Mancunian

only the ones with the grease covered hunky mechanics lol😜

@Valkyrie this what I would call 'melting' weather, today in Manchester it topped 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 f) - 34 degrees was forecast - and Chester topped 38 degrees (100.4 f). The weather forecast tells is for lows of 20 degrees (68 f) through the night and tomorrow is going to be hotter! Hopefully the forecast for Wednesday is accurate as then it should cool down, thankfully. Rain would be welcomed by many. Here in the UK we are not used to temperatures like this, I don't know how how people in other countries manage to cope with heat like this.

I'd only disagree with @chris191070 to say that it more than an amazing read. After reading the first chapter you won't want to stop.

I bought a portable air-con unit a couple of years ago, it does a great job too. But it cost a lot to buy and the running costs are not cheap especially since the cost of electricity and gas have shot up. I got mine from that well known high street store that begins with an A lol.

I don't know how hot it is in West Midlands @northie but here in the North West it's currently 29 degrees Celsius and the thermometer is still going up. over the next couple of days it's predicted to be 35 and 36 degrees with clear skies and could hit that 40 degrees. My electricity bill will be crippling by running the air-con but it's that or melt, lol. I hope everyone else is keeping cool too.

Training in equality and diversity is much better today than it used to be, but I believe that it still has a lot of room for improvement. Over the years I have attended several 'seminars', 'lectures' and other so called 'training events' that have purported to be serious 'training tools' for those working or volunteering in different aspects of social care. To be honest most have been a waste of time. It surprised me to see how many of these were hosted by able-bodied straight white middle-class men and women who have no real idea of prejudice in any form, they attended a 'course' and obtained a qualification, how ridiculous is that! Or am I being unfair? My personal belief is that only someone who has experienced discrimination can tell others what it is like and explain how hurtful discrimination is. At some 'events' I've even witnessed homophobic and racist views being expressed by 'professional' attendees which have only been challenged by others attending, those holding the event have ignored this type of behaviour on more than one occasion. I attended one such event in Manchester city centre some years ago, the company I worked for wanted to assess if it was of any use as part of company staff training. After two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon I concluded that it was of no value at all and only a money-spinner for the training company that put it together. After the event I invited some of those that I had spoken with to join me for a drink (I don't drink alcohol but I do enjoy going to a good bar), although some were apprehensive they did go with me to Canal Street. Guess what? They all enjoyed themselves and before leaving everyone of them thanked me for the invite and told me that they had learned more by meeting people on Canal Street than had all day in the 'training event'. Don't get me wrong, a lot of training sessions like this are very good and are improving all of the time. I'd just be careful and check out the organisation behind the training session to see if they have the right people and experience to provide it.

Thank you for another well written snippet of CJ, Owen and Co, this has become like a drug and I'm totally hooked.

Talk about hitting the ground running, that's what this story has done, excitement in the first chapter. What ever will happen next?

Somehow I think that Bryan knows what Iain's secret is and is just waiting for it to be said, maybe Bryan has the same secret.

To quote @Drew Payne 'We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. We can’t sit back and say the job is done. Yes, we have marriage equality and gay characters on our soap operas, but the NHS still isn’t a safe place for all people, and how can we rest until it is?' I have to agree with Drew's final comment in this blog, there is still some way to go before the homophobia in the NHS is completely eradicated. Until last year I was in a voluntary position where I was in frequent contact with some of our younger homeless people local to where I live, some of whom are gay and HIV positive. Most had very positive experiences of their treatment in the NHS, unfortunately there were a few who originated from a town in Lancashire where they had been treated abysmally by some of the medical professionals in what was their local hospital. They told me that their treatment in the HIV clinic had been excellent, but their experiences when being treated for unrelated medical needs left a lot to be desired in terms of attitude and lack of compassion from some of the staff. While the majority of NHS staff are accepting and treat every one equally, there are still some who need to either change their attitude or find another career.

This is a well crafted story of a lovable rogue, it will get your interest from the start. When you get to the end you will wish that Jake, the lead character and narrator, had chosen to change his ways earlier in life. Read it you will enjoy it and it will stick with you in your mind for a while.

I can't help but feel for Jake, he's a lovable rogue, you know the sort he's a bad boy but has that soft side to him. The sort my family used to foster when I was a young boy, some they helped but not everyone wants to be helped. That was Jakes problem, he knew that he could change but didn't want to until it was too late. That was a cruel twist at the end, but it's a well crafted story despite its tragic end.

It costs a bloody fortune to run the air-con, but with these temperatures it's that or melt lol.

If everything goes well there are will be many changes and differences for Joseph to get used to, the weather being just one. Not everything can be remembered and covered in one conversation. I'm guessing that not everything will be easy for Joseph or Ian and Kevin. As for our current weather, like you I'm not keen the extreme temperatures that we currently have. I'm sat here with the air conditioning on and it feels like it's struggling, with the predicted increase in temperatures I'm just hoping it doesn't die on me lol.

I can only echo what has been said in previous comments. I was getting angry with Darin, then I got to the twist at the end and all of the anger drained away, it was heartbreaking. I appreciate the skill with which it was written.

This is well crafted and written and I believe it will continue to be read for a long time. The message is simple and still as relevant today as the day it was written. It may be short but it is powerful and a recommended read.

Well written and crafted to provide an impactful punch. The message is still valid today and will be for a long time. The effect on me as I read it was that the hairs on my body stood on end, this alone is testament to it's relevance to us all. This piece should have more recognition.

Such a sad story, but at least it has a happy ending. I wish that all children who are taken in by 'the system' as a family could stay together.

I cried reading this and not just because it's a good story, because it is so real, very often children get split up in 'the system'. My own parents sometimes fostered two, three and on one occasion four children to keep a family together. I know that was because of his own experience, he was nearly separated from his twin brother as a child, thankfully they were kept together and adopted, my grandparents were the best.

I just remember looking at those magazines under the bedclothes at night using a fleshlight...erm flashlight, or it could be both 🤣

They could be just copying the pictures 🤣

“I don't know what you mean boss, I'm just a lowly driver.” Jacob was laughing as he left the office. Later in the day Ian Kevin were making calls to Manchester. Elsewhere 'Tom' and 'Dick' were getting down to work with an Israeli tech team. ***** Ian spoke to The Major who assured him that Sean was doing a sterling job managing the business. Sean was enjoying the extra responsibility, reporting good figures he was confident that he could continue for another week before Ian a

It looks like you have a lot of determination, that is good and will be a big help to you. Remember an old adage nothing is impossible, when you breakdown the word it reads I'm possible. Picture your goal in your own mind, then picture the steps you need to take to get there, when you can do that you have one possible route to achieve your goal. Good luck in your endeavours.

@Freemantleman I like reading your comments, thank you and I'm happy that you are still enjoying the story. Ian and Kevin are loving, caring guys which is surprising considering where they originally came from, but the influence of friends - who they now consider family - has had a bigger and better impact on them. They will do all they can for Joseph, the more they get to know him the more they love him, but there are limits to what they can do. All of the guys behind the scenes will anything possible but will that be enough? Only time will tell (because I won't, lol 🤐)

“Kev, I've got an idea that might help with getting Joseph home with us, but only if you agree with me.” “Ian, let's put Joseph to bed then we can discuss and if I think it's a good idea and could help then I'll agree.” ***** Isaac prepared for his meeting with Ian and Kevin by going through the files again, he was looking for something that would stand out and make this case easier to bring to a satisfactory conclusion. Nothing was straightforward, Jacob has no biological con