“On a break!”
Ritu
We will be back, possibly later this evening, Peeps, with something to ponder upon. Right now I am enjoying time with my parents!
Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!
Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 372 – Delay
24 Apr 2022 23 Comments
in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Beliefs, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Easter, Ramadan, Vaisakhi
#SoCS – April 23, 2022 – Too/To/Two A Little Celebration Post!
23 Apr 2022 52 Comments
in #SoCS Tags: #StreamofConsciousnessSaturday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Golden Anniversary, Linda G Hill, Pops And Mum, Socs
Linda’s SoCS prompt
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “too/to/two.” Use one, use ’em all, bonus points if you use all three. Extra bonus points if you start your post with one. Enjoy!
Two years ago, we were plunged into the awfulness of the pandemic, which meant that we couldn’t celebrate many special days with the family, including my Mum’s 70th birthday.
The lockdown meant I couldn’t go to Birmingham easily, and, quite honestly, working in a school. I didn’t want to, because I could end up taking the virus back to them.
Anywho, another big celebration has come up, today, and we are going to be travelling up to see them today because it is Pops and Mum’s 50th Wedding Anniversary!
Fifty years!
Now, you got to admit, that is quite an achievement.
They are an inspiration to me and many around us, too, and I can only hope that we are in the same position in another thirty years, too!
Please join me in wishing Pops and Mum a wonderful Golden Wedding Anniversary!
One-Liner Wednesday – One Word
20 Apr 2022 21 Comments
in #onelinerwednesday Tags: #jusjojan, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, One Liner Wednesday, One Word
“Sometimes, even changing just one word can alter perception enough.”
Ritu Bhathal
#TikTok Drain #Poetry!
18 Apr 2022 44 Comments
in Poems, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Poetry, TikTok, Wormhole
I haven’t penned a poem for a while, but something inspired me today, and here it is… on TikTok, for you. If you are a Tiktoker, do follow me on there, otherwise, just enjoy my poetic musings!
I’ve found another wormhole Another drain on my time I can’t believe it’s happened So I thought I’d write a rhyme Those kids, they made me do it Said, go on Mum, it’ll be fun So I logged in, started scrolling And slowly I became one One of those Tiktokers Lip synching to silly sounds Trying to match the dance moves On the trending clips I found But, back then in lockdown I kept my privacy Only sharing videos With those I trust, you see. Then life got hectic, so I stopped Deleted my account Until the call for Booktok Grew loud, there was no doubt Time for me to jump back on And do it for my book For a way to get promotion New readers I could hook I started out pretty well A couple of cute videos Followed some other authors and booktokers that I chose Then I started to scroll again FYP calling me Silly sounds and dances But something more, you see I found all sorts of communities Browntok, queertok, cooktok Watching listening learning Snippet clips that really rock I learned how knowledgeable people are But also just how biased I saw how creators responded They didn’t sit there all quiet One video led to another And soon an hour passed Jeez, I could have written words I hold my phone, aghast Tiktok, I do love you so But you’re taking me away From the very reason I’m here TO write, not watch and play! And, an aside, those kids I mentioned before They tell me I’m too old for this Well, that I will ignore I find myself peppering my daily life With the latest trending sounds A little dance here, a soundbite there While my kids try to shut me down Because, although it is a drain A little Tiktok fun And getting some more followers Is grand… will you become one? (Tiktok obsessed) Ritu 2022
Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 371 – Beliefs
17 Apr 2022 24 Comments
in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Beliefs, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Easter, Ramadan, Vaisakhi
“All religions lead to the same God, and all deserve the same respect.”
Paolo Coelho
What a lovely quote, Spidey! One that I live by daily,
So, I am the product of a Sikh family, growing up going to the gurdwara, attending various paaths(prayers), and learning about the Gurus in more detail. I am not baptised, though, so I consider myself educated, and still a Sikh, but not a part of the Khalsa, who are the more devout of the believers. I live by what our Gurus taught as much as I can, and seek to do good in life.
Vaisakhi, Bando Chorr Divas (same day as Diwali), our Gurus birthdays – all times we prayed and celebrated for specific reasons. Even now, I ensure I pray, eery day, in my own way, and play a special prayer every morning to bless our house and family.
I loved going to the Gurdwara, especially for the three-day-long prayers called an Akhand Paath, where the whole of the Guru Granth Sahib (our holy scripture, described as the eleventh Guru) is read. The temple we used to attend had rooms where we could stay for the duration, and it was such fun! We prayed, too, of course, but we were allowed to help in the kitchens, play games with our cousins, with fewer adult eyes upon us, eat chips and beans on a Saturday, when they had a special menu for the kids, and when we got older, we could pop out too, to the lovely local shops! That might not have been anything connected to my religion, but still, fond memories!
However, I was born in a predominantly Christian country and went to a Church of England school, where worship was by singing hymns and reciting The Lord’s Prayer, as well as visits to the school affiliated church for different occasions. I learned the significance of Christmas and Easter above the fact that you got presents or chocolate eggs on that day. I still find myself singing the odd hymn, here and there. And I can still decide most of The Lord’s Prayer, too!
My best friend is Muslim, as is one of my closest work friends, so Eid and Ramadan became something I wanted to know about. I even attempted to fast with my bezzy at university. I couldn’t hack even one day. Respect! I learned why fasting took place, and the significance of it, rather than looking on and wondering why not allowing yourself to eat or drink for the whole of the day was actually worth it.
We’ve had family friends who are Hindu, and I know those who are Greek Orthodox, Catholic…
I don’t know someone of every religion out there, and I don’t profess to.
But what I do know is that each and every religion is rooted in the same beliefs, when you boil their teachings all down.
How they are interpreted by individuals is not something that can be prescribed.
But, whenever there is something to celebrate, I’m with each and every religious brother and sister of mine, out there. I thank you for educating me about different beliefs – the hows and whys intrigue me.
And if there is something to celebrate, we should all do it!
Right now, this week, we have had Vasakhi, and on Saturday in my marital hometown, there was the annual procession, back after three years, due to the pandemic. Each year thousands of Sikhs flock to Gravesend to be a part of this parade. and with us Sikhs, there are always countless other non-Sikh brothers and sisters who join in, for the fun, the colour the food, and I hope, for some education.
Our Muslim friends are in the middle of their rosay, fasting until they will be ready to celebrate Eid.
And today is Easter. Okay, so I might not go to church, but I will raise a prayer to the resurrection, and then eat my Easter eggs, hot cross buns, and wish I had a family who liked roast lamb as much as me… (They don’t so I won’t be cooking that! I mean, who doesn’t like a good roast dinner?!)
It’s up to us to embrace and celebrate each other’s beliefs. Not a melting pot, as some wanted, where all end up conforming to the same culture, but a salad bowl, complementing each other’s individual beliefs. (Taken from something America, I cannot profess what, but I remember reading it and thinking ‘Yes! That!’)
Let me end this post by wishing all those celebrating, a very happy Easter!
So, do you have a religious belief? 💜
Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!
But I Smile Anyway... 