overyourhead - some irreverent musings by a gay London guy - crawling though technology, love and life... so you don't have to.
Last full day at our beach resort before heading to the capital city tomorrow meant more splashing around in the sea 🌊 , more lazing on the beach 🏝️ , and more pool-side cocktails 🍸
Piña Coladas, Espresso Martinis, Ron Runnys, and Miami Vices.
Batteries restored🔋
Livers not so much 🤭
A few years ago I read Jean-Paul Sartre's epic Being & Nothingness - the foundational existentialist text arguing that human consciousness is "nothingness" (no-thing-ness) because it is not a fixed object, allowing for absolute freedom & necessity of choice. He contrasts this with "being-in-itself" (inanimate objects like palm trees and sand and toes) & emphasizes that existence precedes essence, meaning humans define their own meaning. We have free will. We make choices.
So as my toes wiggle in the sunshine I think about my own choices. I am nothing without them.
Next choice. Another cocktail? A Philosopher’s Stoned maybe? 😂🦶☀️🏖️😎🍸
So there is a bit of The White Lotus vibe to this place. Beautiful, lovely white sandy beaches, warm blue waters… All that’s missing is a dead body! 😂
A big Caribbean smile beamed at us like a lighthouse as we arrived.
“Welcome to the Iberostar Selection Coral Bávaro. Your home from home.
I see you are a Platinum member.
Is this your first time staying with us in the Dominican Republic?”
“Yes, yes it is”
“And what brings you two fine gentlemen here to our lovely tropical paradise? To the beautiful Iberostar Selection Coral Bávaro, your home from home?”
I think, “you said ‘home from home’ thing already”. Anyway…
“Well, Stuart here, he works in a hospice. In London. End of life. People who are dying. So he really needs a break. A ‘do nothing’ holiday.”
The guy at reception smiles an even bigger smile back at us.
“How lovely. So you both came to the Iberostar Selection Coral Bávaro, your home from home, you and your friend, for a break. How lovely.”
Stuart gives me a funny look. He fears what’s coming next.
“And, and, it’s also our 20th anniversary. We are also here to celebrate. 20 years together. Last week.”
The guy looks at me. Then glances at Stuart. Then back at me.
Stuart’s face is a picture. A picture Edvard Munch would paint. Thunder meets inner rage meets terror.
“That’s wonderful. 20 years? Together? How lovely. We will all make sure you both have a very special time here at the Iberostar Selection Coral Bávaro, your home from home. A very special time indeed.”
All the reception staff exchange glances. Each one puts on one of those big smiles where the mouth is smiling but the eyes aren’t.
“Victor will take you to your room. It’s right on the beach.”
As we are taken to our room by golf cart, and slightly out of earshot from our handsome driver Victor, Stuart hisses through his own fake smile with gritted teeth.
“What on earth did you say that for? About our anniversary.”
“Why? They’re aren’t homophobic”
“No. I know that. But if there are fucking rose petals on our bed tonight or sun loungers tomorrow - or worse, a fucking band comes to play at our fucking table like in Mexico - we’re leaving! I mean it!”
“Sorry Stu. It’ll be fine. I’m sure they won’t make a fuss.”
They will. They really will.
Wish me luck. Our very own home from home indeed. And who says romance doesn’t travel well?
Off on our holibubs. Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 here we come. Stuart really needs a break. So it’s sun🌞, swim 🏊 and rest 😴 for 10 days.
But first, a big breakfast! lol
After an hour long punishing body conditioning class at our local gym - cardio, lifting weights, doing sit-ups, push-ups etc. - Andy & I always finish off by dancing around the studio with a few of the others. A good way to start the weekend.
Last night Paul and I went to see Laurie Anderson: The Republic of Love at Brighton Dome in London’s glitzy Brighton. @laurieandersonofficial turned spoken word into a wonderfully odd political fever dream with Big Science, Language Is A Virus and enough existential dread to power the South Coast. @brighton_dome remains the perfect cathedral for beautifully strange evenings.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#LaurieAnderson #BrightonDome #BrightonFestival
The Emirates Stadium was jumping last night. Europe had been quietly conquered while everyone else watched the league table. Semi sorted. The final beckons in Budapest. One game from history, Arsenal want it, Arsenal are Hungary.
Yes, Arsenal brushed aside Atlético de Madrid with the calm of a side that now expects these nights. Bayern, Inter, Sporting all filed in the bin already.
Mikel Arteta kept faith with youth & was rewarded. Myles Lewis-Skelly played like this was all perfectly normal. Declan Rice did the heavy lifting with elegance. Ben White remembered he is quite good at football. Viktor Gyokeres caused chaos, Bukayo Saka finished it.
Onwards & upwards, my friends.
@Arsenal ⚽️ #COYG 🔴⚪️ #ARSATM 🥅 #Arsenal #Atleti #Saka #Rice
