Liverpool Dance Floors and the Last Day of October (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 31, 1998
The author recovers from a night out, takes a compliment from Lyssa to heart and sets new fitness goals before closing the month.
Liverpool Dance Floors and the Last Day of October (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 31, 1998
The night peaks with a crowd dropping to the floor and a dance circle, then ends with security and a wait outside the club.
Liverpool Dance Floors and the Last Day of October (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 31, 1998
With the month nearly over, the author reflects on a night out that started with a long wait for Ralf and a parking struggle in Liverpool.
Lost Necklace and a Night with Lyssa (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 30, 1998
Lyssa leaves with her mum, the missing necklace turns up, and the evening drifts into memories and Friday night plans.
Lost Necklace and a Night with Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 30, 1998
A cheerful ride home turns into a quiet, affectionate night in the author’s room, with the usual teasing between them.
Lost Necklace and a Night with Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 30, 1998
Lyssa shows off a gift from an old friend, theories are shared a little too freely, and the pair head for the bus in a cooler mood.
Lost Necklace and a Night with Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 30, 1998
The day starts slowly, plans form for a big weekend night, and a long train trip leads to a chat with Lyssa’s workmate Nikita.
Resentments, Workouts and a Broken Down Car (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 28, 1998
Friends put a carburetor back together, a family illness changes plans, and a night of car trouble ends with plenty of teasing.
Resentments, Workouts and a Broken Down Car (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 28, 1998
Keith confides about trouble with Tamsen on the drive home, and the author wonders what a breakup could do to the whole circle.
Resentments, Workouts and a Broken Down Car (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 28, 1998
The gym session goes well, the poems for Lyssa stay on the mind, and the evening ends with a cheeky pizza shop visit.
Resentments, Workouts and a Broken Down Car (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 28, 1998
Anger over a betrayed confidence simmers on the page before the author turns it into energy at the gym.
Serbia, the Three Hundredth Page and a Day at the Beach (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 27, 1998
A puzzling phone call sends two friends driving around Campbelltown, late night theories flying about what Tatton is really up to.
Serbia, the Three Hundredth Page and a Day at the Beach (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 27, 1998
After the beach the day drifts through friends’ houses, game tips and a trip to the cinema for a twisty crime film.
Serbia, the Three Hundredth Page and a Day at the Beach (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 27, 1998
A milestone page, reflections on family roots in a war-torn region, and a plan to get paid lead into a drive to the coast.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
A friendly dance turns awkward, the night winds down, and the group heads off only to learn a friend turned up just after they left.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
The group steps into a nightclub built like a theatre, wanders the venue between sets, and slowly eases into dancing.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
A car trip, a Subway stop and some hot gossip about a rushed proposal, plus a reflective chat about where things stand with Lyssa.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
A round of visits with Ralf leads to Binh’s shop, a cheap donut, and a nagging fear about a payment being stopped.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
After a huge night out, the diary looks back on two chances he nearly took and a confidence boost that has lifted the whole month.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 7) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
An evening call with Lyssa moves through old irritations and tender moments, then drifts into the author’s hopes of one day being famous.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
A relaxed beach afternoon brings new faces, a brave run into the ocean, and a story about a bike ride gone wrong.
A Night at the Catholic Club (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 24, 1998
Familiar faces turn up around the club before the crew heads off to Simon’s.
A Night at the Catholic Club (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 24, 1998
An awkward drunk stranger and a chat with Lyssa and friends make the pokies room a bit tense.
A Night at the Catholic Club (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 24, 1998
A restless start to the weekend as Toni plays out hopeful and cautious scenarios.
Hot Gossip Before the Catholic Club – Mad Chaos: October 23, 1998
Friday brings the whole story of who dogged whom and a plan for the Catholic Club.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
Gossip from Keith reveals a sneaky plan, and a call to Imad is the only plan left for the evening.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
A strange game of cat and mouse leads to Phoenix’s house and some talk about Lyssa.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
Pizza, pranks and phone call eavesdropping make for a typically silly night with Keith and the crew.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
Toni trains hard on the bench and bike, chats with the regulars, then heads home for dinner.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
With little money left, Toni joins Lyssa and Kieran for dinner and chatter on the way.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
Memories, old photos and a month-old confession set the tone for a thoughtful look back.
Cronulla Beach and a Night at Lonestar (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 21, 1998
A tender movie night leaves Toni happy and unsettled in equal measure.
Cronulla Beach and a Night at Lonestar (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 21, 1998
From a Video Ezy trip with Lyssa to ideas for the weekend, Toni catches up on Tuesday.
Cronulla Beach and a Night at Lonestar (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 21, 1998
A long train ride, a freestyle rap session and an almost empty beach at dusk.
Cronulla Beach and a Night at Lonestar (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 21, 1998
Toni cuts his diary short when Lyssa arrives with Kieran and an invitation to Lonestar.
A Sold Out Night at Penrith Panthers (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: October 20, 1998
A hard look at who his friends really are leaves Toni brooding on the long ride home.
A Sold Out Night at Penrith Panthers (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 20, 1998
Outside the packed club, Keith works the payphone while arguments about loyalty bubble up.
A Sold Out Night at Penrith Panthers (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 20, 1998
Shawn, Keith and Toni cruise St Johns Road before picking Penrith Panthers as the destination.
A Sold Out Night at Penrith Panthers (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 20, 1998
Shawn, Simon and Toni sit down for an absurd conversation that quickly gets out of hand.
A Sold Out Night at Penrith Panthers (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 20, 1998
Toni reflects on Lyssa, then Keith’s car roams from house to house in search of a plan for the night.
A Night In With Lyssa (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 19, 1998
Past midnight the house goes still, but a sleepwalking moment on the stairs shows just how much Toni cares.
A Night In With Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 19, 1998
A quick chat with Dad, a bit of cologne and a gentle evening that moves slowly and sincerely.
A Night In With Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 19, 1998
Playful footsies and a dance beside the waterbed bring the warmth back between Toni and Lyssa.
A Night In With Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 19, 1998
After a hard look at Phoenix, Toni returns Lyssa’s call and a movie night at his place begins to take shape.
Two Breath Tests on a Friday Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 18, 1998
Shawn is pulled over for a second breath test, Phoenix hangs up on a late call, and the next morning Keith turns up at the door.
Two Breath Tests on a Friday Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 18, 1998
A diary written at dawn leads back to a restless Friday night out with Shawn and Tatton, cruising the streets near the crossing.
A Blue Haired Night in the City (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 17, 1998
A loud train carriage, curious guards and a friendly chat with Rhiannon about Chevy’s wrap up a big night.
A Blue Haired Night in the City (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 17, 1998
The boys take over a pub table, watch gridiron and wrestling and wave at strangers from a moving train.
A Blue Haired Night in the City (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 17, 1998
Shawn turns up with bright blue hair, Lyssa calls twice with very different moods, and the group heads for the city.
A Blue Haired Night in the City (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 17, 1998
He reflects on a better than usual October, a punishing gym session and the group phone calls that kick off a big night.
Finishing the Saga and Planning a Friday Night (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: October 16, 1998
Cash for a Play Station, two girls in a parked car and a phone call from Tessa with surprising news before the gym.
Finishing the Saga and Planning a Friday Night (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 16, 1998
A recap of Thursday: a visit to Tatton at Mobil, a mystery girl called Marley and a run in with Simon’s wild kids.
Finishing the Saga and Planning a Friday Night (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 16, 1998
He debates keeping to a friends only agreement with Lyssa, while plans for a night in the city take shape.
Finishing the Saga and Planning a Friday Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 16, 1998
A freshly showered diarist catches a movie, then Lyssa calls to ask if she can come over as just a friend.
Finishing the Saga and Planning a Friday Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 16, 1998
The group wakes up awkward and hungry, trades stories over a free breakfast and finally collapses in exhaustion.
A Long Night Out with Keith and Tatton (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 15, 1998
A movie night at Simon’s house ends with awkward silences and a sudden call to stop. The saga carries on.
A Long Night Out with Keith and Tatton (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 15, 1998
The crew drives out to Thirlmere, finds Simon’s house unlocked and wakes him up for a night nobody planned.
A Long Night Out with Keith and Tatton (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 15, 1998
A night with no plan turns into an adventure as the car heads from Ingleburn to Campbelltown and beyond.
The Twist at the Runs – Mad Chaos: October 14, 1998
A candid chat about hating customer service sets up a night of surprises at the car runs.
Phantom of the Opera and a Bitter Phone Call (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 13, 1998
Macarthur Square brings a run in with Kofi, then a night at Mobil with Tatton and talk of heading to the city.
Phantom of the Opera and a Bitter Phone Call (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 13, 1998
Soaring music softens his mood, but a call from Lyssa turns spiteful, and a movie outing follows.
A Bank Mix-Up and a Trip Not Taken (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 12, 1998
He muses on who will read these pages in ten years, then heads to the bank to chase down missing money and a Liverpool trip.
A Bank Mix-Up and a Trip Not Taken (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 12, 1998
A personal best on the bench press leads into a spontaneous cinema night with Keith and Tatton.
A Bank Mix-Up and a Trip Not Taken (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 12, 1998
The ticket machine decides the day’s plan, a cheeky stranger offers an unwanted compliment, and a gym session closes the afternoon.
A Night Lyssa Could Not Stop Talking About (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 11, 1998
Lyssa calls at midnight, buzzing about her night, and the conversation tests his patience. Tomorrow’s gym session might decide a few things.
A Night Lyssa Could Not Stop Talking About (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 11, 1998
Concert ads on TV stir up music dreams and an empty wallet, while thoughts of Lyssa and her night out at Chevy’s keep creeping in.
First Night at the Catholic Club (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 10, 1998
We give up waiting and drive home, trading ideas for Shawn’s short film and picking character names, before I sit down to write it all up.
First Night at the Catholic Club (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 10, 1998
No luck on the pokies, so the group moves to the snooker tables. Keith shines while I mostly mess up the white ball, and nicknames fly.
First Night at the Catholic Club (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 10, 1998
I sign the registry and enter the Club for dinner, then wander the floor bumping into old friends who cannot believe I am there.
First Night at the Catholic Club (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 10, 1998
A boring day gaming turns around when Keith invites me out. We collect Ralf and Shawn, stop for pizza and head for a new kind of night.
Lyssa’s Worrying Late Night Call – Mad Chaos: October 9, 1998
Lyssa rings after midnight with worrying news. I sit up late, torn between guilt, hope and old feelings, and write it all down.
Run-ins at Macarthur Square (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 8, 1998
Shawn and Keith flick through albums while I wonder why some people avoid me face to face. Gossip about Simon caps off a late night drive.
Run-ins at Macarthur Square (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 8, 1998
Movies with Keith and the boys go well until I see Lyssa with her friends and then Ali. A sneaky stroll inside the cinema follows.
Ants, Gym Pumps and a Last Corner Race (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 7, 1998
I spot a popular girl from school on the gym bikes, then recount a night race where Keith tried to run me wide on the last corner.
Ants, Gym Pumps and a Last Corner Race (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 7, 1998
Ants take over the toilet, I laugh at my own growing diary entries, and a call from Imad and a long ab workout fill a quiet day.
A Day Out With Lyssa in Parramatta (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 6, 1998
I reflect on saving money and writing from home, share a bit of blank verse, then recall Monday night with Keith and Simon before heading out.
A Day Out With Lyssa in Parramatta (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 6, 1998
A cheeky squeeze of a make up tester goes wrong and has us both laughing. Later I wait with Lyssa for her bus and head home to rest.
A Day Out With Lyssa in Parramatta (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 6, 1998
A phone box scramble, a late bus and a train trip to Parramatta with Lyssa. Her photos stir up old irritations on a rainy day.
Red Beams and a Harbour Night (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 5, 1998
Ralf and I wander the City rocks near the Harbour Bridge, watch a nightclub cruise boat unload, and prank Ralf while he sleeps on the way home.
Red Beams and a Harbour Night (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 5, 1998
Lyssa memories sting while Jett talks to Min-Su. Later a red beam light brings out silly night time pranks on a beach full of strangers.
Red Beams and a Harbour Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 5, 1998
A shouting match wakes the street while I watch from Keith’s car. We regroup at Tatton’s with Jett, Min-Su and Tamsen, then cruise the town.
Red Beams and a Harbour Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 5, 1998
I open with a dramatic hunters-at-the-gate retelling of a club night, then rewind to the quarrels before we left the house.
The Days of Reckoning (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 4, 1998
Lyssa calls just as I was thinking of her, then turns defensive about last night. I reflect on her friends and wonder about her real intentions.
The Days of Reckoning (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 4, 1998
Keith, Shawn, Ralf and the boys drop in late at night. The City plan collapses and we find ourselves rearranging an empty house for a laugh.
Parramatta Shopping and a Call from Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 3, 1998
A restless afternoon train ride from Campbelltown to Miranda, with glances across the carriage and thoughts about my body, summer and finding a girlfriend.
Parramatta Shopping and a Call from Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 3, 1998
Jett and I trade games of John Madden Football while he spends the night on the phone. The hoped for Cronulla beach trip never happens.
Parramatta Shopping and a Call from Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 3, 1998
A day of work clothes shopping in Parramatta ends with an unexpected phone call from Lyssa, bursting with news about her pay rise and her trip.
Tatton’s Terrible Driving Night (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 1, 1998
I wake mid afternoon with a stiff neck and plan a shopping trip for my advance pay. Three months since Lyssa and I split, it feels time to move on.
Tatton’s Terrible Driving Night (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 1, 1998
We sit in Lucas and Simon’s lounge room trying to talk them into a weekend party. The night drifts into car naps and dreams of a Casino night.
Tatton’s Terrible Driving Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 1, 1998
Tatton’s driving gets scarier by the corner, and the car keeps conking out. Later a street dash with Imad ends at Lucas and Simon’s new place.
Tatton’s Terrible Driving Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 1, 1998
Keith turns up in his new dark red car and invites me out for a drive. Letting Tatton behind the wheel turns out to be the night’s worst call.