Dodger

Haha. Won't that be fun for Don, if he can stay sober enough to witness it. Thanks JP.

There is some history between the Principal and Robbie's mother. I'm going to leave it at that for the moment although it doesn't have a great deal of bearing on the story. Thanks @Sweetlion

Nathan is an attention seeker who finds it hard to take a back seat. It may be difficult for Robbie to keep pace with him. We will see, certainly Alex deserves some luck and security and the chance to be himself. Robbie can probably help him to a certain extent even if only as a friend. We will see. It's possible that Alex is waiting in the wings for Nathan to implode. First of all Robbie needs to find out what history there is between them and he may need to show his hand to Nathan first to find out the truth. Thanks @Israfil

Thanks @Dahawk Yeah, Alex has done a bit of an about turn since his introduction as the closeted bully but he's always going to be a little rough around the edges in contrast to silky smooth, china doll like Nathan.

Not everyone here agrees with the welcome and I know that there has been problems in Quebec. I'm not sure of the actual figures but so far there's not much enthusiasm for building a wall!

I think you hit the nail on the head there JayT. Don and Sue need to take control of this party before it all goes pear shaped.

Thanks @Benji You're absolutely right about the swimming pool. Robbie was happy to go along with the joke. It was Nicola barring his exit from the pool that annoyed him. We will have to wait and see what happens with Alex when the dust settles.

Ha ha. I don't think any of our stories make the news in the States but Kim Campbell was only Prime Minister for about six months and I had to look that up.

Thanks droughtquake Okay, just to set the record straight. The line "targeted because of your gender" was a mistake and should have read "targeted because of sexual orientation." This one made it through to posting and it's one of the reasons why I need an editor. I have decided to change this rather than blame it on Mr Andrews who I like to think would have known better. Maybe like Don, he had one too many beers. Kim Campbell was Canada's 19th Prime Minister in 1993 and definitely female although she didn't last that long.

Thanks Tim. So far Robbie hasn't been able to relax at the party because he has too many distractions and is trying to please everyone when he doesn't need to. The night's not over yet!

Thanks @Wesley8890 Mr Andrews is a good guy with a special interest in Robbie's well-being. He has also been a close friend of Don for many years so he could prove very useful.

Thanks Carlos for all your hard work, I love what you've done with this feature and your little introductions are perfect. I was flattered when I was asked to participate and for anyone interested the Church and Tradesman is finished and the remaining chapters will be posted very soon.

“Alex you look like…hmmm…like.” “Like what, dickhead?” “Like a mummy,” I said and it was true. His left arm was in plaster and held in a sling in front of him and he had bandages wrapped around the top of his head, his neck and shoulder. “Very funny,” he said. “I’m actually in a lot of pain.” It was out of character for Alex to admit to being disadvantaged in any way but looking at him, he didn’t really have much choice and was clearly in some discomfort. “Why are you here?”

Absolutely brilliant! I loved the way that Mel gradually lost control of his own show. Too bad it had to be a one-off, I bet his ratings went through the roof that night.

Thanks Sam for your cool critique. I'm glad that you weren't 'brutally honest' as Tim put it but I also know how much 'Charlie' would get under his skin. I needed to do something with him and in the end I thought that he deserved a story of his own. The character is based very closely on someone who I know and if anything, I've actually toned him down a bit. The real one is even more annoying!!!

'There's nothing wrong in changing your mind' and Jimmy's doing a fine job helping Drake to do that. Everything seems to be falling into place nicely; maybe a glass of champagne will loosen everyone up a little. Wedding receptions are generally fun.

You are right actually. England and particularly London is very diverse and has thousands of restaurants serving food from all over the world. Whatever it is you want, you will be be able to find it here and I'm just about to tuck into a Sunday roast now before preparing to head back across the sea.

I don't know what's worse, English food or Canadian. Neither country is known for its gastronomic excellence. Poutine or Yorkshire pudding. I don't particularly like ether.

Yeah, I suppose this is Tom in reverse. It seems that my life is following the story although this guy certainly isn't and hasn't ever been Tom. He has started reading the story though.

So here’s what’s new. I’ve returned to the land of my ancestors. The little, funny-shaped island on the top left-hand corner of Europe where I spent most of my childhood, including half of my school life and a few chaotic years as an adult. This is the fourth time that I have been back since I was shipped off to the new world as a teenager and it seems that each time I return, this once very familiar place has moved a little further away. I have to admit that after seventeen years in Canada there is very little English left in me and I am now no more than a tourist in a city which for so long, I regarded as my home. One of the reasons for this visit was to attend a surprise birthday party for a friend who I have known since primary school. It was organised by his wife and she was the one who persuaded me to come over in a series of clandestine telephone calls and emails. It was a genuine surprise for my friend who didn’t suspect a thing and as you can imagine, it was quite an emotional reunion. He was completely unaware of the secret cross Atlantic messaging between his best friend and his wife and had no idea that she had already moved me into the spare room in their house earlier that day while he was at work. Understandably I suppose, he wasn’t that concerned by my harmless cavorting with his good lady and I spent most of the evening trying to free myself from his endless, tearful man hugs. I didn’t mind at all; he has always been one hundred percent straight but completely at home and supportive of my sexuality. I couldn’t want for a better friend and I shall miss him the most.

I knew Preston was a bastard but now we know the reason why Drake and Jimmy aren't actually a couple, although it doesn't look to be far off. Credit to Jimmy for being so patient. Naughty Dot!

Maybe only Robbie would be stupid enough to fall for it?

You maybe putting too much faith in him. We will see. Thanks for your comments Albert.

Robbie's been fooled and you're right, it's hard to imagine Alex writing those notes.

Robbie is naive to say the least but he's had little in the way of guidance so far in his life. Thanks Albert.