Strange Thoughts of a Strange Man

No idea about what? I hear you cry.

Anything, I would answer but in this particular case I am referring to these stupid telephone voting shows: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and now I'd Do Anything. They are all shows created by the BBC to showcase revived musicals and to find girls and boys to be the lead roles.

The problem with the shows is that the Great British public decide who stays in the show and who goes. One contestant each week has to be eliminated by telephone vote. The trouble is that the public chooses people they like and not the people that are the best for the job.

A similar system is in place for the British Entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. And a similarly bad choice was made for the UK's song this year.

Of course, the reason television companies like the BBC have shows like this is that they can make a lot of money from the sheer volume of calls. They are not interested in the validity of the selections.

Labels: BBC, Eurovision, Joseph, Maria, Oliver

The showers at the gym stopped working between the start and end of my hour-long intense session with my personal trainer.

I had to make do with a quick wash in the sink using my T-shirt as a flannel and then use more deodorant than a teenager on his first date.

I feel rather unpleasant right now. I don't know if I smell bad. All I can smell is deodorant.

Labels: Gym, Shower, Smell, YMCA

I often read, and sometimes write, posts on b3ta.com's question of the week. This week's subject has been "kids" with the intention that people leave amusing stories about themselves as children or about children they know.

Most of the stories have been along those lines and have been very funny as well. There have, however, been the odd one or two posts that have been about people's choices to not have children because "the world is too populated". These posts have resulted in arguments.

That led me to question my own choice to remain childless and I thought I would dump that train of thought here.

Many people would think that being gay was enough of a barrier to having children however I do know of several gay men who are fathers. Some fathered children before they had accepted their own sexuality. Others have entered into arrangements to produce children and some have adopted.

I don’t want to adopt and I don’t want to get to know a lesbian with a turkey baster. I don't actually think I would want children even if I were straight.

Why?

Basically, I don't think I would be a good father.

I didn’t get on all that well with my own father when I was a kid. He wasn’t abusive in any way. He didn’t really relate to children that well. With my mother I knew I was loved and wanted but not with my father. There was always some distance.

Whether this was because I was a late baby (both my parents were 43 when I was born) or because their marriage was fraying at the edges by the time I arrived, is anyone’s guess. Whatever the reason I think my Dad possibly resented my arrival at such a point in his life.

I didn’t really understand my father until long after his death when I discovered that not only did I look like him but, to a great extent, I behave and think like him as well. Indeed, apart from me being gay, I could be a clone of my father.

This is one of the reasons I think I would be a bad father.

I know that a child would grate enormously in my life and that I would probably resent its presence. Worse, I know that I probably would be as cold a father as my Dad was to me. I wouldn’t want to wish that on anyone.

Of course, knowing or thinking you would be a bad father hasn't stopped other people breeding. The difference with me and with other gay people and with people who want to adopt is that we have to make some sort of effort to bring children into our lives.

We're not like rutting chavs dropping kids left right and centre just because we couldn't keep our tracksuits on.

Labels: Children, fatherhood, gay

Yet again I have woken up on a Monday but thinking it was Friday. This really is not at all fair!

Labels: Not fair

I thought I'd write this in case anyone is planning to buy a vacuum cleaner of any type and is considering a Dyson.

You have a choice between a cylinder or an upright model. Having owned both, I have this to say: don't buy a cylinder model unless you want to leave the dirt on the floor.

There is little to choose between the suction power of either type. There is a great deal of difference, however, between the power of the brushes.

The cylinder model uses airflow to power the brushes. The upright has electrically powered brushes which are a million times better.

I tried it out this morning and had my bedroom carpet looking better than it has been for a long time and took half the amount of time and effort that I would normally have to expend.

Gosh, I feel like one of those contented housewives in a 1970s commercial.

Labels: Dyson

...who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do.

Oh, hang on! Yes, she did. I remember now.

She took them for a trip to London on my bloody train.

Honestly, children and commuters do not mix. If you must take the kids to London do it after the trains are less busy.

Or better yet, become a lesbian. It's cheaper.

Labels: Children, London, Train

Well, who wouldn't be?

Labels: Spam