Kev

Absolutely understand now and it has made the tale all that more understandable. All I can say is that the man is a dick and one that is not only a dick but a bore and everyone knows it!! I am even more in love with Lucinius... Can I adopt him, I'm a good daddy... honestly. I have had lots of practice as I had a handful of my own before I came out.

I have gone back and looked over the beginning... Chapter one talks about Duccius and how he grew. How they wrestled and how he was like his father... Then in chapter two we see Lucinius learning by watching... I'm confused because I can't find where we learn about the birth of Lucinius and how his mother dedicated him to Apollo. We don't see how his father was with him, we skip straight to when he was a little boy and how he loved to learn and record it all... Have I missed something????? I only went back as I felt it might help get more of a feel for this chapter if I could see the beginning... but I can't find it. Can you help me?

I love that boy, "Then you pack up and come her." Duccius now knows, if he didn't before that Lucinius' love in unconditional whereas it is very clear that his father is conditional. What a f***ing shocker! A father wanting to put his own son down at birth, mind you knowing the father......... I know it was mentioned before about his mother and Apollo but hearing why in such graphic terms, I can understand why his grandfather had a lot to think about. that mean store is proving to be a real blessing, even if it is mostly used when the brother wants his fun. I dare say it's used at other times just that Duccius makes it full. You know there are people like the father still today. Where they assume that their birth gives them rights over others, or that being head of the house gives them the right to lord it over others. It's a shame that they can't throw the father down in the meat store to cool down his attitude for a little while. Mind you time in the dark away from reality and it wouldn't be long before you heard "Preciouss..." coming from the hole... No wait that's another story.

I think I could do with someone like Duccius, going out and bring in the meat. My hero and supporter. Surprised he left his brother with his father though. His dad will never change, I do think that his grandfather is coming around though. Loved the little tour around the villa and fields / orchards etc. His dad seemed almost human when he was talking about growing a cherry tree on a certain spot. I just hope he doesn't lose his cherry🤔Who knows it might give the extra, so that I can have some again.🤫🤭 I loved how he made everyone walk through like a buffet to teach his dad a lesson. Teach him to get off his fat ass and do something. You know I know a few people like that, went out with one once. couldn't stand it so decided a life of solitude would be better. Soon found a loving guy that I've been with for 19 years now.

I love the grandfathers and how they accept Lucinius and his ways. Duccius may never come around in the city, at least he respects the villa and the inhabitants and knows that he will always be welcome. Maybe he never will quite be like Lucinius, hell I have two brothers and neither of them are as good looking as I am 😇🤣😇. We are all blessed in different ways and it would seem, in this family, by different gods. I agree though; even if his dad is seriously ill, he won't change. Mine never did. feel good in his last few days. He hopes that Mars will see it look on him with favour when he finally stands before him. 😡 Lucinius whilst feeling good seeing his father, he also sees right through this act... as he says, hey its his villa so he couldn't care what his dad thinks now. It is his house!

Totally agree awesome chapter, they even have his father now hooked on my cherries... Does that mean I'm going to lose my cherry🤪 Falling in love with the brother and fell that now Duccius has well and truly been converted, only good things will follow. The gods truly are blessing the villa, just wish that they would step in with the world and give it a good shake to get it sorted int he current time.😡

Not too sure about the wild boar, but I do know I have definitely worked with are few that would bore the devil out of hell! So proud of Lucinius, the place is definitely moving forward and his brother know knows the true worth of the brother that he always loved. Makes me wonder how the gods are going to shape this place. The roast sounded yummy... wouldn't mind trying some of that, well they did have some left over. I'll trader weetabix for the roast boar...

I must admit that I am worried about Dante. What he do? How will he act around the people of Rome? How will they accept him? I have a feeling that when he gets to his lowest point that he will pray to Apollo and Lucinius or Gaius will be placed in a position to find him and help. I just don't think he is a bad man, I just think that he was a doubting Thomas. With the way that the wheat and oats have sold, I wonder if they will have as much success with the fruit now that it is ready for harvest. Loving the story, and willing to buy any spare cherries they have as I love them.

Dante doesn't know which side his bread is buttered... Lucinius is a good kind hearted kid and fast becoming a very respected man in the area. An example will be in the next harvest when the baker takes all of his product again before the market traders can get their hands on it. I think that's called cutting out the middle man. Duccius seems a good guy and I think he will be a real influence in Lucinius as the time goes by.

"I didn’t know father love you this much to give you a Villa" - Duccius seemed to have a little of the green eyed monster until her realized that Lucinius had been given a hovel and as far as his father had been concerned would have been living in a shed... His comment about the land from his father though shows that he was aware that there was little fatherly love for Lucinius. His observations of the slaves and the word loyalty being given to his prayers make it an interesting query as to what he will do next. It will also be interesting to see what his father gives to him now that he has left the army... or has he? Will he need to return to the legion once the visit is over?

I falling for Lucinius. Totally interested in how Aenais is going to figure in Lucinius' life; especially since Apollo spoke to him. NOOO... don't adopt Aenias... Adopt me 😍😁🤪 I'm totally house trained and already in love with the food. Might be a bit old, but I am still young at heart and in my own minds eye.

Blessed by the Gods, and if you are going to have a god on your side who better than Apollo? The boy and his father are wise to have decided to thank Apollo of their blessings, maybe the others will follow and Apollo will truly bless Lucinius. By the way Felix sneaked one of the cakes out and let me try it, Lucinius is right his mam will love them.

Please sir, I want more! Read it once before but just had a 25 chapter fest and loved every minute ... so frustrated! Who is on the table? Currently listening to the update from the Prime Minister, I actually think sometimes that he is in cahoots with them... Since I read this the first time the world has gone to shit and it is so close to cloth that it is scary!😱

I've had visitors descend like that as well, that time I had to take to cooking for them to disappear just like Lucinius did. A letter from his brother? Now that is interesting. I wonder what he will discover?

As a kid we always went tatty (potato) picking and fruit picking every year... That was before they brought in workers from over seas. Mind when I picked the strawberries and raspberries as a young kid, I think it was one for the punnet but two for my mouth. You had better warn Lucinius I could end up eating his profits.

I agree, his poor father is going to stark raving mad... Especially if he ever discovers that Lucinius has the blessing of Apollo... From the sounds of the property I'd love to have an invite when the grandfathers return for the feast... Hey I'll even bring some good only English cooking with me. Absolutely loving it... You can tell a good tale when you are able to put yourself in the story and become part of the plot. I've been there all along with one (just wish I had some sunscreen).

I never really knew any of my grandparents. The only one that was alive when I was born was my mother's adopted father. Granddad was fun and very loving but he died when I was young, so my memories are patchy. I think it was from him that my love of stories come from as he was forever making them up when he put us to bed. I have a feeling that Duccius is just as worried about his brother and loves him just as much, but because of how his father is, is afraid to even mention Lucinius, probably relying on anything that the grandfathers say in their letters. It would be nice to see him visit Lucinius instead of heading to Rome when he returns home. If he were to be injured, I'm sure that it would be Lucinius that would care for him and not his father. You know... I just hope that I'm like those granddads as I have a litter of grandkids now.

Lucinius is not the type of man to let his father win, I don't think he's the type to let the gods win either. He will work and work hard to win the land and then the gods will be pleased with his efforts and grant him many blessings. I just have this feeling that he is going to make this mother and grandfathers proud of him before the end. Absolutely loving Lucinius... Been out all day and had to get my early dose before having lunch.

That boy is amazing... I think Brad might have been a distant relative the way he took care of Aumen and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets that reputation with the property he is taking over. Together with the men his grandfather is sending him they will sort that land out no bother and the building will be large enough to enable his household to grow. Lucinius is the type of person to take one look at the land and be able to irrigate it, tend it and make it come to life again. I just hope he has everything in scrolls of written down because if he does turn it around his dad will come vying to take it back.

It is relatively new but is the handle grinder kind... We don't tend to us pepper that much but have the matching set... I love my salt. I also like getting different flavoured spices and experimenting with food.

I never use table salt... prefer sea salt and the grinder (not the modern grindr)... The boy is a genius in the making and his grandfather recognises the talent... like watering the plant, his grandfather and mother are encouraging his growth. Loving the story, just a pity his father spoke to Mars and not his son.

I'll order a cup of sea salt, could do with a top up. Clever little sod, isn't he? That is what worries his dad not that he's weak, but that if he allows it then Lucinius will one day out rank both his own father and older brother. It's fear, I don't think it is hate or anything like that... Indifference possibly but fear of what he will become and what people are saying behind their backs. Great chapter Loving it. Interested in finding out what these scrolls will become.

Appias reminds me so much of my own father as he held me up by the throat against the wall when my mother died and called me a murderer. My mother had cancer when I was born and refused treatment until the birth; by then in those days it was too late... He always blamed me... 25 years later I still heard those words echoing in my head when he wanted to have my son spend the week with him 'murderer'. He literally turned up with a case to take my boy and wouldn't listen to me... We never let him take him, it was the one time my ex showed her claws when she told him to suck it up and become a man! she also called the police and had them on the phone in case they were needed. May have been a bitch but she reminds me of Lucinius' mother, hurt her son and hell better watch out and get ready. Loving the story 😊

Lucinius so reminds me of me as a kid... I still question his dad but you have me hooked. Loving the story and looking forward to see if I need to book a holiday over to ancient Rome.😁

Great start... Like the mother and the son, but think the father is a bit of a dick... Loving the story but at the moment can't see me wanting to move to ancient Rome.