I've had a really lovely day in London today, but this was the highlight:



Tracy Emin pours her heart out once more and nearly makes me cry. Love that woman!

Having realised earlier in the week that actually I am a people person but I just spend too much time with the wrong people yesterday afternoon was an attempt to rectify things.

I finished at 2pm, went for a haircut then met the 24 year old. We went for coffee and a gossip - mostly about him as he forgets to ask me anything in return and I'm not the kind of person who just launches into stories unprompted. He's added a few other people to his repertoire of friends so I feel no pressure anymore and it was just relaxed and fun. We also had a wander round the shops as it occurred to me that summer's here and my summer wardrobe is non-existent! So I made a start with a nice zippy top, but will need to have another go quite soon.

Then in the evening the sociability continued with a trip to see Jan & Barry, who seem to have turned into Tom & Barbara from The Good Life since I last saw them - the garden is almost an allotment! We gossiped, ate too much, drank too much and Barry played strange songs that I'd never here otherwise: Steely Dan anyone? Lovely to see you both! xxx

I've got my groove back, which is just as well as I'm off to London!

Last night I went to see Terence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy. It was a last minute decision, part of my new plan to see something cultural every week, no matter what, because that's the stuff that makes my life better whereas everything else is just bullshit.

I hadn't been tempted to go when it was first announced, assuming that Terence Rattigan would be a dull night out. I don't know his stuff but know of him, and I assumed it would be set in a drawing room and there would be lots of repressed characters saying things he wasn't allowed to put in the mouths of gay characters. I wasn't expecting it to be much fun.

I was completely wrong!

The story is quite simple: a 13 year old Navy cadet is accused of stealing a postal order but his father doesn't believe it can be true so sets out to defend him, taking it as far as the House of Commons. In the process he ruins his eldest son's education, scuppers his daughter's chances of marriage and risks alienating his wife. It's essentially a courtroom drama but cleverly none of it actually takes place in a courtroom, just in the living room of their home.

It may not sound like it but it's surprisingly funny, moving and very rousing. I wanted to cheer at the end, but I also wanted to cry. The cast are great: the actress playing the daughter was particularly good, as was the actor playing the lawyer.

But best of all was Timothy West. He's a great, great actor so it was fantastic to get to see him in something. I have a feeling I saw him do King Lear a few years back, but I didn't like the play so that doesn't count. This time he was amazing, just so perfect for the part.

Strangely he reminds me of FM. Despite the fact he must be twice as old there's something about him that really reminds me of FM. How odd. His character's health slowly deteriorates as the play progresses, until he ends up in a wheelchair at the end. The character has arthritis and at one point says, "mind my legs!" to his youngest sun who is about to blunder into them. This is exactly what Dad, who also had arthritis, used to say to my sister's kids when they were running round in circles. And as soon as I remembered that I remembered that yesterday would have been Dad's birthday. Of course I hadn't forgotten - Mum & I took flowers to the church on Sunday - but I been so busy with my own stuff all day that I hadn't had time to remember him, which is just rubbish. Being reminded like that was like a punch in the face - I love it when theatre does that to you.

It's Election Day - hence the video - so make sure you go and vote!

This year it seems particularly important and scary. Whatever the outcome the next few days aren't going to be pretty. Politics finally got interesting again!

As for the video, Arcadia were a side project by three of Duran Duran - Simon le Bon, Nick Rhodes - who I always wanted to be! - and Roger Taylor (although cleverly he decided to stay away from the videos). It was made at the height of their fame, after the Seven and the Ragged Tiger album, and gave vent to their more pretentious side. Quite clearly as a teenage gay in Norfolk I loved it! Surprisingly as an adult gay I still find it rather fabulous!

Go vote!

The car's back, with lovely new hoses! Well I say lovely new hoses but I haven't actually been under the bonnet to look. So fingers crossed then!

Today was a bit of a trial, although I had a bit of a revelatory moment as I sat at my desk getting emails, texts and twitter messages from lovely people when I realised that there are so many nice people in my life and yet I have to spend my working life with people I'd happily stab. I need a new job. I've needed a new job for about twenty years! I'm guessing I'll never leave. Bugger.

This evening I could have gone to see a film called Doubt in which Meryl Streep plays a rather severe nun, but like my nuns a bit more likable and this really wasn't the night for misery so instead I've eaten chocolate and watched 30 Rock, which isn't the slightest bit miserable. And I feel better for it.

The car has gone to have its hoses replaced and because the garage were squeezing me in at short notice they couldn't lend me a car. So instead I got the bus home! I don't ever use buses locally, not out of snobbery, but because they don't go anywhere it wouldn't be easier to get to in the car. I'm a train man at heart.

Disappointingly it was only a small bus and the driver didn't seem to know where the stops were, but it was fun to surrender control of my life to someone else for a bit. Tomorrow's transport will involve a lift from someone at work and a taxi. How exciting!

The rest of the day hasn't been particularly interesting to be honest, so now I'm stranded on the sofa watching TV and catching up with the mad men in my life. Time for bed!

Yesterday afternoon FM & BF came to visit. I haven't seen them since February, not that I've been avoiding them, we've just been too busy to meet. Besides, they're such fun why would I avoid them?

We worked up a bit of an appetite so we went to a local pub for food and drinks. We sat in the pub garden, watching the peacocks showing off and gossiping. The food was lovely - lamb burger and an apple trifle - and after three pints of Guinness I was more than a little tipsy. A lovely end to a really relaxed weekend.

The mad bits:

On Saturday they 'enjoyed' the American pilot I'd previously 'enjoyed' at the beginning of the month.

Tonight the BF is staying with the man from Brighton who came to visit me last month.

When BF posted a picture of FM and me on Facebook BF's sister commented: "they look like brothers". If only she knew!

I have previously 'enjoyed' the chef who made the food.

The madness never ends does it!

I really didn't want to watch Britain's Got Talent because I can't stand Simon Cowell. All that money and he still has shockingly bad hair! Arrogance doesn't do anything for me and to be honest the only person who ever called him an expert was himself.

But then along came Susan Boyle and just like Demi Moore I started paying attention. Not so much attention that I'd actually watch, but I read the news headlines just to keep in touch. Last night was the final, and after a week of frenzied and ridiculous reporting it seemed like half the world was expecting Susan to have a breakdown on live TV. Of course she didn't.

But she also didn't win. A group of young dancers won:



As soon as I saw it I thought, "Janet Jackson, Rhythm Nation":



I wish Janet Jackson would get her groove back, she's great!