On my third attempt I finally got to see Angela today. I enjoyed the experience more than I had expected. I had wanted to see her because on the PunterNet forum they say she is very raunchy. That's true, but she is also extremely attractive. There's nothing down market about her, she takes care of her appearance. Her flat is quite pleasant too. She reminds me of a young Britt Ekland, but blonder and with a rounder face.
I went to the top floor of number 28 Peter Street near to the street market in Berwick Street in Soho. I knew that she works on Fridays, as well as Saturdays and Sundays. Angela was in the room with the maid but I had to wait because her previous client was putting his clothes back on in the bedroom. She is of medium height, blonde with an all over suntan. She was wearing a little skirt and matching top. While talking to the maid she lifted up her little skirt to reveal her shaved pussy.
Angela went into the bedroom, leaving the door open and positioning herself so that both her previous client and I could see her, but we could not see each other. She wiggled her hips and pulled up her little skirt so that her pussy could be clearly be seen. She then took something off the table and simulated masturbation. She was laughing.
She said goodbye to the man and let him out. He was a young man, quite large and wearing motorcycle clothing. Then she invided me into the bedroom. There was a porn DVD playing where a large black woman was having sex with two men. I got undressed and lay on the bed and she got on with me. She started wanking me as I had requested and she said she wanted me to put my finger in her bottom. She had some lubricant and I held up my finger so she could put some on. Then I reached between her legs and tried to find her bottom hole. She asks all her clients to do this.
I pushed my finger up her bum and moved it up and down. Then she changed position so that she was on her hands and knees. I could see her pussy and her bum hole. I pushed my finger up and down inside her bottom while she wanked me. After a while she lay next to me, gave me a little kiss on the mouth, and sucked my neck while she continued to wank. This allowed me to watch the DVD. She commented on the size of the black woman's areolas.
I had a good erection but it didn't last and soon it was time for me to go. I liked Angela a lot, although she is not really my type. I might go and see her again, but probably not for a while.
When this blog began it was about my experience of prostitution in South London and Soho. Now it is mostly about my experiences in North West England.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Alexia and Paris
I haven't been very active in Soho this month. I like to go to Soho even if I don't have an intention to visit a prostitute. If I pass the doorway of a walk up I might go in to see who is there that day. Sometimes the names of the women are displayed at ground level, but sometimes you have to go up stairs to the second floor to see if the names are displayed. Sometimes the names aren't displayed at all.
At 8 Greek Street the names of the two women working there that day are next to the doorbells. I was surprised to see the name Alexia there because I thought she only did weekends. She is a new girl at 8 Greek Street. Reports on her have been favourable and she was on my list of women I might try. So I decided to see her.
The maid told me that Alexia is busy but I could wait with her. She is an elderly French woman who I have sat with a few times before. She offered me a coffee. I had only just had a coffee so I declined. She asked if there was anything else that she could get me and I said I would like to have a cigarette. A couple of weeks before this I was waiting with a different maid to see Ivy and she had offered me cigarette. I don't usually smoke, I always try to avoid any form of addiction, but I enjoy one now and again. When I had finished the cigarette Alexia was ready for me.
Alexia is quite a pretty girl and is friendly. She is from Eastern Europe. I told her I would like to spend 10 minutes with her for £20. We undressed and got onto the bed. I wanted her to play with my willy to make it get big but she thought it would be better to put a condom on and give me a suck. I have heard that she is willing to do oral sex without a condom, but only for customers who spend more than the minimum. She told me that she can't do anything without a condom.
When I was erect I asked her to get on top of me. She straddled me, inserted my cock inside her and then made rhythmic movents. I looked at her lovely body and put my hands in different places, on her hips, on her slender waist, and then holding her pert breasts.
This was a couple of weeks ago on a Friday. Yesterday I was in Soho again. I had read on the PunterNet forum that the walk up at 4 Old Compton Street has now closed for good. I could see that the door was shut. I don't know exactly why it has closed, but I don't think it was the police or the council that did it. Some of the nicest prostitutes have worked there; Angie, Paris, Ritzy and Sandy.
At 34 Romilly Street they have the names of the two women on the wall just inside the doorway. I was expecting to see Simona and Nelly. It was however Simona and Paris. I thought that Paris only did weekends. She is another girl who was on my list. She is not the same girl as the Paris who worked at 4 Old Compton Street.
I wasn't very impressed when I saw her. In fact I thought about walking out. She had short blonde hair and her attractiveness was only average. She didn't seem to be very motivated either. I told her that I had been to this flat before to see Nelly. She said she knows Nelly, Nelly is her friend. I said that when I saw Nelly I put a latex glove on my hand and put my finger inside her. She said that we could do that and reached over for a latex glove.
She lay on her back and opened her legs wide. When the glove was on she put a blob of lubricant on my index finger. First I slowly moved the end of my finger up and down between the labia, separating them and looking inside. Her pussy was very pretty. I told her that it was like a beautiful flower, which she thought was funny. I pushed my finger inside her vagina and moved it up and down. After a while I indicated that I could put two fingers inside her, but she said no. I put my index finger back in, but when I moved my finger in such a way as to stimulated her G-Spot she didn't want that either.
I got the feeling that maybe she didn't like me, or that she didn't like her customers generally. She was quite passive throughout. But when I was getting dressed she sat on the bed and gazed at me in an affectionate way.
70A Berwick Street is another one that has the names of the women on the wall inside the doorway. I have noticed the name Monica there. She is another girl on my list. Monica has been recommended by someone on the PunterNet forum, but then so have other women at this place. Perhaps she will be the next one I shall see.
Another woman I might see is Mesa at 26 Romilly Street. Or maybe one of the other oriental women there. I saw Sarah there a couple of months ago. At 26 Romilly Street is you have to walk up to the second floor to see who is there that day.
UPDATE: Paris is also called Laura and works other places in Soho now
At 8 Greek Street the names of the two women working there that day are next to the doorbells. I was surprised to see the name Alexia there because I thought she only did weekends. She is a new girl at 8 Greek Street. Reports on her have been favourable and she was on my list of women I might try. So I decided to see her.
The maid told me that Alexia is busy but I could wait with her. She is an elderly French woman who I have sat with a few times before. She offered me a coffee. I had only just had a coffee so I declined. She asked if there was anything else that she could get me and I said I would like to have a cigarette. A couple of weeks before this I was waiting with a different maid to see Ivy and she had offered me cigarette. I don't usually smoke, I always try to avoid any form of addiction, but I enjoy one now and again. When I had finished the cigarette Alexia was ready for me.
Alexia is quite a pretty girl and is friendly. She is from Eastern Europe. I told her I would like to spend 10 minutes with her for £20. We undressed and got onto the bed. I wanted her to play with my willy to make it get big but she thought it would be better to put a condom on and give me a suck. I have heard that she is willing to do oral sex without a condom, but only for customers who spend more than the minimum. She told me that she can't do anything without a condom.
When I was erect I asked her to get on top of me. She straddled me, inserted my cock inside her and then made rhythmic movents. I looked at her lovely body and put my hands in different places, on her hips, on her slender waist, and then holding her pert breasts.
This was a couple of weeks ago on a Friday. Yesterday I was in Soho again. I had read on the PunterNet forum that the walk up at 4 Old Compton Street has now closed for good. I could see that the door was shut. I don't know exactly why it has closed, but I don't think it was the police or the council that did it. Some of the nicest prostitutes have worked there; Angie, Paris, Ritzy and Sandy.
At 34 Romilly Street they have the names of the two women on the wall just inside the doorway. I was expecting to see Simona and Nelly. It was however Simona and Paris. I thought that Paris only did weekends. She is another girl who was on my list. She is not the same girl as the Paris who worked at 4 Old Compton Street.
I wasn't very impressed when I saw her. In fact I thought about walking out. She had short blonde hair and her attractiveness was only average. She didn't seem to be very motivated either. I told her that I had been to this flat before to see Nelly. She said she knows Nelly, Nelly is her friend. I said that when I saw Nelly I put a latex glove on my hand and put my finger inside her. She said that we could do that and reached over for a latex glove.
She lay on her back and opened her legs wide. When the glove was on she put a blob of lubricant on my index finger. First I slowly moved the end of my finger up and down between the labia, separating them and looking inside. Her pussy was very pretty. I told her that it was like a beautiful flower, which she thought was funny. I pushed my finger inside her vagina and moved it up and down. After a while I indicated that I could put two fingers inside her, but she said no. I put my index finger back in, but when I moved my finger in such a way as to stimulated her G-Spot she didn't want that either.
I got the feeling that maybe she didn't like me, or that she didn't like her customers generally. She was quite passive throughout. But when I was getting dressed she sat on the bed and gazed at me in an affectionate way.
70A Berwick Street is another one that has the names of the women on the wall inside the doorway. I have noticed the name Monica there. She is another girl on my list. Monica has been recommended by someone on the PunterNet forum, but then so have other women at this place. Perhaps she will be the next one I shall see.
Another woman I might see is Mesa at 26 Romilly Street. Or maybe one of the other oriental women there. I saw Sarah there a couple of months ago. At 26 Romilly Street is you have to walk up to the second floor to see who is there that day.
UPDATE: Paris is also called Laura and works other places in Soho now
Saturday, August 6, 2011
all 3 walk ups in Lisle Street have reopened
I thought that the walk ups in Lisle Street had been closed permanently but yesterday I walked past and they were open. I have no idea what happened. I think the police or the council would very much like to close them down but don't have the legal powers to do so.
What I did notice yesterday is that the signs saying 'model' and the women's names are not there. I think perhaps there is some obscure rule that does not allow these signs and is now being enforced. This will make things more difficult for the women and their clients alike. It will be no problem to the men who are happy to go with any woman. Some men however like to research their amorous adventures beforehand, and select a woman according to their preferences. Some men like to see the same woman more than once.
It is still possible to ask the maid who is in the flat that day. I asked at number 2 Lisle Street and was told that it is Amanda (lower flat) and Olivia (upper flat). I'm sure that in most places the maids will be cooperative, not like the one at 28 Peter Street who led me to believe that I was seeing Angela when in fact it was someone else.
What I did notice yesterday is that the signs saying 'model' and the women's names are not there. I think perhaps there is some obscure rule that does not allow these signs and is now being enforced. This will make things more difficult for the women and their clients alike. It will be no problem to the men who are happy to go with any woman. Some men however like to research their amorous adventures beforehand, and select a woman according to their preferences. Some men like to see the same woman more than once.
It is still possible to ask the maid who is in the flat that day. I asked at number 2 Lisle Street and was told that it is Amanda (lower flat) and Olivia (upper flat). I'm sure that in most places the maids will be cooperative, not like the one at 28 Peter Street who led me to believe that I was seeing Angela when in fact it was someone else.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
closure of walk ups in Soho
Just recently all 3 of the walk ups in Lisle Street have closed. The doors have been padlocked. A few weeks ago the walk up in Frith Street was closed and hasn't re-opened, and one of the ones in Berwick Street has been closed for a while.
There haven't been any closures of walk ups in recent years, but just this year there have been several. A couple of years ago the authorities tried to close the Dean Street walk up but could not do so. Several years ago there was redevelopment at the corner of Berwick Street and Peter Street, opposite the supermarket. A few walk ups closed then, including the popular one in Blore Court. Angie, Ritzy and Sandy relocated to Old Compton Street.
Nobody seems to know if the Lisle Street walk ups will re-open. Doesn't seem likely. Or if there will be more closures. Or what has happened to the women who worked in Lisle Street. I hope none of them end up like Liz Valad.
I know what happened to one of the women who worked in Lisle Street. Nelly used to work in the flat above Natalie. Both she and Natalie had left by the time of the closures. Natalie returned to Russia and was replaced by Amanda. Now Nelly works at 34 Romilly Street in the flat below Simona.
I went to see Nelly recently. We did different things together and then I asked if I could have a look at her pussy. She lay on her back and opened her legs for me. I held her pussy open and had a look inside. I think she could tell what I was thinking because when I looked up at her face she shook her head. She reached over to the bedside table and took a latex glove out of a box. She didn't want me to put my fingers inside her pussy until I had put a glove on.
When I had it on I said to her "Are you ready for the doctor?". I pushed one finger in and moved it up and down. After a while I tried two fingers. When I wiggled my fingers around she gave every appearance of enjoying it. She moaned and arched her back. I think I shall see her again.
There haven't been any closures of walk ups in recent years, but just this year there have been several. A couple of years ago the authorities tried to close the Dean Street walk up but could not do so. Several years ago there was redevelopment at the corner of Berwick Street and Peter Street, opposite the supermarket. A few walk ups closed then, including the popular one in Blore Court. Angie, Ritzy and Sandy relocated to Old Compton Street.
Nobody seems to know if the Lisle Street walk ups will re-open. Doesn't seem likely. Or if there will be more closures. Or what has happened to the women who worked in Lisle Street. I hope none of them end up like Liz Valad.
I know what happened to one of the women who worked in Lisle Street. Nelly used to work in the flat above Natalie. Both she and Natalie had left by the time of the closures. Natalie returned to Russia and was replaced by Amanda. Now Nelly works at 34 Romilly Street in the flat below Simona.
I went to see Nelly recently. We did different things together and then I asked if I could have a look at her pussy. She lay on her back and opened her legs for me. I held her pussy open and had a look inside. I think she could tell what I was thinking because when I looked up at her face she shook her head. She reached over to the bedside table and took a latex glove out of a box. She didn't want me to put my fingers inside her pussy until I had put a glove on.
When I had it on I said to her "Are you ready for the doctor?". I pushed one finger in and moved it up and down. After a while I tried two fingers. When I wiggled my fingers around she gave every appearance of enjoying it. She moaned and arched her back. I think I shall see her again.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
even more Chinese massage
After my recent experiences of Chinese massage I didn't intend to try it again. Although Anchee in Bethnal Green seemed tempting (she is said to be the best value in London). I had enjoyed these experiences, especially with the girl in Charing Cross Road, but they had not lived up to my hopes.
On the PunterNet forum someone was asking about a Chinese medical establishment closer to where I live. I often take a short bus ride to Croydon town centre and I have often walked past this establishment, sometimes wondering if they offered massage with a 'happy ending'. This man was saying that he had a massage there but although he had been totally naked there did not seem to be anything else on offer. A couple of people had replied to him, but none had got the happy ending they had hoped for.
I decided I would give it a go. At least I would get a nice massage. I went in there and I could see a young Chinese woman in a white coat talking to some people. She looked as if she was in her late 20s and was of above average attractiveness. When she had finished talking to these people about herbs or something I asked if I could get a massage here. She said yes and told me the price. She said I should come back in half an hour.
When I returned she asked me to pay the £20 for the half hour massage I had asked for. She showed me into a medium sized room with a massage couch in it. There were wall charts showing the human body and the acupuncture points. She said I should undress and lie down on the couch and she would come back. The couch was covered in paper and there was a hole for the face. I lay there what seemed to be a long time. I could hear her talking to someone. There was Chinese music playing.
She came into the room and apologized for keeping me waiting. She asked if I wanted a soft or a firm massage and then started on my shoulders and neck. She seemed to be the only person working there and once or twice she had to leave the room. When someone comes through the front door a bell rings and she has to see who it is.
She worked her way down my back and then started massaging my bum. I had decided it would be prudent to keep my underpants on and she was pulling them down a bit to work on my bum. I said that I could take them off if it would be easier, and she said she could take them off for me, which she did.
After working on the back of my legs she said I could turn over. I hadn't said much to her up to now with my face in this hole, but now we could have a bit of a conversation. She asked me if I had ever had Chinese massage before. I told her I hadn't, but I have a friend who goes to Chinatown and has a massage there.
Towards the end of the massage I wanted to find out what else was on offer. I had to be careful what I said as I didn't want to offend her. I told her that when my friend goes to Chinatown he sometimes gives the girl some more money and she massages him 'down here' and I pointed to my willy. She said "We do that here too". I asked her how much that would cost and she said £15.
At the end of the massage she left me in the room to get dressed and when I came out she was behind the counter. I thanked her and asked her for what her name is. She said J. I'm not going to give her name or her location because usually these women would not welcome people knowing what they do.
This was last week and yesterday I went back. Again she was busy talking to someone and she asked me to come back in an hour. When I came back she came out of one of the rooms where she was with someone and said I could wait for her in the other treatment room. After about 10 minutes she was ready for me. She said that she had been putting a candle in a woman's ear.
I said I wanted an hour massage. This was £35. I had some £10 notes and I started counting them out. She said she had some £5 notes if I needed some change. I told her I wanted to pay the extra £15. She said she remembered that I wanted something extra.
As before, she started on my shoulders and neck. She remembered my name and that I wanted a firm massage. As before, she worked her way down my back and then worked on my bum. Then I heard what sounded like her putting on a latex glove. I had noticed while I had been waiting that there was a box of latex gloves. I wondered if she was going to put her finger up my bum. That's exactly what she did. I hadn't asked for this or expected it. I was happy to have a new experience. Maybe that was her way of telling me that she also does prostate massage. I don't know.
When I turned over she asked if I was warm enough. To begin with I was, but later I did start to shiver a bit and she put a couple of towels over me. I asked her about herself and she told me she had studied six years in China to do this job and she had been in London about 10 years.
When I had been with I. in central London I had asked her strip for me and I had given her the extra £20 she asked for that. I had touched her bum and her pussy. When I had been with L. in central London I had got her to pull down her shorts and I had touched her bum and her pussy. With J. however I didn't feel that I could ask for that or even that I wanted that.
After working on my chest and tummy she started on my genital area. She started prodding around the area and then I could feel her gently holding my penis. She was using oil or lotion and started moving her hand up and down. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get an erection and after a while I asked her if it was getting big. She said it was. I looked and I could see it was semi erect. We continued and I could feel that it was starting to work. I had been worried that I wouldn't be able to come but it didn't take long before I felt the intense pleasure that made me jerk and groan for several seconds.
It worked out better than I had expected. I achieved orgasm. The massage was good too. I hadn't had to pay that much money. The process was quite simple. What I don't like about the 'sensual massage' scene is that you often don't know what to expect. It seems that some men will go to see a woman, not ask for anything extra and not get anything extra, but leave a tip in the hope that next time they might be offered what they were hoping for. Or they might get something extra and not be asked to pay extra but they will pay a suitable tip because they know that if they don't then they probably aren't going to get it next time. I can't be bothered with that. So I was very happy with my experience with J. and I would like to see her again.
On the PunterNet forum someone was asking about a Chinese medical establishment closer to where I live. I often take a short bus ride to Croydon town centre and I have often walked past this establishment, sometimes wondering if they offered massage with a 'happy ending'. This man was saying that he had a massage there but although he had been totally naked there did not seem to be anything else on offer. A couple of people had replied to him, but none had got the happy ending they had hoped for.
I decided I would give it a go. At least I would get a nice massage. I went in there and I could see a young Chinese woman in a white coat talking to some people. She looked as if she was in her late 20s and was of above average attractiveness. When she had finished talking to these people about herbs or something I asked if I could get a massage here. She said yes and told me the price. She said I should come back in half an hour.
When I returned she asked me to pay the £20 for the half hour massage I had asked for. She showed me into a medium sized room with a massage couch in it. There were wall charts showing the human body and the acupuncture points. She said I should undress and lie down on the couch and she would come back. The couch was covered in paper and there was a hole for the face. I lay there what seemed to be a long time. I could hear her talking to someone. There was Chinese music playing.
She came into the room and apologized for keeping me waiting. She asked if I wanted a soft or a firm massage and then started on my shoulders and neck. She seemed to be the only person working there and once or twice she had to leave the room. When someone comes through the front door a bell rings and she has to see who it is.
She worked her way down my back and then started massaging my bum. I had decided it would be prudent to keep my underpants on and she was pulling them down a bit to work on my bum. I said that I could take them off if it would be easier, and she said she could take them off for me, which she did.
After working on the back of my legs she said I could turn over. I hadn't said much to her up to now with my face in this hole, but now we could have a bit of a conversation. She asked me if I had ever had Chinese massage before. I told her I hadn't, but I have a friend who goes to Chinatown and has a massage there.
Towards the end of the massage I wanted to find out what else was on offer. I had to be careful what I said as I didn't want to offend her. I told her that when my friend goes to Chinatown he sometimes gives the girl some more money and she massages him 'down here' and I pointed to my willy. She said "We do that here too". I asked her how much that would cost and she said £15.
At the end of the massage she left me in the room to get dressed and when I came out she was behind the counter. I thanked her and asked her for what her name is. She said J. I'm not going to give her name or her location because usually these women would not welcome people knowing what they do.
This was last week and yesterday I went back. Again she was busy talking to someone and she asked me to come back in an hour. When I came back she came out of one of the rooms where she was with someone and said I could wait for her in the other treatment room. After about 10 minutes she was ready for me. She said that she had been putting a candle in a woman's ear.
I said I wanted an hour massage. This was £35. I had some £10 notes and I started counting them out. She said she had some £5 notes if I needed some change. I told her I wanted to pay the extra £15. She said she remembered that I wanted something extra.
As before, she started on my shoulders and neck. She remembered my name and that I wanted a firm massage. As before, she worked her way down my back and then worked on my bum. Then I heard what sounded like her putting on a latex glove. I had noticed while I had been waiting that there was a box of latex gloves. I wondered if she was going to put her finger up my bum. That's exactly what she did. I hadn't asked for this or expected it. I was happy to have a new experience. Maybe that was her way of telling me that she also does prostate massage. I don't know.
When I turned over she asked if I was warm enough. To begin with I was, but later I did start to shiver a bit and she put a couple of towels over me. I asked her about herself and she told me she had studied six years in China to do this job and she had been in London about 10 years.
When I had been with I. in central London I had asked her strip for me and I had given her the extra £20 she asked for that. I had touched her bum and her pussy. When I had been with L. in central London I had got her to pull down her shorts and I had touched her bum and her pussy. With J. however I didn't feel that I could ask for that or even that I wanted that.
After working on my chest and tummy she started on my genital area. She started prodding around the area and then I could feel her gently holding my penis. She was using oil or lotion and started moving her hand up and down. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get an erection and after a while I asked her if it was getting big. She said it was. I looked and I could see it was semi erect. We continued and I could feel that it was starting to work. I had been worried that I wouldn't be able to come but it didn't take long before I felt the intense pleasure that made me jerk and groan for several seconds.
It worked out better than I had expected. I achieved orgasm. The massage was good too. I hadn't had to pay that much money. The process was quite simple. What I don't like about the 'sensual massage' scene is that you often don't know what to expect. It seems that some men will go to see a woman, not ask for anything extra and not get anything extra, but leave a tip in the hope that next time they might be offered what they were hoping for. Or they might get something extra and not be asked to pay extra but they will pay a suitable tip because they know that if they don't then they probably aren't going to get it next time. I can't be bothered with that. So I was very happy with my experience with J. and I would like to see her again.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Ann Widdecombe on heroin
A BBC news report has shown that in London some heroin addicts are being prescribed heroin on the NHS. Ann Widdecombe, the Conservative politician, does not accept this. She said
"My concern about giving heroin to addicts is you are not tackling the root cause of their problems. You don't get someone off drugs by giving them drugs. You remove the danger of dirty needles - but not the addiction".
This attitude is common within the coalition government. I think it is harmful. Diamorphine (pure heroin) and methadone are useful in treating heroin addicts. They allow the treatment for addiction to be in two easier steps instead of one big step. Often it will be simply impossible for someone to recover from addiction unless they can do this. Even if an addict only ever achieves the first step that in itself is immeasurably preferable to remaining on street heroin. Someone who takes methadone or diamorphine might still be an addict but their situation is completely different.
Firstly, an addict does not need to commit crime in order to buy street heroin. Women do not feel the need to be prostitutes. Although prostitution does not necessarily damage the physical or psychological health of women, the inadequate criminal justice system in this country means that some are.
Secondly, clean needles mean that an addict is not going to get HIV or hepatitis.
Thirdly, diamorphine and methadone are pure. Street heroin doesn't start off pure, but then it is cut with various substances so that dealers can make more money from it. These substances can be very injurious to health.
Fourthly, the dose of diamorphine and methadone is controlled precisely. People could take relatively large doses of pure heroin for years without it harming their health too much, but heroin kills large numbers of people because it is so easy to overdose on street heroin. Addicts find it very difficult to work out the strength of their heroin and how much they can use without it killing them.
The attitudes of people like Ann Widdecombe to both diamorphine and methadone will lead to death and damage to many people. I'm not saying that addicts should not try to gradually reduce the dose they take or even try to abruptly stop. But it helps if they can get off street heroin first. Many will never be able to overcome addiction without diamorphine or methadone. Even if they never achieve total abstinence from drugs they will be much happier.
"My concern about giving heroin to addicts is you are not tackling the root cause of their problems. You don't get someone off drugs by giving them drugs. You remove the danger of dirty needles - but not the addiction".
This attitude is common within the coalition government. I think it is harmful. Diamorphine (pure heroin) and methadone are useful in treating heroin addicts. They allow the treatment for addiction to be in two easier steps instead of one big step. Often it will be simply impossible for someone to recover from addiction unless they can do this. Even if an addict only ever achieves the first step that in itself is immeasurably preferable to remaining on street heroin. Someone who takes methadone or diamorphine might still be an addict but their situation is completely different.
Firstly, an addict does not need to commit crime in order to buy street heroin. Women do not feel the need to be prostitutes. Although prostitution does not necessarily damage the physical or psychological health of women, the inadequate criminal justice system in this country means that some are.
Secondly, clean needles mean that an addict is not going to get HIV or hepatitis.
Thirdly, diamorphine and methadone are pure. Street heroin doesn't start off pure, but then it is cut with various substances so that dealers can make more money from it. These substances can be very injurious to health.
Fourthly, the dose of diamorphine and methadone is controlled precisely. People could take relatively large doses of pure heroin for years without it harming their health too much, but heroin kills large numbers of people because it is so easy to overdose on street heroin. Addicts find it very difficult to work out the strength of their heroin and how much they can use without it killing them.
The attitudes of people like Ann Widdecombe to both diamorphine and methadone will lead to death and damage to many people. I'm not saying that addicts should not try to gradually reduce the dose they take or even try to abruptly stop. But it helps if they can get off street heroin first. Many will never be able to overcome addiction without diamorphine or methadone. Even if they never achieve total abstinence from drugs they will be much happier.
Monday, July 4, 2011
the autobiography of Sebastian Horsley
I finally got around to reading the autobiography of Sebastian Horsley 'Dandy in the Underworld'. I had been thinking of reading it after I heard about his death by heroin overdose just over a year ago. JoAnne Good and Clayton Littlewood had been talking about him on BBC London. I knew that he lived in Soho and he went to see prostitutes there, often ones in the walk ups where I go.
It is only recently, however, that I have become aware that in Soho there used to be a beautiful Italian woman called Claudia. She worked at 70A Berwick Street until a few years ago. She has been described as looking like Sophia Loren and Raquel Welch. Readers of this blog may know that I have always been most strongly attracted to Italian and Italian-looking women, and I have always lusted after Sophia and Raquel.
I couldn't understand how I could have missed her. I have been going to Soho and using PunterNet for the past ten years. I tried to find out all I could about Claudia, and then I became aware that Sebastian Horsley had seen her a number of times and written about her. He wrote an article in the Guardian/Observer and there is an extract from Dandy in the Underworld in Twill magazine.
I went onto Amazon and ordered a used paperback. When I got it I found the pages about Claudia, and then I read the book from the beginning. I wasn't particularly interested in his wealthy but dysfunctional childhood, his failed attempts to be a punk musician, or even his association with Jimmy Boyle, 'Scotland's most violent gangster'. After I re-read what he had to say about Claudia there was an account of descent into crack cocaine addiction, some rehab, and then another descent into addiction, this time heroin. I have never taken drugs although I have met people who were crack and heroin addicts so this was of great interest to me. It helped me to understand something of what it is like to be totally addicted.
The most poignant part of the book is when his brother-in-law Giles, who had been a heroin addict, offered to help Sebastian. He gave him a job in his business, even though all of the other addicts he had tried to help had robbed him. Giles seemed to have everything sorted and so it was a shock when Sebastian got a call from his sobbing sister. He went round and found Giles dead on the sofa, an abandoned syringe next to him.
I noticed throughout the book numerous references to suicide. His mother had tried to kill herself four times and his grandmother achieved it. He often wrote about how desirable it would be. It had been suggested that Sebastian had killed himself, but it is generally reckoned to have been an accidental overdose. Taking heroin however is a bit like Russian roulette. It is so difficult to get the dose right, and many addicts die by accidental overdosing. He gives a graphic account of when he overdosed but survived. He also gives an account of when he played actual Russian roulette - he owned a gun.
Sebastian's book and his life would not make many people like him. I don't think you could say that he didn't care what people thought of him (as he had said of John Lydon). He would have liked to be adored but I think he thought that it would be better to be despised than ignored. His flaunting of his wealth, his self-centredness and immaturity would enrage many. People would have envied his privileged life, but I am only envious that he knew Claudia.
The last mention of Claudia in the book is where he invites her to his flat to meet another beauty, the model Rachel Garley. It is there that Claudia finally allows him to kiss her; she had not permitted him to do so before.
I saw Sebastian once, sitting outside a café in Old Compton Street. I recognized him immediately; no one else wore a top hat. Apparently it was quite unusual for him to be out during daylight hours. He looked quite approachable, I wish that I had said hello to him. There was a play about him based on his memoirs. The final words said by the actor playing him were "If you see me on old Compton Street please say hello won't you?"
For the purposes of completeness I should mention some of the other activities that Sebastian managed to cram into his short life. He was a failed punk band member. He got to know intimately psychopathic Scottish gangster Jimmy Boyle. He swam with Great White sharks. He lost a fortune and regained a fortune by gambling on the financial markets. He was voluntarily crucified in the Philippines. He was a semi-successful artist.
It is only recently, however, that I have become aware that in Soho there used to be a beautiful Italian woman called Claudia. She worked at 70A Berwick Street until a few years ago. She has been described as looking like Sophia Loren and Raquel Welch. Readers of this blog may know that I have always been most strongly attracted to Italian and Italian-looking women, and I have always lusted after Sophia and Raquel.
I couldn't understand how I could have missed her. I have been going to Soho and using PunterNet for the past ten years. I tried to find out all I could about Claudia, and then I became aware that Sebastian Horsley had seen her a number of times and written about her. He wrote an article in the Guardian/Observer and there is an extract from Dandy in the Underworld in Twill magazine.
I went onto Amazon and ordered a used paperback. When I got it I found the pages about Claudia, and then I read the book from the beginning. I wasn't particularly interested in his wealthy but dysfunctional childhood, his failed attempts to be a punk musician, or even his association with Jimmy Boyle, 'Scotland's most violent gangster'. After I re-read what he had to say about Claudia there was an account of descent into crack cocaine addiction, some rehab, and then another descent into addiction, this time heroin. I have never taken drugs although I have met people who were crack and heroin addicts so this was of great interest to me. It helped me to understand something of what it is like to be totally addicted.
The most poignant part of the book is when his brother-in-law Giles, who had been a heroin addict, offered to help Sebastian. He gave him a job in his business, even though all of the other addicts he had tried to help had robbed him. Giles seemed to have everything sorted and so it was a shock when Sebastian got a call from his sobbing sister. He went round and found Giles dead on the sofa, an abandoned syringe next to him.
I noticed throughout the book numerous references to suicide. His mother had tried to kill herself four times and his grandmother achieved it. He often wrote about how desirable it would be. It had been suggested that Sebastian had killed himself, but it is generally reckoned to have been an accidental overdose. Taking heroin however is a bit like Russian roulette. It is so difficult to get the dose right, and many addicts die by accidental overdosing. He gives a graphic account of when he overdosed but survived. He also gives an account of when he played actual Russian roulette - he owned a gun.
Sebastian's book and his life would not make many people like him. I don't think you could say that he didn't care what people thought of him (as he had said of John Lydon). He would have liked to be adored but I think he thought that it would be better to be despised than ignored. His flaunting of his wealth, his self-centredness and immaturity would enrage many. People would have envied his privileged life, but I am only envious that he knew Claudia.
The last mention of Claudia in the book is where he invites her to his flat to meet another beauty, the model Rachel Garley. It is there that Claudia finally allows him to kiss her; she had not permitted him to do so before.
I saw Sebastian once, sitting outside a café in Old Compton Street. I recognized him immediately; no one else wore a top hat. Apparently it was quite unusual for him to be out during daylight hours. He looked quite approachable, I wish that I had said hello to him. There was a play about him based on his memoirs. The final words said by the actor playing him were "If you see me on old Compton Street please say hello won't you?"
For the purposes of completeness I should mention some of the other activities that Sebastian managed to cram into his short life. He was a failed punk band member. He got to know intimately psychopathic Scottish gangster Jimmy Boyle. He swam with Great White sharks. He lost a fortune and regained a fortune by gambling on the financial markets. He was voluntarily crucified in the Philippines. He was a semi-successful artist.
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