Gay and Grey ( Gray)


Just four weeks to Christmas and The Norwegian Postal service has filmed a gay themed advert that centres upon two older gay characters.
It’s sweet and relevant and underlines just how older gay men are often made invisible, in social media, cinema and television. 
Of course we will always have the waspish, screaming queen stereotypes in such shows as  Vicious but serious and positive depictions of older gay life have been few and far between.
I spent a good hour this morning, walking the dogs and when ambling, I listed all those gay films I could think of. The Korean film Twilight’s Kiss (2019), the American Love Is Strange 2014 and Pitstop 2013
and the French/Israeli movie Kol Erev ( 2010) 
Not a definitive list, but it is a short one

Pitstop

Love is strange

Twilight’s Kiss

Kol Erev

Anyhow like I said , it’s almost December.
And today it feels it, as there is a crispness to the air.
Having said that, the sweet peas that have covered my garden arch over the front gate are still blooming albeit delicately and I have cut them with the remaining geraniums, yellow roses and oxeye daisies and have put them in a small vase on the kitchen table


This morning I’m wrapping the Christmas decorations I bought yesterday. Every year I send some to friends in Australia and Derbyshire and this year I’m on point with the tradition. 
Tonight I’m writing Christmas cards, which is another tradition I have always enjoyed.
There is something constant and warming and comforting when you sit down with a quality pen, a pile of cards and your address book.
I think it’s an old fashioned activity now.

74 comments:

  1. OH John that advert was beautiful! I would like to know what was said though....and I want to live in that house! x

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    1. There is a subtitled version but I quite like guessing

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  2. What a lovely advert - sad, poignant and happy all in one. You are very organised with your Christmas preparations. Good on you! xx

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    1. Yes, it’s production runs like a mini movie

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  3. Anonymous12:04 pm

    We are never affectionate in public, aside from once when sitting on a gutter below The Highrise watching city New Year's Eve fireworks at midnight and we were drunk.

    A few years ago, two quite old men stood up on a tram and walked to to the tram exit door. One left the tram after being kissed goodbye by the other man with lips. Older gay men are quite invisible to younger gay men.

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    1. I miss being affectionate in public, even if it was just fleeting
      Make the most of it Andrew x

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  4. I think that older folk in general become invisible or irrelevant to the younger generation, especially in this country my friend.
    You are far too well organised for Christmas, I mean it's not even Christmas eve yet!
    Writing with a quality fountain pen or sketching with a decent pencil? Indeed there is something warming and deeply satisfying about just the act in itself.

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    1. Yes I agree, older people do become invisible, I feel it increasingly now I'm of a certain age.

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    2. Yes it’s not just a phenomenon of the gays although 60 in gay years means dead

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    3. Yes snooze, I hear u

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  5. That Harry and Santa video is so very sweet, brought a tear to my eye. Love your tradition of sending Christmas decorations....something to be treasured every year. x

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  6. I used Google translate to decipher the phrase at the end...'in 2022 it will be 50 years since it became legal in Norway to love whoever you want' Lovely video.

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  7. Also -- "Supernova" with Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci (2020).

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  8. We all become invisible as we get older John. It's not just a gay thing.

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  9. Add to the list: “Beginners” and “Love Is Strange.” It should be a longer list as should heterosexual mature love stories that aren’t comedic.

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    1. I’ve flagged up love is strange
      It’s a lovely film

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  10. I'm gonna steal it and post it during the holidays.
    You've been warned!
    And it's not an old fashioned activity, it's something thoughtful people do...

    XOXO

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  11. I watched the little film last night. It is so lovely.

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  12. As I'm walking with my dogs a lot of younger people stop and chat and are very smiley-I find people are friendlier now I'm grey x

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    1. Ps-of course men my age don't look at me as they did-but chatting seems more genuine-I like it like that x

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    2. Good for you girlfriend x

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    3. It may be different if I didn't have my dogs with me though John-they are not wallflowers x

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  13. All I have to say having agreed with all the comments is " this year the Norwegians do it best" !! Ro XX

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  14. As you might suspect of me, I always hated sending cards.

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  15. I love sending Christmas cards, too. Just bought my Christmas stamps. I especially love receiving the annual Christmas letters some prople still send out. And a Christmas card is extra special if it includes a photo. I'll be doing mine this weekend. Hugs, Elaine

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  16. Send a letter to Santa, maybe

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  17. Barbara Anne3:02 pm

    Tears from When Harry Met Santa, even without a translation.
    I'll be writing Christmas in the coming days, too, and have most of the Christmas gifts ready to wrap, apart from several that need to be machine quilted, bound, and labeled.
    Today, it's Thanksgiving here so I'll tell you I'm thankful you're there, working, writing, singing, gathering flowers, enjoying life, good friends, and good food - and letting us join in.

    Hugs!

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    1. Happy thanksgiving
      I hope you are having turducken
      X

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    2. Barbara Anne7:52 pm

      Ta!
      No turducken here. DH deboned the uncooked turkey last eve, rolled and tied it with kitchen string, and it cooked it at 350*F (176.6*C) in 90 min. It is delicious!
      For a video about how to do this, look on YouTube, Chef John, and deboning turkey!

      Hugs!

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    3. Looks like a right faff

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  18. With cards written and gifts purchased, you can enjoy holiday gatherings with friends and family. It really is a lovely time of the year...

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    1. I’ve been buying gifts tonight.
      I want alternative gifts this year

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  19. Here in the Colonies we are deluged with these fun Christmas TV movies made by Hallmark. They are doing films featuring gay couples now.
    I love that clip you posted.

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    1. I always thought hallmark was rather stuffy and bland..good on them for changing with the times

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  20. There's no reason to presume that Santa Claus has to be married to Mrs Claus or Father Christmas to Mrs Christmas-but it was still a surprise to me-I liked it-sweet true love xx

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    1. Father Christmas originally came from Turkey
      Not a gay friendly country

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    2. My Turkey boyfriend wore silk shirts only bought by his father apparently back home-he was a student and lived in a bungalow-I was quite naive and when he invited me to his bedroom and said in a foreign accent-"would you like to see my fossils in my bedroom"-I was curious x

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  21. I like to create postcards to send out to the few still remaining on The List. Simple and easy. I take the original to the copy shop. I envy the remainders of your yard flowers but I do have my houseplants and a tiny Christmas cactus that's working on two buds!

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    1. We have snow forecasted from tomorrow as storm Arwen comes in from theNorth

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  22. I agree with your Gifts and Cards. I am finishing up my Christmas card amd Daughter will print them for me. I wanted to be farther along with the house (new window bing replaced)but it is what it is.
    "Happy Together" is a Film I remember from 1997 ? I remember it being claustrophobic and sad but then many films about love can be that way. Two of my favorite actors, Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung were in it plus Wong Kar-wai Directed. When I lived in Laguna Beach it was easy to see Hong Kong/Korean/Japanese films but I don't follow them anymore.
    Enjoy Your Christmas today. xx

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  23. Absolutely beautiful. Very moving and how true about love.x

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    1. Yes it was moving, a lovely little well crafted movie

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    2. I am Jo in Coventry X much love John x

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  24. You are smart to get a start on Christmas as it will be here before we know it! I love sending (and getting) Christmas cards and hang them around the door frame in my living room for all to see.
    Enjoy your day, John!

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    1. I hang mine around the walls in the living room, my aim is to fill the room which I do each year

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  25. I lovewriting my cards too John. I shall start them any day.

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    1. I have just written yours deArheart x

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  26. Very touching video, thank you.

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  27. Thank you for posting this tear jerker, John. xoxo
    Us older lesbians are also invisible...

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    1. Hug…..not to me deArheart , you are not to me

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  28. commercials are changing here and becoming much more inclusive. finally. now people just have to do the same. i just found out this morning that my great grandmother was from merthyr tydfil. have you ever heard of it? i think it is where the school/mining disaster was in 1966.

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  29. Wow!
    I just saw this on another's blog only a few minutes ago. It was quite moving and touching.

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  30. I have cancelled Christmas this year. Can't be faffed with all the palavar, feels better already.

    Jo in Auckland

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  31. Well, the Universe conspires ... just now I read this, and thought of you John.
    https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/11/8-examples-best-elderly-lgbtq-representation-tv-film/?fbclid=IwAR2_HEm6_7G8MPynvNjmBNguGXG7hgij5QiiKfy5ZvqmZvdQuXOxvf2diXI

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  32. I want a beard like Santa's.

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  33. I hope sending cards doesn't become a thing of the past, I love sending and receiving :) Gay men of any age are not invisible to this old fag hag.

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    1. Nobody is invisible, although there are some of us that some people prefer not to look at for over long.

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  34. I found that very moving too. Your flowers look beautiful.

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  35. Brokeback Mountain? (Not that I have ever seen it, just read about it)

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  36. A wonderful video I'm a few days behind but my computer was on the blink another movie that came to mind by James Ivory made in 1987 called Maurice had such a wonderful cast.

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