But I Smile Anyway...

Throwback Thursday (On Friday!) #47 – Hanging Out

15 Jul 2022 11 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Hanging Out, throwback Thursday

Having another go at Maggie and Laurens, Throwback Thursday challenge! This week it is Lauren who has set the questions.

This week’s prompt is: Hanging Out.

Did you spend more time hanging out at friends’ houses or away from the eyes and ears of your parents? Not as a child. I was a true homebody. My school was a little further away and my friends lived in areas that were not easily accessible to me on a day-to-day basis. But I did hang out at certain cousin’s houses.
If you stayed home, how did you spend your time? As I mentioned before in a previous post, I have a huge extended family, and it was rare to mot have someone staying over. So it was either spending time with them or in my room reading.
Did you have a favourite eatery? On the rare occasion I was able to go out with my friends, we liked Pizzaland. It’s not around anymore, now, though!
Did you go to the mall with friends? I went more with some of my cousins of similar ages but they were like friends to me. We would hang out in Birmingham City Centre and just have a giggle.
Did you choose to socialize at bowling alleys, arcades, or roller rinks? Not that much, but the bowling alley was more of a haunt when I was in university.
Did you go miniature golfing or do another outside activity? Outdoor activities were definitely not my choice of fun!
Did you hang around after school killing time? What did you do? I never hung out after school. It was straight home because Mum used to pick me up.
Did your parents typically know where you were? All of the time. Even as a student in uni I would call them and if we were going out, I would tell them, as there was no point in lying.
Did you prefer to “hang” out with friends or family members? I loved both for different reasons. Being with family meant you could be with people who understood your day-to-day life and culture. With friends, I was able to develop my own individuality, which stayed with me as I grew up.
Was it “cool” to be seen hanging out at any particular place? Quite possibly, as a school kid, yes, but I never knew, lol!
Was there a place you wanted to hang out, but weren’t allowed to? There were times I wished I could stay with my school friends more and just do whatever they got to do, so I could be more involved in conversations about things they had all done, but then again, I could never say I regretted how my childhood was because I had a wonderful one, all things considered!

There you have it! I’ll try to be on this, on the actual Thursday, next week!

Throwback Thursday #47 – Hanging Out

One-Liner Wednesday – Free Time

13 Jul 2022 31 Comments

by Ritu in #onelinerwednesday Tags: #1linerweds, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Day Off, Free Time

“A day off with nothing planned is bliss…”
Ritu Bhathal

For Linda’s #1LinerWeds

Chai And A Chat #194 #ChaiAndAChat

11 Jul 2022 30 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat

Well, lookie here! its Monday, again!

Right now, I think I am going to need a bucket of iced water, not a hot cup of tea! What about you? Melting in this heatwave!

If we were having chai, I’d tell you that it was a manic week at school. Each Sunday night I compile a message to my team, ready for delivery on Monday morning, relaying the main events for the week, and it seems to be getting longer and longer each week, as we have so many things to cram in! There is a lot of staff in and out, as the academy we work for, kindly gave each member of staff 2 days to take off, paid, during the academic year, as a bonus. But most of us either forgot or were saving it for something special that may not have materialized. This means that you either take it or lose it. So right now we are trying to balance everyone rushing to take their days off, and covering their absences with the staff we do have! On top of that there are reports to finish, Sports Days to practice, as well as thinketh about how the end of the year will pan out. Oh, and not forgetting that Ofsted still haven’t called… and even though we are in the final stretch of the year, they still could… they did that last time! So it has been a bit crazy, but I have to say that I was extremely proud of our children who experienced what I call The Kissing Gate for the first time, this year. In order to get them ready for next year, we are getting the parents to drop them at the gate instead of coming up to the playground. It has worked extremely week, I have to say. Probably the parents who are more emotional than the children, who are feeling so grown up. they will be fine with this part of the change, next year, at least!
If we were having chai, I’d say that I took another tumble on Friday. What is the matter with me? Is becoming uncoordinated also a part of the peri-menopause? (Rushes to check Google.) Oh, my days it is indeed something to consider. Clumsiness, which I have always had, can be worse as you enter the early stages of Peri-Menopause. Dear God, get me the bubble wrap NOW! This time I fell and rolled down four concrete steps. I recovered myself before any of the parents congregated at the bottom of our gate noticed, but bumped my hip, grazed my forearm, hit my hurt hand, and did something to the front of my ankle. However, I am still walking. Sore, but walking.Yes. Definitely need bubblewrap!
If we were having chai, I’d mention that with the weather being so warm, the flowers in the garden are blooming nicely! We had a rose patch with ended up being pulled up, due to disrepair, and Hubby Dearest scattered lots of wildflower seeds there, instead. It looks so pretty, right now, as the different flowers begin to bloom!

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If we were having chai, I would admit to trying so hard to eat healthily, right now, but then, I end up gorging on ice cream because it is so hot!

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If we were having chai, I’d say, proudly that we have hit 130 reviews on Amazon and another lovely flat lay post came out on Instagram, this week. A touching review, which makes me want to write more asap!

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If we were having chai, I would end, as always, with Sonu Singh. The picture is an old one but this is basically all he has been doing in the heat, other than waking me up at the crack of dawn! I never sleep with my door shut, but we have had to start doing in, otherwise, he wreaks havoc! But his miaow penetrates doors and walls!

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This week, it is meant to be HOT! I am a tad worried about melting! We are meant to be having Sports Day on the morning of Tuesday which is meant to be the HOTTEST day of the year so far… might end up having to cancel it… but we will see. The rest of the week is a mish-mash of staffing ups and downs, as well as reports out, and cricket. We have a party in a couple of weeks, too, so I believe some pampering might be in order. Lil Princess has already whispered about nails… I’m thinking of a haircut… maybe time to get rid of the rest of the old coloured bits, now!

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!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 383 – Hope

10 Jul 2022 43 Comments

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

“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”
John Green

Thank you. Spidey, for that reminder. I’ll keep it short and sweet, today.

It feels like the world is going to pot this year, in a different way.

First, the war in Ukraine, affecting the cost of living for everyone, then the resurgence of Covid, and now it feels like each nation is having a political crisis.

But, I choose to not lose hope.

So, what about you?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Throwback Thursday (On Saturday!) #46 – Secrets, Hiding Places and Niches

09 Jul 2022 18 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Hiding Places and Niches, Secrets, throwback Thursday

Having another go at Maggie and Laurens, Throwback Thursday challenge! This week it is Maggie who has set the questions.

This week’s prompt is: Secrets, Hiding Places and Niches.

Did you keep a diary or a journal? If so, where did you keep it? I kept various diaries over the years, but I was never one to manage a continuous one. I still have the part diaries, and I love reading them. This terrible habit of not finishing is still with me. I have a one like a day five-year journal, and I have been trying to keep it for about three years, but I’ve still not completed a year!
Did you have treasures or money you hid from siblings or parents? No, I really didn’t have anything of value that they weren’t aware of!
Did you have a need to hide things your parents would not approve of, like cigarettes, etc.? As a child this was something highly unlikely. However, during the college/university years, there might have been a few things. but instead of things, it was relationships! Eek! As an adult, I am always hiding my favourite snacks from the family…
Thinking back, describe your most creative hiding place. There was never anything really creative, just specific drawers, or under the mattress!
Did you have a tin box or safe or a diary with a lock? I had one diary with a lock and key, and a piggy bank shaped like a little Barclays Bank that had a combination lock!
What about yourself? Did you ever have a favorite get away spot or hiding place? Not so much a hiding place, but I loved squirrelling away in my bedroom with a good book. Some things never change!
If you did not feel the need to hide away, where did you go for a little alone time? If the weather was good, I would sit on the swing in our garden, or again, in my bedrooom
If you had siblings, did they hide things from you? If so, what types of things? I don’t think my brother and I ever really wanted the same things, to hiding them was no worry. However, he liked to hide unpleasant things for me to find… like catching Daddy Long Legs in an empty cotton bud container, then offering me one, with the lid on, only for me to scream at the sight of the gangly legged creatures trapped inside! Typical brother!
Now that you are an adult, do you still have little niches where you hide things away, like mad money, treasured letters, etc? I only wish I had mad money to hide away. I think I am more often than not, hiding the bills, from myself! As I mentioned above, I do hide my favourite snacks in places the kids won’t find them,(they are gannets, as teens tend to be!), and I have little boxes filled with treasured letters, cards and items, but they aren’t so much hidden, as in safe places.
When you feel the need to be alone, to where do you retreat? I have a couple of places I could go, in my home. My bedroom is one sanctuary, then, I have my writing room with its reading nook or the summer house. But sometimes, the best place is in my classroom, after the rest have left. Peace from my class, some colleagues and the noise of my teen-aged family!