Thank you to Professor Charles French for sharing my post about the merits of Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. Carmilla is an important gothic horror novella as it is the original vampire story and also suggestive of Lesbian love despite its conservative Victorian setting and readership.
Category: Uncategorized
Roberta Writes – September Dark Origins post featuring The Road by Cormack McCarthy
My September Dark Origins post focuses on climate change and the possible catastrophic effects of global heating or, as is the case in The Road by Cormack McCarthy, global cooling. Thank you for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.
Roberta Writes – My reviews of Pip’s Other Adventures, The Bubble Reputation and The Changeling of the Third Reich
I have fallen horribly behind with writing and sharing reviews. This time of the year is my ‘hamster in a ball’ period when I seem to be running as fast as I can and … not getting very far.
Today is a catch up and I am sharing reviews of three excellent, and very different, books I have read recently.
Pip’s Other Adventures, Short Stories of the 1920s by Teagan Riordain Geneviene
What Amazon says
This book is a collection of short stories and vignettes from the “Pip-verse.” They are tales of Paisley Idelle Peabody, aka Pip, and her friends who appear in The Three Things Serial Story, and Murder at the Bijou ― Three Ingredients 1, and A Ghost in the Kitchen ― Three Ingredients 2.
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Most of these tales are written in the author’s “three things method of storytelling,” meaning they are driven by sets of three random things, which were supplied by her readers. These short stories occur at various points in the timeline of those adventures, but they do not include any spoilers.
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If you enjoy Roaring Twenties slang, have a sense of whimsy, and don’t mind having your heart lifted, then jump in the jalopy and hang on tight. There’s no telling where we’ll go, but there’s sure to be fun along the way. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
My review
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories about Pip. The author captures perfectly the conflict of the 1920’s, a time of rapid change and progress to which the attitudes and thought processes of the average person, and the institutions, have not yet adjusted.
Pip is a modern woman, a flapper, who wants to be independent and live her best life. Unfortunately, the world is not yet ready for Pip and she fights a constant battle against society. Thank goodness for her Granny Phanny, a most emancipated elderly lady, but who manages to rein Pip in and get her to tow the social norms of the time while still keeping the champagne bubbles in life.
This book is well researched and the language of the time is a hoot, perfectly suiting the humorous style of the writing and stories, which put an amusing spin on Pip’s struggle as an enlightened flapper against the world.
A one sentence summary of a few of my favourite stories in this collection:
Pip’s Lemon Christmas – A lonely Christmas Eve is looking up when a gorgeous delivery man arrives with a surprise package for Pip. A quote: “What would any self-respecting flapper do in such a situation? Refuse to be a sourpuss, that’s what a flapper would do!”
Pip’s a Chicken – Pip’s cooking lessons under Granny Phanny’s direction are not going well, but Granny has found her own way of coping … and eating. A quote: “Just because your friend chicken turned out as tough as an old rooster doesn’t mean you can quit.”
Pip Sees a Camel – Pip is late again and Granny Phanny decides to teach her a lesson. A quote: “That dewdropper is advertising classes for the Camel Walk dance. And that nasty, spitting beast got away.”
This collection is an entertaining peep into life in the 1920’s with strong female characters. Highly recommend.
Purchase link for Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/Other-Adventures-Short-Stories-Things-ebook/dp/B09V3D6NPD
The Bubble Reputation by Alex Craigie
What Amazon says
If you want to destroy someone’s reputation, social media provides the perfect tool.
Emmie Hobson, children’s author and TV presenter, is riding high on a wave of popularity when an unscrupulous newspaper editor, desperate for a scoop, brings Emmie’s world crashing down.
Social media picks up the baton and a terrifying backlash of hate and abuse is unleashed. Threats are made and there are those, inflamed by the rhetoric, prepared to take the law into their own hands.
My review
The Bubble Reputation is an intriguing and chilling story which focuses on the unscrupulous nature of some reporters who will do anything for a ‘story’, fake news, and the power of social media.
Emmy is an up and coming author of a series of popular children’s books. She has her own television show and is in line to receive an award at the upcoming British Recognition of Achievement Awards Ceremony. In addition, Emmie has great relationships with her parents and partner.
Ursula Bloom is the frustrated editor of In the Picture, a paper with falling circulation figures. Ursula needs a scoop to book her paper’s circulation and she is not concerned about how she gets it or whether it is based on truth. She hatches a plan with a junior reporter to commence a smear campaign about Emmie.
The detail in this book as to how the smear campaign starts and effectively ‘gets its fake teeth’ into Emmy and everyone involved with her is fascinating and believable. Soon Emmie is fighting to hold on to everything, her reputation, her show, and her book contract. Everyone around her is fair game and her parents and partner get hauled into the media mud fight.
This is an excellent novella which will make you extra careful about what you share in the public domain.
Purchase The Bubble Reputation of Amazon USA here: https://www.amazon.com/Bubble-Reputation-Alex-Craigie-ebook/dp/B0BHZL8J9G
The Changeling of the Third Reich by Rachel Carrera
What Amazon says
The year is 1968, and the Vietnam War is in full swing. Dr. Bridget Castle, a neurosurgeon in Boston, handles the victims of anti-war protests, the casualties of war, and the stress of being a woman in a male-dominated profession with ease. Her husband, her parents, and her patients all love and respect her, but her tight-knit world is in danger of unraveling when someone from her past shows up and threatens to expose her closest-held secret: that she is a Concentration Camp survivor.
For more than twenty-three years, Bridget has walked in the shoes of a girl killed in the Blitz, blurring the line of when her own identity as a German Jew ended and when she assumed the role of changeling. If not for her childhood diary to remind her of all she endured, she would be completely successful in taking on the memories of the girl she replaced. But when the son of a Nazi soldier is placed in her care, she finds herself unable to deny her past any longer.
The last time Bridget had to stare into the face of evil, she learned, despite losing everything, just how strong she was. Now that the ghosts of her past have awakened, will she be strong enough to avenge the life that was stolen from her?
My review
A dual timeline novel, this interesting story moves between an American city during the Vietnam War and war-torn Europe during WW2.
Dr Bridget Castle is a successful woman. A female doctor, she has fought for, and received, recognition, attaining the position of head of neurology at the Catholic hospital where she works. Bridget has a happy and fulfilling marriage to another neurologist; she also has a loving family. Bridget’s adopted father is also a doctor.
Bridget has overcome a terrible past. As a young Jewish girl in Nazi Europe during WW2, she survived internment in three concentration camps and was finally rescued by her adopted father, one of the liberators of the camp. During this period of her life, Bridget, lost both her brothers and both her parents. She has terrible memories of abuse, her own and other peoples, and suffers nightmares.
The story revolves around Bridget’s interactions and experiences with several patients and a few fellow doctors at the hospital. Each interaction triggers memories from Bridget’s traumatic childhood which are presented as diary entries in a journal Bridget managed to hold on to during the war years.
While some suspension of belief is required by the reader to embrace the many coincidences in this story, it is a good read, well researched (I wondered if some of the historical input came from relatives or people who lived through the war in Europe) and with an entertaining and thought provoking story.
Bridget’s character is full of internal conflict as a result of her traumatic past and particularly, the deemed rejection by her mother that took place a few short weeks before Bridget was captured by the Nazi’s and incarcerated. This perceived rejection has coloured Bridget’s entire life and thoughts about her former family.
The book examines some deep themes: racial and other prejudices (in addition to Hitler and his Nazi’s prejudice against Jewish and other people during WW2, the book examines also prejudice against the teenage Vietnam War protested who were abused by the police based on their looks and a dismissal that they were all drug takers); gender inequality at that time in America; family and other relationships and the concept of sacrifices made for love.
I enjoyed this book and the detailed history presented all wrapped up in an entertaining story.
Purchase The Changeling of the Third Reich on Amazon USA here: https://www.amazon.com/Changeling-Third-Reich-Rachel-Carrera-ebook/dp/B0C8879MF9
Roberta Writes – W3-prompt 73 and CFFC – ‘snap, crackle, pop’
Deepthy’s prompt guidelines
- Write a poem inspired by the following quote:
And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.–Stephen Chbosky (b. 1970), The Perks of Being a Wallflower
You can join in W3 Prompt 73 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/09/20/w3-prompt-73-weave-written-weekly/
I have two syllabic poems for this prompt, a tanka and a shadorma.
Infinite reward
Nine months of waiting
As parenthood draws closer
It’s impact unknown
Unexpected intense love
Exceeds anything you’ve known
Infinite bloodlines
Tiny face
Nestled deep inside blankets
Amazing
Creation
Our blood lines now infinite
Succession assured
Snap! Crackle! Pop!
Cee’s CFFC prompt this week is Kellogg’s Rice Krispies – Snap! Crackle! Pop! You can join in here:
Here are two of my fondant and cake artwork creations that use Rice Krispies: https://ceenphotography.com/2023/09/19/cffc-kelloggs-rice-krispies-snap-crackle-pop/
Finally, the licorice trolls chocolate log fire goes ‘snap! crackle! and pop!
Day 4 of the WordCrafter “The Rock Star & The Outlaw” Book Blog Tour #booktour #readingcommunity
Today, I am delighted to welcome author and poet, Kaye Lynne Booth, to Roberta Writes for the Day 4 stop on her The Rock Star & The Outlaw book blog tour.
Tour Schedule
The Rock Star & The Outlaw, by Kaye Lynne Booth – September 18 – 22
Monday – Sept. 18 – Opening Day – “Amaryllis & The Pretty Reckless” – Writing to be Read
Tuesday – Sept. 19 –“Writing with music and LeRoy McAllister & Review” – Carla Loves to Read
Wednesday – Sept. 20 – “The characters of Nick and Monique” – Writing to be Read
Thursday – Sept.21 – “Prostitution in the American West and the character of Maggie” – Roberta Writes/Robbie’s Inspiration
Friday – Sept. 22 – Closing Post – “Writing the Villian & Juan Montoya” – Writing to be Read
Prostitution in the American West & the character of Maggie
The character of Maggie Louise O’Flaherty was interesting to write. She was inspired by a visit to the Old Homestead Museum in Cripple Creek, Colorado, where I learned some surprising things about the ladies of the night in Colorado mining towns in the late 1800s.
History Lesson
The Homestead House was Cripple Creek’s most illustrious house of prostitution. Built in 1896, the house was operated by Madam Pearl DeVere, who created a high-class parlor house for the rich and powerful. A visit to this house required an application process and was by appointment only. Anyone who did not hold millionaire status need not apply. Appointments were pricey, to say the least. Refer to Note 3
At the time, Cripple Creek boasted 56 bordellos, none of a stature of Homestead House, of course, but there were offerings for gentlemen seeking female companionship of all occupations. There were also girls not affiliated with any house, who worked the street along Meyers Avenue, which housed Cripple Creek’s red-light district. Refer to Note 2
Although high priced houses like Homestead House were not typical of mining towns across the American west, the number of bordellos is not surprising. Money flowed in mining towns, and although prostitution was tolerated, and the law found clever ways to look the other way. In the town directory, the house would be listed as a boarding house and the women who lived and worked there, as boarders. Although prostitution was illegal, much needed funds were provided in taxes and fines leveled on the women, so the local law overlooked their profession, and concentrated on lesser infractions which could be fined, such as doing their shopping on the wrong day of the week, when the respectable ladies were out. (They may as well of worn large scarlet A’s on their chests.) For the parlor houses to be taxed as businesses, they were listed as boarding houses, and the ladies were listed as boarders.
Most mining towns thrived with number of saloons, gambling houses and bordellos, and prostitution was one of the few occupations for single women in the west. (Other occupations single women might undertake included seamstress, laundress and selling baked goods.) It is reported that in the California Gulch area, near Leadville, Colorado there were 36 women to 2000 men. In general, men outnumbered women by at least 3 to 1 in the mining towns of the west. Yet another reason for the law to look the other way – coming down on the industry would likely cause an uprising from the local population.
Prostitution was not an easy life. Soiled doves were required to have a clean bill of health before they were allowed to practice their trade and they underwent frequent checks by the local doctor. They stuffed themselves into tightly bound corsets, often laced tight enough to break ribs, and often cut off their air, causing them to feint. This is why the feinting couch was a standard furnishing in parlor houses. Scarlet ladies fell pray to venereal diseases, pregnancies resulting in abortions under dangerous conditions, drug use and overdoses, and they underwent poor treatment from their customers, often resulting in beatings or even death. Many bordellos hired in house muscle to enforce house rules and make sure the women weren’t harmed. Even in the high-end houses, depression and alcohol and drug usage were not uncommon. Believed to be accidental, the Madame of Old Homestead, Pearl DeVere, succumbed to an overdose of laudanum after a lover’s spat. Refer to Note 3
Although some women found themselves there due to life circumstances and a lack of alternatives, others were there by choice. Working in a brothel or saloon was a means of providing a living for women who would otherwise have little other choices. “Many saloon or ‘dance-hall girls’ made more money dancing with the men than they could as a prostitute.” Refer to Note 4. For some, it was a means to a better life. Many of the smarter, business minded women succeeded in working their way up to operating their own houses, or investing in a store or restaurant, and escaping the business altogether. Notes 3 and 4. Still others found husbands and quit the life.
”Prostitutes of the American West were far from fallen women—many were savvy entrepreneurs. Often, sex workers saw the West as a place of opportunity, one where they could work their way out of the profession entirely due to high demand and high revenues.” Note 1
The Character of Maggie
I am enthralled by the prostitutes of the west and the lives that they chose. Call them soiled doves, ladies of the night, fallen women, or whatever you will, they were strong women who chose to establish their independence with determination. Especially the saloon keepers and madams, who were early entrepreneurs, and often served as a mother figure for the women who worked for them. Although they get a bad rap and are frowned upon in today’s society, they were a vital part of frontier society. Refer to Note 4. So, when Amaryllis and LeRoy find themselves in 1887 and in need of funds, there had to be Maggie for them to turn to.
Maggie isn’t a bonafide madam. She operates a saloon and dance hall called Maggie’s Place. It isn’t a high-class brothel like the Old Homestead. In fact, hers is a struggling business which she’s trying to build up, and she has competition from the Silver Leaf Saloon across the way, where the owner has lots of money to sink into it, where Maggie does not. But she manages to provide a roof and a bed to the women who work for her hustling drinks and dancing, and employs a piano player to provide the music. She dresses the part, and the girls look up to her and respect her.
Although she keeps to the shadows and we don’t see a lot of her, her role is key to the story. She looked after LeRoy when he was a boy, and is there to offer advice and help when needed, thus reinforcing the motherly aspect of her character. Maggie is the woman who is there when our protagonists need her, providing needed employment, assistance in plans for a jailbreak, medical attention for gunshot wounds, understanding and moral support.
About the Author
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; and book 1 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
References
1. Erin Blakemore. (5/5/2016). What Red Light Ladies Reveal About the American West. JSTOR Daily. Retrieved from https://daily.jstor.org/red-light-ladies-in-the-american-west/
2. Women of the Cabins: The Female Sex Workers of Lake County. Freight Leadville. Retrieved from https://freightleadville.com/women-of-the-cabin
3. Homestead House Tour. (June 2023). In person account.
4. Saloon Girls: The ‘Soiled Doves’ of the Old West. (1/28/2019). Curious Historian. Retrieved from https://curioushistorian.com/saloon-girls-the-soiled-doves-of-the-old-west
Find Kaye Lynne Booth
Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press‘ Readers Group and sample her works with a free copy of my short story collection Last Call and Other Short Fiction.
Always Write Author Interview Series #1: Robbie Cheadle
Thank you to writer and blogger, Marsha Ingrao, for this wonderful author interview. I really appreciate Marsha’s showcasing of This Is How We Grow, stories and poems for perspective taking, compiled and edited by Yvette Prior. Marsha is a fellow contributed to this amazing anthology and is also the host of Story Chat Y3, a unique story writing blogging challenge. Marsha is showcasing, and hosting a discussion about, stories contributed by her current followers and also other interested writers and bloggers. You can find out more about it here: https://alwayswrite.blog/2023/09/14/story-chat-y3-story-writing-tips/
Welcome to Always Write. My goal in this Author Interview Series is to interview the talented authors who participated in Yvette’s anthology This is How We Grow, as well as the authors in the upcoming Story Chat, Online Literary Conversations.
I met Robbie several years ago blogging, and now rarely a day goes by in which we don’t chat through our blogs. She has been so supportive of all my challenges commenting on almost all of them in spite of how busy she is. Everyone I know in the blogging world adores her, and if you don’t know her well yet, I hope you will by the end of this series. This is the first of several posts. In some of the posts she will offer writing advice, and others tell about her writing and blogging journeys.
I finished reading Yvette’s anthology, This Is How We Grow. Robbie, you have done so much. We all have to pant to keep up with you. In all of your activities on your blog, you don’t mention much about the difficult health issues you talked about in this enlightening book on perspectives that had me in tears as I read it. However, our readers will have to read Yvette’s book to get that glimpse of your life as we are going to veer away from that in these interviews.
That’s true, Marsha. I never shared much personal information on my blog because I didn’t think it would interest people, and it wasn’t in line with the purpose of my blog. My blog was a bit of an escape from home anxieties.
I started my first blog, Robbie’s Inspiration, in October 2016. It was after the launch of Michael and my first Sir Chocolate book, Sir Chocolate, and the Strawberry Cream Berries story and cookbook. The blog was intended to be a platform where I could share my cake and fondant art and poetry, and promote our Sir Chocolate books series. We had a contract with TLS Publications for 8 books at the time. I didn’t know anything about blogging initially, so I never really expected to develop friendships the way I have.
I was lucky enough to find Sally Cronin’s blog Smorgasbord early on, and I modelled my blogging off her approach and started sharing book reviews and recipes and interviewing a few blogging friends to help them promote their books.
I started my blog, Roberta Writes in October 2018 while I was writing my first YA novel, Through the Nethergate. I deemed it appropriate to split my children’s and adults writing. My split is a little blurry, though, as I tend to share poetry and photographs on both blogs. Although there are some cross-over followers, many of my followers are unique to one or the other blog.
Continue reading here: https://alwayswrite.blog/2023/09/19/author-interview-series-1-robbie-cheadle/
Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors and W3 Prompt #72 #NcomeMuseum #SAhistory #poetry
A visit to the Ncome Museum
The Ncome Museum offers the Zulu perspective of the Battle of Blood River. The museum is shaped like the traditional buffalo horn attack strategy developed by King Shaka.
The Battle of Blood River is so called because the water of the river turned red with the blood of dead men.
You can spend the night at the Ncome Museum in a traditional beehive shaped hut. They are modernised and have bathroom facilities.
W3 Prompt #72
- Write an Ekphrastic Poem based on the photo of Auguste Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ above;
- Theme: Good Parenting;
- Rhyming: Left to your discretion
Teach your children
Designations
And positions
Belong to institutions
Not to people
The learned
The devoted
The determined
The ambitious
The greedy
All are vessels
To which titles
Temporarily attach
For a short period
Until the bearer
Resigns
Retires, or
Dies
Then
It moves on
To the next
Recipient
Teach your children
To respect positions
Accept them
For their assigned role
In society
But
Make sure they know
It is not about
The individual
You can join in W3 Prompt #72 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/09/13/w3-prompt-72-weave-written-weekly/
Roberta Writes – Spirit of the Shell Man by Chris Hall #bookreview #readingcommunity
What Amazon says
A series of strange events accompany the delivery of an unusual wooden box to the bookish Professor who lives on the hill, while down by the sleepy harbour a dusty convoy of huge earth-moving machines roll into town. Soon afterwards, an expensive-looking yacht arrives, skippered by an enigmatic sea captain, accompanied by her weird and troublesome little crew who cause chaos in Albertina’s chicken-run and wreak havoc in the posh new hair salon.
The mysterious mute captain, her nose permanently buried in an old notebook, is clearly seeking something. Meanwhile the Professor’s interest is piqued by an unusually attentive congregation of praying mantises in his back yard. Then, as construction work begins on the unspoiled hillside beyond the town’s looming headland, the disturbance of long-buried bones unleashes a grim and ghostly presence from the ancient past with the potential to destroy the tranquil little town.
Join the cast of colourful characters from Song of the Sea Goddess, as they embark on a new adventure where legend and reality intertwine, and once again they must join forces to combat a deadly threat to their otherwise peaceful lives.
Spirit of the Shell Man is a beautiful book, full of drama, colour, and vitality. I was delighted by the author’s depiction of the exciting variety of cultures, foods, and people that constitute the small and multicultural population of her fictional town in the Western Cape of South Africa. I could almost smell the Auntie’s sweet rooibos tea, a traditional South African drink, and Andreas’ delicious Greek styled meals.
My review
Each of the characters is so relatable to me, a fellow South African, and I adored Albertina who works hard and is filled with determination and resilience, but who also enjoys life to the fullest with her penchant for pretty, bright clothes and shoes, wigs, and hats. The author has captured the essence of Abdu who owns a store which sells a variety of antique, interesting, and useful items, and the two Auntie’s who always know exactly what is going on and who are intent on fostering the glimmer of romantic interest they have detect between Abdu and Albertina. Jannie with his long dreadlocks and easy smile, is the embodiment of a brave and loyal friend, while the Professor is aptly described as being very intellectual with a good dollop of endearing forgetfulness. There is also Toti, the Professor’s adorable monkey whom he treats like his ‘little girl.’
Life in the town has been quiet for the past year but suddenly it is disrupted by the arrival of a large yacht captained by a mysterious and unapproachable woman and her three unusual goblin-like creatures. At the same time, construction work begins on the beautiful and unspoiled headland. It doesn’t take long before chaos and confusion reigns as the creatures run amok, attacking Albertina’s cherished chickens and stealing Jannie’s food. The construction is also running into problems with the unexpected discovery of human bones.
The Professor has received a mysterious box which contains something heavy. He doesn’t know how to open it and hopes that Abdu with his knowledge of ancient articles can assist him. The advent of the box has coincided with the appearance of dozens of praying mantises.
Before long, the unusual group of characters are embroiled in a strange adventure which is becoming more dangerous by the minute.
This is a delightful and action packed story set in a beautiful coastal town and filled with varied and engaging characters.
Purchase Spirit of the Shell Man
Roberta Writes – Reena’s Exploration Challenges #296 and Sunday Stills, Orange #poetry #orange #photography
Reena’s PROMPT #296 is as follows:
A phrase by Arundhati Roy (winner of the Booker Prize for fiction in 1997) caught my attention – Fiction in the time of fake news.
I coined a few of my own inspired by it.
- Letters in the time of instant messaging
- Books in the time of apps
- Lies in the post-truth era
- Human proficiency in ChatGPT era
- Freedom in the times of listening devices
Feel free to coin some of your own in the same spirit, or use one or more from the above, including the inspiration from Arundhati Roy, and base your piece on it.
This is my tanka poem:
Evolution
How did news evolve?
Changing facts into fiction
Unreliable
Purposefully misleading
Making fools of all mankind
You can join in here: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2023/09/07/reenas-xploration-challenge-296/
Sunday Stills
Terri’s theme for Sunday Stills this week is Orange. I love orange. Yellow, pink and orange are my favourite colours.
You can join in Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2023/09/10/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-incandescent-orange-and-glowing-gold/
Roberta Writes – Dolphin Display, an acrostic poem and St Lucia, SA ocean scenes #poetry #oceanscenes
This poem was going to be for this week’s W3 prompt but then I realised I hadn’t followed the instructions properly. My 1st and 3rd and 2nd and 4th lines don’t rhyme. I like what I’ve created so I decided not to change it and just publish it outside of the challenge. The prompt word is Beach Balls and I’ve used a syllabic count of 5/8/6/10/6 for each stanza.
Dolphin Display
Beautiful creatures
Elegantly pair with water
Agilely performing
Complicated aerobics to music
How high they jump and twist
***
Breathlessly we watch
Amazed at their dexterity
Lithesome bodies gliding
Luxuriating in the rapt attention
Sensational showing
These are a few ocean scenes from our recent trip to St Lucia. We visited in July which is our coldest month of the year. This is the beach at Cape Vidal.
I was interested in the fact that there is a lot of black mixed in with the white sea sand. The black is titanium and not oil as I had originally thought.
