Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 26th January to 1st February 2020 – West Side Story, A-Z of Food, Guests, Funny moments and Books Galore

Welcome to the round up of posts from the week on Smorgasbord that you might have missed.

An historic week for the UK when finally Brexit happened last night at 11 p.m. I was 20 years old when we joined the Common Market 47 years ago and it seemed like a great idea at the time. Trade between the partners without tariffs and joint projects and co-operation across borders, which made sense in the aftermath of the Cold War and an extended period of peace in Europe.

Unfortunately (in my opinion), like most well-intentioned projects, this went off the rails once it became a European United States with far more members than originally, many of whom who were not financially stable. Primarily in response to the power of the United States and Russia, but also to open the door to controlling  many aspects of our daily lives as possible. Some of which were excellent and aimed at improving our health, welfare and safety. But, very soon we had a huge governmental oversight in Brussels, costing billions a year, and the committees that were set up no longer looked at the bigger picture of our daily lives, but the minutiae.

Suddenly we are sitting in near darkness due to rules on light bulbs, unable to buy decent vacuum cleaners that actually sucked up the fluff on your carpet, and were forced to buy regulation size and shape vegetables! Sounds trivial, but for many people this was an intrusion too far.

It was this heavy handed oversight across every aspect of lives from the justice system to the shape of our vegetables in Britain that persuaded the population to vote for Brexit. And for a change the will of the people has actually been complied with.

And now the hard work begins to ensure that on major issues such as cross border co-operation on terrorism and crime continue. Also to agree trade deals with the EU member states and with the rest of the world, as part of the broader WTO (World Trade Organisation).

It sounds a bit like a Common Market to me………

For me as a British citizen living in Southern Ireland, things will not change noticeably as there is a reciprocal agreement signed between the UK and the republic on most issues, including health care and travel.

There will be a honeymoon period of 11 months whilst issues are ironed out. Hopefully with billions of euros being spent by British holidaymakers all over Europe, and their love of French cheeses, German Beer, Spanish Rioja, Italian Prosecco, Dutch tulips and Irish Guinness, there will peace and harmony….

Anyway.. on a less serious note…. here are the posts from the week.

As always I am so grateful to the contributors and guests who provide such wonderful content, and to you for dropping in and supporting us.

This week Carol Taylor works though some of the foods, cooking methods and kitchen equipment beginning with the letter B.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Food Column – Carol Taylor – A – Z of Food – Baking Soda, Bananas, Broccoli, Butterflying food and cooking with a Bain Marie

Maria from West Side Story

Two more stories from the collection.

Hector The Homecoming

Ifan and the Black Sheep

The circle of life Etheree Colleen Chesebro Tanka Tuesday Poetry No 162 – Theme Prompt

Etheree – The Circle of Life

Little Tea by Claire Fullerton on Pre-Order and my advance review

My review for The Shirt by Richard Dee

Pete Springer shares more funny school moments and an extract from They Call Me Mom.

Delighted to share a brand new feature which is a collaboration between Kaye Lynne Booth of Writing to be Read and Robbie Cheadle. I was very honoured to be the first guest of the series and it was wonderful to be invited to share pieces of my favourite poetry.

Treasuring Poetry with Robbie Cheadle and Kaye Lynne Booth

D.Wallace Peach with another short story…. a bewitching tale I know you will love.

Short Story – Sign by D.Wallace Peach

Liz Gauffreau with a moving short story that I am sure you will enjoy as much as I did

Liz Gauffreau short story. The Ides of September

Richard Dee with some thoughts on how to deal with your story’s characters when they do want to come out to play.

Communication Breakdown when your Characters Refuse to Play by Richard Dee

Jane Risdon shares her experience of the generosity of our writing community…

We all need help and advice – Paying it Forward by Jane Risdon

Jan Sikes shares her top ten books that she read in 2019.. great recommendations.

Jan Sikes Top Ten Book List for 2019

Thriller – Vanished by Mark Bierman

Paranormal S.A. Harris, Thriller Carol Balawyder, Romance Jacquie Biggar

Memoir D.G. Kaye, Paranormal Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Family James J. Cudney

Poetry Balroop Singh, Children Janice Spina, Poetry Bette A. Stevens

Writer links D.G. Kaye, Funnies The Story Reading Ape, Photography Cindy Knoke

Photos Jennie Fitzkee, Recycling Carol Taylor, Reviews Annika Perry

Author Promotion Susan M. Toy, Poetry Challenge Colleen M. Chesebro, Community John W. Howell

Delta Pearl Teagan Geneviene, Virus Outbreak Jane Gogerty, Review film 1917 Geoff Le Pard

Justice Pete Springer, WATWB D.G. Kaye, Grief When Women Inspire

Minerals the body needs and the foods you should add to your shopping list.

Part four of the shopping list by nutrient Phosphorus to Zinc

Comedian in Residence D.G. Kaye and some new material from Sally

More funnies from D. G. Kaye and some new material from Sally

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you have enjoyed…look forward to seeing you again next week.. thanks Sally.