Pedro

I was not in the mood for starting a long story set in a dark place emotionally. SoI thought I would look for what else he had posted to see if I liked his writing enough to persevere at some later time. He has posted two chapters that seem to be linked shorts, but there is the hint they may develop into something longer. I liked them, nicely observed and nicely written. Try here: http://www.gayauthors.org/story/parker-owens/aquinasstory/1

The officer probably was amused..........the first time he heard it. It remind me of the quip about Gilbert Harding, a somewhat irascible journalist and TV presenter in the fifties. It is said he was being questioned by Immigration on the way into the U.S. and was asked if he had any intention to cause insurrection or over throw the government and he replied "Sole purpose of visit." The immigration officer must have been the only one in the country who understood the absurdity of the question because Harding was allowed to stay.

May I recommend this story by new author Joe. I enjoyed it I hope others do too. The tone and setting are nicely matched to the story he is trying to tell. Read it here: http://www.awesomedude.com/joe/eyes-of-darkly-blue/eyes-of-darkly-blue.htm Welcome Joe

Thank you all for kind words. Which, in the broadest sense, must be part of what we do here? Far fetched? that a cat might have 'gaydar' - yes but the idea amused me. That stroking a cat might make you 'pleasurably uncomfortable' ? - no, it happened to me once. It was a bit of a surprise and embarrassing but at least it wasn't in public.Cole- there are those who would say the second half of that sentence was fighting talk. Pedro

Hi Nigel and Colin Thank you for your help with both stories. Pedro

Mm , interesting. I'm with Bruin here. 'Devilry' is the usual word in my experience. I have heard 'Deviltry' used on the odd occasion before but cannot remember the circumstances. If Cole's experience is the other way round... Québécois is considered derived from 17/18C French and Afrikaans from 17/18C Dutch, American English surely has some roots in 16/17C English. Maybe the usage diverged from that point which is why the OED suggests 'Deviltry' is archaic. Also English spelling was probably still fluid at the time of that divergence. I have heard it said that if you want to hear the English of Shakespeare you should visit some of the remoter corners of the eastern seaboard of the USA. Colin makes a good case for both words to exist. It is such subtle differences between meanings of words that makes English such a rich language.

This story is not a joke but it has a punch line. When I read it I felt as though I had been kicked in the guts. Congratulations Bruin. I won't say thanks because the ending has haunted me all day.

Indian call centre? Reminded me of this. Des, Graeme & Alien Son- you have probably heard it before. Everybody else? It will probably test your knowledge of Strine more than Call centre English. www.youtube.com/watch?v=syPSHe0kzMs Hope the link works. it kills me every time I listen to it!

Thanks guys On its way.

Would anybody be able to give a short (1500word) story the once over please. As much to see if you think it worth submission, as well general edit. Problem is the Dude wants the finished product by 24 October. I also have another non Halloween story about 7000 words, centred around a boy and a cat. If anyone would be kind enough to volunteer to look at it please. There are a couple of points that I know I need a second opinion, as well as anything else you find. Thanks Pedro

Delicious. Caught me out and made me chuckle. Thanks Nigel http://www.awesomedude.com/nigel_gordon/confession/confession.htm

I remember a discussion with friends a few years back where the argument included population pressure and finite natural recourses. I voiced the opinion that what the planet needed was a plague. I was thinking of the Black Death in the 14C which severely cut population and (I use a broad brush here) led to the end of serfdom in Western Europe and the rise of the market economy. I did wonder if the recent outbreak of Ebola would escape W Africa and would prove me right. Of course a significant reduction in population would not of itself end war. There are always those who want command over others. Indeed the risk of war might increase as the fanatics claim the plague as a visitation from their gods and seek to damn/extirpate all unbelievers.

If I remember correctly Quentin Crisp (The Naked Civil Servant) implied that things were easier for him during the war. People were more tolerant when they weren't sure if they would see tomorrow, and being a neighbourhood 'character' his being seen to be still around would be sort of good for morale, but the tolerance went almost as soon as the dancing stopped on VE Day.

I can stop holding my breath now. Thank you, Sam, for a great story. Best wishes Pedro

19 made me smile, but Deja Moo is the best. Wouldn't apply to the upcoming US presidential campaign by any chance?

Thanks Graeme. if overturning is unlikely in accordance with 'stari decisis', could it be undermined, eg by bringing an analogous case? (I'm not sure that is quite the word I want)

While I agree the decision is to be welcomed, and I don't like 'raining on your parade', but I think a note of caution is required. There is a Presidential election coming up and if a Republican wins, I suspect it is likely the GOP will control Congress as well. If one of the Assenting Judges has to stand down through death or other cause, there is the opportunity for another dissenting voice to be appointed and the case reopened and the judgement overturned. Please tell me I have misunderstood how the SCOTUS works..... Please.

As the tea lady handed Sir Brian his tea, she had to apologise. " Sorry, Sir, but we hain't got no lemons today." It was probably a good thing. He might have choked on it when the Press Secretary got to the bit about 'gibberishize' in one of the newspaper reviews of the PM's trip to Sochi.

Gentlemen, thank you for your positive comments. I think there is something of an age disparity amongst the current crop of real life politicians that rules out the possibility of any of them having met in their early teens.

By the time I was in school in the early 60's the teaching of copperplate or cursive in the UK had or was falling out of fashion. So my handwriting is suitably appalling. I am often amazed by the handwriting of generations before mine. Even 'the hoary handed sons of toil' often have nice handwriting. It may no longer be true cursive as their own style has developed over the years, but still puts mine to shame.

Multiple husbands perhaps? I suspect most advocates of polygamy would have a hard time getting their heads around the idea of polyandry, never mind fin it acceptable.

Thank you all for your effusive comments. Des- I enjoyed the video. If I remember correctly, the song was originally written for the kind of garden I had in mind. However there must have been a jail break at the local zoo when they made the video - some of the fauna would be exotic even in your neck of the woods never mind England. Resurgam - The ending was not intended as a reflection on Saulius character, just a recognition that he would need to head off to make his own way in the world. - Thank you for posting the link about LGBT in Lithuania which provides a level of corroboration for my premise. I found the info I needed from a 'Google' search, but I was concerned that I might have got it wrong. I have no personal experience of Lithuanian society, and 'a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing'. FYI, Kalvis (Smith) does not appear to,be a common name. There was only one in the Vilnius phone book when I thought I had better check it existed at all. - thank you also for the covered bridge link. We do indeed learn something new every day. I had always wondered why they were covered, now I know it is to protect the structure not the users. Although there was another reason that I specified a through truss bridge, I did think that this type would appeal to a fashion photo-shoot as it would allow the models more choice of bits to lean on or hang from than most other types.

Found it: The Elcombe Stories by Michael Duggan on CRVboy. Link to the Art Show:- Http://www.crvboy.org/stories/michaelduggan/es/t01.html

Thank you for your appreciation of my efforts. - I would be worried it might turn out to be a cross between 'Midsomer Murders' and 'Daffyd, the only gay in the village' from 'Little Britain'. However your comment put me in mind of a series of , I think, four amusing stories where the gay narrator is always being 'organised' by Mrs Bossy. One story was an Art exhibition, one an archeological dig, one where Pan comes to the village and makes everyone submit to his desires. I forget what the fourth was. I have also forgotten where I saw the stories or who the author was, but I will sleep on't and hopefully remember.

Another thought- what if it is a convent school or similar, div could then be short for divine as a term specific to the school. The double meaning with the mainstream definition, stupid person, would appeal to the pupils' sense of humour/absurd.