I lived in the London suburbs most of my life and I had no gay friends in my early twenties and didn't know any gay people. I hung around with the most straight of straights mates and it was always the typical boyfriend, girlfriend scenario and the trip down to the local pub on the weekends. I knew I felt very different and that was not me or the life I wanted to live, so at the age of 21 I decided enough was enough. I new there was a gay pub in Camden The Black cap, which I had walked passed on so many occasions before when shopping, but never had the nerve to enter.

I new it was a gay bar because at that time it had a huge rainbow flag in the window and after walking back and forth pass it a couple of times, I eventually managed to get the courage to go in. I was really surprised to see it was like any other pub and to be honest, I don't really know what I was expecting, but it was empty on that occasion. I didn't care, as I was finally in a gay pub! I ordered a drink and grabbed the nearest magazine and flicked through the pages until I reached the pubs and clubs listings.

Then I came across Candy Bar and saw that the clientele was 98% female! I looked at the address and saw that is was only a couple of stops on the tube and thought to myself, ''what the hell... its now or never !''. So I downed my drink, grabbed my coat and set off. By the time I got there it had just turned five. I stood outside for a couple of minutes, just gazing at the sign and thinking to myself, ''what on earth was I was doing'' !.

I finally went in and once again the place was dead. It was me, myself and I and well the bar tender. I just stared, as I liked her style and her look and were I was from you didn't see that kind of look. Big baggy pants, piercings, tight top and spikey funky hair. I order a cocktail and sat down, I just waited to see if anyone would come in. About half a hour later, a few women came in. A lady walked over and sat down beside me she was in her forties, had a skin head and was wearing a black vest blue jeans and some big chunky boot's.

I was really scared at first and did not know what to say but as I drunk more I ended up relaxing and waffling on to her about the great adventure of my first visit to the London gay scene. We talked for about hour and then said she was leaving ,wishing me well on my new findings. Once she left I felt a little panic set in, as I was there by myself again and the bar was starting to fill up. I finally realised that the only thing for it was for me to go up and talk to someone or look like a complete loner.

Luckily enough, I didn't have to do much, as a guy and girl walked in a sat down beside me. I was tipsy by this time and the conversation started flowing and I guess my flirtatious side started to come out. Within a couple of hours me and the girl were up dancing and kissing and I felt amazing. It was so great to be able to be free and so comfortable about doing things that felt so natural to me... We ended up in heaven and then went back to hers. I dated her for a couple of months and she showed me the clubs, pubs and the party scene We had a lot of fun together.

Ten years on and I have not looked back. I think London has the best scene in the world! I have worked in it, partied in it and laughed and cried in it and grown with it and still am.... here’s to another ten in London!!!!