It’s been a minute.
My gorgeous readers, I have missed you. I hope we are all well and feeling fabulous on this cold, wet, February Wednesday. Tonight I am back where it all began, in my gorgeous Viewing Gallery™. A corner of window joined by monochromatic steel panes holding the glass box I call home together. The effervescent glow of the city fills my apartment, producing beautiful memories of life in Times Square, the square that banishes the dark of night and celebrates the explosion of light, colour and sound. Manchester, for me, is a city of joy, paradisiacal fantasy and glorious unapologetic love.
An sea of umbrellas, contradicting in colour, flow aggressively from market street down the road below me. The simplistic glow from iPhone screens (other phones available) provide a true tone glow onto a multitude of faces eager to get out of the rain. Two “bro’s” bouncing down the road, gleefully planning their night ahead. One carries a 24-case of Bud whilst the other inevitably invites his phonebook over for the Most Epic Party Of Your Life, on a Wednesday? Sure! A meandering explorer waddles across the bridge in the opposite direction, insisting on the wall for support, both physically and mentally, I guess. The bright orange High-Vis of a stomper, clearly desperate to get home to his family after a difficult day at the site. A beautiful collage of lives thrust into the madness of city life. What an immersive experience!
The river, in its darkness, seems solemn in its existence but hopeful in its presence. The swirling, twirling flow which glistens with reflections from the light above directs my vision further down the river. A cacophony of movement enveloped within its stillness is penetrated into my soul. How something so dark and vast can cause calmness is truly incredible. It’s rush hour, so the traffic builds. My imagination flickers to the pain of the knee of stop start clutch control and I shiver for a quick moment. I don’t miss those days.
The delay in writing has come from a true passion into giving my all to a new venue. Numerous changes, developments and fabulous events have exuded from my tiny brain and the result has been sensational. Overwhelmed by the mass support and eruption of love and happiness has truly fuelled the fight to continue to create a safe, welcoming, warm and exciting space for family, friends, partners and the LGBTQI+ community. If you haven’t been – get yourself there at once!
I finally have a moment to myself to sit and type. Let me tell you more about the Viewing Gallery™ where I reside at this very moment. A section in my homely space, hidden behind a vast concrete pillar, for support not just aesthetics. A small circular bar table, in white, grey and black marble with two suede-grey bar stools take precedence. In the centre of the table, a ribbed vase manufactures a home for 12 long-stemmed deep-pink roses. The design afforded each rose is exquisite. A sublime transcendence from deep pink on each edge to a glorious soft, romantic pink at the core. A brand new addition of delightfully knitted yellow, brown and beige form in the shape of a sunflower, gifted to me, by one gorgeous being – a special one!
And with that, it’s time to talk! Today, despite my previous blog posts being sprinkled with a beautiful concoction of joy and sadness, I want to talk only of happiness and joy. I know right?! But theres a moment in this spectacular world where the cogs turn and things begin to align. That moment where a text message makes sense. Where a conversation feels correct. Where a smile or a glance seems real and perfect. Where two people form a connection which feels like it has existed in the universe before they have even met.
And I begin to wonder… has there always been a plan? Sometimes theres a minute in time when a connection feels so surprising that it must have been there for years and years, maybe even before you were even brought into this crazy special world. Do you often question where it comes from? Do you ask the universe: can two souls truly be aligned in such a beautiful magnanimous way? This connection is not one to be missed, or passed on, or forgotten about. This connection is for life. I’m not just speaking here about that significant other, but deep rooted connections between friends, family, loved ones, pets, colleagues, the list is truly endless.
The alignment of said souls can bring with it an eclectic mix of emotions. Some of those are there to ground you. The frightening feeling of pressure, which ensures we stay humble, slow down and enjoy every single second. The incomprehensible excitement, which allows us to take a leap of faith into the unknown. The pure bewilderment of where it has come from, affords us to reflect on each moment and ensure we aren’t compromising our beliefs and understanding of oneself. All these emotions can be scary. But I implore you to step right into them. As I have said numerous times before, feel every single feeling. Don’t let them pass by without acknowledgment and consideration.
Allowing this will truly develop you as a person, and allow you to be truly you.. The most important thing in this world. The gorgeous cultivation of an array of unique, truly fabulous, humbled, creative, authentic and excited human beings will concur all. Agreeing deeply here with Bad Bunny; The only thing more powerful than hate is love!
Keep smiling, stay safe, be FABULOUS!
Lot’s of Love,
Roro XOXO
Rowan Barr 