The Spam Monster

This is for all of you have come under the threat of the spam monster. It has been quite a problem recently for several bloggers, our well intentioned comments not appearing on blogs…. So I wrote this little poem with that and Halloween in mind.

The Spam Monster

It’s all hallows eve,

You’ve no time for a pet peeve,

The wretched spam monster making curds,

Of your well thought out words.

 

He insidiously turns your comments into mush,

Sweeps them all away with a hot-wired brush,

He’s all wires and circuitry,

His gadgetry puts you into purgatory.

 

But, don’t fret, don’t worry, help is at hand,

The Happiness Engineers Askimet band,

Party together, they’ll help you out.

No need to storm, stamp, and shout!

 

Stick your perky pumpkin by your computer,

Light it with a ferocious candle to neuter,

That bloody spam monster with his big hooter,

Mr snooty, snotty, snooper.

© Marjorie Mallon 2016 – aka, Kyrosmagica. All Rights Reserved.

If you need any help with this problem Hugh has written a great post how to contact the Askimet engineers – here’s the link: Hughs Views And News: What To Do If your Comments Are Ending Up in Spam Folders

Bye for now,

Hope you liked the silly poem!

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Never Better: a Halloween Story

Excellent Halloween story from Nicholas Rossis. A must read. 🙂

Nicholas C. Rossis's avatarNicholas C. Rossis

Following this blog’s tradition, this is this year’s Halloween story. Enjoy!

Never Better

African Mask | From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's books African Mask Print by S.J. Fleck (fineartamerica.com)

“Hey, Pat.”

The sun in my eyes blinds me as I squint to see Anne approach. “Hey.”

She throws her bag onto the grass and sits down beside me with a little hop. “So, are you going to Sarah’s Halloween party?”

I let out a growl and roll my eyes to remind Anne how I feel about my nemesis. “Sure.”

“What are you dressing up as? I’ll dress up as Vampirela,” she continues at her usual machinegun speed before I can answer. She claws her fingers to strike a threatening pose. “Argh!”

I chuckle, her silly mirth contagious. “I haven’t picked up anything yet.”

“Well, you’d better hurry. Only three days left till Saturday. Why don’t you—” A bell’s shrill ring interrupts her. “Oops, gotta fly. Don’t wanna be late…

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How to Describe Eyes in a Story – 7 Tips | Now Novel

Very useful article – Source – How to Describe Eyes in a Story – 7 Tips – Now Novel reblogged from Colleen at Silver Threading.

Why I May Have Ended Up In Your Spam Folder

Unfortunately it looks like I’ve been taken hostage by the spam monster too. I have been replying to your comments – the one’s I’ve seen – good idea to check your spam folders. Thank you to the bloggers who alerted me to this issue. Thanks to Hugh for this post of what to do if the spam monster gets you, reblogging to spread the word.

Rigby and Peller Fashion Show – Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Appeal

 

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I am so thrilled to be part of the team of lingerie stylists at Rigby and Peller, Cambridge. This is a totally new venture for me. I’ve never worked in lingerie before, in fact in my previous retail job in John Lewis I was ensconced in the menswear department, amongst woolly jumpers, socks, underwear, and other male paraphernalia.

Since joining the company I’ve been impressed by Rigby and Peller’s training programme and their positive attitude and intention to make women feel good about themselves.

So with that in mind I put together the above slide show and this little blog post to tell you all about a very extraordinarily inspiring evening.

The Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Appeal Fashion Show was held in the Grand Arcade in Cambridge on the 4th of October. Several retail companies joined in the event including Rigby and Peller. Today I heard the wonderful news that the goal to raise £10,000 for the Addenbrooke’s appeal towards the cost of biopsy equipment for the breast cancer unit has now been met, and is being surpassed!

My manager at Rigby and Peller, Jenny Mason – one of the organisers of the event – has had first hand experience of the devastating effect of cancer, having lost her father to this dreadful disease. Jenny and Natalie Emuss (one of the models,) have worked tirelessly to make the fashion show such an enormous, and memorable success.  Much respect to them both.

Here’s my daughter Georgina at the fashion show with her camera at the ready. A big thank you to Jenny Mason for allowing Georgina to take photographs of the event.  Georgina is currently studying for three diplomas in Photography, Media Studies and Business Studies.

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This was Georgina’s first opportunity to take part in a photographic shoot and what better event to begin with than one that was so charged with emotion. The awesome women modelling lingerie and fashion had us spellbound, as did their husbands and partners. I so admire their bravery and positivity.

Georgina chose four of her favourite images to share with you here: one black and white  and three in colour.

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What a great start to her photographic studies.

I will leave you with one of our shop windows at Rigby and Peller advocating :

Strength, Courage, Love.

I couldn’t agree more!

Don’t forget to pop into Rigby and Peller to donate your unwanted bras in store this October. Or do what you can to raise money and awareness for breast cancer sufferers.

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Links:

Saffron Walden Reporter Brave breast Cancer Models

Addenbrookes Breast Cancer Appeal Fashion Show Facebook Page

To donate:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Natalie-Emuss2

Bye for now,

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Independent motion – can you help?

Can you help Sue Vincent’s son Nick follow his dreams? Please do what you can to help this amazing man who has been through so much. Reblog, share, and donate what you can to Nick’s Go Fund Me Campaign.

Sue Vincent's avatarSue Vincent's Daily Echo

What would you give to make a dream come true if you woke to find yourself living a nightmare?

What would you feel if you could never again walk on a beach? Or go out alone in the snow…feel the stillness of a wood or cross a field?

And then, you found a way…

In 2009, my son was a successful young man with a bright future… until he was stabbed through the brain in an unprovoked attack and left for dead in an alley.

He was found almost immediately by passers-by who saved his life. By the time we arrived at the hospital, Nick was being prepared for emergency brain surgery. We were allowed to see him, for a few minutes, to say goodbye. He was not expected to survive…

Over the past couple of years, many in the blogging community have come to know my son and know…

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My Kyrosmagica Review of Soulless by Gail Carriger

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations.

First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire–and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London’s high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

My review:

Soulless by Gail Carriger is the first in the five book Parasol Protectorate steampunk series.  It’s quite a mixture: a  steampunk, Victorian, paranormal romance, fantasy, vampire, werewolf, mystery! In which Miss Alexia Tarabotti, a preternatural who has ‘no soul,’ sets off a chain of events by killing a vampire with her much loved parasol. Highly recommended – really enjoyed this. It had me laughing out loud a lot, generally sniggering in various rooms in our house, and even in public places…  I had to stifle my hysterical laughter whilst drinking a cup of tea in Starbucks!

This was my first experience of reading a Steampunk novel, and I have to say it did make me want to read more in this genre.

I enjoyed the characterisation, even the subsidiary characters were well fleshed out and entertaining, but I particularly enjoyed the hilarious love scenes between the strident, confident, Alexia, and Lord Maccon, Earl of Woosley, a Scottish alpha werewolf and head of the B.U.R, (The Bureau of Unnatural Registration.) Lord Akeldama, the fashionable vampire with his male harem, was a positive treat. Equally, I loved Mrs. Loontwill, Alexia’s mother,  her two idiotic stepsisters, Evylin and Felicity, and Floote her long suffering butler.

More than anything this novel is full of FUN, and FROLICS. If you want a light-hearted read that will make you laugh and keep you laughing this is the one. If you want a serious read then I suggest you avoid this like the plague!

My rating: 4 stars

DISCLAIMER: “As of 13th September 2017 we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”  

My opinions are my own and any reviews on this site have not been swayed or altered in any way by monetary compensation, or by the offer of a free book in exchange for a review. 

Buying Links

Amazon UK Kindle: http://amzn.to/2fblk3F

Amazon UK Paperback: http://amzn.to/2fbNLhO

Amazon UK Hardcover (available 20 Feb 2018): http://amzn.to/2w7jKa1

Authors Website: http://www.gailcarriger.com

Have you read Soulless? Do let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear what you think of it.

Bye for now, Happy Reading!!!

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Beta Readers, It’s About the Book – Not You

Reblog from RyanLanz – Ashleigh Giannoccaro’s great tips regarding what to look for in a beta reader. Very topical as my manuscript is currently with Colleen Chesboro at Silver Threading for the final edit – I hope!

#HorrorOctober 2016: Week 1 Round-up — Lipsyy Lost & Found

It’s been a busy first week of bloody blogging so here’s a handy summary in case you missed anything. Wouldn’t want that would we!? (Titles link to the posts) Horror October Week 1 (1st – 7th) Welcome to Horror October 2016 Flash Fiction Battle – Vote Now Review: Revisiting An English Ghost Story Review: […]

via #HorrorOctober 2016: Week 1 Round-up — Lipsyy Lost & Found

Reblog via Lipsyy, sadly I am too busy doing final edits,  and have just started a new job, so will be mainly sharing reblogs of my favourite posts in October.

Thursday Doors: Christ’s College Cambridge

This is Norm’s short paragraph telling us all about his link up: Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing it, between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time), by using the blue link-up button below. 

I was on my lunch break from work. It was such a sunny, pleasant day so rather than going for a coffee and cake I decided to go door hunting!

It didn’t take me long to find this beauty. Isn’t it amusing how there’s a bike propped just outside – that’s so Cambridge!

Marje @Kyrosmagica
Marje @ Kyrosmagica- Christ’s College, Cambridge

Isn’t it a stunning door?

Hope you enjoyed my Thursday Doors, do pop over to Norm’s blog to join in the fun:

Norm’s Thursday Doors – Oct 6th

 

Bye for now, back to my editing!

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