Smorgasbord Special Feature – Understanding – An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events- Contributors – Clive Pilcher, Abbie Johnson Taylor, Stevie Turner and Beem Weeks

Thank you Sally for taking part in this anthology and also for your help in promoting it. Much appreciated! x

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

 

Over the last two weeks I have been featuring the contributors to this anthology of true and significant events. Writers share intimate and life changing events in their lives with courage and honesty whilst inspiring others.

Compiled by author Stevie Turner – the proceeds from this anthology will be going to Cancer Research and it is a very worthy cause.

Here is the link to the previous post where you can also find the link to the first posts in the series: Contributors Part Five

About the anthology

The following authors and bloggers answered questions posed by Stevie Turner regarding significant life experiences they had undergone. These events include sexual abuse, a near death experience, alcoholism, being diagnosed with cancer, depression, losing weight, getting married, being a mother to many children, being the daughter of a narcissistic mother, and many more!

One of the reviews for the anthology

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Care of the Elderly: A Question…

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care of the elderly

A friend at work came into my office recently, and was very angry.  Her elderly mother, who lives in a warden-controlled flat, had been assigned a male carer.  Her mother was aghast and quite distressed that he had taken off her clothes and washed her.  I’m not sure whether he had asked her permission first, but surely anybody working for a care agency would have asked their client whether they agreed to them performing personal care before going ahead?

My own mother in her final years had a male carer.  However, she would not let him do any personal care.  He had been assigned 45 minutes early mornings to help her out of bed and help her to wash and dress herself, but all she would let him do was prepare her breakfast and wash up the dishes.  She preferred to struggle and take 2 full hours to wash herself rather than have Chris do it, or wait until I visited a couple of hours later.

I told her that Chris was just doing his job and was paid to wash and dress her, but Mum was having none of it.  It was only in her last few months when personal care became impossible, that she would let him wash her.

My friend’s mother complained bitterly to the care agency that sending a male carer to wash her was akin to assault.

Is she correct?  The carer was only doing his job, and had obviously been rigorously checked before being employed.  I have had male nurses care for me when bed-bound after operations, and they were kindness itself.  It would never have occurred to me to send them away.

However, I suppose if I was an elderly and vulnerable woman living on her own, I might have a different viewpoint.  But it seems a shame that male carers cannot carry out their work properly without their clients complaining, even though they have not done anything wrong.

What do you think?

 

 

Published Bloggers (1)

Thanks to BeetleyPete for this promotional opportunity.

beetleypete

As some of you know, I am always happy to promote the books of bloggers who have published books. Whether they have self-published, or managed to get a deal, it doesn’t matter.

I made a similar offer to this in 2017, and thought it was about time to try again.

But I don’t have time to trawl the blogs of my followers for them, and rely on them letting me know. So I have decided to offer a no-strings promotion on my blog. If you are part of this community, and struggling to get readers for your work, then I will help by adding your links to a series of blog posts. To be included, just choose from the following options.

1) Add your link or links to the comments on this post.
2) Send me a cover photo and a brief synopsis by email to petejohnson50@yahoo.com
Then I will…

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Streets Ahead Street Team Promotion

This week we’re promoting books by authors Jacquie Biggar and  L.T Garvin.  If you would like to join the street team and have your own book promoted, please click on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/StreetsAheadTeam/

Jacquie Biggar’s romantic suspense collection Wounded Hearts: Love Conquers All is currently at the special Kindle Countdown price of just $1.29:

Join the men and women of Tidal Falls as they learn love can conquer any odds.

Adventure Romance Super Bundle.
Four action-adventure romance stories set in the quaint little town of Tidal Falls, Washington, where all is not what it seems.

Tidal Falls:
Nick Kelley spent years working as a dog handler in the U.S. Marine Corps. His sole focus, to keep his team alive in the midst of chaos. When he fails to notice an IED in time and loses most of his teammates, Nick shuts down. It takes meeting and falling in love with a woman in danger to make him realize life’s worth living.

The Rebel’s Redemption:
Jared Martin left Tidal Falls a hotheaded youth. Eight years in the military has turned him into a cynical, disillusioned man.
Then he returns home to find out he’s a father.

When an old enemy follows and causes mayhem in the small town, can Jared overcome the odds to protect the woman he’s always loved and the child he never knew?

Or will it be too late for them to have a second chance?

Twilight’s Encore:
Ty Garrett fell in love with Katy Fowler from the moment they’d met. When her father’s betrayal yanks the young couple apart, Ty becomes bitter.
After a decade away, Katy returns to Tidal Falls with plans to get married in her family’s theatre. But she hadn’t expected to run into Ty Garrett, the boy she’d never forgotten.
When a series of sabotages wreak havoc on the theatre and danger threatens
Katy’s life, can Ty save her and win back her love, or is it too late for
these star-crossed lovers?

The Sheriff Meets His Match:
Jack Garrett has been stung by love in the past, but he can’t deny his attraction to the new receptionist, Laurel Thomas.
When trouble comes to Tidal Falls, Jack worries that Laurel Thomas is in over her head.
Laurel loves her dysfunctional family, but dreams of a place to call home. Just as she settles into a new life, her old one catches up to her and delivers chaos to the town.
Can these two strong personalities find a way to trust in each other enough to give love a second chance?

Fall in love with your next book boyfriend!

A truly enjoyable box set. With each novel, more is learned about the citizens of Tidal Falls and they become more and more like friends.

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L.T Garvin’s paperback Confessions of a 4th Grade Athlete is an amusing story of a young boy’s elementary school days and his involvement in various sports teams. L.T. Garvin resides in Wichita Falls, Texas where the weather is hot and sports competition is tough.

https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-4th-Grade-Athlete-Garvin/dp/1942624123/

Smorgasbord Easter Parade Blog Party – Part Two – Music, dancing, food, Behatted guests and time to drop you links.

Thanks Sally Cronin for including me in your Easter Parade! x

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Welcome to the Smorgasbord Easter Parade part two with more behatted guests, music, dancing, humour and food. And since you have dropped in today.. please don’t leave without leaving the link to your latest post…. or your Amazon link and a little bit about yourself.

It is a beautiful day here and whilst you are waiting for the parade to begin here is something spectacular for you to join in with…

The first guest in the parade today has been providing the funnies for the blog over the last few months, even when she was basking in the sun in Mexico…most of you will already be enjoying her monthly D.G. Kaye Travel Column Debby Gies has gone all out with not just her hat today but her entire outfit….Debby has jetted in overnight from Canada to be with us.

About D.G. Kaye – Debby Gies

Debby Gies is a Canadian…

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Open Book Blog Hop – 22nd April

This week the topic is:

Many of us wax poetical at the end of winter and the return of spring. Let’s swap that around. What’s the one thing about spring that you can’t stand?

Like most people I love the end of winter and the promise of long summer days to come.  The trees begin to sprout new leaves, we can all leave off layers of clothing, and Sam and I can head off down the A3 and drain up our holiday home.  However… I know full well that one thing is going to spoil my fun and put me on permanent guard.  What is it?

Aaargh!  It’s bees, wasps, and any other stinging insect.

As soon as the sun comes out, then so do the bees and wasps.  If I’m stung, I can feel my neck begin to swell on the inside straight away, and I have to run for my Prednisolone tablets which are never far away.  The sting itself will linger for days, itching and irritating my skin.

I know that bees are doing their bee thing and pollinating and honey-making and so on, but I hate the bloody things!  And another thought … what the hell are wasps for?  They hover about on our decking, and I cannot relax if I see one.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Let’s see what other blog-hoppers cannot stand about Spring.  You can join in the fun if you like, and leave a comment or add your own blog.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Smorgasbord Easter Parade Blog Party – Part One – Eggellent time to add your links!! – Music, Dancing, Food, and Behatted Guests..

I’m enjoying Sally Cronin’s Easter Parade … Happy Easter everyone! x

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Welcome to the Smorgasbord Easter Parade with some behatted guests, music, humour and food. And since you have dropped in today.. please don’t leave without leaving the link to your latest post…. or your Amazon link and a little bit about yourself.

While you are all standing around waiting for the parade to begin.. here is the first of the entertainers…

Here we have Laura Ganley of the Ganley Sisters,  http://www.theganleysisters.com/ performing a Sean-Nos Barrel dance! All on a Wild West Irish Tour!

We have quite a few special guests today who have joined us from all over the world, wearing a hat of their choice or have brought a guest wearing one….and the first to join the parade is children’s author Darlene Foster who has travelled all the way from Spain to take part.

About Darlene Foster

Darlene Foster is a writer, an employment counsellor, an ESL tutor…

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Notes from a Small Island: Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

I was rather nervous before undertaking the St. Helen’s Fort Walk yesterday, but Sam assured me it was well within my capabilities.  I suppose the unknown is always a worry, but I know that sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone.

We walked down to St. Helen’s beach and arrived at 4:50pm, just as the tide was nearly out.  The fort seemed a long way away, but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained.  Nearing the actual path itself, the sea only covered our ankles at one point so we didn’t have to swim…

The fort is  Victorian, and a series of forts were built in the 1850s to protect Portsmouth harbour from attack.  However, no battles were ever fought, and the forts were decommissioned in the 1950s.  During low tide in August, hundreds of people take part in an organised walk to the fort, but Sam and I prefer to go on our own in case being part of a big group hinders our progress.  There’s only a one hour window before the sea covers the path again.

It took us about half an hour to trek out there over rough shingle.  Around the fort is a narrow ledge, and it would have been rude not to climb up there and walk around it.  Apparently it’s supposed to bring good luck if you walk around in an anti-clockwise direction, so we did!

The fort from St. Helen’s beach. It looks a long way off!

Stevie thinks… can I do this?

The tide was nearly out but not quite.

Sitting on the steps of the fort. Up the stairs is a narrow ledge running around the perimeter.

See what I mean about the narrow ledge?

All done. On our way back.

Yep, I stepped out of my comfort zone, especially when walking around that ledge, but I’m glad I did it!  Unfortunately it’s time to return home again this afternoon, but I look forward to another visit to this beautiful island in a few weeks’ time.

Notes from a Small Island – 19th April

Happy Easter everyone.  It’s lovely weather here on the Isle of Wight, so a good view today of the English Channel this morning from our kitchen window:

See that fort on the right?   We’re going to walk out to it later on when the tide goes out.  You can only do this once or twice a year when the tide is exceptionally low.  Today is the day, and there won’t be another chance until early September.  I’ll be taking my mobile phone with me just in case I have to call the coastguard!

Yesterday some friends visited and we had our first BBQ of the season.  However, as soon as they arrived we found to our dismay that we had no electricity.  Sam quickly tried the trip switch, but no luck.  He thought the RCB (resistive circuit breaker) was probably faulty, but was tending burgers and sausages on the barbeque and never allows anybody else to cook them (which suits me as I hate cooking).  I told him that the maintenance team probably might have something to say about owners taking it upon themselves to sort out electricity problems, even if, like Sam, they know what they’re doing.  Sam thankfully agreed, and I phoned Reception to report the problem.  A chap from the maintenance team quickly came along and announced our RCB needed replacing!  Fun and games.

 

Friday Click & Run -19th April

Sometimes when we’re busy it’s nice to simply leave a link to our blog or blog post and run, and so Friday Click and Run is just for that purpose. However, of course you can check out others’ links and share away if you want to. So… every Friday do add some info of what your blog is about and also a link to your blog or blog post in the comments if you’ve got a minute. You don’t have to do anything else such as sharing or commenting unless you really want to. Isn’t that cool? People may decide to check your link out, or they may not. They might decide to leave their own link and run as well, so you may meet each other heading out the door. If I see a post that’s a bit risqué, then I shall be running too – straight to the ‘delete’ button!

Fire away then… let’s see what we end up with.

I will check out the blogs next week when I’m home again.

Thanks to the 11 authors and bloggers who left their links last week.