I've been to Morocco twice. The first time I went with Janet to Marrakech, the High Atlas and the Sahara. It was at least five years ago so I'm going on a memory lane trip now. We found a cute little riad online and booked it for the first couple of days with a view to making-it-up-as-we-go-along.

Roof terrace lounging area is the delight of most riads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The one place we definitely wanted to go to was Kasbah du Toubkal a mountain retreat in the High Atlas. We stayed one night and went on a short hike along a mountain stream.

What a view!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had dinner in this room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone for a game of chess?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the cab came to pick us up. Janet asked to have a ride on the donkey. That was funny watching her get on it - screaming - "Oh my God it's moving". Her first time riding! See how pleased she looks with herself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The night before we had debated where next? The Sahara or Essaouira on the coast! We chose the Sahara as it seemed like more of an adventure. So the Mercedes car was booked and we set off around the wiggly mountain range on the smallest of roads with sheer drop should we have strayed off our path. The mountains seemed to go on forever and subsequent journey took nearly three days stopping along the way to have lunch and see the sight.

As the mountains levelled out the rose coloured earth shaped the landscape making it breathtakingly unique. At the last moment I had thrown in a few CD's just in case the riad had a player. Lucky for us the Mercedes had one and we listened to the Budda Bar collection and Apollo 440 along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped to look at the film studio (from the outside) in Quarzazate but had to keep going as we were on a schedule. It's known as the Hollywood of Morocco.

 

 

More to follow such as...

...Once back in Marrakech we went to the garden of Yves St Laurent - le Jardin de Majorelle.

The Summer (2010) brings the best out in all of us. Positive thinking. Now is the time to be researching evening classes that will start in September.

So far I have considered artistic pursuits such as acrylic painting, paper cutting, and over-locking machine classes. However, there is still time for me to consider reflexology, Spanish language and joining a choir.

Paper cutting similar to this would be amazing.

I already paint so this would be about perfecting skills. This bull fight painting I did at and for my house in Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have an over-locking machine so they would be easy and useful. Watch this post for my decision :)

I think it's going to be Salsa classes.

 

Sebastian Horsely 1962-2010 (17 June) R.I.P.

 

 

 

 

The Funeral July 1st 2010 - was a very emotional, visually spectacular and enlightening day. From following the horse-drawn-hearse around Soho, to the beautiful eulogies in the church, to seeing lots of old friends at the wake.

Sebastian was buried on Thursday, July 1st 2010. There was a horse-drawn-hearse cortege from outside his home in Meard Street in Soho to St. James’s Church in St. James's Piccadilly were the service was held.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His grieving girlfriend and muse Rachel Garley, whom I met at Submission some 19 years ago, looked so sad but beautiful too. Rachel, now a successful make-up artist, she worked for me on a photo shoot with James & James a couple of years ago. Now she’s also writing Britain’s most outrageous sex column in Loaded. It’s like Sex In The City, but with a lot more sex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was sent his book to review for the Club RUB newsletter. Although I didn't feel it would fit in with the RUB criteria, I read it with relish and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've recommended it to many friends as similar path has been trodden!

I met Sebastian in a toilet (similarly as others have). However, we'd been in correspondence via email as I had asked him to do a book reading and signing a my friends book shop.

The week before Sebastian died a large group of us went to see his play, including the friend who owes book shops (she was so pleased to see him again). Afterwards sitting in Soho Theatre bar Sebastian popped in to say hello to the group. A nice touch and something I'm sure he did often.

The streets were lined with people who kept asking "who died?" Such that was the spectacle that paraded throughout Soho.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was so nice to say hello to Marc Almond again after all these years. He looked very well and we talked outside the church. I hadn't seen Rachel Garley's ex-husband Ian McKell for a good 15 years. Tim Woodward said hello. Robin from Home House. I finally met Kim West after all these years. Plus loads of others including Rubber Ron (Submission).

The church service programme. Photo was given to me as I signed the remembrance book.

Sebastian on whoring.

The Circus Is Coming To Town!

The older I get the more I seem to want to perform. My friend Maria calls me an 'old ham'! Now I don't thinks she's being rude because it means an actress, performer, show-off! I've performed in the Chapel of Love at Glastonbury, singing on stage at Cor Blimey and I MC all the shows at Club RUB.

I have just been approached by Wake Up Productions to do a walkabout act at the next Bizarre Ball on June 5th at the Coronet Theatre, Elephant & Castle. The theme is A Night At The Circus. Sarah from Westward Bound Latex Clothing and I will be a conjoined walkabout act. She will be designing our custom outfit with a very theatrical flair. The matching outfits Sarah and I are wearing below were made by Westward Bound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is me just about to go on stage at Glastonbury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is me singing for my supper at Cor Blimey.

 

 

 

 

My Art collection is small and not worth thousands but each piece is personal and tells a story.

 

I’ve got these two Trevor Brown prints that were given to me by a dear friend for my birthday. They had previously been on her wall. I’d expressed how much I love them and next thing you know – they’re mine! Trevor Brown has a book out called Alice and I would love that as it's my favourite childhood story.  You can send an ecard from his site too. Great for cheapskates birthday cards!

 

Here are couple of images from the 'Alice' book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a photo Boy George gave me. It’s a photo printed onto canvas of Amanda Lepore. He shot her whilst living in NYC. I love it. I think she is amazing, weird and wonderful. This is the second picture he’s given me. He also gave me a bejewlled military jacket too. George is lovely. He's a great person to follow on Twitter – very funny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vania Zouravliov produced six images for Club RUB flyers about ten years ago. He gave me this image below as a gift shortly after that. I also commissioned him to do a piece for a friends 40th birthday. The key subjects being a knickerless lady with a monkey! He did an amazing job and she loves it. Russian-born Vania’s surreally haunting illustrations capture a mixture of innocence, brutality, beauty, macabre, erotic scenes and decay. His resulting drawings are elaborately composed and demonstrate the technical brilliance of an old master.  I love these pirate image. Very topical as Club RUB has pirate theme on May 22nd 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is a DotMasters print - a limited edition of performance artist Roxy Velvet.  It's huge. My friend, one of the c6.org collective of artists, gave it to me for my birthday in 2008. At Glastonbury 2009 I met Roxy and told her she was on my wall. He also came and stencilled it on the front of the building I live in. Unfortunately it was vandalised!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glastonbury last year 2009 was special for me because of two things; the music and I camped for the first time. I stayed for six days too!

Saw Lady Gaga twice. The first time I was right at the very back of the Other Stage and she was but a pin prick in size. She came on stage wearing Atsuko Kudo latex clothing. I texted Simon & Ako and told them so!! Then the second time at the secret gig on the Dada stage in Shangri-la. I was at the very front this time (in fact I can see my hat in the film below). Here I am with Vicky waiting for Lady Gaga. I asked a guy behind to take a photo and he kindly emailed it to me. That's the Glastonbury spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Correspondents I saw at about 1 am the next night. I'd never seen them before and I was absolutely transfixed. The singer, who looked like the 'child catcher' danced like a whirling dervish and I loved the hip-hop meets swing style vocal.

Then DubFX impressed me phenomenally too! It was the following day just as the sun was going down on the Arcadia stage (last film at end. Notice the steam coming out of the metal tree) and the light & flame show was powering up. Didn't quite get what I was seeing and hearing at first. I was looking around for the band then I realised it was just him and his amazing voice.