The light of the dark

If falls and rises blanketing me
But the thing I notice the most
And only ever truly remember
Is the extremes of the light and dark
When it's night I look for the colour
When light I explore the dark
And so I'm not scared of one
Not over fascinated by the other
I can enjoy both to the full
And I save excess for laughter
To share with my friends and soul
In the darkness and in the light

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay

The oldest road in Britain - crammed with 2,000 years of history - a feast of famous people born and lived here and yet the story of Kilburn and critically the Kilburn High Road is one of the least known stories.

Next tour date: Saturday 9th July 11am meeting at Kilburn Park Tube Station.  All welcome.

(This article was first published on Liberal Democrat Voice www.libdemvoice.org)
If it didn’t exist would you create it? Well based on tonight, the answer for the London Gay Men’s Chorus was a resounding Yes.

As thousands of members of the LGBT community poured into Soho, supported by friends, family and a host of straight allies - everyone was very uncertain. The nervousness was palpable with no-one clear about what was going to happen next. There were a few attempts to get a political chant going, but the crowd was more contemplative. As the hour of 7pm approached there was a hanging sense of expectation in the air.

Sometimes you buy someone a present that you think will be fun, but nothing special.  So you are then very surprised when they react in a way that appears to go way beyond what you thought might be the response.  That the present then has a totally unexpected positive consequence is an even bigger bonus.
 
One of my best mates is an ice hockey nut.  In his own world, and he does have his own world, he lives a stateside existence - that would naturally include attending all home and away games of New York Rangers.  I didn't follow the timetable of American Ice Hockey (I now know it's the NHL - National Hockey League) but I knew whenever the Rangers played as his Twitter account would be screaming #LETSGORANGERS

Ed in the parkThe Emperor Trajan Decius was born here and I love it

Coming to the Balkans has been one of the most special things ever. I have seen a set of countries that fascinate and amaze - hidden treasures and history.

But most of all I have met people who charm, and talk and sing with enthusiam. And more than that I have made friends.

Today I fly back to London, to my home, my partner, my family and other friends. I leave behind hopes and fond memories. But before I leave I have just been for a walk round my favourite park here in Belgrade - Academic Park - the site of the former Roman Baths of the city of Singidunun. As I wander through I see and sense the history, I construct the stories and re-enact the chatter gossip and news of ancient times. For me it brings history to life and I imagine that the bold statues are former Emperors, Senators and Poets. I see the crumbling features and I imagine the decline of the power of Rome.

Cafe PrincipIt's good evening Belgrade and so I take my walk down of an evening to where the refugee camp is by the central railway and bus station. I arrive and as I sort of suspected it's cleared - the grass which had worn away has been lightly ploughed over, the open areas have been cordoned off and there is a sense of renewal. Everything has changed.