Spideys Serene Sundays | 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 235 – New Beginnings

01 Sep 2019 25 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Beginnings, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Spiderman, Spidey, Spideys Serene Sundays

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.”
Meister Eckhart

Thank you for that, Spidey!

Apt for me this weekend, as tomorrow the new school year officially starts.

Yes, I have been back in school for the last two days of last week as staff training (and we had a brilliant training session involving Ian Gilbert of Independent Thinking and Rhythmical Mike, a poetry and spoken word artist, who came to talk about his beginnings and rough start to school life – there is so much to think of, I can’t tell you now, it would need another post), but it was finishing preparations for the new year, and tomorrow the children start, making it the real beginning of the year.

Of course, being in Reception makes things a little different for us. Our children don’t start straight away. They are the littlies, 4-5 year-olds who have never been to school before, so we can’t chuck them in at the deep end. There will be many pupils in my class that I already know, as they will have come up from my old nursery class. But there are ar least 12 new children in each of the two classes who haven’t attended our nursery. So, for the first 2 days, we will be doing home visits, going to see the child and family in their homes, and giving them a quick introduction to us and school, in a setting familiar to the child.

Then they start on Wednesday, for half days. We will build up to full time by the third week of term, which is actually quite fast, in comparison to the last few years.

There will be plenty of settling in time, and we have to assess, or baseline the children, so we know their capabilities at the start.

And this is all new for me.

A new set of beginnings. A whole ream of firsts.

My first own class
My first own classroom
My first year where what I do, is chosen, and driven by me more
My first year where the progress of a whole class is on my shoulders entirely

And I have a group of children who are going to tax me, going to try me, possibly will give me headaches and cause tears of frustration, but I also know that my intention is to make sure they are also the source of smiles for me too, and happiness, and tears of joy, as I see them progressing in the year.

What I am saying is there are some children with very specific needs within the class, which will add a whole different dynamic to my days.

Am I ready for the challenge?

Of course I am!

Am I nervous?

You’re damn right I am!

Will I pull this year off?

Who knows, but what I do know is that I will give it my all to try and give these children the best start to their academic life!

And every day is a new start. There will be ups and downs, but I always keep in my head the fact that the next day is another chance to try again.

So… tell me, do you consider each can a new start?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 234 – Holiday End

25 Aug 2019 32 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Holiday, Spiderman, Spidey, Spideys Serene Sundays

“I’m a minimalist. I don’t really need much to enjoy a good holiday – just my family and the bare essentials.”
Jean Reno

Thanks for bringing the end of my holidays to my attention, Spidey!

Yes, this is the last Spidey Sunday of my summer vacation, and it really has flown by.

From setting up my classroom, to editing, to generally keeping my kids busy, it has disappeared with alarming speed, and here I am on the last weekend before I start back on Thursday…

But I’ve had a great, productive break.

Okay, so we didn’t jet off to any exotic locations. We didn’t even head off in the car to some different destination (except Birmingham for 2 nights!)

We were just at home.

And it was lovely, really.

Yes, sometimes I felt it would be wonderful to be getting ready to jet off somewhere hot, with a beach I could sprawl on, book in hand and cocktail by my side, but I know, that time will come soon enough too.

The children discovered their friends on the road and kept busy. I was able to lounge about pottering around the house, when not editing, and just relax.

Really, who needs to spend thousands on a break away? Sometimes being with the ones you love, at home is break enough.

So… tell me, what constitutes a good break in your eyes?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 226 – Sharing Joy @Blondewritemore

23 Jun 2019 29 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Instructions For Falling In Love Again, Lucy Mitchell, Spiderman, Spidey, Spideys Serene Sundays

“Celebrate the joy of others. Soon, that joy becomes your own.”
Ritu 2019

Thank you Spidey, for that late bit of inspiration!

I apologise for the late Spidey entry this week, but I have been extraordinarily tired the last few days, what with school, courses I have to attend, and these blasted reports I have to write, so I flaked out last night without even considering that Spidey hadn’t enlightened me yet!

But I was glad, because this quote came to me…

There are times you see so many around you who have something to celebrate, and you might feel a little down, as things aren’t going your way.

So why not share the joy the others are feeling? It won;d detract fom their happiness, in fact it will magnify their feelings and that same positivity will begin to rub off on you.

I speak from experience, in so many ways.

When we were trying for a family, it felt like the whole world got pregnant at the drop of a hat, yet here we were, struggling.

Instead of wallowing in our own sadness, I embraced each and every piece of baby news I got. I relished it, in fact, because one day that would be me. And that positivity followed us through those 3 years of struggle, keeping us afloat. And look at me, two kids down, I think we got where we wanted, didn’t we?

It’s the same for work, isn’t it? You might be chasing a promotion or a particular project, yet you aren’t selected. Be the bigger person, congratulate others. Your attitude will be noted, I promise you, by someone higher up, and when the time is right, it’ll be your turn.

And today, I want to celebrate with one of my fellow writers.

Yes, officially, next week, her joy will know no bounds, but her post this morning brought such a big smile on my face, it was what prompted the quote above.

Lovely Lucy Mitchell of Blonde Write More fame, is finally about to release her debut novel, Instructions For Falling In Love Again. It’s out next week!

Her post this morning (read here) detailed how she would spend this week, pre-release, celebrating a long journey to realise her dream.

#LucyMitchell #InstructionsForFallingInLoveAgain

And though I am on that same journey, and haven’t quite got there yet, I feel almost as much excitement as Lucy about this momentous occasion in her life.

In fact, sharing her joy spurs me on to get my edits done, so I can be in her position soon enough,

I feel blessed to be one of her advanced readers too and will be devouring the book later today, as my son plays cricket. A few chapters in and I am absolutely loving the premise, the characters and the cover, it is gorgeous! (Expect a review soon enough).

Remember, June 30th 2019… its her official release date, and I cannot stress enough, that if you like romantic comedies, you will LOVE this book!

So… tell me, whose joy will you share in, creating a more positive you?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 222

26 May 2019 30 Comments

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

“If you’re tired, learn to rest, not quit.” – Anon

Thank you Spidey. Apt for me right now!

It’s been an exhausting few weeks, what with being the taxi for the whole household, dealing with Hopalong Hubby, the kids and their myriad activites that they need be be at, struggling with switching off at home because of everything that needs to be done, reading and writing, for the blog as well as looking at the WIP, along with a tiring term at school where assessments, reports, and the beginnings of preparations for next year are about to commence, and coupled with a wonderful yet busy weekend away at the beginning to see my brother… I am totally done!

Sometimes it feels like the easy way. To think, I can’t do this any more, and give up. No more blog, no more writing, no more stress at work. ( I can’t give up being a wife or mum!)

But I can’t do that.

All these things are what make me, me!

Instead a break is what is needed. And perfectly timed, my school mid term break has arrived. Two weeks of not having to wake too early, and peace from school at least. Though there are still reports to write, I can switch off from that side for a while. I’ll carry on doing all the other things, but at a more relaxed pace… And enjoy them all too!

So… tell me, what do you need to take a break from?