AirmaxUK

There's a 4* Best Western "Palm" on the A41 Hendon Way, which I drive past on my way there from the North Circular Road which looks to be walking distance if you don't mind a fifteen minute 0.8 mile walk. Closer than the Premier Inn. There's plenty of Ubers. I haven't stayed there myself as I usually drive to the heath from home.

The lockdown in and of itself wasn't so bad - it forced some things like being able to work from home which otherwise wouldn't have happened. The early days were quite anxious and I remember the moment I read the scientific paper with the modelling that suggested lockdown was going to be a matter of months, not days or weeks. But lockdown brought a confluence of other issues with it. My mother received a diagnosis for pancreatic cancer a week before lockdown and was stuck in hospital and we were unable to visit. Various treatment options were off the table "because of covid" and even getting simple things done like getting a dressing changed or access to supplies was an utter nightmare. It wasn't until a year later and after involving her local MP that we have access to the right services, care, supplies and advice. It seems like "Covid" was a universal excuse for everything - I could write a book about what we've been through but honestly some of it was so ridiculous nobody would believe it. At least fighting for her has given me some focus outside of work. Caring for an older person who has a vulnerable illness meant that I had to be more careful than most with regard to contact with other people. Work has been ok. We have seen good demand throughout and actually revenue was up just shy of 5% despite the covid year. I get to work a mix of 60% at home and 40% on-site. It is interesting to see that some people have really gone the extra mile through the pandemic and others have slacked and hidden behind the pandemic using it as an excuse why something can't be done rather than find creative solutions. My partner is 100% at home since Jan 2020 and that has affected him quite badly. That's beginning to change a bit now he can get out and go to the gym. Outside work, motivation has been low for us both. That is a struggle to get over. You read about people using their time to learn a new language or something, but I can't imagine that. All the things I enjoy - going out, meeting guys, motorcycling, travelling, photography have been curtailed by being locked down. Eating and drinking has been a coping mechanism - we've both put on weight which is now a focus to try and reverse. But on hard days it's easy to be bad... and there's not a lot of other ways to blow off steam right now. I'm thankful for my PT who has been a constant force of positivity and being able to exercise with him even over Zoom has been great. So... its been a mixed bag. I am sure it would have been worse if we were furloughed or out of work as well.

This may be of interest - although the section on Safari is a little out of date: [think before following links] https://www.howtogeek.com/241006/how-to-block-third-party-cookies-in-every-web-browser/

See: [think before following links] https://www.varsity.co.uk/fashion/20084 [think before following links] https://vinnf.medium.com/i-wear-yellow-laces-in-my-boots-6f45916812fa

I like the feel of wearing boots that are very tightly laced, but loose can look good too - I guess it depends on the circumstance. You need to plan around taking them off and putting on taking time - especially with something like 20 or even 30-hole rangers... and boots with zips is just cheating. Socks - for me, its gotta be long soccer soccer/football socks - colours to reflect interests - typically blue or yellow. Laces - I try to keep to original colours and styles, but did go through a phase of yellow or white laces in my rangers - which I stopped after someone informed me that white laces in tall black boots was a racist thing.

My fave boots are black Austrian Army boots from a surplus store - they have leather inside as well as out and are super comfy and supple as well as looking the part. German Army boots are more common and look almost identical but lack the leather internal lining. eg: [think before following links] [think before following links] https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/austrian-kaz-03-combat-boots-surplus/64337 For a more urban look, I prefer Timberlands - the classic Premium 6-inch boot in the 'sand' colour but also in matt black. I think in the US/Canada you can get them in 9 and 12 inch height as well, both of which are on my want list.

Also seeing the same thing as of 11:30 3 April 2021.

I believe the idea is that by request the chemsex area can be hidden. I think it is aimed at guys who're in recovery and don't want to be triggered.

Being a little autistic, and as a result having issues with making and holding eye contact, my favourite ways to signal are typically also clothing related: GearBerlin T-shirts - various graphics and slogans. Some more subtle than others. I own "Böse" "Proll" "Sniffer" "Sneaks" and the one with the gas mask picture. [think before following links] https://gearberlin.com/collections/t-shirts G-Star RAW had some nice t-shirts a couple of years back with "RAW" very large and a line like someone had spilled some talcum powder... Sk8erboy Socks - with FCK ABL, BONE ME, or "Fuck My Socks Off" Nastypig Socks Also "FroKnowsPhoto" has a line of t-shirts with the slogan "I Shoot RAW" in various styles to publicise his photography website and YouTube channel. I own three of those - my favourite being the one with "I Shoot RAW" in the style of the Back to the Future movie logo, second favourite being the one in the style of the Stranger Things logo. The socks have gotten me attention in everyday life and the I Shoot RAW t-shirt also gets comments. Always looking for new ideas. Biohazard symbol stainless steel "jewellery" and pins from AliExpress or Banggood was my last foray before lockdown.

That's the classic cruising technique. There are variations... The one you describe for works well for situations in a bus/train/bar. The other I recall is making and holding eye contact as you walk towards each other - pass by - count two steps after passing and then turn your head back and smile. If he does the same, then the your're on. It is most successful in places with a decent gay population like Brighton or London in the UK but this all relies on the other person being somewhat aware of their surroundings, and these days people don't look up from their phones in situations where cruising might happen.

Do you have any details or a link to share?

In the past when I've advertised on BBRT, I've used "A hard cock is much more important than age, abs, or inches". Seems to work!

For me, I believe that if you're advertising on "Local Parties" or "Quick Connect" you should make sure you're prepared when the ad is posted or prepared in time for the time slot advertised. If you're online looking to hook up then the same thing applies. So, I do try and make sure if I am cruising online, I am at ready to rumble. Advertising on BBRT's Quick Connect is a way to signal that. On other sites it is hard to stand out from the masses as being ready. You wouldn't go out cruising on the heath, meet someone and then say "Oh, I have to go home and clean out first." I think a lot of guys (especially right now) are more into the idea of getting off and are satisfied with validation it brings when someone is interested, rather than go through with it.

When I talk about ground rules - perhaps those are too harder words for what it is. Guidelines maybe better. We're both human and recognise not perfect: so neither one of us has the right to take the moral high ground over the other. Both having the same understanding of this really helps.

Absolutely. My partner and I share a philosophy that differentiates between "play" and "intimacy". We realised that although well suited for each other in most respects, in terms of kink and sleaze there was some stuff we were into individually, that the other was not. We developed a few ground rules, and it means we can play with others without fear of making the other feel uncomfortable or jealous. It works well for us.

I know at the moment we can't travel much (#Covid) and with enforced closures the scene is in a state of flux. But it's nice to dream. Years back, I used to never go anywhere without my Spartacus book, which listed every bar, club, adult bookstore and gay-friendly business worldwide. That kinda vanished as the internet took over, and while there are some great guides out there that deal with specific places (eg patroc.com in Europe) I wondered if anyone can recommend guides that are US centric or worldwide. I know there are gay travel sites, but they tend to focus on the fluffy twinky places. Particularly I wonder if there is anything that might list the kind of events and places that would appeal to a BZ member... I guess squirt.org has cruising spots. I know there's a site that lists the parties in NYC. But the information is fragmented - it would be nice if it was all in one place - does this exist? eg: was thinking about perhaps a trip to Sawmill in FL and wondered what else of sleazy interest was nearby?

So glad they're still active. I had some many awesome experiences here and at Scheune. I was quite upset when I heard the rumour they'd closed permanently. I can't wait for them to reopen too!

The upcoming issue will be that once vaccinated some people will think they have carte blanche to ignore the rules. Truth is even though someone has been vaccinated they can still carry the virus and pass it on but it is less likely they'd have symptoms themselves so more likely to be unaware they are a danger to others.

I think the branding on the yellow one was embossed into the silicone and the red one was printed. Both survived the sauna, SOP, and daily wear. The best option would be embossed, filled with another contrasting colour for durability.

I always thought those rubber wrist bands that were popular a while back were a missed opportunity. They were sold to raise money and were a solid colour usually printed with the name of a charity. I got a load of yellow ones and blue ones which I used to wear on my wrist or ankle in the sauna or in bars, etc. You can get them printed with anything - would be cool if you could get one with the "Breeding Zone" logo or even Biohazard symbols on to wear on left or right wrists (or both) as appropriate to attract others with a similar interest. If guys think it is a good idea, I might get some printed up.

I remember when The Hoist was open in London they had a sportswear-wrestling-gunge party. They had two inflatable pools one with Natrasol (sp?) in it and another for hosing down/cleanup. They advertised that anyone could have a go... being well into this, myself and a friend attended. The evening started with some Portuguese wrestlers putting on a show to get everyone in the mood. Dead keen, we put our names on the list to have a go. When we were called up for our turn, we were told by the promoter - in front of everyone - that we had to go to the back of the queue so that "the hot guys get a go first, and if there is any gunge left at the end of the night maybe you can have a turn". We left and never went back. It's funny how the community can be all about equality and acceptance, yet we can also be our own worst enemies. That said, we have had some great fun at Laboratory in Berlin and The Boots in Antwerp when they have had mud and gunge events. Everyone gets stuck in and generally there's no judgement. Usually in the UK around April-May time we get a lot of heavy rain showers without the weather being wintery cold. This is ideal for outside play in the mud. There's a few of us who like to meet up at Hampstead Heath when it is wet and rainy in rubber, hivis Workgear, or football kit, play in the heavy rain and find some mud. Not sure I would play naked up there as there are too many twigs and stones!

The tangible pre-vs post Covid change will be that some venues that offer opportunities to meet and play will close. For instance, London's biggest sauna in Vauxhall has already permanently closed. I know other places are asking for support with GoFundMe pages to try and stay in business. Licensing policy and property prices will make it difficult to replace the ones that close. Not just in London, I hear a few of my favourite haunts in Berlin have permanently closed. These places need our help and support or they will be gone.

That one sentence says so much.

Unlicensed events need to be very tightly controlled: It only takes one queen to be upset because he didn't get the attention he thought he deserved and contact the authorities as revenge to ruin it for everyone.

I never did the phone hook up boards much: in the UK they tended to use £1/min premium rate numbers and had looooong messages you had to listen to in order to maximise profits... What I did have success with was newspaper small ads, especially in the free papers. Craigslist, but in print. Also ads on Teletext (for those not in the uk, teletext was a free videotext service broadcast on tv channels) yielded some interesting meets. There used to be fetish clubs you subscribed to and they sent printed news letters in the post with personal ads and member lists in the back with phone numbers. In the early days of dial-up internet, IRC text based chat was very popular as well as email mailing lists. That was a really good community, and the two main UK channels, used to have regular events and meet-ups. When it became mainstream it began to become the cyber wasteland you describe...