Mancunian

Welcome to GA, I'm looking forward to reading your stories so I hope you will be posting soon. I'm sure that many of us can understand the feelings you get when writing and have similar experiences. Enjoy reading some of the stories that have been posted already while you get ready to post your own.

I hope everything goes well and she is okay 🤞

Thank you Duglas, I wish both you and your Mother A Happy Easter, I hope you both enjoy your re-arranged Easter meal, I'm sure that you will still create happy memories.

Thank you Albert and a Happy Easter to you too. Daffodils always remind me that summer is just around the corner.

You mean that aroma isn't the smells of the countryside

There is so much love in this room, I can feel it, lol

It's a pleasant 16 degrees C and sunny here in Manchester UK, I'm enjoying it and have the balcony doors wide open.

Happy Birthday Drew Birthday wishes are meant everything else is in jest, I think 🤔 lol

The Dork and the Dark side can be defeated, here's the proof

You mean he really is on 'the dark side' 😮

Hiya Drew, I think I'm going to like here 😀

Thank you Gary, COTT looks like a nice friendly place to be.

Wow, you're probably better at English than I am and it's my first (and only) language, lol. 😂

Don't worry too much about it or it will only get worse, just have confidence in yourself knowing that you can do better and you will, believe in yourself like others do.

Aloha Albert, hope your having a good day 😀

Hi everyone hope you all have a good easter weekend. @Albert1434 sorry I didn't reply to you the other day, I've just been so engrossed in reading The Barnstable Chronicles I even nearly missed an appointment, I need to pay more attention, lol.

Welcome back @Treyvan and I hope that you will feel at home. Your feeling of being lost will soon go away the more you immerse yourself in this welcoming community. New stories are always eagerly awaited, so please share your writing and I hope that you will enjoy reading the stories already here.

Short, sweet and brilliantly well written. Yes it's a topic that has been covered by many authors, but I am sure that the author's talent in creating his characters and this story will draw you in as it did me. The MC's have a real feel to them which is a testament to the skills of @Headstall. Read it I'm sure you will get as much pleasure from it as I have.

Wow, this is why I love going back through the archives, I find some truly great stories some are multi chapter stories but then there are the much shorter real gems like this one. You have written something really special with this story and it's one that can, and sometimes does, happen in real life. I'd love to read more of Armie and Trent's story but there is a lot to be said for keeping the ending where it is, it allows the reader to keep the idea of a HEA in the way they would like it to be. Maybe another short story showing good foundations for the future could be a good idea, but that's only if you feel it would work. What ever you decide, thank you Gary for this wonderful story. I know of a project volunteer who had a similar experience. The relationship ended after about two years, luckily it ended on good terms and they remained good friends giving each other a lot of support. Both of them are now in different relationships and are still good friends.

This is one of my 'go to' recipe's when I fancy something spicy and warming, there are many variations but this is my favourite as it's quick and easy. It is recommended as a breakfast recipe, but I'll eat it any time of day accompanied by buttered fresh baked bread. I often add 1/4 teaspoon of chilli flakes and/or cumin at the same time as the tomatoes, the nice thing is you can vary the recipe to suit yourself so feel free to experiment. Shakshuka (pronounced;- shak-shoe-kah) Ingredients ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil ¼ small red onion, chopped 1 medium red bell pepper, diced. When cutting the bell pepper, slice two rings before dicing the rest of the pepper. 1 clove garlic, minced ⅛ tsp salt 7 oz fire-roasted diced tomatoes (you can substitute with tinned chopped tomatoes) 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 large eggs 1 tbsp parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional) 1 tbsp feta cheese, crumbled (add after cooking, optional Instructions Heat extra-virgin olive oil on medium heat in a small skillet or pan. Add onions and cook for 2 minutes or until onions start to soften. Add peppers and garlic and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Add the fire-roasted diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and bell pepper rings and cook for 3 minutes or until the mixture starts to simmer. Turn the heat down to low. Place the eggs in the bell pepper rings, cover the pan, and simmer for 5-6 minutes (or until the eggs are at your desired consistency). Serve immediately.

What a beautiful tribute to Paul O'Grady and Lily Savage, his alter ego. He will be missed as both a performer and TV presenter, he will also be missed for for his defence of the LGBTQ+ community and helping to raise AIDS awareness and his compassion for those who had contracted HIV, even before the establishment did anything positive. But most of all he will be missed by his family and friends for being the genuine, compassionate, charitable and loyal man that he was in his personal life.

I think I can honestly say that at least most of are and now we have to deal with this being the last chapter, it has been expected but it still has an effect, lol. But I think we can all find a way to safely deal with withdrawal in a safe way until the next episode, lol.

And so another episode in CJ's life comes to an end. Nothing overly major or earth shattering has happened to him or his family, it's really been fairly calm for a change. But it's the smaller things and the events that we see happening in the background that are significant, they are shaping the man and future politician that CJ is becoming. Dealing with meddling relatives can be tedious and does have an effect on all of us and our families, CJ and Owen are discovering that in spades so lets hope that Pam gets the help that she needs. Shootings in the USA are so common place these days that they are almost expected, it's sad but it appears to be the case, yet another lesson for the 'gun lobby' to learn from, but will they? probably not. The lasting effect of said shooting is the opening left on the Supreme Court bench, the surprise announcement that the former president is to take a well deserved place on the bench is marred by the horrific events that caused the opening. All of this and more is what is molding CJ into the future politician, and eventually president, that he will be. So maybe nothing directly significant happened to CJ and his family, but the important background events have made a difference. Thanks Carlos for another brilliantly written episode in CJ's life.

This may not mean much to many outside of the UK, but today we say goodbye, goodnight, God bless and we will will miss you to someone who many of us looked on as a national treasure and we are saddened by today's news. Mr Paul O'Grady MBE, Lilly Savage to many of us, passed away today at the age of 67. We all saw him as an entertainer extraordinaire in the guise of Lilly Savage and more recently taking to our TV screens under his given name. What many didn't realise was much he gave to the LGTBQ+ community in his staunch support and speaking up fo Gay Rights. He gave his 'all' and will be missed. Goodnight and sleep tight Paul, you will live on in our hearts. RIP Paul O'Grady MBE, 1955 - 2023.