Posted: 16-04-2025
I have had a busy first quarter of this year, culminating in several events in all parts of my life. Firstly my 50th I had an amazing week and just by chance had a lunch-date booking in a hotel I consider iconic. Combined with well wishes and cards from other clients, plus opportunity to surprise someone on their very-close-to-mine birthday, I truly could not have wished for more. Yes I like to give to whether it's time, a message, a small gift or memento sometimes personal, but almost always appropriately discrete.
So after a run of workshops, theatre trips, catching up with family, even fitted in a photoshoot with the photographer I have engaged with consistently over a period of almost 11 years. To celebrate this as well as my 50th, following a suggestion from a regular client I decided to recreate the 'nude on red background' shot inspired by American Beauty. The first shot was taken in 2015 and I thought it would be interesting to too recreate the same pose. The photographer unfortunately no longer has the same piece of fabric used in 2015, so we had to use a shimmery red throw instead. The result is very interesting, I have uploaded full versions of these photos to my adultwork.com profile private gallery, accessible for a low fee. When I have a moment I shall appropriately crop and watermark the image for upload to my gallery on this website.
This summer I have a series of trips or 'mini-tours' arranged, my tours are usually arranged around events, workshops or photoshoots. The first will be Liverpool in May, followed by Greater Manchester twice once end of May, then again in June, Blackpool in July. This autumn I already have a trip to Central Manchester in October, and I hope to arrange a visit to London probably end of November. Although I write these trips into my availability page see list under the week's availability, I rarely if ever advertise the dates and times. This is because on these trips I offer a handful of incalls or outcalls to clients I have already had prior contact with, when touring as when at my base I am what is known as 'low volume'. Also tour bookings have to be in place before I pack and travel (at least 48 hours before my first day in the area), I like to be prepared and do not accept same day or short notice bookings. If you are interested in any of these trips please feel free to contact me by telephone call, SMS text or email. I will then provide more details.
Posted: 10-01-2025
Christmas Time, Mistletoe and wine - except as some of you may know I omit the wine. This can however be quite difficult because so many festive foods do contain alcohol, to me this is obvious but this usually is a minefield for anyone who has not had this concern. I am used to looking out for ingredients in foods, chocolates, sauces and I know I do not have any desire for dealcoholised alcoholic drinks. This latter aversion is both association with feeling ill, as well as not wanting to 'emulate' something that might lead me back even after over 11 years.
So what does my Christmas look like? It looks like a normalish day, with a lovely meal, chocolates, sparkling water, lovely teas - I do like fruit infusions and a quality coffee or three, decaffeinated ground coffee being very useful.
Do I eat Christmas pudding, no because this tends to be soaked in spirit same for white sauce I do not. I have found alcohol-free versions of Christmas Pudding and indeed Christmas Cake to be dry and disappointing. So each year I have something different, this year I realised the ideal solution was right under my nose in the form of Cartmel Sticky Toffee pudding. This localish delight is sweet, sticky, a real treat and available to buy in many local as well as some national shops.
Sticky Toffee Pudding is likely to be repeated next year, this year I chose to serve with Haagen Dacz vanilla ice cream, next year I may try it with a luxury vanilla custard. Followed by home made (not by me) mince pies, and handcrafted chocolated (a gift) my Christmas Day meal left me replete and happy.
I hope you enjoyed your Christmas Fayre as much as I did.
