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Tim's Dublin
Diary 2 - September 2001 |
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Tim's Dublin Diary is a
regular piece on the scene (and things connected with the scene)
in Dublin. If
you have any ideas or comments for the diary sections please
mail hello@gay-ireland.com
- Also check out Part one of Tim's Diary here
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Monday,
10 September 2001
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Hasn’t
Shirley Temple Bar done us all proud? RTÉ gave our Shirl
one whole hour to entertain the nation — and entertain
us she did. The best part for me was when she performed in
front of an audience in San Francisco. At the start you
could sense the anticipation — would Shirl power go down
well in the US or would she fall flat on her plaits?
Needless to say, the audience loved her. And the hostess,
Pippy Lovestocking, (what was with that yellow hair and
green make-up?) paid the ultimate compliment by saying
Shirley had pretty much stolen the show.
I
know that Declan (Shirley’s friend) was going out on the
town once he’d watched the programme — I hope you all
bought him a drink!
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Tuesday, 11
September 2001
I
wrote that yesterday. Today I don’t really feel like writing
much at all. I’ll always remember where I was when I heard. A
friend of mine at work told me while I was working on my computer.
Two planes. Twin Towers. I thought he was joking — until I went
downstairs and listened to the radio. Once home, I did what the
rest of the world was doing — watching the blanket coverage of
events from America. Seeing for myself the planes crashing into
the side of the skyscrapers was incredible at first. After the 15th
time, I felt nauseous. Nobody knows where this will end. All I
know is — thank God — my friend Dearbhail is safe.
My
boyfriend Colm and I were at the top of one of the Twin Towers in
February. Our anniversary is on St Valentine’s Day and we
planned to celebrate our second in New York. Plus, I’d always
told myself I’d go to America before I turned 30 — which was
in April.
Standing
at the bottom of the Twin Towers looking up, I felt as if I was in
the presence of a great power, something that demanded respect and
attention. It’s hard to believe that they’re gone. Rubble in
the street and so many thousands missing. I’ve prayed for them
every night and can’t get the feelings of unease and dread out
of my mind.
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Friday,
14 September 2001
I
was meant to go to Miss Panti’s Casting Couch on Tuesday
(11 September). However, due to obvious reasons, we all
decided to leave it for another time.
A
friend from work, Mary Margaret, is the brave soul who
gets up on stage and sings her lil heart out. The first
time Mary Margaret got up on stage, she was quite nervous.
Miss Panti asking her if Mary Margaret was her real
name?/couldn’t her parents agree on one name?/weren’t
two people meant to be on stage? probably didn’t help!
Despite her nerves, she gave us a sparkling rendition of
Wham’s Last Christmas.
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That
night was the first time I’d ever tried flaming sambucas. Got
extremely drunk — no thanks to Dearbhail — and don’t
remember much more of the night.
I’ve
always liked the Front Lounge. A friend told me (all those years
ago) that a new bar had opened and that it was gay friendly. I
asked how he knew it was gay friendly and he told me I’d realise
as soon as I stepped in the door. He was right — there is
something about a huge chandelier that screams pink punt!
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My
most memorable night in the Front Lounge was the night
Robbie Williams was there. He was sitting with a friend at
that huge, mirror-topped, rounded ‘table’ that used to
be under the chandelier. My best friend, Martin, just
happens to be a huge Robbie fan — to the extent that he
used to have a Robbie shrine in a corner of his bedroom.
Arriving into the bar that night, Martin’s legs turned
to jelly once he caught sight of his idol and a stiff
voddy was duly ordered. We had only planned to stay for
one before heading over the Liffey to the Playground at
the Temple of Sound (ahh, the memories!). Needless to say,
I was ordered not to leave the bar by the now perspiring
Martin. Somehow he got up the tremendous courage to go up
to Mr Williams and ask for a kiss.
Now
I don’t care what people say about Dublin being this
cool city where no-one cares if a celebrity walks into a
bar — they do care. People may have looked as if they
didn’t care if Robbie Williams was in the bar, but the
truth is they were acutely aware of his presence. And that
is why when Martin went up to Robbie and asked for a kiss,
people watched and waited to see what would happen. Now
aware that all the eyes in the surrounding area were upon
him, Mr Williams played a stormer. After being told he
could have a kiss, Martin moved forward for a peck on the
cheek. It would not be an understatement to say that he
(and most of those in the bar) were slightly taken aback
when Robbie grabbed Martin’s limp body and placed a huge
smacker on his lips.
I
don’t think I need to tell you Martin’s mood for the
rest of the night… |
More
next week
by Tim - September 2001 |
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Other online
Diaries
Tims
Diary - Part 1
Revvlon's
Diary
Sex
and the city
Dial Emma
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