But I Smile Anyway…

Hello again, Peeps! I am on the home stretch now at school. Term 6 has started. It is both a really fun one and a hectic one, with reports, data, transition for the next year, sports days and all sorts happening. And that is just school Ritu’s busyness. There is Lil Man finishing his A-Levels, and his non-stop cricket. He also turns 18 in a few weeks! Then Lil Princess has her needs, and I really need to write this book three!

But, for now, let’s recap last week! Did you grab your drink?

• If we were having chai, I’d start by talking about school, but not necessarily mine. I did pop in, yes, for a morning to get some printing done and to water some of our beds, but other than toil away at the last reports (with my helper… see below) I had plenty of other stuff to keep me busy. I was mum-taxi, as my own kids were back in school. So no lie-ins for me! (But, seriously, who even knows what a lie-in is, once you reach a certain age!) Lil Man had one more exam which he feels went well (yay!) and Lil Princess had a bit of a wobbly start to her term. I think it threw her with me not going in to work when she was in school. Still, we work on the anxieties… and things are calming down, again. I didn’t get to the cinema, or the Society of Authors meeting due to some personal issues, but I still had positive moments to the week.

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• If we were having chai, I’d not be able to continue if I didn’t mention that book release and updates! So there are a few more reviews, and, fingers crossed, things have been positive so far. We even reached #1 Hot New Release in a category! Did you get a chance to pick your copy up? https://mybook.to/StraightAsAJalebi

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• If we were having chai, I’d take a moment to let you know it has also been released as a paperback too, now, so if holding a book is more your thing, the above link will take you to the Amazon page where you can order it! 🙂

@ritubhathalauthor

My paperback has arrived! @SpellBound Books #author #browntiktok #booktok #unboxing #newrelease #lgbt🌈 #pride2023🏳️‍🌈❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 #lowviews #dejavu

♬ original sound – Ritu Bhathal – Author

• If we were having chai, I’d say that the official book tour is also starting today via the fantastic ZooLoo’s Book Tours. I will share the daily posts so you can see them, too, as they come about!

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• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that other than book release stuff, I managed to go and get a pedicure. I think it was my first in a couple of years! See, I do tty and get that self-care in!

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• If we were having chai, I’d say that the weather has turned to scorching temperatures now, and we had a weekend of high heat. Lil Princess and I chilled in the garden on Saturday, while the lads were at cricket!

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• If we were having chai, I’d say that the rest of the week was hectic, for various reasons, but I tried my hardest to relax, as well, even though it doesn’t seem like it. I cooked more, which I always enjoy. Then one evening, the lock in the main bathroom broke! It got stuck, locked. Thankfully no one was inside! It’s the one Lil Princess uses, and changes to routine can really affect her negatively, so we needed to get that opened as soon as possible! I managed to find a reasonable locksmith who came the next day and opened the door, and disabled the lock. Again, he’s another tradesperson to look at the way things were done by the previous owner and shake his head in disbelief! He was back on the weekend to install a new handle and lock, so we are all good again!
• If we were having chai, I would mention that. I have been reading, as usual, and I got lovely book mail from Amanda Prowse, with an arc of her soon-to-be-released All Good Things. It is fab! And Mandy will be joining me for a Book and a Brew nearer the release date, too!

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• If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. He’s getting a double mention this week! He’s sat with me at report writing time, in the conservatory as I eat breakfast and dinner, and even when I read. I guess I am rubbing off on him!

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This week, I am back to school too. It is busy, with several meetings during the day, a member of staff with a complex health issue, meaning we will be short-staffed half of the week, every week for a while, and we have two late evening training/meetings. Lil Man has two exams this week. It is also Father’s Day on Sunday, so I need to get prepared for that, too! Oh, and as I mentioned before, the book tour starts today, too!

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