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

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 394 – Book Heaven

25 Sep 2022 27 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, books, reading, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.”
Annie Dillard

Thank you, Spidey, for finding another quote that suits me just fine!.

Firstly, sorry for posting late!

But, this, as you will see from the gist of my post, is where the above quote is relevant.

As soon as I start school in September, things begin to happen.

Life goes from a comfortable speed to powering ahead with me a the wheel of a large truck, trying to keep all my cargo safe.

my team and their wellbeing
my new class, and settling them into their new life in school
new initiatives and expectations to be implemented in school
my family and their various needs, be it being taxi mum to their emotional health and wellbeing
keeping house, even after long days (that ironing pile seems to double when we are working!)
having time for Hubby Dearest, who is juggling his own cargo load
giving Sonu Singh plenty of love
new pressures of keeping to a better budget with all these rising costs…
my own health and sanity, not helped by the onset of Perimenopause

As you can imagine, all this leaves me pretty shattered at the end of a typical working day.

It means that I have no energy left for my other passion which is my writing. I have editing to do. I have a new book to start plotting… But I don’t have the headspace or the time to do either.

What I won’t forgo, though, is my time with a good book.

Reading is like food for my soul. A moment to dip into the lives of others and to forget what is going on around me at any given moment.

It’s true that I read much less in the week, as I find I am asleep by 9.30pm, but I will always read a few pages at least before my eyes close.

My Kindle is brimming with at least 150 unread books that I have downloaded over the years, and my little trolley of unread books holds around 50 more physical books I have either been sent to read or have picked up on my visits to bookshops. My Amazon Wishlist has plenty more that I want to read… one day…

I don’t think I will ever reach the end of my TBR pile, virtual or otherwise, and I am not sad about that at all. It means that I will always have a tap of beautiful stories to turn on and sink into when I have nothing left to give to the world…

So, tell me, how many books are on your TBR?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 393 – Of Queues and the British

18 Sep 2022 26 Comments

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

“An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an ordely queue of one.”
George Mikes

Thank you, Spidey, for a little humour at this sombre time.

I think that if you have social media or access to a news channel or the internet, wherever you are on this planet, you will have heard of ‘The Queue’ or the ‘QueueEII’ (Not coined by me, but rather clever, don’t you think?)

The queue I am referring to is the queue all self-respecting Brits have been in training for all their lives.

It’s the queue that has stretched for 5 miles across London for those well-wishers who want to pay their respects to the late Queen, who is lying in state at Westminster Palace until before the funeral tomorrow.

People, including David Beckham (not one to push ahead, but wanting to pay his respects the way everyone who wishes to, should) are queueing for up to 17 hours, slowly walking at 0.1 miles an hour, shuffling towards the Palace, where they get a chance to personally pay their respects to our late Monarch.

It is the Queue of all queues. You get a wristband, you can’t save a place for others, there are toilets and water stations open along the way. If you wish to join, you are advised to bring food, drinks and blankets, and even stools to aid your wait. (Stops short at tents. No TENTS allowed!)

The Queue has its own YouTube channel and Twitter account and even its own weather mention!

It is a queue that has shown the most British of Britishness, where new friends are being made, and the general atmosphere is one of respect, and knowing they are part of a huge piece of modern British History in the making.

Some say the queue will be responsible for bringing Britain out of Brexit, and a part of the European Union again, as it stretches so far that France sees the latest to join the queue as it snakes onto their turf… (a little joke I read somewhere on Twitter!)

There was an accessible queue too, but that has now closed for any new joiners.

But, what an amazing show of respect from the people, not only of Britain but others who have come from other parts of the world, to do the same.

Charlie King 3, as one of my newest Reception students, told me he was called (I love it, King Charles the Third will always be Charlie King 3 to me from now on!) and the new Prince of Wales even came out to meet some of those at the front of the queue who had been there slowly moving all night, and they marvelled at the stoicism and will of those there, remarking that, had she witnessed it, the Queen would have truly appreciated this outpouring of love because that is exactly what it is.

Alas, I am not able to be a part of this queue, but I have all the channels on which to watch it happen in live action… And I will watch the emotional send-off, tomorrow, on TV at home.

So, are you good at queueing, or have you been a part of this historic Queue?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 301 – Angel

13 Dec 2020 39 Comments

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

“As long as there is love and memory, there is no true loss.”
Cassandra Clare

Thank you, Spidey for such a touching quote today.

Yesterday, I received the news that a very precious person, my aunt, passed away.

Malli Bhua was one of my Pops’ sisters. She lived in America, and after a wonderful 94-year life, she bid us farewell, and went to meet her Maker.

She was the sweetest of souls. A woman who was peaceful, through and through. Spiritual, with an aura of someone special about her.

We lived in different countries. I hadn’t seen her for many years, but our love was still strong. The memories I do have of her, will always stay close to my heart.

I am just thankful that Pops was able to spend time with her last year, on a trip to see her. We have some precious videos of her, bedridden as she was, even then, kissing the phone screen as she saw videos and photos of her great nephews and niece.

He’s sad. We’re all sad.

But grateful that she is no longer living a life stuck in bed, unable to do anything for herself, anymore. She is at peace, now.

My Malli Phua will never be forgotten.

RIP my beatiful Aunt 🙏🏽

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 236 – Early Years

08 Sep 2019 36 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Bloggier, Blogging, Quote, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Teaching

“It is greater work to educate a child, in a true and larger sense of the world, than to rule a state.”
Willia Ellery Channing

Profoundness today, eh Spidey!

And apt, as always, to my situation.

I have completed my first week in my new classroom, with my first very own class.

A group of 30 children who are my responsibility for the next academic year.

That’s a BIG responsibility.

Yes, they are 4-5 years-old.

No, they aren’t going to learn how to write a novel/solve complex equations/create scientific formulas this year.

But what I will have to teach them is to love learning.

How to hold a pencil
How to count
How to recognise their name and write it
How to begin to read

Simple academics, but on top of that, and more importantly, I need to teach them how to be compassionate, caring individuals. I need to show them that the world doesn’t revolve around them individually, but rather they, and their actions keep our world turning.

I must show then that asking questions is not wrong, but a way of extending their own knowledge. Every question they ask can be explored, investigated.

I have to make sure they develop confidence; conquer the fear of “I can’t do that” and convert it into “I can’t do that, yet.” and further, to “I will try that” onto “I did it!”

It’s a tough job, being an Early Years teacher. The syllabus isn’t as cut and dried as other years.

But I have the joy of (hopefully) creating a stable foundation for my class. A solid beginning to their academic career, so they move forward with an open mind and joy of learning.

So… tell me, what is the first memory you have of school?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 230

21 Jul 2019 55 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, books, Family, reading, Serene, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
Groucho Marx

Oh, I loved this quote, Spidey!

This weekend I have been talking reading and books a lot, with my uncle, who came to visit me. This is my mum’s eldest brother. My Mamaji. And he lives in Kenya. I haven’t seen him in 18 years, since my wedding,

He’s a very special man to me. Another dad. And someone who has inspired me to read. Both him and my mother read copiously when I was younger, and though life may not allow them to read as much, even in retirement, they are both like me and would rather have a good book in their hand, than an eye on the goggle box, as my mum always calls it!

My Mamaji treated himself this trip, to an All New Kindle Paperwhite, and he brought it with him, to compare with mine, and to discuss book-related matters.

He’s a non-fiction reader more than fiction, and my memories of him are always of him with his nose in a book or the paper. I remember his bedroom in Kenya distinctly, with piles of books lining walls too!

In fact he was nearly a PhD Graduate in the 60s, but due to personal problelms, he never finished it, and it is a regret he feels keenly. He studied here in London, at Queen Mary’s College and Imperial College, both of which his took my aunt, my Mamiji, to visit last week!

There was a trunk filled with his belongings in my parent’s garage. My mum has kept it safe since it was entrusted to her care in the early 70s and she hasn’t dared open it, or get rid of it.

A couple of weeks ago, Mamaji stationed himself in the garage of Pops and Mum’s house, to rummage through his memories. The trunk was filled with all sorts, including a handmade suit of his, some other hilariously 60s clothes and TONS of books. When I phoned mum that day, she was laughing as she told me how he was like a child in a toyshop, delving into the memories of an extremely precious time for him.

I was in awe of his memory.

Even yesterday, as he mentioned the titles of some of the books, and the authors, some of whom had been his PhD lecturers, his eyes glistened with pure joy. He told mum to give the books away, as he can’t take them back, but he also had a ‘small’ list of ones he would ask her to keep, for memory’s sake.

I know I shall be rummaging around in that trunk before they get given away, to get another insight into Mamaji and his younger life.

Before he left, his parting words to me were, “Send me that book of yours when it’s done.”

Another member of my family who has been such a strong, silent support of my writing dream. He was so proud the day my poetry book came out, and I know I just need to do this, get this book published, not just for me, but for all those dear to me, who have so much faith in my ability.

So… tell me, who is part of your silent support group?