Canuk

I loved the curve of this chapter. the level tracking, small build up to Brisbane, slow decsent and rise again as they move onto Cairns, the hightpoint of the reunion and crash-site visit, but then, mate, you stop, we are left over the brow of the hill evil bastard sighting the other yacht - what happens next????? letting us into this blissful world full of interest, sparkle and wit and then just as we become deeply enmeshed you shut the door, smile and say "NEXT TIME, Ha! Ha!." this is a level of bastardry, of toying with us. please write more!!!

well the responses have been many and varied. I am intrigued by those that are concerned about "too much detail" "too long to get to the end" etc as with all writing I read it's the journey that I enjoy and the detail is what makes the journey and it is certainly a bloody great journey we have been taken on here. Of course I wanted to know what happened next and yes I always wanted it to be Tuesday, but that is all part of the fun. And that CJ you have kept us coming back for 99+34 (or whatever bizarre numbering system you developed - blaming it on Australia!) chapters is a strong indication that quite a few of us enjoy the journey. keep it up.

CJ, I admit that I do not post nearly as often as I should. And of course that is being somewhat mean - as you say ; you are doing your half of the bargain - I should do mine. it is interesting that you say that while comments on your stories have dropped off, it is not you alone. I only follow a couple of authors here and my commenting has dropped off with all. I had no idea I was part of a general movement! but back to you and your story. . I am so impressed not only with the writing, but that you are brave enough to put it out there. I may write, but I am no where near courageous enough to let anyone (even my partner) read it. So even before I read anything I was impressed that you are prepared to put yourself on the line for us great unwashed to paw, pick over, disect and generally play with. Haveing got over that aspect I am also impressed by your writing.I have loved the story ever since day 1. the characters, the injudicious use of cliffies, the twisted yet not fantastical plot, your knowledge of sailing, particularly along bizarre bits of the Australian coast and your ability to describe wih tortuous accuracy what it must feel like to all-but drown, be attacked by pirates, to find your "dead" mother etc. I am simply in awe of your skills. So bloody keep writing, OK? I promise - if you do, I will.

well , it looks like JP's statement at the beginning of dinner was to no purpose! they are all one hell of a mixed up family!

I had an essay I was made to write at school the day after man landed on the moon. It was a note to myself to be read in 1999. while I found the letter when I turned 40, it has since disappeared, but it was very funny. I was so convinved about techological change - and yet I was almost completely wrong!

Frankly I still wear glasses - I simply cannot put things in my eyes - and having to visit the specialist to get it done seems a little extravagent!

been there, done that: my "gaybies" (and I concur with KC Grim - they both would KILL me if they were called "Gaybies!) are now 24 and 29. My partner did suggest it 10+ years ago that we'd have a child, I honestly feel I have done my bit and really don't want to do it again! (That said - Sympathia, I would have your babies any day or night!!! ;-) )

but because all us gay boys have taken the good ones! !

my "trash between legit" read is anything by Georgette Heyer - regency stuff in particular. Her male heros are always bizarrely "gay". My partners HATES them and I know all the characters and plots by heart, but I still read them again and again.... I know; it's an illness!

I can't imagine a Campus without a bar - we had at least two, perhaps three.... it's a while ago now! At least a bar on campus resolved the issue of drink-driving! I have to agree that the 70's (late, I am not THAT old) were a great time to be in tertiary education - you still thought like a child but were treated as an adult - for me at least it was a perfect place to "grow up".

posting daily would work for me.... however I am happy to wait for the muse to return.... provided whoever he or she is, bloody hurries!

three things (or two things in Australian notation - you can work out why!) 1) sorry Sydney was never Australia's capital - it desperately wanted to be, but quality won out (that was just for my Sydney friends) and Melbourne was Australia's capital until, as per the Constitution, it was moved to Canberra in the 1920's. Yes the site of Canberra was chosen because it was neither Sydney or Melbourne - the politicians have not stopped complaining) 2) great piece of writing - and as to your usual state - no cliff-hangers! bastard! 2.5) Sandringham? you could have dropped the boys off at RMYC, St Kilda, or even Royals at Port Melbourne. Sandringham is about as boringly middle class as you can get. Definately no place for our lads.

if I was unsure about Brad's redeemability, I have no bloody idea as to whether Will should be emancipated. Is there a "partial emancipation"? Ultimately I suppose this is a "no" and so that's what I'll vote. Should a Judge make such a decision, I would pity the relevant Judge's wardrobe and vehicle.... Will has history where those are concerned.....

I hope he can be redeemed. He has been good in the past. I would like him to be redeemable, but.... he has done some very unparently things. so I vote.... unsure!

I think I have finally understood why this entire episode has had me just not quite feeling right: I cannot imagine a parent not moving heaven and earth until the person that took photos of their children was beaten to a pulp. All Wills drama is simply that of a 14 year old - with the significant layer on top of a parent/s just failing to do the one thing parents are supposed to do. great writing.....

In Australia Labour Day is descended from 8-hour day (when Australian Labour law was changed to ensure that every worker was entitled to "8 hours work, 8 hours rest and 8 hours recreation" I am not sure it was consistent across Australia but it started in Melbourne in 1856(?) spreading to other states by the 1870's). Now it is a public holiday celebrated in March, May or October, depenidng on which state or Territory you're in.

"foreshadowing"??? you mean bloody confusing twists of fate resident in the depts of the mind of one very abusive bastard! keep it up - excellent reading!

Will annoys me so much I couldn't vote for him even if the alternative was Wades mother! But then, it says something about how good an author we have that a character can piss me off that much (as opposed to the effect of Grainger <sigh> has on me )

somehow I moved the other way prior to 16 - conservative, 18-35 radical lefty 35 + slow drift to the centre-ish. I see this particularly in my reaction to the antics of some of the characters,,,,,,

glad to see te return of Caroline to the story. the political twists make australian politics positivly mundane. why do i get thatnthe relationship between the good doctor and the unscrupulous knight something to do with a cucumber? another episode in a compelling stor y congratulations

with sincere apologies to Sharon (see, I know where the power lies), I have never really bought into the Calvert hagiography. He's too much like chocolate; bloody delicious, unputdownable and definately something to go back to, but as a staple, it's just not that good for you....

if they got rid of the women and the blood it would make great viewing!

while this is slightly off topic, we do need to be careful in agreeing to knocking down buildings because we "don't like" them. The Victorians hated the plainess of Georgian buildings, the Modernists hated Art Nouveau & Edwardian buildings, in turn the 1970's butalists are not flavour of the decade now. So it is almost expected that we hate the architecture of the recent past but love that of earlier eras. all this to say that we need to be careful in what we pull down - the number of treasure lost because they were "out of date" (Penn station NY, Euston Station London to give two instant examples)

I'll admit that I had no idea that the first satellite was called "Telstar". In Oz Telstar was the name of a mid sized Ford sedan/hatch.