Blogging | But I Smile Anyway...

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #4

04 Dec 2018 26 Comments

by Ritu in Blogmas 2018 Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tips, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas, Blogmas 2018

Day four of Ritu’s Blogmas!

Today’s tip

Read, read and read again.

By this I mean you must make sure you edit and revise your posts. Silly grammatical errors, spellings or broken links are simple to rectify, but can be the very things that put off prospective readers.

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #230 Exist&Today

03 Dec 2018 13 Comments

by Ritu in #ronovansweeklyhaikuchallenge Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogging, Conservation, Extinction, Haiku, Micro Poetry, Ronovan's Weekly Haiku Challenge, Ronovanwrites

It’s that time of the week Peeps, and this time, Ronovan has given us the following words:

Exist & Today

African Lion, Wildcat, Mane, Closeup — Pixabay Image

Ceasing to exist
If the ways of today stay
As selfish as this

Ritu

Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge Image 2016

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #230 Exist&Today

Chai & A Chat #9 #ChaiAndAChat

03 Dec 2018 36 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Chai and a Chat

It’s that time of week again! Chai time!

If we were sipping chai together I’d say that, for the most part, we are a healthier bunch! So, the sniffles are still there, and my foot still hurts, but we’re cool!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that moderation, my first experience, was actually really interesting. It is fascinating to see how everyone in our Academy, at the different schools, teaches and assesses the kids. We had our discussions, and I look forward to the next time, when we look at progress made, and what happens next… This is a part of teaching I haven’t experienced yet!
If we were sipping chai together, I’d say that I have found a way to make Lil Man remember things he needs to sort out at school, off his own back… Threaten to not let him go to a party! It’s been two weeks that I have been asking him to go an pick up some books from the Spanish teacher for his revision and print out a paper he needs for a science assessment… Surprisingly (not) he forgot EVERY DAY, then when I mentioned ‘no party’ on Wednesday evening, he suddenly managed to come home the next day with everything done!
If we were sipping chai together, you’d remember that cricket fever is still running high in our household, and Lil Man had his second trial for the District team…
If we were sipping chai together, I’d say that I am getting rather scared of how fast our children are growing up… He has teenage parties to attend, and has a voice that is squeaking, and trying to break, and she, at ten, is now reaching hormonal highs, if you know what I mean… My babies are no longer babies! Stop the clock, I wanna get off!!
If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you about the wonderful evening I had with my Tootie Frootie mums, complete with Secret Santa gifts! We met for drinks, before heading off to Rico Sabor, a great paella restaurant, serving a Christmas menu with a Spanish twist. There was music, great food, wonderful company and I discovered a love for Virgin Mojitos! We ate, danced and took umpteed silly photos too!

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

If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that I was exhausted, after a late night (2am and I don’t see much of each other) and I slept in untoll 10am!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that the rest of the weekend was a lovely festive family snuggle time, complete with getting the Christmas tree up!

If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that Sonu Singh is expecially happy. He climbed into boxes as the tree was taken out, he tasted the branches several times and knows he has his favourite spot set for the next few weeks… behind the tree. He even got mega excited at his own advent calendar!

If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that I am now nervous about my first formal observation of the year. It is always tough being watched. I know I am a good teacher. I know what I believe in. But you always know that the day something is going to go to pot will be the day someone is watching you!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you we have a team building event at one of the Panic Rooms here. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I mean they are puzzle rooms you enter as a team, and you have an hour to solve a mystery. We did this once before so it’s exciting to be going again!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that I am excited for the Jingle Bell Ball! Can’t wait to tell you about it next week! Yes, there are a few acts I don’t have a clue about, but I hope to be able to recognise the songs, and embarrass my daughter with some silly dancing!

Have a great week all! Let me know how your’s has been!

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #3

03 Dec 2018 31 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tips, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas, Blogmas 2018, Gravatar

Day 3 of blog tips for Blogmas!

My muse, my tea my workstation!

Make sure your Gravatar information is up to date.

Gravatar? What’s that?

It’s the information attached to the little photo icon that pops up next to any comments you make. If a reader hovers over it, they can find out your blog address, and if they click on it, there is a whole load of information that comes up, from your websites to profiles all over Social Media, so others can connect with you.

It’s important.

If someone fancies checking out your site, and the information is incomplete or incorrect, you could end up losing a prospective reader, or even follower… and you don’t want that!

Something To Tell You – Lucy Diamond #BookReview @LDiamondAuthor

02 Dec 2018 3 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Lucy Diamond, Netgalley

I’ve just discovered something pretty cool… Netgalley!

And the first book I requested was Something To Tell You by Lucy Diamond.

I have heard of the author, but not read any of her books, and the blurb sounded pretty interesting.

When Frankie stumbles upon an unopened letter from her late mother, she’s delighted to have one last message from her . . . until she reads the contents and discovers the truth about her birth. Brimming with questions, she travels to York to seek further answers from the Mortimer family, but her appearance sends shockwaves through them all.

Meanwhile, Robyn Mortimer has problems of her own. Her husband John has become distant, and a chance remark from a friend leads Robyn to wonder exactly what he’s not been saying. Dare she find out more?

As for Bunny, she fell head over heels in love with Dave Mortimer when she first arrived in town, but now it seems her past is catching up with her. She can’t help wondering if he’ll still feel the same way about her if he discovers who she really is – and what she did.

As secrets tumble out and loyalties are tested, the Mortimers have to face up to some difficult decisions. With love, betrayal and dramatic revelations in the mix, this is one summer they’ll never forget.

And here is my review, as featured on Goodreads.

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Something To Tell You by Lucy Diamond

My rating: 4 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.
I’m always a sucker for family-based stories, and this one didn’t disappoint.
Frankie finds a letter from her late mother which gives her information about her own parentage that she never knew before.
Taking a brave step, she ventures into the lives of the Mortimers, her biological father’s family with irreversible consequences.
There were so many different stories going on, stemming from the original plot, that there was no time to get bored.
At times I found myself double checking who was saying what, and which character’s point of view we had switched to, but on the whole, an enjoyable read.
Families are difficult at the best of times, this book highlights that, and also shows that you can overcome some pretty big hurdles, as long as you have your people around you!

View all my reviews

It’s out on January 24th 2019, if you’re interested!