I haven't written anything in ages. Where does the time go I wonder? You know what it's like, you look back and BANG, a month has passed, before you know it, BANG, two months have gone, right there!
I joined a gym last month so that explains where a good proportion of my free time has gone. With the membership costing me nearly fifty pounds a month I am determined to get my money's worth out of it, and so far I've been going about three times a week. It's pretty good fun. I have to say the first couple of weeks were awful, I'd go and do my workout program damn near killing myself in the process. But I quickly saw my body tone up and I have to confess that I found that very rewarding.
Now I sail through my given workout, so I have added some new machines to the program. I'm currently trying to regain my six-pack which was, as I recall, only ever a four-pack. In fact after just one week of doing that new 'six-pack machine,' I have seen a difference, though I'm concerned that my four-pack may only be a two-pack now.
I have to confess though that the whole fitness freak lifestyle has remained just the other side of my understanding. Like everyone I see people jogging and stuff and I think to myself why would anyone do that.
Joining the gym was something I did more for the relaxation factor than anything else. I've finally gotten to a point where I can afford to be a member of such a place, so why not. I never expected for one minute to get as much enjoyment out of punishing myself as I apparently do.
Perhaps if I am not careful I'll become a gym junkie? One of those people who spend their whole life in a tracksuit drinking from a squeezable plastic bottle and running everywhere instead of walking. I mean for goodness sake I have even changed my diet to try and cut out some of the fatty stuff. Funny really when you consider that I am a slim guy to start with anyway.
It must be vanity I suppose. I've never considered myself to be vain, but here I am talking about wanting to have a six-pack, going to the gym in search of the elusive 'perfect body', and putting myself through pain to gain what? I pretty much wear Gap clothes all the time which are on the whole all baggy, so it's not like anyone would see my 'Action Man' body should I get one.
I don't consider myself to be vain but I wonder if those who know me think I am? However, that could be a can of worms right there couldn't it. I tend not to think about it really, and if asked I'd say I don't care. But do I really? Sure I do, we all do, though of course, we all say we don't.
For example, Louise, one of the hairdressers from downstairs, suggested today that I was like Alex from Channel 4's 'Big Brother.' I was curious as to what she meant, so I invited her to elaborate. She told me she thought I was "a bit camp."
"A bit camp?" I responded in a tone that was clearly one of protest. Then, as so often happens, the other hairdressers got involved in the conversation. Pretty soon the entire shop was saying how they could quite easily imagine me as a gay man! Pam, another hairdresser, said she could imagine me as a "trolley dolly" while Wenda, the boss, agreed that I would make "a good woman."
Now it's fair to say that I am not exactly a 'mans man.' I'm not into football, I don't like getting my hands dirty, I know nothing about cars, and I don't wolf whistle at fine young ladies in short skirts. But 'camp' I am not.
I am fairly sure that if asked my friends would say that I have a finely tuned appreciation for the fairer sex. They would describe me in many ways I'm sure, but I can confidently say that I don't think 'camp' is a word that any of them would use.
But it's out there now. The whole campness thing is lurking in the background of my thoughts. Am I going to become paranoid that I have too much of a spring in my step, or wiggle in my hips? Is my voice too high? What do I do with my hands when I talk? Is it possible that I have an inner camp guy who is somehow finding ways to make himself seen and heard?
Ah, what the heck. It doesn't matter what people think anyway does it, right?