Over for another year

I sit in my room a shivery mess, wrapped in my blanket with the fan full blast, not knowing if I’m Arthur or Martha. It can only mean one of two things: I’m about to get a flu or it is official, Mardi Gras is over.

With the party and parade separated this year, there was an underlying nervousness throughout the community. Was it going to work? Were the tourists going to stay? Or my concern, how safe was it going to be, getting from the end of the parade, back to Oxford St.

We have all learnt over the years, Mardi Gras isn’t just attended by the gay and lesbian community, but also a number of idiots. To my delight though, there was a saturation of Mardi Gras officials, security and police. I was then off to a huge party wearing a very short sequin dress. I soon found out sequins are a pretty material, but probably not the best when dancing in the RHI.

Due to work commitments we arrived as George Michael was finishing. It was a disappointment, having grown up with the “Whammer”. But we continued to move from room to room, stopping regularly for kisses and photo’s while sweating up a treat.
By the time we had rounded the party, it was time for Kelly Rowland. From a distance she looked like a tall thin, tranny superstar – hair flicking from side to side, the tallest of heels, and a dress that showed off the longest of legs. She soon had the crowd singing along with her, as the room started to jump. It all ended in a bang of glitter confetti, before she escaped down the centre of the stage and off into the distance.

By this stage my friend was tired and I was feeling very old, so we decided to escape too. We trotted down the road, like lost souls, searching for an empty cab.

The dress and make-up couldn’t have come off quicker. Within minutes I was almost normal again – except the odd sequin, that I’m still finding two days later.

All the events were fabulous. All the clubs were full, and it seemed that most of the tourists stayed in Sydney for the whole two weeks.  All in all I think this year was a success. So I guess the question on most lips is, what will happen next year?