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

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #2

02 Dec 2018 48 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tips, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas, Blogmas 2018

Day 2 of Blogmas… what gem of advice will my advent calendar or tips reveal today?

Make sure you have a fantastic About Me page.

Seriously, this is so important. Many bloggers will click onto your blog, and head there first, so they can get a feel of you as a blogger, or a person, or at least the reason why you are publishing blog posts.

And it’s not enough to just start with your About Me page, then leave it to do it’s own thing… no, you should revisit it, refre3sh it and update it. There may be news, or achievements you want to add to it. Possibly life developments that change the direction of your blog.

Keep it fresh. Keep it new. Keep it you!

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #1

01 Dec 2018 51 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tips, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas 2018

Well hello there! Can you believe it? December already! And I thought I would partcipate in Blogmas this yer, in my own way, with a set of blog tips. Consider my posts to be be a sort of advent calendar to open each day with a little nugget of advice, or tips to help you through your blogging journey!

My first tip will be this:

Start your blog with an eye-catching name.

Don’t sell out with one named [insert own name’s] Blog, or Poetry, or anything mundane like that. If you are blogging to a particular niche, then tailor it to that, if not, find something that will stick in people’s mind. It’s like choosing a title for a book, or a name for your child… The memorable names stick…

Rodeo #3: Travel with a Twist Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

30 Nov 2018 12 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Rodeo, Winners

Check out the winners of Rodeo #3!

By Sherri Matthews Well, we asked for travel stories with a twist, and we got ‘em. Thank you so much to all who entered, 29 in all. You’ve taken us around the world (twice), to Rome and through mo…

Source: Rodeo #3: Travel with a Twist Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

In case you’re interested, my entry was this…

Always BE Prepared!

Travel light. That’s what mum always said.

Easy enough when you are off on holiday to a sun-soaked destination. What more do you need than a few swimsuits, some cheap sundresses, sunglasses and sun cream?

So, there I was, with my one bag, ready to be slung into the overhead locker.

And there was Jen.

With her huge suitcase.

“Jeez Jen! What’s in there? Your whole life?”

“Always be prepared,” she smirked.

***

The wind howled.

For the third day running the weathermen warned us to stay inside.

I sat, shivering.

Not Jen.

In her emergency thermals and gloves.

COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 112, “COLD & SAFE,” #SYNONYMSONLY

27 Nov 2018 26 Comments

by Ritu in #ColleensWeeklyPoetryChallenge, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #ColleensWeeklyPoetryChallenge, #MicroPoetry, #Tanka, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging

It’s Tuesday, and that means Colleen’s Tanka Challenge! Of course, just providing a couple of words would be far too simple, so we have twowords, yes, but we can’t use them! Only synonyms allowed!

Cold & Safe

Winter, Fog, Dawn, Sunset, Nature — Pixabay Image

The chill of winter
Seeping right into my bones
Time to get cosy
I need to hibernate now
Protect myself from winter

Ritu 2018

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/11/27/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-112-cold-safe-synonymsonly/

Chai & A Chat #8 #ChaiAndAChat

26 Nov 2018 37 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Chai and a Chat

Well hello there! It’s Monday morning so it must mean time for our Chai And A Chat catch up!

If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you that Monday and Tuesday were total washouts weatherwise, and other! It was windy and rainy, and even haily at some times! I was glad to be inside in the warmth, to be honest…
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that the reason for my being at home was because Lil Princess was still not well, neither was I and Lil Man had the sore throat from h*ll accompanied by some suitable hot temperatures… it ended up being tonsillitis, and he was prescribed antibiotics.
If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you that the braces have not been successful so far, because of his sore throat. I couldn’t expect him to put up with the pain of those things whilst he could barely eat or talk! Hopefully, we can try again next week.
If we were sipping chai together, I’d say, rather sadly, that I wasn’t able to attend the moderation, part one, because of the sickness etc. But never fear, there is part two next week, which I should be able to attend!
If we were sipping chai together, I’d let you know that Lil Man’s first district cricket trial was very promising. I now think I know what it means to bowl a left Chinaman, but I still can’t be sure…
If we were sipping chai together, I’d also sadly tell you we heard of the passing of two lovely family members this week… Death is never a good thing, but when it ends someone’s suffering, I guess you see there is a silver lining…
If we were sipping chai together, I’d happily say that we managed to get out and have our anniversary dinner out too, though that was not without its own drama, trying to instil the importance of family time, and NO PHONES at the table! Yes, Lil Princess, I’m talking about you!
If we were sipping chai together, I would also be extremely pleased to tell you I have started the edit and read through finally! Four chapters done so far!!! I may just finish this stage soon!

If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that I am really looking forward to my meal out with my Tootie Frootie mummies on Friday!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you Lil Man has another trial for his District Cricket possible selection…
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say I hope these colds that are threatening to hit decide to disappear!

Have a great week everyone! Let me know what you’ve been up to!