Summerabbacat

My goodness you are "in the wars" at the moment you poor lad. Perhaps you can convince Dan Levy to pay you a visit and give you some well deserved TLC, and maybe whisk you off to tropical island for some R and R. I was pleased to see Counsellor Clarke attempt to reign in Miss Diesel Tailpipe when she verballed Diego. For the first time ever I actually had a fleeting sympathy for him having to represent such trash. Not surprisingly now Calvin is no longer interested in reacquiring Bryan, he has become Diego's "little bastard". Perhaps you can arrange for Miss Diesel Tailpipe to acquire a case of toxic tampon syndrome @John Henry. If Calvin is fucking her unprotected I would be very surprised if she has not come into contact with any number of bacteria. The thought is enough to make one puke. I have to confess I was surprised by the number of times Diego was molested by Calvin. I suspect Counsellor Clarke will play on that when he cross-examines Diego. And as for Billy's final witness? I have to wonder if he has left his trump card until last, and I have to wonder if his trump card may be Calvin Sr, who from what has previously been stated, has no love for his son. His testimony may be very damaging, particularly if he has some idea as to why Calvin is so interested in reacquiring Caleb.

Bruce's transgressions are far worse than what one could have imagined. Sex with a two year old is truly sick. His father presented as far more reasonable in this chapter and unless he was lying to Manny and Bass, it does not appear he is the source of Bruce's homophobia. He may not win "father of the year", but it does not appear he is the deadbeat he presented as in the previous chapter. Rocky accepted his punishment far better than I thought he would, particularly given he was not punished for bad behaviour by his father and/or stepmother before their untimely demise. In some respects their deaths may have been a blessing in disguise for Rocky. A chapter filled with surprises @Lee Wilson.

Weird, perhaps, but interesting, at least to me @Paladin. I am far more likely to remember this than what the chemical symbol for beryllium is (I just looked this up but 5 minutes ago and have forgotten it already), who the king/queen of England was in 1483, who the first Prime Minister of Canada was (I don't even know who it was in Australia, let alone Canada), what Kim Kardashian's favourite colour is or what year Facebook was first introduced.

I actually quite like the dark chocolate Tim Tams if they still make them @Paladin, but I am like one of those gluttonous teens if I buy them, so I don't. I do not like the original Tim Tams and all the other flavoured ones do not appeal at all (I tried the raspberry Tim Tams once as I love raspberries, but they were too sickly sweet).

OMG @chris191070, that is just too "funny". I often say to people the most disgusting food I can think of as far as taste and smell goes is bacon and eggs. If I ever smell them cooking I have to close all my doors as I feel so nauseous. Fortunately my current neighbours are vegan so I never smell those horrible smells. Bacon to me is such a peculiarity. I have a number of friends who are Jewish, and who although not observant, will not eat pork, with one exception, they love bacon. I have another acquaintance who like me is vegetarian, but he occasionally gets a craving for bacon and will eat it, the thought of which makes me feel ill. I have on a number of occasions had a nightmare about eating meat when I visit someone who cooks me a meal and tells me it contains vegan meat substitute and I eat it, only for them to reveal it was real meat. I have woken feeling very distressed. I am a hypocrite though as I still eat dairy cheese because vegan cheese is almost as disgusting as bacon and eggs.

Aaaahhhh. The 1960's TV series of Batman, still my favourite of all the Batman-related productions, starring my favourite villain, the fabulous and statuesque Julie Newmar as Catwoman. Just purrrrrrfect.

I am assuming you meant Bruce sounds a bit masochistic @Cane23 rather than Bass. Maybe this is what confused @Lee Wilson.

I think I may have tasted marmite @chris191070 and was not impressed with it. I have not eaten vegemite for a long time. As a youngster I recall my mother adding hot water to it and giving it to my brothers and I in winter if we got heavy colds. I did not mind it as a child on toast, mostly when I was sick. Mind you as a child I liked eggs too, now I cannot stand the smell, taste or appearance of them, as well as them being non-vegetarian.

I did add Tiffany to the mix this time @Cane23.

I was wondering if there is a mother in the picture. I have to wonder if her name is Marjorie or Lauren or perhaps Tiffany.

I think I am one of the few Aussie's of my generation (born in 1963) who does not like them @chris191070, but then I don't really like Vegemite either.

I have read that Robert Plant really liked Dolly's cover of Stairway To Heaven. I grew up in the 1970's and 1980's too @BoyLove. I am not a fan of rock music, although I am not sure what fits neatly into what is classed as rock music. Queen certainly recorded a lot of music I would think is rock and I have most of their albums on CD and I really like Heart too, especially the Dreamboat Annie and Little Queen albums and some of their "big hair" classic singles, especially Alone. I think Ann Wilson has an extraordinary voice and I particularly like the songs she and Nancy wrote together.

"He is not very smart". Beautifully understated and very polite @akascrubber. The man is an idiot. We now know from whom Bruce inherited his "stupid" and it sounds as if Bruce may be well on his way to resembling his "morbidly obese" father in physique too. I suspect Daddy Wilmer has exaggerated Bruce's condition too, hoping to frighten Manny to part with some serious cash. Manny's reaction to Rocky's getting into a fight again was very measured. Again I am surprised just how effective his parenting skills are. Clearly he is a "natural" at this parenting gig, perhaps a reflection on his own parents. Although I don't think Rocky should have started the fight today, I had to admire his quick wit when he responded to Bruce's "Where were you yesterday, some faggot's convention?" with "Couldn't have been, you weren't there." Rocky is a hot little firecracker @Lee Wilson. I think he needs to reign it in though before he does someone some serious damage.

You raise a very good point @Paladin which I had given no thought to at all. A logical conclusion for an outsider to draw would be that Ollie has been placed in foster care with a relative of some description, in which Chris being related to 'Crackhouse Chrissie' would also be a logical conclusion to draw. I don't recall any Tim Tam's at Lachlan's parties either, but with Chris and teens present there is always a strong possibility that there are Tim Tam's in the near vicinity at least, not that any guests would likely get to sample even one with those ravenous teens present.

You certainly do like your country music @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I have both the Trio albums and consider the first one a masterpiece, especially the three voices blended beautifully together on To Know Him Is To Love Him and Dolly's playful lead on Rosewood Casket. If you have not heard it I can highly recommend Linda and Emmylou's album of duets released in 1999 entitled Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions, which features some wonderful guest vocals by Anna and Kate McGarrigle and a very eclectic mix of songs. Although not strictly country, I think Emmylou's Wrecking Ball released in 1995 and Red Dirt Girl released in 2000 are amongst the greatest albums ever recorded by a female soloist, sprawling, cinematic masterpieces overlaid with Emmylou's hauntingly beautiful soprano. As you may be able to tell I adore Emmylou Harris, not only for her singing and songwriting abilities, but also for her staunch support for animal rights. A marvellous woman. And as for Dolly, well she is Dolly. Backwoods Barbie, Little Sparrow, The Grass Is Blue, Halos and Horns and Run Rose Run. And her cover of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven is truly outstanding. I remember Led Zeppelin's version was always played at parties I went to as a teen and I hated it (still do), but Dolly's version is superb. Linda is another favourite. I have 20+ albums on CD and a few on vinyl including her albums of traditional Mexican mariachi songs, both of which I particularly like, and her three albums recorded with Nelson Riddle, all of which I also like very much. I also have to admit a guilty pleasure in liking quite a few of Kenny Rogers' songs, especially the really syrupy songs like Lady, Coward Of The County and Lucille (the last one nearly always brings a tear to my eyes too for which I cannot blame allergies), and those three wonderful duets with Dolly, Sheena Easton and Kim Carnes, Islands In The Stream, We've Got Tonight and Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer. I guess I do like country music after all, but only by a select few artists.

They are happily married now and in their early to mid-40's @Paladin. Still youngsters.

You must realise there will be cats present too @Cane23.

"Introductions were made, but Keith immediately forgot everyone’s names and it didn’t really seem to matter. There was Isobel, of course, who gave Keith a brisk handshake; a sturdy woman in late middle age with very short, pepper and salt hair, and a surprisingly deep, resonant voice but Keith’s eyes were drawn in guilty fascination to her huge bosom; a slim, nervous middle-aged man, thinning on top with what seemed like a stammer; a warmly friendly-looking 40-something woman whose eyes twinkled and finally a hearty man with a substantial moustache." What a motley crew you assembled for the meeting of the Michael Atkinson "afficionados" @Robert Hugill, once again vividly painted with your literary brush. Although the description of each character is largely physical, with just a word or two one get's a sense of their character too. Isobel all business-like and without artifice; buxom Barbara, somewhat jealous of and threatened by Isobel's efficiency; nervous Neville, a hen-pecked husband with awkward social skills; friendly Fiona with blindingly white teeth and a wide smile, until she does not get what she wants, and then watch out for those knives/machete in your back; and pompous Percival, he who portrays himself as a loving family man, but in fact has a insatiable appetite for nubile teenage girls from upper-class homes just waiting to be seduced by an older man. Keith and Thomas are so good for and to each other. Both are boosting the others' confidence in social and private settings. Thomas' connections and the circles in which he moves are continuing to open doors for Keith, both financially and intellectually, and he is learning to appreciate things he never previously paid any attention. Thomas is learning to appreciate things he only admired for their aesthetic appeal for their construction or purpose. I loved their argument when trying to find suitable parking "Tempers got somewhat frayed, as navigating an unfamiliar cityscape and scouting for car parks highlighted differences in temperament – Keith was a ‘let’s stop and look it up properly on the map sort’ of a guy whilst Thomas was more ‘let’s turn here and see where we get to’". As I never drive I am much more like Thomas, much to the annoyance of at least one ex and a number of friends.

I would have thought you would have observed plenty of smut of all kinds in the various European homes you rent out to all those randy royals, @Cane23 aka Baron M aka Avraham Vanderbilt Rothschild IV. I was very pleased and pleasantly surprised Carol behaved herself and kept her sticky beak in check. I know I am being a little unfair to her, but there has to be someone in the extended family who is at least a trifle annoying, so Carol is it for now. Ollie is like a sponge, soaking up all the love and attention he is receiving from Chris and Andre and the extended family. I think perhaps Logan was being overly generous when he described 'Crackhouse Chrissie' as "rather flaky" and her parenting skills as "I can’t say she was a bad mum but she certainly wasn’t a good mum". One senses Ollie received little positive attention from his mother, particularly after his father was murdered. Unless she returns to cause trouble (which I sense will happen), Ollie should blossom in such a loving and caring environment, especially with all those bedtime tuck-ins he is receiving. If @Cane23 is invited to attend one of Lachlan's parties @Paladin then it is only fair that some of your other loyal readers should be invited too. The non-Aussies may be delighted to try some of Chris' beloved Tim-Tams.

Sydney, Australia @BoyLove and I hate winter. The weather you are experiencing is my kind of weather.

I had to choose the 'sad' emoticon for this chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters, although an emoticon for 'melancholy' would have been more reflective of how I felt, primarily because the departure was such sweet sorrow. Matt and Luke are leaving their childhoods behind and whilst their future appears bright, particularly as they embrace it together, there will be a sense of "loss" (perhaps too strong a word) for what has been and what they are leaving behind. Reading this chapter, particularly on a cold, dark, winter's night, whilst not listening to any music and with only two feline members of my family remaining, found me in a melancholic mood. Matt's mother shone. What a remarkable woman, no doubt grieving for the impending separation from her only child who is about to leave home, thanking Luke for loving him and taking care of him. Luke's mother too, no doubt she and her husband did more than they could probably afford to do, but they did it anyway because they are proud of their son. And the boys they are leaving behind, DJ and Dwayne, Phil and Hoss. I hope Matt and Luke do not forget them as they have played such a big part in their lives and in cementing their relationship, and after all they all have something much more in common now too. Beautifully written again @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I am an ardent music lover, but I have to confess I don't think I have ever heard a song sung by Garth Brooks, although I am aware of him and the phenomenal success he had in the 1990's. Perhaps it is because country music has never featured much in my musical appreciation, apart from that fabulous trio, together and apart, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Although the latter two are not exclusively country, I admire them greatly and have many of their albums on CD and vinyl, as well as quite a few of Dolly's on CD only. I look forward to more in the Thompsonville chronicles with The Rip.

They are almost universally barking mad so I can understand the difficulties you must face as a considerate landlord.

If this is in the "black hole of Europe" as indicated in your profile @Cane23, I would love to view some of your other European homes. Do you have a different one for each season? Are they all in the one "black hole in Europe" or do you have them in multiple "black holes in Europe"? Is your "real" name Avraham Vanderbilt Rothschild IV?

I don't care that Bruce was only 11 years of age when he molested Rocky; at that age he is old enough to understand the difference between yes and no and Rocky said no. He is a bully and a rapist and if he is not stopped he will almost certainly do it again because he has gotten away with it in the past. I strongly suspect he has tricked other boys with his seemingly innocent games too, particularly since he has become so much larger than boys his age. I am not excusing Bruce's behaviour in any way but I have to wonder if he has been a victim of the same "innocent games" himself, quite possibly at the hands of an adult. If so, reporting him to the police may also result in Bruce getting help too. Manny is taking his responsibility as guardian far more seriously than what one thought he would when he was first introduced in this story. He is being ably assisted by Bass in this role, together they are a good team. Dare I say they are doing a better job at parenting Rocky than what either his father or stepmother did because they are putting his interests ahead of their own, thinking of what is best for Rocky, not what is the most convenient or desirable for themselves. Very believable and impressive character growth is one of this story's greatest strengths @Lee Wilson. Keep up the good work.

I have to say I much prefer @Cane23's villa. Do you rent your villa out to tourists @Cane23?