This week’s challenge by Melissa, is to write a Double Ennead poem on the theme of gratitude. The syllabic count for a Double Ennead poem is 3 x 3 verses of 6/5/11/6/5.
I am late with last week’s CFFC and Thursday Doors post so I’m including it here with this week’s CFFC post.
The four photographs below are of the wharf at Westminster Bridge in London. This is where tourists leave for tours of the River Thames. You can see the London Eye in the background. These are for Dan’s Travel Hubs challenge which you can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/12/01/travel-hubs-cffc/
Last week’s CFFC challenge was Places where people work. I have a selection of doors from my trip to London.
The slideshow below is of the entrance and door of a bank in Westminster, London. I thought the door was beautiful.
Picture caption: Entrance to The Institute of Civil Engineers in LondonPicture caption: Entrance to The Royal Courts of Justice, London
Thank you to Nolcha Fox from Chewers by Masticadores for sharing part 7 of my WIP, The Soldier and the Radium Girl.
Jake Tanner
30 September 2021
The ship had crawled up the coast for five days, reaching its destination the previous evening. Once on the ocean, Jake found his sea legs quickly and looked forward to the periods when his platoon was allowed on deck, and he could look at the dark body of water that heaved and churned relentlessly. He found it endlessly fascinating.
Mike was not as fortunate and experienced ongoing seasickness.
He’d languished in his narrow bunk until Beau goaded him into going up on deck with Jake and Joe.
“You would be seasick, Mike,” Beau laughed. “You’re not only the runt of the litter, but the weakling, too.”
After ten minutes of walking up and down the deck, inhaling the tangy ocean air, he’d admitted to feeling much better. “I’m glad you made me come outside.”
Their interludes on deck were far too short, and the trio spent a lot of time playing cards, shooting the wind, and talking about “over there” with their contemporaries.
Hi everyone, it’s Robbie Cheadle here with you today with the first post in my Photography section on LatinosUSA – English Edition.
The Photography Section will comprise a weekly photography post with a weekly theme as follows:
First week of the month – Animals
Second week of the month – People
Third week of the month – Nature
Fourth week of the month – Buildings and Architecture.
If there is a fifth week, we will have a jackpot photography post.
I would love all the photographers out there to contribute to this section. If you have a photograph to share in one of these categories, please email me at cheadlerobbie@gmail.com and use the title Photography – [specific theme]. Please also include a short write up about your photograph.
Last month I wrote about warthogs, one of the Ugly Five animals of Southern Africa. This month I have written about another Ugly Five animal, the wildebeest. I have written a poem using the format and rhyming scheme of another very famous poem. Can you guess which poem it is?
Hi everyone, it’s Robbie Cheadle here with you and this segment of art posts covers all sorts of different mediums of art, from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
The previous day, Jake’s platoon had boarded a train heading for an unknown US port. The first men of his battalion to be leaving for “somewhere over there.” Many were puffed up with pride and loud with raucous enthusiasm.
“Where we headed, Sarge?” Beau accosted him as he entered the carriage.
“I can’t tell you. Secrecy about troop movements must be maintained because of the threat of the Bosch submarines,” Sarge growled.
Scowling, Beau opened his mouth to argue with Sarge. He snapped it closed when Will laid a hand on his arm and shook his head in warning.
Sarge’s orders must be accepted without comment. It was not the place of the troops to question their superior officers or their orders.
Late in the afternoon, the train drew into the station in New York.
Hi everyone, it’s Robbie Cheadle here with you today with the first post in my new Photography section on LatinosUSA – English Edition.
The Photography Section will comprise a weekly photography post with a weekly theme as follows:
First week of the month – Animals
Second week of the month – People
Third week of the month – Nature
Fourth week of the month – Buildings and Architecture.
If there is a fifth week, we will have a jackpot photography post.
I would love all the photographers out there to contribute to this section. If you have a photograph to share in one of these categories, please email me at cheadlerobbie@gmail.com and use the title Photography – [specific theme]. Please also include a short write up about your photograph.
Thank you for having me on your incredible blog today, Robbie, to share the release of Ghosts & Miracles Past: A Christmas Collection Two. I’m really grateful for your support!
Interview
Do you have a favorite story in the collection? Each story has a place and a piece of my heart. “The Christmas Train Mystery” comes from a love of trains. I ride them anytime I can and incorporated that into a story. How I feel about animals shines through in “The Christmas Rescue.” That story didn’t make the first collection, but giving it a second look, it found its voice. “Is There is Santa?” though is the one closest to my heart as I brought an “Elizabeth’s War” character into it. This was my first children’s book that I wrote. It was set in WWI, and I weaved some family history into it from when my great-grandma lived in North Dakota before her family moved to Alberta. So it was fun for Dr. Rhodes to make an appearance and see where the fictional family moved to in 1920.
What is your favorite tradition? I love the time leading up to Christmas and especially enjoy decorating while listening to holiday tunes. I still listen to the old Christmas vinyl records. This can range from Johnny Mathis that I got from my in-laws, the Disney songs my kids listened to, or from my time The Partridge Family, and everything in between. My daughter just got me the Nutcracker album for my birthday. While the music fills the room, each ornament I put on the tree has a special memory attached to it. Not only do we celebrate the now, but also the past when decorating and listening to music.
What is the first thing you do to kick off the holiday season? Beginning in the summer, I begin shopping, particularly for grandchildren. That permits me to spread it throughout several months. The other thing I do early is get supplies for the big feast. If pepperoncini or gluten-free dressing is on sale, I grab them and put them away until the holiday. Then, when it’s time, I give the house a good cleaning and drag all the boxes inside so I can start decorating.
Blurb
Picture caption: Cover of Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection featuring a Christmas tree and old-fashioned lamp
Miracles saturate the sweet-scented Christmas season—a reminder we aren’t alone.
Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection brings eight stories from past holidays. Rita buys train tickets for her and Morris’s 30th anniversary in the novelette, “The Christmas Train Mystery.”She’s convinced this trip will bring her and Morris closer—if he can find the time. A murder mystery excursion will change Rita’s life in more ways than one, but will she go with her workaholic husband or by herself? In the first short story, “Christmas Rescue,” Opal trusts the wrong man and loses her mother in the same year, leaving her feeling lost. On a mission to get candles for the dinner table, she makes an unexpected find. “Is There a Santa?” goes back to the 1920s, where a widower is desperate to hold on to his farm and children. He doesn’t want charity, just a bit of luck or a miracle. In the final stories, you’ll meet an eleven-year-old who’s home alone, a family living in the aftermath of war, a girl who gets some shocking news, a widow with a warning from beyond, and a woman trapped on an elevator with Santa. Hope underlies these stories; it endures even in the direst of circumstances. Whether help comes from a ghost, Santa, or an angel, miracles are just within reach.
This is the second collection of Christmas themed short stories in this series. I enjoyed the first collection, and this book was equally entertaining.
While all the stories in this book are engrossing, I am focusing on my favourite three for purposes of this review.
The Christmas Train Mystery – this is an entertaining Agatha Christie styled near murder mystery. Rita books tickets for her husband, Morris, and her to go on a murder mystery train ride for their thirtieth wedding anniversary. As the story unfolds, the extent to which Morris has changed and become self-absorbed and selfish over the course of their marriage becomes evident and the ticket purchase triggers a series of events that change Rita’s life. In true Finn style, the story ends on an uplifting and happy note.
She’s Home Alone – a creepy short story about a young girl home alone during a snowstorm and a predator with bad intentions. I enjoyed the character of Debbie and appreciated her presence of mind and calmness in a scary situation. Having been the victim of a home invasion, I know just how scary such situations are. The intervention by the angel was uplifting and engaging.
Elevator Santa – this is another story I could relate to as I have also been trapped in an elevator and it is a most unpleasant experience. The paranormal element in this story was subtly included and I enjoyed it very much. Another delightful story that finished on a high note.
Finn’s books always leave the reader with a feeling of contentment and the knowledge that there are lots of wonderful people out there who are the ‘helpers’. I appreciate her positive messages about the spirit of humanity wrapped up in engaging stories. This collection is perfect for Christmas.
Finn Fun Facts
I love baking bread in the fall and winter.
I prefer snowshoeing over skiing.
About D.L. Finn
Picture caption: author photograph of D.L. Finn
D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.
To celebrate the release, I will be giving away three Amazon Gift Cards: $5, $10, and $15. At the end of the tour, I will randomly pick the three winners from those who leave comments during the blog tour. Good Luck!
Hi everyone, its Robbie Cheadle here with my first post in a new series called Simple Pleasures: Reading & Eating. This series comprises a book review combined with a recipe which could be anything from a cocktail to a dessert.
The book I am reviewing for this first post is Size Always Matters: Don’t be part of a statistic, start losing weight today by Sally Cronin.
My review of Size Always Matters: Don’t be part of a statistic by Sally Cronin
Picture caption: Cover of Size Always Matters featuring a red apple wrapped in a measuring tape
This is a fabulous and informative book to help everyone eat better and be more aware of the nutritional value of what we put in our mouths. I am not overweight, and I never have been, in fact, I struggle with losing too much weight through stress and anxiety. The information in this book is just as useful for someone like me who can also use guidance on better eating to help reduce my specific health issues. This book is packed with factual information on the impact of a huge variety of vitamins and minerals on the human body and deals with every aspect of health. The author also points out that part of her eating disorder was anxiety and stress related so it actually does go both ways depending on your personality type.
roberta-writes.com 