20 July 2003,

Apologies again for not tending the website in the past month but I've had a lot of stuff going on, some of which is communal (the crushing heat which has even reached Scotland) and others that are personal and rare (murder of an ex works colleague).

The service should have been back up and running yesterday when I was due to pick up my latest 2 photosets but the developers have fucked up and I won't get them till midweek. These sets will now run consecutively in the members area without a gap as July and August's "Men of the Month". The guys, Lee and Michael, were both captured on cam last weekend in a 31 degree C Manchester and I think they'll be worth the wait. I also have a few Scanner sets pending - one of which is an X set with a "wet" theme tho many are guys cleaning cars in effect.

In Manchester I also bought myself a 3.2 megapixel digital stills camera which I'm sure will come in handy ...

Hopefully members noted the addition of a second video still set at the beginning of the month - this will continue on in several parts anyway, starting tomorrow.

Another plea to members here - please clear out any Hotmail inboxes and similar because if I send you the new password and it bounces then there is nothing else I can do. 2 members in particular should heed this.

Scouting wise I shall concentrate on Scotland until mid-September when I'll be in Darlington.
11 June 2003,

Sorry for neglecting my duties of late but I've had a bit of a cursed period which alas very definitely included my Midlands trip.

Basically I lost my 'plastic' on the Saturday morning of my trip and could not find proper internet access in Birmingham (don't even try using Gaydar on the BT booths BTW). So I was destitute and incommunicado. Well I wasn't incommunicado to those who thought to phone my mobile ... which was nobody (I don't count texts). Thus nothing to show for it on the model front I'm afraid. Next time as they say. There was shedloads of talent about, on the streets of Nottingham especially.

Thanks to my mate Joel without whose generous intervention I would have really been fucked as well as frustrated.

On top of this I now have a fault with my camcorder, tho I'm told it is fixable and I've also lately had scanner software trouble hence the delay on the promised Scanner 18. The raw material is gathered in for electronic harvest over the next day or so. Keep a watch for it - it'll be another bumper bundle!

Getting back to business, I've uploaded the second and final part of Sac's video gallery. For non-members here's a thumbnail teaser of both parts. Man of the Month Dennis follows at the weekend.


Members please note that the password for access will be changing imminently owing to a couple of members falling off the end of their subscription whether by accident or design.

Would everyone who subscribes please take care to note that I have to contact you first (and keep in touch with you) solely via the email address you register with PayPal to enable access.

I have had a recent case of someone who made multiple subscriptions (assuming automatic entry as PayPal automatically generates passwords) on a defunct email and the refund process I then instigated does not seem to have kicked in at all. I'm still trying to work out a way round this complex situation and would rather it didn't happen again.

If you have any queries PLEASE email me via the button on the left. DON'T sign up twice .
19 May 2003,

Time for a few house-keeping notes I think.

First the members access password will definitely change today. A lot of stuff that was meant to happen over the weekend got waylaid by an impromtu visit to Edinburgh (mainly for Ikea shopping and "X-Men 2" viewing I admit). Equally part 2 of Carl was also delayed until today but part 3 appears early this weekend. Would members please note that the scanner section (and shortly also the links section) is only available here in the public part of the Cobalt Studio site. Anything in both areas has to be uploaded and updated seperately so I'm trying to minimise that duplicate effort.

Scanner 18 is nearly ready to roll as well thanks to a deluge of material recently (a lot from "Sneak" magazine tho)

.
10 May 2003,

Scanner 17 will be up later today, a little delayed sorry.

Members please note that the first password changes will happen later in the week so if you begin to have access problems please contact me so that I can update you. An email will go out to registered members though. Look out too for first sight of the 2 bonus video sessions from Manchester, the first of which will go fully online before the end of May.

Visits-wise I can confirm that I will be down in Birmingham AND Nottingham as this month becomes next - staying in central Brum on Friday 30th/Saturday 31st then moving on to do photoshoots in Nottingham on PM Sunday 1st June (possibly also early Monday if time permits).
30 April 2003,

Glad to report a hugely productive few days in Manchester, namely 4 models in the can plus many more on hold for next time and a valuable contact made. The first of the models will debut at the week's end in the member's galleries as "Man of the Month" for May 2003.

Here's a couple of samples to get you in the mood ...


The valueable contact was made with the mainman at uklads, for whom I am now talent scouting as well as for myself. I'm in the process of updating and expanding the adult links page so they will appear there soon.

My next visit will be to either Birmingham or Nottingham on the last weekend of May - that's the one AFTER the Bank Holiday. More details nearer the time, but already some models lined up there. Darlington, Cambridge and Bristol pencilled in after that as well as a summer return to Manchester.

It's feast after the famine with the scanner galleries too - no17 is "in production" for later in the week.
23 April 2003,

I'm still in double mourning today, both for real-life music legend Nina Simone who passed away at the weekend and yesterday's rather gory TV demise of Holby City's gay hearthtob, Ben Saunders (David Paisley). Nina was 70 and had enjoyed  a colourful and rounded life. I was probably more shocked at the  fictional death because I'm used to knowing such plot twists well in advance - this one was only broken to me by "Inside Soap" the day before and I might have been well gutted without that warning.

Be aware I'm prowling Manchester again this weekend. Should be a good few model shoots springing from that IF all goes to plan. Don't be afraid to come up for a chat if you see me around.

I hope to have the members frameset up before I travel down tomorrow so it will look a bit tidier in there. Members please note that I am  emailing the access instructions to the address you are registered with on PayPal - make sure it is current.

Meanwhile I really really have put up new scanner galleries - in fact a total of 84 pictures from Scanner 13 to Scanner 16x. Hopefully you will enjoy the contents. The adult galleries have 2 different themes - 15 and 15x have a topical fixation with uniforms (I purposely held this one back for obvious reasons) while 16 and 16x are devoted to the beefier and furrier examples of manhood (suspect some regulars will hate it).
5 April 2003,

Apologies for the delay in implementing the new site but the technical side is proving a little more difficult than I first thought. As part of the transition you will notice only the model thumbnails will appear, not the images you'd normally get if you click the thumbnail. The tame ones will reappear soon and I will right the broken links for them but the X rated ones are held back forever for members. This week members will get part one of Chris's full frontal session - the whole set runs to 114 pics so they are being uploaded in 3 parts.

Enjoy as the Glasgow lad peels down from white trackies and then a Rangers kit.

Members will be emailed with access instructions.
15 March 2003 - IMPORTANT NOTICE,

This is surely going to come as bad news to some of you out there but I've decided that the site is going to become subscription based from the beginning of April 2003. This will mean that only a handful of preview shots of each of my models will be accessible to non-members, typical of other sites you may frequent. This will be fully backdated to include all past models as well as those in the future though the Yahoo archive is unaffected.

The slings and arrows of outrageous non-fortune have got me in the end. I just can't go on trying to keep up the photography and all that the job entails for nothing. No-one appreciates what comes to them gratis and some still grumble even then. This is not just a bitter and twisted moment but a long considered evolution.

To really do the site justice I need a regular flow of decent lads in front of the camera and , as you may notice, that is not something that happens naturally or unbidden. A little upfront cash works wonders, though I know it is not always neccessary or appropriate. With a fairly steady income flowing back I should be able to safeguard the quality and probably much increase the quantity. There are things I'd like to do like getting a digital camera and possibly adding video files, even live shows to the site content. None of this will happen without the move to subscription. And I also want to be able to operate on a truly UK wide basis - travel and accomodation costs currently hamper this ambition.

As to mechanics, these are not yet confirmed. It is likely payments will be processed through PayPal, tho perhaps initially via a backdoor using a password in the URL. This method allows Switch payments as well as the usual plastic. I'm planning a modest monthly subscription charge of £6 (approx $9.55 at time of writing) - this will be the sole method of access after April 30th. From now until April 30th I'm going to offer a bulk discount of 5 months access (April - August 2003 inclusive) for the price of 4. That's £24 instead of £30. The quicker you get it the more value it is! These funds should kick-start the upgrade.
To register your interest in this offer please email me at postmaster@cobaltmale.plus.com with subject header "Cobaltmale offer". No money needed at this stage but If cash is burning a hole in your pocket right now I'd strongly suggest you donate it to the Comic Relief appeal via http://www.bbc.co.uk/rednoseday

Prospective models should note that guys published here will automatically earn a life membership!

The forewarned revamp begins today so bookmarks/favourites will begin dropping off from here on in. Use the root page to make of navigation until things settle down again in April.
27 February 2003,

Just a quick word to say that I've wangled a £17 return rail fare to Aberdeen so will be there between Saturday 8th to Monday 10th March.

Also be warned that I'm planning a small revamp to the site during March so some of your bookmarks/favourites from here may stop working.

Meanwhile I'm in Glasgow for some test shoots on Saturday/Sunday but before then Scanner 12 will be uploaded with proof that the current Ben and Tony Holby storyline does indeed end in tears (and hospital treatment) very soon ...
22 February 2003,

Uploaded yet another scanner today (the pics are coming thick n fast now!) - I was tempted to add the Jason-spanks-Darius vidcaps from last week's "Footballers Wives" but felt that wasn't really a scan. If you want them I believe a Yahoo group called m_m_spanking can help.

Have not had time to do the explanations page quite yet so to go straight to the mystery pics click here. Soap fans beware spoilers!

Can't give you any more clues on visits yet as I have now been blocked by hotel and rail logistics for my top 2 destinations (Aberdeen and Darlington).

BTW if you are one of the gorgeous guys I've pinged mercilessly on Gaydar please email me at the bottom left icon or call me  (that's CALL me as in NO TEXT) on 07930 101 991. Be the first Cobalt model of 2003 ... I'm still waiting !
16 February 2003,

Sorry if anyone thought I'd died, just been a little whacked most days and couldn't be arsed to do the neccessary updating.

Still not sorted my broadband but my cash-flow crisis has been alleviated suddenly (alas not a Lotto win, just a consolidated loan).

BTW I hugely recommend something I saw on BBC3's opening night last weekend - a sketch show called "Little Britain". A surreal showcase for the genius that is Matt Lucas and David Walliams please try catching the repeat next Thursday at 10.30pm. Tom Baker does a gloriously batty voiceover and the finished product does have a faint whiff of Chris Morris in Royston Vasey. A series is to follow later in the year and I think it will be "Radio Times" cover material before very long.

Anyway you'll hopefully be glad to note not one but 2 scanners dated today (3 if you include 9x) with the first being indeed an Brazilian-heavy dozen to coincide with the imminent Rio Mardi Gras. I've amended the scanner archive page so that the x versions are a bit more obvious.

A note to my "fans" in the guestbook whom I keep forgetting to address here - I'm not a magician so can't always get models to drop everything for me and at the moment any interested parties seem to evaporate close to any commitment ... maybe it's too cold. That's one of the reasons for the "can you recommend" question which gets ignored or not taken seriously (even if I too would like Kelly Jones to resume his modelling career).

I'm certainly very keen for anyone (of the male persuasion) reading this to email me if they wanna pose for my still or video camera. Even if you just want some pics done for a GAYDAR profile or suchlike.  Don't be shy ...

Some more visits and models are possible in the next few weeks. And hopefully no war. 
2 February 2003,

I've uploaded a semi-new model, Niall, today. Somewhat different type of guy (I guess you'll either love or hate) even tho in the usual 18-25 range. The shots were taken at Niall's flat on a sodden teatime last May and are more vidcaps. Like to know what you all feel about this method of presenting a model - you get more pics (and more exposure than I can currently get away with on stills) but I still feel the picture quality and "atmosphere" is generally unsatisfactory.

Scanner 9 will probably appear this week and will be a 3rd porno one, possibly an all Brazilian affair ...
26 January 2003,

Have to start with a few pleas and apologies, not entirely unconnected.

My major challenge at the moment is trying to get my broadband/ADSL to work. I've had the equipment and the upgraded line since October but I've still got nowhere with it. Anyone out there, especially anyone in central Scotland, who can help me out someway? Bear in mind I have Mac OS X.

Anyway what with paying £35 a month for the ADSL account I am also ramping up even larger phone bills - a forced rejig of my BT Direct Debit on top of some incompetence on my part last month has led me to limit my online activity and drastically economise on everything else. Luxuries such as running about after potential models (and hey, maybe even photographing them !) are first for the chop if I am to drag myself out of the red-zone. Those potential models who feel OK about visiting here for their test shots excepted. My visits out are also on hold.

Donations gratefully received of course ;-)

On a lighter note please enjoy Scanner 8, uploaded today.

You lot did all find the second dozen X-rated pics in Scanners 5 & 6 didn't you ? Only my webstats indicate that you might not have spotted the HOT gifs at the bottom right of the opening pages (just scroll down and click). I'm thinking about possibly doing the porno scanners as a monthly thing.

The list of all my scanner efforts is here. Or click the Scanner button on the left hand menu.

Lastly a TV recommendation for all you UK dwellers. Try and catch "Taken" on BBC2 and BBC Choice. Some lovely men in the first 3 eps (my favourite just happens to be Joel Gretsch who's playing an obsessive bastard of a USAF Colonel). It's Spielberg so it's a bit mushy and romantically lit but it's well done as a sci-fi/soap saga hybrid.
15 January 2003,

I've uploaded the year's first proper Scanner (No7) this evening. Not a great time of the year to gather clippings so there are couple of non-contemporary pics there tho I'm sure no-one will complain ;-).

A few more of my personal choices/awards for 2002 now. Film of the Year has to be "Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers". Politician of the Year is Clare Short (for being the Labour Cabinet's conscience) and Villain of the Year is Robert Mugabe (erm, where do I begin ...?). Best new TV series for me was the headfrying "Spooks". Most fanciable international male is a 3 way sci-fi tie I'm afraid between Connor Trinneer from "Enterprise", Ben Browder from "Farscape" and Michael Shanks from "Stargate SG-1". Oops showing my anorak credentials there a bit! Agreeing for once with "Gay Times" readers my most fanciable UK male was David Paisley, currently midwifing it in "Holby City" (see also Scanner 7).

Might squeeze a few more of these in before January is out so you are forewarned.

Lastly a quick but heartfelt mention for the lovely Gaydar. Get on it!.
12 January 2003,

I realised that I forgot to impart a personal review of 2002 at the end of last year (partly because I was filled with lurgy over most of the hols).So, even tho no-one's clamouring for it here - at least-  are my top 5 singles of last year ...
1 - Round Round, THE SUGARBABES
2 - A Little Less Conversation, JXL/ELVIS PRESLEY
3 - Get the Party Started, PINK
4 - Point of View, DB BOULEVARD
5 - Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word, BLUE/ELTON JOHN

Anyone who actually knows me might be a little bemused by those poppy choices, especially after last years choices were rife with David Gray, Dido, Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics but even then S Club 7 were No2. I couldn't help myself and have to reveal that Liberty X and Gareth Gates are among the next 5 ! May I redeem my street cred a little by pointing out that I have yet to even hear The Cheeky Girls (despite The Guardian giving all it's readers a crib sheet last month) and that my current faves include Erasure, Electric Six and Flaming Lips.

Hope to offer you some new models this month although bad luck seems to be dogging me and them as regards getting together etc.

My next visits are likely to be Aberdeen, Manchester, Birmingham, Darlington and Cambridge - in that order.
3 January 2003,

Starting the news page from scratch folks (in case you are confused).

Canny surfers will have noticed a special scanner - no5 - appeared on New Year's Eve. This was partly as a gift to regular visitors who might just know where to go without prompting. Even cannier surfers will have found that scanner 5 has a second HOTTER page (hint hint). Today I'm uploading Scanner 6 which is of a similar nature and navigation. Would like to know what people think of these horny diversions from normal business. Scanner 7 will be back to actual scans next week (as opposed to collected net porn inspirations) but if people tell me their favourites from that diverse bunch I'll see if I can't reflect opinion in my own work ...

For those who think my stuff is not "upfront" enough I will let them in on a secret - http://www.cobaltmale.co.uk/xsweet16.html

And for those of you trying to join my Yahoo group from the above left link PUT YOUR AGE IN YOUR YAHOO PROFILE. You will be bounced out if you don't, simple as that.

No visits outside Central Scotland scheduled for at least 6 weeks due to some financial therapy, but still may find myself in Aberdeen before very long (I know I keep promising).