Thank you, Bear, for opening up Rumpee's. 😊 Go on then, I'll try a Singapore Sling... I actually went to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore but did not step inside, as it was the same day the COVID pandemic was declared. 😳😎

A mug of Yorkshire tea, please, Bear. Thank you. 😎

I have a free weekend, so I'm doing a little writing, as well as catching up on reading the competition stories. I still have around twenty more to read! Nothing much more going on here, other than it is hot again. I never thought I'd get to say this living in the UK, but we really could do with a drop of rain! 😳

Quote by KimmiBeGood

I noticed and freakin’ loved it! Made me laugh out loud. I’ve almost published covers with extra appendages or digits just to see if anyone would notice. 😉

Thanks, Kimmi. 😊 I was going to change it, but the extra arm has 'sort of' grown on me! 🤣🤣

I have currently read, liked and commented on 38 of the competition stories (there are over 50 atm) and can concur that the standard is exceptionally high. I don't envy the judges. Here is a link to my effort: A Brush With Fate. Just disregard the 3 arms on the cover photo. 😈🤣 I honestly never noticed, concentrating on the words rather than the cover picture. 😳 A lesson learned! 🤣🤣

Thank you, Bear, for opening up Rumplations. I have a cold lager, as it is still hot down here in the South of England. 😎

I thought I'd drop in and let you all know that our youngest daughter's wedding went well on Tuesday. It was held at the local Registry Office with just 12 guests (with the twins on the way, it was arranged quickly), and the reception was back at our house, where we had a BBQ. The weather was perfect, and it turned out to be a great day. 😊😎

Working up from the bottom of the list, I am currently reading, liking and commenting on all the competition stories, 'paddlingincognitos' being next. I have read 33 so far! There are some stellar entries. 😈 Also, I am doing a little writing, with emphasis on the little, the first in almost two weeks! 😳

Happy place? I'm pretty much happy all the time (my wife might not agree), so no one place!

I have just dropped in whilst sitting in a tent in Kent having had a nice time over the weekend catching up with friends. Packing up later to drive home, our youngest daughter gets married tomorrow. 😀

First of, Kimmi, sorry to hear about your father. My thoughts are with you.

Ape, you need to do what is best for you, but I can tell you at 63 that I don’t miss work at all. I love been retired, like Kat’s husband I was an engineer. I owned an engineering company, sold it a 54, stopped running it at 55 and became a consultant, then stepped fully away at 57. I would suggest consultancy is a good half way house between full retirement and working if you can get it.

Thanks for opening up, Rumpee's Ape. 😎 Yes, a pot of Yorkshire tea for me too. With my leg up, resting, I am currently reading through (I cheat, I let my computer read them for me, and I just listen) the competition stories. And hopefully, I look forward to reading yours soon, Ape. Good luck with it.

Of camping on Wednesday, so I won't be around or in Rumpee's for a week, maybe two. 😈😎

I said I was not going to enter. I told myself that I did not have time to enter, and yet, this morning, I find myself pressing the publish button. Sending a competition story in for moderation... I blame the temptation of another badge!!! 😲😈

The story is called "A Brush With Fate."

Now I will spend some time reading the other entries; I have only read the one so far. 😎

Good morning, Rumpee's. I will join Kimmi and try a pink doughnut, along with a mug of Yorkshire tea. 😀

This morning I sent my competition story to the moderators. Yes, I know I wasn't going to enter, but I felt like writing something a little different, and I admit it... I like badges! 😈

I will be taking a 2-week break from writing and LushStories starting Tuesday. I'm still hobbling with sciatica, but as my wife agreed to put the tent up on her own 😳, so we're off camping for a week. Then it's my youngest daughter's wedding, I have two this year. I got to walk her up the aisle; I guess I will be limping. 🙄🤣

Thanks for opening, Bear. It's great to see you popping in, Lion. Don't forget the two of you had a cameo part in one of my stories. Here is the link: Cash In Hand 12 - "Another Exposure" - Part 1 Of 4

Have a look out for my comp story. It is called "A Brush With Fate."

That is all from England, and yes, I am still gutted about losing in the World Cup, David. 😎

Quote by techgoddess

Morning Rumpies,

Carl, AKA fuzzy1954, AKA Mr. Lion, has been a true friend to many of us here in Rumpulations Awesome Honky Tonk and Cyber Whatever Bear Feels Like Calling It This Week Bar.

Carl reached out to Bear and me (and perhaps some others?) to let us know that his health has taken a major turn for the worse, and he is in hospice care. He also asked us to share whatever we thought was appropriate with all his pals here.

I am so sorry to hear this, Kat... but thank you for letting us know.

I am sending my love and thoughts Carl's way... ❤️

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Morning, Rumpies

I’m happy because can take a deep breath now. Have I mentioned pneumonia is a stubborn bitch?

I peeked at Top Authors for month and Kat and David are in Top Ten! :worship:

Hope y’all are entering the comp. I’m sitting out this one, but enjoying reading all the entries.

Enjoy your Sunday! I’m looking forward to semis in FIFA Tuesday/Wednesday.

Good Afternoon, Rumpies from the UK, England to be more precise.

First, good to hear you are getting better, Kimmi. Yes, pneumonia is nasty, my soon-to-be son-in-law ended up in hospital last year with it, and he is fit, normally healthy, and was then only 28! He is okay now, though, so do look after yourself, Kimmi. 😊❤️

As to other important things, 8 pm BST, Wednesday evening, Atlanta, England V Argentina... Hopefully, you will all give the 3 Lions a roar and get behind them. Argentina have won it enough times! 😳😎😈

As for comp stories, I do have one started, not sure yet if I will finish it... I am planning to take two weeks away from Lush Stories at the end of July... Holiday/youngest daughter (the pregnant one) is getting married.

As for being on the Hot 10 authors' list... I won't be there long; no more stories planned for this month. 😈🤣

Thank you, Bear... I have a pot of Yorkshire tea, and you can put this one on my account! 😊

I'm really pleased to hear about your book deal, and I will be another one looking to purchase it when it becomes available. That is, if it becomes available on Amazon or a similar site.

The weather in the UK is hot. I'm not complaining; I actually normally don't mind, but at the moment I'm basically trying to shrug off sciatica. So there is a lot of sitting and resting going on. Thankfully, I have codeine to help me! 😳😎

Congratulations, Bear. 😊 It might be early, but I have a glass of bubbly on your account. 😎

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Yum! I have pneumonia though, so I’ll get that Hershey kiss another time.

Look after yourself, Kimmi. 😊😘

At the moment, I'm suffering from sciatica in my right leg, which makes trying to write anything... interesting! 😳😕

To my US friends, Happy 250th Anniversary... Enjoy your celebration. :worship: :worship:

Happy Canadian Day... to all Canadians... Have a great day. 😊

A mug of Yorkshire tea, please, Bear. Thank you. 😎

I will be cheering on the English football team; we're playing DR Congo at 5 pm GMT today in the World Cup. There won't be much work going on here during the match.

So, Kat, is the half-Canadian... mmm... maybe a British passport next? 😳🤣

A warm welcome to LushStories. 😊

Quote by utterchaos

Hi everyone. It's been so hot in Kent this past week but had a lovely walk this morning in the shade. Watched some great bands and reconnected with one of my old friends from sixth-form last night. It's been twenty years so got a lot to catch up on and hadn't realised she had moved back to the area.

Kent is the county my late parents came from. However, the two towns where they were born are now part of Greater London. I know we have chatted before, but it's always nice to see another Brit in the bar... 😊

A mug of Yorkshire tea, please, Bear. 😎 Thank you.

Still hot and humid over here, Bear. Another record temperature for June in all four UK nations. 😳😈

So how about a cocktail? Any type of cocktail... just lots and lots of ice... 😎 Cheers.

Thank you for opening up, Bear. Yorkshire tea, please, even if it is in the thirties here, but there is a nice breeze coming in off the English Channel. Talking of Lion, does anyone know where he is? Travelling?

Just got my car serviced and MOT'd; felt sorry for the guys working in the garage. Now for a little writing before watching the England World Cup match tonight. 😎 Come on, England!!! 😈

Quote by joe71

Having just now split my recent county fair story into two chapters due to its length, I'm about to submit "A Becoming Man," the sequel that finally shows me the way through Matt's facade to get him to explore his Bisexuality more deeply. And with these entries in the Money genre, I've achieved Prolific Author status! Going for Omnium in 2027.

Good luck on obtaining your Omnium badge, Joe. I look forward to welcoming you to the club. 😊

PS: Congratulations, Joe, on your Prolific Writers Badge. 😈😀

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Rumpies, I’m unplugging a bit until after the 4th, then I’ll be back. Traveling next two weekends.

Have fun and stay safe, Kimmi. 😊

"Bear, I love the bar's new look, very 1960s..." Quietly, I put on a pair of large, round sunglasses to fit in and stop myself from getting a headache. Then shake my head and make note not to use the same decorator.

I've just moved to my outside office to do a little writing... Hot here, a Yorkshire tea and a cold Diet Coke chaser, please, Bear. Thank you. 😎

Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know

The grammar in the above example looks fine, but in your case, if it's a scene in a larger work and you haven't made the one-sided dialog your whole thing, you could break up the spoken lines with little actions, maybe twirling a pencil around, picking his nose, scratching an itch on his thigh, or whatever people do while talking on the phone. Those little behaviors can also reveal character and their inner responses to the conversation without having to do it in exposition, which is kind of dull.

"You're pregnant?" He was shocked.

vs

"You're pregnant?" The pencil he had been fidgeting with stopped moving.

Thank you, Just_A_Guy_You_Know, for your comprehensive answer. It is appreciated. The phone scene is part of a much longer scene and serves to keep the reader engaged in the story and, in part, to save unneeded words.

In the past, I have always written both sides of a telephone conversation, but in this case, I feel hearing one side works better. The boyfriend, Hugh, is watching on; his actions of hearing only half the words spoken are an important addition.

I will be revisiting the scene later today, and I will take with me what you have mentioned.

Thank you for the example story; I will read it next. 😊

Quote by allytts

What a great Idea. Love this. Personally, I like your chosen format. It makes perfect sense.

Thank you, it does to me too... 😎

Quote by KimmiBeGood

David, I like the way you did it. Easy to follow.

If you liked it, Kimmi, then it is good enough for me. 😎

I have a scene in a story where I only want the reader to hear one end of a telephone conversation. With regard to grammar and format, what is the acceptable way to write it?

The setting: The wife phones her husband. We hear what she says. We don't hear the husband's end of the conversation; that is left to the readers' imagination. Her boyfriend is standing next to the wife; he is listening to her and observing her.

Atm: I have everything written in standard text format, except for what she says on the phone. That is in italics. Is that acceptable?

Example below:

“Hi John…

Hugh could only hear Janet’s side of the conversation.

“Yes, I am at Hugh's house, and as you can hear, the phone works. There is a strong signal.

“I was surprised to…

“I’m standing naked in the kitchen… Yes, anyone could see in." Janet giggled, “But you like it when I flaunt my body…"

Janet glanced out of the window, causing Hugh to do the same. The gardeners were still there.

Quote by techgoddess

Today is the last day of my lengthy vacation. A couple of days in Atlanta, then 2 weeks on Mackinac Island, followed by a long weekend in Ontario, were all amazing for the soul. But yesterday we arrived in Tennessee, and I'm blown away by the view from our "glamping" geodome. Hubby had to do some work this morning, so I thought I'd pop in to say hi. Heading home tomorrow and then back to reality. But when reality includes a beach, it's hard to complain.

Sorry to hear about the continued medical issues, Kat. I do hope the day will come soon when they are all resolved positively. 😀 I'm pleased to read you both had a lovely long holiday. 😎 I, and I'm sure many others, missed your presence here. A mug of Yorkshire tea, please, Bear. Thank you. ☕️

Will there be any late entries? 🙄😀

Why not give it a go? 😈😈

My main commitment for the rest of 2026 (and maybe into 2027) is to write "Cash in Hand 2", the follow-up to my popular "Cash in Hand" series of stories. My goal is to take the main story characters (JJ and John) on their sexual journey through married life, each chapter being its own little story as the overall story builds. 😊

Quote by simplyjohn

Sorry your ticket has been re-opened. I am still waiting for a response/action from the development team. I will give them a nudge or failing that Jen will likely threaten them.

Thank you, John... that second option will surely work! 😇