Diary 23rd December 2000 - 3rd January 2001 & Images
Sydney, New South Wales Australia.

Saturday 23^rd December
When I woke up this morning it was just after ten o'clock. I got out of bed and found that my calves were very very painful and I had difficulty in walking. Having gone to bed at midnight I thought that a good nights rest would have got rid of my aches and pains. My nose was stuffed up and both my eyes were so full of mucous that I almost had to pry them open. I coughed to clear my throat and brought up a substantial amount of thick phlegm. It seems I am in a bad way. I had hoped that the situation would improve as its been hanging around for some considerable time now.

Much as I wanted to go scuba diving tomorrow I think I had better cancel it as I am sure it will not do my health any good. I ate cereal and drank coffee which improved the situation little but I was still very lethargic and in pain when I moved around. I telephoned Richard in London and he was delighted telling me that he had been thinking about me over the last hour and remarking on our ability to so often over the years pop-up for each other at the right moment of need.

After the strong sunshine of yesterday there are grey skies outside my window. At midday I went down Oxford Street to the pharmacist and asked him to recommend some medicine that would clear up the phlegm on my chest blockages in my nose and the mucous in my eyes. He gave me drops for the conjunctivitis and recommended a dosage of two drops in each eye every two hours. For my chest and nose 10 ml of medicine every four hours for the next three days. I returned spent the rest of my day in bed hoping to make a complete recovery soon. I telephoned Kelly and cancelled my scuba diving, she suggested if I was well enough I should come to the barbecue afterwards even if I felt I wouldn't be well enough to dive.

During the evening I managed to log on to the Web and downloaded my e-mail. As I was unable to sleep all the time I finished putting my page for Perth online and almost finished the one for Adelaide also.

At 0945 I set out for the capital city of Canberra. It was a beautiful day and part of the journey was through open country. I visited the parliament building which is very impressive and so different from the old Parliament buildings. By way of contrast there is the aboriginal embassy where I were me able to add my signature to a petition seeking restoration of their rightful lands.

Stopping off at one of the few places that were open I get a very good beef salad roll before looking around the rest of the city. My heart was not in it as I was still feeling pretty poorly. On my arrival back in Sydney I parked the car near the entrance to the hotel and went to check what restaurants were open as, although I had no appetite, I felt I really ought to eat.
I was admiring a mannequin in a shop window when I noticed a handsome man with short cropped black hair and a happy smile on his young face. He appeared to be cruising me so I hung around as this looked like it could be an excellent Christmas present. I watched him whilst trying to appear not to. He appeared to be in his early Twenties and wore a pair of snug fitting blue denim jeans, black leather boots and a white T-shirt with slight marking where the perspiration of the day had dried under his arms. Straight short black hair parted on his right, an oval head with well-defined eyebrows and lips. He came over to where I was standing and made some comment about the weather which led us to start chatting and he told me his name was Mike.
I asked, "What are your plans for the evening?"
"I've nothing special in mind." he replied. "Just wandering around the area until I saw you. What about yourself?"
I thought for a few seconds then told him. "I was going across the road to my hotel but when I saw you looking at me I immediately found that of greater interest so hung around here. I guess then I would go out and eat some dinner after which I would, hopefully find someone to fuck with." I smile looking into his eyes and we both laughed.
"Why wait till evening when we can do it now?" he asked.
"Are you offering then?" I asked with a mirthful grin spreading over my face.
"Sure. Neither of us have anything to do an I think you're a good lookin' guy?. Let's go for it." He finished with a mischievous smile on his handsome face.
"OK. What d'you have in mind?" I wanted to make certain I understood his intentions clearly. "Let's go to your room, get naked and make love." He paused then continued. "After that we can go get dinner together or go our separate ways."
"That sounds like an eminently sensible idea, Let's go." I left the pavement and started slowly to walk across the road

When I'd first seen Mike I was not in the mood for sex. I fancied him very much indeed, physically he was attractive and desirable. I just got pulled in with the excitement of the idea and that he had done the running. Feeling that things always get offered to me when I am least able to enjoy them we crossed the busy street, entered my hotel and we went upstairs. I poured us a drink,

Raising his arms above his head as he stripped off his T-shirt he revealed a very well shaped body, with broad shoulders and developed pecs. Letting my eyes wander farther down his taught stomach muscles tightened as he stretched out to take the garment over his head and my desire heightened. Mentally I was certainly very turned on. I decided to take a quick shower hoping that it would revive my libido. I did. It didn't.

I told him to relax and enjoy his drink and I'd join him in a few minutes. When I emerged from the shower Mike was sitting on the bed wearing a very sexy pair of white Y- front briefs and sporting a substantial bulge at his crotch. His glass was nearly empty but instead of offering a refill I came and lay on the bed beside him.

Afterwards we both showered and dressed. Mike appeared to be in a hurry as he was in and out of the shower almost immediately. I had no desire to hang around the room so within six or seven minutes we had moved from being naked in the room to being fully dressed on the pavement.

I inquired if he wanted to go to eat with me but he said, "No thank's Iain you enjoy your dinner. I'll head off into the city."
"Well Mike, you have certainly been a Christmas present that I was not expecting to receive. And I've enjoyed the time we've spent together so take care." I stretched out my right hand as I ended.
"Me too." he took my hand, "That was really good. I enjoyed myself. Enjoy your holiday and take good care." Mike gave me a big smile and a wink as he squeezed more pressure in his grip before he released my right hand then turned toward the city centre and was gone leaving me with only the happy memories.

I then went to my car where I picked up the camera and other bits and pieces I'd left there earlier. I spent the rest of night taking medicine and sleeping and hoping I'd get well soon.

However I mustered the energy and in 30° of baking heat I replaced the damaged wheel with the spare. Sweating profusely I got back in behind the wheel and driving on parked the car at the Rocks, an area of original Port of Sydney, beneath the Harbour Bridge and having cooled down and composed myself I actually spent an enjoyable afternoon by the Riverside. I persuaded myself to have a chicken and mushroom pie and managed to eat it all. I felt a little improved but still with little enegry.

Back at the Hotel I spent most of the evening sleeping.

I had only walked along the street for a couple of minutes when I was approached for a light. I gave the young man my lighter, he lit his cigarette and asked me where I was going. "I was on my way to a bar when you stopped me." I replied. "How about yourself?"
"Oh I'm just wandering with nothing much to do." He was an inch or two taller than I, large chested, wearing a greenyblue T-shirt and a backpack. His open friendly smile made me want to linger in his company. "You're not Australian are you?" He asked.
"No I'd come from Scotland. I'm here for a holiday and enjoying being in Sydney very much."
"Let's both go for a beer then." He suggested.
"Yeah! Why not? Sounds like a good idea to me. Do you have some place in mind?" I asked delighted that he wanted to spend some time with me.
"Let's walk this way." He took my arm and led me back in the direction from which I just come.
"So you come from Scotland. I've just left the UK a couple of weeks ago. I've been in London studying for a couple of years."
"Do you live in Sydney?"
"In Wollongong. Not far from here but that's where my parents live and I need to go home to see my mum." He told me.
"Yes I've been to Wollongong a few days ago. I went scuba diving in Ramsgate and then visited the surrounding area. I like the beaches down your way." I spoke as we walked along slowly.
"By the way, we're going for a beer. Yes?" He changed the subject but not waiting fore an answer he continued. "I like you. You're an intelligent and handsome man but it's going to have to be 'your shout'. " He smiled expectantly.
"Why? You spent all your money in the UK?" I joked.
"Not exactly. But I'm broke and have no cash." He put his hand on my shoulder and stopped me from walking farther. "I'm sorry about that but I promise you it will be my shout next time."
"Okay. You be my guide for the new year and I'll sponsor your beer belly." Feeling that I might as well spend the time with a decent guy that I liked than hunt around on my own for some suitable company. I started to walk on with him.

We walked up to the Courthouse Bar arriving at 2340. I bought a couple of beers and we went to a table where we sat and chatted about his study for a degree in business consultancy in England and my adventures since I left England. At the a few minutes before midnight we noticed some people standing outside the bar looking intently at something in the distance. On closer inspection this turned out to be a firework display over the city. We both went outside the bar and spent the next five minutes so watch in the file spectacular taking place in various locations. There were four police officers, three female and one male, standing beside us also watching this superb display. My new found friend started flirting with them. He seemed to get on very well with the girls and this caused me to wonder about his sexuality which up until now had not been mentioned and there was no indication from his behaviour that he was anything other than an ordinary bloke.

"You seemed to enjoy flirting with the policewoman outside." I opened the conversation again.
"I like uniforms very much." was the response I got.
"Well if I was wearing my uniform tonight it would be a kilt. Would you like that?" I teased.
"I like you as you are but I'm sure if you were wearing a Scottish kilt that would be a turn on also." His eyes twinkled as he smiled.
"So it's not just girls in uniform that you fancy."
"I don't fancy girls for sex very much whether or not they wear a uniform." He satisfied my curiosity about his sexuality. I now relaxed and felt that I wasn't exactly wasting my time.
"Did you have a boyfriend when you were in London?" I went fishing.
"Yup. As a matter of fact I did, we lived in Holborn. It's all finished now though."
"Was he an English guy then?" I thought I might as well find out as much as I could.
"No as a matter of fact he was Cuban and spoke poor English."
"So he wasn't a white guy."
"No he was the same colour as a Spaniard. What did you think?" He asked
"Well being West Indian I expected him to be dark skinned maybe black."
"It's strange a lot of people expect Cubans to be black but I think only 50% of inhabitants are black. I had a boyfriend here in Sydney for a while and I saw him a couple of days ago. We had sex again. It was interesting. I'm not looking for a relationship. I'm 30 years old today and it's time to sort out my career." He noticed that I was smiling with some sort of disbelieving look on my face. "What d'you find so amusing?"
"It's all quite amusing. You're a very interesting sort of person and have done some interesting things. I enjoyed hearing you tell me about them. I find you very attractive and I hope you'll spend the night with me." I felt I might be pushing my luck a little but what the hell nothing ventured nothing gained.
"Well that's not out of the question but let's see how things go later." This said with an open encouraging smile as he reached forward and squeezed my right knee with his left hand.

Half an hour later we decided to move on from the bar as there was little of interest happening here now. We walked down the street touching each other around the shoulders and arm from time to time which seemed in some way to reassure each of us whilst at the same time not actually giving any definite commitment.

By the time we reached the Midnight Shift there was a queue outside there also. Greg, being a bold person stopped after we passed about ten people in queue and spoke to the next couple of guys in line. I thought he knew them but it turned out he was merely queue jumping. We introduced ourselves to these two strangers and they told us the came from Fiji. I explained that I would be arriving in Fiji on the 19th of January and would be looking for information when I got there. One of the chaps, whose name was Adrian, told me that I would be able to find at the airport as he worked for Cathay Pacific. I told him I'll be flying New Zealand airlines. "That's okay it's a small airport and you'll find me easily." He assured me. "In fact we both work at the airport and we'll look forward to seeing you when you when you arrive."
I thanked them and Greg used this interaction as an excuse to stay in the queue before the two boys. We spent about ten minutes waiting to gain entrance to the club then all four of us were allowed in at the same time. The main bar was packed and we had to forge a way to the counter. We lost the Fijians en route, I bought a couple of beers, a small schooner for each of us and we went to find a place to stand and chat.

The bar was hot, noisy and there was nowhere to rest my arse at all. Gregarious Greg soon found a couple to chat to. They turned out to be a couple of brothers and he was asking them for a cigarette for each of us. I had already put my packet cigarettes out of sight to keep temptation out of his way as he ceaselessly wanted to indulge and had finished his own when we first met.

However the brothers Paul and Gary producing a packet and over the next half-hour we chatted to them and Greg managed to empty Paul's packet although I confess I had one on each occasion also as Greg had requested two each time he needed one.

Greg was a very flirtatious character and chatted to anyone and everyone within arms reach. He was hugging and fumbling with Paul; Gary asked me if I approve of such behaviour in my boyfriend. I explained that we had just met and that while I hoped to spend the night with him there was no commitment and he was a free agent. Gary told me that I ought to get my act together establish exactly what I was going to get in return for the beer I'd bought him and he would have a word with Paul and tell him to back off. I appreciated his help and candour and promptly took his advice. Drawing Greg to one side I asked what the hell he thought he was playing at. He apologised for his behaviour and assured me that he would be better behaved and that in about 20 minutes we ought to go back to my hotel before he got tired or too drunk.

It was about 0230 when we left the bar and slowly wandered back among the people that were still enjoying the night. It wasn't far to my room. Even for a fit and healthy 30 year-old the two flights of stairs took him all his effort to muster and when he entered the room he collapsed directly onto the bed. I poured us a drink and lit a cigarette for both of us.		When he took his T-shirt off I found he had a good body and we spent the next two hours making love to each other. I was his birthday present and he enjoyed me to the full he was my new year treat and I was well rewarded for my efforts during the evening. What a wonderful way to celebrate a 'new' millennium.
I woke at 0800 and found Greg lying sleep beside me with his leg over my lower torso. He was very warm and I hugged up to him enjoying the closeness of his body. His even breathing and bodily warmth quickly made me feel very randy and soon I was on on top of him. He woke up, rubbed his eyes and smiled, "What time is it?" "Time to make love again." I said then leaned forward and kissed him.		When we'd finaly spent ourselves I smoked a cigarette then we showered, dressed and had a cup of coffee before leaving. I went to the shops and he went to catch the train. We'd be unlikely to cross paths again, unfortunately.