Doppelganger

So there I was, sipping my double vodka and tonic at the gay street party and eyeing up the (plentiful) talent when a cute Spanish guy came up and asked if he could take a photo of me because "you're the spitting image of my friend Tim." Cue the start of a very drunken afternoon with a lovely bunch of people, including said Tim and friends. We met so many wonderful guys 'n' gals this year at Brighton Pride, thanks in no small part to my two best wingwomen Sis and Jo - it must surely qualify as BPE (Best Pride Ever). Lovely too to have shared part of it with Petite Anglaise who gamely came along to the Lines & Bears line dancing tent and debated buying a Monkey Spanker. Back to Paris tomorrow afternoon, but still on holiday for a while. Hope you've had a FAB weekend too. Bons baisers de Brighton.

Monet's Cooker

Now, where was I? Oh yes, so...with Ma Rhino in town this weekend, I decided to do something a little more cultural than 14 vodka and tonics at the Perle followed by gay karaoke and head OUTSIDE PARIS (my italics, accompanied by a sharp intake of breath) to visit Giverny, the village where the daddy of all Impressionists Claude Monet spent much of his life. Have you been? If not, here's a tip. DON'T GO IF IT'S POURING WITH RAIN. While it's not that bad travelling for the best part of an hour on a packed train then a packed coach to blunder around an artist's garden in a cagoule, I'm sure the whole thing is MUCH more enjoyable with a little sunshine. That said, the gardens were delightful, even through my misted, rain-streaked specs. But it was the house I liked best. I was particularly taken by Monet's cooker (or "stove") which was this huge Aga-like contraption. You could just imagine him getting up in the morning and standing there making some slightly blurred scrambled turkey eggs and Aga toast (made with that contraption shaped like a wire tennis racket aka "the best toast in the world"). With a breakfast like that inside you, who could fail to be creative?? I'm not sure what that tap is for on the right-hand side though. And Monet's bed looked a bit lumpy, but I'm sure these days that Ikea deliver, even to Giverny. I may move there, just for that cooker. The other highlight of the weekend was the Caribbean carnival at Bastille. Terrific fun, an explosion of music, dancing and colour. Just like Pride really, only with more women and better costumes and dancing. Miaow.

The Mother of All Prides

I always say there's no better way to start the day than with a celeb, so I knew things were off to a good start when I spotted former Star Academy pupil Morgane (Season 3, the best in my opinion) in the queue for the Eurostar. I didn't see her in first class, though, poor love. But you know, it was two years ago now and fame is fleeting - no-one knows that better than a *showbiz* casualty veteran like myself. Anyway, enough about her. No sooner had I got off the train in Brighton, than Sis had laid out a wonderful champagne breakfast with bagels, biccies and all manner of goodies. The weather was glorious and wearing flower garlands and carrying a large pink Union Jack we made our way to Preston Park, which was positively teeming with people - including Eastenders' very own Peggy Mitchell, Col, Monica, Pete 'n' Paul. A lot of drinking ensued. And Pride wouldn't, after all, be Pride without a visit to "The Bulldog" - where we met the very drunk Paul and his mates. Sunday's highlight was a delicious, and I mean delicious, long lunch here. An introduction to The Kooks. Oh, I could tell you more but what's the point? All you need to know is that it was a fabulous summer weekend and I wish you'd all been there (though of course, some of you were). AND it's nearly time for my proper summer holiday. Stand by for "Now That's What I Call a Vacation: Volume 120"...

I'm back!!

...and I had a FAB time, as always. With more than 120,000 people attending, Brighton has got to be THE best Pride in the U.K. Still haven't had time to upload all the pics etc. But here's a little taster for ya. I hope you've been good, as per instructions? ;D P.S. Was it my imagination, or were there a LOT more cowboys this year? - it has to be TBE (the Brokeback Effect).

Paris Gay Pride (2006 Vintage)