Marty

I like it whenever I can get it. Tea! I'm talking about tea! Honestly...

I'm sipping mint tea and watching the rain fall outside the window. This is the third day of just about continuous rain, and no obvious sign of it letting up yet. Reading reports of local road closures due to flooding. Looks like Ireland's weather has returned to the old normal.

Good to hear. And has your visibility returned?

Well, it's drowning more than growing just at the moment. Hopefully the weather will pick up again soon. How are you and Steve?

Nice to see that Kevin's uncle, even if things aren't going well at times with the fishing, has an altruistic side to him when it comes to those less fortunate than himself.

Love the fishing pun you used there, doc. (Although I think they're going to be using nets, rather than rods and lines.

Good evening, young Albert.

I remember my mam doing this as far back as the fifties. But we almost always wore unstarched vests under our shirts, so the nipple problem wasn't usually a factor. But they could chafe the back of the neck (and the front if the top button was fastened). I still remember the packets of Robin Starch....

There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said by other readers. So, I'll just thank you for giving me something to keep me occupied and entertained on a wet and miserable day here in the northwest of Ireland. [Edit] Oh! And did I hear mention of a possible sequel? Or even a prequel...?

While this chapter didn't actually make me cry, I will admit that my eyes were moist by the end of it. So, now the non-mystery is solved. All that is needed now is to sort out Mark's living arrangements.

Interestinger and interestinger (as Alice didn't say). And a cliffhanger, to boot.

Curiouser and curiouser (as Alice said).

Always assuming that his last name really is Mullaney... That made me wonder as well. I think the cameras are due to arrive tomorrow. Maybe they will help solve some of the mystery behind this non-mystery story...

Lots of interesting and different threads being woven into this tale. I can hardly wait to see the finished product.

More interesting developments. You certainly now how to weave a tale, Geron. I'm doubtful that Mark will turn out to be the ghost, but am open to being proved wrong. As someone else has already pointed out, David forgot to check whether any of his possessions had been moved when he got back home. Of course, if they haven't, and Mark really is the mysterious visitor, then that may explain why they haven't this time. And, of course, it may also mean that their encounter on the candlelight tour was not by chance; as Mark may have been hiding in the closet and heard David and his grandfather making their plans for the day... I'm also wondering if we're actually ever going to meet the elusive Sid...

Intriguing developments... My first thought is the new maintenance guy. But I suspect Geron only introduced him to throw us off the identity of the real visitor.

And basically the same in Ireland. Although I did once get pulled over on the motorway by a Garda (Irish cop). He was concerned that I had overtaken another car without indicating. The funny thing was that he said he had assumed I was a 'boy racer', so was surprised to see I was an 'older person'. I had actually looked down when the blue flashing light came on behind me, noticed I was actually a few miles per hour above the speed limit, so assumed I was about to be given a speeding ticket. Indeed, when he asked if I knew why he'd pulled me over, I suggested it was because I was slightly over the speed limit. Fortunately he wasn't worried about the slightly excessive speed, but did suggest I use my indicator when moving in and out of traffic. He was that charming (and good looking) that I only realised he was more than just a traffic cop when he pointed back at his car and said "There's two tonnes of metal in that car. Imagine the mess it would make of yours if it plowed into the back of you because you pulled out without warning." Looking back, I saw the words 'Armed Response Unit' emblazoned on the side of the car (and another cute young Garda sat in the passenger seat). I then noticed that he was wearing a holster on his hip with a gun in it. I jokingly raised my hands, saying "You're not going to shoot me, are you?" He just laughed and told me he didn't shoot the good guys, to remember to use my indicators in future, and that was the end of the encounter. This all happened very early on a Sunday morning. There was hardly any traffic on the motorway, which was why I hadn't used my indicator to pass the occasional car. Normally I tend to overuse the indicator, especially on busy roads. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Great opening two chapters, by the way! I'm looking forward to seeing how this story develops. Can't decide yet if David just has an overactive imagination, or whether there really was someone (or something) else in the apartment. A case of Read on, MacDuff, methinks...

And it's full on here, as well. Woke up yesterday morning to persistent rain, and it's still raining this morning, with at least 13.5mm (over half an inch) of rain forecast for the day, and a maximum temperature of only 12°C (54°F). There's a possibility we might actually see some sunshine again on Tuesday... Stay safe, Albert.

And, as I've said before, you say the nicest things, young Albert.

Well, I don't. I employ someone to do that for me.

I had home made spaghetti bolognese for dinner tonight.

For your bloody what ! ?

And here's a blast from my past....

"Two countries - divided by a common language."