I seem to be fitting more life into my time these days, along with what's getting to be a scary level of work (not that I'm complaining - it's ace).
Last Saturday, I gave my speech (.txt format) at the Sexual Freedom Coalition event.
The inspirational Ana Lopes was there. She set up the International Union of Sex Workers, now an official branch of the GMB (British General Union) and the third biggest union in the UK. It's a trade union for sex workers, as the name suggests, and aims to establish labour rights for those who work in the sex industry and improve working conditions to stamp out the high levels of abuse, exploitation and violence in the sex industry.
There was also a great speech from Helen Knox who runs Sexual health site Sexplained. She's currently looking for men and women to upload pics of their bits to Willy Worries and Fem Gen to help people realise that their genitalia is normal; a worthy cause. There are already some great - and utterly scary - pictures of STIs in situ which will hopefully help scare people into practicing safer sex.
My speech was scheduled immediately after the fab and very sexy Immodesty Blaize - a brilliant burlesque striptease artiste and extremely hard act to follow. I decided getting my 32A's out would be liable to disappoint so stuck to my script. It seemed to go down well anyway; we've had several people express interest in getting involved since the event and I've got someone who wants to do work experience with Cliterati, which will be dead handy.
Monday was my screen test for Endemol. I was bricking it after my previous moving around like a loon TV thing. Seemed to go reasonably well though; they said I was 'a natural'. Then again, it could be that they were just being nice cos I've been helping them out on research. Am currently looking for people who are into pony-play, robot sex, watersports, infantilism, crush fetishes, household appliances, fruit and veg, bestiality, animal transformation, modern primitivism and shagging dwarves. Sometimes I wonder about my job...
Spent most of Tuesday in Lovers' Guide meetings, which is always fun, then went on to check out a venue for Cliterati's third birthday party. I want to go bigger and better this year, and the venue certainly seems to fit. Am intrigued by the idea of getting Portia Surreal along to DJ and am also considering Jo King from the London School of Striptease to give a training session to guests. Then again, could just end up being the usual alcohol fuelled carnage.
On which note, Wednesday was Cake. I figured that dressing up was in order when I utterly fell in love with this outfit. It's the smallest item of clothing I've ever had the guts to go out in but, because it was Cake, it felt entirely safe to wear it. Did wear a long coat in the cab on the way over though...
Met up with a load of the regular sexpert crowd; Kate from Truffle and her business partner Natalie, whose job is predicting underwear trends; Melissa from Amanda Kiss (the people who sent me some Japanese sex toys to test that rival the Jessica Rabbit - I'll be recommending them to the world as soon as they're available over here), Susanne from Fuck the Shop who sent me a Vibrator Pen (which I really must take to a business meeting at some stage) and the usual Cake crowd.
Went along to see the Barefoot Doctor running an event about improving your love life on Thursday and met a lovely woman who went into maternal mode when I developed a stinking migraine; bought me water, escorted me home in a cab and refused to take any money. Was really nice to know there are still people ot there who will help a stranger without any vested interest.
Landed a commission to write a load of sex position guides on Friday, which should be fun. However, does mean I've got a busy week ahead; three newsletters to write, one article for the Star, first draft summary for the position guides, loads of sex toy reviews, new site copy for the Lovers' Guide and the usual subbing on Cliterati. I love my job.
Posted by emilyd at June 15, 2003 07:05 PM