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#SoCS Dec. 23/17 – Yule/You’ll/Yul

23 Dec 2017 30 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #StreamofConsciousnessSaturday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, Socs, Yule/You'll/Yul

Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week…

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “yule/you’ll/Yul.” Start your post with one of them. Have fun!

Yule log.

Definitely a favourite pudding of mine during this festive period of Christmas!

Mind you, if there was a choice of stationing myself at the bar or the dessert station, you’ll find me near the sweet stuff, EVERY TIME!

I had a lovely yule log at my school staff Christmas party, accompanied by a mixed berry compote and ice CREAM – Yum!

We went to the shops today… the last Friday before Christmas, and it was manic, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you. The kids and I needed to venture into a food shop to pick up a few Christmas dinner essentials, like pigs in blankets, goose fat (best roast potatoes ever!) and dessert!

We ended up with a trifle, cheesecake and a profiterole tower… but no yule log! It appears my kids don’t share my love of a chocolatey swiss roll type thing!

Hmm… I’ll bet Yul Brynner likes yule log!

(sorry, just had to slip that extra Yul in too!)

And with that, I’ll be off to take a child to a pre-Christmas birthday party… and get ready for my folks to arrive!

Happy Saturday Peeps!

December 21 – Flash Fiction – White Flowers

22 Dec 2017 42 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #CarrotRanch, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charli Mills, Flash Fiction, funeral, White Flowers

Charli’s prompt this week:

December 21, 2017 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) include white flowers in your story. This is a repeat prompt, but one that has an ability to be emotive. Humor, drama, irony — go wherever the white flowers lead.

December 21 Carrot Ranch Prompt @Charli_Mills

After reading Charli’s post, I felt the need to write something with a little sensitivity…

Ghajra

Arranging the ghajra in her hair, Hari allowed his eyes to drift over her form.
Meena looked as beautiful as she had, years before, on their wedding day.
As tradition states, she was dressed as a bride, ready to leave the house for the final time.
Hari had always bought her a fresh ghajra on his morning walk, and gently placed the fragrant white jasmine flowers around her hair bun.
The gesture made her smile, and she’d tease him about being an old romantic.
So, even today, on that journey to her funeral pyre, she lay, adored and adorned.

https://carrotranch.com/2017/12/21/dec-21-flash-fiction-contest/

My Christmas Wish For You All #FridayFeelings

22 Dec 2017 72 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Christmas, Christmas Wish

Well hello, Peeps!

I thought I’d reach out to you all on this Friday before Christmas, the calm before the storm, so to speak!

Got a busy weekend ahead, followed by the madness and mayhem that is Christmas, before I can sit and really ‘create’ a post again!

Firstly, I should let you all know that this weekend, I shall finally get to see my parents – Yay!!!! We were determined that weather and all sorts would not get in the way, and it looks like we will have our get together!

Secondly, I wanted to give you a few words as my Christmas gift to you all.

Forgiveness is key.

If there are any grudges or hurts you are holding inside, please, try and let them go.

Something I have been dealing with personally has let me to want to say this to those I hold dear to me, and that includes all of you reading this too.

People make mistakes.

Often they will only make them once, though there are those that never learn.

But we are all human, and if someone has wronged you, talk it out, and then try and put it behind you.

Sometimes the only person you are hurting by not forgiving is yourself.

Take heed – I haven’t said Forgive and Forget.

I fully understand that there are situations you cannot ever forget, but if you take the step to forgive, the memory can usually fade, not be a glaring reminder, but rather a dim beacon of caution.

And if you are able to forgive, life can be so much easier to cope with.

With this thought in mind, go forth and enjoy your Christmas Peeps!

Eat, drink (not too much!) and be merry!

Christmas Love to you all!!!!!

#WritePhoto – Thaw

21 Dec 2017 42 Comments

by Ritu in #WritePhoto, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #WritePhoto, Barbie and Ken, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Fiction, Photo Prompt, Thaw

Sue’s #WritePhoto Prompt this week:

I thought I’d continue the adventures of Barbie and Ken.

She stood at the bar window, looking out over the snow dusted landscape, wishing it wasn’t melting so fast.

“Babe, it’s a shame you couldn’t sort the snow out… I really wanted a white Christmas this year!” Barbie turned to her long-suffering boyfriend Ken.

“Did you see on Instagram, how much snow the others had in Scotland? And this…sludge… is what we get.” She pouted like a 3-year-old.

Finally sensing a thaw in her icy treatment of him, after the episode last week, when he’d not been waiting for her at the sports bar, rather, he’d left her waiting whislt dreaming of other women, Ken grasped the chance to get back into her good books.

“I’ll just check the weather app on my phone, Babe… Let’s see what we can do.” Ken wandered over to the bar to get himself a pint, and a Prosecco for the lady, and to figure out what to do.

Seriously? She wanted snow now? In the middle of Essex? That idea of the undemanding Sindy as his girlfriend was seriously appealing…

As if the cosmos had been listening, the door to the bar opened and in walked Sindy and her friends. They piled in, bringing a gust of cold wind with them.

Sindy spotted Ken and came rushing over, kissing him on both cheeks. “Hiya Ken darling! How are you? Been let off your leash then, have you?” She winked at him.

He looked over at where Barbie was standing, no longer looking out of the window, but in his direction, the ice forming in her eyes once more, as she surveyed the scene; her man surrounded by ‘bimbos’ and one with her arms slung over his shoulders.

“Er, ha ha, yeah, funny Sind. Listen got to go, drinks are getting warm. See you round!” Ken grabbed his pint and the bubble filled flute and rushed back to his very own Ice Queen…

Sindy watched him retreat, and noticed the look on Barbie’s face… Hmm. Trouble in paradise?

To be continued…

#writephoto

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