She certainly is.

I wonder if Luke is still managing to resist the urge to light up? I smoked for 25 years and only successfully gave up when I became pregnant with my first child. I went cold turkey and it was tough initially but I got over the intense cravings quicker than I thought I would. It's nearly 21 years now and I am so glad that I did it. I hope he is able to do it.

Hmm, how can I put this in a way that won't make DS send me on holiday? Caroline fans have a very... unique sense of perspective.

Oh I really hope it's true that Luke and Adam are going to try their damnedest to give up smoking, although the irony isn't lost on me!

Smoking related diseases really are the most horrible, degrading way to go. Not only that but, as a chef, it's suppressing Luke's palate and he really needs that in fully working order. Hopefully Adam's success in quitting the drink and drugs will get him through this and he can pass some coping tips on to Luke as well.

Minkski and Cowie, I hope you both manage it as well. You've nothing to lose and everything to gain. The fear of taking the plunge is worse than the reality, I reckon. Both my Mum and brother quit years ago and cold turkey worked fine for them. The physical addiction passes very quickly and after that it's more a case of breaking the habit. Hypnotherapy is the biggest waste of money out there, I've NEVER known anyone that's worked for. As blunt as it sounds, the ONLY sure-fire cure for smoking is just never stick a burning fag in your mouth. If you feel yourself going to do it, stop yourself and find something else to do, ha ha! Good luck!

For those of you who haven't voted on the all time favourite housemate poll the deadline has been extended to 10pm tomorrow .

I don't think he has any chance of winning - a couple of people have put him way down. These things are always won by people like Helen, not because she has legions of (or any) passionate fans on here but because no one puts her outside the top 25.

I think Luke's problem in forum polls (not that he would care) is that both forum members and the people concerned made it too much of a good vs evil series. If you were a fan of Caroline or Ashleigh or Luke S it is naturally aggravating to see it portrayed as if it was orcs vs hobbits. Adam tends to get fewer detractors because unlike Luke, Deana or Lauren, he did not say things like "the public will see what is really happening".

Never mind, I think he is doing quite well in it; I always like proper, substantial polls where people have to think about what they are putting. Amused at Gerry voting in it and putting himself second btw.

Is that poster really Gerry WD?

Only that someone said so. But his posting history is very Gerry-focused.

I see that Luke is in Chester again today. When I went shopping in Chester I went into a bra shop that mocked my very ordinary Marks and Spencers size and told me I was something freakishly outlandish like a 34Y. (It may possibly not have got as far through the alphabet as Y, but it was a size I never even knew existed until then). It was a nice town I thought, though the university (where I was on a course) seemed not to have been modernized since 1912.

I didn't think he had any chance of winning either as you say he's too divisive, although it would be nice if he receives quite a high ranking, I've noticed that a few people have placed him in their top 20, so hopefully their votes will cancel out his low placings.



That's quite humble of him, he could have put himself first .


Really?? As it happens, I've just come back from Chester, although I didn't bump into him ( I wasn't stalking, honestly ).

Impressive WD!!

Yes that poster does seem a tad obsessed with Gerry - it's quite funny reading his history knowing that it could be the man himself.

I wonder how many other housemates post incognito. I don't think I'd be brave enough to post on here if I was in their position. I was just looking at my all time favourite housemate rankings and regret a few of my placings. I can't believe I placed Alexandra as high as 199, I've just been watching a few clips on you tube as, I only had a vague memory of her and she was a horror far nastier than any other housemate.

I had a bit of difficulty with it as well, but 199 is very near the bottom so I would't worry.

I wanted to push Rebeckah lower - I don't know if you have been following her recent shenanigans - but discovered I already had her at 206 so she couldn't go MUCH lower.

I felt slightly sorry for Alexandra, foul-tempered though she was. She kept saying she was not used to sharing and liked being on her own with her daughter. She was just wildly unsuitable for BB - heaven knows why she ever applied or why they took her.

I read that thread, poor Alex . I think I put Kenneth Tong at 219 because of the tweets he sent to Gary Barlow . On a lighter note, I noticed this tweet that Rodrigo sent Luke

I think Rodrigo has a soft spot for Luke.

Ah, Rodrigo. I don't follow him so I'm a bit out of touch with what he's up to. Last time I heard about him he was saying he wanted to become a woman. I take it that was a joke? He was a sickeningly pretty girl!

Well I had a go at that housemate list. Something I never thought I'd have a go at on here but anything to promote a bit of Luke-love! I couldn't quite bear to put him above the legend that is Brian Dowling but he and Adam are a very close 2nd and 3rd.

Much of today has been spent despairing over a lot of transphobic comments on the This Morning FB page following their very interesting interview with the utterly charming and well-adjusted Thomas Beatie, better known as the "pregnant man". It makes me realise just what a long way there is to go until transsexuals are as understood and accepted as gay people are. It makes me appreciate why Luke would want to go public and show everyone that the condition doesn't make you a freak.

Rodrigo is a bit of a mystery. I was under the impression that he was committed to transitioning yet fairly recently he appeared as Rodrigo on BBBOTS, then shortly after as his alter ego Rebekah.

This is not the norm for most of those who are transitioning. Since my son began to live in role his previous status has been kept firmly in the past. I have had to remove anything which relates to his time as a female such as photographs (he wanted me to destroy them but I put my foot down and insisted I kept them but put them away out of sight).

Rodrigo seems not to be living full time in role so perhaps hasn't quite got to the stage where he is fully committed.

Thomas Beatie is a terrific guy and I am full of admiration for him. The struggle that perfectly decent people like him and Luke have to overcome ignorance and prejudice is enormous.

He is a theatrical person and is maybe trying out different roles at different times, a lifestyle which I should think would be sheer hell for most people, but if it suits him fair enough.

I am sure you were right not to get rid of childhood photographs though. Young people tend to be very all-or-nothing, but I am sure when he gets older he will find it easier to accept the positive sides to his childhood.

An academy near me has just changed its name to the Alec Reid Academy. Driving past it and glimpsing the sign I thought for a wild moment that they had named it after Jordan's ex.

I agree btw that Thomas Beattie sounds like a good egg, and has made the best of various rough deals he has faced.

I see that at the VERY last minute of the all housemates poll, Luke picked up a 192. I know it's only a game, but how could someone put him that low, below people like Jennifer?

That's awful Val


Just finished watching 'My Transexual Summer' and I have to say bravo to Channel 4 for not sensationilizing it, and dealing with all the participants sympathetically. I liked all of them, and want to know how they're doing now.. Just to think about it: I worry about feeling awful if I'm not dressed properly for the occasion, I can't imagine what it must be like to feel wrong in your entire body all the time. It was interesting seeing the programmes family's and their adjustments too (without over egging that as well). Very well done Channel 4.

Yes, MTS was like a duffer's guide to transitioning, the way it covered everything from the medical procedures to the social impact. It was a rare chance to get to know such people as individuals rather than just being transsexuals. The very act of transitioning helped their confidence but being able to have close contact with others at different stages of the procedure must have been invaluable. I remember the series fondly from its first showing but it's been even more interesting watching the repeats with Luke in mind and what he must have gone through.

Meta Magazine have been doing catch-ups with some of the cast. Unfortunately I don't have a new fangled gizmo that will play the digital mag app.

http://metamagonline.wordpress.com/

Thanks for that Val, Luke has said that Lewis is a friend of his, I'm glad Stephen Fry aided his chest fund!

BIB - absolutely. Even if he never wants to see any of them again it is important for me to have some visual reminder of the child I used to have.

I've had a quick look at the post putting Luke so low - it's ridiculous.

Wossis?


Not looking good for Luke and the giving up smoking though....




London though. I wonder what that's about? The tenants are just about to move out of the house next door to me, so perhaps the whole lot of them would like to move in? It has, errrrrrrrrrrm, a fish pond. A barometer. All right, no attractions at all, and is 10 miles out of the good bits of London so not very likely.

We ought to add for the benefit of those not on FB that Luke confirmed he was due to appear on MTS but dropped out because his family didn't want them to film his wedding. Very understandable when not even Becki's parents knew Luke's secret! That would have taken some explaining.

Remember a couple of days ago Luke retweeted from someone demanding that Luke apologise to this guy's sweet, honey princess - Caroline?

This has got to be him (and is probably a monumental wind up but it is hilarious).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwOih...ature=youtu.be

Lol. I reckon it's Sam Pepper.

This seems like a good sign, you could be neighbours :P.


I noticed that , it's also accompanied by a heartfelt poem declaring his love for her. I bet Caroline is flattered (or very scared).