Read & Cook – On the Beach by Nevil Shute and chicken shawarma recipe

Posted: March 11, 2026 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Recipes, Review, Robbie Reads and Cooks | Tags: #ReadandCook, #recipe, #RobbieCheadle, Book Review, Chicken Shawarmas, Neville Shute, On the Beach, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read | 54 Comments

Given the current state of affairs in the world, I think now is a good time to share my review of this post and pre-apocalyptic novel.

My review of On the Beach by Nevil Shute

Picture caption: Cover of On the Beach by Nevil Shute

One the Beach is a post-apocalyptic novel set in Australia. The Northern Hemisphere has been completely destroyed by a nuclear war, and the residents of Southern Hemisphere are waiting for the inevitable arrival of deadly radiation. The story is set in Australia during the heat of the summer, and all of the characters are struggling to come to grips with their situations as short-term survivors of the war and the awful knowledge of their impending deaths from radiation as the nuclear fallout travels steadily southwards.

Lieutenant Commander Peter Holmes of the Royal Australian Navy is given a new and welcome assignment during this period of waiting for the inevitable deaths of himself and his family. He is appointed as the liaison officer to the American submarine, the U.S.S. Scorpion, commanded by Dwight Towers from New England in the U.S.A. The Scorpion had been near Australian waters when the global conflict erupted, and Towers and his men are now stranded with no country or homes to return to. There is an immediate contrast between the two men, Holmes and Towers, as Holmes still has his home, his wife and his baby daughter while Towers knows his home and family are gone. Towers, however, has retreated into fantasy of a sort where he still thinks of his wife and children as being alive and well and waiting for his return home even though he knows they are dead. It is incredibly moving and makes Towers’ loss that much more tragic and poignant.

Towers’ submarine has been placed under Australian command and Holmes is tasked with inspecting the Scorpion and briefing Towers about their orders to set out northwards in search of surviving life. This mission gives Holmes a small glimmer of hope that all might not be lost. In an attempt to distract Towers from his unhappy situation, Holmes extends an invitation for Towers to visit his home in Falmouth and enjoy the beach and time with Holmes’ family and friends. Towers accepts and during the visit is introduced to Moira Davidson, a beautiful and engaging young lady who has turned to alcohol and partying for solace.

The story involves three primary threads, namely, the journey of the submarine and its findings, a light romance of a sort between Moira and Towers, and the preparations by the Australian characters for their eventual deaths from radiation.

This story was an exceptionally intense and sad read for me as the characters are all such decent and ordinary people. The beach setting and sunny days at the beginning of the story combined with the forced merrymaking and pleasure taking of Holmes group of acquaintances slowly gives way to the cold and bleakness of winter and the acceptance by the various characters of their deaths. Many choose to end their lives with a pill provided by the Government for this purpose prior to succumbing to the radiation poisoning. There is no happy ending to this story and that is what’s so striking and awful about this story. There is no hope for survival for anyone right from the beginning. This is one of the few books I’ve read in my life that has made me cry.

The standout theme for me of this novel is finding meaning and purpose in the face of certain death. All of the characters in On the Beach exist in a strange period of time between the ending of the Northern Hemisphere through nuclear war and the ending of their own existence when the radioactive fallout reaches them, a period of approximately six months. The novel delves into the reactions of different people to an uncontrollable situation that can only end in death and demonstrates how some people can rise above despair and self-pity and make the most of the time they have left. Some characters turn to perpetual drunkenness or reckless car racing, but many resolve to carry on to the end with dignity and continue to do their duty. For Holmes, his duty includes continuing with his navel duties even though they ultimately become irrelevant. His wife continues to care for their baby daughter and run her home as if nothing could ever harm them.

This book was written at the height of the Cold War when the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in ideological rivalry and a nuclear arms race. On the Beach reflects the fears of the period about a potential nuclear war and the destructive potential of atomic bombs.

Quotes from On the Beach

“It’s not the end of the world at all,” he said. “It’s only the end of us. The world will go on just the same, only we shan’t be in it. I dare say it will get along all right without us.” Dwight Towers raised his head. “I suppose that’s right. There didn’t seem to be much wrong with Cairns, or Port Moresby either.” He paused, thinking of the flowering trees that he had seen on shore through the periscope, cascaras and flame trees, the palms standing in the sunlight. “Maybe we’ve been too silly to deserve a world like this,” he said. The scientist said, “That’s absolutely and precisely right.” There didn’t seem to be much more to say upon that subject, so they went up on to the bridge for a smoke, in the sunlight and fresh air.”

“Mary looked at her gratefully. “Well, that’s what I think. I mean, I couldn’t bear to—to just stop doing things and do nothing. You might as well die now and get it over.” Moira nodded. “If what they say is right, we’re none of us going to have time to do all that we planned to do. But we can keep on doing it as long as we can.”

“Two days later they reached Port Darwin and lay in the harbour beneath the town. Here they could see nothing but the wharf, the roof of Government House, and a bit of the Darwin Hotel. Fishing boats lay at anchor and they cruised around these, hailing, and examining them through the periscope. They learned nothing, save for the inference that when the end had come the people had died tidily. “It’s what animals do,” John Osborne said. “Creep away into holes to die. They’re probably all in bed.” “That’s enough about that,” the captain said. “It’s true,” the scientist remarked. “Okay, it’s true. Now let’s not talk about it any more.” The report certainly was going to be a difficult one to write.”

Purchase On the Beach from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Nevil-Shute/dp/0307473996

Recipe for chicken shawarmas

Picture caption: my final chicken shawarma which was delicious

Marinade

15 ml garlic flakes

15 ml ground coriander

15 ml cardamon

5 ml ground cayenne pepper

20 ml ground paprika

10 ml chicken stock powder

black pepper to taste

10 ml lemon juice

45 ml olive oil

Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add 8 cubed skinless chicken breasts, cover, and leave to marinade for at least three hours. Overnight is best.

Cook the chicken pieces in a wok or frying pan until they are cooked through.

Yoghurt sauce

250 ml double thick Greek yoghurt

10 ml garlic flakes

5 ml cumin

2,5 ml lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl.

Slice5 or 6 flatbreads in half. Slice tomato, red onion, cheese, and lettuce.

Assemble your shawarmas by adding a layer of lettuce, tomato, cheese, red onion, and chicken and topping it all with the yoghurt sauce.

Picture caption: these are the sides I prepared including the yoghurt sauce

Picture caption: inside of the chicken shawarma

About Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph 2025

South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Find Robbie Cheadle

Blog https://wordpress.com/home/robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and their themed anthologies.

Tales From the Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy: There exists a tree that is timeless, spanning across all dimensions, which absorbs every life as those who are hanged as they die… and it remembers every one. The stories within are a select few of the Tales From the Hanging Tree.

Curses: Chronicles of Darkness:

There are all types of curses.

Cursed places, cursed items, cursed people, cursed families.

Curses that last throughout time. Curses which can’t be broken. Curses which are brought upon ourselves. Curses that will kill you and those that will only make you wish you were dead.

Legends: Monsters That Go Bump in the Night: Coming in 2026

In Touch With Nature – Common Buzzard

Posted: February 24, 2026 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, Bird Watching, Birds, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: African Wildlife, Animals, Common Buzzard, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read | 54 Comments

Nothing common about this buzzard

Picture caption: My photograph of a common buzzard in the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve

What a thrill to see you perched atop a tree

scanning the area; you have exceptional vision

head rotating, your eyes pass lightly over me

irrelevant in the context of your meal decision

I watch you staring at the mound filled earth

seeking signs of movement, either mouse or mole

your wings gracefully spreading once prey is found

the effort rewarded; of rodents there is no dearth

their silhouettes outlined as they emerge from a hole

in stealthy pursuit you soar gracefully to the ground

seizing your unsuspecting prey with grasping talons

tearing it apart with your sharp, hooked beak

one creature must die in order for another to live

one of nature’s most effective mammal assassins

your quarry succumbs without so much as a squeak

you, the victorious combatant, your prey unresistive

***

Tourist bird, I enjoy your annual visits to these shores

in migrating flocks of up to twenty of your comrades

gliding effortlessly over large expanses without pause

with a predetermined flightpath, you aren’t nomads

though your arrival may be met with strong resistance

from smaller birds who view you as a potential threat

mobbing you repeatedly until you relent and fly away

not much of a welcome after covering such distance

your feathery bulk the cause of much upset

an illusion to disguise how little you really weigh

a monogamous creature, you usually mate for life

your partner smaller, and suited to hunting prey

while for three weeks your chicks you brood

working as a team, you experience little strife

knowing he’ll deliver small morsels without delay

until they fledge and you join the search for food

Picture caption: distance shot of a common buzzard

Picture caption: Close up of a common buzzard

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ

Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3

Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Laura Lyndhurst, and a review

Posted: February 18, 2026 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: #RobbieCheadle, #TreasuringPoetry, Book Review, Interview, Laura Lyndhurst, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Social Climbing and Other Poems, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 31 Comments

A riverbed with lillypads, water, and grasses.
Text: Treasuring Poetry 2026 with Robbie Cheadle and Kaye Lynne Booth

Hi everyone, today I’m thrilled to introduce you to Laura Lyndhurst. Laura is an accomplished author and poet and is also a new member of Story Empire blog which is a great resource for writers. You can read Laura’s first Story Empire post here: https://storyempire.com/2026/02/10/sowing-the-seeds-of-a-story/

Welcome Laura!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your poetry journey. How did you come to be a poet?

I never intended to write poetry. At school it was my least-favourite of the three prose-poetry-drama disciplines, and I didn’t like many of the poems that we studied. It was the same at university, when I finally got there in my forties. I was obliged to study Romanticism for my first-year core module, and I hated it. Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelly; I wasn’t keen on them, although I was okay with some of Keats’s work. In the second year I couldn’t help but study more poetry, and I didn’t mind John Donne at all.

As to my own work, it was when I joined a Facebook writing group that it started. The group leader decided to post a picture every day for the month of October, inviting the group members to write a few paragraphs of prose around them. I sat with the first picture, thought, wrote—and what came out was poetry. The leader and members liked it, and thereafter I challenged myself to write poem every day from the picture prompt. At the end of the months I decided to publish them in a book, to claim copyright on them as much as anything. I called it October Poems, after the month in which I wrote them, and three more little collections followed in the next year or two.

What is your favourite poem by another poet and why?

That’s difficult. I like poetry more now than I used to, and there are several poets whose work appeals. I tend to listen to Leonard Cohen’s songs more than I read his poems, but he does have a way with lyrics; I mean, ‘the place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night’ is so great. Hardy’s ‘The Darkling Thrush’ is up there, along with ‘This Be The Verse’ by Phillip Larkin. ‘Pity me not because the light of day’ by Edna St. Vincent Millay and ‘Rubbish at Adultery’ by Sophie Hannah attract, from the serious and the not-so as well. Choice for today, however, has to be ‘Refugee Blues’ by W.H. Auden. It never gets old, unfortunately, and although it’s written around one specific ethnic refugee group it can be applied to the myriad groups in existence before and since it was written; and now, in the 2020s, it feels massively relevant. You can find it here: https://allpoetry.com/refugee-blues

What is your favourite style of poetry and why?

Another difficult question. I don’t have a favourite style as such. I’ll read many different poems, some I’ll like and some I won’t, but the style of writing doesn’t have much bearing on why I like them or not. I do have an author friend, Thomas Leverett, who writes extensively in haiku form, and I loved his E Pluribus Haiku, which feels like travelling around the USA in haiku form. It’s on the link below, if you’re interested.https://www.amazon.com/Pluribus-Haiku-Anthology-3487-ebook/dp/B08X2YRQB2

Which is your favourite of your own poems?

I love them all, some more than others, it has to be admitted. I’ll choose the last one I wrote, however, because it is the last one and about ‘the end’. It’s from Social Climbing and Other Poems, and inspired by Clive Thompson’s photo of the altar of a Greek Orthodox Church.

Due Process

Your case has been a lengthy one; eighty-four years it’s taken, to

observe your less-than-perfect deeds and gather evidence to

aid the prosecution. But now you’ll have your day in court and

the jury gathered here, the Twelve, will finally decide, for or

against, whether you stay righteous here or whether you go down.

You wish to conduct your own defence? No, really, that won’t do, you’ll

be given representation. One of these saintly suits here gathered,

yes, that’s right, the ones with haloed wigs, will intercede for you.

Sorry for the delay; we understand that it’s a real nerve-wracking time for

you, but we can’t begin until His Honour gets here to take His place there,

in the big chair. The witnesses are here for you, plus jury, twelve good men

and true, not to forget the female sex, the immaculate, to try to push

your sins aside and hide you ‘neath their garments of compassion.

But nothing can occur until the God-Father is here; He’s judge

and jury all in one, Divine Justice in person. So please don’t fret,

or maybe do, for He knows you as well as you, and maybe better.

This whole set-up is just for show, to satisfy the need to see the

wheels of justice set in motion; your sentence fixed already,

your judgement day is here.

And here Our Father approaches now.

The court will rise …

Tell us a bit about your book, Social Climbing and other poems – what is the inspiration for the collection?

At the time I was friends with a photographer, Clive Thompson, and one of his pictures inspired a poem – ‘So This is Christmas’, which I recently published on my blog. Clive then allowed me to put together a book of my poems written to the prompts of some of his pictures.

What’s next for Laura Lyndhurst in the world of writing?

No more poetry, I’m afraid; nothing planned, at any rate, but if something occurs then I’ll be putting it together. At present I’m editing my latest novel, a whodunnit of sorts; a new departure for me, sort-of, because although I like adding a bit of a mystery to some of my stories this will be the first time I’ve brought the police in to investigate. It’s more focussed on before the murder, the personalities involved and their potential motivations. After that I’ll see what else occurs to me.

Many thanks for interviewing me. I’ve enjoyed it very much.

My review of SOCIAL CLIMBING: and Other Poems

Picture caption: The cover of Social Climbing and Other Poems featuring a pair of shiny, red high heeled shoes against a white background inset into a red background

When I saw the cover of this collection, the shiny, red high heeled shoes against a white background, it reminded me of the movie, The Devil Wears Prada featuring Merril Streep and I was completely fascinated. I was not disappointed as this interesting collection of freestyle poems is a head on collision with an array of social situations, many of which are uncomfortable.

“The sit inside and watch the show, these Parisian fans of opera; but we,

lacking the means to buy the tickets for the red-plush, well-upholstered

seats and ornate murals, gilt-decked swirls and whirls of rococo decor,

prefer to take our entertainment in quite another way. Out here in the street”

from Street Theatre

Laura slices to the heart of human emotions and frustrations and these poetic expressions resonated with me. One poem I particularly delighted over is “I don’t know much about art but I know what I like”.

“So I’m breaking out of normalcy,

gone so very Modernisth,

this El Greco’s got his paintbox out

and given life a twist.”

Honestly, this poem made me laugh until I cried. Fantastic!

Each poem is introduced with a beautiful colour photograph by photographer, Clive Thompson.

Do yourself a favour, purchase this collection and allow Laura to put your life in perspective for you.

About Laura Lyndhurst

Picture caption: Author photograph of Laura Lyndhurst

Laura Lyndhurst was born and grew up in North London, England, before marrying and travelling with her husband in the course of his career.

When settled back in the UK she became a mature student and gained Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English and Literature before training and working as a teacher.

She started writing in the last few years in the peace and quiet of rural Lincolnshire, and published her debut novel, Fairytales Don’t Come True, in May 2020. This book forms the first of a trilogy, Criminal Conversation, of which the second is Degenerate, Regenerate and All That We Are Heir To the third. Innocent, Guilty, the first of another trilogy, continues the story told in these three books and leads on to The Future of Our House, which is followed by Uphill, Downhill, Over, Out as the sixth and final book to end the series. An Honourable Institution was published as a stand-alone novel in January 2025, as was The Guilty Party in September 2025.

Laura also developed a taste for psychological suspense, which led to the writing and publication of You Know What You Did, to which What Else Did You Do? is the sequel.

Laura has also published four small books of poems, October Poems, Thanksgiving Poems and Prose Pieces, Poet-Pourri and Social Climbing and Other Poems.

Find Laura Lyndhurst

Website: https://booksthatmakeyouthink2.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.lyndhurst (personal profile)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauralyndhurstauthor/ (author profile)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Laura-Lyndhurst/author/B088QFJJ3Q

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20336562.Laura_Lyndhurst

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndhurstlauraauthor/

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/lyndhurstlaura/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alectrona47

About Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author picture

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

Treasuring Poetry – Meet talented poet Paul Cannon

Posted: January 21, 2026 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Poetry, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: #Poetrycommunity, #RobbieCheadle, Paul Cannon, Poetry, Poetry Challenges, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 33 Comments

A riverbed with lillypads, water, and grasses.
Text: Treasuring Poetry with Robbie Cheadle and KAye Lynne Booth

Hi everyone, welcome back to Treasuring Poetry 2026. My first guest of the year is talented poet, Paul Cannon, who I met through the d’Verse Poets Pub. You can find the latest d’Verse challenge here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/01/15/its-open-link-night-and-our-live-session-is-just-around-the-corner/. d’Verse hosts three challenges a week and they are all very interesting.

Tell us a bit about Paul Cannon. How and why did you start writing poetry?

My earliest memory of my interest in poetry is my parents encouraging me to listen to them reading poetry to me from the Children’s Book Of Verse. I remember in later primary school having to memorise poems like Coleridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ and Southey’s ‘The Inchcape Rock’ along with Patterson’s ‘The Man From Snowy River.’ Poetry captured my imagination.

Later, in high school, we were introduced to many poets and forms from around the world. We were also tasked with writing poetry which I enjoyed. One poet who I continue to read from that time is Robert Frost, I love the way he draws me into observing human behaviour and feelings, and how he observes nature.

After high school I continued to write. The incentive was, naturally, love interests. My girlfriends were always polite about my writing, not least Lyn my wife to be. From the time I married in 83 to the mid nineties I was hit and miss with writing, what brought me back in earnest was my journey into becoming an Anglican priest and the pathway of training to be a spiritual director or companion for those needing a sounding board for personal discernment. This journey opened me up to the poetry of Mary Oliver, R.S. Thomas, Denise Levertov, Blake, Milton, Edwina Gateley, Noel Davis, Rumi, Hafez, Layli and many more. These poets inspired me and I became intentional about my writing at this point.

I didn’t go online with my poems until 2017. I was writing prose on Face Book and switched to WordPress in 2013 and it was through the WordPress community that I was encouraged to take the plunge into poetry after posting some tentative pieces.

Calm Kate from aroused blog prodded me along. Through the late Sarah Conner I discovered the wonderful world of dVerse and she encouraged me to keep working on my craft. Liz Gauffreau, Melissa Lemay are two people who have supported my desire to go further with my work. dVerse offers a broad and rich palette to enjoy and learn from.

Last year I joined Tanka Tuesday and I’m enjoying the community that Colleen Cheseboro has created, as well as the poetry. I was thrilled to have three of my poems in the Sunflower Tanka 2025 Anthology. I also write on bluesky, where I have joined a few poetry challenge sites, including The Broken Spine – Alan Parry #PoemsAbout (thank you Merril), Paul Brookes’ Starbeck Orion and others. I haven’t posted yet (coming soon) but I have become a friend of Melissa Lemay’s Collaborature and I’m interested in the venture of collaborative writing having done a little bit elsewhere. In 2021 I was faced with a decision, when events overtook me. I had been thinking of resigning as a priest, I was disillusioned with the institution of the church and policies and procedures and my views had radically changed by experience. While mulling that over I experienced a series of aggressive and violent incidences over three weeks resulting in PTSD. I fell apart, but I continued writing, and in fact, my poetry became a life line (there are more than a few journals based on writing and poetry as healing). I resigned. I continue in private practice as a spiritual director but one who is eclectic and open minded and not tethered to a theology or philosophy. In that work I belong to a professional body and we have a journal for which I am the poetry editor and I facilitate a monthly online group for which I send out a prompt. So many wonderful people and such delightful contemplative poetry.

So, why do I write? I can’t not write! I enjoy expressing myself, I love writing, I enjoy community. I was also formed for it from my earliest days, through school and through friends, and especially the online community now.

So now if anyone asks what I do, I reply – “I’m a Poet.”

Which poet has influenced you the most and why?

Who do I pick? Neruda, Li Po, Basho, Bukowski, Dickinson, Hejinian, Whyte, Heaney, Eliot? So many have been instrumental in my life. The poet I come back to the most is Mary Oliver. Her love of people, her passion for nature, her metaphors and the simplicity of her poems have all captured my heart. Oliver speaks my language and touches my experience.

Please share your favourite poem by your favourite poet

There are so many poems I could list. One of my favourites by Mary Oliver is ‘The Journey”

The Journey – by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice—

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

“Mend my life!”

each voice cried.

But you didn’t stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do—

determined to save

the only life you could save.

Please share your favourite of your own poems and tell us a bit about it.

I have written so many, but one that is recent and is close to my heart is:

Light Dreams by Paul Cannon

If the whole world were

in an impenetrable darkness

the sun in hibernation

I would dream some light,

reach in and carefully gather it

up into my cupped hands and

cast it across the hungry sky

until every speckle sparked

in every living thing.

In 1979 I had a brief conversation with Bob Dylan around meaning. I asked him what he attached to his lyrics and poems and he said that his work meant something to him, but in the wider world audience his work would take on whatever meaning others found in it. In short, a poem means what it means for you. And I stand by that. What ‘Light Dreams’ is about for me is that we can sit around and worry about the state of the world (and it is, in my view, dire politically, economically and environmentally) but what is needed is for us to be an agent of change, and agent of light, and agent of hope, of love in some way. It fits my belief that all things have an intrinsic right to be treated with dignity, fairness and care. It also fits my belief that love makes the world go round.

You enter a lot of poetry challenges. What attracts you to poetry challenges?

I really enjoy the challenge of writing to a prompt, it stretches me, makes me think and feel. The other side of a challenge is the communal aspect, people interacting through their work, and offering their perspective. The communities I engage with for prompts and challenges are so supportive and encouraging. It is also an opportunity to learn and grow, I know I am not the same poet as I was twenty, or even five years ago as a result.

My Blog Parallax can be found at https://pvcann.com Parallax means that we can see something, see it from another angle and therefore see it differently, so too no two people see things the same – hence – a poem means what it means for you.

You can also find other poetry I write at @pvcannon.bsky.social

About Paul Cannon

Picture caption: author photograph of Paul Cannon

Paul is a poet and writer who lives with his wife Lyn in Augusta, Western Australia, they have two adult sons and now grandchildren. Paul loves being creative whether in the garden, with wood, with paint or clay, and not least with the pen. Paul enjoys hiking, camping, reading, wine and a good single malt whiskey.

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

In Touch With Nature – 12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa

Posted: December 24, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Holidays, In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Nature Photography, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read | 50 Comments

I am ending my “In Touch With Nature” year with a Southern Africanised version of 12 Days of Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa

On the first day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

A leopard in a great tree

On the second day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Two lion cubs by Robbie Cheadle

On the third day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Three hartebeest by Robbie Cheadle

On the fourth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Four playing wild dogs by Robbie Cheadle

On the fifth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Five feeding cheetahs by Robbie Cheadle

On the sixth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Six grazing zebras by Robbie Cheadle

On the seventh day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Seven marching elephants by Robbie Cheadle

On the eighth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Eight gemsbok a-resting from Unsplash

On the ninth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Nine wildebeest prancing

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Nine wildebeest prancing from Unsplash

On the tenth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Ten impala a-watering

Nine wildebeest prancing

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Ten impala a-watering by Robbie Cheadle

On the eleventh day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Eleven buffalos drinking

Ten impala a-watering

Nine wildebeest prancing

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: eleven buffalos drinking by Robbie Cheadle

On the twelfth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Twelve guinea fowl running

Eleven buffalos drinking

Ten impala a-watering

Nine wildebeest prancing

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Twelve guinea fowl running by Robbie Cheadle

Happy Holidays!

Treasuring Poetry – Sunflower Tanka Dreams anthology compiled by Robbie Cheadle and Colleen M. Chesebro

Posted: December 17, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Anthology, Poetry, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: #Poetryanthology, #Poetrycommunity, #RobbieCheadle, #TreasuringPoetry, Colleen M. Chesebro, Dreams, Poetry, Poetry Anthology, Robbie Cheadle, Sunflower Tanka, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 67 Comments

Hi everyone, this is my last Treasuring Poetry post 0f 2025 and I’m thrilled to be ending with a post about the second anthology in the Sunflower Tanka anthology series with the theme of dreams.

This wonderful anthology has 54 contributors and the variety of fascinating takes on the theme of dreams is fascinating. Colleen M. Chesebro and I are contributing editors of this collection and Colleen created an amazing cover using one of my watercolour paintings. The green-haired flower maiden is based on Meadow, a character from one of Teagan Riordain Geneviene’s imaginative stories, Atonement in Bloom. You can learn more about this book here: https://teagansbooks.com/2025/12/08/a-bloomin-snippet-for-cffc/

Picture caption: Cover of Sunflower Tanka, Dreams

Blurb

Sunflower Tanka, edited by Robbie Cheadle and Colleen M. Chesebro, is an annual anthology showcasing contemporary tanka, tanka prose, and experimental tanka. Each volume brings together a vibrant tapestry of voices—both emerging and established—from across the globe.

For 2025, our theme “Dreams” invites poets to explore the symbolic language of dreaming, where metaphors blur the line between reality and imagination. Dreams often serve as gateways to layered meaning, offering fertile ground for syllabic poetry.

This year’s contributors journeyed deep into their dreamscapes, opening portals to boundless creativity. Through the timeless form of syllabic verse, they captured visions that transcend waking life, weaving poetry that resonates with mystery, wonder, and the infinite possibilities of the human imagination.

This is the promo video on YouTube:

I am going to take this opportunity to share one of Colleen’s poems and one of my collaborative poem’s with my son, Michael, from this collection.

Writing Through Dreams (tanka Puente) by Colleen M. Chesebro

in the fog of lies

honesty outlines a path

beyond my worst fears

my dreams, a shining lighthouse

nudge out my darkest secrets

– Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson, former U.S. president

dreams empower me

to use my curative skills

a fresh cup of tea

affords me the wisdom to

write syllabic poetry

The End In Sight (Tanka Puente Collaboration) by Robbie and Michael Cheadle

on the brink of change

bright eyes viewing the future

my son and his friends

graduation imminent

transition to adulthood

– If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right – Henry Ford

anxiety creeps

deep despair spreads like fire

spars fear of failure

disappointing those you love

mother’s nagging tongue lashes

My review

This is a collection of beautiful syllabic poems contributed by 54 poets from around the world. All the poems centre around the theme of dreams and the range of interpretations is fascinating.

The poems in the collection comprise of tanka, tanka prose, garland tanka, tanka Puente, bussokuseki, rensaku and taiga which includes a black and white image and they collectively form a delightful poetry adventure.

The collection is introduced with an interesting overview about the inspiration for the theme and the various meanings of the word dreams. This section closes with a delightful tanka by partnering editor, Colleen Chesebro, as follows:

rain cools with sky-mist
sweet drops spark my appetite
whispering prayers
moonlight breaks through the darkness
a feverish dream of you

The collection concludes with a selection of each of the partnering editors favourite poems and the reasons why those specific poems resonated with each of them.

One of my favourite poems is by Yvette M. Calleiro:
miracle baby
you came to me in a dream
blessing from above
missing puzzle piece in life
my greatest accomplishment

I feel this way about my own two sons and so this poem has stayed in my heart.

A delightful collection of poetry that will make a lovely gift to others or to yourself.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Sunflower-Tanka-Anthology-Prose-Experimental/dp/B0G51RKG61

Tanka Tuesday

You can join in weekly syllabic poetry challenges on Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/12/09/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-42-gift-gifting-12-09-25/

About Colleen M. Chesebro

Picture caption: Author photograph of Colleen M. Chesebro

Colleen M. Chesebro grew up in a large city in the Midwest. Keen on making her own way in the world, she joined the United States Air Force after graduation to tour the world and find herself. To this day, that search continues.

An avid reader, Colleen M. Chesebro rekindled her love of writing poetry after years spent working in the accounting industry. These days, she loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction.

In addition to poetry books, Chesebro’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of her writing community on her blog on by organizing and sponsoring a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, where participants experiment with traditional and current forms of Japanese and American syllabic poetry.

Chesebro lives in the house of her dreams in mid-Michigan, surrounded by the Great Lakes with her husband and two (unicorn) cats, Chloe & Sophie.

You can find Colleen M. Chesebro on her personal blog here: https://colleenchesebro.org/

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

Christmas for Kids Sale

Posted: December 13, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Promotion, Book Sales, Children's Books, Holidays | Tags: Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home, Heather Hummingbird Makes a NEw Friend, Kaye Lynne Booth, My Backyard Friends series, Robbie Cheadle, Timothy Turtle Discovers JEllybeans, WordCrafter Press, Writing | 3 Comments

Starting Black Friday, November 28th and running clear through December 25th, for those last-minute gifts.

Click on the book title to go to the landing page. Then, select the distributor of your choice.

The My Backyard Friends kid’s book series is inspired by the birds and animals that visit the author Kaye Lynne Booth’s mountain home. Beautiful illustrations by children’s author, poet, and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, bring the unique voices of the animal characters to life.

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans – $2.50 – Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans is a picture book with a moral message from a young turtle’s perspective. Meet Timothy Turtle, who has a sweet tooth. He eats too many jellybeans and finds himself in a pickle. His friends Katy Cat and Betsy Beaver try to help, and Timothy learns that you can get too much of a good thing.

Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend – $2.50 – Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend is a picture book with a message of friendship and cooperation. Heather Hummingbird and Ethan Eagle are two unlikely friends who discover that it is good to accept help from others and that is what friends are for.

Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home – $2.99 – Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home is a story of survival from a young bird’s perspective. Charlie Chickadee is happy with his family in their cozy nest. But whem the violet-green swallows take the nest for their own, Charlie finds himself alone, separated from his parents and on his own to face the dangers of the forest. His new friend Nicholas Nuthatch shows him the ropes and teaches him about the other birds and the woman who puts out food each day, and by a stroke of luck, Charlie discovers the perfect spot and builds a new nest that he can be proud of.

November 28th – December 25th, 2025

Get your copies today!

Read and Cook – Bridget Jones’s Diary (Novel) and Mom’s orange & chocolate birthday cake #ReadandCook #bookreview #baking

Posted: November 12, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review | Tags: Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding, Orange and Chocolate Birthday Cake, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read | 45 Comments

Today, I have selected a humorous book for my review. Bridget Jones’s Diary is very amusing but it does also have a more serious theme. The movie is different to the book from what I have read. I haven’t seen the movie so I can’t comment on it.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (Novel)

Picture caption: Cover of Bridget Jones’s Diary featuring a young woman holding a cigarette and a glass of wine

Bridget Jones’s Diary is a fabulous and humorous romp through the world of an unmarried 30 something woman living on her own in London. The novel is written in the form of a personal diary and every entry starts with a list of her daily calory count, cigarettes smoked, and alcohol units consumed. This introduction is very telling as it summarises how Bridget views herself and her life. Caught up in the modern ideas of love being linked to looks and, especially, being thin, Bridget is obsessed with her weight. Although couched in humour, this theme is actually a serious one and centres around women’s unfortunate association of looks and weight with popularity, self worth, and romantic love.

Bridget has a job, but she wants to achieve more, she has friends and family, but she wants a relationship and to be part of a couple. The pursuit of these two goals are the main threads of this book which involves a career change for Bridget and also two potential romances. The first possibility is Daniel, a Casanova and womeniser, who is also Bridget’s boss – big mistake. The second is the seemingly stuffy and serious human-rights barrister, Mark Darcy, whom Bridget dislikes when they are reintroduced at a New Year’s party. Bridget’s mother is keen on Mark as a partner for Bridget and reminds her publically that they used to play together as children.

Bridget has a group of single friends, including Tom and Jude who both have never-ending ups and downs with their own relationships. These ‘singletons’ stick by each other through thick and thin. Bridget also has several ‘smug married’ friends who are always seeking to get her married off so she can join their club. As the novel progresses, Bridget is exposed to the realities of imperfect marriages and relationships but this doesn’t change her rose tinted views or desire to be part of a couple.

If you are looking for an entertaining and humorous read to distract your from the trials of daily life, this novel will certainly fit the bill.

Purchase Bridget Jones’s Diary from Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Bridget-Joness-Diary-Picador-Classic-ebook/dp/B01GOG7966

Mom’s orange and chocolate birthday cake

This recipe is also for Jo’s BKD Cookbook Club – November. You can join in this challenge here: https://brookfordkitchendiaries.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/bkd-cookbook-club-november/

My mother turned 87 on 21 October. I decided to host a family lunch to celebrate and she asked for an orange and chocolate cake. I ordered the Terry’s oranges from an on-line supplier and they were delicious and an interesting decorative feature for this cake. This time, I did not marble the cakes, but rather made two cakes. The bottom layer is and orange cake and the top layer is a chocolate cake. I made an orange flavoured buttercream to ice the orange cake and used ganache to ice the chocolate cake. I broke up two of the Terry’s oranges for the orange slices decorations and used a nearly whole one for the top main decoration feature. I sprinkled the entire cake with edible gold glitter as a final touch.

Recipe for rich chocolate cake

Ingredients

2 large eggs

500 ml (2 cups) sticky brown sugar

250 ml (1 cup) vegetable oil

250 ml (1 cup) Greek (double thick) yogurt

500 ml (2 cups) cake flour (plain)

2 teaspoons (10 ml) bicarbonate of soda

190 ml cocoa powder

1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla essence

250 ml (1 cup) boiling water from the kettle

Method

Line the bottom of a 23 cm x 30 cm round baking tin and spray the sides with no stick spray or grease with butter. Heat the oven to 160 C.

Beat the sugar into the eggs. Add the oil and the yogurt and beat well. Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda, and the cocoa powder and add, mixing well. Beat in the boiling water and the vanilla essence. The mixture will be thick and smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking tin and bake for approximately 1 hour or until a cake tester comes out clean.

If you are baking in a humid and sticky climate, you will need to adjust the ingredients slightly by adding 1 additional Tablespoon (15 ml) of flour to the mixture. This is to combat the extra moisture the sugar and flour will have absorbed in muggy, moist climates.

This is my Youtube video of Mom’s birthday cake:

This recipe is out of Michael and my cookbook for children, Sir Chocolate and the Baby Cookie Monster story and cookbook which is available from TSL Publications here:

Sir Chocolate and the Baby Cookie Monster (A5)

The ebook is available from Lulu.com and you will find the link on the TSL Publications page.

Picture caption: Cover of the square edition of Sir Chocolate and the Baby Cookie Monster story and cookbook also available from TSL Publications.

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Find Robbie Cheadle

Blog https://wordpress.com/home/robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle

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This segment of “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle” is sponsored by the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – Meet Pumbaa the Warthog and a treat #southernafricanwildlife #intouchwithnature

Posted: October 22, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Africa, Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Nature writing, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Warthogs, White Giraffe, Wildlife, Writing to be Read | 40 Comments

Disney was as kind to warthog’s as it was unkind to hyenas in its movie, The Lion King. Pumbaa the Warthog is a well-known Southern African cartoon figure among many people, young and old. This is intriguing to me as warthogs, together with poor unloved hyenas, are both part of the Southern African ‘Ugly Five’ group of animals.

I always laugh when I see warthogs running about in the veld. I immediately think of ‘pigs in blankets’ and they are definitely ‘bush snacks’ for many carnivores. So, let’s learn a bit more about these funny looking creatures.

Warthogs are day animals and spend most of their time foraging for food. Socially, they are found in three groups: solitary boars, bachelor groups, and matriarchal groups which consist of adult sows with their young and yearlings. Outside of mating, the boars seldom associate with the sows and play no role in rearing the piglets. Did I mention that warthogs are a member of the pig family? Warthogs are the only pigs that have adapted to living and grazing in savannah like habitats.

A few interesting features of warthogs are that they kneel on their front knees while feeding and foraging and they shelter in (frequently borrowed) burrows at night which they enter tails first. Although they like more dry surroundings, warthogs enjoy wallowing in muddy water every day. This wallowing process is how they stay cool on hot days in the same manner as elephants and buffalo.

Picture caption: a solitary male warthog

Warthogs tend to breed and give birth at the beginning of the rainy season in regions where the seasons are defined. In other environments, warthogs can breed all year around. Warthogs generally have two to three piglets in a litter.

Although I said these creatures are bush snacks for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and painted dogs, they have longer legs than most pigs and can run very quickly. They are difficult to catch and also difficult to photograph.

Interesting warthog facts

Warthogs have two pairs of tusks
Warthogs trot with their tails in the air
Warthogs can run up to 55 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour)
Warthogs fight in a ritualistic way and use their heads and tusks to try to push their opponent over.
Warthogs have warts on their faces which act as a cushion for blows from their adversaries. Large warts also help protect their eyes during fights.
A group of female warthogs with young is called a sounder
Mama warthogs like orderly behaviour and the piglets always run in a fixed order in a line and not in a disorderly group.
Warthogs are attentive mothers; they leave the sounder when about to give birth and find their own burrow or hole. Mama remains in this hole with her young for the first six to seven weeks after birth, only leaving for short periods to graze.
Warthogs are hunted for their tusks which are carved for the tourist trade in eastern and southern Africa (don’t buy these!)
Warthogs communicate using a variety of different noises including loud grunts, growling and squeals. Clacking noises are used by males to entice females.

Picture caption: warthog foraging and grazing.

Picture caption: Close up of a male warthog

My Youtube video of a sounder having breakfast:

Poem about warthogs

This poem is extracted from my favourite of my own books, Lion Scream.

Home Thief

I am not beautiful
My head is too big
My face is covered in wartlike protrusions
To protect it during fights
I have four large tusks
***
I prefer to trespass
On ready-built homes
It’s easier if aardvark does the digging
Creating a safe hole
And I just move in
***
My babies enter first
I have up to four
Backing in leaves me prepared to protect them
From many predators
Who view us as snacks

Lion Scream is available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766

White headed giraffe – a special sighting

During a trip to Babanango Private Game Reserve we had the good fortune to come across this giraffe with large white patches on its face. Very unusual. The guide was very patient and waited for me to get my shots.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Read and Cook – Hotel Pastis: A Novel of Provence by Peter Mayle, and my new cake art and baking books series #ReadandCook #bookreview #cakeart

Posted: October 8, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Adventure, Book Review, Books, cooking, Creativity, Fiction, Nonfiction, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review, romance, Suspense | Tags: Baking, Cake Art, Fondant Art, Hotel Pastis, Peter Mayle, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, Something Fancy, Writing to be Read | 34 Comments

Hotel Pastis: A Novel of Provence by Peter Mayle

What Amazon says

A beguiling novel of romance, adventure, and tongue-in-cheek suspense set in the South of France, from the beloved, best-selling author of A Year in Provence.

Simon Shaw, a rumpled, fortyish English advertising executive, has decided to leave it all behind, and heads of to France to transform an abandoned police station in the Lubéron into a small but world-class hotel. On his side, Simon has a loyal majordomo and a French business partner who is as practical as she is ravishing. But he hasn’t counted on the malignant local journalist—or on the mauvaise types who have chosen the neighboring village as the site of their latest bank robbery. Slyly funny and overflowing with sensuous descriptions of the good life, Hotel Pastis is the literacy equivalent of a four-star restaurant.

My review

I read a few of Peter Mayle’s autobiographical books about life in Provence when I was in my twenties. I came across this novel a short while ago and was eager to revisit Provence, this time through Peter Mayle’s fiction. I was not disappointed. After a bit of a slow start, Peter Mayle’s typically humorous style of writing and his deep dive into the food and culture of Provence were very evident in this entertaining novel. What was new was his descriptions of life in the advertising industry in London.

I’m making an educated guess that this novel is set in the 70s in London as that is when the author worked in London as an advertising executive. The characters all smoke heavily which was quite interesting for me given that I’ve always worked in a no smoking inside buildings culture. I found the author’s descriptions of his work colleagues, spoiled wife and her equally over privileged friends, and super wealthy clients very entertaining. Of course, these scenes are depicted through a humorous lens, so the negative attributes of these people are all exaggerated but as someone who has always worked in corporate, it had the ring of truth. I could also relate to Simon’s exhaustion with this fast and fake lifestyle. It can be hard to feel sympathy for people caught up in this sort of all work with short intermissions of excessive play lifestyles because of all the money they have, but it is not a nice way to live your life. Having to work all the time and appease others and wine and dine them isn’t as glamorous as it appears on the outside. This is evident from the general wreckage you see in such people’s personal lives including broken marriages, alcoholism, and drug addiction. I really hoped that Simon would find a better way of living that brought him more personal happiness.

There is a romance between Simon and a fascinating woman from Provence, a butler who is very competent and savvy and equally weary of Simon’s (and thus his own) life in the London fast lane, as well as a ring of local petty criminals who are planning the heist of their lives.

This book is not a classic and does not contain intense and serious messages about life, relationships, and saving the world. This is a slice of escapism and is light and enjoyable like pavlova. If this is the sort of book you are looking for, then you will enjoy Hotel Pastis.

Purchase Hotel Pastis: A Novel of Provence from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679751114

Cake art and other confectionary related delights

I have wanted to publish a book containing my favourite baking recipes and cake and other confectionary art for some years. I have finally gotten around to it and the first book in my new series, Something Fancy: A Winter Wonderland Celebration book 1 is now available for pre-order on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Something-Wonderland-Celebration-Celebrating-Confectionary-ebook/dp/B0FTX21BXL

This book isn’t just about cake art and baking, it also includes some history about the origin of Christmas cakes in a number of different countries and the origin of gingerbread and gingerbread houses in Europe and other places. It also includes several of my baking related poems and poets written specifically for various cake creations.

Picture caption: Cover of Something Fancy: A Winter Wonderland Celebration book 1

Blurb

Robbie’s cake and fondant creations are full of imagination and enchantment as demonstrated by her gingerbread bakery, populated by three mince pie figurines, and her Ice cream Rainbow Fairies Christmas Cake, decorated with seven fondant fairy figurines for each colour of the rainbow.

This book is intended as a celebration of Christmas in poetry, cake art, and gingerbread constructions and includes several of Robbie’s delicious Christmas recipes as well as design ideas for Christmas themed confectionaries. Bite sized smatterings of historical information relating to various culinary delights are also included.

Robbie Cheadle is a poet, writer, and artist. Over the past twenty years, she has created art cakes, gingerbread constructions, and fondant figurines for a variety of purposes including as illustrations for the Sir Chocolate children’s book series she wrote with her son, Michael Cheadle.

These are examples of the type of cake art featured in this book: