Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up 21st -27th March 2021 – Editing, 1960s Music, Ball Boys, Reviews and humour.

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

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

I hope you are all well and have some decent weather. Ours is still mixed at the moment with freezing showers forecast for tonight. The sun is shining at the moment and whilst still nippy it is a welcome sight.

As you know I prefer the Classic Editor. I did a trial of the block editor and whilst I appreciate that many are very happy with it. I don’t find it helpful for me, because of the posts that I upload. For example this weekly round up which I try to update daily as even with the original classic editor it would usually take an hour. There was an update about three weeks ago which added more steps into the process. Whilst they have said they will not support the editor I had hoped they would have the decency to leave it alone.

But no..on Thursday without warning and in the middle of a post everything changed into an abomination that has removed all functionality and has added many more steps into the process.

I have approached WP who keep bombarding me with ads to upgrade and they tell me that if I go to the Business plan I can have their own classic editor plug in.. It is 300 dollars a year and the only thing that I want is the plug-in for the classic editor. I don’t want to monetise the blog as I don’t wish to sell any books or my services through it. I just want to be able to provide free book marketing for authors current and new. Post health blogs, music and funnies for people to enjoy.

Also I am not paying 300 dollars a year, if the classic editor they deliver in the plug-in, is the one that has just been dished up this week. I want the old classic editor with its functionality and customer friendly interface which was easy to use for new bloggers and those less technical alike. The person who responded to me yesterday could not answer that but still urged me to upgrade to the business plan anyway.

I have to say that I am disappointed in WordPress and their approach to this. There are (from what I can gather) five million + people using the classic editor plug-in and I would be very happy to pay 50 dollars a year for example, for a plug-in that gave me the original classic editor..From comments I have received there are great deal of others who would like to go back to it. It seems to me that WordPress are missing a business opportunity here. 5 million+ paying 50 dollars a year is 250million dollars.

I spent yesterday leaning new software offline. This is an open source platform and open to self-hosted blogs. I am too effectively now, as I can now write and format my posts offline and schedule and upload directly into my blog but without a middleman and the hassle of trying to work within this cumbersome framework.

Looking back at the beginnings of WordPress their mission statement was that this was a place where bloggers of every level could post free, creating posts their way using simple coding that was easy to follow. I am disappointed that they have moved so far from this ethos and the platform is now being run by programmers who are determined to show how creative they can be. That is blogging their way…not as promised the users way.

I am determined that until they throw me out kicking and screaming, I will continue to write my blog ‘my way’ so if you don’t see me around next week you will know what happened!!!

In the meantime.. please forgive any format issues etc as I find my way around the new offline editor.

Anyway on with the show…. and as always my thanks to William Price King, D.G. Kaye and all of you for keep coming back.. That does keep me motivated. Sally.

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1965 Part Two

A return to Tales from the Irish Garden- Spring: Chapter Seven – Jeremy the Donkey

Chapter Eight – The Royal Banquet

#Poetry Challenge No 217 Themeprompt -#Etherees – Immortality

#Poetry Lockdown Innit by M.J. Mallon

#Short Stories–Undercover Crime Shorts by Jane Risdon

Past Book Reviews 2020 – A Year in the Life of Leah Brand: A #Psychological Thriller by Lucinda E. Clarke

#Quotes D.L. Finn, #Blogging Pete Springer, #BookOffer John W. Howell

Tuesday 23rd March 2021 – #Accounting Jim Borden, #Ireland Claire Fullerton, #Finance Sharon Marchisello

Thursday March 25th 2021 – #Writing D.G. Kaye, #Characters John W. Howell, #Interview Amy M. Read

#Reviews – #Ghosts Toni Pike, #Butterflies Bette A. Stevens

-#Epic #Fantasy The Goblin Trilogy by Jaq D. Hawkins

New Author on the Shelves – #Musicians #Covid – Pause, Play, Repeat:The real impact of Covid-19 on musicians by Sammy Stein

New Book on the Shelves – #Fantasy Dead of Winter: Journey 3 – The Fever Field by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

#Family Stevie Turner, #Supernatural John W. Howell, #Action #Romance Jacquie Biggar, #Fantasy C.S. Boyack

Meet the Authors 2021 – #Fantasy K.M. Allan, #Supernatural Jessica Bakkers, #Family Johnnie Bernhard

Meet the Authors 2021 – #Thriller Chuck Bowie, #Family Lisette Brodey, #Guide Dog Ann Chiappetta

What causes your cravings? – Part Two – Need Chocolate?

Turning Back the Clock 2021 – Part Eleven – Anti-Aging and a nutrient dense diet

Meet the Muse by D. Wallace Peach

Five Best Endings by Elizabeth Merry

#Pot Luck – #Spain Chronicles, Part 2 by Darlene Foster

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines Extra – Mid-week boost – More humour from the family… Shadows and Full time job

March 25th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Grilled Chicken and Genies

Open Mic Night – Special Guest Malcolm Allen – Home Depot and Algebra

Thanks very much for visiting this week and all your support.. enjoy your weekend thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Afternoon Video – Here comes a little ray of sunshine… accompanied by a guitar.

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Thanks to Tico and the Man – Frank Maglio

Smorgasbord Afternoon Video – more boogie woogie.. this time a competition.

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

These are brilliant… great to see so many young people getting out on the floor with these iconic dances courtesy of lindyland

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round up – 14th – 20th March 2021 – Tom Jones, Egg Boxes, Poetry, Stories, Reviews and Funnies

Posted on March 20, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up with posts that you might have missed during the week here on Smorgasbord.

I hope you are doing well.. lots going on in the world as usual, and Europe in particular appears to be struggling to contain Covid with many countries seeing a new wave forming. Unfortunately, as in the case of Paris.. giving the population even a few hours notice means that millions pack up and leave for rural areas.. but if it is a hotbed of infection that increases the spread of the disease further across the country. I know it sounds draconian but I don’t think you should announce there is going to be a lockdown in 12hours or three days. You just do it and stop anyone leaving. It would also stop the idiots who decide to throw a massive party the night before lockdown because of the restrictions coming in to force the next morning… The virus is not going to wait until the next morning to infect you.. it is an opportunist and will be very happy to join the party…Sounds like a recipe for disaster…

Ignore me I am just being a grumpy old woman this morning.

We have had a few days of sunshine and I have been sitting in the garden in the afternoons with my reader and enjoying living in another world.. that is the great thing about fantasy of all kinds, although kind of disturbing when you prefer the fantasy world to the one you currently live in! Apparently it will be a little cloudier in coming days but I hope to be able to sneak out for an hour or two.

And, I am so much luckier than many by having a garden to sit in and for us both to be in good health.. More or less as my knee dislocated two weeks ago.. it does that when it gets tetchy as I am missing a ligament.. however it pops back nicely. This time I was over compensating as I hobbled around using a stick, and this irritated my other hip and then my back went out in sympathy. I was pretty much immobile for the last 10 days but improving daily.This is not the first time and won’t be the last and it is mainly due to me not being able to swim everyday in a weightless environment, which keeps the necessary muscles tight and supportive.

Once the swimming pools reopen I will get back to it, despite my reluctance to be seen in public in a bathing suit and the necessity to wear a bathing cap that is dreadfully unflattering, and to my mind pretty useless at stopping hair clogging the outlets or spreading unsavoury particles. Especially when you think some men are extremely hairy all over including beards etc, and have far more follicles that I do on my head… perhaps they should be wearing an all in one rubber suit in the pool or clingfilm….now there’s a vision!

As always I am hugely grateful to William Price King, Debby Gies and Carol Taylor for sharing their love of music, humour and the environment with us.

I know that many of you already know that Debby’s husband has been diagnosed with advanced cancer and is now home with her. Whilst her focus in on G’s care and well-being, Debby is still visiting blogs, share posts and connecting with her friends in the writing community when she has some time to spare. Very important to have that small window of outside interaction when you are a full-time carer. You can read her latest update and I know she would welcome your comments – Update blogging, health and wellness

Debby would like the funnies that we collaborate on to continue, so I will be raiding the archives here and on her Facebook for upcoming posts and they will go out as usual on Tuesday and Thursdays.

Debby is working on her next Realm of Relationship Column but rather than have the pressure of a deadline, we thought we might share the first posts of the series which began in January 2020 every Monday to bring new readers to the blog up to speed. They start on March 29th.

I think that is us up to date… so on with the week’s posts.

– The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1965 Part One

Carol Taylor’s Green Kitchen – #Crumpets, #Baking Soda, #Minced Garlic and Egg Boxes uses.

– A return to Tales from the Irish Garden – Winter: Chapter Five – The Dapperman

Chesebro’s Weekly #Tanka #Poetry Challenge No 216 – #shadorma – Mother Earth

#Fantasy – Soul Swallowers (The Shattered Sea Book 1) by D.Wallace Peach

Past Book Reviews 2020 – The Cruel Romance: A Novel of Love and War by Marina Osipova

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Thriller – The Reckoning Squad by S. Burke

Sunday 14th March 2021 – #Interview D.Wallace Peach, #Reading Robbie Cheadle, #RoundUp Carol Taylor

#ReaderPeeves Anner R. Allen, #Reviewing The Story Reading Ape,#Bookoffer Andrew Joyce..

#Interview D.G.Kaye and M.J. Mallon, #IOW Stevie Turner, #Funnies Marcia Meara

Thursday March 18th 2021 #Audiobook Annie Chiappetta, #Reblogging Hugh Roberts, #Indiancookery Sowmya’s Spicy Corner

#FREE Book Marketing Opportunities 2021 – Making the most of your promotion

Recent reviews – #Wolves Elizabeth Jade, #Bees Paul Noel

New Authors on the Shelves – #Poetry – Rhythm Flourishing: A Collection of Kindku and Sixku by Cendrine Marrouat and David Ellis

#Memoir – Arranging a Dream by J.Q. Rose

#Poetry – Midnight Haiku: : A Year in Contemplation by Sue Vincent

#Paranormal Marcia Meara, #Supernatural Adele Marie Park, #Poetry Harmony Kent, #Adventure Audrey Driscoll.

-#SocialMedia – The Importance of Rules and Regulations and Why We Should Follow Them by Patty L. Fletcher

-#Grief: Collective Underpinnings In Sudden Loss and Importance of One’s Personal Journey. LaDonna Remy MSW, LICSW

– #Life #1960s A Birthday Reflection by Gwen M. Plano

Turning Back the Clock 2021 – Part Ten – Anti-Aging- Keeping the Brain Young

What causes your Cravings? – Part One – Dehydration

March 16th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Hippos and Doctor one liners

March 18th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Pants and Chimp Wisdom

Mid-week boost – More humour from the family….Ketchup and Catfish

March 19th 2021 – Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp – Marriage Alphabet and Anesthesiology

Thank you very much for dropping in today and for your support.. I hope you will join me again next week..Sally.

Smorgasbord Afternoon Video – Animal escape artists

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

You have to keep your eye on this lot….The Pet Collective

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – March 7th -13th 2021 – Free promotion, Petula Clark, Pigeons, Poetry, Anti-Aging, Frozen Shoulders and humour

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

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

Before I get into the news and posts from the week.. I would like to just to share the link again to Debby Gies post this week in case you missed it. Her husband is in hospital again and as you will read has received some devastating news. Debby is as we know a warrior woman and is advocate and carer for her husband, a challenge under normal circumstances but further complicated by Covid restrictions. Let’s Have A Look – Our Medical System During Covid #Health and #Wellness

For the time being you will not see as much of her as we usually do ( I know how much she supports so many of us in the community). This month’s relationship column has been postponed until April and I am sure that you join me in wishing both Debby and her husband love and strength.

A mixed week on the home front with 100kph winds and lashing rain most of the week and they are still pretty fierce today and it is very cold, even if the sun is shining. I did manage to get out earlier in the week and have a bit of tidy in the garden and check on progress with the annuals.. The hydrangeas seem to be doing well and another six weeks should see all eight of the potted ones back in bloom…

Right outside my window the small clump of primroses has expanded and that too gives me hope that spring might at last be around the corner.

There is a lot of chatter going on in the hedges that surround our garden and by the amount of seed they are getting through I think it is safe to say that as far as they are concerned, despite the weather, there is courting to be done.

There is a new series for authors in the Cafe and Bookstore – Share an Excerpt from a Previous Book starting in April and here is the post that tells you all about it. An opportunity to give an older book a bit of love and certainly useful to share an excerpt from the first book in a series etc. Anyway another bit of free book marketing that will just take a few minutes of your time to participate. Here is an example of how it will look the link: Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – #Free #Bookmarketing – Share an Excerpt from a previous books 2021

Coming up on Monday morning is a full list of the current and upcoming promotions for you to take advantage of. Don’t forget it is free and all it takes is a little time to let me know your news… and to help spread the word when it has been promoted.

On my book front, Mary Crowley who is both an author and columnist for The Munster Express not only featured my latest book but wrote a wonderful review.. that was a huge boost to the week. She also kindly put on Goodreads too

Time to get on with the posts from the week.. and as always my thanks to William Price King, Debby Gies for the funnies (posted a couple of weeks ahead) and all of you who provide such amazing support each week for me and those that are promoted in the Cafe.

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1964 Part Two

A return to Tales from the Irish Garden – Winter: The Messengers of Peace and Desperation and The Storyteller

Tales from the Irish Garden – Winter: Chapter Four – The Flight to the New Land

#WWII #VichyFrance- Where Irises Never Grow by Paulette Mahurin

Past Book Reviews 2020 -#Historical #Mystery – A Girl Like You (A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel Book 1) by Michelle Cox

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Paranormal – Wake Robin Ridge: Book One by Marcia Meara

Chesebro’s Weekly #Tanka #Poetry Challenge No 215 Poet’s Choice – #BadgerHexastich – Happiness

Blogging Kindness by D. Wallace Peach

#Family Comings and Goings Twenty Years Ago by Elizabeth Merry

Archives 2021 – #Pot Luck – #Spain Chronicles, Part 1 by Darlene Foster

#Reviews – #Ghost Toni Pike, #FunBus Sue Wickstead

New Book on the Shelves – Kong and the Magic Jungle (The Adventures of Kong, the Magic Gorilla) by Joyce Murphy

#Romance #Humour – The Little Ice Cream Shop by the Sea by Lizzie Chantree

New Book on the Shelves – #Gothic #Supernatural – Wolfe Manor by Adele Marie Park

New Author on the Shelves – #YA #HisoricalAdventure – Vengeance of a Slave by V.M. Sang

#Poetry M.J. Mallon, #Thriller Alex Craigie, #Thriller Carol Balawyder

K.M. Allan, Judith Barrow, Ritu Bhathal, Sandra Cox and James J. Cudney

Why do so many people in their 50s suffer from a frozen shoulder?

Part Nine – Anti-Aging and how we face the world

Monday March 8th 2021 – #Ireland Claire Fullerton, #Podcasts Jan Sikes, #Spirituality Sue Vincent

Tuesday March 9th 2021 – #Environment Carol Taylor, #Humanity Pete Springer, #Motivation John Howell

#Interview Judith Barrow, #Reviews D.L. Finn, #History Pat Furstenberg

Thursday March 11th 2021 – #Humour Craig Boyack, #York A Bit About Britain, #NegativeReviews Jan Sikes, #Release Sue Vincent

March 9th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Casinos and Grammar one-liners

March 11th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – KFC and Shepherds

Open Mic Night – Special Guest Malcolm Allen – A Plethora of humour

Thanks very much for dropping and for your support during the week.. look forward to seeing you again soon…Sally.

Smorgasbord Afternoon Video – Funny Commercials

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

The lighter side of shopping and banking

Smorgasbord Afternoon Video – Celebrities sharing the stage and making dreams come true – Michael Buble

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Some celebrities go the extra mile with their fans and don’t mind sharing the limelight …a lovely video where Michael Buble makes a young fans dreams come true. Michael Bublé

Smorgasbord Afternoon Video – The Collie Walk – So good you will want to watch it twice..

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

This video is on speed dial for me – when things get a tad stressful I pop into Youtube and spend a few minutes watching my favourite dog – the collie x five of them playing a game – the one at the back looks like he is determined to get his man… I hope you enjoy as much as I do.asheepdogdiary

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up..- February 28th – March 6th – Pretty Woman, Shortstories, Poetry, Book Reviews, Food and Funnies.

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

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

Nothing new to report on the home front as we face another month in full lock down. Hopefully by the better weather (usually) appears in May we will be able to get out and about a little more.

On the blog front there are a few changes taking place in the next couple of weeks. The first is that the Cafe and Bookstore update has had a facelift and from Friday 12th March will go from three posts a week to one which is The Weekly News with more authors featured in the post but with just book covers their most recent review and their links.

I am hoping that with more authors sharing the post to boost their own featured review, the post will reach a wider audience.

I will continue to do a standalone feature for new books or new authors in the Cafe and to post regular features where everyone in the Cafe gets a showcase. With the past book reviews, current book reviews and the archive posts I hope that will offer plenty of opportunities for book promotions.

If you have a new book coming out in the next month then please let me know as I am working a couple of weeks ahead and I don’t want to miss any.

My thanks to Robbie Cheadle – Jacquie Biggar – Mary Crowley, Marian Beaman and Alex Craigie for their wonderful reviews for Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries this week.

As always my thanks to William Price King for co-presenting the Breakfast Show with me.. we are having so much fun, Debby Gies for the funnies…and Danny Kemp for getting the weekend off to a good start… and or course to you for your ongoing support… have a good weekend.

Here are the posts from the week you might have missed.