Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2024 #Potluck #Family #Reveal #Poetry Fri-Yay Fun Surprise: Pitter Pink or Pitter Blue by Cindy Georgakas

Welcome to the series of Posts from Your Archives and I will be sharing posts from the SECOND six months of 2023 from your archives.

This current series is now closed to submissions but there will be a new series to participate in later in the year.

This is the first post from author and blogger Cindy Georgakas and is a poem that celebrates the news every family is eager to hear when a new baby is on its way.

Fri-Yay Fun Surprise: Pitter Pink or Pitter Blue

I’m just full of surprises lately I know! I’ve been so excited to share this one with you all but had to keep it quiet. I finally got permission, so without further ado, I’ll share it in a poem:

Pitter pink or patter blue,
hearts beating,
all eyes on you.

Skies of rose indigo,
light up the night,
Stork flies to answer the cries.

Love bursts,
liquid pearls,
open hearts.
Time stops;
We gasp…
then sigh.

Lullabies sung in unison while the symphony plays,
A Star Is Born; Not One, But Two!

The miracle unfolds as one crosses over the horizon,
another comes in, to carry on. It’s always the way.

We send kisses and wishes for safe crossing and entry as life’s promise of love enter our souls forever until eternity.

Pitter Pink or pitter blue, all eyes on you!

Have you figured it out yet?

If not this should help:

Grateful and Blessed: A 22 minute workout everyone can do pregnant or not pregnant

I hope you enjoyed the video. It’s awesome for all of us to do in reality (yes, guys too) but please do share with other pregnant moms as well. This is one of my favorite classes to teach.

Lot’s of creation going on around here alright! We are feeling so blessed and a bit overwhelmed but in a good way. Thank you so much “Narnia and Blaht” (their blog names), for being in this video. No, I don’t just use you for my content; Well not entirely. 🤣😇 😇🤣. I love you both so much! Oh and they are both having girls, due within 3-4 weeks of each other. Blaht at the end of July and Narnia at the end of August.

©Cindy Georgakas

My thanks to Cindy for inviting me to share posts from her archives and here one of the reviews for her book Re-Create & Celebrate.

One of the reviews for the book

Lauren Scott 5.0 out of 5 stars An empowering book for those who still seek the answers! Reviewed in the United States

Do you ever carry self-doubt around? Are you a people-pleaser? Are you still trying to figure out your life? If you answer yes to these questions, then Re-Create & Celebrate by Cindy Georgakas is the book for you. I’ve been following Cindy’s blog for a while now, and have grown to admire the caring, vibrant, woman she is. So, I couldn’t wait to read her debut book. I would be hard-pressed to believe that everyone has their life figured out to a tee, no need to ask questions or ponder mysteries. In some ways, I do, but in others, I’m still searching as I bet you are, too.

Georgakas shares her suggestions and knowledge drawn from her experience of being a life coach, and the language she uses is down to earth. She is not shy when it comes to showing her vulnerability. She is simply like you and me, trying to live life to its fullest. The book is organized into 7 Steps To Turn Your Dreams Into Reality, and she ends each chapter with a powerful haiku. Here is a sample…

stay grounded in self
listen with all your senses
open to insight

Georgakas nudges you into delving deep within your soul to discover your true essence, and then to unearth your true purpose. We all know how powerful negative thoughts can be, and how easily they can push us in the wrong direction. As Georgakas says, “…we can’t let the mind take over, since it is designed to overanalyze and judge everything we do.”

As I’m not in my thirties or forties anymore, this quote rang true, “Every age and stage offers new insights and opportunities to adapt and change; we have never been at this place in our lives before, so it’s important to pause and ask, “Who am I now, and what is my purpose?”

Another question to ponder is, “What life is worth living that is not worth questioning?” And this line stood out, “We have a choice to either paint rainbows or black clouds on our blank canvas.” Georgakas sprinkles many nuggets of wisdom from start to finish, so this compilation of encouragement is a great reminder that can be referred to over and over again.

Re-Create & Celebrate is an empowering book to reiterate how crucial self-love is, how to realize our goals and achieve them, and to enhance personal growth. Highly recommended for all who are still seeking those awaited answers! 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – Other published work including Spillwords: Uniquely Fit Blog Published – Website/Blog: Uniquely Fit

About Cindy Georgakas

Cindy is a San Francisco native and currently lives nestled in the trees in a small community with her husband and 3 fur babies. She is a certified Life Coach, Personal Trainer, Yoga/meditation teacher, and Body Worker. She draws inspiration from her family, friends, clients, and nature. She is also a recognized author, publishing her first book, Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps to Live the Life of Your Dreams with over 35 5 Star reviews and available on Amazon and in local bookstores. She was voted Author of the Month on Spillwords Press in April 2023 and Publication of the Month on Spillwords in October 2022. She is a co-author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women and # 1 Bestseller, Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology. She is a Treasured Contributor to MastecadoresUsa.

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will enjoy visiting Cindy’s blog and her archives.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Music Column – The Breakfast Show Rewind with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1975 Part Two – Minnie Riperton, Queen, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen

Welcome to The Breakfast Show and the top hits of the 1970s.

Each week William and I select two top hits from the charts starting with 1960 for two weeks followed by 1961 etc..through to 2005. We also include some of the notable events in those years for the up and coming stars who were centre stage at the time.

Welcome to the show and we are excited to share decades of music with you again in 2024. Here is the second of my top 1975 hits which I hope you will enjoy.  William.

News Event:  May 26th “Rhinestone Cowboy” single released by Glen Campbell (Billboard Song of the Year 1975

Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ You –

“Lovin’ You” was written by Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph.
The song peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the R&B chart, and #2 on the UK Singles chart. In the US, it ranked #13 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1975. “Lovin’ You” was ranked #46 on Billboard’s Top 50 Love Songs of All Time.

News Event: July 5th At Knebworth Festival in England, Pink Floyd debut their album “Wish You Were Here” with pyrotechnics and an exploding plane which flies into the stage

Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

“Bohemian Rhapsody,” written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, topped the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks. After Mercury’s death, it topped the charts for another five weeks, eventually becoming the UK’s third best-selling single of all time. In the US, the song peaked at #2 after being used in the film “Wayne’s World” (1992). In 2018, the release of the film “Bohemian Rhapsody” brought the song renewed popularity and chart success worldwide.Queen Official

New Event: October 31st Bob Geldof’s first appearance with The Boomtown Rats

Now time for my second top chart picks from 1975 and I hope you will enjoy my selection

The Eagles – One of These Nights

“One of These Nights” is the fourth studio album by the Eagles, released in 1975. In July that year, the record became the Eagles’ first number one album on Billboard’s album chart, yielding three Top 10 singles: “One of These Nights”, “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Take It to the Limit”. Its title song is the group’s second number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The album sold four million copies and was nominated for Grammy Album of the Year.

News Event: November 6th First performance by punk band The Sex Pistols at St Martins College, London

Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run

“Born to Run” is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, and the title song of his album Born to Run. Upon its release, music critic Robert Christgau took note of its wall of sound influence and called it “the fulfillment of everything ‘Be My Baby’ was about and lots more”.

“Born to Run” was Springsteen’s first worldwide single release, although it achieved little initial success outside of the United States. Within the U.S. it received extensive airplay on progressive or album-oriented rock radio stations and the single was Springsteen’s first top 40 hit, reaching number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song ranked number 21 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the highest entry for a song by Springsteen, and is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Bruce Springsteen

Additional sources: On This Day – Music – Hits of the 70s: Playback FM – Wikipedia

Your Hosts for The Breakfast Show

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson

Sally Cronin is an author, blogger and broadcaster who enjoyed four years as part of the team on Onda Cero International’s English speaking morning show in Marbella and then for two years as a presenter on Expressfm the local radio station in Portsmouth. She co-presented two ‘Drive Time’ shows a week with Adrian Knight, hosted the live Thursday Afternoon Show and The Sunday Morning Show guests including musicians and authors. Following this she became Station Director for a local internet television station for two years, producing and presenting the daily news segment, outside broadcasts and co-presenting the Adrian and Sally chat show live on Friday evenings.

She and her husband David have now returned to Ireland where they live on the Wexford Coast where she blogs and continues to write books.

Books :Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin

Next week 1976 Part One. We hope you will tune in.. as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally. 

 

Smorgasbord Afternoon Video – Sally’s Favourites – #Tissue Alert – Chimps are let into outside enclosure for first time

The incredible moment that chimpanzees who have been inside all their lives are finally allowed out into an outside enclosure. And not before time…

Smorgasbord Book Promotions – Author News and Reviews -#Romania #shortstories Patricia Furstenberg, #Murder #Mystery N.A. Granger, #Supernatural #Adventure John W. Howell

Welcome to the series of author news and reviews, where I will share updates on the authors who have been promoted on the blog and whose books I have read and can recommend.

The first book today is by Patricia Furstenberg and her delightful collection of 100 word stories about Romania is Dreamland: Banat, Crisana, Maramures, Transylvania, 100-WORD STORIES, Folklore and History

One of the reviews for the book

Thomas Wikman 5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Historical Tour of Four Romanian Provinces Reviewed in the United States

This is a truly fascinating and beautifully written book on four of the of the ten provinces of Romania, Banat, Crisana, Maramures and Transylvania. I would say that about half of the book is about Transylvania and half on the other three smaller provinces.

The book features 117 100-word long lyrical stories and poems. The 100-word stories are concise and written in a rich and expressive manner. These stories are based on legends and folklore about dragons, witches, giants, mythical creatures, kings, as well as local culture and historical events. Following each 100-word story were explanations of the historical context as well as nearly 90 gorgeous color photographs. Out of curiosity I counted the words in a few of them because I was curious as to whether they really were exactly 100 words, and the ones I counted were. I don’t think it is important that they are 100 words. However, the fact that the author was able to do it is kind of impressive.

The historical events depicted include the building of fortresses, fortified churches and cities, invasions, Roman and Ottoman invasions, the taking of slaves, kings, warlords and heroes and of course Vlad Tepes III or Vlad Draculea (Dracula). In the back there is a map showing the geographic location of each entry.

In 2008 I visited Transylvania with my son and his water polo team. The coach, Mihai, was from Transylvania and he took us on an incredible Dracula themed guided tour of Transylvania and some other parts of Romania (I was one of two chaperons). Therefore, I recognized many of the places described including Sighisoara, Brasov, Sibiu, Prejmer, Balea Lac, Rasnov, the Fagaras mountains, the Transfagarasan road, Biertan, Bran castle, and the Black Church in Brasov. It was an amazing feeling to read about these places and see the photos, which were much better than mine. It brought back many good memories. Romania is a fascinating country with a very rich history.

This book is very well written, the 100-word stories are interesting and impressive, the accompanying explanations informative, and the book is well organized. It is a true gem and I highly recommend it to anyone planning to visit Romania and to anyone interested in Romania. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A small selection of other books by Patricia Furstenberg (some in Afrikaans)

Head over to find out more about Patricia, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and: Amazon UK – Blog: Alluring Creations Goodreads: Goodreads – Twitter: @PatFurstenberg

The next featured book is by N.A. Granger – Death at the Asylum: Rhe Brewster Mystery Series, Book 5

One of the reviews for the book

D.L. Finn 5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to put down cozy mystery!  Reviewed in the United States

“Death at the Asylum” is the fifth in the Rhe Brewster Series, but the third one I’ve read. It can easily be read as a standalone story with the author’s character recaps in the beginning, which I’ve appreciated. Rhe and Sam are enjoying a nice day and the governor’s speech when a sniper shoots the governor. The couple jumped into action to save him. Now they need to find the sniper. But that isn’t all going on. Someone has gotten hold of Rhe’s personal information putting debts in her name along with crimes. If that wasn’t enough for her to deal with between being pregnant, working two jobs, and raising a son, there is a rapist loose and someone stealing drugs at the hospital, too.

Not only was this a page-turner, but there were enough criminal details woven in to add that extra layer. It is the relationships, though, that are the strength of the story, between husband and wife, mother and son, best friends and colleagues. I not only wanted the crimes to get solved, but the people to remain safe while doing it. A well-written cozy mystery that I can highly recommend. I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next. 

Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Noelle Granger

Head over to read more about Noelle A. Granger and buy her books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Blog: Sayling Away – Goodreads:Noelle A. Granger – Twitter: @NAGrangerAuthor

And the final featured book today is by John W. Howell the sequel to the excellent Eternal Road... another supernatural adventure…The Last Drive

One of the reviews for the book

Ashley Lund 5.0 out of 5 stars Vivid storytelling and great dialogues  Reviewed in the United States

With heart-pounding suspense, great dialogues, and unexpected twists at every turn, this book will keep you hooked from start to finish. Ryan, a brave soldier who lost his life in Afghanistan, is desperately seeking guidance from his hero, Eddie Rickenbacker, who’s going to help him find his Eternal Home. However, their journey has been disrupted by none other than Lucifer himself… It’s up to the well-known couple from book 1 – Sam and James – to overcome the evil interference and bring Ryan and Eddie back on track.

From the blood-soaked battlefields of World War I, to the awe-inspiring majesty of the Roman Coliseum, and then to the heart-wrenching tragedy of the Titanic’s descent into darkness, and even to the harrowing depths of Auschwitz during one of humanity’s darkest hours – every turn of the page will transport you to a different era, bringing history vividly to life. I think it is so cool!! Prepare yourself for an adrenaline-fueled voyage packed with non-stop action. You’ll be captivated by James and Sam’s determination, humor, and bravery as they face their deepest fears in these strange and often nightmarish realms.

The story explores the battle between good and evil while delving into themes of redemption, loyalty, forgiveness, death, and the power of friendship. Prepare to be captivated by the author’s narrative, rich character development, and vivid storytelling. Whether you’re a fan of supernatural or paranormal thrillers or simply love an engaging adventure, this novel promises to deliver an unforgettable experience that will leave you craving for more.

Join Sam and James on their new extraordinary journey! 

Head over to buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Other books by John Howell

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and on: Amazon UK – Goodreads:John Howell Goodreads – Blog: John W. Howell. com – Twitter – @HowellWave

 

Thanks for dropping in today and  I hope you will be leaving with some books… Sally

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up – 3rd – 9th June 2024 – Upcoming Release, Music of the 70s, Iconic Duets, Carbon Monoxide, Book Reviews, Star bloggers, Funnies

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

I hope everyone is well. Not a great deal to report from the home front. Some lovely days which have enticed me away from the desk and into the garden to catch up on my reading.

It was European elections here in Ireland this week so a day off on Thursday for most, being a UK citizen I can’t vote in the EU elections but I was able to cast a vote in the local elections which enabled me to do my bit. We are very lucky here, with Gorey only a few kilometres away with 5 major supermarkets, great health care including an out of hours Caredoc set up which is an absolute advantage. There are some young but dedicated counsellors on the docket with some great ideas on how to improve services.

My next book is off being formatted and in the next few weeks I will share more about it. I can tell you it is non-fiction and is a revised and extended follow on from Size Matters. It is 30 years since I began my weight loss journey and 23 years since I published my journal and the programme I designed to lose 154lbs in 2 years. I went on to qualify as a nutritional therapist working with hundreds of clients since 1998, not just for weight loss but also lifestyle related health issues, couples with fertility problems and elderly men and women who wanted to halt the progress of aging.

This led to becoming a nutritional consultant on English speaking radio in Spain followed by my own health show and Sunday show on local radio in the UK. I have continued to research nutrition and anti-aging as it is enlightened self-interest!

The new book will build on the first book and include additional elements based on my research into weight loss and health in general. It is also a celebration of my thirty year weight loss journey and the career it led to.

I appreciate that if you are a regular visitor to the blog you will have read most of the content over the last 12 years but I do hope to reach a new audience and perhaps encourage others not to become part of the every growing obesity statistics and to make the changes needed.

For those who enjoy a little more fantasy than fact… there will be another Tales from the Irish Garden later in the year.

Anyway I will do a post in the usual way when the book is available.

On that note, please let me know when you have a new book available on Amazon either for pre-order or to buy. I usually schedule posts a couple of weeks in advance so I can focus on my own writing, but I can often move things around. The more notice the better. With pre-order posts it is usually better to schedule a couple of weeks ahead of the availability date. Too far ahead and readers might put off buying it until nearer the time and then forget!

If you have been promoted here before all I need is the Amazon link either for your home country or UK or US. The posts have a set format so I will get what I need from Amazon etc. You can send the link via sally.cronin@moyhill.com

If you are new to the blog, then it is helpful to have any blog, website or social media links as well as the Amazon link. I will take care of the rest.

As always my thanks also goes to my friends who contribute to the blog

William Price King  William joined me for the Breakfast Show on Tuesday and his series of iconic Duets on Friday. You can also find William – Blog– IMPROVISATION– William Price King on Tumblr

Debby Gies will be here on Monday June 24th with the next in her series Life Lessons 101. This week Debby celebrated a special birthday which according to her facebook is 119 or thereabouts… she doesn’t look a day over 25, whatever she’s on I’ll have some.  You can catch up with her own posts this week including her review for The Otford English Dictionary by John Dolan  D.G. Kaye

Carol Taylor will be here on Wednesday with the next of her A-Z  World Cuisines and this week Canada. Head over to check out her own A-Z this week which is for Iceland.takes us to Iceland where there is a head to tail approach to food, which might not suit everyone but certainly ensures the entire animal is not wasted.   CarolCooks2

Thanks again for your support this week… as always appreciated.

On with the show…

The Breakfast Show Rewind with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1975 Part One – Labelle, 10CC, Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor

William Price King with The Duets #1970s – 1974 – Mockingbird – Carly Simon & James Taylor, Donny and Marie Osmond – Morning Side of the Mountain

Life’s Rich Tapestry #Family #Rejuvenation – Onions by Sally Cronin

Family Health A-Z – Arthritis (osteo and gout) by Sally Cronin

Carbon Monoxide the silent killer by Sally Cronin

#Murder #Mystery N.A Granger, #Nostalgia #History Alex Craigie, #Crime #Thriller Fiona Tarr, #Romance #Venice Tonya Penrose

Author News and Reviews – Yvette Calleiro, Sandra Cox, John Dolan

#Mystery #Paranormal Marcia Meara, #Italy #Mystery #Romance Christa Polkinhorn, #Historical #WWII Marina Osipova

#Education #Bullying Buddy not Bully by Mary K. Doyle

Smorgasbord Blogger Weekly – June 8th 2024 – #Bookreviews Diana Peach and Yvette Calleiro #MemorialDay Jennie Fitzkee, #Crows Janet Gogerty, #Recipe Chef Ronit Penso, #Writing Beem Weeks

Hosts Sally Cronin and Debby Gies – Crocodiles and Absentees

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will join me again next week…

Smorgasbord Short Stories – Life’s Rich Tapestry #Family #Rejuvenation – Onions by Sally Cronin

Over the coming weeks I will be sharing stories from my collections and this is another story from Life’s Rich Tapestry a poetry, flash fiction and short story collection.

Onions

Olivia chopped the onion carefully, avoiding the cut on her knuckles from yesterday’s little escapade. She hated cutting onions, having tried every trick in the book to stop herself crying copiously onto the culprits in question. She had popped the handle of a silver spoon in her mouth and clenched it with her teeth, worn her son’s snorkeling mask, cut the onions under water in the sink, and had even frozen them for 20 minutes before attacking them with a very sharp knife. Which is why she now sported a large blue plaster on her ring finger; evidence of its well-honed cutting edge.

You might ask why, with all this discomfort and mutilation, not to mention such an abundance of tears, she continued to cut onions every day. After all, the supermarket had fresh pre-cut onions, and two types of frozen sliced onions, white and red. The answer to this question was currently watching the television in the other room, feet up on the table and awaiting the tray laden with his dinner; and another beer to wash it down with.

She had been married to Gerald for twenty years, and he ventured rarely into the kitchen; except to sometimes dump his tray on the counter, and make a derogatory comment about the lack of flavour in the meal. He maintained that his role was to bring in the money that paid the bills, and everything else to do with household management was her department. His only stipulation was that he had to have a fresh onion every day, chopped and neatly piled on the side of his dinner plate, for him to enjoy between mouthfuls. He had read once that this addition to your daily diet staved off every living disease known to man, and he would not be budged. On the one occasion Olivia had bought pre-chopped onions and put them on the side of the plate, he noticed the regularity of the chop and was wise to her ploy in seconds. He then berated her for paying double the price of a whole onion and being too lazy to prepare it for him. The sight of her red eyes and plaster decorated fingers did little to move him, except to comment that she should stop snivelling.

Unfortunately, there was one disease that a fresh onion enhanced rather than prevented and that was halitosis. Gerald was afflicted with this withering condition, and for the entire twenty years of their marriage, Olivia had desperately tried to counteract the effects by buying extra minty toothpaste, putting a pack of polo mints in his lunch box, and trying to track down a source of odourless onions. This was not conducive to romance and added more black marks for her inability to attend to her duties as expected!

You might of course wonder why Olivia was still chopping onions for Gerald after twenty years when it was combined with his misogynistic behaviour. When they had first met, he had been all charm itself, and before she could say that she was not that sort of girl, she became pregnant. He had begrudgingly done the right thing, and apart from their son Andrew, they had gone onto to have a beautiful daughter she had named Jennifer.

Olivia did not consider herself without blame at being caught up in a loveless marriage. But she loved her children beyond belief and would have walked through fire for them both. And, despite Gerald’s antiquated approach to a wife’s duties, he had been a reasonable, if at times an overly strict father and good provider. She had no money of her own to fall back on, except what she might save from the sparse housekeeping she was allotted. Gerald who managed all the finances, also refused to allow her to go out to work when the children went to school. Her hands were tied but she comforted herself that at least they all had a roof over their heads and food on the table.

But things were different now. Andrew had joined the army at eighteen and after two years had just been posted to Germany where he was happily sampling an active social life. Jennifer had left home last week for college up in Manchester, and was living in a very comfortable student’s hostel. Olivia’s hand stopped its downward movement with the knife and she contemplated its gleaming blade.

The next day, Olivia popped into the newsagents on the corner and picked up one of the national advertising papers for cars, houses and jobs. She had read a copy in the hairdresser a few weeks back, and knew that there were positions for live-in housekeepers all over the country. She had noticed that there were some vacancies not too far from where her daughter would be studying for the next three years. Rather than take the paper home and have its presence questioned, she went around to her best friend Beryl’s, sharing her plan before placing some long-distance calls on her telephone.

With three interviews set up, Olivia contacted her daughter in Manchester and said that she was coming up for a visit to check on how she was settling in. Gerald had yet to dock any money from her weekly housekeeping because of the reduction in mouths to feed, and with a bit of scrimping, she had sufficient for her train fare. She also retrieved the little she had squirreled away over the last few years from the housekeeping; enough to pay for a cheap bed and breakfast for a couple of weeks.

Gerald argued against her trip of course, and was insistent that he was not going to cook his own dinners for the two nights she told him she would be away. He said the girl would be back down in a few weeks anyway at half term, and didn’t know what all the fuss was about.

He flounced into the living room; telling her over his shoulder that he was not going to fork out for the trip so she could think again. He went off to work in the morning, still in a strop, and told her he wanted extra onion that night with his dinner. She watched him go down the path before heading upstairs to unearth her battered suitcase from under the bed. She opened it to double check its contents. It held her smartest clothes, two pairs of good shoes and underwear and night clothes. Not much to show for twenty years she reflected, but she reached out and touched the photographs of her children; the most important items she had packed.

Olivia went around to Gerald’s side of the bed and opened the drawer in his bedside table. She pushed her hand to the back and found his sock containing his winnings. She had known about his stash for some time, knowing that the contents would fluctuate depending on how the horses had run. He had won on Saturday, celebrating with a few pints down the pub and rolling home drunk as a lord. As she liberated two hundred pounds from the sock, she found some satisfaction that he was contributing to her escape plan after all.

With one last glance around the house that still reeked from last night’s onions, Olivia, two days shy of her fortieth birthday, slammed the front door and got into the taxi waiting at the kerb. At the station she boarded the train for Manchester, and as they got under way, handed over a precious three pounds for a cup of tea and a shortcake biscuit. She smiled at her reflection in the window of the carriage as it sped towards her freedom. Tonight she would explain everything to her daughter and hope that she would understand.

Her son had made his weekly call to her last night before Gerard was due home from work. Taking a deep breath she had told him what she was about to do. She had cried a little as he spoke his words of encouragement, ending the call with ‘Why did you wait so long mum… I couldn’t wait to get out’.

Anyway, no more tears and no more bloody onions. And she laughed to herself visualising Gerald’s face when he deigned to enter the cold and unlit kitchen to find out what the hell she was up to. Only to find a freshly peeled onion pinned to the chopping board, with a very sharp knife right through the middle of it.

©Sally Cronin 2024.

I hope you have enjoyed the story and as always would love to hear from you thanks Sally.

About Life’s Rich Tapestry

Life’s Rich Tapestry is a collection of verse, microfiction and short stories that explore many aspects of our human nature and the wonders of the natural world. Reflections on our earliest beginnings and what is yet to come, with characters as diverse as a French speaking elephant and a cyborg warrior.

Finding the right number of syllables for a Haiku, Tanka, Etheree or Cinquain focuses the mind; as does 99 word microfiction, bringing a different level of intensity to storytelling. You will find stories about the past, the present and the future told in 17 syllables to 2,000 words, all celebrating life.

This book is also recognition of the value to a writer, of being part of a generous and inspiring blogging community, where writing challenges encourage us to explore new styles and genres.

One of the reviews for Life’s Rich Tapestry

Michelle Clements James 5.0 out of 5 stars Told by a master storyteller.  Reviewed in the United States

Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words is a beautiful collection of various types of poetry, 99-word flash fiction, and short stories that the author has written in response to various blog challenges within her circle of blogging friends. These are thoughtfully penned poems and stories that reflect upon life experiences and imaginings. That Sally Cronin is a master storyteller is evidenced in this heartwarming collection.

The book is divided into categories with something for every reader. If you like fairies, there is a section of poetry for you. The section All Things Human addresses aging and youth, beauty, greed, romance and much more. Do you like nature? The Natural World has poems to keep you reading. There are quite a few more categories of life experiences and other topics to pique your curiosity.

Flash fiction always fascinates me. So much can be said in very few words, and Sally Cronin is an expert at answering the prompt. Life’s Greatest Gift is one of these prompts. It is skillfully written with great tenderness. My Mouse is a flash with a hilarious twist at the end. I’m still chuckling over that one. Reunion is a touching response to the prompt. I couldn’t begin to tell you which of the flash fiction is my favorite.

My favorite short story was Great Aunt Georgina. It was heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. Of course, I don’t want to tell you what the storyline is, you’ll just have to read it yourself along with the rest of the varied short stories.. 

Read the reviews and buy the book Amazon  :Amazon UK – Amazon US : Amazon US

My other books and recent reviews can be found on my My books and reviews 2024

Smorgasbord Book Reviews – #Thriller #Mystery #Thailand Hungry Ghosts (Time, Blood and Karma Book 2) by John Dolan

Delighted to share my review for the second book in a fast paced thriller by John Dolan – Hungry Ghosts (Time, Blood and Karma Book 2) 

About the book

‘For the last half-hour my mind has been playing games with me. I keep thinking I see Claire at the periphery of my vision, but when I turn my head she vanishes.
But then of course she would. She is a ghost, after all.’

It is the spring of 2005, and the macabre ‘burning murders’ have ended. Life has apparently returned to normal for the Thai island of Samui.
For private investigator David Braddock ‘normal’ means finding a missing drug smuggler, sleeping with the Police Chief’s wife and ensuring his office manager’s latest money making scheme doesn’t bankrupt him.

For Police Chief Charoenkul it means resuming his seemingly-endless wait for that elusive promotion to Bangkok.

However, the peace is destined to be short-lived. Unbeknown to both men karmic storm clouds are gathering and murderous forces are about to be unleashed which could destroy them both …

Hungry Ghosts is the second volume in the Time, Blood and Karma series. It marks the welcome return of David Braddock, the charismatic anti-hero from Everyone Burns.

The Time, Blood and Karma series will appeal to lovers of the following book categories: mystery, thriller, crime, Thailand fiction, private investigators, British detectives, and amateur sleuths.

My review for the book June 8th 2024

I enjoyed the first book in the series and was keen to catch up with the characters and events in this next adventure set in Thailand.

David Braddock is still living a complicated existence, romantically and business wise. There are some loose ends from the first book which are hanging over his head and secrets might not be so buried as he thought. As always his love of women particularly those already attached to powerful men could be his undoing.

There is a new element to David’s private detective business which slightly impinges on even his flexible moral compass, despite the work he is already conducting in the less salubious dives in town. However Da his right hand woman appears to have it under control.

A missing person case may take him into more trouble than he needs and it is likely to impact at least one of his personal relationships and little does he know how many interested parties will be keen to get in his way. Violence and revenge for his past actions simmers in the background and he may not be the only target.

As the story progresses more characters from David’s past are introduced and in a surprising turn of events he comes face to face with a family secret hidden for decades

There is a great lead up to the climax to this book in the series with some tantalising threads to be explored in the next. A fast paced and entertaining read and I can highly recommend.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

A selection of other books by John Dolan

Whilst I was reading this book I also dipped in and out of The Otford English Dictionary

S. G. Cronin 5.0 out of 5 stars A witty guide to our modern PC world  Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2024

This lexicon for the more non-pc of us, especially who have lived through a few decades, is a gem. The one word not included is Woke, which is not surprising since many of the definitions for words and commonly used expressions is decidedly un-woke…

From A-Z the wit flows including some of my favourites of the more PC variety… Amazon – A mighty river that has washed away many High Street shops, Cabbage – A large, round vegetable used at mealtimes to punish children and Privacy – The right to keep personal matters secret, and which is generally not recognised by social media companies, gutter journalists or governments.

I laughed out loud on all 97 pages and I can recommend this witty and satirical view on life to any who feel their right to a personal opinion or freedom of speech has been infringed upon. 

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – More reviews: Goodreads – Website: John Dolan Author – Twitter: @JohnDolanAuthor – Bookbub: John Dolan

About John Dolan

“Makes a living by travelling, talking a lot and sometimes writing stuff down. Galericulate author, polymath and occasional smarty-pants.”

John Dolan hails from a small town in the North-East of England. Before turning to writing, his career encompassed law and finance. He has run businesses in Europe, South and Central America, Africa and Asia. He and his wife Fiona currently divide their time between Thailand and the UK.

He is the author of the ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ mystery series and the ‘Children of Karma’ mystery trilogy.

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. Sally.

Smorgasbord Blogger Weekly – June 8th 2024 – #Bookreviews Diana Peach and Yvette Calleiro #MemorialDay Jennie Fitzkee, #Crows Janet Gogerty, #Recipe Chef Ronit Penso, #Writing Beem Weeks

A small selection of posts I have enjoyed this week and I hope you will head over to enjoy in full.

Diana Peach shares her May book reviews for Darlene Foster, Joy York, Olga Nunez Miret, Judith Barrow, Kendare Blake and Casey McQuiston… some great books and excellent reviews.

And to kick off this week’s posts some recommendations from Diana Peach: May book reviews

More reviews and this time from Yvette Calleiro with her recommendations for Sally Jane Smith and Denise Finn…also news about her own latest book due out soon.

Head over to check Yvette’s recommendations: May Book Reviews

This week Jennie Fitzkee goes back to the inspiration behind what has now become a tradition in her school to celebrate Memorial Day. It is so easy as the decades pass for remembrance to lose its importance for those who have served even in peacetime.

Follow the story of the inspiration around creating a tradition: Teaching patriotism- Where it Began

Janet Gogerty shares some of the dangers you might encounter even in the most benign environments… electric scooters and crows as an example… beware the charity bin!!

Head over to discover hidden dangers: Monday Madness- SOS

I do love prawns and I am always on the lookout for recipes and this one caught my eye from Chef Ronit Penso’s Kitchen… Shrimp in Creamy Lemon-Tomato Sauce

Image ©Chef Ronit Penso

Head over to get the recipe: Chef Ronit Penso with Shrimp in creamy lemon tomato sauce

And finally this week a post from Beem Weeks writing for Story Empire exploring the why, who, when, what and where to creating the perfect scene in a story.

Head over to discover the 5 Ws: Beem Weeks Building the Scene

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will enjoy these posts as much as I did..

Smorgasbord Book Promotions – Author News and Reviews – #Mystery #Paranormal Marcia Meara, #Italy #Mystery #Romance Christa Polkinhorn, #Historical #WWII Marina Osipova

Welcome to the series of author news and reviews, where I will share updates on the authors who have been promoted on the blog and whose books I have read and can recommend.

The first book today is  Wake Robin Ridge: Book One by Marcia Meara I can highly recommend the series and I am sure you will fall in love with the characters and once you have read the first book… you won’t want to miss the rest in the series.

One of the reviews for the book

J. Holmes 5.0 out of 5 stars New life, new friendship, and a decades-old mystery that comes back to haunt  Reviewed in the United States

Sarah Gray has had it with being a librarian. Not that she doesn’t like the work–well, the research part of it. Filing reports and periodicals every day would make anyone’s eyes glaze over. She’s ready to move on to something more fulfilling. What better way to start afresh than to move to a location from fond childhood memories.

She buys a house in rural North Carolina, where she can forge ahead on her new adventures as a writer, finds a loveable cat to keep her company, and meets the intriguing stranger from down the road. He’s hard to read, but his beloved wolfhound doesn’t hide her affection for Sarah.

The history behind Sarah’s new house is rooted in the tortured life of Ruth Carter, whose husband nearly beats her to death. She takes advantage of her reprieve after he is arrested for the assault, and moves her life to North Carolina and Wake Robin Ridge. We root for Ruth as she builds a new life in her new home, and dread the day when her husband returns for revenge.

Meara ties the lives of these two women together in the sense they are both rebooting their lives, and we get to enjoy the ride. I especially like Sarah’s neighbor, Mac, who has a troubled past of his own he struggles to come to terms with. And who can resist the unlikely friendship between a wolfhound and a tomcat?

This is the first of Marcia’s books that I’ve read, but I’m eager to read more. I loved the interaction between Mac and Sarah. The way Sarah discovers what happened to Ruth is heartwarming. Ruth’s story is a mix of triumph over abuse, the joy of a new life, and the fear of her old life catching up with her. Toss in a supernatural terror and a friendship that blossoms into something more, and you have Wake Robin Ridge.

Bottom line: loved it!

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A small selection of other books by Marcia Meara

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Marcia Meara on: Goodreads – Blog:Marcia Meara Writes – Twitter:@MarciaMeara – Facebook: Marcia Meara

The next book I can highly recommend is  Letter from a Cave: The Mystery of a Letter found in a Cave in the Swiss Mountains Uncovers a Heartbreaking Love Story during World War II by Christa Polkinhorn

One of the reviews for the book

Lizzy 5.0 out of 5 stars Just loved this book! A special, heartwarming story! Reviewed in the United States

I’ve read several of this author’s books over the years, and I was very happy to learn she had a new release, one that gives new adventures to established characters. It’s always great to see old friends. That said, this wonderful book doesn’t rely on past novels to be enjoyed.

Sculptor Andreas, who has been lonely and depressed since his wife’s death three years prior, often hikes into the mountains. One day, while with his dog in a cave, he is surprised when the dog unearths a backpack from years ago. Looking inside, Andreas finds a letter from an Italian man named Joshua to his pregnant wife, Bella during World War II. He realizes Joshua never made it home and his family most likely never knew what happened to him or that he had tried to make contact.

The emotional weight of the letter hits Andreas hard, and with the encouragement of his daughter, Emilia, and his son, Tonio, he sets off to Italy to see if he can do the impossible and track down Bella (if she’s still alive) or other family members. Tonio takes his sister and father to a vineyard in Tuscany where he has a friend, Julietta. Readers of the author’s previous book will remember Julietta and her mother, Luisa, from The Italian Sister.

From this point on, the story really takes off. I don’t want to summarize the plot, but rather offer a short commentary on why I found this book to be so special. Author Polkinhorn has several wonderful and heartfelt sub-plots flowing through the main story. All of them are skillfully woven together, beautifully emulating life and its twisty, unpredictable ways. I genuinely cared about every character.

Letter from a Cave offers suspense, romance, emotion, surprises, nostalgia, and so much more. The author’s gorgeous descriptions made it easy to visualize the scenes in Switzerland and Italy—not to mention making me hungry for Italian food.

This was truly a feel-good read, and I hope the author will continue to write more stories with her delightful characters. Already, I’m wondering how they’re all doing. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Christa Polkinhorn

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Christa: Goodreads – Website: Christa Polkinhorn – Facebook: Christa Polkinhorn – Twitter: @ChristaPolkinh1

And the final book today is from an author who writes about the devastation of war and its aftermath with such authenticity.  Marina Osipova – The Drau River Flows to Siberia: The Victims of Victory

One of the reviews for the book

Luv2read 5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional and timely story  Reviewed in the United States

The Drau River Flows to Siberia: The Victims of Victory by Marina Osipova starts out with a beautifully illusive sentence, “How did you win up on this shore of sorrow?” a voice comes, like a breeze of wind, in a whisper and right away I’m drawn in, taken away, wanting to know what will unfold. A woman named Anna stares at the Ob River and distinguishes a maple leaf that struggles to stay above the gushing foam. The poetic words are vividly lyrical describing Anna struggling to remain on the surface and my heart is connected with this character, wanting to know what has happened to her.

The story moves seamlessly from scene to scene with beautiful metaphorical descriptions that take the reader back a several days where Anna stood before a Major in charge of supervising criminals released by Decree in 1954. The weekly routine was important to her as she hopes to find out the whereabouts of her father and brother, last seen in Moscow 1941. Recollections occur that give a hint of a tortured time in camp, the officer wanting her and she doesn’t reciprocate only to land on the shores of sorrow. The story moves back go 1942. Anna is sixteen and in Krasnodar where German soldiers are cracking whips. The characters are vividly described: her brother a communist zealot, her father a red army commander, her mother a teacher, Aunt Nina – her mother’s twin, an artist, to name a few. Wanting to be an operetta actress, she is at odds with her communist loving family. After her mother’s death her father and aunt debated her fate. She goes to stay with Aunt Nina.

The story moves to 1955, Siberia – Zakhary. A man on the bench drawn to a woman he’ll never forget. The weaving back in time and back to the present on the bench is riveting, compelling, and heartbreaking but in the heartache is benediction for what is good in the human condition, the making of connection, the sharing of good. The research is impeccable and excruciating in detail making it hard to stop reading. Gripped by the way the author drew me in and held me tight to each character and unfolding scene, with attention to historical detail and equally shared attention to authentic emotional character development this story is the stuff of great Russian literature. Highly recommend. 

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of other books by Marina Osipova

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And on: Amazon UK – follow Marina : Goodreads – website:Marina Osipova – Twitter: @marosikok

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books…

Smorgasbord Music Column – William Price King with The Duets #1970s – 1974 – Mockingbird – Carly Simon & James Taylor, Donny and Marie Osmond – Morning Side of the Mountain

In this series for 2024, William will be sharing some of the iconic duets from the 1960s onwards. Collaborations between artists that were hits around the world and are still enjoyed today.

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you will enjoy this trip down memory lane with me in coming months. William

1974 – Mockingbird – Carly Simon & James Taylor

Singer-songwriters Carly Simon and James Taylor recorded a remake of “Mockingbird” in 1973. It was released as the lead single from Simon’s fourth studio album “Hotcakes” in 1974. Taylor had idea to remake “Mockingbird,” which he remembered from a live performance by Inez and Charlie Foxx at the Apollo Theater in 1965, and which he had often sung with his sister for fun as children.

“Mockingbird” was an instant hit and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Pop singles chart and #10 on their Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada the song reached #3, in New Zealand #8, in South Africa it hit #13, and it peaked at #34 in the UK.

1974 – Donny and Marie Osmond – Morning Side of the Mountain

“Morning Side of the Mountain” was first recorded by Tommy Edwards in 1951. It was penned by Larry Stock and Dick Manning. In 1974, Donny & Marie Osmond released their cover version of the song which reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent one week at #1 on its Easy Listening chart. “Morning Side of the Mountain” was a huge hit in both Canada and the UK.

Thanks for joining me today and look forward to hearing from you… William.

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Website: William Price King – Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial – Regular Venue – Cave Wilson