This has certainly been a long hot summer. I have thoroughly enjoyed the ability to sit outside in my garden and enjoy pleasant summer evenings and baking weekend afternoons. Despite the fact I have been unable to keep the garden in check (and it’s looking desperately in need of a make-over) it’s been wonderful.

At the start of the summer I invested in a Pure Evoke 1 digital radio. The sheer range of stations is fantastic and I, for one, welcome the introduction of Digital Radio to the UK. The irony of the purchase is that I’ve spent most of the evenings listening to the relaxed sounds of Jazz FM (which is perfectly clear across London on a regular radio set). At least my second favourite (and superb on summer Sunday afternoons) is The Groove which is only available on DAB in London and on the web.

On this day…

2005: Let’s Google Talk
2004: The Hottest State
2004: Get Yer Kit Off …
2002: Around The World

I am not exactly sure of the time at the moment for I am in Helsinki and my clock is yet to adjust. I am back in a city that I had promised to re-visit but I still am here on business with no time to see anything.

It was a pleasant journey indeed. I have never before been on a flight that had an all-male cabin crew. Despite what the Captain called “a bit of an incident” on a runway at Heathrow (no idea what) we managed to arrive in time.

Hopefully, I have packed all that I need to have – I tried to be organised last night but I failed. I did remember to call Barclaycard and tell them I was heading out of the country. They have started requesting that you tell them when you will be away so that they know the charges appearing on your account are not fraudulent. I think I should applaud that move but it’s a pain to remember to call. If you don’t you run the risk of the card not working upon arrival. I suspect I should be grateful but, instead, I remain paranoid that the card will not work and leave me stranded in some foreign hotel with no way of paying them.

On this day…

2005: Run London – Here I Come
2004: Madonna
2002: The **** Of All Snacks

There is nothing of quality about the photographs produced from my mobile ‘phone. Nevertheless, these pictures were taken as I was trying to map today’s train journey to Poole. Of course I missed the most important: the arrival at Poole station.

On this day…

2005: Missed Birthday
2002: BBQ Frenzy

I’ve spent the weekend at a stag party. It was an enjoyable time (firstly at Newmarket watching the racing and latterly in Great Yarmouth).

Although this is not the first such event that I have attended, it’s probably the first that I think most closely fitted to the stereotype: attempts to get a large group of men drunk and in a lap-dancing club.

What I was most surprised about, however was how much I enjoyed myself. You see, as I gay man, I have always thought that these events as places for heterosexual men only and, in truth, somewhat intimidating.

Even the lap-dancing club was remarkably asexual and thus, if sexuality is the cause for the friction, it was not important. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the site of women cavorting around a pole but sexual was not at the top of my mind (which might be expected) but it was also not at the top of most of the guys I was there with. It was a very odd atmosphere and something I am not, currently, able to sum up in words.

The groom seemed to enjoy himself – although I think he found the lap-dancing club the most awkward as he didn’t want to be there. I met lots of interesting new people and the whole thing was not so much an ordeal as a pleasant weekend away.

For that, I am relieved.

On this day…

2005: Boston Legal
2004: Flash Floods
2004: Should I Mention The Olympics?
2003: Great Yarmouth
2002: In Short, Things Are Grim

Why is it that it’s always the small stuff in life that is the most infuriating?

This morning I thought I would give the MSN Music Club the once over. You’re supposed to be able to download music legally and all that kind of thing. Well, today they did manage to take my credit card details (I signed up for the minimum service) but that’s about all they’ve done. I haven’t actually managed to get a track out of it. It seems to be a permanent error (but perhaps not as big an error as me handing them my credit card details). Obviously, I was also silly to try to access it later in the day with the Mozilla browser.

How disappointing.

This afternoon I rushed home from work to meet the plumber who was coming to fix a new kitchen tap to replace the one that’s been dripping for a year (I know it’s a water-crime but I do have a life to lead). Anyway, he arrived (after I had hauled my ass and walked up the escalators on the tube to make sure I got the right train home) only to leave ten minutes later saying he couldn’t fit the new tap and somebody else would have to come out next week and show him how to fix it.

How frustrating.

On the up-side my Oyster card that allows me to travel on the tube hasn’t yet been erased by my mobile ‘phone despite the fact I keep sticking them in the same pocket.

On this day…

2005: Lost
2004: Kill Bill (Volume 1)
2002: On The Town

Lee Ryan

Who’s a silly boy then? With all that fame and money you think Blue’s Lee Ryan would be more careful and pay for a driver, wouldn’t you? If you didn’t know, he’s been charged with drink driving. Let’s hope the adulation is not going to his head and he thinks he’s better than everyone and above the law. Still, another shameless excuse to post a picture (I took this one at Pride In The Park last month).

I should file this under silly popstars, shouldn’t I?

On this day…

To be honest, Eric isn’t the only one thinking of moving to Canada. I think it would be a fabulous place to live. Now, I’ve just got to work out how to get there and what to do when I am there!

On this day…

2007: Better In Just 14 Days
2005: By Ek
2004: Save A Pop Idol
2004: Open House 2004
2004: Back Ache Update
2002: Don’t Call Me Stupid

What a beautiful weekend it has been here in London. It’s been unseasonably hot which makes working in an office with no air-conditioning uncomfortable but, really, it’s the most fantastic weather. We may not be conditioned for it – nor used to it here in the UK – and it’s certainly very difficult to sleep while you sweat, but I wouldn’t change it: and I am one who burns in the slightest bit of sun. Yesterday I spent the most relaxing afternoon on the roof of a friend’s house boat up near Little Venice. Then we wandered through Regent’s Park to see the Fruitstock Festival for nice people. Sitting on the grass listening to music is an ideal way to spend a Sunday afternoon and, of course, in a London park all the hot men wear as little as they can get away with. So, please stop moaning about the weather and go and enjoy the sunshine.

On this day…

2005: 7 Million Londoners, 1 London
2004: Viva Owen?
2002: State Of The Town

There is a great deal to talk about which I want to get round to at some point. At least to acknowledge there is much to say:

• Gay bishop elected by Episcopalians
• Absolut Hunk: Story Of A Wildly Successful Product Placement
• Blair passes Labour milestone
• I went to Pride

And probably much, much more. Oh for a day off to enjoy the sunshine.

On this day…

2006: Dropped at 0815
2006: A Glass Pyramid
2004: Doesn’t Time Fly?
2003: Five Live and Weblogs
2002: To Some People Enola Gay is Just a Pop Song