010.

I've been lucky in that I've always had wonderful men in my life.  From the time I was born, I've never known anything other than being treated like a star and, as I've grown up, I've appreciated that treatment more and more.  Not everyone gets this in their life, I consider it a blessing and think you should always be thankful for your blessings.  These are the things they've taught me, from the silly to the serious, my life would be less without them.

From my Dad

• The importance of being there as a parent.   If I ever have kids, I've learnt how to be a parent through him.  Love, patience and the importance of saying no.
• How to love music.  From classic rock & roll to blues guitarists to random folk music from around the world, I learnt it via my Dad's record player.
• How to fix a blown fuse.

From my Pa, who died when I was 11

• To love wrestling as a form of entertainment, escape and art.  This is his legacy.  I'll be 80 years old and watching two dudes in spandex battle each other.
• Kindness and generosity.

From Bob, my Dad's oldest friend, who died when I was 20

• The importance of knowledge.  Not being intelligent, but just knowing stuff.  He knew such random things and I vividly remember New Years Eve parties when he would hold court in the front room with many people hooked on his words.

From J, an old musician friend

• That nothing would ever be more important than my self respect.
• The importance of knowing who you are underneath any masks you may wear.

From CT, who will always be family

• That family is not based on blood, but on who is there for you on your darkest days.
• How to hit a beer bottle with stolen golf clubs off the top of a hotel roof without it smashing.
• That sometimes sobriety is the most adult decision you can make for yourself.

From Callum & Ivan, two boys I look after

• To always laugh.

From a drag queen I met in Soho one night

• If you have glitter, eyeliner and fishnets, you can get away with anything.

From Carl, one of the best people I knew when I was 17

• To love Jameson
• That it's not advisable to live on Jameson

From IW, someone I've known since I was 16

• To believe in yourself and your abilities even when the world is battling against you.

From Huey, who was a gentleman to a very drunk teenager many years ago

• Not to lose my sparkle.

From Matt, who was always patient

• That figuring out who I'm not is just as important as figuring out who I am.

From Fabian, my closest friend, who died when he was 17

• To live, not just exist.

There's probably more that I've been taught, and there's so much more for me to learn.  Not just from them, but from everyone around me.  Constant inspiration.  Take time to think about what life has blessed you with and appreciate it.  It may not be there forever.

xo

009.

It's time for a long overdue update of the Books I've Read This Year list! 
The italics show the list from last time.

1. My Appetite For Destruction - Steven Adler
2. Assholes Finish First - Tucker Max*
3. Notting Hell - Rachael Johnson
4. Strip City - Lily Burana*
5. Kill Your Friends - John Niven
6. Bye Bye Baby - Caroline Sullivan*
7. Tattoos and Tequila - Vince Neil
8. No Angel - Jay Dobyns
9. Assholes Finish First - Tucker Max*
10. Rachel's Holiday - Marian Keyes*
11. Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married - Marian Keyes*
12. Dirty Cash - David Southwell
13. A Lion's Tale - Chris Jericho*
14. Undisputed - Chris Jericho
15. Got Fight? - Forrest Griffin*
16. CSI: Skin Deep - Jerome Presler*
17. CSI: Brass In Pocket - Jeff Marriotte*
18. Can You Keep A Secret? - Sophie Kinsella*
19. CSI: Blood Quantum - Jeff Marriotte*
20. The Godfather - Mario Puzo*
21. Glamorama - Bret Easton Ellis
22. Palo Alto - James Franco
23. CSI NY: Four Walls - Keith R A DeCandido*
24. CSI: Double Dealer - Max Allan Collins*
25. CSI: Sin City - Max Allan Collins*
26. CSI: Body Of Evidence - Max Allan Collins*
27. CSI: Cold Burn - Max Allan Collins*
28. Sweet Valley Confidential - Francine Pascal
29. CSI: Grave Matters - Max Allan Collins*
30. Let's Spend The Night Together - Pamela Des Barres*
31. The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger*
32. Criminal Minds: Jump Cut - Max Allan Collins*
33. Criminal Minds: Killer Profile - Max Allan Collins*
34. CSI: Binding Ties - Max Allan Collins*
35. CSI: Snake Eyes - Max Allan Collins*
36. CSI: Killing Game - Max Allan Collins*
37. CSI: Headhunter - Greg Cox*
38. CSI: The Killing Jar - Donn Cortez*
39. Criminal Minds: Finishing School - Max Allan Collins*
40. Kill Your Friends - John Niven*
41. I Heart New York - Lindsey Kelk*
42. CSI Miami: Right To Die - Jeff Mariotte*
43. CSI Miami: Misgivings - Donn Cortez*
44. CSI Miami: Riptide - Donn Cortez*
45. CSI Miami: Heart Attack - Donn Cortez*
46. I Heart Paris - Lindsey Kelk*
47. The Last Living Slut - Roxana Shirazi
48. The Single Girls To Do List - Lindsey Kelk
49. Last Night At Chateau Marmont - Lauren Weisberger
50. Chasing Harry Winston - Lauren Weisberger*
51. A Kiss Gone Bad - Jeff Abbott
52. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone - JK Rowling*
53. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets - JK Rowling*
54. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban - JK Rowing*
55. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire - JK Rowling*
56. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix - JK Rowling*
57. Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince - JK Rowling*
58. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling*
59. The Nanny Diaries - Nicola Kraus & Emma McLaghlin*
60. Black Jack Point - Jeff Abbott
61. Life - Keith Richards
62. Faithful - Marianne Faithful* 
63. Wonderful Tonight - Pattie Boyd*
64. Everyone Worth Knowing - Lauren Weisberger*
65. One Fifth Avenue - Candance Bushnell
66. The Single Girls To Do List - Lindsey Kelk*
67. Ronnie - Ronnie Wood

I have this idea that some books can come to you when you most need them.  I've had Life since Christmas, and I started reading it then, but I wasn't ready for it.  When I picked it up again, it was at a point where I needed to read that book, to have a certain type of reassurance in the way I live my own life.  I ended up finishing that book in a few days because of what I needed from it.  Books can be escapism, books can be a reassurance, books can end up being whatever you need them to be.  Books are amazing!

xo