Harsh Reality | But I Smile Anyway...

#Blogging 101 … How and Why

04 Mar 2015 26 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Blogging101, Following, Harsh Reality, Reading Blogs

Todays task for Blogging 101 search 5 topics, look at some new blogs, and follow at least 5. Posting is not necessary but if you want you can…

Before actually doing the task I though to myself… What do I follow? Who do I follow? Why do I follow?

When I started the blog, I had no understanding of how this whole blogging malarkey worked. Suddenly I got a few, and I mean few, followers which made me feel elated! Wow! Someone wants to follow me, the only time ‘stalking’ is acceptable! And initially I would follow back out of courtesy. Then as I started looking at my reader, I noticed interesting posts which were reblogs, then I followed those, and guest posts would spur me on too!

I used the introduce yourself posts on various blogs, like OM, clicked on some blogs, and liked them so the following happened there too.

As my own follower count grew, I thought to myself “I’d like to follow other new, little known blogs. My one little follow would mean a lot to those still in single figures.” And so I did that.

If I find a blog that is similar to mine, I know I’ll enjoy the read, so they get my follow, and readership too! And I do read, I have two set times a day where I go through my reader, and faithfully check all the new posts out. First thing in the morning, and before bed. This is almost like my new book to read!

Going back to the task in hand, I have such a full reader, that I very rarely go on the search tag bar, but today I ventured on there.

So I chose the following subjects,

Culture – I love a bit of culture, anything to broaden my mind!
Bollywood – that was a given! What I wouldn’t give to be running around changing clothes every 30 seconds dancing around trees!
Family – because mine are the most important thing in my life, and I love to read about other families.
Crafts – love getting new ideas!
Humour a because who doesn’t want a laugh everyday? I know I do!

And I followed more than 5… I knew I would! There are so many great blogs out there! As I get a chance to explore further, I will post some links to them, so hopefully they might tickle others fancy!

In the meantime, what makes you follow a blog?

#giggleforagoodcause #embarrassingphoto

25 Feb 2015 Leave a comment

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #embarrassingphotos, #giggleforagoodcause, Blog, Blog Post, Blogging, Charity, Embarrassing Photos, Harsh Reality

Ok,so am hoping we can do something cool here, Janey and I.

Please read my post Embarrassing Photo Tag, and join in. Tag friends, Facebook it, Tweet it!

Share if you can too.

It’s for a laugh, and the giggle for a good cause hash tag, is for if you wish to donate to a charity of your choice.

I chose a children’s one as we are talking about kids who seem to be losing their childhood, trying to get older quicker, but you can do anything you want, IF you want!

Donate money, however, do a good deed, but help someone, that’s what’s important! Make a difference!

Embarrassing Photo Tag

25 Feb 2015 37 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #embarrassingphotos, #giggleforagoodcause, Blog, Blog Post, Blogging, Charity, Embarrassing Photo, Funny, Giggle For A Good Cause, Harsh Reality, Teen, Tween

Ok, so we might be mad, but my BlogPal Janey at Cupid or Cats and I had a really spectacular(-ly silly!) idea on one conversation we had after reading one of her posts regarding the fact that most kids nowadays don’t get to go through the geeky tween/teen years, instead, going from cute kid to almost perfect made up teen… Thanks to all the media coverage about appearance.

But you know what, if you haven’t gone through the embarrassing stage, there’s a huge part of your character you haven’t built! And with this in mind, we thought what a great idea to dig out and post embarrassing pics of ourselves. Have a giggle yourself at your uncomfortable tween/teen self, and give others a laugh too!!

I’m linking this back to Janey’s original post Embarrassing Photo Tag!

Just to make it fun, and to spread the giggles, I will tag 3 fellow bloggers I would like to do this, just for a laugh! But don’t feel pressurised, by any means, it’s just a giggle!

And, to make it more worthwhile I’m texting a donation to a charity, Cancer Research, for their research towards childhood and teenage Cancers.

Ok, here goes…!

They’ll be in no particular order either, just one embarrassment after another!!

School!

Ok, not so embarrassing, but that’s me, at school!

Uni!

Dark lips and brow days!

Cheesy!

Uh oh! White eyeshadow and glitter gloss!

Curls!

Tail end of college days!

Tween!

Awkward tween years start, before my glasses came on board!

No comment!

Seriously!? The patterned shirt? And I LOVED it!

Goth-ish!

Actually, not goth, but the brows and dark lips still there, at uni, in The USA actually! We were doing a play for schools on a travelling tour!

Frizzzzz!

i was discovering my curls, and yes, the glasses pics are coming out!… Cringe!

No no no!

I was 12, that’s all I’ll say…!

WTF?!

Taken in a photo booth in Canada! Modelling a lovely neckerchief, and strange facial expression!

(burying my head in my hands) there you have it. I’m sure I have many more embarrassing ones, both these are what I laid my hands on last night!

And here’s my donation!

Now to tag some lovely individuals!
Trish from 10 years a single mom
Rekha from Window with a view
My lovely Muslim Latina Friend!

Please take part, have fun, have a giggle!

What would you do?

12 Feb 2015 32 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogging, children, Harsh Reality, Murder, opinions, Paedophile, Parent, Protective, Spain

Today's front page of The Sun

There has been an awful incident in Spain. A man is in jail for killing a man.
So, these things happen, we all know that. Punishment where punishment is due.

This case hit home a little closer as the accused is known to people I know. I’ve seen him, never met him.

But the situation it occurred in, now that’s a different matter.

The victim, if you could call him that, was a suspected paedophile, who already had a case open against him for possessing child pornography.

The accused, a father, who noticed him taking pictures of his children without permission, and despite being asked to refrain from taking pictures, he continued.

I don’t have the full details but, as always with cases like these, details vary. Allegedly, the accused took the iPad from the ‘victim’ to delete the pictures and saw older pictures which were of a pornographic nature of other children, and he flipped.

Some say it was one frustrated angry punch from a protective father, who then left with his family. Other reports said in excess of 10 punches were thrown at the ‘victim’ and he was dragged around. He later died in hospital.

The accused is now held in jail in Spain, awaiting his hearing.

That, at the moment, is all I know, but what do you think?
How would you react in this situation?
Was he wrong to want to protect his children from a possibly dangerous, sick man?
Should he have just ignored it?
Had a shouting match?
A civilized conversation?

If that was me, as a parent, I would be fuming. I know my Hubby Dearest’s blood would boil too. Possibly a physical reaction would occur.

I would never wish anyone dead, but I can’t condone that kind of sick behaviour of the ‘victim’.

(Incidentally, the paper in the picture, was more interested in the ‘victim’s’ connection with Katie Price than the actual story. The accused got a paragraph mention…)