PrivateTim

Younger days? Isn't George under 30 still? Maybe under 25? Caroline would not have been welcome in Brook's, White's or Boodles, and still would not be today. Carlton caved in 2008 because of electoral politics and The Reform Club in the 1980's, I think, but that is to be expected from a Liberal club.

George would eat at Rule's, Wilton's, White's, etc because it is a social thing, possibly a political thing, and something different. Beyond that, it would be an interesting story insertion showing these businesses that have been around more than 200 years, which is an astounding thing in the restaurant business.

Did I dream it, has George eaten at Rule's, or Wilton's, or both?

On a side not, can I say how much I love El Tarasco in Manhattan Beach. Classic old school California Mexican restaurant that has been around for more than 60 years and has great margaritas. Also for our Manhattan Beach dwellers, Uncle Bill's Pancake House, another member of the 60+ year club in MB and The Kettle, only open 50+ years, but also open 24 hours. Nothing better than their Kettle Burger & Onion Ringat 3AM. https://etsouthbay.com/ https://www.unclebills.net/ https://www.thekettle.net/

Not that he will, but I think Will needs to call in reinforcements. He should convince Travis to at least sit down and talk with Stef and JP, lay out what is going on and ask for feedback. If I was Will, I'd prep JP and Stef in advance so they can think about the situation in advance, but I wouldn't let Travis know they had been prepped. I also think that for 19 year olds, they have way too much drama in their lives, are too serious and not ready for a real relationship. If Will isn't willing to give up Europe for his partner, who is in obvious crisis, he isn't ready for a real relationship. If he is thinking, "this dude is too dependent on me", he is not ready for a real relationship. If he is not willing to insist that Travis get outside help, and Travis is not willing to, neither is ready for a real relationship. You work through issues as a couple when you are a couple or you are not really a couple and not ready to be a couple.

I'm so glad I live on the West Coast.

Thank you Mark for the holiday bonus. I've been quite busy celebrating the legacy of Dr. King. I think I've related before my love for Spain, due in part to a trip as a young teen, or tween, where I was amazed that the Spanish didn't look like Mexican, and amazed at how many great looking people. I think only Scandinavia had more. But I digress. I was musing as to how many lovers Granger has had yet he is still not outed by any of them, but I guess it was like me in high school; the guys I hooked up with had as much to lose as me. Everyone kept their mouth shut. I wonder if Iberico ham was a thing back then.

You do know who Mark Arbour is, right? 🤣

I don't dislike Travis the way I disliked Robbie (by the end) and or how I never liked Zach, but Travis has his many faults brought lots of drama and baggage to the table. I'd have been fine with a low drama, normal teen like Noah, or of course Alistair.

But the flip side is the parties on yachts, in mansions, a friend calling to invite you to Las Vegas for the weekend, and he means you are flying there in his private plane and staying in a villa.

Julien is beyond an ass, he is an asshole. Hopefully Travis will not take a direct action (but of course he will, that is where the drama comes from). He needs to realize he is very wealthy and can mess with people in very stealthy ways. Kendo is a different form of asshole. He is the Scalp Collector. He goes after guys for the sport and part two of the game is The Dump. Kendo needs a swift kick in the balls.

Thanks Mark for the newest installment. I feel a big curve ball on the way before Will gets home. I don't think Julien is a Method Actor, I think he is an Ass Hole. OF COURSE Travis wasn't going to contact Casey. That was WAY TOO (sorry, in a caps mood today) logical and easy and would probably interfere with the coming drama. This sentence bothered me, “I don’t know what his deal is. The vibe I’m getting is that he wants to mess around with me really bad, but he doesn’t want to admit that makes him bisexual.” I know that isn't, or I don't think, that is Mark's philosophy, but there seems to be this need in the gay community to slap labels on everyone. My libertarian leanings lean towards freedom, to be able to class yourself as you feel comfortable. I have known completely straight guys who enjoyed sex with guys. Just enjoying sex, regardless of the source doesn't make you anything, except perhaps a horn dog or a hedonist. Why does Will "don't tell me anything" Schluter want to tell Sky what his sexuality is? I know guys who in Middle School identified as bi (that was very hip in middle school at the time), then in high school were straight, curious in college, and now self identify as gay (although a couple tell me in confidence they are really bi but telling some gays you like the pussy sends them into rants). Most of the guys I blew and got blown by in Middle School and High School are straight, wives, kids, mortgages, the whole 9 yards. Just because they enjoyed the stuff we did, doesn't make them bi. Sexuality is a complicated, fluid thing.

Patience is it's own reward.

It's not the Cyclones, Bush Fires, Flooding, Hail and Heatwaves, it is the 9 deadliest snakes, 7 deadliest spiders and even Perry wants to kill me.

This week has been so quiet I feel like everyone is at some fabulous party that I am missing.

I never went to the gay group at Berkeley because it contained two types of people, those who were progressive activists and wanted to organize a boycott/protest every other minute and those who were there for a hook up. The only time I've been involved in gay/bi groups were playing in gay volleyball and basketball groups. I also helped organize a gay wrestling group, serious freestyle and folkstyle wrestlers. Even in 2025 in California I am not sure an openly gay wrestler would be accepted in high school or college.

Thanks Mark for the latest drop. Isn't MLK Day soon? 😁 I actually think the gay community is better than it was in a lot of ways. To hear my older gay friends talk about it, it was like it was with JP in Book One, you met guys anonymously in public bathrooms and never even learned their names and seldom saw them more than once. One of my older gay friends always made it a point to know a guy's first AND last name. He said he knew guys who'd been on dates and didn't know their date's last name. Kendo is a manipulator. I've seen his type dozens of times. He will see how irritated Julian makes Travis, and use that as hid entree, as if he cares about Travis. If Will had a clue, he'd get a third party in there on set a couple of times.... Cody, maybe Brad or Jake, even Stef. Doesn't Stef own the production company? If Travis had a clue he'd contact Casey and talk about coping mechanism, but that is as likely to happen as a dude asking directions when he is lost.

Is this thing on? (tap tap tap) Am I connected to the Internet??

“Since we have no formal commitment, does that mean that I am allowed to run off with one of these handsome men?” he asked, being bitchy. He was still pissed off that I wouldn’t commit to being his alternate boyfriend. “Technically, you can, but if you do, you have to make sure I don’t know about it,” I said. To me, Will's answer means, 'no you can't', so naturally Will sneaks off to get fucked twice while on the quasi-date with Carlo. “Hey Kris,” I said, my patience at an end. He looked at me questioningly. “Fuck you.” What patience? You were a little bitch from the get go. This is some of the immaturity I see in Will. I don't mind that a 19 year old is immature, I expect him to be, but Will is set up as wise and mature beyond his years, again to the point where he is more mature than Brad, Grand, Claire and many other adults. I understand the pressure to preform Kris is under at GS. Jeremy doesn't and I am not sure he cares. I think Jeremy thinks it would be okay if Kris quit and just let Jeremy support the two of them. I don't think he understands Kris's need to succeed, especially financially.

I finally have time for a proper comment. Thanks Mark for the flood of chapters over the last couple of weeks! I appreciate you taking time away from all the other things you needed to do to complete and post these chapters. For being the most mature guy around, Will sure is full of insecurities when someone doesn't like him. Fornicate Finn with a red hot poker. When someone is a little bitch to me, I don't fret over it, I shake the dust from my shoes and move on. Well sort of. I will look for opportunities to mess with them if I can without being obvious. Travis is like a mouse sniffing that cheese that looks just so tempting. He'll never hear the bar coming down that will crush him.

Thanks Mark for the newest chapter of PoA. It is nice for you to be giving out presents over the holiday season. PS Did you know Jan 7, 2026 is Orthodox Christmas? 🤣 I like Freddie worlds more than Calvert. Cavendish seems a better match for George on every level. Carmella needs to straighten out Elizabeth and explain the facts of life. I hope we get to Spain soon so George fuc..... uh... renew old friendships.

I KNEW IT!!

Thanks Mark for the bonus chapter! It is funny how in the 1950s and 60s that JP grew up in/came of age in, car culture was so important. With the industries of Europe and Japan flat on their back, the U.S. dominated the worldwide car market. What brand you drove said lots about you and people would make judgements about you based on that. My father spent part of his youth growing up in Honolulu. There, when you met someone local for the first time, one of the first things you slipped in was, 'where did you go to high school?' The answer almost immediately slotted you into a category of your place in society. I think it is a little less rigid now, but being a Punahou grad still has cache, but the school is less exclusive than it used to be. I get there needs to be drama and tension in relationships, but can't Will and Travis have a conversation without getting amped up? Why does each one race to the worst possible interpretation/conclusion about what someone says? That is where I see the immaturity in Will and Travis.

Woot woot, it's a travisty!

I missed Calvert too..... but I've been practicing... I won't miss again.🤣