Desperately Seeking??

(2026 Edit - This post was found in the archive, dated 12 November 2027 at 12:48. The images from this post have unfortunately been deleted.  I was living and working in Brighton during that time.)

Welcome to the Seafront Diaries, your insight into the lives of a small select Brighton boys and girls as we go about our daily lives. Think Sex And The City, but with boys and in the gaytropolis that is Brighton, oh and less make-up!

So there we were, David and I heading up to town on November 5th, ready to explore the big smoke. David is one of those happy, jolly, forty-something gay men who have a youthful passion for music, drama, divas, musicals and Starbucks. He's always fun to go out with, as well, to be honest, you're never sure where it will end, if indeed it does. (You can check out David's world on David's Daily Dramas!

!) Anyway, having taken the train to Victoria and then a number 38 to the end of the West, David suggested we head to my own citadel of casual fashion - the newly opened store of American casual kings - Abercrombie & Fitch! Now, call me Queen Silly of the Silly people if you wish, but I'm never one to miss out on a retail therapy opportunity. So without so much as a swish, we found ourselves walking through the mammoth doors of this new outlet of style. One of the first things that hits you as you enter is the grinning, shirtless hunk, who will have his picture taken with you if you so desire, then it's the loud and rather jolly camp music blasting at 80's club levels!

I was as happy as a pig in shit as we trounced the piles of neatly folded garments and set about picking out a few items for my purchase. It must be a requirement to be young, skinny, and stunningly good-looking to get a job in that place, as all the assistants were on the drop-dead side or gorgeous. One or two even cause that familiar waking sensation in the trouser department, especially as one of the sexier members asked, "Can I give you a squirt?" sadly, it wasn't a squirt of himself, but the latest Abercrombie fragrance that filled the air! Oh, I had such delight in the store, David less so as he carried my purchases around like an obedient little man servant, indeed, at the moment, I believe the world should have its own personal David! Not only did he carry my selections of casualness so my hands were free to grab, fondle and stroke other garments, he also advised on the suitability of said items upon my person. Oh, I loved that place, it's dark wood, it's homoerotic pictures, it's sexy staff, and the opportunity to purchase such delights, I damn near had multiple orgasms on the spot!

£150 later, we made our exit and headed off to The Admiral Duncan on Old Compton Street, the main drag of gay Soho. The AD, as you may know, was one kind of blown up a few years ago, and to be honest, nothing has happened since its little refurb in the intervening years. The dirty state of things didn't bother me by any stretch of imagination, for I had my classic Abercrombie bag and a smile as wide as the Humber!

Suitably refreshed, we headed over to The Dress Circle, a strange and utterly fab theatrical retail abode of a strange camp fellow who had a striking resemblance to a slim Amistead Maurpin. We dallied around for a little while picking up a glass of cava, looking at the various goodies, books, t-shirts, magazines and other items with a theatrical bent. I picked up a hot new Les Mis top with 24601 emblazoned across the chest. David picked up the tickets for the main reason we were in town - the show. We'd plunked up for Desperately Seeking Susan, the new music about the Madonna film, but with the music of Blondie - yeah, go figure.

The Novello Theatre along the Strand used to be called The Strand, surprisingly enough considering its location, and before that it was The Whitney (nothing to do with the Huston family, I hasten to add), and it started its life as the Waldorf! Amazing the things you can learn from the programme. So there we were, settled and refreshed and watching the musical of one of David's most cherished films, well, anything to do with the blonde one that is Madge, and our dear old David is smitten, hook, line and sinker!

It's a rather fast-moving show, lots of Blondie tracks, lots of singing, interspersed with drama, taking the story along. It was nice, it was good to hear the songs of Debbie Harry blasting out on a West End stage, but as a bit of theatre? Well lets just say that it wasn't only my bum that was numb by the time the safety curtain fell. Actually, the ending, the grand finale, was the best bit for me, the bit that I most enjoyed.

Anyways, it being a Monday in the big city, David and I headed back to The AD for a couple more until closing time. Now that did strike me as odd, down here in Brighton, the pubs very seldom have a set have a closing time, but in the big smoke that is London Town, they did. So we left the Duncan and took a bus and a train back to our Sussex By The Sea with a fringe on top that makes one feel right at home at once. You can take the girl out of Brighton, but you can't take Brighton outa the girl!

Now, I'm not sure whose idea it was, personally, I'm blaming David, but as soon as we'd placed my Abercrombie selections in the safe environment of my apartment, we headed down to Legends. Oh dear, the pints were sunk, and the drink was drunk, and I have no clue how it happened, but I was back at home making a three-egg omelette at 4.30am!

Did I feel bad the day after? You bet I did? Did I enjoy the night before? You bet I did; however, the later stages of the evening do escape my memory banks! As I said before, going out with David is always an adventure as one never knows how it's going to end, or indeed where!!!