Okay, it's official time is speeding up and the year's passing by unnaturally fast. Just where did 2011 go? This year has been my most 'Hollywood' yet, attending movie World Premieres, meeting movie stars, getting up close with fantastic film props and costumes, achieving personal goals and more. Here's a few highlights to help explain why the past year flew by...
At the beginning of 2011 we returned to the U.K. to visit friends and family and I even got to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert on London's West End, whilst months later in November I also saw the Broadway version in New York too. It's still one of my all time favourite movies and makes for a great stage spectacle, even if the music changes from Kylie to Madonna as you cross the Atlantic.
Our Yellow Labrador Cooper continues to be a wonderful partner in crime, but this year he was a poorly pup, pulling a muscle in his leg early in the year and managing to get a nasty foxtail up his nose requiring surgery in the Spring. He's as fit as a fiddle now though.
In March after five months of training I achieved one of my dreams of running a marathon. Not only did I raise $2,800 for AIDS Project L.A. in the process, but I also endured torrential conditions on the day and finished in under four hours.
Here's me crossing the Finish Line in victory in blustery and freezing Santa Monica, plus also how I felt immediately after, which was not so joyous. On March 18, 2012 I'll do it all again (hopefully in dryer conditions).
In April I visited Las Vegas for the first (and probably the last) time. The highlight of the trip being to meet up with my best friend and his partner visiting from the U.K. I stayed at the Bellagio Hotel and saw Cirque du Soleil's 'O' spectacular, but the rest of the smoking, gambling and never-ending air conditioned casino/hotel/malls I didn't enjoy. What happens in Vegas can truly stay in Vegas in my mind.
On a brighter note I attended Marvel's Thor premiere in May and got to see the Thunder God in action. Being a long time Marvel fan, I wasn't disappointed.
I even got to meet one of the stars of the movie too, the 'Lady Sif' herself, the wonderful Jaimie Alexander did a signing at my local comic shop, Golden Apple Comics.
In May I also travelled to San Francisco to take part in the 100th Bay to Breakers 12k race. This year I embraced the fancy dress theme and ran the 7.4 mile course as Wonder Woman.
Kylie Minogue returned to the Hollywood Bowl in May for her Aphrodite Tour and wowed the crowds, and me, again.
In June we watched the annual West Hollywood Pride Parade from a new location further along Santa Monica Boulevard as we'd moved house since the last festivities.
Olympic Ice Skater Johnny Weir presided over the colourful parade as Grand Marshal this year.
We attended our first Hollywood Bowl opening night in mid-June and got to see the likes of Helen Mirren, Hillary Swank, Harry Connick Jr., Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan and a sneak peak of Cirque du Soleil's Iris show.
In June I also saw Britney Spears in concert at the Staples Center on her Femme Fatale Tour. She put on a good show, but it would have been nice if she could have sang a few songs, rather than mime her way through the pop extravaganza.
In July I had the amazing opportunity to walk the stars and stripes red carpet of the Captain America World Premiere alongside Chris Evans and the stars of the latest Marvel Comics movie.
That same week I also saw British comedian Eddie Izzard perform to a packed house at the Hollywood Bowl.
At the end of July and beginning of August we journeyed over the border to Canada for the first time and took in the sights of Vancouver.
Not only did we get to see the fabulous fireworks of the Celebration of Lights, but we also got to enjoy Vancouver's fantastic 33rd Gay Pride Parade (which really put West Hollywood's to shame).
We'll be returning to the city in 2012 to enjoy more of its delights.
In August Charlie and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary together. I'm hoping 2012 will see a change in Federal gay marriage laws in America and if not, at least a recognition of international same sex marriage rights, especially after Hillary Clinton's powerful LGTB equal rights speech before the United Nations in Geneva in December.
In August I also visited the Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim and was thrilled by all the Disney movie and TV costumes on display there, like these original Tron outfits.
September saw me complete my second Disneyland Half Marathon and achieve a new Personal Best time of 1:37:00 for the 13.1 mile course (even though it was a hard race).
In October I got to meet the animatronic robots of Real Steel, which were on display at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
Continuing my running exploits in October I signed up to run the L.A. Marathon again with T2: Team to End AIDS and joined my team to run the annual AIDS Walk through the empty streets of L.A. and West Hollywood.
At the end of the month I ran my second L.A. Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon through the streets of Downtown and even though I didn't break any records I lived to run another day.
I had the best time ever at West Hollywood's Halloween Carnaval, making use of that Wonder Woman costume again.
November saw us return to New York for a long weekend and get a chance to enjoy an Autumnal Central Park, a refreshing change from L.A.'s palm trees.
Since my return I've been training, getting injured and fundraising for my chosen charity for the L.A. Marathon 2012. I've already raised $1,150, but you can still donate and show your support for AIDS Project L.A.
We had a fabulous Christmas with Cooper and look forward to many more.
Finally here's a spectacular Santa Monica sunset to help end this amazing year. Wishing you all health, wealth and good fortune for the year to come.
Here's to an eventful 2012...
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