BigBen

Another sweet story, Val! (Pun intended, lol!) (This is the first time I've encountered the LCHF/keto diet in fiction, to my great joy. This way of eating took 60 pounds off and reversed my type II diabetes.)

I suspect a simple, "He's my cousin," would have led to a much more excruciating conversation. But that Russell is both a looker and a superb actor, so despite the saying, I'd rather _not_ be related to him, if you know what I mean. (Though his grandfather and I are probably of an age, . . . sigh . . .)

Val, you are just determined to make me cry with these stories, aren't you? Thanks for making an old man's holiday season just that much brighter. ♥️

Lovely story, Cole, thank you (I am reading these chapters in rather haphazard order). My British ex told me that the English tradition was to start mixing your fruitcake or Christmas pudding in mid-November, let the batter sit for a while, and mix it up again on the Third Sunday in Advent. A fruitcake would be baked early enough to spend a few days soaking in rum before being served, Christmas pudding wouldn't go into the oven until the roast came out and would be done just in time for dessert. The Third Sunday of Advent used to be called "Stir-up Sunday," because the Collect of the day begins, "Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us . . . " I guess in the old days before powered mixers, it used to take a strong arm to stir up a fruitcake batter!

No, my eyes are only watering because I have a cold. Pass the tissues, please. 😁