Most bloggers write about their social visits and adventures, which I enjoy reading, although I never write on the subject myself for the simple reason that I don't experience any. Not so yesterday, when I went to Brighton to spend the afternoon with a friend whom I'd got to know in Amsterdam nearly 30 years ago when he was then working in the gay hotel which I frequented, and whom I haven't seen for 12 years. David is actually originally English but has lived in Holland all this time - now earning his living there practising Shiatsu massage. He was spending a few days in England and brought with him a very nice friend from London of Turkish Cypriot extraction, probably early 40s, and another long-time female friend who was the eldest of the four of us. David was the only one of us who hadn't, in the past, lived for some years in Brighton, or even ever properly been to this gayest city in the country - so it was a visit of some 'discovery' for him.
Of course being a bank holiday weekend the crowds in the centre and around the 'sights' were even denser than usual but, what with the perfect sunny weather, it didn't deter our enjoyment in any way. Much catching-up, much earnest conversation, much banter and much laughter both over our meal in a Japanese restaurant and then walking around, he snapping his camera madly all over the place, then on the sea-front where there was so much activity of many descriptions - rock groups, vendors' stalls, sports, - and seeing conspicuous groups of gays 'queening' it around, it was lovely. David was particularly happy to witness two middle-aged men walking along hand-in-hand - still, sadly, a rare sight in England. Stopped at length for coffee and cakes at the open-air 'Meeting Point' cafe - and talking extravagantly about gay-life, politics, religion, life in general - but as all four of us were on the same wavelength regarding just about every subject we could say what we liked without fear of causing offence to any others (except to any who might have overheard our raucous, OTT, laughter-saturated bitching about those we didn't like. Some might well have thought that we were all high on 'grass'!). I was sorry when thoughts of my cats, whom I knew would have been pining for my return, caused me to make my excuses to leave. But I left on a definite, real 'high', with hugs and kisses all round - and promises to 'do it again' sometime. For me, one of those very rare 'days to remember'.
2 hours ago
It's lovely when little social meetings like this happen!
ReplyDeleteIn a couple of weeks Pete and I are going narrow boating for a week with two other gay men we've known for eons. Four gay men (and two dogs) for a week - it'll throw up all sorts!
Yes, Mickey (and thanks so much for comment). It's chance events like this that make it worthwhile enduring all of life's 'downers' in-between.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading ALL the details of your boating adventure. Hope the 'throwing up' you mention is nothing to do with being on a rocking boat!
My hope for you is that these moments become less rare.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much indeed, Wonderboy. Although you already seem to experience quite frequent social high jinks I hope what you say is true for BOTH of us.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful time Ray. Glad you stepped out of your normal routine and had a wonderful adventure with an old friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kyle. It was a re-living of a time when such social pleasures were almost daily, but now almost entirely disappeared. However, I have confidence that something like the 'old days' will return - though they'd better hurry up before I enter my dotage!
ReplyDelete