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

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #433 – Positive Attitude

25 Jun 2023 16 Comments

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

“Change your attitude and it will change your life.”
Unknown

Thanks, Spidey.

Just a short one today.

Sometimes we get held back in life because of the way we are thinking.

This is my reminder to you to change your thinking if you are in a funk.

A lot of the time, we need to alter our mindset in order to achieve what we dream of.

It is possible, I promise!

I had dug myself into a hole recently, what with a lot going on in my life, in every area.

A few weeks back, I realised that it was only I who could alter the way things were going by changing my thinking.

And, though everything is not miraculously better, I can see an upwards turn in events, and that makes me happy. I did that by choosing to think about things in a more positive light.

So, Peeps, what will you try and think differently about? 😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #432 – Father’s Day

18 Jun 2023 15 Comments

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

“There’s no pillow quite so soft as a father’s strong shoulder.”
Richard L. Evans

Thanks, Spidey.

What a week… That is all I can say…

And today is Father’s Day here in the UK!

This is a shout-out to the special fathers in my life.

I wouldn’t be the person I am without my Pops. He is my inspiration, a constant support, and I confess to being the world’s biggest daddy’s girl!

Obviously, we are celebrating Hubby Dearest, too. Even if I tried, I couldn’t choose a better father for my children.

Then, I will remember my father-in-law, who is the reason I have my hubby.

And I will acknowledge my brother, who is an amazing daddy to my two Finndian nephews!

So, Peeps, who is that special male role model in your life who you would celebrate today? 😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #431 Over/Underwhelm

11 Jun 2023 25 Comments

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

“A woman who lives with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule will often ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul.”
Karenn Salmansohn

Thanks, Spidey, for something that really hit hard.

Yesterday I said something to myself.

“I don’t know why, but right now, I feel overwhelmingly underwhelmed.”

Is it a sign of stress and burnout?

Quite possibly.

I know I have had a two-week break from school. However, my school-work hasn’t stopped. I was writing reports and doing admin for next year. So, no, I didn’t totally switch off. And there is the data that needs to be submitted in three weeks…

I had the book launch last week, involving a lot of being online and available for long periods of time, which can be tiring. And that is ongoing, as the book tour starts tomorrow, and I still need to be promoting, too.

And there is home stuff which means I feel like I am on tenterhooks all the time. I feel like I am on call 24/7, just in case. As a result, I sleep very lightly and wake at the slightest noise, but then I go through this cycle when I am so tired that I sleep the sleep of the dead for a few days.

This is coupled with that old cherry – Perimenopause.

Oh, and you know all the joint aches and pains I have mentioned since 2019? Well, the GP reckons it is something musculoskeletal. Quite possibly fibromyalgia. Also could explain the sudden bouts of tiredness.

I do try to nourish my underwhelmed soul. I managed to get a pedicure this week, and though moments have been snatched, I have chilled in the garden and read a book or two. However, maybe I need to do more?

Today is the last day of my break before an extremely manic term 6 starts. I will try to stay as chilled as I can so I am able to function. It won’t be easy, but I know, more than anyone, that you can’t pour from an empty cup, and my cup seems to be pouring quite a lot. I must refill as much as possible, too.

So, Peeps, have you ever felt this? 😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #430 Overload!

04 Jun 2023 26 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, SAsAJ, Spiderman, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Straight As A Jalebi

“Sometimes sitting and doing nothing is the best something you can do.”
Karenn Salmansohn

Thanks, Spidey, for that reminder.

In fact, it’s why I am late posting, for a change.

It’s been half term, yes, but coupled with a couple of weeks off, I had my book launch, as well as deadlines for reports to be written… and I need to make a start on my class lists for next year, too.

So, the last week was BUSY.

Yes, the launch is still going.

Even with a publisher, you have to be hot on the heels of everything, with promotion and the inevitable checking of rankings and ratings.

And I have completed half of my reports. I hope to do a couple more today, so I have less over the next week.

Then I have to tackle that class list. It’s not just as simple as cutting it in half. I have to look at gender and age and take into account notes from the parents and nurseries to see if I can create a decent split that will work. Even though I know that until we finally get these children in, I will never know if I got it right!

So, this morning, I had a lie-in, then made a shed load of graphics for promo time!

And next week, the others are back to school, but I still have my week off. So I will finish those reports and the class list and then make time for my something/nothing!

But I can never totally switch off…Did you manage to order?

https://mybook.to/StraightAsAJalebi

So, Peeps, how often do you do nothing? 😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #429 – Self-Promotion!

28 May 2023 24 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, SAsAJ, Spiderman, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Straight As A Jalebi

“Sometimes you just got to do things by yourself.”
Ritu Bhathal

Sorry for hijacking your post today, Spidey, but I have been rather lax recently, but there is the small matter of my new release happening on THURSDAY!

OMG, Peeps!

It’s out on THURSDAY!!!

Ebook preorder only 99p!

And I’ve been reliably informed the paperback should be available 10 days to 2 weeks later!!

Eeek!

“This is a delightful male-male sweet romance. Sunny is just adorable and Milan is the perfect guy for him! I raced through this book in one highly enjoyable weekend. “
Bestselling author Jeevani Charika

Blurb

Who knew that an innocent trip to India in the year 2000 would have such an impact on his life?

Sunny had only gone as a chaperone for his sister and her best friend and to attend to a few business matters.

He’d ended up with a deal that would change the shape of his professional future and possibly his personal one, too.

Battling the pressures of marriage by his family isn’t Sunny’s only fight, as he finds his feelings for a certain ‘friend’ may be more than just friendship.

But how can he tell anyone how he truly feels?
Because the road to love isn’t always straight…

Ritu Bhathal is a fresh, new, and much-needed voice for British Asian fiction.

Straight As a Jalebi is Book 2 in the Rishtay Series, following the Gill family in the new millennium.

https://mybook.to/StraightAsAJalebi

So, Peeps, have you pre-ordered yet? 😊