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

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 112

09 Apr 2017 21 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Quote, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

Spidey

“When someone says “You’ve changed”, it simply means you’ve stopped living life their way.” – Unknown

Spidey and I don’t fear change. He, after all changes regularly, to a form that is not usual for the rest of us. But that is a little extreme!

The thing is, for the best part, we tend to live our lives, carve out habits that are instilled into us by the folk around us. Sometimes it takes us growing up, and finding our own beliefs and thoughts, to realise that what we are doing is not what we really want, but just what society dictates that we do.

If we are strong enough to make a change, be it turn to vegetarianism, take our faith more seriously or even standing up for ourselves, there will always be someone who it rankles against.

And it is not because we are doing anything wrong, it is because those we used to ‘follow’ are unfamiliar with the direction we have taken.

Don’t let this stop you from taking independent steps though. Our thoughts on this are that you listen to others to get opinions. Sometimes we all make mistakes in decisions we make, but, unless there is a good reason, stand by what you believe.

Be yourself, and be happy.

It takes all sorts to make this a wonderful world to live in. Life would be boring if we were all exactly the same.

Have a wonderful Sunday Peeps!

Song Challenge (Music That Means Something) Day 4 The Carpenters and Maxi Priest Close To You

09 Apr 2017 40 Comments

by Ritu in Tags, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Close To You, Maxi Priest, Music that means something, Song Challenge, The Caarpenters

A thank you goes out to fellow blogger and friend, Lisa, for nominating me for this fun challenge. The rules are:
Post a song a day for five consecutive days.
Post what the lyrics mean to you. (Optional)
Post the name of the song and video.
Nominate 1 or 2 bloggers each day of the challenge.

So, today I have two songs, but of the same name. They are both very different yet appeal to me in different ways.

The first is The Carpenters – Close To You. Simply because it is a song I love to listen to, so soothing, and it has a great sing along quality to it too!

Then there is Maxi Priest and his version of Close To You. A reggae beat, and a favourite of my Hubby Dearest, I had to mention it!

Why do birds suddenly appear, ev’ry time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be close to you.
Why do stars fall down from the sky, ev’ry time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be close to you.

I just wanna be close to you
And do all the things you want me to
I just wanna be close to you
And show you the way I do

And today I nominate Hugh and His Geoffleship

Song Challenge (Music That Means Something) Day 3 Imagine – John Lennon

08 Apr 2017 45 Comments

by Ritu in Tags, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, hope, Imagine, John Lennon, Music that means something, Peace, Song Challenge

A thank you goes out to fellow blogger and friend, Lisa, for nominating me for this fun challenge. The rules are:
Post a song a day for five consecutive days.
Post what the lyrics mean to you. (Optional)
Post the name of the song and video.
Nominate 1 or 2 bloggers each day of the challenge.

Today I think I’ll choose Imagine by John Lennon.

I remember the time I first really got to know this song, and to consider the lyrics. We were singing it at a concert on my 6th from. I was around 16 or 17. The words really struck a chord, and as the years have gone on, they seem all the more poignant.

If only there was more peace in the world… I know it is something that we all wish, but not something easy to accomplish given the present global situation.

Still, we can enjoy this beautiful song together at least, and hope that one day it will happen.

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

And today I nominate my Brother Syl and the musical maestro that is Rob.

#SoCS Apr. 8/17 – Give/Given/Giving

08 Apr 2017 12 Comments

by Ritu in Socs, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charity, Giving, Linda G Hill, Socs

Linda’s #SoCS Prompt this week

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “give/given/giving.” Begin your post with one of those words. Bonus points if you end your post with one as well. Enjoy!

Giving, the greatest feeling ever.

Don’t you think?

It is so easy to take, and to receive. Of course you could buy if you had the money too, but to give, now that is something special.

Yes we all give, in our own ways, presents for birthdays, Christmas, that sort of thing. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it’s the thought that counts.

We often give our hearts too, trusting others with that precious organ of ours.

But to give, unconditionally, be it an object, or time, money or blood, that is a big thing.

Giving to charity, to help those in need, what a noble deed.

I think deep down we all feel that we are charitable. We put the £1 in the pots and contribute towards fundraising days at work or school. But is it enough?

I think the answer to that is a given…

Vinyl Treats

07 Apr 2017 67 Comments

by Ritu in Family, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Back Home, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Records, Technics, Vinyl

You know me, I go home, have a root around and find something interesting to blog about whenever I go home!

And why should this time be any different?

When we had this glut of celebrities keeling over on us last year, I remembered that back in the day I would have bought the records of some of the singers. I wondered whether in the ~~rubbish~~ treasure my mum ~~hoards~~ keeps, those vinyls would be there.

Well they were, and so many more classics I hadn’t even known about before!

As she went to hunt down where my records were, she found a bag with some that had been hers when she was at school. My mum went to an English girls boarding school in Kenya when growing up, and the ‘Matron’ had to keep all their treats, be it edible ones or those things you wanted to listen to. On a weekend, Matron would allow the girls to take their special items, and mum had these 7 inch and 12 inch discs… some real classics!

I actually can’t believe she was into David Bowie!!

Then she hoiked out a little suitcase which held some records that my brother had entrusted in her care… (Mine had still not been found…)

The speeches of Winston Churchill surprised me!

After much huffing and puffing mum uncovered the precious old Technics stereo that we used to use back in the day. My brother has made them keep it, for him to have when he has his own house! And inside, were all the records I remembered!

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I did squeal slightly as I came face to face with a giant arachnid!

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Thankfully he had departed this world already!

And so to the booty inside! My, what a truly 80’s set of albums!

There were singles too!

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And for you Eurovision enthusiasts, look what I found!

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A Beach Boys album too!

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There were children’s nursery rhyme records, and a mini top of the pops album which we used to dance around to too!

My Pops loved Kaoma and Lambada! He bought this himself!

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One day at school we had a second hand sale and I was so proud to buy my first single, New Edition’s Candy Rain… imagine my surprise and disappointment (Sorry God!) when out came a Hindu prayer instead!