CaféLit magazine
Published in December were:
Betty S. Allen, Sally Angell, Michael Barrington, Julie Blaho, Lynne Curry, Dawn DeBraal, Lingjuan Fan, Linda Flynn, Anna Georg, Andy Hebb, Gill James, Leonie Jarrett, Katherin Kanterer, Nargis Lal, Linda Laurie, Shenelle Letourneau, Henry Lewi, Elizabeth Leyland, Sally A. Locke, Clare Martin, Rob Molan, Diane Neilson, Jenny Palmer, Dianne Powell, Sarah Swatridge, Chris Tattersall, Eline Tuijn, Kate Twitchin, Ken Whitson and William Wilson.
Top performing posts in December were:
A Christmas Countdown by Julie Blaho, cappuccino (260)
Five Christmas cookies under my highchair. I squealed with delight as I hurled your careful creations. You handed me another with a smile and let me enjoy it my own way.
Four long minutes to tie my shoe in the parking lot before Christmas mass, but you didn’t try to do it for me. You crouched in the cold snow with the hem of your dress dragging in slush, and sang: “Over, under, pull it tight. Make a loop, but not too light.”
Another Nutcracker by Sally A Locke, to be consumed with a nice strong sup of tea and a mince pie (215)
Elspeth knew it was time to go.
She put her hand on Debbie’s shoulder and squeezed it. The two of them looked at each other with watery eyes. Their gazes were deep and neither of them had any words.
‘I’ll let them know’, said Debbie. ‘Cup of tea?’ she asked, reflecting that this was probably the last one she’d make her mum.
Paradise Beach by Anne Georg, Corona beer (185)
Tanned, toned Madison snaps photos of beach flotsam, a dead bird, a stray dog, a lavatory, sunbathers, beach umbrellas: random minutiae that catch her eye. Having exhausted her photographic curiosity, she sits in a shaded corner of the beach in the breeze-scattered scent of roasted coconut and sunscreen mingling with the waft of garbage.
What Do You Want from Santa? by Florentina Caliman, Pina Colada cocktail (157)
“So, what are you hoping Santa brings you this Christmas?” the fairy inquired.
“Every December, the same question, like a broken record: ‘What do you want from Santa’?" I sighed, annoyed. "As if Santa ever cared.”
The fairy arched her eyebrows. “Pardon? My hearing’s not the best, and it’s always the same ear. The left, I think... or was it the right?"
“Santa would do well to come himself as a gift. Wrapped and tied with a red bow in the Christmas stocking. But he should get rid of his belly and shave his beard because, frankly, it’s pretty unhygienic.”
Total hits in December: 57,730 – about half of November's but still very respectable.
The Creative Café Project
Just one café was added in December: The Tree House, Sheffield This is primarily a board game café.