Summerabbacat

Is bullfighting still popular amongst the masses @Gary L? And then there is the Running Of The Bulls in Pamplona. I am always pleased when some "humans" are killed in the latter stampede, unfortunately it is always a relatively small number.

Peggy's verdict @Mark Ponyboy Peters; she agrees with me.

I had to stop reading this story for a while because it is so distressing. Whilst I realise it is fiction, it is so wholly believable such that one can easily imagine something like this occurring in real life. It is a testament to your writing skills @ChromedOutCortex that this story could have such a profound impact on one. I am going to restrict reading this story only when I feel "up". If I have had a shitty work day or if my eldest cat is not feeling well (hence I am not feeling well) I shall put it aside and revisit later.

I did mean him. I entered Ximo in Google to determine if it was a Spanish name as I assumed it was. His name showed up and when I read he was a Socialist politician in Valencia I thought he might have been an inspiration. Google does come in quite handy at times.

No, but it did hit heavily with the latest chapter of Traditions. C'est magnifique.

Methinks Armand is a sleazy lech who may try to get into Ximo's pants. Ximo's "superior" birthright may be what saves him from unwanted advances. Methinks Geraldo is likely Ximo's long-term lover whom he referred to when he first met Jack and Joan. His position is even worse than that of Ximo, it is almost as if he has been bonded from birth because of the accident his father had as a young boy. Another excellent chapter @Gary L. Several times I wondered what Almodóvar might do with a story like this, particularly as it is linked to Franco. And I have to ask, was Ximo's name inspired by Ximo Puig, or was it just chosen because it is a diminutive of Joaquin?

Rick is very decisive and resolute in the execution of his duties as evidenced by his quick thinking in ensuring the safety of the blonde skater boy. Although it resulted in Corcoran getting away again, Rick really had no choice to act otherwise. If Corcoran had managed to get his hands on the blonde skater boy it is highly likely he would have suffered the same fate as Martin, Alexis and Jimmy Tan, or at the very least the same fate as Cory. Perhaps I am being too harsh in my criticism (which would be so unlike me), but how was a 14 year old teenager able to track down a criminal and keep watch on him and the police were not. Did the police make any effort to locate Corcoran after Rick provided intel on him to Helen? Of course, had they done so, this story would essentially be winding down, which is obviously not the intent of @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Is Corcoran being protected by AC Barrett, or are his crimes totally unrelated to those being perpetrated by Corcoran? Corcoran appears desperate to feed his desires, which has increased his brazenness, and will hopefully lead him to becoming sufficiently reckless soon such that he is caught. @weinerdog may well be right in that Corcoran may make an attempt during the Mardi Gras parade to grab an unsuspecting blonde teen for his pleasure. Nick's mother Wendy is doing a fine job raising her sons, single-handedly if Nick's comment regarding his father is to be believed. If his comment was true, it is probably better if his father is absent from his life. Tension plus again in this chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Just as well my blood pressure is under control, otherwise I could have been flat on the floor.

I should have emphasised @Gary L that as Roger is much older than Joaquin, he has had the time and the opportunities to form connections, both good and bad, which Joaquin has not yet been able to form, even though he is of "superior" birth.

Very intriguing and suspenseful; @Gary L. It seems the good doctor's words, similar to the adage "keep your friends close and your enemies closer", may be spot on. It appears likely, to me at least, the anonymous call to the Guardia Civil that a group of homosexuals had gathered to celebrate the assassination of the Prime Minister in the Bar Montserrat, must have been made by someone within the group gathered at the bar. Is there a traitor within MELH, a double agent, much like Gerardo it would seem, and if so, who is that person. The most obvious candidate, to me at least, is Roger aka Armand de Fluvià i Vendrell a man who because of his birthright and his vocation, may have access to people "in the know" in Guardia Civil and/or within Franco's circles. He came across as very disingenuous to me, or perhaps I am just projecting my distrust of people born into "noteworthy" families of privilege and wealth.

I remembered the title of the song by Tommy Tutone (I even remembered the band's name), courtesy of Casey Kasem's American Top 40, but could not remember the melody of the song itself. I just played a snippet of it from a Youtube listing and know why I could not remember it. Not a fan, but not so hideous like Keep On Lovin' You by REO Speedwagon or Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor that I could not avoid remembering it. I have not seen Bruce Almighty, in fact I don't think I have ever heard of it before.

I cannot imagine the angst Charlie must have felt at such a young age and on his own, fearing the worst in the contents of the letters from his mother's solicitors and from the bank, to which the home that is now Charlie's, is mortgaged. The mounting letters alone make me wonder if Charlie's accidental overdose was entirely an accident. Thankfully, with intervention on the part of Kieran's father, Charlie's immediate financial worries have been quashed. The scene in the solicitors' office when Charlie wept tears of relief, and probably some "guilt" too, stirred my hay fever into action @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Such a beautifully written scene. I was very pleased to see Matt make an appearance, hopefully a precursor to more appearances by him and the Beachside Lane gang (I hope I have correctly remembered the name of their "street"). Perhaps Tony can persuade Kieran and Charlie to reveal more of their story as a "new year's resolution" as it is such a captivating story thus far. I am looking forward to the connection between the cousins and Patrick aka Trinity de la Crème. I have a strong feeling we readers will require tissues in bulk on standby when this event occurs. I have said it before, and with the risk of sounding like a broken record, this story is wonderful. To some extent Kieran and Charlie have much the same appeal to me as Danny and Nate, which makes them beyond endearing. And I learned something too in this chapter. I had no idea 555 phone numbers were regularly used in movies and fiction. Have I been living under a rock, or is it indicative of the type of movies I don't watch?

It seems the holiday is having a positive impact on the relationships of each of the three couples. Jason and Gavin had the opportunity to sample some of the local fare in the form of Jean-Philippe, the twenty something local seaman with a proliferation of pubes. Slav had the opportunity to bare his all outside the home environment, and from all reprorts there is much to bare, with his little buddy Rory, without embarrassment or shame. Rory, as is his custom, enjoyed Slav's largesse immensely, culminating in marine explosions for both. And Irma and Matthew also got to partake in some moonlight dancing without the worry of being caught. They also enjoyed cakes in an establishment run by yet another uptight French woman. If nothing else @Robert Hugill, each of the vacationers will be able to say they had a fucking good holiday or should that be a good fucking holiday.

Hopefully Seán Ciarán Eoghan O'Reilly has the opportunity to play this song to Madison before this happens @Mark Ponyboy Peters.

You could well be right @Mark Ponyboy Peters, especially if she is the one with the money.

She appears to have no empathy @Davide. She was not raped or forced to participate in underage porn, therefore, it is of no importance to her as she was unaffected. Shallow, cold-hearted, totally lacking in concern for anyone other than Madison O'Reilly. Hopefully her big-dicked, stoned husband is just as vile as her, and dumps her when the money runs out.

She was spawn from the same petri dish as Oliver's mother and his ghastly Aunt Ruby. I just hope she is gone for good, and if she does make a return it is in a pine box.

He did, but @Calvin's "comment" is even better, and so succinct. My nomination for comment of the year on any story I have read (and I have read a lot).

This is the best "comment" you have ever made on any story. Absolutely brilliant.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Those who previously commented unfavourably on Madison, including moi, were correct. If anything, she is even more of a bitch than what she initially appeared to be. A member of the "growing in numbers club", the spoilt, totally self-absorbed, entitled millennial princess. And to make matters worse, she is even more naive than what she initially appeared to be. "I've just been on the phone to Mum and Dad's solicitor. He said their estate included a trust fund for me, but I can't have the money until I see him personally and prove who I am. I don't understand why he can't just put the money into my account. Uncle Phil has my account details. He could have asked uncle Phil." and "I'm just letting you know that the solicitor has verified who I am and my inheritance money will be transferred into my account today. I don't know why uncle lied and kept the money from me." She still has not worked it out. Does she still believe Uncle Phil is an honourable man? Is she really that naive? Clearly the answer is yes. Given how clueless she is, I hope both Madison and her husband are infertile to prevent her from having a child, and no child should be burdened with having such a narcissistic mother. Dare I suggest the "fictitious" Karen may be Madison's mother. Seemingly both Joshua and Daniel have been subjected to Madison's selfish thoughtless behaviour on many an occasion, such that her behaviour on this occasion came as no surprise to either and did not unduly upset them. They are unlikely to ever hear from her again, unless the money, weed or dick runs out, in which case she may be back, at least for money. I doubt either will have a problem with telling her to fuck off if she dares to show her face again. Suffice to say, Ireland's loss is Daniel and Josh's gain. The journey north for the foursome should prove beneficial, particularly for Joshua and Daniel. Another superb chapter @Paladin. It is this high quality writing which maintains this story in the top 10 month after month.

"I want you to write down this number,’ I said. ‘If he comes back I want you stay the fuck away from him, then call this number straight away.’ I recited Helen’s number to him and told him who it was, and that he could trust her." What part of this conversation gave Nick the idea he should follow Corcoran aka Cochran. After Corcoran is captured, Rick should tear Nick a new one, although it will be hard to do so if his following Corcoran leads to his capture. If it does, it does not say much for the police who have presumably been deployed to try to find him. The meeting with Stacey went well. She has landed on her feet very comfortably, married to a man who works in the coal mines. Those who work in the coal mines are paid very handsomely for their work, so money would not be tight for a girl who grew up in a trailer park. She was certainly far more self-aware than I thought she would be, recognising she was a skank who took out her frustrations and fears on her brother, of whom she was also jealous. She went some way to redeeming herself @Mark Ponyboy Peters, but @Summerabbacat is still somewhat leery of her. Hopefully this little gem by Deborah Harry from her marvellous debut album Koo Koo will set the scene for the next chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters.

My Coo Ca Choo was #1 for 7 weeks in 1974 and became the biggest selling single of the year in Australia for that year. Alvin Stardust had a tenuous Aussie connection @drsawzall, albeit well after My Coo Ca Choo was a hit. He was married for a short time to the English actress Liza Goddard, who starred in Skippy The Bush Kangaroo, albeit well before My Coo Ca Choo was a hit. She had previously been married to Colin Baker who was the sixth Doctor Who. All rather "incestuous" isn't it. Incidentally, Alvin Stardust did not even perform the vocals on My Coo Ca Choo. Bernard Jewry aka Shane Fenton, an English rock singer and stage actor, became Alvin Stardust when Peter Shelley (not Pete Shelley, the lead singer of The Buzzcocks who had a solo hit with Homosapien) who recorded the song as Alvin Stardust, was faced with making appearances after the song became a substantial hit.

Not bloody likely. Theodore Pembroke, power-broker, power top only.

Like a bitch on heat @chris191070. It gives "puppy play" a whole new meaning.

But is it really a "sacrifice" on Theo's part if he enjoys it @Cane23?

Woof!