Robbie Yates's Blog, page 5
October 1, 2018
Blog Tour: One Very Odd Teacher
To celebrate the launch of One Very Odd Teacher, which is now available at Amazon, the incredible Shalini from Digital Reads Blog Tours is coordinating a very exciting six-day Blog Tour for the book!
I am more excited than I can even express… it’s already been a blast and there are still five days to go!
Check out some of the reviews that have been posted so far, by the Super Shalini, the Marvelous Melissa, the Masterful Mackey and the Splendid Sara.
I am humbled and honored by the time and thought these incredible women have put into their reviews… can’t wait for Day Two!
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Blurb:
T he humming noise got louder. Adam willed himself to focus. He had to finish his math test.
Suddenly, the noise became unbearable. He glanced up.
Mrs Murphy was inches away, leaning over another kid’s desk. Was the noise coming from her?
Every child remembers a teacher who was a little bizarre, prickly or ill-tempered. Some teachers, though, are very odd indeed, and warrant some closer attention…
This quirky chapter book will thrill kids who are adventurous, brave, and a little bit cheeky!
The book is available as an eBook or Paperback. Grab your copy today!
September 30, 2018
New Book Release: One Very Odd Teacher
My new book—One Very Odd Teacher—has just been released on Amazon!
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Blurb:
T he humming noise got louder. Adam willed himself to focus. He had to finish his math test.
Suddenly, the noise became unbearable. He glanced up.
Mrs Murphy was inches away, leaning over another kid’s desk. Was the noise coming from her?
Every child remembers a teacher who was a little bizarre, prickly or ill-tempered. Some teachers, though, are very odd indeed, and warrant some closer attention…
This quirky chapter book will thrill kids who are adventurous, brave, and a little bit cheeky!
The book is now available on Amazon as an eBook or Paperback. Grab your copy today!
September 29, 2018
Finish This Poem – “Milkshake”
I made myself a milkshake
I added milk and cream
I whizzed it in a blender
It tasted like a dream
The tasty special item
I’d added to my brew:
…
(Can you finish this poem? 
September 27, 2018
A Serious Piece: Her Journey
She lingers at the station on her seat
she shivers, wrapped in coat and knitted shawl.
The train arrives, she shuffles to her feet
I watch her, fearing faltering or fall.
I see her brittle figure on the train
and as the seasons pass, she seems to fade;
some strangers stand, alerted and humane
in case she reaches out for arm or aid.
One day we wait and still no train arrives;
the crackled speaker voices growl “delay.”
Her watchful eyes are glimmering, alive;
I take her arm. “Let’s go by cab today.”
I ask her why she journeys back and forth;
she tells me that her Love is very ill.
“The hospital is twenty minutes north,
but while I can still reach him there, I will.”
From that day on, I smile to see her there.
I share my small umbrella in the rain.
And then, one day, her station bench is bare;
I pray that I may see her face again.
It’s months until I spy her, o’er the line.
I rush to tell her “north’s the other way.”
Her slender fingers, cold, reach up for mine.
She meets my eyes. “I’m going south today.”
She tells me that the hospice rang to say
her soulmate—her most precious Love—was dead.
“I still make sure I speak with him each day—
but now it’s at his resting place instead.”
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Image from Pixabay © PublicDomainPictures 2012
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September 26, 2018
Silly Auntie Sally
My silly auntie Sally
Is such a clumsy dame.
She’s famous for misspelling
Her (very simple) name.
She doesn’t like bananas
She hates banana cake
I figured out the problem…
The fruit she buys is fake!
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Image from Pixabay © Katzenfee50 2018
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September 25, 2018
From The Archives: Poo
There once was a lady named Sue
Who had a sweet dog she called Blue.
She’d walk him each day
To the park for a play,
But she’d never dispose of his poo.
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He’d drop juicy turds in the street,
Good luck if you walked in bare feet!
She’d look away, sly,
Playing dumb. Passersby
Could not know she was sly. She looked sweet.
Now I am her neighbour, you see.
So all the poop tormented me.
There was poop on my deck
My whole yard was a wreck
And my shoes smelt like doo-doo and wee.
So one day I made up a plan.
You see, I’m a spiteful young man.
I went to the store
I bought birdseed galore
And I covered the roof of her van.
Now if you’ve been reading these words
You will know that the seed was for birds.
When Sue went outside,
Her jaw opened wide,
‘Cos now HER stuff was covered in turds.
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Original llustrations © Robbie Yates 2017
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September 24, 2018
Treasure Hunting
Once upon a rocking boat
amid the rolling seas
bobbed a llama and a goat
who paddled in the breeze.
They used a map to find an isle
they’d only heard about
and as they rowed the final mile
they both began to shout.
The island had a treasure that
was very well renowned.
They grabbed their shovels and their hats
they pulled the boat aground.
They started their exploring; found
a likely spot to dig;
the llama bounced and leapt around
his treasure-finding jig.
They found the treasure soon enough
at least that’s what I’m told;
some precious stones and other stuff,
some piles of shiny gold.
The problem was, the boat could fit
no more than just the pair.
The two decided just to sit
and ponder in despair.
“Perhaps you take the boat, I’ll stay?”
the lovely llama said.
“You carry all the jewels away
and I’ll stay here instead.”
“Oh no,” said goat. “I won’t do that,
for you are treasure too!”
And shrugging in the sun they sat,
deciding what to do.
It soon grew dark and so they leapt
into their wooden boat.
They wished they could have somehow kept
the treasure and still float.
The thing they told their waiting friends
when docking at the moor:
“We found the treasure in the end—
it’s friendship we adore!”
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Image from Pixabay © CamboriuVisual 2016
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September 22, 2018
Finish This Poem – “The Creature In The Garage”
I opened up the garage
And got a big surprise.
There, among the boxes
I saw a pair of eyes.
I fumbled for a flashlight
And yelped at what I saw.
…
Inside the garage door.
(Can you finish this poem?
September 21, 2018
Friday Flash Fiction: My Goodbye
I chewed the end of my pencil. I’d never been one for writing letters.
“I’m sorry this has to end.” I frowned; rubbed it out. “I’m sorry things have to end this way.”
I bit my lip. That would have to do.
“I want you to know that I’ll never forget you.”
I sighed. Goodbyes were the worst. I drained my glass of liquid courage.
“I hope there are no hard feelings.”
I gazed out across the street. A pair of lovers strolled by, arms entwined. I wanted to yell at them; to let them know their love was fleeting and naïve and fated to end.
“I am returning my key,” I wrote carefully.
Trudging along the road, the sullen dusk was at my back. I glanced at the envelope once more. “Active Life Gym, 259 North Street.” I closed my eyes one final time. And I mailed my goodbye.
(150 words)
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Image from Pixabay © Pezibear 2016
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September 19, 2018
Bared Teeth (A 5-7-5 Poem)
An ominous snarl
today’s offender flinches
…his own wagging tail
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Image from Pixabay © Pexels 2016
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