Throwback Thursday

I decided to take part in that web trend of 'Throwback Thursday'. I've been seeing other people's photos and I was jealous. I wanted to take part. Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures of myself in digital format. My brother went through recently the process of scanning some. Him being the first child, he has whole albums just for him. When I came along, my family wasn't that much interested any more! :-) Fortunately, I'm sitting right next to him in some of them. Next year, when I fly back to my hometown, I might take a scanner with me to work on some of my pictures.  

So, I give you this picture of me (on the left of course) and my brother:

We're sitting in our living room in Kavala, in the house where I grew up next to the town's big municipality office. The year is probably around '84. Over our heads is our old 'SABA' television with 8 whole channel buttons! In front of me is one of my all time favorite toys! I can't remember if it had a proper name or not, but we called it 'the bricks'. I used to spend hours after hours building, destroying and rebuilding all kind of structures. I was a small engineer even from that young age. :-D

Spo Meme

The good Dr. Spo over at Spo-Reflections created a meme and invited others to play along. Here goes!

……..… is jolly good fun ! (fill in the blank) — riding a bicycle
Tea, wine, or champagne? — Since it’s really cold outside, at the moment I’d prefer some tea
How left handed are you? Not much. But I think that my left arm is stronger and I carry more things like bags using it.
The loudest item of clothing I have ………….. I don't usualy go for loud clothes. I might have to go with a pink jumper I have for this one.
The Best Friend: who is s/he? —  If I can’t say my partner, then it’s my ex housemate
I’d rather eat rats in Tewkesbury than…… —  huh?
How many of these have you done?:
1. Been to an opera — Many, I can’t really put a number to it. My brother’s best friend used to work on Opera productions and we used to get tickets, almost for free. So, we used to go quite frequently.
2. Read a novel by Dickens — I don’t think so. But I have 1 in my kindle, the ‘Tale of two cities’ on my ‘to read’ list
3. Drank Bourbon — No, I don’t think so.
4. Been to Key West — No
5. Visited The Stratford Festival of Canada — No
6. Spiders give you the heebie-jeebies. —  Not really. I actually like them.
7. Been to Michigan — No
8. Rolled down a grass hill. —  No
9. Ate Synder Pretzels — I had pretzels, but I don’t know Synder Pretzels. Is that a flavour or an origin?
10. Used the word ‘rubbish” in the past 30 days. —  I don’t think I have…
11. Worn a bow tie – Nope, never
12. Have a set of Viking horns — No, but I’d love some.

TMI Thursday - Books

I saw that in Jim's blog who took it from Sean on his TMI Thursday challenge last week and I thought of taking part... Better late than ever...

BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
1. eBooks or real books? If an eBook: Kindle, Nok or other? I generally love the feeling of holding a real book. However, for practical reasons when I commute to work I’m holding a kindle. So, I’m a person that has a real book on his nightstand and a Kindle in my bag.


2. Which book are you currently reading? Matter by Ian M. Banks

3. How many books have you read in 2012? How has reading blogs, FB, and/or tweeting affected your book reading? According to my Kindle, I’ve read 11 books since January. I also know I’ve finished 3 normal books during that time. So, I’m at number 15 at the moment. FB, blogs, tweets etc haven’t affected me on my reading. I read in the tube, underground, where there is no internet reception and in bed, where I don’t use any electronic (reading) devices.

  4. What genre(s) of book do you enjoy reading? I like reading crime novels, historic fiction, fantasy books and sometimes general fiction. If something catches my eyes, I’ll read it. I’m not that fussed about the genre. I’ve read almost everything in the past


5. Have you read the Kama Sutra or The Joy of Sex? Helpful? Funnily enough I run into my parents’ Kama Sutra many years ago. That’s a bit weird, I know. We generally never discuss anything about sex. Then, I only went through the pictures but that’s it. I wasn’t interested. Nowadays, I own a ‘Joys of Gay Sex’ book. I don’t think it was that helpful and the only chapter I really read was about hygiene and diseases…

Bonus
What was the first erotic novel you read that matched your sexual orientation? I’ve never read an erotic novel. I was never interested. I have come across books with gay characters though unexpectedly, which was always a pleasant surprise. From the top of my head is the ‘Magician Trilogy’ by Trudi Canavan. That’s a very good Fantasy book where I wouldn’t expect to find gay characters…

Queer Meme

I stole this meme from Erik, who stole it from Spo, etc. etc. I hadn’t done a meme in quite a while…


1. How old were you when you knew you were gay?
I always knew that something was different about me. I had a ‘crash’ with my English teacher when I was around 10… I was probably a teenager when I learnt the word. I was 20 when I finally accepted it though

2. Have you ever had sex with the opposite sex?
I came quite close and the opportunity was offered to me but I declined.

3. Who was the first person you came out to?
My closest female friend at the time, ‘A’. I prepared a huge introduction and she became frightened that I had a terminal illness or something as serious. She was so relieved that I only wanted to tell her I’m gay, she smacked me.

4. Are you out to your family?
Parents and brother yes. The rest of the family doesn’t know. No…

5. Do you want children?
At the moment no... I don’t know about the future…

6. Do you have more gay friends or straight friends?
Hmmm… I have to count. It’s a close call but I think I have more straight friends

7. Were you out in school?
No.

8. Is your best friend the same sex as you?
No.

9. If your best friend is the same sex, have you ever had sex with them?
No and no

10. Have you ever done crystal meth?
Nope

11. Have you ever been in a sling?
No

12. Have you ever done a 3-way?
Yes. I’ve tried it once

13. Have you ever dressed in drag?
No. I think that I’m too hairy for something like that…

14. Would you date a drag queen?
Never say never… It’s not something I’d chase though

15. Are you 'fixed in your ways' as it were?
Not really. I believe life’s about change

Original 15. Are you a top/bottom or truly versatile?
I’m versatile.

16. Cher or Bette?
Don’t know… Probably Cher mostly because to movies like 'The witches of Eastwick'

17. Have you dated someone of a different ethnicity?
Yes, I have…

18. Been to Fire Island? Saugatuck? Key West? Ft. Lauderdale? Palm Springs?
Negative to all above mentioned destinations…

Original 18. Have you ever barebacked?
Yes, with long time boyfriend

19. How many Madonna CDs do you own?
2 CDs and 2 concert DVDs. I am being extremely honest here...

20. Name of your first love?
I don’t want to say his real name… It’s ‘A’ mentioned in this blog

21. Do you still talk to them?
Not really, no… We might exchange a 'happy birthday' email and that's it.

22. Does size matter?
Yes, it does. For example an extremely big one is nice to look at but scary to handle. Also, I’ve noticed that well equipped people tend to be arrogant and lousy in bed. On the opposite, people with very small ones sometimes suffer from inferiority complexes that are a major turn off.  

23. Biggest turn on?
Sexy smile. Bright eyes. Facial hair. Humour.

24. Biggest turn off?
People who take themselves too seriously. People with attitude, snobs.

25. Ever been harassed due to your orientation?
No.

26. Worst gay stereotype that applies to you?
I like musicals

27. Ever been to a pride rally?
Yes.

28. Would you marry if you could?
Yes.

29. Would you rather be rich and smart or young and beautiful?
Rich and smart…. Youth and beauty don’t last

30. Do you sculpt your eyebrows?
No.

31. Do you trim your body hair?
I tried fighting the hair growing on my back and neck but it’s a lost cause…

32. Ever had sex with more than one person in a day?
I’m trying to remember. Probably not…

33. Ever been to an orgy?
No

34. Which character in "The Women" best reflects you?
The ‘women’? Is that a series or a movie? I’m not sure so I will not answer in case I’m wrong

35. Favorite gay expression?
I don’t think I have one

36. How may 'exes' do you have?
I ‘d say 2. They weren’t proper relationships, but they are as close to ‘complicated’ as they can be.

37. Do you believe in fairies?
Nope... Quickly quickly clap your hands!

38. Do you have any tattoos?
Nope, I do find them very sexy though.

39. Do you have any piercings?
No

40. Would you date a smoker?
Not easily…

41. If you are male, do you know many lesbians?
Yes, I know quite a few

42. Do you know anyone who has died from HIV?
No personally. I know people with HIV though

43. Are you part of a gay organization?
Organization? I’ve recently registered as a volunteer in a gay health charity. Does that count?

44. Is your gym cruisy?
I don't know... I haven't seen anything...

45. Grinder or Scruff?
Neither. I don't own a iphone...

46. Are your best years behind or in front of you?
In front of me. I’m a hopeless optimistic.

47. Got Porn?
Yes…

48. Make out music?
Something not too distracting… Anything will do. I tend not to listen to it after a while

49. Ever been in love with a straight guy?
In love no. I had crushes though

50. Did you ever have sex with him?
No

51. Have you ever been to a nude beach?
No, not an official one. I’ve swam naked though in deserted beaches.

52. Have you ever been to a bath house?
No.

53. Ever had sex in public?
Yes. I don’t do it regularly but it’s extra sexy when it happens.

54. What gay gene did you miss out?
I’m not good with fashion…

The Coming Out Meme

I'm taking this interesting meme from 'Patently Queer', who took it from 'The state of Nation UK', who...

You know how it goes:

Name: Nik

Country: UK

Age: 30

How old were you when you first realized you were gay? I had a ‘revelation’ moment at 21 when someone told me ‘you’re gay’. I knew that moment that I could never go back and my world changed. I described that story here.

Do you have more gay friends or straight friends? I believe straight

Biggest turn on? Blue eyes. Humour. Hairy chest

Biggest turn off? Arrogance. Hypocrisy. People with attitude

Ever been harassed due to your orientation? No. Luckily, I wasn’t bullied at school but I was called names in some occasions even before I suspected I was gay.

Have you ever been surprised at the reaction of people who know you are gay? Yes, surprised that they already suspected and simply didn’t care

What is the worst gay stereotype? Drug taking, promiscuous behavior.

Are you a stereotype? Nope

Ever been to a pride rally? Twice in London since I moved here

Do you go to gay bars? Rarely. There isn’t a decent one in the neighborhood and I don’t really see the point of travelling all the way to the city centre for a drink that I could have with friends in my area. I will go to a gay club to dance though sometimes.

How old were you when you first told someone you were gay? 21

Did you plan it? If so, how? I planned it. I needed to put it out of my chest. I took my female best friend of the time for a drink. I made a huge introduction about admitting something really serious and I blurred it out. By the time I admitted it she was scared shitless that I had a very serious health problem that she actually told me off for making the situation so grave.

What made you choose that person to tell? She was my best friend at the time. She still is one of my best friends.

How did you feel? Very relieved that she took it so well. I feared the worse. I made scenarios in my mind about her not talking to me ever again

Have you ever been snubbed by someone after coming out to them? No

Have you come out to your family? Yes. They are not totally OK with it, but we’re getting there. It just needs time

Why did you come out at that point? I was financially and personally stable. I had come to terms with it and I couldn’t hide any more.

Are you out at work? Yes

If not, why not?

If you’ve been outed unwillingly, who did it? It was unwillingly and I was outed by another gay colleague. It's all explained here. It was for the best though.

What does being out mean to you? I believe that every gay person has to go through a process of accepting who they are. For some that process takes longer and is tougher. For others it’s easier. Being out means that at least you’ve accepted the truth and you are willing to share it with the rest of world.

What advice would you give someone wanting to come out? Do not worry so much about it. Most people might already suspect or know. You will feel so much better after coming out that is all worth whatever risk there might be. In due time, it will definitely be for the best. It all gets better

If you could do it all again, would you do it any differently? If so, how? I made my choices and I know the reasons I had for taking them. I don’t think I would have done it differently.

I believe this song is relevant.

Unfortunately in my PC at the moment there is no audio output, so I can't check its quality. If it's bad let me know and I'll change it.