Tag: #RobertaWrites

Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge, and Thursday Doors

d’Verse – Poetics Tuesday: Beginnings are Endings

Punam hosted a fun challenge this week for d’Verse Poetics Tuesday. You can read other poets contributions here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/02/24/poetics-tuesday-beginnings-are-endings/. I decided to go with a positive poem with an ethereal, dream-like quality (I hope).

Clutching at Dreams

I reach out, desperate to grasp it

elusive happiness

tumbling and rolling over itself,

a curtain of water plunging down … down …

I sense freedom

morning dew glimmering on a leaf

reflecting light in a blaze

of molten sunlight concentrated

into a fat globule of gold

a momentary gift from nature

available to rich and poor alike

no ownership rights available

its existence brief and perilous

as it edges down the midrib

heading towards its grand finale

dancing in a diamond studded gown

before reaching the lip … then falling

my mind falls with it … falling … falling

diving into exhilarating space

all this happened, more or less

Thursday Doors

You can join in Dan’s fun Thursday Doors photographic challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/02/26/more-snow-doors/

These are a few photographs I took at the Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels. They all features doors of some kind. The four pictures are as follows:

  1. The entrance into one of the galleries;
  2. Untitled 12 (Bodybuilders) by David Altmejd (sculpture);
  3. Market Garden Courtyard by Jan Siberechts; and
  4. Archduke Leopold William in his Gallery of Italian Paintings by David Teniers II

Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge

Esther’s challenge word this week is taste. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/02/25/writing-prompts-104/

Coventry

When I was a young girl, I loved to read Enid Blyton’s book series. She wrote approximately 720 books during her writing life and had several popular series like The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, and The Adventure Series. Enid Blyton also wrote a few series about young girls attending private boarding schools in England. I enjoyed all of her books but the boarding school books, Mallory Towers and St Clare’s, fascinated me. I attended a dual medium (English and Afrikaans), co-ed (boys and girls) primary school so the idea of all girls at school together and spending nights in a dormitory with lots of other girls of the same age captured my imagination. One of the concepts Enid Blyton wrote about was sending someone to Coventry. Being sent to Coventry is a British idiom meaning to deliberately ostracize someone. It involves ignoring the person, refusing to speak to them, and acting as if they do not exist. It is a form of social punishment or a way of expressing disapproval of someone’s actions.

Over the past two weeks since I resigned from my job, I feel as if I’ve been sent to Coventry by my senior work colleagues. I went into the office twice the first week following my resignation the previous Friday. The second office visit, on a Thursday, was awful. There is no other word to describe it. I felt like I had walked into a wall of resentment and anger. I could almost feel and taste the disapproval. Of course, I may have read too much into the situation as I am an empath and overly sensitive to other people’s emotions and behaviours, but I don’t think I did. I take responsibility for my work and commitments, so I originally offered to stay on a contract basis to see through the projects I’m currently working on. This offer was thrown back in my face, and I ended up having words with two of my senior colleagues. It was upsetting for me because I am sensitive but also because I think it was an illogical and ill-conceived reaction. I am an easy target for guilt because I am a soft touch and generally willing to help others. These are the personal characteristics that caused the overwhelm that resulted in my decision to leave in the first place. The more you give, the more people take and the resultant stress was becoming a health problem for me as I wasn’t getting enough down time to destress and unwind. My back went into severe spasm in mid-January and the doctors say it had probably been in spasm for months. It is now out of spasm due to a stringent programme of exercise, physiotherapy, and painkillers. I am glad I don’t need strong painkillers any more. I don’t like taking medications for long periods. I am doing very well on a physiotherapy and exercise programme. I was extremely busy at work at the time when the spasm escalated so I only took one day’s leave to get the x-rays and bone density tests done.

I have always been an unusually fast worker. I grasp outcomes quickly and come up with solutions almost immediately. I am a backwards thinker, and I simply work the solution or outcome backwards to give everyone else involved a series of steps to get to the desired outcome. Many of my on-line friends remark on how much I get done and it’s because I am able to work so fast (probably up to 4 x faster than most people) and I also have a retentive memory. I never take notes or write anything down because I don’t need to. I always remember. It was only about a decade ago that I realised this is not a common attribute to all people. If your mind works a certain way, you just assume it is the same for everyone else. I have come to realise that working faster does not mean you don’t use up the same, or perhaps more, mental energy. Getting more done quicker requires compensatory down time to recuperate as your battery depletes in line with your output.

It has been disappointing to receive such an unexpected reaction. It took a lot out of me to recover my mental balance last week and it ruined my birthday on 22 February. I had a miserable day. This being said, I stayed away from the office completely this past week and didn’t engage with any of my direct seniors. It is a busy time of year, and they did not try to engage with me either. It was as if I’d already left from a communication perspective. I focused on my client work and getting as much wrapped up as possible before I leave. I am feeling much better now and have decided to spare myself unnecessary anxiety by staying away from the office. I will go in on my last week to wrap up my administration and hand in my computer. It seems a sad way to end a 14-year work period of my life.

resentment

tasting of lemon

curls tongue

aftertaste bitter

lasting a lifetime

Note: This piece is not intended to solicit sympathy or throw stones at other people. I am responsible in many ways for this reaction as I have taken on too much, helped to much, made others too reliant on me and it has worn me down and I’m unable to continue along the same path of philanthropy I’ve always walked. It is not possible to implement boundaries and reset expectations after 14 years; it requires a clean break and a fresh start. Work environments are designed to be capitalistic and so whatever you offer will be taken and used. I’ve shared this information as part of my journey to understanding and acceptance and also because I think it may help others in a similar situation. I also think I handled my resignation badly by reacting from a place of overwhelm. That is me though, I am an impulsive person.

Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s writing challenge, d’Verse quadrille and CFFC

Esther Chilton’s word prompt for this week is flying. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/02/04/word-prompts-2/

These two poems are also for Don’t Hold Your Breath blog’s Bird of the Week challenge here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2026/02/10/red-tailed-shrike-birds-of-the-week-invitation-cliv/

Picture caption: My photograph of a European bee eater at 57 Waterberg, Welgevonden Private Game Reserve

European Bee Eater

perched on a branch

watching

waiting

for its favourite meal

to fly past

a bee sighted

it opens

its richly coloured wings

and snatches it

right out of the air

delicious!

European Bee Eater (tanka)

bee captured midair

bashed mercilessly on branch

dislodging stinger

bee eater consumes hundreds

of insects during its lifetime

d’Verse – Flower Contrast(quadrille)

De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo)’s d’Verse quadrille challenge is to write a poem featuring flowers in exactly 44 words. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/02/09/quadrille-241-swearing-by-all-flowers/

In the wetlands, the flowers are wild

Unexpected splashes of colour

Against olive or veridian green

Tasty treats for hungry kudu

***

At the Johannesburg Country Club

The flowers are cultivated

Carefully tended and fertilized

Resulting in large, ostentatious blooms

Aimed at decorating and impressing

The slideshow below includes 1. Flame Lillies in the Isimangaliso Wetlands 2. Male kudu eating in the Isimangaliso Wetlands 3. pink roses and the country club 4. red wild rose at the country club

CFFC

Dan’s challenge this week is inventions. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/02/09/starting-with-inventions-cffc/

I’m sharing my photographs from Brussels of Neuhaus. This chocolatier claims to be the inventor of the praline.

The slideshow below includes pictures of Neuhaus in Brussels, Gallery Royal Saint Hubert, the inventors of the praline. I’ve also included my photograph of Neuhaus moulded in chocolate and also three large chocolate smurfs. Smurfs are very big in Brussels.

Roberta Writes – “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 16)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Thank you to Nolcha Fox for sharing part 16 of this serialized story.

“The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 16)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Writes – A trio of review for Resonant Blue, The Cielonaut, and Vengeance of a Slave

I am behind with writing and posting book reviews, so I am posting three together today. All are excellent in their different ways. I have two more poetry book reviews to go and then I’m caught up for this month.

The Cielonaut: Lost in a poetry of stars (Picture poetry) by Frank Prem

Picture caption: Cover of The Cielonaut by Frank Prem

This is an extraordinary collection of poetry. I have read many of this poet’s collections and they are all thoughtful and unusual, but this one had a powerful effect of me as a reader. It contemplates the intense and unsolvable loneliness of life alone in a spaceship lost among the unimaginable beauty and grandeur of the stars and galaxies. It entwines the awe and amazement of the voyage with the despair and isolation of the sole survivor’s situation in a profound and emotion filled way.

The poems are accompanied by gorgeous images taken from the NASA Image and Video Library. The combination is an incredibly visual poetic adventure.

The poet engages all of the senses in this collection to pull the reader into the survivor’s world. This extract from ‘the sound’ demonstrates the engagement of the sense of hearing:
“silence
is not an absence
of sound

silence is noise

a static
pushing through the background
nothing”

‘knight move’ engages, inter alia, the sense of sight:
“a pattern of squares
in three dimensions
on a wall
indicates
a knight move”

The sense of smell in the survivor’s travelling coffin as highlighted in ‘a song: an epilogue’:
“why breathe
the acrid sharpness
of unfiltered air”

There is no gravity in space as demonstrated in this extract from ‘gravity’:
“no light
but starlight
no weight
at all”

I highly recommend this fascinating poetic journey through time and space.

Amazon US purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Cielonaut-poetry-stars-Picture-Poetry-ebook/dp/B0D9NBS4TD

You can find Frank Prem on his blog here: https://frankprem.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/feeling-the-new-feeling-the-old/

Vengeance of a Slave (A Family Through The Ages Book 1) by V.M. Sang

Picture caption: Cover of Vengeance of a Slave featuring two crossed swords against a fiery background

My review

As a young boy, Adelbehrt, later renamed Ailbert, and his even younger sister, Avelina, later renamed Awena, are forced to watch their father crucified by the Roman soldiers. Adelbehrt knows his father was not a party to the uprising for which his village, and his father, were being punished. As a further punishment, Adelbehrt and Avelina, both very blonde and attractive children, are taken from their mother and forced into slavery. While waiting to be sold, Adelbehrt is witness to the sexual exploitation of several young girls taken from his village. His young heart hardens against the Romans and he nurtures a deep grudge against them. He and his sister are sold to a Roman trader living in Londinium. The Roman is not unkind to them but he treats them like an acquisition. Avelina is given to his young daughter as her personal slave and Adelbehrt is given to his wife, a Briton who has betrayed her own people and converted to Roman citizenship, and who treats him like a pet puppy.

This is a fascinating coming-of-age story which follows the stories of both Avelina and Adelbehrt and how they transition from their loving home to a life of slavery albeit living in luxurious circumstances, and then to escaped slaves on the run. In many ways, Adelbehrt’s hatred of the Roman’s is justified and his views are not softened until late in the story when he discovers that no nation of people is all bad, there are always good and bad people, those who treat others with compassion and those who succumb to propaganda and beliefs of superiority to other cultures. It was interesting to watch Adelbehrt’s journey alongside his sister’s and to see how motherhood softens women much quicker than any other situation or circumstance.

This story has an interesting ending which reminded me a bit of the original ending of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations where everything doesn’t turn out perfectly with a young couple in love riding off into the sunset. The ending was satisfactory and realistic.

I have some knowledge of the Roman Empire and have visited Bath and other historical Roman places in the United Kingdom. I’ve read and seen enough to know this book is well researched and a good reflection of life for Romans, slaves, and Britons during this period of history.

I enjoyed this story a great deal and recommend it to people who enjoy character driven stories in a fascinating historical setting.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YMTHL69

You can find V.M. Sang on her blog here: https://aspholessaria.co.uk/2026/01/27/surviving-the-horror-the-woods-familys-final-stand/

Resonant Blue and other stories by Mary Vensel White

My review of this book was posted on Rosie Amber’s blog:

Today’s team review is from Robbie.

Orange rose and Rosie's Book Review Team
Rosie’s Book Review Team

Robbie blogs here https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/

 Robbie has been reading Resonant Blue and Other Stories by Mary Vensel White.

Every now and then, I like to read a collection of well crafted short stories and this book fitted the bill. Each story is beautifully written about a thought provoking topic that will make you think.

Below is a short overview of my favourite stories in the collection.

1. Griffin: This short story starts off fairly innocuously, with an older couple anticipating a visit from their married daughter who they haven’t seen for a year. As the couple converse, a sense of anxiety develops and the reader gets the sense that the couple’s relationship with their daughter is a little tense. The husband, Alan, is trying a bit to hard to make everything perfect for the visit and it feels a little desperate.

Their daughter arrives and as the story unfolds the reason for the earlier tension is slowly revealed culminating in a rather startling event. This was an interesting tale about family relationships and secrets and just how much a wife is prepared to tolerate from her spouse.

Continue reading here: https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2026/01/14/%f0%9f%93%9awell-crafted-short-stories-robbies-bookreview-of-resonant-blue-and-other-stories-by-mary-vensel-white-mvw888-for-rosies-bookreview-team-rbrt-booktwitter-bookx/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 14 and 15)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

My apologies, work has been crazy for the past two weeks so I got a bit behind with posting these episodes. I am posting two today, episodes 14 and 15.

Jake Tanner

Letter from Private Jake Tanner to his fiancée, Kate Henderson 30 November 1917

My dearest Kate

I often wonder how you are and how your job at the factory is going. I can’t believe you’ve been working there for nearly three months already.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and the army celebrated in style. We were given the day off as a holiday and had an excellent dinner of turkey, cranberry sauce, asparagus, corn, sweet potato, apple pie, cake, and coffee.  It was nice of the government to make sure we had such a good meal.

The weather has turned cold, and it snowed a little yesterday and last night. Our winter uniforms have still not arrived, and our current ones are quickly wearing out. My boots are also in a bad state because they are constantly wet, and it is impossible to dry, clean, or oil them.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-14-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

Jake Tanner

23 December 1917

Most of the men embraced training in gas discipline with enthusiasm.

“It’s a step closer to the front,” said Robson.

“What are you in such a rush to get to the front for?” asked Big Mouth. Jake noted a reduction in Big Mouth’s enthusiasm for the front since Mike died. The death of one of their own lay heavily on all the men’s hearts.

Jake examined the scary-looking gas mask he’d been issued.

“You must wear your helmet and carry your mask with you at all times,” ordered Sarge.

“Again,” ordered Capitaine Moreau. “You must learn to put your gas mask on in six seconds.”

Gas mask on, gas mask off. The practice went on and on for hours. When the men finally mastered putting on their own masks to Capitaine Moreau’s satisfaction, they practiced putting masks on horses.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-15-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Esther Chilton, Bird of the Week, Sunday Stills & CFFC

d’Verse

d’Verse’s challenge is to write a poem inspired by the painting below entitled “Mme Kupka among Verticals”. It was painted in 1910-11 by Frantisek Kupka. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/01/15/its-open-link-night-and-our-live-session-is-just-around-the-corner/. You can also find out details for today’s live meeting of d’Verse poets.

Coincidentally, Esther’s weekly writing challenge word is red and that fitted in with my poem. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/01/14/writing-prompts-99/

All the Colours of Red (imagist poem)

lying comfortably

on soft summer grass

sun shining through

closed eyelids

I see a crimson ocean

seaweed strands waving

in tendrils of carmine

streaked with Venetian red

jelly fish

large and small

pulse up and down

and across

blobs of vibrant colour

in coral, vermillion,

and scarlet

warmth suddenly fades

landscape shifts

to darker burgundy,

maroon, and chestnut

and then

brightness returns

European Roller

announces its presence

with a raucous cry

rocking and rolling

through the summer sky

flashing its brilliant blue

and midnight black

flight feathers

Come autumn

its does an about turn

jiving back to Europe

Picture caption: European Roller taken at Isimangaliso Wetlands by Robbie Cheadle.

This poem is another Imagist poem for Bird of the Week and the photograph is for Terri’s Sunday Stills.

You can join in Bird of the Week here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2026/01/06/sri-lanka-frogmouth-birds-of-the-week-invitation-cl

You can join Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/01/11/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-putting-the-aqua-in-marine-and-the-ice-in-blue/

CFFC: Old & New

You can join in CFFC here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/01/12/old-or-new-or-both-cffc-jusjojan/

Picture caption: Old and new: Mother warthog with small babies. Photograph by Robbie Cheadle.