Mancunian

There are more people like me than most realise, there are thousands, if not millions, of people around the world who do what they can to help, that makes me as one person just a small cog in the bigger machinery of what we do. As for my father he was more than that, he was my best friend. After suffering abuse as a child he and his brother were adopted by a wonderful couple who I'm proud to have known as my grandparents. To quote my father from when ever he spoke about his adoptive father, 'If could half the man he was I would be a better man than I am today.

Thank you @Zuri for commenting and taking notice. But please do not thank me for what I do, it is something close to my heart and to the hearts of my family, it's the way we were brought up and what we believe we should do. We are luckier than many and as we were told by our father, privilege comes with responsibility.

Well the blog title asks the question, so it too early to talk about Christmas? I hope not, but then this isn't necessarily what you think it's about. This isn't about my Christmas, well may be it is in a way, or even your Christmas, It's about what I and many other people have been doing lately and how it affects Christmas for others. Some of you may know that I volunteer with a local organisation that supports homeless people, as I'm currently not face to face with our clients I carry out many of the admin duties. The last few days have been taken up with end of month admin which is a pain, but for the last few weeks I've doing the rounds with the begging bowl approaching businesses that support us on a regular basis and others that I hope will support us. It's been a hard slog, the financial crisis that we are affected by has also affected many businesses, some of our support has been cut back and a few businesses that did support us have gone out of business, I'm hoping that some of the other businesses will come on board. You are no doubt wondering why I am posting this, well the answer is simple really, I'm rattling the begging bowl. No I'm not asking anyone to send me anything, so let's get that clear. Like I have already said I know that the current financial crisis has affected most of us and that is not good. But the same financial crisis has affected others far more seriously, the truth is many are now living below the poverty line, some have lost their jobs and others have lost their homes. It's not just adults that have been affected by this, there are many children suffering too. What I'm asking is can you help? If you can in whatever small way it is please look within your own community and/or look up local charities that help those in need in your area and contribute whatever you can. Even if it's only a few pounds/dollars it will help, if your local supermarket has a collection point for food for a local food bank any extra tins or packets of food will help them to help those that need it. All charitable organisations are struggling those in need so any donations will be gratefully accepted. Even all you can give is some of your time that's more than okay, volunteers are just as valuable. If you cannot afford to do so please don't feel bad, just do your best to get by, there is help out there if you need it. Thank you for reading this and if are in a position to help one of your local charities, on their behalf I thank you in advance.

Joseph held Benjamin's hand tight as they stood in front of Ian and Kevin, the pleading look on both faces said everything as Joseph uttered one word, “Please.” Kevin turned to Ben and Isaac, he didn't need to ask. Picking up his phone Ben said, “I'll make a call.” ***** Work in the 'back offices' of Associated Executive Car Services never stopped, it was a twenty four hour operation. Tom and Dick the UK operatives worked diligently with their Israeli counterparts, Dick spent

Quote from above - "I had a certain European food and chocolate company send me a whole bunch of Halloween candy mini bars due to my current job! I have boxes and boxes of mini chocolate bars, not the best for a lifelong diabetic I know that Krista is expecting some but I think the UPS fee to send them to Kentucky might be a bit excessive. So what should I do with them? When I was a kid, I went out trick or treating and after Mom and Dad took me to the local children's hospital where I donated it. They in turn would get me some more diabetic friendly treats. Somehow over the years, hospitals seem to have asked not to have chocolate dropped off, I wonder why So what should I do with all this chocolate? I have Monday to decide so I'm sure you will all have very helpful suggestions " I don't know what things are like where you live but here in the UK many areas have food banks who help to distribute food to families and individuals who need it, if you have a food bank or something similar in your area you could donate to them, I'm sure that families in need would welcome some treats for their children. Just a thought which I hope is helpful.

So the dreaded conversation has started, you know the one that says 'yes we are in a relationship, yes we can have different opinions, yes we will learn to compromise'. It's that never ending conversation and goes on all through a relationship and it says a lot for how far Loren has come along personally, hr still has a ways to go yet but he's getting there.

This is so true, if you think about it (but don't think too hard, I don't want to inflict pain, lol) it could be said that Jay is responsible for breaking down Loren's barriers and forcing him to face his demons and triggers and that it's Loren's friends that are the hero's by standing by him and giving him the support he needs to face them and in his struggle to build a relationship with Jay. Aidan is lovable and cute and without realising it he helping Loren by giving his love freely - or is that at 99 cents a level - but without knowing it he is a double edged sword as in some circumstances he is also one of Loren's triggers. Not just this chapter, the whole story is very well written and must have taken a lot of research to portray Loren's psychological and emotional health and how different scenarios can impact it.

There is so much that has already been said about this chapter that there is nothing left to say. So I'll just say this, I loved the chapter and especially little Aidan, he's adorable.

Well on the surface things appear to be going smoothly as Loren recovers, but that's on the surface. I'm sure I picked up some frustration on Loren's part that while he loves and appreciates Jay's help it is a bit overwhelming at times. Plus the way Jay so attentive I have the impression that he has a truckload of cottonwool ready to wrap Loren in. The guys need to have a good talk about this before it becomes a problem, and Loren could possibly benefit from talking to a counsellor as an accident of this type could have some longer term psychological effects.

You packed a lot into this chapter, I had to laugh at Jay's experience with giving himself an enema. I was chuckling to myself most of the way through until I got to Loren's climbing accident, that stopped me and made me sit up. I know Jay will be worried until he see's for himself that Loren is okay, it's only natural, I just hope Jay doesn't over-react.

I'd say it's all about normal for a family holiday, but then there is nothing normal about this family, lol. Jeffer's tantrum is typical of a child being told they can't have something but someone other than his parents, his reaction wasn't 'over the top' either I've much worse from some children. Good on CJ for using some controlled discipline when it's called for. I'm not surprised that he wanted 'words' with the chef, as he said they were promised five star treatment and food not something from MacDonalds, as for the judgemental chef well, she nearly got what she deserved from CJ so I hope the Captain did her job right and put the petulant chef well and truly in her place, after all you should never treat a guest in an inferior way, maybe she hasn't learned that it's the paying guests who provide the cash that pays her. But putting that spat aside everything else is looking good for a fun and eventful cruise.

There's a lot going on here, the relationship is in its early days and still developing. It's hard enough when two people start living together but these two really are not living together yet, the road trip is their first taste of it and it encompasses so much more than moving in together, constantly being in the public eye, learning more about each other - you know it's the little things - and being in what can only be described as a confined space inside the trailer. It's going to amplify those difficulties. But Jay needs to remember that Loren has been the one to make changes in his life which is one-sided and unfair, compromise means both need to give and take is Jay needs to start giving a little and stop doing all of the taking.

What an uplift on the previous chapter. Loved the humorous parts and enjoyed laughing, but some parts were so hot I had to put the air-con on, phew.

I read this chapter then had to take some time to compose myself, okay I bawled my eyes out. There is more than one way to react to this chapter but only one reaction can be left. I love it for how well written it is, you must have done some good research to help you. I hate it because I can't stand any form of child abuse. It makes me angry because people like Loren's so called 'parents' need a fucking good battering for treating a child like they did. And yes it made me emotional and I cried, for more than one reason (no I wasn't abused I had great parents who also fostered). I knew that Loren had suffered some past trauma but I didn't expect that. Abandonment issues, feeling of not being worthy or deserving of love are the surface issues that Loren has, there may be other issues laying beneath the surface. Jay understands that Loren needs professional help but he does not and cannot understand what help Loren needs, but he is doing the right things by reinforcing what he says by positive actions and being supportive, it's not going to be an easy journey, but if they stay the course it will be worthwhile.

I love the way that Jay and Loren's relationship is developing, but I'm still concerned that Loren isn't dealt with his past demons, I don't want them to surface and spoil what is happening. Loving the comments too, there are some funny ones and they take almost as long to read as the story chapters.

I'll be catching up with more over the next few days, I think I need some sleep now, or rest at least. I'm loving this story and can't wait to finish reading it.

Loren's barriers may be coming down slowly but he still resisting. His reference to 'triggers' is a red flag to me as it strongly hints to some significant events in his past that he hasn't dealt with or recovered from. I think Jay knows this but he needs Loren to open up about it or he can't help. If Loren doesn't deal with his past trauma it will hit him at some point and then he may not have any support.

Well it looks like more barriers are being broken all of the time, but has Jay realised that he needs to chill bit and maybe learn to keep his cool and compromise? Oh and I hope that when Loren compared Jay to a Clydesdale he could tell it it was a stallion or a gelding,

Jay see's a future with Loren, but not with Loren's current outlook on life, the need to have a similar outlook at least. Jay seems to have his shit together for the most part although as yet we have not seen anything of his faults, and he is bound to have some faults we all do. In trying to create a future with Loren Jay has laid the first foundations with the friendship they now have, although in some ways it is still a bit 'hit and miss' for the want of a better expression. Loren needs to make some changes but Jay cannot make him change, Loren has to see the benefits and do that for himself not because he's forced to. Jay has been sowing the seeds for a while now by making Jay think about his values in life, the shirtless issue being an example. Loren's own expression used at the end of filming is something he needs to think about, 'live your best life', what does that mean? Loren appears to 'live to work', but Jay appears to 'work to live', the same words but the priorities are different, is this another change that needs to be made? Maybe this is something that Jay is challenging Loren about in a subtle way, or am I over thinking this?

The gameplay between these two is intriguing. Jay is determined, but is there a slight hint of doubt after Loren's comments. Loren is attracted but is pulling away, what is his fear? Does he doubt that he can be happy and in a relationship or does that idea scare him?

Now you know that comment won't stop me reading, it just makes me want to read it more.

Jay is definitely going to drive Loe to distraction. Many are saying that Jay is playing the long game, he's doing more than that, Jay is playing the part of the hunter and like any good hunter he knows the hunters motto 'slowly, slowly, catchy monkey', or is that just English hunters lol.

I can't believe you made Jay wait for nine months! @Mrsgnomie that is cruel, maybe even bordering on character abuse, hmmm who can I report this abuse to 🤔, is there a society for the protection of story characters? 🤣

I like this, I mean I really like this. Why in the hell haven't I read before, I must be mad (no comments on my sanity please, they gave me a certificate on my release to say I am sane ), now I gotta catch up.

I've not started this story yet, I've got some reading to catch up on me thinks.