Carol Yeomanson Books

Honor Maye was the first of the Mystery series I ever wrote and sometimes I don’t feel that little bit you read about a book at the front tells you very much about a book, so I’m going to use my blog to tell you a bit more without giving anything away.

Honor Maye is a Cockney lady from London, who has decided to move to the country. She is a widow with a ‘no good’ son and that’s putting it mildly! Honor hasn’t got a clue where she wants to move to, but she takes a trip and ends up in a village called Farworth. While shes in the local cafe, she meets a man, and for some reason ends up buying his house.

And that is where the Honor May Mysteries starts and continues. Honor moves to Farworth, with her faithful Pug Percy and you will meet the friends she makes, and sometimes her enemies.

Along life’s path in Farworth, you will meet John, Ravi and Regina, Mr Wells, Jim, Allan, and Bert and Tilly, not forgetting Gordon and Jeannie, and the odd murder takes place as well.

So why not join Honor and the ‘gang’ as they have become known in the first of this series. It’s available on Amazon Kindle or Kobo.

As lots of you know, I’m an Indie Author who publishes on Kindle, but I also publish on Kobo, so I’m going to make this post about Kobo and being a Kobo Author, become sometimes I don’t think that Kobo and being a Kobo Author get the praise they deserve. Kobo is German, rather than American and I know a lot of the bigger Authors, well bigger than me shall we say, who I’m not going to name because that’s not fair to them also publish on Kobo. The problem I feel with Kobo is that they just aren’t as big as Amazon so don’t get so much publicity.

So here’s my view of Kobo as an Author who does publish with them. They are brilliant. Other’s may disagree with me and that is fine with me, but to me they are always there for me. I can contact them at any time if I want to ask a question or have a problem. But, I can honestly say I’ve never had a problem with Kobo. I get my Royalties paid on time and they are fair. We have times when they have Chat sessions with them. Part of Kobo which I enjoy is there is a fun side to them as well. They’ve just secured a deal to sell our books, or their catalogue as they call it in Canada at no cost at all to the Author.

So all I’m saying is, Kobo is out there as well. And my personal treatment by them as been fantastic and I’m not going to say otherwise. Just because they’re smaller, doesn’t mean my treatment by them is bad. My treatment is fantastic and for that, I thank Kobo.

Another one of my great loves is horse racing. I know a lot of people look at me and thing Oh my God, that’s dreadful. Well, no actually it’s not and I enjoy it and I own several racehorses, along with my son. In face we’ve got one running in this weeks meeting at Ascot. On Friday actually, called the Lir Jet. Before this pandemic we went to Ascot and the Derby but like everything some things have been cancelled. Jack, my son has been able to go and see some of our horses in their stables when he’s been to Equiprep which is where they go ‘on holiday’ or to recover their health if they’ve had an operation, which is where my Bob Pebble went when he had a nasty operation on his windpipe, or as I prefer to call him my ‘Bobble’.

Sometimes you still have to go into a ballot for certain things. Jack did win a place in a ballot around Christmas time, watched one of our horses run and was then invited to have a drink with the other owners, and who does Jack stand next to? Sheik Mohammed. His one comment? That suit he had one Mum must have cost thousands of pounds! Well with Sheik Mohammed’s racing reputation I’m not that surprised. (Apoligies to the Sheik if I spelled his name incorrectly).

One thing I have discovered though is that Racing is definitely not a Male dominated sport when it comes to owning Race Horses. Fine, forget the Queen, because fair enough Her Majesty does own Horses in her own name, but there are a lot of Women Owners out there, who own the winning horses in their own names. Every time I check out the race cards I’m amazed. Jack and I own Flat Racers and Over the jumps although I will admit I prefer Flat mainly because I’m always afraid that one of our horses will fall and have to be put down, but maybe I should learn to harden up and not be emotional when it come my horses?

Back in 1992, my son was at Primary School, and like all good Primary Schools we used to have a Spring Fair to raise much needed funds for the School. I used to run a home made cake stall and make the cakes and it always sold out, so for reasons that I can’t remember now someone suggested that I write a cookery book and someone else suggested that I write to ‘Famous People’ and ask them for their favourite recipes. Yes, I said thinking ‘Oh no, who came up with that silly idea?’ but took a chance and sent off a pile of letters to quite a few people, waited a while and then the replies started to come in, from people I never thought would ever bother from this ‘unknown’ Mum from a Primary School that no one had ever heard of.

The most wonderful reply that I received was from the Pope. Yes I took a chance and wrote to the Pope, who said that unfortunately he didn’t cook, but he would like to bestow the Papal Blessing on our school, the Teachers, the Children, and the Parents. The Head at the time put that letter on display where everyone could see it. I also wrote to George Bush, the then President of the United States of America. Mrs Bush sent us two lovely recipes and a beautiful hand written letter, and believe it or not I got a recipe from the Actor Clint Eastwood. I’ve got too many recipes to share on here in one go, so I’ll do it in several. I made it quite clear in my introduction to the book, this was not a book about me because at the time I hadn’t even published my first novel. This was a book about a school full of children. The most wonderful kids who were the future. One of those children is now a man and my Editor. A few we know what happened to, but like all children, most have gone their own ways. I’ve got my own copy of the Cookery Book still. I’m looking at it now so I can put up a few of the recipes. It’s a bit tattered. I actually called it Sugar and Spice and All Good Foods. Some of us ‘older’ shall we say might remember the older Celebrities, but enjoy some of the recipes if you do try them.

OLD FASHIONED BREAD PUDDING – BARBARA BUSH

8 slices raisin bread, lightly buttered

1/2-3/4 cup sugar mixed with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 quart milk mixed with 2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs beaten

1/2 teaspoon salt,

extra fruit to taste

Method

Butter a 9 x 11 inch baking dish

Cut raisin bread into quarters

Put bread into dish, and sprinkle with sugar mix and fruit

Continue alternating the bread, sugar mix and raisins until gone

Pour the milk mixed with eggs, vanilla and salt all over until puffy and light for about 30 minutes.

Now Mrs Bush didn’t give me an oven temperature with this recipe but I baked mine on Gas Mark 6 and watch it carefully but we all know our own ovens.

POTATO CAKE’S

PHILIP SCHOFIELD – CHILDREN’S T.V. PRESENTER

Peel and boil sufficient potatoes for the amount of people needed.

When done, mash in the usual way with milk and butter until smooth.

Add enough flour to make into a stiff dough.

Roll out on a floured board and shape into individual circles about 1/2 inch deep.

Cook near the top of a hot oven for about 15 – 20 minutes until golden brown

Butter and eat immediately.

This book is full of lovely recipes, so I’ll put them up bit by bit rather than put dozens up all at once, but if you do try any of them, you definitely won’t be disappointed.

I would like you to meet a friend of mine. His real name is Danny, but his Twitter name is Busted Spike. I met Danny on Twitter. Danny is a Royal Navy Veteran. Sadly, through no fault of his own, a young Veteran due to a freak accident which mean’t he couldn’t continue. Danny is a lot younger than me, but when we started chatting, we just clicked. We tease each other, we joke, we laugh, and we talk about our lives, the good and the bad, because we both have them. Danny has especially had some bad times. He has been addicted to drugs and alcohol. I’m not telling you anything that Danny won’t tell you himself. What I will tell you is that Danny is one of the most incredible men I have ever met. He has conquered both his addictions. Been through the Warrior Course, got his own flat and is getting his life together.

Danny has got his own blog which is; ramblingsofaformeraddict.blogspot.com

Please take the time to drop into Danny’s blog. It really is worth reading, and you will see what an amazing young man and Royal Navy Veteran this young man really it, and my last word about Danny in this page of my blog is that I am so proud of him, but his main problem is that he doesn’t know how proud I am.

I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine. He’s J.C. Maine and he’s a fellow Author. J.C. is from the U.S. and he is one heck of a writer. His book, Days of Revelation comes with my personal recommendation. Although in saying that, I would say that you know the kind of books I love. So if you love historical books, and gentle romance that this probably isn’t for you, but J.C. is a writer that is going to be massive in the future, so please keep an eye out in the future, and I’ll keep you posted on here when his next book is out because one thing I can say for sure is that when when he publishes another book, I’ll be buying it. By the way, you can find his books on Amazon.

It’s not very often than I question what happens to my books once I publish them. but this time I was prepared to make an exception. I have a lot of Author friends on Facebook and a lot had been saying that their books, published on Amazon had mysteriously ‘disappeared’ from their Selling page. I didn’t think much of it until I looked at mine. Sure enough, three of my books had been taken down, one of them my best seller.

No notification give. Nothing from Amazon. Four days later, just as my Editor was about to put them back on sale, there they were, back on my page as though nothing had happened.

So I don’t know what to think. I suppose just carry on as normal and hope that it doesn’t happen again.

On Wednesday 19th May 2921 I was granted the Freedom of the City of London, which, for me was the Greatest Honour that I could be given. The child who was born, in those day, within the sound of Bow Bells, and what is known as a ‘cockney’. I was already a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Educators, of which I am proud to wear their gown and Badge.

Usually I would have gone up to Guildhall in London for my Ceremony, but unfortunately, due to the pandemic Guildhall is still closed and no one knows for sure when it will be open again, so I had my Ceremony virtually and it couldn’t have been more wonderful. I still had to sign the age old Declaration of a Freeman, so I had to do that in the ‘air’ with a pen, and my framed Declaration will be sent to me in the post.

I can now drive my sheep over London Bridge, which actually costs you £50 which is a donation towards the Woolmers Charity, which looks after people in the Wool and Cloth Industry who have fallen on hard times. I can also be hanged on a silken rope if I murder someone in the City, and if I’m caught within the City, blind drunk, then I can be put in a Taxi and sent home free of charge!

Plus, and let’s not forget this – I am now know as a Gentlewoman !

One thing I don’t forget though is that Jack, my son and Editor, also has the Freedom, and is a member of the Guild of Freemen and is also a Member of the Worshipful Company of Educators. He progressed to Livery Status this year. At the end of my year as a Freeman, I’d like to progress to Livery Man (You can’t be a Livery Woman or Person) and then that’s it for me. I’ll leave any other progression to Dick Whittington.

I know, it’s a strange title to start off with, but you see it’s true and it’s something I’ve never really talked about. Well, alright, but because of certain restrictions put on my by the NHS I’ve never been able to tell the real truth and believe me I’ve been livid and still am to this day, so I’ll start at the start shall I?

Two months or so, before Covid broke in the UK I went on what was supposed to be my dream cruise with my family on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 down to the Caribbean. In New York, walking around on a shore excursion, I was taken ill and my husband had to dash off and get me a bottle of water, and after a while I felt OK ish and my son took me to Tiffany’s and bought me a gift and the standing joke was and still is that I did something that Eartha Kitt never managed in the song. Back on the ship, I still didn’t feel well. Was lethargic, everything was a nusiance but didn’t think much of it. Then a few days later, I told my son I thought I had a bit of a cold. Next morning my husband and son went on a shore excursion to the island of St. Thomas and I stayed in bed with this ‘blasted cold’ as I called it.

When they came back, my whole bed was wet with sweat, I didn’t know who they were hardly, what time it was, who I was even. First thing they did was get me to the Medical Centre on the ship. All I remembe was people shouting Get these lines into her now! Something was put up my nose and went down my throat. I remember Doctors, nurses, someone trying to get something else into me. cutting a vein by accident and blood everywhere. My son and husband being pushed aside although I don’t think it was on purpose. The main Doctor a lovely South African Doctor who asked me who I was, who the British Prime Minister was and who my Father was. The worst thing of all was that I have no memory of what was happening. My son very gently told me that when I tried to get to the toilet which was part of the ward I was so dis-orientated I just wet on the floor because I didn’t know I was supposed to use a toilet, and please, believe me that is not the person I am.

Another Doctor took over at night and kept on checking on me. Drip, after drip after drip. I’m a diabetic. No recollection of insulin being put into me. My memory had completely gone. I just remember he was Doctor Jerry and he sat on the bed and fed me chips by hand, and went one, two three. We can do this…..

The Doctor talked to me son because he and my husband took it in turns to sit with me and my son was 34. If they had got me there an hour later the first of my organs would have shut down. They let me out after a day or so and put me straight into isolation in the cabin. Everything had to be deep cleaned and my husband and son were also put on medication.

We got the final diagnosis from the Ship’s Doctor. The worst case of Flu he had ever seen on a Cruise ship, Sepsis and very small signs they thought could possibly have been Legionnaires Disease.

It wasn’t just me who caught that flu on that ship, endless people had it, but not as bad as me, but were certainly hospitalised. Someone put up on Facebook Did anyone else have this strange flu on the Queen Mary? That post suddenly disappeared. Cunard’s response? We’re sorry to hear passengers were ill and pleased our Medical Staff were able to held.

It didn’t stop there though. Ever since then I’ve not been able to breathe properly. I can’t go up a flight of stairs without gasping for breath. To hear me you would thing I’m 90. I have tried endless times to talk to my GP about it and ask them to help me. Their answer is always the same and this is what really annoys me.

We can’t put it on your records Carol, because you were treated privately not by the NHS. I know I was treated privately. I’ve got the bill for over £5000 to prove it. So you would rather see me come within a hour of dying from my organs shutting down, a mysterious case of flu, two months before Covid broke, sepsis and possible slight Legionnaires disease, and not put a word of that on my medical records because I HAD to be treated privately because I happened to be on a cruise ship. Nice on NHS.

Well this time I’m going to call your bluff. I’m likely within the next few months to need – not want – need an operation using NHS resourses. I have met with a fabulous NHS surgeon but he has told me that he very concerned about my breathing problems. Anyway, I get my appointment for my operation – and where is it being done? Wait for it – at a Private Hospital ! Fine it’s being done for free – but this wonderful NHS who refuse to put anything about something that nearly killed me on my records because I was treated Privately are quite happy to send me to a Private hospital for an operation that should be carried out at an NHS hospital.

That, to me, is sheer hypocrasy.

In all fairness that the Surgeon doing the operation cancelled it for another three months, because you could hear that he wasn’t happy with this so called Private hospital, and wants to get back to his own National Health one where his words were I’ve got my own team around me who know how to deal with things.

A lot of people having been asking me what I’ve really been doing apart from writing and also my Editor and I thought………hmmmm. I never realised that I’d never really said. So let’s start with me.

During lockdown while people did a lot for the NHS I admit I didn’t. Not because that made me a bad and un-caring person. I support my own chosen charities and if I suddenly supported the NHS then it mean’t that I had to turn my back on my own Charities. Firstly I’m what they call a Twiddler. I belong to a small group and we knit squares and make muffs for dementia patients. Then I support a lovely lady called Jane. Jane helps anyone that needs help. She is grateful for anything that comes knitted, crochet, sewn. Hand made toys, The list is endless so I make ‘things’ for Jane and she sends them to people in need, or she might raffle something to raise funds for a Charity such as Help the Hero’s.

The Charity that is closest to my heart and always will be is the Sailors Society or Seaman’s Society formerly known as King Georges Fund for Sailors. I have supported them since I was sixteen years old when I first found out about them. They support the Seamen and now ladies as well on the Container ships. People may think they know about them and their conditions, but they don’t know maybe as well as I do. Not that I’m a know all as someone called me but over the years I’ve gained the trust of a a lot of these Seamen and they are now my friends and talk to me. However, what they tell me stays with me. I don’t betray that trust and gossip behind their backs.

It’s lovely to see them come into Southampton. It’s a pleasure to knit hats, and fingerless gloves for them and know I’m doing my bit for them.

However, please don’t get the impression from this part of my blog that I think I’m full of my own importance and aren’t I wonderful because I’m not. I’m just one of many people who knit for the Seamen. The people who work in the Offices are amazing. In fact everyone concerned is amazing.

The saddest thing that happened recently is that they had to cancel selling their coffee. They had to stop because no one was buying and all funds went to the Society. My son was furious because he loved that coffee!

What I do get cross about is that there seems to be an attitude at the moment out there that Container Ship Crews don’t matter because they’re dirty, and they don’t wear nice pristine Uniforms like other certain services. I’ve seen a lot of really nasty pieces on Social Media recently where jokes have been made about this Container Ship that’s stuck in Suez. Well strange as it seems, I honestly can’t see why you need to make jokes about something like that.

A while ago a Container Ship was involved in an accident where some of the crew died. The wife of one of the missing crew contacted me.

Please Mrs Carol, she said, Please don’t make him dead for me. You wouldn’t make him dead for me. You – a good lady.

That ripped my heart out. To this day I still don’t know if her husband survived, but I will still always support my Seamen.

My Editor is over the moon at things getting back to normal even if it is a little bit. He’s booked himself some time at the golf course. He can get a haircut he can actually have some kind of a normal life and even better he – as in both of us can go and watch our horses race again, although we do own the same, but different ones as well, and for him the best part of all is that he will hopefully be able to go to football as well.

He’s also a London Tour Guide and guiding is starting again. Hopefully from April 4th. One guide and much smaller groups of people, but that part of life is getting back to normal so it looks as though there’s hope for all of us.