northie

Hmm ... As I've said elsewhere, Adam has been toned down from the original version which was pretty . Certainly at the start of the chapter, Andy may well have recognised the failure but he was still placing the blame squarely on Eric. Perhaps he needed a short, sharp verbal prod to get him back where he should be? Thanks for the comment.

Thanks for this. If you don't realise how lucky you are writing for this wonderful site, then try what I'm doing and venture out into the general blogging world like WordPress. There, the audience is potentially much larger, but it is also much, much more diffuse, and it has a heck of a lot more distractions to draw them away. It needs a lot more of my time to try and make connections, and also to write flash / prompt pieces in response to promoted challenges. Again to draw people to the site. That at least is working, but trying to turn those people into ongoing readers is proving rather more difficult. Still, a month in, it's an interesting, stimulating learning curve. If it doesn't work out, it won't be for want of trying. My WordPress site, if you're interested, is A Pencil Is Best .

Thanks, Sweet. I'm glad you think Andy could be successful in his volunteering ...

Certainly on the first occasion, Andy didn't succeed, did he? Maybe the 'talking to' will have the desired effect? Eric also has to give something for any rematch to be better.

Hmm ... Yes, but perhaps he's lacking some of things his partner has? They make a good pair, I think. Thanks for reading.

Thanks, dugh! Yes, hopefully Andy's enthusiasm has been tempered with professionalism. The next chapter will post in a fortnight ...

@droughtquake Training sessions like that aren''t there to be decorative, or to tick boxes. They're there to properly equip volunteers to do their job. Andy with some of the arrogance of youth, assumes he doesn't have to pay attention ( or even be there ... ). Thanks, drought.

I think Adam recognises that his partner's heart is in the right place, and that he would benefit from continuing to visit Eric. As well as the other way round, of course. A short, brisk lesson in how to go about it will hopefully bear fruit.

Eric's disappointment was considerable, but maybe he was in part to blame for their initial encounter failing? Thanks for commenting.

Not the easiest of reads perhaps, content wise. Hopefully things might improve though ... Thanks for reading.

Forgot to say my latest Soul Music chapter contains a response to prompt 492.

Later the same day, Andy returned home before his fiancé. That wasn't surprising as Adam commuted to the city for his job as a lawyer. It was one out of many reasons why he himself was self-employed. A daily commute was his idea of hell, though it didn't seem to bother his partner. Andy sat at the kitchen table, nursing a mug of freshly-brewed coffee. He was brooding over his encounter with Eric. Although he knew he could've handled it better, Andy thought the old man might have been more ap

Both of these have got my creative juices flowing.

Completely agree, Puppi. I don't know if one of the reasons is because it's been in process for a pretty long time? Or perhaps because the author doesn't really have a visible presence here apart from his stories?

Generally, I'm a bad bet as a reader of anything long, but Boy Story maintained its hold on me pretty much ever since I joined. Its chatty, amused, self-aware hero made me smile. The other thing in a way, was its lack of over-dramatic action. If you haven't read it, do. Thanks, Carlos.

Yes, it's not as if you could handover the next cat or dog to your veterinary nurse. Well-known tensions in rural areas, I suppose but it still makes them difficult. Livestock don't follow the hours we do.

@droughtquake I was ok writing about a vet for a piece this length, anything longer and I'd be in trouble. Thanks for commenting, drought.

I seem to be jinxed at the moment. The chapter I added about 30 minutes ago is showing in the New Stories listing on the Stories front page, but not in the Latest story updates on the site front page. I appreciate this is an ongoing issue so I'm not expecting a solution. I'd just appreciate it if the chapter could be slotted in. Thanks. Both chapters I've had problems with were post-dated. Is that something I should be avoiding?

“So, are you gonna make it, Ed?” Mike gripped the phone hard and tried not to let his exasperation colour his voice, though it sounded to his own ears as if he'd failed. It was important – they'd both agreed it was the highlight of the school year. Mike, you know I don't want to miss it … “But …?” Mike ran his fingers through his hair while he looked out the french windows at the garden. Yeah. But. I'm at Rod Harkness' place. His dairy herd has tested positive for TB. I'll h

To me it's a no-brainer to write characters who have flaws. Where is the interest as a writer or reader in a character who's perfect? But as Tim M says, if a flaw takes centre stage, then it's time to stand back. None of my characters are flawless, but the flaws vary in their effect - they can make someone vulnerable, lovable, a villain, or just an individual caught up with fate. Thanks for this.

In the night I found the most raw. The hollow numbness of At daybreak immediately takes me back to when I heard of my mum's death. Remembering is beautiful - those random things that come to your mind associated with your loss. All of these are wonderful, profound, poignant, and I'm glad writing them gave you comfort.

Indeed, and I still don't think Geoff absolutely believes it. Thank you.

I'm assuming you're referring to me in the second half of your comment ....

My father (an academic) gave no quarter when it came to discussions at home. There was no malice about it - he was just more used to interacting with students. For an already shy teenager, it wasn't any help to be reduced to a stuttering heap because my ideas weren't upto scratch.

@Timothy M. The female of the species don't get your vote this week then? The disconnect between Geoff and his mum isn't uncommon, I think. My relationship with my mother was something along the same lines. Anything approaching a 'well done' was always qualified with a 'but'.