But I Smile Anyway…

Hey there Peeps! Time for our weekly catch up, but with a difference… I’m going Bloggers Bash crazy today! So go and get that drink ready!

• If we were sipping chai together I’d start off by whizzing through the beginning of the week… Yes, we are back at school. And the first week was busy, but we all survived! There was a little training, a lot of teaching, plenty of organisiation and too many headaches! I know where I will be, class-wise, next year, though am not able to say, but it is good to know. One less thing to think of!  The kids seem to have noticably grown and matured in these last two weeks too, so the days flowed perfectly! But I couldn’t wait for the end of the week… because it was Bash Time!
• If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that after much deliberation, Hoppalong Hubby and I decided that the train would be a bit too much for him, so I braved the London drive, and the extortionate costs for parking, so we could drive there, stay overnight, and drive back on the Sunday. We got there by the skin of our teeth, what with traffic, but at least we arrived, which was more than some, who ended up having to curtail their trips as there was an incident on one of the train lines, meaning they had no way of getting there.
• If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that it was such a joy to see so many familiar faces again. It honestly is like seeing dear family after an age! There are those who have become dear friends too… you know who you are. Missed certain faces, like Lucy Mitchell and Christoph Fischer – your absences were noted, and there were Lucy and Christoph shaped holes in my bash experience this year 😥 But I took a few photos, amidst the chatting,a nd I have borrowed a few from,Marjorie Mallon , Willow Withers and Shelley Wilson too!

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• If we were sipping chai together I’d say the event got off to a good start, despite both speakers not arriving yet, as they were, too, stuck in the train chaos! But arrive, they did, and we were able to hear some delicious pearls of wisdom from burger-fanatic food blogger Lauren Creaven, who writes a blog all about food experiences in Birmingham, aka Brum… so her blog name is Full To The Brum. She is a successful blogger who has been interviewed on the telly, writes for Sainsbury’s Magazine and Olive magazine, and who is passionate about giving her readers an authentic, down to earth review of the various places she visits.

• If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that the second speaker, who is also a Midlands girl, but rather than being Brummie, was a Yam Yam… (for those of you who are unaware, the Yams Yams are the indiginous folk of the Black Country who live very close to Birmingham, but aren;t Brummies!). We were delighted to be able to listen to author GX Todd, or in reality, Gemma Todd. Gemma is a traditionally published writer who was extremely blessed to have been signed up to Headline Books, with a four-book contract, of which two are published, and two are on their way. Gemma spoke to us about her journey to becoming a writer, which always fascinates me. Why do people write, and if they get out there, how did they manage it? She took us on a very emotional journey of discovery and realisation, and left us with hope that if we want to write a book, and get it out there the traditional way, there is a chance!

• If we were sipping chai together I’d obviously mention the workshop that Suzie and Sacha ran, which taught everyone about Flatlay Photography, which is basically the art of arranging objects in an appealing manner to showcase a specific book, product or event. Eloise did a wonderful, photo filled post on it, so please go and read it here.
• If we were sipping chai together how could I forget to tell you about the awards? Well… Sitting comfortably, with a topped up drink? Okay, them. The awards announcements were peppered through the day, two at a time, and instead of having first, second and third places, there were just straight winners announced. So the categories and winners were as follows :

• Best Writing/Blogging Blog: Head Full Of Dreams
• Best Entertainment Blog: Just Another Blog From A Woman
• Best Food Blog: The Tennis Foodie
• Best Lifestyle Blog: Invisibly Me
• Best Personal Development Blog: Sneya Narayanan
• Best Photography Blog: Jaipur Thru My Lens
• Best Travel Blog: Lisa Dorenfest
• Best Book Blog: But I Smile Anyway

Wait… What? I won?

Now, Peeps, if you’ve read my posts, you will know that I was pleasantly surprised to have been voted for the Book Blogger category. Yes, I do review books, and this year I have been doing bumper monthly posts about what I have been reading, but I have never considered myself to be a book blogger as such. So, instead of my crazy campaigning for votes, I announced it, and then let it lie… After all, there were 65-odd others nominated in my category and that is a huge amount of bloggers to be up against.

And yet still… you guys did this. You voted me as the BEST BOOK BLOG!

It’s not often I am left speechless, but I definitely was when I heard that. Gobsmacked, more like! But seriously, WOW! I am so apreciative of the votes and confidence you all show in me.

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A post shared by Ritu Bhathal ✍🏽📚💜 (@ritubhathalwrites)

Thank you all, so much! You don’t know the love that is pouring from my heart for each and every one of you that supports me.

I was so excited I even did a bit of rush Flatlay with my certificate!

• If we were sipping chai together I’d offer you cake myself, as I made some to take to the Bash! We had Banana Bread and Yoghurt cake, which is eggless, and fruity, rather like a fruit loaf. (Recipes will follow!)

• If we were sipping chai together I’d say that one of the best parts of the day was the mingling (or networking, as posher folk call it – Me, I’d rather say chatting, because I’m good at that 😉). Throughout the day, we had breaks and chances to sit and talk to each other, either catching up on life since we last met, or getting to know newer members of my blogily! There was less Chai and more Vino, but hey, it was a special day! We discussed, blogs, books, other writers books, our own books, spam, cricket and all sorts! The day wound down at around 5pm, and we retired to the bar where some had to dash as they had trains to catch. The numbers slowly dwindled over the evening with lots of promises to see each other next year and we were left alone, after finally seeing the stragglers off! Hubby and I were staying the night, so we had nowhere we needed to get back to!
• If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that we ended the night with a little meal at the Indian restaurant across the road from the hotel, where the food wasn’t much to write home about, but the service was good, and I was even given a rose at the end! Awards, certificates, roses… this day was getting better and better! Then we finally retired to our room for the night. I was shattered, and spent an hour trying to answer messages from all over the world, with friends and family congratulating me. Ritu felt like a very special girl ❤
• If we were sipping chai together I’d have to say Ritu felt like a very special girl ❤ This week has been lovely in so many respects, from work to family, to the Bash. I’m not sure I’m ready to start a new week…I want to wallow in my happiness a little longer!

• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that this week has another first happening. Lil Princess will be off on her first ever residential trip with her class… She is so excited, and I am too, for her, but nervous as well…
• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d mention that I have another trip to London this week, for a course… at least that means reading time on the train!
• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’m still not in full editing mode, but once I get those reports finished… I promise! So many folk at the Bash were encouraging me about the book and it’s future, I just have to get it done!

Have a wonderful week, Peeps! Let me know how your week went!