Summerabbacat

"Gran these are our friends, Daniel, our travel adviser and his wife Rani” Did Daniel actually marry Rani or are they just domestic partners @Wombat Bill? Her put downs of Daniel in this chapter, which only she seemed to find amusing, rang true. I remember well she behaved like this towards him in the past, so I am surprised he would have been desperate/stupid enough to have actually married her. Gran's admonishments of Rani were delivered with class and wit, neither of which Rani possesses in any capacity. She may have a pretty exterior, but her interior is ugly and toxic. Her dismissal of Rajani's journey does not augur well for Rajani; I very much doubt she can count on any support from any of her biological family. Rani is a product of her upbringing, but she has been afforded a great deal more freedom by her parents than what Rajani has been afforded. Hopefully Daniel will divorce Rani and send her back to her parents in Harris Park, and they will marry her off into a more "acceptable" situation to them. This will not sit well with Rani, but I say "suck it up sister".

I read this chapter last night about the same time as you @dboggs9700 i.e. about 13 hours ago. I thought it felt like the end of the story and now note it has been 'Completed'. Although I am somewhat disappointed there was no confrontation with Sam by his mother, James and Evan, like @Davide, I think his having vanished into thin air is a realistic scenario. I can hope he encounters the three cars as "speculated" by @Lee Wilson, but I suspect a more realistic death is one by drug overdose. Prior to his death it would not surprise if he has hooked up with a single woman of means or a wealthy widow and conned her into supporting him with a sob story of how his family abandoned him. A story well told @ChromedOutCortex.

I would not dare to suggest a cat alone, which is why I suggested a dog, horse, pig or cow as well. I know the latter two are not usually looked upon as human companion animals, but from what I have read and heard, both make adorable "pets" (not a word I particularly like). I should have suggested a sheep or goat as well, although like a pig and cow they are not usually thought of as "pets". I did not suggest any bird(s) as invariably they are kept in cages which I personally do not like, and they scare the bejesus out of me and shit on EVERYTHING. Believe it or not, none of my comments on this chapter have been of a sexual nature, all have been of a "serious" nature, apart from Patsy's quote regarding the windscreen washer with buns of steel.

Cart tart. LOL. I have not heard that one before @Wombat Bill. Trolley dolly and space waitress.

If Rodney was a TV producer prior to his retirement as Gran indicated in chapter 15 I think it very unlikely he has never met a gay man before, unless he was only producing children's TV programmes. He will need to undergo a serious readjustment of his attitude if he wishes to pursue a relationship with Gran long-term. As for his comment about Caleb, whilst I understand the reason for his comment, Caleb was under no obligation to out himself to Olivia. It was Olivia after all, enough said. The teaser for the next chapter promises a cat fight, one which may involve Rajani's bitch of a sister, Rani. If Rani is involved it will no doubt be her slagging off Rajani. Perhaps she may take on Edward, a "contest" which would be marvellous to observe as Edward would wipe the floor with the nasty little cow.

Felix forbid if they had children. None of them even have a non-human companion animal @chris191070. @Mark Ponyboy Peters may need to attend to this glaring omission, not one cat, dog, horse, pig, cow or any other companion. C'mon Mr P, one of them at least should have a pony. 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐖🐖🐖🐖🐖🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄

Mmmmm, the Thompsonville Ten does have a 'criminal gang' vibe to it @weinerdog, one which I failed to recognise until you pointed it out. If all ten were younger, skinny and blonde they could have been the Thompsonville Twinks, but that would have defined the general public's perception of them. Apart from Tony, none are politically active in any gay-related causes, and none of them including Tony, appears to want to be defined by their sexuality alone e.g. if Tony was not a famous author who had written a novel about a gay character living in Thompsonville, I doubt he would have been specifically categorised as a "gay author". I don't believe any of them are ashamed to acknowledge they are gay, I think they just don't want to be known as a gay man first and foremost. Of course, this may change as they age, any one or more of them may become involved in gay political causes, but for now they are living life to their best ability, which is what most people, including gay men, invariably do. For this reason I refrained from referencing their sexuality in their "group name". One must also remember they live in rural Australia, where even now there is likely to be at least one Monolith and a couple of Thompson's to every Mrs Hamilton. The latter is I believe still the exception rather than the rule, although @Mark Ponyboy Peters is likely to be a better judge of this than me as I have not lived in rural Australia for 42 years. What say ye @Mark Ponyboy Peters?

Thank you @dboggs9700. I have ALWAYS loved disco in its many forms and have never been embarrassed to say so. Cats, ABBA, Donna Summer and nearly all things disco, the greatest things in life for this late-wave boomer.

Oh he was a just windscreen washer I picked up at the traffic lights, buns so tight he was bouncing off the walls.

The first "official" gathering of the Thompsonville Ten - Matt and Luke, Tim and Guy, Tony and Aaron, Scott and Justin, and now Kieran and Charlie. If all things go well it could be the Thompsonville Twelve with the addition of Kevin and Jack, and perhaps even a baker's dozen, even if only temporarily, with Patrick. Trinity de la Creme and the Sisters of Divine Disgrace. LOL. Love it. Harkens back to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, although they were "sisters" of a different kind. Macquarie Harbour is in for a treat, a night of fierce fabulosity. Sequinned frocks, feathers (faux hopefully) and glitter. A night to abandon gender stereotypes and be entertained. A night to celebrate Sylvester. Marvellous @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Too Marvellous For Words.

But did they @chris191070? Methinks Gran may have fooled Craig, but I am not so sure she fooled Justin. Gran explains the facts of life? Methinks this will be to Rodney; Craig and Justin are business partners and lovers, Caleb is gay and not interested in Olivia.

My thoughts exactly @LeeSA. Earnest's fear was palpable and very disconcerting. It was as if he is indentured to the school for some reason. Professor Moreau's words only served to heighten my suspicions that evil lurks within the walls of Veridien Academy, an evil facilitated by Rector Reichenau and Boris and perpetuated by its students in accordance with their social standing. Chilling @Laura S. Fox, the scene with Earnest the most disturbing yet.

Indeed so Algernon. I doubt we will see Lady Bracknell in attendance.

He has used summat on several occasions now and I was not quite sure what it meant. Oddly enough, I "hear" him speaking when I read what he is saying, although I have no idea what his accent is, it is likely a combination of a number of different accents, but definitely NOT Vicky Pollard. It used to fascinate me how Matt Lucas could speak such gibberish so quickly AND with a completely straight face.

"Sorry: bloke was making a pig’s ear of it." "So you volunteered?" "'Course! They were worried a kid would catch the loose wood.” However, his expression suggested he didn't think that likely. "Shouldn't that be the old bloke's job? He's the janitor, I presume." "Useless. Here to unlock doors and that's it." I laughed. " ‘Songs Written and Floors Mended’. We make a nice duo." "Daft bat." I'm loving many of Neil's expressions. I don't think they are Hugillisms so much as they are variations of real words like mebbe instead of maybe. I have no idea in what part of the UK people speak like this, but I seem to recall TV shows from the UK I have seen in the past where mebbe was a commonly spoken word. Starting a sentence with "mind" is something I have heard/read before too, and not just in the Hugillverse. I am in total agreement with Su Senoria Lancaster (?), Vizconde of Valencia, @Gary L and his comments above regarding the pacing of the burgeoning relationship between Alex and Neil. Much like Gray and Matt @Robert Hugill, the poet and the birder, the composer and the carpenter.

My thoughts exactly @drsawzall. The champagne will be flowing, love (and perhaps the smell of weed) will be in the air, and Noah's parents will be too busy schmoozing to notice he is in a "deep" conversation with Leo. The wedding may present a golden opportunity for Noah to repair his relationship with Leo, unless Leo has an even bigger surprise for Noah and he is the groom. If this be the case, Noah may have to release his inner fighter, channel the extraordinary talent of the late, great and criminally underrated, Yvonne Fair.

I am trying to be less curmudgeonly so no comments today about odious Olivia. Rodney certainly seems keen on Gran. I am still not convinced he understands the true nature of the partnership between Craig and Justin. If he has any distaste for it he will be out the door quicker than you can say Dancing With The Stars, in fact, he may find himself Arse Down Looking Up At The Stars if Gran's boot makes a connection with his wazoo. I think there is an innate sadness to Francesco. I do think a rekindled friendship at the very least would serve him well.

Getting a judgment against Sam would likely be a "moral" victory only, unless he has money stashed away somewhere and has bled his parents for some other reason. Whilst a "moral" victory should feel wonderful, is it worth it in the long run. It would certainly disrupt Sam's life and may piss him off which would be a bonus, but is it economically feasible. Personally, I hope a civil suit is filed against Sam as I imagine the banks will be ruthless in denying liability, and Sam deserves to have his life ruined by someone other than himself. Of course, much of this hinges on Margaret, James and Evan being able to find the bastard, which could prove very difficult. I will not be surprised if the next time all three see him it will be in the morgue, and frankly good riddance. He is the scum of the earth who deserves no sympathy at all.

"Then it was Addison’s turn. “Thwack!” “Geez, Addison, you missed the fairway by a mile.” “I hate having a spice I can’t control.” “I told you before, while we were practicing, it’s a slice. And so does that cow you hit.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I thought Addison must have farted upon hitting the ball or worse still, soiled his underwear. The interactions between Stanley and Addison made me think if Statler and Waldorf from The Muppets, albeit with a sense of humour. Rather witty and whimsical @Lee Wilson.

Methinks Caleb may have had a "shower" of a different kind before having his shower. Perhaps for this evening the water polo team would have been more accurately named the Bukkake Barracudas. Gran and Rodney appear to have a similar sense of humour, although I think she may be a little more sophisticated than he. I wonder if their afternoon of dancing led to an evening of horizontal dancing? Seniors' sex - slow, saucy and scorching.

Egotistical bitch much? Perhaps she is related to Natasha.

Prior to the cruise Caleb always appeared so mature and resolute in upholding his beliefs and immune to peer pressure. He now appears to be very susceptible to peer pressure and easy to manipulate. Dare I say he is behaving more like a teenager, albeit still more cautious than the average teenager I suspect. I wonder if it is Francesco who will offer an apology to Caleb in the next chapter. We saw a different side of Francesco in this chapter, the meek and mild circus performer showing an assertiveness which certainly surprised Caleb. Caleb dancing with the Barracudas is something to look forward to. I hope he maintains a friendship with them post-cruise as he appears to enjoy playing water polo.

Self-cetntred millennial princess bitch?

Is there a Myrtle Dee and a Gay Bar King in your family tree?

It must be all that healthy country air and your "equine" stamina. I daresay you have Star Kingdom in your bloodlines a few generations back.