Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – January 3rd – 9th 2020 – Breakfast Show, 1960s, Poetry, Book Reviews, Health and Funnies

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

A rollercoaster of a week on many fronts and hard to stay hopeful in a time of such unrest and the pandemic. Ireland saw cases rise to around 500 mark in May during the first wave but yesterday recorded over 8000 new cases. With only 5 million population the cases so far have shown that being a small nation makes it just as hard to contain.

This does not of course compare to the over 300,000 new case in the USA and similar horrific figures in Europe and other countries. Vaccines are slowly being rolled out but the logistics of vaccinating whole countries, to ensure that those in most need such as front line health carers, those most at risk. We are down the list without any underlying health issues and being under 70, and also I cannot have the Pfizer vaccine as I have a severe allergy to both Penicillin and Tetanus.

Allergy warnings have been issued by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) following reports of anaphylaxis among two recipients of the vaccine last week.

The head of the MHRA, Dr June Raine, said: “Any person with a history of anaphylaxis to a vaccine, medicine or food should not receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

“A second dose should not be given to anyone who has experienced anaphylaxis following administration of the first dose of this vaccine.”  allergies and Covid vaccine pfizer.

I firmly believe in vaccinations but will wait until the Oxford variant is available.. and if you would like to know more about how the various Covid vaccines work with out bodies to help protect us then these articles are very helpful.

How the Various Vaccines Work – And – How does the Oxford Vaccine Work

Other news on the personal front.

One of the bright spots of the week has been the wonderful support of the writing community who have been kind enough to share their thoughts on Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries.. and if you would like to read their reviews you can find some on Goodreads and all of them on my book page. Thank you for the motivation.

And I do have more news on the book. We have always printed my books independently and uploaded to Amazon and paid them commission to sell the books. However, despite Ireland not being part of the UK and without VAT on printed books at the time, Amazon said that to continue to sell print books we would need to register for VAT.. so we removed my print books and I have sold them at fairs and via paypal.

So we decided to try out Amazon’s print on demand and so for those who would like the book in print it should be available in the next week. Looking forward to seeing how it works out.

On the blog and book promotion front for you….

Since this series began in January 2018 there have been over 1000 Posts from Your Archives where bloggers have taken the opportunity to share posts to a new audience… mine.

The topics have ranged from travel, childhood, recipes, history, family and the most recent series was #PotLuck where I shared a random selection of different topics.

In this series I will be sharing posts from the last six months of 2020

It is an opportunity to showcase your writing skill to my readers and also to share on my social media. Which combined is around the 46,000 mark. If you are an author your books will be mentioned too, along with their buy links and your other social media contacts.

How to feature in the series? – 2021 – Pot Luck – Posts from Your Archives

As always my thanks to William Price King, Debby Gies and Daniel Kemp for their contributions this week and so pleased that the new Breakfast Show is going down well.

And of course many thanks to you for visiting and leaving your comments and sharing around the usual haunts.. it is much appreciate..

This week’s posts.

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1960 – Part One.

The Sewing Circle Part Two

The Other Side of Heaven

Chesebro’s Poetry Challenge – Butterfly Cinquain – ‘Hope’ by Sally Cronin

April 1986 – San Diego – Trash Can Punch and Sea World

#Mystery #Paranormal – The Light (Wake-Robin Ridge Book 4) by Marcia Meara

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #SouthernFiction – Little Tea by Claire Fullerton

New Author on the Shelves – D.L. Cross – The Forgotten -Astral Conspiracy: (An Alien Invasion Science

New Release – #Western #Romance Sandra Cox, #Fantasy Vashti Quiroz-Vega, – Review #Poetry Balroop Singh

#YAMystery D.L.Finn, #Memoir Liesbet Collaert, #Family Judith Barrow.

Reviews – #PostApocalyptic Terry Tyler, #Fantasy C.S Boyack, #Memoir D.G. Kaye

#Chocolate Robbie and Michael Cheadle, #Fishing Dawn Doig, #Wolves Elizabeth Jade

Monday 4th January 2020 – Carol Taylor, Jennie Fitzkee, Judith Barrow

Wednesday January 6th 2021 – Stevie Turner, Mary Smith, Jean Lee

Friday 8th January 2021 – Carol Taylor, Joy Lennick, Patricia Furstenberg

Getting the year off to a healthy start – Part One by Sally Cronin

Getting the year off to a healthy start – Part Two

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines – January 5th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Pajamas and Word Games

January 7th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Crafting and Teenage Imaginations!

January 8th 2021 – Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp – Poachers and Retirement speeches…

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up – September 27th – October 3rd – Don Shirley, Salsa, The Pack, Books, Reviews, Health and Laughter.

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

The weeks may be flying passed rapidly as we head into autumn and nature at least seems to be keeping to its schedule.. The news headlines are not improving with regard to Covid 19 and it seems that even those who have levels of protection we are not provided still are at risk. Our own Prime Minister and other cabinet members have been infected and certainly judging by the fatigue and signs of stress they are all showing, it is not something you bounce back from overnight.

All is relatively quiet in the Emerald Isles except for isolated clusters but cases have been on the rise, and hitting the younger demographic. Possibly because every person in my age bracket is wearing a mask and the majority gloves to do their shopping and stepping around each other in the supermarket in some quirky form of the samba.

The young feel invincible, and it is understandable that they are frustrated with the restrictions. Surely if they are bright enough to go to college and university, they are bright enough to understand that having 1000 strong rave until 2.00 in the morning with lots of physical contact, singing and shouting at each other over the noise of the music, and sweating as they dance, is not going to be boycotted by the virus.. Despite the fact most of the music would keep me away.

Then they wonder why there is a spike in infections two weeks later… perhaps commonsense is not on the curriculum!

Anyway enough of the grumpy old woman!

Classic Editor

On a brighter note I am hop, skipping and jumping all over the place to keep my classic editor going.. At least for the time being I still have the option and hopefully they will keep their promise until December 2021. It does involve remembering to click down options and select the classic version so you need to keep your wits about you.

Revisit to Author Interviews.

I am also doing a tidy up of my files and revisiting guest interviews over the last five years. Where information is reasonably current I am updating with the authors books and reviews and will be posting a selection of interviews on Sunday’s once the current series finishes on October 11th. The posts will take us nicely up to Christmas (sorry about using that word!) and then I will think about a new interview theme for the New Year…

My thanks as always to William Price King and Carol Taylor for their amazing contributions this week, and to you for all the support…

William Price King with Classical and Jazz Pianist Don Shirley #TheGreenBook

A – Z of Food ‘S’ for Satay, Salsa, Salmagundi, Sage, Squid and Salt Hoss

Shake the Dust off your Feet by Sherri Matthews

Chapter Nine – Other Pack Members and Respect your Elders

#Ireland #1930s – Divine Guidance

Some very odd jobs – The Shoe Department.

The Cosmetic Department

#Free Book and Some of my Very Odd Jobs – The Steak House Part One

October 1985 – Have a Nice Day… In the Big Apple

Part Two – Nitrate and Potassium foods and wholegrains -Get your blood flowing

Essential Oils and Aromatherapy – Oils, origins, uses and Safety – Part One

#Supernatural Adventure Eternal Road: The Final Stop by John W. Howell.

Past Book Reviews – #ParanormalThriller John W. Howell and Gwen Plano, #Thriller Toni Pike.

Share your review – Brody Cody and the Stepmother from Outer Space by Toni Pike, Reviewed by D.G. Kaye

#Thriller, Donovan: Thief for Hire: The Body on the Underwater Road by Chuck Bowie

#Psychologicalthriller – Becoming Insane by Leyla Cardena

#Poetry Denise O’Hagan, #Historical Allan Hudson, #Novel Margaret Lindsay Holton, Dystopian Terry Tyler

#Western Jan Sikes, #Contemporary Ritu Bhathal, #Mystery Richard W. Wise, New Release Anita Dawes

New Release #Family James J. Cudney, Reviews – #Thriller Susanne Leist, #Mystery Geoff Le Pard

Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Wireless doorbells and Stud Fees

Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – More Doorbells and a Talking Dog

October 2nd 2020 – Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp

 

Thank you for dropping in and I hope you have enjoyed the posts… enjoy your weekend..thanks Sally

 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up 23rd – 29th August 2020 – Barbra Streisand, Ireland, Houston, Book Reviews, Children’s Books, Health and Laughter

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

Another week has come and gone with little change to the headlines or the weather. However, as always the warmth of this community, its creativity and its tenacity has shone threw..I hope your week has reflected that.

Tomorrow author Harmony Kent will be the first guest in the new Author Spotlight – Life Changing Moments – and joining her over the next few weeks are D.G.Kaye, Colin Guest, Toni Pike, Sherri Matthews, and Jane Sturgeon.. If you would like to join them then please check out the highlighted link. I am sure many of you have faced life changing moments that have led you to this point in your life.

My thanks again to the regular contributors.. and a welcome back to William Price King on September 1st with a brand new series. Carol Taylor is with us on Wednesday 2nd September with her A-Z of foods and this week it is the turn of the letter ‘Q’… packed with information and recipes. Debby Gies will be joining me as usual for the Laughter Lines on Tuesday and Thursday and as guest of honour on Sunday 6th in the Author Spotlight.

Here are the posts for the week and thanks for all you support in getting them noticed.. it is very much appreciated…

Smorgasbord Summer Music Festival with hosts William Price King and Sally Cronin – Headliners Barbra Streisand and Christina Aquilera

A new series of stories by Geoff Cronin of life in Waterford in the 20s, 30s and 40s…

Short Stories – Milestones Along the Way – #Waterford 1930s – The Banks (of The Suir) by Geoff Cronin

August 1985 – Houston, Hurricane Danny, Trivia Pursuit

Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story – Chapter Four – Henry’s Story and Costa del Sam

#Mystery – Frozen Stiff Drink: A Kellan Ayrwick Cozy Mystery (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 6) by James J. Cudney

Past Book Reviews -#Poetry #Shortstories Colleen M. Chesebro, #Paranormal #Thriller Jacquie Biggar

Colleen Chesebro Challenge Theme Prompt Butterfly Cinquain – The Maps

Nutrients that work better together – Part One -Vitamin C, D, K , Calcium and Magnesium

The Medicine Woman’s Treasure Chest – Herbal Medicine – Saw Palmetto – #Men’sHealth – Hormone Imbalance

New Author on the Shelves – Age Group 7 – 12 #Huskies #Wolves – Akea – The Power of Destiny (Book 1 in the Akea Series) by Elizabeth Jade

#Friendship Dawn Doig, #Fondant Characters Robbie and Michael Cheadle, #AmericanHistory Barbara Ann Mojica

New #Release and #Reviews -#Bears #Poetry Frank Prem, #Monkey Adventure Donald Lloyd Jr. #Stepmother Toni Pike

#Fantasy #Pre-Order- Liars and Thieves (Unraveling the Veil Book 1) by D.Wallace Peach

#RomanticComedy Linda G. Hill, #PsychologicalThriller Anne Goodwin, #Historical Noelle Granger

#Russia Marina Osipova #Western Jan Sikes, #Poetry Balroop Singh, #Afghanistan Mary Smith

New release #Scifi Richard Dee, #Reviews Paul Edmondson, #Mystery Mary Anne Edwards, #Thriller Mark Bierman

#Connection, What Is It and How Does It Happen? by Patty Fletcher

#WWII – #Wales Evacuation by Joy Lennick

10 Lessons I Learned From Writing My Own Eulogy by Erica/Erika

Vaccination Day Tanka by Elizabeth Gauffreau

-#Covid #Shopping – Our foray to the local market by Pranav Lal

-#Travel -#Yellow – Exploring Sunny California and Arizona by Marsha Ingrao

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines –August 25th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin If it seems to good to be true and last wish

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines –August 27th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin If it seems to good to be true and last wish

August 28th 2020- Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp

Before you go some posts from team members D.G. Kaye and Carol Taylor you might like to head over to read.

Debby Gies with this month’s #WATWB – We are the World Blogfest Face Masks Help the Hearing Impaired Community with the inspiring story of a teenager sewing transparent masks so that those with hearing difficulties can lip read..Face Masks for the Hearing Impaired

Carol Taylor with the first part of sugars and their effect on children’s teeth.. the statistics for children’s extraction of baby teeth and then as teenagers with their adult teeth are appalling. Well worth heading over to read. Children’s teeth and obesity due to sugars

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will join us again next week.. have a lovely weekend. thanks Sally

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 9th – 15th August 2020 – Intuition, Nat King Cole, Apple Roses, Children’s Books, Reviews, Health and Funnies

Welcome to the round up with post you might have missed on Smorgasbord this week.

I hope everybody is doing well.. I am sure that like me you are watching the headlines and keeping up do date with not just your own country’s progress with the pandemic but also on a worldwide basis. At this point all we can do is remain safe and avoid covidiots that seem to think social distancing and masks do not apply to them.

On a positive note...I have made a few tweaks to new book releases from August 26th  that I hope will increase exposure for the authors concerned. If you are already in the Cafe and Bookstore you new book announcement will be added to the Cafe Updates on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. I hope that the fact that there are four authors in the post, it will generate more views for your new book. Over a period of a couple of weeks they usually generate an average of 150 views and multiple shares on Twitter and Facebook.

If you are a new author to the Cafe and Bookstore I will post the usual introductory promotion with bio etc.

This is the latest way to share your work and I now have some wonderful stories of defining moments in the lives of authors in the Cafe and Bookstore. It would be wonderful to share your stories too so perhaps you could read the post and read my story so you can see how it will look.  The series begins the last Sunday of August and I am now booking for the second week in October.. Look forward to hearing from you.

Author Spotlight – Life Changing Moments

If you missed them here are some posts from my contributors this week that you might like to head over and read.

Debby Gies interviews Adele Marie Park about her childhood on the island of
Rousay part of the Orkney Isles where she encountered tales Finn Folk,
Selkies and mermaids.. Adele has just released her latest book, Sea Dragon – Wisp II and shares what is coming next. As always Debby’s questions are tailored to her guest and the interview makes for interesting reading.D.G Kaye interviews Adele Marie Park

Carol Taylor with her Saturday Snippets with posts ranging from Bees and their importance to our environment, Lemon Meringue Pie, National Afternoon Tea Week, Music from Jimi Hendrix, Rooftop farms, removing hooks from shark’s mouths and respect for those who died during the holocaust.. As you can see a varied and interesting post.. please head over. Saturday Snippets with Carol Taylor

Time to catch up with the posts from the week here on Smorgasbord.. thank you for all your support and also to Debby Gies and Silvia Todesco for their wonderful contributions this week. William Price King is back with a brand new Music Column on September 1st.

August 2020 – #Intuition – Do you trust your gut instincts?

Headliners Nat King Cole and Billy Joel

#Italian Cookery with Silvia Todesco – #Dessert- Puff pastry and apples roses

Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story – Chapter Two – My New Home by Sally Cronin

#Ireland #History – The Colour of Life – #Angling The Haul Of Bass 1955 by Geoff Cronin

Before and After of our home in Wexford and a Haiku

Butterfly #Cinquain – Embraced by Sally Cronin

#Prehistoric – Against All Odds (Book 3 of the Crossroads Trilogy) by Jacqui Murray

Past book reviews – #Mystery John W. Howell, #DystopianSciFi Terry Tyler,

New Author on the Shelves – #Environment – That’s Our Home by Jude Lennon

7 – 10 years – The Adventures of Monkey and Toad: Two Remarkable Friends by Donald Lloyd Jr.

#Vampire #Thriller The Dead at Heart: Book Three of The Dead Game Series by Susanne Leist

#Prehistoric – Against All Odds (Book 3 of the Crossroads Trilogy) by Jacqui Murray

#Contemporary Ritu Bhathal, #Crime Jane Risdon, #Poetry Leon Stevens

#Anthology M.J. Mallon, #Thriller Carol Balawyder, #Mystery James J. Cudney

Darlene Foster Interviews Author Mary Smith

#WritingHabits by D.G. Kaye

Top Ten Things Not to Do at the First Sale of #Coca-Cola in 1886 by John W. Howell

Happy Birthday Maine! by Bette A. Stevens

The Humor of Life by Pete Springer

Supplements – Absorbing the nutrients, avoiding the additives

The Medicine Woman’s Treasure Chest – Herbal Medicine – Chamomile (Camomile)

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines –August 11th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines –August 13th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

August 14th 2020- Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp

Thanks so much for dropping by today and I hope to see you again next week.. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Weekly Round Up – 12th – 18th July 2020 – Children’s Book Store, Relationships, Italian Cookery, Book Reviews, Health, Humour and Music

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

I hope you are all doing well and that your families are safe and well. There are mixed messages as always about what we can and cannot do and clearly there are still some hot spots around our countries and the world where life continues to be very difficult.

I thought I would give you a hint of the new promotions that are coming up in the next couple of months and to remind you of those running at the moment.

I am creating a spin off Cafe and Bookstore for Children’s books and Early Teens… As Robbie Cheadle pointed out in a comment this week, it is very difficult to market children’s books, especially at the moment with virtual launches. Also because many children’s books tend to be print only. The authors with books suitable up to 12 years old will have separate entries for their children’s books in this new Cafe but will still retain their entries in the main bookstore with other books they may have.

There will be new author and book promotions, separate children’s cafe updates and special promotions at certain times of the year such as Christmas.

I really would like your help once it is set up to spread the word to children’s authors who might like to have a promotion for their books and be showcased in the new cafe.  I have a post going out about it on the 27th of July.

I am putting the entries together in the next week and will share the link in the promotional post. If I have missed any books of yours that are suitable for children up to 12 years old you can let me know at that point.

I have had a great response to the post and August is now fully booked but if you would like to participate in September then just let me know. An ideal opportunity to promote your blog posts and I will also top and tail with any book details, author bio and links. Full details are in the post.

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives -#NewSeries August 2020- Pot Luck and Do You Trust Me??

Coming in September – the return of the Sunday Author Interview… with a new theme and questions… promotional post on July 30th.

As always I am very grateful for the time and effort that the contributors to the blog put in to produce such amazing posts, and to you for dropping in. If you have time to leave a comment it is always appreciated and it also is a way to connect to others who pass through the blog. This community has never been more important as it is today, and the stronger it is, the stronger we are as individuals.

Calling All Fixers

Are you that person who has a dire need to fix the people you care about? Are you that person who thinks nobody can fix things like you can? Let me tell you, I was one of those people, and I learned that there are definite limitations when it comes to thinking we can repair others—despite how much our hearts truly wish we could.

D. G. Kaye Explores the Realms of Relationships – July 2020 – Calling All Fixers!

Smorgasbord Summer Music Festival with hosts William Price King and Sally Cronin – Headliners Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen and Chris de Burgh

#Italian Cookery with Silvia Todesco – Milanesa style thin cut beef (Cotoletta alla milanese)

Tales from the Garden – Chapter Ten – The Last Summer Ball and the Winter Fairy – Part One

The Colour of Life – The Nuns At The Glue Pot 1946 by Geoff Cronin

#Haiku #Wexford #Ireland -Rescued from the Deep

Letters from America 1985-1987 – July 1985 – A new baby arrives and I meet Debbie around the pool

#Anthology – This is Lockdown – Covid 19 Diaries – Flash Fiction – Poetry M.J. Mallon and Other Authors

Colleen Chesebro’s weekly Tanka Challenge -#Butterfly Cinquain – Wise Women

Project 101 – Resilience – The importance of a healthy gut (part two) #Candida

Herbal Medicine – Make Thyme in your life for this versatile herb for health and cooking.

There is little doubt that this last three months of lock down has impacted all our lives. Marjorie Mallon has compiled an anthology that shares her own diary of events over that period about the pandemic and life as a family in lock down.. and the thoughts and poetry of others within the blogging community including myself.

Special Feature – #Anthology – This is Lockdown – Covid 19 Diaries – Flash Fiction – Poetry M.J. Mallon and Other Authors

#Historical #Fantasy – Reign of Retribution (The Eternal Realm Book 3) by Fiona Tarr

#Fantasy – Sea Dragons: Wisp II by Adele Marie Park

#Thriller John W. Howell, #Murder Mystery Barbara Silkstone, #Mystery Stevie Turner

#Familydrama James J. Cudney, #Prehistoric Jacqui Murray, #Children’s Toni Pike

#Poetry M.J. Mallon, #Contemporary Olga Nunez Miret, #Dystopian Teri Polen

#Thriller Allan Hudson, #Poetry Joyce Murphy, #Paranormal #Romance Marcia Meara

#History Barbara Ann Mojica, #Children’s Paul Noel, #Mystery Judy Penz Sheluk

#Romance Ritu Bhathal, #YAMystery Karen Demers Dowdall, #Paranormal S.A. Harris,

#Childrens Deanie Humphrys Dunne, #Dystopian Sandra J. Jackson #NewAdult #Romance Abbie Johnson Taylor

#Writing Denise O’Hagan, #Children Wanda Luthman, #RomanticComedy Jack Lindsey

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines – July 14th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines – July 16th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

The Senior Team pass the Courtroom funnies along.

Thank you very much for dropping in today and during the week… it is much appreciated and I hope you will join me again next week.. Thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up 21st -27th June 2020 – Josh Groban, Lemon Meringue Pie, #Ireland, Book Reviews, Authors and Humour

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

I hope you are all well as we peel back the layers of re-entry into the world again. Some are getting on better than others, and I can understand why the younger generation wants to dive back into the deep end of the pool.. but I think I will potter around in the shallows for a little while longer.

I am delighted that my hairdresser has finished the re-opening preparations, and they rang without prompting to ask if I needed an appointment.. David has done a great job with his clippers at the back, but the front that I have attended to, looks a little ragged around the edges. You can’t do it when wearing glasses very easily so took those off… not a good move… so it was a bit hit and miss with the scissors and I think I might have accidentally removed half an eyebrow too!.

Anyway…July 7th I will have it all cut back and aim for a quick visit every six weeks… with no magazines, a cup of coffee and no chit chat behind our masks it will not be quite the relaxing treat it used to be. It will be a while before the longer appointments for colour, highlights and extensions are reinstated but thankfully I use a silver rinse once a week at home and I am done…

The weather has been a mixture of very hot days, thundery nights, and now rain for the next five days. At least the lawn and the pot plants appreciate it. I have loved sitting outside with books and music and I am hoping that after this few days summer will return… one can only hope.

In the last couple of weeks I have been a guest on some friend’s blogs and if you have time to pop over and read and share that would be amazing.

Last week I was the guest of Marjorie Mallon as part of her series on poetry and thoughts of writers in isolation. She kindly share a recent poem of mine and my views on our lives going forward, particularly those of the younger children, those waiting for treatment for life threatening diseases and the elderly. Marje will be releasing an anthology of her own stories and poetry as well as her guests thoughts on the pandemic soon.

Photo by Jordan Benton from Pexels

Sally Cronin: Lockdown #Poetry #Thoughts #Isolation #Writers

This week I was the guest of author Darlene Foster whose successful Amanda travel series has introduced children around the world to the joys of discovering new countries and cultures. I shared my experience as a ten year old, of travelling to South Africa and some of the adventures during our two year stay in Cape Town.

Special Guest, Sally Cronin: Travels as a Child

Time to get on with the posts from the week and my thanks to William Price King, Carol Taylor and Debby Gies for their contributions which are always a delight to share and clearly enjoyed. Also thanks to you for dropping by, commenting and sharing; it is much appreciated.

The Music Column with William Price King – Josh Groban – Part One

Carol Taylor – A – Z of Food – ‘L’ is for Lamb, Lavender, Lemon/ Lime Meringue Pie, Liquorice and Liver…

James the Landlord 1939

#Thriller – Five Stars – The Reckoning Squad by S. Burke

#Eagles – The Daredevil by Sally Cronin – Image Tofino Photography

Tales from the Garden Chapter Seven – Little Girl Lost

Chesebro’s weekly Tanka Challenge – #Butterfly Cinquain – Our Legacy

Letters from America 1985-1987 – #Texas weather, Suntans and Trivia Pursuit

#Acidity/Alkalinity pH Balance for Health Part Three and Music Therapy –

Food Therapy – Make the most of Summer – Homemade Fruit Salad and Smoothies

New Author on the Shelves – #RomanticComedy – Cogrill’s Mill by Jack Lindsey

#History – Great Spirit of Yosemite: The Story of Chief Tenaya by Paul Edmondson

#Murder #Mystery – Redlined: A Novel of Boston by Richard W. Wise

#Thriller Mark Bierman, #Mystery #Romance Lizzie Chantree, #Thriller John W. Howell

#Poetry Miriam Hurdle, #Memoir #Humour Andrew Joyce, #Memoir Marian Longenecker Beaman

#Memoir – Twenty Years After “I Do” by D.G. Kaye

#Poetry Frank Prem, #Fantasy Teagan Geneviene, #Humour #Mystery Mae Clair

Meet the Authors – #Mystery Barbara Silkstone, #Mystery Janet Gogerty, #Thriller Eloise De Sousa

#BritishHistory Mike Biles, #Thriller Suzanne Burke, #Doglovers Patty Fletcher

#PsychologicalThriller Lucinda E. Clarke, #Thriller John L. DeBoer, #War #Dogs Patricia Furstenberg

#Scifi #YA Heather Kindt, #Mystery Lizzie Chantree, #Scifi Jack Eason

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines – June 23rd 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines – June 25th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines Extra – TGI Friday – host Sally Cronin

Thank you so much for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed your visit..look forward to seeing you again next week…thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Weekly Round Up – 3rd – 9th May 2020 – New York, Houston, Waterford, Sri Lanka, Asparagus, New books, Reviews, Guests and Laughter

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

There has been some lovely weather this week, especially once the breeze dropped, and I have been taking full advantage… it also offered me the opportunity to listen to music and to catch up on my reading which is always a good thing.

In most of our countries there is a gradual lifting of restrictions, although some around the world are being a little less cautious. The fact that a high percentage of those who were told to isolate for the last couple of months have said they are reluctant to go out and mingle again, is quite understandable, especially as there are so many mixed messages being given airtime by the media.

There are a few studies and findings that do have merit however, and they confirm the views I have always held. We have to take more responsibility for our own health, especially as we get older. The key indicators for mortality from this virus are becoming evident and rather than feel powerless and afraid of the predicted resurgence in the second wave or this coming autumn, we now have an opportunity to stack the odds in our favour.

I have posted columns in the past about the immune system, lung function, the digestive system, reducing weight to healthier levels, diabetes and reducing the toxic load on the liver. These systems are not as robust or as effective as we get into our mid 60s and older, and need constant maintenance and input in the form of fresh food that provides the nutrients the body needs to defend itself and keep it functioning.

I am 67 years old and well aware that to the medical profession I am in the vulnerable range, and I have taken a good look at my own lifestyle and diet in the last 8 weeks to ensure there are no gaping potholes in my health care.

Having lost quite a bit of weight in the last year, I know that I need to tone up and change my exercise to improve my heart and lung function. So I am going back to swimming once the local pools are open.

I am not on any prescribed medication, but I want to make sure that my blood pressure and blood sugar levels remain within normal ranges. This means making some small changes to my regular diet and exercise.

Having been a practicing nutritional therapist for over 20 years, I am a firm believer in not making sweeping and tough to adopt changes. I believe in the ‘101 small changes’ approach that are easy to incorporate into our daily lives, but which make a huge difference to the problems that need addressing.

I am starting a new series from May 19th for three days a week, that provide a guide to improving the function of these key areas of the body to improve our resilience to any opportune pathogen that comes our way, not just the current one.  I hope you will find interesting but also helpful. There will be dancing involved!!!

Anyway, time for this week’s posts and as always I am so grateful for those who contribute and participate each week and to you for all your support..

A Tribute to New York.. On The Town – with Frank Sinatra

Life on the Ocean Wave – Part Five 1943 – 1946 – HMS Forth and captured U-boats, Ceylon, HMS Woolwich, Earl Mountbatten

#Memoir #Waterford #Ireland 1930s – The Colour of Life – The Art of Making Snares – 1934 by Geoff Cronin

Letters from America 1985-1987 – Adventures in the USA – 1985 – Poolside chats, Spaghetti Bolognese and Irish Jokes

I have added some haiku to images that I have taken on our travels that I hope you will enjoy.

Lava beach Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Spain – A fortified Town

Spain – Bass Lie in Wait

Double Etheree – Persecution in the Garden

#DystopianSciFi -Wasteland (Operation Galton Book 2) by Terry Tyler

#Asparagus – Nutrient Packed and Delicious

#Paranormal – The Watcher (The Weaver Trilogy Book 2) by Heather Kindt

#Thriller John L. DeBoer , #Drama Elizabeth Gauffreau, #Thriller Janet Gogerty

#Doglovers Andrew Joyce, #Memoir Pete Springer, #Childrens Robbie and Michael Cheadle.

#SouthernFiction Claire Fullerton, #FlashFiction Sarah Brentyn, #FamilyDrama Judith Barrow

#Memoir – Words We Carry: Essays of Obsession and Self-Esteem by D.G. Kaye

#MedicalMystery – Going Home by Sharon Marchisello

#Family – The Bright Side of Darkness by J.E. Pinto

#Memoir – More into Africa by Ann Patras

#Comingofage – Dog Bone Soup by Bette A. Stevens

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines – May 5th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

May 7th 2020 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp

Thank you very much for dropping in and I hope you will join us again next week… stay safe.. Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – April 19th – April 25th 2020 – Bond Themes, #Waterford History, Royal Navy WWII, Letters from America, Poetry, Book Reviews and Guests.

Welcome to the Smorgasbord Blog Magazine weekly round up with posts that you might have missed during the week.

I hope that everyone continues to do well.  There is some evidence that there might be an easing of the self-isolation restrictions for some age groups, and also the possibility in the UK at least of being able to interact with close family members, up to a bubble of 10 people, in the weeks ahead. That is good news as for those elderly, living on their own without physical contact with children and grandchildren it has been very challenging.

I have to say that I am very impressed by the majority who have followed the restrictions and also the supermarkets and stores allowed to be open who have done very best to the items we are used to available as well as the essentials… and also there efforts to maintain social distancing. I am so grateful for the front line staff, stocking the shelves and manning the checkouts who remain cheerful and helpful. A simple thank you seemed totally inadequate.

Also of course those health care workers who are working so tirelessly to keep those infected alive, and I hope that when this is over there will be a shift in both the operational side to the NHS and other health services with regard to the well being of their staff, and also planning for the future using the lessons delivered during the pandemic.

And of course there is the amazing contribution from individuals such as Captain Tom Moore who it is believed in in line for a CBE following his fund-raising for the NHS to the tune of £28 million. With congratulations on reaching #1 in the charts with his single recorded with Michael Ball ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

What an inspirational man and he is 100 years old in five days time. The local post office has already had to take over a local school’s gym to stack all the cards and gifts that have been arriving daily and if ever there was a star of this challenging time is an old man who has already served his country and is doing so again.

On the other hand, there are those who have royally miffed me this week in the press… Celebrities posing or moaning about being in isolation in their mansions with football pitch sized gardens, or on their luxury island paradises  or mega yachts. Female celebrities (and some male ones) and those who aspire to being one, whipping their clothes off and posing in underwear, bikinis or even naked, as if this some how would lift the spirits of the majority of us, male or female with other more important issues on our minds!

I am not going to touch leadership issues and alleged ‘cures’ with a barge pole……..

What I will do is offer this musical interlude that shares the wisdom of Monty Python, and whilst it might be top of the list when it comes to funerals, it is also something to inspire the living…

I have selected the singalong version…I hope you will join in…

Thanks Monty Python

Now to get on with the business of the day….

This week sees the start of a new book marketing series for authors on the shelves of the Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Free Author Promotion

The Cafe and Bookstore has approximately 150 authors and up to 7 of their covers on the shelves. So that I can have the time to check each author regularly and update with their reviews and latest releases, the authors featured have reviews that are less than six months old.

A few statistics about the Cafe and Bookstore in 2019/2020

• In 2019 there were 130 Cafe Updates featuring 3 to 5 authors in each post, including the summer features and Christmas book fair and 125 New book Promotions
• The top viewed (220) New Book on the Shelves was A Bit About Britain’s History by Mike Biles
• The average new book on the shelves promotion has over 100 views on the blog, multi-retweets on Twitter and shares on Facebook.
• It is a free book promotion and all it costs is a little bit of your time, letting me know and responding to comments. Judging from comments, I am confident that the posts do result, in not only effective exposure for your books but also sales and more reviews.
• In 2020 the number of Cafe updates has increased to three a week which will take the total updates to 156 and there are three special features during the year when every author on the shelves will be promoted in the Spring, Summer and Christmas.
• With this new series Share an Extract that will offer 100 + more marketing slots for authors on the shelves.

We put a great deal of effort into promoting our new, recent and upcoming books but often our previous releases get sidelined.

In this new series I am offering you a chance to promote an earlier book by sharing an extract from the book.

The aim of the series

1. To showcase a previous book and sell some copies.
2. Gain more recent reviews for the book.
3. Promote a selection of other books that are available.

I will top and tail in the usual way with your other books and links, bio, photo and social media. I will also select a review that I feel has the best selling pitch for the book.

• This series is open to authors in the Cafe and Bookstore who have more than one book (as this already gets promoted on a regular basis) and have reviews for that book I can select from.
• I suggest an extract of approximately 500 words or a poem that you feel best reflects the theme of your collection.
• If you have an illustration or images you can attach to the email for me to include. No need to send the cover as I will have that or will access from Amazon.
• I will check reviews on Amazon sites as well as Goodreads and select one I feel is a great advertisement for the book.
• As an author in the Cafe and Bookstore I will already have all your details, links and covers of other books so need to send anything further.
• Please send your extract and any accompanying images to sally.cronin@moyhill.com

I used one of my previous books as an example and you can see how it looks here: Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – #Free #Book Marketing – New Series 2020 – Share an Extract.

It would be great if you are over at the Cafe and Bookstore if you could share on Twitter or any of the other social media sites.. Thank you Sally.

Here are the other posts from the week…

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2020/04/21/smorgasbord-music-column-songs-from-the-movies-live-and-let-die-theme-by-paul-mccartney-wings/

Letters from America 1985-1987 – Adventures in the USA First swims, Alabama-Coushatta Reservation and cranky ice-maker

Memoir – Life on the Ocean Wave HMS Emerald – Chapter Three – Operation Fish to save national treasures and a Wedding Day by Eric Coleman

#Waterford #Ireland 1930s – The Colour of Life – The Crane by Geoff Cronin

Poetry – Inner Rumblings: Poems to Give My Inner Self a Voice, the Self I Call Joycie Reilly by Joyce Murphy

Advance Book Review – a kiss for the worthy: #Poetry inspired by the Walt Whitman poem ‘Leaves of Grass’ (A Love Poetry Trilogy Book 2) by Frank Prem

Colleen’s Tuesday Tanka Poetry Challenge #DoubleEtheree – Beneath the Redwood Photoprompt

One Day a Year Set Aside for Those Who Paid With Their Very Lives by Joy Neal Kidney

My Cowboy Dad – Cowboy Wisdom by Darlene Foster

Meeting People for Reasons and Seasons by D.G. Kaye

Financial Lessons from my Father by Sharon Marchisello

Smorgasbord Health Column – Food Therapy – 12,000 years of history that we know about and avoiding the wind factor

#Fantasy Demon Tracker: 3rd book in ‘The Council Of Twelve’ series by A.J. Alexander #Pre-order

Flash Fiction 2: More #Sci-fi short stories by Richard Dee

Two Novellas A Long Sleep and Scam by Stevie Turner

#Childrens Brody Cody and the Stepmother from Outer Space by Toni Pike

#YAFantasy M.J. Mallon, #Mystery James J. Cudney, #Poetry Joyce Murphy #Childrens Bette A. Stevens

#Fantasy Julia Benally, #Crime Sue Coletta, #Memoir Brigid P. Gallagher

#Prehistoric Jacqui Murray, #postapocalyptic Terry Tyler, #Authors Anne R. Allen – #FREE #Mystery Sharon Marchisello

More funnies from D.G. Kaye and a joke or two from Sally.

More funnies from D.G. Kaye and a joke or two from Sally.

Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp

Thank you so much for dropping in today and your visits during the week. I hope you have enjoyed and will pop in again soon. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up – April 5th – 11th Easter Parade, Art Deco Roses, Life on the Ocean Wave, #Waterford 1920s.

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

Happy Easter every one.….Not one that we expected to be spending in isolation from the rest of the world when we made our plans for 2020, but it is still a time for family and friends. I know for those who are living on their own, it is far more difficult, especially if separated from children and grandchildren, but we have to recognise that until there is a vaccine and the virus has gone back under whichever rock it crawled out from…. these measures are saving our lives.

We have had our lock down extended to May 7th and hopefully that will be sufficient to decrease the number of infected and deaths. We are very lucky in Ireland in as much as the population is small enough to put restrictions in place and maintain them. I do feel sorry for those who are living in the cities, especially in apartments without access to the outside and it has certainly impacted our position on our next move. That is on hold now indefinitely and we realise that we have everything that we need here, even if it is a little bit too big for the two of us. So we are going to enjoy the renovations inside and in the garden and be grateful that we have the outside to enjoy.

I hope that despite the separation from those you love that you are taking full advantage of the technology and being able to talk face to face. I speak to my two sisters by Skype during the week and they talk to each other everyday too. It does make such a difference seeing someone’s face rather than on the telephone, and if you have not got one of the video applications on your computer or phone here are some links.

Skype Online

Facetime for Apple

Whatsapp video

Anyway… on with the posts from the week.

My thanks as always to regular contributors and guests who provide interesting and entertaining posts for the blog, offering me a chance to enjoy their hard work as well. And also to you for coming by, sharing and for commenting.

The first of the Easter parades this weekend with guests who share photographs from the 1960s through to the 1980s and select a song that brings back memories of that era…such as this one, In My Life by The Beatles.. chosen by Diana Wallace Peach.  I hope you will pop in and leave your links in the comments… thanks Sally.

The first of the Easter Parades with guests Annette Rochelle Aben, Darlene Foster, Toni Pike, D. Wallace Peach and Elizabeth Gauffreau

Guest Writer – Robbie Cheadle – How to make Art Deco Fondant Roses

The first chapter of my father’s memoirs about his time in the Royal Navy

Life on the Ocean Wave by Eric Coleman

The first chapter of my father-in-law’s memoir The Colour of Life published in 2005.

The Colour of Life – Waterford 1920s by Geoff Cronin

Letters from America 1985-1987 – Adventures in the USA – Birthday, New Car, Galverston and Houston Zo

I’ve Had the Time of my Life from Dirty Dancing

Butterfly Cinquain – Springtime

#GreatDanes Joyful Trouble by Patrica Furstenberg

Thriller – Deep Cover by John L. DeBoer

#Childrens Island Spide by Paul Noel

#Fantasy A.J. Alexander, #Family Judith Barrow, #Romance Ritu Bhathal

#Thriller John W. Howell, #Shortstories Karen Ingalls, #Thriller Iain Kelly

#Supernatural Mae Clair, #Poetry Balroop Singh, #Children’s Janice Spina

Sunday Sayings – #Differences and Reality TV by Amanda -Something to Ponder About

#Caribbean – Directionally Challenged! by Apple Gidley

Orthodox #Easter Eggs, folktales, symbolism, traditions #culture #history by Patricia Furstenberg

Food Therapy – Brown Rice so much more than just a grain

#Family and #Friends – Brotherly Love by Jane Sturgeon

Family and Friends – Chess by Stevie Turner

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

More funnies from D.G. Kaye and a joke or two from Sally.

More seclusion humour from the senior team and some ABBA

Thank you so much for all your support and I hope to see you again next week.. Happy Easter, stay safe and hugs Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – March 29th – April 4th 2020 – Musique Mechanaique, Finger Limes, Letters from America and all that Jazz

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

I doubt that there are many of you who are not in some form of self-isolation at the moment and I hope that you have everything you need to keep your spirits up. It is saving our lives and I must admit that even going out once a week for my fresh vegetables and fruit does have me spooked as I try to avoid the invisible serial killer roaming the aisles. Thankfully, the majority of people here are very good about self-distancing and being respectful. Some are wearing masks or scarves as I do, and latex gloves.

The supermarkets are taped for distancing and the checkout staff are behind perspex. Everyone is doing their bit and again, they and the healthcare sector are heroes for turning up each day.

I thought you might like to share a special moment. For the last couple of years, my lucky black ceramic cat has sat next to the front door looking out on the world. One morning just after I placed it there, a black cat came to visit. He still does from time to time, but as you can see he is observing social distancing. I have no idea why he keeps coming back as he gets no response from our cat, but I guess he might be determined to do so one day.

Stay safe and as I have previously offered, if you are struggling and would like to chat online then please email me at sally.cronin@moyhill.com.

And in the spirit of getting together and having a little fun, despite the circumstances, there is a party going on over Easter weekend 11th and 12th April. There are still some spots available and I hope you will participate…

This Easter most of us will be in isolation from family and friends and I know how tough that can be. However, as planned the Easter Parade will go ahead and I hope that you will join me over the two days.

Apart from an opportunity to share your blog and books, it is also a chance to meet others who will be featured or who drop in.

There will be food provided as always and something to drink as well as a bit of music. Since the theme is ‘Flashback’ – the music will be from the 1960s – 1980s.  All I need from you is a photograph taken any time in that time period along with a favourite song of the era.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Easter Parade Blog Party April 11th/12th 2020 – #Flashback Photos, food and music

William Price King -Carla Bley – American jazz composer, pianist, organist and bandleader

Carol Taylor – A – Z of Food – ‘F’ for Figs, Finger limes, Flambe, Fenugreek, Fruit Pectin,Fugu

The two final stories of this collection.

Yves – Be careful what you wish for

Zoe – Looking into the future

FamilySaga – Under a Dark Cloud by Mary Crowley

I wrote this piece about the dreaded driving test that we had to take to enable us to buy a car and get insured. We both had full licences from the UK but had to give this up and obtain a Texas licence…

Letters from America 1985-1987 – Adventures in the USA – The Driving Test Texas Style

Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge – #ButterflyCinquain -The Air

Smorgasbord Health Column – Food Therapy – The Banana – Pre-Wrapped nutrient boost on the go

Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore Special -Pre-order for May 5th – Anthology – The Road to Liberation – Trials and Triumphs of World War II

Shortstory Jonah: The hardest demons to face are internal by Jan Sikes

Mystery James J. Cudney, Family Mary Crowley, Cyberpunk C.S. Boyack

Poetry M.J. Mallon, #Mystery Sharon Marchisello, #Paranormal Marcia Meara

#Dystopian Teri Polen, #Poetry Frank Prem, #Horror Vashti Quiroz Vega

#Travel – Numedal Valley in #Norway – Amanda McLaughlin of Forestwood Folk Art

SoCS 2019.09.20 – Two Unwrapped Gifts by Miriam Hurdle

Melancholy – Confusion by Apple Gidley

Life 16 Things We Can Do in Our 50’s that We Couldn’t in Our 20’s by Cheryl Oreglia

Bookreview by Kevin Cooper – Fallout by Harmony Kent

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

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

More seclusion humour from the senior team

 

Thank you for taking the time to visit today and during the week. It means a great deal…stay safe and I hope you will join me again next week for more fun and games…Sally.