Summerabbacat

Why would you want to, living near the beach in a warm climate, easy access to restaurant quality food, and a budding romance (perhaps, perhaps, perhaps). This dance scene is the one in which Doris sings and dances to Shaking The Blues Away from Love Me Or Leave Me, but the person who posted it thought it looked good apparently for Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, for which there is no video (I don't think they made them when Doris released this song in 1965). Whatever, Doris looks fabulous and was quite the dancer.

Methinks you are right @Wombat Bill.

"Realistically, Irma was the only one with much experience of baking because of her mother. She suggested that Slav should come round some time, and he could help her mother experiment. It was a nice gesture, and Slav had seemed touched whilst Rory was subtly aware how everyone was making an effort to include him and Slav into the family." And seemingly it has required little effort on the part of Gavin, Jason, Matthew and Irma to do so. What a delight it has been for Rory after having endured his father, and his mother perhaps to a lesser extent. I wonder if Rory's parents are at all acquainted with Aunt Daphne and Uncle Graham, or perhaps Venetia Murray or Macdonald Philpott? "Once across the river, they picnicked near the Roman amphitheatre, which was remarkably unimpressive." You have done this before, used an adjective with a positive connotation to accentuate an adjective with a negative connotation. On all occasions you have done this I have been very amused, particularly if it was a description of a human physique or persona. More fun and adventure for our intrepid travellers @Robert Hugill. Most enjoyable as usual.

When Ted disclosed he is a smartarse and an arsehole, I thought perhaps his given name should be Robert. However, when he revealed he was also smart and what his IQ is, I knew Robert was not an appropriate name for him after all. Ted is not greedy either. He was quite prepared to demonstrate his cocksucking skills on both brothers. Generous to a fault, one could almost say altruistic, LOL.

That would also apply if it was that annoying brat, Cindy Brady, from The Brady Bunch. I hated that child, almost as annoying as Carrie Bradshaw from Sex And The City.

And always the "bridesmaid but never the bride". Farah has been mentioned before and not favourably, but I don't recall she has ever been "introduced" in person. Her brief appearance in person was sufficient to assess she thoroughly deserves her unfavourable "review". Bitch, millennial princess, gold-digging ho, all seem apropos.

Say it isn't so @Topher Lydon. Will without Andrew is like Batman without Robin, Bert without Ernie, Abbott without Costello. Looking forward to this story with some trepidation; I hope Will's descent into major depression/anxiety is not too graphic. If it is, I may have to read it at a leisurely pace rather than binge.

Another baker's dozen @Topher Lydon 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 with a few 😹😹😹😹.

A baker's dozen 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

Intense only begins to describe this chapter; Liam's revelations of Kevin's decline, the devastating impact it had on him and continues to have on him, and his near-obsession not to "inflict" his own inevitable decline on someone else, especially someone who is 20 years younger. Adrian to his credit remained silent, did not seek to demonstrate he understood Liam's pain with empty platitudes or challenge any of Liam's pre-conceived ideas, until Liam had exhausted himself. Even then, Adrian's response was respectful and restrained. His parting comment was not a salvo, it was an invitation to Liam to digest his responses and determine if they have a future as anything other than friends. An emotional explosion so well written @ChromedOutCortex.

Of course, how stupid of me. I do remember someone having Bradyphrenia. I was just reading about Bromhidrosis on the 'net. According to what I read it is not uncommon, occurs more in adults than children, more in males than females, and more in Europeans and Africans than in Asians. I look forward to your exploration of this condition. Perhaps Donovan needs a visit from Jennifer Juniper, Sunshine Superman or the Hurdy Gurdy Man to improve his outlook on life (and I have never heard any of these songs so their lyrical content may be completely wrong for the message of peace and love).

And rich white heterosexual God-fearin’ folks at that @Lee Wilson and @pvtguy. Donovan is a numerically illiterate (at least) bully. I shudder to think what he will do to make Darren’s life even more unpleasant when he finds out Darren is gay as I think it a fait accompli he will be a homophobe too. Darren is fortunate he has made a dazzling start on the school hockey team, and as such will have team members watching his back should Donovan choose to escalate his hostility. I am enjoying this story very much @Lee Wilson. Like most, if not all your stories, it is well written and easy to read. Characters are well drawn and believable, even the grotesque like Abel and Kathy Craft, whilst repugnant, are not so bizarre and/or complex that they are beyond comprehension. And I particularly like the inclusion of Mario with his uncommon medical condition. Is this something you will expand upon perhaps, giving us a glimpse of the issues this raises for Mario?

Poignant moments between West and Jonathan brought tears to my eyes swiftly and prolifically. What extraordinary men both are, shades of their American descendant, Theodore Harding. Courage and a strong commitment to justice, just like Theodore. Peter will be devastated. Will he retreat back into his shell? Time will tell. And what of Joey's future? I hope he has learned his lesson, otherwise he may end a total fuck up akin to Brad.

Major David Carter; he may have done something for his son at last, but he is still a pompous bastard. His obsession with titles, Sir and Major, infuriates me. I know it is a military thing and supposedly something to do with respect, but all I see is smug contempt for those of a lower rank. It's bullshit.

He was also a c u next Tuesday, and had no difficulty demonstrating that time and time again. The only consolation, I know his time is limited. Andrew can well afford to have principles as Will is bearing the burden of the majority of the household expenses, and doing so without complaining. If Will were in an influential position and chose to do nothing I could accept Andrew's position, but he isn't. Andrew's remark "But at least you'd be the man I fell in love with," Andrew said quietly." was a low blow, a really shitty thing to say, certainly not something Will should just forgive and forget. Andrew needs to do some serious arse kissing.

West's dream has been shattered by a spineless dickhead, who no doubt reported to a spineless dickhead. Hopefully he will soon realise it is not that he wasn't "good enough" for the US military, in fact it is the opposite, the US military wasn't "good enough" for him. He deserves so much more than being a lackey for a nation whose President was an idiot.

I think the adjectives Louis used to describe Aunt Daphne and Graham, scheming bitch and uptight wanker respectively, were succinct and most apropos. I was hoping consumption of the heavy shortcrust pastry and Jerusalem artichokes by Louis and Charlie would have the unfortunate and undesirable effects anticipated, but alas the boys saved themselves the embarrassment. Still, the oyster-coloured walls and the taupe-coloured chairs were the perfect backdrop for the aftermath of upset stomachs had Louis and Charlie not swapped their "achilles heel" with each other. That thought occurred to me too @centexhairysub. Does Graham have a connection with Farouk Georges, if not directly then indirectly? Very suspicious. Aunt Daphne is horrid. Add her to Venetia Murray and Ralph's mother, Sheila, and you have the three witches from Macbeth @Robert Hugill. A triumvirate of tantrum-throwing tarters.

It was very sad to read. The reason I am most interested in Jack's childhood in particular, is because it is what has made him the person he is. Underneath his often quirky behaviour and self-deprecation, I have long sensed a deep sadness, something which he essentially confirmed in this chapter.

"Jack looked ahead. Theodore and Vince were now only ghostly shadows in the distance. A sense of foreboding and dread gripped his heart. All his life, hadn’t he feared exactly this? That if he became attached to someone again they would just abandon him, leave him behind? Those words were true, as a figment of the voice’s tricks as they might be. He was too weak, too small to help in any way that mattered. He was only a burden, and the only way he could help was to leave everyone alone so they could continue without him. He knelt on the ground, suffocating with the realization that had been chasing him all of his life. When had he ever been truly needed? Doors were always closing behind him, leaving him in the dark. He was always alone, roaming the streets without anyone wondering whether he was fine or needed something. No one cared if he vanished. He was caught in the same pattern again, in this useless hope that tried to convince him that he could be of even a little use when he wasn’t because he was only poor little Jack, the same boy who no one loved." This is the revelation, the historical account, or at least a glimpse thereof, I have been waiting for most @Laura S. Fox. Although the mystery surrounding the devastation wreaked on Theodore's pack is intriguing, I find I am less interested in that because he, Theodore, is so unlikeable for the most part, except when he is doing his R&B growling ala Teddy Pendergrass, Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes or Luther Vandross. What I really want to learn more of is Jack's history, from conception to now. He, like Danny, is so very likeable, self-effacing and endearing. Is it any wonder Vince wants to protect him, be his guardian, just like he was for Danny. The world of shadows, full of lies and deceit, and as cold as ICE. Awfully familiar @Laura S. Fox, almost prophetic.

Brad's reasoning as to why he loves Aaron was profoundly moving. Too often I am guilty of pigeon-holing very attractive people as vain and shallow, only desiring those who are equally attractive, primarily because I have found many to be exactly like this. Obviously there are exceptions even in real life, and in print, Brad's words, which have been supported by his actions to date, have proven him to be one of those exceptions. Aaron should perhaps talk to Carl, but I cannot believe Aaron would have imagined all the abuse he suffered at the hands of Carl from the time he was 8 years of age. I suspect any discussion with Carl will achieve little as he, based on what Aaron has revealed, does not strike me as someone who will discuss anything in depth, and I don't think he can be trusted to be truthful.

Gigolo seems the most obvious profession given the content of the conversation Will heard whilst on the phone with Brody. Does he perhaps have a tongue like Gene Simmons and a talent as a cunning linguist?

Fascism, alive and well in the land of liberty. Methinks the lady would be even more horrified now than she was when this story was written. Brad will be a burden on society for as long as he lives. I hope for the sake of the Canadian taxpayer that is not a long time.

Lisa's assumptions about women in porn are just that, assumptions. It reminded me of an interview I saw with Germaine Greer, where she said gay male porn was misogynistic because one party assumed the role of the "woman". I have always felt that England's loss is Australia's gain when it comes to Ms Greer. They can keep her, we don't want her back.

Gigolo? Encyclopaedia, Tupperware or Avon salesperson? Jehovah's Witness for hire?

Brendan Watley, a cocky bastard. I don't like him. I hope his Little Red Corvette runs out of juice before the match concludes.