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  • CAR REVIEW | Audi S1 2.0 TFSI

    CAR REVIEW | Audi S1 2.0 TFSI

    ★★★★☆ | Audi S1 2.0 TFSI 231PS Quattro Competition Nav

     

    What Have We Got 

    Audi’s S1 is the smallest and most affordable end of the S series cars. A brand new S1 starts at £27,745.00 ROTR. The S1 is a great package. 4WD, 6-speed manual gearbox, 230bhp / 370Nm torque from a 2.0L EA888 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine and 155 mph limited top speed. Make no mistake, this isn’t a lukewarm shopping car, this is a real driver’s car, an Audi S series car. I was surprised how much attention it gets you, lots of people complimented my choice of car for a change.

    Driving

    Audi’s S1 is a lot of fun and very capable. Being permanent 4WD, I expected it to push on it corners, understeer spoiling the party, but it seems to have a RWD bias which is great fun.

    Pulling out of a junction or accelerating out of a tight corner, a heavy right foot can prompt the tail to kick out. You have to be particularly aggressive as there’s loads of grip. Standard power from the S1 is 230bhp but with a stage 1 map that jumps to 320bhp, however, I know a couple of these engines running over 500bhp.

    Inside

    It’s fairly unremarkable inside but solid and well built. Leather, shell back bucket seats look very good and do a great job of supporting driver and passenger and the controls are well placed. You certainly feel you are in a driver’s car.

    My only criticism was the size. Obviously, it’s a small car, but for me as a grown-up carrying too many kg’s, it was almost too small. The dash is fairly plain but very nice and the quality is superb.

    Living with it

    As you would expect, the Audi S1 has a host of electronic assists such as; cross-traffic assist rear (which will alert you when vehicles cross your blind spot, and even activate the brakes if necessary). Pre sense front (uses a camera and radar sensors to alert you to approaching hazards and can apply the brakes). Park assist (parks for you), cruise control and more.

    It’s fast, fun, well built and looks great. I’d almost go as far as to say it’s in a class of its own with 230bhp in such a small package.

    The Verdict

    If you’re looking for fun in a small package but want a touch of class and quality. The S1 is right up your street. It looks subtle and classy and is very well built. It’s a bit small for me and there’s not a lot of room in the back but so what, I sit in the front.

    Small enough to park anywhere with ease, safe as any modern car with all of the electronics, it sounds great and has huge tuning potential. I’d like to take one on track and see what it’s like there.

    Love

    Performance

    Handling

    Build quality

    Loathe

    Unremarkable inside

    Too small (for me)

    Manual gearbox only, no DSG.

     

    Lowdown

    Car –  2.0 TFSI 231PS Quattro Competition Nav

    Price – £27,745.00

    MPG – 39.8 (combined)

    0-62 – 5.8s

    Power – 272hp and 330nm torque

    Top Speed – 155.3 mph

    Co2 – 166 (g/km)

     

  • Here’s the celebs who have come out as gay or bi in 2018 so far

    Here’s the celebs who have come out as gay or bi in 2018 so far

    As we head into 2019 we look back at some of the guys who have come as gay, bi or pansexual in 2018

     

    Abrahm DeVine

    Embed from Getty Images

    US swimmer, Abrahm DeVine has come out as gay in an inspiring interview in Swimming World Magazine. Before coming out to his teammates, 22-year-old DeVine described his worry about how they would react on hearing the news. He said, “I’m a gay athlete. There aren’t too many of us, so when I came out to my college team, that was a really tough time for me.”

    Embed from Getty Images

    Panic At The Disco singer Brendon came out as pansexual. He said, “I just like good people, if your heart’s in the right place. I’m definitely attracted to men. It’s just people that I am attracted to. I guess this is me coming out as pansexual.”

    Cameron Cole

    Embed from Getty Images

    Cameron became the first gay man to come out on the UK version of Big Brother this year. He also went on to be the last ever winner of the show. He came out during a discussion with fellow housemate Lewis Flanagan.

    Collin Martin


    Twenty-three-year-old Collin Martin came out as gay, wrapped in a pride flag. Amen to that. He becomes the second Stateside pro footballer to do so. Robbie Rogers was the first in 2013.  He made the announcement via Twitter, writing “I am announcing for the first time publicly that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer, June is Pride month, and I am proud to be playing for Pride, and to be playing as an out gay man.”

    Cory Michael Smith

    Embed from Getty Images

    Star of TV series, Gotham, Cory Michael Smith came out in March.

    Danny Tetley

    ITV

    X Factor contestant Danny Tetley came out during his time on the competition he also shared the story in which he came out to his father… who also came out to his son at the same time.

    Felix Jaegn

    Embed from Getty Images

    The 23-year-old DJ and producer came out as bisexual in Feb 2018 saying, “Now I dream of finding the person I want to share my life with, man or woman.”

     

    Garrett Clayton

    (C) BOSSMOSS / DEPOSITPHOTOS

    Film star and former Disney start Garrett came out and while he was at it introduced the world to his boyfriend, Blake Knight. Garrett Clayton is a former Disney star but one of his most recent film credits was the James Franco film King Cobra in which Clayton starred as gay porn actor Brent Corrigan.

    Harry Styles

    CREDIT: DFree/bigstock
    Many people interpreted song lyrics to Harry’s song “Medicine”. In the song, Harry sings: “…The boys and the girls are here, I mess around with them, and I’m okay with it. I’m coming down, I figured out I kinda like it, and when I sleep i’m gonna dream of how you tasted…”

    He also appeared with a rainbow flag numerous times on his promotional tour.

    This isn’t the first time Harry Styles has talked about his sexuality, however. A few years ago he told a reporter during an interview, that gender wasn’t an important factor for him when looking for a mate. He said that a sense of humour and being natural was key for him.

    Despite this, Harry has not actually commented on his sexuality, but watch this space.

    Jaden Smith

    Embed from Getty Images

    Jaden Smith confirmed that he was dating rap artist Tyler The Creator live on stage at a concert. Taking the microphone Jaden said, ‘I just wanna say Tyler, The Creator is the best friend in the world. And I love him so fing much, and I wanna tell you guys something, I wanna tell you, Tyler doesn’t wanna say, but Tyler is my mother fing boyfriend.’

    Jake Atlas

    Pro Wrestler Jake Atlas came out in Feb 2018 saying, “I am proud to fulfil my promise of coming out publicly about my sexuality to be a voice for those that struggle with this issue like I have for many, many years.”

    Jake Choi

    Embed from Getty Images

    Actor Jake Choi said that while he shot the TV series, Single Parents he identified as straight, he said “When I shot the movie I identified as straight – that’s how I was conditioned. Now, I identify as fluid.”

    Jake Borelli

    Embed from Getty Images

    Twenty-seven-year-old actor Jake Borelli came out via Instagram the same night as his character on the show Grey’s AnatomyJake Borelli, took time on Thursday to write a heart-warming message on social media after his character, Dr Levi Schmitt, on the long-running TV drama, Grey’s Anatomy embarked on a same-sex love story. The actor wrote how he “craved” as a young person, storylines like the one his character is involved with and hoped that the character would bring hope to others.

    Joey Pollari

    Embed from Getty Images

    Before the release of Love, Simon, Joey came out as gay. Speaking to US magazine, The Advocate the star said the film’s lead character, Simon, had an experience that was similar to his own.

    He said that he came out to his friends and family when he was 18, saying that he thought that most of them “knew on some level”, but his mum always knew apparently. He revealed, “My mom knew. She laid hints for me everywhere.”

     

    Kevin  McHale

    (C) BIGSTOCK

    The Glee actor came out in 2018 on Twitter and is a brand new entry to this list. He has over 1.35 million followers on Twitter. Apart from Glee Kevin has also starred in the E4 panel show, Virtually Famous.

    Kevin Laroy

    http://gty.im/1052447514

    Tattoo artist Kevin Laroy – also known as Babyface Killa came out to his father on the TV show Black Ink Crew. He said, “Whether you like it or not, I’m going to be me. The fact of the matter is… I am a gay black male.”

    Lucas Hedges

    Embed from Getty Images

    Boy Erased star Lucas Hedges has confirmed in a recent interview that he doesn’t identify as totally straight. But not Bisexual or Gay. Somewhere on the spectrum. The Boy Erased and Manchester By The Sea star was speaking in a Vulture interview when he sort of “came out” after revealing he had a crush on a boy at camp.

    Lee Pace

    Embed from Getty Images

    The Hobbit and Guardians of the Galaxy star Lee Pace came out in March this year saying, but was affronted by the question about his sexuality when asked by a journalist saying, “I’ve dated men, I’ve dated women,” he said. “I don’t know why anyone would care. I’m an actor and I play roles. To be honest, I don’t know what to say – I find your question intrusive.”

    Matt Evers


    Professional skater Matt Evers came out as gay in an interview with Attitude magazine. The 41-year-old star who is set to take part in the ITV show, Dancing On Ice, reveals that he was brought up in a very strict religious household, but decided to come out after being inspired by his uncle, who died of an AIDS-related illness over twenty years ago.

    Michael C Hall

    Embed from Getty Images

    Michael shared that he was “sexually fluid”. Speaking to the Daily Beast about his new project, a play called Thom PainDexter actor, Michael C Hall spoke about his own sexuality, saying that he thinks that sexuality is on a spectrum and that making out with a male actor night after night made him “lean” into being sexually fluid.

    He told the website, “I think there’s a spectrum. I am on it … If there was a percentage, I would say I was not all the way heterosexual.”

    Ronan Farrow

    Embed from Getty Images

    Journalist Ronan came out as part of the LGBT community in 2018 saying, “Being a part of the LGBT community … which recognised that reporting I was doing early on and elevated it, and has been such a stalwart source of support through the sexual assault reporting I did involving survivors who felt equally invisible … that has been an incredible source of strength for me.”

  • Gay sex now legal in India

    Gay sex now legal in India

    A law known as Section 377 has been overturned by the Indian Supreme Court.

    The court’s ruling reverses a 2013 decision that a colonial-era law, known as section 377, under which sex between two men is categorised as an “unnatural offence” would stay on the books.

    According to the BBC, “It is one of the world’s oldest laws criminalising gay sex, and India has been reluctant to overturn it”

    That is until now.

    Speaking about the ruling, leading LGBT+ rights activist, Peter Tatchell said,

    “This historic legal ruling sets free from criminalisation almost one fifth of the world’s LGBT+ people. It is the biggest, most impactful gay law reform in human history. I hope it will inspire and empower similar legal challenges in many of the 70 countries that still outlaw same-sex relations, 35 of which are member states of the Commonwealth.

    “Ending the ban on homosexuality is just a start. There are still huge challenges to end the stigma, discrimination and hate crime that LGBTs suffer in India.

    “Indian LGBTs now revert to the legal status of non-criminalisation that existed prior to the British colonisers imposing the homophobic section 377 of the criminal code in the nineteenth century.”

    Read the full story on BBC.com

  • How to avoid toxic masculinity at the gym

    How to avoid toxic masculinity at the gym

    Don’t let toxic masc bros stop you from getting fit.

    CREDIT: bigstock-sorali

    The toxic masculinity mentality is so outdated it makes me want to puke. However, the gym is one of those places that both attracts bros and then further encourages bro-behaviour. So no matter where you train, from the plushest health club to the most bare-bones 24-hour gym, you’ll encounter these assholes at one point or another. Wearing their backwards caps and shouting at their bros to smash out another rep.

    It’s enough to deter any gay man, woman, or newcomer from ever daring to set foot in the free weights section. To that, we say FUCK NO! The time has come to take a stand against this crap, so here are a few things you can do to combat toxic masculinity in your gym.

    1. Be gay!

    via GIPHY

    Well done, you’ve already accomplished this one. So if you’re gay then don’t be afraid to act it. You don’t have to hide your camp-ness at home, with friends, or at work, and you shouldn’t suddenly have to in the gym.

    Listen to your Lady Gaga full volume, wear unicorn leggings, go to Jazzercise, and just be yourself. This isn’t high school gym class anymore.

    2. Train with a girl-friend

    via GIPHY

    Work to dispel the bullshit male/female divide in gyms and get training with your girl friends. Get them into the weights section and help them feel confident doing pull ups and bench pressing with barbells. Then hop on the elliptical with them and do your cardio. There are no “male exercises” and no “female exercises”, just different training goals.

    Women and men can both work to be stronger and fitter, side by side. #gayfitness [Tweet this if you agree!]

    3. Get strong

    CREDIT: Dean-Drobot-bigstock

    If there is a homophobic piece of shit in the gym, then the best way to show this toxic creep that he’s outdated and obsolete is to get strong. Focus on good form and consistency and you’ll progress in your training far quicker than a loud-mouthed bro who’s just looking to slam some weights around. Just watch him try and call you a sissy when you’re benching what he squats.

    1. Don’t become a jerk

    calibra / Pixabay

    When you do get stronger, don’t fall into the trap of becoming a bro yourself. Yes, you’re strong, you know what you’re doing, and you look great, but don’t start acting like the world owes something because you’re buff now.

    Take your training seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously.

    5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

    CREDIT: Flynt-bigstock

    Whether you’re new to this whole gym thing or you’ve been training for years, don’t ever be afraid to ask for help. If you need a spot or you’re unsure, ask someone for help. If they’re not busy or mid-set, then they’ll probably be happy to help.

    No one knows everything, and only toxic assholes act like they do.

  • Miss Mango Tree Ladyboy Beauty Pageant 2018

    Miss Mango Tree Ladyboy Beauty Pageant 2018

    The Miss Mango Tree Ladyboy Beauty Pageant returns for 2018.

    Mango Tree restaurant’s most glamorous event returned on 2nd September.

    The 17th annual Miss Mango Tree Ladyboy Beauty Pageant stunned audiences with glamorous contestants and splendid costumes with the theme, “UNDER THE SEA”.  Each contestant had their own personal beauty and style, unfortunately, not all of them could be the winner. After three rounds (theme costume, bathing costume, and evening gown), the nine contestants were whittled down to 5, with the final results being:

    WINNER OF BEAUTY CONTEST & BEST COSTUME
    Panchewa Sirimeatanon

    1ST RUNNER UP AND WINNER OF BEST BODY
    Chummy Soco

    2ND RUNNER UP
    Oakki Jones

    The list of contestants on the night were:

    1. Agatha Mae De Gula
    2. Chixy Wilson
    3. Pola (Jasmine Franciosas)
    4. Randy Loo
    5. Chummy Soco
    6. Oakki Jones
    7. Iwa Moto
    8. Ashearah Auwerencia
    9. Panchewa Sirimeatanon
    10. Nafisha KianI

    Guests enjoyed fabulous dance performances, Thai canapés, cocktails along with a night of glammed up fun as contestants strutted their stuff. It was an amazing night.

  • MOTORBIKE REVIEW | Suzuki V-Strom 250 ABS

    MOTORBIKE REVIEW | Suzuki V-Strom 250 ABS

    ★★★★★ | Suzuki V-Strom 250 ABS

    The bike

    The bike we have here is a Suzuki V-Strom 250 which falls perfectly into the A2 licence* class. It’s an adventure bike, with longer travel suspension, upright seating position. Think of it like an SUV. Looks good, rugged, can handle all sorts from off road to motorways so it’s perfect for our crappy roads. It has a 248cc parallel-twin engine and is more road-focussed that off road. 248cc, 25bhp and 23.4 Nm torque doesn’t sound like much, but it’s enough to have fun and do whatever you need to do.

    Riding

    It’s not particularly fast with a top speed of 85 mph which means those faster overtakes need a little planning. With such modest power and a fun chassis, it does mean you can exploit the V-Strom pretty much everywhere without constantly looking over your shoulder for blue lights. You won’t believe how easy the little V-Strom is to ride.

    Bars are fairly high and the seat is soft and comfortable, prompting you to sit up straight in a typical adventure bike style.

    It’s big enough to have some road presence and small enough to filter through traffic and it does it all on a thimble full of fuel. This little adventure bike does a staggering 88 mpg which means over 310 miles on a single tank.

    Details

    There’s a 12V DC power outlet for your sat nav or your phone, a very neat reverse-lit full-LCD instrument panel showing; Speedometer, tachometer, odometer, average fuel consumption, fuel gauge, RPM, service indicator, clock, dual trip meters, gear position, coolant temperature and oil pressure. It sounds like a lot of information but it’s very easy to read. There’s a very handy screen in front of you to protect you from the wind too.
    The brakes offer good feel and work well and Bosch ABS is standard. It’s rugged and handsome and doesn’t look like a beginner bike.

    Living with it

    On the road, the bike rides very nicely. The V-Strom turns well and is fun. It’s a very friendly package, helping you to feel safe and confident. If you’re new to bikes or returning, this is a great way to build your confidence. It’s very easy to manoeuvre with good steering lock which makes urban riding simple.  

    Despite its adventure bike looks, it’s a pussycat. With a low seat height, it’s a piece of cake to ride. The upright riding position is very comfortable but it isn’t fast.

    The Verdict

    If you are a new rider or returning to two wheels after a break the V-Strom 250 is great. It looks good, it’s easy to ride, it’s economical and won’t break the bank. It’s not fast so is ideally suited to urban riding and not really ideal for motorway miles.

    There are many benefits to riding a motorcycle. it’s fun, It’s practical and in these times of ever-increasing congestion on our roads, a bike offers a fantastic alternative to sitting in queues of traffic hour after hour. It’s greener too!

    Loves

    Easy to ride & fun

    Uses hardly any fuel

    Rugged, handsome styling

    Loathes

    Not very fast

    A little buzzy when you rev it hard

    Exhaust is quiet

    Lowdown

    Motorcycle –  Suzuki V-Strom 250

    Price – £4.599
    MPG – 88.28 mpg (combined)

    0-62 – 9.3 seconds

    Power – 25bhp and 23.4 Nm torque

    Top Speed – 85 mph
    Co2 – 72 (g/km)

    *if you are over 19 with a full car licence, you can take your CBT (basic test), take your theory test and your practical test (just like a car), then you can ride any bike up to 35kw (47bhp). That’s called an A2 licence.

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/568266/routes-to-your-motorcycle-licence.pdf

  • CAR REVIEW | Honda Civic Type R

    CAR REVIEW | Honda Civic Type R

    ★★★★★ | Honda Civic Type R GT 2.0 VTEC Turbo.

     Honda: The Power of SCREAMS!

    Honda Civic Type R GT 2.0 VTEC Turbo reviewWhat Have We Got

    In 1985, I was collecting a magazine called The Car. Issue 40 was about the Lamborghini Countach. It was a dream car. A supercar with performance figures that spoke for themselves. 0-60 in 5 seconds and a top speed of 183mph. It also did 11mpg.

    Fast forward 33 years and suddenly I am confronted with a family hatchback that has similar performance figures and wings. This hatchback has 5 doors, will seat the same and carry luggage. This car is the Honda Civic Type R. 

    Honda Civic Type R GT 2.0 VTEC Turbo review

    Driving

    A lot has been said about the Civic and you can see why it has won so much admiration. So I decided that I’d turn the tables and write about what this bulging shoulder padded winged road warrior was like to live with as a practical car.

    Well, that all went out of the window when I found a suitable route to use the car’s power one night. To say it covers ground quickly is an understatement. This is amplified by an astonishing amount of grip given from the 245/30 20 Continental tyres. In the big scheme of things, the 245 isn’t that wide. What does help is in the thin 30 section side wall. These tyres do no wobble around and quick directional changes are where the Civic Type R excels. 

    No race-ready road car would be complete if it didn’t have an engine that could deliver. That 320PS arrives at high up the rev range at 6500rpm but it’s the 400Nm of torque are there at the max from 2500-4500. From 1500rpm the engine sings and its ability to spin to its maximum is rapid. This equals a lot of fun and an ability to get to legal speeds and beyond very quickly. 

    All cars come with traction control and there are times when switching it off can throw some cars into all sorts of shapes like your father dancing at a wedding. The Civic becomes a hoot to drive. It throws in drama to its already dramatic ways but remains safe.

    Inside

    Honda Civic Type R GT 2.0 VTEC Turbo review

    It’s all very much similar to the standard Civic that we tested recently. It’s roomy, has seats and the confusing heater controls. 

    Where the Type R stands out is in the bucket seats. They aren’t the easiest to get out of but they are far more supportive and comfortable than they look. 

    Living with it

    You need to have a serious talking to yourself before you buy one because you need to ask yourself if you could handle the seduction of its power. It’s an intoxicating frivolity that never tires. You see the hard riding Civic isn’t actually that harsh at all. 

    There are three settings, comfort, sport and R. ‘R’ as you can imagine is where the magic happens. That said, the magic also happens in comfort mode albeit a little more leisurely. ‘Comfort’ mode is noticeably softer and in the day-to-day running around, more than acceptable. 

    The Civic’s other settings are firmer in two stages and yet not internal organ jolting. Put it this way, apart from your stomach coming up in your throat when you first try a 0-60 pull away and your brain smashing around the inside of your skull from the G-forces, the ride won’t alter the locations of kidneys or the liver. 

    Your eyes might fall out of their sockets when you require the assistance of the Brembo brakes but that’s another matter. And I wear glasses so my eyes are never fell far from the sockets!

    Is it any good

    I say it is. Compared with the Golf R, the Civic isn’t perfect. It’s also not subtle in any way. While the Golf is good and doesn’t shout about its power, the Civic does. And when you are talking £30k plus for a fast hatchback, you want something that makes a statement. 

    Civic Type R makes a statement. 

    Love

    Handling

    Fun x 100
    Ability to cruise comfortably 

    Loathe

    Curb loving rims

    Heating controls

    Small fuel tank

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Honda Civic Type R GT 2.0 VTEC Turbo

    Cost – £33,525

    MPG – 36.7mpg (combined)

    Power – 320ps

    0-62mph – 5.8 seconds

    Top Speed –  169mph

    Co2 – 176 (g/km)

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Keith Kat Klub – Phoenix Artist Club – London

    THEATRE REVIEW | The Keith Kat Klub – Phoenix Artist Club – London

    ★★★★★ | The Keith Kat Klub –The Phoenix Artist Club

    Keith Ramsey is just fantastic in his new one-man show ‘The Keith Kat Club.’

    Now playing at The Phoenix Artist Club, London’s ‘most loved late night local,’ Ramsey is Keith Kat in a show that will razzle and dazzle you (while the musical Chicago plays upstairs at The Phoenix Theatre and is no match for Keith!). In perhaps the most entertaining and best 90 minute show currently playing in the West End, Keith will take you to his own version of Berlin’s Kit Kat Club where he sings songs from the greats, reminiscent of a combination of Joel Grey and Liza Minelli in the film Cabaret.

    Keith completely takes control of his evening and entertains the audience with his winning smile and amazing voice, and convincingly sings songs with the voices of Cher, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and many many more. But he wows his fans by singing Stephen Sondheim’s ‘The Ladies Who Lunch’ and he saves the best for last, including stunning interpretation of Edith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.’

    It’s a show that ends too soon and we are left wanting more and more. Keith Ramsey in The Keith Kat Club is just the best. Enjoy being whisked back in time by the wonderful voice of Ramsey and his superb talents.

    Upcoming show dates are: 12th, 19th, 26th September

    To book, please visit this link:

    https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-keith-kat-klub-tickets-49000396505
  • MOTORING | My week with the 4×4 Tamiya Toyota Bruiser

    MOTORING | My week with the 4×4 Tamiya Toyota Bruiser

    A week in Toyota Toy Town

    I’ve just spent the past week pretending I was Calvin Brookman. Never heard of him? Then you need to brush up on your Tamiya history. Calvin was the driver of the Tamiya 1985 model 58048, the Toyota 4×4 Bruiser. Now bizarrely for Tamiya, this model never came with a driver so for all intents and purposes, he looked exactly like me. How uncanny.  

    Fast forward 32 years or 471 models later and Tamiya has re-released the much often drooled over model that most of us wanted from the top shelf. To celebrate this release and an almost 40-year partnership Toyota have with Tamiya, Toyota GB set about turning their current Hilux Extra Cab vehicle into a real-life homage to the Tamiya model.

    I met with my R/C hero in the carpark at work. It sat there as bold as brass. You couldn’t miss it and did I laugh. This thing is a bit of a monster. Subtlety is not its strong point and yet it does have an air of soft cuddliness about it. We’ve all taken our favourite R/C model to bed and this 1:1 scale model is no different. I got it dirty and washed it for crying out loud. I just didn’t want it going home dirty! 

    Toyota has done an amazing job in its recreation. In doing this they have also done something else to the Hilux which I’ll discuss later. A snazzy wrap of camp sparkling blue and Bruiser graphics would fall flat on there face if it wasn’t for the fact that this truck has been given the kiss of the lift by Arctic Trucks. Gone are the standard Hilux 265/65 17 wheel combo for a more robust 305/80 17 mix. It’s a lot of chunky rubber. 

    There’s also a reworking of the bits underneath too, with uprated Fox Shox suspension and to maintain the speedometer accuracy, they reworked the differential gearing. Quite important this when on the M23 with average speed cameras in operation.  

    Now you won’t find any of the extras on the Bruiser in the Toyota Hilux accessory brochure. Toyota teamed up with model maker Robert Selway who had the task of adding the all important on/off switch as well as the bumper bars. 

    So the time arrived for me to slide the switch to ‘on’ and roll out with my battery pack fully charged. OK so the switch wasn’t that in the rear bed but the ignition key in my hand and this isn’t powered by batteries but a 150bhp 2.4-litre diesel engine going through a 6-speed manual gearbox. 

    One thing that becomes apparent is the tyre noise. Over 40mph and these things make more noise than RuPaul’s Drag racers at full bitch.

    Girl, they are chatty! That, however, is the only fault and even then it’s hardly a problem. This new set up makes the Hilux even better to drive than the one we tested in 2017. There is less pitch and the ride is more compliant. There is an element to understeer if you press too hard and an amount of tail out in the wet. Like any pick-up though, 4 wheel drive is best selected in the wet when the rear is light of a load.

    And you best get used to the stares the truck gets. It’s not for the shy. Like a secret cult, those who know give you the thumbs up or a knowing nod. It’s appreciated. This is when you suddenly really start to fall in love with the truck. It lacks the luxury features of the Hilux Invincible but this is only because they are not available on the extra cab model. Shameful really because this model with its mini suicide rear doors really is a handsome beast.  

    Now down to the nitty-gritty. Would I have one? No is the answer. It’s just too big to park in the high street. And it is totally unnecessary for me in this guise. My daily commute route had to be altered to accommodate its bulk. That said, just look at it. What’s not to love? I tell you what, not a lot. The wheels are impossible to curb and the thing sort of glides over speed bumps. Toyota GB, I’ll swap you my much-prized Sand Scorcher? I WANT THIS!

  • THE UNDATEABLE GAY | Premature Ejaculations

    THE UNDATEABLE GAY | Premature Ejaculations

    SO. In case anyone has forgotten, I’ve already been on two dates with my lovely blokey from my speed dating success story. And we’ve just had our third. I keep thinking that any moment, someone is going to slap me and wake me up from my dream. I mean, not that I’ve got a fetish for being slapped or anything.

    Three dates done and dusted. That’s some kind of record for this gay boy, this undateable gay. I’m expecting a knock on my door from The Guinness Book of Records any minute now.

    I decided that this was the right time to introduce him to my mother. So I arranged an afternoon tea with plenty of cakes. People who know me well know that my biggest weakness, besides men, is cakes. Give me a Belgian bun and I’m like a pig in shit. Happy for hours.

    KNOCK, KNOCK. That was us knocking on the door, by the way, arriving at my mum and dad’s house. They actually have a doorbell so I don’t know why I wrote knock, knock. It should have been DING DONG. Digressing…. anyway, you get the gist, we had arrived for afternoon tea.

    As my mother answered the door, I could see her eyes light up at how handsome Paul was. She was acting like a bloody magpie seeing a glitter ball. You could see the pride in her eyes that her gay son had bagged himself a bit of a fitty. Although now I come to think about it, I don’t like quite how shocked she seemed to be at me managing to bag myself such a handsome man. I must talk to her about that a later date. Note to self.

    I made the necessary introductions and Paul took my mother’s hand and kissed it.

    “Nice to meet you!”

    Now for anyone who knows my mother, will know that she fills up and cries at the drop of a hat, at the slightest thing she wells up.

    I’ve witnessed my mum cry at X Factor, Loose Women and even Homes under the Hammer. And this is exactly what I witnessed now. Obviously, Paul’s good manners were too much for her and she felt overwhelmed. My god, I didn’t know where to look. Although I was looking around for a hanky.

    I’ve witnessed my mum cry at X Factor, Loose Women and even Homes under the Hammer. And this is exactly what I witnessed now. Obviously, Paul’s good manners were too much for her and she felt overwhelmed. My god, I didn’t know where to look. Although I was looking around for a hanky.

    Once she’d pulled herself together and I’d given her a slap to stop her crying. (That’s a joke, before anyone reports me to the police. I don’t actually beat up my mother.) She finally poured the coffee and offered around her freshly made cherry macaroons.

    My mummy is a bit of a Mary Berry when it comes to baking. She’s always got tins upon tins of cakes ready for visitors.

    Paul made a very good impression that afternoon and I could definitely tell that my mum approved. In fact, I’d known she’d approved from the moment she broke down in tears after the kiss on the hand.

    As we left and walked to the car, I turned and gave Paul a kiss of my own. I planted a great big smacker on his lips.

    “What was that for?” He gushed.

    MASSIVE GREAT BIG STRENGTH SIX MATURE CHEDDAR CHEESE ALERT

    “Just for being you,” I replied.

    Now, this next part may make some people call me a slut. What they call slut, I call enjoying the male species. I think it’s very important to try a few different platters from the buffet table, else how do you know what you like?

    Anyway, I digress once again. The point I was getting to was that, here we were, three dates in and we still hadn’t enjoyed any kind of sexual relations. (No Bill Clinton jokes here please)

    So to solve this dilemma, I asked him back to mine and before you could say blow job, I had him on my bed and were enjoying a very passionate kiss. Fully clothed, may I add.

    As I went to undo his trousers to rip them off, he grabbed my hand to stop me. I looked up, shocked, like a rabbit in headlights.

    “Before you go there, there’s something I need to tell you.”

    Well, talk about mind racing into overdrive moment. My mind filled with all sorts of visions and scenarios. After a silence of what felt like days, I pleaded.

    “What? What is it Paul?”

    “I’ve got a really small willy.”

    Phew. My mind slowed down and stopped racing. I looked up to the sky, thankful I wasn’t about to unzip a pair of trousers and reveal a vagina. A small willy I can cope with. A vagina, I cannot.

    Now, for people who know me very well, will realise a small willy will never put me off. One, because I’m not a shallow, size Queen. And two, the good Lord did not bless me downstairs either.

    In fact, a man once told me that he could use my penis as dental floss. (Bastard) But that’s another story for another day.

    To prove to Paul that the small willy revelation had not killed the passion, I continued in my quest and unzipped his trousers. And as I did, I got the most almighty surprise.

    To prove to Paul that the small willy revelation had not killed the passion, I continued in my quest and unzipped his trousers. And as I did, I got the most almighty surprise.

    An eyeful of cum. As I blinked to remove the foreign object from my eye, his face turned a beautiful shade of Lobster.

    “You just turn me on so much.”

    My one eye, the one not sealed shut with his natural adhesive, widened.

    “Clearly. I mean, I know I’m good”, I gushed, “But I hardly even touched you yet.”

    “I LOVE YOU!” He suddenly blurted out.

    I sat back on the bed, still temporarily blinded in one eye.

    “You what?” I was aghast.

    Before anyone calls me a silly poof for my actions,  can I just point out that the three dates had all taken place within a ten-day time frame.

    “How can you love me? You barely know me.”

    “I can’t help the way I’ve fallen for you.”

    Call me mental. Call me mad. Call me destined to be undateable for a whole lifetime. But I just couldn’t truly believe that someone could fall in love that quickly. And genuinely mean it. So I asked him to leave.