1. The leaf carvings in Southwell Minster are famous for their delicacy and extraordinary inventiveness. We visited the Minster and its Chapter House on the way back home to York today. I found one carving, (I think they are called corbels), is of a handsome little bloke who looked so like my good friend Dick it made me want to kiss it. Dick is by no means little, I should point out, if anything he has a very satisfying largeness to him. The little gargoyle head has a little dragon snake carved around him. I thought that was very significant and sexy in a psychoalchemical sort of way. I was thinking about the ouroborus snake that eats its own tail and the implication of circulating sexual energy and tension. But I let that thought go pretty quickly as it was far too silly. No, my heart found its way back to Dick and that naughty smile...
2. When we got back to York I finally mowed the grass in the back garden. The smell was divine, really spiritual and uplifting. And today the poached egg plants were beaming in the sunlight. The garden is now almost completely overwhelmed with summer growth. Allan and I worked for several hours to get some weeding and titivating done. It could seem like a hopeless task. What we really need is a garden boy who comes regularly on a Thursday afternoon. This makes me think of a delightful little story in Nigel Slater's book "Toast. The Story of A Boy's Hunger" which is a memoir of his childhood told through food and meals and related incidents...there was one afternoon when the gardener Josh was getting changed, ready for work "...his denim jacket is on the seat of his Triumph...Josh's white T-shirt is out of shape and so short it barley comes down to his belly button. It looks like he's had it for years..." Anyway, putting aside garden help fantasies (clearly Mr Slater did not...the chapter is entitled "Radishes" you work it out), I could use some help because otherwise my beautiful garden will become a beautiful jungle. I might as well admit that Nigel is one of my hero's, first for being a gorgeous gay man, outwardly at least, happy and contented with being himself, secondly I like his books a lot (except obviously for that weird one about drink, which I don't have, it might be called "Thirst") and thirdly because his book about his childhood mentioned above resonated with me in so many ways that I have read it at least three times and written a ridiculous essay for my degree course on a portion in it. (Very slight joke there). Enough. I want a Josh. (And I'd be happy with a Tom and Harry too).3. Third beautiful thing...there is a choice between honesty and appropriateness. I'd like to think honesty is the bestest policy but appropriate has its own careful joy too. I had an extremely unguarded and unexpected moment this evening which was wonderful fun and a pleasant conversation with he-who-must-not-be-named. (No, not Voldermort you fools, damn! there I said his name now too). You can judge for yourself which was honest and which was indiscreet. Hehe.
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