Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 2

Robbie’s Inspiration – W3: Christmas Cake Creation #songparody #cakeart #W3

This is the prompt for W3:

For this week’s prompt, let’s write about a food or drink that brings you comfort.

What gives you that touch of happiness when you think of it, smell it, or taste it? Does it recall a certain time, place, or person? Is it your “go-to” after a difficult day — or something that exists only in your imagination?

Form: AnyLength: Up to 24 linesInclude: The word “comfort”

You can join in W3 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/11/05/w3-prompt-184-weave-written-weekly/

Christmas Cake Creation

And now, the adventurous cook of the Cheadle Family Kitchen

with her rendition of the perfect Christmas Cake Creation

Eggs! Flour! Butter! Cherries! Brandy! Mixed fruit!

Eggs! Flour! Butter! Cherries! Brandy! Mixed fruit!

Eggs! Flour! Butter! Cherries! Brandy! Mixed fruit!

Eggs! Flour! Butter! Cherries! Brandy! Mixed fruit!

***

It’s most delicious, it’s most delicious

The cinnamon and lemon zest give it extra vooma 1

Follow my recipe, you’ll be really glad you did

It’s flavours will make your tastebuds go booma

***

Eggs! Flour! Butter! Cherries! Brandy! Mixed fruit!

[Robbie, spoken]

You know how some cooks have these little tricks that make their cakes come out well every time? Like beating the eggs one by one into the mixture – beating them separately. Eggs!

If you want to achieve a perfect Christmas cake, you need to follow the instructions perfectly.

If you don’t do this, you’re cake might flop and that won’t be the fault of the cook.

So please listen!

It’s most delicious, it’s most delicious

The cinnamon and lemon zest give it extra vooma 1

[Robbie, spoken]

I have another little trick up my cook’s sleeve and I get my mom to help me with this piece of the annual Christmas cake baking. She lines the cake tins with chef’s baking paper cut to size for each tin. She creates two layers so the bottom of the cakes don’t overcook.

Not wax paper! Wax paper is not oven safe because its not heat-safe. The wax can melt and can release toxic fumes.

I’ve had the experience of my oven catching fire. It was not a fun experience. I now have a small fire extinguisher in my kitchen. Haha! Robbie to the rescue.

It’s most delicious, it’s most delicious (Eggs! Flour! Butter! Cherries! Brandy! Mixed fruit!)

You can’t beat this flavoursome recipe (Eggs! Flour! Butter! Cherries! Brandy! Mixed fruit!)

You also can’t not do the actual beating (Eggs!); and you must create the gluten network (Flour!)

Followed by all the exciting additional ingredients (Butter! Cherries! Brandy! Mixed fruit!)

[Robbie, spoken]

Sometimes I feel a need to add a bit of change and excitement to my annual Christmas Cake bake. I’ve been known to add prunes, dried cranberries and candied fruit.

Beware of the added sweetness or taste change these additions can create. Candied fruit is very sweet and cranberries are a little sour.

Add these different ingredients with care.

But add them and have fun experimenting.

Follow my recipe, you’ll be really glad you did

It’s flavours will make your tastebuds go booma

Picture caption: One of my 2023 Christmas cakes that were all themed roses

[Robbie, spoken]

There are Christmases when I’ve felt a more international flavour would be nice. I’ve experimented making a Scottish Christmas cake, Italian Christmas Fruit Bread, Stollen, and a Yule Log. They’ve all turned out really well and led to a different Christmas vibe.

I have yet to try Portuguese and Brazilian King Cake, Indian Christmas Cake, Japanese Christmas Cake (although I’ve seen them), and Philippine Christmas Cake. Oh, such treats lie ahead for my family.

[Robbie, spoken]

It’s most delicious!

A Christmas Yule Log is traditionally made from a Swiss roll cake filled with chocolate buttercream and covered with chocolate ganache. (It’s most delicious)

Naturally, me being me, I didn’t make my Christmas Yule Log in this traditional manner. I made mine using a chocolate meringue roulade recipe filled with a fresh cream and fresh cherries mixture. (The cinnamon and lemon zest give it extra vooma 1)

The chocolate meringue came out of the oven soft and springy. I had to act quickly and fill and roll it up before it started setting. (Follow my recipe …)

I didn’t want my beautiful Yule Cake to crack and break (… you’ll be really glad you did)

I followed my instincts and I made a gorgeous and delicious Chocolate Yule Cake. It was comforting that it worked out well after I trusted my baking skills. And then … I had another blast of inspiration … and so I acted on that idea (It’s flavours will make your tastebuds go booma)

I made Tar and Licorice, the fondant troll brothers. (It’s most delicious, it’s most …)

I was completely delighted by my interesting addition to my Christmas theme. It was fun to do something so very unusual for one of my Christmas treats.

It’s most delicious (it’s most delicious), it’s most delicious (it’s most delicious)

It’s most delicious every time (You can’t beat this flavoursome recipe)

You can’t be lazy (You also can’t not do the actual beating), but if you are (and you don’t create the gluten network)

You cannot blame me, the cook

I do advise you to experiment and have lots of fun (Don’t forget all the exciting additional ingredients)

Picture capture: My chocolate meringue roulade with Tar and Licorice, my fondant troll creations

[Robbie, spoken]

(It’s most delicious)

I love to bake

Cake and fondant art is so inspiring (It’s most delicious)

I’m always experimenting with different flavour options and combinations. I spend time reading recipes and looking for inspiration (The cinnamon and lemon zest give it extra vooma 1)

On my journey, I’ve discovered caramel and rough raspberry icing and orange chocolate ganache (Follow my recipe)

Some people call me a cake artist, but I’m just a regular baker (you’ll be really glad you did)

Some see me as an inspiration

I see myself as a life learner

Baking and cake art is such fun, fun, fun!

Baking and cake art is such fun, fun, fun!

It’s most delicious (It’s most delicious), it’s most delicious (it’s most delicious)

It’s most delicious every time (You can’t beat this flavoursome recipe)

You also can’t not do the actual beating (You also can’t not do the actual beating), and you don’t create the gluten network (and you don’t create the gluten network)

You cannot blame me, the cook, when your cake flops

It’s most delicious (It’s most delicious), it’s most delicious (it’s most delicious)

The cinnamon and lemon zest give it extra vooma 1 (The cinnamon and lemon zest give it extra vooma 1)

Follow my recipe (Follow my recipe), you’ll be really glad you did (you’ll be glad you did)

It’s flavours will make your tastebuds go booma

You need to follow the instructions perfectly

Wax paper is not oven safe because its not heat-safe

Have fun experimenting

… and Philippine Christmas Cake.

I made Tar and Licorice, the fondant troll brothers

But I’m just a regular baker

It’s flavours will make your tastebuds go booma

Vooma in South Africa means energy or power. It is derived from the Afrikaans word “woema” (energy, speed, and power) and the isiZulu word “vuma” (agree)Picture caption: My 2024 Christmas cakes all featured homemade Christmas wreaths made with chocolate balls and tinsel. I liked these ones.

Did you guess which song this is based on?

A reminder that my new baking, poetry, and historical Christmas medley is now available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Something-Wonderland-Celebration-Celebrating-Confectionary-ebook/dp/B0FTX21BXL

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.

Robbie’s Inspiration – reblog: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

Thoughts about All Quiet on the Western Front / Erich Maria Remarque By Robbie Cheadle

Classic Books and Poems – Myths, Legends, Poems, and Books: Dark Origins #nurseryrhymes #darkorigins #Englishliterature

Hi everyone, its Robbie Cheadle with you today to introduce Classic Books and Poems, a new segment on LatinosUSA – English Edition. This week’s post …

Classic Books and Poems – Myths, Legends, Poems, and Books: Dark Origins #nurseryrhymes #darkorigins #Englishliterature

Robbie’s Inspiration – The Secret Dragon, Saffy’s Secret Quest Book 1 by Esther Moonstomp #childrensfiction #christmasideas

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Esther Moonstomp to Robbie’s Inspiration to share about her new children’s book series, Saffy’s Secret Quest. This post discusses the first book in this series, The Secret Dragon.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing

I’ve always loved writing and words, ever since I was at school and made up stories in English. But when I left college I went to work in a bank and forgot all about writing. I then had an accident and couldn’t work at the bank anymore. It was while I was recovering that I started taking writing courses. I devoured them and began to send writing out to newspapers and magazines. I was fortunate to start having lots of work published. I also won some competitions. This led me to become a writing tutor for The Writers Bureau, which I love.

Nowadays, I write all sorts – articles, fillers, short stories – for adults and children, as well as work books and courses on writing. I was excited to recently have my first children’s book published.

What prompted you to write a book for children?

When my daughter was young, I read to her every night and was immersed in children’s fiction. I loved the worlds the authors created inside those books and started to get an idea of my own. I wrote six books (all part of a series) and found a publisher who loved them. Unfortunately, just as we were preparing the launch in Ireland, the publishing house folded. So I thought the books wouldn’t ever be published. It’s exciting to see the first one out there so many years later.

When my daughter was young, I read to her every night and was immersed in children’s fiction. I loved the worlds the authors created inside those books and started to get an idea of my own. I wrote six books (all part of a series) and found a publisher who loved them. Unfortunately, just as we were preparing the launch in Ireland, the publishing house folded. So I thought the books wouldn’t ever be published. It’s exciting to see the first one out there so many years later.

I loved C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a firm favourite. I also loved the Malory Towers books by Enid Blyton. Today, I still read children’s fiction and love discovering new authors like Nicki Thornton and the Seth Seppi Mysteries.

What are your plans for children’s fiction for the future?

I’m planning to bring out a book a year in the Saffy’s Secret Quest Series. There are six books in total. I also have some picture book scripts written, so watch this space.

My reviewPicture caption: cover of The Secret Dragon featuring a young girl holding a dragon statueBlurb

When Saffy discovers a dragon statue at the bottom of her garden, her boring summer holiday becomes full of excitement. The statue is a real dragon called Lily.

She’s from the magical world of Mandoreum, a place that’s in danger and in need of Saffy’s help.

There are clues to solve, a wicked witch to battle and secrets to be kept at all costs. Will Saffy be able to save Mandoreum before it’s too late?

My thoughts

The Secret Dragon in the introductory book in the Saffy’s Secret Quest Books series which comprises of six books. Saffy is feeling disappointed. Her family have not gone away for the school holidays like the families of all of her friends, and the weather is wet and miserable. She almost wishes she were back at school. All is not lost and life spices up for Saffy when she spots a mysterious figurine on a bench in the garden. On investigation it turns out to be a most peculiar looking dragon. The dragon soon animates and introduces herself as Lily. Saffy is quickly drawn into a world of intrigue as Lily reveals why she has come into the world of humans and what help she is seeking from Saffy.

This is an imaginative story that will appeal to children who enjoy fantasy worlds filled with dragons, witches, wizards, and other magical creatures. Saffy has a lovely relationship with her mother and that is wonderful to see a children’s book. Other modern children’s books I’ve read have tended towards disrespectful relationships between children and their parents and that is certainly not my preference.

In this episode, the scene is set and the first quest is introduced. Is it successfully completed? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Purchase The Secret Dragon by Esther Moonstomp from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Dragon-Saffys-Quest-Book-ebook/dp/B0FCMZ6LMW

Amazon UK purchase link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Dragon-Saffys-Quest/dp/1836283881

Author biography

Esther has been a freelance writer for over twenty-five years, regularly writing articles and short stories for magazines and newspapers such as Writers’ Forum, Writing Magazine, The Guardian, Best of British, The Cat, This England, Yours and The People’s Friend.  

Winner of several competitions, including those run by Writing Magazine and The Global Short Story Contest, she has also had the privilege of judging writing competitions and relished being given the role of head judge of the Writers’ Forum monthly short story competition.

Esther loves writing but equally enjoys helping others, which she achieves in her role as a tutor for The Writers Bureau. She feels like a proud parent when one of her students has a piece of writing published. Some of them have gone on to become published authors and have achieved great success. Esther teaches zoom courses with The Writers Bureau and also runs their monthly writing club, Let’s Write. She has enjoyed teaching in person at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School.

Twelve years ago, Esther set up her own copyediting business and loves helping others to achieve their writing dreams.

Writing under the name Esther Moonstomp, she also loves creating magical stories for children. She has had many short stories for young readers published in magazines and online. The Secret Dragon is her children’s first book. 

As well as a love of dragons, Esther adores cats and has two of her own. 

Website: https://esthermoonstomp.co.uk

Main: https://estherchilton.co.uk

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain by Robbie Cheadle

A fellow blogger introduced me to Vera Brittain, a feminist, writer, and poet, who lived through WW1 and lost her fiancé, brother, and two close …

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Some Halloween inspired fun #poetry #cakeart

Picture caption: Chinese dragon peaking out of the window of his gingerbread house den.

I had a go at two new syllabic poetry forms with darker themes. These are for Halloween.

The first poem is a golden shovel poem comprising of three tanka poems and a micro poem.

Introspection

It’s time to assess

Almost a self reflection

As you delve within

If you fear group exposure

We can keep your secret safe

***

Each and all your thoughts

Have collectively made you

A blemished human

Vampire find ways of getting

Inside our safest havens

***

Us, in unison

Controlling your self reproach

That beast that defeats

That brings to the forefront your

Dark side and condemnation

***

Is your fearlessness

What fascinates and frightens

Me; I admire strength

“It’s almost as if we each have a vampire inside us. Controlling that beast, that dark side, is what fascinates me.” Sheryl Lee

I also tried a limerick tanka poem.

Sweet Vampire

the Count smiles whitely

reflecting light brightly

his time drawing near

candy vampires incite fear

half suck sweets most unsightly

Picture caption: Count Sugular, Witch Honey, and Baby Howler outside their Haunted Halloween Caravan

I have two Books for children that are Halloween focused.

Sir Chocolate and the Chinese Candy Dragon (Sir Chocolate holidays, and high days books) is for children aged 2 to 9 years.

Sir Chocolate and the Chinese Candy Dragon (Sir Chocolate holidays, and high days books) is available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Chinese-Candy-Dragon-holidays-ebook/dp/B0CDPTXNWX

The second is for children aged 5 to 10 years old.

Available form Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Halloween-Holiday-Robbie-Cheadle/dp/1915660009

and from TSL Publishing here: https://tslbooks.uk/product/haunted-halloween-holiday-robbie-and-michael-cheadle/

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and d’Verse #poetry #photography

Tanka Tuesday

Willow’s prompt, for the Southern Hemisphere, is to write about spring. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/10/14/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-34-hunters-moon-and-aging-year/

Waterfall (shadorma)

profusion

rich floral colours

tumbling down

bright ripples

bougainvillea cascade

waterfall glory

I came across this amazing display of a jacaranda tree and a bougainvillea on my way to Michael’s school. Naturally, I had to find a place to stop and take photographs.

D’Verse

Merril’s prompt for d’Verse is ‘hold onto your head. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/10/14/poetics-hold-onto-your-head/

I’m late as I had a very busy week again, but I did manage to write even if I’m only posting now. My poem is about the Blemmyes, a headless tribe. The myth is believed to be rooted in a real North African tribe but this evolved over time as various writers transformed them into myths from a variety of places.

The Blemmyes

steeped in mystery

obscured by the mists of time

the headless tribe of Blemmyes

described by Herodotus

the Greek historian

in the fourth century BCE

as men with no heads

whose eyes and mouths

reside in their breasts

supported by Pliny the Elder’s

parallel account

in his Natural History

believed at the time

to originate

in eastern Libya

these men reappeared

in the late tenth century

appearing in

The Marvels of the East

curious illustrations

of neckless and headless men

in company with

equally strange creatures

Reappearing through history

in transformed states

and migrating to different places

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

in the 14th century

depicted them as ugly folk

without heads and with

an eye in each shoulder

in their chests appeared

a horseshoe shaped mouth

they even surfaced

as headless men

whose eyes and mouths

are in their backs

resurrected in the 16th century

by Sir Walter Raleigh

and given an airing

by Shakespeare

in Othello and The Tempest

my historical journey

with these men

has left me wondering

where is their brain?

Illustration from Guillaume Le Testu, Cosmographie universelle (1555).

If you are interested, you can find more illustrations of these mythical headless men here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/blemmyes/

Halloween: Dracula by Bram Stoker by Robbie Cheadle

What Amazon says The vampire count of Transylvania seeks his lost love and the conquest of Britain by plague. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.” My …

Halloween: Dracula by Bram Stoker by Robbie Cheadle

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet, Jean-Jacques Fournier, and a book review #treasuring poetry #bookreview #poetrycommunity

Today, I am delighted to introduce Jean-Jacques Fournier as my Treasuring Poetry guest. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a poet A …

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet, Jean-Jacques Fournier, and a book review #treasuring poetry #bookreview #poetrycommunity

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday, W3 and CFFC #photograph #poetry

I am late with this post. We had a thunderstorm last night and the power was off for a few hours so I had no Wifi.

Tanka Tuesday

This week, Colleen asked poets to have some fun with unusual autumn words. I have used words from her list but incorporated them into my spring poem. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/10/07/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-33-uncommon-cozy-autumn-words-10-7-25/

This is supposed to be a kimo (10/7/6). I’m not sure if I followed the rules correctly but you will find the details of this form here: https://tankatuesday.com/24-forms/#kimo

air redolent with desultory smells

roses, wild lilies, and jasmine

creating elixir

A few garden photographs to dazzle you:

Picture caption: My white standing rosesPicture caption: Wild lilies after a short rain showerPicture caption: Bougainvillea in our neighbour’s tree.

I’m glad I took these pictures yesterday afternoon before the storm. The garden is looking a bit battered today.

W3

This poem is for W3. You can read other poet’s contributions here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/10/08/w3-prompt-180-weave-written-weekly/

I wrote for this picture of a blindfolded woman holding a scale tipped downwards by a large gold coin.

Blindfold of fear

eyes blindfolded

by fear and resentment

scales of justice tipped

in favour of deceit

and corrupt comradery

self serving greed

piggy backing on

misguided discrimination

and feelings of inferiority

the poor continue to suffer

as they cast their vote

for poverty and joblessness

CFFC

Dan’s challenge this week is retail places other than food outlets. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/10/13/retail-cffc-and-some-news/

Picture caption: The Gated Garden stall at Borough Market in LondonPicture caption: Tea stall at Borough Market in LondonPicture caption: Dior shop in Tokyo (Ginza Street)Picture caption: Store front in Amsterdam which interested me. It looks like evening wear.Picture caption: Art gallery in Amsterdam