Northerner

College in the GA world is so supremely slutty. Wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sometimes IKEA is you matter converter when you move. Still, I’d like a real good nerdgasm - it’s been a while. Wonder how new Shawn will readjust his plans from old Shawn’s before the trauma without raising suspicions. Also, gAI is starting to step up the tutorial mode. Shawn needs to fly under the radar.

Haha, I was just up in the family holiday home in the woods up north in Sweden. It’s a lovely collection of cottages in an old summer pasture by a mountain lake in the woods, but describing it too vividly is pointless, it’s something that needs experiencing. The contrast is wild between places. Now, Uganda… haven’t been to a part of Africa in a long time. Who knows what develops? Seeing the Southern Cross and the lack of light pollution is a fond memory from the savannah. You certainly get transported via text. Or your travels 😅

Ever stirring the pot, we are now introduced to a new set of variables. Big, Taylor and Fellowes. There’s more to this, and it’s going to be spicy. Jack is a walking midlife crisis, is he heading for a breakdown, or is there something deeper like cancer eating away at him? Macular degeneration that means he’s not going to be able to work? He’s being an ass, but I still feel some sympathy for the man. Will, Marie and the younger crowd are trying to navigate, while being very college age about things. It’s full on drama. Happy we’re treated to sone Brad and Jake back in action - I’ve missed them! It’s only Monday and I’m on the road - better pace myself until the next chapter drops.

It’s not only the glögg, but also pepparkaka - gingerbread. They go together, maybe with some saffron bread if it’s in season right before x-mas. That aside, holiday homes around Sweden are superbly cosy. It’s like taking some time off to go live in the Shire for a little while before going back to the grind. The small town of Trosa is a gem. It’s a real nice day trip from Stockholm. Anyway, bucolic as it may be up north, Alarik now has to right the ship regarding Wolf and Justin. Justin is being dramatic about things and Wolf has reacted rashly. It’s going to be interesting to see if Alarik’s diplomacy wins the day.

To be Forever 21, having H&M sex in the hungry Gap. Yet another addition to Shawn’s repertoire. The teenagers are going at it like their life depends on it, and who can blame them?

The odds are now stacked against the Carters, the submarine and dear old Blighty. As tension is high, Andrew is forced on a Merlin bound for sea. The things you do for king and country… meanwhile, things are being sabotaged left right and center. Time start chewing some nails.

Oooh, our boy Shawn rekindled an old friendship he didn’t remember. Still, a good lay is a good lay, and he got awarded points even. I’d take it too, were I in his shoes. Job done, let’s see what lies in wait as he ventures out in this strange new world. Everything is giving a slightly off, eerie vibe so something is definitely afoot.

The secret layers are peeled back, just like you’d do an onion. Will is distressed that his family is brought into the limelight; good thing he’s got competent and trusted aides who can put him back on an even keel. Andrew is off playing a high stakes sleuthing game. We are teased that Aegis is aware of the data theft - the question is how far they’ve been able to ascertain who did it? Data exfiltration at a defense contractor is serious business.

Shouldn’t more of our protagonist’s existence be gamified? Picked up hints of dissent +3P? Still, our boy is fast growing into the world. If the shoe fits - wear it.

Marc and Adam taking over smooth operator style. This time they made the people ask for it. Let’s see how far their plans take them as events unfold.

Imagine that - the Darien gang turns into a band of sleuths and Excalibur handles the duties of the Mystery Machine. I think I need to make sure my remains will go to science fiction once the gig is up. Still. The quest for Peligia is a worthwhile one, plus we get reacquainted with some old friends along the way. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Husband’s home and sprog on the mend. I wish any and all ill on the paparazzi. An interesting growth arc maybe for Ezra, he might know more on the inner workings of Sinclair and his cohorts than we know, will this help somebody, and if so - whom? Or, maybe Ezra and Enrico are set for a Thelma & Louise story? Meanwhile, we have to worry about our stealth infiltrator at sea. Things are in motion, let’s see how they stick the landing.

Age is what you feel like. Being past 50 I’m certainly no twink-chasing spring chicken, but there’s still a lot of fun to be had. That said, the community is very ageist. Ain’t no silver back either, but as they say - sashay away. Don’t let others define the parameters of your pleasure. Anyway, I like that Wolf is trying to have both a little bit of Justin and Alarik on the DL. It’s a very interesting dynamic, I’d like to see how it all resolves, it’s not quite relationships, not quite friendships either.

Enrico you badass. Oh how would like to be a fly on the wall during the no doubt somewhat difficult conversation with Ezra that will follow. Also, what will happen with the wider Sinclair network? Sooner or later Marcus and Silas will be missed, and security needs to be tightened unless Sinclair et consortes are totally inept. Exciting times lie ahead!

An abject lesson in how confusing it can be if all the everyday tech was unfamiliar and very advanced by our standards. gAI has to do some serious lifting for things to stay on the rails.

What a daring escape! Let’s see how far the gang can push their luck. Lex is a very potent threat.

And they flew off into the sunset! Imagine that. Can’t wait for part two to see what the boys are up to.

Wow, this was a very intense chapter. UK tabloids are amongst the most poisonous things there are, right after plutonium and botulinum. I’m not sure on their internal order either. That was flying by the edge of the seat, I need a drink now after all this excitement. Something something Daiquiri while waiting to see how things develop.

I got a distinct feeling that this only bought temporary reprieve. Still, our band should take it.

Poor Jacob! I hope it’s only appendicitis, but it might be something worse. Fingers crossed he gets checked out and patched up. It feels like our heroes don’t need anything distracting, but trouble usually start small on the home front.

I like that they found some solace staying on a floating island. I wonder what lies in store for Edward and Darien next? It’s a bit of a Studio Ghibli moment of wonder in all of this. Then some shards of old Peligia. Things are afoot and it’s looking likely to become complicated. The fast clip the chapters are posted in makes for a very concentrated and gripping reading. Kudos!

Cue the fireworks! I was in the mood for some drama, and boy did I get it. While not reconciling with Isidore, at least Claire is now good. Jeremy has come a long way, but he’s still not ready to walk the distance. True Thanksgiving drama this. Then the boys talk! You could adopt the prude stance that it’s unbelievably crass to discuss such things right after a family dinner, but it seems to have eased the mood. Stef has been in the background during this - I wonder what our tycoon is doing, moving in the shadows? Who’s going to pick up the pieces? Guess we’ll know next time we tune in, even though I’d like to binge watch.

Again, don’t worry about a reasonable level of exposition. You gotta set the scene too. It’s cool to read what Shawn’s day to day is like, how the home works and everyday tech like his computer is like. Looking at my own desk, the computer is augmented, or perfected, by the addition of a really good thocky keyboard, jog/shuttle controller for X-acto knife sharp scrolling, or media scrubbing, MIDI controllers and a whiz bang OLED. It’s obvious that there’s so much we can (and should!) do to improve the basic keyboard, mouse, monitor setup we’re accustomed to. It sure ain’t the final form of computing! Maybe I should try eye tracking next? It’s going to be interesting to follow Shawn as he’s stepping out into the world at large to see what this is all about. Looking forward to it!

The game’s afoot now with the wolves circling the prey. Interesting that poor Ezra has a tail, and the beginnings of plan to break out of his funk. Don’t call my name - Cruzcampo. The siren call of any holiday in Spain. Dear old Enrico will have some explaining to do, usurping bits of lady Gaga. On a more serious note though: don’t choke on your ambition Mr Carter. It’s one thing to upgrade from stuffy old London to Toronto, but missing out on Oxford for Gatineau? There’s more than one solution to that equation.