More Grist to the Mill
Viewing comments for Chapter 42 "Intelligence Gathering - 1943"Book 2 of the Cleeborough Mill Trilogy
30 total reviews
Comment from lyenochka
I liked how you brought in even the advanced plumbing of the house. The Baches have really modernized their dwelling! Good dialogue and it seems that Allen, the perceptive lawyer recognizes how to steer the conversation without giving too much information.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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I liked how you brought in even the advanced plumbing of the house. The Baches have really modernized their dwelling! Good dialogue and it seems that Allen, the perceptive lawyer recognizes how to steer the conversation without giving too much information.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Many thanks for this review. Yes, you have recognised what the ever patient Allen is up to and he will get where he wants to eventually.
Comment from nancy_e_davis
This is a chapter talking all around the subject that Peter Allen has come to address. He wants to know if Tom Jolliffe
fathered a child during that suggested period of his life.
Isn't that bathtub something! You have just supplied the reason the necessary room is called the crapper. LOL
Interesting, Jim. Nancy:<)
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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This is a chapter talking all around the subject that Peter Allen has come to address. He wants to know if Tom Jolliffe
fathered a child during that suggested period of his life.
Isn't that bathtub something! You have just supplied the reason the necessary room is called the crapper. LOL
Interesting, Jim. Nancy:<)
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Allen is really on a mission to check out the background og the German gunner. There is still the possibility it could be a plan to infiltrate a Nazi spy into Britain.
Here is what Wikipedia says about Thomas Crapper and the origin of the word 'crap'.
It has often been claimed in popular culture that the profane slang term for human bodily waste, crap, originated with Thomas Crapper because of his association with lavatories. A common version of this story is that American servicemen stationed in England during World War I saw his name on cisterns and used it as army slang, i.e. "I'm going to the crapper".[12]
The word crap is actually of Middle English origin and predates its application to bodily waste. Its most likely etymological origin is a combination of two older words: the Dutch krappen (to pluck off, cut off, or separate) and the Old French crappe (siftings, waste or rejected matter, from the medieval Latin crappa).[12] In English, it was used to refer to chaff and also to weeds or other rubbish. Its first recorded application to bodily waste, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, appeared in 1846, 10 years after Crapper was born, under a reference to a crapping ken, or a privy, where ken means a house.[12]
Thank you so much for the positive review.
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Interesting! Thanks, Jim. Nancy
Comment from amahra
Because I'm American, I can't always tell if there's a spelling error, or just your brand of English, so I'll leave your grammar to the exerts on here. However, I do like the writing of Corporal Bentink in his trying to get Heather to talk about her twin. She seems to put part of the blame on Feyther for sending Tom to Rugby. It seems like you are saying that Tom's return from Rugby feeling too sophisticated for farm work and being disinherited is somehow connected to whatever it is Bentink is looking for. Did I get that right?
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Because I'm American, I can't always tell if there's a spelling error, or just your brand of English, so I'll leave your grammar to the exerts on here. However, I do like the writing of Corporal Bentink in his trying to get Heather to talk about her twin. She seems to put part of the blame on Feyther for sending Tom to Rugby. It seems like you are saying that Tom's return from Rugby feeling too sophisticated for farm work and being disinherited is somehow connected to whatever it is Bentink is looking for. Did I get that right?
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you for this review. You are pretty much correct except that the interrogator is Colonel Allen, and Corporal Bentink is only his driver.
Comment from JudyE
The story continues to hold the reader's interest, as always.
I picked up a few points:
Having put Corporal Bentink's mind at rest, by giving him his orders for the next day over the telephone, Allen got got his call transferred - delete 'got' and maybe replace remaining 'got' with 'had'
The lavatory was a work of art, an original of Thomas Crapper's design, dating from the previous century, and the huge, cast-iron bath doubled as a shower, housed in a tall shelter at one end, looked not unlike a sentry box. - 'doubled', 'housed', 'looked' - I found this a bit confusing. Maybe 'and the huge, cast-iron bath, doubling as a shower, and housed in a tall shelter at one end, looked not unlike a sentry box.'
Tea was on the table, and there seemed to be no concessions to wartime austerity in this household. This farmhouse tea was indistinguishable from that enjoyed on his previous visit in 1925, the likes of which he had not seen since the outbreak of hostilities. - I might have replaced the second use of 'this' with 'the farmhouse tea...'
'Oh, thank you. Sit you down, Mr Allen and have a cup of tea,' said Heather, busying herself with the teapot.- comma after 'Allen'
'Well of course we weren't like-twins as they say. - comma after 'course' and maybe after 'Well'.
'I'm not too sure myself,' replied Allen giving a lopsided smile. - comma after 'Allen'
Heather had been nodding silently while Allen had listed her brother's faults as he had come to understand them, but by the expression on her face he got the distinct impression that she was not in full agreement. He continued. - commas either side of 'by the expression on her face' and I would have moved 'He continued' onto the beginning of the next paragraph.
I got the impression last time that as soon as Tom got control here, there was some sort of hedonistic explosion, that is to say he immediately embarked on a spree which was to last five years until his death. - comma after 'say'
'No wonder he went off, pop then!' exclaimed Allen. - I'm not sure of the reason for the comma after 'pop'
Best wishes
Judy
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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The story continues to hold the reader's interest, as always.
I picked up a few points:
Having put Corporal Bentink's mind at rest, by giving him his orders for the next day over the telephone, Allen got got his call transferred - delete 'got' and maybe replace remaining 'got' with 'had'
The lavatory was a work of art, an original of Thomas Crapper's design, dating from the previous century, and the huge, cast-iron bath doubled as a shower, housed in a tall shelter at one end, looked not unlike a sentry box. - 'doubled', 'housed', 'looked' - I found this a bit confusing. Maybe 'and the huge, cast-iron bath, doubling as a shower, and housed in a tall shelter at one end, looked not unlike a sentry box.'
Tea was on the table, and there seemed to be no concessions to wartime austerity in this household. This farmhouse tea was indistinguishable from that enjoyed on his previous visit in 1925, the likes of which he had not seen since the outbreak of hostilities. - I might have replaced the second use of 'this' with 'the farmhouse tea...'
'Oh, thank you. Sit you down, Mr Allen and have a cup of tea,' said Heather, busying herself with the teapot.- comma after 'Allen'
'Well of course we weren't like-twins as they say. - comma after 'course' and maybe after 'Well'.
'I'm not too sure myself,' replied Allen giving a lopsided smile. - comma after 'Allen'
Heather had been nodding silently while Allen had listed her brother's faults as he had come to understand them, but by the expression on her face he got the distinct impression that she was not in full agreement. He continued. - commas either side of 'by the expression on her face' and I would have moved 'He continued' onto the beginning of the next paragraph.
I got the impression last time that as soon as Tom got control here, there was some sort of hedonistic explosion, that is to say he immediately embarked on a spree which was to last five years until his death. - comma after 'say'
'No wonder he went off, pop then!' exclaimed Allen. - I'm not sure of the reason for the comma after 'pop'
Best wishes
Judy
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you very much for the review. The points you made have been attended to.
Comment from Sanku
I feel sorry for young Tom living under the Damocles aSword of disinheritance .Most young people need some kind of guidance which in his case was lacking.
In the previous chapters you have brilliantly described the grandeur of the changed farm complete with chandeliers and a sweeping staircase.Electricity and phone has added modernity to the farm.
Peter is hoping that Heather will spontaneously stumble into Tom's affair with a German girl...But I can't see that .he will have to ask her outright about it....
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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I feel sorry for young Tom living under the Damocles aSword of disinheritance .Most young people need some kind of guidance which in his case was lacking.
In the previous chapters you have brilliantly described the grandeur of the changed farm complete with chandeliers and a sweeping staircase.Electricity and phone has added modernity to the farm.
Peter is hoping that Heather will spontaneously stumble into Tom's affair with a German girl...But I can't see that .he will have to ask her outright about it....
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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We shall see what we shall see. Allen's concern is to ensure that the German POW is not a Nazi plant.
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Oh! yes .That of course would be his concern.I didnt occur to me
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
You explain the subtleties of the class system perfectly here as there was less social mobility back then and anyone punching above their station was indeed frowned upon and climbing the social ladder was a tricky pursuit.
The artful inventions in the bathroom by a man with an unfortunate but appropriate name, made me smile.
Much enjoyed, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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You explain the subtleties of the class system perfectly here as there was less social mobility back then and anyone punching above their station was indeed frowned upon and climbing the social ladder was a tricky pursuit.
The artful inventions in the bathroom by a man with an unfortunate but appropriate name, made me smile.
Much enjoyed, love Dolly x
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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When I was shopping for reclaimed building materials to use in my mill, I came across several of these old bath/shower combinations in a specialist reclaimed buiders' merchants in, of all places, Bath.
Here is what Wikipedia says about Thomas Crapper and the origin of the word 'crap'.
It has often been claimed in popular culture that the profane slang term for human bodily waste, crap, originated with Thomas Crapper because of his association with lavatories. A common version of this story is that American servicemen stationed in England during World War I saw his name on cisterns and used it as army slang, i.e. "I'm going to the crapper".[12]
The word crap is actually of Middle English origin and predates its application to bodily waste. Its most likely etymological origin is a combination of two older words: the Dutch krappen (to pluck off, cut off, or separate) and the Old French crappe (siftings, waste or rejected matter, from the medieval Latin crappa).[12] In English, it was used to refer to chaff and also to weeds or other rubbish. Its first recorded application to bodily waste, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, appeared in 1846, 10 years after Crapper was born, under a reference to a crapping ken, or a privy, where ken means a house.[12]
Many thanks for the complimentary review.
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Wow! I learned something here, I had no idea crap had so much history! I have a lot more respect for the word now, love Dolly x
Comment from Jay Squires
Allen is using his finesse to get Heather to open up about her brother. I may be a little dense, but unless and until he tells her that the tail gunner is Tommy's son, I can't see that any profit can come from their chatting. I know you are a master plotter and know where you are taking this, but I can't see the value of that intelligence.
Thomas Crapper's design, [You've gotta be kidding! Crapper? The inventer of something found in the lavatory?]
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Allen is using his finesse to get Heather to open up about her brother. I may be a little dense, but unless and until he tells her that the tail gunner is Tommy's son, I can't see that any profit can come from their chatting. I know you are a master plotter and know where you are taking this, but I can't see the value of that intelligence.
Thomas Crapper's design, [You've gotta be kidding! Crapper? The inventer of something found in the lavatory?]
Comment Written 02-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Allen's main purpose at this time is to discover how genuine the German gunner's story, and his mother's letter is. He is coned that the man might possibly be a Nazi 'plant'.
As for Mr C definitely not kidding. Here is what Wikipedia says about Thomas Crapper and the origin of the word 'crap'.
It has often been claimed in popular culture that the profane slang term for human bodily waste, crap, originated with Thomas Crapper because of his association with lavatories. A common version of this story is that American servicemen stationed in England during World War I saw his name on cisterns and used it as army slang, i.e. "I'm going to the crapper".[12]
The word crap is actually of Middle English origin and predates its application to bodily waste. Its most likely etymological origin is a combination of two older words: the Dutch krappen (to pluck off, cut off, or separate) and the Old French crappe (siftings, waste or rejected matter, from the medieval Latin crappa).[12] In English, it was used to refer to chaff and also to weeds or other rubbish. Its first recorded application to bodily waste, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, appeared in 1846, 10 years after Crapper was born, under a reference to a crapping ken, or a privy, where ken means a house.[12]
Many thanks for the review.
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Fascinating etymology. Of course, I've heard of going to the crapper, but didn't connect it with Thomas. Thanks for taking the time for that, Jim.
As for the other matter, since there is a huge element of coincidence that the plot hinges on, I would be quick to have either Heather or Allen bring out that coincidence. Get it on the table, perhaps tie it in with other coincidences that changed the world. But just showing that they recognize it as a coincidence tends to defuse whatever objection might rise in the reader's mind. Just my tuppenny's worth, Jim.
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Yes, that has to come into the open and it will be seen that it is the uncanny coincidence that has alerted Allen to the possibility of a plant.
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It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
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😊
Comment from nomi338
Peter Allen is very circumspect in his efforts to elicit information on Tom Joliffe and the young German woman he impregnated. He seems to have been prolific in siring children. I am now forced to wonder just how many illegitimate children my be walking around with Joliffe blood. Whew! My goodness, what a story this is turning out to be. I love it.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Peter Allen is very circumspect in his efforts to elicit information on Tom Joliffe and the young German woman he impregnated. He seems to have been prolific in siring children. I am now forced to wonder just how many illegitimate children my be walking around with Joliffe blood. Whew! My goodness, what a story this is turning out to be. I love it.
Comment Written 02-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Many thanks for this complimentary review. Your concern for all the wild oats Tom Jolliffe may have sown is most touching.
Comment from royowen
I like the way you have paced this plot, with the details of the goings on in Jericho from the time Tom Warburton left, joined the army and got himself killed heroically to when Tom Joliffe took over the family business. But Peter Allen is about to get to the thrust of why he is there... well done, excellent post, blessings Roy
Typo : Allen got (got) his call.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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I like the way you have paced this plot, with the details of the goings on in Jericho from the time Tom Warburton left, joined the army and got himself killed heroically to when Tom Joliffe took over the family business. But Peter Allen is about to get to the thrust of why he is there... well done, excellent post, blessings Roy
Typo : Allen got (got) his call.
Comment Written 02-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you so much for the complimentary review. I will be dealing with the superfluous 'got' shortly.
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Well done
Comment from Sherry Asbury
In my new building (American) the first floor is the ground floor. Wonderful story, as usual, dear one...I gobble up the history like chocolate cake. My education was...well awful...my people were illiterate and thought I was a smart aleck, so I was not allowed to go to school...so - everything you write is an education for me! Thank you -
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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In my new building (American) the first floor is the ground floor. Wonderful story, as usual, dear one...I gobble up the history like chocolate cake. My education was...well awful...my people were illiterate and thought I was a smart aleck, so I was not allowed to go to school...so - everything you write is an education for me! Thank you -
Comment Written 02-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you so much for those complimentary words in your review. They are much appreciated.
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You are most welcome!