Most of you will know Carol Taylor from her Food and Cookery Column here on Smorgasbord as well as her own eclectic blog located in Thailand, where she shares the wonderful food on her doorstep and recipes that turn them into delicious meals.
Carol also is passionate about the environment and has some down to earth things to say about our contribution to the state of the world, and the loss of habitat leading to the extinction of far too many species. You will also find her quirky and whimsical sense of humour coming through in all her posts..
Connect to Carol via her blog and enjoy posts on healthy eating, conservation, waste management, travel and amazing recipes: Carol Cooks 2
Carol also writes short stories and contributed to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: Amazon US
Which leads me to the reason you are here today, which is to read the poignant short story by Carol that I am sure you will enjoy.
Snow Storm by Carol Taylor
The snow was coming down thick and fast, the weather had changed from a few light flurries of snow which didn’t settle, into a raging blizzard with frightening speed. The wind screen wipers struggling to keep the snow off the windscreen, it was building up with alarming speed and ferocity, Jenny knew if she didn’t get to Sally’s soon she would have to stop and clear the windscreen as her driving visibility was fading fast the windscreen wipers getting slower and slower as the snow built up, she was squinting to see clearly. There were already cars and lorries abandoned on the roadside, the weather was getting pretty dire and Jenny was getting worried.
Wearing heels and a short dress was definitely not the most suitable clothing to brave the elements, if she had to get out of the car and walk.
To make matters even worse she had forgotten to put her warm jacket and boots in the car, well, the weather man had said a mild Christmas was on the cards.
I hope Sally is ready, and I don’t have to wait or we will be lucky to get to mum’s in time for lunch. Then snow or no snow she will have something to say. Jenny could just hear her mother…
“I see the pair of you turned up just in time to eat and I suppose you will both be off soon after, some work excuse or other, you don’t think about your old mum and dad spending most of Christmas alone do you? Just wait until you have kids and they treat your home like a restaurant. Then you will know how we feel, you mark my words.”
“There will be no both of us now mum” Jenny thought.
The car spluttered to a halt outside Sally’s little flat. Jenny could hardly see out of the windows and she recalled that time 10 years ago when getting out of the car had also been a struggle as she battled the wind and driving snow while trying to open her car door, how she struggled up the path to the front door her face stinging from the driving snow.
Stamping her feet to remove the snow as she went up the steps to Sally’s front door, how the door was swinging backwards and forwards in the wind and how she thought that Sally couldn’t have closed it properly when she came home last night.
Jenny remembered calling Sally’s name as she stepped inside the tiny flat, how the heat hit her and how she involuntarily shivered and felt a chill run through her.
How the kitchen was tidy except for last night’s dinner plate in the sink, the cat was mewing outside sounding desperate to come into the warm, his scratching getting more and more frantic, breaking the silence.
The living room was quiet except for the Christmas tunes that Sally loved, playing quietly in the background, the tree lights twinkled, the presents unopened around the little tree, except for one which lay on the chair the pretty wrapping paper discarded on the floor.
Tap, tap on the window, the noise made Jenny jump it was Mrs. Brown next door saying.
“Come on in lovie don’t sit out here all on your own, you will freeze to death. Come on in and have a hot toddy with us before you go to your mum’s.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Brown I was just……
“Oh love, don’t cry said Mrs Brown. Sally has gone, she is not coming back, you know that don’t you?”
“I know, said Jenny tears running down her cheeks, I know.”
©Carol Taylor 2019
About Carol Taylor
Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.
I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetables ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.
Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use have to improve our health and wellbeing.
Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: Amazon US
Carol Taylor’s Food and Cookery Column 2019
Cook from Scratch to avoid Nutritional Deficiency with Sally Cronin and Carol Taylor
Connect to Carol via her blog and enjoy posts on healthy eating, conservation, waste management, travel and amazing recipes: Carol Cooks 2
Connect to Carol – Facebook Twitter
Thank you for dropping in and I know Carol would be delighted to hear from you.. thanks Sally.
A powerful story!
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Thanks Jennie..hugs
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You’re welcome, Sally. Hugs!
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Thank you, Jenny 🙂 xx
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You’re welcome, Carol. 🙂
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I felt chilly at the start then chilled…
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I know…thanks Janet..hugsxx
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Thank you, Janet 🙂 xx
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What a wonderful surprise from Carol. Thanks for sharing, Sally. Hugs to you both.
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Thanks Teagan.. enjoy your weekend.. hugs
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Hugs back, Teagan I am pleased you enjoyed 🙂 xx
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Wow, what a moving story! So touching Carol ❤
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It is Debby… very much..♥
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❤
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Thank you, Debby…I lost someone close to Christmas and although Christmas for many is a joyous time of year it is also for many not so joyous but full of pain ..I hope I portrayed that …Hugs xxx
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You portrayed that pain very well, Carol. I’ve lost two loved ones in November, so Christmas is a very difficult time for me.
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Thank you, Liz… I hope you find peace at Christmas xx
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Thank you, Carol. My husband is helping me through it.
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Good to hear, Liz… that will make it much easier for you xx
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Sorry to hear that Liz.. their presence is more keenly missed when family gathers.. hugs
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Thanks, Sally.
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You did beautifully. And I’m so sorry 😦 This time of year makes it more painful somehow for loss ❤
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Thank you, Sally, for sharing my story. I tried to portray how Christmas is a nightmare rather than the season of joy for some…Hugs xxx
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And beautifully written Carol…hugs ♥
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Thank you, Sally that means a lot to me …Hugs xx
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Reblogged this on Retired? No one told me! and commented:
Christmas for some is not a joyous time of year for many reasons and I hope none so touching as this…Thank you, Sally, for promoting my early tentative attempts at finding my writer’s voice….xxx
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And I think you have found that very well Carol.. looking forward to more of your stories..hugsx
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Thank you…Hugs xx
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Sad story, dear Carol, and very well written.
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Thank you so much, Dear Dolly…xxx
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My pleasure, dear friend!
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Reblogged this on Times and Tides of a Beachwriter and commented:
Carol Taylor is one of the bloggers I follow regularly and I was really taken with her Christmas story featured on Smorgasbord yesterday.
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Thank you for sharing Janet..hugsx
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Thank you so much, Janet that means a lot to me …Hugs xx
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Great job, Carol. Sadly, this makes me think of my mom who had a hard time keeping track of things in the last few years of her life.
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Thank you Pete sadly something that is difficult to see in someone we love..hugs
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Thank you, Pete…It is so sad watching those we love losing their grip on reality and retreating into their minds…Your mum was lucky to have you by her side many don’t.., Hugs xx
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I always feel a little sad at Christmas time, remembering those who can’t be with us…
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I know but good to remember the times we did share with them and we always toast absent friends and loved ones at 4pm on Christmas Day…♥
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So do we, and on New Year’s eve too…
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Good to hear Jaye..hugsx
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I think Christmas invokes all sorts of memories but also is a time for fond memories…Let’s all remember to raise a glass to those special people xxx
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Thank you for sharing Sue..hugsxx
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This is very poignant, Sally and Carol
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Thank you Robbie..Carol certainly hit the emotional button…hugs
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