Life, And Other Natural Disasters...

Went to the Bear Sauna over at Darlaston yesterday; partially to try and "pull"; partially to see what the sauna was like there and partially I needed to sauna and steam and linger in a spa bath.  Well, on the pulling front, I didn't score apart from advances from a rather too skinny and shaved twink whom I politely declined.  However, I like the facilities - a small swimming pool with a waterfall and a cavern behind; plenty of darkrooms and glory hole rooms; a nice conservatory and sun deck.  Altogether a much more gentleman's club-by atmosphere, and defintely somewhere to pass a rare summers day!!!

I find American diners evocative.  Whether it be Gunther Toody's in Denver, the small railway car diner in Cambridge MA or The Broadway Cafe, just around the corner (well, sort-of) from La Casa de los Osos Locos and one time home of Mr. Paul Brown's (bigredpaul) Pie Ceremony.  I suppose it's seeing too many movies and TV programmes that feature diners.  They just seem to represent a part of The Great American Idyll...

Last night, while I was with the bears at a diner on 4th. Ave, I placed my order and Kevin (sonoranbear) commented that I ordered like a pro.

"Yeh," I replied, "I've seen the movies..."

...gimme a call (or add a reply if you've lost my number!)

Spent the day in London, making sure Alex ( darke) was settled in and orientated.  Seems he's gotten used to travelling on the underground and appears to have "gone native".  Apart from occasional exclamations of pleasure about the British rain...!

Flew up to Newcastle on Saturday morning (after the office shindig the night before) ostencibly to assist rock_bear in moving his stuff from the end of the tour of "Tom's Midnight Garden", ready to start his two month stint on "The Jungle Book" in Birmingham.  Ended up helping to break down the performance after the last show (eeek!!! First flirtation with theatre work in years!!!)  Two tired bears headed back to the hotel and had breakfast in bed and a nice lie-in the next day before hitting the train for the trip south to Birmingham.  We got to the hotel in Birmingham about 4pm.  Spent the evening wandering around the German Christmas Market (complete with cute stall-holder bears), had some dinner and then headed out to the local bear bar, The Fountain for a little, ah, sight-seeing.

Yesterday, a little shopping, trying to find a gift for MissMish, so we hit Selfridges and Harvey Nichols searching for "Things, dahling... things!!!"  Alas, inspiration was missing so a box of Thornton's choccies were purchased.  Late breakfast / early lunch was taken in a food court full of children running around and getting under peoples feet, thus bringing to mind thoughts of infanticide.  Headed on to the Old Rep where Russ was introduced to the cast, and the DSM came bounding into the wardrobe while he was out, thrusting out a hand

"Bear?"

"Er...no... koala, actually...!"

Saw the play; it was okay, if a little naff in places, but there was a cute bear in the cast.  Turns out he's a bit of a prima donna.  Not sure how long that will last with Russ around... ;-{)}  Met up with MissMish for drinkies, dinner and conversation, which was pleasant, as neither Russ or I had seen Michelle for a few months.

And so, today I caught the train back home, with a rather forlorn looking Bear clutching a floppy koala that I bought in Newcastle, who should be currently sat keeping an eye on Russ for me for the next two months...

Back to Thursday; bumped into Larry and Dennis who had managed to escape the snows of Boston, and made arrangements to shop for essentials (Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew and... Mountain Dew!!!) Much pottering around and doing very little apart from pottering around the swimmiing pool.

Friday - took a walk to El Con Mall. Dead as a dodo - only a J C Penney and another department store. Picked up some shirts in the sale and shuffled back to the hotel to be enthustastically greeted by Rob robearal and Al albadger. And introduced myself to Mike progbear with the words "You come highly recommended by rockbear!" Well, I thought it was a good recomendation! Luncheon was suggested by the Badger, so we trooped off in his nifty little convertible to a rather more alive mall with a huge food court where we were greeted by a hungry urso. More shopping followed including a slightly disturbing game store selling "Pokethulu"... eeeewww!!!

A cinema trip was proposed; so we headed off to The Loft for a matinee performance of Bubba Hotep; an everyday tale of supposedly deceased Kings of Rock and Presidents combating vengeful soul-sucking mummies in a nursing home in Texas. And afterwards, a second hand bookshop, where I left with a pile of Bloom County books...

Supper round the pool and desparate attempts to get a shag rounded off the day.

Saturday - Missed the tour I originally wanted to go on, and the other tour I ended up on, we got to the location around 10:30 to find it didn't open until 12:00. Oh well, thinks I, spend time in the pool. So I did, bumping into Mike and was introduced to Clifford from Utah. The three of us then produced to produce what could only be described as a "floor show" in the swimming pool, emerging looking somewhat like Sunsweet Prunes.

Pinata, bear contests, got chatting, damn, I was supposed to be going to Rocky Horror at 23:30 grrrrrr....!!!!

Sunday - Rang wyndwyck to let him know I hadn't forgotten him - I think he'd been in serious la-la land the last few days, what with the heavy duty painkillers he'd been taking. Arranged to call on Monday to make arrangements to visit. Went on the Kitchy Tour of Tucson, taking in the Snake Bridge, Garden of Gethsemane amongst other spots, finishing with burritos in the middle of nowhere. Got back and met up with Al, Clifford and Mike.

Was finally admitted into the fraternity of the Cyber-Amish, or whatever. I'm not quite sure what the good citizens of Tucson made of about 150 large hairy men in candle-lit procession chanting "Pie is baked... Pie is eaten... Pie will come again" from the hotel to the Broadway Cafe. Anyway, much pie was consumed, much to the bemusement of the other customers of the cafe.

Monday - much saying of goodbye, waffles and lunching. Got a spare room key so that Rob could move his stuff out of Al's room. Got back from the Adios Amigos lunch, and rang Paul wyndwyck. Managed to get through to his friend who swung by the hotel and picked Rob and I up, as apparently Paul was snoozing. Anyway, we got over to the house to be greeted by a very surprised satyr! Spent the afternoon chatting and catching up and dining - alas, missed saying goodbye to Al.

Got back to the hotel; too quiet! Most people had checked out or gone off for dinner.

Tuesday - Said goodbye to Rob at the airport and headed off back to the mean streets of Gosport...