Date: March 20, 2020 06:24 pm Title: Chapter 12: Night Falls
I just love the way you put words together. That line at the end about convincing Jim to change his calendar is beautiful. As always, can't wait to read what happens next!
Author's Response: Thank you! I really appreciate hearing that.
1 [Report This]Date: March 20, 2020 06:21 pm Title: Chapter 11: Visitations
So proud of Pam! I love stories where we can see her transition into Fancy New Beesly. And i loved the line "he really needed to stop using the word 'engage.'" That's just such a perfect little way to kind of break your heart and I loved it. On to the next chapter, since you're spoiling me with two today!
Author's Response: Thank you! And you know, two updates was a result of having a chat. And you missed the chat. So if you were to say promise to make a chat, we might have another, and I might double update again.
Date: March 20, 2020 05:55 pm Title: Chapter 12: Night Falls
This line: "Eventually the light failed, and he made his way back to the hostel, focusing more carefully this time on the landmarks so he wouldn’t get lost again." So resigned and so melancholy... he still feels lost inside. Nice job with words there...
I'm glad to see Pam doing a little something for herself here and getting out of the rut of pleasing everyone else. That makes me happy.
Hopefully, soon, they'll both find there way to each other. I'm enjoying the journey.
Thanks for writing!
Author's Response: Aw, thank you! I really appreciate the kind words.
Date: March 19, 2020 11:47 pm Title: Chapter 12: Night Falls
That sentence about the Ashes may just be the thing that convinces my husband to take up fic reading... (I’d have to get him to watch The Office first, but that’s a completely different battle).
Boy oh boy, that Year of Beesly/getting Jim to change his calendar thing was a brilliant piece of writing. You’re packing a punch into these short chapters.
Author's Response:
Ha! Thank you! My dad is a raving cricket fan (which takes some doing in the States--he gets up at 3am to watch tests) so I have a lot of feels about the Ashes. And thanks for the compliment :)
Date: March 19, 2020 11:42 pm Title: Chapter 11: Visitations
Oh, I’m so glad that Pam is making the most of things whether or not she finds Jim. That’s the Fancy New Beesly that I love to see!
Not going to lie, I’m definitely not fact checking your info about rugby because that is not a particular knowledge area of mine. Cricket, on the other hand I can tell you is a summer sport & it’ll be less likely matches are on in winter... That’s my sports knowledge exhausted 😂
The lines about graphic design and “engage”. Ugh. So good in that way that only quality angst can be.
Author's Response: Thank you! And yeah, I double-checked my rugby stuff with the internet, so you're off the hook! But thank you :)
Date: March 19, 2020 08:32 pm Title: Chapter 12: Night Falls
Loved the sci-fi reference with Jim. If one knows about his enemy (frienemy?) in Dwight, one is more able to confound them. I'm sure at this point he's also glad for a reprieve in his thought patterns. I think this is the first time we saw him thinking about something and it not going eventually to Pam.
Still loving Pam setting out to do what she wants to do. The Year of Beesly is a great way to think of it and I'm excited to see how this new found confidence in herself pays off.
Author's Response:
Thank you! I think you're right. He's gradually moving that way. And the YoB is a fun concept for me to play around with.
Date: March 19, 2020 07:29 pm Title: Chapter 11: Visitations
The painting is really nice! And though I'm sorry for Jim, returning again and again to his 'Pam thoughts' (but just because they hurt him right now, not because it's wrong to think about Pam in general; the line about using the word 'engage' is particularly sad), I cheer for Pam and her decisions! Yay for Pam :)
And thank you for the fantastic update!
Author's Response:
Yeah, I looked up a bunch in that gallery and that one stuck with me. I'm glad you like it too!
And weirdly enough I really see Pam as being in a much better place in the immediate June aftermath than Jim. She's done something. He did too, but he doesn't know it worked yet...thanks for the review!
Date: March 19, 2020 06:03 pm Title: Chapter 11: Visitations
This is just full of gems. Jim gravitating to sports seems very natural. And just as natural to him is his thoughts going to pranking Dwight and having Pam as his partner-in-crime. Old habits die hard, though I'm sure eventually in this universe they won't have to die at all.
Love the Fancy New Beesly reference. I also love that she's doing things for herself, not just to find Jim. She's also finding herself and going for what she, and she alone wants. I'm sure that will pay dividends down the line.
Author's Response: Thank you Warrior! You always have such insightful comments, I can't do them justice in my replies.
Date: March 19, 2020 05:58 pm Title: Chapter 11: Visitations
It's so great to see this story continuing! Glad you didn't have coronavirus and that you're feeling better.
I'll admit I'm in knots about how Pam will ever find Jim.
Author's Response: Thank you! I promise she will, but I don't promise anything about how ;)
1 [Report This]Date: March 19, 2020 12:48 pm Title: Chapter 10: An Arrival
Glad they're both on the same continent now! I'm eager to see how Pam tracks him down, or if that happens at all. She's going to have to be more assertive and confident to pull this one off, I think!
This has been really fun to read!
Thanks for writing (and glad you're on the mend! )!
Author's Response: Thank you! And she will, but not necessarily all that quickly...
1 [Report This]Date: March 19, 2020 05:35 am Title: Chapter 10: An Arrival
Glad to hear you are well! Also glad to see Pam finally on the ground and preparing for the hunt! I wish her good luck, cause that is some needle in the haystack business right there.
Author's Response: Thank you! It is indeed, but it's only so large a haystack, since I've decided neither of them truly gets the concept of public transportation, so it's all on foot...
Date: March 19, 2020 03:45 am Title: Chapter 10: An Arrival
Very glad you're feeling better. Still stay safe though. We've still got a long way to go with this whole thing.
Anyway, good on Jim for starting to get unstuck. Regardless of season I'm sure there's a lot to do in any major city. The references to the remains of the British empire were a fun nugget to include.
Now the nerves start ramping up for Pam. I think she's right to have over-analyzed everything in her head on the flight over. It's a long flight and she's got the time. Great time to for her to stop doubting herself now though. Hopefully that will help her out as she goes forward.
Author's Response:
Thank you! And so we do.
I like making Jim ponder whatever I'm pondering at the moment, so British empire it was. Pam will get some calm back, I assure you, but she is at max tension (well, except when they do meet) right now I think.
1 [Report This]Date: March 19, 2020 03:31 am Title: Chapter 10: An Arrival
Okay, after that last paragraph I’m now picturing Pam’s journey to find Jim as something very similar to that time Jim leaves Michael at the gas station & Holly manages to track him down on pure instinct/intimate knowledge of how Michael thinks.
Small, technical/mostly irrelevant side note: Queen’s Birthday weekend would mean a greater chance of things being closed - it’s a public holiday - not so much special/longer opening hours. Completely irrelevant note: it also means a public holiday surcharge in most restaurants/cafes (to cover increased wages that are paid for people who work public holidays). Fun(?) fact...
I got very sidetracked in my review just now - please tell me if you this sort of commentary more annoying than helpful/interesting & I’ll try tone it down a notch!
I’m glad Pam has finally made it to Aus! Much like Pam, I can’t wait to see how Jim greets her when she catches up with him...
Author's Response:
Good thought.
I really appreciate your technical notes, especially as (as in this case) it lets me both position Jim as (like me) the ignorant American and then later reveal his misunderstandings (I, like Jim, saw that the museums are advertised as open on the long weekend and assumed that meant special hours, not just 'it's special that we're open at all.'). Keep it up! And thanks for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: March 19, 2020 02:59 am Title: Chapter 10: An Arrival
I'm glad you are back! And it's such a nice update. We all know how hard it is for Jim to distract himself from Pam, but his attempts are so good; besides, it's lovely to see some cultural differences (and his reactions on them). And Pam... oh boy, I hope she won't be wandering around for too long.
Thank you for the new chapter :)
Author's Response: Thank you! We'll get more of those, because reflecting on Australian cultural differences is fun for me to do. She'll wander a bit--but I promise I won't drag it out unnecessarily.
Date: March 18, 2020 11:19 pm Title: Chapter 10: An Arrival
So glad to read you are ok!!
Author's Response: Thank you!
Date: March 16, 2020 04:18 pm Title: Chapter 9: Next Steps
I like the pace of this story. The popcorn updates, as you call them, give us enough information to see into the characters' experiences while not rushing the story. I like that you worked the phrase "abundance of caution" into this chapter.
Author's Response: Thank you! I appreciate that a lot, and I'm glad you're enjoying!
Date: March 16, 2020 05:12 am Title: Chapter 9: Next Steps
SO now Jim's stuck again. I imagine progress comes slowly at this stage. Everything is still reminding him of Pam so it's hard to take joy in anything. Especially when he's feeling like his heart is still shattered.
Glad Pam got some rest. After everything she's had to go through, yeah even airline seats can be comfortable.
Author's Response:
He'll get there--of course, it might be a different "There" than he expects...
Thanks as ever for the review.
Date: March 16, 2020 02:04 am Title: Chapter 9: Next Steps
I am very, very curious to find how Pam tracks Jim down...
Oh Jim, thus far this is panning out to be as about as miserable as I’d anticipated a trip like this would be. I like the idea of the time zone making it difficult for him to track exactly when she is to be married. That’s got to be a bit of a sanity saver.
Author's Response: So am I! I need to plan that part ;) I know where they'll meet, but I'm not sure how they'll each find themselves there...thanks for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: March 15, 2020 07:27 pm Title: Chapter 9: Next Steps
Oh, what ARE they going to say/do? It's the journey, not just the destination that's to be enjoyed, right? (Maybe not yet for Jim and Pam...)
I'm enjoying the journey!
Thanks for writing!
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the journey; I do hope you'll enjoy the destination too.
1 [Report This]Date: March 15, 2020 07:25 pm Title: Chapter 9: Next Steps
We’ve been blessed with two updates in one day! Again, adorable. I love Jim wandering around aimlessly and I loved the bit about looking over his metaphorical shoulder, that was a lovely little piece of writing!
Author's Response: From my perspective, I slept between those updates, but they weren't many hours apart I'll grant you. Jim might pick up some aim, soon--and then, hopefully, a Pam. Thanks for the review!
Date: March 15, 2020 07:24 pm Title: Chapter 9: Next Steps
The Obi Wan reference was awesome. I'm enjoying this fic but can't wait till they're both in Sydney.
Author's Response: Thanks! Not long now...though it may take them a few chapters to find each other.
1 [Report This]Date: March 15, 2020 05:22 pm Title: Chapter 8: The Thirsty Bird
Aw! This chapter was cute and short but still had a lot as far as character development, especially for Jim. Pam’s next flight can’t land soon enough!
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm afraid Pam's got some hours to go, but she will get there (I'm not going crazy AU by having her crash or anything, god forbid).
1 [Report This]Date: March 15, 2020 02:41 pm Title: Chapter 8: The Thirsty Bird
Yes! Another update! Surprisingly, I'm not minding the shorter chapters and the length of time it is taking for them to meet up (which I'm assuming they will, but you never know... :) ). It's keeping me hooked and mimics the pace of travel in a way... the stop and go rush and wait through airports that I've experienced. Nice job!
Thanks for writing!
Author's Response: This is kind of my M.O.: short chapters updated quickly. They will meet up, I'll say, but thanks for identifying exactly the effect I was going for with the travel thing. I hope you keep feeling that I've stayed true to that sensation!
Date: March 15, 2020 10:26 am Title: Chapter 8: The Thirsty Bird
I love this story. I can’t wait to read about when they finally face each other. But I really hope it doesn’t end there.
Author's Response: It won't (although that will probably be a/the climax). Thank you for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: March 15, 2020 07:23 am Title: Chapter 8: The Thirsty Bird
Jim eats, Pam runs, they do quite simple things, and at the same time, they're getting close. It's delicious anticipation, and I can't wait to see what happened when her plane land!
Author's Response: Thank you! I hope you keep anticipating (although I'll promise that there will also be more beyond that moment).