‘Zieg, do you remember those little stories Grandpa Ho used to tell you when you were young and living in South Korea?’ asks Hana.

‘Ha! Yes, I do. He was always telling me stories when we lived with him and Grandma. I think he’s the real reason I became a storyteller,’ she replies.

Hana, Zieg’s mother, is a native Korean and was living with her parents in South Korea when she met Zieg’s dad, Rory, a native English man who was then teaching English while living in South Korea and working at the same school as Hana.

Rory and Hana now live in the UK, where Rory teaches English in a state school, and Hana works as a headmistress in the private education sector.

Zieg was born in South Korea but moved to the UK with her parents when she was nine, and now she lives with her boyfriend, Max.

‘Aarrhh! Grandpa Ho, I miss him,’ adds Zieg as she and her parents sit chatting and reminiscing about those good old days living in South Korea while Max sits and listens to their tales.

‘I love your stories, Mrs Hana. You always make me smile, and I always learn that little bit more about Zieg and South Korea every time I visit you,’ he adds, pulling a face at Zieg before she throws a slipper at him.

‘Ha!’ laughs Rory, picking up Zieg’s slipper and tapping Max on the head because Zieg missed him.

Then! …

‘What about Grandpa’s stories of the Raggoons,’ says Zieg toward her mum.

‘Oh yeah! The Isle of Colossus and the Raggoons,’ says Hana, thinking about her father. ‘They were his favourite stories.’

‘If I remember right. Grandpa Ho always insisted his stories of the Raggoons were true!’ smiles Rory.

‘Yeah, he did,’ chuckles Hana. ‘But I think that was just wishful thinking!’ she smiles.

Zieg, Max, and her parents continue to chat.

Until! …

‘Right! I think it’s time we went home?’ says Zieg, looking at Max.

‘Yeah! Thank you for the wonderful food, Hana, Rory, and the fun reminiscing,’ says Max, picking up on Zieg’s hint.

‘Well! You guys make sure you visit again, and soon. Don’t leave it so long between visits!’ says Hana, hinting at her daughter.

‘Okay, Mum, we’ll visit again soon. I promise,’ replies Zieg as everyone stands before Zieg gives her mum and dad a hug, and Max shakes their hands.

Max and Zieg leave her parents to head for their modest yet comfortable apartment to chill and relax for the rest of their Sunday evening.

Then! …

‘Zieg! You on lunch break?’ asks Max, phoning Monday lunchtime.

‘Yeah! Just chatting with the girls,’ replies Zieg. ‘Why?’

‘I’ve been thinking all morning about our visit to your parents yesterday!’ explains Max. ‘Especially when you mentioned your Grandpa Ho, and Rory said he insisted his stories were true?’ he continues.

‘Yeah! So what you thinking?’ asks Zieg.

‘Well! What if Grandpa Ho’s stories about the Raggoons and the Isle of Colossus were TRUE?’ explains Max.

‘Ha!’ chuckles Zieg. ‘And I thought I was the storyteller around here,’ she adds.

Then! …

Both guys sit in pure silence for a short while.

Before! …

‘Erm! Well yeah! Maybe?’ says Zieg. ‘I’ve never given it much thought because I was young,’

‘Do you fancy a chat about it tonight over dinner?’ asks Max. ‘I’ll cook us something nice as a treat,’

‘Hey! If you’re going to cook. I’m well up for a chat about my Grandpa’s stories,’ replies Zieg. ‘Speak tonight then. Bye!’ replies Max before hanging up.

Max is now buzzing with excitement in anticipation of their evening chat.‘Hello, Maxie Boy! I’m home,’ shouts Zieg, walking into their apartment. ‘Ooooh! Something smells nice?’ she adds.

‘It’s steak, chips, peas and mushrooms,’ shouts Max from their kitchen.

‘Could you finish laying the table? The tablecloth is already on, and everything else is there,’ he continues.

‘Wow! I’m going to enjoy this,’ says Zieg, hanging up her jacket and heading for their dining room table.

The young couple sit and eat their food while chatting about Grandpa Ho’s stories of the Raggoons, and all the time, their interest and excitement continues to grow. 

‘Right!’ says Zieg. ‘Let’s dig into this and treat it as a project. We’ll research these stories and that island and whatever else we can find out about the Raggoons?’ she adds with a sparkle in her eyes.

‘Too right!’ adds Max. ‘With this Raggoons stuff and your writing skills. Who knows where this adventure could go?’ he continues, even more excited than Zieg.

The weekend arrives to find Zieg and Max starting their research early on Saturday morning for information concerning the Isle of Colossus and the Raggoons, no matter how big or small.

After several hours, the young couple have several A4 sheets of paper full of scribbled-down notes concerning many myths, old folk tales, sailor's stories and more from all corners of the globe.

‘Wow!’ says Zieg, sitting back in her chair at the table she and Max use when using their computers to conduct serious or light-hearted research via the internet.

‘This is interesting?’ says Max, sitting up straight in his chair and shaking a single sheet of paper.

‘The Mariner’s Life Maritime Museum down on our south coast seems to be a wealth of information concerning all things shipping, sailors and more?’ he adds.

‘Really?’ mutters Zieg, flicking through other notes on two sheets of paper.

Then! …

‘Yeah!’ adds Zieg. ‘I think we have enough for now,’ she adds.

‘What about chatting to Nari and Dal about this!’ suggests Max. ‘I bet they’d love to work with us on this project, especially Nari,’ continues Max.

‘Yeah! Great idea, Maxie Boy!’ replies Zieg, getting up to go to their kitchen.

‘It’s eleven o’clock UK time, so it’ll be seven o’clock South Korean time. Let’s see if they’re home!’ adds Zieg as she pauses to look at her watch.

‘You call them over the net to see if they’re available for a face-to-face convo while I make us a hot drink with a couple of biscuits,’ she continues.

Zieg returns from the kitchen with a piping hot mug of green tea and a strong coffee with an unopened packet of chocolate biscuits under her right arm.

‘Aarrhh! My fav, thanks,’ says Max, reaching for the biscuits as Zieg sits and lays out the goodies.

Then! …