Gary L

What a joy to see an update, Dodger, of this magnificent drama. Well done for your stamina!

Not Will’s best hour…..

Yep, Medieval History in Oxford, many , many moons ago.

Just booked our “family” holiday to UK in September. I’m driving and we are so familiar with route and hotels that only two out of eight are new. It’s a 5,000km road trip. Don’t ask me what it will cost but roughly 1km = 1€…… We've decided that two adults and two evil wieners just can’t fit into the same bed, especially after 6 hours on the road. So, now it’s two rooms in a hotel or an apartment to cope. I just hope the dogs realise that there ain’t money for their expensive treats anymore!

Lucille Ball????

Should be in Munich awaiting next flight to Birmingham (UK).. Instead at home thanks to flights being cancelled…. My sister has dementia clinic appointment but won’t be there for her in person. Mine is just one of 14,000 flights cancelled in May going into/out of UK. I’m busy sticking pins into an orange-haired voodoo doll…….

Yummy 😋

!thank you so much for explaining, @methodwriter85, it was kind of you to take pity on an earlier vintage!

I must be old/non-American because I don’t understand any of this. (No reflection on @methodwriter85!) 😨

Same price here for aubergines 😂

I once had afternoon tea with Sir Alec Guinness, one of the original stars of Star Wars. Having never seen it I felt inadequate until he told the story of refusing offer after offer to star in second film. Once was enough! Okay, I’ll come clean. I was more intimidated by the afternoon tea routine.. why is milk such an issue?

How did I miss this gem of a story?!?

Why do I think of the line from ‘Hotel California’, “you can check out any time, but you can never leave”, when I think of the hospital? After eight day residency I escaped but tomorrow I am required to attend appointments at 08.30, 10.30 (same dept) and 15.30… Only benefit is I escape ‘walkies’ at 09.00. 11.00 and 14.30. There’s always a silver lining…

My dear mum used to say that we didn’t ruin her, she ruled us….. Probably true!

To my horror, I have just seen I wrote that I was the driver, I meant WASN’T. Our previous dog, Fosca, rescued from street, lived to 17.5. Like yours she was blind but able to have short walks on a lead, always the same little route etc. Sadly, she started with dementia and was distressed even when we were in the room. But. She certainly travelled, Spain, France, UK, Ireland…..

I know how you feel! We were at brother-in-law’s birthday lunch. Nice paella but the noise was up to 110 decibels. Came home stuffed and v well-wined (I was NOT the driver) to be greeted by the monsters. No destruction but a walk was demanded…. Then food….. then invasion of personal space as I try to snooze……

Another delightfully portrayed character enters our world, Maudie. I so like it when the ‘little’ people put a spoke in the plans of constructors!

Great chp. One question, is there a crowd scene in Act 2?it’s set in Scarpia’s HQ. A trivial fact: when I lived in Rome (above a motorbike repair shop that didn’t believe in siestas), I could see from the roof the sites of the three acts of Tosca, San Andrea de la valle, palazo Farnese and the Castel St Angelo. As a poor student it made an interest comment at dinners…. Or so I thought!

I fear I repeat myself, but the writing of Andy is utterly exquisite and the story seems to fit seamlessly into the historical Florence I studied many moons ago. Bravo. 👏

With this recommendation I would die a happy man. On my list to read, NOW.

I suspect everyone who comments here has read this story by @Mrsgnomie at least once. But hey, she is one of the best writers here and the absolute queen of reader involvement. Her interaction with the delightful @kbois has got me through some tough times. Can’t wait to see what comes next….. no pressure Mrs g xxxxx

Hear, hear!!!!!!!

😢 A bittersweet chapter, beautifully written. Thank you Mark for what seems to be an abundance of chps in two weeks. As @PrivateTim would say, it is much appreciated. 🤗

Another dive into Hugillverse and it looks like this could be a cracker. A great start to what will be, I am sure, another classic.

So, a day out of my week’s holiday in hospital waiting for a cardiograph, I’m now home and tomorrow we are off to a house in the mountains for a long weekend with a group of friends. I so do not want to go but I’m being a good little obedient boy ( believe that if you can) and will even cook paella for the gang whilst they are mountain walking. Now, a little puzzle for you all: Lufthansa has just written to me to fxxk up my trip to UK to see my poorly sister in two weeks. They have just cancelled 20,000 flights thanks to a little problem with kerosene price… Thanks to you know who... There are no direct flights so I go via Germany or Switzerland to Birmingham, UK. Three out of four of my flights have been cancelled, but with the last leg unaffected (Frankfurt to Valencia). They have rebooked me on different flights/airports etc. Excellent, you might think. no prob on outward flight. Actually gives me more time to guarantee luggage gets into onward flight. However…… my return flight first leg from Uk to Germany now arrives 5 hours after the untouched onward “connecting” flight will have departed. Ummmm this is so not good for my heart issues. Overnight in Frankfurt? Try to rebook an uncancelled fourth leg? Is anyone willing to ring Lufthansa for me? Ah, there is no number to call……. I just want my $700 back….. 😭