But I Smile Anyway…

Well, that week whizzed by, didn’t it?

Is your drink ready?

• If we were having chai I would give you that school update that I know you all wait for. Well, I made it through a full weel, with no illness, so that is a poisitive! However, there were headaches. This week was a tad mad, with so many things happening. So many meetings, forms to fill in, and special days happening, that the week did whizz by. I had a meeting which I was dreading on Thursday, and was worried about how it would bode for my day, when it started with my breakfast preparations looking like this. Thankfully the mishap wasn’t indicative of my day and the meeting went even better than I could have hoped! I breathed a huge sigh of relief! Especially since I had also been in costume for said meeting (see below) as it was also World Book Day!

• If we were having chai, I’d have to tell you that on Tuesday, though, a lovely thing happened. One of my children is Romanian, and his mother came in with a bag filled with tulips. She explained that the 1st March is Martisor in Romania, the celebration of the first day of spring. Gifts are given, and it is quite a celebration. With this in mind, she printed off a sheet from the internet, forme to read to the children, to teach them about why it is celebrated in Romania. She has bought a tulip for every child, and each tulip had a little nte from the pupil, saying Happy 1st March and Happy Srping, from him! This touched my heart! She had also created larger bunches for the staff. They are still blooming beautifully in my vase! This is the way education should be in the EYFS, with in the moment learning. I love my class and their families!

• If we were having chai I’d remind you that it was World Book Day on Thursday, too, and you know I like a bit of dressing up! We decided that our team theme would be the Mr Men and Little Miss Characters, and I, obviously, was Little Miss Chatterbox! Could any other have been more appropriate? We had such fun, and the children really enjoyed themselves, too! Oh, and I had to go to the orthodontist dressed like this, too… as well as that meeting I had mentioned above!

• If we were having chai I would confess that the week has been dire for writing. 0 words, I have to admit, but the stress of the meetings, etc, meant I had nothing to give! Still, Hubby Dearest was a total doll, and he set up a new monitor for me in my office so I have a larger screen to work on when writing! Oh, I do love him, so! I am getting used to it but it is definitely easier on the eyes! And do you like my new fluffy chair throw? I feel rather decadent with that on my seat, and warmer, too!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that despite the rain that has been tipping down, on Saturday we managed to go out for the evening. I had a little shopping do to, pluse we hadn’t been out to celebrate the family birthdays last month, so we had a meal at The Big Easy, in Bluewater, which was so filling… Seriously, I need to stop eating so much! My waistbands are becoming less forgiving, every day!
• If we were having chai I’d end with a little pic of my gorgeous Sonu Singh who sat in the conservatory observing the rain falling down the conservatory roof for ages…

This week I have a meeting with a parent, an observation to do on a student, a meeting with our EYFS Governor, plus a few sessions where staff are in and out. Coupled with that Lil Princess will be joining me in school as their school is shut on Friday, so I get an extra set of hands! I can’t even think what else is happening, but I’m sure there is plenty!

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Gosh, it’s been a crappy week, in so many ways, but there were good bits, too…

You ready for a recap?

• If we were having chai I would bring you up to speed with school, since we were back last week. It was a hectic week, with so many ‘things’ going on. There were meetings, and I had a lesson observation. The nurses were in, doing height, weight and vision checks, too. We had meltdowns from SEN children. Absences. But, the kids coped wonderfully with the health checks, and my observation went swimmingly, I believe. I am just so shattered…
• If we were having chai, I’d probably swap for a hot water, as I have a delicate tummy. I ended up at home on Friday because Lil Princess kindly passed on her dicky tummy to me. I have spent the best part of the last three days in bed. All I can say is thank goodness that I began using the online grocerey shopping!
• If we were having chai I’d ask you if you were aware that COVID is now gone? Well, that is according to our government, who are now wrapping up any special measures, including routine testing for staff and pupils, and isolations for a certain amout of time. I mean, I know it has to happen, sometime, but it feels like it has all just come about rather fast, don’t you think?
• If we were having chai I wouldn’t be able to avoid mentioning what is happening over in Ukraine. My heart is so heavy, rigth now, it doesn’t know what to think. One of my old colleagues is from the Ukraine, and when you know someone who is being directly affected, it makes everything even realler. On top of that, it hit home that Finland is on the border of Russia, too, and they are being threatened with sanctions, by Russia, too. They are 50km away from that despot, Putin, and it scares the Bejesus of me. It is consgtantly on the news, so I am anticipating questions from even the more astute, younger children who I teach. What do I tell them? I find it hard to discuss the situation with my teenage kids. Lil Man is asking if he’ll have to sign up…
• If we were having chai I’d try and lighten the mood a little with this news. My Book Baby, Marriage Unarranged, had an Amazon Orange flag on it for a little while! Thank goodness my publisher was able to screenshot it and send it to me! These ratings change so fast so it’s great to have it there, in picture proof!

• If we were having chai I’d want to share with you, a little something that I had done. I always loved the little sketches and drawings that other writers and authors have as part of their branding, so I had one done! What do you think? Even got Sonu Singh in on the action!

This week is another busy one at school, with Shrove Tuesday to celebrate, as well as me doing some observations on my team, World Book Day (One of my favourites!) and we have a visit from ZooLabs, too, which the children will really love. Homewise, I just hope I am feeling better, and get some more words down!

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Oh, my goodness, that week flew by for us! Did it, for you, too?

Think I’ll need a strong one, today!

• If we were having chai I wouldn’t need to start with school, as I haven’t been there. Sure, I did have a plan to pop in, on one of the days, but, to be honest, I needed the total switch off. If Ofsted are planning a visit, there will be enough time that school takes over my thoughts, so no, not this week, I’m afraid!
• If we were having chai, Instead, I would share this view with you, which is one I sat at pretty much every day this week. I was determined to use the time away from school to get words down so I could be closer to finishing draft one of book two. I set myself a target of around five thousand words for the week. Guess what? I hit over 10k! I am very proud of myself and yes. I know that there is probably a huge amount that will get edited out, or changed, but the story is hitting the climax, and I am in the zone! Do I really have to go back to school???

• If we were having chai I’d say that the weather has been rather inclement the last week, top, and that is putting it mildly. To be fair, we did have lovely days, too, like below, but we also had rain, cold and, oh, yeah, THREE storms! Not one, not two, but three! Storm Dudley visted on Wednesday. It was a little blowy, but not too bad. We woke ot the news that Storm Eunice was gonna be a doozy, with a RED alert issued for certain areas, including where we lived. It was certainly windy but I think we got off lightly, compared to some places. Yes, trees fell, scaffolding fell, fences, fell, but not in our garded, thankfully! Some were left with no power, or internet, but, aside from a little dodgy broadband, it was okay. We had a couple of plans that we had to cancel, but better safe than sorry, eh! And on Sunday, it was announced tha Storm Franklin was visiting for a couple of days! Yes, I am typing this up on Sunday night and the wind is howling out there, as well as rain beating the windows. I am waiting, anxiously for Hubby Dearest and Lil Man to get back from cricket training, too… And also, preparing for an early than early start, tomorrow as we need to leave extra time to get in to school, with no idea of what the roads will be like…

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I was a bit of a zombie, mid week as I was up at the crack of dawn, and had driven 50 miles before 9am, both days, as I was taking my mother in law to some medical appointments; pre op ones as she had her first knee replacement operation yesterday. There was a morning with blood tests, then the second day was the Covid test. I don’t know why they both had to be so early, or on different days, but, who am I to question. I just did my job! She’s still in hospital at the moment, but the surgery appears to have gone well, so far, thank goodness. IT’s painful, and we can’t go and visit her, but fingers crossed, she’ll be home in a coupel of days. Pops is recovering well, too, which is great to hear!
• If we were having chai I’d admit a huge secret to you. I have hit that annual time where I realise just how unhealthy and overweight I am, AGAIN! This time last year, I was distraught at my weight, and went on a mission to lose what I could. I was doing so well, then, when we moved house, the stress of all the issues meant I comfort ate, and I haven’t stopped! I think I may be stone over what I was last year, whcih is awful! However, I am not as distraught as I was. (Though, I could pass for 6 months pregnant if you saw me sideways, I’m not kidding! Lil Princess was in hysterics, looking at my silhouette!) I need to curb the snacking, and drink more water, definitely. Exercise seems a thing of the past at the moment, but when we get the summerhouse kitted out properly, maybe I’ll have more motivation! And I do try to be heallthy. This was one of my breakfasts… (But, you don’t want to know what I ended up eating throughout the rest of the day!)

• If we were having chai I’d say that the birthdays for the month have finally come to an end, as Lil Princess and my father in law has their special days on Sunday. I honestly can’t believe she’s 14! Cake is still not done, yet, though, as we are waiting for Mum in law to be home before we celebrate, especially since it was her husband’s 70th!

• If we were having chai I’d share something else rather special that happend yesterday… I got notification from the publisher that Marriage Unarranged has hit #4 in the Asian Fiction Hottest New Releases category! It went on preorder last week! How exciting!

• If we were having chai I’d end with my furry muse, Sonu Singh, as always. He’s been by my side a lot the past week, since everyone else thoroughly enjoys the break, and isn’t out of bed until midday! He has sat with me in the living room, on my bed, in my writing room, keeping me company! Bless him!

This week, as I mentioned earlier, we are back at school (Boo!) and I need to balance that, with trying to write daily, as well as making sure, along with my sister-in-law, that mum-in-law is okay, when she’s back from the hospital. We are tentatively hoping for a weekend break, too, if all goes to plan… fingers crossed!

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Phew! Most definitely a ‘Phew!’ moment, as we have finally reached half term!

So, drinks at the ready?

• If we were having chai I’d begin as always, with school. Yet another week that I can only describe as ‘interesting’ with out crying! No, I lie, it wasn’t as bad as all that, however we were down two members of the team for the first half which is never easy, with our one to one children. The student I was mentoring was also off, as she had tested positive, and it was her last week, so I only saw her on the Friday! I had courses to do, and I also has to give a presentation to the rest of the staff about what the EYFS is, and how our learning segues into the rest of the National Curriculum. I was nervous as anything, but got though it! On Friday, we were meant to be having a school based Music Day, with workshops, however, out of three, two cancelled due to covid and other illnesses! Still, our class had a great time, with music and movement instead of P.E. and a whole afternoon of exploring the different instruments we go out of the music cupboard! It was noisy, yes, but so much fun! I was definitely ready for when Friday came to a close, though!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I, on a whim, found and bought this Anti Burnout journal, which I am hoping to use properly over the next 12 weewks, to set myself up, for a calmer life… fingers crossed!

• If we were having chai I’d say that I was inundated by unexpected flowers, last week, too. Now, you guys know me well enough. If I can reach out and help someone, I will, and there were several occasions at work, this week, where colleagues needed extra support, from my head needing someone to relieve her gate duty twice, to one collleague who was having kittens about how to log into a semiar she had to watch, to another one who was hit buy a child, and needed support in several ways, and another colleague who was taking an after school club that went a bit mad, and she needed more support. As always, I reached out, because besides me wanting to help, anyway, as part of Management, we need to step up in all situations, and my help resulted in me coming in gtwo mornings to be greeted by flowers, and on one occasion a lovely thank you message. It’s my job to be there to support, and I never expect something in return for heloping, but these were such lovely gestures, they touched my heart.

• If we were having chai I’d report back that I did my online shopping again, and apart from one swap, and one not available otem, all was good, plus I was sent bonus lamb chops! Result!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that Pops had his second hernia operation on Friday, and though it was a littel more complex than the last one, he was back home that night, and now has another few months of taking things very easy. Wish him happy healing, Peeps!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that the birthdays continued as it was Hubby Dearest, and Mum in Law’s birthday on Tuesday, so there was more cake to be eaten! We still have come celebrating to do, but that will come!
• If we were having chai I’d say that cricket came back to haunt me on Sunday as Lil Man started his nets at the club he hopes to join, this season. They were held at that fantastic Hogwarts-esque school we visited for a tournament last July, but were late, so I am rather tired, as I type this up. It meant my writing was cut short, but I did write a few hand-written notes, so I don’t feel it was too redundant a time.

• If we were having chai I’d end with our gorgeous Feline baby, as always, who has been extra loving this week, and treated me to a Kitty massage, one morning, too!

This week, there may be no school, but that doesn’t mean anything in the life of Ritu! Obviously, there is Valentine’s Day on Monday, then Tuesday and Wednesday are filled with rather early appointments that I need to take the Mother in law too, as well as an orthodontics one for Lil Princess, and then there is an appointment at the beautician, too. We hope to have one more day booked in with friends, as well then on Saturday Mother in Law goes in for her first knee replacement surgery. And on Sunday it is Lil Princess’s birthday and also my Father in law’s 70th on the same day! Phew! And then, back to school! Let’s hope I get some words in!

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Yes, indeed, February is most definitely here and we are in the throes of birthday month in our family! But work keeps getting in the way!

So, drinks at the ready?

• If we were having chai I’d begin as always, with school. It’s been an interesting week, to say the least. We have had staff leaving (not in my team), staff interviews happening (one for my team!), children having meltdowns, children off with the dreading C virus, and that encompasses Chicken pox to add to Covid, and Cold, and many staff off, having tested positive (including a student in my class and one of my one to one TAs. Yes. That much fun. Is it any wonder that I an shattered at the end of each day? Still we plod along… trying our hardest to stay safe, and stay open for the children, because, whatever anyone says, remote larning is not the best thing for little ones. Roll on Friday and half term, is all I can say!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that the other day I managed to squeeze in a few words one of the week day evenings, and it ended up being a rather intimate scene… I was kind of nervous, but got there in the end, I think…

• If we were having chai I’d say that for the first time in months, I am seeing a little daylight as we leave in the mornings, and in two evenings it was still light when we got home! That was a good feeling! I do love to appreciate the changing colours of the sky in the later hours.

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that the weekend was a time to experiment. I had my first go at online grocery shopping! Now, I have been put off doing this for a long time, as I am terrifed, (and probably a bit of a control freak), of ordering and getting the wrong things sent to me! I remember my sis in law using the system a good few years back, and ordering ketchup, and being seng mayo as the substitute! However, I am a converted woman! I ticked the no subs boxes on most of the items, and as I wasn’t wandering through the aisles, I didn’t pick up excess items, which was definitely easier on the wallet! There ended up being 5 items unavailable, and none of them were urgent, so, win win, I think!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that as I was feeling so tired, coupled with a very erratic night of sleep on Saturday. words didn’t flow as well as the weekend before, but along with organising my Scrivener cork board, I did around 1,000 words this week, so not all bad!

• If we were having chai I’d end with our gorgeous Feline baby, as always, who is posing as DJ Sonu Singh, here! God, I do love him!

This week, along with the pressures of even less staff in, during the week, we have Hubby Dearest’s and my mother-in-law’s birthday, too, so fingers crossed, I continue to stay negative, and that we can have our little celebrations with the family, with no worries, as well as getting tp the end of the week, so I can enjoy a (rather busy) week off!

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!