Chai And A Chat #198 #ChaiAndAChat

08 Aug 2022 37 Comments

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

Hi there, Peeps! it’s Monday, again!

I have been so productive this week but relaxed, too! It’s been good!

  • If we were having chai, I’d tell you that the first few days of the week were spent in Birmingham with my parents. It was a bit of a whirlwind visit, but much needed since they had been away in Finland for a few weeks, and I missed being able to talk to them daily! We chilled out together, ate good food and generally relaxed. Apart from on Tuesday, when Mum thought it would be a good time to go up to the attic to empty it out, while we were there. There are some heavy bits they wouldn’t be able to manage alone, so she wanted someone from her family to do the lifting instead of Pops trying. I managed some words while there, which I was most impressed with!
  • If we were having chai, I’d say, talking of words, I had, in my head, a target of 10k new words, to get this book closer to The End. And I did it I wrote over 11k, actually, bringing my holiday count to over 21k! I am so chuffed with myself, even though this first draft, and especially the end, feels like word vomit, that will need a lot of cleaning up! But I can’t wait to type The End for the second time ever! (And this story is neverending, it seems… It now sits at over 102k!!!)
  • If we were having chai, I’d mention that I popped into school for one day to help one of my co-teachers sort out the classroom. It feels strange that I won’t have my own room next year. Instead, I am split between both Reception classes! But, it will give me time to do more of the managerial things I was splitting myself into two to do last year, and I will also get to know both classes.
  • If we were having chai, I would tell you that Lil Man had a good cricket match this week. He scored over 20 runs and bowled well, adding another wicket to his belt. The team had another great win!
  • If we were having chai, I’d have to tell you that I finally, after many moons of trying, got a telephone Drs appointment to ask their advice re: my hand injury from over 2 months ago, where the bones are still hurting, as well as requesting blood tests to see whether I am indeed hitting perimenopause, or if there is something else untoward that I haven’t thought of.
  • If we were having chai, I would end, as always, with Sonu Singh. I don’t think he was impressed with us on Sunday as we were visiting and would be gone all day. We had a plan to go to visit some dear friends from university, who we hadn’t seen for a long time. One couple we saw in 2007, last, the other in 2012. We had a blast and enjoyed it so much that we didn’t even take photos! That is in-the-moment enjoyment. But, back to Sonu Singh. He hid under a table when we left and greeted us with loud miaows of indignity when we got back!
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This week is relatively calm, (she says…). I have high hopes for a finished draft 1 of book two, fingers crossed! A couple of appointments, too, as well as a mid-week match for Lil Man and possibly two more on the weekend… All in the job description of a wife/mother/author, eh!

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37 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Jennie
    Aug 13, 2022 @ 21:45:33

    Hooray on the writing! It sounds like nest school year will be a bit easier for you. The hand doesn’t sound good…when will you be able to see the doctor?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. robbiesinspiration
    Aug 12, 2022 @ 06:29:19

    Congratulations, Ritu, on getting out those last words, and good luck with the editing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Marsha
    Aug 09, 2022 @ 18:52:56

    You got a lot done this week! WOW! Sounds like a great week. It also sounds like your workload is going to change from last year – probably for the better as far as being able to juggle all the plates you have in the air. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. OIKOS™- Art, Books & more
    Aug 09, 2022 @ 08:44:51

    Great to hear/ read, Sis! It seems you have found a great balance between the needful and the enjoyable. I agree, with a growling stomach mental work can not be done well. Keep on, Sis! Best wishes, Michael

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. OIKOS™- Art, Books & more
    Aug 09, 2022 @ 08:41:32

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Erika
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 19:03:57

    I am glad for you that you have time now to finish your book in a relaxed state. It makes such a difference. Enjoy, Sis!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. syl65
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 17:54:46

    I hope you have a well rounded week and not overwhelming plus a finished draft, Sister 🙏🏽💛☺️

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Trackback: Persistence pays – Keep it alive

  9. beth
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 11:41:46

    so glad you had the chance to see family and that you found words in the attic, along with a pint and pizza for inspiration – hope you doc questions are answered as you hope

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. CJ
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 09:07:28

    Hurray for typing ‘The End’! Well done you. Now comes the edit… This is the bit where I am absolutely stuck, stuck, stuck. I honestly am struggling so much to deal with the three first drafts that I have. Any tips gratefully received! Glad there was some good cricket. Here too, with the eldest getting one of his highest number of runs. Glad the holidays are going well for you. CJ xx

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Ritu
      Aug 08, 2022 @ 09:19:15

      The end, I’m hoping, will be written this week. That’s my goal!
      Editing is hard, but I’ve come to realise that our first draft is the word vomit. Where you write everything as it makes sense in your head.
      Then editing means rereading, or sometimes getting someone to alpha read, like a critique partner. Someone who can help you filter the good ideas from the not so good, and the superfluous scenes or repetition.
      If you have good initial readers, they are like developmental editors!
      Then you use that feedback to rewrite, add, delete or tweak. Further reads are your grammar and spelling, typos, and repetitive words!
      When you feel it’s right, then the beta readers come in to play. They act las your target audience, so their responses are good for any additional tweaks or changes.
      And hopefully after that, youre good to go!
      But, I highly recommend getting a dev editor to read and make suggestions.
      And the copy/proof reading is Uber important, too, as you don’t want to go to publish with silly errors!!!

      Hope that makes sense!!! Xx

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. TanGental
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 08:58:08

    Oh The End! Such a great twosome. Wishing you a rapid reintroduction!

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Sadje
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 06:57:57

    Great to meet the parents and spend time with them and friends.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. shannonrobeck
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 06:52:31

    Well done with getting so much writing done! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. willowdot21
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 06:51:07

    Sounds like a lovely full week Sis, so much being written for your book baby. So glad you had time with your mum and pops so important! Also lovely that you met up with old friends..
    I hope your phone call with the Dr goes well these days we have really to be our own Dr I think they abdicate so much responsibility on to us these days. Hugs 💜💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

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  15. Annette Rochelle Aben
    Aug 08, 2022 @ 05:07:00

    What an inspiration you are, Sis! Drunk or sober… ❤

    Liked by 3 people

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