Chai And A Chat #81 #ChaiAndAChat #CoronaDiaries Week 5

27 Apr 2020 54 Comments

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

Honestly, who thought we’d still be here, in lockdown, as we hit the tail end of April? Well, have you got your drink ready? I know we’re on lockdown, and the days and times are just blurring, but no, I’m not suggesting anything stronger than a coffee, or my choice of Chai, unless, of course you are reading this later in the day!

  • Monday arrived, and another morning in school.We’ve got to grips with the planning we need to do for the next few weeks, so my team teach and I set about spending the morning formulating more plans. It is really hard, as we can only choose activities that require minimal ‘teaching’ as such, so no real new topics, but things that parents will be able to access with the children. Remember, they are 4-5 years old, so it’s not like they can do remote learning in the same way as older children. That was probably the toughest part of the planning. But we got it done, thankfully. Only thing was, we decided. against reading the stories and recording them, as it would be quite time consuming… I was a bit gutted to be honest. I was looking forward to it!
  • I was rather excited as the folding desk I ordered got delivered early too! Everyone else has a place to sit and work; Hubby Dearest has taken over the dining table with his millions of monitors (okay, there are two, and a laptop) and the kids both have desks in their rooms. But I have nowhere proper. I can sit on my bed, or downstairs on the sofa, though neither of these places have scope for me to sit with a notebook beside my laptop. So the next best thing was a folding desk. And it arrived! I am very happy with it. Just needed to order a better chair, as the folding one I had was okay for short periods, but not really a good office style chair, and that came on Saturday too, so I am already looking forward to sitting properly to do my online learning, and writing! The only annoying thing is having to put it all away every night, so I got a lovey desk tidy into which I can slip everything I use reguarly.
  • Tuesday was Asda day, as usual, and I got all I needed, but flour and eggs are the main things that are hard to find at the moment. I think I am okay for both at the moment, but I hope these things get sorted sooner, rather than later!
  • I was in school on Wednesday with the children, and there were literally TWO kids! So we had a child each to look after. It was still fun, we did lots of little things, like play board games, and gardening in the allotment, but time went really slowly…
  • Thursday and friday were spent using my lovely new desk doing online courses that we have been suggested to try and do on days we are not in school. It all counts for CPD, or continuous professional development, so I am happy to do it, but that does mean less mental energy and time to actually write.
  • Talking of writing, I have been in a real creative dip again. I opened my manuscript several times, but shut it down, just as many, because I wasn’t inspired, and what was coming out (which wasn’t much at all) was pure rubbish. Instead, I concentrated on reading, some arcs, and some books that have been on my kindle for a while, asking to be read. Something good came out of the reading though. I read books by authors I admire and respect, with extremely high readership levels, and as I read some of the books, I realised that there are times when these established authors don’t actually write fantastically, just okay. They don’t always have these fully developed character arcs, or they don’t explore certain situations in the detail that I have come to think we should do. Sometimes vocabulary is lazy, or repetitive. Yet their books still sell. I came away from one book feeling like I was, possibly, doing a better job… Maybe I need to get back to it…
  • On Friday, as I mentioned in my Spidey post, yesterday, I managed to fall over pretty spectacularly in Lil. Man’s bedroom, while fixing his curtains… I fell backwards from his bed, flat on my back, with him and Sonu, the cat, watching. Avoiding his laptop was luck, but my shoulder struck his dumbells. I’m okay, but I think there was a little delayed reaction to it, from my body. It seems to have triggered a wave of exhaustion in me, and more ovbiously, the aches and pains that were caused by the fall. So that meant I was knocked for. six all weekend. my get up and go totally disappeared… but I still managed a few silly TikToks 😜I’ll share my two favourites for this week.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_TGhrdAlUo/
  • And on Sunday, I finally caved and got Disney+ so we watched the new Lady and the Tramp (I loved it!) and the live action Aladdin (for the second time. Watched it in the cinema before, and loved it!)

Yet another week with days blending into one another. It breaks it up to speak to both sets of parents every night, but the conversations are very samey, because none of us have done anything different. We may get excited to share that we went grocery shopping, but that’s about it! Still, thank goodness for video calls. It is always great to catch up with my Finndian family too. I hate that I am not able to be there physically, but at least the video calling means that we can see our nephews growing up, and build a relationship with them, despite being in a different country.

And now, here we are back to Monday. I am not planning on going into school until Wednesday. So there will be online learning hapenning, and hopefully, writing too! And though I didn’t record stories for our school, I might still do it for my nephews!

How has your week been?

54 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Jennie
    May 02, 2020 @ 13:54:58

    So glad you got a real table. The laptop on the couch is not ideal. Like you, I’m having a hard time with lesson planning. Everything has to be what a parent can do with their child. My young team of teachers are finding this easier than I am!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      May 02, 2020 @ 14:20:47

      I do love my desk, but the problem is, I can’t use it on the weekends, as I’d like, because it is in the bedroom, and Hubby is very fond of lie-ins whereas I am an early starter, so today, I was writing, on my sofa again! But, hey…!
      Planning is so tough. I just love how you are being interactive with your children. It seems that our school is just not willing to do that…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Jennie
        May 02, 2020 @ 22:59:16

        We moms wake up early and go to bed early, and our husbands do the opposite. Actually, I love 6:00 AM when I am alone. I will take the sofa, too. I can’t do the bedroom as I would fall asleep. 😀

        Thank you so much, Ritu. I am really struggling with the planning, but my teammates are on top of it. They are far more comfortable with offering technology and online activities to parents and children. The interactive piece is so important, so we will be doing more Zooms and fewer YouTubes. That’s a mixed blessing, as you know. How much is your school doing with families? Do teachers Zoom? Do they post on YouTube?

        Liked by 1 person

      • Ritu
        May 02, 2020 @ 23:33:49

        It’s weird. There are no real ways that school are allowing us to personally contact our pupils, apart from putting plans on our school website for each year group. In the plans we have given parents things they can do with the children, and links to activities on one of the online learning platforms we use as a school, which the children all have log ins for.
        So, they aren’t seeing or hearing us, but have our guidance.
        Apparently they did look into Google Classrooms, but it wouldn’t work with our demographic as there are a lot of underprivileged kids without the access to technology, or parents who aren’t likely to keep their children up to speed with new things…
        I really wanted to go on YouTube, with story reading, at least, but the copyright issue was something that school didn’t want to tackle. Eveen though so many schools are doing this at the moment…
        It feels like it’s too much hassle.
        I am going to record stories anyway, or my nephews in Finland. I know I can send to them!
        The family support is there, but in a very strange way…
        I don’t know what kind of mess we are going to come back to, honestly…

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jennie
        May 03, 2020 @ 00:21:20

        Ritu, there is no copyright issue on YouTube with reading books. The copyright issue is with music. So, read away! I have now read aloud a book a day since mid March, plus chapter reading. All these books are well known. Truly, there is not a copyright issue. And, setting up a YouTube channel is easy and free. Please tell your school, and read away! It will be the best thing for your children, and they can see YOU reading the book. ❤️

        It is definitely weird. As of this coming Wednesday masks are mandatory in public. I don’t know what all of this will look like in September. Will children and parents have to be tested before they come back to school? Will teachers? I just want to sit on the floor and play with the children in my class. 😢

        Liked by 1 person

      • Ritu
        May 03, 2020 @ 00:46:28

        No, Jennie there is.
        I’ve been researching it.
        There are all sorts of of legislations!
        Basically if the book is in The public domain register, it can be read.
        Otherwise, like most of the classics we enjoy, they are covered by a copyright.
        Many people read them and record, but if the publishers get wind they can ask you to take down the videos, or even file legal action!!!
        Right now, with lock down, most publishers have relaxed the rule for educators, but, if using Youtube, it can’t be a public video. Only unlisted, so pupils are sent the link.
        And it’s been said that these videos have to be taken down by the end of the academic year.
        If you do read the book, you have to clearly state author and illustrator and ideally the publishers want an email saying you are using their book.
        It’s a sticky one…

        We are getting updates next week about next steps. Who knows what it all holds, Jennie??? 😢

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jennie
        May 03, 2020 @ 01:09:41

        This is so interesting. Our assistant director is way too over the top about copyright laws. Therefore we can’t do music unless the singer or recording company gives us permission. So far we haven’t heard anything about books, but I’m not surprised they’re under the same scrutiny. In the meantime, I will keep on reading! And all of mine are public!!

        Wouldn’t you love for someone to read your book on YouTube? I find it odd that artists don’t welcome people sharing their books or music. It’s a win for them.

        Fingers crossed your updates are good for everyone. I feel as unsettled as you do.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Ritu
        May 03, 2020 @ 09:41:44

        I would think it was flattery of the highest kind!
        I think there are blurred lines as some you tubers may profit from their videos, which is prohibited.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jennie
        May 03, 2020 @ 12:13:33

        Exactly!!!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. willowdot21
    Apr 29, 2020 @ 21:06:53

    Scary 😜😜😜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Rae Reads
    Apr 29, 2020 @ 00:12:14

    What fun! What fun! I sure enjoyed your post this time. Alas, I did not have my morning coffee with you as it is evening now.
    I will be reviewing Marriage Unarranged on Powerful Women Readers very soon.
    I really enjoyed it, Hon.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. robbiesinspiration
    Apr 28, 2020 @ 18:14:06

    Except for your fall, your week wasn’t to bad. I know what you mean by samey as I am feeling that too. What can I talk to anyone about other than work, writing or blogging, none of which interests my family.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. H.R.R. Gorman
    Apr 28, 2020 @ 13:35:54

    Was that picture of you on your desk your coaster?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Camilla Downs
    Apr 28, 2020 @ 01:05:26

    I love the desk, Ritu! Where did you get it? And, I had to get Disney+ also. My son and I have been watching the Avengers movies from the beginning, checking them out from the library. We can’t do that right now, so had to get Disney+ so we could continue. My daughter and I will be watching the new Lady and the Tramp sometime soon. Thanks for sharing how things are going for you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Apr 28, 2020 @ 08:17:56

      I’m not a superhero fan, but so excited to get the traditional Disney films!!
      The desk was from Amazon.
      It took me a while to find one that was available. Obviously everyone is trying to kit themselves out for working from home!

      Like

      Reply

  7. dearanonymousfriend
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 23:10:05

    hope you are feeling better. My week was dull, although we did get out a few times, hubby is having eye appointments every other day last week and this, so we took a drive a couple of times last week. Our state is beginning to reopen now, the mall will open for limited hours on May 1st. I think the state and county parks are going to be open also, but there are a lot of restrictions in place. Glad we are moving towards getting back to normal, even if it is slow going.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Erika
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 20:16:37

    Thanks to modern technology we can still see each other although far away. Have a nice week, sis!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. johnrieber
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 19:12:03

    Terrific read as always, and love the videos!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. scr4pl80
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 18:19:18

    Cute TikTocs. We watched the new Lady and the Tramp and the new Lion King recently. Great movies.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. OIKOS™-Publishing
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 16:16:00

    Amazing, Sis! The vidclips are great. 😉 I now take a different view. With two students in the class, I also want to become a teacher. Lol
    But you have a very tidy work table. I need someone to clean up mine over and over again.;-)
    Best wishes! Have a beautiful week, and dont forget calming down, even with a crowd of two students in the classroom. Lol Michael

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Ajay Mago 'Haazir'
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 16:13:41

    chai & chat! My favorite passtime 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. potatosandwich
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 07:30:33

    I finished working through my Beta reader feedback and thought, “yes, let’s get those final revisions I want to do done”….but it’s been a challenge. However in keeping with writing, I’ve spent the days cleaning up my blog categories in time for a new fresh re-design, so a little productive. I see you’re still with the TikTok 🙂 :-)…Oh Dear

    I’ve set up a mini office in my hallway and contemplating getting a bureau, always wanted one and they do look nice – you may have just pushed me to click the ‘buy’ button.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. simplywendi
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 06:34:50

    this whole situation is surreal………..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. BriN
    Apr 27, 2020 @ 05:05:44

    Nice to read. Are you allowed to have school these days? You said that on the Wednesday bullet?
    X

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Apr 27, 2020 @ 08:28:59

      As teachers, we are providing care for the children of keyworkers, so we go in on a rota. Notveverybdat, but maybe once or twice a week .

      Like

      Reply

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