This be the ferry. Big, innit?

SUOMI - Part One

Hey hey Helens!

Right, am back in from another jaunt. This time to Finland. I am listening to the hot Finnish hit of the summer as I type. It is by Valvomo and called 'Mikä Kesä' which means 'What a summer' apparently. I had SUCH a good time!

On Weds last, lovely Nathalina from the Pinkies came to Stockholm. She is Finlandsvensk, which means she, like 6% of Finns, is bilingual in Finnish and Swedish, as well as being shit hot in English.

We had fun in Stockholm on Weds night, and got drunk in Torget, the only gaybar I seem to frequent nowadays, and I showed her the sights. Then on Thursday, I skived Swedish class (bad!) and we got the ferry to Helsinki (Helsingfors in Swedish). We got a photo taken as we boarded (the 'm/s MARIELLA', fact fans) which I will post if I ever find a scanner here.

We had a super time on the ferry, even though Nath was sleeping with a Finnish wrinkly and I had to share a cabin with two swarthy Finnish leather bikers (oh! poor me! Ritchie, I couldn't help but think of you :o))

After my very first smorgåsbord (it was ace!) sitting next to a Russian lady and child who seemed very keen on wearing the ship's curtains, we danced in the onboard disco, had a cocktail called a 'Flash Gordon' with a flashing icecube in (!), watched a cringe-makingly rubbish English magician, drank salt licorice vodka, Jagermeister (something wrong and German) and beer, and we went to bed totally off our faces.

Woke up what seemed like 3 minutes later on my face to be informed it was morning and time for breakfast. Krrrrr. But all was well in the end. Lots of cold meats and cheese and eggs and not looking at the people sitting opposite us because that would have put me off my breakfast (not sure how kind the gene pool has been to Finland).

Right, have to go to class. Laters...

I have one thing to say...

Finland ROCKS! Mo' l8r.

Cake!

Finda and Paul forcefeed one another cake. CAKE!

Sommar i Sverige

Hi campers! Hope u is all like, WELL rockin', innit?

I have been meaning to blog and then thinking 'oh must do this, must do that'. So here I am at last.

I went to London last weekend. It was brilliant. I saw QUEEN PAULINE OF AUCHTERMUCHTY again, and it was totally amazing. We had a super time dancing to pap (Nelly Furtado 'Maneater', perhaps the fiercest track to come out of a Canadian Portuguese lady's mouth since the advent of Always Ultra).

Wednesday last, got nasty shock. Went to pay for intensive Swedish course I am now doing, only to find my cards refused! AAAARGH. Turns out one of my main clients has not paid me since March. Thanks for that. It's ok, I'll eat gruel, don't worry. BUGGERS.

Spent fraught afternoon on phone to bank in England (hello phone bill!) from here, and eventually sorted something out. Got to Luton. Was so happy to be HOME! Stayed with the divine Miss Katherine and her cats. Gabriel, the world's fiercest gay cat, was v happy to see me.

Went to flat in E17 next day. Was v strange. But nice. Didn't see horrid neighbour, and only vaguely heard her. Phew. Sorted out invoice hell. Was v hot. Went for meal with Sooz, rocked. Went to meet other internet man, who is v lovely. Drank Stella. Yay!

Friday, met Paul, had a v emotional reunion outside Compton's on Old Compton St. I blubbed. London was hooching with boylovers because it was EUROPRIDE on Sat. Pauline and I made our way to the party celebrating one year of Thingbox, the best gay website evah, and we got v drunk and ogled boys. Paul worked the room like a true professional, I sweated. We ate lots of cake (the thingbox official theme is cake). There is a super photo of us (my fave ever!) which I will post after.

Talked to lots of hot boyz. Demanded that the DJ/thingbox creator play 'Shoes' by Kelly. He didn't have it. Me and Darren, a v naughty moxual, shouted and shouted and laughed.

Saturday was the Pride parade. Met the Pinkies, it was super. Did walk, had a joint, after which was told joint had ONLY GRASS in, no tobacco. Tried to concentrate on walking. Couldn't. Had picnic after with Pinkies. Pauline arrived, we listened to schlager (and MILLI VANILLI! hurrah!) lying on grass. It was a true moment. HARDSNARECLAP!

We went to the retrobar, best bar evah, then on to Duckie's Euroshame and met lovely internet man again. We made some paper planes (as you do) and sat feeling the vibe. It was a good vibe.

Back to P's in Clapham. Sunday, danced to Big Fun in my pants. Howard, Pauline's uvverarf, took photos. I'd tell you where to go to look at them if I had just a modicum less shame...

Sunday night, got on plane in Luton, got off plane in Sweden. Couldn't find phone. Phone had been nicked. BASTARDS! So have been doing admin hell things trying to get a new one. Not rock.

Started Swedish course this week. Is v g. Am learning all sorts of exciting things. There is a lovely French Belgian lady there called Sophie. We are chatting lots. Tis good.

I've been swimming in the lake outside my house every night. Is weird not to have Ulla here, but is still good. Loving Sweden in the sunshine. Going out tonight to Connections. Want to do something a bit positive to find someone to love. Am sick of loving myself. (in many ways fnaaaaar).

It's all v well going 'yes, being alone is fine.' But sometimes it just isn't. Sometimes I want a cuddle and someone to tell me I'm lovely and special (in a good way). IS IT REALLY TOO MUCH TO ASK? I'm sick of 'doing work on myself', knowing your issues is great and all, but bloody hell. I WANT A MAN TO CUDDLE IN BED AND EXCHANGE KYLIE LYRICS WITH!

So let's see.

Love love love.