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

15 Dec 2019 5 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

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“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?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps  And enjoy your week! ❤ 

Chai And A Chat #62 #ChaiAndAChat

09 Dec 2019 43 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: , , , ,

Happy Monday to you all! Right, the race to Christmas is well and truly on. Are you ready with your drink?

  • If we were sipping chai together I’d begin by telling you that I went to my Dr’s appointment on Friday and it was more productive than before. The Locum that was there really analyzed my previous results, and gave me his opinions, then sat back and listened to my catalogue of pain history, before arranging for a referral to a Rheumatologist. He agrees that all my results so far have come back normal, if not better than normal, including any rheumatoid function and inflammation results, and that to dig deeper into my pains, a specialist is needed. Of course, the pains are there, as always, and not helped by my clumsiness. I fell over TWICE on Friday, bashing my knee and shoulder the first time, and the other shoulder and my knuckle the second time. Seriously, a bubble wrap suit would be perfect for me!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d have to tell you how the Nativity is going too! The proper performance is actually today, but prior to last week, all the children had done was sing the songs (a LOT) but they hadn’t ever walked through or performed the play fully at all. On Monday, we started by having a run through that didn’t happen as we had the Flu Spray immunisations happening, so chunks of the children were being taken out. We squeezed into one classroom to have a run through on Tuesday, then didn’t get a chance again until Thursday. For the first time they fully ran through the play, the kiddos did amazingly well! We managed two run throughs, then on Friday we had our first audience! It was a dress reharsal to the rest of the school. I was worried about the children getting stage fright, but, touch wood, they did fantastically! I can’t wait to report back on the official performance today!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d have to whip out my phone and share the Christmassy classroom as it now looks! We have a post office, so the children can write cards to family and friends, post letters and parcels, and even write letters to Santa! I made a little Snowman head postbox for the children’s Christmas cards too! The kids have an advent calendar and they have to answer Christmassy questions to be in with a chance of their treats!
  • If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you that we had visitors this weekend, my sister in law’s sister and her family. The kids had a great time, and we even played board games, which is something that they rarely do with us! I was introduced to a new one to me, called Dobble. Have you heard of it?
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that Lil Man is back to his Cricket District trials, hoping to get on the North Kent squad. I took him this time, as it seems that Hubby Dearest succumbed to the COLD again!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d have to share with you, the beautiful sunrises and sunsets I have been witnessing this week. The colours of the sky are so beautiful, I could just sit and look at them forever!
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That sky, though! 😍 #redskyinthemorning

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#sunset #stunning #redskyatnight #nofilter

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  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that, as I mentioned before, it is the performance this week. It’s the first time I have been fully responsible for my own class within their performance, so I am quite excited, and a little nervous too! Then we have a progress meeting with the Head, as well as a Parent Christmas Craft afternoon to organise! Oh, the joys of the festive season!
  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that I am due my final feedback from my editor too, this week… then I can do those final tweaks, format, sort the blurb out and actually give you a publishing date!

Right, that’s me done Peeps! Let me how your week has been.

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

08 Dec 2019 48 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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“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?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps  And enjoy your week! ❤ 

Chai And A Chat #61 #ChaiAndAChat

02 Dec 2019 59 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: , , , , , ,

Happy Monday to you all! And it’s the first Monday of December. Seriously, where has the year gone? Right, you got your drink? I’ve got mine!

  • If we were sipping chai together I’d start by telling you that illness appears to have left the building… well, for now, anyway. Though Hubby Dearest was complaining of another sore throat last night… *Go away evil bugs!!!* And the kids at school appear to be a lot more hardy too this week. There were a couple off, but not the hoard we had last week. Good thing too, as we have to start the Nativity rehearsals!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that I do love the lead up to Christmas in school. The children have been practicing their play songs, and slowly, the parents are getting the costumes in. I just hope they are all in by today as we need them for rehearsals! I was busy on Friday, with one of my dear colleague friends, creating a Post Office for the children, removing the Superhero HQ that they have loved so far. Just hope they aren’t disappointed with the change! And I put a few decorations up ready for December too. The children will help us decorate the tree this week.
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d have to mention my observation. I am pretty confident as a teacher. I know the children and their wellbeing, as well as their learning will always come first to me, but when I am being watched, I end up like a bowl of jelly… I know I will do everything, but I will forget little things. I even got the wrong group of kids to come to work with me! But realised pretty fast, and changed over. Aside from a couple of silly mishaps, it all went well, and my feedback was pretty much all positive. I don’t know why I worry, but you know, I’m only human!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d have to say that it was my five year Blogiversary too! I am always amazed that this little blog that I started on a whim, has now got just shy of 8,000 WP followers, and over 14,000 when all followers are included! Awards won, blogiversaries celebrated – that’s all fantastic, but the biggest things to have come out of my blog are the friends and Blogily I have met and the encouragement to write. Thank you all for that. I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for you all!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that I am aiming to get my time management into gear, thanks to a great book I read at the weekend. I feel quite fired up, and have even written some goals out too! Time Management for Writers, by Katie Forrest. Available on Amazon, if you are interested!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that we had a lovely chilled weekend again. After swimming, Lil Princess and I went to get nails done and my eyebrows threaded, then we had a takeaway dinner, and it was great to be able to switch off from the madness that is my life usually.
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d also have to tell you that on Saturday was my Finndian nephew #1’s fifth birthday! I’m always gutted that we aren’t close by, but a video call with him and the rest of my Finndian family made things a lot better! He is such a little clown, and makes us all laugh!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d have to mention that it is now December! Yes, the decorations came out and the household was Chrismassed up! Advent calendars were opened and all is well!
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Yup… Christmas is here! #christmastree #christmasdecorations

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  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d mention that we are going to be busy this week, getting all festive at school! There will be rehearsals, and Christmas crafts starting up, and to top it off, the children will be having their Flu Spray immunisations too! fun and games!
  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that I have another Dr’s appointment on Friday. Let’s see if there is any other joy as to why I am still getting these pains. Tiredness has been less, thankfully, but I still need that hot water bottle on my knees every night… Ow!

Right, that’s me done Peeps! Let me how your week has been.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 248 – Educate

01 Dec 2019 31 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: , , , , , , , ,

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“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?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps  And enjoy your week! ❤ 

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