The Affable Despot


I know that some people out there think that the characters I often describe in Going Gently do not, in fact exist! Mrs Trellis, Pat the animal helper, Harmonica, Gay Gordon and fat Mary....I have often had a barbed comment outlining that they are, in fact, a product of my imagination
I guess I can't blame people......there are always disbelievers wherever you go.

Last night, Claire, the wife of affable despot Jason, facebooked that she had been married now 9 years.
She posted this photo which I asked to share, as I know he has quite a following .....

See......people....real people DO exist in Trelawnyd!
Hey ho


48 comments:

  1. He sure does not look like a despot or a tyrant. If he is, then she is a saint, eh?

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  2. Living in a village where there is an actual guy who is actually known by the name of "The Sheik" I never doubted you for an instant.

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  3. I thought the affable despot was about 70 years old! Now I don't believe anything.

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    1. P.S. Get rid of that FUCKING moving video clip of some zombie-fighter to the right hand side please - it's doing my fucking head in! Those 2 second clips should be fucking banned.

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  4. mrs. despot is a lucky woman to be married to such a hunk! and his daughters are beautiful girls.

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  5. Happy Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Affable Despot! Wishing them many more happy years together :)

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  6. He is much younger than I pictured him in my head and also very good looking. Now that his picture has made it into your popular blog, he might have to hide from all the groupies that may appear.

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  7. Damn! The Affable Despot is a good looking cuss. Mrs Affable Despot is a lucky woman!

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  8. Will he be giving autographs now !

    cheers, parsnip

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  9. THAT'S the affable despot?!?! He is so not the person I picture in my mind. Years younger and more smiley. How did he get that nick name? -Jenn

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  10. Damn. He's handsome!

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  11. Booyah must go-yah. I agree with Stephenson.

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  12. Illusions shattered! I had pictured him a elderly hunchback with thinning grey hair and in need of a bath in Detol!! He can come and be despotic in my back garden anytime he wants to!!

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  13. I can confirm that all of these people do indeed exist, lol

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  14. Anonymous5:41 am

    Great shot. I know that Jason aka the Affable Despot is for real because I fell in love with him years ago (in a sisterly way). Seems one of life's nice guys. Which reminds me: You haven't mentioned his daughters for a while.

    As to the doubting Thomases, John. Ignore them. Firstly, they clearly don't know who you are and that you are the least likely bullshitter of all. Secondly, and this is where the DTs fall flat on their face, even if the village's characters were embellished, indeed invented, so what? A reader wants a good narrative. That you deliver - and much much more. Not least that elusive feel good factor.

    U

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  15. Funny how we all thought the Affable Despot was an old guy. What makes him despotic, anyway? (As a relative newcomer I don't have the background on the name!)

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  16. Anonymous6:28 am

    Good hair. I too thought he was old.

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  17. If people had read your posts properly they would know that the handsome Despot has got 2 quite young daughters! Happy Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Despot.

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  18. Most attractive, more please. Jan Bx.

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  19. Cor, he is a bit of a hunk. Do they all look like that in the village. Must add that I am very happily married.

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  20. Im just never sure how one can be affable - 'friendly and amiable' - and a despot - 'one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.' Is it meant to be some sort of oxymoron: a figure of speech that juxtaposes elements that appear to be contradictory, but which contain a concealed point? And if so, what is that point? Who is he despotic towards?

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    1. Its a nonsense nickname.......thats all.........bloody hell lets analyse everything!

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  21. I won't repeat the questions - but yeah, I would like to know the answers too.
    Love the new photos but my favourite is still William smiling into the wind. Aaaahhhhh!

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  22. I see Jason has got a fancy hearing aid in. I didn't realise he was deaf as well as being affable and despotic.

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  23. Happy Anniversary to the Happy Despots

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  24. And he looks so "normal"!!! Who would have thunk it!?! Happy anniversary Claire and Jason Affable-Despot.

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  25. Pass along Happy Anniversary wishes to the Affable Despot's! He should get back on the blog he started and tell his side of the story!

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    1. It's far more fun reading johns ...

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  26. Happy Anniversary to them both and as to the Affable Despot...wow....that's all I got...wow.

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    1. You are too kind

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    2. Mrs Trellis has already offered to sort out your fan mail jace

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  27. ARRRRGGGGHHHH nearly the walking dead. Is it Glenn?

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  28. A very handsome affable despot!

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  29. Ha! I actually had him as a teenager in my mind's eye...lol But hey its always nice to have a face to put with a name..lol And John you let these naysayers bother you waaay too much... You just keep on doing what your doing... I think theres alot of people out there including me who love what you do. Hugs! deb

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  30. I thought he was going to be older, but my....he's a bit of alright. Lucky Claire.

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  31. I's lovely to see a photo of the father of the two lovely girls that visit you now and then.

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  32. I am still quite a new visitor to your posts, and only just beginning to recognize names of villagers that you write about. I never for a minute doubted that your were actually describing folks who lived near you, although I did wonder if you'd given them blog-noms to allow them to retain their privacy.

    It's always a pleasure to see what's going on around here. Thanks!

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  33. So there's at least one good looking guy in the village then 😉

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  34. What's his opinion of wedgies then?

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  35. Ooooh, he's pretty good lookin'

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  36. I thought he'd be younger lol

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