Summerabbacat

Dewey says no @weinerdog.

I got the impression @chris191070 Luther's visitor did not stick the sword into him, rather he merely touched him with the end of his sword: "When the sharp point was taken away, Luther half rolled over, coming face to face with the dull sheen of a finely-crafted sword, and a pair of eyes he had not seen in many a year." Hopefully my impression is correct.

My immediate thought was that Luther's visitor was Chandar, the Keeper of the Sword of Erasmus, but then I realised it could not be he as Luther has not met him before, and whomever stuck their sword into Luther's back had eyes he had not seen for many years. Perhaps it was Brian, after all if he was not the Messiah, he might be a Knight of the Order of the Dragon, or perhaps it is Brad, Dr Scott or even Rocky. Whomever it is, I just hope the sword they possess is not the Sword of Damocles. I don't know why @Mark Ponyboy Peters, I don't think it is just vague memories of Monty Python and the Holy Grail or Jabberwocky, but there is something Pythonesque about this story, apart from the gay "sex scenes", although I am sure Graham Chapman would have approved of them with delight.

Perhaps they might persuade Gran to join their team @chris191070. She may be able to teach them a trick or two, and the excitement for her would maintain her new youthful enjoyment of life.

Hunter has one friend only whom he can trust completely, Max. Everyone else wants something from him, some moreso than others. I still like Yeison because I think he is genuine, and still dislike Miguel because I think he is not. It will not surprise me if Miguel's father has instructed him to get friendly with Hunter for the same reason Hunter's father has instructed him to get friendly with Miguel. If Miguel's father is as wealthy as it is believed he is, I imagine he has many contacts he could use and/or bribe to obtain information about Hunter's father.

Caleb and Lucas, Batman and Robin, Starsky and Hutch, Dalziel and Pascoe, DCI Barnaby and DS Jones, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, The Hardy Boys. Is this the beginning of a crime spree at Maroubra High School which the intrepid duo will investigate, at least until the police are contacted, if the police are contacted. I assume if the thief was wearing a hoodie it would be impossible to tell whether he or she had Split Enz, and the robbery occurred when the school was anything but a Crowded House, with no witnesses likely in the vicinity of the school. Was it perhaps a disgruntled former resident of Shortland Street @Wombat Bill, or a roadie for Dragon, Sharon O'Neill, Split Enz or Crowded House. The Ox is an obvious suspect, a little too obvious I think. Perhaps it was an Aboriginal student who has taken it and given it to a tribal elder for safekeeping.

I have 9 days and several years on you.

Haven't you got a husband @chris191070? As a Libran born on 10/10 I have to ask are the numbers in your profile name your date of birth?

"Francesco then reached up with his hands and his head followed. When he was in his intended position, James said “Bloody hell....I’ve never seen anything like that before. You can lick your own butt cheeks” Francesco stopped licking and said “Watch this” Then he pulled his cheeks apart, put his tongue between his cheeks and licked his own arse hole” “I don’t believe it...self rimming” I knew it. Bloody hell, lucky bastard. With James as his "costume advisor" I am sure Francesco will do well in Australia's Got Talent, a TV show I have never seen in my life. Is that the one Dannii Minogue and that ghastly Sharon Osbourne were on @Wombat Bill? I have seen YouTube clips of the British one with Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden. Caleb's formerly unhappy home life appears to have made him sensitive to others who appear to be sad/unwanted/unloved. A friendship with Joshua, before Joshua meets Malcolm, might be just what Joshua needs. And I see Florence's son, Scott, has made his first appearance. Given his love of swimming, presumably regularly in public pools, he should be extra cautious with his penchant for sounding rods.

Is field hockey popular in the USA too @Lee Wilson or just ice hockey? Is ice hockey a sport where a major player could come out as gay and it would be OK? Darren is certainly a patient lad, biding his time for a break. It appears his small stature is a disadvantage; is that because ice hockey is a rough sport?

No surprises Aunt Daphne was universally disliked, as Louis so charmingly described her, a "profoundly disagreeable woman". I particularly liked this description of Aunt Daphne @Robert Hugill, positively Christie-esque. I cannot imagine Miss Marple saying it, but can imagine someone from St. Mary Mead describing a murder victim in such a manner. It appears Joss and perhaps Gloria are already suspicious of involvement in the murder of Aunt Daphne by Thomas Englert aka Franck de Leuw. I am too, but I don't think Uncle Graham can be ruled out entirely either. It is almost certain he is involved in some shady business dealings. Thomas Englert's visits to Louis may be entirely coincidental. If so, they are a bloody big coincidence. It seems there is no limits to your literary talents @Robert Hugill. You can now add murder mysteries to your list of accomplishments with this storyline riveting already.

It appears Luther and Raemande were at one time lovers, and the last time they spoke words between the two were heated, something Luther has regretted ever since. It is this regret which is propelling him forward to seek the wise counsel of Chandar, the Keeper of the Sword of Erasmus, a magical sword which has previously slayed dragons. I too am intrigued by the little chirping red robin @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Was it perhaps Lady Bump herself, Penny McLean the redhead vocalist with the German disco group Silver Convention, who had a massive @Summerabbacat adored hit single, Fly Robin Fly, in avian form. Upon leaving the village of Avonleeth Luther and Jamal travelled along and through a great river. Was it like the Rivers Of Babylon @Mark Ponyboy Peters? Were they carolled by the lush vocals of Liz Mitchell or the broad-shouldered Marcia Barrett, the only two members of German disco group, Boney M, who actually sang on their records (which @Summerabbacat also adored). Teutonic Erurodisco @drsawzall, one of disco's greatest sub-genres. Forget about noble knights @Mark Ponyboy Peters, what Luther and Jamal need are an army of drag queens. RuPaul, Alaska Thunderfuck, Bianca Del Rio and Trixie Mattel for starters. Septimus would be a whimpering weasel after those bitches got finished with him. Add little Aussie icon, Courtney Act, and he would be dead meat.

So many wonderful ABBA opportunities @Wombat Bill from Edwiener being a (Super) Trouper to Voulez-Vous to Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight). And I am very pleased Lucas has been exposed to listening to some real music and meeting some real people. Edward's offer to Raj to try on some of his gowns was one of kindness, and should have informed Raj that Edward meant no harm with his joke about blowing a tranny: “Really, you’d let me do that, I thought drag queens were very protective of their outfits” Normally Honey, but you’re now family and on a journey of self-discovery. Anything I can do to help would please me to the end of the runway”. I cannot let the opportunity pass to worship not only ABBA but Peggy too @Wombat Bill. I have seen this video before on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately the picture and sound quality is not great, but it offers some explanation as to why Frida has in recent years had some serious hip issues. She was an energetic performer live.

Just how big is Slav's arse @Robert Hugill? Would it rival that of Bertha Butt, or her sisters Betty, Bella or Bathsheba? Irma showed once again what a remarkable young woman she is, her wise counsel allaying Slav's fears sufficiently for him to join in the frisbee throwing. I think Rory needs to worship those cakes slavishly to remove any doubt in Slav's mind, and whilst he is at it Rory will be enjoying himself immensely. The impending discussion of a new residence and the purchase thereof is something for we readers to look forward to as well as the family themselves. Perhaps it might be time to introduce one of your delightful female characters into the plot @Robert Hugill, another Lesley or Dawn. Elsie Carrington-Mayfair, a thirty-something honest real estate agent, born into a very wealthy family, whom she is somewhat estranged from. Known to her friends and colleagues alike as Chelsea Elsie, she takes a shine to the family and works tirelessly to help them find their dream home, and they welcome her into their family, something she has yearned for. Part of her estrangement from her family is because she is a dyke, and her girlfriend, Martina von Helsinborg, is a radical socialist feminist which does not sit well with Elsie's conservative family.

Leo may just be waiting for Noah to catch up and get with the programme. Methinks Leo turned down a date with Luisa because he is not interested in dating a woman, although I guess she may be very unpleasant. A night of passion on the beach with Noah, with the sound of the waves rolling in and the smell of the fresh salty air, now that is what Leo desires.

He could have if Craig's attitude had been "rubbing off" on him. I can envisage Gran and Edward getting along rather well with each other.

One of the first four may have taken performance enhancing drugs and will be disqualified, therefore, Michael will replace him in the squad. My bet is on Seamus Wagner as the cheat; he has been on the juice for years so his times have gradually been improving rather than drastically improving. Michael's nerves slowed him down a little, otherwise he could have bested both Wagner and Kuznetsov. Well done again @Lee Wilson. These lads are so likeable it is easy to enjoy their story unfolding.

Francesco is fully self-contained, and likely fully self-entertained too if he so desires. I have no doubt he could perform auto-fellatio, and if he can rest his head on his bum he can probably rim himself too. Francesco is positively feline. Edward will need a lot of patience if he is going to be a foster carer for a human child/teenager. And more importantly, what will Peggy think, after all surely she is mistress of her domain now, even more so than Edweiner? She may not wish to share, and if you think Rumpole's wife had to be obeyed, she would have nothing on Peggy. I thought Gran's questions about Raj were very respectful and showed a genuine desire to try to understand, or at least educate herself, so why Justin's attitude "Is that all for now Gran?", or am I reading snark into a comment that was not there? Perhaps it is a reflection of work for the last few days and other issues, that I am feeling less than charitable towards my own species, even more so than usual. And finally, Wanda's decline of Alex's invitation. Was it more than what it appears on face value? Perhaps, time will tell. Most enjoyable @Wombat Bill.

Olivia Dean's first album, Messy, was released in 2023, but the second album, The Art Of Loving, which was released last year, is the one which has brought her international attention, with significant sales and awards. An attractive young woman with a very pleasant singing voice and songs which are easy on the ears. She reminds me a little of the magnificent Sade, and not just because she has one white parent and one black parent. No vocal histrionics or songs in which she is constantly complaining about how badly done by she is. For @Summerabbacat, a breath of fresh air after Adele, Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran. She also has great taste in frocks.

My memory is not as sharp as it was, but now you have mentioned it @Wombat Bill, I do recall Craig expecting "proper" behaviour from all, at least in public.

They had a song on their album Private Eyes titled Mano A Mano. When you used this phrase I thought of them immediately.

Perhaps with a little help from his friends, Billy Ocean, Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. What do you think @weinerdog?

Is Amanda, the same Amanda, Vaughan's friend, from Crossing The Line @Robert Hugill? "Aunt Daphne was in a car accident. Hit and run. Deliberate, the police think.” “What the hell sort of accident?” “She was walking to a meeting. Car hit her.” “She’s dead? Deliberate!” “Yes.” I did not see this coming. I think this is the first murder in any of your stories to date @Robert Hugill. Pericles and Gloria may well become involved in investigating it. My immediate thought, Thomas Englert aka Franck de Leuw is the culprit. The reason, Graham has had and continues to have some shady clients, and Thomas Englert suspects Graham may know the whereabouts of the missing Nimrud Panther. I suspect Thomas has been following Louis, and believes he has some connection to Graham. Ian came a little more out of his shell in this chapter, with further encouragement from Louis. I think I would like his gardens, big bold flowers with lots of colour.

“I really don’t think you should drive in your state” Gran said to her. “Me, I’m as jober as a sudge” Susan replied. “If you’ll pardon the pun...I rest my case” replied Gran “They seem to have run out of bed space here, so you’re left with no option but to accompany me to my garden flat and be my guest for the night” “Oh I shust couldn’t” It must be the name, Susan, @Wombat Bill. I remember many years ago a well-known Eastern Suburbs socialite, now deceased, was pulled up by the police and arrested for DUI after a liquid lunch in Double Bay. She was probably best known for her number and choice of husbands, all well heeled and socially prominent. I rather liked her though as she seemed quite to down to earth when interviewed, unlike one of her ghastly friends, the widow of a former Prime Minister. I also got the impression she was far more than just a trophy wife. I must say Craig rather annoyed me in this chapter. I felt his admonishment of Gran for her comment about a stripper, particularly the unsuitability of a male stripper for Julia, was unnecessary. There was no malice in Gran's comment, it was factually correct. When and why has Craig become so priggish? And if Julia took offence to Gran's comment, then she is really just a little too precious for her own good. Alex's arrival without Wanda. Is it just a flying visit for Christmas or does it signify trouble in paradise?

Another mist-ifying chapter @Laura S. Fox. Was the entity a cold, malicious witch sending out ice-sharp needles in a vain attempt to kill Jack and then Vince, or was it some other evil presence, a demon perhaps. Whatever the nature of the evil entity it appears to have failed in its quest. If anything good has come of its quest, it is that Theodore has finally accepted and articulated his feelings for the annoying little field-mouse Jack are not all negative.