Month: July 2002

A day in bullet points:

• I spoke with some people
• I read some things
• I typed some words
• I carried out some tasks
• I listened to some music
• I listened to some words

Siiigh. Let’s see what else I can say that readers will interpret as offensive.

Saw a guy on the (late running) train home who was writing in a notebook. He was next to me, and I could easily see what he was writing. But I’ll not say any more about it here, as that would breach his copyright and you’d all moan at me for being nosy and looking over his shoulder.

In fact, I think I’ll spend the next 24 hours creating almost-content – just hinting at things, but not actually saying anything because if I do, you’ll read stuff into it that isn’t there. So I’m just going to give the most vague ideas here, and you smartarses can just try to figure it out for yourselves.

Oh dear. It seems that I’ve been inadvertently controversial again. It seems an explanation is called for.
Shuffling: in my (not unlimited) experience of being in large crowds moving along, there is generally much shuffling and little marching.
Comfortable shoes: in my profession, "queerosexuals" (to use Dan’s phrase) are far from uncommon, and most of the ones I know, male or female, would wear comfortable shoes. So I’ve corrupted the datum if you like.
So Pride could reasonably consist of a large number of comfortable shoe wearers moving along by means of shuffling.
Geriatric: n. an aged person. Many aged people shuffle and wear comfortable shoes. And what Chichester lacks in queerosexuals, it makes up for in geriatrics.

Granted, the similarities between Pride and a geriatrics convention are likely to end there.
But I’ll still buy Dan a beer if he shows up on Saturday.

I wonder if Tom means anyone in particular?

Judging by the discussions and emails I’ve seen, there should be reasonable numbers at PITP2 – at least into the teens, I reckon.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO POTENTIAL PITP2 ATTENDEES – CHANGE OF PLAN:

After widespread consultation, here is the Final Solution – a plan for PITP2 that solves the problem of a clash of time and venue with the Pride March.

The plan is this:
date: Saturday 6 July 2002
meet at 12 noon in Soho Square
nearest tube is Tottenham Court Road

For those new to meeting other bloggers, we should be easily recognisable as the small (or perhaps large?) group of people that nobody is talking to, looking uncomfortable. (I’m kidding – honest!)

Nick Jordan and Graybo will probably be the first on the scene – anyone who is new or concerned about getting lost might like to contact me and we will entrust our mobile numbers to you.

The agenda? Eat (either what you bring with you, or foodstuffs obtained locally), drink (ditto), talk inanely with other personal publishing type folk. Repeat until people drift off. Feel free to bring cameras to record the day… just don’t point them at me.

Whilst this will not have the extensive verdant appeal of last year’s event (there is verdance, but less of it), it has the advantage that we will not be surrounded by people shuffling along in comfortable shoes (what’s the difference between Pride and a geriatrics convention?). It is also a central location, and the venue is such that as soon as three of us are gathered there, we will stick out like something that sticks out a lot.

This will, inevitably, not be to the satisfaction of some. To those people I say this: next year, YOU make the plan, ok?

Kudos to Meg for starting the ball rolling on this one and making the little gif. Thanks to all, especially Tom, who made useful comments and suggestions.

message ends. GSTQ.

Lovely email from my old chum Liv today, who tells me that fellow former W2er Claudette is still working as a presenter on Spanish TV, doing a cookery programme and the international news, which strikes me as a strange combination.

Another draw in itsagoal today, destroying my slim chance of promotion. So, another season in division 12 for my team. gah.

Vote Percy!