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Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=6315
Author:  andi [ 19 Jul 2009, 18:26 ]
Post subject:  Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
This is set in Robin's 'settlement work' period. I couldn't find much detail about the work itself, so I hope I haven't made too many glaring errors.


Her shopping basket, filled with the week’s ration, dangling precariously from two fingers, Robin Humphries jiggled her doorkey in the old-fashioned lock until it finally turned, pushed the door open with her shoulder, stepped inside and leant back against the door to shut it again. A deep sigh of relief escaped her and she closed her eyes, letting the tensions of the day drain from her. After a moment or two, she opened them again, straightened up, crossed the tiny hallway – it only took two steps – and went into the equally tiny kitchen. She was relieved to see that it was fairly tidy. One or two of the other girls staying there were not always very scrupulous about their cleaning, and Robin, accustomed to Joey Maynard’s house kept immaculately clean by the faithful Anna, had found it hard to adjust to other people’s mess. She unpacked her shopping bag, stowing the meagre contents in the large cupboard that did duty as a larder, and decided that she would treat herself to a cup of tea. It had been a hard day.

As she waited for the water to boil, she wandered back into the hallway and noticed for the first time the long envelope on the table. One of the others must have brought it in earlier in the day with the rest of the mail. She smiled as she saw her own name written in Joey’s familiar untidy scrawl. She was about to pick it up when a shrill whistle from the kitchen reminded her that the kettle was about to boil.

Five minutes later, her cold hands wrapped around a large mug of strong tea, Robin sat in the sitting room, curled in a large armchair, and prepared to enjoy her letter. Joey was in fine form and Robin chuckled often as she read the events of the previous term at the school. Characteristically, Joey kept the most surprising news until the end.

‘And now, what do you suppose the biggest news is? You’ll never guess, so I’ll tell you. Gillian Linton is engaged, if you please! He’s an artist – you’ve probably heard of him. He’s called Clement Young, although he prefers to use his second name, Peter. Isn’t it jolly for Gill? She was far too dear and sweet to stay a teacher all her life. I’m so happy for her, aren’t you?’

Robin put the letter down and took a sip of tea, her mind slipping back into the past, the happy years in Tirol when Gillian and her sister Joyce had first come to the school. How long ago it seemed. And now Gillian was to be married. Robin suppressed a small pang of envy. How much simpler life would be if she could do the same, follow the traditional path that all her friends seemed to be taking. Meet a man, settle down and have a family of her own. None of them seemed to feel this pull the way she did, the little voice that murmured in her heart, ‘No, not that way.’ She sighed and shook her head to rid herself of the gloom that threatened to descend. Instead, she whispered a quick prayer for Gillian and her soon-to-be husband, and, uncurling from the chair, went back into the kitchen to see about supper.
Author:  Emma A [ 19 Jul 2009, 18:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
This is an interesting start, andi: I look forward to see how you continue with Robin's story.
Author:  JB [ 19 Jul 2009, 18:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
I do like this, Andi. Looking forward to seeing more. :)
Author:  Lesley [ 19 Jul 2009, 19:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
Want to wrap Robin in a nice warm duvet - lovely that she had the letter from Joey and we all know what her (Robin) thoughts are about getting married.

(BTW Anyone else want to one day see the scene when Joey repeats her oft quoted 'too sweet to be a teacher' when either Hilda or Nell are listening? :twisted: )


Lovely start Andi
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 19 Jul 2009, 19:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
Thanks, andi, an intriguing start!
Author:  Pat [ 19 Jul 2009, 19:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
Lesley wrote:
(BTW Anyone else want to one day see the scene when Joey repeats her oft quoted 'too sweet to be a teacher' when either Hilda or Nell are listening? :twisted: )



Yes please!!! Mind you, I wouldn't call either of them sweet, would you?

Lovely start Andi. I'm looking forward to more.
Author:  Abi [ 19 Jul 2009, 20:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
I like this start - I think this must be one of the most interesting periods of Robin's life. Thanks andi.
Author:  abbeybufo [ 19 Jul 2009, 21:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
Lovely start Andi

Thanks :D
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 19 Jul 2009, 21:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
Thanks am looking forward to more of this
Author:  Miss Di [ 20 Jul 2009, 04:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
Thanks Andi, very interesting after the recent discussion on GirlsOwn on what settlement work actually was.
Author:  andi [ 20 Jul 2009, 09:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point
As she peeled the potatoes for what was to be a cottage pie, she heard the door open, followed by a cheerful shout.

“I say, Rob, are you in? Come and give me a hand, there’s a dear.”

Grinning, Robin put down her knife, wiped her hands and went out into the hall, to be greeted by the sight of a beaming redheaded girl clutching two enormous butternut squashes to her chest. Leaping forward, Robin just managed to save one of them as they slipped from the girl’s grasp, but the other eluded them both and bounced into the gutter.

“Oh well, it’ll wash off,” said the girl philosophically, picking it up and holding it gingerly in one hand.

“Where on earth did you get these, Jenny?” Robin asked, leading the way back into the house. “I thought you were giving a class today?”

“Oh, I was,” Jenny agreed. “Dear old Henry James for the adult education lot. Mavis Roberts gave them to me. They’re from her uncle. He works on a farm, apparently, and he brought a sackful of them when he came to visit her mum at the weekend. They’ve been doling them out to the neighbours ever since.”

Together, they made their way into the kitchen. Robin picked up the knife and continued to attack the potatoes.

“So how was your day?” Jenny asked.

Robin pulled a face. “Tiring,” she admitted. “ I went to visit Mrs Jessop – you know, her daughter’s not been too well.” Jenny nodded. “Well, Mrs Jessop needed to go to the shops and do a few things in the high street, so I offered to look after little Esther. After all, I’ve had plenty of practice looking after my own nieces and nephews. But…” She paused.

“But?” Jenny prompted.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Robin said, frowning. “ It’s different. There’s nothing for Esther to play with, really – no toys or anything – and nowhere for her to be except the one room they all sleep in, or the kitchen. Actually, we ended up in the kitchen anyway, because it was the only place that was remotely warm. I told her stories,” she ended, with a smile. Most of those stories she’d learnt from Joey.

“Sounds as though you did fine,” Jenny said.

“ I suppose so. It’s just a bit depressing, when I think of what I had as a child, and how little they have here.”

“Well, that’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” Jenny said briskly. “To give back a little of what we had. Now, why don’t you stop massacring those potatoes and pass me the knife, so that I can cut up this gift from our poor deprived neighbours.” She balanced the squash in one hand as if she was about to enter a shot-putting contest. Robin laughed and handed her the knife.

“Don’t you mean hack, not cut?” she teased.

“Just step aside from the chopping board, woman, and let me through," Jenny retorted, pleased to see her friend restored to cheerfulness.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 20 Jul 2009, 09:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
Poor Robin, how difficult it must be for her.

Thankyou.
Author:  jmc [ 20 Jul 2009, 09:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
Thanks Andi. I have alsways wanted to know more about Robin at this point in her life.
Author:  Lesley [ 20 Jul 2009, 09:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
How nice that she's got a friend there. Jenny's pragmatism must be very helpful for Robin.


Thanks andi
Author:  JB [ 20 Jul 2009, 09:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
Thanks for the update, Andi.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 20 Jul 2009, 11:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
Poor Robin, it would be hard to see some have so little especially children
Author:  Chris S [ 20 Jul 2009, 15:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
My favourite character and she likes my favourite dinner - cottage pie. Great beginning Andi.
Author:  shazwales [ 20 Jul 2009, 16:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
Thanks Andi , Nice to see this part of Robins' life,maybe it would have made Joey grow up if she had seen the reality of life?

looking forward to more please??
Author:  MaryR [ 20 Jul 2009, 17:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
Robin may have been protected once she came to the school, but she did see poverty in the Tyrol, and she must have known about the dire poverty to be found after the war in England, or she would never have gone in for settlement work. It's just that the daily reality of it is always worse than one expects, and it is so hard to alleviate it.

Thanks, Andi, I look forward to seeing how this unfolds.
Author:  andi [ 20 Jul 2009, 17:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point updated 20/7
Later, after supper was over and they were just finishing the washing up, there was a knock at the door. Robin looked over at Jenny, who blushed.

“I’ll go and see who it is,” she said, wiping her hands, smoothing down her hair and making a rapid exit from the kitchen. A few moments later, Robin heard the sound of male voices in the hall. Grinning, she gave the draining board a final wipe, hung the cloth over the tap to dry and went to poke her head out into the hall.

“Hello, Paul,” she called. She liked the dark, stocky medical student, who had become a regular visitor over the past few weeks, mainly, she suspected, to see Jenny. Robin also suspected that Jenny felt rather more for him than she had so far admitted. But this evening, to her surprise, Paul wasn’t alone.

“Rob, this is Martin Trevelyan,” Jenny said, sounding slightly flustered as she often did when Paul was around. “He’s a friend of Paul’s.”

“Hello,” Robin said. “Have you two come for coffee?”

“Actually, we were wondering if we could treat you both,” Paul said, smiling at Jenny. We were thinking about the Lyons Corner House on Tottenham Court Road. How about it?”

Robin’s heart sank. She didn’t relish the idea of being stuck talking to a stranger while Jenny and Paul gazed into each other’s eyes.

“Oh, I don’t think –” she began. But her protests were overruled.

“What a lovely idea! Come on Rob, get your coat.” Before Robin had entirely grasped what was happening, she had been bundled into her coat and out of the house. Jenny and Paul quickly fell into step slightly ahead of them. She heard Paul’s voice saying something which made Jenny laugh. Watching them, Robin failed to notice the uneven pavement, and as a result almost went flying as her foot hit a protruding edge.

“Careful!” A hand caught her arm, supporting her as she staggered. “Are you all right?” It was the other man, Paul’s friend. For a moment she couldn’t remember his name and then it came back to her. Martin.

“Yes, thank you, I’m fine. I just wasn’t watching where I was going.” He was very tall. She had to look up to see his face. He had a nice smile, she noticed.

At that moment, there was a shout from Jenny.

“Hurry up, you two, there’s a bus coming. We can just about catch it if we run.”

Martin dropped his hand from Robin’s coat sleeve and together they sprinted for the bus.
Author:  PaulineS [ 20 Jul 2009, 17:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 20/7 x 2!)
Thanks for the second update today. I am enjoying seeing Robin in a different setting.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 20 Jul 2009, 18:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 20/7 x 2!)
I suppose that she couldn't have her dramatic rescue because she'd be too delicate :lol: Can't wait to see where this goes!

Thanks for the second update.
Author:  Lesley [ 20 Jul 2009, 18:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 20/7 x 2!)
Poor Robin, wonder if Martin feels the same?

Thanks andi
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 20 Jul 2009, 21:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 20/7 x 2!)
I hope so for Robin's sake! But then she must have had men being interested in her as she was so beautiful. It'll be interesting to see how Robin deals with. I'm now starting to hope he is interested as it'll show Robin having to consider all angles of what she has to give up for being a nun
Author:  Abi [ 20 Jul 2009, 21:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 20/7 x 2!)
I have a feeling it's going to be a very hard decision for Robin. This is fascinating. Thanks andi.
Author:  brie [ 21 Jul 2009, 18:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 20/7 x 2!)
I do like grown-up Robin!
Author:  andi [ 22 Jul 2009, 09:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 20/7 x 2!)
Thanks for all the comments :D


The coffee house was warm and noisy. The coffee itself was nothing special, but they were all used to the shortages of post-war London and thought nothing of it. Paul and Jenny quickly became embroiled in one of their usual arguments – Jenny was passionately in favour of the proposed new National Health Service, but Paul was not so sure. Robin had sat in on many hours of similar discussions, and she knew from experience that any contribution of hers to the discussion would be unlikely to be heard by either participant. She took a sip of coffee and looked over at Martin.

“So are you also a medical student?’ she asked politely. He nodded.

“Yes, it runs in the family. My grandfather and my father are both doctors – although my grandfather’s retired now. My father took over his practice. I’ll be going in with him once I’m qualified, I expect.” His voice was flat and unenthusiastic. Robin guessed he’d also have preferred not to be here. Still, it would be rude to just sit in silence.

“I suppose you could say I come from a medical background myself,” she said, for want of anything better to say. “At least, I’ve always been surrounded by doctors. Both my guardian and my - well, I suppose he’s my sort of brother-in-law – are doctors. They run a TB sanatorium in the Welsh mountains.”

“Your ‘sort of brother-in-law’?” Martin raised his eyebrows, his interest caught. “What does that mean?”

Robin laughed. At least she’d got him talking.

“How long have you got?”

Explaining the complications of the Humphries-Maynard-Russell relationships took them through their cup of coffee and onto a second. By the time she’d finished, Paul and Jenny had abandoned their argument and were listening too.

“But – do you mean your guardian is Sir James Russell? The TB man?” Paul asked incredulously. “But then how on earth did you end up doing this?”

Both Robin and Jenny stared at him. “What do you mean?” they said, in unison. Paul blushed.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. But – well – doesn’t Sir James mind you living where you do? In the slums of London?”
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 22 Jul 2009, 09:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Oh, dear, I can see a CS type lecture coming on...

Thanks, am greatly intrigued.
Author:  JB [ 22 Jul 2009, 10:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Looking forward to Robin's response to that!
Author:  Jennie [ 22 Jul 2009, 11:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Definitely some snobbery there.
Author:  PaulineS [ 22 Jul 2009, 11:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Paul is a typical medical student of his time. Many medical students married nurses when the qualified, and their wife had to stop work on marriage. They came from a group who expected their women not to work and it was reinforced by their training.

Thanks for the updates.
Author:  JS [ 22 Jul 2009, 11:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Interesting story - looking forward to Paul being given a flea in his ear (although maybe he's just concerned for Robin's lungs if he knows her family history).
Author:  Lesley [ 22 Jul 2009, 20:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Hope Robin can tell him to get stuffed - politely of course! :lol:
Author:  shazwales [ 22 Jul 2009, 20:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Thanks Andi,looking forward to hearing Robins' reply!
Author:  Tara [ 22 Jul 2009, 23:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Very much enjoying this - we never get enough of grown-up Robin. Is Paul's reaction snobbery or concern? But presumably he doesn't know about Robin's health ... in which case, a flea in the ear does seem indicated!
Thanks, Andi.
Author:  jmc [ 23 Jul 2009, 03:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
Looking forward to seeing Robin's reply.
Author:  andi [ 23 Jul 2009, 08:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 22/7 p2)
“Why on earth should he?” Robin’s eyes flashed. “I’m quite old enough to decide for myself where to live! And besides, what we do here is every bit as worthwhile as being a doctor.”

“Absolutely!” Jenny chimed in. “ We make a difference to these people’s lives. I see it every day in the classes I give. We’re giving them chances for education that they’d never have had otherwise.”

Paul held up his hands.

“OK, OK, peace! I’m sure you do a great deal of good. I was just surprised, that’s all.” He smiled at Robin. “Friends?”

Robin didn’t feel particularly friendly to him just then, but for Jenny’s sake she gave him a token smile. There was a moment of awkward silence. Then Martin reached for his coat.

“Well, it’s time we were getting back, I think. We’ve got an early lecture tomorrow. And I’m sure you ladies have a strenuous day ahead.”

They all stood up, grateful for the excuse to drop the subject. Still annoyed at Paul’s comments, Robin hung back a little so as not to have to talk to him, and so found herself beside Martin again as they made their way back to the bus stop. They walked in silence for a while, and then Martin spoke.

“You mustn’t take Paul too seriously. He’s a good sort, really. Just doesn’t think things through sometimes.”

Robin shrugged. “It’s not as though I haven’t heard it before. Plenty of people think that we’re just wasting our time here. Pretending to do good to salve our consciences.”

“‘Plenty of people’? Do you mean your family? Don’t they approve?”

Robin looked ahead of them, to where Paul was teasing Jenny by pretending to pull her scarf off. “Oh, I think they approve of the idea of settlement work in principle.” She sighed. “Paul’s not that far wrong, though. They’d probably prefer it if I wasn’t here. They’d rather have me back at home, where they could keep an eye on me.”

“You must have really wanted to do this, then, to go against them.” The admiration in his voice made her uncomfortable.

“Yes,” she said. She bit her lip. It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it wasn’t really the truth either. Far too complicated to explain to a relative stranger, though. With some relief, she saw the bus coming towards them.

“Come on! We’d better catch up with the others,” she said, breaking into a run.
Author:  PaulineS [ 23 Jul 2009, 08:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 23/7 p2)
Robin's family and friends and worried about her health rather than thinking it unsuitable work for a woman.
Paul does not have sufficent information to make that judgement.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 23 Jul 2009, 09:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 23/7 p2)
Poor Robin, she must feel so trapped. I hope Martin can help her.

Thankyou.
Author:  jmc [ 23 Jul 2009, 09:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 23/7 p2)
I think Robin would not like to let them know her medical history in case they started fussing over her. She has experienced that all her life and having gained independance would not wish for it again.
Author:  keren [ 23 Jul 2009, 10:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 23/7 p2)
She can finally be someone where she is not known as "that delicate Robin" with people fussing over her all the time. Somewhere where she is not the adopted niece of the founder of the school.
We are not shown Robin acting as a teenage, but generally there is a time of rebellion. She was not given this and is always shown to be a very good girl.
Getting away from them and doing her own thing, making her own decisions, is a type of teenage rebellion, even when done much later than her teens. Unfortunately, she is to find out that her guardians were in fact correct and that this was too much for her, but like all young people growing up, there are some things that you just have to learn for yourself, and cannot take the word of the adults in your world for this all the time!
Author:  andi [ 24 Jul 2009, 09:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 23/7 p2)
Over the next few days, Robin found her thoughts returning to Martin and their brief conversation. It was a new experience for her to find a man occupying her thoughts, and she wasn’t sure whether she liked it. Still, when Martin telephoned one evening and invited her to go for a walk in Hyde Park that Saturday, she found herself agreeing.

“It’s just to have a break for a few hours,” she told Jenny, who laughed.

“Rob, it’s OK. You don’t have to justify yourself to me. It’s no crime to spend an afternoon with an attractive young man.”

“It’s not like that!” Robin glowered at her friend. But as she sat on the bus on her way to the park, she pondered the idea. It was true, there was something about him that intrigued her. She just wasn’t sure what it was yet.

It was a beautiful afternoon, clear and crisp. Although it was still early March, the signs of spring were evident in the cheerfully bobbing yellow daffodils and the first green haze of new buds on the trees. Robin sniffed the air appreciatively.

“I hadn’t realised how much I missed seeing grass and trees. It’s so bare and grey where we are.”

Martin nodded. “I know what you mean. I grew up in the country and sometimes the big city gets too much for me. I often come here when I have some time off, just to remind myself that it’s not all buildings and streets and cars.”

“Where are you from?” Robin asked.

“Cornwall,” he said. “On the north coast, near Devon. Do you know that area at all?”

Robin shook her head. “No,” she said regretfully. “We only came to England after the war started, and since then I’ve spent most of my time in either Armishire or Oxford. I hear Cornwall’s lovely, though.”

She didn’t need to see the light in his eyes to know that she’d said the right thing. For the next twenty minutes, Martin waxed eloquent about the Cornish countryside, the sea, the beaches and the moors, scarcely drawing breath as he spoke. Eventually he ran out of steam and stopped, with an embarrassed laugh.

“I say, I’m terribly sorry. I must be boring you rigid.”

“Not at all,” Robin protested. “I was interested. It sounds wonderful. You must be looking forward to when you’re qualified and you can go back and live there.”

It was a harmless comment, but his reaction was startling. The light in his face seemed to go out as if it had been doused in cold water. He glanced at her, started to say something, and then stopped.

“Yes,” he said eventually. “I am. Of course I am.” Then, abruptly changing the subject, he pointed across the grass. “Look, there’s a tea garden. Shall we stop and have some?”
Author:  JB [ 24 Jul 2009, 09:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
How intriguing.

Thanks for the update, Andi.
Author:  Liz K [ 24 Jul 2009, 10:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
Oh my, certainly is intriguing, wonder what's happened in Cornwall?

:dontknow: :dontknow: :dontknow: :dontknow:
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 24 Jul 2009, 10:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
I'm also intrigued! Thankyou :)
Author:  JS [ 24 Jul 2009, 10:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
Maybe he and Robin have more in common than she thinks?
Thanks Andi.
Author:  PaulineS [ 24 Jul 2009, 15:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
Or does he want to be a surgeon and not a GP. Being expected to follow his father may not be what he wants to do.
Author:  shazwales [ 24 Jul 2009, 18:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
Thanks for the update Andi
Author:  Lesley [ 24 Jul 2009, 19:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
Very interesting - while he loves Cornwall he definitely doesn't want to go back there as a Doctor, does he?


Thanks andi
Author:  jmc [ 24 Jul 2009, 23:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
Thanks Andi. Poor Martin. I wonder why he doesn't want to go back.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 25 Jul 2009, 04:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
Just caught up with a few updates and am really enjoying this
Author:  andi [ 25 Jul 2009, 09:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 24/7 p3)
They found an empty table in the shade of a tall oak tree, and Martin waved to summon a waitress. Robin sat, thinking hard. Her own instincts would have been to respect another person’s private thoughts, but on the other hand, something was clearly wrong, and she knew what Joey would have been doing if she’d been here. As the waitress took their order and left, she summoned her courage and leant forward.

“Martin, may I ask you something? Please don’t feel you have to answer if you don’t want to.”

He looked surprised, and a little wary. “What is it?”

“Well – it’s just – why did you suddenly look so serious when I mentioned going back to live in Cornwall? Are you not looking forward to it?”

There was a long silence. Looking at him, she took in the tenseness of his shoulders, the grim set of his mouth, and mentally kicked herself. She should have stuck to her first instincts and left well alone.

“Look, I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s none of my business. Forget I spoke.” She realised with relief that the waitress was returning with their tea. Drawing out the business of pouring the two cups as long as she could, she finally risked a glance at him, and was relieved to see that some of the tension had gone.

“I’m sorry,” she said again. “Please just forget it.”

“No,” Martin said slowly. He looked at her ruefully. “The truth is, I rather wanted to talk to you, after what you said the other day about your family not really approving of what you do. It was one of the reasons I wanted to meet you again. But now that we’re here I feel a bit of a heel moaning on about my problems, so if you’d rather talk about something else…”

“Oh nonsense! I asked for it, remember?” She smiled encouragingly. “What is it?”

He looked at the table, tracing the outline of a tea stain with one finger. Eventually he looked up.

“It’s pretty simple, really. The fact is, I don’t want to go back and work with my father. I don’t want to work in his practice. In fact, I don’t want to be a doctor at all.”

He let out an enormous sigh, as if he’d been holding his breath for a very long time. When he looked at her, his eyes were suspiciously bright.

“I’ve never told anyone that before,” he said. He took a few large gulps of tea as if trying to swallow any treacherous emotions, and then put his teacup down with a bang on the table. Robin didn’t know what to say, so she kept quiet.

“I’ve never wanted to be a doctor,” Martin went on. “It’s just that it’s always been assumed that that’s what I’ll be. I suppose I hoped I’d get to like it once I started, but I don’t. The longer I go on, the more I hate it. I’ll be a terrible doctor. And I don’t know what I’m going to do.” He took another enormous mouthful of tea and looked at Robin again. “Sorry,” he said, making an obvious, if unsuccessful, attempt to appear cheerful. “Like I said, I shouldn’t be boring you with my problems.”

Robin found her voice. “Don’t be silly,” she said. “I’m glad you told me.”

There was a silence as they both drank their tea. Robin wondered whether Joey ever felt like this, as if she had suddenly stepped into something completely out of her depth. Probably not. She sent up a brief, wordless prayer for inspiration.

“So, if you don’t want to be a doctor, what would you like to be? Or don’t you know?”

“Oh, yes, I know,” he answered instantly. “But it’s impossible.”

“Why? What is it?”

“I want to be a priest,” he said.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 25 Jul 2009, 09:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 25/7 p3)
Poor Martin, I hope that Robin can help him, and that he can help her.

Thankyou.
Author:  JB [ 25 Jul 2009, 10:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 25/7 p3)
I liked seeing Robin's internal dialogue about Joey there. She obviously still looks up to her very much. Hope she can learn that Joey has felt equally out of her depth on occasion.
Author:  Lesley [ 25 Jul 2009, 10:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 25/7 p3)
Now that's interesting - wonder what Robin will say? And whether it will confirm something for her as well?


Thanks andi
Author:  jmc [ 25 Jul 2009, 12:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 25/7 p3)
I wonder if Robin will tell him about how she really feels now that he has opened up to her and his thinking will in any way will help her. Thanks andi.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 25 Jul 2009, 13:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 25/7 p3)
Hope they are both able to help each other. Thanks Andi
Author:  MaryR [ 25 Jul 2009, 19:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 25/7 p3)
I knew that was what he really wanted even as I read the post before this one. Wow! He certainly chose the right person to admit it to.

Thanks, Andi
Author:  keren [ 25 Jul 2009, 20:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 25/7 p3)
very insightful post
Author:  andi [ 26 Jul 2009, 10:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 25/7 p3)
That night, Robin couldn’t sleep. The memory of her conversation with Martin kept echoing in her mind. She heard her own voice, strong and filled with an authority that she hadn’t known she possessed:

“You must tell your father, Martin. You must. You can’t deny your vocation. It would be terribly wrong.”

And Martin, his face anguished:

“But you don’t know how much they’ve sacrificed for me, how much this means to them. I can’t do that to them.”

Robin’s heart had ached for him. She knew exactly how he felt.

“Don’t give up,” she’d said to him as they parted. “Have faith. Nothing’s impossible.” Where had those words come from?

And now she tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep, hearing her own words again and again.

Please stop it, she begged silently. We’ve been all through this. It’s different for me, You know it is. I’m barely managing the work here. How could I ever cope with convent life? And Jo, and everyone - I can’t leave them all, not after all they’ve done for me. Jo hates my being away, she told me so. And they were worried enough about me being strong enough for this work; just imagine how much worse it would be for them if I joined an Order. Please, isn’t it enough that I’m doing Your work here? Please, God, please don’t ask me to do this to them.

There had never been so long a night.
Author:  jmc [ 26 Jul 2009, 10:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 26/7 p3)
Poor Robin :(
Author:  Lesley [ 26 Jul 2009, 10:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 26/7 p3)
Oh Robin - you have to look out for yourself, you've just told Martin, now tell yourself.


Thanks andi
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 26 Jul 2009, 17:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 26/7 p3)
((Robin)) You need to listen to your own words, no matter what you think!
Author:  JB [ 26 Jul 2009, 17:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 26/7 p3)
Poor Robin. Thanks for the update, Andi.
Author:  Tara [ 26 Jul 2009, 19:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 26/7 p3)
Just caught up - yes, I thought she'd met someone with the same problem! I do hope that advising Martin will clarify her own thinking, though how natural to think 'it's different for me'. A terrible price to pay, to separate yourself from the people who have made life work for you and who love you.

Thanks, Andi, very thought-provoking.
Author:  andi [ 27 Jul 2009, 09:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 26/7 p3)
This bit was difficult to write. :? Hope it's OK.


“Goodness, Rob!” Jenny exclaimed the next morning, when Robin came down to breakfast pale and heavy-eyed. “Are you feeling ill? Maybe you should stay in bed today. You look terrible.”

“Thanks,” Robin said, with a faint flicker of humour. “No, I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep very well last night. I’ll feel better once I’ve had breakfast.”

“Have some tea,” Jenny recommended, pouring her a large mugful. “That’ll wake you up.”

Robin sipped the strong, sweet brew and tried to eat some toast. She felt depressed, lightheaded from lack of sleep and deeply disinclined to rouse herself to any sort of exertion. But there were jobs that had to be done, and she couldn’t let people down by crumpling in a heap. With a supreme effort of will, she swallowed the last of her breakfast.

“What are you doing today, Jen?”

“Going to the library this morning. I’ve got a class to give this afternoon and I need to look something up. What about you?”

“I’m helping at the club later – you know, for the girls who’ve left school - but I’ll have to go into Oxford Street quickly this morning. I have to collect that coat I bought last week, the one that needed taking in.”

“Well, don’t forget your umbrella. It looks miserable out there. What a change after that lovely sunshine yesterday!”

Jenny’s mournful face made Robin laugh. “It’s only March,” she said. “It’s supposed to be cold and wet!”

Together, they washed up their breakfast things and left the house. Jenny went up the street towards the library, and Robin turned the other way to walk to the bus stop. Without Jenny’s company, the black cloud of hopelessness that had descended on her during the night soon returned. She shivered in the cold wind as she waited for the bus. When it finally arrived, it was crowded, and she had to climb to the upper desk to find a seat. She sank down thankfully and stared out of the window at the grey streets and the grimy buildings. The doubts and questions that had swirled in her mind all night started to churn again. It felt like an endless gramophone record, one that she couldn’t switch off.

And finally, deep beneath the exhaustion, the depression, the feelings of frustration and helplessness, a flicker of anger began to smoulder. To smoulder, to glow, and then to burn, flaming with shocking suddenness into a white-hot fury that took her completely unawares.

All right, then! The words came out of her in a silent snarl that she had never even imagined herself capable of. It was about as far away from her normal prayers as it was possible to be, but she didn’t care. All right, God! I give in. You win!

As quickly as it had come, the tidal wave of rage vanished. In the middle of the crowded, noisy bus, Robin felt as if she was sitting in a bubble of stillness. Stillness, and a feeling of expectancy. It was as though the universe had paused, waiting for her to say something more. Stunned, she thought about what had just happened. Was it true? Had she meant it? Perhaps it was just a random impulse, the result of the past weeks of frustration, and her sleepless night.

But as she sat there she knew, deep down inside where she’d always known, what the answer truly was. What it had to be.

Yes, she said again silently, but this time there was no anger. Just that feeling of stillness, and waiting. Yes, I mean it. I will. I will answer Your call, Lord. But – she stopped and bit her lip as the old doubts and arguments came flooding back – but You’ll have to show me how. Because right now I can’t see how it can be possible.

Nothing’s impossible. Her own words, spoken to Martin just yesterday. They came back to her now, tinged with – could it be amusement? Suddenly Robin felt as if a huge load had been lifted off her. It was as if a task she’d been dreading had been simply taken away. As if someone had said to her, ‘Don’t worry about that. It’s not your problem.’ She sat, staring unseeingly out of the window, feeling the warm waves of relief wash over her. The decision had been made at last. She had no idea how it was going to happen, but it didn’t matter. Now, she couldn’t imagine why it had seemed so difficult.

“Oxford Street!” The conductor’s voice, calling along the bus, woke her out of her trance. “Any more for Oxford Street?”

“Yes!” Robin called, leaping to her feet. “Wait! I’m getting off!” She pushed her way down the stairs and through the packed standing passengers, leaping off the bus just as it pulled away. She stood for a moment, trying to catch her breath and watching the bus roll off down the road. Her mind was still taken up with the momentousness of what had just happened and she felt disconnected to the world about her. It was only as the bus turned the corner and was lost to sight, and the first few icy raindrops began to fall, that she realised, still with that sense of detachment, that her bag, with her purse, her umbrella and her door key, was still on board.
Author:  Alison H [ 27 Jul 2009, 09:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 27/7 p4)
Just read all of this and am really enjoying it - thanks, andi.
Author:  PaulineS [ 27 Jul 2009, 10:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 27/7 p4)
O! Poor Robin. Stranded it Oxford Street in a sleet shower!
Worried about her now.
Author:  JB [ 27 Jul 2009, 10:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 27/7 p4)
Oh dear, I was worried the minute they mentioned the word "umbrella", then I relaxed and now I'm worried again.

What a lovely rollercoaster.
Author:  MaryR [ 27 Jul 2009, 16:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 27/7 p4)
That was beautifully realised, Andi. That is so often how it is when we finally give in and accept. God can take the anger - and offers the reward, in peace beyond imagining. Loved it.

Thank you.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 27 Jul 2009, 17:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 27/7 p4)
Pleased that Robin has finally made her decision but oh dear, what will she do next?

Thankyou!
Author:  andi [ 28 Jul 2009, 09:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 27/7 p4)
Afterwards, Robin remembered very little about the rest of that day. She was dimly aware of the long walk home through the rain, and the curious glances of passers-by. She remembered reaching their own street at last, and finding their own door locked and no neighbours with whom she could take shelter, although normally there would have been at least five or six different houses where she would have been welcomed. She had a faint memory of sitting on the steps, where she was at least sheltered from the rain, and waiting for Jenny to come back from the library. None of it seemed terribly important. The only thing that was clear in her mind was the feeling of having found the answer, the solution to an insoluble puzzle, of being on the right path at last. About the fuss and commotion when Jenny finally arrived to find her soaked through and icy cold, the summoning of the doctor, and the ambulance whisking her off to hospital, she remembered nothing at all. The first time she became aware of her surroundings was three days later, when she woke up to the familiar stentorian tones of Sir James Russell, FRCS, Bart.

“Don’t think I don’t appreciate what you’ve done, old man, but I’d feel much happier with her back at home, now that it looks like she’ll be able to be moved soon. After all, we can take care of her very well at the San.”

There was a murmured response which Robin didn’t catch. She tried to free her arms from the tightly stretched bedclothes, and the movement attracted a nurse’s attention. She bustled over.

“There, you’re awake. That’s better! I’ll go and see if we can find you some breakfast.”

Robin turned her head and smiled weakly as a well-loved face loomed over her.

“Hello, Jem,” she said. “How nice to see you. Where am I?”

Jem Russell put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“You’ve been a bit ill, Rob. But there’s nothing to worry about. I’m going to arrange to have you moved to the San, and we’ll have you as right as rain in no time.”

Robin nodded. She was sure there were questions she should ask, but she didn’t seem to have the energy. Instead, she allowed the nurse to help her to sit up and feed her with something from a bowl. After a while, Jem left her, and she guessed that he had gone to have further discussions with the other doctor. People came and went throughout the rest of that day and the next, talking and making plans, and Robin allowed it all to wash over her. It didn’t seem important. She was happy just to be left alone with her thoughts, resting in the stillness that had never left her since that moment on the bus.
Author:  Alison H [ 28 Jul 2009, 09:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 28/7 p4)
Glad that she's calm about everything, but hope that Jem isn't going to take over and start telling her what she can and can't do - I know he means well but he can't half be bossy!
Author:  PaulineS [ 28 Jul 2009, 11:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 28/7 p4)
Are we going to met Zepher again? She took Robin away after her illness in the books and It would be good to she her again.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 28 Jul 2009, 17:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 28/7 p4)
Poor Robin, I hope that Jem can help her!
Author:  Lesley [ 28 Jul 2009, 19:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 28/7 p4)
Also hope Jem isn't going to come the high handed doctor - and think God is extremely mean to cause all this just so Robin can become a nun with a clear conscience! :wink:


Thanks andi
Author:  andi [ 29 Jul 2009, 08:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 28/7 p4)
I think my chronology has departed slightly from EBD's, so please don't look too closely!

The only time she roused herself to ask a question was the day before she was due to leave the hospital for the San. Jem had left the hospital late in the afternoon, telling her that he would be back to collect her in the morning. Dr Kendall, who had treated her when she was first brought in, was doing his final round for the day and stopped at her bed to say goodbye.

“You’ll be in good hands with Sir James,” he said. “But then, I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that!”

Robin nodded. “Dr Kendall, may I ask you something?” she asked.

“Of course, Miss Humphries. What is it you want to know?”

“Am I very ill?”

Dr Kendall laughed. “Very ill? Good heavens, no, Miss Humphries. You’ve had a fever and a bad cold, but that’s not surprising, given how hard you’ve been working and how wet and cold you’d got. But you’ve got a basically tough constitution and you’ll be over it in no time.”

“I’ve got a what?” Robin’s voice rose to a squeak with astonishment. “Me? A tough constitution? Are you joking, Dr Kendall?”

Dr Kendall raised his eyebrows. “Of course not. Oh, I know you were a frail wee thing when you were younger. But as far as I can see, you’ve outgrown all that.”

He smiled at her expression.

“Sir James filled me in on your medical history,” he said. “ He’s known you for a long time, hasn’t he?”

“Since I was tiny,” Robin agreed.

“I have the utmost admiration for Sir James. He’s a great man and a fine doctor. But you know, Miss Humphries, even the best of us, when our loved ones are involved, tend to be a little…” He hesitated.

“Over-protective?” Robin suggested, with a faint grin.

“ ‘Careful’ was the word I was going to use,” Dr Kendall said, but his eyes were twinkling. “Now, I understand that Sir James plans to keep you at his San to build up your strength, and possibly even to send you over to Switzerland for a while. That doesn’t sound like too much of a hardship to me. And once you’ve got over this cold, and rested a while, you should be perfectly healthy. Able to do anything you want.”

Robin lay back on her pillows and looked up at the ceiling. She could feel an irrepressible urge to laugh bubbling up like a spring inside her.

“Anything I want,” she repeated. She gave the doctor a brilliant smile. “Thank you, Dr Kendall. Thank you very much.”

“My pleasure, Miss Humphries. And the best of luck to you.”
Author:  Alison H [ 29 Jul 2009, 09:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 29/7 p4)
Dr Kendall sounds lovely!

As he says, it's easy to be over-protective with loved ones, especially when you're looking after someone else's children, but it's great to see someone not telling Robin how delicate she is!
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 29 Jul 2009, 09:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 29/7 p4)
I bet Robin is pleased not to be delicate after all of this time!

Thankyou :)
Author:  JB [ 29 Jul 2009, 09:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 29/7 p4)
What a happy update on such a grey morning. I like Dr Kendall.

I wouldn't worry about chronology Andi, EBD gets hers a bit muddled about this too.
Author:  jmc [ 29 Jul 2009, 10:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 29/7 p4)
Thanks Andi. Even though Robin became ill at least it enabled her to see another doctor who was not so protective of her. Now she can do what she wants to do with peace of mind.
Author:  JS [ 29 Jul 2009, 10:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 29/7 p4)
It must have been a surprise to her to hear she had a tough constitution - can't see the others believing it, though :)

Thanks Andi.
Author:  Lesley [ 29 Jul 2009, 22:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 29/7 p4)
So pleased Robin has got an honest opinion from a Doctor. She obviously doesn't manage to change the Russell/Bettany/Maynard opinion that she is frail but, what the heck - at least she knows. :lol:


Thanks Andi
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 30 Jul 2009, 10:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 29/7 p4)
Dr Kendrall is lovely. It is hard for people you've grown up with to see the older you without still remembering the little kid you once were. It will be interesting to see how Robin breaks the news to them
Author:  andi [ 30 Jul 2009, 17:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (updated 29/7 p4)
Last post! (sniff) This isn't strictly accurate because Robin isn't joining the Benedictines, but because it's one of my favourite books I adapted the words of the service from Rumer Godden's 'In This House of Brede'. Also thanks to whoever it was that mentioned Zephyr in time for me to add in a little cameo for her :D



Switzerland, several months later

The two ski-suited figures flew together down the steep white slope, sending up a fine spray of snow behind them as they went. As they neared the bottom of the slope, the smaller of the two slipped into the lead. She reached the end of the run, stopped expertly and turned to wait for her companion.

“I almost had you that time, Rob!” The taller girl glided up, pulling off her cap to reveal a mop of curly fair hair.

“Not a chance!” Robin scoffed. “You’ll have to try harder than that if you want to catch me, Zeph.”

Zephyr Burthill gave her friend a mock-haughty glare. “I’ve told you before, Miss Humphries, my name is Zizi.”

Robin snorted. “Being a producer’s assistant has definitely had a bad effect on you. Do those Hollywood people actually call you that?”

Zephyr grinned. “Well, they have to call me something. And anything’s better than ‘Zephyr’! What my parents were thinking of, I can’t imagine.” She looked coaxingly at Robin. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me and meet up with those girls from the hotel? It’ll be fun. Oh, do come, Rob!”

Robin laughed, but shook her head. “No, you go on. I have some things I must do. I’ll see you later.”

Zephyr nodded. “OK then. Tell Frau Meyer I won’t be in to lunch, will you?” She pulled her cap back on and sped off down the mountain towards the big hotel at the bottom. Robin turned off onto a track that ran through the woods, and soon reached the small chalet where she and Zephyr were staying. Removing her jacket, skis and boots, she went in via the kitchen door. Her hostess, Frau Meyer, looked up from the meal she was preparing and smiled.

“Robin, Liebchen. Did you have a good time?”

“Yes, thank you, Frau Meyer. It’s lovely to be back in the mountains. I feel like a teenager again!”

Frau Meyer laughed as she surveyed her guest’s glowing face, flushed and healthy from exercise and the crisp air. “You look like one, mein Kind. Are you hungry? Mittagessen is still an hour away.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t expire from starvation just yet! Besides, I have a letter I must write, so that it catches the post. I’ll do that now.” With a bread-twist pressed into her hand by Frau Meyer to keep her going until the next meal, Robin ran up the stairs to her room.

“If I stay here much longer,” she chuckled to herself as she munched, “I’ll be the size of a house! Now, where did I put my writing paper? Ah, there it is.”

Licking the last crumbs of bread-twist from her fingers, she opened her writing pad, and took up her pen. She paused for a moment, and then began to write.

Dear Joey

I know this will come as a bit of a surprise to you, so I hope you’re sitting down! This is going to be a rather serious letter. I’ve come to a big decision about my life, and I wanted you to be the first to know. I think you might be a bit surprised, and perhaps concerned at first, but I hope that you’ll soon come to be as happy about it as I am….



Toronto, Canada, five years later

Soeur Marie-Cécile knelt before the Bishop, as the community watched.

“God grant you grace to persevere, so that with His protection and help you may accomplish the desire He has given you…”

He led her to the Mother Superior. “We entrust to you our sister and pray that, under the guidance of the Holy Rule and through obedience she may deserve to obtain perfect union with God. May the peace of the Lord be always with you.”

With the Bishop’s blessing ringing in her ears, Soeur Marie-Cécile took her first steps into her new life. As the community gathered around to congratulate her, she thought with love of the multitudes of good wishes she’d received, cards and telegrams from those of her family and friends who couldn’t be here today.

A few in particular stood out:

A long letter from Joey, filled with love and hopes for the future in her beloved adopted sister’s inimitable, irrepressible style.

A beautiful bouquet of white roses from Madge and Jem, which now adorned the convent chapel.

A telegram from Jenny which said simply, “Be happy.”

And a card, containing a photograph of a beautiful empty beach and a long blue coastline. The message inside read,

Dear Soeur Marie-Cécile

My best wishes and prayers are with you, today and always.

Yours ever,

Father Martin Trevelyan, S.J.

P.S. Nothing’s impossible.
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ 30 Jul 2009, 17:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
A very satisfying ending - especially that last greeting.

Thanks, Andi, for a lovely story - I've enjoyed it all even if this is the one time I've commented.
Author:  PaulineS [ 30 Jul 2009, 17:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
Thanks Andi and for your inclusion of Zizi, (I love her new name and that she has a job and has moved away from her parents,)

Pleased Martin achieved this calling as well.
Author:  JB [ 30 Jul 2009, 18:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
Thanks Andi. That was lovely. Good to have that gap in Robin's life filled - and i was pleased that Martin achieved his dream too.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ 30 Jul 2009, 18:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
Aww what a lovely ending, for both of them.

Thankyou! *sniffle*
Author:  crystaltips [ 30 Jul 2009, 19:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
That was lovely!
*big smile & a tear*
Thank you.
Author:  Alison H [ 30 Jul 2009, 22:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
Thank you andi - that was lovely.
Author:  Abi [ 30 Jul 2009, 22:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
That was lovely, thanks Andi.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 31 Jul 2009, 00:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
Thanks, that was so lovely
Author:  Lesley [ 31 Jul 2009, 05:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
That was excellent - thanks Andi.
Author:  Karoline [ 31 Jul 2009, 07:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
That was lovely, thanks Andi
Author:  JS [ 31 Jul 2009, 10:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
A very nice ending, thank you.
Author:  Chris S [ 31 Jul 2009, 15:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
A lovely story Andi, but I still feel sad that Robin never really had a life in the outside world. Thank you.
Author:  jmc [ 01 Aug 2009, 11:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
Loved the ending! Thanks Andi. It was lovely to see how Robin reached such a big decision
Author:  Elbee [ 03 Aug 2009, 09:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
That was lovely, thank you andi.
Author:  Celia [ 03 Aug 2009, 19:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
I've just read this right through and really enjoyed it. Very satisfying that they both achieve their heart's desire.

Thank you andi.
Author:  Kathy_S [ 07 Aug 2009, 02:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
Thank you, Andi.

Sounds like Martin may have achieved both the priesthood and Cornwall! Nice that they've both found what they most wanted.
Author:  Cath V-P [ 09 Aug 2009, 07:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
I've just read all of this, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Robin's struggle and decision was very well portrayed and the parallel of Martin was delightful.

Thank you.
Author:  roversgirl [ 09 Aug 2009, 11:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
I've just read this all at once and it was lovely. thank you! :-)
Author:  JellySheep [ 02 Sep 2009, 10:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning Point (complete 30/7 p5)
I really liked this story, as it fills a bit of a gap in the series. Robin is very believable, and all the detail of her life in London. Thanks
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