Blogging | But I Smile Anyway...

Chai And A Chat #206 #ChaiAndAChat

10 Oct 2022 22 Comments

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

Happy Monday, Peeps! It’s a chilly but bright one, here!

Let’s get that drink, shall we? It’ll only be quick, because I am rather exhausted after a crazy week, last week.

If we were having chai, I’d say that week six was eventful in many, many ways, but, unfortunately, I cannot say why! (Patience, my friends!) However, it was a good week, though exhausting, and I ended my week, with one of these, for a change!

View this post on Instagram

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

If we were having chai, I’d tell you I was meant to have a Drs appt about HRT but it had to be postponed, so I have another 2 weeks to wait. I have found a great app called Balance, which I can log any symptoms or thoughts on, and I can collate it into a printable report to show to the doctor whenever we speak. That will be so helpful.
If we were having chai, I’d say that I almost forgot that my car needed its service and MOT as it is a ‘new to me’ car, and the dates for these checks are different to my last one! Still, all done and dusted, and I am lighter in the pocket, but at least I have a safe car!
If we were having chai, I’d share this little quote which, though it was auto-generated by one of those Facebook quiz things, I really loved!

View this post on Instagram

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

If we were having chai, I’d leave you with Sonu Singh, looking wistfully out of the window!

View this post on Instagram

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

https://sdk.bitmoji.com/render/panel/3a6f1168-674c-4c8f-b8e8-4218d74d7570-9befc5c2-5193-4f9f-90a5-5af96e033981-v1.png?transparent=1&palette=1

This week, I have nothing major to worry about or look forward to. All I hope is that it is a smooth week. Oh, and I have Lil Man’s Parent’s Evening… I can’t believe he’s sitting A-levels this academic year!

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 396 – Relief

09 Oct 2022 37 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Relief, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
John Lennon

Loving this pearl of wisdom from John Lennon, this week, Spidey! Thank you!

If you recall my post on Wednesday, I was rather nervous about something… (I may be able to be a little less secretive in my Chai Chat tomorrow, but it won’t be full disclosure, unfortunately!)

Something that had been building for a long while.

And now it’s over, I can honestly say, it is, thankfully ‘the end’, at least for now. Because there will be sequel to this event, but, fingers crossed, not for a long while!

I have celebrated by doing pretty much nothing this weekend, as well as having a couple of glasses of well-deserved glasses of wine. Because my mind and body needed that release. And I need to ready myself for other challenges that have been languishing in my nerves and stress surrounding this last chapter.

So, tell me, how do you wind down after a particularly stressful situation?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

#SoCS Oct. 08, 2022 – The Back Of The Fridge

08 Oct 2022 26 Comments

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

Linda’s SoCS prompt.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “back of the fridge.” Write the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “back of the fridge.” Enjoy!

I try to be so organised with my fridge, ensuring that I rotate things as soon as the shopping arrives and I put the newer items at the back, so the closer to date items get used first.
Why, then does my husband feel the necessity to dig past the stuff that needs using, to eat the 'fresh' stuff at the back of the fridge?
It's not as if I leave out of date food there.
It's all edible.
But that really frustrates me!

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Oct. 8, 2022

One-Liner Wednesday – Nervous Anticipation

05 Oct 2022 25 Comments

by Ritu in #onelinerwednesday Tags: #1linerweds, #onelinerwednesday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Overthinking

“When that day you all know is coming, arrives, and you really don’t know how to feel…”
Ritu Bhathal

(I will tell you all about it, I promise, but not right now!)

For Linda’s #1LinerWeds

October 3: Flash Fiction Challenge – Chai Time

03 Oct 2022 14 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Chai Time, Flash Fiction, Tea

Charli’s Carrot Ranch Prompt, this week:

October 3, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about any ritual involving tea. It can be a daily afternoon tea prepared specifically or the reading of tea leaves in a cup. What do you know? What do you imagine? Is your story deep and ponderous or bright and flash? Go where the prompt leads!

Chai Time

Water simmers as I add tea leaves.

I peruse my spice cupboard, wondering which to add, today.

Fennel seeds, cardamom pods, cloves, some cinnamon, too.

Each releases its unique scent into the air as it is added to the deep brown liquid.

Milk added, the boiling halts as the liquid begins its simmering journey again.

A careful eye is needed as the bubbles increase and the froth begins to rise.

Gas down, froth down.

Gas up, froth up.

Three times, then off.

Strain it. Pour it into a cup.

Perfect masala tea to warm the cockles of anyone’s heart.