Yes, I tend to leave before people get really pissed (which always happens) and as I return home at Brighton station one sees hordes of excited, outrageously and flamboyantly clad Pride enthusiasts alighting from the London train. But I do very much like to see others having good, clean fun (or even 'filthy' fun!), perhaps because I find it so difficult to socialise myself. As you say, Larry pal, let's hope for better things next year.

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  3. If you offered FUBBING (fellow bearded guys such as myself rubbing our beards together), then I would have gladly gone to Brighton Pride with you. ;)

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  4. Never heard of 'fubbing' before, but I like the idea. Now you've widened my vocab., Brett, I think it calls for a widening of experience too. Pity you're not close enough to initiate me.

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