I live in an oven. It’s my own fault, booking the place on price alone. It’s on a street with loads of roadworks and the price is reduced because you can’t park anywhere near it. I hauled my van up under a streetlight outside a business in a place that feels as if it is in nobody’s way. I went up after work and had a sweet sweet shower. Then I did something I haven’t done much. I took time for me.
I’ve heard of the Folies Bergère. I haven’t really been out in Paris having been here ages. I’m about to go home. I booked two tickets for whatever the hell is on at the Folies.
What do I know about the Folies? It has been breaking ground on the international cabaret stage for decades. It has hosted a number of world performance firsts. The firsts aren’t along the lines of “The first play by then Coxforth university student Micvid Bogharefrago took place in the gardens here, organised by his parents, paid for by his godfather who is now his agent”. No, this is mad cabaret. They have been pushing convention because that’s why they exist, and where better to be “ooh la la” than in Paris. I got my right nipple signed by the hostess. I sat and felt part of some truly athletic cabaret, often carrying great mischief and great meaning – unlike my signed nipple which has no meaning but fun.
When I persuaded F, neither of us knew it was gonna be Fantasma Circus Erotica, but it was, and I got the MC to sign me because the whole evening was a delight and a sharpie isn’t a tattoo and fuck it sometimes I’m allowed to stop.
Great to have a few hours not just down but random. We had hoops, we had a boy tempted by the devil through his laptop, we had Olympic locker room naughtiness, we had girls and cars, we ran through lots of kinks and all of it happy and open and free. A great way to culturise my second last night, so I can say Paris was more than just roads, security guards and a warehouse. Sexy dancing from wonderful performers. They’re in such shape. Could’ve been Olympians but instead they dance for money and I get it, it’s a vocation.
What’s their day job? To touch on mine, I went to INV today and security were lovely. Diligent, correct, but lovely. It was a perfect finish. I’m gone soon, and Mike on the inside is brilliant. I’ve had good experiences at the problem venues now and I’ve shared plenty of info with Fi about logistics areas and so forth. Finally. I can rest soon and I will.
Tonight it’s another oven night. Soon…
AlBarclay 