January 2000 February 2000 March 2000 April 2000
4 January 2000
Wow we have hit the big 2000 and I feel the best entering a new year I have
felt for ages. I guess that’s what love does for you. Had a brilliant New Year
at my friend Mike's. He's such a sweetheart. I was with SF from Thursday 30th
Dec to Monday 3rd Jan. It was so nice to spend all that time together. I am so
happy. I know something now too that has quite taken me too, you spend all your
life looking for one true soulmate. Well he's my soul mate. He's "the one" as my
wonderful friend Dan would phrase it.
Well back to work tomorrow so better show willing and not be to bed too late although that’s no guarantee what time I will actually get to sleep. Christmas hols always rock your sleep patterns off course don’t you find.
19 January 2000
Where do I start? Life is wonderful. It’s been a strange past few weeks. I
have worked out that from 30 December to 16 January, I have spent 14 days with
Steve. That works out at 14 out of 18 days. It's been really kewl though and we
have got on brilliantly. It has secured our future plans to live together from
this April. We have managed to do relatively normal things and spend time
together without having to do something all the time. It’s just been nice to be
'couple-y'.
What else has been going on? Well my parents have gone abroad to Benidorm for a week's holiday, lucky buggers!! Work is not the most exciting of things at the moment but we are persevering. I am still looking about for something new to do wherever that may be. I sat a one-day assessment for a fast stream management trainee post last week but won't hear about that for a few weeks.
Had an interesting night out last Saturday in Swansea with Steve, and Wayne came along too. I was glad to see a couple of drinks got the two of them into conversation. Unfortunately within a few hours it also meant that Steve was literally legless and Wayne was very little better!! Ho-hum all good fun!! Steve and me are up to Cardiff this weekend to see a few friends and stay over with the wonderful Michael who probably deserves a medal for putting up with me so many times!
This will also be the last diary entry on my easyweb pages as my domain is now more or less up and running. Still a few areas for improvement but www.ribtickle.co.uk is now up. Still a few areas to work on but that will come with time. So please go and book mark that page from now on. Thanks.
27 January 2000
Well I went swimming for the first time in over 5 weeks on Tuesday and
managed 40 lengths, which I am sure I will suffer for but I was pleased that I
made it. I am going to get back into the swing of it all again now. It’s been a
tiring day though as I have done a days work then gone to see my parents and get
a bottle of whisky and a leather belt courtesy of the holidays. Also had a
surreal part conversation with my Mum as she mentioned the family going out for
dinner on my birthday i.e. Mum dad Cath Steve and me!!! and she aint even met
him yet. Obviously trusts my good judgement, hehe.
I spent a lovely weekend with Steve as ever. I went up to Cardiff and had an interesting evening on Sat. Poor Steve. I think there were too many people for him to cope with and we ended up spending the last few hours of the night more or less occupying each other *smirk* still was nice to see a few good friends.
So work is ok at the moment but I have an application form to fill in without delay. Will be scouring the papers for something else too. Seems like Wayne is planning to move on rather soon. He has the bug to find his own accommodation. I hope he don’t feel like I am chucking him out or anything but I guess he needs to move on and the thought of two of us in the house nagging him to do dishes and clear up after himself!! Well I understand.
8 February 2000
Well I have had a little time gap between this and the last entry. I guess
there’s no extraordinary news to report. Steve is such a wonderful guy and I
love spending as much time as I can with him. This Saturday we met up with Mike
and Dan and although they were both a bit out of it, it was lovely to see them
both and especially Daniel who I don't get to see as often as I would like, but
there in itself lies a tale for another time. But he took a few pictures of the
two of us and so I guess I shall put them on the web in due course. No rush
though, if you knew the number of photos I have rejected over time to get those
on line that I show now, and I don't really like these much, but hey, got to
show ya all what I look like.
Not sure what to make of things at Mum and Dads at the moment. Cath seems to be swinging through various moods at the moment but that could be just as much to do with the time of year as anything else. Anniversary of her husband pissing off etc. But Mum is ok one day then bad the next. I aint so sure what to make of things really. I guess time will tell. I am also going to have to approach the subject of Steve moving in come April. I am not too sure how to go about it. Cath with inevitably say that Mum will go nuts, though she thinks that of everything at the moment. But Cath hasn't even met him yet. but I think that will change this weekend coming, at last.
What else to say? My friend Gary seems to have returned to the land of the living at last!! Well we aint chatted a lot for ages and I have missed him, I haven't even met up with him for about a year now, But just lately we have started chatting a bit more on the net again and that’s really nice. What else? Well I am waiting to hear about a couple of job opportunities again. I aint too sure quite what is going to come of either but nothing ventured and all that... I just need to do something different. If I could afford to I would tell then to stick the job and go elsewhere but you get so accustomed to things and my finances are rather dependent on my salary. Oh well, I shall keep smiling and I am sure it will improve. And at 6.45am what else would one expect!!!! yes that’s the time I am doing this entry and God only knows why I am up so early.
15 February 2000
OK OK OK!!! I know I should put entries in more often but I hope these are
all worthwhile. It does take time you know. So what's been happening over the
last week? Well it’s had emotional moments, it’s had very good emotions and very
annoying ones too.
Last Wednesday was a shitty day in work that involved me crying before lunch. Silly you may say but I have applied for a job in the training department, something I would love to do and I think I would be quite good at. Anyhow, the closing date was the 4th for the job and apparently they did not receive my application until the 7th and so sent it back, disqualified. Now if you knew the hours I had put in for this you would realise why I cried, not only upset but also with anger at the stupidity. I knew I had sent the form off on the Wednesday first class post so I felt justified. Thankfully with some careful arm-twisting by the officer in charge, whom I am grateful to even though I have perhaps not had the best words for in the past, we had it accepted. All I can say is that I felt emotionally drained by the end of the day.
What else? Oh yes! Cath met Steve on Saturday! and so did my father! Well all I need to do now is let them know that he is moving in at the end of March, oh and tell my Mum and we are sorted. I guess my mum should meet Steve too. Well I think Steve survived, and Cath hasn't said anything detrimental, but I think the judges are still pondering.
I am trying to put a bit of substance into these entries other than how much I love Steve. I guess I feel so secure in my relationship that I don’t have to keep reminding myself anymore. I love him more than I can put into any sentence and he means everything to me, but I don’t need to say it every two minutes.
Well I guess it is the night when all us poofters will be watching Queer as Folk II. I was quite surprised to read in the local paper that Russell T Davies was actually born and brought up no more than a few hundred yards from where I live. It’s a small world!! Happy viewing campers!!
23 February 2000
So tomorrow my parents fly off on another holiday to Spain. Its ok for some
isn't it?!? I shall be staying in sunny Swansea. *sigh* . So what’s to report?
Well Steve and myself are off to Edinburgh for the weekend this weekend. It
should be nice. I went there about 10 years ago and loved the place but have
never been since. I am not sure how much I will recognise but it’s worth it just
to spend the time with Steve. It’s only a weekend together as a belated
Christmas present to each other. I shall keep you informed.
Big news tonight is the conversation I had with my mum. Wanted to know when she is meeting Steve and stuff. I was also asked his age. I said 19 and she was actually really kewl about it and stated that it shouldn’t matter about age gaps and why people make so much fuss about is she can’t understand. I dunno, she is so unpredictable at times. But we agreed that perhaps we could pop over one weekend. They still don’t know he’s moving in but I guess they will find out soon enough.
I went for feedback on the last job I applied for today. Was a waste of time I think. It all comes down to so much subjectivity. Well I think I need to regroup on the job front while we sort out Steve's arrival.
I wasn’t overly impressed with the ending of Queer as Folk II. Sort of went to planet lala in the last 15 minutes but hey, beggars cant be choosers and gay ones at that!!!
2 March 2000
Hmmmm, well I have just discovered I didn’t upload last week’s entry so check
out February for that. I don’t know why but I am sure there was good reason at
the time.
We had a brilliant time on the weekend trip to Edinburgh. Really loved it. Yes, it rained, yes it was windy, but it’s a beautiful place and the two of us were together. the hotel was pretty good though the receptionist wasn’t too sure whether we wanted one key or two! and some of the organisation left something to be desired. Still spent a good deal of quality time with the gorgeous bloke I am so in love with. He's just fabulous.
Unfortunately on Monday morning I had a phone call from Cath to say she had locked herself out. However as I was still in Edinburgh she couldn't use the keys I had to let herself in. So she stayed at mine in the afternoon after work with Wayne waiting for me to get back. This also meant that I shot back to Swansea and had to leave Steve on the train into Temple Meads while I got off at Bristol Parkway. Got her sorted and then let her know about Steve's impending arrival in the household. I am still not too sure how she took it. I think she was ok but she didn’t really say a lot. Still over the last week we have come a few steps along. I guess shes only looking out for my welfare but I think I got through how much we are in love.
Joy of joys I come home to find that the hot water cylinder in the bathroom is depositing its contents into the kitchen. I have had to dismantle most of the airing cupboard which I had not long finished completing. I also have lots of mess in the kitchen. Oh these things are sent to try us. I am still pursuing a plumber so if anyone wants to recommend a local plumber then please let me know. Thank God that most of the decoration will be taken care of and I will have new bathroom carpet and kitchen lino. I will hopefully, have heating soon!!! Oh some things are certainly sent to try us.
12 March 2000
First of all apologies for the delay. It’s been an interesting week or so. I
guess I am a little out of sorts as this is the first weekend that I have not
been with Steve since Christmas. I know that’s only about 3 months but you get
used to things and you feel comfortable, and then when they are not around you
miss them. Still we had a very pleasurable weekend together. Very much domestic
bliss really.
We went up to Cardiff last Saturday night for an IRC channel meet. Caught up with some friends and had a great time. We caught the bus back so we were back in our own bed for the night too. I was also expecting a plumber at 10 am who incidentally never showed and never had the decency to even phone me an apologise! But luckily I was up that early because we had a sight water incident whereby one of the taps was left running into a full sink and hence flooded the kitchen out. I am not having a lot of luck with water these past few weeks!!!
Sunday afternoon we went into Swansea and pottered around shops, agreed on wallpaper for the kitchen, looked in the electrical shops and went to Sainsbury's. Oh we sound like an old married couple already. I guess that’s what is really happening at the end of the month. We are getting hitched. It just doesn’t sound right tho does it. Because we are moving in together then we are setting up out partnership, union, whatever you want to call it. I think we are both nervous about it, I know I am. Its not that I don’t want to do it, God no. I love Steve so much all I want is to be with him and have him as the focus of the rest of my life. Its just the last person I lived with was my parents and I cant count Wayne in the same category cos I have been more of an older brother to him really. But I know Steve has before and I guess it helps to know how assured he is with it all that helps things. It will be a learning experience for both of us. But the best part is that we will be together sharing that experience and learning about each other along the way.
Ok, deep part over with. What else is news? Working my socks off at the moment doing overtime to get some dosh in. Preparing the kitchen best I can for up and coming overhaul courtesy of Legal and General Insurance. Ordered a new mobile phone cos my old one is pissing me off. An Ericsson T18. If you go to the Ericsson web site you can even play with one in a nifty flash page. I was well impressed! And now I just wait patiently on orange to deliver it this week.
23 March 2000
Well what have I got to report since the last entry? Hmmmm! Well I have had
several days off work over the last week or so as I am still getting things
sorted since the water problem with the kitchen. Still, today the wallpaper has
gone up, but I am still patiently waiting for the lino/carpet people to get in
touch. Well I shall be getting the insurance company on the phone tomorrow and
getting some butt kicked about it.
Steve had an interview with NTL last weekend, we are waiting patiently on the outcome, they have changed the date for letting him know twice now, still I feel pretty positive about it. We shall wait and see but early next week we hope they will let him know. He is really keen on the job and it would be good.
My sister goes into hospital on Monday. "women's stuff". But she will be off work for about 6 weeks and will be in from Monday to Friday next week. Fingers crossed it will all be ok. Mum and Dad have booked yet another holiday. this one will be in May for their wedding anniversary and Mum's birthday. Speaking of which, I shall have to start thinking what I intend to do for mine as I shall be {whisper softly} "30". I would like to spend some time on the day with the family, and of course I would like to spend time with Steve but I also want to have some time with my friends around that time too. Oh well all ideas gratefully received.
Well I can’t think of anything else to say, Steve will be down a lot next week and then we shall be together from the 1st April. Strangely enough it will be 7 years to the day since I moved into the house myself then. I am so looking forward to it, he means the world to me and I love him so very much.
6 April 2000
Yes I know it’s been a little while and I am sure the likes of young Michael
have been waiting patiently for this update. Oh how sad things become. Still
this will probably be a bit of a mammoth update.
So I am now a happily married man. And yes I am very happy. My parents said very little when I told them Steve was moving in, which I was rather relieves about. I did it the Thursday before he moved, close shave I know but so be it! It’s strange why I was so worried about telling them, I guess it’s just the quickness of it all, but there again when it feels right you just go with it.
So Steve moved in last Saturday. He got the job with NTL and all seems to be going well so far. He’s enjoying it and even though it involves getting up at 6am I love having him to cuddle up with each night. We are being all domestic and organising the revamp of the kitchen. this would actually go a lot smoother if I wasn't currently feeling a tad under the weather, i.e. coughing my heart out from some chest infection. Still we will get there and it will look fab when it’s sorted! also a bathroom to do and a bedroom to organise! oh well plenty of time. No more excursions to Bristol of a weekend.
So what else is news? Well Cath had her operation and is gently recovering at the moment. She will be off work for the next 6 weeks or so. I think she was quite surprised at the severity of the operation. Wayne looks set to move into his flat around the 25th April or that week at least. So all is working out for him. I think I am coming to terms with turning 30 in 3 weeks time, to the day! Well it’s an excuse for a piss up innit! and at last count I think there’s about 4 of them planned, as well as time with Steve and the family.
I will try not to take so long between updates in future, but no promises though I shall keep you up to date on domestic bliss.
