It's good that you're listening to and expressing your feelings, Mark.

You're a wonderful guide. That's not hard to see. I'm sorry you weren't given the chance in your marriage. I'm sorry you weren't appreciated for the person that you are. Your friends appreciate you. I hope this offers some solace.

My son and I split yard duties. My H can't do it because of his old back injuries.

Mmm, in this case the yardwork is more symbolic. I was never allowed to be much of a guide to her then-teenage son, at least not if my ideas conflicted with hers in any way. It's not a matter of my confidence (though of course I was given lots of negative input); rather, simply, lack of opportunity, because I was always overruled (and passively accepted that, rather than be forced into confrontation that she wouldn't be able to tolerate.)

And yeah, it's good that I'm letting myself express. There's rather more anger there than I'm comfortable with, I guess. Maybe I worry that people here would see me in an unflattering light, or that everyone would rush to comfort what is really a very old wound.

It's similar, in my fiction. I'm concerned about exploring certain themes when I can't be sure what might trigger someone. I'm a man with some considerable anger; many here have suffered from angry men. I know the difference, but I worry they might not.

just sorry your hurting so deeply.

Ok, on to the important stuff - what colour lawn mower did ya get ??? - I only ask coz when I got mine a few years ago, I asked the guy in the B and Q shop if they came in pink - he just looked at me if I was mad (he coulda had a point) apparently you can only get 'em in green or blue in this country (yawn - boring)

Mark, anger is normal. I don't think it is unflattering, just human. I'm new to male friendships, and in the few that I have there is resistance to allowing comfort. The wound may well be old, but the pain is still here and now. What are you needing in this if not comfort?

It's hard to say what could trigger someone. You have to take care of yourself, too.

Green or blue??? That is boring. ;-)

Mine's red. 'Finding' wanted to know if it was a convertible ...

Red - hmmm, I think ya can get them hover thingies in red, but I needed one of them thingies with the gears on it, and the level doo dah to raise and lower the height, I had to settle for a offish blue colour I really wanted pink ......

Is yours a convertable ???

Well, now that I think about it ... It lets me use a side chute, or a bag in the back, or I can set it up as a mulching mower, so ... Yes! :-)

{I used to own a red convertible car when I was still single. Sort of a 40 year old midlife crisis kind of car. But it was a huge amount of fun ...}

:cool: I want one

{in pink though obviously}

Wow, you lucky thing, dont think it was a mid-life crisis having a cool car bro - just fun

The closest thing to a convertable car I've ever had was Toby' toy car he used to push himself round in, in the back yard - I got stuck in it - it was fun though, hmmm, technically I suppose it was his car really

Perhaps you could get another convertable when things for you have settled ???

I just enjoyed the feeling of the sun and the wind on me. :-)

I've thought about getting another one ... but we'll have to see: they're not very practical, and certain people we know who might ride in it tend to blush.

Yeah, but thats part of the fun

I'm sure the certain person we know would soon get used to it - infact she might even enjoy it

.... And dont only proper grown ups worry about practicalities bro ???

(hmmm, is that a word?)

Have you named your lawnmower yet ? - mines called Bluey

(yeah I know very original)

Meh. One of the possible "practicalities" is the need to carry a canoe, somehow. It doesn't mean I'm grown up just because I don't want to have it sticking out of the back seat. :-P

Hmm, I hadn't thought about naming the mower. But I think the battery (which I removed for charging) is called "Damn that's heavy".

A canoe ???? do you ride one of them - erm is it sail one of them - Im not sure, who has a canoe ???

, yep "Damn thats heavy" is a good name bro, mines petrol, so dont think mine has a batterie, though to be fair - cant say Ive ever looked. :confused:

Well, if you have to pull a cord, I hope you don't have a battery as well, because it's just sitting there laughing at you if you do. :-)

It's true, there's not much to canoe on in Britain. Scottish lochs are too cold, and most of the rivers are too ... smelly? Though you can take boats on the Severn, if I remember, only mostly they're rowing skiffs.

Oh, ok - oops

Dunno much about canoes, cept you can fall out of 'em, well get tipped upside down in them - I was never brave enough to try - I know how clumsy I am

So do you sail often ? Is it fun ?

Oh, I've fallen out of them before. But I can swim, so it didn't hurt me. I've even taken whitewater canoe lessons, which was just plain fun.

It's never often enough, but yes, it's fun, even on relatively flat water.