Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

What lovely people who came to the aid of Charles in his deepest need. And his car was saved. Still, it's hard to fully accept the loss of everything.
Georgia O'Keefe is said to envied her friend who lost everything in a fire. But for Charles as a writer, there must have been such a loss of previous works. Great that his friend brought him a treasured book.

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 28-Jun-2019

Very many thanks for your comments, Helen. I've always wondered just how I might react to losing all my 'stuff'. I imagine it would be quite liberating.

Comment from TheStoryMan

Excellent

I'm so glad that Charles and Helen are on the mend and that his MGB is all in one piece. It's sad that his home and all his belongings have been destroyed though. It's such a shame. It's good he has friends to help him right now.

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

Thanks very much, StoryMan. Having friends rally around at times like this makes all the difference.
All the best, Tony

Comment from Gert sherwood

Excellent

Hello unknown author
I must make a note to read your story of the travels of Charles and Helen and find out what the find in their travels

Gert

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

Thanks very much, Gert. I appreciate your interest. All the best, Tony

Comment from sunnilicious

Excellent

You're funny, "pull up a pew". I haven't ever though of regular conversations in a church before. That's a wonderful gift. I'd say too much to gift outside the family. Great verbiage. Well thought out. Clearly written. Creatively unfolding nicely. Good ending as it's very emotionally sensitive. Great installment. Nice work.

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

'Pull up a pew' is a fairly common expression in England - not sure why! Perhaps it has something to do with the Catholic confessional - a heart-to-heart talk.
Yes - was an overly generous gift and one that left Charles more than a little embarrassed - even though John is a long-time friend.

Comment from Ulla

Excellent

Hi Tony, this is such an uplifting chapter until it's tinged with sight of the burned out cottage. Although Charles felt an elation when the fire happened, he is now facing reality. I remember from my flying days, if faced with an emergency (happened three times in twenty years) the classic is to feel a strange sort of excitement combined with a sense of dread and fear. You've expressed that very well, between the lines, in this chapter and the last. What now? As always very well written and not a six in my purse. All best. Ulla:))

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

Thanks so much for your encouragement, Ulla. I had one or two heart-stopping moments in my years of flying, but was always so busy at the time that it wasn?t till later that the impact hit me.

reply by Ulla on 28-Jun-2019

Yeah, I know what your saying, the pilots don't have time to think of other things. In the cabin there's time to reflect while being busy.

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written chapter. Sometimes accidents happen to us that means we may lost many things that we can replace, luckily no life was lost.

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

Very many thanks for your continued encouragement and support, Sandra. As always, much appreciated. Best wishes, Tony.

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

You did a great job with this chapter, Tony. Your word choices are descriptive and the scenes easily envisioned. I liked the lines about the birds in flight best. Thanks for sharing. Jan

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

Thanks, Jan, for your review and for picking out one of the parts that worked best for you. Always interesting to hear. All the best, Tony.

Comment from damommy

Excellent

What nice people to look after Charles and Helen. I know I'd want to see my house, too, but I think it's wrong to do. It can only hurt. Good thing about the car.

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

Thanks for your review, Yvonne. As you say, he was lucky to have friends and neighbours to rally around. All the best,Tony.

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

You did a wonderful job of describing the emotion Charles and Helen felt as they looked upon Charles' burnt home. I am wondering about the car. Is there some reason it was saves and who is Jed? Great job of writing.

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

Thanks for your review and comments, Barbara. I'm not sure who Jed is, probably one of the firemen - I'll have to ask Mrs Wilkins! He obviously thought the car worth saving before the fire spread to the garage.

Comment from Pantygynt

Excellent

This is a lovely chapter that catches the rural mood as well as the mood of loss. The only suggestion i can make would be that somewhere in the notes Bath Oliver and Wiltshire Blue might be translated for the benefit of the benighted lot across the pond.

Oh my goodness, when you get to the end of this you are going to have a lovely job revising it and finding some unity for the whole methinks. There is just so much potential you just have to do it.

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2019

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reply by the author on 27-Jun-2019

Thanks, for the suggestion, Jim. So far, I haven't had any queries about the cheese. It was mentioned in an earlier chapter that Mrs. Wilkins made it herself, though.
I'm not looking forward to the editing process. I have a nasty feeling it will take longer than the writing has.