We are all so similar at the basic level of basic necessities, love and security so why do we spend so much time and money killing each other? I'm sick and tired of war, and religiously inspired war in particular. Religious apologists may try and claim that religion is subverted by bad people, but I'm sorry, it's the reverse that is true. Religion narrows peoples minds and shuts down their ability to embrace difference. It is just plain wrong.

Beyond our basic needs, we humans are astonishingly diverse and it's that wonderful spectrum that makes humanity so interesting. Cocooned in my own little life, I sometimes lose sight of just how extraordinary people are. Last Saturday though restored my faith in the ingenuity of spirit of mankind. I visited the Rivolli Ballroom in Lewisham which was hosting "The Magic Theatre". The Magic Theatre is in effect a fancy dress party, a BIG one. I think that over four hundred people attended. There is no theme other than that of "be whoever you want to be" and the result was spectacular! Many people just dressed up "to the nines", but there really were all sorts there. I could not begin to list all the different costumes, but here is a small sample. There was a girl in Kylie Minogue style gold bikini/hotpants combo as part of an athletic dance duo. There was an immaculately dressed WWII captain called Paulo who was lovely, and very kindly consented to a photograph of me (as Penny) with him. There was a bubbly actress called Jemma, dressed in a 1930s 'Chicago' the musical style outfit with tassels that looked wonderful as we danced together. There was a cartoon style bad man in a black leather coat, several period costumes, a fellow who looked like a cross between the narrator and Frank-n-furter from the Rocky Horror Show. There was a very friendly American girl with curvaceous figure, pink hair, pupils as wide as soup plates and a memory like Dory (from 'Finding Nemo') who kept on saying to me in astonishment 'but you're a wo-man!".

I grinned like a lunatic the whole evening at the breathtaking honesty, openness and friendliness of everyone there. Special mention should go to a transvestite called Angel, who apparently has a circus background and who wore a big, white, hooped skirt and white lace gloves and carried a macabre diorama in a box! Inside was a freak show of Sylvanian Families figures in parodies of famous horror film characters, lit by a set of flashing pink and blue lights. Inside, one poor little bear, two inches high, had a head full of pins a-la Hellraiser. Genius! Pure genius!

My steadfast TV friend Tina was with me on this night out. She's one of the few who really makes an effort to keep in touch. Tina got to the hotel before me and when I arrived she looked as convincing as ever. I rushed from my work on Saturday to slap on my makeup and my girly clothes (skirt and blouse care-of-Miss.T). Felt good, looked like a dog...well, actually more like a bloke in drag. Ah well! Our taxi driver fell for Tina on the way to Lewisham...atta-girl! At the bash, I bumped into several friends, notably Tara and wife K. It was great to see them again, but this caused a split with Tina at the end of the evening when, after repeated failures to locate Tina, I shared a taxi back to Greenwich with them. Oh dear! When I rejoined Tina at the hotel, she was livid. She'd tried to contact me on my mobile which I didn't have because it is too unladylike and there wasn't much room for it in my handbag and anyway I didn't think I'd need it. It was a desperate situation; we each thought the other had abandoned us. In the end we hugged and made up and many thanks to Tina for her good nature. It was my fault really, I should have known she wouldn't have left without telling me!

The Magic Theatre is a must for anyone who loves life and a celebration of personal choice. Vive la Difference! I'm not sure the music would have won any awards but it wasn't bad. The BIG disappointment was the bar at the Rivolli Ballroom. What shower of twits 'organised' that? A queue of over two hundred people built up and cluttered up the dance floor for almost the whole night. If you're planning on going, take a big handbag or deep pockets and expect to make one or two trips to the off-licence two doors away! It would be a sad thing if the sheer number of trannies put off the straight folk from attending. I may even attend in male attire next time - perhaps as a WWI fighter ace or Ghengis Khan. What fun!

What a shame if religious extremists ruled the United Kingdom! Harmless fun like this would be probably be banned.

Why is it so hard to talk to your loved one about the things that really matter?

There are all kinds of things we should talk to our partners about, like; love, entertainment, money, bills, schooling for the children, what he/she wants for her birthday and what he/she wants out of life. These are important, but also not too hard to discuss. The things that it is VITAL to discuss are the things that we don't want to talk about. Straying just a little into the sterotypical, you hate the way she spends on the credit card, she hates the way you stay out late, drinking with your mates twice a week. You wish he'd wash up more often and feel depressed that it seems to be your responsibility. He can't stand the way you get up so late and waste half the day.

These are all annoying, but what makes them hard to talk about in a rational way is that they cause friction. When your not being reminded of them, you don't want to deal with them. When you are forced to confront them, they make your blood boil and a rational conversation is all but impossible.

I took the bit between my teeth a couple of nights ago with D. She hates that I'm a cross-dresser. She exudes waves of negativity (and it's hard to blame her for that) and it makes it hard for me to broach the subject. I have to overcome a mountain of guilt and self-loathing, knowing that it's selfish. It's important. We need to get more comfortable, if only so she can know where I'll be if I'm going out and who I'll be with and where. It's not something that can be excised. I've tried, many times. So we talked, or rather I talked. I talked some more and gradually I managed to get D to talk a little. I want us to be soul-mates and I don't think this is possible if we don't talk.

I can throw myself off a bridge with elastic tied to my legs. I can launch my windsurfer into freezing water, force 6 winds and eight foot waves without much trouble. It's not hard to set off white-water rafting with a cheerful smile. Why then is it so hard just to talk?

In an article about sleep in last weeks New Scientist, research is described that "has shown that during the long periods fur seals spend at sea hunting, they sleep like dolphins, one hemisphere at a time, and their REM levels plummet." OKAHYYYY, so let me get this straight...

1) Someone decided that it would be a good idea to research sleep of fur seals
2) They found a way to track and follow them
3) And then the conversation went a bit like this:

Scientist - "Excuse me, but are you sleeping with one half of your brain now?"
Seal - "Nope."

Pause

Scientist - "Excuse me, but are you sleeping with one half of your brain yet?"
Seal - "Nope."

Long pause

Scientist - "Err, sleeping?"
Seal - "Not yet."

Boat follows seal for several days.

Scientist - "Hi, are you sleeping with one half of your brain yet?"
Seal - "Bug off feller! Can't you see I'm busy?"

Some hours later.

Seal - "You still here?"
Scientist - "Yes, you see I really want to know how you guys sleep when you're at sea."
Seal - "Good news!"
Scientist - "Yes?"
Seal - "I might be sleeping now..."
Scientist - "Fantastic! Which side of your brain is sleeping?"
Seal - "No idea buddy! You're the scientist, go figure."

I cannot begin to comprehend how this research was conducted, but I guess that's why we have clever people called scientists to do this stuff.

I decided to make a model of a ship and came across this picture of a model of HMS Vigo online:

The plan is to make an radio-controlled version, but first I needed to design it. To do that I found a CAD package - Delcam PowerSHAPE-e. This is the hull:

Cut out the bulkheads from various bits of cardboard lying about waiting to be recycled:

Then cover the hull with tissue paper and varnish:

Add some superstructure:

And paint:

It's ballasted and waterproof so it does float nicely. The things people do to keep themselves out of mischief eh?!

...are much exaggerated.

Thought I had better drop online again or risk obscurity. Here's a quick summary posting.

1) I have been very busy on a project which I hope will be interesting and fun for my son. I have decided to build an RC model of a WWII destroyer. The prototype (cardboard version, 60cm long) is taking shape and hope to start the real hull later which will be about 1.2 meters in length.

2) I have finished reading "The Grass is Singing" by Doris Lessing. Conclusion: well written book, but I have never before despised the prinicpal characters so thoroughly that I looked forward to their demise.

3) I have finished reading "Friday" by Robert A. Heinlein. My friend Kev gave this book to me. I can see why he wasn't anxious to hold on to it. There are some very interesting ideas in it, but the story itself is vapid and is too steeped in American consumerism of its age and as a result, desperately dated.

4) It is my wife's birthday today. She is one year less young but still lovely.

News to come: I am now reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. Expect my views on this soon.