Life from the Tail End
I was a bit worried he wouldn’t come, ‘specially after the antlers took a hit…
But he did, and I got presents… like wrapping paper to open!!!
And a new treat-finding puzzle…
And a squirrel of my very own (sorry, Duke!)
And it squeaks…
…and you can really shake it!
And he brought me a whole turkey!!!
Though she says not… but we’ll see, if she leaves it within reach…
Dear Santa, remember that ball that I’ve had?
For several years now…it was getting quite bad…
And all that was left was some chewed rubber stuff,
A vague hint of curve and some once-yellow fluff…
*
I’ve taken good care to be so gentle with it
Not tugged it or torn, so the ball would forgive it,
But age takes its toll and there’s naught that can stop it
Especially when I must ‘fetch it’ and ‘drop it’.
*
So there’s nothing left and the ball’s like a pancake,
It no longer bounces, it just makes my jaws ache,
But although she’s offered a dozen replacements
Not one of the balls could be any solacement.
*
“That’s it!” said my two-legs, “the poor ball has bought it,
We must find a method or some way to sort it!
We can’t have you mourning for months being surly
And awful depressed for a lost ball, my girlie.”
*
So, she disappeared and came back from the kitchen
To start doing something, and me, I was itching
To see what she’s doing with needle and cotton,
But she wouldn’t let me, ’cause sometimes, she’s rotten.
But when she had finished, I couldn’t believe it!
She threw and it bounced when I went to retrieve it!
It rolled at some speed when I batted a paw
And I had to go chase it all over the floor!
*
What magic is this? Must be some invocation
That manages to exceed all expectation!
I’ve known for a while that she’s not been herself,
But I didn’t suspect that you’d made her an Elf!
*
My ball’s had facelift and looks a lot newer
Of weeks spent in mourning there now should be fewer!
So thank you, dear Santa, for magic come early,
I’m feeling all Tiggerish, bouncy and whirly!
Dear Santa, I’m a little dog who doesn’t do religion.
I’d rather chase a tennis ball or terrorise a pigeon
Than argue over who is wrong or maybe who is right…
It seems a silly way to me to get into a fight.
I know the Christmas story, ’cause she told me long ago,
About Joseph and Mary when they had nowhere to go,
And that’s the bit that got to me, ’cause someone found a place,
Although they slept with beasts and not with others of their race.
According to the tale we’re told, they slept beneath a star
And shepherds brought their lambs to see and kings came from afar.
They gathered where the Baby lay, beside the ox and ass,
While angels sang above, they knelt in wonder on the grass.
Now, that’s a lovely story that the world will celebrate…
And then go back to living in their prejudice and hate.
They look askance at strangers if they wear a different skin…
I wonder if the Babe returned, if they would let Him in?
You know, I have to wonder, if there’s any point at all,
In putting presents on the tree or trimming up the hall
Unless they feel the Christmas spirit bringing love and peace
And know that it is in their hearts hostilities must cease.
I know, I’m just a small dog and my voice will not be heard,
I’m only good for cuddles and to chase a ball or bird.
But maybe when you visit you could tell them while they sleep
And give them just a bit of your compassion they could keep.
It would be nice to think it could be Christmas every day
(Without the preparations and the bills they have to pay)
But being gentle with each other, giving Love a place
Within their hearts and in the smiles they’d wear upon their face.
Much love,
Ani
xxx
Dear Santa…
This year is all a bit weird. This coronavirus malarkey is upsetting everyone and keeping them apart, especially when they want and need to be together. I’m pretty sure, if you could manage it, taking the bug away would go down better than delivering present this year. I mean, look at all the wonderful things we are missing…
Much love,
Ani xxx
‘Twas a fortnight till Christmas
And all through the flat
Not a creature was stirring
She’s glad about that…
She’d had quite enough
Throwing balls for the day
And had told me concisely
To put them away.
The birds in the garden
All slept for the night,
(I’d sorted the pigeons…
They’d put up a fight)
The fish had been fed
And now hid in the weed,
I snored on the sofa,
She curled up to read.
Then all of a sudden
A knock on the door
Made me jump up to see,
And the book hit the floor…
“Now who could be calling
At this time of night?”
She picked up her keys
And turned on the hall light…
So I’m back on duty,
You never can tell…
And if monsters are out there,
I’ll chase them to Hell.
She slipped on my lead
As she opened the door,
While I waited ready
With growl, tooth and paw…
But as the door opened
The voices began
It wasn’t a monster,
Not even a man…
Just lots of small children
All singing with joy
About Christmas angels
And one baby boy.
They were only little
And should be in bed…
I don’t understand
All the words that they said.
I do understand, though,
The message they brought…
It is one that no creature
Shoud need to be taught…
To love one another,
With kindness and care,
To treat with respect
And to help and to share…
She listened, all smiling,
With tears on her face…
As if she’d been given
Some vision of grace.
‘Twas a fortnight till Christmas
And out in the night
Small faces were shining
Reflecting the Light.
With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore
There is always that one awkward person,
You just cannot decide what to proffer
When Christmas comes round
Gifts seem thin on the ground
But a book is a good thing to offer.
You can go for adventure or romance
Or a story of brimstone and gore,
There’s horror or mystery
Chick-lit and history
Fantasy, sci-fi and more.
It might not be their volume of preference
And might end on a charity shelf…
But if they don’t read it
Or find they don’t need it
You could always read it yourself.
As a gift it is excellent value…
There’s a book wrapped up under the tree…
That will please more than one
When all is said and done,
Because you and the author make three!
Spare a thought for the Indie at Christmas
Who has toiled at the keyboard all year…
So put books on the sleigh
As it starts on its way
And give all Indie authors some cheer!
You can find all my books at Amazon worldwide
UK – USA – France – Germany – Japan – and India.
And I, the Small Dog, also feature as ‘Anu’ in many of the books
by them, France & Vincent
UK. US. France. Germany. Japan and India
Meanwhile, dear Santa, my gorgeous friend, Mylo, has been composing…
and I’m all confusticated! xxx
A Christmas Song For Ani
From Mylo
On the first day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
My favourite walkies!
*
On the second day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the third day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the fourth day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Four bowls of treats,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the fifth day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Five doorbell rings!
Four bowls of treats,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the sixth day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Six squirrels running,
Five doorbell rings!
Four bowls of treats,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the seventh day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Seven posties posting,
Six squirrels running,
Five doorbell rings!
Four bowls of treats,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the eighth day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Eight shoes for chewing,
Seven posties posting,
Six squirrels running,
Five doorbell rings!
Four bowls of treats,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the ninth day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Nine blokes a’stroking,
Eight shoes for chewing,
Seven posties posting,
Six squirrels running,
Five doorbell rings!
Four bowls of treats,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the tenth day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Ten children playing,
Nine blokes a’stroking,
Eight shoes for chewing,
Seven posties posting,
Six squirrels running,
Five doorbell rings!
Four bowls of treats,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
Eleven posts for sniffing,
Ten children playing,
Nine blokes a’stroking,
Eight shoes for chewing,
Seven posties posting,
Six squirrels running,
Five doorbell rings!
Four bowls of treats,
Three tennis balls,
Two chicken legs
And my favourite walkies.
*
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my two legges gave to me,
My whole family!
***
About Mylo’s Pet Author
Geoff Le Pard started writing to entertain in 2006. He hasn’t left his keyboard since. When he’s not churning out novels he writes some maudlin self-indulgent poetry, short fiction and blogs at geofflepard.com. He walks the dog for mutual inspiration and most of his best ideas come out of these strolls. He also cooks with passion if not precision.
Find and follow Geoff
Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Facebook
For these and many other Books by Geoff Le Pard,
please visit his Amazon Author Page
and click ‘follow ‘ to be notified of new releases.
The Last Will Of Sven Andersen
AmazonWhen Harry Spittle, nearly qualified as a solicitor, is approached to write a Will for old acquaintance Sven Andersen, he is somewhat surprised but rather pleased. That pleasure sours after he finds that the Will Sven actually signs is very different to the one he has drawn up, with Harry as the executor. Disappointment turns to horror when he discovers that Sven has been winding up his late father’s criminal empire and a number of not very nice people are interested in the Will’s contents.
If he is to remain in one piece, able to continue his career in the law and save his on-off relationship with his girlfriend Penny, who is unfortunately under suspicion of murder, he needs to find out what’s happened to the money and distribute it according to Sven’s wishes. The trouble is Sven has not only hidden the assets but also the identities of those who benefit. Harry will have to solve a fiendish puzzle Sven has left behind with the help of his sister Dina before his world comes crashing down. With so many people depending on him, Harry knows it’s time for him to grow up – it’s just that he really, really doesn’t want to.Set in 1981 to the backdrop of punk, Thatcherite politics and an upcoming Royal wedding, this is a book for those who like their nostalgia served with a side of humour and a dash of optimism all wrapped up in a compelling mystery.
My Father and Other Liars is a thriller set in the near future and takes its heroes, Maurice and Lori-Ann on a helter-skelter chase across continents.
Smashwords Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com
Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle is a coming of age story. Set in 1976 the hero Harry Spittle is home from university for the holidays. He has three goals: to keep away from his family, earn money and hopefully have sex. Inevitably his summer turns out to be very different to that anticipated.
Smashwords Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com
Life in a Grain of Sand is a 30 story anthology covering many genres: fantasy, romance, humour, thriller, espionage, conspiracy theories, MG and indeed something for everyone. All the stories were written during Nano 2015
Smashwords Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com
Salisbury Square is a dark thriller set in present day London where a homeless woman and a Polish man, escaping the police at home, form an unlikely alliance to save themselves.
Smashwords Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com
Buster & Moo is about about two couples and the dog whose ownership passes from one to the other. When the couples meet, via the dog, the previously hidden cracks in their relationships surface and events begin to spiral out of control. If the relationships are to survive there is room for only one hero but who will that be?
Smashwords Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com
Life in a Flash is a set of super short fiction, flash and micro fiction that should keep you engaged and amused for ages
Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Smashwords
Apprenticed To My Mother describes the period after my father died when I thought I was to play the role of dutiful son, while Mum wanted a new, improved version of her husband – a sort of Desmond 2.0. We both had a lot to learn in those five years, with a lot of laughs and a few tears as we went.
Life in a Conversation is an anthology of short and super short fiction that explores connections through humour, speech and everything besides. If you enjoy the funny, the weird and the heart-rending then you’ll be sure to find something here.
Dear Santa,
This virus that appears to be getting around the worldeven faster than you do, is going to make sure it is a very lonely Christmas for so many people.
Families and friends cannot be together as they would like. There will be no big gatherings around the table… and no families will come together to celebrate as they normally would all joys of the year.
And it is no good saying that there will be other years. Not everyone who should be, will be around to share another Christmas. Even my two-legs is on borrowed time and we didn’t even know if she would make it to this Christmas. (But now she is frantically baking…)
Lots of famlies have lost people this year… That is normal. We all lose those we love sometimes. Not all losses can be expected, though. Many pas too young, many fall ill without warning, and some fall foul of the various viruses and seasonal illnesses that wend their deadly way through the unpredictably vulnerable.
Those of us who are left must find new ways to grieve when we are denied the comfort of our friends and families. A hug goes a long way when you need a shoulder…and a virtual shoulder can feel a cold one, no matter how much love is behind it.
For that reason too we can feel lonely, especially at this time of year…and especially this year when COVID is adding to the distress.
I miss my two-legs when she has to be at the two-legs vet all day. I know they pump her full of smelly stuff and make her bleed, but she says it is better than me having to miss her for even longer… and I didn’t like it when she went into the vets and had to stay there…
But that’s just me. Lulu is missing Jake… the best of big brothers.
And if anyone knows a person who is missing someone this year… maybe you could deliver a hug from me, Santa. Or maybe their friends could find ways to make those virtual hugs a bit warmer…
Give Lulu a hug from me when you call…
Much love,
Ani xxx
Jake (left) and Lulu (right) focused on potential treats.
Hi Ani,
I don’t write letters much, but I’m feeling a bit lonely. You see, this will be the first Christmas I’ve ever had without my brother, Jake. He was eight when he got sick earlier this year. I’m six, but my two-legs think I still act like a puppy. They don’t realize how mature I’ve become.
Jake and I are both yellow labs. I wish you could have known him. He was a good older brother though he did have a couple of bad habits. He used to jump up and drag food off the kitchen counters. He was such a sneak that he’d run out to his favorite tree in the backyard and chow down before the two-legs knew what happened. He had another bad habit. He was infatuated with toilet paper, often taking it off the roll to chew it up. Once, he trashed a package with twenty-four rolls in it. I’ve never seen the two-legs so mad before!
Jake was good to me, though. Even when he just wanted to sleep, he would play with me. We used to chase the ball forever. He was a much better catcher than me and would often snatch the tennis ball when the male two legs would throw it up on the roof. The ball usually hit me in the nose when I tried to catch it. Most of the time, Jake would get the ball whenever one of the two-legs would toss it, but he was such a good brother that he would let me take it right out of his mouth afterward.
My two-legs are still very sad about Jake not being around anymore, but they make me feel loved. The female two legs still cries whenever one of us brings up Jake’s name. I used to follow Jake around wherever he went, but now I stick very close to my two-legs when I’m not outside staring at the squirrels. Those critters make me a little crazy with their bushy tales and beady eyes.
I don’t want to make you sad, Ani, so let me tell you a funny story about Jake and me. We live at the end of a private drive. When delivery drivers came, we always went out to greet them. We were friendly with everyone, but especially them. When they’d bring a package to the house, we’d often get a treat too.
We climbed into the trucks with the drivers even though the two-legs always told us never to ride with strangers. When the driver had to go, he would throw some delicious treats out the door for us to chase. As soon as we got out of the truck, the driver would peal out, almost on two wheels, as he was rounding the corner. The two-legs were embarrassed at first, but then they thought it was funny.
I hope that you have a happy Christmas and that Santa brings you lots of presents, Ani. I’ve heard that you’ve been a good dog. I miss Jake, but I have lots of good memories of him in my heart.
Your friend,
Lulu
Lulu is a little camera shy with her two-legs.
About the Author’s Two-Legs
My name is Pete Springer. I taught elementary school for thirty-one years (grades 2-6) at Pine Hill School in Eureka, CA. Even though I retired over three years ago, my passion will always lie with supporting education, kids, and teachers.
When I came out of the teaching program many years ago, I realized how unprepared I was for what was in store for me in the classroom. My college education focused mostly on learning theory rather than the practical day-to-day challenges that all teachers face. Thankfully, I had some great mentors to lean on to help support me in the early part of my career.
I have made it my mission to pay it forward to the next generation of teachers. I was a master teacher to four student teachers, and I have several former students who are now teachers, including one who teaches at my former elementary school. That is pretty cool!
While I was teaching, I decided that one day I would write books for children. That ship is now in the harbor. I took some writing workshops, found a critique group, joined SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), and I’m nearing the end of writing my first middle-grade novel. I’m writing for middle-school boys, as I don’t feel there are enough good books for that age level.
Find and Follow Pete on Social Media
Email: petespringer77@gmail.com
Facebook Website Blog Twitter Amazon Author Page
Pete’s Book Trailer
;
Book Blurb
Who Will You Inspire Today? Teachers face this challenge and responsibility each day, but in the process, the author discovers that his students can also have a profound influence on him. Pete Springer takes you on his memorable thirty-one-year journey in education as an elementary school teacher and offers the many valuable life and teaching lessons he learned along the way. Get ready to laugh out loud at some of the humorous and memorable experiences that all teachers face, feel inspired by the inherent goodness of children, and appreciate the importance of developing a sense of teamwork among the staff. Learn valuable tips for working with children, parents, fellow staff members, and administrators. This book is ideal for young teachers, but also a reminder to all educators of the importance and responsibility of being a role model.
![They Call Me Mom: Making a Difference as an Elementary School Teacher by [Pete Springer]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51u-gYdiG8L.jpg)
They Call Me Mom
Making a Difference as an Elementary School Teacher
by Pete Springer
Purchase Links
Amazon.com Outskirtspress.com Barnesandnoble.com
My book is also available in paperback or on Kindle in the United Kingdom at: Amazon.co.uk
Reblogged from Cathy Cade:
‘Two o’clock and all’s well.’ A shivering watchman rings his bell. The celebrants of midnight mass are home abed, where’ere they dwell. Alone, he huddles in a doorway, no brown terrier by his side. Tess took ill on Hallows Eve. On All Saints Day, the old dog died. Snow tumbles to the narrow street, slid from the roof across the way Where he’d just stood. Now on that roof there stands a large, red, reindeer sleigh.
Continue reading at Writing Wrinkles
Dear Santa, we’ve a problem here
(Another one, it’s true)
If she’s in bed and locks the doors
Then how will you get through?
The old house had a fireplace
Complete with chimneypot,
But when she said we’d move in here
That’s something she forgot.
I know that’s how you get inside…
It must take quite some luck;
A two-legs of your size and girth?
You really should get stuck.
Do you go down feet first or head?
Or shrink small as a sprite
When you climb down the chimneypots
Each year on Christmas night?
I always try to wait and see,
But think you’ve got my number
Cause every time I fall asleep
And you come while I slumber.
But this year we’ve no chimneypot
No fireplace nor flame.
I worry, though she tells me that
You’ll still come just the same.
The windows will be closed at night,
The keyhole seems too small
To wriggle through with turkey
And a brand new tennis ball.
She says that there are certain things
That always find a way,
Like love and light and Santa Claus
And joy on Christmas Day.
But just in case you’re in a rush
And she’s tucked up in bed…
And if you really can’t get in…
Just leave things in the shed!
Dear Santa Paws,
This has been a hard year for all of us; animals and humans alike. Mummy says even you probably had a hard year because of avirus and such. I’m still not sure what all that avirus business is, but I know it’s bad, and I know it makes people act in bad and strange ways because they’re scared. It all makes me sad; especially thinking about how many more people and animals will be by themselves over the holidays this year because of it. I hope you and your elves can find ways to make them feel like they’re not so alone, even when they can’t be with the rest of their pack, or flock, or whatever.
Also, Santa Paws, can you please make sure to check carefully what address you need to use for our presents this year, because Mummy and Daddy say we have to move again soon, and at the time I’m writing this I don’t know if it will be before or after you come for your Solstice visit. After all, though I don’t mind if I don’t get so many presents this year, I’d hate to miss any you did plan to give me. And I have been a very good girl, so I think I deserve presents. I’m sure you’ll agree, and that I’ll be on the nice list. Check if you don’t believe me.
Speaking of which: can I please have another ball, a new cuddly toy with a squeaker in it, and some tasty treats – because you can never have too many of any of those things, especially balls. Besides, I haven’t found that perfect ball to replace The Ball since my brother ate it, so the more I have to choose from the better. You should probably bring my little brother, Logan, the same; otherwise he’ll only want mine. I’m not sure if he should be on the nice list or not, but he does try to be good… Even if he’s not yet as good at it as he should be. We all have our weak moments though, and he’s not quite two yet.
Oh, and you should probably bring something for Mollie and Artemis too, though I don’t know what they’d want… I know Mollie likes sticks and things to chew on though.
Lots of licks,
Lilie the Westie
Dear Santa Paws,
I’ve been a very good boy. I hope you agree, though I worry you won’t, because Lilie doesn’t think so. I try so hard, but there are so many rules. Anyway, I’d worry even if she didn’t say that though, because I worry about everything. Like how avirus made people not want to be our friends for a while, and now I don’t know if I should let them be friends or not. The whole world is just so scary and confusing! And now we’re moving again, which makes me even more worried. You will know where to bring our stuff, won’t you, Santa Paws? Mummy and Daddy say you will. I do hope they’re right!
Lilie says if I’m so sure I’ll get presents, I should tell you what I want. Well, since they’re my favourite things, mostly I want some treats and a new cuddly toy, please. But Lilie says she wants a ball, so can I also have one of those? I like it best when we have the same.
Don’t forget to bring something for Mummy, Daddy, Mollie, and Artemis too. I don’t know what they might want, but they’re good at sharing if they have snacks I like – just saying.
Lots of licks,
Logan the Cavapoo
***~~~***
Lilie and Logan are a Westie (West Highland White Terrier) and Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Toy Poodle) who live with their human Mummy, Victoria Zigler – who prefers to be called Tori – and human Daddy, Kelly. They also share their home with a chinchilla named Mollie, and a Hermann’s Tortoise named Artemis.
To try and ensure their humans stay at optimum health, Lilie and Logan have taken up the exhausting – and only semi-successful – job of ensuring both Tori and Kelly take regular breaks from their computers for playtime and walks. It’s also their responsibility to supervise chinchilla and tortoise playtime, and bark at every new noise – just in case it could be a threat to their pack, or a friend coming to play with them. When they get some time to rest, Lilie and Logan like to take naps near their humans, or stretch out on the big bed the humans still keep insisting is theirs (even though everyone knows anything that comes in to the house belongs to the dogs, unless they don’t want or like it) to enjoy a good treat ball or chewie.
Lilie was featured in several poems published in a collection called “Puppy Poems And Rodent Rhymes” and is the star of the story “Where’s Noodles?” too. Plus, the book “Snowlilie’s Brother” is all about both Lilie and Logan – even if they do appear under the names Snowlilie and Rascal instead. All three of those titles are available in eBook, paperback, and audio, via a variety of online retailers, along with a load of other books Tori has published, which Lilie and Logan don’t care about due to not being in them.
Additionally, Lilie and Logan – with occasional help from other non-human members of their pack – often take over their human Mummy’s blog, where they post their own thoughts and opinions on what’s going on in their lives. During some of these times they run a feature called “PetKid Pals” (which used to be known as “Furkid Friday” before it was changed to be more inclusive to Artemis, who hasn’t got fur) where they interview fellow writers’ pets. They love making new friends, so if you’d like to be a guest on that, you can find out how by visiting the blog at https://ziglernews.blogspot.co.uk and clicking on the ‘PetKid Pals’ tab near the top of the page.
About Lilie’s two-legs, Victoria Zigler
Lilie is a very friendly and energetic West Highland White Terrier, who makes friends wherever she goes. She lives with her humans in a town by the ocean. Lilie also shares her home with a degu named Joshua, and a pair of chinchillas named Mollie and Maizie, all of whom refuse to come out of their cages and play with her, much to her disappointment. If she’s not playing with one of her toys, reminding her humans that things at dog level will become claimed by said dog, going walkies, eating, or trying to persuade the squeaky things in cages to play with her, it means she’s finally tired herself out enough to need a nap.
Lilie appears in the book “Where’s noodles?” as well as in many of the poems in “Puppy Poems And Rodent Rhymes” (both of which were published in 2018). She also appears in several posts on her humans’ blog and social media accounts, most notably many of the “Furkid Friday” posts on the blog.
Where to find Lilie and her humans
Website Blog Goodreads Facebook author page
Where’s Noodles
Author: Victoria Zigler
Narrator for audio version: Judith Bareham
“Noodles is a strange red creature with a squeaker in his tummy, who just happens to be the favourite toy of a West Highland White Terrier named Lilie. At least, he is now, since the bushytailed squirrel and cuddly triceratops fell apart while she was playing with them – totally not her fault, by the way!
Now noodles is missing.
Lilie’s sure she left Noodles on the living room floor when she went walkies. But when she comes home and goes to fetch him so they can have a nap together, Noodles isn’t there.
Where’s Noodles? Is he somewhere else, or is he lost forever?”
Where to find Victoria’s books:
Audible Smashwords Barnes & Noble Kobo iBooks iTunes Amazon UK
Amazon US Amazon Canada Goodreads
Many other books by Victoria Zigler are available from:
Barnes & Noble Kobo Chapters-Indigo
iBooks & iTunes Amazon UK Amazon AUS
Amazon US Amazon Canada Amazon India Book Depository
Dear Santa,
We may have a bt of a problem. It’s my two-legs… she is up and dpwn all night like a yo=to most of the time at the moment. And when she does manage to sleep,she is as likely to be on the sofa as in the bedroom. How are you going to sneak in?
I mean, our place is tiny anyway… not much of a place to hide a large man in red, not at the best of times…but with her awake and pottering, there will be nowhere for you to hide.
She says that you will manage, even if you have to twist your continuum, whatever that means… It sounds painful to me, and I’d rather you didn’t do yourself any injuries. Lots of people need you, especially this year.
I mean, I’d like the turkey and stuff, but my best present is still having her around to share it with… so don’t twist anything for me!
Much love,
Ani xxx
Roberta Eaton
My mother wanted a cat. When my sisters came to visit her, she talked about cats. They all had cats and were happy to engage in lengthily discussions about the delights of cats, and the therapeutic benefits of having a pet.
In February of that year, 2014, my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Who would have that the seemingly innocuous fine needle aspiration performed by a trusted doctor would have such a significant impact on our lives?
When the call came informing me that the lump was malignant, I’d been shocked. The doctor had said it wasn’t cancer. He’d assured us that he was merely being cautious and there was nothing to worry about. I am sure my shock was secondary to my mother’s, but it didn’t feel like that at the time. In retrospect, I would have preferred more honesty from the doctor. The diagnosis wouldn’t have been so unexpected and overwhelming if he’d said nothing.
My mother had gone through months of horrible treatment and now she wanted a cat.
The problem was my oldest son didn’t want a cat or any other creature. Animals flew in the face of his obsessive-compulsive disorder (“OCD”) which involved a fear of germs and contamination.
But my mother wanted a cat, and she’d been ill and needed uplifting. What to do about the cat?
Fate decided to intervene and on the morning of the 16th of December, my youngest sister arrived with a kitten. The poor little thing had been found living with its mother and siblings in a parking lot outside a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet.
What could I do? We couldn’t turn the kitten away and my mother took to her immediately. So, we hid the kitten in my parent’s cottage and left for a Christmas party, taking Gregory with us.
After lunch at the Christmas party, I thought I’d better let Greg know we were going home to a cat. It was a mistake to tell him at the party and ended up with us leaving early and taking an extremely upset child home.
Neither of my parents, nor the cat, made an appearance that evening and by the following morning, Greg had formulated his plan of defense and the negotiations about where the cat was allowed and what she could do began. She was only allowed in the cottage and not the house and wasn’t allowed to do anything that infringed on Greg’s lifestyle.
The following week, we took the kitten, by then named Push-Push, to the vet for her injections and a general health inspection. A few months later we took her to be spayed. Greg had become used to the cat by this point and there was grudging acceptance of her existence, although even to this day, he doesn’t have anything to do with her.
Around the time that Pushy was spayed, my sister arrived with another abandoned kitten. Smudge had been found in a run-down house occupied by drug addicts. The mother and her six kittens were struggling to survive on a diet of left-over pizza. Smudge is a short-legged cat and is also a tortoise shell. She was in a much greater state of neglect, strangely enough, than Pushy was although she was living in a house and Pushy was living in a car park.
Smudgey also had a trip to the vet. She had midges in her ears and had to have a treatment programme, but her hearing was not impacted, and she is fine now.
Pushy has ended up being a time share cat. I have her 50% of the time and my dad has her the rest of the time. Smudge is a one-man cat. She follows my dad around like a puppy and cries when he goes out and leaves her.
This is the story of our Christmas and Easter cats, both of whom have brought a lot of happiness into our lives.
My mother is now in officially in remission as her treatment ended in August 2015.
About the author
Robbie, short for Roberta, is an author with five published children’s picture books in the Sir Chocolate books series for children aged 2 to 9 years old (co-authored with her son, Michael Cheadle), one published middle grade book in the Silly Willy series and one published preteen/young adult fictionalised biography about her mother’s life as a young girl growing up in an English town in Suffolk during World War II called While the Bombs Fell (co-authored with her mother, Elsie Hancy Eaton).
All of Robbie’s children’s book are written under Robbie Cheadle and are published by TSL Publications. Robbie has recently branched into adult horror and supernatural writing and, in order to clearly differentiate her children’s books from her adult writing, these will be published under Roberta Eaton Cheadle. Robbie has two short stories in the horror/supernatural genre included in Dark Visions, a collection of 34 short stories by 27 different authors and edited by award winning author, Dan Alatorre. These short stories are published under Robbie Cheadle.
Find and follow Roberta Cheadle Eaton
Twitter Facebook Blog Goodreads Website
Purchase Roberta Eaton Cheadle’s Books from:
TSL Books Lulu Amazon.com Amazon UK
While the Bombs Fell
What was it like for children growing up in rural Suffolk during World War 2?
Elsie and her family live in a small double-storey cottage in Bungay, Suffolk. Every night she lies awake listening anxiously for the sound of the German bomber planes. Often they come and the air raid siren sounds signalling that the family must leave their beds and venture out to the air raid shelter in the garden.
Despite the war raging across the English channel, daily life continues with its highlights, such as Christmas and the traditional Boxing Day fox hunt, and its wary moments when Elsie learns the stories of Jack Frost and the ghostly and terrifying Black Shuck that haunts the coastline and countryside of East Anglia.
Includes some authentic World War 2 recipes.
Through the Nethergate
Margaret, a girl born with second sight, has the unique ability to bring ghosts trapped between Heaven and Hell back to life. When her parents die suddenly, she goes to live with her beloved grandfather, but the cellar of her grandfather’s ancient inn is haunted by an evil spirit of its own. In the town of Bungay, a black dog wanders the streets, enslaving the ghosts of those who have died unnatural deaths. When Margaret arrives, these phantoms congregate at the inn, hoping she can free them from the clutches of Hugh Bigod, the 12th century ghost who has drawn them away from Heaven’s White Light in his canine guise. With the help of her grandfather and the spirits she has befriended, Margaret sets out to defeat Hugh Bigod, only to discover he wants to use her for his own ends – to take over Hell itself.
Robbie also writes as Robbie Cheadle
Robbie’s Inspiration Blog Goodreads Facebook YouTube
Amazon author page Twitter: @bakeandwrite
Books by Robbie and Michael Cheadle
The Sir Chocolate books are a delightful marriage of story, verse and cookery
… a perfect recipe for sharing with children. Silly Willy goes to Cape Town tells the adventures of two very different brothers…and includes five party cake ideas.
You can purchase the Sir Chocolate books from:
or you can buy them in South Africa directly from the authors by emailing Robbie Cheadle at sirchoc@outlook.com.
