Palantir

Thanks again AnytaSunday - glad it brought back memories. I've been to NZ once but didn't get the chance to do any of the wonderful hikes that are there. I'm green with envy. Yes, good idea about stashing the pegs, it would have been a good counterpoint for Joel pretending he didn't have the spare pair of shorts.

Thanks AnytaSunday. Well it's a happily ever after story so of course they continued to be 'friends/more'.

Thanks AnytaSunday. Well it's a happily ever after story so of course they continued to be 'friends/more'.

'Smiled practically the entire way through', -well, that sure made me smile. There's no order at all, just the fact that there is more than one story with the Cozzie Theme. -I've made it a theme in case I get inspired to write another cozzie story at some stage. More stuff! - yes, it's coming. The first 4 chapters of a big one is in peer review at the moment. - and hopefully some of that smiling will be transformed into laughs at the crazy antics described.

Double The Trouble. Chapter 4. "Are you coming in?" "No, not now Marty. It's nearly nine. I'd better get the brat home or his mum’ll kill me and he's got all that maths he's dying to do." He traced his finger in a circle in the air then touched it to his temple. "Hey, he can't do that today. He has to wait." Peter nodded. "I'll have to get up early then, because it's due tomorrow." "Get up early on a Monday? Did you hear that Marty? We've just wasted a whole weekend on him." "It was

DOUBLE THE TROUBLE. Chapter 3. *** When Peter woke in the morning he didn't know what to do. Andy's body was pressing against his side and it felt so warm. Even warmer was the place on his stomach where Andy's out-flung arm was resting. Should he move Andy's arm? He didn't want to wake him up. In a quandary, Peter did nothing, just willed his morning erection to go away. It didn't and he knew it wouldn't. At home he usually took care of it in a lazy dreamy sort of way then dozed off again fo

Double The Trouble Chapter 2. *** "It's a special place Andy knows. Luckily he asked me first because I know you'd have said you were too busy to be away all weekend." "All weekend? But I am. I've got a novel to read and a maths assignment to finish." "Take them with you then." "What is this place?" A look of conspiracy passed between them and it was his mum who answered again. "A surprise. Andy will tell you when he's ready." "But? ...How will I know what I need?" "Andy will tell you.

Trouble Plus Trouble. Chapter 1. "Peter, why don't you join the swim team? You said you like going to the surf, so you must be okay in the water." Peter stared in surprise at Andy and wondered if he was being stirred. The swim team was filled with a pack of rough jock types and that put it beyond the bounds of interest. "Are you joking me again? You know I wouldn't fit in with those guys." "Why not? You're pretty fit and you know it’s school rules to join one of the sports teams. Swimmi

Peter, a sixteen year old Year Eleven student, finds his new High School very different to the one he left. The people are different and some of the happenings are very different.

The cyclone hit last night with winds of up to 290 km per hour in places. Amazingly, and thankfully, there is no known loss of life from this 600 kilometer wide act of nature. The greatest damage seems to have been the banana and sugar-cane crops. In one of the townships at least a third of the buildings were demolished. Luckily (miraculously many people are saying) there was a late shift in the path of the cyclone and the city of Cairns was spared the full brunt. - not so lucky for the townships to the south which weren't spared. The cyclone is still a category one even though it's been over the mainland for nearly a day. Such is the strength of Yasi that they are issuing possible flood warnings for Alice Springs which is in the centre of the continent and the flow of moisture laden air could dump heavy rains on the Southern state of Victoria which only a week ago had floodwaters covering an area 90 kms long and up to 50 kms wide. The people of Innisfail have had it really rough, having just recovered from another cyclone only five years ago

Bather-Boys. Light Green. Todd wanted a view along the beach so he climbed up the sand dune and past some scrub till he had a good view. The long strand of beach stretched both ways for over a kilometre, and behind him was the thick coastal vegetation of the National Park. The water looked very inviting, but if he had a swim he'd have to give up on his goal of reaching the rugged cliffs to the west. Oh well! There was always another day, and he tucked this spot away in his memory. The sand s

A gentle tale of seduction with a twist.

What a kind review. It certainly put a smile on my face. I'm glad you thought it was wonderful - that fits with my own opinion that it's one of my better stories. I don't quite agree so much that it's light-hearted - maybe in the style - but it's really a treatment of commitment between an intelligent, rather sensitive boy and his slightly intellectually handicapped friend and how their differences helped needs in each other.

Thanks again Cia. It's great that you enjoyed the story. Lol. - I think the depth of the feelings being expressed might have overtaken the excitement of the new camera.

Oh my, falling out of a tree is definitely NOT on my list of wannadoes - even for the purposes of inspiration - the closest I've come to that is being stuck on my roof for an hour when I knocked the ladder down by mistake.

Glad you're enjoying the story Renee. The sickness incident was also based on a real incident on one of my hikes. - not to me but to a mate. We have no idea what caused it really but suspect a spider bite.

lol. It happened to me too Renee It's rather memorable when you're out in the middle of nowhere with a deflated tent.

This is a story of commitment.

Bather Boys. Bright Blue. *** "Daniel. Jeremy's on his way up." The intercom squawked and Daniel dived for his jocks and lay on the bed pretending he'd been reading one of his Doctor Who novels. The door opened and Daniel's best friend smiled at him. "Hi, Shrimp. Reading about two headed monsters again?" "Hi, Jer. This is one of the best ones, about the Daleks." "The what?" "The Daleks. You know. Ex -- term -- in – ate! Ex -- term -- in – ate! We will Ex

Thanks Frostina -I'm pleased that some of the 'awesome' nature of the area came through for you in the story. Since I wrote this story the National Parks people have opened up the area and turned it into one of the best walking trails in the state. It's lost some of the wild feeling because there are so many people using the trail, but of course the beauty is still there. If you want to get an idea of what it's like, try Googling 'The Great Ocean Walk'.

Sounds like you've had your own adventures on the track.

Well, the original spark of inspiration for this story came from a chance encounter with a guy when I was hiking two days away from any civilisation in the Tasmanian South Coast Wilderness. He had actually carried a surf-board all that way.

Posting after some significant encouragement by Cia and Lugh.

Glad you enjoyed the story Dark. Lol. there's nothing like a good 'cliffie' in a story. Relaxing?? - well, in some ways yes, though hiking over 150 kilometres isn't for everyone. Iarwain.

Wow. 'Immensely' - that's a great thing to say. Thank you so much. The descriptions are based on real places.