Blogging | But I Smile Anyway...

Birthdays Birthdays! It’s all going mad here!

29 Jun 2015 37 Comments

by Ritu in Children, Family Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, double Figures, Happy Birthday, Milestones, mum, Son

As I wake this morning, I will be very aware that I am getting older…

This morning, my son, Lil Man, reaches his first big milestone age. He’s hit double figures today, 10!

Where did that time go? How did that happen? Surely not??!! But he’s my Lil Man!!! He is a little person truly, and doesn’t look like he should be 10, so it makes it even harder to comprehend!

I still feel like it was yesterday, when we were struggling to conceive, and then that day arrived when he couldn’t wait, and dive-bombed into our life 3 weeks earlier than expected! It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions from then, but the biggest one is love, unconditional love for our Lil Man.

I love this little man so much, and he will be there, my Lil Man, forever and a day! Happy birthday son, your mummy, and daddy are so proud of you and love you so much!

Wait, it doesn’t finish there…

10 years ago, I managed to give my Mum the best present ever… something that I don’t think I could have even planned… you see the day my Lil Man dive-bombed into our lives was already my wonderful mum’s birthdate! So, what a present we gave her that day!

And truly, a heartfelt ‘Happy birthday’ to you too, my inspiration, and the mother I aspire to be like too! Love you to the moon and back mum!

That’s my mum, a true vintage!

So please join me in wishing my Lil Man and mum a very happy birthday Peeps! I’ll eat cake on your behalf! 😛

6 Strikes, not out!

28 Jun 2015 19 Comments

by Ritu in Awards Tags: Award, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Encouraging Thunder, grateful

Aw look what was waiting for me this evening, when I got back from the wedding…

Erika, my lovely blog sister has nominated me for the Encouraging Thunder award, and I gratefully receive it for the 6th time also, like her! Thank you so much Erika! ❤

Awarded 28/6/15

What you can do with Encouraging Thunder award?

Post it on your blog or social media account
Grant others with the award

What you can’t do with Encouraging Thunder award?

Abuse or misuse the logo
Claim that it’s your own handmade logo

What you should do after receiving Encouraging Thunder award:

Enjoy the award
At least gives thanks via comments and likes and or mentioning the person who give the award.
Mention your purpose in blogging or joining the social media

I have used my first response to this award, as my purpose hasn’t changed !

My Purpose In Blogging
What is my purpose in blogging?
Well, I love words, for a start. Reading them, writing them, and learning about them. It was an ambition for me to write a book … Any book. I started a novel, I’ve written some poetry based children’s stories… But it hasn’t gone any further, and in my life, there was not much place for my literary dreams to go anywhere.
Then I discovered blogging, quite by accident!
A friend started a blog to air some issues in her past, and clear her mind, and in order for me to comment, it tempted me to sign in, or sign up…. And so I did!
All of a sudden this blog was born. What I wanted it for I had no idea!
Slowly, I wrote different things, from my life, to creative, to opinions, humour, and not forgetting Sonu Singh!
The encouragement I received over the last 7 months, from the blogs above, and so many others, made my pen (read fingers!) flow, and so But I Smile Any way was born.
My blog has allowed me to reminisce, make you laugh, think, go ‘Awww!’ and given me the opportunity to meet and build relationships with fellow blog-pals around the world!
I thank you all for giving me the inspiration to continue to write, and maybe that lifelong dream of mine, to be published… Might even come true too!

And I’d like to pass the thunder on to…
Tony Burgess
Sunset Dragon
The Happy Lifeaholic

I hope you accept, but please don’t feel obliged, my lovely Peeps, it’s a way of me being able to show my appreciation and pass your blogs on to my followers!

Another week of craziness ahead…!

28 Jun 2015 24 Comments

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

Well, first of all, can I say a huge thank you, and virtual hug to you all who were so supportive with my mad weekend, and Lil Man and his issues.

Sunday night is finally here, and the wedding is over, Lil Man seems much improved, and I got a good night’s sleep last night which always makes the day feel better!

I know it isn’t the morning, but a little Lionel Richie would be good here, Easy (Like Sunday Morning)

However, next week is nothing like Easy….

I start on another of my new teacher duties. We have Home Visits, where we get to meet the new children who will be starting in September, my new class. We go to see them in their home surroundings, chat to parents and allow the kids to familiarise themselves with us, their new teachers.

Then I travel to London for my last Return To Teach course day. Weird as I am already in a teaching position, but actually I have to complete the course, it is important to finish what I started!

Then Wednesday, I have a twilight course between 4-6pm, but my heart wont be there, it will be in London, at the funeral of my brother’s dear friend, who passed away recently. 😦

Of course in all this, there will be the reports, and data updates to finish for the children, and I can hope to look forward to cuddles from my gorgeous baby nephew, whom I haven’t met yet, as they live in Finland, but they will be here, so I am super excited at that! 😀

But the MOST IMPORTANT thing… My Lil Man turns 10 tomorrow! Scary but true!

Have a good night Peeps, and a fantastic week ahead!

T.I.T. (Typical Indian Timing)

28 Jun 2015 48 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Indian Weddings, T.I.T., Wedding

I’m up and about, after finally getting a full night’s sleep, after a good few weeks.
Kids stayed put in their beds, we slept soundly as I’d changed the covers for summer weight ones finally (after all we’re meant to be getting a heatwave here!) And I had arranged to meet my in laws at the wedding late, so I wouldn’t have to sit around too much.
Well, as the post title states, this was another case of T.I.T.!!!!
I aimed to be at the temple by 11.30am, hopefully the ceremony would be in full swing… They were meant to start the ceremony by 11am.
I got here, with Lil Princess, and the boys side, who were local, were 1.5 hours late… So people were still eating the wedding breakfast! I wasn’t late… In fact we were early by all standards!!
Got upstairs and now things are happening, but we’ve just had the Kurmai, which is an engagement ceremony of sorts.
Wow! Engaged on your wedding day, now that’s quick!!
In our weddings there are several levels of engagement. The first, the Roka, where , effectively, you are putting your deposit down on the suitable candidate, then there is the Chunni, where the Boy’s side come to the girl to gift her with items to signify she is spoken for. Nowadays rings are exchanged here too. Then you have the Kurmai, which takes place in the temple, where the Girl’s side accept the boy formally in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. Usually thus,was done weeks or months before the wedding , but in recent years it had become more common to do this on the day, as no one has countless weekends free for all the ceremonies of one wedding. It’s like a ‘2 for 1’ deal!!
Anyway, that has just happened. Late of course, and now the bride has entered and the ceremony begins… At 12.30pm!!!
It is normally custom to get the Lawaan (the wedding rounds) done before 12pm, but that has become less and less followed over the years. The significance of the time? In days of old, back in the villages in Punjab, the Baraat, Boy’s side, would travel early in the morning to reach the girl’s home for the ceremony, and in order to get back home to finish the ceremonies, the wedding needed to be done by 12pm, to allow them time to eat, then get back home. Not the same now with fast cars and motorways!
Another little fact for you… Why do we have a Sarbala, or best man? Because these early morning journeys were treacherous and there were dacoits en route. If something unfortunate were to happen to the groom, the best man took his place!! So you never knee who you might end up marrying!!!
So the wedding is in full flow now, the rounds haven’t started yet, but hey, it is T.I.T.!!?