Review 2022

 Twenty-Twenty two had like the preceeding years its challenges of which one, considerable industrial action by a variety people was to cause issues such as delayed playthings, anxiety inducing logistical nightmares as train services were curtailed even if planned, difficulty in weekend travel as no train drivers were rostered so services were cancelled at short notice and so on.

Like a lot of people I had this Covid that doesn't test positive too and indeed are suffering from it as I type being unwell for days  at a time which does lead me to say, please wear your masks if you're in busy crowded spaces as it seems to spread just like the others.

On the otherhand I did have a great time with friends at a halloween party, making things, running around in competitions hunting for things and a great fireworks party which is really part of the stuff I loved as a boy.

I did get out about here enjoying the fresh air and countryside dressed in short short trousers with temperatures down to four degrees in my dufflecoat and bobble hat which was very much how school winters always felt to me.

Our forum stayed busy with fresh people arriving and conversations aound all sorts of boyhood related topics and interests which was why it was set up - to be free by one basic rule - to discuss the whole including things as boys that  can't happen on more "adult" orientated sites.

Monday was a great day over at my parents for Christmas, clad in grey with blue stripped school uniform, sat crossed legged on the floor playing as my younger brother and spouse arrive, just looking like a schoolboy.

Openess like that to our families and the wider community is something we all can struggle with, for some having to agree to some restrictions but for just being the boy you are it's so worth it.

A pause in the conversation for Christmas

 

Things with the weather are at least improving in some ways, trading extreme cold the likes of which I don't recall ever experiencing for more rain and strong winds here which is kind of progress I guess.

Some of the postal backlog is being got through even if bits remain unaccounted for which as well given the things you may of been expecting at christmas.

Talking of which we will be pausing here as there'sa lot of activity with card and present swapping, things to be sorted and a bit of tidying up lest we have visitors drop in.

With that I'll wish everyone a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2023.

Holding hands

It may seem old but one of the most comforting things for me is holding hands. I like how you feel directly connected to me, how you're gonna care for me with all that freely given love.

It makes me feel loved and critically alive.

I suspect the England squad and their manager could well be needing that after Saturday's crashing out of the World Cup at the hands of France aided by a referee who seemed to ignore blatant fouls and was by common consent really out of his depth for such a important competition.

I felt in the main they performed well, perhaps a bit more engagement in the first half might of helped but you have to remember France is the Worlds current best side with Mbappé an exceptional player and in some respects we were unfortunate to face them in the quarter finals first

Reflective post

Here we go, making a bit of a milestone post on this blog which in some ways is the "oddball" blog of the stable that's been around since mid 2017 when things were very much different  than they are now never mind how things were just two years ago for all of us.

We might as well start somewhere and say this blog is for people who do identify as boys at least mainly as distinct from men even if, like many of us you have to do a bit of "adulting" in the workplace, compromising within adult relationships to make things work.

If you look at that, see yourself in him and see you as very much him now, you certainly belong here even if you might wear a skirt or dress the odd time because for all that you see yourself as that boy.

This blog talks though various things - its why Boys Talk is in the title - whither it's to do with play, how we may present, various issues in life and a bit to do with interests from boyhood.

It's the conversations we'd have walking back from school, in the locker room, making our way to scouts  or the local library, boy to boy.

Sometimes it's light hearted in nature, sometimes it's about finding your boyish spot in a adult world, sometimes it gets serious cos sadly somethings are in a form less likely to go than places like Tumblr or on Tapatalk or allowing a bit more frank expression than they do.

We should pause just after next weeks edition cos I need to to play my part in making family Crimbo with my family - yes doing what they tell me! - as that boy and things get busy her in the week and a bit before the day.

Here's to the next batch of issues!