Canada - a handsome bearded man, a really lovely e mail and a tear in my eye.

Hello Mr Bellamy, John. 

My name is Neil (and I am writing you from chilly Edmonton Alberta Canada at

aproximately 1:30 in the AM after thoroughly reading and enjoying your website.

It was sad to read a "review" so to speak of you and your life from your dear friend ( CLICK HERE ) only to realize at the end that he had departed this earth. Still, I thought, how nice to have those we love write such an honest account of who WE are while they are alive to do so. Very inspiring.

I dont want to take up much of your time as im sure you are plenty busy, but i felt compelled to write, perhaps because of the indian themes and inspirational quotes in your pics, an attention to the details of the more important things in life, the barebones honesty, love friendship comraderie and an awareness of the the importance of focussing on our emotional and physical needs, but in a self aware thoughtful way. Selflessness but also having and holding yourself accountable as an adult, while still understanding we all need others sometimes as we are not always able to stand tall and strong and like trees sometimes bend in the winds.  Community is important.

I really enjoyed your site, pics stories history energy and point of view.  I can relate to you in a lot of ways as we have shared similar experiences. It genuinely put a smile on my face and made me happy to see that people like you exist and have the fortitude to make our inner yearning desires an actual reality. Again i can relate as i am someone that from a very young age had lots of visions and worked towards making my ideas, my point of view and perspective a practice in reality.

I too have been a polarising figure and as quite often happens those with the biggest hearts often become target fodder and like you I try to not suffer fools. Where we differ I suppose is in my lacking drive and i have definetly experienced some bad things that at times made me want to curl up into a ball and hide from the evils of the world.

I haven't and dont plan on giving up.

Life can be difficult but we're not always meant to be in this life for peace, and during some of my most difficult times I have found the golden moments, those times where we are meant to learn in stillness, our fineries ripped away from us. Those moments when we learn we are never truly "lost" even if it felt like at the time we fell, we rise humbly and with strength and a newfound clarity each time.

I know that u know what i am saying.

I wanted to reach out and congratulate you on your success and acknowledge the energy that have put into the world.  It is truly special and unique and rare and made me smile.

As i said i am in canada, however I am at the end of a cycle in my life and i know things are coming. Change is coming. Scary and thrilling and necessary.  I was actually born in salfords Hope Hospital in 1976 (please no "oh im sorry" jokes haha)  I will tell you more about me if you wish to know, but suffice it to say I moved to Canada when I was 5, moved back to Manchester at 27 (to see relatives etc) left and came here to alberta.  I have been here ever since.

That was 17 years ago. 

With one cat gone and the other old boy on his way soon enough i am finally free to follow my heart, nearly, and have been planning my move back. As i enjoy you tube walking tours and particularily of the uk i decided one day to see bournemouth and for the last month have been enjoying it immensely, living there in my mind

One day soon enough it will become my reality. 

I came across your website, not hard to do as you are featured on the map, so thought id look and as i said was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps one day i will come visit as a paying guest if youll have me. 

Until then all of the best and keep up the good work.

Neil.

Ps included a couple pics as attachmemts if ur interested.

JB RESPONDS:

I e mailed direct a couple of e mails to Neil as I was really moved by his e mail and it did reduce me to teary eyes. It is always a reward when someone 'gets' what we are about. Plus I love his beard and look...

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Dear John:

I read your Newsletter each week here in Orlando, Florida and I do have one question to ask you.

You are 70 years of age. Same as me. You have worked hard and earned good money and own your own hotel, Why do you work so hard at your age ? How come you are not sitting back with your feet up relaxing and enjoying your days freely and not tied to a time schedule with guests and meals etc. I am your age and I am not sure I would still be ' putting out' for these people - many of whom do not appreciate or respect what you do, so - why John ? I have to say I love your newsletter and I usually - not always - agree with your outlook on things, and do admire you for your efforts to put some soul into the gay community that is sadly very lacking and while we have a thriving LGBT life here in Florida, it is being severely eroded by our Governor who is homo and trans phobic and things are going backards and not forwards. So well done you. David W.

JB ANSWERS:

David. To answer your question, I would love having nothing to do and to just relax and enjoy and see more of my family and use my camper van etc. but... I have always felt my life had a meaning and that was to be there for others less fortunate - as I have been very lucky and fortunate in life - ( which many envy and bitch because it was not them ) and I enjoy sharing that with others less fortunate with absolutely no strings attached at all. I do it because I love it and is what I feel my journey this time, was all about. Being a SEX GURU and friend and host and carer and damned good cook and animal lover and an empathic therapist and ... well out of modesty I shall cease while I am ahead...and besides I am running out of superlatives... ha ha

I would soon get bored and fat and boring and miss the old days and the people and the constant interaction with new people and finding new friends and talking about life, death and the universe ( oh and Trump ) and that's probably what keeps me going - plus as we are quiet this winter, I have taken many afternoons to chill and watch telly and yet I still have dinner to cook for everyone... so it never ends... and I love it...

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Hey John:- What a cool concept.. Community Living - I have heard alarming stories of senior gays having to

‘play straight’ in care homes after a life of being OUT.  Why don't some of those famous rich gays put some of their wealth into offering the community that supported them for decades something like this instead of investing in art collections etc.  Tony.

JB Answers:

Tony: You are quite correct. Many LGBT have to hide in old age as the facilities they find themselves in, does not cater to LGBT. You ask why the rich guys don't put their money into something for people like yourself yet from experience we know that it will garner such little appreciation and thanks from those it is offered to - so - why would they bother ? The gay community is very underwhelming with its appreciation when you do nice things for them and so many - SO MANY - feel entitled and expect massive discounts and freebies when - why should we give them a free weekend and why would we want to ? Why is it ALWAYS up to someone else to do, why don't YOU organise something, not always wait for someone else to do it all and then you complain and moan and this puts people off doing anything.

What Tony, if anything, have you offered for free towards building a community withn the gay community ? The answer is probably nothing at all while expecting others to do it all for you and that, dear Tony, is disgraceful, as if everyone was like that, then fuck all would be accomplished and then you'll find fault with those who have done something.

If you don't use it - You loose it.

And this goes for Hamilton Hall as well.

If you abuse it - You loose it.

If you expect it - You loose it.

If you demand it - You loose it.

If you behave like a decent human being and ask nicely and use words like PLEASE and THANKYOU, then the world will open for you and anything and everything will be available.

So be nice,

Be professional.

Be thoughtful.

Be a grown up and mature.

And remember - we are all in this together.

John Bellamy

www.hamiltonhall.info

You make, and take, from the news that which you wish to see and hear. You observe what you want and comment of things that affect you personally. If you don't like something, do not read it and move on but do not shy away from what IS going on in the world of which - you are a part. World news is so easy to find these days and differing opinions not hard to find. Having an opinion is vital and being a ' don't care' person helps no one. So open your mind - open your heart - open your awareness and ALWAYS be open to new ideas.

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