WHAT. A. DAY! More than a million people, of all creeds, colours, ages, sexualities and identities gathered in the centre of London on Saturday for one occasion - the biggest event London has - Gay Pride!
Having started our day in the customary way - assembled at Our Sal's pub The Shaston Arms off Carnaby Street for bacon butties and fizz and final touches to the outfits and gossip and a few photos...
...we yomped down to Piccadilly to bag a prime spot opposite Fortnum & Masons to wait for the procession to arrive, buzzing with excitement and anticipation.
Eventually, with the roar of the Dykes on Bikes up the road, it certainly did arrive! Our gang (Me, Madam Arcati, Hils, Crog, Baby Steve, Houseboy Alex, John-John, Sal, Lou, Carol, Jen, Mark and "official photographer" Bence) stood for five hours, watching a wildly colourful panoply of representatives from community groups and charities, campaign groups, the inevitable corporates, educational bodies, the NHS, the armed forces, sports clubs, politicos, unions and associations, choirs, bands, religious groups, trans groups, the Masons(!) and Morris dancers(!); everything from puppy slaves and furries to drag queens and bull dykes, hunks, twinks, families with toddlers, older gays on double-decker buses, Z-list celebs, even David Furnish - you name it, they were there!
And everyone seemed to want their photo taken with us!
We didn't even see Peter Tatchell, but (of course) he was there:
Understandably, there had to be a point at which a combination of bladder pressure and aching feet was going to encourage us (reluctantly) to leave - and even after all that time, the parade extended as far as the eye could see!
Here's the "official" Pride in London synopsis of the parade:
Utter joy...
I haven't, of course, forgotten that it's a Tacky Music Monday - so let's have something rather appropriate from the irrepressible Miss Pearl Bailey [not that I would ever call her "tacky" - I wouldn't dare - but this particular production is so cheesy and camp, it fits the bill], shall we?!
It's been a jolt to be back in work today, dear reader. Have a good week.
[cick any pic to embiggen]
