Freemantleman

You've got to feel for the guys! They're trying their best to finish what their friend couldn't in regards to bringing Joseph to the UK as their "ward" but better still as their son. Shady goings on in the background but good shady since they're acquainted with the Major!! Fingers crossed that their covert documents team can come up with something useful that will stand up to heavy or intense scrutiny later ifs so required to produce it!? Not that I'd doubt their work im sure its top class, its Just not the plot twist I'd predicted - give it time it just might happen yet!?!? #stilllovingthisstory

Well call my surprised! But not as surprised as the thief (ve's) will be when they're caught & are sent to the state country club (the big house) & find Cousin Bubba ( christ they're everywhere) is on the new members (new meat ) welcoming committee n it's a committee of one who insists in the strongest terms on showing (him/) them in great detail exactly what the club has on offer! (he has to hold against them or preferably push in & then pull out, then push in & then pull out & then repeat repeat repeat repeat omfg repeeeeeeaaaaaaatttttt)! Lol He did say that the benefits (his) package was impressive but not as impressive as the output!??,, (his load!) Roflol 😂😂😂❤😱

Thanks for the info it sounds lovely!! & also for the George Cross info!! ❤

Same here!!!! ❤ To complicate things further I'm a spinal patient & therefore have long term disabilities so getting insurance is nigh on impossible or so expensive its equal to the cost of the holiday so I've stopped travelling. My last passport expired just over 11 years ago!!!!!

A bit of a bitter sweet visit for all concerned but a happier set of Scottish grandparents are leaving for home knowing that their daughter & daughter in laws children are in the right place for them, which is with their brother & sister & their father's. I have a nagging feeling that Iona might not be well but nothing had been sad during this trip!? I could be well off the mark!?!? Ok obs a local/regional food, but what is snoek???? Ive guessed a wild fish like a tout!? Sounds nice regardless. George Cross visit to Scotland? Refresh my memory its late here in the UK 12.47am n I'm tired n too lazy to go back n re read/skim the last couple of chapters (lol). Thank you for another great chapter in this wonderful & enduring story. Night all !! Ian ❤

Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong Hark are those wedding bells I hear?????? Lol

Or they won't n its going to be a few chapters light this time around!?!? Lol Quokka wouldn't be that mean to us would he?? Dum, dum, ddddduuuuuuuummmmmmm.(End dramatic music) ???????????????

Not only that he seems to have an admirer or did I read that interaction incorrectly!? Why would you hide the fact you can sing well & can sing in Italian??? I'd give anything to be able to hold a tune again, since my voice broke Nadal!! Before that loads of musical theatre n classical singing!?!!!! 😥😥😥

Another great chapter & we are beginning to learn more of Jacobs back story & gain further insights into Mannys' shrewd mind with plans & failsafe built into the charities as far as possibly to put them! Will the boys spot that their driver is ex military & they're protector too!?!? It's a shame to learn that there are money grabbing self serving gits (and I'm staying polite !) In too many countries nowadays!! I wish I could have met Manny he sounds like a sharp & centred business man with a soft loving side few truly saw!?!?

Aaaahhhhh so his is where that errant & inadvertently posted (in the wrong story) chapter belongs!!!! Now be a good chapter! No climbing on the furniture while I'm out & certainly no peeing on the rugs!!! Now sit & Sssssstttttaaaaaaayyyyyy Good chapter! Well done for not wandering off into other stories again! Lol

The need to have read the stories leading up to this one isnt essential, but could certainly be helpful to plug the odd gap that might appear but I think this is more than strong enough to stand on it's own foundations as a great read!! But trust me this authors other stories are considered, well written, immersive & very entertaining!! Ian X

You have briefly nailed on the head how onerous the task of completing the paperwork the intrusiveness of the referencing & interview stages & the daunt felt by especially potential adopters as they progressed through the red tape quagmire & not forgetting the various training courses they would be mandated to attend & complete.!!! For expediency of the story line & some artistic "licence" I can see the need to "shorten" the timescales without denigrating the processes!!! My younger brother & his wife were almost 40 when they decided that IVF wasnt going to work for them after a number of failed & very expensive cycles & they decided on the adoption process instead which they almost gave up on as the tone it took at every turn & stage, as from start to finish it took almost 12 months of hoop jumping before they were finally approved as suitable candidates to adopt and from first being told of their potential new son it was another 2 months before they could meet him 2 months of weekly visits & then his first weekend sleepover! From then it was another 3 months before they were granted temporary guardianship & 6 months from the end if the guardianship period that the adoption was finalised but with family court retaining the right to cancel it if their bi-monthly social worker visits/assessments threw up x amounts of red flags or concerns for a period of 2 years. The child or children's welfare & safety has to be the most import factor, as well as them going to the right "parents" They adopted by then a quiet but well mannered & well brought up 4 year old boy who had lived in the same foster family since he was 10 days old having been removed from his birth mother when she chose her junkie boyfriend over her new born son?????? 6 years on he has just turned 10 & he is a more outgoing confident lad who is sports mad & who has a slightly odd obsession for torches & projectors & who likes a likes a little heavy metal music as his guilty pleasure!?!? (Well it takes all sorts I guess??? Lol bless him lol). My brother & his wife feel their family is now complete as they both have demanding jobs, him as a senior charge nurse working with "sectioned" psychiatric patients & her as a "community based" psychiatric charge nurse & their son is the centre of their world. As he should be! & that's where he truly deserves to be. As for me I have a favourite nephew. !! But dont tell the other three who are in their 20's & the oldest in his early 30's!! Lol they'd only sulk Lol! Their experiences are of a Scottish regional adoption service & I sincerely apologise if I have inadvertently increased or shortened given time scales. I know it was really tough for them & they did in one dark period consider walking away from it all but when they met their "son" for the first time that didn't matter anymore for he was their "son to be" & now legally,truly & forever "their boy". They were "meant to be parents" but the path walked was not one they had considered at the beginning of their journey, but one they are now glad to have walked!!! My youngest nephew is one lucky lad! who has the greatest (in my humble but much coloured opinion!!) parents, but don't tell my brother cos his head is big enough as it is & he'd never let me live my soppy sentiments down!! Lol. Sorry to bore you silly but I needed to get this "out there" and have been inspired by the story line to date! You can evoke strong feelings through your writing which us an impressive skill!!! Keep it up & I'm waiting impatiently for the future installments!!! As a final thought there are thousands of children in our country looking for both respite care, foster homes & their "forever homes!!". What about me you might ask??- if your still awake (!?!?) Well I'm 52 over the hill, engaged to a fantastic man who has children from his former marriage of about 23 years, I have long standing spinal issues (& have had multiple surgeries) & I live with & act as the sole, unpaid carer to "our" lone parent. Most of my friends know me by the moniker of "The Child Catcher " as in "chitty chitty bang bang!" I think he had a few good ideas!! Roflol. I love children but I couldn't eat a whole one in one sitting!! OmgLmao !! There might be ONE or two exceptions to my general dislikes of the under 21's I think you might guess who!?!? Lol. Keep up the he pace & intrigue as you've got the rest going in spades !!! Again you inspired me to write my thoughts & general ramblings & my love for those who go up & over the hurdles in front of them & who adapt & make a difference one which can change lives!!🥰😂🥰🤩❤🌈❤ Ok I'm off before I get barred from posting comments!??! But seriously thank you!❤❤❤

Defo more like it!! Good chapter!! Btw can't wait to read the sailing story that the other chapter belonged to - sure it wasnt a ploy to wet our appetites???? Lol 🤩

Call me daft but after the cliff'ie in chapter 3 I'm wondering if this is actually meant to be posted in this story or is it destined for another completely!?!? @QUOKKA help me out!?! My little brain got fried in excessive heat for the UK 28° yesterday n stuck in a 2.5hr traffic jam. The heat is ok I love that, just not the humidity 😱😱😱

Well it's not "pussy" cos it was rescued!! Lol 🤩😱😂😂😂😂😂

I'm just plain confused !?!?

It's all over way too soon! Lol. (if you could call 28 chapters "too soon"!!!) I could have read the same again, as long as the integrity of your story & writing weren't compromised just to create "output" for "good for nothings like" me to read & be thoroughly entertained by. Can't wait for another book to begin! "stories" would be a poor (& insulting a) description for your work. THANK YOU!!

It's all over way too soon! Lol. ( if you could call 28 chapters "too soon"!!!) I could have read the same again, as long as the integrity of your story & writing weren't compromised just to create "output" for "good for nothings like" me to read & be thoroughly entertained by. Can't wait for another book to begin! "stories" would be a poor (& insulting a) description for your work. THANK YOU!!

Yet another gripping chapter with the stakes & intrigue rifing sharply!! Fantastic! Can't get enough of this fab cast of characters!!!!@

Ok so how did Jake engineer a meet at the airport!? How did he know Grace would be there!? N why would they meet at the family farm the next day if it's in a long term rental !? Questions questions questions!?!?!? Lol

Bullies are as bullies do! It's a bit like flashy sports cars n small dick syndrome - all done to cover actual or perceived inadequacies & especially with bullies to exert control quickly or regain control & teach a "lesson"whether their victims required it or not & even were they central to the original "slight" against the bullies!?!?

Aaaaahhhh but it is slow to warm & even then & there's the sea spray to consider. A Captains' Lords' or Gentleman's apparels & most assuredly his uniforms & braiding appearance should be of the highest standard!?!? & think of dear, loyal Winkler???? Lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Let the games begin! @quokka thank you, thank you, thank you! Another great story is off the blocks!!!!! FMI & excuse my ignorance, but if he was born in Tasmania, he is an Australian citizen???? Tasmania is a island state of Australia?? Or a protectorate?? Excuse the "Pom" lol

P.S. any takers on a bet to see how long it takes his Lordship to have one his much favoured pot bellied stoves sourced & installed in his cabin to stave off the cold, harsh climate of the northern seas (which also makes "Winklers' tasks a little easier to complete) lol 🤩🤩😉🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Another great chapter from a master story teller! How about 1 a week from here on in!??? No doubt I'll get terse comments about needing to work to earn a living & necessities like eating & sleeping!?!? & personal hygiene!? Well that can just take a back seat!! Tosh & balderdash my good man, begging your Lordships pardon but I would besiege you to think of your loyal servants, your readers. You make us wait to merely tease & play with our desires, dreams & base needs to hear more of our great protagonist & his stalwart companions & much maligned servants. (Lol) In your defense I would say, your attention to period detail is second to none!!! Thanks Mark ( & keep typing! Lol) Ian