“Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever.”
Roy T. Bennett
Thank you, Spidey, for another profound quote for me to ponder upon.
We’ve certainly, as a whole planet, weathered a huge storm this last few months.
I don’t think there are many people out there who haven’t been affected by the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
If there is anyone, lucky you.
Most people have either known someone who has contacted this nasty virus, if they haven’t suffered themselves, or they know of someone who has been taken from this earth too early. Another victim of COVID-19.
If the virus hasn’t physically affected you, you still feel the effects. Be it your job. If you weren’t in essential jobs, suddenly you were at home. Either working from home, furloughed (if in the UK, at least) or you found yourself out of work.
Kids sitting at home, parents trying to be teachers.
Worry on your mind for members of family or friends who were sheilding, as vulnerable members of the community.
Who’d have thought that a time would come where you wouldn’t even be able to hug your own friends and family, if they didnt live in the same house as you?
Four months of a storm that is only just showing signs of calming a little. But it hasn’t disappeared yet.
There is still a chance the storm may pick up it’s severity again.
But we can’t live in fear either.
So, we carry on with life, as best we can, hoping that we don’t get caught in the storm… again…
So… tell me, are you hopeful?
Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps And enjoy your week! ❤
Another feature for me, this time on Val Penny’s Blog!
I am delighted to be joined on the blog today by writer and blogger, Ritu Bhathal. Thank you so much for taking time for an interview with me, Ritu. 1 Please tell my readers a little about yourself…
It gives me great pleasure to tell you that today is a very special day.
You’ve already read about Lil Man and his birthday. And the fact that he was born on my mother’s 55th birthday – a present I couldn’t ever surpass.
Well, today is her 70th birthday!
It is a tough time to have a big birthday, especially since we aren’t even near them, and I can’t go and do a driveby celebration, but I know you will all help me to celebrate with her.
My mum is the absolute best person in the world. She is an amazing woman with the hugest heart.
My Beautiful Mum ❤
Born into a family with parents who were pretty forward thinking for their time, my mum was given the best education, including an British boarding school, in Kenya, where she was born, and then university in Bath. (She even briefly knew Mary Berry!)
She married my Pops, an arranged marriage, and started a totally different life. My Pops’ family is different. A great bunch, but maybe, at that time, not so forward thinking. So Mum settled into the life of a housewife, living in an extended family with no parent’-in-law, but plenty of sisters’-in-law (Pops has a HUGE family) and kids all over the show!
After marriage
They moved to England in the early 70’s and as Pops settled into his dentistry, saving to buy their own first home, Mum found a job in the Civil Service, but was never able to start it, as she fell pregnant with me! A decision was made between them both then, that mum would be a stay at home mum, to look after the family and home, while Pops was the breadwinner. That was the norm in those days.
I’m in her tummy, there!
Cue many years of being mum and house wife, as my brother entered the scene, as well as many other members of our family. Our home became a place where people started to send their kids when they were of a certain age, to continue education in Britain, from Kenya, so I had at least eight different room-mates over the years, from cousins my age, to older ones, to some who were having babies and staying with us for the support.
And Mum was there, being surrogate mum to all these different people, as well as being a fantastic mum to us.
Here we both are ❤
As the houseguests lessened, and my brother and I got older, Mum took a job, helping Pops with his dental surgery, and the management.
Then us kids got married, and she became the best grandma ever, to my two children, including Lil Man, who shares her birthday, and to my brother’s two darlings.
The birthday buds!
Mum hasn’t just been key in our lives, but I have many cousins and nephews and neices, who look upon Mum, and Pops as their guides too. Her love is so great that she always welcomes all with open arms, offering love, advice and cake.
She is the best cook, a wonderful baker and she’s a sucker for hoarding things, but I’m not complaining, because mum’s squirreled away things become little treasures for us, when they are brought out! From old materials and clothes, to household gadgets, and hundreds, if not thousands of photos.
But all the time, she never stopped being the biggest support to us all. Mum has always been, and still is, my mentor, my guiding light, and someone I aspire to be like.
I’d like to take this time to ask you all to help me wish my darling mother a very happy 70th birthday! Here’s hoping I’ll be able to see her soon, so I can give her the biggest hug ❤
So, we have lived fourteen weeks in this strange new world…
Go, grab a drink, I’m here, waiting, with mine.
So, the second week back at school was interesting, in a different way. The children have settled down to this alternative way of leraning, and I am surprised how they aren’t asking to mix with the other classes, satsified with their own little bubble for company. I’m not complaining, it would be harder if they weren’t enjoying it. I hav been told I have one of my Special Ed children coming back, on Monday, but for a trial, as if he cannot cope with the way we have to school at the moment, he won’t be able to stay. But Monday will tell us what we need to know.
I also had a meeting with the Head to discuss next year. I cannot tell you the BIG news, but I can confirm that I will still be in Reception next year, and maybe I’ll be able to complete a full year with no craziness, this time!
In other worlds, the pains are still there, but not as bad, but I am still tired after a day at school. Naps happen without me intending, if I sit for a moment.
But, I have been busy with other things too. I thought that, to combat my low energy levels, I need to do something healthy, so I signed up to Couchto5k. This is an NHS approved app, which helps you begin to run, in small increments, building up your stamina and fitness. And I completed the first week’s 3 runs! It’s been very hot here the last week, so aside from the first day, where I stupidly decided that 5.30pm would be aa good time to go, and I melted, slightly, Lil Man and I have been going together, as he has signed up too, even though he can run 5k with no worries. See, my supportive son ❤
I also downloaded two other challenge apps, the 30 day Plank Challenge and the 30 day Flatter Tummy Challenge, so I am trying to do those as well…
Aaaaand… I am trying my hand at Keto eating again too, for a while, to hopefully lose some of this fat! I did attempt this before but found the prep hard work, but this time I am determined. Sunday brunch was yummy, and totally diet friendly! Keto Almond flour and coconut oil pancakes with berries!
On Saturday we had a socially distanced celebration for my Brothe-in-law and his wife as it was their 10th wedding anniversary. Typical that the gift we ordered didn’t arrive on time, so I hope I can get it to them on Monday instead.
This week, I have two special birthdays to celebrate. They’re today, actually, you’ll see a post it a short while. Lil Man is 15 and my darling mum is 70! Wow! Where does the time go? Aside from school, and the exercise, my aim is to get my writing mojo back now too. Wish me luck!
Oh, 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!
This is just a note to you all to say, I’m still around but not doing any challenges for a while.
It’s hectic at work right now, and I am trying to get some exercise into my life as well, on top of using time I have to write, when I have it.
Spidey will still be around on Sundays, as will my Chai and a Chat post on Mondays, but other than that, I will post sporadically.
Energy levels have been really low, but I am hoping that the exercise will help build me up again, and work is exhausting too. I have a lot going on there, what with the slow easing on lockdown, and getting ready for September. But we are getting there, slowly…
I will still linger, and read posts as and when, but I want to apologise in advance, if I miss any of your wonderful musings and creativity. Its because I’m chockablock!
Take care, and I’ll be back properly, soon enough! 💜
