Spidey’s Serene Sundays | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 304 – Anything Is Possible 2021

03 Jan 2021 40 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, hope, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Once you choose hope, anything is possible.”
Christopher Reeve

Thank you, Spidey, for finding a perfect quote that ties in with my WOTY! (Word Of The Year)

Definitely a motto I choose to live by.

Such truth.

Which is why I never lose hope.

Things may be going crazy around you, but sometimes, you just have to cling to the hope that they might just get better.

Though, I must add, more often than not, it’s not just hope that helps change to occur. You have to be kinda proactive with your actions, too!

So… tell me, are you hopeful for our future?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 303 – Goodbye 2020

27 Dec 2020 28 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: 2021, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”
Paulo Coehlo

What a quote, Spidey, thank you!

This is the last Serene Spidey of a year that has been far from serene.

One that we will all be thankful to say goodbye too.

But there is plenty to look forward to, as well.

This year has sapped my energy in more ways than I can explain. I lost my writing mojo in August, then being in school, dealing with pandemic issues, as well as teaching… and juggling work and safety, with keeping my own school age children, and their grandparents, safe, too. It’s been too much.

We’ve seen and heard of loved ones being unwell, some losing the battle to stay on this earth with us. It’s been heratbreaking.

I’ve surrounded myself with good books to read, and learned the fun of binge watching series, and surfing various streaming sites for obscure films, when the endless Sky channels are filled with mindless reruns.

But, it’s not all been bad, has it?

For me, I published my first novel! If I can’t remember 2020 fondly for that, it would be extremely sad.

I also got a promotion of sorts, and now am responsible for a team of eight staff in my department, and up t one hundred children aged 3-5… I never thought of myself as management… there is still plenty of the year for us to mess up, but so far, so good…

And, give or take a few hiccups, we have redecorated our first home inside and out, and started the hunt for our forever home!

I’ve hated not being able to choose when I see my family and loved ones, but the connections have definitely been made stronger with those we love, via phone, video-calls, and thoughtful little gifts.

There have even been new additions to the family that we haven’t been able to meet, yet.

And, though this virus is still spreading, mutating, and causing other issues, there is finally a vaccine… That’s good news, too.

And now, we are on the brink of a new year.

It’s not going to be perfect, straight away, but the chance for betterment is there, for us all.

I’m not one for making resolutions.

If I am honest, if there is something that needs doing, I find it’s better to start when the urge hits, but one thing I want to try and do, is to finish my first draft of book two, within the next year. (Sooner, rather than later, hopefully!)

So, if anyone knows where my muse is hiding, you know where to send them!

So… tell me, what are your thoughts on the new year?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 302 – Christmas 2020

20 Dec 2020 47 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Christmas, Coronavirus, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

Christmas isn’t a parade or a concert, but a piece of home you keep in your heart, wherever you go.”
Donnaa Vanliere

Thank you. Spidey, for finding some words to soothe, at a very tough time.

Earlier, I was wallowing, because it was confirmed that a colleague of mine, that I had contact with, has tested positive. this meant that I was to be in self-isolation for ten days, taking me up to 27th December.

Yup, missing out on Christmas, totally.

But the rest of the family would be okay. They could, at least, go and see the in-laws, and there might have been some semblance of normality.

We were just getting ourselves prepared.

I’d already bought a frozen turkey crown, pigs in blankets, and all the veggies, and crackers, etc, just in case of us being at home, rather than with the extended family. Presents were ready for a doorstep exchange, just in case, too.

And the hope was, that on the 27th December, the last day of the 5 day Christmas Grace that the Government had deemed a possibility for families across England, we could all be together for a short while, at least. (Providing I don’t feel unwell, or end up testing positive myself in the next few days.)

But at 4pm(ish) on Saturday, BoZo and his clueless minions took the decision (which they should have taken ages ago, when the virus numbers started to rise considerably) to cancel the original Christmas plans of three households being able to mix between 23rd and 27th December, and they have also introduced a new Tier 4, (under which we are, now, too, being in Kent).

So from tomorrow, we are effectively in lockdown, again, until at least 30th December. No non-essential shops to be open, no indoor gyms, hairdressers, nail salons, etc. No going into other households, unless you are in a support bubble. Only meeting maximum of one person from another household, outside.

It’s gutting for those who really had their hearts set on seeing their families for the festive period.

I, for one, would usually be seeing my parents for a couple of days. I’ve not seen them since August. But we had already decided that their safety was more important, and that video calls would be the plan for the day.

But I think what is important to remember, is the essence of the quote above.

Christmas is in our hearts. And even if it has to be a quiet one this year, the hope is that all the cancelled joy we have experienced this year, will mean we are safer, healthier and happier, for the next one.

So… tell me, how are you feeling, if the new Christmas plans have affected you?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 301 – Angel

13 Dec 2020 39 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Angel, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Loss, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“As long as there is love and memory, there is no true loss.”
Cassandra Clare

Thank you, Spidey for such a touching quote today.

Yesterday, I received the news that a very precious person, my aunt, passed away.

Malli Bhua was one of my Pops’ sisters. She lived in America, and after a wonderful 94-year life, she bid us farewell, and went to meet her Maker.

She was the sweetest of souls. A woman who was peaceful, through and through. Spiritual, with an aura of someone special about her.

We lived in different countries. I hadn’t seen her for many years, but our love was still strong. The memories I do have of her, will always stay close to my heart.

I am just thankful that Pops was able to spend time with her last year, on a trip to see her. We have some precious videos of her, bedridden as she was, even then, kissing the phone screen as she saw videos and photos of her great nephews and niece.

He’s sad. We’re all sad.

But grateful that she is no longer living a life stuck in bed, unable to do anything for herself, anymore. She is at peace, now.

My Malli Phua will never be forgotten.

RIP my beatiful Aunt 🙏🏽

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 300 – Tercentenary!

06 Dec 2020 44 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

Thank you for sticking with Spidey and me for the last 300 (ish) weeks!
Ritu Bhathal

Wow!

Spidey. You and me for 300 weekly posts. That is kind of mind blowing, isn’t it?

I thought, this week, we would just go back to the origins of Spidey’s Serene Sundays, especially for all you newer followers!

Way back when… 300 ish weeks ago, I was relatively new to blogging. I had fallen into this blogisphere, to be honest, and I had no clue about what to write. I used to post randomly. There was an awful lot of stream of consciousness posts, though I wasn’t aware that was their name. And I’d post random stuff. Silly pics, anecdotes, my thoughts.

No rhyme, nor reason.

One Sunday morning, I went to visit the bathroom, as you do, and I was greeted with the sight of Spidey, as above, sitting on the bathroom window sill, in deep meditation.

My son, Lil Man, was obsessed with all things Spidey, at that age. It was a fixation that lasted for a good few years. It meant that pretty much every place in our house had something Spidey-themed. From plates and cups in the kitchen, to Spiderman toothbrushes and flannels in the bathroom, duvet covers in the bedroom, to a wardrobe filled with Spidey tops, tracksuits and even undies! (These were all my son’s, one anyone else’s I hasten to add.

Even my in-law’s house wasn’t missed. There were toys, and even a dress up outfit there, too.

In fact, Spidey was even there in his learning, with Spidey Learn to Write and Learn to Count books, and even special reading books!

So, that morning, I didn’t bat an eyelid at Spidey sitting there, as I performed my morning ablutions.

Then, as I went about my day, an idea hatched in my mind. Spidey was looking so serene, and full of wisdom, why not incorporate him into a regular post?

And so, Spidey’s Serene Sundays was born.

300 (ish) posts, (ish, because I may have missed a week, here or there, and misnumbered in the past – come on. I am human, after all!) and here we still are. It has been wonderful, discussing inspirational quotes with Spidey, and filtering our thoughts here, every week, and I have some of you diehard readers, who don’t miss a single Spidey post, ever!

Here’s to another 300, eh!

So… tell me, how long have you been a reader of Spidey’s?