Summerabbacat

The only horse I was not familiar with was Torbino. The field had two prior winners, Tauto won the Cox Plate in 1971 and Abdul won it in 1970.

He was certainly an outstanding racehorse, a real showoff apparently. The year he beat All Shot and Magnifique in the Cox Plate was an exceptional field. Fuck, watching that stirred up my bloody "hay fever" again, and pissed me off with the fucking whipping. The run from All Shot was extraordinary. He was right off the track even before they came to the Valley turn where madness is the norm (and Kingston Town can't win, LOL). Magnifique was magnificent too. She should have won the Melbourne Cup that year. Was your mother and/or father a fan of country music? The reason I ask is how did you know about Tex Williams? I don't remember country music being played on the radio much, although if it had I probably would have taken little notice of it anyway. Neither of my parents were country music fans so I had no exposure to it from them. I do remember there was a country music show on TV, maybe on the weekend, with Reg Lindsay and Emma Hannah. I must have seen it once at my grandparents I think because neither was my cup of tea. My earliest favourites, pre-ABBA, were Suzi Quatro and Alvin Stardust.

OMG he must have borrowed that outfit from Liberace (and possibly his hair too). I thought I recognised his name, but a little research indicated I had him mixed up with Tex Morton, who I thought was an Aussie (he was Kiwi born), who sang The Goondoowindi Grey about Gunsynd. Such was his popularity, Gunsynd that is, that the song was a top 10 pop hit in 1973. Do you remember it @Mark Ponyboy Peters?

OMG Jeannie must have spent an age ironing her hair. Her hair would have been the envy of Jan Brady.

OMG could it be the proprietor(s) of the gallery are Danny and Jake, named after Jake's Sandman. If this be the case you had best give me a tissue warning @Mark Ponyboy Peters, actually it't too late, just thinking it might be the return of Danny and Jake has my "hay fever" burning hot like a Disco Inferno. Doodz is a great name. My brother who lives at Old Bar has been a surfie for 45+ years and I think the name would appeal to him.

"The afternoon unfolded gently, as if the town itself was in no hurry to reveal all its secrets at once. After lunch on the boardwalk overlooking the lake, Matt and Luke took Levi for a further wander around the streets of Thompsonville. They strolled along Main Street, where Matt pointed out the automotive parts store where he worked – currently closed at this hour on a Saturday – and the bakery, the Sandman Art Gallery and Doodz surf shop, which were all close by. Levi tried to picture his father working behind the counter in the auto store, helping people, and making his life here by the sea. Knowing where he came from, it still felt strange." What a delightfully languid opening to this chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Of course, it inspired a song, Summer Breeze. Take your pick which version you like best, the original by Seals & Crofts, or covers by The Isley Brothers or local band, Stylus. @Summerabbacat likes all three, but for me it will always be The Isley Brothers. And what a wonderful "shock". Matt, Luke and Levi explored the town on foot, rather than by car. Well done lads. I had to laugh at the name of the Sandman Art Gallery as I immediately thought of a gallery where all the paintings, sculptures and any other pieces of art were all of a Sandman Panel Van. And Doodz surf shop, what a great name. Although it is a fictional town, all the towns along the coast of NSW north of Newcastle have outrageously expensive housing now. My brother lives in Old Bar, a seaside village which had less than 1000 people when we were kids in the 1970's/early 1980's. A 2br apartment near the beach will set you back $1 million plus now. The further north you go, the more expensive the real estate. A beautiful part of the world though.

Geez, the mountain lion attack made Frida’s “attack” on me last year pale in comparison. I think I will stick to adopting DSH cats. Short and savage @Lee Wilson, with significant tension due to the non-human animals. What a shame you did not have a spare mountain lion or two when Kathy and Abel Taft were committing their heinous crimes; more environmentally-friendly than my “friend” the 18 wheel semi-trailer too. Well done as usual.

A truly horrid creature @Gary L, and so wholly believable.

You may have to “top” that abundance of testosterone yourself @drsawzall. If the Volvo’s a rockin’ don’t come a knockin’. LOL.

Hopefully not too pure @mastershakeme.

Bugger. I got it wrong @Robert Hugill. The General Fiction top 10 “charts” are published the first Friday of each month, therefore we should see another top 10 next Friday.

Some sensible suggestions for a compromise, but I don't think based on the displays of affection Levi observed, Tim and Guy should be asked to compromise. Perhaps Levi can discuss his discomfort with Father Costas as he seems eminently rational and open-minded. He can address the religious objections Levi has with more conviction and authority than Luke, Matt, Tim or Guy as he has far greater biblical knowledge than they do.

Or Gazza? In Australia you could well be addressed as Gazza, just as Barry is Bazza, Darren is Dazza and Sharon is Shazza. I would never do this, and it is perhaps a stereotype, but stereotypes are so often based on a significant sample.

"Faith isn’t always easy, especially when the world changes faster than some of our old teachings. But I’ve learned that God is much bigger than our fear and discomfort. He meets us where we are." Your experience with organised religion @Mark Ponyboy Peters has clearly not soured you, as you are capable of writing such profound and comforting words as those spoken by Father Costas to Levi. The words themselves entertain the existence of a deity, but I think leave sufficient "room" without condemnation for those who doubt or deny the deity's existence, to have that doubt or denial. I am not expressing myself well, but essentially what Father Costas said to Levi impressed me tremendously, even if I am full of shit and have completely misinterpreted what he said.

Abso-fucking-lutely not. They are equal-share owners of the home in which the four of them live. It is Levi's problem, not theirs. As you have correctly stated @centexhairysub, Tim and Guy's displays of affection were hardly overt. If the situation was reversed and Tim and Guy visited a home owned by Levi or one in which he lived, which had statues of the Virgin Mary on display, crucifixes affixed to the walls in every room and Sister Janet Mead singing The Lord's Prayer on repeat on the stereo, would it be "fair" if they asked Levi to remove all the religious imagery and silence Sister Janet Mead because they were offended. No it would not be fair, and they would more than likely just leave and never return, as would I, although I must confess I rather liked Sister Janet Mead's version of The Lord's Prayer. She was from Adelaide and it was a huge hit on the Aussie pop charts in 1974. I will concede Levi is being very mature about Tim and Guy's relationship, specifically their displays of affection, rationally stating it bothers him and that he is trying to address it. Many adults in his shoes would likely have been abusive, demanding Tim and Guy cease their ungodly behaviour and repent, or face the fires of hell. Utter nonsense from the Old Testament, where a man lived inside a whale.

Texting, maybe not. Sexting, hell yes.

You would need a strong stomach or a case of temporary blindness. Remember, once seen it cannot be unseen.

Fuck. First I get Lilibeth's name wrong on several occasions, now I have named Paco as Paolo on several occasions. I am usually good with names. I will have to try to remember by associating him with Paco Rabanne. The first time you mentioned him by name was when you referred to him as your 'Joan' after one of your earlier stories. I had never seen that name for a man before, but have seen it several times since for Spanish "celebrities". Joan I would likely remember because of Joan Rivers and Joan Jett. I guess it could be worse. I could keep referring to you as Harry, Larry, Barry or Greg.

I thought Paolo must have lived during these times @Gary L because it does not read like an historical account of what occurred in Francoist Spain from a purely objective viewpoint. The story thus far, particularly the latest chapter 5, reads as an intimate account of events experienced during this time. I cannot imagine the horrors, even footage of mass exterminations and mass burials of Jews and others in Nazi Germany, does not fully convey the magnitude of the horror I don't think. You are doing a fine job in conveying even a fraction of the terror and horror.

Only some @Robert Hugill? And Some Mother's Do 'Ave 'Em. That show was massively popular in Australia, just as it was in your homeland.

It is no wonder Almodóvar hates Franco so much. I have just read a little more about him, Franco that is not Almodóvar, as much as I could stomach, and he appears to have been very much like Hitler and Mussolini, not the least being antisemitic and anti-gay. He was in power for much longer than the other two so had more opportunity to ruin the lives of many for a lot longer. He may not have been responsible for as many deaths, but the number killed under his dictatorship was still estimated to have been in the 100's of thousands. His economic policies benefited the likes of Ximo's mother's family, who given her most recent behaviour, would likely have cared nought for the harm which was caused to many who were not just like her. Hopefully before this story ends she and her odious parents get their comeuppance. Hopefully Ximo's father will at least divorce her and throw her away like the trash she is. A despicable bitch, something which I believe Ximo's father is becoming increasingly aware of. Ximo and Gerardo are taking a huge risk and they are to be admired for doing so. I doubt I would have been brave enough to do what they are contemplating doing, certainly not by myself anyway. With this chapter this story moved to a whole new level. As noted by @pvtguy, the anxiety level is increasing exponentially, testimony to your story telling prowess @Gary L. A story worthy of at least 2.5 "Hugills" (similar to michelin stars for restaurants).

Nature's capacity to provide healing never ceases to amaze me @Vcs. Likewise, our species dismissal and/or corruption and/or destruction of nature's capacity to provide healing never ceases to amaze, or perhaps I should say disgust, me.

I presume both rhyme with snout?

Ableard is the obvious attacker, but is it too obvious? The stomach bug sounds like a ruse as no one else has it, and I imagine such a bug would likely spread in such an environment. Anton grows more tiresome and predictably loathsome with each chapter. He appears to be the least trustworthy of all the students, which may be why Ableard is his bitch. The two make an ugly pair. The dynamic between Felix and Ali. Is it genuine or is it also a ruse, concocted to dupe others, and if so, who. Hopefully the contents of Lukas' diary may reveal something which will point towards who it was that murdered him. Another riveting chapter @Laura S. Fox.

“Now, while he’s washing up, I’m going to spread some more Chaga mushroom salve on your skin. It’s full of good healing properties, and I believe you’ll enjoy the scent.” and “Next, I’ll be putting dreamcatcher balm with lavender on your face. The dream catcher is to calm nerves, and lavender is for pain and discomfort, headaches mostly, and I imagine you still have a monster one.” Wow. I neglected to comment above on these natural therapies for Mannly's injuries. I am mightily impressed; treatments made from fungus and plants, no animals harmed in their manufacture or testing, and any left overs returned to the earth without harming it. Even if these treatments are a figment of your imagination @Vcs, they sound as though they are nourishing and healing.