Chai And A Chat #152 #ChaiAndAChat

13 Sep 2021 47 Comments

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

Hello, all! ISo, I survived week one of school, just!

Did you grab your drink? I hope mine won’t go cold, as I regale you with the tales of the week gone by…

  • If we were having chai I’d tell you that the house woes decided to follow us into this week, too! We had a boiler and Water tank service booked, as it needed doing. That was completed, but in doing so, we found out about more incompetence surrounding the previous owner! The service engineer recognised the property. He’d been there before, not to service, but to attend an insurance call out. He knew this, because there were still markings he’d left, with recommendations, around the boiler! One included the replacing of a part costing a mere £10 that would avoid the risk of toxic gasses entering the environment. This hadn’t been done, yet that huge boiler was in a cupboard in the room that was the previous owner’s child’s room! And he just left it! He also insisted that he had had the boiler serviced, the year before, but was unable to provide the certificate. The engineer confirmed that this boiler had not seen a service for several years… Still, it’s all rectified now, along with the radiators all being checked, and the new remot Hive system all being set up, too. That, however, wasnt the end of the house giving, and giving, and giving… On Wednesday night, the elextricity went off in one area. This switch has tripped before, and even though I did report it to the insuranc,e it seemed to reset itself. Well, on Wednesday, it wasn’t resetting. So I arranged another emergency call out, as we had no lights, and no ppwer in the kitchen. Long story short, we got an engineer the next evening, and he was gobsmacked at the way the place had been wired. To start with, you couldn’t open the fuse box without removing the door to the fuse box cupboard! Once open, there was so much cross wiring, and overloading, he just mumbled and tutted for two hours, as well as hummed and laughed at his own comments! So, two main faults were found, that he, I think, has rectified, with no need for any follow up. Let’s hope the week to come brings no more house shaped emergencies!
  • If we were having chai I’d take a deep breath, and say school… We had the children in for the first time. They were only in for half days, but I can tell you now, that the exhaustion I felt by Friday was unreal! Honestly, I have a lovely bunch of characters in my class. Many who are truly ready for school, but a lot who have reallt felt the effects of the constant lockdowns, with nerves, and delayed development in certain areas. I also have a lot of Special Educational Needs, so, we had our hands full, dealing with settling the whole class, as well as being hands on with the children who needed the additional support. We had things thrown around, tantrums, a few behaviours that I will need to squash early on, pooey nappies timess two, a child peeing int he playground, one eating Playdough, as well as a runaway! So the doorhandle is being moved higher to prevent the runaways! The rest? We will see what happens. But, honestly, they are lovely. They are already sitting beautifully for circle and cafrpet time, most are tidying up a dream, there is amazing imagination, and many are fantastic with numbers already, too! It will be a challenge, this year, but I feel I have already set up the foundations of good relationships with parents, so fingers crossed, this year will be a good year! Fingersw crossed for no more lockdowns!
  • If we were having chai I’d tell you that my own two children were back for their first week, too. Lil Princess has a spring in her step, again, despite having to get up a little earlier, and Lil Man, who is not so little, has been fantastic, too, even sitting up, studying in the evenings, which I didn’t think he would do. There is some conscientiousness there, I believe! And seeing him in his suit, every moring, oh, my heart swells!
  • If we were having chai I’d mention that I was bracing myself for the late evenings due to cricket training, but in the end I didn’t have to worry, as the club is closed for work to be done of the grounds! He did have one match, though, on Saturday, which Hubby Dearest took him too, and he played really well, again! Three wickets for twelve runs off eight overs! Boom, Lil Man!
  • If we were having chai I’d say that I think the weight loss thing might kick back in, now, as gthe routine of schoolis set again. I can’t sit at home grazing all day, and I am hitting my step targets every day. Again, fingers crossed!
  • If we were having chai I’d sigh with relief and tell you that Sunday, I was able to have a full day of rest, after making sure all my tasks were completed on Saturday. Grocery shopping, done, houe cleaned, laundry up to date… Perfect! Just us at home, and me with my books!
  • If we were having chai I’d leave you, again with an image of that furry baby of mine, Sonu Singh!
Bitmoji Image

This week, at school, we will be having the children in for lunch as well, so I will get a weeks work to f school dinners, as well as seeing how the children cope at lunchtime! I’m pretty sure I will be knackered, but I am hoping that cricket practice, and games are now well and truly done for the season!

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!

47 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Jennie
    Sep 18, 2021 @ 15:36:57

    Your house woes are awful. Doesn’t the seller’s agent have some responsibility in this? It looks like school will be a good year. Good news on your children!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. bikerchick57
    Sep 14, 2021 @ 13:50:18

    You certainly have been keeping busy, Ritu, and I hope you got some rest over the weekend after teaching at school and dealing with boiler/electrical issues. I think you may need another chai latte before this week is done. Hugs!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. CarolCooks2
    Sep 14, 2021 @ 01:31:45

    Sounds like the old owner played with fire especially with electrics and the ilk but all sorted now I hope…Busy first week I’m sure it will settle down at least you had a nice rest day 🙂 x

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Leanne
    Sep 14, 2021 @ 00:31:15

    Aside from the house issues, it sounds like your week was Mission: Complete 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. dearanonymousfriend
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 22:46:31

    A runaway!! Reminded me of my younger sister who asked to use the restroom when she was in first grade. She was excused and she walked home to use the restroom at home, which was about a forty minute walk. My older sister was called to the office to go find her, she caught to her almost at home. Did you find your runaway quickly? How funny. Have a great week.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Erika
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 19:44:21

    Oh, well, that house holds some not-so-desired surprises.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. robertawrites235681907
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 18:57:55

    Hi Ritu, I am sorry to hear about your house troubles. Before you sell a house here, you have to get an electrician to give a certificate saying there are no electrical issues or concerns with the house. It is a good practice. I’m glad all is going well with your kids.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. John W. Howell
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 17:46:27

    Let’s hope the house woes are now a thing of the past.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. OIKOS™- Art, Books & more
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 17:38:32

    Whats about you all, Sis? Sonu is enjoying the new property. Lol Reading the first lines of your posting, i thought they are from a warrior just back from battlefield. 😉
    But i can fully understand you. House woes are evil, especially if you have trusted in the competence of crafters, or the former owner. 😉 I am sorry that i had forgot telling you about my problem solving behavior on this. Since i had made these experience over many years, i am a little specialist in all house related things. Always when its in need to change machines, electricity cables, water hoses are similar things, i am buying them by myself. Then my brother and i are doing the handwork to replace. After this all let’s get a craftsman who connects these things correctly and thus confirms the correct connection, as it were, with the invoice. 😉 That saves money, but we also know what is done and how. For a number of years we have only had the usual maintenance measures. I hate having a lot of unfortunately not so competent craftsmen messed around. I have pictures of gas and electrical installations from a rental property that show real horror.
    The tenants could have sued us for thousands of euros. The craftsmen were the culprits.
    But be glad that everything else is fine. It’s great that the two “Littles” are going their way. Enjoy a nice week! xx Michael

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. OIKOS™- Art, Books & more
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 17:27:36

    Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. syl65
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 16:23:09

    I’m glad you could have Sunday to recoup after such a taxing week, Sister. It’s a shame the previous owner of the house was such a rascal. Have a good week 🙏🏽💜

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Mary Smith
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 14:45:38

    Hope that’s the end of the house problems! That’s one seriously relaxed cat in the photo:)

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. edwardky2
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 14:22:58

    Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. Keith
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 12:27:06

    Ritu, I am glad you squeezed in your day or rest. Sounds like you need the replenishment before the next week of classes. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

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  15. willowdot21
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 11:15:05

    Unfortunately there are often nasty surprises with new houses, sadly not everyone is as honest and caring as we are. Let’s hope that you have discovered all his nasty secrets now!
    School sounds “fun” with all the “fun” you get with brand new littlies. As you know it will improve. I bet in a couple of weeks you will be delighted with them all …as soon as they get to know you they will not want to run away!
    I hope your school dinners are better than those I remember…well if they are not this week could be a kickstart to your diet.
    I think Lil man and princess need title updates as they are shooting up!
    Make the most of your evenings sis especially as the cricket is tailing down now. Feet up when you can . Hugs for the rest of the week Sis 💜💜💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. CJ
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 09:48:08

    I totally agree with superhero cartoon, you’re doing an amazing job, and I know how pressured it is for teachers to achieve so much these day. Well done you! And well done Lil Man on another brilliant cricket match. It is all over here, everything being tidied away for next year. We are to football now…

    Liked by 1 person

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  17. Books & Bonsai
    Sep 13, 2021 @ 09:05:28

    So glad you found out about those inherited problems before anything serious happened, Ritu!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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