But I Smile Anyway...

#SoCS Sept. 24, 2022 – Home

24 Sep 2022 22 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, Socs

Linda’s SoCS prompt.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “home.” Use it as a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Enjoy!

Home is where the heart is.

That is something I truly believe.

There is not just one place I call home.

Of course, the house we bought last year and live in with our family is our forever home. It is a very special place where we have hopes and dreams of living in for many, many years to come.

But I still consider the house I lived in with my in-laws to be home, too. My pad in the town, so to speak.

Then there are the houses I associate with my direct family abroad. Or there used to be, but the family living there has sold the properties I thought of as home… There were 2 specific places in Kenya where I spent many a week every summer. Pops’s family home, and Mum’s family home.

And I can’t forget our home in Finland where my brother lives! Yes, it would be a squash and a squeeze, but my brother’s house is my home, too.

Sometimes I think wherever I lay my hat is my home since even when we are away, and it’s the end of the day/night, we’ll say, “Shall we go home, now?” meaning the hotel/flat we are staying in.

It’s like wherever I feel comfortable and happy, that is home.

But the one special place that will always be the #1 home for me. My parents’ home. Where I grew up. Where I felt the most amount of love. Where I left, feeling ready to live my own life. Where I go back and feel like I never left. Where my Pops and Mum are.

That is home.

And I hope that our forever home will be the place my own children feel that same pull as they grow older and fly the nest…

https://lindaghill.com/2022/09/23/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-24-2022/

Chai And A Chat #204 #ChaiAndAChat

19 Sep 2022 21 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat

Morning, Peeps. It’s Monday again, and the morning of the Queen’s funeral.

I’ve got my cuppa, and will spend the morning watching the proceedings on the TV since school is closed today.

If we were having chai, I’d say that school was an excellent place to be, with the children beginning to stay for lunches with us. You can tell this is the year group who have been least affected by the last couple of years’ lockdowns, as it feels like a more typical intake compared to the last couple of years. There will always be wrinkles to iron out, but nothing that appears to need industrial action! We stayed with the children for their lunches last week to ease them into it all and allow our lunchtime supervisors to become familiar with them and their personalities.
If we were having chai, I’d say that I had a first this week. Lil Man is no longer a Lil Man, as he was invited to his first proper party, with his mates all getting to that turning 18 time of life! We live a little further out now compared to before, so it was engineered that we spent the evening with the in-laws, and were able to pick him up before heading home at around midnight. It’s scary, that first time, letting go. But he has a sensible head on his shoulders and as long as he keeps it that way, there are no worries. I think he had a good time, but he was shattered after!
If we were having chai, I would tell you that I have nothing more to report, since the week has been busy with school… Sonu Singh is fine, but a reluctant model this week, so no pics today!

This week, school is only 4 days what with HRH the Queen’s funeral today. The children start full time with us as well, so I am sure I will be even more knackered than usual, too!

And while you’re here, did you sign up for my mailing list? I am in the middle of writing an exclusive Chickpea Curry Lit story for my subscribers, and there will be news, tips and even recipes! You know you want to join… go on! Click the pic below to sign up!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 393 – Of Queues and the British

18 Sep 2022 26 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Queue, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an ordely queue of one.”
George Mikes

Thank you, Spidey, for a little humour at this sombre time.

I think that if you have social media or access to a news channel or the internet, wherever you are on this planet, you will have heard of ‘The Queue’ or the ‘QueueEII’ (Not coined by me, but rather clever, don’t you think?)

The queue I am referring to is the queue all self-respecting Brits have been in training for all their lives.

It’s the queue that has stretched for 5 miles across London for those well-wishers who want to pay their respects to the late Queen, who is lying in state at Westminster Palace until before the funeral tomorrow.

People, including David Beckham (not one to push ahead, but wanting to pay his respects the way everyone who wishes to, should) are queueing for up to 17 hours, slowly walking at 0.1 miles an hour, shuffling towards the Palace, where they get a chance to personally pay their respects to our late Monarch.

It is the Queue of all queues. You get a wristband, you can’t save a place for others, there are toilets and water stations open along the way. If you wish to join, you are advised to bring food, drinks and blankets, and even stools to aid your wait. (Stops short at tents. No TENTS allowed!)

The Queue has its own YouTube channel and Twitter account and even its own weather mention!

It is a queue that has shown the most British of Britishness, where new friends are being made, and the general atmosphere is one of respect, and knowing they are part of a huge piece of modern British History in the making.

Some say the queue will be responsible for bringing Britain out of Brexit, and a part of the European Union again, as it stretches so far that France sees the latest to join the queue as it snakes onto their turf… (a little joke I read somewhere on Twitter!)

There was an accessible queue too, but that has now closed for any new joiners.

But, what an amazing show of respect from the people, not only of Britain but others who have come from other parts of the world, to do the same.

Charlie King 3, as one of my newest Reception students, told me he was called (I love it, King Charles the Third will always be Charlie King 3 to me from now on!) and the new Prince of Wales even came out to meet some of those at the front of the queue who had been there slowly moving all night, and they marvelled at the stoicism and will of those there, remarking that, had she witnessed it, the Queen would have truly appreciated this outpouring of love because that is exactly what it is.

Alas, I am not able to be a part of this queue, but I have all the channels on which to watch it happen in live action… And I will watch the emotional send-off, tomorrow, on TV at home.

So, are you good at queueing, or have you been a part of this historic Queue?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

#SoCS Sept. 17, 2022 – Ring

17 Sep 2022 13 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, Socs

Linda’s SoCS prompt.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ring.” Use it as a noun or a verb. Bonus points if you use it as both. Have fun!

"She's not home, yet, I'll give her a ring."
Voicemail left, then I hear a ping
Phone left here on the bedside table

And then I spy the glint of a ring
My heart contracts, I feel the sting
Head spinning, I sit, unstable

Under the ring a crumpled note
'Dear John,' her unsteady hand wrote
'I'm sorry it had to come to this

By now, I realise you'll know
And so I think it's time to go
without that fabled one last kiss

She told me in my dreams last night
She'd take me before last light
I couldn't let you see

My body's broken, my mind a mess
Yet you never loved me less
I hope you forgive me

Goodbye my love, know I'm at peace
No more pain, no more meds increase
This thing, it has not won

Instead, it's me, gone at my will
Even though my eyes, they fill
Tears, I choose to shun

...

Ritu 2022


I must say, I have no idea where this came from...