STUFF & THINGS

What the future holds. By Jon Taylor

“I’m terrified of things to come, paralysed I cannot run, tell me what the future holds, tell me baby” sing Steps on their latest release. Froth and frippery yes but also a bit of a banger and also a very good question from Claire et al.

What approaches this year? What glories abound? What wonders appear on the horizon? God knows...

This is the time of year that you’ll find so many of those Ten Steps To Being A New You in 2021, or Change Your Life in 2021, or You’re So Rubbish You Must Sort Yourself Out in 2021 articles telling you what you should or shouldn’t be doing and how to achieve greatness in the upcoming months. All you need to do, they say, is drink your own weight in water every day, waft burning feathers under your nose and learn to speak Esperanto, and the world will be yours. And take up pilates, naturally.

They are all nonsense and merely a page-filling exercise as nothing really happens in January and you have to fill newspaper and magazine space somehow. There may be fewer of them this year as Brexit hits and all the journalists start writing about how we’re having to eat dust and drink cat’s milk to get by, but there will still be some.

Another thing that will be nice to do is to be able to choose to stay in rather than having to. Yes, let’s pop out for a spontaneous drink but also, no, I’m not going to go out, I’m choosing to stay at home and watch some telly

It’s only natural for us all to think about what’s in store when we hit a new year. But as this is my column I will ponder: What would Jon like to happen this year?

First, I’d like to go to a pub with my mates and not have to think about anything else other than chatting and drinking. I think that’s quite universal at the moment. I would like to go on holiday as I didn’t last year because of quarantining and stuff. I’d like to eat out occasionally without massive planning beforehand. I’d like to go on a date or two. Or three. Start that part of my life up again.

I’d like the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus to start rehearsing properly again so we can put on a show and then have a massive after-show party. I’ve really missed performing this year. I love being on stage singing, acting, the whole kaboosh. The stage is one of the places where I feel most comfortable and can be myself. Not being able to put any shows on this year has been tough and I can’t wait for us to start up again.

Another thing that will be nice to do is to be able to choose to stay in rather than having to. Yes, let’s pop out for a spontaneous drink but also, no, I’m not going to go out, I’m choosing to stay at home and watch some telly. Not being forced to stay in with the doors closed... that’ll be nice. Oh and hugs. So missed hugging people. Not strangers, obviously. People I know and like. Just to be clear!