Thoughts Opinions & Memories | But I Smile Anyway...

My Christmas Wish For You All #FridayFeelings

22 Dec 2017 72 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Christmas, Christmas Wish

Well hello, Peeps!

I thought I’d reach out to you all on this Friday before Christmas, the calm before the storm, so to speak!

Got a busy weekend ahead, followed by the madness and mayhem that is Christmas, before I can sit and really ‘create’ a post again!

Firstly, I should let you all know that this weekend, I shall finally get to see my parents – Yay!!!! We were determined that weather and all sorts would not get in the way, and it looks like we will have our get together!

Secondly, I wanted to give you a few words as my Christmas gift to you all.

Forgiveness is key.

If there are any grudges or hurts you are holding inside, please, try and let them go.

Something I have been dealing with personally has let me to want to say this to those I hold dear to me, and that includes all of you reading this too.

People make mistakes.

Often they will only make them once, though there are those that never learn.

But we are all human, and if someone has wronged you, talk it out, and then try and put it behind you.

Sometimes the only person you are hurting by not forgiving is yourself.

Take heed – I haven’t said Forgive and Forget.

I fully understand that there are situations you cannot ever forget, but if you take the step to forgive, the memory can usually fade, not be a glaring reminder, but rather a dim beacon of caution.

And if you are able to forgive, life can be so much easier to cope with.

With this thought in mind, go forth and enjoy your Christmas Peeps!

Eat, drink (not too much!) and be merry!

Christmas Love to you all!!!!!

#WritePhoto – Thaw

21 Dec 2017 42 Comments

by Ritu in #WritePhoto, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #WritePhoto, Barbie and Ken, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Fiction, Photo Prompt, Thaw

Sue’s #WritePhoto Prompt this week:

I thought I’d continue the adventures of Barbie and Ken.

She stood at the bar window, looking out over the snow dusted landscape, wishing it wasn’t melting so fast.

“Babe, it’s a shame you couldn’t sort the snow out… I really wanted a white Christmas this year!” Barbie turned to her long-suffering boyfriend Ken.

“Did you see on Instagram, how much snow the others had in Scotland? And this…sludge… is what we get.” She pouted like a 3-year-old.

Finally sensing a thaw in her icy treatment of him, after the episode last week, when he’d not been waiting for her at the sports bar, rather, he’d left her waiting whislt dreaming of other women, Ken grasped the chance to get back into her good books.

“I’ll just check the weather app on my phone, Babe… Let’s see what we can do.” Ken wandered over to the bar to get himself a pint, and a Prosecco for the lady, and to figure out what to do.

Seriously? She wanted snow now? In the middle of Essex? That idea of the undemanding Sindy as his girlfriend was seriously appealing…

As if the cosmos had been listening, the door to the bar opened and in walked Sindy and her friends. They piled in, bringing a gust of cold wind with them.

Sindy spotted Ken and came rushing over, kissing him on both cheeks. “Hiya Ken darling! How are you? Been let off your leash then, have you?” She winked at him.

He looked over at where Barbie was standing, no longer looking out of the window, but in his direction, the ice forming in her eyes once more, as she surveyed the scene; her man surrounded by ‘bimbos’ and one with her arms slung over his shoulders.

“Er, ha ha, yeah, funny Sind. Listen got to go, drinks are getting warm. See you round!” Ken grabbed his pint and the bubble filled flute and rushed back to his very own Ice Queen…

Sindy watched him retreat, and noticed the look on Barbie’s face… Hmm. Trouble in paradise?

To be continued…

#writephoto

#WRITESPIRATION #146 52 WEEKS IN 52 WORDS WEEK 51 – Cemetary @sacha_black

21 Dec 2017 18 Comments

by Ritu in #Writespiration, Fiction, Sonu Singh, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #Writespiration, 52 Word Challenge, All Night, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Cemetery, Flash Fiction, Sacha Black, Sacha De Black, Sherry

Sacha’s #Writespiration prompt this week:

Your challenge is to write your story using the weekly theme/prompt and write it in just 52 words…. EXACTLY, no more, no less.

writespiration-2017

This week I want you to write about the night you spent in a cemetery

That’s the last time I take a bottle with me when going to visit Gran!
She always liked a tipple, so, I brought her favourite drink to the cemetery, where she was buried.
One bottle of sherry plus only one (alive) person drinking = passed out and locked in for the night!

http://sachablack.co.uk/2017/12/20/writespiration-146-52-weeks-in-52-words-week-51/

One-Liner Wednesday – #1LinerWeds – Holi-Yay!

20 Dec 2017 39 Comments

by Ritu in #1linerweds, #onelinerwednesday, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #1linerweds, #onelinerwednesday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Holidays, School

School’s OUT for Christmas! YESSSSS! – Said ALL the teachers!!!!! (and the students!)

Just gotta crawl through this last day… involving 2 parties for both my nursery classes, and popping into the one for my Reception class too… then the staff Christmas dinner tonight!

I can switch my alarm off recurring too for two weeks!!!!

For Linda’s #1LinerWeds Challenge.

The Autumn Tag

19 Dec 2017 25 Comments

by Ritu in Tags, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: autumn, Autumn Tag, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, tag

Another day, another tag!

Thank you to Rachael of the blog Rachael’s Thoughts for thinking of me for the Autumn Tag! I know it’s late – winter is fully upon us, but hey, where there’s a tag, there’s a way!

There were no rules as such, but some autumnal questions to answer so I thought, what the heck! I may as well, and I will leave this as an open tag for anyone to join!

What signifies autumn to you?
Autumn for me starts when the leaves start to change colour on the trees. When the evenings start to draw in and you feel the need to wear cosy jumpers!

What is the best way to spend a rainy day?
Definitely, the best way to spend a rainy day for me would be with my snuggly robe on, sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and a good book!

What is your most fond autumn memory?
Taking my children out in the park with areas full of fallen leaves, and watching them kicking the leaves about, and enjoying every moment!

What is your favourite autumn scent?
I’m not sure what scent I would consider as autumnal, but as you get to the end of autumn, and winter is starting to move in, the seasonal scents, like cinnamon, are extremely pleasurable!

What are you most excited about this autumn?
Autumn has been and gone for us this year, but to be honest, as a teacher I look forward to the October holidays the most!!!

What is your favourite autumn song?

I don’t have a favourite autumn song but can I count November Rain by Guns n Roses?

What is your favourite autumn film?
When Harry Met Sally! Lots of autumnal walks, and can you believe that I only watched this a couple of years ago for the first time!?!

What TV show are you looking forward to this autumn?

I’m not a great TV watcher so I have to say I’m not too fussed about any particular shows! But then again, this year I was a bit obsessed with th UK X-Factor, and was so excited that my favourites won!!!

What is your favourite autumn colour?
Autumnal colours as a whole are my favourite shades!!! I love the whole browns and caramels, and copper jewellery.

What is your most-loved outdoor autumn activity?
I don’t do outdoor! But at a push, walks in the parks are passable!

What is your favourite autumn fashion trend?
Layering up different autumnal shades, when I get a chance to get out of teacher clothes. I used to have a fav chocolat brown furry hat…!

Name one place you wish you could visit during autumn?
I have to say that isn’t something I have ever thought about, but I’d love to, given a chance, visit my sister in law’s summer house by the lakes in Finland! The scenery looks so beautiful from all the photos I have seen, it would be spectacular with all the beautiful autumnal colours!

What is your favourite photo you took last autumn?

When Sonu Sing Met my lil niece!!!! A wonderful sunny yet cool autumnal day surrounded by my favourite people!