Award | But I Smile Anyway...

From The Heart Award

31 Jul 2018 25 Comments

by Ritu in Awards, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Award, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, From The Heart Award

Well, it’s been a while since I accepted an award, and a totally new one at that!

And this time I was in receipt of the From The Heart award.

From the Heart

Thank you so much to Emily from A Literary Life for thinking of me for this lovely award!

WHAT IS IT?

This award goes to bloggers who primarily focus on personal writing. These posts are often from the writer to the world at large, or from the writer to the writer themselves and they just allow us access to their mind.

RULES:

There are no rules, no questions, no participation requirements for this award. It is given from bloggers to other bloggers. It was designed by the Haunted Wordsmith and is given to other bloggers as a gesture of thanks and appreciation for their work.

I feel so touched at receiving this as I do like to write from the heart. Many times my words soothe me, but I hope they can help others, make them laugh, know that others out there are going through sh*t just like them too, so THANK YOU again Emily! ❤

My Nominees

There are so many of you who write from the heart, wish I could honour you all!

Brotherhood of the World Blogger Award

21 Dec 2017 32 Comments

by Ritu in Awards Tags: Award, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Brotherhood of the world Bloggers award, Thankful

Thanks to Rachel, for nominating me for the Brotherhood of The World Blogger Award! I have accepted this award before, many moons ago, so I would like to share her post, and, because I do like answering questions, I shall answer those!

What is your biggest regret? I cant put it out there in public, but put it this way, it impacts on my life EVERY day!
What is something that your younger self would be most proud of about you? That I actually published a book!
What is your favourite fruit and why? Mango, because it is sweet and exotic, and just all over yummy!
If you could play any instrument, what would it be? (Or what instruments can you play?) In the past, I’ve learned how to play the Recorder, Guitar and Piano! I can bash a beat out, amateurishly, on a Dhol drum too! I wish I had more lessons on the Guitar and Piano though!
What setting from a book or movie would you like to live in or experience? Obviously the edible world in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!!!!
Why did you start blogging? Purely by chance! A friend started, and I wanted to comment on her first post. WordPress invited me to start a blog, and I did, not knowing what it was… and the rest, as they say, is history!
What is something you are looking forward to? Seeing my parents this weekend!
If job availability/ money were not factors, what would be your dream occupation? A full-time children’s storyteller and writer!
If you could start any charity what would it be? It would be something to help disadvantaged children!
Name a skill you want to learn and why. I’d love to learn tact. Nuff said!

Source: Brotherhood of the World Blogger Award

Liebster Award Nomination – #grateful

24 Oct 2017 25 Comments

by Ritu in Awards, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Award, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Leibster, Leibster Award, Thankful

Anindya from My Daily Journal has seen fit to give me a special mention on his award acceptance post, and for that, I am very grateful!

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Check out his fantastic post here!

I have received and accepted the Leibster award a few times, and as always, I like to reblog the post to thank the Blogger who thought of me. Today, as I have a little time on my hands, I thought I’d answer the questions at least, as that can be fun to do!

Answer these questions, Set 1

What inspired you to start blogging? A friend started a blog, helping with her depression. I wanted to comment but had to log in to WP or create an account. I did, then it asked if I’d like to start a blog, so I did!
What is the best thing you love about your home city? Which city do I count as home? The one I grew up in or the one where I live now? My childhood home city of Birmingham is simply the best because it’s where my parents are! My home now, Gravesend, is the best because it’s where I started my own family!
What are the types of music you usually listen to? I have a really eclectic taste in music. I listen to the radio sometimes and in the car my CD’s range from Bhangra and Bollywood, old and new, to Soul, R’n’B, Pop, Disco, Love songs, Dharmic Shabad too.
Who will be your dream date on any day of the year? As a fulltime working mum, any date, with no kids, on any given day would be good!
Kindle or hardcovers /paperbacks? Kindle for convenience, real books for the feel!

Answer these questions, Set 2

What is your favourite colour, and why? I used to like Peach.. don’t know why, but as I have grown, purple has become my thing! It is regal, and deep, and makes me think of luxury.
Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, for blogging, which is your most favourite? I’m not sure yet… Twitter is good, Pinterest, if you make pin friendly images is great, Facebook, if you have that kind of post that makes people want to share…
Have you visited India? Yes, several times!
For those who have and for those who live in India, what is your most favourite destination here? I really enjoyed my few days in Mumbai!
Can you ever think of leaving blogging? Without a shadow of a doubt that answer is no! I have tried to take a break for a few days, and even that is too hard!!!!

There you go Anindya! Hope you like my answers!

And Peeps, please, go check out his blog!!!

I’m Adorable!

29 Aug 2017 27 Comments

by Ritu in Awards, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Award, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Leibster, Mitch Teemley

Thank you so much to Mitch for thinking of me for the Adorable Leibster Award! I have accepted it before, so as a thanks for the mention, I’d like to reblog it, and direct my dear Peeps towards Mitch’s blog. If you haven’t been over there, please take a trip today!

Mitch Teemley

Rhonda at Pollyanna’s Path nominated me for a Liebster Award (= favorite” or “adored” one in German). I’m flattergasted (sometimes only a made-up word will do). Rhonda’s site is pretty adorable too, btw.

Rules: I’m required to Thank the nominator (gladly), answer the Questions (below), and Nominate others (belower).

The Questions

1. If you could be any animal on earth, what would it be and why?

Duh, an otter. Why? Well, they play constantly, they’re hyper-active, and they love to, ahem, make love. Also, otter’s are my wife’s favorite creatures. So, yeah.

2. If you had to write the soundtrack of your life,what would be the first three songs?

My own. I started writing songs when I was 13, so they form a sort soundtrack for my life. The first, “Sweet Marie,” had a melody stolen from an old minuet. The lyrics: “We never speak of Sweet Marie, we…

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Leibster Award – The Shelley Wilson Edition!

24 Jul 2017 65 Comments

by Ritu in Awards, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Award, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Get To Know Me, Leibster Award, Shelley Wilson

This morning I was reading posts, and after leisurely perusing, I came upon a post by the lovely Shelley Wilson, author extraordinaire! (She wrote the brilliant Guardians Trilogy, read my review here!)

In it, she accepted the Leibster Award and answered all the questions brilliantly! Then as I scrolled down, I realised that she had nominated me!!!

I have accepted this one several times before, and usually do a reblog of the original post, but seeing as I am on holiday, I thought I would at least answer the questions!

liebster-award

The Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog – Thank you SOOOOO much for thinking of me Shelley!
Answer the 11 questions the person asked you – I’m about to!
Nominate 11 people (comment on their blog to let them know) – I nominate all of you who read this post!
Ask the people you have nominated 11 questions – Answer Shelley’s questions please, they are great!

Shelley’s Questions:

1 Have you met any of your internet friends in real life? I was lucky enough to attend the Annual Blogger’s Bash for the last two years and there I have met many of my blogging heroes and those I consider my Blogily! (Shelley Included!)
2 What’s your favourite TV show? What character would you be from that show? I love too many TV shows to choose one! But if I had to choose a character, it would be Dot Cotton… isn’t she just an institution!
3 What’s your favourite kind of blog post to write? (Book review, personal post, fiction, etc.) Now that’s a really hard one! Because I write a bit of everything! I love to write creatively, but I think sometimes my personal posts are what actually hit a nerve, and help others.
4 What are your most and least favourite things about blogging? I love the interaction, and freedom to write what I want, but I hate the fact I don’t have enough hours in the day to do more!
5 Is there a genre you wouldn’t read? Why? I used to be very much a chick lit reader, with family sagas thrown in, (and some of that saucy stuff too)! But recently, I have realised that I can’t totally write off a genre without trying it, as after tasting Shelley’s YA books, I realised that I really enjoy a genre I would never have contemplated reading before!
6 Which of your own blog posts is your personal favourite? Why? Man, Shelley! You ask some really tough questions! I don’t think I have a personal favourite post, to be honest. There are so many things I write about that it is hard to pinpoint one post I feel particularly special about. Most of my posts about my family are from the heart though and really make me sentimental when I reread them!
7 Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and do they help/hinder your blogging/writing? If no, what would be your ideal pet? I have my darling cat, Sonu Singh, who has been in our life for 3 years now! He can be a hindrance, in that when he decides to come and sit with me, I want to snuggle with him, rather than write, but equally, he has been an inspiration too!

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8 What’s your favourite type of takeaway food? I try not to eat much takeaway but if I am ordering, I choose a chicken kebab! It’s a healthy option! Though pizza, Chinese, an Indian, Maccy D’s, KFC… among others, can be rather yummy too!
9 What would be your ideal career? Why? I’d love to be a professional story teller! There is no greater joy for me, than reading stories to my class. I love it so much and I enjoy using accents and different voices, as well as props, to make a story come to life. Imagine doing that all day, every day! (There’s my Drama major coming out!)
10 Which author do you like to recommend the most? I don’t think I really recommend an author specifically (though Shelley Wilson is a most amazing writer ;P ) I am more likely to recommend specific books.
11 Who’s your go to band/artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to? I have a selection of compilation albums which I ‘go to’ if a specific song doesn’t come to mind. I have 90’s R’n’B, or Disco, or failing that, several Bollywood or Bhangra discs that I will play. Yes, CDs. I can’t get the hang of downloading music, no playlists here, compilation CDs all the way!