Summerabbacat

I missed said steward too.

Missy's star shone again for me in this chapter. Her recognition that Liam needed gentler treatment due to his injury did not surprise. She is a very smart canine. Have Benjamin and Joseph featured in another of your stories I am yet to read @Mancunian? I am curious about their background so assume this may not be their first appearance. I have not read Goldstein, Johnson and Cole so presume they may make their "debut" in that story. I'm with Janice; I am a real "bar humbug" when it comes to fireworks. I don't find them particularly fascinating, but my main objections are the cost to the community, the fear they create in any dogs with hearing distance and the damage I imagine they may cause to birds (even though I am not a fan of most birds). I think I have only ever once watched the fireworks live on New Year's Eve in Sydney and it was from a very good vantage point too. I just did not appreciate what all the fuss was about.

A conclusion with some tears, but it also has a sense of the beginning of a new era. I was very pleased to see Max recognised for not only the quality of his work but also for his policy of inclusion in the workplace.

Max and Stacy are so well matched, both have a strong sense of justice and equity. Max's statement "I will also give you one further guarantee, if any of the contractors need additional workers we will try to recruit from the local homeless shelters if there are suitable candidates" impressed me greatly. I immediately thought of Joe who made a teary appearance in one of the more recent chapters. Recruiting workers from the homeless shelters is something akin to workers working for a company in which they have shares, there is an incentive to go above and beyond. If any homeless workers are employed I envisage the financial compensation would not be the only reward, the sense of achievement and pride in helping to build something purpose-built for your "community" would have to be significant. Given the name of the shelter, The Boot, I have been trying to incorporate the signature tune of the only Sinatra I like, the fabulous Miss Nancy, into a chapter comment. Given The Boot is closing, but in some respects is merely moving (many of the staff and guests are likely to be the same, the services offered may be somewhat different), I feel the title of Miss Nancy's These Boot(s) Are Made For Walkin' is somewhat appropriate (just don't listen to the lyrics for the song's intent). It has to Miss Nancy's version though. I have a version of the same song performed by Amanda Lear (perhaps unknown to Americans, but very popular in Europe and the UK) and have heard the version by Jessica Simpson which was popular in the early 2000's (I did not mind this version to be honest, she has a "big" voice). Now for the new establishment, The Old Shoe Factory. I have been wracking my brain for songs with shoe in the title and have only been able to think of a limited number - Boogie Shoes by KC & The Sunshine Band, Boogie Woogie Dancing Shoes by Claudja Barry (gloriously camp Eurodisco stomper from late 1979) and The Red Shoes by the incomparable extraordinaire, Kate Bush.

Clearly my mind is not the only thing fading @drsawzall, the eyes have seen better days and appear to be past their "best before" date at least. I read the comments by @JohnnyC, @akascrubber and your first comment AND STILL did not notice you all referred to the fruit lingonberry not loganberry. I have to confess to never having heard of a lingonberry, but as I like most berries, I daresay I would like it too. Is is good for fading eyesight by chance?

Du mäste @Gary L. In all seriousness, I bought some very well made, attractive and inexpensive bedside table lamps in IKEA, but I also bought a very attractive but poorly made floor lamp there at the same time (fortunately it too was not expensive). I have never eaten their food and would certainly not eat the Swedish meatballs, but love the idea of the loganberry jam (although this may not be available in Australia, I have never in my life seen or eaten loganberry jam).

Designed to maximise your "shopping pleasure", expose you to everything in the store so you will buy more. And those shopping carts, a bit like some of my joints (ankles, knees and hips in particular) when I have bad hay fever @drsawzall.

I am not a huge fan of traditional Christmas carols (apart from Silent Night) or Christmas themed songs. I do have one "guilty pleasure" and it is gloriously tacky. I absolutely love One Hundred Degrees by two of my favourite fellow Aussies, Kylie and Dannii (how proud the parents Minogue must be). I have never experienced a White Christmas and have absolutely no desire to do so (I hate the cold). Christmas in Australia with temperatures of 35C plus, sheer perfection. This year the prediction is for another cool Christmas with the temperate reaching a predicted maximum of 25C (I will have a hoodie on as for me this is way too cold). Miss Daisy Chain, the perfect Christmas hostess and The Choirboys a joyful musical combination (way better than Bing Crosby singing the bloody awful White Christmas). As is very obvious @Mancunian I am an opinionated SOB and cannot bear musical snobbery. I love pop music of virtually all genres and make no apologies for doing so.

Music is my second great passion in life after my beloved cats @Mancunian, hence part of my profile name. Summer for the fabulous Donna (as well as my favourite season) and ABBA, well that needs no further explanation. I have en extensive CD and vinyl collection, with music from most genres apart from classical, heavy metal and rap, none of which I care for even to the slightest extent.

Ian a quiet achiever has shown a great deal of initiative, as well as artistic taste and craftsmanship apparently, to design jewellery pieces for sale to benefit The Boot. Unlike many, he appears to not only acknowledge but celebrate his humble beginnings and tough times earlier in life. Well done to this young man. The supermarket trolley dash had me equally confused and appalled. It sounded a little too much like the Boxing Day sales when normally tame and civilised women become vicious combatants, competing for overpriced shoes and handbags reduced to a fraction of their original selling price.

Besides fulfilling a necessary community purpose for homeless people, I love seeing old abandoned buildings eg. warehouses, factories etc being repurposed and given a new lease of life rather than being knocked down and replaced with some ugly, soulless cookie-cutter building which is poorly built and a fucking eyesore. A building given a new lease of life to accommodate people given a new lease of life. Very fitting. John/Christian and Andy would be well served by following the wise words of Harry Wayne Casey aka KC: Shake, Shake, Shake (Shake Your Booty) and Keep It Comin' Love because That's The Way (I Like It) Love me some KC & The Sunshine Band (actually love me lots of KC & The Sunshine Band).

Bobbi, a baby dyke, being beaten by a vicious, nasty older girlfriend. It sounds like an episode from the successful Aussie soap of the late 70's and the 80's Prisoner or Cell Block H as it was known in other parts of the world. Domestic violence is not only found in heterosexual relationships and men are not the only perpetrators. Finally some hot acton between Andy and John/Christian. Now the ice has been broken let's hope it stays that way. No more Fire & Ice (courtesy of Pat Benatar), just lots of Hot Stuff (courtesy of Donna, the goddess).

I have always maintained churches are a profit-making business and should be taxed accordingly, but no the taxpayer has to continually subsidise them. Another fine example of their "service to the community" ethos. Puhlease. I like your idea @raven1. Sister Judy Evans' boot camp for shy boys, or maybe Bananarama can help them out. They need to start out with some serious snogging I think @Mancunian.

Well done Andy (or should we rename him Butch) for taking on the attackers, even if your action was a little foolhardy. Would he have reacted differently if he had not had a few drinks, possibly he may have been a little more cautious. Hopefully his injury and the incident will be the catalyst for him and/or John/Christian to make a move on each other. Take Olivia's sage advice "Let's get physical .......... there's nothing left to talk about unless its horizontally".

Oh to be able to pop out for a spot of lunch, sightseeing and shopping in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The only disadvantage of living in Australia is that it is a long way from such delights, although we do have IKEA, which I find an eclectic mix of well designed and well made household items and absolute shit (and don't ever ask me to assemble anything from a flat pack with an allen key). I have always wanted to visit Sweden, the birthplace of my beloved ABBA (hey I am gay AND an Aussie and we loved them and still do), would like to visit Denmark (apart from the appalling Faroe Islands) and Norway too (the birthplace of Frida). I think I may have been "asleep at the wheel" @Robert Hugill because I am not sure if I have forgotten or perhaps I have never realised that Owain is living in rented premises while the house he purchased is being renovated by Colin and crew. I think I have been under the impression he was living in the place he bought while renovations were being undertaken around him. Am I going mad or have I already arrived there. "But when Jo went to the ladies, Francis was asking me what I thought about so-and-so a waiter, in a way that was nothing untoward, at least on the surface, but had something of comradely element to it. I rather disliked the way he put me in a spot. Having been out since I was 18 and having virtually landed in every job role with it clear that I was gay, I resented the way Francis wanted to be both chummy and to pretend that he was straight." I am in total agreement with Owain in such circumstances. I get very annoyed with men who play straight and then become "familiar" and reveal their "inner gay" because they know you are gay. Most enjoyable chapter @Robert Hugill even if senility may have come a calling.

Personally, I think they should name the twin boys Alexander (for obvious reasons) and Troy.

The naming of his sons by taking inspiration from Star Wars. If Jim wants to call the boys R2-D2, C-3PO or Chewbacca I would think it grounds for divorce. Luke would be OK, but not Skywalker, Han or Solo. Or perhaps he wants to name them George and Lucas or Harrison and Ford. I have to confess I have never seen Star Wars or any of its sequels or prequels. I started to watch Star Wars on video once but after about 15-20 minutes I was bored silly. To be fair, Sci-Fi generally holds little interest for me, although I did like Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and the first two Planet Of The Apes films made in the late 1960'a. And I did like Meco's disco version of the Star Wars theme.

When "the heavens opened" and it started to rain heavily I thought for a moment it was going to be symbolic and herald the breaking of the bride's waters and the baby making it's presence known. I wasn't far wrong it appears with the baby having the good manners to wait until mama had had her fill of food and the reception was over. Liam will no doubt be a welcome addition to The Boot and it's ever expanding "family". The Major is quite the charmer and debonair to a fault. You need to arrange for him to find a love interest @Mancunian or at least a "friend with benefits" if he still has any interest in carnal pleasures.

Burger King for your celebratory adoption dinner? Come now Danny and JJ you can surely do better than that with your choice. Kate and Steve and Stacy and Max have much to teach you yet it would seem.

Emanuel Goldstein and Alexander Oxley, kindness and generosity personified. Ian and Kevin are reaping the rewards of their own altruism and chivalry. The lives of each of the four has been enriched from having become acquainted with the other three. A wedding at The Boot. Perhaps the joy and ceremony of the day will impact sufficiently upon John/Christian and Andy to risk humility and rejection and declare their attraction to each other. Perhaps if alcohol is served on the day, a little bubbly imbibed might also loosen their tongues as well as their loins.

Life is too short John/Christian and Andy. Grab any opportunity for love or whatever you want to call it. Both know only too well life can throw you a curve ball and suddenly everything you have or relied upon is gone. Follow the wise words of Frida and Agnetha, Take A Chance On Me. Good things for The Major and JJ appear to be improving the quality of life for both. Both deserve fortune (and this is not necessarily financial) to shine in their lives.

No surprises, Kenny's Aunt and Uncle were fleecing his trust fund set up by his parents. The question remains how did they manage to do this and will they be sued to recover what they stole. The Major aka Ox clearly has PTSD disorder and possibly some neurological problems. Is this the result of the PTSD or is the result of the alcohol abuse. which in itself is likely attributable to the PTSD Either way it does not really matter, he simply needs help.

Kenny has been thrown out by his Aunt and Uncle. I wonder if either or both received any inheritance from Kenny's parent(s) to look after him in the event of their death. Let's hope Jeff investigates this. I also have to wonder if he had the stammer before the death of his beloved parents. Now I know Beccy is pregnant, but fuck me that is a lot of food to eat for breakfast. I have never understood the appeal of pancakes. I would have to skip all of the breakfast except for the orange juice. The single red rose would be most welcome though (although a dozen would be even more greatly received).

Whilst I find it hard to be sympathetic to the two rock spiders who were summarily executed by other prisoners, I have so often read of the death of persons (mainly men) convicted of these crimes and of their horrendous lives as children, invariably having been the victims of sexual, physical and/or mental abuse, and often having lived in very impoverished circumstances. I have to wonder if William Matthews and Alfred Johnson suffered similar abuse as children. A welcome surprise for The Major whom I imagine will use the "windfall" to help others.

Perhaps William Matthews will join fellow rock spider, Graham Peterson, at Her Majesty's pleasure (as it was then). Bubba will be rubbing his hands with glee, not one but two new bitches, although neither is likely to be "young fresh meat", more likely to be toughened, overcooked and dried out. The Major seems to be well known in the community. He may have been a drunkard and homeless, but it seems that neither circumstances lessened his innate goodness and kindness. This story flows so easily @Mancunian. I have to wonder if it worked that way for you as its author, but for this reader at least, it is an effortless exercise to read and absorb.