Marty

The rain's stopped now, and the sun has actually managed to push its face through some breaks in the clouds. Who knows, if it stays like this I may even get that sunset photograph I had hoped for last Saturday...

Oh dear... A story that switches points of view. I can find stories like that annoying at times. You better not start confusing me as you move this one along, Thorn! But, being serious, another interesting chapter that introduces some interesting characters, giving us an insight into their make up. I think II might like Michael. It's not really all that confusing. You've actually explained it perfectly there. (I'll not confuse people further by mentioning the fact that families with young children sometimes call the evening meal 'supper' - at least until the kids are old enough to be able to stay up a bit later at night...)

I am always wary about starting to read novels that have been in progress for several years and not yet completed, but this opening chapter has set the scene for what looks to be a very enjoyable read. I shall slowly make my way through the remaining chapters and hope that by the time I finish them Thorn will have published the final chapter. From Mr Griffith's questions it seems that he is aware of the fact that Daniel is being bullied, and that his home life may not be perfect. And the fact that he mentions the school's zero tolerance anti-bullying policy, the guidance counsellor, school nurse, and the thirty or so other capable members of staff, gives me hope that the rest of school establishment are also aware, and that school will turn out to be a safe and caring environment for Daniel.

Hey, Thorn. Not got a lot planned for the day. Have some home made bread dough rising at the moment. Was doing a bit of photo-editing, but now just chillin' here in GA. Part way through chapter 1 of that novel of yours that I mentioned yesterday. I really must do a bit of writing of my own this weekend. Below is one of my recent photo edits. It's Innisfree Island on Lough Gill, which was immortalised in William Butler Yeats' 1888 poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." Not sure whether I'm happy with how the photograph turned out... And how's yourself?

Hey Dugh It's 10oC (50oF), overcast and lashing with rain here. Potentially it might become dry eventually. Fortunately my head isn't aching.

Thanks, Geron. Thanks, Parker! But did the friends really do anything wrong? The narrator asks himself a question at the start of the second paragraph ('How do you get over killing a child?'). Maybe the friends felt that had they kept asking the narrator about it then the narrator would be kept being reminded about it. He does tell us he could handle the days - that it was when he was alone that he had difficulty. If he wasn't visibly showing signs of depression, maybe his friends assumed he was okay. We are not told how long ago the accident had happened. If it was very recent, perhaps the friends should been more aware. But it may have been six months, or even six years ago. And all we know about the friends is from what the narrator tells us. Did they deliberately avoid talking about the accident? Or could it just be that the narrator hadn't let them know that he still needed to?

No, don't worry about it, you were perfectly clear. I understood exactly what you were saying, and why you were saying it. And don't ever feel the need to say sorry for leaving feedback. I love feedback.

I really must have a look at your Storms story, @Thorn Wilde... ... if only because every time I see the quote in the link to it in your signature graphic ("I had never truly dreaded going to school before. I did now, especially on Mondays") I am put in mind of this classic.

Thanks for the feedback, Tim I did think about writing in third person POV, but that's been done before for this sort of story, as for example in Percival Everett's short story, The Fix. I wanted to try this type of story (but as a flash this time) deliberately from first person POV. Perhaps some readers may feel - for the same reason as you - that the narrator must have survived. Or perhaps those five words of yours in parenthesis (so far as we know) are more important than you might think? I do have a version of this where the narrator whispers "Sorry" just as the car flies off the edge of the cliff, rather than towards it. Perhaps I should have gone with that version - if only to sow more seeds of doubt in the readers' minds. I'm not dismissing your suggestions, Tim. But my choice of POV was a deliberate choice. I sometimes like experimenting when I am writing.

Using the lights of the car parked behind me, I walked to the edge of the cliff. From the light of the moon I could see the rocky shoreline some hundred-and-fifty feet or so below me. The tide was out. How does one get over killing a child? Everyone had told me since it had happened that it wasn't my fault. Everyone except myself, that is. They claimed I couldn't have known that she would walk out from in front of the school-bus and under my wheels. Deep down inside I knew that they were rig

If you were to ask me to pick a favourite Leonard Cohen song I don't think I would be able to....

Another great chapter. It looks like Greg is finally getting to a stage where he will understand and get past his blind spot. I was a bit sceptical about Uncle Farid's "talk to the man in the mirror" session, but maybe it was the push that Greg needed to actually stop internalising things and actually look at himself from the outside. We now know from the last chapter that Nathan has also been attending therapy sessions. Perhaps it is because of those sessions that Nate now feels that he can let Greg go. His inability to stop blaming himself for what happened to Greg may have even caused him to have his own internal black spot. He may have spent the past fifteen years feeling a need to protect Greg, and that could well be the reason why he has not been able to let himself get into a long term relationship of his own with a woman. I'm glad Greg had the talk with Kyle. It may seem to have ended badly, but I suspect Kyle is actually mature enough not to let it spoil the friendship. I reckon Greg will eventually (as he has promised) tell at least the bare bones of what happened with Richard. That will likely make Kyle understand more fully why Greg said that there could be nothing more than a close friendship between the two of them. Of course, those are all just my own suspicions. And I won't be in the least bit surprised if Jason has one or more curve balls left to throw our way in this story! It will be interesting to hear what the conversation was between Greg and Richard on the night Nate heard Greg crying... And... what's happened to Keigan? I was beginning to like him.

Good evening. all. And goodnight, all

Gary, my man! How the divil are ya? I'd consider beverage to mean tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and maybe soft drinks like mineral water or cola. Beer and the like could possibly come under the umbrella term alcoholic beverage...

And speaking of Irish comedy, this scene from Father Ted really cracks me up. It really is so typically Irish. I once saw two farmers almost come to blows in a pub one day because neither was willing to let the other buy the next two pints of Guinness. The barman very nearly threw the pair of them out.

Was someone talking about a cup of tea...?

Here's a mug that I purchased and left in the office kitchen the day I retired from work.

I'm actually living in the Republic of Ireland, which is NOT leaving the EU, as is the UK (United Kingdom of Britain & Northern Ireland). The main possible problem with Brexit would be that, if it's not done in an orderly fashion, it could lead to the re-imposition of Border Checks between the Republic and the North - and it may make it difficult for the Republic's trade with other EU states, since most movement of good and services between the two currently take place through Britain. The "Backstop" - which some of you may have heard mentioned in the news - is part of the withdrawal agreement negotiated between the UK and the EU. It specifically deals with the Irish border issue. Unfortunately some Westminster MP's want the backstop scrapped. I'm optimistic things will work out. But I can't help wondering about those MP's that are calling for scrapping the backstop, and whether they have any grasp of the history of the relationships between Britain and Ireland, and the two traditions in the north of Ireland. Someone once said something along the lines of "those who aren't willing to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." I just hope that the clowns in Westminster aren't about to bring about a repeat of the three decades of The Troubles we saw in northern Ireland at the end of the last century. [/end mini rant]

I just love the lyrics in this one...

*Marty sends virtual (and purely platonic) hugs to Thorn's boyfriend

Hola Alberto mi amigo. ¿Cómo estás hoy?

Thanks. And, yea, the blood letting went well. The vampire has been appeased (for another 6 months). Should get the results back in a week. But, as I said earlier, it's just a routine test/check-up. A bit like the regular check-ups the garage gives my car. Nothing to be worrying myself about. Fortunately I wasn't kept waiting, so wasn't delayed getting home for my breakfast

Afternoon, Dmrman, man!

I don't think Brexit's going to happen all that soon. The clowns in Westminster won't leave the EU without a deal. They may be stupid, but they're not that stupid. I can see them kicking this particular can of worms down the road for at least another 18 months. But I could be wrong. I sometimes worry the lunatics have finally really taken over the asylum...

Good afternoon (as it is here), Kitt. Never mind about wanting to tell them. You need to tell them! Nincompoops!