Bear

I WON!

I’m Mr. Bear Ireland 2026!

I don’t know how to put this into words, but I’m going to try.

Mom passed away last Friday. She’s at peace now, and while I’ve been crying on and off and feeling the loss deeply, there’s also a sense of relief knowing she’s no longer suffering.

Wednesday before she died, I called family to let them know what was coming. When I spoke to my cousin Patricia, after the usual small talk, she asked, “Has a woman been trying to get hold of you?”

I said no, and she hesitated, “I don’t know if I should say anything now.” At that point, I just thought, nothing could be worse than the day I was already having, so I told her to just tell me.

And she did.

She shared some family history, some of it I knew, some I didn’t, and then she said something that completely shook me!

“Your mom had a baby girl who was given up for adoption.”

I have a sister.

And Patricia had her number.

I called it straight away.

It was one of the most incredible and emotional conversations I’ve ever had.

Then last night, we met in person. She walked into the pub, and the moment I saw her, I burst into tears. She’s the absolute image of my mom, it felt overwhelming in the best way.

She’s beautiful, warm, and just… lovely. I felt an instant connection with her. We share little traits and mannerisms. It’s honestly amazing. I also met her husband, and she met @brad@toot.chez.gay, and it all just felt so natural.

This has brought me so much joy, but there’s also a quiet sadness in it. My mom carried this secret her whole life, and I can only imagine how hard that must have been for her.

There’s a sense of loss for all the years we didn’t have together, but at the same time, there’s this incredible opportunity now to build something new. I have a sister, a brother-in-law and two amazing nephews I can’t wait to get to know and love.

So even in the middle of losing my beautiful mom, my rock, my constant, I’ve found something extraordinary.

I have a sister.

And that feels nothing short of incredible.

This is just crazy!
@brad@toot.chez.gay

Let me process it and then I’ll tell it. But yeah, big silver lining. And I’m happy. @brad@toot.chez.gay

It’s 6am.
I’ve been awake since 4.45am
I’m sat in the garden at my parental home.
Today is going to be the hardest day of my life.
I don’t want to be here.
I don’t want to be doing this.
Saying goodbye to the one person I want with me right now.
I will get no support from the only other person who has known me all my life.
I never have.
I don’t want it now.
I want her.
I can’t do this.

I’ve just discovered an ex-tv presenter I KNOW to be gay is now married to a fellow tv presenter (female) and has two kids and I am shooketh. I know I shouldn’t be. I was sure he’d be happily same-sex married now.

Why is it news reporters in movies are always so shit and not like any news reporters ever?

Send the call out, send the call out, calling all my baddest womens, it's about to go down. Click, click, click, clack, symphony, I need that. Click, click, click, clack, symphony, I love the sound of it. Who let the girls out? I did, I did, darling!

Birmingham Airport is quite easily one of the worst airports I’ve been to. It is the pits to fly into and the same flying out. Badly designed and badly managed.

Proof of previous toot. My husband dancing while eating toast. And reading. There is no music playing. He just dances while he’s eating toast.

Lee Cronins The Mummy. Badly written with plenty of plots. Well worth avoiding.

Cobh Catherdral is beautiful. Not a patch on Lichfield but still beautiful.

I have decided to stop listening to No Such Thing As A Fidh. They promote Wetherspoons too much.

We’re watching Killer Whale. It’s been on two minutes and it’s already better than Keeper.