Dodger

As Robbie points out, Don likes to play the big shot. He uses money to control his family, but it hasn't worked with Robbie. His refusal to ask Don for money that was rightfully his must have frustrated Don more than anything else. Having someone in his family with opposing views whom he cannot control or influence is a nightmare scenario for someone like Don.

Nicola was put in her place by Stephanie, who is clearly still unsure about what role, if any, she would like Robbie to play in her child's future. It looks as if Sue will need every ounce of strength she can muster if she's going to confront Don, but Robbie has given her more ammunition.

Friday was Nathan’s birthday, and I was up extra early to call him and jump in the shower before Nicola hogged the bathroom. Sixteen was the age of consent in Canada and an important milestone in our relationship. From now on, we could legally have sex without breaking the law, which made it a little easier for his parents to justify my overnight stays in his room. I was still shagging their son, but at least now he wasn’t underage. Sue had already agreed to my request to stay at Nathan’s h

That's right, Philippe is Fran's older brother and another boy that Robbie had the hots for.

Philippe is Fran's brother, and David is Stephanie's brother and Fran's boyfriend. It's a small town where, according to Nathan, you're either dating or related. There's no doubt that Rory and Robbie are well-matched. They share the same hobbies and have developed a close friendship that Nathan sees as a threat. Rory is loyal and reliable; he has strong opinions on drugs, but he can still have a good time, and Robbie seems to have more fun with him than anyone else. Nathan, on the other hand, is high-maintenance and self-centred. He's also very ambitious and unlikely to let a relationship get in the way of a potential career in acting, but he seems to be increasingly dependent on Robbie. There are other options as well, and enough time for a last-minute surprise.

The odds of Robbie and Nathan staying together must be astronomical. If Nathan is to fulfil his dream of becoming an actor, then he will eventually have to head south to the States, where there's a lot more opportunity, but that's probably a long way off. Matthew and Jo still have parts to play.

Thank you, @Andlove for your comment. I have been meaning to reply for some time, so please forgive the delay. It's interesting to read about your friend in school. I think there are a lot of people out there like him, who sail very close to the edge without ever crossing over. Perhaps Rory will be the same. I'm sorry to hear of your losses (21 is such a young age), and I can understand how this story may have brought back some difficult memories, particularly with your mother. I wish you well. Feel free to message me if you want.

Thank you, @Jeff Burton for your comment. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I started writing the Cockney Canuck as a kind of therapy to deal with issues left over from my childhood. It was a very personal thing, and I had no intention at the time to let anyone else read it. I hadn't written anything previous to that, and I was surprised by how much it helped. I find writing enormously therapeutic, and it can be very satisfying. I see you have already written a few stories, so you should definitely write about your own experiences. I'm sorry you had to endure such a difficult childhood, and I understand how this story may have opened up some wounds. Losing your parents is always a gut-wrenching experience, but it's devastating at that age. I'm pleased you managed to survive despite the failures of the church. The first few chapters of the story were based on my own experiences, so I understand what you went through, although I should point out that everything after that is fiction. It's not an autobiography, and my life was never as exciting or eventful as Robbie's. Like you, I also could have done with someone like Jo to advise me. I wish you well and hope you enjoy the rest of the story. Feel free to message me if you want.

It makes sense for Robbie to think about his future, and it's good that he can be pragmatic about his relationship with Nathan. It will help to cushion the blow if his worst fears come true. Rory is confusing, but he's also honest, loyal, funny, and unashamedly affectionate. Who wouldn't want to have a best friend like that? Maybe Robbie's overthinking things. He needs to be careful. If Rory is straight, then eventually, he may get fed up with Robbie drooling over him.

Sue promised Robbie in the beginning that she wouldn't try to replace his mom, but that was always her intention. It was a promise she had to break, and Robbie will be grateful she did. It's a pity Don couldn't fulfil his sister's wishes and be the father Robbie needed. It's impossible to predict what will happen if Nathan realises his ambition to become an actor, but it makes sense for Robbie to think about the future and be realistic rather than ignore the dangers and hope for the best. It would be nice if they could stay together, no matter what happens, but what are the odds?

It definitely confused Robbie.

No one has managed to confuse and frustrate Robbie as much as Rory, but he's also proved to be a valuable friend. Perhaps a lifelong friend with no romantic complications will be better for Robbie in the long run.

Sue has been patient with Robbie. She knew from the beginning that it wasn't going to be easy, and there were times when it looked as if Don was going to wreck all her good work. She deserved a hug.

We still have a local directory, but I never use it. It was good of Robbie to show Sue some affection. She needed some love, and so does Rory. If Nathan was away for a month, and if Rory decides to swing both ways, I'm not sure if Robbie would be able to resist, but there are a lot of ifs in that statement.

It's been on the cards for a while. I think Robbie has finally realised how important Sue has been.

Hello @Justin4Fun. You've done remarkably well to binge-read all those chapters. I know the early ones especially are a bit raw, so I hope you noticed a gradual improvement as the story progressed. 🤞

Thanks, @Gary L. This was probably the longest gap between chapters, and I was concerned people would think I abandoned it. Rest assured that won't happen. I promise you that this story will reach its conclusion. Work has gotten in the way recently. Someone left, and I've had to put in a lot of extra hours until they found a replacement. Add some family issues that needed resolving and I've been left with precious little time to spend with Robbie and co. Boring stuff, but regular service will now be resumed, whatever that is. I apologise to all the frustrated readers.

Walking back from the church that Sunday lunchtime allowed me to reflect on how much my life had changed since moving to Canada. I rarely got time on my own nowadays, but my childhood in England was littered with such moments, particularly when my mom was ill. It made me appreciate the value of human company and instilled in me a desire to never be alone. This determination was the reason I agreed to the adoption. The chance to legally insert myself into a ready-made family for the rest of

It's not often that I'm lost for words, but on this occasion, I don't know what to say. He was someone I always thought would be around forever. I know that doesn't make much sense, but neither does his passing. I'm gutted. I'm gonna miss you, Carlos.

I enjoy reading and writing stories set in the recent past, particularly the cold war era of the '50s, '60s and '70s, which I find fascinating. Doing research can be fun and technology has made it a lot easier. The internet has enabled me to find out what life was like before the internet.

Alberta doesn't do average, does it? It's either thirty below or intense heat and raging forest fires. A swing of sixty degrees centigrade in a few weeks is insane, but so is watching the Maple Leafs. I concede they're rubbish, and anyone who follows real football will know what I mean when I say their exit from the Stanley Cup in the week was very Tottenhamesque. Seriously though, as an animal lover, I always feel sorry for the wildlife trapped in those horrible fires. I hope they get them under control soon.

How come you get the International Beer Festival, and all we get is the Maple Syrup Festival?

Winnipeg? Hmm, not much joy there. Perhaps ML will finally win a series.

It’s easy to blame everything on climate change, and anyone who isn’t dialled into this narrative is labelled a denier. The climate is changing; everyone knows that, but it is constantly changing, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. Politicians never miss an opportunity to scare the public into believing the world is about to end unless we change our lives, but there is little evidence to support a climate emergency. Climatologists who are not on the government payroll will tell you the planet is warming up because we’re still coming out of the last ice age, and it will get a lot warmer regardless of how much we cut back on fossil fuels. They are looking at the bigger picture, yet we’re prepared to risk our very existence on the evidence gathered since records began. That was only a hundred and forty years ago; we need to go back millions of years to even begin to understand how the planet has evolved and predict the future. Common sense needs to kick in at some point, and the public need to hear the arguments on both sides rather than governments shutting down anyone who disagrees with their narrative. That’s how we learn and can make informed decisions instead of running around like proverbial headless chickens.