Canuk

Religion blinding yet another person. After the trauma of the kidnapping followed by the sucess of the rescue and GSA meeting, this must really make him feel down. A most unatural parent. Great read. Thanks

Well, that was a potted history of varieties of religous ethics and morality! Quite entertaining, if a slightly jaded view of each😆 The best line was and local time at the sound of the gong would be six thirty a.m. that is a line from history, and like "clockwise" will sson be something that millenials will have to "Google" to find out what it means! While I am the sort that doesnt usually talk on long distance flights, I have had a couple of great conversations with interesting people. I am a firm beliver in travel broadening the mind, and I think Frankies conversation did that... I wonder how this affair wil go?

well, parts of Texas have a reputation for being backward, but wherever this place is takes the cake! You wonder why people get off on being nasty to each other? it must take so much effort! Just hope that things improve - that sight of SFO hopefully is the start!

you have a way of building the tension! I was certain that the poor child was going to have to run away, and a 15 year old "running" from Texas to SFO would be no mean achievement! again religion manages to bring the worst out in people... Great start! Thanks

amazing how sometimes the most simple of plans prove so very effective! Congrats Ingenio! While it is easy to criticise people like Prudence for being naive, I think its human nature to be a little bit trusting. And I am not sure what sort of world we'd live in if we didn't trust people at least some of the time. looking forward to the next adventure!

Self knowledge can be oh! So painful, but then so rewarding as well. Glad Carter has seen himself. What happens next will not be easy, but at least he won't be fighting himself. Great read. Thanks.

ahhh, yes, hmm, oops... see correction... apologies!

Yep, looks like it is "goin' great", but.... who does Connor Joel* keep texting? Or am i being just a tad neurotic? *Oops.... sorry for the confusion! Again, I need to remind myself "Do Not Type Before Coffee!"

There's a build-up to something happening here and I have no idea what! I get the feeling not everything is going to go Frankies way..... almost Tibet is seemingly like a possible refuge...

The Krims Kwins are a problem... but how does one separeate those that belive they have found "the one" and who is to judge who is being used by whom? Naked wrestling: now there is a spectator sport! 😍 Another point about changing times: To most people it means either a queer, hip-swaying, limp-wristed, eyelash-fluttering, screaming feminine wannabe, or a greasy creep who gives boys sweets and then feels them up and fucks them up the arse. I suspect this is a very generational attitude. Back in the historical past when we were young, I think this was dead true, however it is interesting that evidence would suggest that it is changing. When my son came home from school and casually included in the conversation that the captain of the school rugby team was gay, I couldn't help but be impressed at both the school admin and the students (all male) just accepted this. Yes I suppose I have generally be surrounded by wishy washy liberals (small l, for Australian readers!), so perhaps thats the explanation, but since then I have been impressed at the lack of labels my sons and their generation apply to others. (Btw my sons are now in early 30s - what can I say, I was a child when I fathered them😇)

‘She wants to get married. I said I’d slit my veins first. She took it as an insult. Another great line! I do like Frankies common sense (well his common sense about everything except "almost tibet, I still cant get over that!). When asked about hunting naked, he points out that its 12 degrees! Nb re"europhile", you are right (of course) i did misread your comment think that you were calling me a europhile. Which I sort of am. My one trip to Canada resulted in me picking up a bloke. 20 years on and I still havent shaken him off! I should have stuck to europe!

Slovenia is not exactly "the wilds" , like most of the rest of europe you oh so casually dismiss, it is an amazing place built by the passion and faith of people long gone. Bled is just perfection plus, particularly after getting through the mountains from Vienna. Yes, europhile, but then also a "phile" of most "civilised"( yes, i know ill get a flogging for that) bits of the world. My visiting or not visiting these places does not add or subtract from the pleasure or suffering of the builders. The same as my wandering in the wilderness of Healesville or Grose Vale doesnt add or subtract from the wonders of nature. Given Frankie is fictional, even I am limited in suggesting the benefits I (and it would seem others) think that he would benefit from what the collective produced eleswhere. I just hope that he gets similar benefits from almost-tibet. Tho, as you say, the europhile in me suggests not! I can't work out if this is banter or a rant. I'll let you decide!😆

Despite the ultimately hideous place he has ended up in, it would seem that Dad is actually seeing just a little clearer his sons situation. Now he just needs to sort out his other children, his drinking and his finances! Poor bugger!

You do make life so very hard for your characters!as that o so great PM of Australia once said Life wasnt meant to easy, but jeez mate, sending Frankie off to an almost-in-tibet monastery that chrges $5k? As Timothy M suggested, backpacking around europe would be way more enlightening! I am amazed Frankie allowed himself to be photographed; the first piece of sloppiness we have seen in our hero. I do hope he learned from that error. , ‘Karmai has a platitude for every occasion.’ Great line! i look forward to Frankie's contact with "uncivilisation" in almost-tibet!

Good result for Frankie, but somewhat of a stressful journey to get there! It does raise the question of when we, and I am not just talking Australia here, will actually start planning for the effects of climate change. Moving a large chunk of melbournes population to Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour, Shepperton, albury/wodonga would seem to be simple compared to getting sydney ro move over the blue mountains!

Yes! Sorry, after 2.5 very long years here, I have fallen into their shorthand...

Nope, in NA one roots anything, in Australia we tend to have to like the person, even vaguely, first!

Does that really sound like a @Rigby Taylor plot?

the old "fail to plan; plan to fail" I don't think was meant to be interpreted as "have a 100 plans and one will surely work"! This is about as nightmare-ish situation as they have been in. the cavity search precludes the old knife-in-the-bum trick, and I just can't believe the "overpower the victim" thing will work either.... very intrigued to see how this goes..... As soon as he said "Anne Thrope" I groaned- I just knew she was Miss Anne Thrope.... and then just to make sure he said it! You must have a book of appropriately suggestive names!

I did think that peace and tranquility was not going to last... NSW property sharks are definitely people you need to keep at a distance. An ex's father was hounded over property he owned in Grose Vale,(which must be somewhere near Frankies place?). Frankies development and his understanding of that development was heartwarming. Not sure if everyone has that self awareness moment. I recall mine vividly! Thank you for your kind comments. You write well; i try and make sure my comments reflect that.😃

Very pleasant surprise! Daventry's news and they way he presented it to Granger was most intimate and charming. If the Russian ships are made of soft wood, going to be hard to get them all the way back to England as prizes. The main benefit is that Grainger has announced his presence and rescuing 200 ships while knocking out two Russians, should make their arrival in StPetersburg, if not more welcome, at least with more respect! Wonderful read. Thanks

Wonderful. Truly great wringing where the scene becomes so vivid! There is something perverse in enjoying watching or being watched having sex (without it porn would be pointless). I dont know of anyone who gets excited about watching people eat, or brush their hair, or even someone cutting someone elses toe nails, but sex... One minor point; revolutions don't start at the bottom; they start in the middle. As long as the middle feels they get more by sticking with the top, there wil be no revolution. As soon as the middle feels they are entitled to more, they get the bottom to join them to overthrow the top. Really enjoying your writing. You really have created a new style: rational sexy polemic.😉😆😍

Frankie the revolutionary! The test will come when they confront the powerbrokers of the status quo. Not all teachers, (probably very few) are good enough to direct independent minnded students. That takes a lot of skill. Hence most schools are run along the lines of amy camps with rules about sock height and hair length. Very enjoyable. I am suprised that no one has died....😆🤗😍

That sounds like a fantasy.... but if it helps 😀

"Timorous hope"; very timorous, Id suggest! Mind you at the rate they are going they will clean up the underworld one pair of cons at a time! V enjoyable!