Alien Son

I haven't read either of the books mentioned, so this is more a general reflection on war and my feelings about it. Like you, Bruin, I haven't had any personal experience of war. I was the right age to be called up for service during Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. Selection was by ballot by birthday. I missed out in the ballot, but I most likely would have been rejected because of my hearing loss. I know two guys who served in Vietnam. One seemed unwilling to talk when I rather insensitively asked him about his experience not long after the event, and I think he was affected pretty badly by the war. Somehow, I've never asked the other one anything about it. My father was 14 when the Great War began. He enlisted (in the UK; he was born and grew up in England) as soon as he could, and was in training in Ireland when the war ended. I remember lots of stories, many of them funny, about his time in the army. I can't help wondering how much different his experience and memories might have been had he actually experienced the trenches. Two of Dad's older brothers served in that war. One was in the British army; he was killed at Salonika in Greece and is buried in a war cemetery in Iraq. The other, having already migrated to Australia, served in the Australian Infantry Force (AIF) and returned home safely. I don't remember hearing any stories of his war service, and I don't remember hearing much about the brother who died. My grandfather, Mum's father, enlisted in the AIF in 1916 at the age of 37. His wife had died in 1910 when Mum was nearly four, and Mum was mostly brought up by relatives, although Grandpa was close by. Grandpa served in France. He made it home safely, but spent a couple of periods in hospital in England and France with injuries and illness. He died when I was six months old, so I never knew him. I once asked my sister (15 years older than me) whether Grandpa spoke of the war. She didn't remember his ever mentioning it. Sadly, I never asked my mother how she felt about his leaving her when she was 10 and not returning until she was 13, when he was demobbed in 1919. I have postcards he sent to her, though, that indicate that he missed her. One of Grandpa's younger brothers also enlisted and served in France. He came home at the end of the war. His daughter told me some years ago that the two brothers met up in France on one occasion. They were in columns marching in opposite directions, so only had a chance to wave and yell a greeting. Two cousins of my mother's enlisted in the AIF. Both were killed and are buried in war cemeteries in France. When I look back it's obvious that my thinking about war changed dramatically over the years. During the Vietnam War I supported Australia's involvement, and I was pretty dismissive of the anti-war protests that were held around Australia at the time. Twenty years later I had changed my opinion and come to believe that our involvement was wrong. Later, I was vehemently opposed to Australia's involvement in the invasion of Iraq. I don't think I ever thought much about the Great War until I visited a war memorial in Goulburn in New South Wales in 1985. On display were some large B&W photos of scenes in France and Belgium showing the destruction resulting from the war. They were dramatic, and they had a profound effect on me. I think by then I was already pretty much anti-war, but these photos hammered home the futility and cost of war. Many years later I thought again of those photos and how they had affected me. I went searching on the internet and found a lot of similar images (probably even some of the same ones). I used them to create a PowerPoint presentation. I've uploaded an HTML version of it here, if anyone would like to watch it. In the original PowerPoint the slides are much bigger, so if you'd like to download that, it's here. ~ John

Thank you! I've downloaded the new version.

Hi, Ivor Yes, that's the site we're talking about. Chapter 59 was posted, but it disappeared a couple of days later.

Years ago I downloaded all of Driver's stories. I downloaded most of Jack in the Box some months ago, and after reading that the story was complete, I downloaded the remaining chapters. Chapter 59 (which is now not listed) ends with "The End". I'll wait and see what happens next :).

Thanks, vwl! I haven't read the last few chapters, but the rest of the story was excellent. Now that it's complete I'll finish reading it. NOTE: If you haven't read Jack in the Box, it would be best to read the others in the series first, particularly Sudden Storm.

UPDATE Mike is out of hospital and back in the nursing home. He has his laptop and phone charger now. He's still frustrated because he can't do much. The doctors have him on medication that seems to have stabilised his blood pressure. - John

Mike hasn't been deprived of his; it's just not in the hospital with him. The series of events that led to that situation would make a good story! - John

Mike just contacted me to let me know he's still in hospital, still undergoing tests, and very frustrated because he's still separated from his laptop. The good news is that his condition isn't life-threatening, but his doctors want to get to the bottom of it before they'll release him. The problem is related to his blood pressure and his nervous system. The blood pressure is OK while he's lying down, but if he sits up his blood pressure drops, and if he stands, it drops further. The doctors are trying different medications. Mike's missing not being able to at least read what's happening at AD. He's hoping to have his laptop back next weekend. - John

Thanks, everyone!

UPDATE Mike has been unwell again, and is in hospital having more tests done. He now has his laptop, but it's not in the hospital with him. He doesn't have his phone charger with him, either, so he might not be able to communicate much until he leaves the hospital. He was in good spirits when I last spoke with him.

Mike is doing well. He still doesn't have his laptop, but is expecting to be reunited with it this weekend. Dude's Picks for April will be delayed for a few days. ~ John

There have been changes in Mike's circumstances in the last few weeks. For a short time he was unwell and had to be admitted to hospital to undergo tests to work out what was wrong. He's now OK and in a new nursing home. At present, because he was admitted to hospital in a bit of a rush, he doesn't have his laptop with him and is unable to reply to emails. He's hoping that situation will be remedied soon. I'll try to keep everyone informed. ~ John

Hi, Nathan Please convey our best wishes to Nigel, and our hope that he will make a full recovery. John

The sequel, Handpicked, is now posted.

Yay! I'm glad that worked out!

James, there's a blog by an author named Nexis Pas here, but I can't find a story called Morning Coffee. There's also an author called Nexis Pas on Nifty. That one has a story called Coffee in the Morning but it doesn't seem to be the one you're looking for. If you know/remember the names of the sites that hosted the author, try a search on the Internet Archive.

Hi, Camy Sorry to take so long to reply. I spoke with Mike by phone this morning, and he sounded much better than he did last time we spoke. He says he's feeling a lot better now. He's well enough to be wanting to get back into work on the site -- and that's very encouraging! - John

Mike has picked up a flu bug that's rampaged through his rehabilitation facility, and is unwell at present. He's hoping to be fully recovered within the next week or so. If you've emailed him and are waiting for a reply, please be assured that he'll get to you as soon as he can. - John

Until I was in my teens the tiny town where I grew up had a manual exchange. The numbers must have been allocated in chronological order, because our number was 12 and I knew at least two families who had single-digit numbers. To make a call you turned a handle on the phone, then picked up the receiver and when the telephonist answered, asked them to connect you to the number you wanted. I knew of party lines but I don't think anybody we knew had one. It wasn't until I was about 15 that our exchange went automatic and then we had five-digit numbers and dial phones.

Mike is making good progress. His left shoulder has now healed to the extent that he's able to use a walker, and he's up and about now. He's still in rehab and doing regular physiotherapy. He's now able to type again, so is able to communicate much more easily. He's in good spirits and looking forward to getting back to work at AD. John

Hi, Nigel Mike tried to contact me via Skype but I missed the call and called him back by phone. I assume you could talk to him on Skype. I don't know how much privacy he has, though. He's in a room with several other people and I could hear one of those yelling in the background when we were trying to talk. Mike said his earplugs were going in as soon as we got off the phone! - John

I've just had another phone call with Mike. He's making progress, albeit slowly. He's hoping to be walking in a couple of weeks' time. His problem at the moment is that he can't use a walker because of his fractured left shoulder, and he'll have to wait for that to heal. He has been up on his feet a little, though. Mike asked to me let everyone know that he's reading the forums and the stories we've been posting, as well as emails, and said to tell you he loves you all. If you would like to contact him you can email him at awesomedudester@gmail.com. He'll be able to listen to your message using text-to-speech software, but won't be able to reply because he's not able to type just yet. - John

Latest news on Mike: I've just spoken with Mike by phone. He's doing much better now, but is still weak. He lost a lot of weight but is regaining that now. He's in rehab and spending some time in a wheelchair, and hoping to start walking soon. He sounded much more cheerful than he did last time I spoke with him. Mike now has his laptop computer and is able to get online. He asked me to let everyone know that he'll be reading your forum posts but won't be able to reply because he's unable to type at present. He appreciates all the good wishes being sent his way, and says he'll be back on deck as soon as he can manage it. - John

Thanks, guys, I'll pass on your best wishes when I'm able to.

After a week's delay I've been able to talk to Mike again. He's still in hospital and has been very unwell. He's making slow progress. He does not have access to his email at present, so for the time being please don't expect a reply if you email him personally, or if you submit a story. I will post story updates for current serials for the near future. John