Skirting Round My Life 2021 My Year On The Blog

As I look back on the events of 2021 I have to say that it wasn’t the year I or anyone hoped or expected it would be. These past 12 months have been a difficult year for us all and this continues to be reflected in Skirting Round My Life as it has in every blog, journal , magazine or other news outlets.

On looking at the statistics, this year has seen Skirting Round My Life on a bit of downward trajectory which I think was to be expected given the circumstances. Hopefully this will change in the next 12 months. Though that will, to a certain extent at least, depend on things opening up a bit post Covid and providing me with more opportunities to enjoy myself and post about my exciting experiences.

The first thing to say that Skirtingroundmylife gained 2, 507 views in 2020. This represented an drop of 16% from it’s 2020 total of 3,018. Though disappointed with the drop I am not in the least bit surprised as continued uncertainty from Covid19 played havoc with our lives and restrictions on what we could and couldn’t do meant opportunities for growth were very severely limited.

This lack of opportunity resulted in a very dramatic drop in the number of posts in the last twelve months as they fell by almost half from 98 to 50. It can also be said that the number of both visitors to the site and comments on posts are both down with the later dropping from 28 to 16 and likes falling by more than 60% from 83 to 36

Topics covered in the last twelve months included Acceptance, Age, Bisexuality, Childhood, Christmas, Coming Out, Ceilidhs, Concerts, Covid19, Crossdressers, Dancing , Dating, Death, Discrimination, Equality, Faith, Fashion,  Friendship, Grandparents, Holidays, Lockdown, Love, Memories, Mental Health, Poetry, Relationships, Secrets, Sensuality, Sex, Sexism,  Sexuality, Stereotypes,  Transition, Transphobia, Visibility, Women,

2021 again saw a slight dip in my global reach as visiting nations were slightly down from 31 in 2020 to 27 last year. The top five countries were UK , USA, Ireland, Germany and Finland, with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Guernsey, and Sweden. making up the top ten. There were also readers from countries including France, Croatia The Philippines, Denmark, Colombia, Peru, Norway, India, and Poland amongst other nations who paid this a visit

As all the statistics have now properly evaluated it is time to bring this review to its conclusion but before I do so I just want thank all my readers. Whether you subscribe to the site or read the posts on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter it doesn’t really matter, the main thing is that you read them and find them entertaining, enjoyable , thought provoking and maybe in some cases challenging. I really hope you’ll continue to do so as that’s what makes blogging so enjoyable for those us who put our opinions out there on the blogosphere for you to read. So all that remains is for me to wish you A Happy, Successful, and Peaceful New Year and I hope you’ll keep skirting round my life throughout 2022 and beyond .

Till next time

Gayle X

That Couple. (A Poem For Bisexual Visability Day )

As yesterday was Bisexual Awareness Day. I thought I’d share this new poem titled That Couple As I think it illustrates that women can bring out my sinful side with just as much power as any man. I hope you enjoy the read.

That Couple

it was a Sunday afternoon
when we got talking
as we waited for a bus to town
she told me she was gay
teasing me if I was that way inclined
I said I had kissed a girl and liked it
but men still excited me
especially in tennis whites
it’s natural to fight it she claimed
telling me I should never be ashamed
and she would like to taste my lips
when the bus arrived
we sat next to each other
holding hands
she kissed my check
we both wanted more
yet neither moved in for thrill
we didn’t want to be that couple
which sent the passengers in to a state of shock
we talked and did women things
sharing intimate moments
when no words needed spoken
as we were frozen in time
on this beautiful Sunny day
I had nothing to say except for the fact
that I kissed a girl
and loved every second of it
unfortunately I lost the details she gave me
I remember her name was Kelly
and I wished I had given her
both my number and myself

© Gayle Smith 2021

Waterloo Moon

In this poem which I’ve written for bisexual awareness month I share my thoughts about one of those random encounters which change you in more ways than you would have thought possible before it actually happened. Moon It relates the story of the night I almost got a girlfriend when I wasn’t even looking for romance and a relationship with either sex was the last thing on my mind. In sharing this poem I would like to hope it shows that bisexuality is all about the attraction we may feel to a particular individual rather than what parts they may or may not have and that it is in fact a world away from the greedy sex mad stereotypes we have to endure in the press and media. I’ve titled it Waterloo Moon, I hope you enjoy the read

Waterloo Moon

We met in the Waterloo bar
as the chill winds of autumn
blew cold on a late October evening
as I searched for a seat
a woman invited me to sit
with her and her younger friend
who told me she liked guys
I told her the same
I think we were both playing the game
as a passion between two women
bubbled underneath the surface

we waited to see
who would be first
to admit they wanted the forbidden other
sensing our comfort in each other’s company
her older friend
left after a while
but she stayed
even though I teased her
about in remaining a gay bar
with someone like me
after her friend had gone

by this time we were both turned on
and got another round of drinks
eventually we did the girl thing
and went to the ladies
as a pair
standing at the mirror
I complimented her hair
saying as a transwoman
I would love to look that good
she rebuked me
stop saying your trans
you’re a woman and that is all that matters
we cuddled and she thrust her breasts in to my face
to excite me
in that one moment
this night made realise the power of being a woman
and I gave thanks to God
for her gift of panty liners
as we applied fresh costs of lippy
we did as nature directed
and sitting at a table made for two
felt something so electric
it could have powered the world

this is a connection only women and girls will ever truly know
but time moved on
I reaped the harvest I had sown
I doubted myself
when we left the bar
she wanted to take me dancing
and I know I should have gone
instead of reluctantly declining
blaming the time of night
and putting my duty of care
before my wants and wishes
believe me I hungered to kiss every part of her
and I think she would have liked it
but alas my chance never came

it was to my shame
I never took the risk
and our kiss under the Waterloo Moon
was to lead to a parting filled
with sorrows and regrets
yet still I cherish the memory
of that night
of her hands taking me
to places of delight
I had never known
I often think of her
and that golden moment
when she made me
feel like a woman
with no help from Shania

© Gayle Smith 2020

Lilac

On bisexual visibility day this poem looks at the issues around being a bisexual transwoman of a certain age. I’ve given it the title Lilac as that lies somewhere between the traditional masculine and feminine sterotypes of blue for a boy and pink for a girl. I hope you enjoy the read.

Lilac

I fall in love with someone
based on shared interests
their sparkling wit and repartee
I don’t care what they wear
or what they use to pee
I love that they are free spirits
who know my limits and respect them
I know my desires and won’t repress them
I will kiss woman in mini skirts and men in suits
and sometimes the other way round
I am grounded in my sexuality
it is not yours to debate
I have no time to hate
or to be bound by rigid rules
which draw straight lines only
I will not be isolated in the lost lands of lonlieness
preferring to maximise my chances to dance, drink , and fuck
in the lottery of lust
trust is important
even if it’s a one night stand
with women I’m submissive
with men I take command
as a trans woman of a certain age
I realise some will be shocked at what I say
that is their problem not mine
I can’t rewind the clock
to go back in time
nor can I turn water in to wine
but sex doesn’t stop when we reach 40
and why should it
older people do it and more often than you think
are you blushing bright pink at the thought
I hope not, one day you will be that older person
and believe me you’ll still be open to suggestions
I’ll tell you something I’ve learned
since coming out as trans
is that no man will stop making advances
just because he’s getting older
I think it actually makes them bolder
trust me I should know I’ve had lots of offers
and not one of them has come from a guy under 65
that’s the time when staying alive
becomes more than just a song
now I might be wrong
but it feels like I’m the pensioners pin up girl
being bi , trans , and mature
means some may feel inhibited and insecure
when I tell them my carnal desires
they may think I’m ever so slightly mad
as for women the requests I’ve had
for my company
have come from a younger demographic
flirty forty somethings with a few in their thirties
usually lipstick loving types who dare to be daring
that said if or should I say when I start dating
it will be in a monogamous relationship
what’s under their pants won’t matter
as long as they treat like the princess I was born to be
it matters not about gender or age
as long as they put me centre stage
in all they do
pink and blue can blend in to lilac
and we can get on with what nature intended
savouring delights of recipes made for two
and setting jewels in hearts be treasured
by the ones who shared the feast

© Gayle Smith 2019