Blog | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 376 – Happy Birthday Pops!

22 May 2022 23 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Birthday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, Pops, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“A daughter may outgrow your lap but she will never outgrow your heart.”
Anon

Wishing my wonderful Pops a very happy 76th birthday!

You all know, Peeps, how much my dad means to me, and though we cannot be together on his special day, he knows our love and good wishes are with him always.

Pops, our Legend!

So, could you loin me in wishing my Pops a lovely birthday?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

#SoCS May 21, 2022 – Clear

21 May 2022 32 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: #StreamofConsciousnessSaturday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Clear, Linda G Hill, Socs

Linda’s SoCS prompt

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “clear.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Now, clearly, I was too tired to schedule this post last night, seeing as I am writing it now, at 6 24am on Saturday morning (thanks to Sonu Singh waking me up for his food!)

I try to make myself crystal clear to him every Friday night, that Mummy needs a lie in, but, as if he has an alarm clock inside, he bounds into our bedroom at around 5-5.30a m, miaowing away. If I don’t wake straight away, he has a clear plan;

jump on the bed, massage Mummy.
If no response, claw the carpet.
If that doesn’t work, try climbing onto the windowsill and begin chewing plants
Failing that, knock over bin, and begin chewing random rubbish loudly.
If still no joy, run around the house madly
Still no food? Give up, and jump back on the bed and go to sleep with Mummy and Daddy until they get up.

So, now he is fed, I am awake, and planning for the day. Here’s hoping for clear skies, as opposed to the crazy rain we have had the last two days, as Lil Man has another cricket match! (Well, it is Saturday, and the season is upon us!)

Have a good day, Peeps!

https://lindaghill.com/2022/05/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-21-2022/

One-Liner Wednesday – Look Back

18 May 2022 43 Comments

by Ritu in #onelinerwednesday Tags: #jusjojan, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Look Back, One Liner Wednesday

“Sometimes you really should look back and see exactly how far you’ve come.”
Ritu Bhathal

For Linda’s #1LinerWeds Linda was worried about posting late, this week. Well, I’m right with her there, today!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 375 – Overcoming Problems

15 May 2022 32 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Emotional Wellbeing, Mental Health Issues, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Confucius

Definitely one for me to keep in my mind after this last week, Spidey, thank you.

Another week, another whole host of issues to contend with. No one ever said being a parent was going to be easy, and being a teacher in team management is exactly the same!

This week, I have had things going on at school and home, involving the emotional well-being and mental health of people I care about.

A lot.

And how ironic, since it is Mental Health Awareness week, here in the UK.

It has been exhausting, to say the least, but equally, I feel proud of the people involved for coming forward and talking to me or someone who they feel will listen.

The above quote totally highlights this.

Anything we want to do for ourselves starts by us taking that first step. It may seem small to some, but any step is a big step, especially if it is the first.

What I do know is that this is the start of what could be a very precarious journey for us in some ways, but at least we are on that journey, now.

So, have you ever had to deal with someone whose own mental health has been hanging by a thread? How have you managed through the journey?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

#SoCS – May 14 2022 – Hat

14 May 2022 31 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: #StreamofConsciousnessSaturday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Hat, Linda G Hill, Socs

Linda’s SoCS prompt

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “hat.” Use it literally or metaphorically. Have fun!

Hats are great things, aren’t they?

They cool you in the summer and can warm you in the winter.

They can be protective, or add a splash of glamour to your look.

Equally, they just add character to some people.

Now, when you have curly hair, hat-head can be even more of a thing for you, compared to your straighter haired compadres… Because curls do like to hold certain shapes, or they like to frizz up.

I also have the problem of when I sleep at night, I can end up with one side of flattened curls and one side still full of bounce, and I don’t wash every day because I don’t have the time to do the styling involved every morning!

This has led to some more research into products I could and should be using, and how to combat flat head, and one thing I read about was using a satin/silk sleep bonnet or pillowcase to reduce frizz overnight, and also satin or silk-lined beanies for the colder months, when you need a hat, but could do without the silly way your hair moulds to said hat, retaining its shape on your bonce, once you have removed it!

So I bought some satin sleep hats, or bonnets off Amazon (good old Amazon, you can say what you like, they have been a lifesaver for me!) and, though I look like I am about to go to bed with a shower cap on my head, they actually do retain the curl, and feel so comfortable to wear, too! I have been amazed, and even my colleagues at school have commented upon how much curlier my hair looks, on the middle days between washes!

And, the proof is in the pudding, so I am even baring my bonce, along with sleep bonnet, for you to see. This is a pic from this morning, without any extra curl spray, (and no make up or filters, sorry!) and I promise, I didn’t colour coordinate my pyjamas! It was just pure luck!