Aussielicious

It’s the last day of the 2011 here in Sydney and as can be expected, the evening will be full of introspection and reflection, and a bit of vodka.

I won’t touch on political and world events here in this post, they are being rehashed all over the globe in lists and count downs on every news station around the world. This is a post about MY 2011.

I can’t help but feel like I’ve had a fantastic year. Sure, I may be single again and some family members and people around me have had a really tiring and testing year, and I will be thinking of them tonight too.

2011 is the first year I’ve had a real, adult, healthy relationship that left me better than when I went into it and I have to thank Dan for that. I ticked off some really big bucket list items this year, fulfilling dreams of having a photographic exhibition, enjoying the craziness that is Burning Man and walking around, loving ever second of New York City.

I came a long way, introducing my family to someone special for the first time in 12 years and having them like him and accept him.

In 2012 I am hoping that some of that emotional stability continues and maybe, just maybe I’ll find someone special this year, but if not I have my next exhibition and all sorts of other good stuff to look forward to.

I hope all my readers, commenters and contributers all have an amazing New Year’s Eve, whether it’s partying hard or enjoying a low key evening like I will be, and that you all have the most fulfilling 2012 it’s possible to imagine!

So, it’s already the morning of Christmas Eve here in Sydney and I’m getting myself organised to go and pick up my Great Aunt from the station and drive down to Wollongong to spend Christmas with my family.

Our Christmases are fairly low-key these days, with just 8 of us. My only surviving grandparent, mum’s dad, is not doing very well at 95 in a home with a brain tumour that is slowly killing him. He’s barely aware of anything, but seems to be holding on, whether that’s good or bad, I can’t be sure.

Our Christmas will be good fun with my niece and nephew hopefully enjoying all their presents. We’ll all enjoy my mum’s over catering as usual before napping in the afternoon.

On Boxing Day I will be heading off on a road trip up north to some friends that live just outside Byron Bay for a few days. We’ll be sitting in their pool, nude, drinking beers, heading to the beach and also doing a couple of photo shoots for my exhibition.

I’ll be back in Sydney for New Year’s Eve and will post again then.

I wish you all a very happy holiday season, which ever religion or style of celebration that means to you and your loved ones. Big Aussielicious hugs to you all.

I’m bringing you 7 more entries today for the Favourite Place competition. I have to say I’m really impressed by the quality of the images and also the fact that some of your favourite places are where the entrants love to escape to with a loved one and enjoy some quiet time naked.

I will be away from today until New Year’s Eve so this will be the last post on the competition til I’m back.

Ken has sent this photo in of a sculpture in Congress Park Saratoga.

Nic has sent this beautiful photo near Boroka Lookout in the Grampians in Victoria, Australia.

Nic’s partner Tim has entered this gorgeous shot on the way to Turret Falls, also in the Grampians.

Sung has sent in this very colourful shot of a temple roof in Hualain near Taiwan.

From Denver, David has sent in this cool photo of a public art piece, a giant blue bear looking in the window of the Convention Centre.

Next up a couple, Shim and Michael have sent this gorgeous photo from Shining Rock Wilderness, Asheville where they like to camp and swim nude.

Lastly for today we have a shot sent in by Guy, of the lake on his property in New Zealand where apparently, if you don’t mind eels, you can swim nude quite happily.

A while back I posted about a rumour I’d heard that someone was starting a chain of clothing optional gyms. Some of you expressed concern about hygiene. To be honest, it should be no different to a regular gym. You have to work out with a towel on the equipment already so it will be no less safe.

Well I can now report a bit more information. I’ve been in touch with the guy who is opening the gyms. They are men only gyms as he felt like women had women only space but we don’t so it was a gap in the market. I haven’t had any full details yet whether it will be clothing optional times or separate clothed and nude areas.

What I do know is that the website will be up early in the new year and gyms are already close to opening in New York, London and here in Australia. I can’t wait. It will be interesting to see what the market will be like and the public response but I do know that I’ll be giving it a go!

Tonight’s first entry comes from Jim with a beautiful shot of Longbeach.

Second is Lee with a shot that typifies what I know of Melbourne!

Third is Ritchie with a shot of a very cold, crisp and beautiful field in Kent, UK.

Fourth is Dave’s entry of the glorious coast near Marseille in France.

Fifth and final entry tonight comes from Evan with a shot of Sydney at the Sydney Festival

I’m going to be posting more at the one time now as I’m getting so many entries and I want to post them all before I disappear for about a week for xmas and a road trip!

This first shot was submitted by Jimmy D from San Fran showing the Bay Bridge. It’s a beautiful moody shot.

Next is fellow blogger Rob’s contribution with a shot of Provincetown at dusk. The colours are beautiful in this one.

Clayton has sent in this beautiful photo of Gladstone in Queensland looking all shimmery and sundrenched.

Over in Western Australia is the town of Cottesloe, captured in all it’s bold colour by Patrick.

Lastly for tonight is a beautiful shot from Randy in Pennsylvania!

This “favourite place” competition is proving to be one of the most popular I’ve ever run. Tonight I’m bringing you three more entries all from the U.S.

First up is regular contributer Matthew with his shot of a now dormant ride on Coney Island in NYC.

Second is James’ shot of Palm Springs. I had no idea that Palm Springs, renowned for being hot and naked, would have such a clear view of snow capped mountains, framed with palm trees.

Third we  have a submission from Fritz of a Cafe in NYC. Fritz submitted 3 shots and gave me the task of choosing which one to use. I chose this one because to me it shows the real NYC. And no, you can’t all send lots of shots to make me choose from!

AussieBum have just launched their new range of undies with a handy, if quirky, pocket at the front. It could be really handy to pick up. Just make sure you’ve got your hands full and ask that hot guy to just reach in and get your phone out of your pocket so you can get his number.

They could have had the guys reaching into each other’s pockets in the video though in my humble opinion. I like the guy with the twinkle in his eye asking “how do you like these apples?” Hot.

Today online I received a message from a pretty cute 22 year old. Now I’m not saying I have never hooked up with anyone quite a lot younger than me but that is 16 years and it’s not really my thing.

His message said “ohh fuck… what a hot sir! mhmmm… want ya to take care of my tight ass, dad :P cheers, boi”

Apart from the very Gen-Y spelling, boi is a pet peeve, I have never been into role play about Daddies and Sons, Dom & Sub, Slave & Master or any of that stuff. I’ve dabbled in some kink, but that stuff hasn’t been part of it.

None of that is my major issue. My main problem? Apparently I am now old enough to be a “daddy type” and I feel really old.

Not since the early days of Aussielicious and the public nudity challenge have I had such a response to a competition. Some of the shots I’ve received are fantastic. Can I please just ask that people choose a single image to send in? Also for those that asked me to choose out of their images, I take no responsibility for you not winning! I have chosen the image I like best.

First up is Evan’s amazing sunset shot of Little Burke St in Melbourne, Australia. The warmth and happiness in this image is fantastic.

Secondly is another Australian entry from Mitchell in Brisbane. It is taken just below the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

The third and final entry that I’ll post tonight is from Richard. He’s sent in a beautiful shot of kayaks in Provincetown being stored for Winter covered in snow.

I’ll be posting more entries over the next couple of days. Keep them coming in! Email them to brenton.parry@gmail.com

When one is re-entering the dating (wading) pool after a significant relationship, it is important to forget anything you may have learnt from that relationship and hit the default switch on your behaviour.

Today, my office has played host to a stunning specimen of male model for a photo shoot. Naturally he is beautiful, but he is also charming, friendly, down to earth and polite. Equally as naturally, I’ve fallen deeply in lust with him.

Through some delicate and very subtle google and facebook research one has concluded that the object of my lust is a decade younger, a enormous proportion hotter and despite a mutual facebook friend’s statement that he’s “a little hetero-flexible under the right circumstances” almost certain to never be waking up in my arms.

Of course, one is only made more certain of our impending nuptials when the male model, who has himself graced the cover of men’s health magazine, asks if I’ve been working out. Cue the schoolgirl style giggling. Why yes one has…

Tips to remember for those newly single (again)? If they are geographically unavailable, emotionally unavailable or physically unavailable, then they are almost certain to be the ones that one falls for. It’s important to fall back into habits that never worked in the first place.

After a very restless sleep on Thursday night, wondering if I was ready for it, I photographed my first model for my next exhibition. Willi is a fantastic young guy with a really generous spirit and a great energy.

We got to Obelisk nude beach on the north side of Sydney’s iconic harbour at 6.30 am and the clouds had all vanished leaving us with beautiful blue sky and gorgeous morning light. Before I’d even had to ask, Willi was nude and ready to go. I love a model that isn’t shy.

This shot isn’t going to be used in this exhibition but I wanted to share something from the shoot with my lovely readers!

Well the first two entries are in for the latest competition. If you haven’t dropped in for a while, I’m having a competition to submit a (hopefully beautiful) photo of your favourite part of your city or area.

First we have a submission from Peter with an image from Moscow which is very cool. Next up our Hawaii nude beach reporter David is back with a photo from Joshua Tree National Park. Keep the entries coming in. Email them to me at brenton.parry@gmail.com

2011 has been a very big year in news and global events. This video recaps the big news stories of the year. It’s impossible to truly express what it is like to live in the midst of these culture changing events but for those of us outside it, at least we can be reminded of what happened.

Sorry for the sluggish pace of posting guys. I’ve been having real issues with my internet provider and connecting at home. I promise I have posts in the pipeline to go.