Yesterday, I was planning to head  to London with a stop in Oxford. The goal is to interview Cynthia Graham, PhD, A psychologist that works with sexual issues in the UK. She teaches at the University (Uni, as they say here) in Southampton and her practice is in London and Oxford. However, I got an email from her saying she was under the weather. We’ll try for next week.

Woke up a bit tired from walking all around Liverpool yesterday. Decided to stay in Manchester for another day. I need to do some laundry, out of socks and underwear. I have one pair of silk ones that I can hand wash and they dry overnight in my room. But my usual cotton ones take 2 days…no, I do not wear “granny panties”. I wear high cut leg bikini’s, but 100% cotton, like the lady parts to breathe, hehe. Enough about me.

Went to the launderette ( washateria..as we used to say in the south). Had a veg breakfast..the English breakfast..with no beans, no sausage, no bacon, no mushrooms and none of that fried grease stuff they call “pudding” .

I walked to the train station to get my ticket to London. Advance purchase is 27 pounds, if you buy on the day, it’s 79 pounds. X1.7…for $$.

Also walked around and took pics of the architecture. There are many ornate red brick buildings. The area I am in, many are vacant and are being refurbished.

In the afternoon, Katie, a 20something agreed to sit for an interview.. to peek under the sheets in Manchester and the Millennial generation. It is done in the second floor lounge. There are others present, they agreed to turn off the TV and some participated. We did the man on the street (MOS). Then two boys were into in and agreed to sit for a short interview. Michael, age 24 from Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a tall, bearded, almost red headed lad. He talked about sexuality in Scotland and contemporary UK. He came around later, sniffing, think he may have had something else on his mind? Then I interviewed, Martin, from Denmark…a sexually liberal country. An interesting point that is they do sex ed comprehensively starting at the beginning of school. Women can do topless everywhere, but that’s changing. He said even the gay guys love to see the boobies.hehe

Hatters Hostel

You’re thinking that’s not too much stairs, there are 3 sets between each floor. On the 4th for, I had 12 sets to walk up

They had to change my room at Hatters Hostel… I was with a room of Italians, except for one Australian, ( BTW, Shawn the Aussie, met a girl here, there was sure a smile on his face) Some of the Italians were friendly and some not as much. It seems that the economy and job situation is very bad now in Italy. They are all here on a 3 month “internship” in the UK, then if the employer likes them, they can stay in the UK. Maybe we should adopt that with Mexico? One of the Italian guys slept in a bunk above mine…he walked in with really bad BO (body odor). I wasn’t sure what I will do…I can’t stand it…do I mention it? Whew! He grabbed his towel and went straight for the shower.

One of the Italian women has a Finnish boyfriend, he looks a bit younger. She said he never wants an Italian man..to stuck on their mothers. Was told that sexuality was open in Rome and north of Rome. However, In the south of italy…very conservative…influence of the catholic church…a la..the Godfather?

After a few hours of interviewing was tired, checked emails.. Went to my new room, worked on getting packed and organized for my my trip to London tomorrow. Couple of weird guys in my new room…British..one about my age and a bicycler…he said he didn’t know if he was gay or not, but liked young men. He said he doesn’t know why but the young guys like him? I can relate the mystery of young guys liking you. The other guy was English, just moved to Manchester, he wanted to stay up and party…drank 2 bottles of wine…wanted me to partake..I like wine but not that swill. Not to keen on drinking from a bottle of a stranger. I declined. There’s a couple of girls in my room, but they don’t have much to say. It’s goodnight for me.