Canuk

And now, just so we know who is in control, Mother Nature has just delivered 4 days of almost non stop heavy rain over a 1000km front from Brisbane though Sydney to the border with Victoria. So flooding, roads closed, dams filled with ash, but fires put out. Australian bush is resilient, but this is testing that resilience.

Talk about a ray of sunshine just when needed! This man's "Christian " obsession was close to destroying a family.... I realise this is fiction, but how often does the judicial system get caught up in other people's fantasies? I realise you won't make this nice, quick and painless (authors live for nasty, drawn out, and suffering!), but I do hope this glimmer of hope continues! Great read, thanks.

Just because I thought some people might be interested; the Australian bushfires over this southern hemisphere summer have now burned 12 million hectares. By way of comparison, thats almost the entire state of New York or the country of England. Just FYI...

Me too, and really annoyed that I'd caught up! Obviously this is a story, but in the initial paras I was so annoyed that a person who lost their spouse and their house was left with no money living in a van. In what civilised country would this happen? However having been moved on by our author, I am happy things are looking like they may be better, unless the invasion of privacy and meddling in others lives becomes too much! God writers are bastards, aren't they! Playing with their audience AND their characters with wilful abandon! But we need more! which puts authors into the same character as those purveying drugs of addiction! Us reader can never win.... Thanks for the entertainment.....😚👍😉

Great image the two boys in front of the mirror. Both fascinated with each other, but no interest! Good beginning to this branch of an ever-growing tree!

Interesting. Frankly, I'd be a little concerned stuck in ancient Egypt! I suppose his faith in being rescued is keeping him going, but I'd think his situation is going to get very old very quickly! 😞 Looking forward to developments!

While thrilled at the direction you have taken your two lovers, I hear that Hollywood-movie soundtrack forewarning of impending doom.... Chances of plain sailing so remote as to be impossible. I just hope they emerge together and happy. Thanks great story 😍

Oh! Good god! What a chaos of a mess! So much happened to so many at so many levels...and not every one quite did the right thing. You certainly know how to create DRAMA. This episode is packed. So Tom suspected douche outed as douche-in-f'ing-chief. Andrew... has all the ability to listen of a deaf mute person who died a decade ago. Aubrey...drink...it makes you horny and then (and I just know he is completely on his pat malone here) makes bad decisions regarding sex. Who knew? Hah! His post sex conversation is lacking too... Can't wait until the next episode!

You have me hooked! Well written. Fascinated to see where it's going. (Our hero is too, probably!) Thanks!

While obviously part of the drama that is fiction, I am immensely impressed at the preparation these young men (for want of s better term) go through before the selection process. This got me thinking, imagine a society where all those between say 18 and 23 were taught how to eat, shop, bank, budget, exercise...not just those destined to toss a bit of leather about....

Some people do not deserve children. Simon 's dad being a perfect case in point. It would be so good if he was a characuture for a novel, but sadly he is drawn from life. Thanks great read.

30 knots would chew fuel like there was no tomorrow! Definitely deep pockets! He's right about the poker face. For the vast majority of the time all the Royals carry it off. Their expression is exactly what you'd expect it to be, whether grieving, getting flowers or talking to a foreign potentate. It's almost impossible to guess what they really think. That's what a head of state should be like.

I just hope there are more parents/guardians/relations of children like your character Aunt Carrie, who are open to understanding children like Mary/Patrick. We can't expect instant universal understanding of things that are a long way from our experience, but I do think we all need to be open to listening them and reviewing our own preconceptions. Great read. Thanks

The reason Aubrey is drifting away is that Tom doesn't know his partner... Great characters! The dialogue across the table at the restaurant was very well done. Great read. Thanks

Very cute, very understandable from a father's pov. Thanks

Pardon my ignorance but what is the difference between a "kippah" and a "yarmulke"? Thanks!

I can't imagine a situation when picking up a 15 year old boy would be a good idea! 🤔

If anyone could name a single benefit of what passes today as organised public religion.... Nash, I think, represents far too many people....

Agree. If his faith is taken away it has to be replaced by something, otherwise all that left is an empty shell. Tom...just plain ugh!

I want St Zita to intervene, regularly....patron saint of patience...

Strange that both your keenest followers are called "Anthony".... 😚

My favourite Tuchman is Distant Mirror: Calamitous 14th century It paint an amazing picture of a period I had really glossed. Recommended. Old...hmmm, probably a state of mind. Some days I am older than others!

He certainly has had the rough end of the pineapple! Obviously he couldn't mention the wheelchair in his initial letters as he would have outed himself, which was against the rules. But this letter expresses so painfully how hard it is to gain friends when you have a disability: you hide it and your damned, you mention it and you are equally damned. He seems to have huge amount of inner strength...hope that continues. Very touching. Well written. Thanks.

What an amazing start to an unfinished journey! You seemed to have rushed the last 50ish years (in your story, anyway), but they obviously worked for you! My partner and I waited until we were both 40. But we have done a lot in the last 20 years. Not sure we will get to 50 years together, my family have a habit of falling off the twig one month after their 75th birthdays, (so I'll be stuffing up the family Christmas in 2033!) but we will give it a go. We don't tend to argue...we explain until the other understands....its worked for us! Very impressed with the amount you packed in in the first 25 years. A good life time of stories. Just watch "Years and Years" (Netflix) a future dystopia, but it finished with the stupidity of preserving us and our bodies for some sort of immortality as the "us" that makes us is our connections to others, the stories and histories..... Thank you for taking us on your journey. Fascinating, challenging, bloody scary at times, but very human, very insightful. All the best for the next stages, 😙

Sorry, but where's the argument "Sutherland /Callas"; Sutherland was an opera singer...Callas did sing...👍😝😎 Typing "Callas": Google auto correct wanted "call as"...I am old and beyond saving.... I forgive you re Tuchman...I think my boy and I are the last of a lost, so to speak!😙