Haircut 100 are back!

1982, the year Status Quo named an album after it it was that cool with all sorts of music from Post Punk via Funk and New Romantics to Heavy Metal vying for your wallet and chart positions, a World Cup like this week and a conflict thankfully won in the South Atlantic.

 Was it really all those years ago the original chapter of Haircut One Hundred beamed briefly yet brightly not to be seen after October as we followed the solo fortunes of Nick Heyward?

Haircut 100 achieved the kind of success that they could have only dreamed of: four UK Top 10 hits, all of which were definitive '80s classics - 'Love Plus One', 'Fantastic Day', 'Favourite Shirts (Boys Meets Girl)' and 'Nobody's Fool' - followed by a debut album, 'Pelican West', which peaked at #2 during an eleven week run in the Top 10, in the process reaching Platinum status.

I remember well tuning in on Radio One for the premiering of that album and been amazed at the musicianship, tight, mainly recorded live to digital tape performances and, not for the first time, going with the influences of the girls I knew for tips on hot musical acts.

That was 42 years ago and where have those heady years gone? 

But now after a lengthy absence, Haircut One Hundred are back fuelled by the power of friendship, a love of adventure, and the simple joy of seeing wherever their unexpected next chapter will take them. 

Their return now gathers pace after releasing their first new music in 40 years with the new single 'The Unloving Plum', more new music and this album in released last Friday.

An advantage of sorts is having this long for a reunion is following on a few years ago from the release of a BBC concert recording from 1982, this their new album is on vinyl too and cheaper than many other new releases.

'The Unloving Plum' sparkles with the exuberant joy of a band loving what they do. The joyous, brass-assisted, instantly unforgettable pop that they're best known for is still their most compelling trait, but it's a natural evolution that takes in touches of jangly, Beatles-esque pop and an anthemic Britpop-flavoured power. 

While vocalist/guitarist Nick Heyward explains what it means to him, it also speaks to the universal experience of something great in life emerging from what you initially thought was the worst possible outcome.

Musically this album follows a similar freespirit jazz-funk lead feel as that debut filtered though a pop presentation, mature pop without being too pretentious, easy to hum along or start moving to but having substance.

Playing it was a blast!

This has been something I've been so looking forward to.

Interuptions

I was reading on site about the second time a Sissy in their late teens got rumbled by Mum where hur stash of clothes and other accessories tm was found in the wardrobe of the guest rooms when this room seldom gets used.

To me the easier thing is get the point you manage your own room and Mum agrees to ask first before entering it. I mean respect of privacy really ought to be a given at that age.

Sadly some Mums and Dad's too think they can "barge in" whenever they like as you're "under their roof" in which instance a situation like that can easily happen and whatever your folks own views, you should be able to dress as you're comfortable in your own space.

Other rooms in the house and situations like coming down for evening meals can be more awkward as they just say "We're not comfortable seeing you like that" and in practice unless you can stopover with a mate or have Uni accommodation there's little you can do about that.

Being sissy 2026 style

 It's the second longest battle I have fought over identity issues over the one bought what my real age is and its implications when it comes to what I can be expected to do and and the degree of supervision I need in everyday life is when essentially you're still a child. 

Having the confidence to express how you feel not just in words but also in how you present such as your dress and for it to be respected is very important. 

It does not matter how much I have masculine traits, how happy I was to play rough and tough with the boys I have a sizable feminine side running through me that at the time was never able to be let out as the whole me.

Within age dysphoric life inclining playing I need to be able to play feminine games and undertake those activities as a part of being still a child amongst children.

I need full access to the whole range of children's clothes of my era and specific time devoted to being in skirts and dresses and more feminine underclothes not just to express the here and now of my gender but as a therapy for past issues.

I struggle with stockings but these would do the trick being more a patterned stocking but in below the knee which goes will just over the knee skirts or dresses, more down the sissy side without getting into ything overly bedroom fun and games.

I think there are some just over the knee ones too - I probably need to look more into that - but given these days I'm in satin and frilly panties this sort of dressing makes sense where if I'm just playing dashing about cotton socks with cute characters are great and school wear is all big proper knickers and three quarter length black, white more often or grey socks as a matter of course.

As a little sissy gurl, it matters to me that I express this side of me, being more open about as some have tried to say I can't be a little as an age regressed adult and even bullying me over it.

I can be cute as a feminine little sissy gurl in a pure age regressed side with nothing sexual in that space and I have every right to be that person. 

That's what matters.

Summer Special 2026

Last week was badd...very bad for the super hot drying up conditions we endured as we went over 30 degrees and felt by Thursday night really off so Friday's cooler temperatures, fresh breeze and even some thunder was welcome.

And that was Spring!

Now this month we enter Summer officially where you might it expect it to be warm, where in the past we looked to Summer Vacations and no school for seven or so weeks before we got crazy, stomping our feet saying "I'm bored!" 

We didn't bother with the Dandy Summer Special as like last years it another set of Jamie Smart era Desperate Dan reprints from 2007-2010 not a proper Dandy Summer edition that we've had since 2013 and the ending of the weekly print edition.

Okay, you could play with your Chromebook, Tablet or Smartphone all day which isn't that good for for other reasons, run about like crazy playing weird games which is what I did with mates or read a comic or book.

That's where summer special comic editions with more pages came in coupled with puzzle books that remain big with modern children.

While the world of children's comics and magazines has changed a lot in forty odd years - and not necessarily for the better - The Beano Summer Special, today styled as a Summer Activity Special remains available and is out...NOW!

This years plot revolves around the notion the Beanotown children think they’ve bagged the perfect getaway, a dream holiday to a seaside caravan park in Beanotown-on-Sea. 

However this is Beanotown so of course nothing is what it seems! Their hoped for R & R (rest and recreation) turns out to be more like run-down and rotten - and the weirdness doesn’t stop there. Something fishy is happening both at the seaside and back home… and the kids are determined to uncover the truth!

Packed with mysteries, mayhem, jokes and puzzles it takes you back to those times even if the world is very much the modern one with enough to keep you occupied indoors or out and doesn't require a connection nor recharging.

With this weeks weather recharging is what I need!

I loved rope climbing and exploring back then so that kind of adventure is so so relatable.

Identity and rights of the sissy

I used to do things like Tumblr in connection to this life but changes there plus attitudes within and beyond the community when it came what we could show even play or comfort items made trying to post their and not either have your account banned or people just block you made it hardly worth the effort.

I did look into what I consider to be the rights of the sissy,

The right to be addressed as hur/she/hurself and all other sissy pronouns to emphasize hur own identity

The right to have their gender affirmed, being referred to unambiguously as a Gurl

The right to single gender spaces

The right to wear girlie shorts or a skirt at school and at work.

The right of sissies  to adult Female input throughout hur life including spending time just with women and other sissy gurls in female only activities together to help hur grow and find hur sissiness.

The right not to be discriminated against in any programs and employment opportunities, being assessed purely on hur abilities compared to others for the task and nothing else.

It doesn't matter that I and others may have a feminine side because that doesn't invalidate his rights and our existance should not be used to question hur and because I may wear a skirt doesn't make me a girl demanding her privileges. 

Just to be with and of use to her.

Outdoor maths lesson by the very kind of man or woman most of us would look up to in flash.

“For Sissies”  is an electric sign we need to be prepared to stand up for because whatever certain usually people say, Sissies ARE are Gender distinct from Girls which while individual variations exist, in general they graduate toward similar hobbies, interests and like the company girls they do not see themselves as being or wishing to take the role of girls.

Your role is to help us be who we are.

To me it is sad that we seem to be going backwards in this regard. 

When I was growing up in the 70’s, the goal was to achieve a society in which a male or a female might do or become anything they wanted, without their sexual identity being questioned. Boys could play with dolls, girls could climb trees, anyone could wear anything they wanted or do anything they wanted, without it impacting what we now call “gender.” It was a great goal. 

I could and have every right to wear a skirt and to play with dolls as part of expressing the more feminine side  of me as much as I could the rough and tough side cos they're all me.

If you want to get a feel for what that movement was about, listen to Marlo Thomas’ , Free to Be You and Me, a famous series of songs recorded to help introduce children to this concept. Boys can cry, girls can compete in races…nothing you say or do changes what you inherently are.

Our conversation about gender appears to have taken a step backwards. Once more we are talking about ‘male’ and ‘female’ behaviours, and suggesting that if one gender does something associated with the other gender, the gender must be wrong. Once more we are creating boxes to define and contain gender identity, and if you step outside the box, it is deemed a denial of that identity.

Some men like to wear women’s clothing. Some girls disdain traditional “feminine” activities. The first group are still men, and the second still girls. We don't see ourselves as girls trapped in boys bodies but a species apart that share much with girls to the point we may be more effeminate than the way females may act upon.

We do them a terrible disservice when we read deeper things into that. 

I did have a love of flowers and some collectable porcelain dolls of various girls which in that era wasn't very cool to admit to other boys which was a shame, I liked to wear skirts as much as shorts but that didn't mean I had a deep seated need to change my sex because I was happy with what I had but needed the gender space of the sissy I am to be me.

We may present more as "Little Girls", School girls or our older more mature sisters depending on what is within us. And that's okay.

Making space to be...US

The world we may want to live in may be different to where we are able to be at because of health or disabilities related reasons or it might be with difficult situations you are having to share space with people who don't necessarily understand that we are sissies and need to be ourselves.

Is it wrong then to think a bit about what we'd like and how we might find a way of expressing ourselves as challenging as life can be?

That might be how we'd like to have our bedrooms, full of cute stuffies, figurines and draws to keep our frillies in.

Is it possible to have a small space for some of your own with maybe a strategically placed covering we can be pulled down when others who aren't so appreciative might be around or a cleaner might come in?

Perhaps look at a more concealed wardrobe space where our dresses and uniforms might be hung  out of sight of visitors or window cleaners,

It's not that anything is wrong with us, far from it, but about looking at making being us more possible in the world we're living in.

Now Yearbook 1972

After 1976 in September 2025, the juggernault that is Now Yearbook resumes with this much anticipated volume available in deluxe 4 cd form with book, a cheapskate card cover and a trunked 3 lp version as we revisit the early 1970's.

1972 was very much the year of Juniors with me, moving up, listening to Radio One and Luxembourg in the evenings when I could and watching shows on tv such as Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks on ATV and when I had a stereo portable radiogram for playing my meagre collection of 45's and dolly bird fronted Top Of The Pops albums with remakes of the years hits.

1972 was the year of the TV Advertised lp and the likes of Ronco and KTel catered for that but many of them  had 24 tracks on a single record so they sounded thin and were brutally edited so the remakes sounded better.

Opening with an all-time favourite, usually reserved for Christmas-time listening, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ by John Lennon, The Plastic Ono Band, Yoko Ono & The Harlem Community Choir – and it leads an opening run of classics including Rod Stewart’s #1 ‘You Wear It Well’, Don McLean with ‘American Pie’, ‘A Horse With No Name’ from America and a song by the same name ‘America’ from Simon & Garfunkel, released as a single in 1972 to promote their ‘Greatest Hits’ collection. 

More legendary U.S. artists follow including Carly Simon, Bread, Harry Nilsson with his #1 ‘Without You’, and Neil Diamond with one of his signature tracks, U.S. #1, and the title of recent biopic ‘Song Sung Blue’. Gilbert O’Sullivan enjoyed his first chart-topper with ‘Clair’ while Colin Blunstone hit with ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ and Cat Stevens scored a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic with ‘Morning Has Broken’… 

Ten years before ‘Thriller’, Michael Jackson had his first solo hit with ‘Got To Be There’, and is followed by timeless ballads from Bill Withers and Labi Siffre with ‘It Must Be Love’. Johnny Nash enjoyed a massive hit with ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ and leads into Disc One’s closing run from four of the most celebrated artists of all time; Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney (& Wings), and finishes with Elvis Presley’s Top 10 ‘I Just Can’t Help Believin’.

1972 saw Glam Rock become hugely popular, and CD2 kicks off at the rock end of glam with Alice Cooper and the anthemic #1 ‘School’s Out’, and followed by the superb art-rock of Roxy Music on their debut ‘Virginia Plain’ – and Mott The Hoople with the David Bowie written and produced ‘All The Young Dudes’ hitting the Top 3. Ahead of their biggest commercial year in ’73, Sweet scored their third Top 5 hit with ‘Wig Wam Bam’ and Slade follow with the second of two #1’s in 1972, ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’. Elton John had a huge year and Top 5 smash ‘Crocodile Rock’ is up next alongside another glam-flavoured chart-topper ‘Son Of My Father’ by Chicory Tip and co-written by Giorgio Moroder. Jeff Beck had a hit with the re-released ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ and Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs made #2 with ‘Seaside Shuffle’.

The second half of the disc celebrates the year’s biggest rock-pop hits including from Blackfoot Sue, Family, Argent, Free, Lindisfarne, Marmalade, Jo Jo Gunne and The Move – plus the debut hit from Electric Light Orchestra, ‘10538 Overture’, which reached #9 and became the first of 13 Top 10 smashes they would enjoy in the ‘70s – and the huge ‘Silver Machine’ from Hawkwind featuring a pre-Motörhead Lemmy on lead vocals. The disc ends on a lighter note from a Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Chuck Berry, who hit #1 in both the UK and US with the novelty track ‘My Ding-A-Ling’.

Moving to CD3 we mark ‘72’s easy listening and pure pop classics opening in style with Shirley Bassey and her second ‘Bond’ theme ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ ahead of Andy Williams’ ‘Speak Softly Love’ – the theme from the year’s biggest film ‘The Godfather’. ‘The Way Of Love’ from Cher comes ahead of joyful pop nuggets from Sammy Davis Jr, Tom Jones and Tony Christie with ‘(Is This The Way To) Amarillo’ reaching #18 in 1972, Middle Of The Road had a Top 5 hit, while The New Seekers’ ‘Beg Steal Or Borrow’ reached #2 and came 2nd at 1972’s Eurovision Song Contest, losing out to Vicky Leandros with ‘Come What May’ which is next… 

It was a great year for soul music on the charts with Love Unlimited’s sublime ‘Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love’ leading an incredible run that features The Stylistics, Diana Ross, The Supremes, Jackson 5, The Drifters and The Staple Singers, plus Northern Soul favourites Donnie Elbert and Archie Bell And The Drells, with ‘Back Stabbers’ from The O’Jays announcing their ‘70s Philadelphia International era, while the disc closes with ‘Family Affair’ a huge hit and a massively-influential track from Sly & The Family Stone.

We conclude with CD4 is packed with huge hits and launches with one of Elton John’s signature songs, the #2, ‘Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long Long Time)’ while Rod Stewart provided the vocal on Python Lee Jackson’s ‘In A Broken Dream’ and Slade’s other #1 in ’72 ‘Take Me Bak ‘Ome’ is next, alongside a second appearance from Sweet. 

More second features from Elvis Presley, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Michael Jackson are included along with #1’s from Don McLean with ‘Vincent’ and The New Seekers with their massive selling ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing’. Melanie enjoyed a Top 5 hit with ‘Brand New Key’ – and Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show reached #2 with ‘Sylvia’s Mother’.

Artists enjoying a later-in-career renaissance included Johnny Cash, Faron Young and The Fortunes with 'Storm In a Teacup' whilst newer artists Junior Campbell and Hurricane Smith are up next. 

The disc closes with singer/songwriter Peter Skellern’s ‘You’re A Lady’ reaching #3 and featuring backing vocals by The Congregation who are featured next with their own Top 5 hit ‘Softly Whispering I Love You’. U.S. talk show host and actor Les Crane’s spoken word reading of the poem ‘Desiderata’ was a Top 10 hit both here and in his home country.

 An instrumental that closes this 4 cd set, 1972’s biggest selling single featuring The Pipes and Drums Of The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards celebrated a huge selling version of Amazing Grace’ complete with bagpipe solo.

While playing as a record ties more into the experience I had in 1972, the 4 cd version provides a broader selection taking in follow up singles although there is no T Rex, David Bowie or Rolling Stones.

This set brings back much of that time and the memories I associate with it.

Come FridayJuly 3rd, the new legendary extra edition for cd came out in it's plain card tri-fold packaging which is a pity as a digipac with an insert talking about the selection would of been more fitting.

With this extra volume we gain 61-tracks celebrating more magical hits from a interesting year in pop.

CD1 opens with The Osmonds’ huge hit ‘Crazy Horses’ a really heavy track track, ahead of glam classics from T. Rex with the #1 ‘Metal Guru’, and Slade’s ‘Look Wot You Dun’. 

Elton John features with ‘Honky Cat’, while Sweet hit the Top 20 for the first of three times in ‘72 with ‘Poppa Joe’ followed by Paul Simon’s enduring ‘Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard’ sitting alongside pop gems from Lynsey de Paul and Colin Blunstone. 

Legendary artists Carly Simon, Neil Diamond and Rod Stewart feature before Bread’s timeless ‘Everything I Own’ a song which would give both Ken Boothe and Boy George #1 singles. 

This is followed by more chart hits follow from The Kinks, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Hot Chocolate before the disc closes with two all-time classics: The Chiffons with the re-released ‘Sweet Talkin' Guy’ and Michael Jackson’s Top 3 ear-worm ‘Rockin’ Robin’. 

CD2 begins with one of the defining soul records of the era, Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’, followed by the sublime duet ‘Where Is The Love’ from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

 Michael Jackson appears once more with his version of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ a Bill Withers number, ahead of standout soul cuts from The Stylistics, Gladys Knight & The Pips and The Supremes. 

The Temptations feature with ‘Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)’ before Bill Withers’ classic ‘Use Me’, plus smooth-grooves from Sly & The Family Stone and Jr. Walker & The All Stars. 

We then move to easy-pop hits from Middle Of The Road, The New Seekers and New World lead into U.S. smashes from Sonny & Cher and Buffy Sainte-Marie before the disc concludes  with Engelbert Humperdinck’s final Top 20 hit (to date) with ‘Too Beautiful To Last’. 

CD3 opens with one of Elton John’s most celebrated songs, ‘Tiny Dancer’, followed by Bread with ‘The Guitar Man’ and Blue Mink’s ‘Stay With Me’. 

The Moody Blues, a second appearance from Rod Stewart and Lindisfarne's famous Meet Me On The Corner are joined by more standout tracks from the Strawbs, Duncan Browne and The Hollies’ U.S. #2 ‘Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)’. 

Glam heroes return with T. Rex’s second #1 to feature in the 1972 edition with ‘Telegram Sam’ plus Slade’s #2 ‘Gudbuy T’Jane’, ahead of rock-oriented hits from Mungo Jerry, Argent and C.C.S. 

Elvis Presley’s live version of ‘An American Trilogy’ hit the Top 10 in 1972 and features ahead of a run of reggae-infused pop from Greyhound, Johnny Nash, Dandy Livingstone and Bruce Ruffin before the collection closes with an evergreen festive favourite from the Jackson 5, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’. 

While some the decisons about what to include seem baffling the Osmonds surely belonged on the main volume and 1972 was the year Gary Glitter broke out with massive hits regardless of his crimes so really ought to had been included for the hits they were, the whole set does do justice to 1972 in a way few other series really got into in any great depth.