The LGBT Foundation have set up a new telephone befriending programme – Rainbow Brew Buddies.

We can all agree that a chat over a brew is one of life’s greatest simple pleasures, but not everyone always has someone to do this with regularly. The new telephone befriending programme Rainbow Brew Buddies aims to reduce loneliness for lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBT) people across Greater Manchester who may have reduced opportunities to make social connections due to the recent coronavirus outbreak or other circumstances in their life.

Those who sign up for the service will be allocated a buddy, who will have received training from LGBT Foundation and have passed a DBS check. You will then “get-together” over the phone with them for a brew and a chat at least once a week for around 30 minutes. After 8 sessions over one or two months you will graduate from the programme and be given access to the range of LGBT Foundation groups, including the chance to meet others who have benefited from the Brew Buddies programme.

They are particularly inviting sign-ups to this service from the over 50s. Find out more here: https://lgbt.foundation/rainbowbrewbuddies or give them a call on 0345 3 30 30 30 for more information.

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Jim, our oldest member was on BBC television, talking about his situation and the corona virus.

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Desert Island Discs is a much loved radio show, where guests become “castaways” and choose their favourite songs they couldn’t live without.

Here is Tony’s selection:

For a bit of fun, imagine you’ve been invited on the show. Pick 5 or 6 songs, a luxury item and your favourite book. I picked “The Making of Americans” as it’s more than 900 pages!

Send your selections (photo is not obligatory) and we will print in a future posting. Send to openshawtony1@gmail.com

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How bona to vada your dolly old eek! or in these times … it’s not bona to catch the corona!

Polari is a form of British gay slang that some gay men used before homosexuality was partially decriminalised in 1967. Although it derives from 19th century theatre folk, sailors, showmen and criminals, 20th century gay men used it as a way to discuss their lives at a time when being gay could get you fired, thrown in jail and chemically castrated.

Because Polari provided a way to gossip and talk trash about people’s appearances and sex lives, the phrases are often a bit backhanded ie not politically correct!

 Some Polari words:

batt = shoe               bevvy = drink               bijou = small                        bimbo = sucker       

bona = good                camp = showy

charper = to search dolly = nice                  dona = woman                    drag = clothes         

eek = face                    fantabulosa = excellent

feele = child              lally = leg                     lattie = house, lodgings      leucoddy = body      naph = bad                   nante = none or nothing

ogle = eye                 omi = man                    omipalone = homosexual 

palare = talk              palone = woman         riah = hair

tosheroon = half a crown                              troll, = walk, wander         vada = look              walloper = dancer        zhoosh = fix, tidy.

and perhaps you might like to count to ten in Polari:

una, duey, trey, quater, chinker, sey, setter, otto, nobber, dacha.

Just to get you started:

“As feely homies, we would zhoosh our riahs, powder our eeks, climb into our bona new drag, don our batts and troll off to some bona bijou bar.”

Quiz – translate these polari phrases:

1. Let us put our best lallie forward and with our eeks shining with hope, troll together towards the fantabulosa futurette!
2. I’m not bibi, but anyone with ogles can varda that palone-omees got a bona bod.
3. I’ve nanti dinarly; park me some handbag for another buvare.
4. Mais oui ducky! Let’s nish the chat and go troll for rough trade … just gardy loo for chickens and don’t blag an orderly daughter!
5. Everyone thinks that auntie is a total fruit, but her gildy clobber makes me think she’s a duchess.
6. I don’t mean to cackle, but he’s not manly Alice. When I first varda-ed at her mince at the sweat chovey, I thought, “She’s mauve.” 
7. As an omi, he’s naff. But in drag, she’s fantabulosa! She titivates with fortuni slap, zhooshes up a switch and is one hell of a hoofer.
8. And no flies! It’s so bona to vada you! Your lovely eek and your riah! Sharda that we don’t palare more often!
9. I’ve nanti jarry, nante latty and what’s worse, nante doss. I’m basically living off the national handbag — I might as well become a Dilly boy.

 

Answers:

1. Let’s put our best foot forward and with out faces shining with hope, walk together towards a fantastic future.
2. I’m not bisexual, but anyone with eyes can see that lesbian has got a nice body.
3. I’ve got no money. Give me some money for a drink.
4. Oh yes! Let’s stop talking and go look for a sex partner … just watch out for underage men and don’t pick up a cop!
5. Everyone thinks that older gay man is a total old queen, but his nice clothes make me think he’s a rich gay man.
6. I don’t mean to gossip, but he’s not a masculine gay man. When I first looked at his effeminate walk at the gym, I thought, “He’s someone who appears to be gay.”
7. As a man, he’s dull. But in women’s clothes, he’s fabulous! She makes herself look great with gorgeous makeup, styles up a wig and is one hell of a dancer.
8. Honestly! It’s so good to see you. Your lovely face and hair! What a shame that we don’t talk more often!
9. I’ve no food, no place to live and what’s worse, no bed. I’m basically living on welfare — I might as well become a male sex worker.