Calling Ralf Who Had Already Called Me (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 27, 1999
A groggy phone mix up opens the Australia Day long weekend. Ralf, Keith and Tony cruise toward Miranda while Keith frets over a messy, unpaid mobile phone bill.
Less Confident Friends Make Me Brave (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 26, 1999
Shared glances over a snooker table lead to a late night theory about confidence, big plans for a larger circle of mates and a look back at a tearful call.
The Little T on My Chain (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 26, 1999
A late movie with Ralf, a mate showing off a very expensive car and a pub table of friendly strangers who coax a shy Tony into a friendly game of snooker.
Playing Cold With Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 26, 1999
A mood that will not lift, gossip about Imad and a strained phone call with Lyssa. Tony tries to stay distant while the tears start on the other end.
My Murmuring Disaster Beside a Commodore (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 25, 1999
After a night of near misses on the dance floor, Tony follows two girls to their car and freezes. The ride home brings jokes, regrets and a call nobody answers.
Too Shy for the Dance Floor (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 25, 1999
Plans collapse, a camera standoff gets settled and the crew drives to a Wollongong nightclub, where Tony dances near the action but never quite joins it.
A Cold Goodbye and a Taxi Home (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 25, 1999
Tony reflects on a disappointing morning with Lyssa, sees her off in a taxi, and then turns down a request to keep her company for the night.
The Power Cut That Ate My Sonnet (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 25, 1999
Tony lies awake composing a poem, only for a power cut to wipe it, then picks up the story of a groggy Saturday morning with Lyssa.
Midnight Visitor and a Stubborn Silence (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 24, 1999
A pay phone swallows Lyssa’s calls, then she turns up in person, and Tony struggles to hide his mood while she retells her night.
My Slow Motion Walk Across the Dance Floor (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 24, 1999
Tony sits out the dancing, imagines himself striding through the crowd in slow motion, and has an awkward run in with Lyssa and her friends.
The Girl I Could Not Talk To (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 24, 1999
After freezing up in front of a girl he danced with at Waves, Tony rewinds to Friday night and the long road to Macarthur Square.
Sleepy Phone Call Then a Soggy Interview (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 23, 1999
Tony fumbles a half asleep call from an employer, rings back to fix it, and heads off to his first interview in over a year before hitting the gym.
My Biorhythms Added Up Wrong (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 23, 1999
Tony discovers his biorhythm sums were out by days, redraws his charts, and tries to predict when his mind is at its sharpest.
A Subway Table Full of Old Stories (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 23, 1999
Keith turns up at the door and a late night at Subway becomes a sprawl of football arguments, old mischief and a loose plan to escape to Canberra.
Lost at the New Nightclub (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 23, 1999
Tony swears he will change, then finds the new Macarthur Square nightclub is not for him, before looking back at a Thursday of calls and job ads.
Gridiron Marathon at the Crack of Dawn (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 22, 1999
Shawn and Tatton bring the Nintendo and John Madden Football over, and a night of endless games ends with a last gasp victory as dawn approaches.
Marriage Advice Over the Gym Counter (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 22, 1999
A short poem on ageing opens a catch up entry, followed by a Wednesday gym session and an unexpected heart to heart about marriage at the gym counter.
A Chain Mended and Faith Renewed (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 21, 1999
Tony kills time in Campbelltown while his chain is repaired, then spends the evening on the phone with Lyssa as their relationship keeps shifting.
Rain on Metal and a Mended Chain (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 21, 1999
Tony closes out his birthday call, writes a poem about the rain and goes searching for someone to fix his necklace.
Fried Rice and Wounded Pride (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 21, 1999
A belated visit on his birthday brings a walk to the shops, a funny phone prank story and a promise to himself.
Fate Works in Pairs (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
Tony’s Monday ends with a surprise lift home, tales of his brother’s fights and a gym session that leaves him aching.
A Haircut Too Short for Comfort (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
Tony finishes Sunday’s phone talk, reads some sonnets, then heads to Campbelltown for bills, a surprise meeting and a haircut he regrets.
Rush Hour and a Tower of Cups (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
Sunday rolls on with a knockout, cup juggling, a movie and a late call with Lyssa.
Tyson at the Catholic Club (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
Tony winds down the Waves night, then drags himself out of bed to watch Tyson fight with a hundred strangers.
My Golden Chain Gives Way (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
A snapped gold chain, a dance floor full of friends and one girl Tony was too nervous to approach.
A Spider Web Waiting for Keith (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: January 18, 1999
A rejected ID, a stubborn Keith and a very large spider set up one of the sillier stretches of the birthday night.
Names in a Hat for My Birthday (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 18, 1999
A birthday night out is decided by a hat and a game of rock paper scissors, then the drive turns into a history of the group’s leaders.
The Taxi That Ended Saturday Morning (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 18, 1999
Tony fills in Saturday morning of his birthday weekend, from a missed beach trip to the taxi that carried Lyssa away.
The Long Night of Broken Promises (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 18, 1999
A long Friday night leaves Tony resentful, sleepless and wondering why he always gives first and gets nothing back.
Turning Twenteen With Empty Promises (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 18, 1999
Tony turns twenty in a mood, charts his biorhythms and recalls a Friday gym session and the visit that left him let down.
Birthday Dinner And A Bill Mix Up (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 15, 1999
A birthday dinner with Lyssa has a rushed schedule, new shoes, gossip about friends and a waitress who hands the bill to the wrong person.
Squeaky Clean For The Big Night (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 15, 1999
Tony spots a stylish stranger in Campbelltown, writes a bird poem on the walk home and gets spotless for a birthday dinner.
A Knight Armed With Words (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 15, 1999
Tony explains his knight sonnet, traces how his poetry grew since July, and ends with a lost molar and a sweet phone moment.
The Lost Years Wear A Crown (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 15, 1999
A midnight entry unpacks a sonnet where time rules a medieval realm, then introduces a second sonnet about a knight who writes.
Where Did The Hours Go (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 14, 1999
A biceps session, a sleepy talk about time and a few new lines of verse round off a quiet night before a big birthday weekend.
Fourteen Days Of Cold War Friends (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 14, 1999
With friends silent for two weeks, Tony makes his own birthday plans and frets when a call does not come on time.
Do You Still Love Me (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 12, 1999
Over several phone calls, Tony and Lyssa weigh up getting back together and she asks the one question he cannot answer cleanly.
Smarter Cockroaches And Heavy Rows (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 12, 1999
Between a long gym session and a floor-bed bedroom, Tony wonders if his bathroom cockroaches have evolved and plans a beach trip with Jett.
A Million Dollar Ring Idea (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 12, 1999
A huge diamond on TV inspires a poem about trading riches for love, while a friend returns from Brisbane with big stories.
I Wrote A Sonnet Instead Of Sleeping (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 12, 1999
Instead of sleeping before the beach trip, Tony stays up writing a sonnet and a short poem, then explains what each line really means.
A Goodnight Kiss With No Spark (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 11, 1999
After a long evening together, a call to dad and a goodnight kiss leave Tony wondering where the old spark went.
A Talk About Where We Stand (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 11, 1999
Lyssa wants to talk about space on the walk home, yet the afternoon says something very different.
Walking Out on Sunday Roast (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 11, 1999
A surprise visit ends badly when ignored and snapped at, Tony leaves a roast dinner untouched and meets someone on the walk home.
A Surprise Visit by Dad’s Car (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 11, 1999
Three frustrated phone calls and a secret she will not share push Tony to plan a surprise visit, with dad at the wheel.
Cheering for the Hopman Cup (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 9, 1999
Stuck at home on a Saturday night, Tony finds a small thrill in an Australian tennis win and then dissects his poem about time.
Feeling Old at Nineteen (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 9, 1999
A restless early morning brings a finished poem about time, worries about his body and a long look back at the past few years.
The Keyboard Gives Up on Me – Mad Chaos: January 8, 1999
A lonely Friday has Tony questioning his friendships, cursing a failing keyboard and recording a chest and arms workout.
Nikita Gets the Wrong Idea (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 7, 1999
A kind gesture on New Year’s Eve is twisted into something else, and a tense phone call with Lyssa leaves Tony angry and misunderstood.
Cockroach Body Count Climbs (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 7, 1999
A grim scoreboard of bathroom cockroaches opens a day of job calls, a Centrelink visit, no friends free and two odd dreams.
A Cruel Little Joke From Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 6, 1999
A prank call leaves Tony stung and sets off an honest night of thinking about his breakup, his friends and what love should be.
Milton’s New Year Romance (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 6, 1999
Gossip about a friend’s new relationship, a search for temping work and a full back and triceps workout fill this Wednesday afternoon.
Haggling Over a Telescope (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 6, 1999
Tony looks back on Jewell with fresh doubts, then gets drawn into a price tussle over a telescope and a home gym set.
A Day Counted in Phone Calls (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 5, 1999
After a long explanation of a sorrowful sonnet, Tony tallies each phone call with Lyssa and chases temp work through an agency.
Two Sonnets and a Stubborn Pen (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 5, 1999
Tony skips the computer games for poetry and wrestles two sonnets onto the page, one of them written through the eyes of the girl who got away.
Singing Silly Opera Voices With Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 4, 1999
A long evening call turns into a game of high notes and cracking voices, with plans for a birthday dinner and a promise to tape Lyssa asleep again.
Testing the Torn Pec Again (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 4, 1999
Tony starts the day with a small victory over a cockroach, then heads to the gym to see how his injured chest copes, before Jett calls with questions.
Writing the First Lost Years Sonnet (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 3, 1999
After a frosty phone call with Lyssa, Tony maps out goals for the year, then pours the early hours into a sonnet about Jewell and the lost years.
The Night the Stuffed Cow Flew (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 3, 1999
A sleepover that began sweetly ends in a squabble over noise, sleep and a toy cow, followed by a sulky morning and a phone call that fills in the gaps.
Whispering Under the Full Moon (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 3, 1999
Tony reflects on his daily calls with Lyssa, then tells the story of her visit, from whispered smokes in the yard to a fashion parade and a movie night.
A Night of GoldenEye and Tears (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 2, 1999
Tony rides around with Jett, loses hours to GoldenEye at Dennis’s place, then ends up playing peacemaker when a phone call between Jett and Min-Su goes wrong.
Locked Out Then Lifting Heavy (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 2, 1999
Locked out at sunrise, Tony finally sleeps, hits the gym for back and arms and catches up on everyone else’s New Years Eve over the phone.
A Purple Dress and a Shared Taxi (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 2, 1999
A tired walk through Campbelltown turns into a chatty night on the footpath, until Nikita appears in a purple dress and the two share a slow ride home.
A Chalk War on the Platform (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 2, 1999
The new year begins with fireworks on the wharf, a sweaty dance floor and a very long trip home, with chalk flying and a few cheeky strangers on the train.
Macedonian Strangers in the City Crowd (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 1, 1999
After the early fireworks Tony wanders the packed city, queues for a club and then bumps into three girls who share his heritage and his language.
Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 1, 1999
Tony works through a list of friends who all said no, then heads out alone on New Years Eve, sneaking through ticket gates to catch the big fireworks.
Resolutions and the Lion I Fed (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 1, 1999
Tony opens the new year with a short poem, a list of big resolutions and a wry look back at the lost years, including a lion that never quite came to the hand.
The Great Size C Battery Heist (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
Tony sees Lyssa off at the station, lifts, then roams the shopping centre with friends before closing the year with a poem about standing alone.
The Blanket Thief In My Bed (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
After a TV evening of mystery videos and perfume gossip, Tony loses a battle over the blanket and ends up raiding the fridge in the small hours.
Eighty Four Kilos In The Heat (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
Tony drags himself through a boiling gym session and a surprising weigh-in, then trades phone mysteries for fried rice and a slow bath with Lyssa.
The Cockroach That Got Away (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
The year’s last day opens with cockroaches, moon-gazing and phone calls, then drifts to a sunburnt afternoon and a wasp that ended the pool fun.
Ravioli That Refused To Thaw (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 30, 1998
Dinner takes three tries in the microwave before the evening settles into a movie and a close, private night with Lyssa.
A Lonely Eve And Two Movie Swaps (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 30, 1998
With most of his friends away, Tony braces for a flat new year and recounts a Monday of shopping trips, a rental that went down badly and a warm night in.
Bumping Into The Girl In Red (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 29, 1998
Tony tumbles into someone he was hoping to meet, loses his nerve and then loses a fight with the surf. Burgers help.
A Skipped Gym Day And A Beach (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 29, 1998
A spontaneous beach trip pulls Tony away from the gym. The sand is hot, the waves are rough and the sun wins.
Ticket Butt Denied At The Door – Mad Chaos: December 28, 1998
Tony catches up on his missing gym entry and then tells the story of a movie night that ended with a very awkward moment at the cinema door.
Hanging Up On Lyssa Again (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 27, 1998
A string of tense phone calls pushes Tony to draw a line, tally up the arguments and hold on to a few words from a song on the television.
Skateboard Girl At The Bus Stop (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 27, 1998
Tony reviews his muscle gains, retraces his sweltering walk home and works up the nerve to talk to a stranger.
Stingy With The Toothpaste (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 26, 1998
Tony lists everything Lyssa will not share, spends the small hours awake with magazines and sonnets, and is politely shown the door by lunchtime.
Syllables Missing From My Sonnets (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 26, 1998
The sonnets finally reach their reader, and the evening fills up with persistent callers. Tony counts syllables and counts rivals.
Interrupted By A Phone Call (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 26, 1998
A quiet night alone at last, with plenty of honest reflection from Tony about habits, nerves and a very untimely call.
Heavier On The Scales (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 26, 1998
Tony celebrates his heaviest weight yet, waits out a blackout and then recounts the afternoon he spent sunning and settling in at Lyssa’s.
Lens Cap Photo With Strangers (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 25, 1998
The Christmas night out rolls on with hugs from unexpected people and a nervous exit. A late phone call back home delivers a pile of Lyssa’s own Christmas gossip.
Debuting My New Black Outfit (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 25, 1998
Left waiting for a visit that never came, Tony takes up Keith’s offer and heads out in his new clothes. The old crowd reacts exactly as he feared.
Everybody Blames Keith For The Phone (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 24, 1998
Tony sulks home on the train, then Keith arrives with the full story of a weekend of trouble among the crew. A late taco run and a new outfit round off the night.
Perfume Money Buys Peace (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 24, 1998
Tony trails Lyssa through the city on Christmas Eve, loses an argument about staying over, and wins her back with a bottle of perfume.
Suede Shoes And A Donkey Parable (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 24, 1998
Tony wrestles old word processing software at the library, laminates his sonnets for Lyssa, buys suede shoes, and recalls a donkey parable.
Phantom Gunshots Before Christmas Eve (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 24, 1998
Tony finishes his back workout, shops for presents with Lyssa, then hears a wild story about sparks and bangs outside her house overnight.
Caving In To A Day Trip To The City (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 24, 1998
Lyssa begs Tony to meet her in the City, and he reluctantly caves, rushing his workout and listing everything the pair do not agree on.
Door Knockers And Train Carriage Daydreams (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 23, 1998
Two polite visitors with books knock at the door, a second long train ride follows, and Tony drifts into dreams of a boys choir song.
Carriage Hopping And A Flooded Station (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 23, 1998
A late night train ride to the City, a burst water main at Wynyard and two scary break in attempts at Lyssa’s house fill a long diary day.
Predicting Kieran’s Big Sleepover Plan (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 23, 1998
Convinced Kieran has ulterior motives for a sleepover, Tony plays out the whole night in his head and grumbles about Lyssa not listening.
A Blonde And A Chickened Out Hello (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998
Tony trades glances with a girl in the supermarket and chickens out, then lifts through a clicking chest injury before heading to the City.
Do Not Quote Me In Your Diary (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998
Lyssa asks not to be quoted in the diary, so naturally she is, while Tony frets about Kieran, counts his first calories and shops for whey.
A Microphone And A Sleep Talker (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998
After a long Saturday night, Tony sneaks to his computer to write and tries recording Lyssa as she sleep talks, which does not go smoothly.
Ali Wants His Celica Back (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998
On the walk to the shops, Lyssa dishes on Ali and his stripped Celica, then Jett turns up on his motorbike and the movie night grows crowded.
Santa’s Little Helper Takes A Taxi (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 21, 1998
Lyssa arrives in a Santa hat after her work party, full of stories about a hundred dollar cab ride, dancing lawyers and a mystery mobile phone.
Jett Brings Worms And A Weekend Unravels (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 21, 1998
Tony wakes to a forgotten anniversary and rewinds to Friday night, when Jett, a PlayStation and a surprise call from Lyssa changed the plan.
Lifting Heavy And Overthinking Saturday (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
Tony finishes a punishing back and triceps session, takes stock of his injuries, and plans a perfect Saturday that Jett promptly rearranges.
The Ten Caloric Commandments (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
A strict ten day food plan has a name, a budget and a checklist, and a trip to the shops and a back workout put it into motion.
Reliving Old Mischief With the Boys (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
A quiet train ride and a chat with an old coach lead to a late night out with the boys, who trade tales of mischief and money worries.
Chewing Gum Rules and Christmas Presents (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
Hurt feelings follow Tony and Lyssa through a department store, a lingerie shop and a train carriage as the cost of Christmas becomes an argument.
Bland Hair and One Honest Opinion (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
Pants, nail polish and Saturday night plans fill the afternoon until one honest remark about a hair colour shifts the mood.
Jumping the Train to Meet Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
Tony writes a poem that needs no voice, then wakes to a call, power walks to the station, and gambles on a free ride into the city.
Just Five More Minutes on the Phone (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 16, 1998
Tony trains through a nagging chest niggle, then spends the evening on the phone with Lyssa, who keeps begging for a few more minutes.
Three Sonnets Ready for Christmas (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 16, 1998
A sonnet series for Lyssa comes together, each poem explained and the whole set planned as a gift, while real life offers lunch dates and weekend plans.
Christmas Plans and Gossip About Imad (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
An embarrassing moment passes with kindness, the phone brings gossip and a strange hunch, and Tony starts planning Christmas with Lyssa.
A Sunday Night Full of Surprises (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
Lyssa arrives at the house with excuses about forgotten poems, and an evening that starts at the computer takes a turn that ends in a mystery.
Interrogated About My Night (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
Lyssa grills Tony about his night out, shares a rough night of her own, and the call turns into a frank look at what each of them wants next.
Summer of Misfortune and a Dusty Shelf (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
Tony muses over time zones, mourns an empty shelf of cards, and renames the summer while planning his budget and replaying a very early phone call from Lyssa.
Inventing My Own Sonnet at Dawn (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
Before sunrise Tony works out a sonnet structure he can call his own, closes the book on an old flame, and answers the dawn with a poem and its meaning.
Where My Poetry First Woke Up (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
In the early hours Tony sets the chronology aside to trace where his poetry came from. Old jobs, old crushes and a first line he still thinks is his best.
A Birthday Boy and the Night Bus (Part 7) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
Ralf turns the whole City into his audience, collecting birthday wishes from anyone who walks past. The ride home on the night bus is the funniest part of all.
Left Behind on a Birthday Night (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
The group splits up and Tony sticks by the birthday boy for the rest of the night. A fast moving scrap upstairs gives them plenty to watch.
A Fake Lighter for a Snobby Dancer (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
An unexpected visitor interrupts a quiet night in, and Tony returns to Saturday and the nightclub his mates had been hyping. A trick with an invisible lighter does not go down well.
Poems Pulled From a Box (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
After a drenched session at the gym, Tony ends up typing out old poems with Lyssa beside him. Her mood swings leave him unsure what the two of them really are.
A Tattooed Stranger and a Tease (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
A heavy mood settles over the carriage until the police step on. Tony then trades jokes and long looks with a girl who has only just arrived from America.
Spies in the Station Toilets (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
Tony finally starts writing up Saturday night, beginning at Ralf’s house and a walk to the station. Two girls try very hard to spy on the group before the train arrives.
Racing a Mystery Girl in My Sleep (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
After finally sleeping at a normal hour, Tony wakes to a pair of dreams he works hard to remember. A cross country race and a school graph of shame fill the nap.
Waiting for a Phone That Stays Quiet (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 12, 1998
Late calls leave Tony wondering where he stands with Lyssa, while a big birthday night in the City seems to be happening without him. The phone stays stubbornly silent.
Wheat Field Sheets and a Sore Chest (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 12, 1998
A rough night on the waterbed leads to a sweltering gym day and a warning about a strained chest. Evening brings a careful phone call and a movie that stirs up big ideas.
A Sonnet About Time Misbehaving (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 12, 1998
Reading Shakespeare in the small hours sparks a new poetic style built on nature wearing human faces. The result is a fourteen line sonnet about how time plays tricks on us.
Chasing a Party That Kept Moving (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 11, 1998
A sleepy Thursday turns into a night of chasing an after party from Ingleburn to Kentlyn with nothing to show for it. The only prize is a very long drive home.
Worms On The Playstation And A Cinema Door (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 11, 1998
Jett shows up with his console and a new game, then the lads head to the movies where Tony decides to stay outside.
Ace’s Strange Room And A Back Workout (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 10, 1998
An afternoon of errands ends with a stack of Shakespeare from the library and a gym session that leaves Tony’s hands with fresh calluses.
Hunting For Diamond At Macarthur Square (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 10, 1998
Keith needs a present for his dad but Tony has other targets: a girl in a work uniform and a run in with a group of old mates.
A Red Celica And Other Nights Remembered (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 9, 1998
The memory hunt continues with a long wait in Ali’s car, an outing to Wollongong and a few late night thoughts on sleepiness.
Rereading Old Entries Over A Pizza Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 9, 1998
Late at night Tony goes hunting through old pages, wishes he had written more, and recalls a Valentines weekend in vivid detail.
Three Calls From Lyssa And One Loud Motorbike (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 8, 1998
A string of phone calls with Lyssa swings from rude to revealing, and then Jett arrives with news about his own relationship.
A Sonnet About a Horse And Time (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 8, 1998
Tony wrestles with a stubborn sonnet that compares a galloping landscape to the way days pass, and finally lands a poem he is proud of.
Chest Aches And A Phone Call Gone Cold (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 7, 1998
Tony pushes his chest hard at the gym and feels something pull, then admits over a late call that he and Lyssa are never going back.
A Mystery Payment And A Fresh Haircut (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 7, 1998
Tony finds more money in his account than he expects, then spends the afternoon on a very particular haircut and a shopping loop around Campbelltown.
Creatine Day One And Phone Wars (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 7, 1998
A new supplement, a shocking sugar count on a juice bottle and a run of early morning calls from Lyssa test Tony’s patience on a Monday.
Thank Yous Gone Missing And A Third Lung (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
Tony notices the thank yous have vanished from his nights with Lyssa, rates his lost year, and signs off with a strange theory about a third lung.
Cheese Toast And A Towel In The Sun (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
After a quiet night with Lyssa, Tony wonders about the girls he never dated, then shares a towel in the backyard sun and starts doing the sums on the future.
A Subway Detour And A Club Lock (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
Keith checks on a party in Ingleburn and it goes badly, then a Subway run ends with a laugh over a mistaken car door and a late call from Lyssa.
Drifting Apart One Weekend at a Time (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
A lazy day leads to honest thoughts about a fading romance, followed by a night chasing a girlfriend’s party with Keith and ending at a service station.
Video Hits Loud and a Smoking Standoff (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
After a restless night Tony wakes on the floor, ends up dancing to music videos with Lyssa, and a dispute over cigarettes cuts the morning short.
Biorhythms Bedtime and Bad Ideas (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
Tony rushes through a recap of Friday night, laughs at a sleepy bathroom conversation and tallies where his physical, emotional and mental cycles stand.
A Barefoot Midnight Walk With Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 5, 1998
Tony skips a road trip to stay home, then Lyssa arrives after a night out and the two creep outside for a quiet walk up the street.
Superman Rescues a Singing Swede (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 5, 1998
Tony recounts a bizarre dream involving angry friends, a car chase and a rescue from the sea, then deals with a phone call about prank calls.
My Hand Fell Off in My Sleep (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 4, 1998
Tony wakes certain his hand has dropped off, then plans a dramatic poem set in a poisoned English castle and recites the speech of a dying prince.
The Mystery Call That Said Nothing (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 4, 1998
After a drive with Ace and a kebab shop run into old faces, Tony gets home to a strange silent call and then wonders why a day has twenty four hours.
Parked Outside Sofia’s House Looking Guilty (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 4, 1998
Mates turn up at midnight with news about a couple, and a nosy drive past the wrong house leaves Tony stuck in the back seat hoping for no trouble.
Poetry Is Basically Air Says Me (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 3, 1998
Tony argues that poetry is a material just like air, shares five haiku, then heads to the gym and finishes with a theory of matter and time.
Arguing With Plato Over an Apple (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 3, 1998
A sleepy day of phone calls turns into a deep dive through the encyclopedia, where Tony decides he disagrees with Plato about where inspiration comes from.
Cracking My Own Poetic Code (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 3, 1998
A poem about gossip leads Tony back to an old line he never understood, and by the end of the early morning he has decoded it and written another.
Pizza Hut Pity and a Burning Excel (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
Tony watches a friend dig himself deeper into money trouble, sneaks into a movie with the boys and ends up staring at a burning car on the way home.
I Invented The Word Prothane (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
After a flat call with Lyssa, Tony spends the evening defining a word he made up. He gives it rules, examples and a vivid backstory.
Training Tatton To Remember The Nineties (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
Shawn and Tatton keep Tony company with cards, teasing and television. The next day brings sneezes, summer heat and some close calls.
A Lost Ring And Fruit Loops (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
Tony wakes late on the first day of summer and trains hard on cereal. A call with Lyssa brings news about the ring and the piano box.