Westie

well.... i'm still pretty undecided.... but we will take it as it comes

Tease

I will share mine if you will share yours....

I'm really surprised here about the debates based on "mutiny" and what that could mean. These stories are all rooted in HISTORY.... it seems to me that a look at the navel history of this period would give you all the reassurance you need. Though I'm sure in Mark's exceptionally skilfull storytelling hands... historical events will take on a life of their own.

I kinda miss Wade..... Teenage drama is what gossip girl is for...

well, i already gave my feedback, and if i repeated it here i would probably be banned by the mods for the language i use..... so im just saying hugs, I love you and Im yours

That sounds like a threat she might take you up on! Love you nephy !

For josh I was thinking more of a young rob Lowe..... though i see young rob lowe in almost every character

YB, you are assuming I havent done all those things already?

So, as many of you know I now live in London, and Paya will be joining me in the next 2 months. So, now one incredibly stressful part of my life is over, I wanted to make a list of things to do: (1) Excel at my new job (which I start today) (2) Move Paya over here (3) Finish my story (did you know I have a story? the first chapter was put up 2 years ago, I didn't do much with it after that, but its still there) (4) Use my company provided gym membership regularly (5) Go to Paris (6) Learn to drive (7) Eat less chocolate (8) FINALLY tour the British museum IN FULL. (9) Visit all the London places mentioned in Mark Arbour's "Bridgemont" series (10) take paya to a gay bar Now, I want a list of 50 things to do..... so over to you guys.... Suggestions?

damn.... thats SO not the reaction i wanted. Arbour baiting is so much harder than it used to be

Bah. You're just chasing after teenage Brad again... writing with a similar voice we had in Be Rad... Personally, i think its due to insecurities about your becoming old.... 3 years to your 50th is it?

I'm sorry to disagree, but my mother-in-law is baking her famous "death-by-chocolate" cake. i DEFINITELY need this cake

Thanks everyone! its beean a great day so far. I spent the afternoon at a Unesco monument and now we are gonna go see one of my heroines portrayed at the cinema in the Iron Lady Just to reply to a few posts..... You made it a great day so far baby ! Well, as you know, Letters patent are issued by royalty, you shouldnt have to look far to find a few Queens about the place.... But as it happens I already have a Kick Ass title..... its Mr Paya

Seeing John Nash in this chapter was fantastic. Remember that this is the man that re-designs the best parts of london (regent street etc). He designed Brighton pavilion, and the nice part of Buckingham Palace (not the frontage we see today, but the building behind it) along with some pretty spectacular private castles. A really interesting chapter

Im being played by Chase Crawford, though the steamy scenes are being doubled by Brent Corrigan. Paya has yet to be cast, because there are no current movie stars hot enough to play him

I've just stumbled onto this thread, and having read over a few posts I want to share a few thoughts. I might ramble on a little, and for that I apologise First I want to talk about acceptance. Knowing that you have an illness makes dealing with it 100% easier, and so the people on here who have accepted their situation (Mark92 is a great example) have done singularly the hardest and the most beneficial leg of their journey. Accepting that there is something not "right" is hard in itself and can be almost as traumatic as the initial problem. I mention this as "acceptance" because you can't expect anything from anyone else that you cannot give to yourself. And unfortunately, too many people in this world are dismissive of "depression" and related illnesses. Where I work, "stress", "depression" - these are considered a "malady of the idle". It is seen as a weakness. Too many people share this view. They do not know the sheer act of strength it can be for a depressed person simply to get out of the bed in the morning (or indeed to do anything). Before I met Pája, I was alone. I felt completely isolated from the world. I had few friends, and every single friend I did have was a work colleague. Having nothing in my private life, I threw myself into my work. I worked 18 hour days, sometimes sleeping on the sofa in my office, changing my shirt in the morning and starting again. When i DID go home, the first thing I did wasn't to check the mail or put on the kettle. I poured a whisky. No half measures. Mine is a large treble. In the little free time I allowed myself, I read (obsessively) stories on awesomedude, nifty and eventually GA. That all ended (quite abruptly) when I met pája. People now tell me about my "depressive phase" and how worried they were, but although I know i was going down a difficult road, i wouldn't dream of comparing this period in my life to a real "depression" that I have read on here. Actually i think my problem would have lead, if not for my pája, to alcoholism in a few years time. I don't like the guy I was turning into. Me and Pája have a name for him... "Worky Marky" (my first name is Mark) - he's no fun. He doesn't have friends. he is nasty and hard and cruel. I don't want to become that person again. I want to change and make myself a better man. Anyway, sorry to ramble.... what i really wanted to do here is support all those brave enough to stand up and be counted and recognize themselves. Accept it; because then the healing begins. West

I was so impressed by this chapter And im willing to bet a whole month's salary that its not any of Quonus' suggestions I really love this story. I know its coming to a close now, and my gut feeling is that the next story is something a little different. Pretty exciting

Bah, you and arbour have this love-hate relationship, that really doesnt fool anyone - we all realise its more of a "lets-go-out-to-the-woods-and-rut" relationship

I really liked this chapter. Wade is HOT when he's being dangerous. We need to see more of this!!!! Mark - how much do you charge for early chapter previews LOL

Oh come on Q. Have you never been caught in a moment of realisation? Phillip has been holding back from something for SO long. obviously he felt that his position was more important than his own physical desires. Then a situation comes along that allows him to indulge in that oh so forbidden fruit. Dont you think that's something more real than anything else Mark might write about? I think once back in London, "Sir" Phillip will reassert himself, but maybe allowing somers more than just a peek through the crack in the door

Well, i thought this chapter was leading up to the "and they lived happily ever after" part? yeah, right! Great chapter and great writing Mark as always. I can't wait for the next chapters, and the next story !

Well, as many of you know, we had this plan. It was wonderful. I was gonna save up a nice amount of money, and on the 31st August this year, move to the Czech Republic to be with Paya. Its been month's in preparation already - discussions, plans, ideas - but late last week, in the space of three days everything changed. And it changed with a single email... I was contacted by a recruiter who asked me if I would consider work in London. Apparently my areas of expertise have become more sought after in recent years, and my salary has fallen behind the curve. It turns out that in London, people in my position are looking at salaries 71% higher than mine. Now, I earn a very good wage now, so 71% is what I call a "game changer". And although London is a lot more expensive, I would be able to afford to rent a place, pay all the gas and electric, council tax, water rates, broadband, television etc, pay transport and food and still have a significant amount of money left over. London also has the advantage that it would be relatively easy for Paya to get a job here, as opposed to my hick town in the North, where it would be pretty hard to get anything other than waiting tables. London is more gay friendly, more cosmopolitan than anywhere in the Czech Republic. It also has the advantage of pretty great transport links to... well everywhere in the world. More planes come through the City's five airports every day than any other city in the world. There are disadvantages too. London is a very rushed and fast pace of life. Especially in the centre. One of the attractions of the Czech Republic was the more sedate pace. Paya is also closer to his family than I am to mine, and I feel bad about him moving away from them. So, right now, we have two options. London or the Czech Republic. This coming week i have "discussions" about a few prospects (apparently the formal interview is sooo passé) and I guess we will have to make a decision. Paya and I have a long weekend for valentines in London from Friday - I doubt very much that we will now be looking at London in the same way. Between the Markets, Galleries and "Naked Boys Singing" (a show we have tickets for; front row obviously for the best view).... There might just be a little flat hunting.

Mark's stories are what brought me to GA. So, to those of you who i have occasionally annoyed.... BLAME ARBOUR!!!! Seriously though, the bridgemont series is particularly well written - I do take up the challenge of trying to find historical inaccuracies in Mark's work. I will tell you this much - I dont find many.

A particularly good chapter. I think I have some ideas why two messengers are being sent by Jervis, because of the politics and history that went on after the battle. However, I wont spoil the suspense by going into detail here. I really am enjoying this story, in my view Mark, its the best you have written. the time and effort that goes into these "bridgemont" stories obviously pays dividends in quality for you.