Mom’s Favorite Reads eMagazine June 2019

Volume 2, Issue 6

June 2019

IN THIS ISSUE, OUR RETRO ISSUE... • Includes an exclusive interview with Peter Purves of Blue Peter fame, plus features on the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and so much more!

Promoting Literacy Parenting Tips Short Stories Recipes Activities for the Kids Exploring New Worlds Wellness and Well-being iscovering New Authors D and so much more...

Mom’s Favorite Reads eMagazine is published monthly by Goylake Publishing and designed by Nicole Lavoie of www.JustSayingDezigns.com

All contents Copyright Š the individual authors and used with their permission. All rights reserved.

Founders Hannah Howe

Denise McCabe

Ronesa Aveela

www.hannah-howe.com

www.kidsstoriesblog.com

www.ronesaaveela.com

Find us online www.moms-favorite-reads.com facebook.com/momsfavoritereads momsfavoritereads@outlook.com Discover more about us through our video: https://youtu.be/s0CNofMbQdM Never miss an issue by subscribing to our FREE magazines: www.tinyurl.com/momsfavoritereads-subscribe

FEATURE Peter Purves

Interviewed by T.E. Hodden .....................................................................................7

INTERVIEWS Christine A Southworth, NDD SWA MAFA - Interviewed by Sylva Fae............15 April Cox - Interviewed by Rachael Wright..............................................................17 Fleesh - Interviewed by Hannah Howe......................................................................21

HUMOUR Laughter is the best medicine!

Contributions by Anthony Randall.......................................................................48

TRAVEL / OFF THE BEATEN TRACK Ireland’s Beauty Lives in My Heart by Kate McGinn.............................................31 Athens by May J. Panayi................................................................................................43

RECIPES Healthy and Delicious Barbeque Ideas by Christine Ardigo.................................29

ARTICLES Mom's Teenage Years by Hannah Howe....................................................................11 I Love Research by Cherime MacFarlane...................................................................13 Popular Music’s Greatest Decade by Mansel Jones ................................................19 Anne Summer by Hannah Howe.................................................................................23 OH, the good ‘ol days… by Melanie Smith...............................................................25 Flaming June by Poppy Flynn......................................................................................27 The Real Captain Jack by T.E Hodden.......................................................................35 Meditation: Why Do It? by Jill Hughes......................................................................37 Offshore Life by DM Wolfenden.................................................................................39 The Green Card by Silviya Rankova...........................................................................45

ACTIVITIES Checkmate in 2 - Supplied by Chess.com..................................................................14 Little Zoi Coloring Page - Provided by Ronesa Aveela............................................24 Word Search by Mom’s Favorite Reads......................................................................42 Love & Peace Coloring Page by Mom’s Favorite Reads..........................................49

AUTHOR RESOURCES 20% OFF First Book Promotion with The Fussy Librarian.....................................18 Connections eMagazine.................................................................................................34 Nicole Lavoie, Graphic Designer.................................................................................41

Peter Purves

Interviewed by T.E. Hodden

There are very few television shows that have the staying power to be a universal part of childhood, not just for years, or decades, but to generations of kids. Blue Peter was a staple of many British childhoods, the flagship magazine show of Children’s BBC, for many years.

With a unique blend of presenters being sent on adventures, discovering new hobbies, looking after animals, and offering many things to make and do, in the garden, or in the studio, the show was famous for its charity appeals, constant curiosity, and of course, for the Blue Peter badges (mine was a green one, by the way, won for one of my first attempts, during primary school, at this writing lark) that offered the lucky recipients access to museums and attractions nationwide.

were able to drop in to the best parts of other people’s jobs, and learn crafts and skills most people could only dream of - drive a train, fly a plane, swim with dolphins and Orcas - a myriad of pleasures. And we travelled the world at a time when few people did - package tours had barely been invented and cheap travel for everyone was a thing of the future. I visited 27 countries for the programme, and in some of which I spent three to four weeks filming. I have always said that it was the best job in television, and I still think it was.

It didn’t pay very well, and there was no pension attached, but it was a fabulous job, and I feel very lucky to have done it.

Do you have any particularly fond memories of your time on the show? I loved every minute of it, and I became very close to my colleague, John Noakes, who was a true friend. We loved each other’s company, and became almost telepathic - I knew what John was going to do or say almost before he did. It was great fun to work with him and with Valerie Singleton and Lesley Judd. I think there was a real chemistry that bonded us all together. I remain friends with Valerie, and although I only see Lesley every 10 years or so, the friendship bond remains.

It was the only show on television where one presenter might be discovering why Jon Pertwee’s new car looks like a road legal UFO, and their colleague might be scaling Nelson’s Column to clean away the bird muck.

For ten years, working with John Noakes, Valerie Singleton, Leslie Judd, and Petra, the German Shepherd Cross, Peter Purves had the job of being the person school kids wanted to be when they grew up.

I emailed Mr Purves, with some questions of my own, and of the Mom's Favorite Reads Community.

How did you get the role of a Blue Peter Presenter?

I was recommended to the Blue Peter producers by a director, Giles Havergal, whom I had met, once only, at the Repertory Theatre in Barrow in Furness, where I had worked for two years. Giles had taken over as artistic director, and I was visiting the town. I met the famous editor, Biddy Baxter, together with her two major assistants, Edward Barnes and Rosemary Gill, and they invited me to audition. I was lucky enough to win the job.

The show covered so many kinds of subjects, did you ever have a favourite? Too many to mention. We

Were you aware of being a role model to the viewers? Not really - we just did the work with real enthusiasm, (how could we not?) and I know that projected itself through the screen to the audience.

Obviously as it was a children’s show we had to watch our general behaviour, tried not to swear, or smoke in front of children, but apart from that I never felt under any pressure to be a “role model”.

Did you get a say on who took which challenge for the show, or were the adventures assigned to you?

No, we just did as we were told - I was engaged to be able to handle the more serious items whilst John was created as an action man, a role to which he was well-suited. If I had been asked to sky dive I would have done it, and I would also have climbed Nelson’s Column, but I wasn’t asked. I did a number

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of exciting films - going rock climbing with Sir Chris Bonnington, taking part in jousting and falconry, assault course stuff with the military, and even stunt driving, and taking part in motorcycle displays with the White Helmets Royal Signals. Making toys, crafts, and other items was a long-standing feature of the show.

Do any of these projects stand out in your memory?

Not really, apart from the building of an underwater futuristic city. It was spread over two programmes, and I did it so poorly that I was not asked to do many makes afterwards.

There were also the “Special Assignment” shows, sending you off to explore twin towns across Britain, or life on the Singapore river. That must have been a pretty exciting prospect? I did three series of Special Assignments, one just before I left the programme, and two over the next two years. One was on famous rivers, one of famous houses and the people who lived in them, and one on Twin Towns.

It was a BBC/French TV co-production and there was an extremely pleasant French Presenter who made the French version. It meant that I would do a piece to camera in English, and then he would step up to the same mark and do the same piece in French. Slowed everything down, but I can remember splendid meals with him, once in Normandy near Lisieux, and one in Venice that particularly stand out.

What was it like working with Petra, your faithful companion on Blue Peter? I was very fond of Petra she had been on the programme for five years when I joined, and Biddy asked me if I would be prepared to take her to live with me. I agreed, and I had ten years with her - something not many actors can do. It is hard to keep a pet if you cannot give it the time it needs. Petra came to work with me, was in the studio with me, and was a great family pet.

Was working with Petra good training for your coverage of Crufts? It certainly gave me an insight into living with a dog, but I had also the experience of “puppy-walking” two Yellow Labradors which went on to become Guide dogs. And I did many of the dog-related items on the show. I commentated every year on Crufts when we would have the Best in Show (Biddy insisted on calling it the Supreme Champion!) in the studio, together with the dog and bitch winners of the Obedience Championship. That was the best training I could have for my future 41 years (and still counting) at Crufts Dog Show.

You have a long association, not only with Crufts,

but writing about dogs, but very much as a member of the wider community. Is that rewarding work?

It is exceptionally rewarding work. I began as a presenter at Crufts when I was asked by BBC Events to introduce a new sport to the television audience - Dog Agility. That was in 1978 just prior to my leaving Blue Peter. The following year I was asked to commentate and Present the Obedience Championships, and that extended to Agility, and then Flyball, and in 1969 I was asked to present the entire show, first for two years with Angela Rippon, and then with my friend and colleague, the wonderful Dr Jessica Holm. We were the entire presentation and reporting team at Crufts for over 12 years, and continued as co-presenters and commentators until the BBC dropped out in 2008 following a dispute with the Kennel Club. For one year there was only TV coverage on YouTube from the main arena, and the Kennel Club asked me to supply the commentary. I worked every day from 08.30 when the show opened until the final judging completed at the end of the day 19.30 or thereabouts.

Luckily More 4 and then Channel 4 picked it up and put it back on Mainstream TV in 2009, and Jessica and I were once more engaged to be part of the presentation team, and here in 2019, I am ready to be there again for my 41st consecutive year.

Your biography “One I Wrote Earlier” was published, and the Kennel Club, of which you are a member, generously offered its premises in Mayfair for the launch.

Would you care to tell readers a little about it? I seriously regret calling it an Autobiography. It was written without any great research out of my head, and should really have been called a Memoir. It is true in so far as it is exactly what I remember. I do know now that there are some factual errors, particularly with regard to Doctor Who, but for the most part it is a straightforward story of many of the highlights of my life. It sold pretty well (c8000 copies) and lots of people have come up to me at conventions with a copy for me to sign, and they have been very kind with their comments.

Is commentary on dog shows a different skill to darts or (long running trial bike show) Kick Start?

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As long as you know your facts there is nothing different in the way you commentate on anything.

You learn not to say what the audience can see for themselves, but rather to fill in what they may not know, or elements of “back stories” and other information that is not being told by the pictures. The excitgement levels vary in the different events, but essentially you are there to keep the audience fully informed of what is going on.

You have directed over thirty pantomimes. Is there a secret to a perfect panto? I am not sure there is. I think it is important that one treats the show seriously. The number of times I have heard artistes say, “Well, it’s only Panto”, and that makes me really angry. Pantomime is very often the first show a child will see in the theatre, and we have a responsibility to make it as magical and professional as we can. If it is taken seriously then it is funnier than if it is played tongue in cheek. I have seen many a pantomime where the cast are having much more fun than the audience, and I think that is unforgiveable. I hope none of my shows have been like that. I can think of a few of the shows I directed of which I am very proud - one at the New Theatre, Hull in the late 1980’s, which starred Canon and Ball at the height of their brilliance. It was Dick Whittington, the sets were almost too big for the theatre, but it was a huge success. Another was the first panto that Hale and Pace did, in Southend.

Funnily enough it was another Dick Whittington.

And there have been some other wonderful shows - I did 5 with The Chuckle Brothers, which were amongst the funniest I have done, and another with the late great John Inman.

And I must not forget that John Noakes and I performed (I directed six of them) in eight pantomimes and developed an excellent rapport. And Lesley Judd also appeared in three of them. My wife, Kathryn Evans, appeared in all of those in fact I met her in Cinderella in Guildford in 1978.

in Blackpool it was inevitable that I would see a panto every year, but that was just part of the reason I always, from the age of nine, wanted to go “on the stage”. In the summer there were as many stars in Blackpool as there were in London. I saw all the great variety acts, comedians, even some straight theatre, and with I think 15 theatres to choose from at that time and numerous cinemas, my mother took me to see lots and lots of shows. No favourites from that time, but I have always felt that seeing all those performers and performances was a great part of my education.

Do you appreciate different stories, or aspects of the tradition when you are on the other side of the curtain? Well they are certainly different experiences, but although I enjoyed directing, I preferred performing. But two or three shows a day in pantomime is very hard work indeed. And as the director, after the hard work of getting it up and running, you can sit back and relax and let them get on with it. A visit to see what a mess the cast are making of it is an essential extra element. After two weeks of playing, the show will have altered, sometimes little bits will have improved, but often, the cast just needs reminding of a few of the more subtle elements they are forgetting.

Your most famous role, of course is Stephen Taylor, on Doctor Who in the sixties, working alongside William Hartnell as the Doctor. That must have been an incredible role for a young man?

It was a wonderful experience for me. I had done my first professional work at the age of 17 during my school holidays.

I spent two years at Teacher’s College where I spent most of my time running the Dramatic Society (we did some darn good plays) and singing with a Skiffle group. After teaching in London for one year to complete my qualification I gave it up, went back into repertory and did two years performing a different play every week, (96 plays in all). Then I went back to London to find my fortune in 1963.

It was slow coming, via a stint in the chorus at

Did you go and watch pantos as a child?

Did you have a favourite? Growing up -9-

the London Palladium for three months, then a few small TV roles. culminating in the lead in an ABC Armchair Theatre in 1964, and another lead three months later in an episode of The Villains. I was spotted in the ABC production by Richard Martin, a BBC TV director, who invited me to play an American Hillbilly character called Morton Dill on holiday in New York in an episode of Doctor Who. It was a five or six minute comedy cameo set on the top of the Empire State Building when he meets the Doctor and crew of the TARDIS, shortly afterwards meeting and surviving the Daleks.

At the end of the recording the producer, Verity Lambert , invited me to join the show as a permanent travelling companion of the Doctor (William Hartnell).

Three weeks later I was a permanent member of the cast. I discovered many years later, that it was Bill who had liked me in the rehearsals for the Morton Dill episode, and had suggested that Verity might think of casting me. I am forever grateful to him for that, and for the friendship he showed me over the year we worked together.

The adventures you starred in varied wildly, from epic adventures against the Daleks, and other alien foes, to the surreal dream-like threat of the Celestial Toymaker, to adventures in history with the all too real dangers of the OK Corral, the siege of Troy, or perhaps most memorably (and still shocking today) the purge of the Huguenots, in the “Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Day”. Did you have a favourite style of story? Or indeed a particular favourite?

I always preferred the historical stories - they had much more depth than the stories that centred round strange aliens. In fact I really did not like the Daleks at all, though The Dalek Master Plan is a missing gem. My two favourite stories were the Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s and the Myth Makers. The former is the historically accurate tale of the night before the catholics murdered all the Huguenots (Protestants) in Paris, and it was a major role for me in the story.

Sadly not one episode exists now of that series, the BBC having wiped the original tapes and not kept any copies. The same unfortunately goes for the Myth Makers, every episode missing, but it was a wonderful story with the Doctor, me and his female companion, Vicki, getting caught up in the final

moments of the Siege of Troy. Brilliant stuff. Luckily the audio of both series does exist on the BBC Audio Collection.

The show has left quite a legacy, not only on television, but in other media. What has it been like revisiting the role for some excellent Audio Dramas from Big Finish? I cannot speak too highly of Big Finish. It is a wonderful company and I have been privileged to have been allowed to play my original character, Steven Taylor, in almost 30 of their original productions. They have allowed me to explore Steven’s character more completely than could ever have been done on TV, and also allowed me to play an impression of William Hartnell, who appears in every story, and I have been happy to give him “life” again. Maureen O’Brien, who has been recreating her character of Vicki, paid me the biggest compliment on one of the recordings when she said she felt as though it was Bill himself delivering the lines in the studio. Well pleased!!

You have also been narrating the novellas based on television adventures. Has it been interesting seeing how they translated to the page? It has been interesting to see how different the novelisations are from what we put on the screen. The Massacre, in particular, tells the same story, but in a very different way. I think the John Lucarotti book would have been impossible to put on the screen with the technology that was available at the time. But most of the others are pretty much as I would have expected them to be.

Were you aware the stories lived on long after they aired, as novellas? Yes I was fully aware of them, but had not owned one.

What do you prefer to read for your own entertainment? I enjoy modern thrillers - I am great fan of John Le Carré, and I like procedural police thrillers, Linda La Plante for example, Michael Connelly, Robert Harris, Tom Clancy, Harlen Coben and David Baldacci.

Do you have any advice you would like to share with younger readers? For what it’s worth my advice would be to always strive for what you want. I always wanted to be an actor and performer, and my parents

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did everything they could to dissuade me. But you have to follow the line you want.

Is there a charity you wish readers to consider? I am Vice Patron of Dogs for Good (formely Dogs for the Disabled). It is a brilliant charity, based in Banbury, and provides assistance dogs for people with numerous mobility problems, and people are finding that their dogs can even help with conditions like Autism. I think it is a charity deserving of everyones support.

Is there any other project we should be looking out for? I am looking out for my 80th birthday, and that

is a lovely quiet and private affair. As far as work is concerned, I wait for the next approach, but in the meantime Crufts is on Ch4 from the 7th - 10th March, and there are one or two small conventions for Doctor Who, all in this country during the course of the next few months. In the summer I shall be hosting the Dog Arena at four major open-air events - The Three Counties Show in Malvern, Countryfile Live at Blenheim, Countryfile Live at Castle Howard, and The Malvern Autumn Show.

Mr Purves, thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.

T.E. Hodden trained in engineering, and works in a specialised role in the transport industry. He is a life long fan of comic books, science fiction, myths, legends, and history. In the past he has contributed to podcasts, blogs, and anthologies.

You can discover more about T.E. on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/t-e-hodden/

Mom’s Teenage Years

by Hannah Howe

Mom’s teenage years, endless summer days, golden days, school holidays that seemed to go on forever, a time spent chasing rainbows and dreams believing that we would find the pot of gold.

Okay, maybe the memory plays trick and it’s wasn’t all wine and roses, but certainly the music was good, the television and cinema entertained us and the books fired our imaginations. I asked Mom’s authors to share their favourites from their teenage years and these are the lists we came up with.

Music, on vinyl of course: The Smashing Pumpkins Kylie Minogue Take That Cheech & Chong The Searchers The Beatles David Bowie Adam Ant U2 Pink Floyd Elton John Al Stewart

Genesis The Incredible String Band Nik Kershaw Guns ‘n’ Roses Metallica Howard Jones Tamla Motown The Rolling Stones Aerosmith Rush David Bowie The Troggs - 11 -

Herman's Hermits Freddie and the Dreamers Ricky Nelson The Dave Clark Five Peter, Paul, and Mary Oasis Placebo James Blur Nirvana Green Day Suede

Movies:

Television:

Books and Authors:

The Matrix It’s a Wonderful Life The Wizard of Oz Labyrinth Neverending Story Princess Bride Star Wars Terminator Lost Boys Highlander The Naked Gun Clueless Ten Things I Hate About You Scream Fame Grease Watership Down Dune Gone with the Wind The Exorcist

Dario Point Horror Sweet Valley High Buffy the Vampire Slayer Starsky and Hutch Magnum P.I. Upstairs, Downstairs Top of the Pops Ready, Steady, Go Red Dwarf Blackadder Star Trek Monty Python The Rockford Files M*A*S*H Charlie’s Angels American Bandstand The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Dr Kildare Sugarfoot HeeHaw

Lord of the Rings Agatha Christie Taylor Caldwell Jean Plaidy Victoria Holt Judy Blume Stephen King R.L Stine Christopher Pike To Kill a Mockingbird Oliver Twist Louisa May Alcott Albert Payson The Once and Future King Nancy Cato Pony books

Do you recall any of these?

Can you add to our lists?

Plus holiday memories, of course. I remember camping with friends, three of us under canvas, with a creepy guy wandering around outside. While I adjusted the door zipper, one friend said, “What if he tries to break into the tent while we’re sleeping?” The other friend said, “I know how to stop him. Why don’t we put a chair against the door...(!)”

On that same camping trip, I recall a teenager bouncing on the campsite trampoline trying to impress us. He lost his bearings on the trampoline, didn’t notice where his feet were landing and made an unfortunate connection between a part of his anatomy and the springs. He had a funny walk for the rest of the holiday...

Special thanks to Fabia Scali-Warner, Lacey Lane, Ronesa Aveela, Penny Luker, Sylva Fae, CN Lesley, Dianne Wolfenden, Heather Ramsay, Poppy Flynn, Patricia M Ahern, Val Tobin, Susan Hawthorne, Anna Rashbrook and Kate Robinson for sharing their teenage favourites.

Hannah Howe is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann’s War Mystery Series and the #1 international bestseller Saving Grace. Hannah’s books are published by Goylake Publishing and distributed through Gardners Books to over 300 outlets worldwide. Her books are available in print, as eBooks and audio books, and are being translated into ten languages.

You can discover more about Hannah on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/hannah-howe/ - 12 -

I Love Research

by Cherime MacFarlane

I love collecting the odd fact. Even better is the awesome moment when something jells that you didn’t even suspect. Here we come to the Eilan Water Trilogy. And it all starts in an odd place, my last visit to Scotland.

While there I picked up several books. I’ve read two

by Alistair Moffat and saw one titled The Scots, A genetic Journey by Moffatt and James F. Wilson. I had to have it. So the little book with the big title shared space with lots of small bottles of scotch and a bunch of canned kippers for the ride home.

As soon as I reached Alaska, up to the loft it went to be read in the evening. I devoured that one. While in the middle of amazing facts including the mystery of the Picts solved. It seems they didn’t vanish to anywhere. They stayed where they were and intermarried with the Scotti and whoever wandered into what would be Scotland.

That opened the door to Torcuil, a Scotti running from Eire across the sea to Pict land. There me met and married a Pict woman. The first of the trilogy got laid out in my mind.

Then came another mention of something which gave me the germ of the idea for the last book. One percent of all Scotsmen are direct descendants of Berber and Tuareg tribesman, Researchers believe the lineage to be around 5600 years old. Wow! Really?

After having read of the three million descendants of one Irish king, Niall of the Nine Hostages, I was off on a hunt. That was when I discovered the interesting thing about Roman citizenship. One could become a citizen of the empire for various reasons. Good to know.

In my search for information about Berbers in Rome, I came upon Quintus Lollius Urbicus originally from what is now Algeria. Some maintain he was a Berber.

Oh, my! Perhaps he had a young protégé, a wanderer.

A young kinsman with a facility for languages and a fascination with blades.

And Aghilas was born. Fully fledged, he emerged into my thoughts. Roman to the core, how would he react to living in a society where women could act as leaders? How would he deal with a young woman who had no qualms about furthering her own agenda regardless of those of the males in her family? Enter Grainne.

It would require what kind of adjustment for a young man brought up to believe his word in his home to be an irrefutable law? Bound in a tribal society by his honor how would he cope? The possibilities were endless.

I couldn’t believe it when I found Quintus Lollius Urbicus. That he was possibly a Berber, and he also retook the lowlands of Scotland for Rome coupled with his being recalled slightly before the time I wanted to set this in… it boggled the mind. I so love research. The amazing things you can find.

Cherime MacFarlane is an award-winning, bestselling, prolific multi-genre author. She has a broad range of interests that reflect her been there-done that life.

You can discover more about Cherime on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/cherime-macfarlane

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Checkmate in 2 Supplied by Chess.com

This is a mate in 2, but it's a tricky one because you have to see what the second move is going to be BEFORE you make the first move!

Supplied by https://chess.com/ the #1 chess website. Used with permission.

For more chess puzzles please visit https://chess.com/ You can find the answers for this activity on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/magazines/activities/ - 14 -

Christine A Southworth, NDD SWA MAFA Interviewed by Sylva Fae

Christine found an early talent for art, and won a scholarship to art college at age fifteen.

She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t painting or drawing. After a rewarding and successful teaching career, Christine took early retirement to fulfil her ambition to become a professional artist, working from her own studio in the North of England and in a remote studio, hidden in a Canadian forest.

from these studies I develop oil paintings and loose watercolours.

Several years ago, I joined NEO Artist Print Studio; I work there producing etchings based on my research and travels. I like to work from life, developing unique interpretations of human and natural forms. My main passion is for drawing, drawing helps me understand the world I live in and is a natural progression to etching.

When did you first take an interest in art? I was probably around three years old when I first started drawing. It was in the pre-TV days with only a wireless for entertainment; we were allowed to listen to it for half an hour as a treat. In the evenings we would all sit around the big table and do something creative. My father was a carpenter, so he would sit making wooden toys and carving and I would keep occupied reading or drawing. I could always be found either with my head in a book or sketching.

I am interested in all aspects of Art and how it enriches our lives for the better.

Tell me a little about your work.

My work defines me as a person, the act of creating and making is as important as the finished work.

My Art education started in the sixties as a student at Bolton Art College where I obtained a degree in fine Art and Printing.

Most of my working life has been in Art Education teaching as Head of Art at Bolton School.

My work at present is figurative which reflects my interest in life drawing. I run a life class, this enables me to make lots of drawings from the model,

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently focusing on oil paintings of landscapes and figures done from life. I love the Northern landscape, in particular tidal estuaries were people work and live, and these feature in my current oil paintings. My fiancé is also an artist, but he has a very different style to mine. We enjoy painting together, blending my fluid and chaotic brushstrokes with his structured and ordered ones.

Where do you exhibit your work? During my career I have been in many exhibitions: Society of Women Artists, Mall Galleries, London, The Royal Birmingham, Manchester Academy and many others.

I also exhibit locally around Lancashire, especially when the exhibition is raising money for charity. I also enjoy judging and organising the hospice annual fundraising exhibition.

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What is your most memorable piece of work? My most notable commission was for Diana, Princess of Wales.

I was honoured to present the painting to her when she visited my home town.

unique and beautiful furniture for our quirky, period property. One of my favourite quotes comes from the Arts and Crafts Movement:

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris

Any funny stories?

My children will probably remember the time I was asked to paint the scenes for a ghost train ride. They arrived home to find the back garden filled with 12’ high boards of spooky pictures, drying in the sun. It was funny to see their faces but it gave them nightmares!

Have you won any awards? I have recently been awarded full membership of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, and Society of Women Artists. I have received several major awards in the SWA Annual Exhibitions and my work was used as the cover of their catalogue.

When you are not painting, what do you enjoy doing? When I’m not drawing or chasing after my granddaughters, I love travelling. Being retired means we can book holidays on a whim and we are always planning our next adventure. I also love spending time out in Canada with my sister. She has a cabin in a forest; it’s just nice to get away from the modern world and be surrounded by nature. This is where I have my second studio.

My newest hobby is upcycling vintage furniture.

Together with my fiancé, we take previously loved and treasured pieces and upcycle them to create

I am an avid reader. I like books about spiritual journeys and how physical changes can lead to an emotional change. I also like crime thrillers based on forensic pathology. My daughter often recommends books from Mom’s Favorite Reads authors.

Who are your favourite artists? I love so many different artists and it really depends on the style I am working in at the time. Lucien Freud and Egon Shiele are definite favourites, for inspiration on printing, it has to be Albrect Durer, for figure drawing and anatomy, Leonardo da Vinci is a great example, and I also love female drawer / etcher / printer Kathe Kollwitz.

What advice would you give to new artists?

Draw every day, look at good examples of art in proper exhibitions, keep on and paint for yourself. Art is my one constant in my life of turmoil.

And finally, where can people see examples of your artwork? I frequently share my sketches on my Twitter page at https://twitter.com/bearprintstudio I will be exhibiting at the Bolton Neo gallery, MASA, Bury and at the Mall Gallery, London as part of the next Society of Women Artists exhibition.

You can discover more about Sylva on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/ - 16 -

April Cox

Interviewed by Rachael Wright

Rhode Island-based author April Cox worked as an IT program manager for thirty years before she found herself in desperate need to get away from the 60 to 80 hour work weeks.

April said she was drawn to children’s books as a way to help them process life changes and brighten their day.

After the publication of Puppy Pickup Day, April says she was contacted by the mother of an autistic boy who loved the book.

“I needed a distraction–a passion project that would brings some happiness,” Cox says. “See, I had been in the dumps dealing with an empty nest.”

What April says she loved most was spending time with her grandchildren.

“I loved reading with them and re-discovered picture books. We liked to make up stories together and my little labradoodle became our favorite topic. I started to write to leave a legacy behind for my grandkids.

But something changed … I wanted more.”

April pursued whatever it took to simplify her life so that she wouldn’t have to depend on a six-figure income. She sold her home and moved into a mobile home village in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

“I was no stranger to mobile homes,” April says, “having grown up in poverty and living in a mobile home from [age] 13 to 18.”

Not long after the sale of her house April got word that her job was eliminated at corporate.

“I was so happy! I even got a severance pay to help me make ends meet while I tried to make a go of it as an author.”

April wrote the first book in the Little Labradoodle series “Puppy Pickup Day”, produced multiple coloring and activity books for children, and the Doodle Lovers Adult Coloring Book.

“My little labradoodle is the runt of the litter and he has trouble keeping up with others, is clumsy, can’t catch balls, and gets bullied by his siblings,” April says. “She shared that her son has issues with fine motor skills … and he loved the book.”

April sent him a coloring books and encouraged her fan to think about writing his own story. Not long after the boy send back a colored picture and wrote a few lines about a fireman.

“I love to encourage and make a difference in the lives of others.”

April also offers one on one coaching services to help first-time authors through the self publishing process.

“My background is in consulting; helping make things easier for business. When I went through the publishing process it was daunting. There are so many things to learn and it took quite a while,” April says. “I couldn’t help but think, ‘I can make this easier for new and aspiring authors.’ I wanted them to have support in bringing their book-babies to life.”

On her website, www.thelittlelabradoodle.com/ KLUB, April has set aside a particular page in order to encourage others to make a difference in their community.

“If I could communicate one thing to my readers it would be that you are special, amazing and have super powers to make the world a better place! Look for ways to help others whether it’s welcoming a newcomer into the community or helping parents or a neighbor.”

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Attached below is an excerpt from Join the KLUB – No Bullying Allowed. This comes after Brady, the Little Labradoodle is bullied at the dog park and sees that there are others who are alone and are being excluded from play by the “popular crowd”.

They share their experience with him and he gets an idea…

“We should all form a club, with no bullying allowed.

And everyone’s welcome,” The little pup vowed.

“We can’t allow bullies to make us feel small.

If we all stand together, we can stand tall.”

The new pals agreed.

Their ideas were flowing, As they thought of new ways to keep friendships growing.

So Brady’s new friends built a KLUB-house, with signs…

That promised to welcome new friends of all kinds.

When newcomers move into their neighborhood, The club welcomes them in, as they promised they would.

They make them feel special, and teach them the way…

Showing kindness to all makes a difference each day And that isn’t all that his club likes to do.

They’re helpers at home – in their neighborhood too.

Some of the bullies even joined their new KLUB, And learned the value of kindness, friendship and love.

Rachael Wright is a Colorado native with degrees in Political Science and History from Colorado Mesa University. She is a devoted tea drinker, Manchester United fan, wife, and mother. She lives near Denver with her fantastic husband and daughter and very full bookshelves You can discover more about Rachael on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/rachael-wright/

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Popular Music’s Greatest Decade

by Mansel Jones

In 1970, the Jackson Five arrived on the scene with four top ten singles and they were joined by fellow newcomers, Marc Bolan and the Carpenters. Meanwhile, Hotlegs, who later became 10cc, had a hit with Neanderthal Man. The 1970s were to unfold as the most diverse decade in pop music history with a wide range of genres finding a place in the charts and 1970 offered a glimpse of what was to come with hits by such diverse artists as Black Sabbath, Joni Mitchell, Herb Alpert and Shirley Bassey. However, thanks to Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Ruffin, the Four Tops and Smokey Robinson, Tamla Motown emerged as the dominant sound of the year.

Marc Bolan had consistent success throughout 1971 with hits in March, July and November while Elvis Presley was even more prolific with five hits during the year. As individuals, the Beatles all had hits: John Lennon with Power to the People, Paul McCartney with Another Day, George Harrison with My Sweet Lord and Ringo Starr with It Don’t Come Easy.

Reggae music found a place in the charts through the likes of Dave and Ansil Collins, Marcia Griffiths and the Pioneers, while Slade provided an antidote to progressive rock and twenty-minute guitar solos with Get Down, Get With It, the first of many boisterous hits. Even so, arguably the most significant chart entrant of 1971 was Elton John, with Your Song, in February.

Once again, Marc Bolan dominated the charts in 1972 with five hits, compared to Slade, who had four hits and Sweet, who had three. Meanwhile, Elton John saw success with Rocket Man and Crocodile Rock.

Donny Osmond, with and without his brothers, had a number of hits, and along with David Cassidy, he became a teen sensation. David Bowie changed his image and his new persona helped him to achieve three hits. Even so, the bestselling single of the year

was Amazing Grace by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Judy Collins had recorded a hit with the song in 1971) and the bestselling album was a compilation, Twenty Dynamic Hits, while Gilbert O’Sullivan, Vicky Leandros, Carole King and Simon and Garfunkel were regulars on the nation’s turntables.

Nineteen Seventy-Three was dominated by the Osmonds, particularly Donny who had three top five hits with cover versions of 1950s standards. Regulars, Marc Bolan, Sweet, Slade and David Bowie all brought glamour to the charts while Mott the Hoople, Roxy Music, and 10cc all made their mark. The Philadelphia sound was well to the fore throughout the year and that sound was well represented by Billy Paul, the Stylistics, the Detroit Spinners and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, to name but four.

However, the leading artists of the year were Bowie, Suzi Quatro, Carly Simon and Simon and Garfunkel.

David Essex, Showaddywaddy, the Three Degrees and Alvin Stardust all enjoyed chart success in 1974.

Alvin Stardust had been in the charts in 1962 as Shane Fenton, but his new incarnation was to bring lasting fame. The publicity provided by the Eurovision song contest ensured that some of the songs featured in the contest made it on to the charts and this year saw the emergence of arguably the greatest Eurovision act of all with Abba and Waterloo. Queen and Sparks made excursions into the charts, but the Wombles were the leading group of the year, while Elton John, Suzi Quatro, Diana Ross and the Carpenters all achieved a high level of success and substantial fame.

A variety of groups and singers ensured that disco was a dominant sound in 1975 and the Bay City Rollers, who had emerged as a force in 1974, continued to dominate the teen market. Comedy records have always found a place on the charts and 1975 saw hits for the Goodies, Mike Reid, Jasper Carrot, Billy Connelly and Laurel and Hardy. Three

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charts. However, the death of Elvis Presley threatened to overshadow everyone, the event marked with a flurry of re-releases to accompany newer material.

Donna Summer and Elkie Brookes graced the charts and the familiar tones of Rod Stewart, Hot Chocolate, the Jacksons, Stevie Wonder, 10cc and Status Quo could also be heard. Furthermore, the status quo was maintained in some respects because Paul McCartney and Wings managed sales of over two million records with Mull of Kintyre. The top five bestselling album artists of the year were Abba, the Eagles, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac and the Stranglers, which offers a good indication of the styles of rock and pop music that were popular throughout the year. standards also graced the charts in this year: Queen with Bohemian Rhapsody, David Bowie with a re-release of Space Oddity – first heard in 1969 – and Greg Lake with I Believe in Father Christmas.

Nineteen Seventy-Five was also a good year for David Essex, Tammy Wynette, Mud, Shirley Bassey and Elton John.

The long, hot summer of 1976 saw a number of comebacks with the Beatles releasing Yesterday for the first time as a single, along with hits for Cliff Richard, Manfred Mann, the Four Seasons and Peter Frampton after years of relative drought. The big summer hit was Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

by Elton John and Kiki Dee – Elton’s first British number one – and the bestselling single of the year was the Eurovision winner, Save Your Kisses For Me

by Brotherhood of Man. Rod Stewart, Abba, Tina Charles, Demis Roussos and Diana Ross all had a year to remember and, warming up for 1977, the Sex Pistols announced that there was Anarchy in the UK.

The decade closed with Abba, Boney M and the Bee Gees keeping the record presses busy as disco dominated the scene. Punk found articulate voices with the likes of the Boomtown Rats and the Stranglers and the movement refreshed the charts with a consistent string of new names. Artists who offered quality and enduring appeal also emerged in the shape of Kate Bush and Dire Straits. However, despite punk’s vigorous shaking of the rock and pop music tree the likes of Rod Stewart, Elton John, Billy Joel, Shirley Bassey, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen and Genesis continued to enjoy high levels of success.

Nineteen Seventy-Seven was the year that everything changed, and everything stayed the same. New labels, new record companies and new groups threatened a revolution while record buyers were tempted by coloured vinyl, picture discs and 12” singles. The Sex Pistols created a storm of controversy – and welcome publicity – helping three of their singles into the

Mansel Jones has been researching and writing about medieval history for the past forty years. He is an acknowledged expert in his field and academics and universities seek his views. He is the author of A History of Kenfig, Pendragon and Tangwstyl.

You can discover more about Mansel on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/mansel-jones/ - 20 -

Fleesh

Interviewed by Hannah Howe

For readers who are new to your music, could you please offer them some background: where are you from? When did you start playing music together? And what style of music do you play? We're a rock project from Brasil. We started this project in 2014, releasing our first album called "My Real Life". We play rock music with some progressive influences.

Your versions of classic tracks are faithful to the originals, but you include subtle arrangements that make the tracks your own. Do these arrangements come spontaneously or do you plan them in detail? It actually comes spontaneously! I mean..we choose songs that we like to hear and we play them with our hearts..and whatever comes out, wasn't really planned! We try to keep the song's essence but also add our essence to it!

Who are your musical influences? We have many influences like Pink Floyd, Marillion, Rush, Renaissance, Genesis and many others!

Gabby, you have a beautiful voice. Did you always dream of becoming a singer? Thank you very much!

Well, I've always loved to see other singers singing on TV...and always wondered how it would be.

Then when I was around 15 I started taking singing lessons...writing some songs by myself...and started to develop myself!

You have recorded many classic tracks. How do you decide which tracks to record? We try to choose songs that are very important for us..songs that we'd like to play... and sometimes suggestions from our fans and friends!

Celo, your talent ranges across a number of instruments. Do you have a favorite instrument? Thank you so much! My favorite instrument is the electric guitar!

As a non-musician, I am curious to know how easy it is to adapt to different instruments and learn how to play new instruments. Is it easy for people who are gifted at music to become multi-instrumentalists? I believe it happened in a moment where I (Celo) used to listen more to music than actually playing it. When you start to listen to music paying attention to what each instrument is doing there, you kind of realize their role in the music and the language that each instrument speaks. For example, I used to play guitar and when I started to try to play keyboards my first impression was "how can I make it sound like the instrument I already know how to play?" But with time you start to understand that each instrument has a different way of playing, understanding the harmonies, you can learn how to adapt it to different instruments!

up soon!

Do you have a favorite song that you haven’t recorded yet, but plan to record in the future? Oh we have a long list of songs we'd like to record and haven't recorded yet!! Like David Bowie, Roger Waters, Lana Lane, other Genesis' songs... there are just too many great songs in the world! And we also have some tribute albums coming

Your videos are stylish and distinctive. They flow and look natural. Do you enjoy the process of making videos? Thank you so much! Yes, we do enjoy making them! Everything is recorded here in our home studio most of the times. We record the song and video by ourselves here. And edit it together as well!

Could you please offer our readers an insight into the process of making a music video? Most of our videos are done in a very simple way. After we have the full song recorded, I (Gabby) record Celo's takes playing basically all instruments and he records my

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takes singing. Then we put them all together and edit it by ourselves. Most of the videos are recorded in our living room (which is where our home studio is) or in our room where we have a white wall and a black curtain.... So, everything's done in our house by ourselves!

You record your own songs. Could you offer us an insight into how you write a song? When we start our songwriting process, we only stop when we have a full new album to release.

As an example, our last album "Across the Sea" was written in a kind of "immersion" writing process...we focused on writing the songs and recording them. The whole proccess took us 3 weeks.

Most of the time, Celo starts with a melody on his guitar and we adapt it to a vocal melody line..then he starts adding the other instruments to it and I (Gabby) make the final vocal line with the lyrics. Then Celo adds the other details and other instruments and I record the final vocals. Then he starts the mixing/ mastering process.

Your album, Across the Sea, is about depression.

This is not a subject you would normally associate with a rock album, but the music and lyrics display great sympathy and understanding, and the album is a great success. One of my novels is about depression, so I wondered what moved you to write about such an emotional subject? Well we are living in very hard times. The whole world is kind of messed up right now and some people who are very very close to us are suffering from depression and mental illnesses. We always talked to them and we found out that most people actually don't respect it as a disease and don't take this seriously. So, we wanted to create an album that shows how people actually feel. Our album doesn't have a happy ending or anything like that..it's just exposing facts, trying to show the stages of depression. From the very beginning until the very end.

inspires you to write a song? It is the same process sometimes!! It really depends...Sometimes Celo starts working on a melody...and for me (Gabby), it seems like the words are already there somehow...so, sometimes the song kind of "writes" his own words ah, ah. Also, sometimes the instrumental track gives me a clue of what the songs should be about...and also sometimes I think I'll write a song about something, but it turns into something I could never imagine ah, ah. So...each song has a kind of unique story about its own songwriting process!

You are producing physical copies of your music through crowdfunding.

That sounds ambitious and exciting.

How can fans become involved in your crowdfunding campaign? Yes! We did a crowdfunding campaign in the past to release our second original album called "What I Found" and our Rush tribute physically. This time we were doing a new campaign to release our new album "Across the Sea" and our Marillion tribute physically as well. But, we had some trouble with the new Paypal policies and unfortunately we had to call it off before it was finished. But, we're still making the copies with the funds we already have and we're selling them in a kind of "pre sale" on our website (https://www. fleeshofficial.com/crowdfunding) The CDs should be ready around July!

Do you play live, or do you prefer the studio? We've always been a duo since the beginning of our project and we've just travelled to the USA where we did our very first live presentation in Huntsville, Alabama.

It was an acoustic presentation. But, right now we're starting to rehearse with 2 other band members so we can start playing live shows! We're very excited about it! But, we also love the studio, the writing and recording process!

You have a large fan base. Are your fans mainly based in Brazil, or are they international?

We have a lot messages coming from the UK and the USA! That's where we think our biggest fan base is located! We hope to be there soon with our band!

As a writer, I sometimes wonder where my ideas come from. One moment, it’s a blank page, within minutes it can become an outline for a novel. Is the process the same for musicians? What - 22 -

What do you enjoy away from music? We love cooking together. We're vegans so cooking is a very important part of our routine! We also love to watch movies and visit new places.

highlight all the organizations that are trying to help people with depression and mental illnesses. All the organizations helping to prevent suicide. And also all the organizations fighting for the animal rights!

What are your plans for the immediate future? Right now we're rehearsing so we can put our music on the road! Hopefully make a world tour! We also have very good news about a tribute coming up!

And, finally, what books do you like to read? Well, we love to read about music and music production.

There was a book I (Celo) read called "Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite" that I really enjoyed reading, And I (Gabby) like to read fantasy books like Harry Potter or Stephen King novels. I also like to read about history and politics from different countries.

We always ask our interviewees if they would like to highlight a charity or good cause. Would you like to mention a charity or good cause? We'd like to

Anne Summer

by Hannah Howe

Below is a photograph of Anne Summer taken from her autobiography, ‘But I Couldn’t Do That!’ Anne was a private detective in the 1960s and she is one of the reallife inspirations behind my fictional detective, Sam Smith.

past experience, Anne was invited into the estranged wife’s home.

Anne’s market research questions quickly revealed that the woman was washing and cooking for a man and so the fact of her living with a new partner was established.

A convent-educated girl (an education she loathed) Anne married a London lawyer, only to separate in 1964. She was twentyseven at the time and the pressures of the separation, along with her husband gaining custody of her son, led to serious physical and emotional health problems for Anne. She sought professional help and embarked upon the road to recovery.

In an attempt to aid Anne’s recovery, her solicitor asked her for a favour – a client wanted to know if his estranged wife was living with another man and, unable to find anyone else to carry out the investigation, the solicitor suggested that Anne should take the case. Desperate to find a meaning and a purpose in life, Anne decided to ‘have a go’.

Anne borrowed a car from the solicitor, studied a photograph of the estranged wife and with the help of the A – Z she found her address. Posing as a market researcher, a job she was familiar with from

Anne’s solicitor was impressed with her work and he introduced her to an ex-army officer who was running a detective agency in London.

After working for him, and another well-established agency, Anne felt confident enough to start her own business, which became a great success. Soon she was employing agents of her own – including housewives, out-of-work actresses and journalists – and tackling a variety of cases, at home and on the Continent, usually centred on Cupid and his carelessly slung arrows.

As Anne states in her autobiography, she started out with her heart in her mouth, terrified of spiders, the dark, large dogs, heights and rapacious males.

However, she challenged those fears and overcame them. Her cases were always different, ‘sometimes funny, sometimes sad’, but with one thing in common, ‘always the greatest difficulty was at the end – helping the client towards accepting the truth’.

You can discover more about Hannah on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/hannah-howe/ - 23 -

Little Zoi Coloring Page Provided by Ronesa Aveela

www.ronesaaveela.com You can download this coloring page to print out on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/magazines/activities/ - 24 -

OH, the good ‘ol days…

by Melanie Smith

2| The Rubik’s Cube.

When I was growing up, if someone said retro… It conjured images of the 50’s or the 60’s. Car hops with girls in short skirts or tight shorts wearing skates as they balance a tray full of take-out in one hand and a notepad in the other. Or, classic cars, glass mugs full of root beer, drive-in theaters — and of course, the Beatles and Elvis.

It’s a little disconcerting to realize now days when you say retro — you could be talking about me. Okay, so I’m going to admit I’m an 80’s girl. I belong to the proud generation of big hair bands, leg warmers, shoulder pads, and bold colors. Aliens and the infamous DeLorean dominated the box office and teenagers were “Living on a Prayer”. Life was good — seriously, we had ghetto blaster’s (boomboxes) powered by batteries.

Teenagers everywhere were “Dancing in the Streets”.

We too pretended to listen while we looked down at our hands in the 80’s the same as kids do now. The difference, we weren’t staring at our phones or liking the newest post on social media. We were consumed with the impossible task of solving the Rubik’s Cube. There was a method to the madness, a code to be deciphered, a challenge to be conquered. Did you discover the secret?

3| People were actually unreachable —

sometimes for hours. No cellphones, no email, no texts. People actually had to pick up the phone— this was an immobile object attached to the wall that rang and rang and rang until you answered it, or the caller gave up. Everyone in the house would hear it and think ‘I wonder who that is’ because — nope, the phone didn’t have caller ID. No screening, unless you screened everyone.

This strange concoction had a cord, which means you had limited mobility. If you weren’t careful, you’d get tangled, but I don’t think anyone actually died from the experience.

We all get Nostalgic Now, I’m not turning into my parents or anything. No, this will not become a lecture on how life was so much harder when I was growing up. It didn’t snow more frequently, the snow wasn’t always deeper and more difficult to maneuver, and I didn’t have to walk to school uphill both ways.

4| Life seemed simpler.

On the contrary, most of us who grew up in the 80’s still thinks the 80’s ruled. Why? Let me give you a brief snapshot.

1| Mixed Tapes.

We painstakingly recorded hours and hours of our favorite music off the radio. That’s right, creating the perfect collection took skill and dedication. But there was no iTunes or Spotify back then. If you wanted to hear your favorite songs, you listened to a crappy recording you created yourself or you waited for it to come on the radio. It may have sucked, but it was mine.

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This may have been true, or it might have been an illusion. It’s hard to tell. Without the internet and social media, the only person insulting strangers was Mr. T — pity the fool.

But, no fool was pitied that didn’t deserve it. Trolls were fictitious creatures that lived in caves — not people lurking in the shadows ready to pounce on your every word.

Kids roamed free. They could actually leave the house, wander around unsupervised for hours, and do whatever they wanted to. They just

had to be home by dark. In spite of this lack of supervision, they almost always survived. We even drank straight from the hose — sometimes our own; sometimes from the house down the street if we got thirsty during these unsupervised adventures.

Gun, Sixteen Candles, Terminator, Aliens, The Breakfast Club, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, Stand by Me, Die Hard and ET (phone home).

I’m sure there are many, many more but you get the idea.

7| Music. Which brings me to my favorite aspect

5| No instant gratification and there was

this thing called punctuality. You couldn’t have whatever you wanted whenever you wanted it.

Televisions shows came on once a week at the same bat time, same bat channel, same bat place.

If you wanted to watch a movie, you went to the theater or you drove to your local video store and rented whatever was in stock. If the movie was already rented, tough luck... you had to pick something else. When you took a picture, you had to wait for it to be developed before you could see it — sometimes for days. And, there was this weird thing called being on time. If you wanted to meet your buddies at the local arcade, there was this really bizarre concept where you all arrived at the designated time. Otherwise, they’d ditch you — assuming something came up. I know, it’s mind-boggling behavior.

6| Movies.

Every adolescent wanted to be Ferris Bueller for just one day. In the 80s, a teenager’s idea of breaking the rules was skipping school to sneak into a baseball game or taking your parent’s car for a joyride. Okay, there were more serious offenses, but you didn’t talk about them. The worst people you could imagine were fictional.

Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th), Poltergeist, Children of the Corn (never visit Nebraska), Chucky (I knew there was a reason I never liked dolls), strangers you pick up on the side of the road (The Hitcher), Cute furry pets that turned into Gremlins when they got wet, and Freddy Krueger. Other 80s movies that still rock are Top

of the 80s — the music. The 80’s had music and it had variety. From power ballads by Whitney Houston, Fleetwood Mac, and Journey to sleek, upbeat and raw emotional tracks or head bopping rock and roll, the 80s had it all. Just like Joan Jett, we loved Rock’n Roll. There was something for everyone… we know, because we saw it on MTV. The 80s was a time when artists dared to be different. It becomes obvious when you start to list the various artists —David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Def Leppard, Poison, Guns N’ Roses, Violent Femmes, the Clash, Talking Heads, a-ha and Bonnie Tyler — the list could go on forever and it does. It also lives on because somehow it represents a better time with real, honest human emotions.

There’s a lot to be nostalgic for and it’s fun to think about the good old days when tv was free, being a groupie was cool, and everyone had their own fashion style (even if it was totally hideous). I guess you could say the 80s were simpler and a bit silly, but sometimes silly can look pretty good. On the other hand, there are some pretty awesome things about the world we live in today. We have amazing access to information and technology, we can communicate with people all around the world and, for the most part, if you can dream it, you can do it. So, whether your lost in memories of yesteryear or focusing on the here and now, always remember there’s something amazing about every generation. All you have to do is take the time to find it.

Melanie P. Smith was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has always had an adventurous spirit and has been sky-diving and rappelling. She owns an ATV, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and is an amateur photographer. For years Melanie has used her creative writing skills for office related tasks such as awards programs and web content. Then one day, she decided it was time to start writing for fun again. Her stories are exciting, action packed, and gripping.

Her characters are classy, memorable and strong-willed. If you are looking for a story that you can’t put down, one that will keep you guessing as you embark on a rollercoaster journey of discovery, then you are definitely in the right place.

You can discover more about Melanie on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/melanie-p-smith/ - 26 -

Flaming June

by Poppy Flynn

June has a lot going on. It’s not just that the days are long, and the weather has finally warmed up. Well, for some of us anyway!

The sixth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, June contains the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, so depending on which hemisphere you are living in, June can boast both the longest and the shortest day as well as the first day of Summer or Winter since in the Northern Hemisphere, meteorological summer begins on 1st June and in the Southern Hemisphere, meteorological winter begins on 1st June.

Then there are the various meteor showers take place in June. The Arietids reaches its peak on June 7. The Beta Taurids can be seen from around June 5th and continue into July and the June Bootids take place roughly between 26 June and 2 July each year.

And I’m sure most of us are familiar with the fact that the third Sunday in June is celebrated as Father’s Day since that date is recognised in over 70 countries throughout the world.

Of course, In addition to all of that, June has historically also been the most popular month for weddings.

The AngloSaxons, who spoke ‘Old English’, the precursor to our modern-day language, called June and July by the collective name Liða (pronounced lee–thuh) The word itself is believed to have meant calm or mild. June on its own, was sometimes also referred to as Ærra-Liða, roughly meaning the first Liða, with July being Æftera-Liða, or the second Liða.

So, how did we go from Liða to June?

And where did June come from?

Well June initially comes from the Latin Iunius, meaning ‘of Juno’ (Iuno). The J sound for the I in Latin’s Iuno emerges in French, and its spelling with the letter J doesn’t settle in English until the late 1600s.

Of course, in ancient Rome, Iunius was the fourth month of the year in what was then a ten-month calendar.

While Iunius was sometimes used alongside ÆrraLiða in Old English and Middle English, June takes over, along with the other ancient Roman names for the months of the year, with the spread of Christianity in England in the Middle Ages.

The Roman poet Ovid provides two possibilities for the name June in his poem about the months of the year entitled the Fasti. The first is that the month is named after the Roman goddess Juno, an important and powerful ancient Italian deity who became the protector of Rome, wife of Jupiter, and goddess of marriage, childbirth, and fertility. Whilst the second is that the name comes from the Latin word iuniores, meaning ‘younger ones.’

Another source claims June is named after Lucius Junius Brutus, founder of the roman Republic and ancestor of the Roman gens Junia.

When did June become a name?

As a Christian name June skyrocketed in popularity in the early twentieth century peaking in 1925, as the 39th most popular name for a baby girl, although the name has also occasionally been used for boys. While the name fell out of popularity through the rest of the century, it has recently come back into fashion breaking into the top 300 most popular girls’ names in 2015. Of course, it remains a popular choice for babies born in the month of June.

Famous Junes • June Carter Cash: American country-western singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedian, and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash.

• June Lockhart: American actress and star of "Lassie" • June Allyson: American stage, film, and television

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actress, dancer and singer from the 1940's • June Callwood: Canadian journalist, author and social activist • June Millicent Jordan: Caribbean-American poet and activist.

• June Whitfield: English actress, well known in the United Kingdom since the 1950s for her work in radio and television comedy series and star of the British TV series, ‘Terry and June’ • June Catherine Getty: daughter of American actor and musician Balthazar Getty • June Sheldon Jones III: American football coach and former NFL player.

June in song, story & screen • Flaming June, the title of an 1895 painting by Frederic Leighton

Associated with June • June is one of only two months that has there birthstones associated with it, so those born in June have a choice between pearl, alexandrite and moonstone.

• The birth month flowers associated with June are Rose and Honeysuckle signifying romance and happiness.

• The zodiac signs for the month of June are Gemini (until June 20) and Cancer (from June 21 onwards) • June Cleaver, mother of The Beaver on 1950s TV series "Leave It To Beaver" • June, a rock band from Chicago • June, a Korean R&B singer performing in Japan • June, a character from the animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender • June Havens, a character from the 2010 movie "Knight and Day", portrayed by Cameron Diaz • June - song by Florence and the Machine • June, a character from the children's cartoon Little Einsteins Poppy Flynn was born in Buckinghamshire, UK and moved to Wales at eight years old with parents who wanted to live the 'self-sufficiency' lifestyle.

Today she still lives in rural Wales and is married with six children.

Poppy's love of reading and writing stemmed from her parents’ encouragement and the fact that they didn't have a television in the house. " When you're surrounded by fields, cows and sheep, no neighbours, no TV and the closest tiny village is four miles away, there's a certain limit to your options, but with books your adventures and your horizons are endless." ~ Poppy You can discover more about Poppy on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/poppy-flynn/ - 28 -

Healthy and Delicious Barbeque Ideas

by Christine Ardigo

When most people think of BBQ’s, the first thought that comes to mind is fatty meats, greasy appetizers, sugary desserts and calorie-loaded drinks. How are you supposed to stick to your diet when you’re hosting one? Or attending one? But there are many delicious, healthy alternatives that will leave you and your guests full, yet feeling satisfied. For your next BBQ cook up some of these delicious meals, or bring some to your next BBQ. Inspire others to cook & eat healthy, too.

I always tell people to pick their poison. If you can only eat your Aunt Bertha’s delicious potato salad once a year at the family BBQ, eat it. But, don’t choose things that you can get all the time, like chips, store bought macaroni salad, the typical hot dog, etc. Also, eat a little before you go. I hate arriving at someone’s home starving, and there’s no food to be found for the first hour except a bowl of cheese doodles. Right? Eat a small, healthy snack before you go and then choose your menu items carefully.

Instead of the usual burgers, hot dogs, sausages, and the classic potato and macaroni salads, why not come up with some new ideas? Grill chicken breasts or thighs. You can try turkey fillets, and all kinds of fish like salmon, swordfish, and shrimp. Start a new trend. Buy a few bison or turkey burgers or turkey tenderloins. Cook them up and then cut into pieces and serve with toothpicks for your guests to sample— they might have it at their next BBQ.

Meat:

Chicken, steak, salmon, swordfish, shrimp, even Tofu!

Veggies:

Cherry tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, onions, button mushrooms.

Fruit:

Pineapple, peaches, nectarines, apples.

Kabobs are easy and you can be as creative as you like. Anything goes. Look in your fridge and see what you have lying around: - 29 -

Speaking of Veggies...

Need an idea for a side dish to make or bring to a BBQ?

You can throw them directly on the grill. Just spray the grill with extra virgin olive oil cooking spray.

- Ever try roasted Cauliflower or grilled asparagus?

- Roast corn on the cob, whole Portobello mushrooms, and even eggplant.

- Cut a Vidalia onion in half and cook face down.

- Slice sweet potatoes in half and do the same.

Make fresh spinach salads, bean salads, or a Quinoa salad. Quinoa looks like couscous, but is high in protein and fiber. Simply cook as you would for rice.

Add a can of rinsed black beans, cherry tomatoes and chopped scallions. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil, lime juice and cilantro and voila!

There are SO many healthy salads on the internet. Google: Quinoa, Farro, or Barley salads to start.

Speaking of Fruits...

Want a great, delicious, nutritious, lowcal dessert?

- Grill fruit kabobs on the grill.

- You can even grill whole pineapple slices or bananas in their skins on the BBQ.

- Make a mixed rainbow-colored fruit salad for dessert with: strawberries, mandarin oranges, mangoes, green grapes and blueberries.

- Make angel food cake with fresh berries and whipped cream.

- Add an array of fruit to a green salad.

The trick is a lot of food, not a lot of calories!

Remember, the real reason you’re there is to enjoy the company and catch up with family and friends.

Not to stuff yourself with thousands of unhealthy calories. Then I’ll have to hear it the next day with: “What do you think about this new Detox Cleanse I heard about.” Ugh. If you ate healthy people, you wouldn’t need to cleanse!

So, what do you think? What will you try at your next BBQ? What was your favorite idea on here? Any others to add?

I love hearing from you!

Christine Ardigo is a Registered Dietitian/Personal Trainer who writes contemporary romance novels in her spare time. When weight lifting, rock climbing, white-water rafting, and jumping out of airplanes wasn’t enough, she decided to fulfill a dream she had as a child: to write a book.

She’s lived in New York her entire life and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She has the beaches, the bay and the city, all a half hour away. She’s built memories here with her husband, two silly daughters and a bunch of crazy friends, all whom she loves very much.

You can discover more about Christine on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/christine-ardigo/ - 30 -

Ireland’s Beauty Lives in My Heart

by Kate McGinn

My story begins much like many tales from IrishAmericans longing to visit the Emerald Isle. It usually begins with an ancestor or two or several who’d crossed the Atlantic Ocean to make a new life in the United States. Then of course, we add the multitude of stories handed down through the generations about the sacred turf immortalized in books and motion pictures over the years.

In the 1990’s, a military hop — we were flying from Italy to the US — had issues with its navigational equipment. We landed at Shannon Airport in Western Ireland, and although I couldn’t venture from the airport hotel that we were staying at while the plane was fixed, I’d finally done something my parents and my siblings hadn’t done. I’d set my feet on Irish soil.

Speak of Ireland and you will no doubt envision John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in the movie, The Quiet Man, or perhaps Margaret Mitchell’s character of Gerald O’Hara in the book, Gone With the Wind, who spoke so lovingly about Ireland to his family.

My family didn’t speak about Ireland very often. My grandparents immigrated to the US around 1920.

They were from County Monaghan in Ireland but I don’t know if they knew each other before they came to New York City. My grandparents returned to Ireland decades after they left it. My father said that his mother spoke of the lakes and mountains near her home, but I only learned about these stories after I was an adult.

Two of my aunts would return to the Emerald Isle many times over the years. I’d hear vague references made about the “cousins”. One aunt would purchase Waterford crystal whenever she traveled to Ireland.

Her collection was stunning. She had a large lighted china hutch filled with the Irish crystal. At my wedding, I received a Waterford vase from her that I cherish to this day.

My husband and I talked about returning again while we were stationed overseas, but finances and life got in the way. It wasn’t until 2016 when a friend mentioned they would be going to Ireland that I got excited. We made plans to join their party; and after a year of planning, we were on our way in September of 2017.

We had found an Irish tour company that worked with small groups. Our party of eight had our own Mercedes Sprinter with a driver/tour guide. Our guide, Tony, was wonderful to all of us. He was very knowledgeable about Ireland and entertained us with his stories and his songs. He was my personal savior when he worked tirelessly on my behalf with the airlines to obtain my lost luggage. I received it on my third day in Ireland. I give thanks to him and to my friends, who loaned me clothing so I didn’t have to wear the same clothing for three days.

Our surroundings were so enchanting that I didn’t ruminate over my missing luggage. Over two weeks time, we were treated to only a sampling of everything that Ireland offers. Each day was another adventure into history and natural splendor, and in this article I will highlight a few of my favorite places.

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Near the Cliffs of Moher is another natural wonder — The Burren. Located in County Clare, this isolated area of glaciated Karst or limestone landscape looks otherworldly. I had never seen anything like it before.

We visited Poulnabrone dolmen, a portal tomb dating to the Neolithic period between 4200 BC to 2900 BC. It is the oldest, dated megalithic monument in Ireland.

It is also one of the few archaeologically investigated tombs in Ireland. The excavation uncovered the remains of twenty-two people — sixteen adults and six children. Archaeologists learned a great deal from the excavation about the lives of these early people.

The first place we visited was the Rock of Cashel, located in County Tipperary. The legend about this place — remember, this is Ireland and every place has a story — is that Ireland was well known to be a gateway to Hell. Satan had made his home in the mountains of Tipperary where a series of caves and tunnels provided access to Hell. St Patrick ventured into Ireland on a mission to rid Ireland of Satan and his minions. The devil battled against St. Patrick but decided to leave the island. Angry about being forced out, Satan took a bite out of the mountain, broke a tooth and spat it out. The bit of mountain landed across the county on a plain near the town of Cashel.

From the Rock of Cashel, visitors can look across the valley and see the mountain called Devil’s Bit. The Rock of Cashel was one of my favorite spots because of its history and being able to walk where St Patrick and Irish kings once walked.

Bring a good pair of walking/hiking boots or shoes to Ireland when you go. Part of the traveler’s journey should include walking through the scenic countryside. Our group decided to explore the Dingle Peninsula with a hike up Mt. Eagle. I’m an avid walker and our little hike through sheep pastures and across rocky stream beds and through ankle deep mud was challenging. The views were worth the blister I earned. We had a little rain on our hike but visitors should bring rain gear with them when traveling. Rain is a common occurrence in Ireland.

After our hike, we headed to the Cliffs of Moher located in County Clare along the wild Atlantic Way — the most well-known of Ireland’s natural attractions. We were blessed with a sunny day and the views were amazing. I can see why It is the number one attraction in Ireland, and it is usually very crowded. Remember to exercise caution and stay behind the barriers along the cliffs to avoid being seriously injured or killed due to the instability of the cliff’s edge.

Corcomroe Abbey was built in the 12th century in a fertile valley in the middle of the Burren. The remains of the church, its cemetery, and a few stone walls are all that remain of what was once a self-sufficient religious community until it disbanded in the 15th century.

Very few tourists were visiting the site when we arrived. A wedding was taking place in the church, and we waited quietly as we canvassed the grounds surrounding the ruined structure. Some of the most beautiful examples of Celtic crosses were present around the church. As we looked over the surrounding hillsides covered in the rocky limestone which typifies the landscape of the Burren, I wondered what life had been like for the people who lived in this unforgiving area.

I was amazed at the vegetation which survived amongst the stones. Beautiful wildflowers appeared wherever there were gaps in the stone. Walking through the area can be treacherous if you don’t watch your footing. It would be too easy to misstep and end up with an injury.

We were fortunate enough to stay in some lovely B&B’s as well as a couple of castles. Lough Eske Castle in County Donegal was beautiful with its expansive grounds, whimsical bronze sculptures

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including a dragon and in another area children at play. Many castles lie in ruin due to an Irish law that allowed the owners to remove the roofs and be waived from paying taxes on them.

Lough Eske was one of these properties with trees growing inside and the interiors damaged by water over the years. The castle has been fully restored, and it is gorgeous. Tasteful additions have been added with many modern day conveniences. The food and service are first class.

Our group frequented local pubs on our trip enjoying the local food and beer as well as lively entertainment of traditional Irish music. We visited museums, woolen mills, saw lead crystal being cut by a glass artisan, and saw the process of creating Belleek pottery. I became a certified Jameson whiskey taster and learned how to properly pour a pint of Guinness.

The best part of the trip for me was meeting some of my Irish cousins. They are part of the McGinn branch of my family tree, and I wish my father had had the opportunity to meet them. I visited the farms where my grandparents were born and raised to adulthood.

When I think of Ireland, I am reminded of a John Keats quote, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.” Ireland is beauty, it is joy, and it lived in my heart long before I ever reached its shores.

Kate McGinn loves a good story. An avid reader, she enjoyed writing short stories and would begin writing a few chapters of a longer work only to set it aside. Two years ago, she decided to begin her first novel, “Exodus”, a romantic suspense story and the first book in the Clare Thibodeaux series.

Book Two, “Winter’s Icy Caress” was published in June 2017. Her third book in the series was published in November 2018. Her current works in progress include a humorous tale about a young woman, Natalie, who is one of the main characters in some of her short stories (Natalie is the main character in “Mucking Around” which can be found in the short story anthology, Bite-Sized Stories V. 2 and also in the recently published “One Million Project: Fiction Anthology” for charity.)

Kate pulls from her own life experiences when writing. She has worked over the years as a registered nurse, an Army Reserve officer, and ran a Bed & Breakfast Inn. Born in New York City, Kate grew up in the Midwest and lived along the Gulf Coast and in Italy for many years before moving to Wisconsin. In her free time, she enjoys reading, golf, hiking, camping, travel and hanging out with a crazy yellow Lab. She and her husband have two adult sons, a lovely daughter-in-law, and live near the Mississippi River in a c. 1855 Greek Revival home.

You can discover more about Kate on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/kate-mcginn/ - 33 -

Connections eMagazine The Connections eMagazine Reader’s Choice Award is open to all independently published authors and their work.

This is an annual award.

The winners will be featured in the August issues of the magazine.

Reader’s Choice Contest Winners The Finalists have been selected

Romance Horror | Thriller | Mystery Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Paranormal | Supernatural Young Adult Other Fiction Non-Fiction Children’s (Picture or Chapter)

Public Voting begins June 15th https://melaniepsmith.com/readers-choice/

Connections eMagazine is a FREE quarterly publication founded by authors Melanie P. Smith and Rhoda D’Ettore. It is currently produced entirely by Editor, Melanie P. Smith. The magazine was created as a way for authors to connect with readers, reviewers and bloggers. Over the years, the magazine has evolved, and it now features promos and sales, freebies, blog articles, and short stories in every issue.

Discover more about Connections eMagazine on their website here: https://melaniepsmith.com/emagazine-landing/ - 34 -

The Real Captain Jack

by T.E Hodden

It’s the year 1622, and we are stood in a palace in Tunis, an opulent home draped in the trappings of extreme wealth, and just over there, in that bedroom, a legend is about to die. I wouldn’t get too close, mind you. We aren’t sure of the exact circumstances of the swarthy, balding, Englishman’s death, but the smart money is on plague.

He may not look like much from here, he’s shorter, and sturdier than you probably imagined, but this is a very rare sight indeed. A pirate who has lived long enough to retire and enjoy his riches. Depending who you ask, the man about to breathe his last, is John Ward, Jack Ward, Yusuf Rais, or Captain Jack Birdie, and for the last ten years he has been England’s most hated pirate.

I do admit that his mid to late thirties seems a little late to start a life story, but there is a lot we really don’t know about Jack. We think he was born in or around fifteen fifty three, and probably somewhere about this town. Probably not in the wealthy bit of town. I’m going to guess that the last thirty years have involved an awful lot of fishing.

Plays, books, pamphlets and ballads have proven incredibly popular, all claiming to tell the true tale of the blood thirsty traitor.

If we are going to explore his tale ourselves though, we must pop back in time, and we must begin somewhere a little less exotic.

Something far more exciting is about to happen.

Faversham is one of the towns that supports the Cinque Ports, and there are pretty good odds that Jack will be on one of the little boats that gathers to confront the Spanish Armada.

What we do know is that after the failed Spanish invasion Jack finds a new, apparently more profitable life, as a Privateer. He was a fully licensed pirate, carrying a letter of marque from the queen that permitted him to take to the shipping lanes and pillage Spanish ships.

Let’s skip forward a little.

Faversham is a little market town in Kent, sitting on a creek that feeds into the Thames Estuary, surrounded by farms, orchards, and hop fields. Back here, in the fifteen eighty eight, the creek is crowded with small fishing boats, and one of that short, hardy man in his thirties, toiling on the little boat, is Jack. He’s not a Captain yet, a long way from it, but he is about to take a very interesting journey.

It is now 1603, Jack is probably about fifty years old, and James the First has just taken to the throne. For England, the good news is that James ends the war with Spain. The bad news for Jack is, his license to plunder has just been cancelled. The bad news for shipping is, that like a lot of Privateers, Jack is reluctant to give up on his livelihood, and simply continues. In the eyes of the law he is no longer a Privateer, and is now a Pirate.

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In 1604 however, he is caught by a Press Gang, and ushered, unwillingly, into a new respectable career with the newly formed Navy, in the Channel Fleet. It is here that Jack hears rumours of a ship carrying the treasures of Catholic refugees. With a bunch of deserters, still a small boat from Portsmouth, sail to the Isle of Wight, and still the ship (that did not, it turned out, carry any treasure). With Jack elected Captain by his rag-tag band, they sail their new ship to France, steal an even bigger ship, and sailed to the Mediterranean and the Algiers, stealing more ships as they went.

Hold tight this next hop is a bumpy one!

It’s sometime around sixteen hundred and seven, or sixteen hundred and eight. We are aboard one of Jack’s ships, the Little John, and we have stumbled into the middle of a firefight. Out there, the Rubi, Gift, and Carminati are running down a ship called the Reniera E Sodernia. You will want to mind yourself, as this firefight, this hell of smoke, noise, is going to get worse as we close in on the much larger, heavily laden target. There’s about to be an attempt to board the bigger ship, and they are not going to give up without a fight.

Now, look over there, at the men loading that cannon.

A word of warning, if you like pirates sexy, or intend to read a bodice ripping sizzling romance later, you will probably want to hold your nose, and not look too close. History is a lot less alluring without the Hollywood gloss. But… there! They are loading chain into that cannon.

Chain shot is nasty stuff. You don’t want to be on deck when that goes off. It will literally (and I do mean that word) rip you apart. A shot of chain from

the Rubi is going to do such horrifying damage to the sailors we are raiding that the captain of the Reniera will have to stand down, or face mutiny from his crew.

The cargo we haul will be estimated by the British Crown to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Pirates claim it is worth millions.

What we are seeing, in this bloody and brutal battle, is very different from how we imagine pirates. This is no rabble on a single ship stealing scraps like vultures. This is a fleet of organised ships, ruthlessly efficient, hunting as packs.

Jack’s fleet is going to keep growing. He will amass what can only be described as a Navy. They are a force to be reckoned with, by anybody’s count.

In the eyes of the playwrights and ballads, the turning point of his soul is far more personal. The Ottomon navy offer Jack and his entire crew protection, if they accept the faith of Islam. Jack tentatively accepts the offer, but also reaches out to the King of England, offering to retire gracefully in return for a pardon (and in some stories a hefty pension). Jack’s kind offer is refused, and so he accepts the protection of Tunis, and the Islamic faith.

There are some small details to remind us even a figure soaked in blood is still human. He continued to send a portion of his wealth to his wife in England, even as he took a new, Italian wife, and settled down.

Around the time the plays like “A Christian Turn’d Turk” were being written, Ward was in his sixties, and had retired from Piracy, to teach young Corsairs navigation and gunnery.

At the age of seventy, or there abouts, he will be laying on the bed where we first encountered him.

T.E. Hodden trained in engineering, and works in a specialised role in the transport industry. He is a life long fan of comic books, science fiction, myths, legends, and history. In the past he has contributed to podcasts, blogs, and anthologies.

You can discover more about T.E. on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/t-e-hodden/

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Meditation: Why Do It?

by Jill Hughes

Meditation, in its most basic form has been around for eons, in fact. Man, has always, even during his most instinctual struggle for survival, found the time to sit, to question and to ponder on his innermost thoughts and at its core that is exactly what meditation entails – to focus inward.

Some of the earliest recorded meditation practices come from the Hindu traditions of Vedantism and date to around 1500BCE. Meditation, in all its various forms and practices has become an integral part of many philosophies, religions and ways-oflife, over the millennia. One could argue that the purpose of meditation, as defined by many of these early practitioners, is the concept of “following the path to enlightenment” and “self-realization”. This is certainly the case in the Hindu and Buddhist practices. Even Christianity, in the Psalms, instructs us to; “be still and know that I am God.” Being still and focusing inwards is and continues to be a vital ingredient of a happy and heart-filled life.

regretting their past actions or worrying about the future circumstances. We need to be aware of what is happening around us, now, today and meditation is a wonderful key to unlock that awakening in our minds.

2| Our minds are always working at 100 miles

an hour: Our minds are like a never-ending chatterbox, filled with thoughts and mindless noise. This endless chatter ultimately brings us boredom, frustration, and dissatisfaction.

Meditation allows us to take control of our minds, to focus inwardly and to experience the wonderful peace and serenity of the silence and stillness within.

3| When the mind is under control – amazing

In today’s frantic-paced world, however, meditation has often been seen and used much more as a way of cutting ourselves off from the hectic daily happenings and simply allowing ourselves to find peace and contentment. Some of today’s practitioners, it seems, are more interested in meditation to help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, whilst simultaneously boosting peace, well-being, perception, self-worth and general relaxation. Today, I want to focus particularly on meditation from the perspective of “New Thought” teaching, where it does play a vital role in establishing a degree of control over our thoughts, emotions, and ultimately, our actions.

things begin to happen: If we can train our mind, through meditation, to be conscious of just one thing, for example our breathing, incredible things begin to happen – the mind becomes malleable, we begin to control our thoughts and the mindless chatter grinds to a halt- [albeit not necessarily for long periods but equally that’s fine.] A new, powerful, and mindful awareness will become part of our day-to-day activities.

A peaceful mind is one of the key elements to achieving the happy and heart-felt life I spoke of earlier.

4| When we have control of our mind, we can

then control our emotions and feelings: this is an enormous benefit. Most people have no control over their emotions and feelings – they react to circumstances only. By controlling your emotions and feelings, you can CREATE your own circumstances. Remember, always, that YOU are NOT your mind and YOU are NOT your thoughts. Your mind, your thoughts, and your emotions are merely tools for you to use to create your own reality – not the other way around.

Within the New Thought philosophy the concept of meditation is extremely important.

Five Excellent Reasons to Meditate: 1| Meditation assists us to live in the present:

Many people flitter through their days in an almost catatonic state, unaware of much that is happening around them. They miss all the amazing beauty that surrounds them as they wander along, their noses buried in their electronic devices or inside their own minds,

5| Science has proven that meditation impacts our consciousness in a measurable way:

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Consciousness Research is still in its infancy and will doubtless provide us with illuminating discoveries in the future but already the study of theta and delta brainwaves has shown the incredible impact meditation can have on our creativity, our memory and even our dreams. The future is exciting.

place where you won’t be disturbed (especially if you have a partner beside you). It is important that the temperature is comfortable for you – too hot, or too cold, will potentially distract you.

4| There are as many meditation techniques as

there are practitioners, so just do whatever feels comfortable for you. For a beginner, I’d suggest focusing on your breathing. Listen to it going in and out of your lungs, feel the oxygen, from your breath, flowing through your bloodstream, from your brain to the very tips of your toes, and then returning to be re-oxygenated, again, in your lungs. Just spend ten minutes focusing on your breathing. There are also many apps. available that can help you to meditate, or conversely you may want to try repeating a mantra. Remember, there is no right or wrong way, it is whatever works best for you, so do experiment.

How Do I Start With Meditation?

There are many misconceptions about meditation. No, you don’t need to get yourself into your yoga pants, bend yourself into the “lotus” position and chant “Ohm… Ohm…Ohm…” endlessly. Once you make the leap into meditation, I have no doubt you will want to know more and want to experience more – and that’s great, but initially you can begin to meditate incredibly simply and even with the confines of your own bed if that’s what you want. Here’s what I would suggest to get started down this amazing and fulfilling road.

1| Set your alarm clock, so that you wake up 10, 20,

5| There’s a reason it is called “practicing”

meditation. It can feel uncomfortable or difficult initially, perhaps even unsuccessful, but DON’T give up, keep trying until you find what works for you. Consistency is the key – before long, missing a meditation session will seem like your day is not right, that something is missing.

30 minutes earlier than normal (the time depends on you – you will probably extend it once you start to realize the immense benefits).

2| When you first wake up in the morning, don’t

crawl groggily out of bed, check your phone and then stumble to the kitchen to prepare your first coffee of the day.

There are oodles of information on meditation on the web but if you want some good, solid, information on the process, you can find it here on my own website, resources page: https://www.moneymagnet.global/ resources/ So, there we have it, a brief overview of meditation and its benefits. I do hope you’ll give it a try

LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE – TOGETHER!

3| Instead, sit up in bed, or find a comfortable, quiet

J.J. Hughes is an English visionary fiction writer whose “whodunit” mystery novel, “Spirit of Prophecy” is a number one, Amazon Best-Seller and has already garnered several awards including first place in the Audiobook section of the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards. Born in Cottingley, West Yorkshire, Jill was a successful Investment Banker in London before turning her back on that and training as a Life Coach and Passion Test Facilitator.

In addition to her novel, Jill has also co-authored a No.1 Best-Selling Spiritual, Self-Help book; “Inspired by the Passion Test”. A lifetime lover of horses and all animals, Jill is a committed vegan who believes vehemently in following your passions and doing what you truly love, in life.

You can discover more about Jill on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/j-j-hughes/ - 38 -

Offshore Life

by DM Wolfenden

I work as a radio operator offshore and have been asked many times what’s it like to work on a drilling rig. Firstly, the helicopter survival course is scary, well one bit of it is: You’re strapped in to a seat by a four-point harness in a helicopter simulator, and then the contraption is dunked in to an environmental pool -meaning it’s cold to mimic sea conditionsand then turned upside down in the water. Almost immediately the water starts flooding the cabin and once the simulator stops turning, you hold your breath for seven second then undo your harness and drag yourself through a window and swim to the surface. There are divers on hand in case anyone starts to panic.

After that comes the helicopter flights offshore, for me they aren’t frightening and like most people I fall asleep for probably eighty percent of the journey.

Journey times vary depending on where the rig is, but most of the time mine have been around one hour.

Working on the rig: You have a busy day, most of the time, especially if you have boats and helicopters to deal with. But most of my work is sitting behind a PC doing admin stuff. Booking people on to helicopters, answering emails and phones. Compiling the POB (persons onboard list), and the lifeboat list. This is the most important bit of paperwork we do, making sure everyone is accounted for and where they are sleeping in case of an emergency.

Nearly all drilling rigs do a three week on and three week off rotation. Everyone works a minimum of twelve hours for the twenty-one days they are onboard.

The approximate twelve hours you have free – more like eleven, a lot less depending on rig operations can be extremely boring, I tend to read a lot so that keeps me occupied because you just can’t go home after your shift like a normal working day, you live there twenty four seven. If you just sit in your bland cabin that’s no bigger than a typical box room at home, with its cream / off-white walls and beige floor, metal bunks that match the walls, it can be boring.

The only bit of colour is the bed linen, usually a dark blue and made from a nylon material that causes friction burns if you turn over too quickly in the night.

It’s good to try and socialise at least a few days a week, there isn’t much in the way of entertainment, but you can watch a film with a few work mates, maybe even a spot of table tennis; some of the guys play cards. Most of the other women on the rigs are stewards and do different shifts so you don’t get to hang out with other girlies.

Most of the time, unless on a rig move (when you are towed by boats to other locations), you have internet and sky T.V. You’re limited to the amount of internet usage, but most people get by, and the Telly is okay if you like sport. The men can sometimes get most of the channels tuned into football, cricket, rugby, motor racing, golf…you get the picture. There are phones provided so crews can phone home, but again you need to limit your usage to allow others to use them as well. At any one time there can be up to onehundred and twenty-one people, some rigs more; and from countries all around the world.

What people fail to realise is everything is metal, and sound loves to travel through metal. People can be selfish, others just forget that other people may be sleeping – there’s always someone sleeping because of the different shifts people work– they laugh and joke whilst in the corridors, or they have their T.V on full blast. Cabin doors slam all day and night, it can be very annoying: Stewards in and out of cabins, services hands who are waiting for their specialised job to start or crew members going home. They can all forget about other people on the rig. Then there

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are the work-related noises, people hammering and drilling or anchors getting run out. At the end of your three weeks, you are exhausted.

Being a female offshore can have its draw backs.

There is the odd fossil-someone who still thinks that women belong in the kitchen - who doesn’t think women should work in the mainly male environment.

Or you get those who try to embarrass you at every opportunity, but that’s getting less and less as more females are starting to work in the industry.

When I’m on the day shift, my day consists of getting up at around 04:00. After showering and breakfast (there is also the odd day where I get a half hour walk in at the gym. (Just a walk, I’m not very energetic).

I then go up to the radio room for 05:30 to do a handover with the nightshift (or dayshift if I am on nights). Most people when they go on to the rig go on to nights, then a week or so later change on to days – the dreaded short change- you would start your shift at six PM, finish at six AM and then be back on shift six hours later for six hours (a lot of sixes offshore).

Then you spend three to four days trying to turn your sleep pattern around and being grumpy because you’re tired.

or ERRV: Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel, is a boat that guards rigs, they stop other vessels getting too close and are a lifeline in the event of an emergency. We radio operators speak to the guys on the ERRV all the time and you get to know them.

You rely on them and think they will always be there.

They aren’t the ones in danger, they are the ones to save us if we are in trouble.

This doesn’t really feel like my story to tell, but it’s a time I will never forget; I don’t remember all the details but here’s what I do remember. In December 2012. We had severe storm warnings, most ships and boats had been sent back to shelter in safe waters, but the odd standby boat stayed. Our own ERRV was sent to shelter.

The food is okay, but if are a fussy eater it can be difficult. Also, if you are on a diet it’s a nightmare, because of all the cakes and cookies that are available twenty-four-seven. I remember one person asking if it was true that we get lobster and T-bone steaks all the time. I almost choked on my cup of tea. We do get steak, but that’s a once a week thing, and not a T-bone. Lobster, maybe at New Year if the budget allows. There is chicken in some form or other at nearly every meal

I was listening to the radios when I heard a mayday go out. A standby vessel was in trouble. As time ticked away slowly the radio room and the bridge began to fill up with people listening to what was going on as helicopters came to the rescue of the boat.

It’s hard sometimes being away from home, especially if there are problems at home, like someone is ill, or something happens. But if you need to get home pretty quick the rig management and operators always tries their best to get you off.

I think we all silently prayed that everyone would be okay. Then I heard something that sent chills through my body. A crew member from the standby vessel reported to the emergency services that there were only eleven of them. One man was missing.

You do make some good life-long friends and the humour makes it all worthwhile, especially if you have worked with the same people for many years, they become like family. And talking of family, being home for three weeks at a time means you get to spend quality time with those important to you instead of just a few hours here and there you get spare when you work a nine to five job, five days a week.

We listened to the rescue mission and the attempts of the emergency services to try and search the vessel, but the weather was just too bad.

You also have your little extended family, the boys and girls on the standby vessel. A standby vessel

The vessel came close to the rig that had been evacuated but seemed to veer off from its heading.

In the coming hours the boat was heading towards other rigs, and one rig was evacuated. The Barge Engineer and Rigs O.I.M (offshore installation manager), looked at the direction the seas would take the boat and made plans to evacuate, just in case.

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The same happened with us. It was on a collision course but before we got to the point where we needed to start the evacuation it turned course again.

It was as if the sailor killed was still doing exactly what he was there for, protecting the lives of the men and women who work offshore in the North Sea, one of the harshest environments to work in.

It was later reported that the Captain died when a large wave crashed into the vessel.

Life on the rig, as you can see, comes with more risks than your average office job, and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. It has its ups and downs but as with most work environments, it’s the people who make it worthwhile. Here’s to all the men and women who choose this way of life. Stay safe.

Dianne Wolfenden writes under DM Wolfenden. I love all things dark and am a horror addict. I grew up watching the old British hammer horror TV movies. Most of my stories have a dark side and one of my friends said they represent me pretty well; a little dark with a lot of heart.

You can discover more about Dianne on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/ moms-authors/dm-wolfenden/

Nicole Lavoie, Graphic Designer Specializing in Book Layout & Design

Nicole Lavoie is the Graphic Designer responsible for designing and developing the Mom’s Favorite Reads magazine.

Along with her dedication to Mom’s Favorite Reads she also offers graphic design services in various areas including logo design, marketing materials, website design and specializes in book layout & design for children’s books.

Whether you need help with your book, your website or could use a designer to help you finish off those creative tasks on your to do list, Nicole can help!

You can discover more about the services Nicole offers on her website at: www.JustSayingDezigns.com or by emailing her directly at nicole@justsayingdezigns.com

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Word Search

MFR - June Mini

by Mom’s Favorite Reads E R O H S F F O L A A Y A X H O V C O G I I Z S

E S O C N K U L K A T C I S U M Y B K W X F M T

B D E N H E Y Y H B I E R T M X O N T A L E K M

T G W U R J M I I Z L N G G J T Q C K J D L Y W

K T N D Q Q G B O G R V A D J P S H A Y M D O R

X N W M Y E R I A Z E H U S N U O N J W H O T U

H A E T Z S B E E N C R C U E A J Q T R H O E M

N R A Q D S O R D A K K O G K Q C Y V F B D S C

L G P N Y N I C A Y U H X Z T Q V T Q F O A C D

X I A O D W A S A B I U B L M I G Q U C G R V H

C M P S O P I L S E I T N E V E S I Z R E B X C

E M Q T T A Z O E S D D Q Z F H D H R H O A B R

U I B A F D R N A R F Z Z N T S I T R A O L C A

B W I L E S B J Q E I R H V H E I E S U F H U E

B N K G V M E D I T A T I O N E S G E D E F N S

H J G I I H A L O Z C Y M Z V L N B A C C M E E

I T Z C T L X P E W X G W Q U F J Z K P R C T R

R G Q U C L M T L T L K M X N A C M X J E F U A

K M R W E T T N U U A N Z Z I F A E G T V J F Q

L V R I T E E N A G E R B V J T S P Q O W W W K

Q P C V E V I A F Q L E I Z E A U T L D D X W W

giraffe

meditation

barbeque

nostalgic

zoi

detective

music

seventies

labradoodle

artist

checkmate

research

offshore

teenager

immigrant

fleesh

captain

pirate

ireland

june

X Y K P D X A A C X U N Y P F R A P P G W C E C

C V K A D P L H U V G U U T V Q R K A S M K C O

A J S I Y W I R B F I J O L A R A N U T R Q Y T

You can find the answers for this activity on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/magazines/activities/ - 42 -

Athens

by May J. Panayi

Athens is a very beautiful city. People may say it is dirty and run down, but I didn't find it any more so than any other city. People may call it smelly, but I most certainly did not find that to be the case. Except on the one really busy through road, that goes all the way to Piraeus port; Syngrou, there was no traffic smell. Inhaling, one smelt mostly the smells of spring, jasmine, honeysuckle and orange flower, which was a wonderful smell.

Occasionally there would be added to that, the smell of cooking Souvlaki, and everywhere, the smell of freshly baked bread and pastries. It was an olfactory joy, and that is more than can be said for most cities I have visited. Piraeus port has undergone something of a refurbishment, or so I hear. It has the docks and cruise ship port area, but then it has a lovely big, glamorous marina, edged with nice shops and restaurants. Further on, there is the smaller marina for yachts and little boats, where the waterfront restaurants are somewhat quieter. That was where we had lunch, and it was delicious. The walking round Piraeus is good, and very interesting and picturesque, lots of great photo opportunities.

The Parthenon is super busy, and brings the true meaning of the word Agoraphobia home, as coach loads of tourists swarm about everywhere. But there are moments when you can get a clear photograph, and the rest of the Acropolis was much quieter and more pleasant to wander about and take in slowly. The theatre of Dionysus was very pretty, and all the areas around it were very pleasant to walk slowly round exploring.

We even encountered a tortoise- it is so strange to see them wandering about wild, when at home we only ever see them as pets and in parks. The tourists and school parties tend to be rushed through in twenty minutes to a half hour, and only around the top part where the actual Parthenon is located. If you have time to visit under

your own steam, you can pick up a guide or just a leaflet at the entrance. A ticket to the Acropolis gets you into pretty much all the archaeological sites in Athens, so remember to keep it with you. I forgot one time, and it does save you a couple of euros on each site.

We stayed in the Acropolis Hill hotel which was right on the edge of Philopappos park, just a few steps and we were in the countryside within the city. A climb to the top to see the Philopappos monument and we seemed to be, if somewhat breathlessly, at the highest point in Athens, with panoramic views down over the city and out to the port. Breathtaking in a different way. The park was a mixture of woods and open countryside, with benches and picnic tables placed generously throughout. At a couple of points in the lower regions of the park, you could get fresh spring water which was good to drink. We explored the park pretty thoroughly, coming down to the Prison of Socrates, and the pretty little church opposite, and the site of the observatory and another Temple of Zeus and some speaking area which we think was part of the Pnyx. When we got home we realised we had not fully explored the Pnyx, but we will be sure to do that next time we are in Athens, which hopefully will not be too long. We also saw the Theatre of Dora.

Just down from our hotel was Drakou street, where we had the best Sea Bass ever, and lots of other good food; Horta, Gyros, Souvlaki, salads, Bougatsa, Baklava and of course the delicious Fix beer, since we were walking distance from the main Fix brewery.

People said 'don't go to Athens because of the

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rioting in Syntagma square.' When I got back, I found out there had actually been a demonstration while we were there, not that we'd have noticed. I did hear a few sirens on that day, but I hear many more on a normal day, at home in Brighton. There was a bit of smoke I saw in the distance from the roof garden. I did see a police van unloading a pile of riot shields, but that was all. And on the day in question I passed through Syntagma square frequently, and in fact toured the whole city on an open top bus. If they were rioting, they certainly weren't letting it interfere with the tourism!

The tour bus is well worth doing by the way. You really see all of the central part of Athens and can easily work out which bits you want to go back to and explore on foot.

A ticket lets you hop on and off the bus for two days, so makes exploring fun and easy. There are earbuds to listen to commentary in a choice of languages too.

The bus also took us out to Piraeus, though you can just as easily get there by a combination of buses and trams, or it is an easy underground journey from Monastiraki station.

It was a glorious mass of colours everywhere at this time of year, poppies dominating most landscapes and decorating the archaeological sites. Athens really does have a lot of green spaces. Walk up any of the hills, or go to one of the many hotel roof gardens, and you will see swathes of green interspersed in the city.

There are lots of paved areas where you can walk away from traffic, and the road around the Acropolis is the most interesting. It seems to magically shrink the size of the city, and you can cover miles by just getting onto it, walking a short way and coming down on the other side of town. We managed to eat a lot of delicious food in between all the walking and exploring too.

Another day we visited Hadrian's arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, all very pretty and scenic and quite quiet, though close to the main road and Syntagma square. From there we walked through the park, past the Zapion exhibition centre and into the National Park, which has a lot going on in a relatively small space. The terrapins were quite the sight. It is an easy park to get lost in, with each area separate from the next and each very different.

There was a very small zoo near the botanical centre, a huge variety of birds flying free, fountains, rocks and bits of ancient monuments and waterways for the ancient roman baths. Everywhere you turned there was something else to see. We came out of there and had coffee and honey orange cake which was exceptionally good, then went to have a look at the guards outside parliament house in Syntagma Square.

We popped down into the underground station where there is a great display of the archaeological finds, left in situ from when the underground was built.

The Keramikos was almost deserted by comparison, and a beautiful site to walk around and explore. We also visited Kotsia square and bought the most tasty strawberries from a stall, saw the Agora and the Roman Agora, many churches, and the tourist streets of the Plaka region, where we stopped for a much needed coffee. We had lunch up by the Acropolis border at a deserted restaurant in the Anafiotika region, and that was marvellous; meze and goat, and ouzo.

Athens is definitely a city I want to return to and explore a lot more. I hope I don't have

May J. Panayi has been writing since 1967, when she had her first poem called ‘In a Rage’ published in the local Gazette newspaper. That was the point at which she decided she wanted to write, and has been scribbling in one form or another ever since. She’s had poetry, short stories, articles and fillers, published in a variety of magazines, two book anthology collections, fanzines and websites.

You can discover more about May on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/may-j-panayi/ - 44 -

The Green Card

by Silviya Rankova

Sometimes I wish I could receive instructions on how to live my life, in a white envelope sent by mail.

Somehow, this would give me order and a purpose, and an assurance that even if something went wrong, I could always blame the sender.

When I first saw the big, white envelope addressed to me from an unfamiliar sender, somewhere near the end of May 2004, I thought it was a mistake or a scam, which would have been quite usual at that time in an ex-Communist country like Bulgaria.

The letter revealed that I had been preselected to complete the process for getting the green card I had applied for online nearly six months earlier. It read:

application. (Smoking cigarettes was still allowed in public, and that was one of the many disadvantages of a poor country going through democratic reforms.)

After I hit the Send button, I smiled and said to myself, “Miracles happen on Christmas,” without realizing how prophetic this would be.

When I received the white envelope, my head spun while I read all the pages. I walked back and forth in our small apartment, tripping over pages I had accidentally dropped on the floor and nervously picking them up, so I could organize and read them over and over again.

Within three months, I was supposed to use the return address label to send the completed forms for myself and my family members who would eventually be accompanying me, along with photographs and fees, to The Department of State Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), Williamsburg, KY, USA.

“Dear Silviya R, Congratulations! You are among those randomly selected and registered for further consideration in the DV-2005 diversity immigrant program for the fiscal year 2005. Approximately 100,000 individuals were registered for further processing. However, there are only between 50,000 and 55,000 diversity visas available under the Fiscal year 2005 Diversity Visa Program.

After you return all of the forms listed below and if there are appointments available, we will schedule you for an interview at the appropriate embassy/ consulate. You will be contacted by the Department of State by mail if you are selected for an interview.”

The news hit me like a comet.

I had enough time to prepare all the required documentation, but one thought stuck in my head: how was I supposed to explain all this to my family?

I’d filled out the application more out of curiosity, but I never seriously thought I would be able to live in another country.

Back then, I was 30 years old and had never traveled abroad. Going to the U.S. was a dream of mine since I was a child, but I never imagined I would have

It was right before Christmas when I met a few friends roaming the street, who surprisingly informed me that they had applied for green cards. They told me that if I wanted to try, I should go straight to the nearest private computer hall, because this would be my last chance to submit my application electronically. Back then, at the beginning of the millennium in 2000, most families in Bulgaria couldn’t afford to buy a computer. But small computer halls, with 10 to 15 computers, separated into little booths, were popular and busy with customers checking emails, or teenagers sneaking out late at night to play computer games.

My youthful, adventurous spirit was already talking to me, and before I knew it, I was sitting in the dimmed, smoke-filled computer hall, filling out the - 45 -

the opportunity to visit it or live there. I enjoyed watching American movies, dreaming of a world so different and challenging and provocative. The movies provoked many questions I couldn’t dare to seek answers to in Communist Bulgaria.

After World War II, Bulgaria became a Communist state for a period of 45 years. On November 10, 1989, the central committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party dismissed the country’s leader, Todor Zhivkov, as General Secretary of the party, ending his 33-year-long dictatorship—the longest in the Eastern Bloc. Since then, the transition to democracy had not been smooth. Corruption, devaluation, and a high unemployment rate were destroying the country, leading to devastating poverty and a negative population growth rate. During the 28 years following the fall of the Communist regime, approximately three million young people emigrated from Bulgaria (statistics calculated by the Bulgarian daily newspaper 24 Chasa), with no intention of returning permanently.

beginning and who had a permanent address where we would eventually receive our green cards by mail.

We gave him a name and he made the phone call to confirm that the person actually existed. Finally, we had to meet with the U.S. ambassador who would decide if we could get our immigrant visas.

The ambassador lady smiled at me so naturally and nicely, and all she asked was if I would continue to teach in the U.S., or if I had different plans on how to spend my time there. Either way, she said, the U.S. would need people like me. I was so shocked and emotional, all I could say was thank you, and that I would try to do my best.

After we got approved for immigrant visas, we had six months to enter the U.S. because the visas were valid for only six months after the interview date.

The immigrant visa did not grant us any particular status in the U.S., but they told us we would become permanent residents after we entered.

When I told my husband about the news, he first thought I was joking, then he looked at me seriously and asked if I was absolutely sure I wanted to continue the process. And I wasn’t! My parents were also shocked and upset, mainly because deep inside, they knew I would proceed. Weeks passed, and I still hadn’t decided if I would continue with the application—I, too, in my heart, knew that if I ever made it to the U.S., there would be no way back. But I’ve always been a strong, adventurous, determined person, who finishes what she starts and never looks back, and I knew the choice had to be made. So I finally decided to proceed to step two.

Nearly four months after I sent in the forms, I received an answer by mail, just like it said in the first letter. We were scheduled for an interview in November 2004 at the U.S Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria.

I remember how the three of us—me, my husband, and our almost five-year-old son—sat in the hallway, nervously waiting in line for someone to call our number. People around us were commenting on how unfair some applicants were treated during the interview, and how the staff was purposely failing people. I tried to ignore all that gossip and speculation, and focus on how lucky we were to have made it all the way there.

The consular carefully went through all the forms and documents we had attached, and finally asked if we knew someone in the U.S. who would help us in the

We spent the last Christmas of 2004 in our apartment in Bulgaria, and it was the most silent and non-festive holiday of all. Our parents and other relatives couldn’t fully understand our decision or adventurous spirit. I knew my parents would never forgive me for leaving them and taking their grandson with us; nor would my students, because I left them two months before their graduation.

But sacrifices have to be made when you strongly believe in yourself and your intuition tells you that even big changes like this are for the best for all involved. It was only a matter of time until the emotions would settle down, and soon everyone had returned to their rational, practical lives.

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On March 8, 2005, we landed on U.S. soil after nearly 15 hours in flight. At the port of entry in Chicago’s O’Hare airport, we were taken to a special room for new immigrants where our immigrant visas were printed with I-551 stamps. These would serve as our temporary green cards, valid for 1 year. We received our actual plastic green cards (which looked just like U.S. driver’s licenses) nearly two months later in the mail at our family friend’s home.

And we did! It took nearly 15 years of hard work, many sacrifices and disappointments, all alone, with no help from our family in Bulgaria. After all these years, we can finally call the U.S our home, because we were determined to succeed. Only here we can truly be ourselves, happy, and strong, enjoying this country’s diversity, opportunities, and freedom.

The next morning—the first of so many after that—I looked at the sky, and it was clear, and blue, and different. I cried, realizing how far away from Bulgaria we were, and that all we had to look forward to was being able to call this country our home one day.

A few months later, we were traveling in our first car, a very old Ford van, so old, that it was easy to see the road through its floor. We were heading to our first rented one-bedroom apartment to start life on our own with only a few bags of personal belongings, some canned food with expired dates, and enough pocket money to pay the first month’s rent. Looking through the car window, amazed, scared, and confused, I wanted to ask so many questions that I didn’t have answers to. For the first time in my life, I saw dozens of flashing reflections of road signs and huge billboards; homes in so many sizes; busy, wide roads with never-ending traffic; and vehicles of every size and model you could imagine.

I asked my husband if we would ever fulfill the socalled American dream of having our own home and a successful and happy life. He assured me we would if we strongly believed in ourselves.

Still, I sometimes feel as if I’m standing in the middle of a bridge looking in two directions: one that points to the U.S., the other that points to Bulgaria. But no matter which direction I head, I will still be home. I strongly believe that we as humans should not have real boundaries dividing us into so many different countries, because we all share one planet, one home.

Silviya Rankova was born in Bulgaria in 1975, in a very rich in history, and old capital city – Veliko Tarnovo.

She graduated from Plovdiv University and has a Master’s in Biology. She taught biology for almost 4 years in the same high school in Veliko Tarnovo that she graduated from.

She got married in 1999, and has two handsome sons. In 2005, her family emigrated to USA, arriving in Chicago. They still live there, in the north suburbs.

Silviya’s interests and passion: Esoterica, Mysticism, Philosophy, Poetry, Photography and Handmade stuff. She loves travelling, baking, and reading books.

You can discover more about Silviya on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/silviya-rankova/ - 47 -

Laughter is the best medicine!

Contributions by Anthony Randall & Hannah Howe

Two simpletons meet in the street.

Why do giraffes have such long legs?

“What y’got there then Josh?”

“It’s a thermos flask Ian.” “A thermos flask, what does that do?”

“It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.”

Because they have smelly feet

After a short pause Ian says “What you got in it then?”

“Two cups of tea and an ice cream,” says Josh.

“Doctor I keep singing Tom Jones songs,”

“That’s not unusual,” replies the doctor.

What do you call a blind dinosaur?

Doyathinkesaurous

A couple are undressing in a dark bedroom when a voice booms out.

“Not that over weight ugly monster again!”

“Who’s that,” says the man scared witless.

“It’s okay,” says the woman, “It’s just the memory foam mattress.”

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Love & Peace Coloring Page

by Mom’s Favorite Reads

You can find the answers for this activity on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/magazines/activities/ - 49 -

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