Unconscious Mutterings...

Dancer :: Prancer
Intellectual :: -ly challenged
Direct :: Deal
Tolerate :: Diversity
Post :: Parcel
Instinctive :: Reaction
Brink :: -of disaster
Regain :: composure
Repulsed :: Revolted
Distressed :: Metal

Meme...

Stole this off Superdrewby...

PART 1: ON THE OUTSIDE
Me: male
Date of birth: 10 April 1971
Current status: Single (if you have been reading this blog and didn't know that...then there's no hope for you!)
Eye color: Kinda Bluey greeny
Hair color: Mid-brown with blonde streaks
Right or left handed: Right.
Zodiac: Aries

PART 2: ON THE INSIDE
My heritage: English /Scottish/German
My fear: making a fool of myself
My weakness: falling for guys that just want to be friends! Grrrr...
My perfect pizza: Cabanosi, pepperoni, olives, mozzarella, artichokes

PART 3: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
Your first thought waking up: hmmmm, he's such a good snuggler
Tomorrow: work work work
Your bedtime: averages around 11pm'ish
Most missed memory: huh?

PART 4: YOUR PICK
Pepsi or Coke: Coke Zero.
McD or Burger King: McDonalds.
Single or group dates: Single dates
Adidas or Nike: whatever
Lipton Tea or Nestea: neither - I'm a Twinnings boy exclusively!
Chocolate or vanilla: chocolate all the way...unless it's vanilla icecream (with chocolate topping)
Cappuccino or coffee: Short Black (Espresso)

PART 5: DO YOU...?
Smoke: Nope, never have, never will.
Curse: not particularly

PART 6: IN THE PAST MONTH, HAVE YOU...?
Drunk alcohol: Hell yeah!
Gone to the mall: Went today actually
Been on stage: Nope
Eaten sushi: Nope

PART 7: WHAT WERE YOU DOING...?
1 minute ago: writing this
1 hour ago: Sitting in the park in the sun, listening to Mika, reading about Elizabeth I, and eyeing off this cute guy who was sitting about 10 metres away with no shirt on and a hot body!
4 1/2 hours ago: Reading the Sunday paper
1 month ago: A month ago today, it was the day before I met HIM
1 year ago: Attending a wedding (it was a very dull one)

PART 8: FINISH THE SENTENCE
I love: my friends
I feel: tired at the moment...but it's a good tired.
I hate: someone else controlling my emotions...(it's the control freak in me coming out again)
I hide: my feelings when I'm hurt (or at least try to)
I miss: my family
I need: a good man to love

The Risk Return Equation...

OK, I work in finance and so the Risk Return Equation is a part of my daily life. I'm always discussing with my clients their risk profile - their appetite for risk with investments. Some are very conservative and will only invest in blue chip companies or even worse, just in cash products. Some are a bit more balanced, willing to have some conservative investments combined with some more aggressive stocks. Others are just full on aggressive, with highly speculative stocks making up the bulk of their portfolio. Fundamentally, the higher the risk that one takes with one's investments, the higher the return. But you also must be prepared to wear the downside when the high risk doesn't pay off.
And the same applies in life, particularly as I've experienced in the last month or so, with matters of the heart. There are some guys who are the conservative sort when it comes to finding Mr Right...they are very low risk, will only make a move when success is virtually guaranteed (the "blue chip relationship"), or possibly not willing to give it a go at all (the "cash" approach to relationships). This may be due to their upbringing, their personality or possibly due to having been burned in a past relationship. There are those who take a more balanced approach, having a reasonably open mind and approach to relationships. They won't throw themselves into a relationship straight away, but are willing to let things take their course and see where it goes without committing themselves. If it doesn't work, they haven't had their hearts broken, but if it works, then all good! And then there's the high risk takers - guys who "wear their hearts on their sleeves"; are very emotionally open and will jump into a relationship quickly when the spark is there and the chemistry is happening. This can have its payoff when the relationship happens and they end up happily partnered with the man of their dreams. But conversely, it can all go pear shaped very quickly and leave them heartbroken and very hurt. The higher the risk, the higher the return!

Which brings us to me...I used to be the first type...ultra conservative - I was the "cash" relationship guy before I came out, because I didn't want to get into a relationship with a girl, knowing that it would not go anywhere. And once I did come out, I initially started taking the "blue chip" approach...it was more a result of my personality, my newness to gay life, and also I think a bit of my generally conservative upbringing as well. But I have found myself as the months progress become more and more willing to put myself out there emotionally speaking. I've noticed that my appetite for risk (emotionally speaking) is developing more and more. If I find a guy that I like and who seems to like me, I'm quite willing to give it a go. I tend to jump in feet first and hope for the best.

And so in the past month, as you have probably noticed, I've seen firsthand the results of me throwing myself emotionally into a relationship...I've gone from singing about how good I feel to hitting rock bottom. And everything in between! But, I have been talking with the Gent in Question who has been the cause of the aforementioned highs and lows and I think we've actually settled it. Which is good. I think our relationship going forward will actually be one of friendship only and I've finally reconciled in my mind that fact. There won't be a romantic relationship full stop. (hmmm, wonder if that's tautology, writing "full stop" and then using a full stop to end the sentence?)

But still, the highs were very good and so I'm not put off trying that again...perhaps I will be slightly more circumspect next time round, but fundamentally, I still think I'm prepared to put it out there emotionally if the sparks are there! Anyway, I'm sure we'll find out in due course.

On a slightly different subject, "Holding The Man"...saw it with The Patient Craig, dapper as always and draped elegantly in Armani and Boss, The very chilled and super cool Trevor, The Charming and yet slightly wicked-gleam-in-his-eye Frenchman Sylvain and the rather hilarious Aussie-Brentonbum-alicious who looked just a touch cold...never a good idea to do a Naked Run around the Opera House at this time of year - thankfully, Trevor came to the rescue and bedecked him with his overcoat, complete with boiled lollies in the pockets!

The play on the other hand, as has been well reported in everyone's blogs so far, did not quite meet expectations. Perhaps my expectations had been heightened somewhat, and I was fully expecting the first half to be belly-laugh-city and the second half to be weeping-my-tits-off-city. Which is was neither! I do think that having read the book, it is always going to be a challenge to replicate on a stage or a movie set for that matter. And so while it was a good play, and the actors were a bit of all-right-and-a-half in the looks department, I did feel slightly cheated that I didn't get to have a good ol' cry at the end!

But none-the-less, I am glad I got to see it and a big thanks to Superchilled and The Frenchman who did such a marvellous job in arranging the evening!

The weekend has been one of unexpected surprise and delight so I am looking forward to the coming week - despite the hectic pace of work - and more importantly, to next weekend, as I'm off to the Beach House with my friends James and Jacqui and maybe a surprise guest or two...
It's not exactly beach house weather - too damn cold to swim for a North Queensland boy like me, but it's always lovely to relax in the sun, cook (and eat) good food, accompanied by some fine wine and pleasant company!

Ciao 4 niao!

NRL v AFL...

OK, footy season is well and truly on and there is some debate over which code has the hottest boys...so here's a little straw poll...
Courtney Johns from the Essendon Football Club (AFL) certainly provides some stiff competition for the NRL boys.

...but then Matt Cooper from the St George Dragons (NRL) just makes me droooool...

...as does Reni Matua from the Sydney Bulldogs (NRL).

So, what do you think? Does the AFL or the NRL score with you???

PST...

Umm, the PST photo challenge has well and truly been thrown down by fellow blogger Pedestrian Fair...he's wearing a pink t-shirt and very little else! Yummmmmmo!!! Good to see that PST is spreading to New York!

PS Our friend Peter Von Amsterdam has come up with another sensational idea! Next time you do a PST picture for your blog, please include your membership card in the pic! Membership cards can be emailed to you - please send me an email and I'll send it back in .pdf or .jpeg format. Otherwise, you can download them from Peter's blog here...

Look forward to seeing the new PST pics! :-)

WIN...!

What an all-over-the-place week it has been in the ongoing saga that is my life! Thankfully, things are heading in the upward direction after hitting rock bottom yesterday (Wednesday). Wednesdays are becoming my bad day when they used to be one of my best days!

BUT after all the bad stuff that happened yesterday, I spent the evening watching State of Origin 1 - for those non-Rugby League afilliated readers, State of Origin is a 3 game series played between teams from the states of Queensland (the best) and New South Wales. So, I purchased myself a 6 pack of XXXX beer - the only beer any self respecting Queenslander will drink during SoO...I needn't add that I never drink it at any other time; the stuff is horrible - and settled myself down in front of the TV to watch the Mighty Queensland Maroons whip the butts of the hopeless New South Wales Blues! It was a much needed happy ending for a miserable day.

Today, I feel better, having had a good night's sleep and am feeling less emotionally fragile. It's Pink Shirt Thursday as well, and I'm looking pretty damn fine in my latest pink shirt (if I do say so myself). The Cute Gay Work Guy has latched onto PST with a vengence and is harrassing all the guys in our office to wear pink shirts as well. He's wanting to hand out membership cards willy nilly so I think I may have reign him in a bit - his enthusiasm is good but we can't have every Tom Dick or Harry sporting membership cards! It would ruin the exclusivity that accompanies ownership of said PST Card.

PST update...

Thanks to our friend Peter von Amsterdam, he has created a PST Membership card. Naturally, membership of such an exclusive club is limited to those who:

1. Have committed to wearing a Pink Shirt every Thursday; and

2. Have posted a PST pic on their blog to prove 1. above

Our fellow blogger Tom (who is also Patron of the PST Worldwide Challenge) also came up with a rather smashing idea. When coming across a guy wearing a Pink Shirt on a Thursday, demand to see his membership card. If he is not forthcoming with said membership card, then rip the shirt off his back! Of course, this must be selectively applied...to well built and handsome men only! he he he! Trust the British to come up with such a creative and wickedly good plan!

Oh, and here's my PST pic from last week - my apologies for the delay and for the somewhat rather dull picture!

Unconscious mutterings...

Coastguard :: Lifesavers
Buddies :: Friends
Nap :: Nanna-
Groan :: Painfully
Sitcom :: Frasier
Reader :: -'s Digest
Heroes :: We Can Be-
Amazing :: Grace
Woman :: Man
Don’t! :: Ask

Romance afoot...

One hears whispers of a budding inter-blogging romance...wonder who it could be? Have the gents in question left any clues in their respective posts? hmmmm...maybe between the lines?

Well, I hope for their sake that all goes well...whatever develops - friendship or romance! They both deserve it! ;-)

Monty's Miscellaneous Musings...

I'm curiously lethargic today! I woke up and eventually dragged myself out of my wonderfully snug bed at noon and kinda wandered around the apartment trying to motivate myself. And so, after showering, I did the only thing that can get me going...drove to KFC and bought myself some deep fried chicken and their wonderful chips (and a can of Pepsi Max...gotta watch those calories! lol). There's nothing quite like a Sunday KFC lunch whilst reading the Sunday papers! Perrrrrfect!

But as I pondered my unmotivated state, I realised that it was because I didn't actually have anything planned today. There was no brunch to be had with friends, no BSB with the boys in the arvo (that happened yesterday), no social engagements at all. Normally this would be a good thing for me as I'm one who does enjoy time to myself. Sunday is and always has been Monty time but for some strange reason, today I really don't feel like going solo. Even the prospect of some grocery shopping doesn't fill me with anticipation...(yes, strange I know, but I actually enjoy the weekly meander through the aisles of Woolworths Northbridge, picking whatever I want off the shelves, planning all sorts of wicked indulgences for the coming week) and yet I do know that once I'm there, I will actually perk up. It's just physically making myself put some shoes on and get in the car and drive there that seems so difficult at the moment. I'm actually feeling more like grabbing my book and waltzing down to my local park and reading it in the sun. Highly unproductive but delightful to sit in the sun on the grass and immerse myself in the comings and goings of Henry VIII's many spouses! And snack...because you can never just go to the park with a book, you always need to take a little picnic - a bottle of wine, some cheese and crackers, maybe some olives or marinated artichokes. I'm sure the other people in the park must think I'm rather strange, having this delish little picnic by myself, but I have such fun when I do. Have my music courtesy of my antiquated Sony Discman (does anyone remember what they are?) so really, all senses are indulged...the touch of grass beneath my feet, warm sun on my skin; taste of liquid summer sliding down my throat in the form of a lovely wooded chardy and the rich, sharp tang of Mersey Valley cheddar on water crackers; the smell of fresh air and the fragrance of cut grass; the sound of a yet to be determined CD transporting me elsewhere; the visual impact of the scene in front of me, the verdant green of grass and trees, the cobalt blue sky, just the occasionally fluffy white cloud; the stimulus to my mind from the book. FABULOUS!

BUT I'd better go and do it rather than just talk about it here! Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! x

PS Just a quick note re: PST. I was highly thrilled to see not one but TWO bloggers do a first-time picture post of their PST's - our shy retiring and newly out GIL managed to expose his delightfully furry chest (and his pink shirt) to the world and my friend EIB posed in a bit more formal attire with a lovely pink shirt/tie combo. And his dazzling smile! Seriously, a call must be made Europe-wide to find EIB a boyfriend - he's a good looking fellow, smart, highly witty and amusing, well presented, a gentle heart beneath his frosty exterior, a good cook - to sum up...he's a CATCH!!! I can provide character references for him! :-)

All's well that ends well...

What a week it has been! From both a work and personal perspective, it's been all over the place! But thankfully, it's all ended up pretty damn well, so I can't complain.

With work, as I've mentioned in previous posts, it's insanely busy at the moment in the lead up to the end of financial year (June 30) and so it's late nights at work, constant phone calls and emails from clients PLUS our esteemed leaders, in all their "wisdom" decided that this is a great time to send us all off on training days! As if we have time to waste with training days at this time of year! Seriously, these people show again and again that they have NO idea what happens in the real world! We, the frontline staff, the ones who actually interact with the clients, the ones who actually keep the business coming in the front door (particularly in the three months leading up to 30 June) have enough on our plate without having to deal with the silly ideas of Head Office. Ok Ok, my little rant for the week is over. Sorry. :-) Anyway, despite the fact that it was a full on week, it was also a very successful week for me; I had some very significant results from the week which made it worthwhile. And yesterday (Friday), our boss took our team out for a loooooong lunch at the Athenian in Barrack St and we managed to drink ourselves through quite a few bottles of rather pleasant Reds...oh and the girls had some Whites too. whatever. So the week at work did end quite well indeed...with Monty just a touch tipsy and feeling at one with the world in general.

On a personal note, the week had a significant backward step, when the Gent that I've been seeing for the last couple of weeks popped over my place on Wednesday night. He has called off our, ummmm fledgling relationship, for want of a better description. He doesn't feel that he can provide me with the emotional response that he feels I should be getting. There's no question that we do have chemistry, I find him inordinately attractive, and he's a great guy, and he certainly seems to reciprocate. However on an emotional level, he can't. I certainly appreciate the fact that he did front up to me in person to give me the news and that he did it early on...he didn't want to string me along for a month or two and allow me to get more emotionally involved when he knew in his heart that it was never going to succeed from his perspective. The thing that I am pleased about is that he still wants to see me and maintain and build our friendship! I really like the guy, I get on well with him, have felt comfortable with him, the rapport is easy and natural. So, although he's not boyfriend material, I've made a very good friend and I can't complain about that!

He actually picked me up from work last night, we had dinner and saw a movie and it felt great! We both knew where we stood and so the pressure was off and we just enjoyed each other's company!

So, my week did end well! And I've always been a believer in the "All's well that ends well" philosophy! Campbell emailed me today and said that I come across to him as a "glass half full" type person, and it does pretty much sum me up! I have a generally positive attitude toward life and so I can usually find a positive in whatever I'm going through, irrespective of how bad it may seem at the time.

So Monty is back to the NDP - back to dating and therefore back to blogging more regularly! The dating stuff certainly makes for much more entertaining posts and I always want to keep you, my loyal readers, entertained and happy! :-)

And the weekend is looking pretty good too - I had a lovely late breakfast this morning with my mate Muzbot which was highly pleasant...perfect weather for it! Good company, good food...what more can a guy want! And tonight, I'm going to a Theatresports thingy that's been arranged by NSSG's boyfriend DG - should prove to be an interesting night and most likely a highly entertaining night! And it will be great to catch up with the boys, having just returned from their week in the Fijian sun! Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Why do I blog...?

Tom tagged me in his post about why he blogs and it's an interesting question. AND because I'm suffering from a patch of bloggers block at the moment, I thought it would be a good topic to comment on.

I know I first started blogging when I was overseas last year on Monty's Shagging Tour of Europe. I had decided to do Berlin and Eastern Europe on my own as a personal challenge and as a way of really being "out" in an environment where no-one knew me, where I could be free from the normal constraints of life. And so I arrived in Berlin full of confidence, and then it hit me...I was in a foreign country all by myself. No-one knew me, I had no-one to talk to, I didn't know where I was going...suddenly I wasn't so confident. Thankfully, NSSG's boyfriend, the late (in a blogging sense) DG was my lifeline and I logged onto MSN and had some long chats with him when I was freaking out! And it was about this time that NSSG got DG onto blogging and DG suggested that I start one as a way of expressing what I was going through in my journey. Not just my physical journey through Europe but also my journey/transition from a formerly straight boy to fully fledged gay boy!

And so I started it, more out of curiosity...a kind of see-how-it-goes experiment. And it was liberating! Particularly whilst overseas, I could express myself about what I was going through via blog even if I couldn't talk to anyone about it. AND for the first time in my life, I was able to express myself openly about subjects that were formerly very taboo...ie gay stuff. And in reading other people's blogs, suddenly I realized that there were lots of people out there in the blogosphere who had their own challenges just like me. Maybe different challenges than mine, but equally difficult or confronting for them in their own personal circumstances.

Suddenly, I discovered a hitherto unknown world of individuals drawn together and interacting with each other despite the fact that they live in different parts of the world and have for the most part, never met....and most likely would never meet. As Tom mentioned (and Campbell has in a previous blog as well), it has become somewhat of a community. In the world in which we live, where physical community has taken on less and less significance, the online community, and in particular, the blogging community has started augmenting it. I wouldn't say it has replaced it, nor would I like to suggest that, because I do feel that it's a fundamental need for humans to interact directly. But it certainly has become an important part of my life...not just the blogging, the ability to express my thoughts on whatever subject I want, but also you, my fellow bloggers, who have become an important part of my life. We all have our own blog styles - some blogs are just eye candy (mmmmmm), some are more a commentary on the gay lifestyle, some are more like an advice column, some are just simple online diaries of what you've done; some are highly amusing, some are sad, all in their own way are inspiring. And it's certainly helped me, a relative newcomer to the gay world. I've got lots of advice and support and I've met some wonderful people because of this.

DG started me on this blogging journey and although he's given me lots of advice in the time we've known each other, the suggestion to start a blog has been the single best piece of advice he's given me. And I certainly appreciate all the comments and suggestions that I've received on my blog and all the fascinating entries that you all do on your blogs! Thanks everyone! ;-)

My week...

I am having a HELL of a week...or two....or three. In my line of work (Banking and Finance), this time of year is a nightmare! I love my job for 9 months of the year but April, May and June, I really don't like it! It's just so busy and the clients become very demanding and it's is just pure HELL!!! But, despite that, the last couple of weeks have been rather FANTASTIC! After hours that is. I'm, ummm, seeing a guy, and it's really really great at the moment! Monty's New Dating Paradigm has been cast aside...all newbies have been canned and Monty is just seeing the ONE GUY!!! *collective gasp* I'm not counting my chickens here, by the way! Enjoying it for the moment without any expectations. But whatever "this" is, it's pretty damn good!

I'm grinning without reason a lot at the moment! Hope everyone else has a great weekend because I know I will!!!!!

Unconscious mutterings...

Tumor :: Brain
Bunch :: -of coconuts
Gratitude :: eternal
Feel alive :: Staying Alive
Connect :: -the dots
Temptation :: big time
Brighten :: -up my day
Jewelry :: The Queen
Tough :: -as nails
Harmless :: fun

Feeling Good...

This song is so how I'm feeling at the moment...it's off Michael Buble's second album It's Time...

Birds flying high, you know how I feel
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Reeds drifting on by, you know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me...
And I'm feeling...Good!

I'm feeling Good!

Fish in the sea, you know how I feel
River running free, you know how I feel
Blossom on a tree, you know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me...
And I'm feeling good!

Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean (don't you know)
Butterflies all having fun, you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when the day is done, that's what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world...
For me...for me...

Stars when they shine, you know how I feel
Scent of the pine, you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine and I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life...
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life...
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new way
It's a new life
For me...
And I'm feeling...Good!

I'm loving this at the moment...

For the first time in my life, I was given flowers by a guy this weekend! Nothing extravagant, just some simple tulips but needless to say, I am completely chuffed!

Pink Shirt Thursday Pic...

It's Sunday and I'm finally getting around to posting my PST pic...so here it is, for better or for worse! It's one of those taken-in-the-mirror shots...so the quality is less than perfect.

Gratuitous eye candy...of Chris Evans...

After the reaction I had on my previous post about one of the yummiest actors to visit our Antipodean shores, my friend Evan kindly donated his personal collection of Chris Evans pics! This is one seriously HOT boy!!!

...on his back, legs in the air...what more could a boy ask for???

Perhaps Chris on his knees...with his jeans undone...

mmmm, I like black and white photography...
...and killer abs...makes me want to lick his torso...slowly...

His first big break into the movies...Cellular...I really must watch it again!

...a thoroughly delectable body...

...with nips ya just want to wrap your laughing gear around!

...what more can one say about this veritable Adonis? Yummmmeeeeee!!!

If anyone else has more pics of this delicious piece of eye candy, please feel free to post it in your blog or email it to me! Can't get enough of him at the moment!

A Movie Meme...

Stole this off Yaniblog...

Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
The Princess Bride (and the book is just as good as the movie), Breakfast At Tiffany's

Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.
Pretty Woman

Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Chris Evans...from a purely eye candy perspective
Christian Bale...from an acting (and eye candy) perspective

Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Bill Murray

Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
The Princess Bride, Pretty Woman, Muriel's Wedding, Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery etc etc

Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
The Sound of Music, Chicago, Grease, The Producers etc etc

Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
The Sound of Music, Chicago, Grease, The Producers etc etc

Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
The Matrix

Name a movie that you own.
The Sound of Music

Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Madonna - She surprised me because I thought she'd be a better actress!

Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
hell yeah...all the time as a kid...I vividly remember seeing Spaceballs back in 1987'ish

Ever made out in a movie?
Not yet...would like to however...

Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't yet gotten around to it.
Casablanca

Ever walked out of a movie?
Nope...I'm in finance...if I've paid for it, I'm going to sit there to the bitter end!

Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
ET - I was 11 and devastated when he died...

Popcorn?
Nah...don't really like it. I get icecream...or Snakes!

How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
I probably average 1 a month

What's the last movie you saw in the theater?
Sunshine - starring the very hot Chris Evans

What's your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
I'm a sucker for the ol' Romantic Comedy...but I tend to be a movie slut...will watch pretty much anything - except Westerns.

What's the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
The Rescuers!

What movie do you wish you had never seen?
2001 - A Space Oddessey...zzzzzzzzzzzz

What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
The Matrix...it seemed strange for about 25 minutes and then it all fell into place! And then I saw the next two sequels and got all confused again!

What is the scariest movie you've seen?
Alien...only watched about 1/3 of the movie the first time...

What is the funniest movie you've seen?
What's Up Doc - mid 70's movie starring Ryan O'Neil and Barbra Streisand...I remember literally rolling on my back with laughter, I could hardly breathe!

The Fabulous Four...

I was out with Craig last night for dinner in Darlinghurst/Paddington which was most enjoyable. After dinner, we decided to walk over to Oxford St and have a drink and ended up going to The Oxford. As we were walking towards the pub, we noticed a lot of people outside, lots of strong lights and noise. Upon closer inspection, it was a red carpet type event being held downstairs and there were security guards, photographers and TV camera crews there so obviously there were some famous people to be viewed. So, we stuck around and who should turn up? The cast of the Fantastic Four! I had heard that they were going to be in Sydney however I had also read that it was going to be only 3 of the Four, with my favourite cast member - the highly spectacular and magnificently gorgeous Chris Evans - the missing one. Well, imagine my surpise (and absolute delight) when I saw his handsome face through the crowd! He is just as cute in the flesh as he is on screen! Unfortunately, he was fully clothed but it was still a very exciting moment of the night!

And, thanks to YarravillePaul, here's a picture of him which makes me go weak at the knees! Hubba hubba hubba!

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie...

I've been thinking about this a lot over the last couple of weeks, essentially since I had The Californian over for dinner. We both wanted an easy night in and so I made some dinner and then we watched a DVD. Now, we've both had some long conversations since MG and our relationship has become one of friendship rather than anything more involved. And so, when we sat down to watch the DVD, I let him sit on the couch and I sat on a separate chair. He though, indicated that he wanted me to sit on the couch too, between his legs and lay against him. Now, he's a hot man and I'm certainly not going to say no to an invitation like that. And so, that's how we watched the DVD. I really enjoyed it; a feeling of closeness and warmth. There wasn't anything overwhelmingly sexual about it, we didn't make out or run our hands over each other or anything. We simply sat/lay there together and watched the movie. It was lovely.

And this is the question I have...all the previous times that I've snuggled like this, it's always led to sex. Which is more than fine! BUT, is snuggling with a friend a common thing in the gay world? Can friends snuggle without the sexual overtones? Or was this some sort of one-off glitch in the matrix that shouldn't happen again?

To be honest, I'd love to be able to do this with my other gay friends...I really enjoyed the feeling and I think it's a great way to express one's feelings of friendship, kinship and affection...but is it too risky? Am I playing with fire by putting myself in a position where something more can happen which could affect the viability of our friendship? Or does this happen all the time and am I just being paranoid?

It's also Pink Shirt Thursday boys! The three gay guys in my team are all wearing ours - are you wearing yours??? I will try and post a picture tonight when I get home.

It's a dating epidemic...

It's rather interesting to see that a few guys that I'm associated with have recently started getting into the dating thing. Whether they be fellow bloggers, readers of my blog or simply just friends of mine, it seems that while Monty is endeavouring to slow down the dating merry-go-round, everyone else is ramping it up! And it's got me wondering what's been the cause?

Is it, as I read a few weeks ago, simply that the change in season has got every single male seeking a warm body for those long, cold winter's nights? OR is it just because everyone's seen the one-man-dating-disaster-scene that your correspondent is and thought, 'it can't get any worse for me'? OR possibly I have inspired everyone with the joys of doing multiple dates each week, and now they just want to get some man-action themselves?

Who knows...but it's just blown me away to see the dating activity in recent times.

On another note, I received an email yesterday from my friend Oscar, the Frenchman I met in Berlin last year. I was excited to see that he's still with his boyfriend and they are about to celebrate their 6 month anniversary! Congrats boys!