Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 9

Robbie’s Inspiration Thursday Doors – Mount Fuji, the fifth stop #photography

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/03/13/east-hartford-detour/

The final stop on our Mount Fuji tour was called the 5th stop and is 1,500 metres from the top. It was bitterly cold and the toilets in the restroom were frozen. They had to be flushed manually.

Picture caption: A picture of the shop and restaurant. They stocked Japanese whiskey which was interesting as it was out of stock everywhere else.This building was across the road and in front of Mount Fuji. I’m not sure what it is used for – maybe a hotel during the warmer months.A different view of Mount Fuji with trees in front.Picture caption: TC in the parking lot with Mount Fuji in the backgroundPicture caption: This is me in the parking lot. I was frozen.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Cook and Read: The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle and Toad in the Hole with onion gravy

Today I am sharing my review of a book recommended to me by Linda’s Book Bag. Linda has a lovely book book and you can read her review of this book here: https://lindasbookbag.com/2022/07/07/the-museum-of-ordinary-people-by-mike-gayle/.

I am also sharing my delicious experience with Tin Eats’ Toad in the Hole and onion gravy recipe. Yummy!

Thanks to Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting.

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle and Toad in the Hole #fiction #cooking

Robbie’s Inspiration – W3 Number 149 and Sunday Stills #photography #poetry

Val’s prompt guidelinesTHEME: Your personal creed or your spirituality;FORM:Stanzas: No less than three stanzas; no more than six stanzas;Refrain: Must include a refrain;A refrain in poetry is a phrase or line repeated at intervals within a poem, often at the end of a stanzaYou can read other contributions here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/03/05/w3-prompt-149-weave-written-weekly/Dealing with the problem

Dad’s been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension

Aftermath of the pulmonary embolism that nearly killed him in 2020

His huge goitre cannot be removed, he won’t survive the surgery

It’s grown into his chest and around his heart, such bad luck

This, together with his large bulk, have caused obstructive sleep apnea

A test is required to confirm this diagnosis – dad is resistant

I have to find the strength to deal with dad’s attitude and the problem

***

Mom’s in a shocking state, thin as a reed, coughing up multicoloured phlegm

Barely able to speak at all – she lies on the coach, clinging to life

An admittance into hospital is necessary – three antibiotics have already failed

A huge row ensues with Dad, who believes he can care for her at home

I take her anyway – she has bronchopneumonia and a cracked rib

May not have survived the night if I’d been intimidated by Dad’s shouting

I have to find the strength to deal with dad’s attitude and the problem

***

Dad apologises, he had no idea Mom was that sick – he looks guilty and sheepish

Meantime, the results of his test have come in – he stops breathing, on average, 29 times an hour

His oxygen levels drop to 76 percent while sleeping, the cortisol reaction will kill him if untreated

He flatly refuses to have the mask – he’s doing fine on the asthma medication

He’s choosing death, the doctor was very clear his body will not withstand the stress

I remind him that he will die and leave him to stew in his own juices

Mom’s discharged, she still requires a lot of attention and care

“I’ll have the mask,” he decides

I have to find the strength to deal with dad’s attitude and the problem

This was how last week went. And my transaction priced and closed on Wednesday which necessitated working through last weekend and late into Monday and Wednesday nights. Tuesday night was spent admitting Mom into hospital. It is all done now. Everyone has made the right decision and is recovering but, my, what an effort. The geriatric toddlers are much harder to deal with than lawyers.

Sunday Stills – flowers

On a happier note, here are some flowers for Terry’s Sunday Stills prompt. You can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2025/03/09/sunday-stills-looking-forward-to-my-favorite-spring-flowers/

Picture caption: Passion fruit flower – can you see the two bees in the centrePicture caption: A new day lily we planted this yearPicture caption: African lily after rainPicture caption: Wild proteaPicture caption: I’m not sure what this flower is. It appeared for the first time in my garden this year.Picture caption: Summer rose

Story Chat Digest: “Sir Chocolate and the Gingerbread Church” by Robbie and Michael Cheadle

Thank you to Marsha for sharing Michael and my story for her Story Chat Digest 2025.

The people of Chocolateville Wanted a lovely new church For an innovative design They decided to search    The village of Chocolateville A …

Story Chat Digest: “Sir Chocolate and the Gingerbread Church” by Robbie and Michael Cheadle

While the Bombs Fell & Art & African Animals

Thank you to the wonderfully artistic Resa for this delightful post about my mother and my book, While the Bombs Fell, and leopards. Resa’s post is a Wonderland so please enjoy.

by: Robbie Cheadle Robbie Cheadle/aka Roberta Eaton Cheadle was at it before, and she’s still at it . Her mission, as far as I can tell, is to draw …

While the Bombs Fell & Art & African Animals

Robbie’s Inspiration – Michael featured for After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology #AfterRainSkies

Thank you to Michelle Ayon Najavas for featuring Michael as a contributor to After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology.

Michael Cheadle for After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology

Robbie’s Inspiration: Tanka Tuesday, W3, and a cover reveal for Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures #poetry

Hi everyone

It has been a long week of illness in my house as everyone battle with the new covid mutation that has hit South Africa. Everyone seems to be recovering at last so this coming week will be better. I had to go on our safari earlier this week as you can’t change the bookings. I made the best of it possible in the circumstances and slept between each game drive. We have beautiful sightings and two of these have made it into my poems below.

Tanka Tuesday

Happily, Colleen has decided to reinstate Tanka Tuesday. The first challenge in the new series is to write a Taiga. I have kept my poem separate to the photograph instead of imbedding the words into the picture. You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/02/25/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-1-taiga-2-25-25/

Picture caption: B & W picture of a leopard in the veld.

A pair of pale eyes

Blending perfectly with grass

Spots complimenting

Slender blades of light green grass

Camouflage almost perfect

W3 #148

Violet is the host of this week’s post. You can read her prompt guidelines here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/02/26/w3-prompt-148-weave-written-weekly/

White backed vulture

A spectacular bird

Once of nature’s clean up crew

Sadly, it’s numbers are in freefall

A victim of the bush meat trade

And the traditional medicine industry

Combined with habitat encroachment

By ever grasping man

‘The marks humans leave, are to often scars’

Picture caption: White backed vulture in the bushPoetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures cover reveal

Kaye Lynne Booth and I are working on the 5th edition of Poetry Treasures for publication in April. This year’s contributors are DL Mullan, Barbara Harris Leonhard, Jude Itakali, Ivor Steven, Robbie Cheadle, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Gwen M. Plano, Elizabeth Gauffreau, David Bogomolny, Dawn Pisturino, Maggie Watson, and Colleen Chesebro.

The wonderful Teagan Geneviene has created another beautiful cover:

Robbie’s Inspiration – Thursday Doors: Oshino-Hakkai Third stop Mount Fuji & a book review #ThursdayDoors #MountFuji

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/02/27/doors-to-and-from-errands/

The third stop on the Mount Fuji tour was the village of Oshino-Hakkai. It was much colder here than the previous two stops and very beautiful. There was a fascinating museum in this village which TC and I explored and that is the focus of this post. It was really interesting to see Japanese farming history on display in each of the small museums along the walk.

Picture caption: TC and I paid to go into this museum park. Each of the houses is a museum. Mt Fuji is in the background.Picture caption: Close up of Mount FujiPicture caption: Me posing in front of the village and Mt Fuji. Picture caption: entrance to the first museum. You have to take your shoes off to go inside.Picture caption: Close up of the first museum

So what’s inside?

Picture caption: An antique record player and cabinet (with doors) and a sewing machinePicture caption: A tiny Shinto temple – I hope Colleen sees this.Picture caption: A tiny Buddist temple. It has a door. The papers are reposted fortunes.Picture caption: Close up of the door to the tiny temple. Picture caption: Travelling trunks – do lids count as doors?Picture caption: Old Japanese coinsPicture caption: Replica of a traditional house

I’m closing with this picture of Sokonashiike Pond – a World Heritage Site

I am finishing this post off with a few YT videos of inside the other museum. BUT, don’t forget to read my review of Bridge to Nowhere: A Rascal Todd Adventure by Dan Antion at the end.

Bridge to Nowhere: A Rascal Todd Adventure by Dan AntionWhat Amazon says

Pittsburgh reporter Rachael Todd has a hard deadline — and it’s personal. Her friend is a murder suspect. He knew the victim. He had a strong motive and a weak alibi. Rachael’s certain he is being framed, and she’ll have to live up to her nickname “Rascal” to clear him. Rascal sees a connection to an earlier crime. The clock is ticking as she digs through multiple layers of legal and bureaucratic misdeeds, crimes, and evidence that the police ignored.

Is a crime solved when the criminals are identified, or only after they are brought to justice? This is a mystery born from that question. The story includes many twists and turns, even after the crime is solved. It features characters, including the bad guys, that grow in ways that might surprise you, and well-researched circumstances that will take you from delight to frustration while moving you close to the edge of your seat—sound interesting? If it does, this book is for you.

My review

Bridge to Nowhere is a fast paced and exciting murder mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. Rachel Todd, know as Rascal, is a new reporter for a small newspaper in Pittsburgh. She is an excellent investigative reporter but is anxious about her position as the ‘new girl’ in the team. Despite all her anxiety, Rascal has the support of her very experienced editor, Bernie, who is always on hand to provide guidance and insight, as well as the other members of the reporting team.

The story has a lot of action with plenty of intriguing twists and turns as well as an enjoyable character development aspect as Rascal settles into her new role, growing in confidence, and also engages more fully in her romance with bar tender, Terry. There are some references to Rascal and Terry’s backstory which is detailed in another book, but I was able to pick up the threads despite not having read that particular book as yet. Rascal’s cat, Bonkers, is a lovely touch and adds a great mood lightening aspect to the story as it becomes more intense during the unravelling of the plot lines. There are also references to Special Agent Slocum who I recognised from this author’s previous series although it is not necessary to have read that series to enjoy this standalone novel.

This is a book with which the reader must fully engage throughout as there are a lot of different characters and a lot of plot developments and twists. You need to pay attention and stay with the flow of the story. I enjoyed that aspect as I enjoy a good reading challenge with lots of interest factors.

Purchase Bridge to Nowhere from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D9HCLSJP

Robbie’s Inspiration – I’m travelling

See you on Thursday.

Robbie’s Inspiration: Thursday Doors on a Friday, Arakurayama Sengen Park (Mt Fuji Second Stop) #Japan #ThursdayDoors

Last week I shared the first stop on our Mount Fuji tour. Today, I am sharing my photographs for the second stop at Arakurayama Sengen Park. We had to walk up 400 stairs to get to the viewing platform. Having walked up a mountain to see the snow monkeys two days before, my legs were a little stiff so this was quite an effort.

Picture caption: Entrance to the convenience centre near the parking lot.Picture caption: One of the trains on the railway line as we walked towards the shrine and the bottom of the stairs. Picture caption: More trains on the railway line. I love trains and found these ones very interesting. Picture caption: close up of the doors to the train.

And now for the pagoda:

Picture caption: traditional Japanese pagoda with 5 tiersPicture caption: Close up of the door to the pagoda.Picture of Mount Fuji with the Pagoda on the rightPicture caption: Mount Fuji with the pagoda on the leftPicture caption: I liked this picture of Mount Fuji with the trees framing itPicture caption: Picture of Mount Fuji with a tree to the right

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/02/20/riding-around/