Smorgasbord Short Stories – What’s in a Name? – Kenneth – A Love of Life by Sally Cronin

There are names that have been passed down through thousands of years which have powerful and deep-rooted meaning to their bearers. Other names have been adopted from other languages, cultures and from the big screen. They all have one thing in common. They are with us from birth until the grave and they are how we are known to everyone that we meet.

Kenneth – A Love for Life

Kenneth Fitzgerald looked across the crowded ballroom at the woman that he had loved for a lifetime.

Georgina was surrounded by attentive male admirers, and was holding court as she always did, with elegance and grace. He watched as she tilted her head to one side to listen to the young man sitting next to her, cupping her hand delicately behind her ear, to better hear his comments over the sound of the band.

The handsome companion was her grandson Timothy, and even at first glance you could see the resemblance; the same blue eyes, golden hair colour and a long refined nose. Georgie was 90 years old and yet her beauty was undiminished. Kenneth knew he was biased. He remembered his stunned reaction to meeting her for the first time over 70 years ago, in this same ballroom on New Year’s Eve 1935.

Georgina Crowley was the daughter of a millionaire financier who had managed to survive the Wall Street crash in 1929, by converting his wealth in previous years, into a renowned art collection. Malcolm Crowley was an astute businessman and had never squandered his money on the trappings of wealth. He had also salted away cash and jewellery on his various international travels, providing a comfortable buffer for the family, and those that had worked for him loyally over the last thirty years.

He was as canny with his three children as he was with his wealth. His two sons had followed him into the firm after studying for business degrees, and Georgina had also been encouraged to go to college, where she was now training to be a teacher. Malcolm firmly believed that all his children should have skills that could support them, should the financial climate not improve significantly in his lifetime. That is not to say that his youngest child did not also enjoy the benefits of being part of a wealthy family. Georgina was known to have exquisite taste, and her slim figure was the perfect shape to model the latest fashions. To be fair, many of the designs were copied from the leading fashion magazines, and recreated on her treasured Singer sewing machine

Kenneth brought himself back to the present and felt his heart pounding in his chest. It was the same every year, when he remembered that first New Year’s Eve, when he had fallen madly in love at first sight with Georgina Crowley. It had not been a one-sided infatuation, and at that first touch of her delicate hand in his own, he had felt a tremor that caused him to look up into her face. Her pink lips had parted in surprise and her smile dazzled him.

They had danced all night circling the floor; perfectly matched in their love of the foxtrot and quickstep. The other partygoers had moved to one side to watch this golden couple as they seamlessly moved from one dance to another, and Malcolm Crowley paused in his discussions with a group of men, to watch his daughter’s delight in this young man’s embrace.

Kenneth had wanted to kiss those pink lips at midnight but was aware of the scrutiny from those around them. He had whispered in Georgina’s ear as they waltzed to the final tune of the old year.

‘Shall we slip away at midnight and find some moon and starlight?’

She had looked into his eyes and smiled, nodding her head in agreement.

As the clock struck midnight, Georgina rushed to her parents at their table and kissed and hugged them both. In the ensuing rush as the other guests did likewise, the two of them had slipped out of the large double doors at the end of the ballroom and Kenneth had guided her to his car parked along the drive. He grabbed a blanket from the back seat of the roadster and placed it around Georgina’s shoulders before helping her into the front seat. He raced around to the other side of the car and within minutes they were roaring down the hill from the house into the dark night.

Kenneth drove carefully as the road was slick with ice and he was aware that he was responsible for a very precious cargo. Although it was a cold night he knew just the place to take Georgina on this magical occasion. A spot high above the city, where the lights and sounds of New Year’s Eve would provide a backdrop for their first kiss.

He looked across at Georgina as she clasped the plaid blanket around her bare shoulders, and smiled at her obvious delight at this adventure. His eyes were only off the road for seconds, but it was still long enough for him to miss the broken down car around a curve in the road.

He regained consciousness and raised his hand to his forehead; it came away wet and sticky. He wiped blood from his eyes and tried to move his body. Finally he was able to push himself into a sitting position against the upturned roadster and he desperately looked for Georgina. The moon came out from behind a cloud and he took a sharp intake of breath as he saw her crumpled form by the rear bumper of the car. He crawled across and managed to pull her crushed and lifeless body into his arms… his heart was pounding in his chest and he tried to wake her by touching her face and calling her name. After several minutes he rested his head back against the car and he knew that she was gone.

‘Please, please do not take her … it is my fault and it should be me… take me… please take me and save her.’

On New Year’s Day, Georgie asked her youngest grandson to drive her to the cemetery. She came here often to visit her husband’s grave. Phillip had been a wonderful man and she had grown to love him during the long summer of 1942. They had twin sons born in 1944 but tragically Phillip had been killed in the last weeks of the war. He had been brought home and buried in the Crowley family plot close by her house and their sons. She still missed his loving kindness. However, she admitted to herself that it was a different kind of love to the one that has swept her off her feet that magical New Year’s Eve in 1935.

Whilst her grandson watched from the car, Georgina spent some minutes at Phillip’s monument. Then walking carefully, leaning on her stick, she moved down the icy path until she stopped before another gravestone. Tears gathered in her pale blue eyes as she read the inscription.

Kenneth Fitzgerald

Beloved son and brother.

1910 – 1935 Killed in an automobile accident.

It was 70 years ago, and yet every New Year’s Day, Georgie relived those dreadful first moments when she had woken in the hospital. She had a dreadful headache but thankfully didn’t seem to have any other major injuries. Her mother and father were sitting by her bedside and Malcolm gently took her hand in his. Her first words were asking for Kenneth, and she still remembered the look of anguish on her father’s face as he braced himself to tell her the news.

She touched the top of the headstone and smiled to herself. He had been there again last night at the family ball, watching from the shadows as he had done every year, and she had felt that same giddy feeling as that first New Year’s Eve. She suspected that this time however it was more likely that her medication was no longer effective in keeping her failing heart beating.

She felt a touch on her shoulder and looked up into the smiling face of her grandson.

‘Time to go Gran… It is getting cold and I need to get you back home.’

Georgie took his arm and they moved carefully up the path. She turned for one last look at Kenneth’s grave.

She whispered to herself. ‘Next year my love, next year we will dance again on New Year’s Eve.’

©Sally Cronin 2015

 

I hope that you have enjoyed this story and as always look forward to your feedback. Thanks Sally

You can find recent reviews for my latest release and other books: Sally’s books and reviews 2019/2020

Amazon £3.50 :Amazon UK

Amazon US $4.53: Amazon US

Smorgasbord Health Column – Weekly Grocery Shopping List by Nutrient – Part Six – Essential Fatty Acids by Sally Cronin

Last week I posted  Part Five of this alternative shopping list by nutrient, as well as types of vitamins, water or fat soluble, and a basic list of essential nutrients the body needs to be healthy. At the end of the the posts, I will collate the foods into nutritional groups so that you can print off and refer to when doing your weekly shop.

I believe in eating, and eating all food groups, just moderating the amount that you eat based on your requirements. Your body knows how to process fresh food, raw and cooked from scratch. It is not designed to extract nutrients from manufactured foods which includes the majority that come in a packet, jar or can.

With that in mind here is part six of a shopping list that your body might write if it was capable. It does try to tell you that it is missing elements that it needs which is when you are sick.

Weekly Grocery Shopping List by Nutrient – Part Six – Essential Fatty Acids

In recent years over 2,000 scientific studies have identified that there is a wide range of health problems associated with Omega-3 deficiencies. Unfortunately our modern diet is almost devoid of this essential fatty acid and in fact it is believed that around 60% of us are deficient in Omega-3. What is far more concerning is that a quarter of us may be so deficient that current test methods can detect none in our blood. Omega-3 is one of the most important nutrients for our health, and a lack of it in our system holds far more risk than any vitamin or mineral deficiency.

Our ancient ancestors were opportunistic hunter/gatherers and their diet was rich in Omega-3. It is estimated that through the seasons they had around 125 foods that they would consume. Today in the poorest countries of the world, some subsist on one or two staple foods. In our own ‘civilised’ cultures we rarely eat more than 25.

Before the inclusion of wild grains in the diet, ancient humans would have eaten meat, seeds, nuts and green leafy vegetables. Whilst I believe that we should also include fish and wholegrains, this is a good basis of a healthy diet.

The ramifications of not obtaining sufficient Omega-3 is long-term and apart from overall health, we are more at risk of heart disease, strokes, cancers, depression, dementia including Alzheimer’s disease. Therapeutically taking additional Omega-3 in the form of supplements may alleviate some conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. This should only be done however after consulting a doctor or qualified nutritional therapist or other health advisor.

If you have found it difficult to lose weight there might also be a link to a deficiency in Omega-3 as it can result in the inefficient digestion of the food you do eat, even if it is classified as healthy.

Let’s look at Essential Fatty Acids in more detail.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are necessary fats that humans cannot synthesise and must be obtained through diet. There are two families of EFAs Omega-3 and Omega-6. Omega-9 is necessary but non-essential as the body can make it if the other two fatty acids are present.

EFAs are essential because they support our cardiovascular, reproductive, immune and nervous systems. We need these fats to manufacture and repair cells, maintain hormone levels and expel waste from the body. They are part of the process that regulates blood pressure, blood clotting, fertility and conception – and they also help regulate inflammation and stimulate the body to fight infection.

Omega-3 (Linolenic Acid) is the principal Omega-3 fatty acid and is used in the formation of cell walls, improving circulation and oxygen delivery. A deficiency can lead to decreased immune system function; elevated levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) high blood pressure and irregular heart beat. It is also anti-inflammatory and helps prevent heart disease.

It is found in flaxseed, walnuts, pumpkinseeds, avocados, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, sardines, tuna and salmon.

Omega-6 (Linoleic Acid) is the primary Omega-6 fatty acid. Omega-6 can improve rheumatoid arthritis, lower blood cholesterol, PMS, skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis.

Found in flaxseeds, pumpkinseeds, olive oil, evening primrose oil, chicken and poultry, salmon.

There is growing evidence that the non-essential Oleic acid, Omega 9, may help to lower cholesterol by decreasing the unhealthy cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), while at the same time raising the level of healthy cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein).
Oleic acid is also emerging as a regulator of blood-sugar levels and as a possible protection against breast and prostate cancer.

So, including half an avocado in your diet every day may well protect you from the harmful long-term affects of a number of diseases. Found in olive oil, olives, avocados, almonds, and walnuts.

A closer look at why EFAs are so essential.

First and foremost EFAs provide us with energy but unlike saturated fats their effect is beneficial. The body cannot manufacture them and that is why it is ESSENTIAL to include them on a daily basis in your diet.

Both of the important EFA families – omega-6 and omega-3 – are components of nerve cells and cellular membranes. They are converted by the body into hormone like messengers such as prostaglandins – which are needed on a second-by-second basis by most tissue activities in the body.

A summary of the functions in the body that EFAs are involved in:

• Regulating pressure in the eye, joints, and blood vessels.
• Dilating or constricting blood vessels
• Directing endocrine hormones to specific cells
• Regulating smooth muscle reflexes
• Being the main constituent of cell membranes
• Regulating the rate of cell division
• Regulating the inflow and outflow of substances to and from cells
• Transporting oxygen from red blood cells to the tissues
• Maintaining proper kidney function and fluid balance
• Keeping saturated fats mobile in the blood stream
• Preventing blood cells from clumping together (blood clots that can be a cause of heart attack and stroke)
• Minimising the release of inflammatory substances from cells that may trigger allergic conditions
• Regulating nerve transmission and communication
• If the diet is deficient in either omega-6 or omega-3 long-term degenerative illnesses can result such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.

 ©Sally Cronin Just Food for Health 1998 – 2020

I am a qualified nutritional therapist with twenty- two years experience working with clients in Ireland and the UK as well as being a health consultant on radio in Spain. Although I write a lot of fiction, I actually wrote my first two books on health, the first one, Size Matters, a weight loss programme 20 years ago, based on my own weight loss of 154lbs. My first clinic was in Ireland, the Cronin Diet Advisory Centre and my second book, Just Food for Health was written as my client’s workbook. Since then I have written a men’s health manual, and anti-aging programme, articles for magazines and posts here on Smorgasbord.

If you would like to browse my health books and fiction you can find them here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019-2020/

Next week I will compile the complete shopping list which you can print off to check which foods you might not be eating enough of and to include more regularly in your diet.

Thanks for dropping in and I hope you have found useful.. Sally

 

 

 

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2020 – #Haiku #Dogs – Released by Denis Young – Haiku Hound

Welcome to the current series of Posts from Your Archives in 2020 and if you would like to participate with two of your posts from 2019, you will find all the details in this post: New series of Posts from Your Archives 2020

This is the second post from Denis Young – Haiku Hound and shares the joy of being off the leash.

Released

unleashed excitement

freedom comes in all sizes

maggies play moments

Maggie is now tracking along, living a well cared for life with plenty of leisure time. At the moment this small park is the only secure ,fenced, off lead park for dogs in our city. There are 12,500 registered dogs so fortunately most can be trusted off lead in unsecured parks and only 5-20 are at this one on most occasions we visit.

We did visit other parks however our local government recreation department decided to take gates off many that had secure gated fences. Maggie quickly discovered that no gates led to free runs with a hint of danger.

Yet another political challenge arises, this one at a more localised level.
©Denis Young – Haiku Hound

About Haiku Hound (Denis Young)

Haiku has been a growing interest to me since I first visited Japan in 1990. Often Haiku comes into my imagination when I experience something, see a picture or remember a moment from my past. In this blog I am sharing some of my Haiku linked to an image with a short story about the place, event, experience, or character. This combination of art and poetry is known as Haiga, many of the old Japanese poets including Basho practised Haiga

For instance this picture of Kara at the sweet age of about 14 weeks would most likely conjure up images of sweetness and cuteness.

My haiku linked to the image creates a haiga

innocence

don’t be fooled by looks

devilment

There is much more than cuteness, Kara was a horror, she was full on action, mischief and demanding attention every waking moment of her early childhood. So my haiku links to the image and asks the reader/viewer to look closely at the subject. The eyes should give her away, she is looking for the next bit of action.

Connect to Denis via his blog: Haiku Hound

My thanks to Denis for sharing the lovely Maggie with us and I hope you will head over to explore many more wonderful posts from his archives.. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Guest Post – Editor Sarah Calfee – The Romance Plot Sequence

For all budding Romance Writers out there, and for those of us who might like to dive into the complexities of personal relationships…editor Sarah Calfee shares a step by step guide to getting the romance plot sizzling.

The Romance Plot by Sarah Calfee

Guess what most romance authors do on Valentine’s Day—they duck and run for cover. This is the time of year the media pounces on them as “love experts” and asks tongue-in-cheek questions which are usually thinly veiled insults to the romance genre as a whole.

I have a whole lot of opinions about why romance is awesome, and how it is (and has always been) progressive and ahead of the learning curve socially. But for today, and as a romance editor, I’d like to discuss the romance plot and how, contrary to popular belief, it is actually extremely difficult to write.

The main reason the romance plot is so challenging is because it’s all about emotion. The core conflict results from the two romantic leads’ individual emotional issue—some pain or flaw, an attitude or personal belief—which prevents them from being capable of sustaining a happily ever after (HEA) even if they are in love.

Here’s an example of this concept from the source of all modern romance, Pride and Prejudice, where Lizzy is judgmental and Mr Darcy is arrogant. Mr Darcy falls in love with Lizzy, long before his emotional growth, and the first time he asks her to marry him he totally insults her, her family, and her connections, and pronounces himself a fool to even ask for her hand. You can surmise Lizzy’s answer.

Yet another difficulty is that, since the central plot is all about emotion, the conflict and its resolution must occur internally. The author has to continuously show the subtle adjustments of thoughts and belief systems as the two leads grow emotionally. And it must be done in an interesting and compelling manner. This is very tricky! Repetitive and overabundant internalization is definitely a pitfall in romance writing.

To further discuss the romance plot, I’ve outlined a map which you can view below. However, while it does keep track of all the major plot points necessary to make a romance successful, I must warn that it’s difficult to follow in practice for several reasons.

First the romantic leads—who I’ll refer to as H1 and H2 from now on—are not only each a protagonist, they also play antagonist to the other, at least emotionally. Second, layered invisibly over the romance plot are H1 and H2’s character arcs—which is the actual romance story. H1 and H2 are also moving through the romance plot on separate trajectories, and this means they don’t always hit their plot points at the same time, particularly after the midpoint. Finally, the plot points within the sequences can, and often do, occur in a different order.

The setup sequence introduces H1 and H2 and their emotional issue. This shows the reader the protagonist/antagonist dynamic between the two central characters. The meet-cute is a scene where H1 and H2 first meet and feel attraction to the other.

The next plot point is no way. H1 and H2 must define why they cannot have any kind of romantic association with the other person. The inciting incident is the thing that forces H1/H2 together. It can be a shared secret, a goal, or forced proximity—like H1 is a reporter, H2 is a rock star, and their boss/manager is making them go on tour together.

The falling-in-love sequence begins next. H1 and H2 each redefine (no way 2) the reason why they can’t be in a romantic relationship. However, they are each attracted and forced to hang out—giving them the motivation to emotionally negotiate with themselves and create new parameters. I am allowed to hang out—maybe have sex?—with H1/H2 because X, and it doesn’t count because Y and Z.

The love bubble scenes are all about H1/H2 bonding, learning to trust, perhaps becoming lovers. This is a place for banter and fun. Pre-midpoint—this is the run up to the midpoint, where H1 and H2’s relationship peaks. If there are internal doubts about the relationship, they should occur here, then be shoved down deep to make room for happiness and the stirrings of love.

The midpoint occurs at about 50% of the manuscript. In a romance, this is H1/H2 realizing they are falling in love or in love already. The external version of this can be a first kiss or first sexual encounter that actually means something. There no room for doubts in this scene.

We have now reached the retreating from love sequence. The post-midpoint scene(s) shows H1 and H2 reflecting on how falling in love has changed everything and dismantles H1/H2’s original negotiation.

For the romantic journey to continue, H1 and H2 must each individually have negotiation 2, a new bargain that allows each to pursue their relationship and retain their emotional issue. The following scenes show H1/H2 walking the tightrope, they may continue falling in love, but the problems fueled by their emotional issues grow and make their relationship shaky.

The pre-breakup scene(s) forces H1/H2 to face their emotional issue head on and be totally destroyed by it. The external reaction is the breakup scene.

The final sequence is fighting for love. After the break up, H1 and H2 should each have their black moment, showing H1/H2 thoroughly wallowing in their emotional issue, feeling certain they made the right decision.

The next major plot point is the catharsis where a) H1/H2 realize how and why they messed up, b) that they can’t live without the other person in their life, and c) they must fight to get them back.

Sometimes that means a grand gesture—like the mad dash to the airport.

Negotiation 3 is the makeup scene that showcases H1 and H2’s healed emotional issue. Errors are admitted. Misunderstandings are made clear. Secrets are confessed. H1 and H2 create a new emotional bargain—together.

The HEA scene is usually an epilogue that shows the reader what happily ever after looks like for the couple.

Like the romance-plot map, these explanations are bare bones. While romance novels follow this structure, the ways in which they do so is infinitely varied. As a romance reader I can state emphatically that this plot with a guaranteed HEA is unbelievably satisfying when done well. I mean—I get choked up every single time I watch or read P&P, and I have the story entirely memorized.

In conclusion, romance is awesome but challenging to write. If I’ve managed to convert you to Team Romance and you’d like to learn more about writing it, I recommend reading Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes

If you’ve already written a romance and are in the market for a romance editor, I highly recommend myself, Sarah Calfee 😊

©SarahCalfee 2020

About Sarah Calfee

I was born in Quebec, Canada, lived in the USA for twenty years (Baton Rouge, Orlando, Chicago), and spent two years in Dublin, Ireland. For the past nine years, I’ve lived in London and loved it. Living on both sides of the pond has given me an excellent ear for both American and British English. This means I can help characters swear authentically in either idiom. You’re welcome!

Why am I an editor?

Because I’m a total story addict, and it’s a fun way to support both my habit and my family. The reason I became a romance specialist is because there are many different genre-specific story structures with different plot points (or beats) to follow, and I wanted to become an expert in one. This allows me to help romance authors with the intricacies of the romance story structure—which never ever gets boring because…romance subgenres. (I love them all!)

If you’re an author with a manuscript that features love with oh-so-many reasons the couple just can’t be together, only to have them find their happily ever after at the end—you’ve come to the right place. Whatever your preferred subgenre (historical mysteries, friends to lovers, romantic suspense), I can help you and your book reach your very own HEA.

To find out whether I’m the right editor for you, please contact me for a free sample edit.

• 500 to 800 word line/copy edit
• Email correspondence
• Fee assessment

You can find out more about Sarah Calfee and the services that she offers: Three Little Words Editing

Connect to Sarah on: Twitter

My thanks to Sarah for this fascinating post into the romantic twists and turns needed to write a compelling romance story.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Food Column – Carol Taylor – A – Z of Food – ‘C’ for Calabash, Cajun, Curry, Cloud Eggs, Chilli, and Calamari

Welcome to the series from Carol Taylor, the wonderful A – Z of Food and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge of wonderful ingredients across the food groups, spices and herbs over the year.

The letter C in my journey through the culinary alphabet…I do hope you enjoy it I certainly am it is quite interesting especially now I know that Pork crackling something most of us love is number 6 in the top 100 of foods which are beneficial to your health…Lots of fat but good fat and plenty of vitamins ..so fill your boots… well not quite …Moderation is best but no need to go on a guilt trip it is ok to enjoy it now and again.

Californian Sheep’s head…

A saltwater fish which belongs to the wrasse family. The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera.

Also called fat head, and red head. Its meat is white, tender, and lean.

Calabash…

A variety of passion fruit native to Central America and the Caribbean. Shaped similar to an apple with a thin yellow-brown skin. In Southern cooking the term applies to breaded or battered fried fish.

Cajun…

Cooking influenced by southern U.S. and French cuisine. This is my favourite Cajun spice which is lovely on either fish or chicken.

Ingredients for the Cajun Spice Topping…

•  2 tbsp. of dried oregano
•  2 tbsp. garlic powder…
•  2 tbsp. paprika
•  2 tbsp. mineral or sea salt
•  1 tbsp. black pepper
•  1 tbsp. dried thyme
•  1 tsp. cayenne pepper
•  1 tbsp. onion powder
•  1 tsp. Chilli flakes (optional)

Let’s Cook!

Mix all the dried ingredients together …I always add fresh garlic and chopped onion to mine so I make my mix excluding the onion and garlic and then when required I add the fresh ingredients…

Calamari…

To think that for the first 40 years of my life I hated Calamari having only ever sampled breaded rings which were akin to chewing on a car tyre if I chose to do so…Ha-ha…

My sons Thai wife introduced us to a Thai Squid Salad and we were hooked…squid so soft it melted in one’s mouth…It was one of the first authentic Thai dishes I had eaten and my love of Thai food was born. Thai Squid Salad

Cactus Paddle…

In the southwest and Mexico, the large, flat, fleshy, oval green pads of the nopal cactus are prepared as a vegetable. When cooked, pieces have the color and translucence of cooked bell pepper, but they are also viscid, like okra. The flavor is something between a bell pepper and artichoke or asparagus or okra.

Cabbage…

Cabbage can vary in color from green to red and purple, and the leaves can be smooth or crinkled.

Cabbages are prepared many different ways for eating; they can be pickled, fermented (for dishes such as sauerkraut), steamed, stewed, sautéed, braised or eaten raw. Cabbage is a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C and dietary fibre. World production of cabbage and other brassicas for 2017 was 71 million tonnes with China accounting for 47% of the world total.

Chillies…

Chili peppers are widely used in many cuisines as a spice to add heat to dishes. The substances that give chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically are capsaicin and related compounds known as capsaicinoids.

The heat of chillies is measured on what is called the scoville heat scale …The Carolina Reaper delivers an average of 2,189,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU)

As a comparison jalapeno peppers score between 2,500 to 8,000 SHU.

It was named the world’s hottest Chilli pepper by the Guinness World Records in 2018 it just retained its crown but is hotly contested…

There are some hot chillies here but nothing on that scale and these are hot babies …I don’t see how anyone can eat those and I love chillies.

Cloud Eggs…

And I thought Sunday mornings were for a lie in…Aston had other ideas and woke me with a bowl of meringue he was whipping… Time to get up then Nannie!

Cloud Eggs Aston style.

Ingredients: Serves One.

• 2 egg white’s
• 1 egg yolk
• half a small onion chopped finely
• 100 gm. pork mince
• A tiny bit of black soy sauce
• Half tbsp. oyster sauce
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Let’s Cook!

1. Whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl season with salt and black pepper. Whisk until soft peaks.
2. Spoon onto a piece of parchment paper on a baking tray and make a hollow in the middle with a spoon. Drop the egg yolk in the hollow. Cook on 100 degrees for 7 mins.
3. Meanwhile, chop your onion finely and start to cook in a little olive oil add your minced pork and cook for about 3 mins or until cooked…add a little dark soy and your oyster sauce…
4. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
5. Put on a plate and top with your cloud egg…

This was Aston’s recipe as he loves his meat so thought he would just do some mince and onions to go with the cloud egg…an experiment really as he is already thinking he will make some additions that next time…Chilli and some green beans…You could add some parmesan cheese to the egg whites or some finely chopped spring (green) onions and serve with bacon…

He has some imagination when it comes to food…But he is a 14-year-old with a passion for cooking…

Coconut…

I am sometimes flummoxed by what is a fruit, a nut or a seed or indeed a tree …Take the Papaya tree which grows in abundance here and also I will add grows very quickly …It has fruit with the same name as the tree but it is a PLANT …It has no branches and a soft stem with all the very large leaves at the top and can grow up to 10 metres high. It is, in fact, an herbaceous plant as the stem bears little wood and stays green and soft until it dies. But ask anyone here and they will call it a Papaya tree…

So what is a coconut? Botanically it is known as a one-seeded drupe otherwise known as a dry Drupe.

Where does that leave us? With a fruit a nut and a seed? Coconut is it a fruit, a nut or a seed?

Crackling…

Now I know that crackling is a healthy fat…It must be true because I read it somewhere…How to make the perfect pork crackling…Perfect Pork Crackling

Crumble…

There is nothing better than rhubarb or a gooseberry crumble with custard…It was always something my mother often cooked. I am also not a great fan of deconstructed dishes it seems all the chefs at the moment are doing this…However…You just knew that was coming didn’t you? I cook my crumble topping separately now…Please don’t tell my mum. The family all love it and you don’t get that but which is between the fruit and the crumble toping which is soft …I like a crispy crumble topping…It means I can also ring the changes and add some nuts, honey or maple syrup to the crumble it also looks pretty layered in a glass with the fruit…

Crumpets…

Crumpets are something which I have always loved and have happy memories of as a child toasting them over the fire or bonfire on guy Fawkes night…They were also a Sunday tea time treat with winkles and cockles in the winter… They were also the cause of one of my great cooking disasters when I made them for the first time here… I forgot how quickly yeast rises here…

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of lukewarm water
• 1 cup of lukewarm milk.
• 2 tbsp. of melted butter
• 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tsp. of instant yeast.
• 1 tsp. of baking powder
• 1 1/4 tsp. salt.

Let’s cook!

1. Combine all the ingredients and beat for 2 minutes or use a mixer.
2. Cover the bowl and rest for 1 hour.
3. Near to the end of the hour preheat your griddle to 325 F or preheat a frying pan.
4. N.B: But be careful a pan just gets hotter and it shouldn’t be as hot as when you cook pancakes.
5. Lightly grease your pan or muffin rings.
6. N.B: You can use well cleaned tuna cans as moulds, just make sure they are well cleaned and remover the top and the bottom.
7. Pour the sticky batter into the ring, halfway up or a 1/4 of a cup.
8. After 4 mins using tongs remove the rings. Cook 10 minutes on the first side until the top has lots of little bubbles.
9. They will also start to look a little dry around the edges. They probably won’t be as full of holes as store bought ones.
10. Turn crumpets over and cook for another 5 minutes.
11. Remove from the griddle and repeat with rest of the mixture.
12. Serve warm with lots of butter and or jam. Or cool and wrap in plastic and store at room temperature.
13. To reheat put in the toaster and enjoy with butter and or jam.

Curry Plant…

This is my pretty little curry plant in flower… Curry leaves are an herb, and they are not related to curry powder. Curry leaves are a part of the same family as citrus fruits. Their glossy green leaves are very aromatic, and they have a unique flavor all their own. There is a citrus element, along with something else that’s hard to put your finger on—some say asafetida and others anise…

I have had my curry plants now for about 5 years and use the leaves when I cook Indian food or make my spice mixes…I am gradually getting little stock of recipes which will be in my cook book…

Thank you for reading I hope you have enjoyed this little trip through the Culinary alphabet…Until next time when it will be the letter D.

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

Connect to Carol

Blog: Carol Cooks 2
Twitter: @CarolCooksTwo
Facebook: Carol Taylor

My thanks to Carol for sharing this new series with us as she also works on her cookbook and novel this year…As always we are delighted to receive your feedback and if you could share that would be great.. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2020 – #History #FDR – Barbara Ann Mojica meets author Bret Baier

Welcome to the current series of Posts from Your Archives in 2020 and if you would like to participate with two of your posts from 2019, you will find all the details in this post: New series of Posts from Your Archives 2020

This is the first post by children’s author Barbara Ann Mojica and in this post she shares her visit to the FDR Presidential home and Museum to hear Author Bret Baier talk about his book and to share their love of the preservation of history.

#MEET THE AUTHOR #Bret Baier #FDR

Yesterday, I went to the FDR Presidential Home & Museum to hear Bret Baier speak about his newest book. Mr. Baier is Chief Political Anchor and anchor of Special Report with Brett Baier at Fox News.

Amazon Purchase Link: Three Days at the Brink by Bret Baier

The author explained how and why he chose to write this book Baier discussed FDR, Churchill, and Stalin’s secret meeting at The Teheran Conference. He spoke about their fears and expectations. Baier revealed overlooked “nuggets” of history that often change the course of history.

The book emphasizes FDR’s strength of character but also suggests his doubts and fears. Both Churchill and FDR distrusted Stalin. Still, they realized that they could not win the War without his help.

FDR gambled with his life to travel halfway across the world across enemy lines to talk. Here the three world giants would lay the groundwork to win the War.

I met with Mr. Baier, and presented him with my own book, Little Miss HISTORY Travels to Hyde Park, Home of FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT & Presidential Library.

Mr. Baier and I share common goals to restore teaching history and civics in our schools from a very young age.

©Barbara Ann Mojica 2019

The latest book from Barbara Ann Mojica

About the book

Did you ever wonder?

• ·What it would be like to live and survive inthe Wild West?
• ·About what kind of people lived and worked ina mining town
• ·The machinery and tools they used
• ·Step back in time to become a prospector inthe Goodenough Mine
• ·Walk the streets with cattle rustlers andoutlaws
• ·Watch the Earp brothers attempt to restoreorder
• ·Take part in the gunfight at the OK Corral
• ·Ride on a stagecoach
• ·If you are lucky, you won’t end up in BoothillCemetery

Click on the Buy Now button… and enter nineteenth century Tombstone, Arizona

One of the recent reviews for the book

Mrs.D. 5.0 out of 5 stars  A great opportunity to travel back in time!  February 3, 2020

The legendary city of Tombstone, Arizona, is the setting for a story where readers can meet well-known pioneers and incredible entrepreneurs with exceedingly strong-minded determination, folks who led hard but interesting lives. This legend of heroes, outlaws, and justice, of history preserved in one story, educational in a very entertaining format, presents children with the opportunity to explore the meaning of the American past. The mix of photos and illustrations will give readers a better understanding of how the American West was built, and what happened during and after our westward development. Throughout the book, children will learn about the legendary landmarks, exemplified and beautifully executed by talented artist Victor Mojica. His brilliant art and the smartly created storyline by Barbara Mojica will bring readers face to face with the incredible characters who make this book memorable and very special. It’s truly an educational gift that will elevate the way children learn. It will draw them into the inspiring story of amazing, courageous people who made a difference in the world. No matter what difficulties they faced on their road, they turned them into challenges and never gave up until they reached their dreams. It is important to have role models in life. And the characters from this book offer just that, with examples which will enlarge the self-esteem and knowledge of readers.

This is the perfect children’s book for learning. The artwork is striking and the text is informative as well as interesting, as usual. Vibrant, simple artwork covers Old Wild West history nicely, and brief but important information not only allows children to expand their horizons but also to increase their ability to absorb new things. It’s pure inspiration to explore, and it ensures engagement on the part of kids! So hop on your horse with Little Miss History and take an educational ride to the Wild West! Another wonderful book by an award-winning team, Barbara and Victor Mojica: “Little Miss History Travels to Tombstone!” It’s fun to read!

A selection of books by Barbara Ann Mojica.

Discover all the books, read the reviews and buy: Amazon US

And on : Amazon UK

Read more reviews and follow Barbara Ann on : Goodreads

About Barbara Ann Mojica

Barbara Ann Mojica, M.A. S.A.S., S.D.A is a historian and retired educator. Her education career spans more than forty years serving as a teacher, special educator, principal, and school district administrator. Barbara writes monthly historical articles for the Columbia Insider under the banner “Passages.” Using the whimsical Little Miss History character to narrate her book series, Barbara hopes to educate, entertain and inspire children to learn about historical people and places. Little Miss History’s antics make reading nonfiction a fun-filled adventure for all ages. She firmly believes, “If you don’t know your history, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The Little Miss HISTORY book series has garnered more than twenty awards including B.R.A.G. Medallions, International Book Excellence Awards, International Readers’ Favorite Awards, Eric Hoffer, and Independent Author Network Awards.

Connect to Barbara Ann

Website: Little Miss History
Blog:  Barbara Ann Mojica
Twitter: @bamauthor
Facebook: Little Miss History
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bamauthor
Linkedin: Barbara Ann Mojica Author
YouTube Barbara Ann Mojica
Tumblr: Barbara Ann Mojica

 My thanks to Barbara for sharing this event with us and I know that she would love your feedback.. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Music Column – Songs from the Movies – Wind Beneath my Wings #Beaches

My song from the movies today is one that I have sung many times when frequenting karaoke bars… However, nobody has sung it better than Bette Midler and I loved the film ‘Beaches’ where it was featured in 1988. The film was intended as a comedy drama but it was actually very heartwarming and definitely required a tissue alert.

Starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey and directed by Garry Marshall, it was a BFF story that stayed with those who saw it for a long time afterwards.

When the New York child performer CC Bloom and San Francisco rich kid Hillary meet in a holiday resort in Atlantic City, it marks the start of a lifetime friendship between them. The two keep in touch through letters for a number of years until Hillary, now a successful lawyer moves to New York to stay with struggling singer CC. The movie shows the various stages of their friendship and their romances including their love for the same man. IMDB

I watched again recently and tissues were still required. The critics were divided but the film was a commercial success grossing nearly 60 million at the box office.

Courtesy of HD Film Tributes

The film is available on to buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you have enjoyed this short musical interlude….Sally

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2020 – Reality Informs Fiction: Trails in the Sand by P.C. Zick

Welcome to the current series of Posts from Your Archives in 2020 and if you would like to participate with two of your posts from 2019, you will find all the details in this post: New series of Posts from Your Archives 2020

This is the second post for author P.C. Zick. Although the posts from the archives are not usually for self – promotion of books, in this case it is relevant to the story of an event that took place on April 20th 2010 when the oil rig Deepwater Horizon caught on fire with a tragic loss of 29 lives and creating a devastating impact on the environment and local wildlife.  The post also goes to show how reality plays a role in our own creativity.

Reality Informs Fiction: Trails in the Sand by P.C. Zick

I published Trails in the Sand in 2013, three years after the disastrous oil spill after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. From the first moment I heard about the explosion nine years ago and through my job as a public relations director with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, I was glued to the news on the struggle to contain the tar balls and greasy water approaching the Panhandle beaches of Florida.

When not working at my day job, I was also starting a novel about a dysfunctional family struggling to change generations of heartbreak. April 20, 2019 marks the nine year anniversary of this event.

Four years ago, I wrote about the disaster and how the book Trails in the Sand was born. Here is that post to commemorate both the oil spill and Earth Day and to remind us all the importance and fragility of our natural world.

Published originally on April 20, 2015 – Five years ago today, the oil rig Deepwater Horizon caught on fire. Even though the newscasters downplayed its significance at first, I felt a black cloud deepen. I’d just moved to southwestern Pennsylvania where news of the Upper Big Branch coal mine disaster a few hours away in West Virginia still dominated local news. Twenty-nine men died in that explosion on April 5, 2010, just ten days earlier.

We soon learned that BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico had blown its cap, which allowed gushing oil and killed eleven workers on the rig. As I’ve done for the past two decades, when something bothers me, I start to write. The result from my sorrow and unease with both disasters resulted in the novel, Trails in the Sand. The novel serves as a reminder of two preventable disasters that occurred within two weeks of one another in 2010. Forty men died and countless wildlife and their habitats were injured or destroyed. Both events touched my life in some way and both made their way into the writing of Trails in the Sand.

When the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia exploded, twenty-nine miners, doing their job in the bowels of the earth, lost their lives. Subsequent reports showed the company ignored safety regulations, which played an important role in the explosion. At the time, I was in the process of moving from Florida to western Pennsylvania. The mine is located several hours from my new home, so the local media covered the disaster continually for the next few weeks. The national news also kept its eye turned toward a small town in West Virginia where families mourned their husbands, sons, fathers, brothers, and cousins. After April 20, the lens of the cameras shifted to the southwest.

The news began as a whimper before erupting into cries of outrage. An oil rig somewhere off the coast of Louisiana caught on fire on April 20, 2010. Soon the whole rig collapsed, and eleven men never made it out alive. Oil gushed from a well several miles below the Gulf’s surface.

As I made the transition to Pennsylvania, I still held my job in Florida, although I was in the process of leaving. I was a public relations director for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. I made the trip back and forth sixteen times in 2010. I conducted meetings from a cell phone in airports, highway rest areas, and at a dining room table from our small temporary apartment in Pittsburgh.

Every time I started to give my two-week notice to my supervisors, something happened, and my wildlife biologist bosses pleaded with me to stay. During a crisis, the spokesperson for a company or agency suddenly becomes a very important part of the team. Scientists become speechless when looking in the face of a microphone.

Nothing much happened in those early days of the oil spill for the wildlife community, although as a communications specialist I prepared for worst-case scenarios, while hoping for the best. Partnerships between national and state agencies formed to manage information flowing to the media. By May, some of the sea turtle experts began worrying about the nesting turtles on Florida’s Panhandle beaches, right where the still gushing oil might land. In particular, the scientists worried that approximately 50,000 hatchlings might be walking into oil-infested waters if allowed to enter the Gulf of Mexico after hatching from the nests on the Gulf beaches.

An extraordinary and unprecedented plan became reality, and as the scientists wrote the protocols, the plan was “in direct response to an unprecedented human-caused disaster.”

When the nests neared the end the incubation period, plans were made to dig up the nests and transport the eggs across the state to Cape Canaveral, where they would be stored until the hatchlings emerged from the eggs. Then they would receive a royal walk to the sea away from the oil-drenched waters of the Gulf.

The whole project reeked with the scent of drama, ripe for the media to descend on Florida for reports to a public hooked on the images of oiled wildlife. Since I was in transition in my job, they appointed me to handle all media requests that came to the national and state agencies regarding the plan. From my new office in Raccoon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, I began coordinating media events and setting up interviews with the biologists.

As the project began in June 2010, I began writing Trails in the Sand. At first, I created the characters and their situations. Then slowly I began writing about the oil crisis and made the main character, Caroline, an environmental reporter who covered the sea turtle relocation project. Then suddenly I was writing about her husband, Simon, who mourned the loss of his cousin in the coal mine disaster in West Virginia. I didn’t make a conscious effort to tie together the environmental theme with the family saga unfolding, but before too long, I realized they all dealt with restoration and redemption of things destroyed. As a result, the oil spill and the sea turtles became a metaphor for the destruction caused by Caroline and her family.

I’m a firm believer in the subject choosing the author. When that happens, it’s best to let the muse lead me to the keyboard and allow the words to find their way to the story. Trails in the Sand stands as my testament to the process.

©P.C. Zick 2019

About P.C. Zick

Bestselling author P.C. Zick describes herself as a storyteller no matter what she writes. And she writes in a variety of genres, including romance, contemporary fiction, and creative nonfiction. She’s won various awards for her essays, columns, editorials, articles, and fiction.

The three novels in her Florida Fiction Series contain stories of Florida and its people and environment, which she credits as giving her a rich base for her storytelling. She says her, “Florida’s quirky and abundant wildlife–both human and animal–supply my fiction with tales almost too weird to be believable.”

P.C. writes both sweet and steamy romances. The sweet contemporary romances in her Smoky Mountain Romances, are set in southwest North Carolina. Another sweet romance series, Rivals in Love, contains two books with four more in the works. All six follow the Crandall family of Chicago as the siblings find love despite their focus on successful careers.

Her steamy romances go from Florida to Long Island. The Behind the Love series, set in a small fictional town in Florida, feature a community of people who form bonds as they learn to overcome the challenges of their youth. Her Montauk Romances are set in and around Long Island and feature simple, yet sophisticated beach houses designed with romance in mind. The two books in this set are filled with steamy scenes as love grows and thrives.

No matter the genre of novel, they all contain elements of romance with strong female characters, handsome heroes, and descriptive settings. She believes in living lightly upon this earth with love, laughter, and passion, and through her fiction, she imparts this philosophy in an entertaining manner with an obvious love for her characters, plot, and themes.

A small selection of  books by P.C. Zick

One of the reviews for Trails in the Sand on Goodreads

Mar 09, 2013 Christoph Fischer rated it it was amazing

“Trails In The Sand” by P.C. Zick is an emotional read about family secrets and making peace with the past. After her sister dies, Caroline reconnects with her family and with Simon, the man that her sister stole from her and married. Said widower Simon has an adopted daughter that needs to come to terms with her status and with the new relationship between her aunt and her father. Thrown into the mix are a few more family issues such as a drowning in 1956 and more revelations that come from diaries. As you can see that there are a lot of issues to be resolved in this family, making it an emotionally charged scene.

Zick uses several separate narratives for this story to bring different perspectives into the book and also includes several sub plots making for a rich reading experience. There is an important plotline which concerns the 2010 Deepwater Oil Spillage in the Mexican Gulf, a metaphor for hidden or covered-up tragedies and wrong doings that ultimately force their way to the surface and spill onto the shore. Caroline being a writer and journalist that concerns herself with environmental issues – not just the oil spillage – describes the horrific damage to the wildlife and the coast. She also writes also about a coal mining disaster in Virginia which helps to take the focus of just one or the other oversight or cover-up making it a more global theme. The family is under severe stress from both external and internal forces and as they unite to save sea turtles and work together on the present they let go of the past and begin to forgive and to heal.

The writing in this novel is immaculate and tight; for example, the Prologue begins in 1956 with the drowning of Alex, Caroline’s uncle, and the story ends in the same spot, a beautifully chosen way to complete the circle. The dialogue and the weaving together of the various plots and narratives works well to unfold the story and make this an interesting read. The characters are well composed and believable and make for an engaging and convincing portrayal of their inner struggles.

Zick writes with much empathy and insight into her characters, showing a very caring and committed attitude towards the environment and the human beings in it. The interplay between the story lines, private lives and newspaper stories that are woven into the narrative adds much depth to the book.

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US

And : Amazon UK

Read more reviews and follow P.C. Zick on :Goodreads

Connect to Patricia

Website – P.C. Zick
Facebook –P.C. Zick
Twitter – @PCZick

My thanks to Patricia for sharing this with us. Living history and its personal impact on us is important to pass on to future generations and including it in our fiction is one way to do that. Your comments are always welcome. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Short Stories – What’s in a Name? – Jane – The Surprise…by Sally Cronin

There are names that have been passed down through thousands of years which have powerful and deep-rooted meaning to their bearers. Other names have been adopted from other languages, cultures and from the big screen. They all have one thing in common. They are with us from birth until the grave and they are how we are known to everyone that we meet.

Jane – The Surprise…

The news of her pregnancy was a surprise to the 45 year old, and to be honest not a welcome one. Her two other children, both boys in their late teens, were very happily studying at the same university fifty miles away. Whilst she missed them all the time, she had sailed through the empty-nest syndrome perfectly well.

Jane had gone to the doctor to enquire about hormone replacement as she seemed to have entered the menopause early. Before prescribing the treatment, her doctor felt it was a good idea to rule out any other reason for her symptoms with a simple test. He delivered the news with a certain amount of care to a bewildered Jane; sitting at her side with a glass of water and a box of tissues to hand.

He had known his patient for twenty-five years and was well aware that Jane was looking forward to some long-awaited overseas trips with her husband Mike and that the planned six weeks in Australia would now have to be put on the back burner. Jane took the glass of water and sat in dumbstruck silence for several minutes as the doctor waited patiently.

It was at that moment that she felt the ‘surprise’ kick gently against her hand clasped across her stomach. Obviously the baby was keen to voice its opinion about the matter and was making quite sure that she knew there were now two of them to consider.

Following a scan the following week it was determined that Jane was just over five months pregnant and what she had thought was middle-aged spread was going to be little more difficult to shift than anticipated. She had insisted that her husband, who was still in denial about the whole thing, come to the appointment and saw the look on his face as he watched his latest child squirm and kick on the monitor.

‘Can you tell us what the sex is at this stage?’ Jane gripped Mike’s hand as he leaned forward to peer at the screen.

‘I don’t want to know Mike, please let’s wait until it is born,’ she smiled apologetically at the nurse who was just about to spill the beans.

Mike grumbled all the way home about how quick she had been to give away all the baby and toddler clothes and did she know how much it was going to cost to buy all new kit including one of those new-fangled pushchairs?

‘Darling,’ Jane reached over and laid her hand on his knee. ‘That was fifteen years ago and you never know; this baby might be a girl.’

He shrugged distractedly and Jane could see that Mike was not as invested in the turn of events as she already was. Of course he did not have the benefit of hormones racing through her system, which to be honest she rather enjoyed as she had thought they might have been totally dormant. Except of course after the office BBQ five months ago; she chuckled away to herself much to Mike’s annoyance.

Thankfully they had not reached the stage of paying for their planned six weeks in Australia and Mike now moved his extended vacation time to early the next year so that he could be there for the arrival of the new addition. He tried to be enthusiastic about his impending fatherhood but it was a process he thought he would never experience again…

He loved his sons but admitted to himself that he enjoyed them a great deal more now that the three of them shared similar interests such as football and heading down the pub for a swift pint on Sunday lunchtimes. Now that they were enjoying university he had found himself excited about the prospect of increased freedom to pick up some of the old threads of his life. He had been looking forward to scaling back at his firm too and letting his partner take the slack so he and Jane could take those trips they had promised themselves. He thought back to the sleepless nights with two babies under three and then again when they hit their teens with less than fond memories.

However over the next few weeks he found himself looking over at Jane sitting on the sofa with her feet up on the coffee table, knitting baby booties and matinee jackets in soft white wool and did not have the heart to be disgruntled for long. In fact she was blooming and he had to admit the re-emergence of her hormones was doing wonders for his love life.

The next hurdle of course was to tell the boys… Dan and Geoff came home for the Christmas break, six weeks after their parents had received their unexpected news. Mike had picked them up from the station and they barrelled through the front door eager to see their mum and enjoy one of her home-cooked meals. They flung their bags on the carpet before turning to give her a hug. Both stopped in their tracks, looking at the obvious and now very noticeable bump that Jane was cradling with both hands.

Nervously Jane searched their faces and was highly surprised when they both fell about laughing.

‘Great gag Mum,’ Dan was hanging onto the door frame to the lounge. Geoff whipped out his mobile phone and insisted on taking a selfie with his head next to her bump whilst Jane and Mike looked at each other in bewilderment.

Mike put his hand on Geoff’s shoulder and reached out his other to Dan who stopped laughing at the serious expression on his father’s face.

‘You are kidding, right!’ both of them stared at their parents before picking up their backpacks and heading silently up the stairs to their rooms.

Both boys had jobs over the Christmas break in bars in the centre of town, and during the day they would help out around the house as Jane tired easily. Her ankles swelled and she found it difficult to focus on household chores and preparing meals. Mike took over the cooking and in the evening, when the boys were at work, they would sit on the sofa and she would rest her legs across his knees as he massaged her feet. She also became very tearful,and the men in her life tiptoed around her in case they set her off again.

Mike spent as much time as possible with his sons over the holidays trying to persuade them that having a baby brother would be cool; they would be able to teach him how to play football and about girls. The three of them convinced themselves that it would most likely be a boy, especially as there had not been a girl in either side of the family since Jane had been born into a family of five brothers.

After a subdued Christmas Day with a rather crispy turkey and soggy potatoes cooked by father and sons; the more urgent business of preparing for the new arrival took priority.

Mike had decorated the nursery and he and the boys had managed to assemble the cot and various essential pieces of furniture before Dan and Geoff returned to university in the middle of January. Early in February he and Jane had gone to the large industrial park to one of the large stores that sold pushchairs and car seats and were both exhausted by the time they reached home. Mike had not been to the pub for several weeks and seeing that he was looking frazzled, Jane told him to meet his friends for a drink whilst she caught up on one of her weekly television shows. She assured him that she would be fine for an hour and reluctantly he headed off patting his phone in his back pocket.

His friends who were the same age as Mike, gave him a hard time in a good-natured way and promised to turn out for the school football matches to offer moral support when the other kids called him granddad. They then sat smugly back with their pints and reminisced about sleepless nights and nappies.

Halfway through the programme; Jane felt the first twinges and ignored them as indigestion. By the time the next adverts rolled around there was no doubt that something was definitely happening. She grabbed her mobile phone and dialled Mike’s number holding her breath as another pain rippled across her abdomen.

The next morning Dan and Geoff arrived at the hospital and were directed to the maternity ward waiting room. After a few minutes their father came in still dressed in his green gown and hugged them one after the other. He looked shattered and as he stared at them tears rolled down his cheeks.

‘Dad for god’s sake where’s mum and what’s happened?’ Dan grabbed Mike’s arm shocked and terrified what the answer might be.

Unable to speak Mike gestured for them to follow him and they walked behind him glancing at each other nervously.

Their father pushed open the door to the labour suite where they saw their mum, flushed and exhausted but smiling down at a bundle in her arms. Mike walked across and placed his arm around Jane’s shoulders looking lovingly down at the two of them.

The boys felt reassured by their mother’s smile and she beckoned them to the other side of the bed. From here they could see the scrunched up face of their new little brother and they both reached out to gently touch the blanket he was wrapped in. At their touch the baby opened his eyes and it seemed as though he was looking directly at them. They caught their breath and knew immediately that they would move heaven and earth for this little boy.

Jane glanced at Mike and they both smiled and then she turned to her two sons. ‘Meet your sister Imogen boys.’

Dan and Geoff looked at each other in disbelief and then Geoff touched his mum’s shoulder gently as he leant over to take one tiny hand in his.

‘Great gag mum……’

©Sally Cronin 2015

I hope that you have enjoyed this story and as always look forward to your feedback. Thanks Sally

You can find recent reviews for my latest release and other books: Sally’s books and reviews 2019/2020

Amazon £3.50 :Amazon UK

Amazon US $4.53: Amazon US

Smorgasbord Short Stories – What’s in a Name? – Jack a VIP Visitor by Sally Cronin

There are names that have been passed down through thousands of years which have powerful and deep-rooted meaning to their bearers. Other names have been adopted from other languages, cultures and from the big screen. They all have one thing in common. They are with us from birth until the grave and they are how we are known to everyone that we meet.

Jack a VIP Visitor

The gardens of the old house were kept immaculately by a team of unseen gardeners, so that others may visit to walk its paths, and smell the fragrances that drift like smoke through the air.

However, not everyone is allowed to wander unaccompanied across the green and luscious lawns, to discover hidden treasures behind evergreen bushes and ancient trees. This privilege is only for those, who in their lives have touched plants with love and respect. No ripping of the roots from the soil or unworthy cuts with sharpened tools when the blooms have faded and died; just a gentle touch prompted by love.

One such special visitor to the magic garden was an elderly man who walked delightedly amongst the riotous late spring colours of the flower beds and along the old stone paths. His name was Jack and he had spent a lifetime working in his own garden; gifting that love of the earth and all that grew within it to his three children and many grandchildren. As he walked in the soft late spring sunlight he caught sight of a flash of pink behind an old wooden shed and heard the tinkle of childish laughter. Intrigued he made his way across the dew damp grass to explore further.

His hand reached out and touched the delicate petals of the wall climbing rose and it reminded Jack of his two daughters. The plant was beautiful and vibrant; with the strength to grow and bloom every year in this hidden spot of the garden. He remembered how delighted Katherine and Amelia had been when Jack had bought them their first climbing rose to grace the wall of their home. He smiled to himself as he remembered the looks on their faces every time he arrived home with a new pot from the nursery on his way home from work. When their mother has died when they were still so young, it had been a way of bringing light back into their desolate home.

As he breathed in the scent of the pink blossoms an image came to his mind of a beautiful woman sat in a chair holding her beloved children closely. A feeling of joy spread through him and he stood for a moment relishing this precious memory.

This garden was not a formal place of worship but that did not matter as he knew that there was spirituality in simple things. Such as being amongst these beautiful plants and listening to the insects that hummed with the joy of spring. It was also in the sharing of fairy stories and cocoa before bedtime, hearing his grandchildren’s laughter and knowing that he was fulfilling his dying wife’s last wishes.

Part of that wish was that he continued to create a special garden for her daughters and son. She wanted them to grow to adulthood appreciating the beauty of nature and how to treat growing things with love and tenderness. It was a task that at first had been very painful, but over the years, it became a source of joy for all of them; and to those that they welcomed into their home. Many a stray dog or cat found sanctuary amongst the bushes and flowers along the borders of the lawn and even the wild foxes knew they could bring their young in safety.

Jack continued to wander, touching a rose here and a gentle scented lilac there. A yellow rose caught his eye as it was the only bloom of that colour in the garden. It stood out amongst the pale pinks and vibrant reds and he thought of his son Michael standing proudly between his two sisters and smiled to himself at the image it conjured.

He found a stone seat under a shady tree surrounded by funny little statues of dwarf musicians. He fancied he heard teenage laughter; and was that really the sound of a guitar playing nearby? Peacefully he sat drinking in the scene before him until a flash of colour and the whirr of tiny wings startled him. Hovering before him was a delicate butterfly decked out in vibrant gold and shimmering green. Amazed Jack held out his hand and the little creature settled delicately into his palm. They looked at each other for a moment or two and then the butterfly flew away back towards an old magnolia tree.

No words had been spoken but a message had been passed between them. Jack knew that he would be welcome to visit the garden anytime that he wished; a place to remember those that he had cherished and to touch again plants and petals he had loved.. But for now it was time to leave. With a lingering look at the beauty that surrounded him, he walked across the grass dotted with daisies and faded from sight into the walls of the boarded up house.

©Sally Cronin 2015

I hope that you have enjoyed this story and as always look forward to your feedback. Thanks Sally

You can find recent reviews for my latest release and other books: Sally’s books and reviews 2019/2020

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