Spidey’s Serene Sunday | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 378 – Excitement

05 Jun 2022 23 Comments

by Ritu in My Writing, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Excited, Marriage Unarranged, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Cherish your excitement while you have it.”
Lucy Varna

Thank you, Spidey, for reminding me to live in this wonderful moment while it is here!

Well, unless you have been living under a rock the last couple of weeks, you will know that my big re-release is happening tomorrow.

Marriage Unarranged, my original book baby, has got her second wind and is being released by Spellbound Books as a part of my three-book deal with them.

I remember the lead up to my original release when I self-published. There was so much to do, aside from writing the words. From the cover to the formatting, the editing, finding beta readers, organising marketing and blog tours… it was busy.

This time, I am able to revel in the excitement a little more, in a different way, since a lot of the above is already done, or being dealt with by the publishers.

Okay, so there isn’t a new cover, but it is being tweaked, and I am even more excited that there is a ‘call to buy’ quote from my all-time favourite author, Amanda Prowse, being added to the front. I am thrilled by that!

Minor edits were done, but nothing to change the storyline, as they were more than happy with everything that had already been done.

And the lovely Zoe-Lee O’Farrell has arranged the book tour, so all I am doing is sitting here, making Tiktoks about the release, reposting the content and just generally getting excited!

It releases tomorrow, initially on Kindle, and I am still on my half term break, though my own children are back in school tomorrow, so once I have dropped them off, and taken my mother-in-law for a blood test, I can celebrate the rerelease in whichever way I please!

I can’t wait to receive my new copies when the paperback hits a week later, but right now, let me enjoy this!

If you are interested in Marriage Unarranged, click this link:

https://geni.us/0ppP4O

If you have already pre-ordered, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 💜🥰🤗

Obviously, I am still finishing draft one of book 2, but that can take a back seat, for the day, as I relish in my fun!

So, please join me and share my excitement, and while you’re at it, tell me something you are excited about, too, so I can be happy for you, too!

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 377 – Thankful

29 May 2022 40 Comments

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

“Be thankful for what you hve; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
Oprah Winfrey

Thank you, Spidey for reminding me to count my blessings.

right now, there is so much happening in the world, that is not right, that you could end up with a negative spin on your whole life.

The implications of a two-year-long pandemic, that isn’t fully over, from covid related health issues to unemployment, to other mental health issues that have arisen as a result of the two years of hell.; a war far away that is still at the forefront of all our minds, as it still affects each and every one of us; the cost of living rising to the extent that some of us are having to choose between feeding our families or paying household bills; joke governments who aren’t doing anything practical to help their countries, but going from scandal to scandal instead.

Doesn’t sound great, does it?

However, we all have things in our life that, if we look carefully, we can be grateful about. I sat and made a list. These are but a few, but here’s what I came up with.

A roof over our heads – and it was exactly a year yesterday that we moved into this forever home. If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, we may not have ever been able to afford this property, so thank you for that! The moving day itself was hell, and those of you who have been following me a while may remember the awful moving day we had with a terrible seller… but look where we are now!
Our health – yes, I can feel age creeping up on me, and yes, I do silly things to injure myself but above all else, we are a healthy family, and that is a huge thing to be thankful for.
A job I love – it may be a hard one, and the responsibility of helping all these children to patch up the experiences they missed over the last two years, lays heavy on every teacher, but even though it is tough, I wouldn’t change it (Except, I’d scrap Ofsted… that I would change!) A steady income is also something to be hugely grateful for since so many are struggling out there. Even with what we earn, we are feeling the pinch, so to know many others are worse off, makes me appreciate what we have, more, and want to help where I can, more, too.
My family, including my fur baby, Sonu Singh – sure, they can be hard work, but I wouldn’t be here without my parents, my Hubby Dearest who loves unconditionally, and I wouldn’t change my moody teens for anything. Sonu Singh, and his feline love, is extra special, too!
A publishing deal – who knew that my book baby would pique the interest of a publisher to the extent that they offered me a three-book deal? And Marriage Unarranged is officially re-released under their banner on Monday 6th June, in less than 10 days! OMG!

See, these are all big things, and there are lots of little things, too, like having a beautiful garden, steady internet access, books to read, a computer that works…

Lucky. Lucky and thankful, that’s me, today, and every day.

So, have a think and tell me, what are you thankful for?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 376 – Happy Birthday Pops!

22 May 2022 38 Comments

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

“A daughter may outgrow your lap but she will never outgrow your heart.”
Anon

Wishing my wonderful Pops a very happy 76th birthday!

You all know, Peeps, how much my dad means to me, and though we cannot be together on his special day, he knows our love and good wishes are with him always.

Pops, our Legend!

So, could you loin me in wishing my Pops a lovely birthday?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 375 – Overcoming Problems

15 May 2022 35 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Emotional Wellbeing, Mental Health Issues, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Confucius

Definitely one for me to keep in my mind after this last week, Spidey, thank you.

Another week, another whole host of issues to contend with. No one ever said being a parent was going to be easy, and being a teacher in team management is exactly the same!

This week, I have had things going on at school and home, involving the emotional well-being and mental health of people I care about.

A lot.

And how ironic, since it is Mental Health Awareness week, here in the UK.

It has been exhausting, to say the least, but equally, I feel proud of the people involved for coming forward and talking to me or someone who they feel will listen.

The above quote totally highlights this.

Anything we want to do for ourselves starts by us taking that first step. It may seem small to some, but any step is a big step, especially if it is the first.

What I do know is that this is the start of what could be a very precarious journey for us in some ways, but at least we are on that journey, now.

So, have you ever had to deal with someone whose own mental health has been hanging by a thread? How have you managed through the journey?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 374 – New Beginnings

08 May 2022 43 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, new beginnings, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Every moment is a fresh beginning.”
T.S. Elliott

Time to keep it calm and positive this week, eh Spidey! Especially after last week’s Asda fiasco!

Today I am using one of my children’s experiences to reflect on for the day.

Now, as most of you know, Lil Man is an avid cricketer, and all he has wanted to do, over the last few years is excel at what he loves the most. He spends time every day outside, practicing bowling, and batting where he can, taking on the tips of the coaches he encounters, to perfect his Leftie Spin bowling.

He was with one particular club for the first part of his cricketing career, and though he had matches and training, he never felt as if he was being pushed in the right way. Overlooked for games he should have been playing, and this was noticed by a good few of the other club members.

When he was selected to play for district cricket last year, he was over the moon, and it was suggested that a club change might be better for him, to a place where he gets pushed and is able to showcase his talents to the right people.

The house move meant that this was a viable option, which we took on, and this year the boy has been training with a club which is generally playing in Premier and First division games and boasts a good number of county players already.

He’s been really focussing on his training, and we have been supporting him in every way we can, even when he does something crazy like split his bat in half when he played a cracking shot in training a few weeks ago! (New bat was delivered, all knocked in, yesterday, phew!)

And the last couple of weeks, he has been playing some friendly games ahead of the season start. Initially, we were told he would probably be in the Sunday Development team, for the lads who are working well, but not quite at the main team levels, but he was selected for the third team this week, and for a moment was even considered for the seconds, too. (Well done, son!)

And guess who he was playing this week? His old team! He was a little worried about facing them, and the possibility of a bit of a backlash because he left them, but it was actually a joy to see how happy they were to see him!

Okay, so they lost, but with a very close score, and he bowled well, getting two wickets as well!

He sits and beats himself up, convinced that he’s the reason they lose, but cricket is a team sport, and he didn’t even get a chance to bat. And, no, he didn’t give away loads of runs, which is what he is convinced of.

But, what he doesn’t realise is that the club are already recognising his raw talents, considering they were ready to play him in the second team, today!

Working on making him realise that every day is a new beginning, every match is a new start, and that this new club will be amazing for him.

So, what advice would give a youngster who can’t see his own successes because he clouds over at the smallest of what he thinks are failures?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!