There has been a dramatic reduction in my HbA1c thanks to my Medtronic Insulin Pump. I’ve gone from a HbA1c of 99 to 58. This means I’ve gone from being in the red to the green. It’s all thanks to the insulin pump’s SmartGuard, an algorithm that helps manage my blood sugars and insulin through use of a sensor and pump that work together via Bluetooth.
I’m feeling the benefits of a better controlled blood sugar – less tired, more energy, less susceptible to infections and next to no symptoms of a high blood sugar. There are benefits to my mental health as well, I don’t feel like I’m constantly failing to manage my diabetes anymore and like it is a constant battle every minute of the day.
The hole in the roof of my mouth is still there and still causing me problems with talking, eating and drinking. The surgeon wants an MRI and CT scans before proceeding, but there is a two to three month wait for these on the NHS. I often find myself apologising when I can’t be understood by others and it inevitably impacts on all areas of my life. But it will get fixed and that’s the main thing. This is temporary.
Reading Time: 4minutesWhen’s the last time you saw a gay character in a mainstream movie? A while? Recently? Although gay people are under represented in the film world, there are more of us around than you might think.
We’ve put together our list of the top 11 gay characters in mainstream movies. Each one of them is terrific in their own special way. Here’s the list:
11. Dr. Frank-N-Furter – The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Image Credit: Fanpop)
Dr. Frank-N-Further (Tim Curry) from The Rocky Horror Picture Show is technically bisexual. He seemed to prefer men to women, after all he created Rocky, but we also see him get it on with Brad and Janet.
10. Michael Caffrey – Billy Elliott (Image Credit: Great Blus @ Tumblr)
Michael Caffrey (Stuart Wells) comes out in Billy Elliott after warming Billy’s cold hands on his body. It’s brilliantly shot and shows that to Billy, Michael’s friendship is more important than whether he likes boys or girls.
9. Jack Twist – Brokeback Mountain (Image Credit: Fanpop)
Jack Twist’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) journey to self-acceptance is a beautiful one. It’s great to see his character grow in confidence as he accepts his sexuality, even if what happens to him at the end did leave us a bit traumatised.
8. Ennis Del Mar – Brokeback Mountain (Image Credit: Jonathan Hurwitz)
Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) is reluctant to form an emotional connection with Jack in Brokeback Mountain. But after learning about his childhood memories of what he saw done to gay men we could understand why.
Blaine Tuttle (Joshua Jackson) was so brilliantly 90’s gay in Cruel Intentions. Blaine was openly out and self-confident, as well as being mean and sinister.
6. Stuart Dakin – The History Boys (Image Credit: What Else Mode @ Tumblr)
Stuart Dakin (Dominic Cooper) is a sexually confident pupil in The History Boys who tries to seduce his male teacher at the end of the year.
5. Irwin – The History Boys (Image Credit: Ma Vie En L’air @ WordPress)
Irwin (Stephen Campbell) was the Teacher in The History Boys. A geeky character who encourages his students to follow their passion. There’s a spark between him and pupil Stuart Dakin (played by Dominic Cooper above), but Irwin is too afraid of the consequences of acting on his attraction.
We couldn’t resist adding in a picture of Irwin and Stuart together here: (Image Credit: Sinclair_furie)
4. George Downes – My Best Friends Wedding (Image Credit: Omundodoemarco @ Blogspot)
George Downes (Rupert Everett) is best friend to Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) in Hollywood flick My Best Friend’s Wedding. He’s any openly gay man who charms everyone.
3. Graham Dashwood – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Image Credit: Total Film)
Graham Dashwood (Tom Wilkinson) is a High Court Judge in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. As a teenager in India he fell in love with a boy. But when the families found out Graham was shipped back to Britain and he never went back. He lived a life as a bachelor until the start of the film where he goes back to India to find his former lover.
2. Armand Goldman – The Birdcage (Image Credit: Screen Used)
1. Albus Dumbledoor – Harry Potter (Image Credit: Fanpop)
Albus Dumbledoor (Richard Harris / Michael Gambon) was Head Teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter books and films. It was never said that he was gay until author J.K Rowling outed him, but his fabulous robes and flare of body language (particularly when Michael Gambon took over playing him) hinted at his sexuality.
So whom have we missed? Who’d make your top list of gay characters in mainstream movies? Comment below or on our Facebook page.
Published by: The Gay UK on Saturday 2nd August 2014.
Reading Time: 3minutesWelcome to my yearly review. 2013 has been a great year; both for me and my creative writing. There’s so much to tell you about my writing that I’ve given My Awesome Year in Words it’s own post on my Writer Website. Here I shall focus on my personal life.
In February I went to a friend’s 50th birthday party and one of my nephew’s 18th birthday party. I undertook my February Photo Challenge.
March came along and I was on TV – Live To The Nation! Although an exciting, uncomfortable and anxiety ridden experience, it was also one of great learning. Educating me in the world of the media. And unbeknown to me at the time, it wasn’t going to be my last excursion into the media world this year. Oh and I got an iPhone 5.
My Birthday Presents – Happy Birthday Cake
I did so much in May. I had a great Bank Holiday Weekend. I celebrated my twenty seventh birthday by seeing friends and family; they got me some fab Birthday Presents. I got an extra special birthday present off the wonderful Writer Mel Bossa. I had a Cumbria Adventure. I enjoyed this Get Lucky Cover, as well as the original song by Daft Punk.
In October Steve and I went watching Wicked at Manchester Palace Theatre. I had a bug, got offered a job which I initially accepted and then later declined. My contract at work got made permanent. I got interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live.
It was Mabon over the weekend. Mabon is the autumn equinox, a pagan festival were light and dark are in balance; before it starts to get darker. This has caused me to think about Summer.
Summer 2013 has had the most fantastic weather we’ve seen in the last few years. It’s been bright, hot and sunny. I even got a bit of a tan. The previous few summers pale in comparison; with the word that springs to mind when I think about them being ‘wet.’ I’ve done loads this summer, mostly around re-connecting with nature.
So here’s a slideshow of photos from my Summer 2013 made using iPhoto. Think of it as a homage to the beautiful summer. Enjoy:
