Spiderman | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 252 – Year End

29 Dec 2019 50 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: 2020, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, New Year, Quotes, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Spideys Serene Sundays

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”
Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Thank you for finding another inspirational set of words, Spidey!

You know, I often wonder what the big deal is about New Year.

It’s just marking the passing of time, yet so many of us put great store into the New Year, and what it will bring us.

But then, is not every morning a new start? A new chapter in your life? Another chance to right wrongs, or begin a new regime?

I do try to start each day with that positivity, but I know, it’s not always easy to wipe the slate of yesterday truly clean, and emerge in the morning, unscathed by the happenings of the day before. There may be deadlines at work, issues with colleagues, family, or even friends. Someone might be unwell.

On this note, I do like to think of each year as another chapter in my life book. I have plenty of chapters to look back upon, to learn from, to reminisce, and laugh at.

But this new year, it brings with it possibilities.

Who knows what will happen in the future? No one.

But, if you want to do something, it is in your hands to start the wheels of fortune turning, and make something of your dreams and ideas.

And what better time to make those plans than at the beginning of the New Year?

I don’t know it, but I have a feeling in my bones… 2020 might just be the start of something big. I have hopes and dreams, and I have had them for a while. But I decided I wouldn’t leave them as thoughts, but make them happen!

Publish that novel! And I am already on plan for that, with a release date of 9th February, 2020! (If you want to preorder the Kindle Edition, click here, getbook.at/MarriageUnarranged , and the paperback should (cover pending) be available to order from Amazon on the same day!
Make some real headway on book two (and even three!), whenever I get the time to sit and write.
Do something with my children’s stories. I have 2 picture book style texts ready, and a third that is half done, but alas, I am not an illustrator! But research time… Who knows, I might end the year as a published poet, novelist and children’s writer! (DREAM BIG!)
Do something with our house – we either need a MAJOR refurb, to give more space for the kids, and repair a whole host of issues, or look for a new forever home… the plans are there… hope this one is also achieved this year too!
Finish my first full teaching year with my own class on a HIGH! It has been tough, the last few years, having to share a class, and split myself between two (and sometimes, three) classes. This time, I was given my own space, my own class, and with it comes a new set of responsibilities. I want to show my Headteacher, I can smash it. I’m hopeful! (even with my special Beauts!)

So, Peeps, what have you got in your 2020 plans, so far?

Have a peaceful last Sunday of the year, and decade, Peeps And enjoy your New Year celebrations! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 250 – Tis The Season To Be Sneezing

15 Dec 2019 59 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Cold, Ill, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, unwell

“Tis healthy to be sick sometimes.”
David Henry Thoreaux

“Say what, Spidey?” I hear you all cry, but, you know what? He’s right with this one he’s found today!

Seriously, as I sit here today, typing away, with the first sniffles of the season (for me, anyway), I get it.

No one wants to be ill. No one wants to feel incapacitated in any way, least of all at Christmas, when there is so much to do, at work as well as home. Colds and flu? They can do one.

But they won’t.

When they decide to come visiting, you have to make a decision. To battle through it, and possibly infect a whole host of other people, or to sit back and allow your body to take over.

Because, a lot of the time, you get a cold because you are run down. Sure, getting caught in that downpour may not help, or going out, not wrapped up properly, can make a situation worse, but I do believe that getting a cold os really your body’s way of saying “STOP! You need to rest and refuel!”

I really should take my own advice. Yesterday, I awoke to the sniffles, but had a busy day planned, takinbg Lil Princess to visit some friends, and the idea was that they chilled out whilst I found a comfy sofa in a coffee shop, and read or wrotte, peacefully.

Nope. That didn’t happen. We still had to go, but Lil Man was with me, so I ended up dropping her off, then traipsing around a few sports shops with him after a meal together, (mother/son date – don’t have as many of those as I’d like!), before my knees said “Sit down!” and my head willed Lil Princess to want to go home.

We managed a couple of hours, where I did convince him to go and sit with me in a Costa Coffee shop for a short while, then once home, I slipped into bed with a good book, and did what I should have been doing all day – Read and snoozed!

Today, I hope to feel a bit better – got a hair appointment – but the rest of the day will be more resting up, and relaxing, ready for the last week of term! I only have to last 3 days, then officially we break up… I can do it.

Just need to shake this stupid cold! (And try and ignore Hubby Dearest who seems to have contracted Man Flu AGAIN! I just think he’s jealous that I really need the tissue box this time!)

So… tell me, what do you do to get rid of colds?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 249 – Wise Man vs. Fool

08 Dec 2019 48 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Proverb, Quote, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“A wise man never knows all. A fool knows everything.”
African Proverb

I do love ths proverb that Spidey, dear Spidey, managed to fish out of his collection this week.

It’s another take on last week’s entry, about never being too old to learn new things, really.

We are never at an age where we know it all, though I am sure we all know a Mr or Mrs Know-It-All!

And you are guaranteed to think that person a bit of a fool. I bet when that person starts spouting off about all they know, there is eye rolling going on around them too.

It is so important to realise that one individual really can’t know EVERYTHING.

Sure, age brings with it experience, and the wisdom to guide others through certain situations. But even as adults, we are still learning, or should be willing to admit that there will always be plenty that we don’t know how to navigate.

And with that realisation, should come that knowledge that it isn’t weakness to ask for assistance. In fact it is the wise man who will ask for help, not the fool, because, of course, the fool knows it all!

So… tell me, do you know any fools?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 248 – Educate

01 Dec 2019 31 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Katie Forrest, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Time Management

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin

Many thanks, Spidey for this particular quote.

Yes, I am a teacher, but I am not thinking specifically about my career when I read this quote.

We are, no matter what age, capable of learning new things. I don’t believe that old ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ baloney at all.

And in that vein, I love to educate myself more on topics that are of personal interest to me.

Right know it is all about my writing, and the craft of writing.

I have build an arsenal of craft books to refer to when at the editing stage of my writing. But do I have the time to actually write them?

Sure, I dip into them once in a while, but I haven’t fully devoured them.

Then today, I was made aware of one that I thought might be a perfect read for me… and I started reading it, and have only a little bit left to read now.

It is called Time Management for Writers by Katie Forrest, and I am going to to all out there and say, if you need some help with managing time, whether you are a writer or not, you SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!

Sprinkled with personal anecdotes, Katie has really broken down the whys and wherefores of how we spend our time each day, and some extremely easy ways to identify our goals, our ‘Whys’, (as she calls them), and then implement strategies to maxinmise our efficiency.

I, for one, am definitelty excited to start a routine where I am more conscious of when I am productive, and how I can create a world that works for me, in my personal life, professional life and with my passion for writing.

Part of my new routine, to be established, will be a set amount of time, 3-4 days a week, where I read a craft book, and actually digest what I am reading and take notes.

This will enable me to hopefully create better words from the off, when I get back to my creative writing.

See. Educating myself!

And if you are interested, here are my ‘Whys’ for writing.

So… tell me, is there anything new you are learning right now?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 247

24 Nov 2019 40 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Health, mahatma Gandhi, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Thanks for the reminder, Spidey.

This quote comes at a timely fashion, as the household is battling the coughs and sniffles that the onset of the cold weather tends to bring.

It’s not easy when your Lil Man grows up. Because that means that there are now TWO individuals liable to get MAN FLU!

Yes, yes, I’ve read the articles claiming that MAN FLU is real, but I am so not convinced.

You have a cold, plain and simple. It’s not nice, I get that, but still – MAN UP!

I’ve spent time finding Vicks Vaporub, locating cold medications to ease symptoms, and found a set of tablets, that my 14-year-old can take now as he feels he is too grown up for syrups now. And then furnished the Hubby Dearest with his tablets too.

He’s had it bad, I have to admit, needed a couple of days off work, and that in itself is unlike him.

But, as I said before… it’s a COLD!

I’ve been battling my own health issues as you all know, and still am none the wiser as to the reasons for my aches and pains. I think another trip to the doctor to get some more investigations, is in order.

And to top it off, I found a rash, small and pink ringed, on my leg. The consensus was ring worm, but it is one isolated case and I have been given cream, and was told that, yes, it is contagious, but as long as I keep my leg covered, use the cream twice daily, wash my hands a lot and make sure I don’t share towels, things should be okay. But it is now a little blister, sans ring… was it ever ringworm? I don’t know.

Then poor Lil Princess. She’s sniffling too, but has strained a muscle in her neck so she isn’t a happy bunny right now, either.

And at school it isn’t much better. On Monday, I had eight of my class off with a Norovirus style bug. And by the end of the week, one confirmed case of chicken pox… the lurgies are spreading!

I am booked for my Flu jab at school on Friday too. Here’s hoping I don’t succumb before then!

But it is true though, if you have your health, you are better off than a lot of the population out there. Wealth is great, yes, but what is it, without health?

I might not be working at 100% myself right now, but I am still capable of moving around, going to work, caring for my family. What more can I ask for?

So… tell me, are you grateful for your health?