Candy Fair 2015

As I was at a bit of a loose end, I decided to check out the Candy Fair 2015.  I wasn't really sure what it was about other than it had a sweet theme.

Landing in a small courtyard in front of an old sweet factory, I was tempted inside by the bright pop of colour just inside the factory gates.

The whole fair is awash with colour - from pastels to brights in an eye popping array.

The fair features poses, clothing and accessories, skins, hair, cosmetics, homewares and a sizeable Gacha area.

Candy fair 2015 can be found here.

Botanica

Wandering around London City today I came across a fabulous display from Cara Cali for the 4th of July.  Balloons, planters, lanterns, bears and a cake to enhance your patriotic celebrations this weekend.

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Botanica can be found here.

Four Letter Word

There is a word that I use quite a lot.  The word 'fuck'.  Okay, so it isn't the nicest word.  It isn't like sunshine or happy or moist...  The word does, however, allow me to blow off steam.  It allows me to insert a 'critical stop' in to a discussion.  It allows me to show my disagreement like blasting my car horn.

It comes in many forms.  "Fuck off", "fuck you", "fuck fuck fuckety fuck", "mmmm I so need a fuck", etc.  It is a statement.  It is evocative.  It is rude.  It is honest.  It is unequivocally direct.

I used to swear very rarely, but following a nervous breakdown I now, for want of a better phrase, don't give a fuck.  I am me, take me or leave me.  Your opinion is no concern of mine and if you don't like it, you know what you can do.

And remember - I can't manage a fuck without u.

Rumours

Rumours...no, not the 1977 Fleetwood Mac album...the stories of unproven truth that circulate about you.  Rumours are those things that allow you to find out so much about yourself.

One of the most popular rumours about me is that I am an alt of someone else in London City.  Why anyone would go to such lengths is beyond me, but paranoid people seem to like to have elaborate fantasies about others.  If this is you, I am thrilled that you have fantasises about me.

The second most popular rumour is that I am a spy for London City - and that I have created alts to go out and visit other locations and report back.  I am sorry to say this but no one does anything in SL that is worth spending time spying on.  My time is spent exploring, hanging out and shopping - I don't give two brass shits what your houses look like.

If your mind is so simple that you think I am either an alt or a spy, you have way too much time on your hands and need to take neuroleptics for whatever psychosis is causing your paranoid delusions.

The Dark Style Fair 2

I looked at the names of the sponsors for The Dark Style Fair 2 (7mad;Ravens, ARISE, Clemmm, Death Row Designs (DRD), DirtyStories, Goth1c0, Little Bones, MOON, random.matter and Razor) and recognised a couple of them from previous purchases for themed and seasonal activities.

The official blurb on the webpage describes the theme as "Goth/Grunge/Trash/Edgy/Punk Clothing", but that barely does justice to the range covered by the fair.  There are clothes, cosmetics, body modifications such as piercings and tattoos, jewellery, poses, decor, facial hair (for men or women who have a tent at a gypsy fair or aspirations to win the Eurovsion Song Contest).  And yes, there are items for men.

My favourite item had to be a pair of shoes (for Slink high feet) from Deadpool, which had an unusual heel - I had no idea skeletons engaged in oral sex.

The Dark Style Fair 2 runs through May and can be found here.  The official webpage is here.

Instrumental in Fashion

Landing at The Instruments proved to be a pleasant surprise.  I was expecting a standard fair layout.  What I found instead was a scenic isle with a street of quaint little shops and a traditional covered arcade containing the bulk of the shops.  I took a casual stroll around the island on the lantern lit path, browsing in the shops as I went before heading in to the arcade.

The shops are small and done in a boutique style.  Each one has only a few items for sale - making it easy to look around and giving it an exclusive feel.  It certainly appealed to my liking of pretty dresses.

Sheri blouse and maxi skirt from DE Boutique

The Instruments can be found here.

The History of Vehicles in SL

I arrived at the sim and took a TARDIS to the main exhibit where I swiftly sidestepped a trio of Dalek's waiting to greet me as I emerged.

The main theme of the exhibit is cars and trucks - famous, racing, development in SL through the ages, etc.  Out in the car park there is The General Lee, Doc Brown's time travelling DeLorean, various incarnations of the Batmobile, Herbie, the 'Green Goblin' truck from Maximum Overdrive and one of James Bond's cars to name but a few.

You will also find a Big Wheel trike - beloved of kids especially in the 70s, a funeral carriage drawn by two black horses with head plumes, a superpowered Santa's sleigh, motorbikes and a plane.

In the midst of the testosterone fuelled display is an unexpectedly touching scene - a memorial garden dedicated to the SL designers and racers who have passed away in real life.  The garden contains a white marble bench for each person remembered - their name inscribed on the bench and surrounded by a heart of glowing luminaires.

Music on sim is provided by Wolf's Howl/The Howl.

The exhibit runs until the end of May 2015.

Find the exhibition here.

The Garage Fair 2015

I suppose my age, outlook and background has defined my style in SL.  I don't go for something radically different to who I am in RL.  If I was Bailey in RL, I would dress the way I do in SL - mumsy with the occasional twist.  I like classic pieces and vintage.  I love hats, flowing dresses, tailoring and details.

A notecard popped in to my box this morning for The Garage Fair 2015 so I decided to check it out.  There were a lot of brands I was familiar with as well as many I wasn't.  Admittedly a lot of the clothing was what I would define as 'younger styling', but there were several outfits that suit an avatar of my mature years!  As well as womenswear, there are also menswear, skins and poses.

Vintage Floral Summer Dress from Ghee

The set up is fairly standard for fairs - central landing zone surrounded by sponsor stalls and then other vendors around the perimeter.  It's a layout that must work or else why does everyone use it?  To be honest, I am a bit tired of it - it takes ages to schlep round as you end up doing the whole place in laps.  I'd much rather see something that has a sense of journey and leads you past everything.  It does have some interest with outlet zones position in the centre of each side of the sim and Gacha zones towards the corners.  Music is provided by Phenix Radio which gives an eclectic mix of dance and club tunes.

The Garage Fair 2015 can be found here.

Medicated To The One I Love

Usually when shopping in SL I am vastly shallow - if it sparkles or is a shoe, I am right there.  Today proved to be different.

In the Cosmopolitan Sale room,while I was looking for sparkles and shoes, I came across one of those rare items that fascinated me - and made my ex-Gorean physician's heart skip a beat.  The item is a pharmacy set.  Maybe it doesn't float everyone's boat, but I fell in love with it.

The front counter is L$147 and 6 LI.  The two cabinets at the back are L$107 and 4 LI each.  The detailing is beautiful.  I honestly wish I had call for this just so I could buy it and show it off!

Ex Machina can be found on Marketplace and in world

Who Am I?

My name is Bailey Saxmundham.  I am an avatar in the virtual world of Second Life.  I enjoy shopping, dancing, music and exploring new places.  I have worked as a host, DJ and venue manager.  I have children despite being a pixel sex virgin.  I have owned a shop.  I have a home and a pixel cat.

All of the above statements are more about what I am rather than who I am.  I am not sure who I am.  I am a person who registers somewhere in the transgender arena.  I represent mostly as female in Second Life these days, though I do have avatars who have male and female bodies.  I find it hard to be Bailey as a male avatar; it doesn't make sense to me and makes me feel very uncomfortable.

It's a difficult path to walk - just as it is in real life.  Second Life has a large focus on sexual activities and partnering.  I have yet to meet anyone who is interested in a relationship with someone like me, someone who is mixed gender.  I am not alone in gender swapping in Second Life, but not everyone admits it.  I don't judge those who hide their true selves, I can understand why they do it.

In real life I have a male body; in fact, I look really masculine.  I do, however, have very feminine mannerisms and a feminine voice.  It can be quite difficult for people to accept apparently; neither straight communities nor gay communities know quite where I fit - though it is often the gay community who have the biggest struggle as they continue their search for the Holy Grail of gay partners - straight looking, straight acting.  For years the way I sound has caused me to be the subject of much hilarity and revulsion.

As I get older and time moves on from my breakdown, I have realised something...I don't care how I am perceived or how people think of me.  I am the one who has to live with being me - whoever that may be.

When it comes down to it one thing is certain - I am me.

Look Of The Day 18th January 2015

Hair - Truth - Teddy in Browns
Eyeshadow - Jalwa - Intense Eyes - Grey worn over ..::N::.. Smokey Black
Outfit - Daisy Fall Collection - Plaid Dark Gray

Look Of The Day 1st January 2015

Dress - AZUL- Luana - Champagne
Hair - .ploom. - Dusty Beehive - Browns
Eyelashes - ^;^CaTwA^;^ - 3D NoAlpha Lashes #8
Eyeshadow - alaskametro♥ - Duo Creme Gold Dust worn over Jalwa Smolder Brown 
Lipstick - alaskametro♥ - Creme Lipstick Nude
Necklace and Earrings - Zuri Rayna Princess Diamonds Sterling Collection