Andrew Forest

Photos from the flat sharing time were few and they have disappeared. The vintage photo is only an eyecatcher.

Finding a naturist flat mate

A big change in my life was approaching – moving from home at the countryside to a for me unknown big university town. My university studies were about to start. From senior high school studies with very structured schedules to the freedom at university. From the safe environment with the parents to freedom, but also responsibility and uncertainty. 

I knew what to study, I was already registered for studies in economics. But where to find a place to live? It was a shortage of student rooms, might get that after some months of queueing. But until then? Luckily I came to talk about my struggles with one of my cousins  and we directly found out that we were about to move to the same city! His family, my uncle and aunt and their three children; my cousins; lived in a small town not so far from us. We used to meet fairly often, even going on holiday together to naturist resorts, since they were also naturists like my family. 

My cousin Tomas and I are born the same year and were like raised together, really buddies. So we looked forward to find a flat to share. That might be easier than getting a student room. So we started advertising in the local newspaper in the university town and of course checking ads from people renting out flats. This was in the 1970’s, before the internet era, so it was not as easy as today to match supply and demand!

The supply of two bedroom flats was limited! After a while we found a nice place, but it was a three bedroom flat….we needed only two rooms. Now we had to find a third flat mate! Tomas and I realised that we really wanted to stick to our naturist habits, could we find another naturist?? How to deal with that? Where to search for a naturist? Or just finding a decent guy that could accept the flat as a clothes free zone. It was anyway a time when many people were openminded and freethinking. Especially young people. It should not be impossible! 

We came to the university city, found the flat and the flat owner, signed our contract, moved in with our few things (the flat was fully furnished) and found ourselves standing in the small living room being very pleased! Just one thing was wrong – we still had clothes on! 

”We must declare this flat as a clothes free zone”, Tomas bursted! Of course, we got rid of our clothes and felt more free than ever. Moving from home, now in a big city, in a flat, and so satisfied with being nude again! It was a relief for sure.

Now we could start hunting for a third person! 

”Let’s go out and have dinner at a restaurant and celebrate”, I said to Tomas. He agreed, so we had to get dressed again and found our way to the city center area. A lot of restaurant were to be found, we checked around at the menues at display at the entrances. After a while we were so hungry and impatient that we agreed ”let’s take the next, regardless of menu!” We went in at a place that fortunately looked fairly nice and there were several other young people around as guests. We soon learned that it was a popular meeting place for students. We were invited to join in for coffee and drinks among a bunch of guests after we’ve had our meal. Lot of nice people from around the same area far from the university town, they were members in the same student club. We talked about many things and suddenly our issue of finding a third flatmate was in focus. ”I for sure need a place to crash” said a guy. He looked nice and expectant. Tomas and I looked at each other and we knew we both agreed to talk more in detail with the guy. His name was Johan. I thought it was the best to be open directly with him about our special requirement, that the flat should be a clothesfree zone. I’ve been very open with my naturism since high school, when I had a presentation about naturism and so to say outed myself as nudist.

”Well Johan, have to tell you one important thing already from start – both Tomas and I are active naturists, so the flat is a clothesfree zone.” I stated. Johan got a little puzzled but mainly excited and interested, he looked at me and Tomas and said ”Gosh, sounds exciting to me, tell me more!”  The others around could of course follow our conversation, but there were no negative comments. More of curious questions and supportive statements. ”I’ve heared a lot about it, but never dared to try.” ”Some relatives are naturists, I’ve always been curious about it”, ”I like skinny dipping”, ”Isn’t it much about to be in line with the nature?”…..many questions flew around. So Tomas and I told about the way we were brought up, in naturist families. Nudity as something for us fully natural and normal. Not connected as such with sex, even if we of course also like sex as all humans. We talked about the free feeling when hiking a sunny day, followed by a cooling swim somewhere in a lake in the forest. 

I noticed that Johan, the guy interested in sharing our flat, seemed to have mixed feelings. Really interested but something made him frustrated. I turned to him and asked if he wanted to check the flat and the room that he could hire. He didn’t hesitate at all, just agreed that he would really appreciate the opportunity. So after saying good bye to the others and sharing adress and telephone numbers, we went to the flat, me, Tomas and Johan. 

As we came to the flat we showed Johan around, the kitchen, the living room and of course the room that could be his. In order not to stress him we didn’t take of our clothes as would be the normal for me and Tomas. ”I think it would be amazing to live here” said Johan and continued shyly ”but I must tell you one thing – I’m a homosexual guy.” He looked so scared when he had disclosed this fact, both Tomas and I felt so sorry for him. I just gave Johan a long, big hug and said that he was even more welcome as our flat mate now, since he had dared to be open with us, shown his vulnerabitily. Tomas also gave Johan a big, welcoming hug. ”OK guys” I said ”now I just HAVE to get back to normal, clothes off!” With that I undressed, Tomas too but also Johan with only a little hesitation. So there we were, three nude flatmates. ”I’m so happy” said Johan ”and so grateful that this opportunity by coincidence came in my way”. We sat down and talked until late, getting to know our new fellow Johan better, and he us. It was a good start for our flat sharing, that lasted in almost three years. More about that later.

It’s easy today to convert photos to something that looks more like a piece of art. There are several options, different apps or programs that could be used. The functions in those apps can of course not replace the work of artists, painters, and their way of interpreting a motive or giving us new views of reality. But it’s anyway fun to see how a photo can give some different impressions when experimenting with the options in an app. The original photo was taken in the garden at my countryside house. I’m not sure which one is the best.😊

(sorry for the shoes..😅)

Art in garden 1

Art in garden 2

Art in garden 3

Art in garden 4

Art in garden 5

Art in garden 6

The Nude Painter

Many angles

There are many details that we don’t notice until there is a special reason. This summer I’ve got to study the many parts of a window, well not the actual window but where the window is placed, the window connections. There are for sure many angles and details to take care of when scraping to get rid of old paint, then painting all these details. Not once, but three times very carefully, this time using linseed based paint. High quality of the paint and – even more important – a high quality brush, made all the work somewhat easier. But it’s taken many hours. Ten windows means twenty window opening halves. Every half took around half an hour, so 20 (halves) x 0,5 (hours) x 3 (times painting every half) = 30 hours this summer spent with paint and brush! 

Luckily I’ve been able to do all the work without getting any paint stains at my clothes…😆  thanks to the working gear!

Nakukymppi

Years ago when I was regularly taking jogging tours, I usually did that early in the mornings. Is was a jogging track close to the villa where we lived at that time so I could jogg directly from home to the track. When at the track, which was mostly in a forest with some slopes and around fields, and no people, I took off the shirt and the shorts and ran fully nude! Well I kept the shoes. It was such a joy, such a marvellous feeling. Early morning, birds singing, sun rising, trees rushing, hardly any noise from the nearby city. I could also admire the huge piece of art that was placed close to the start of the track. It’s called ”Signs”, the artist is Lenny Clarhäll.

Happened from time to time that I met someone, but that was rare. Casued no problem, more of surprised comments if any. It was one of the advantages of living in an area of the city which is close both to the city and to forest and fields.

At that time, in the 1990s, I had not heard of Nakukymppi in Finland. The first race there was in  2003, so understandable! Nakukymppi is a nude sport event in Finland held in the municipality of Padasjoki one week before Midsummer every year. The idea is to run or walk 10 kilometres naked. Participants wear only shoes, socks and headwear. It has been held annually since 2003. It usually draws about 100 to 150 participants, at least 20% women. Many of the participants are naturists.

It’s my intention to participate in the race at least once, but the usual time for it, mid June, is normally for me so busy with work.

Signs

After my so to say coming out in school, in my class at first, as nudist, that fact soon spread among both pupils and teachers. It gave inspiration to the drawing teacher to ask if I could model for sketching training groups. That was not for school classes, but for interested people attending evening courses, amateurs with scills they wanted to develop. So when the teacher having arts classes asked if i could be a model for the sketching training I accepted. I was not yet 18, so I was asked by the drawing techer to get a clear permission from my parents. For us being naturists it was no big deal, so for my parents it was OK.

The teacher had recruited two other new models, so it was handy that he invited us new,  unexperienced models to an introduction meeting. We gathered in the atelier where the drawing classes were held, so we would be familiar with the room, facilities including a kitchenett for making coffee, restrooms and a little more private corner of the room where us models could spend our breaks. There were also hangers for our clothes. 

The teacher was in fact very kind and made us feel less worried about our coming model ”career”.  He was very clear that is was a serious context, he told about different traditions and technics, what pencils and paper that was used and such. He was also explaining about the different types och sketching that was done, that the time we had to keep same position would be different. A lot to learn and remember, but he made us feel comfortable with our coming task.

Anyway, the premier day for modeling arrived! We were two models this evening, me and a lady. She was experienced and encouraged me that it would be OK for me, that was her impression when we undressed. I told her that nudity was no issue for me, it was more the odd thing to keep the same position for so long that worried me. You’ll learn, it’s not that bad, she said. I hoped she was right.

Oki, my turn at the small stadge! I was instructed to sit at a plain chair, the teacher arranged my body, legs, arms and head…there we go! I tried to find a spot to rest my eyes on, avoiding to look around. There were fifhteen persons intensly looking at my body, and transforming their glances and observations through their eyes, processed in the brain and then ”instructing” their arms, hands and the fingers holding the pens into pieces of art! 

Keeping the same position for only five minutes seemed first time to be veeeery long! I was happy when I could take a break and let lose, moving all parts of my body freely. The teacher gave me as un-experienced a short session in the beginning. The scilled lady had longer sessions, she was very good!   

I realised that it was in fact fun! Being nude is easy and now in addition getting paid for it! I was very comfortable being nude among dressed people, the roles were clear. 

Not at least it was exciting to see how different they interpreted ME into a sketch! That was the most thrilling of all.

It was popular with a younger model, I was 17 at the time. The other models were mostly much older, so the drawing puils appreciated me coming in giving a mix of ages. It’s different challenges with different bodies.

The drawing teacher had a bunch of people in his, well let’s call it collection of models. Different ages, small, tall, skinny, big. Next time I was modeling the other model was also a male, I didn’t notice first but it was in fact one of the math teachers from school! He recognised me and said it was nice to meet in a somewhat odd way outside school. Well, nether of us had any problems with it, we undressed both of us and continued to chat until it was time for modeling sessions. 

At times it might occur effects that for a male model that is very obvious, I mean getting a boner. That’s one of the aspects we taked about at model meetings. But it’s a natural reaction, just don’t care.

I admit it happened for me several times, I mean being 17, hormones still raging around and more often horny than not…  First time I got a little worried, but got used to it. The teacher brought it up for the class in order to clear it out, since it was something very obvious. He said that live models are in fact live! No one should be upset or embarrassed. In fact it was also appreciated, gave the pupils a possibility to draw also an erected penis. The situation was handled serious and with a good artistic outcome.

I realised that sketching in a good way takes a lot of training. But I could after some sessions also see the scills developing, giving better results, more artistic sketches. It was my impression from my point of view, just checking the sketching results briefly. 

Modeling in a good way also took some training! Learning how to relax at the same time you have to keep the same body position for longer periods. You also have to be totally comfortable showing yourself in various poses. I continued for a while, left it some years and took it up again during university years.

I have the possibility to do a lot at home of the reading and writing connected with my assignments. Some days starts early for travelling to business meetings, some days are spent at home. Relaxed clothes code of course since the the boss (that’s me 😉) is in favour of naturism. It’s seldom Skype meetings with cam, mostly mobile calls, and then it doesn’t matter where you are or how you are dressed or more often not. Short video greeting added here:—> Coffee break