Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 25 – “Music”

10 May 2016 41 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges, Photography Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Hugh's Photo Challenge, Music, Photography

It’s Tuesday, and Hugh has set us another great prompt!

Music!

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which depicts Music.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 25 – “Music”
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a pingback to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section so other participants can view the post.

Now, you know me, I can’t stop at one!

First thing, music is one of the most important aspects of my life. If I’m in any situation, I can think of a song to go with it! And if there isn’t one, I’ll make one up! I love so many different genres of music, that my collection may look pretty eclectic to some!

As a youngster, I did the whole music lesson thing… I tried guitar, but was put off by the teacher, who would sit with a pack of coloured polos and a pencil, using the latter to pick up a polo by the hole, one at a time, slowly devouring the pack during the lesson! Then if I played a note wrong, which I inevitably did, my hand would get a smack with said pencil!

Then I had a go at recorder because those were the days that everyone was made to play recorder at primary school! I was okay… not that good, though!

I always wanted to learn to play the piano from a young age. At the time my parents were advised against it as my hands would be too small… strange…have you seen those prodigies, aged tiny, whose little fingers whizz over those ivory keys?!

Still, at the time, I didn’t pursue it, but at 6th form, it was decided that I would have a crash course, as playing the piano was a skill that was perfect for a primary school teacher. I picked up quite a bit, but then promptly forgot it when I went to university! Though I can still pick a tune out!

I think I should stick to singing!!!

So my first photo is dedicated to my musical instruments of old!

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Loved my recorder
Even though I couldn’t play
Very well at all!

***

Stood in a corner
My guitar gently weeps
Not played anymore

Ritu 2016

Did you know, even the furbaby of the family has a penchant for music?

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Move over Tom Jones
A media sensation!
Our won crooning cat!

Ritu 2016

And the last photo is not one I took, but a friend snapped my Pops, dancing at my wedding. I think it encompasses him, and as a family, our love of music and dance, totally! This was taken 15 years ago, and since then he’s lost a bit of weight through his yoga, and he is turning 70 in 2 weeks too! Oh, I do love my Pops!!!!!

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Pops busting his moves
Like he’s twenty one again
Old is always gold!

Ritu 2016

Hope you enjoyed them all!

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 24 – “Hats”

03 May 2016 49 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Hats, Hugh's Photo Challenge, Photography

Time to see what Dear Hugh has in store for us for our photo prompt this week!

And the prompt is HATS!

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken of a hat or hats.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 24 – “Hats”
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a *pingback to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section below so that other participants can view the post.

Hats.

Now I could have gone the obvious route, being a Sikh, and photographed turbans, but I don’t like to do the obvious. Those who read my blog probably know that already!

I seem to have amassed quite a collection of headwear over the years. Mainly summer hats, hoping for the weather to arrive, where I may wear them, or the right holiday to be booked… it never seems to happen, though!

Still, there was plenty for me to try on, and photograph… the beauty of selfies! In fact, Lil Man, my son, caught me taking pictures, and was looking at me rather strangely. The things we do for creativity!!!!

Anywho, here are my offerings!

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A weakness of mine
I love hats I have too many
Yet I don’t wear them!

Ritu 2016

And another, inspired by my comment in Hugh’s original post.

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Wear a thinking cap
To help inspiration flow
Capture your ideas…

Ritu 2016

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 23– “Season”

26 Apr 2016 42 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges, Photography Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Haiku, Hugh's Photo Challenge, photographs, Ronovanwrites, season

Hugh’s photo challenge hosted by the Lovely Ron this week… check it out here.

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which shows Season in it.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 23– “Season”
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Copy and paste your URL into the comments of this challenge post. The pingbacks are having a bit of a meltdown with some of the blogs lately, and to make doubly sure you are visited, do the copy and paste please.

The obvious did spring to mind, thinking about the four seasons, then the sports seasons, and before I had even scrolled down Ronovan’s post, I knew it had to be about seasoning… Food and me, we have a deep love!

In most households there will be a cupboard where your bottles of various seasonings are kept. Salt, pepper, dried herbs… they are all there to help flavour your dishes.

Now in an Indian household it is no different, though the way the spices are kept is uniform in each of our households. They are in this type of multi sectioned tin that we call a Masala Dabaa, or Spice Tin!

That is where we get all that amazing flavour! In my tin, I have salt, cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, garam masala, chilli powder and in the small pot in the middle is asafoetida (though I have never used that.. my mum made this tin up for me when I moved into my own house and I just top it up!) The tins are usually stainless steel and have little spoons to use, to sprinkle the spices and seasonings. There is no such thing as a measurement spoon in these, they come in all shapes and sizes, as we cook and use everything by andazaa, or by estimation!

(Don’t worry, on the other side of the cupboard where my flavour tin is kept, I have all the other bottles that are in western cupboards too!!!!)

So, without further ado, here is my entry, and a little haiku to go with it!

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Flavour

Indian staple
In every kitchen I know
Masala dabaa

Ritu 2016

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 22 – “Group”

19 Apr 2016 24 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Group, Hugh's Photo Challenge, Photography

Hugh’s photo challenge calls to me again…! Check it out here!

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which, for you, depicts Group.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 22 – “Group”
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a *pingback to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section below so that other participants can view the post.

I thought and thought… scrolled through numerous photos that I have taken, and couldn’t find something that spoke to me, then I found this one, an old school photo from my last year at school, just after GCSE’s had been taken… summer term, holidays about to start, and please, don’t laugh.. yes, that’s me in the front with the Librarian sash on, and Sue Pollard-esque glasses!

But back to the point, this group photo reminds me of wonderful times. I loved my school days, and these girls wer3e some very special people in my life. Some of us ended up at the same school from nursery until 6th form, so that was from 3-18 years old!

Here goes… remember, you promised not to laugh!

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Memories of school
A group of forever friends
From the good old days

Ritu 2016

We all live distances away from each other, some in other countries now, but the power of Social Media, like Facebook, has kept us all in touch!

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 21 – “Fresh”

12 Apr 2016 48 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Fresh, Hugh's Photo Challenge

Tuesday and it’s photo challenge time from Hugh! Check it out here.

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which, for you, depicts Fresh.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 21 – “Fresh”
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a *pingback to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section below so that other participants can view the post.

I thought of three different takes on this, whilst browsing through photos I have taken in the past…