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ci5hqThis weekend we like to talk about 'Join the Queue' by Lizzie.
You can find it here: Circuit Archive , Hatstand , ProsLib CD
It starts with the more painful aspects of Christmas time, in a crowded Post Office, where Bodie has to send a package for Doyle to America.
And all the time, Bodie asks himself why he never can say ‘No!’ to his partner. He curses the uncomfortable situation but even more he curses Doyle and gives him names like ‘stroppy friend’, ‚little sod’, ‘Mad Raymond‘ or ‘ratty partner‘.
In the end, Bodie must even open the package – and there he finds a photo with him and Ray on it, with “Doyle, instead of saying 'cheese' was looking at Bodie with that all too familiar dopey expression”.
Later they talk. About the package, and that it’s for a cousin with a probably gay son, and they talk about that photo. Doyle says: “I thought it was quite a good shot Murph took, it's all there if you look hard enough."
Bodie is confused and changes to football and takeaway.
Finally it is Doyle who takes matters in hand by kissing Bodie on the cheek – and telling Cowley to ‘join the bloody queue’, when Murphy tells them that Cowley ‘wants Bodie’.
……………………….
I personally really like the story, but I’m always a bit sad when people say that they ‘hate Christmas’ because of all the stress and trouble around it.
Because people are mostly responsible for themselves what to make of this time...
Hehe…. enough philosophising! ;-)
What do you think of this story?
Do you like it? Do you think, the characterization of Bodie and Doyle fits?
Merry Christmas time! :-)
You can find it here: Circuit Archive , Hatstand , ProsLib CD
It starts with the more painful aspects of Christmas time, in a crowded Post Office, where Bodie has to send a package for Doyle to America.
And all the time, Bodie asks himself why he never can say ‘No!’ to his partner. He curses the uncomfortable situation but even more he curses Doyle and gives him names like ‘stroppy friend’, ‚little sod’, ‘Mad Raymond‘ or ‘ratty partner‘.
In the end, Bodie must even open the package – and there he finds a photo with him and Ray on it, with “Doyle, instead of saying 'cheese' was looking at Bodie with that all too familiar dopey expression”.
Later they talk. About the package, and that it’s for a cousin with a probably gay son, and they talk about that photo. Doyle says: “I thought it was quite a good shot Murph took, it's all there if you look hard enough."
Bodie is confused and changes to football and takeaway.
Finally it is Doyle who takes matters in hand by kissing Bodie on the cheek – and telling Cowley to ‘join the bloody queue’, when Murphy tells them that Cowley ‘wants Bodie’.
……………………….
I personally really like the story, but I’m always a bit sad when people say that they ‘hate Christmas’ because of all the stress and trouble around it.
Because people are mostly responsible for themselves what to make of this time...
Hehe…. enough philosophising! ;-)
What do you think of this story?
Do you like it? Do you think, the characterization of Bodie and Doyle fits?
Merry Christmas time! :-)
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no subject
Date: 2019-12-07 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-12-07 03:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 08:33 am (UTC)Sounds as if you're here to stay! :-)
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Date: 2019-12-08 08:22 am (UTC)(Do you know that you did rec this story in 2010 (https://ci5hq.livejournal.com/131899.html)?)
no subject
Date: 2019-12-07 03:46 pm (UTC)So, changing to Join the Queue itself. Yes, Lizzie's main characters are true. A slightly negativ Bodie in the queue and an attentive and quick on the trigger Doyle.
Bodie is thinking about saying 'No' to his partner, but it isn't so intensive as Doyle would do, yeah, it's Bodie like. And a Doyle who knows exactly how to handle him.
Doyle's lips twitched. "You got my package off, though?"
"Yeah. Despite having to find out what you sent you sent your aunty for Christmas because Sybil Fawlty wouldn't let me post it otherwise."
"I won't ask."
"Best not."
"Was for my cousin, anyway."
"I won't ask" said by Doyle - what does that mean ? He expects Bodie is sulky about the fact he had to open it and wasting time ?
Then, the story is changing, slowly and comfy like it's all natural to the point. I love it how Doyle handles it. Bodie has no chance to escape :-)
Doyle is pretty confident, isn't he ?
And finally, that's brilliant
"Cowley wants you, Bodie,"............"Tell him," Doyle said, turning to Murph, "to join the bloody queue."
In my opinion this story is well written, lively dialogues between our lads and in the post office.
Thanks for this nice reading.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 08:32 am (UTC)I think Doyle knows that Bodie is sulky because of the whole Post Office thing. And this 'don't ask' is maybe from that scene in (?), when they talk over the car roof about Bodie's last date.
"Then, the story is changing, slowly and comfy like it's all natural to the point. I love it how Doyle handles it. Bodie has no chance to escape :-)
Doyle is pretty confident, isn't he ?"
Yes he is! Finally.
And I love it how you put it: Bodie has no chance to escape. :-)
What a lovely comment! Thank you!
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Date: 2019-12-07 06:11 pm (UTC)Thanks for reccing it, I think I wouldn't have thought about it this year.
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Date: 2019-12-08 08:35 am (UTC)My pleasure! ;-)
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Date: 2019-12-07 06:33 pm (UTC)Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ (https://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqbrowse?faqid=303).
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Date: 2019-12-07 07:23 pm (UTC)*sigh* Such a sweet story.
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Date: 2019-12-08 08:47 am (UTC):-)
This is a very clever description of Bodie's state of mind!
"He can't say no because he loves Doyle, and can easily recognize Doyle's "dopey" look of love in the photo."
I don't know if Bodie really is able to recognize it as 'love'. I think he is too afraid to hope.
Thank you! :-)
no subject
Date: 2019-12-07 09:10 pm (UTC)I personally really like the story, but I’m always a bit sad when people say that they ‘hate Christmas’ because of all the stress and trouble around it.
Because people are mostly responsible for themselves what to make of this time...
I think, to an extent, you’re right, especially if they have no dependents to confuse things, etc! But do you think that was the reason people were complaining about Christmas in this story? I thought it was more about how a lack of planning on the part of other people impacted negatively on them. And too much commercialisation…
Do you think, the characterization of Bodie and Doyle fits?
Yes, it highlights certain aspects of their characters. While Bodie is so often the tough guy there are times when he can appear slightly downtrodden e.g. carrying more luggage than Doyle up the stairs in the hotel in In the Public Interest. (I think it happens elsewhere, too). So I can see Bodie being suckered in to joining a busy queue in the one of the busiest places at Christmas time to help his partner.
Thanks so much for your post.
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Date: 2019-12-08 09:06 am (UTC)You're surely right! 'Lack of planning in the Post Office' is probably at the moment the main problem for the girl with the 3 kids(on top of having 3 little kids...).
The old man is maybe someone who complains about everything, not just Christmas: "No wonder us pensioners aren't safe in our beds."
"Do you think, the characterization of Bodie and Doyle fits?"
"Yes, it highlights certain aspects of their characters."
Great wording! :-)
It describes Lizzie's writing perfectly!
"While Bodie is so often the tough guy there are times when he can appear slightly downtrodden e.g. carrying more luggage than Doyle up the stairs...
So I can see Bodie being suckered in to joining a busy queue in the one of the busiest places at Christmas time to help his partner."
LOL! I had to look for "downtrodden", but it fits perfectly! :-)
Thank you for your comment!
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 12:16 am (UTC)I really enjoy it, every time I read it! The post office queue just rings so true - England is famously good at queuing, but we don't half complain about having to do it. It reminds me of Watching the English (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/288448) by Kate Fox, who was an anthropologist studying her own country. I don't have my copy here to check, but I'm sure she has something to say about queuing!
Do you like it?
I do, I definitely do. *g* Although I'm a fan of everything Lizzie's written. She just gets the lads, partly because she totally gets the world that they live in and that they react to.
Do you think, the characterization of Bodie and Doyle fits?
Yup. *g* Bodie who'll mock and complain, but still do what would make Doyle happy (even a little thing, like getting his parcel delivered for him), and Doyle, and Doyle pushing and pushing to prove something's true - and all confidence when he knows that it is. *g*
I personally really like the story, but I’m always a bit sad when people say that they ‘hate Christmas’ because of all the stress and trouble around it. Because people are mostly responsible for themselves what to make of this time...
Hmmn - so you don't believe in peer pressure then? Or that we're shaped by our environment as much as anything else? We're always responsible for ourselves, but sometimes the choices we're given are difficult ones, with no winners. Go with your conscience, and decide your children will all have home-made presents this year? Or protect them from feeling left out, when everyone else in their class is flashing around the latest craze, and your child can't join in? That can work if you've got a very secure and confident background for your family, but I don't think it's that way for most people. And so, stress... Which is sad, but I can see how it can make people say they hate the very thing that's supposed to be a happy time.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 09:39 am (UTC)That's right! Eyeryone here knows it! :-)
"Although I'm a fan of everything Lizzie's written."
Me too!!! I can't remember a story I don't like! (although I skip the many sex scenes in Birdwatcher! ;-))
"Bodie who'll mock and complain, but still do what would make Doyle happy"
*g*
Hmmn - so you don't believe in peer pressure then?
Or that we're shaped by our environment as much as anything else?
Sorry! I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
You mean that everybody is complaining, so we think we should complain too?
"We're always responsible for ourselves, but sometimes the choices we're given are difficult ones, with no winners."
I totally agree!
"Go with your conscience, and decide your children will all have home-made presents this year? Or protect them from feeling left out, when everyone else in their class is flashing around the latest craze, and your child can't join in? That can work if you've got a very secure and confident background for your family, but I don't think it's that way for most people."
Ah! I think I understand! :-) That may explain the problems(stress) parents have with their kids.
But what is with others? People who have enough money, but complain over the fact that they have to come up with presents(they don't care enough for others - so this IS stress!), or they complain that they have to eat so much at Christmas time(this is really their problem!), or they even complain when the radio plays 'Last Christmas' for the seventh time this year... ;-)
When you meet such people, you nearly don't dare to say, that you enjoy this time of year! ;-)
As for Bodie - I surely prefer stories where he finds 'childish pleasure' in Christmas time(no matter haw bad his own childhood may have been), and where he and Doyle make the best of the moment to celebrate(like the 'bottle of homemade wine' in your next story(Discovered in a Hatstand by The Hag).
But nonetheless I really enjoy this story each time I read it!
"And so, stress... Which is sad, but I can see how it can make people say they hate the very thing that's supposed to be a happy time.
Isn't it often "complaining about first world problems"...?
Maybe we all should shift down a gear in our expectations! :-P
Thank you for your thoughts!
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Date: 2019-12-08 05:54 pm (UTC)When you meet such people, you nearly don't dare to say, that you enjoy this time of year! ;-)
I suppose it depends why they're complaining. Some people would rather save money to treat their friends and family over the year, rather than adding to the huge pile of stuff that's handed out at Christmas, but they feel pressure to conform and join in too, so I guess that might be a genuine reason. People who complain just for the sake of complaining though - they'd probably complain whatever happened, so... *g*
Isn't it often "complaining about first world problems"...?
To some extent, definitely - but problems and things that stress people out still hurt, even when we're not actually starving to death, and they can have longer-term bad effects on health and so on. Someone who's being bullied, for instance, isn't starving to death, but calling it a first world problem wouldn't be fair either. Some people do just like to complain - but actually it often has benefits - it can actually create social cohesion and bring people together. Complaining about the weather is another national pastime (in many countries, not just here!), but it means that there's almost always a conversation opening if you're stuck under a bus shelter waiting for the rain to stop! Complaining about the commercialisation of Christmas, ditto. And it's always worth wondering what's behind someone's complaints too - they might look fine and rich and healthy, but there might be other stuff there.
Maybe we all should shift down a gear in our expectations! :-P
Yeah, I agree - but people's expectations tend to be led by the media and advertising and so corporations and businesses who want to make money, and it's hard to escape. As long as they're allowed to yammer away to everyone about how much we need this or that, then it's going to be hard to change expectations...
But we've totally gotten off the subject! *g*
I always like Lizzie's sex scenes - she's very good at them! *g*
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 02:54 am (UTC)Does anyone else think that Doyle sent Bodie to the post office, knowing exactly he would have to open up the package to fill out the customs form, hoping Bodie would see the picture and get a hint?
And now I've read all Lizzie's shorter stories and have started "A Birdwatcher's Guide to Cornish Ghosts". :)
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Date: 2019-12-08 09:47 am (UTC)Hmmmmm.... Somehow I can't believe that Doyle would make such a complicated plan!
Although... why not! *g*
"...have started "A Birdwatcher's Guide to Cornish Ghosts"."
Have fun! I love it! :-)
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 02:59 am (UTC)A lovely, lovely story - thanks for reccing it! I love Lizzie's talent at portraying them - all the little details and seemingly unimportant bits that then fit together into a picture that melts your heart. I enjoy her characterization - she convinces me completely of this grouchy, loyal-to-the-death, tad bit clueless Bodie and competent, smart, besotten Doyle. Other authors can convince me to see them in different ways, but yes!
It is so well done, too, with humor and the light touches balancing serious topics - like a mobile. The shadow of child abuse turning a bit later into Doyle trying to give hope to his unsure gay relative. The grousing over inconvenience that gives way to actually unselfishly doing whatever it takes to make the other happy...
Yes, I think Christmas, like so many things, has been hijacked by capitalism, but we can choose our own ways, our own rituals. We've always needed the light and warmth to get us through the cold dark times. Hoping, remembering, believing that love wins. (Along with Bodie's favorite team!)
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Date: 2019-12-08 09:59 am (UTC)I could emphasise each sentence - so I leave it to it.
Just this one:
"Yes, I think Christmas, like so many things, has been hijacked by capitalism, but we can choose our own ways, our own rituals. We've always needed the light and warmth to get us through the cold dark times. Hoping, remembering, believing that love wins."
:-)
Thank you!!!!
no subject
Date: 2019-12-08 01:06 pm (UTC)Join the Queue
Date: 2019-12-09 12:04 pm (UTC)There's some lovely sentences in there that made me chuckle too, 'Pop? The little sod knew you didn't 'pop' anywhere at this time of year.' and 'the misery endured by the entire queue suddenly went up a notch as the child's screaming hit ghetto-blaster level'. We've all been there at some point or another.
And I think this is soooo Bodie. 'Only it doesn't pay, apparently, so she has to come here and not do Betty's job properly.'
And yet, despite the trauma of the Post Office scrum, this is a very heart-warming story and full of Christmassy vibes.
Lovely!
no subject
Date: 2019-12-10 04:38 am (UTC)It's a pleasure rereading a story after some time and enjoying it all over again.
It's a perfect little seasonal tale, full of humor, a warming romance just the right side of sweet. I find the entire Bodie in the queue sequence a little writing masterpiece; all these realistic original characters and situations just help to make Bodie even more real, never out of place in the story. And while we are all stuck in the queue, both Doyle and their relationship take life bit by bit through Bodie.
I love her writing style, it flows whatever situation she writes about. I have been rereading some of her shorter works lately and I find her writing (at least the works I have been able to read) always confident and enjoyable, even the AU's stories, considering that I usually prefer stories rooted in the actual pros universe.
"Do you think, the characterization of Bodie and Doyle fits?"
Yes, I usually like her characterizations, even when she writes them in unusual situations or universes or they seem or act differently from their canon selves. I like them here, very much, and I agree with
We can see more of their everyday life and less gloomy side. An I love their final exchange, like I said, funny and sweet, but in a nice and not overly done way.