Started this morning, with our free continental but substantial breakfast. I selected which man I would ask to join his table for breakfast. I picked a table of 3 men..should increase my chances? They are from Finland, left halfway through my eating to go to a football (soccer) game. Yeah, men and their sports.

After breakfast went for a long walk around the neighborhood more.

Suddenly there was a huge downpour!! yes, London weather!!! Maybe we’d get some cool breezes now. enough of than sunshine crap…that’s Texas weather. I want London weather cool and wet.

Came back, showered, got dressed, did some work. Went out again, found a Boots pharmacy, they have a cosmetics line I like, its available in the US, but have such a lesser selection.

Around 4, I was hungry. Walked a different way this time, Spotted an upscale Indian Restaurant called Takari. It had lovely modern decor. Not many patrons there, since I was an off time. The manager, a young guy, was very friendly. He had lots to say about my main topic, working managing clubs in London. he know’s where the bodies are buried.

The food was aromatic, filled with fresh spices and vegetables. It was spicy and just under the hotness scale for me, perfect, I can’t tolerate the heat anymore. All and all, a lovely dinner.

Walked around more, the settled in for the night, answering emails and reading. Reviewed questions for my interview tomorrow. Guess, it might seem like a boring day? It’s still good to be in London.

The Tenney’s woke me up at 7 am for breakfast. They’ve been here for a few days and said at the 7am breakfast there were lots of men my age. That might get me up at 7? Actually, I want to have breakfast with them. Today they are taking the Chunnel to France. This is goodbye for this trip. I’ll be in London for about another 10 days. They are traveling in central Europe for another month.

The breakfast was a free continental one. It had lots of choices and good fruit. Not like the cereal, toast and instant coffee in the hostels. We ate and said our goodbyes. It’s been fun to meet up with them in various locations.

Afterward I did some work, confirming my London interviews.

Decided to go to see the musical, “Miss Saigon”. It’s one of my favorites. On the brochure, it said they had 20 pound tickets beginning at 10am. So I’m walking to the Prince Edward Theater…it’s called a “day ticket”. It was 20 lbs and I’m on the 3^rd row!!! Sweet!!! 20lbs is half price of their lowest priced ticket… without standing in line at Leister Square for half price show tickets. To come back at 2:30 for a matinee. On the third row!!!!

My trainer won’t be happy with the pasta. It’s hard to find meatless dishes. Also hard to find salads and vegetables.

Had some lunch, then still had about an hour to wait.

My sister in law, Beth, teases me about finding a man. So while I was waiting out side the theater… decided to check out the guys in the many sidewalk cafes along the street. As I looked closely, there were lots of men all right, they were dining with other men..quite cozy as well. I was thinking…hummmm? Just then a lady said,” I used to work in this area, Soho, now its the gay area. That’s the way my luck goes.

Miss Saigon takes place in the last days of the fall of Viet Nam. A GI and bar girl fall in love. He is evacuated during the last helicopter out and she is left behind. The big special effect is a helicopter takes off from stage and the vietnamese are climbing over the embassy wall. It has a tragic end. Sure makes me tear.

However, the music is wonderful, especially with a full orchestra.

But it made me a bit melancholy and feeling sorry for myself. I’m in this wonderful city of London..my favorite city in the world…but all alone.

After I check out of here…thinking about going to another hostel. You are never lonely there!!

Woke up this morning early.. had several things to do before I left today. Had a pretty good stay. The hostel was old, didn’t like all those stairs. Didn’t like that the womens bathroom was a floor below. I didn’t pay any attention to those gender signs. When they guys looked at me funny as I walked into the stall. I just said “I’m a nurse”.

But overall people were nice and good subjects. As I was leaving the hostel, a man that was in the room when I did the interviews yesterday but refused to participate in the MOS, spoke to me. He said that he was working yesterday, but stopped his work, to listen to me conduct the interviews. He is complimentary to say that he was amazed to hear of the tactful way I asked such personal questions, without being too personal. He said I handled the people so well to get them to open up. He said I was a very good journalist. ahhh! It’s not often I get those positive things said to me. It gives me validation that I am on my right tract.

Walked to the train station with my heavy bags. My suitcase would be a whole lot lighter if I really knew what the weather would be. Everyone said, cold.. I packed a few of those layering pieces…and there they will stay.. it’s sunny and warm. I brought Texas weather with me. Drats!! My suitcase has grown heavier and bulkier. My electronics bag is just heavy. I pulled both to the train station, up a big hill. My first ever..Selfie..on the train I am now on the train writing this blog. Am meeting the Tenney’s again, the first time since Northern Ireland. We are all staying at the London School of Economics and Politics. I have a private room for the first time the whole trip. Can’t wait to walk around partially naked again, in my room. We are going to the west end theater this evening…oh, I love it so much. Having afternoon tea..another love..but they say it’s touristy. Not for me…it’s proper British…stopping in the afternoon for a cup of tea and scone…just gives you a second wind. But Most of all…I can’t wait to eat Indian food. It’s the best in London. That’s where we started eating it. We heard it was good in London, we walked into an Indian restaurant with our 3 little children…told the restaurant…we’ve never eaten Indian food before… what shall we order? It was so good, I think we still eat some of the same dishes. My kids have turned so many of their friends turned on to Indian food. I don’t know why it’s not more popular in San Antonio..it has many similarities to mexican food.

Arrived London, took a taxi to the LSE (London School of Economics) dorm. School doesn’t start until Oct. The taxi is only 9 pounds. I just love the London taxis..like little old fashioned limousines. Checked into my Private room, it was 38 pounds a night. The Hostels were 20 lbs and less. It’s nice to have a private room, wondering if I’ll get lonely though? It’s small, twin bed, desk, a sink in the room…great. I met the Tenney’s. They are on the same floor as me. We are having Indain for dinner. We got tickets to a London Musical,,,the Committments” it’s about an Irish band…playing Motown. The Music was great!!! Loved it. So back in my room, alone, about to call it a night. It’s great to be back in London.

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.

This morning, got up and ready. Walked to train stationing Manchester for a day trip to Liverpool. It took less than an hour. It’s really impressive. Condoms in the ladies room at the train station. Brilliant! You Brits. A favorite pic. Hit it just right. Heard it was an industrial town. The architecture, both old and new, is beautiful. My plan was to take the Beatles tour, Magical Mystery Tour. Got my ticket at the LIverpool station. I walked almost 45 min to the bus, up and down lots of hills. By the time I got there, I was ready for Magical Mystery, sit on your ass, tour. Prince Albert Pier at the Docks City Center in Liverpool. We all have our towers, like San Antonio, this one looks like a big mic The bus took us around to all the Beatle sites, where they were born, met and grew up. Our tour guide told us anecdotes of their life and played Beatles music.

Seems that Yoko Ono is buying up any property related to John Lennon and donating it “to the national Trust”. The National Trust preserves historical property like castles.

A friend asked John his favorite childhood memory..he said Strawberry Fields. It is a walled gate that contained a mansion, John would crawl over the wall and play as a child. His Aunt Mimi, told John not to..he said “It’s nothing to get on about”. We saw the gates of Strawberry Fields… it has nothing to do with strawberries. John told Paul that he wrote a song about his favorite childhood place.

Then Paul wrote “Penny Lane” about where he grew up. Today we saw, Penny Lane the street, now the whole area is called Penny Lane. We saw the barber shop, the fire house with the “clean machine”. We passed by the bank..that the banker was “very strange”. We saw the grave of Eleanor Rigby.

We ended our Beatles Tour with the song “In My Life”, probably my favorite.

“There are places I remember, all my Life..though some have changed” ….some have gone and some remain… All these places had their moments…of lovers and friends…I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living..In My Life,I’ve loved them all, but of all these friends and lovers, there is no one compares with you. of people and things that went before Though I know I’ll never lose affection for people and places I’ve been before, but when I stop and think about it…In MY Life, I’ve loved them all But in my life…I’ve loved you more.”

I’ve told my kids that that is the song I want played at my funeral. The legacy of the Beatles for me is they were the first to introduce me to rock and roll, the music of my childhood, that helped me cope with tumultuous adolescence… can’t do housework without listening to it.. to this day. John was my Beatle, the rebel and leader. His death was the first time I ever truly felt a personal loss from a death. Unfortunately, there were many more difficult losses to come for me. This visit to Liverpool was happy, reflective, and a lovely day.

Before I met Karen O’Moore, I already felt a friendship. She’s so gracious and has huge open heart. When I planned this trip to the UK, Cay, my co host, posted my call for women leaders in sexuality. Karen was the first person that I heard from. It validated my crazy plan.

She has kindly introduced me to others, they introduced me to others, soon I had a full agenda for a month.

Today, I am meeting Karen. She is picking me up! What a luxury!!!I I believe in the need for public transportation, so glad it is available abroad. It enables me to travel around. Would never attempt to drive here in the UK or in Japan, on the wrong side of the road? No way!

But down deep inside, my dark secret is, I love a car.

We drove 30 min to the picturesque village of Chesire, like the “Chesire” cat in Alice in Wonderland. That’s what it makes me think of. The Chesire “Village” is something out of  british movies, that I love. It made me giddy to visit one in person. Having been to London 5 times, never went to a village.

She took me to her home and studio. Its a lovely and modern cottage, with a very relaxing vibe. I set up my equipment at the kitchen table and we had coffee, me and tea, her.  There are Budda’s everywhere in her from, relics from her travels.

We got to know each other and did the interview. She is fasinating. Her family immigrated to South Africa, where she was born and raised. Her family came back and she did as well, later. She lives near to help her elderly “Mum”, as they say in Brit.

She’s spent extensive time in India….studying and meditating at Ashrams. (all la the book : Eat, Pray, Love)

She now works in Tantra massage, meditation, releasing spiritual blocks. She’s married to a great man, Mark. And has 2 sons and a grandson. Although she looks too young for that joy.

Her interview, I profiled her work, what kind of people that she helps. About sexuality in the UK, like.. safe sex, the talk before the romp…as I call it. The up tightness of people everywhere about sex. Then we talked about the second sexual revolution..what it means to me and what it might look to her. Then I asked..what can us sisters to do our part to bring about the second sexual revolution? You’ll just have to listen to the interview.

Afterward we walked to the village (love that word). Over lunch we really bonded laughing about love, loss, our children, how we met our husbands, my virginal love life ( darn!) It was a lovely fun day.

As I’ve said before, yeah, it’s nice to see all the tourist sites…but, for me, the joy in traveling is really talking heart to heart with another person. It’s pleasure that tourists rarely get.

She drove me back to my hostel. It’s growing on me..or I’m just too lazy to move. I stay down in the “lounge” working, trying to avoid those 4 floors of 3 flights of stairs on each floor. Sure It’s good for me, but I try to minimize the number of times I forget something.

Tomorrow planning a trip to Liverpool and do the Beatles tour.

Stay tuned for more adventures of Ann.

Woke up with morning at 4 am with the ear shattering fire alarm. Then staff banging on our door..get out NOW!! I packed the night before, I couldn’t find anything… I marched out the door into a cold dark morning, clad just in flip flops and a short kimono bath robe. After about 10 min  the fire department showed.

However, the stags just stood sheepishly to the side. We were suspicious, since they’d been running the halls yelling, knocking on doors and running away, yelling from the roof.

Then some guy walked up with fish and chips, offered it to several people that all declined, he hung around wanting to know what was happening. Started talking to me in my bed head, I’m a sucker. Then he asked if I would go with him for 30 min…he was talking away..can’t understand, was kinda going, uh huh, yeah… then he asked again if I would go with him for 30 min. When I finally understood.. I said, NO! By then we got the all clear and I walked in. All I could think of was getting back to my warm bed. I try to protect my hearing since working in audio. As I laid my head to my pillow there is a buzzing in my ears from the deafening alarm.

When I got up at 7 am, left for the airport…there was that fish and chips untouched laying on the wall outside. What a creep..did he think he could get a girl with fish and chips?

This mornings routine… taxi to the airport, fly to Manchester England. Take the train to the city center and find my hostel, called Hatters.

Where’s the city?

All went well, till the train. I almost went to Scotland. My ticket said city center..watched for marquise…no city center. I asked this girl near, she said its the next to last stop. We were leaving the city..going out to the country side. Through farmland…no buildings in site. Uh, Oh. I asked a man and he said we were almost to Edinburough, Scotland. So I got off the train, went to customer service. Was getting so frustrated with myself!! Caught another train going the opposite way. By the time, the conductor came by to collect tickets..I had to admit what a dummy I was. He didn’t charge me..but by that time the tears were starting to flow.

Made it to Hatters Hostel. The hostels have certainly been declining. I have a 10 bed mixed room. Its on the 4^th floor and “no lift” (elevator). There is one nice guy from Australia. Later a couple came in and hardly spoke..I introduced myself..as in proper hostel etiquette. She didn’t even give her name. That’s a first, I’ve found. There is only a boys bathroom on my floor. The girls in 3 sets of stairs below. I told the boys..tonight theirs will be co ed.

Not too sure about this place? I’ll give it tonight and may change.

My mission this morning is to visit the Apple store. My MAC won’t charge with just the converter. No problem with my android PC tablet…but those twitchy Apples..

Getting behind in documenting my work….it’s driving me crazy.

Also need to secure transportation and lodging for my next stop. I’m ready to leave

Belfast. I can’t understand anything they say. someone described it as..”they talk as if their mouth is full of marbles”.

Planned to take the ferry from Belfast to Liverpool. Wanted to go to Liverpool, since I was a wee lass… since the British Invasion…the Beatles. It began my love affair with all things British. When I met people from England..I said, “ I want to visit Liverpool”. They replied, “ But that’s an industrial town”… “yeah, but there’s where the Beatles are from”. I still plan to get there…

Started booking and found that the ferry from Belfast to Liverpool is 8 hrs!!?? I thought it was about a couple of hours. I don’t think I can handle that long on a ferry. It’s certainly cheap, 20 lbs. After much deliberation, I’m flying to Manchester..

Got to Apple store in the Victoria Center. Its beautiful, a shopping center that both inside and outside, incorporating the old buildings with the modern. Didn’t do any shopping other that apple, I have no room in my suitcase.

Had to purchase a new charger, 65 lbs, or US X1.7$. Ugh!

Walked around town, saw some sites. Fabulous architecture all around.

The City Hall is very impressive.

Stopped into a lovely restaurant for lunch, had home made mushroom soup.

I love how they bring you a whole pitcher of water, instead of asking for refils.

Delicious!

Back at the Paddy’s, the stag party is still going strong! They are still drinking…are really loud, and adolescent acting…lots of bathroom humor. Can’t believe the things boys get away with… rubbing their butts in each others face, simulated sex with each other, at the same time making anti gay slurs…I’ve been around boys all my life…never seen such.

The groom, pulled down his pants, pulled his penis back under the perineum.

“You wanna see my “man gina”. I said, actually it’s a “man vulva”. Oh god, grow up.

Guess I have to cut them some slack.

Of course they are ribbing me, of course. This one young drunk guy of the group, William, is following me like a puppy dog…talking to me…as I am trying to type and catch up on my work…I can’t understand a thing he says.

Woke up, met the Tenney’s for the complimentary toast and coffee. Left for the train station to Larne for a 1:00 meeting. Larne is northeast of Belfast near the coast. Saw the sea side, rolling green hills. Walked to the Bishop’s house with my recording equipment. Met Bishop Pat. He is warm, gracious, and and has a peaceful calm about him.. We talked about his book that I just read. He asked about me? Told him my story about how I got into radio, why I talk about sex on the air, and my catholic story about the hell the catholic church put Randy through when he was dying of cancer. He told me and through the interview. He said that 30% of priests are gay. The tragic part is that the gay priests preach each week in mass, anti sex, birth control, and no abortion. Then on the rest of the week they are living it up in gay bath houses and saunas. He said the church is full of hipocracy.

I even told him of my theory that confession is porno for priests, they make these absurd sex rules, then a good catholic must confess their sins, and this is the socially acceptable way that priests become aroused. Other catholics don’t agree, but Bishop Pat agreed. He thinks celibacy should be optional for priests. That priests have to supress their sexuality, its not good and comes out in other negative ways, like alcoholism, B. Pat developed chrones disease, autoimmune (attacking our own body) disease. He tried all his life to supress his sexuality.

His book “My Sexual Life, My Spiritual Life” says the church separates the body/sexuality as sinful but the spirit, is good and godly. He believes, and I do also, that they are all combined. Sexuality is a gift from god. I told him that I had orgasms that were a religious experience. He said that we can only understand God’s love for us if we’ve been loved and desired and we have loved another. amen  He said that at the moment of orgasm, people cry out “oh god”..this is an example of the spirituality and sexuality intertwined.

Being excommunicated, he is banned from every Catholic church. He built a chapel at his house. He does marriages, baptisms, and funerals there, of people that are refused by the Catholic church.

He now ministers to the people that no one cares for. He has a support group for 120 women that has children with priests. He visits the jails. Works with the poor. He came out as gay, by writing a column in the paper. Very brave!!

He has a long term partner. His belief is that we should stay in the church and speak out. He said with my catholic story, I should walk into the dioceses of San Antonio and challenge them. People get disgusted with the RC church and they quietly leave.

The last story in his book is about him going to heaven. The judgement is that “you did many bad things, Pat”, but then people stepped forward and said Pat helped them and changed their life.. a drug addict that he helped detox at home…. that I think is the meaning of life…we are here to help our fellow man, especially those worse off than us. I am now part of Pat’s rebels. It was touching and inspiring. What a meeting!! The interview was fabulous. Can’t wait to hear it again. I know it was be an inspiration for those in my very Catholic city, San Antonio.

Lady I met waiting for the train. We had lots of laughs.

People on the train. Don’t worry they agreed to the pic

Got back at 4:30. Met the Tenney’s for dinner. They found a nice up scale restaurant for dinner. Barking Dog. I had the most yummy fish.

Mike had seafood pie

Said Goodbye to the Tenney’s, they are leaving early in the morning, taking the ferry to Scotland. Told them to look for me some red headed men. Hehe, there sure weren’t any in Ireland. The northern Ireland men are really scruffy.

Got invited to the pub with others from the Hostel. We are joined by a group of “Stags”, a UK bachelor party. Seems in the UK there are bachelor/bachelorette parties called “Stags and Hens”. Each group goes off for a weekend, some times the same city..they do different things but sometimes get together later for a little “ nudge, wink, wink”. There are 10 stags, they are wild and very juvenile. The groom to be..wears a long pink wig, tu tu and jock strap pulled up to his shoulders…outlining his family jewels. They’ve been drinking since arrival. We walked to the pub. They continued to drink. I talked to this one scottish guy. I had my token drink and headed back. There is a DJ, but playing 80s and hip hop music. Hip Hop, I apologize to my DJ friends that play it, but you just can’t get away from that crap. hehe

My room, a fun group!!!

I won’t miss these metal cross bars on the bed. I’ve banged my head so many times from the lower bunk.

Tried to get packed last night. Have lots to do this morning.

Checked out of Abigail’s Hostel. It was a great stay, has lots of fun with the kids.

I said my “goodbyes” to my guys at the front desk. They put up my Night Moves poster for the staff. Said they will listen and send me an email.

Told them that I have you a good review..since I was the oldest here and had a really good time. Kevin, one of my favorites, said “ But you’re the coolest!” Ahhhh…

There was a big debate of bus vs. train to Belfast. Decisions..decisions…?? I chose the train, was only 20lbs sterling. Oh by the way, had to change money from Euros in Ireland to British pounds in Northern Ireland.

Left Dublin around noon for Belfast. Along the way, got to see the coastline, picturesque villages and green rolling hills. Flying into Ireland, the ground looked like patchwork of green with hedge borders, not the open range or the expanse of bob wire fences we see in Texas. Up close, it truly was irregular patchwork of green, bordered with dark green shrubs and hedges, just like it was landscaped.

Arrived into Belfast at around 3:30 and to Paddy’s Palace. Checked into a 6 bed dorm room. Seems quiet. Meeting the Tenney’s again, we are all staying here. Walked to Ryan’s Pub for dinner, a recommendation.. ate fish and chips… the favorite food of the Beatles. I’m getting close.

It looks different here than Dublin. They don’t consider themselves as Irish. The people seems more severe. And what in the hell are they speaking?

Red headed lads are rare.

Many say that they still want the British to leave, like in the US, we got rid of the British, but they still have ’em. I said geography is not in their favor…right next to England. Many that I’ve talked to, don’t consider themselves Irish. Other’s say they identify as British. Glad I went to Belfast, but it’s kinda weird.

Finished my night preparing for my trip to Larne and writing my interview questions for Bishop Buckley.