The Harbour

Aaawwwwww......thanks Sugah@

I know how busy you are. I really appreciate your checking in, and hope that you do soon find some quiet time for yourself. Now...if you choose to use some of that time to catch up on the goings on the Harbour, I'd be completely delighted!

Hope things settle down for you soon.

Quote :

Hope things settle down for you soon.

Thank you, m'lady ... ME, TOO!!!

Well, as I type, I am reading and commenting on your latest Harbour chapters.
I am soooo enjoying the way things are going between Marco & Carolyn these days.
I don't have to tell you, I am fearful their bliss will not last, but currently...
They are handling every curve ball being thrown at them (eg Nina's shenanigan's, Kyle's call, etc) SO BEAUTIFULLY.
They truly have evolved as adults, haven't they?

It's just so lovely to see these two together after so many years.



On to Chapter 27...

Thank you my dear Sugah! I'm working on the next installment. Just finishing up packaging my goodies for the anniversary update. Stay tuned to this spot.....

Well, now that I've gotten the anniversary offerings all sorted out...'tis time to pay some attention to the residents of Christophe Harbour.

Mesdames et messieurs, CHAPTER 20: 'Sweaty palms' is posted!

Those are my thoughts exactly, get the anniversary things done and then get back to work on my story too.

I need to go back and comment on your blog, but it's just one thing after another isn't it. One crisis is narrowly averted before the next problem crops up. You keep us on our toes!

What happend Maya?

I just love the background with the two sisters and the orphanage on your LJ, Toni!

Beautiful photo of Carolyn in London!

I think I mentioned before how much I loved your "little London" in the Harbour story?

It's great to read the different opinions this chapter is generating. Personally, all my normal square-bear morals aside, I have to agree that, for Maya, that combination of emotional upheaval, teenage hormones (rather...um, spontaneous, as I remember!) and Charlie being her best friend, confidant and, let's face it, a really attractive young man... all potent!

I have a sneaky feeling you were setting up us with this one for a long time, young lady! I think I may have been so focused on Marco and Carolyn that I missed your little trail of crumbs...

I can't wait to see what happens in the Harbour next!!

Ullwera wrote:

What happend Maya?

Jayce wrote:

I just love the background with the two sisters and the orphanage on your LJ, Toni!

Beautiful photo of Carolyn in London!

I think I mentioned before how much I loved your "little London" in the Harbour story?

I could read your glorious comments about my pictures all day and never get tired Jayce!

Jayce wrote:

It's great to read the different opinions this chapter is generating. Personally, all my normal square-bear morals aside, I have to agree that, for Maya, that combination of emotional upheaval, teenage hormones (rather...um, spontaneous, as I remember!) and Charlie being her best friend, confidant and, let's face it, a really attractive young man... all potent!

I'm totally fascinated by the reaction. Though I confess I was raised to be horrified too, when I really got to thinking about it...and as you've so said (so very eloquently, might I add), this particular scenario is not unrealistic.

Jayce wrote:

I have a sneaky feeling you were setting up us with this one for a long time, young lady!

Me?!!!!

Jayce wrote:

I can't wait to see what happens in the Harbour next!!

Quote :

Me?!!!!

Don't you act the innocent!

You sandbagged me with this one, Lady T. I didn't see this coming at all!

I am caught up with The Harbour and have left my two cents (okay, maybe fifty cents worth ) at your Live Journal, Lady Toni.

Thank you Sugah!

Jayce wrote:

Don't you act the innocent!

You sandbagged me with this one, Lady T. I didn't see this coming at all!

My work here is done

Phew! I've just posted the longest (in terms of amount of time covered) most labour-intensive and picture heavy chapter evah! *pats self on back*.....Ladies and gentlemen, guys and dolls...the chapter that will finally give you some insight into one of this saga's main characters:

Chapter 30: We are products of our total life experiences is posted!

Great update! I really like those old looking brownish pictures.



Poor main character, it must be his genes.

No..no YOU rock, Ulli! Love the kitty pic!

I did aaaaalllllll of that to explain how the main character got the scar on his cheek. It totally needed an explanation!

Well....maybe that and to explain why he is the way he is.

I commented on your LJ, Toni, but you know what? I had to go back and re-read that chapter again a day or two later.

Firstly because, being such a long chapter, I really wanted to absorb everything. I've been on a clutter/decorating lag for weeks (still haven't even started on some of my houses!) and I actually got a bit burned out from it and just wanted to play my game, so I've got an even bigger respect for how much work you put into making this story!

To re-create different eras (deco, clothing, hair, random little touches), I can't even imagine! On top of this, it's a beautifully-written chapter.

The vintage photos are just awesome and I really loved how you created the "bohemian artist" life of Brandon and Margot.

There are so many things that explain why Kyle is the way he is. That pattern of young Kyle promising to be a good boy to get his parents to stay in town longer, their absences and chaotic gypsy-ish existence, Kyle being precociously charming at his grandfather's parties, even the mention of Anne's visits to "the spa" and her suicide, everything adds layers to Kyle.

I'm by no means excusing him. For the record, I never really "disliked" him (mainly his saving grace was being a good father), just never understood him. But then, I've never really understood that kind of temperament anyway (being a Leo and of Scottish stock, I put a huge value on loyalty and integrity!).
In fact, I always felt a bit sorry for Kyle being one of those guys that had to prove something that doesn't really mean anything anyway...

As always, I look forward to my next visit to the Harbour!

My dearest, darlingest Jayce. Once again I am overwhelmed by the amount of attention you pay to my wee story. You are a wannabe-writer's dream come true! I'm sorry I haven't replied before...and I did read you post on the LJ. You take so much care and attention in reading and in your posts that I can't rush a reply.

Jayce wrote:

I've been on a clutter/decorating lag for weeks (still haven't even started on some of my houses!)

I noticed!

Jayce wrote:

I actually got a bit burned out from it and just wanted to play my game

I TOTALLY get that!

Jayce wrote:

so I've got an even bigger respect for how much work you put into making this story!

To re-create different eras (deco, clothing, hair, random little touches), I can't even imagine! On top of this, it's a beautifully-written chapter.

The vintage photos are just awesome and I really loved how you created the "bohemian artist" life of Brandon and Margot.

Thank yoooooou! I actually got really absorbed by it. It really drained me, but it was so worth it!

Plus I do actually play Brandon's dad Sam...sorta, so it was interesting for me to flesh out a past for him.

I also had made reference one of the first installments of the game, to the fact that Brandon lived in the house that used to belong to his grandfather, and in which he grew up, and that the grandfather had left it to him. So it was an opportunity to explore how that situation could have come about.

Sam's an elder NPC professor who really is a romance simmie (who I 'connected to Brandon in SimPe)...you'll find a reference to him in the original posting of the C. Harbour story there at Sugah's, during which I took a ton of detours! lol! Ger a peak at Sam today (well...about 15 years ago. Hmmmm....should he still be alive?)

He's about half way down this page.

Jayce wrote:

There are so many things that explain why Kyle is the way he is. That pattern of young Kyle promising to be a good boy to get his parents to stay in town longer, their absences and chaotic gypsy-ish existence, Kyle being precociously charming at his grandfather's parties, even the mention of Anne's visits to "the spa" and her suicide, everything adds layers to Kyle.

Yep! Yep! Yep and yep! Kyle clearly is dealing with abandonment issues of some sort. Manifested in his constant need for validation from women.

And his dad Brandon's abandonment issues with his mom at the spa, and then later finding out she committed suicide just pushed an already reclusive boy into his own little world...and when he did meet someone to draw him out of his shell, he clung to her.

I mean, she moved in after one date! And he gave up everything to follow her around (okay...I do think that's terribly romantic...even if a teensy bit co-dependent)...and he really only came to life when she was around. It's all so sad!!!!

Jayce wrote:

I never really "disliked" him (mainly his saving grace was being a good father),

I guess his own experiences not having his parents around regularly makes him all too aware of the importance of being attentive to your children.

Then again...is he even conscious of why he does anything? With Kyle, he really doesn't seem very self aware. He clearly just acts on impulse.

Jayce wrote:

being a Leo and of Scottish stock, I put a huge value on loyalty and integrity!).
In fact, I always felt a bit sorry for Kyle being one of those guys that had to prove something that doesn't really mean anything anyway...

Sad isn't it? And those types are often the most confident acting aren't they? The 'swagger' boys. Some serious over-compensation going on there, man.

Well my dearest...as always, it makes my day to read your responses. Thank you so much for taking the time to read, to see and of course...to write so very thoughtfully!

You da man!!!!

It's been a long time comin,' but finally...another installment of The Harbour. *drum roll please* Ladies and gents, I bring you....

Wonderful chapter, Toni!

I always get hooked straight back in where I left the Harbour. You are writing some seriously beautiful dialogue!
I love how you posed Carolyn, Marc and Michael: a balance of tension and family togetherness.

Did I mention just how smokin' hot Carolyn is??

I forgot to thank you on your LJ for the link for that beautiful bathroom set.

Thank you, as always, for your devotion to this story...

My dear Toni,

Please forgive my delay in reading Chapter 30, esp. knowing how hard you worked on it.
I have left a comment and promise to get to Chapter 31 asap.

In the meantime, it's hard to compete with Jayce's eloquent, detailed, spot on commentaries of The Harbour. Perhaps we should make him our honorary spokesperson since he never ceases to amaze and impress with his well thought out, accurate replies to your most excellent tale.
Kudos to you, Sir Jayce!!! BRAVO!!!

And to you Scribe Toni, I say...

Shucks, Sugah, you made me go all gooey inside!

I can't believe it's taken me a month to post a new installment! I'm falling so far behind my real game play!

Anyway, here goes...

Chapter 32: Apologies and strange cookies

I've been spending some time catching up with The Harbour, Lady T.
I've reread chapter 30 and just finished chapter 31.
I also left comments in both chapters and am about to read chapter 32.

As always, I am enjoying being immersed in the ongoing saga of your intriguing cast of characters.

I posted a comment on your LJ but just wanted to add how nice it is to see Brandon again. I find I've developed a tender spot for Kyle's old man!
You really fleshed him out in the last chapters and gave him a history and this... "depth" for me.
I always like that you involve Carolyn's and Marco's families in the story.

Brandon, I find particularly interesting. That crazy freewheeling existence of his, the family history, his sweetness towards Carolyn and his grandchildren.

And Lady T, I'm finding the faintest suggestion that Charlie could be in the source of the rustling sound in Maya's room scandalous and provocative!
Love your work!

And ... And what happend!!!!!

TONI!!!!! don´t leave me like this!!