Blogging | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 344 – Parental Approval

10 Oct 2021 35 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Marriage Unarranged, Parental Approval, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“I know it sounds really weedy, but we are all children who seek approval from our parents.”
Gurinder Chadha

Thank you, Spidey, for a quote from a woman I much admire! (Gurinder, if you are reading, by any chance, I think Marriage Unarranged would be a great base for your next film!)

This week, I was given the news that Pops, my dad, was reading my book. As a holiday read!

Now, I have to tell you, this is a big thing. My Pops isn’t a reader of books, apart from the holy Guru Granth Sahib, and the daily paper.

My Mum is a different case, altogether. She is the reason I love books, and though it took her a little time to finish it, (she isn’t the speedy reader she once used to be, as I am at the moment!) she told me all about what she thought last summer, and even allowed me to interview her abou her thoughts!

Now, Pops was sat there, as we discussed Marriage Unarranged.

Mum had her Kindle copy, and, knowing Pops isn’t tech crazy, ordered him a paperback (she wouldn’t take one from me!) It was sat by his armchair in the living room, lovingly wrapped in a clear plastic bag. Mum told me he would take it out daily, and look at it, with pride, before replacing it.

At that time he told me that he had tried to read it, but was a bit put off by the risqué scenes near the beginning, and laughingly told me that he had been unable to read further.

I never thought he would read it, so the fact that he had tried was just wonderful.

On the Friday just passed, Pops text me, from Finland, to say that he had finished Marriage Unarranged.

That is a feat, in itself!

But the best part was the feedback.

I called him, straight away. Knowing that there was that little scene at the beginning, to negotiate, I was dying to know what he really thought.

He said that he was so proud of me. He had, once he got past that ‘scene’, really enjoyed the book. He could relate to so many parts of the book, and recognised many of the places I wrote about. He loved the bits about India, and felt that he was there, when reading.

I felt blessed. So blessed.

Pops had finally read my book. And liked it. And that parental approval, for me, beat any other reviews out there.

An aside – I was speaking to my brother, the Finndian, and he did say that Pops took him to one side, to ask if I had ever experienced anything like what had taken place in the book… but my brother reassured him that it was totally fiction, from his sister’s overactive imagination, and that just the places were real! (Though, he hasn’t read it yet, himself, so I wait, eagerly, to hear what he thinks, too!)

Knowing both my Pops and Mum enjoyed that labour of love meant the world to me. I need to get this next one finished, but goodness knows what he will think of the content with this one!

So, how important is Parental Approval for you?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

#TankaTuesday Weekly Poetry Challenge: #Poet’s choice – Words

09 Oct 2021 18 Comments

by Ritu in #ColleensWeeklyPoetryChallenge Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Colleen Chesebro, Tanka Tuesday

It has been a LONG while, since I wrote any poetry, but, I felt the need, today, and what better time to do do it, than when my sis, Colleen, has her Poet’s Choice challenge?

Words, all jumbled up
Swimming around in my mind
Stories to be told
The time has come, to allow
Tales to come to life, again

Ritu 2021

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2021/10/05/tankatuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-poets-choice-3/

#SoCS October 9, 2021 – Lid

09 Oct 2021 18 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Lid, Linda G Hill, School, SEN, Socs

Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week:

YouYour Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “lid.” Use it in the literal sense, use it in the metaphorical sense, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

Shhhhh! Can you keep a secret? Can you keep a lid on it? Lips shut? Schtum?

Well, my little secret is that I am writing this whilst a little tiddly, to say the least! I haven’t had a drink for quite a while, and tonight, I have consumed a whole bottle of Gin Fizz… Oops! A WHOLE BOTTLE!

Now, it’s not often that I indulge.

To be honest, we teachers may say we are going to drown our troubles on a Friday night, but I know that I, for one, am so shattered, that a drink would just send me to sleep, early, and I can do that without the liquid assistance!

However, tonight, I felt the need to. It’s been five weeks since we went back to school. I have a wonderful, but very challenging, class. Three children who require one to one support, but who don’t have it, yet, because of resource. Another who has medical needs on top of other needs, too. All of them are loveable children, who need specialist provision, but the world around us thinks they need to be part of an inclusive education.

I’m all for inclusion, but sometimes, it isn’t the right thing for those kids.

I find my inputs interrupted, every time, as one of my lovelies walks through the rest of the class, like a bulldozer – no spatial awareness – to come and sit on my lap, or to take my hand and lead me to whatever they want, at the time. Or, in groupwork, my group is left unattended, for a few moments, as I deal with a meltdown, or an issue with one of the children who have these needs.

You see, these kids find it hard to conform to what the rest of the class are doing. They dance to the beat of their own drums, right now. They are still exploring the environment, and can’t follow instructions. Yet, in their own way, they show their own brilliance.

It’s not easy, but the rest of the class have been angels.

They are aware, already, at the age of four, or five, that there are children who have very specific needs, and there is barely any fussing. They just let those children get on with whatever they do, whilst waiting for Mrs B to get back to them.

These kids are superstars, seriously.

All of them.

With needs or not.

All children are blessings.

Did you know that the Cockney rhyming slang for kids is saucepan lids? See, my ramble did have something to do with the prompt, I promise!

And now, I shall sign off, as the words are starting to swim in front of my eyes!

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS October 9, 2021

Chai And A Chat #154 #ChaiAndAChat

04 Oct 2021 48 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat

Well,hello, my lovely Peeps! Can I start by saying thank you for all the lovely wishes. Though I am still tired, I am feeling, healthwise, much, much better!

Now, is your beverage of choice ready? I have my chai here, piping hot, and filled with wonderful spices to keep germs at bay!

If we were having chai I’d tell you though I felt better and managed okay at school, there were plenty of sniffles and coughs around me. In fact, I had to send one of my colleagues home, as she was really unwell on one day, and, as most teachers will, she struggled in, and insisted on staying. but, as I have learned the hard way, our health is our first priority, and if we work ourselves to the bone, what do we have left to give to those children, who we want to teach? As always, the team was just amazing. Everyone rallied around to make sure that we were covered in all areas, and it helped that one of my little lovelies that has high need, was off, as well, meaning there was more manpower to deal with the rest of the class. (Obviously, I was not happy that he was unwell, bless him. I hope he gets better, soon!)
If we were having chai I’d say that on Friday, Lil Princess and Lil Man had an INSET day at school, so they were off. Lil Princess came into school with me. She hasn’t been able to do that for over a year, due to the pandemic, and even though she can be a moody teen, she genuinely loves to come into school with me, helping withthe children, and putting faces to names, after hearing my stories of the tays gone by. In fact whe was truly initiated to my lovelies, what with our first ever changing clothes, for P.E., and one of my higher need children took a fancy to her, and sat on her lap, unattended, and even showed her love by farting on her! It made her giggle, thankfully. I had visions of teen girl storming out!
If we were having chai I’d mention that I had actually been dreading the P.E. malarky, since we had a year of no dchanging, with children coming in, on their sports clothes, on the day of P.E., plus, with so many of these children, they ahve been at home more than at Nursery, so the level of independence has been lacking. However, and it’s a big, however, they surprised me! Out of 27 there were 4 who we didnt change, due to severe needs and risk of melt downs, and all the others, bar 3 were pretty good, needing minimal help or guidance, to follow instructions, and get ready for P.E., then change back, after! It will be interesting to see if any of them managed to swap clothes, though. I will find out today, no doubt, if a parent comes up with randomitems that their child came home in, that wasn’t theirs! Still, I have reiterated, many times, the need for names in all clothes, and shoes, so if there is a swap that can’t be traced… it’s not our fault!
If we were having chai I’d say we finally had our first Cricket free week for the first time since April, and it was bliss! Mind you, had there been a match, it would have been cancelled as on Saturday, the heavens opened, and boy, did it pour!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that we are well on the way to getting those last bits and bobs ordered for the house. We were due to get carpets cleaned, on Saturday, and the guy turned up, but his machinery was too high voltage for our fusebox! Apparently an issue with newer fuse boxes… but, he is coming in a week with a slightly smaller machine, which will still do the job, fingers crossed! We have a coffee table ordered, too, and looked at wardrobes for the kids rooms, and the spare room, too. It’s getting there, Peeps!
If we were having chai I’d say that if you read my blog over the last few days, you’d konw that the whoe petrol fiasco is still going, but hopefully this week, will ease off. Also there is that small matter of my blog reaching 500K views! Taht is half a million of them! It has really fired me up, and I want to get back in the writing saddle, 100% as soon as I can! Thank you, everyone!
If we were having chai I’d leave you, again with an image of Sonu Singh, as he tried to convince me that it is time to stop reading, and start stroking him!

View this post on Instagram

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

This week, it’s a busy, but hopefully productive one. Monday sees the fitted wardrobes being installed in our bedroom, and on Wednesday, new carpets in our room, and Lil Man’s one. And on Thursday, oh, I am so excited, because my favourte author, and all round wonderful soul, Amanda Prowse is coming to my school to read her newes release, which is a picture book, illustrated by her brother, Paul Ward Hall, to three year groups in my school! I can’t wait to share some photos!

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 343 – Don’t Panic!

03 Oct 2021 42 Comments

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

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
Mahatma Gandhi

I apowerful quote, there, Spidey. Thank you, so much for that.

So, for those of you, not in the UK, I’ll just reiterate the state of affairs here. We are in the midst of a fuel buying panic.

Fantastic.

That’s to add to last year’s Toilet Roll Shortage, the pasta wipe out, and precedes, what I just know will be coming soon… the Turkey disappearing act.

I know I ranted a little in my Chai post, on Monday, but the hope was, honestly, that by this weekend, things would be more or less normal. Panic would have died down. People would have begun to take notice of those in power, who were desperately trying to reassure the Brit public that there is NO shortage of fuel, simply a lack of drivers. The fuel is coming, a little slower than usual, but it’s there.

No need to top up constantly, when and where you can. Just take what you need, and go about your usual business, they say.

Is anyone listening?

I don’t think so.

I had, just by chance, filled my tank prior to this craziness, so knew that I would be okay for the next week, at least. So, even as I saw the needle slowly moving towards the emptier side, I ignored the queues of motorists at the stations that were lucky enough to have fuel. I didn’t need it, desperately. I could still get to work, and home. I could still ensure my own children were able to get to their school.

I thought, by mid week, things would be calming down, but no. Every garage either had blockades and signs saying no fuel, or queues stretching back a while, which also meant that traffic was heavier than ever. That also meant more idling around in a car with an engine running, in traffic, using more precious fuel.

So, on Friday, I had to join the queue to fill up my tank, too. Because I really needed it. Not because I thought I should, ‘just in case’.

You see, on top of the stupidity of the panic buyers, who really need to get a life, and stop following false news, then spreading it, causing panic, we have a very real issue, which is the effects of BREXIT.

See.

This was what so many of us were attempting to vote against, but those pro Brexit lot got a bit too big for their boots.

Now, we see our grocery bills begin to soar, as the prices of food we are used to seeing go up, since we aren’t part of Europe. Visas are needed for every trip we wish to take, even if it is just to hop over the channel to France. Honest workers who were keeping certain parts of our economy going, were forced to leave. Many of them the same drivers who were keeping the fuel coming…

Yeah. Thanks BREXIT-ers.

In a round about way, it’s all thanks to some of you and your skewed views that these people were taking our jobs, and houses, and even our benefits, that we are in this mess. Because, let’s be honest. It’s not like you’ve tried to take those jobs up, now they are available… even though unemployment is sky high.

(Though, I know there are some who voted to Brexit for their own reasons, there were, unfortunately, far too many who were misinformed, thinking it was all about immigration…)