AN UPDATE ON CHRIS

CHRIS SAYS HELLO TO EVERYONE!

CHRIS' AUSTRALIA.

FUCKING BEAUTIFUL.

"Typhoon 8 in HK," I typed into my and Chris' Whatsapp window.

"Oooh... day off work?" he asked. He would have been up for hours already. Canberra is three hours ahead of Hong Kong, besides. And he bikes to work every day. He's always been an early riser, a creature I often consider alien-esque: The Morning Person.

"Only if T8 warning is still up by 2pm," I replied. "Would have been nice to have you here so we can sleep in together... I'd go right back to sleep to dream about you."

OK, so that last bit felt particularly sappy, even I wanted to bitch slap myself.

"Sweet" is not the first thing that comes to mind when I think about Chris. He's sweet in his own way, sure, but he's not all about warm, fuzzy words or grand gestures. He's a rock who lets you know, every day, through consistent and predictable actions, that he loves you and cares about you. I inadvertently regret being too sweet with Chris because he's kinda gruff and and, I suspect, a bit embarrassed about the very public ways I show and proclaim my love for him.

His reply:

"Mwah! Too long between snuggles xxx"

I was stunned.

Has some sappy spirit inhabited Chris' body?! Did he really manage to squeeze a bit of sweetness out for me?

Maybe it's the distance.

Maybe it's Australia.

When you're surrounded by nature's majestic beauty, wouldn't it just suck to have nobody to share it with?

"Love you!!!" I typed furiously. I wasn't about to let go of the moment. "A typhoon fuck would have been so nice! Miss you so bad!!!! Guess I'll have to wait 'til we see each other again at the end of September!"

"Yes, please!"

LEAH MCFALL // LOVING YOU (THE VOICE UK)

There are so many things I loved about this - first is song choice. "Loving You" is classic Soul Train fare, as in, sing at your own risk because you will be exposed if you're not singing with and from the soul. Minnie Riperton had a crystalline voice; it sparkled and flowed as spring water. What a gorgeous treat to be reminded of an era when people truly sang.

Second, I didn't know what to expect from Leah McFall (Team will.i.am) but it surely wasn't this. She looks like a psychedelic raccoon; I thought she'd be firmly indie. She proceeded to blow everyone away with something delicious every few seconds or so. Song's old-skool, but her rendition is fresh and gutsy and real. Never once did I think, "Girl, you thought about that a bit too much!"

Third, it's awesome that someone could have an "ugly" tone but still sing beautifully. Well, not really "ugly," but she went places that other singers would be scared to explore because it makes their voice sound strange or creepy or loony. Or maybe they wouldn't, because they're just unable to. You can't take risks if you don't have the right equipment, in the first place - and this girl is fully equipped. She's talented, she's skilled, she's ready, and she's on a hot TV show. What could go wrong?

Happy Monday, bitchiz!

  // THE HYPERACTIVE GAY BOY™ //

The Diva Video Of The Day™ Christina Perri / A Thousand Years (LIVE)

Found myself a bit weepy today. The rain had nothing to do with it. Just randomly found this video on YouTube whilst searching through the battle rounds in The Voice Australia.

I searched for the original version, barfed when I saw that it belonged to the OST of Twilight, barfed yet another mouthful when I realized that it's a wedding song.

So why can't I stop crying?

 

// JAMES & CHRIS //

PS

The Voice Australia kicks the original US version in the butt, and is MILES ahead of the horrible, horrible UK edition where the judges all hedge and hem and haw and shove talents towards each other.

Plus Delta Goodrem is the awesomest female judge this show has seen, ever.

The Diva Video Of The Day™ Gloria Estefan / Don't Wanna Lose You

I got back to listening to Gloria Estefan because of Shakira and The Voice. Shakira was asking a young Latina singer to choose her, Shakira, as coach because, although she is a global Latin music superstar, she needed the Gloria Estefan to be by her side and lead the way. Anyway.

The sentiments of this song echo how I'm feeling right now. Yucky, cheesy, touchy-feely moment, ew. My friend, Tia, messaged me last night saying "No James! Great days ahead! xx" Exactly. I mean, make lemonade out of lemons and all that. The truth is, I will not give up what Chris and I have shared for six years just because he's moving to Canberra.

Fuck Canberra.

This is a relationship forged and strengthened in Hong Kong! We've had everything stacked against us - age difference, cultural differences, dissimilar value systems... and yet somehow we've made it work.

Go, us!


I don't wanna lose you now 
We're gonna get through somehow 
I don't wanna lose you now 
Or ever!

TAI TAN COUNTRY TRAILS
Ph / Caroline Manchoulas

  // JAMES + CHRIS //