Exciting Perspectives.

Nell Blaine
American Abstract Expressionist Painter, 1922-1996


Sadly the weekend was not pleasant, a real shame especially because of the Gay Pride Boat Parade which took place on the wettest day of the year.

This is an event that is eagerly awaited by many, costumes and boat decorations are planned a year in advance and a lot of hard work goes into making it all happen.

Glad that it still took place despite the rain, which got less before the start and luckily even stopped at times during the procession down the Prinsengracht.

I was very happy that the weather did nothing to diminish the event; I read and heard from friends that the party went on regardless of the weather.

With lots of happy people in skimpy clothes dancing on the boats and thousands of spectators taking photos and enjoying the colourful annual spectacle.

Very glad that the summer weather seems to have come back today; it was good to see blue skies and sunshine once again.

Makes me extremely hopeful that my trip to the market at the end of the week will be pleasant and the weather is warm and sunny summer weather.

I really needed the sunshine today, especially as I was suddenly feeling down, I even cried abit and told Richie I felt pointless.

He cuddled me and comforted me by telling me that this was not true, that I was a lovely woman who he adored and who made lots of people happy.

That was good to hear and of course I do not really feel useless and without any point, but occasionally being so handicapped really gets to me big time.

It was lovely sitting in the front room until I started to feel frustrated that I can no longer say ‘’ I am off up the shops’’ and go there independently.

Feel like a caged bird, I am well looked after and life is good but I am no longer free to come and go and be independent.

It really is not easy to deal with glad I told Richie and cried and did not try to keep the tears and pain hidden.

Now I feel better, feel like my usual optimistic self once more, now the tears are gone I am looking forward to seeing friends and having trips outside.

Richie wants us to have a party as soon as I can sit for long enough, I love the idea think it will be lovely to do.

Hope we can do have a party when Gareth and Paul are over visiting Amsterdam in September.

That would be glorious, an exciting perspective for the near future and exactly what I needed.

Gay Pride Boat Parade

It is the annual Gay Boat Parade today, when when imaginatively decorated boats parade down the entire length of the Prinsengracht.

Today it has been raining for hours and has just stopped now, normally thousands flock here xto see the boats and to party all weekend.

100,000 visitors would not be unusual, think it will be less especially as the Gay Games are happening in Cologne, Germany this weekend.

Also four well known gay bars have closed, amazing to think that April and the Cockring are no more, their boats were always good.

Now thdere will be lots more company boats, and banks which are all very sober boats not really the spirit of the paradqe which is a flamboyant festival.

Shame about the weather, glad for me it is not nicer otherwise I would be so sad that I can not gro out.

Shame though as sun is always nicer, will keel this short off for a shower and to sit in the front room with my darling Richie and the dogs.

Brilliant Visit.

Slept badly last night, think I was overtired, after yesterday’s meeting to evaluate the adaptation on my wheelchair.

Yesterday was too much for me, also for Richie, my mind was still too busy thinking about the meeting when Richie turned the light off.

Felt out of sorts today, could not get moving and found that I could not do anything this morning.

This afternoon was totally different which was wonderful; finally I was not in bed for most of the day.

I sat in the wheelchair for 5 hours, got up at 3 pm so Richie could give me a shower and was ready and waiting for our visitors just before 5 pm.

Brilliant visit from Gareth and Paul and for the first time since early August last year I was in the front room to greet them which was really good.

It was lovely to see them in there for a change, instead of in the bedroom, it was really enjoyable.

Nice to see our two lovely friends again so soon, they were here on a visit on 16 to 25 November.

Sadly a very good friend of theirs Rob, died just a week later, they came over on Monday for his memorial service on Tuesday and funeral on Wednesday this week.

Really heartbreaking that Rob has died so quickly, his long term partner Steven must be heart broken without his darling.

What I find the saddest is that they were going to get married on December 7 th and Rob died on the 3rd of December.

Very sad, shed a few tears thinking of them both, two very sweet men, Rob had the most beautiful deep-set blue eyes I have ever seen.

I did not know them well, had the pleasure of watching the Gay Pride Boat Parade in 2003 with them and Gareth and some other friends of Gareth’s and Richie and I.

We will not forget Rob, I am sure that I will think often about him and Steven, and keep him alive in our thoughts.

Good to remember but important to live in the here and now, and enjoy the present.

Looking forward to sitting again tomorrow, now the support has been modified under my arms; I can sit without discomfort and look forward to doing more each day.

Gay Pride Boat Parade, Amsterdam, 2009,

Slept deeply and only woke up when I did, because of loud music on a boat going by on the Jacob van Lennepkade.

This is at the end of our road and this is when I realised today was the Gay Pride Boat Parade, really great seeing the boats at the end of the Haarlemmerdijk Dijk.

Remember 1997 it was quite a memorable year; we had friends over who we took up the end of the road to watch the spectacle.

We stood by a houseboat that had someone dressed as Cruella DeVille on the roof, he wore stiletto heeled long PVC boats and cracked a whip.

Every boat that came by he challenged and he would gyrate and crack his whip and the other boat would respond in kind.

A captivating and often fascinating sight, it was good to see Amsterdam’s gay face being so visible and attracting such crowds.

Hope the weather stays good so very one who comes to Amsterdam today has a great time, like the idea of happy people partying in the centre of town.

The boats start to leave up behind the Central Station, where they gather and slowly start to go down the Prinsengracht, the sound of the first boat approaching is very exciting as you get caught up in the high energy music pounding out.

The last time I went was in 2003 when it was a baking hot day and the canal was packed with people who had taken up their places hours beforehand.

That was the year before Gareth left Amsterdam and our friends Rosie and Jaya were over for a visit.

It was a great day, boiling hot and the Prinsengracht was packed, Gareth, who is gorgeous was attracting all the boats that went by to pause and flirt with him.

It was a wonderful sight, we all had a really good time, Jaya and Rosie enjoyed it very much.

http://www.nighttours.com/amsterdam/photos/videos.html

The mayor of Amsterdam is officiating at the weddings of five American-Dutch homosexual couples on a boat during the city’s Gay Pride festival, in part to challenge the United States to legalize gay marriage.
Mayor Job Cohen also performed the first Dutch ceremonies after the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001.
The festival attracts hundreds of thousands of gay rights supporters to dance on packed streets in the city centre and watch colourful boat-floats parade down canals.
The marriage ceremonies today are part of celebrations of the 400th anniversary of New York-Netherlands ties.
Today we heard the boats going past on their way either to the starting point and their place in the parade or to take up their place along the route of the parade.

Glad the weather has not turned nasty and the boat parade went off successfully.

I am also personally happier today because Richie has bought me some new tops so I now have a whole heap of tops to wear which is brilliant.

It was something we forgot in parts, then Richie would look but not find anything suitable for me, and that is how I have worn the same four tops for the last year.

Notice since I have the option to wear something different that I feel better, which I do and I look better.

Plus the tops are not as baggy so there are no folds and creases under me as I slip and slide around in the bed.

And Richie does not have to adjust the shirt because it has moved and is hanging off my left shoulder.

I am much more cheerful since I can change my tops; the new ones also feel so much better

Than the four I have worn all year and that is because the new tops are soft to the touch and feel good on my skin.

Well I intend to enjoy the rest of the day, hope it is a pleasant day for everyone.

Not nice weather at all today, it has been raining and there is a lid of grey thick cloud over the city.

Hope the weather improves soon, really would be good if it were warm again.

Especially for the Gay Pride Boat Parade which takes place on the first weekend in August, we used to live near the beginning of the event.

http://www.amsterdamgaypride.nl/amsterdam/

It was brilliant going to the end of my road to watch the boys and girls on their decorated boats putting on a show for the thousands who gather to watch and enjoy each year.

Hope that the weather will have improved by the end of July in time for this summer festival.

Today it is not warm, the windows are closed for the first time in months and Richie put the heating on briefly, probably for 10 minutes and when it felt pleasantly warm, he turned the heating off again.

Will ask Richie to turn on the lamp by his bed so it feels abit like day as it is quite gloomy and maybe switch on the red lighting strip too that runs above one of the windows and over a mirror that way it ill look and feel jollier here.

Still its good that it rained as I am sure the vegatables needed it as it has been quite dry here since April.

Quite a record dry and warm summer so far,mind you it did rain in England on July 15 which is St. Swithin’s Day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swithun

The legend has it that if it rains on the 15 July it will rain for 40 days, luckily we do not believe the old story, still interesting to see what happens with the weather in the next month and abit.

Whatever the weather we will be doing our best to enjoy it, must not forget to get the clothes organised so they are here for when I can go outside getting quite excited now, pretty determined to go out whatever it takes.

Would be brilliant if I could go out in the sporty wheelchair I used to use with the Speedy electric handbike but sadly because of lack of balance in my torso will need a different chair.

http://www.speedybikes.co.uk/elektra.html

The electric wheelchair will need quite abit of adaptions done for me to sit safely in it.

I should be hearing when the team will come round to evaluate my posture next week, that is what Ton promised on Thursday.

He said he would phone and tell me what date the appointment will be as well as the date he and doctor Stolwijk will be around for another pressure wound examination.

On the one hand not an appointment that I look forward to as there will be 5 big Dutch people in this room heaving me out of bed and into the chair.

Oh well will just have to let it all happen and let it all flow over me with the knowledge that it is necessary in order to get the wheelchair adequately adapted.

An exciting week ahead next week