Family | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 403 – Bookapalooza!

27 Nov 2022 17 Comments

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

“There is only one thing that can replace a book. Another book.”
Anon

Thanks for handing me the stage today, Spidey.

So, next weekend I am doing a bit of a ‘thing’.

I took part in this ‘thing’ a couple of years ago, too.

Basically, a wonderful bookish group on Facebook has invited me to be one of their featured authors next week, in a Bookapalooza, and I have a paperback giveaway of Marriage Unarranged, as well as the cover reveal for book two in the Rishtay Series, Straight As A Jalebi, happening next weekend as well!

´¨)

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.•´ (¸.•` CALLING ALL BOOK LOVERS! JOIN THE FUN with LOADS OF AUTHOR GIVEAWAYS on December 4th as over 50 authors will be visiting with readers in the Season of Giving Bookapalooza! Don’t forget to join us in My Book Friends. #MBFBookapalooza2022 https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourbookfriends/

GIVEAWAYS ALL DAY! FREE BOOKS, I SAY! TELL YOUR READER FRIENDS!

And YOU are invited! #MBFBookapalooza2022

(¯`•.•´¯)¸•´¯`☆

.`•.¸¸.•´••

Be sure and click over to the group, answer the easy questions, and you’re in. You won’t want to miss this event on Sunday, so join us TODAY.

Cover Reveal Next Week!

So, tell me, will you be joining us in the My Book Friends Group?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 402 – Anniversary Thoughts

20 Nov 2022 47 Comments

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

“Grow old with me. The best is yet to be.”
Robert Browning

What a lovely quote, Spidey. Thank you. So apt since our anniversary was on Friday.

When we married, we were in the throes of love.

The freshness of our feelings for each other was intense.

We had been together for four years before that. However, due to our culture, we couldn’t be seen to be with one another. (One thing I thank the evolution of time for since it is much more acceptable to be with your chosen partner openly before marriage nowadays than it was, even 21 years ago.)

Sure, people knew, and we were officially engaged for a good couple of years before the big day. But still, it wasn’t the done thing to bring him to any family events, for me to go to his house or to openly meet other members of his extended family.

We were a bit rebellious, though, because, before marriage, we did meet others out of familial situations because how can you be together for so long without meeting anyone else other than your friends?

That love we felt on that day 21 years ago has never lessened, but it has changed over the years.

Our hearts have had to expand to invite in the families who became one with our union.

There is a huge space extended for our children, both human and not (Sonu Singh, our Punjabi Cat, Heer and Ranjha, our parrotlets (RIP), and the numerous fish we have had over the years.)

And as is natural, our feelings have evolved. It’s not all just about physical attraction.

Yes, those feelings are there, but the way love changes, we have more insight into one another, and we value each other more.

Companionship has become even more important.

Okay, yes, we do argue. There are fallouts once in a while, but isn’t that just the case with everyone?

And that is only overcome because our love for each other is so strong.

Each stage of our relationship with each other changes, as does our love, and as the quote says above, quite possibly, the best is yet to come, and I am excited to see where the future takes us and our family.

So, tell me, what does love mean to you?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

21 Years And Counting

18 Nov 2022 72 Comments

by Ritu in Family Tags: Anniversary, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family

Today…

… we celebrate 21 glorious year’s married 🥰

Happy Anniversary, Hubby Dearest 🥰

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 401 – Together Part 2

13 Nov 2022 46 Comments

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

“Time together as a family is a gift.”
Joanna Gaines

Yes, I am revisiting Togetherness as it felt apt, again, this week.

For two reasons.

The first is that Pops and Mum are back after being away for four weeks in Kenya, doing the whole togetherness thing with family there. My mum lost one of her brothers during the pandemic and could not see him or grieve with her other brother at all. This visit was filled with sadness and happiness, too.

They visited many families who have lost people over the last couple of years.

Then spent quality time with my uncle and aunts.

We all know how precious and fickle life is. In your golden years that is felt even more keenly. Mum and her brother live in different countries. That distance feels bigger, now, at a time they would love to be a short drive away from one another.

However they packed many memories into the few weeks they were there, and have come back with many stories for my brother and me to listen to.

The second one is to say that family is not only blood-related.

On Friday we went out for a meal, my colleagues and I. The whole school staff were invited, and a fair few were there. It was an emotional gathering for various reasons, and one thing our Head Teacher said was that she considers us all family.

And we are.

You sometimes spend more time with the people you work with than with your own family, which is a drain. But, having that bond with your colleagues makes those long hours pass much more pleasantly. So an evening with people I had already spent the day with was still as much of a pleasure as spending time with my own family.

And, as an aside, I have my friends who are more like family, and you, my Blogily, as I always call you!

So, tell me, do you have people you consider ‘family’ outside of your blood relations?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 400 – Together

06 Nov 2022 35 Comments

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

“I thing togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life.”
Barbara Bush

What a beautiful quote you pulled up, today, Spidey!

I am still on a little high, as I write this.

On Saturday I met with my darling ‘big’ little brother, who was over from Finland for some business meetings in London.

We haven’t seen each other for over 3 years, what with being in another country, and and the madness of Covid, the last couple of years.

My brother and I have a very close relationship, but it wasn’t always the case. As kids, we definitely rubbed each other up the wrong way, but which sibling duo doesn’t?

As we grew older, our appreciation for one another grew stronger, as did our love.

But it still doesn’t help to be so far away from one another. Video calls are wonderful things. It means I get to see my nephews growing up, but nothing can beat face-to-face.

And you know I am a hugger. I come from a family of huggers, and I’d like to think of myself as a good hugger. I come from good hugging lineage. My Pops is the BEST hugger in the world, and anyone who has experienced one of his hugs will tell you so.

So, this hug, below, as well as plenty of others, and a few hours to talk, and be together, lit up my day/week/month/year!

It was short, but so needed. And I can’t wait for when he comes again, with the rest of the family, s we can spend even more quality time together. 🥰