Good morning, Peeps. It’s a Bank Holiday Monday here, so I am not rushing off to work this morning, but quite possibly rushing around doing other things.
You ready with your drink?

- If we were having chai I’d probably sit down and scratch my head, before trying to work out what went on, last week. I know it was busy, but days are blurring into one, if you know what I mean?
- If we were having chai I’d start by mentioning the house tidy. Yes, that is still going. I clear areas up, and end up with boxes packed that need transporting to the in-laws’ home, things we need, but not right now, so they can be homed somewhere else for now. The tiling is coming along nicely in the gutted downstairs shower, too. I believe we have a team coming this week to start rendering the porch as it was never completed when we had it built, and then painting the outside of the house. I still have two cupboards to destroy, but they’ll take a bit more time.
- If we were having chai I’d have to say that there was drama on the Monday night, though! Our boiler is a little old and temperamental, and it decided it didn’t like it when the new radiator pipes were set, so when I went to wash dishes, there was no hot water. This meant no showers for the kids, and we couldn’t reset the water pressure. The plumber came over, happily, and tried to no avail, which meant an emergency stop over at the in-laws, for the night. Thankfully it was sorted by the team the next day, but when you’re already a little stressed with the work going on, this was not a welcome addition to our our catalogue of issues!
- If we were having chai I’d tell you that we had our socially distanced family dentist appointment on the Monday, too, and thankfully, all three of us (not Hubby Dearest, he doesn’t come with us!) have been brushing well, so that’s a relief! Even had my eyebrows done, and they feel so good after all this time! And I got their school shoes too. I think uniform is all done. If it isn’t I’ll have to sort it out as and when.
- If we were having chai I’d tell you that school opening for the children is imminent! I was in on Tuesday for a couple of hours, after having to attend a webinar at 8.30am (at my in-laws, where we’d had the emergency sleepover). A bit of paperwork, and planning done, I came home and intended to rest up on the Wednesday, ready for INSET days on Thursday and Friday, and the official beginning of my new Senior Leadership Team role, as Early Years Phase Leader. The two training days went as well as they could, with me ending up with one staff member going on early maternity (don’t blame her, it is too up in the air with COVID-19, I wouldn’t feel comfortable being pregnant, and at school with young children). So now we have a supply for a few weeks, until we find a permanent replacement. I have been making staffing plans, and timetables, and ably assisted by a wonderful team. Thankful I have them, to be honest!
- If we were having chai I’d tell you that the weekend was a mixture of resting, as well as some more clearing up, in preparation for the week ahead. But I did rest, as well as read lots. I think I read four books this weekend, alone! I did contemplate writing, but my brain was far too flummoxed for it, so I left it.
- If we were having chai I’d say ‘talking of books, you know mine…?” and then I’d sneakily mention that Marriage Unarranged is on sale until the end of the day Thursday, 3rd September, which also happens to be my birthday… so if you haven’t got it yet, and you are in the US or the UK, it is on Kindle offer at 99p/99c! Grab it while you can! https://getbook.at/MarriageUnarranged

This week, after the Bank Holiday, we will be officially open for school, so I know my time will be taken up with all the stresses, and fun of starting a new school year, and meeting my new class. I look forward to telling you all about it!
I truly hope that the builders are nearly finished with that bathroom, too, by the end of the week…
Finally, I have one of the appointments for my joints, and I go for an MRI scan on Wednesday… wish me luck!
Then Thursday, along with my BIRTHDAY, I have to take Lil Princess to have two teeth extracted, in preparation for the braces she will be having fitted…
Oh, and while you’re here, did you sign up for my mailing list? I am in the middle of writing an exclusive Chickpea Curry Lit story for my subscribers, and there will be news, tips and even recipes! You know you want to join… go on! Click the pic below to sign up!
Sep 03, 2020 @ 12:18:36
What a week!! The emergency sleepover might have put me over the edge.
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Sep 03, 2020 @ 18:11:30
Oh, Jennie, it wasn’t ideal, but we’re still standing!
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Sep 04, 2020 @ 11:04:25
😍
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Sep 02, 2020 @ 08:07:44
What a busy week, clearing up and out, boiler emergencies, workmen, dentists, family visits and returning to school! Yet still you find time to get your eyebrows done. You amaze me. Good luck with the MRI today and what’s planned for tomorrow 💜😉😊
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Sep 02, 2020 @ 16:42:13
Thank you Sis.
Nothing planned for tomorrow, apart from school and Lil Princess’s extractions! I don’t think I’ll have the energy for anything else!
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Sep 01, 2020 @ 17:36:02
We are not going back to school essentially till October in Massachusetts. It’s the worst! Good luck to you (and me!). 🙂
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Sep 01, 2020 @ 18:12:34
Thank you. Day 1 done!!!!
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 20:26:44
Enjoy your birthday week, sis!
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 20:51:52
Thank you, Sis, as much as I can, with this whole going back to school and the builders, and Lil PRincess’s dentist! Thank you!
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Sep 01, 2020 @ 17:33:32
There are those times. I know exactly how that feels. I am dealing with that extrem crazyness for the past 4 weeks and it will continue at least for another two weeks….🤯
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Sep 01, 2020 @ 18:12:22
🙏🏽💜⭐
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 20:19:19
I have my Vietnamese coffee as usual…let’s talk, girlfriend.
I’m overdue at the dentist myself, so when I read y’all did so well, I made an appointment for early September–my gosh! It’s September starting tomorrow. Where did the summer go?
My class started Monday, the 24th, but then school immediately shut down (including online classes like mine–students will be evacuating or possibly not having power) to face Hurricane Laura. Most of my students got their things in on time anyway since Laura hit in Louisiana instead of Texas.
This past weekend was filled with schoolwork–waaaay too much. I’m going to have to establish a day off and stick to it–probably Saturdays.
Hope you have a great week ahead, Hon.
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 20:51:20
Oh Rae! Please stay safe, my lovely. If it’s not one thing, it’s another!
Definitely stick to a day off for yourself. It’s needed, especially now.
Tomorrow, we start back with the children… Wish me luck! Thinking of you. ❤
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 23:15:34
Good luck! I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow
.
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Sep 01, 2020 @ 06:31:59
Thank you 🥰
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 18:03:31
Done as scheduled! Great, Sis! I should hire you as an personal assistant. 😉
You are really blessed. This with the plumber sounds great. I remember Pete(beetleypete.com) with “his” painters.One had not finished the work, and waiting on a third Ollie his dog in my meaning got depressions.
Now, my waffling will stop, because you have to take a rest beeing prepared for the “little monsters”. Btw: Yes, here at least in Bavaria, wearing masks is only for the pupils classes five and higher. Enjoy your evening, Michael
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 20:08:30
Thanks, Bro.
Any building work is always stressful!
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 22:23:55
Whom you say. Its most times work of my mom. Lol
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Sep 01, 2020 @ 06:31:43
Lol!
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Sep 01, 2020 @ 09:35:06
😉 Not always, but …
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 17:14:39
Ritu, I will be sharing your book sale tomorrow…hope it helps the cause!
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 17:32:58
Truly appreciate it 🥰🥰🥰
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 15:19:52
No hot water, no problem.
Just sing this song, “thanda thanda paani se nahana chahiye, gaana aye na aye gaana chahiye” and take a cold shower😀
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 15:44:44
😆😆😆
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 11:16:38
Chai and a good history! Well, I would put it down for a nice chat with you, Ritu, but the first thing I’d do is make my recommendation for the book.
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 11:25:51
Thank you Doug 💞
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 10:47:23
Glad to e-connect Ritu and would love reading your book. Lovely blog you and the chai and chat makes for an interesting peek into your life.
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 10:50:33
Well, hello to you Vishal! I hope you do enjoy it;
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 10:56:05
Thanks so much Ritu 😆
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 08:43:11
Did you get your eyebrows done by the dentist? Very brave to have them flossed!
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 08:44:55
Well, threading is so very similar… Both require string…
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 05:39:40
A busy week, Ritu. At least you are making great progress. I cleared Michael’s room out on Saturday. He is such a pack rat. It is so much better now with all the old school books and other junk gone. All the best for tomorrow. Greg is going back tomorrow and Michael on Wed. They are on alternate days.
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Aug 31, 2020 @ 07:45:06
Thank you, Robbie. Clearing out can be such fun, but this added tinge of moving, and builders, lends a bit more stress to it
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