I love music

I doubt I'll still be watching H&A in two years time since they seem to have ruined the Kane/Kirsty/Ollie story but I'll prob still check into this forum now and again so don't think you're off the hook...

Thanks. That was quite a difficult chapter to write as I don't know very much about Barry and Kim.

Oh, don't worry, after her holiday in Oz I'll hassle her until the second part is written...

Mama Mia. It's a great feelgood movie but...it IS quite short and it IS over-hyped. Tho I'm not a huge fan of Abba I still enjoyed it. Julie Walters is very funny, Pierce Brosnon is and the scenery makes you want to book your flight to Greece immediately.

Thanks for your reviews. The next chapter should be ready in a couple of days *fingers crossed* And seeing as there have been 850!!! hits since the last chapter was posted I'll stop complaining no one's reading now...

Graphically written, Kat, tho I still stand by what I said when you first sent it to me for proofing - it would have been better to end with at the very least a glimmer of hope. So I hope you do find time to write the follow-up after your visit to Oz (can I go with you...? ) It was a very striking portrayal of a battered wife and certainly showed Irene in a way she's never been shown before. Powerful stuff.

My favourite part was the strong characterization. Create believable characters and you've got one helluva strong story.

That was really sweet, lots of awww moments and I LOVED when Kasem came into the classroom and Sally realised who he was. Great that Cassie and Scott reached an understanding (and maybe more in the future ) That part about the ocean relating to both Miles and Sally was very moving. Lovely story, I enjoyed reading.

Great chapter. Very realistic dialogue.

I'm glad one person liked it anyway! I'm hoping to write about Cassie next chapter, plus I'm kind of getting a Kim/Megan scene in my head. I think I should maybe write a synopsis before each chapter, for my sake as much as anyone else's. I keep forgetting what I've written before!

I loved that part. Great story.

Nice chapter. It would have been better to end with the earth tremor but only because it would have been a good cliffhanger, not because there was anything wrong with the rest. I love the way Sally and Vinnie/Harry are bonding. “Because one of these days you’re going to meet a man who’s going to be able to look past this virus and see the beautiful and wonderful young woman that you are.And he’s going to make you just as happy as you deserve to be.” That was lovely.

For next chapter of SBH, can anyone help with some info about Cassie? Was the uncle who abused her an actual uncle or an uncle through marriage? What happened to him? Did H&A ever say? How old was Cassie when it began? Is the name Cassie (in H&A I mean, not generally) short for something else? Thanks.

That was a nicely written chapter, especially the beach scene with Sally, Vinnie and Pippa.

I forgot Irene hadn't actually told Barry what happened! I meant to put some of that in but got sidetracked (and, okay, lazy! ) Next chapter I'll try and work on a flashback scene of what happened with Irene that day together with some Irene/Barry dialogue/consoling - tho I'm not sure how long it'll take, I only ended up with about 15 mins writing time today and watching Big Brother all the time isn't helping... (Sorry about posting in my own thread again but your personal messenger is disabled.)

I'd forgotten about Geoff Butler! (The evil prison governer when Rita got transferred, right? ) I'll have to see if I can slip in a reference to that look-alike too somehow, it's fun! Thanks for your comments. The Martha/Kane pairing was Kat's idea...we'll have to wait and see what happens there...

That was a great chapter. Loved some of Vinnie's straight-to-the-point remarks.

I love the way this is written, it makes very pleasant reading. I particulary liked the scene in the restaurant where Sally is talking to the waitress, I totally warmed to that character.

It's good and very well written but it needs a little more emotion in the beginning. Just before Sally throws the rose out on the water she might have been thinking something like "Who were you, Amber? Oh, I know you were my niece, I know what you looked like from the photos, I know your likes and dislikes, Miles has told me...but I never knew you. Did you ever look up at the sky the way Pippa does and wonder at the world? Did you ever try to catch raindrops on your tongue or draw faces in a steamed up window and then wipe them away before anyone saw like I used to? I wish I'd known you." But, hey. it's a great start.

I can't give up on him because Irene hasn't and I find Irene much, much easier to write. Don't know about the empathy, I do find it difficult to understand how someone could cover up the crime like that but I guess if I keep seeing it from Irene's viewpoint we should be okay. Anyway, I'll stop commenting in my own thread now and not post in here until next time I update.

Thanks for your nice comments especially about Barry. Out of this whole fic I find him THE most difficult character to write as I have to get inside his head and try to imagine what it's like to have killed someone, buried the body and kept the dark secret for years and it's really tough putting myself in that place as...um...I never killed anybody. I like writing about kids tho, they're easier and sometimes I've been there!

YES!!! I've been struggling with this lately, I've been okay with flashbacks and...um...getting all poetic but it needs more substance and needs its co-writer back. I only just got up tho and I haven't done anything yet apart from having my breakfast. Tea is so good and I have the time so I just had to have a second cup but with kit-kat instead of toast this time. I'm off work today and have to do shopping etc so will pm you later this afternoon.

Nope. I've passed my concerns on to the appropriate authorities and they are currently investigating. Expect a court summons very soon. Seriously, if you have ideas and you're just stuck on how to write it I could probably write some but I couldn't promise how much or when. If you're looking for ideas for the fanfic challenge, just take one of your favourite scenes and write how one of the characters feels, it will inevitably have a build up to it. For instance, one of my fave scenes was when Jade found out about Kane and Kirsty because she overhead Shelley telling Kane he couldn't see her. Seeing as I've already written lots about KK I would prob write Jade's POV, maybe in diary style. Failing that, you can't go wrong if you write about when ppl are kids, we've all been there. I wouldn't worry about writers block. Some authors (like Charles Dickens) might have been able to write with people chatting all around him but 99% of us have to WORK at it all the time. I find all kinds of excuses not to write even when I do have time, especially if it's ages since I've written anything, because I know I'll have to REALLY work. It'll come back.

He wasn't when Sally was a kid. Milko and Milco were separate entities...

Thanks for your reviews. I'm about halfway-three quarters through the next chapter now. So far it's Will/Hayley and Martha/Kane but I WILL work on a Barry/Irene scene as promised too and I'll prob put a Dani cameo in there too. As you can guess, it's pretty long again...2,000+ words and rising...