But I Smile Anyway…

Good morning, Peeps! Another Monday has reared its head. Where does the time go, seriously?

At least I am still on holiday, so we can have a relaxing cuppa!

• If we were having chai, I would tell you that I am still tired, but a little better than last week. We started Monday with me taking mum in law to an appointment. She has a procedure which meant I had 2-3 hours to kill, so I found a cafe and got my kindle out…what else?

• If we were having chai, I would suddenly remember that I hadn’t told you why my legs were like jelly the week before. Honestly, I was only walking normally once we hit Thursday, but that’s what 20k steps and 83 flights of stairs will do to a gal! So, what I had been doing, the previous Sunday was carting my books, precious belongings, desk, shelves and general reading/writing stuff to the downstairs office, where Hubby Dearest was usually stationed. He needs the room he works in to be away from everyone, logistically, as he works from home more than I sit at my desk, and this way he can do all he needs, including phone and Teams meetings, without disturbing everyone, because the sound carries far too far! So I spent the day setting everything up. What do you think?

• If we were having chai, I would say that I had a blissful couple of days in the middle, too, when my best friend came to visit with her daughter. We hadn’t seen each other since way before lockdown, and, apart from a flying visit to her home in May, we hadn’t spent any quality time together. We had such fun, chatting (obviously!) as well as walking around the locality, going shopping, doing. a bit of cooking, and just generally reconnecting. Something everyone needs, don’t they?

• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that though no new words appeared, I carried on reading, and trying my hardest to eat healthily!

• If we were having chai, I’d share that I got a little delivery, too. Every time a book comes out, I find a place that makes mini book lockets so I have my own little memory. The newest one arrived this week, and it looks lovely with the others!

• If we were having chai, I would bring it back to Sonu Singh. He loves the holidays because we are all around. And this week he decided I had been reading too much, so he sat on my kindle! Little so and so!

I am looking forward to this week. Hubby Dearest has some days off, so we will get a mini break in. Yay! Got another online interview, as well as an eyebrow appointment, too! The rest? Let’s see!

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Good morning, Peeps! I am shattered, today. I was very busy, yesterday, doing a lot of physical moving stuff about (Which I will reveal next week!) But at least it is the holidays!

Time for a lovely cuppa and a catch up!

• If we were having chai, I would probably sigh and tell you I think I am burnt out. This week I couldn’t get myself out of bed early enough to do anything with my manuscript. And even though I was awake, m brain wasn’t ready to compute new words, and stories, so I ended up reading plenty, instead, and napping, when I was free.

• If we were having chai, I would mention that I had a couple of appointments, with Lil Princess, for threading and henna, as we had a wedding to attend. One of my dear colleagues, someone who is like a little sister to me, was getting married and not only were we going to the reception, but she invited me to her civil ceremony and asked me to make a short speech too! It was manic, but a beautiful day and I am so happy for her.
• If we were having chai, I would say that Straight As a Jalebi went with us to the wedding, too, as my friend had a fresh jalebi stand there, so I joked with her about bringing the book to do some promo videos, and she told me to 100% do it! Well, here you are!

• If we were having chai, I’d jump back to my week, and say that I am trying to be philosophical about everything, and even though I wrote minimal words this week, I have a plan, and that is just as important.
• If we were having chai, I’d share that I was moving furniture around the house, all day on Sunday, s well as building bits, too, so I had. a great soak in the bath after I finished. When I checked my Fitbit I had climbed 83 flights of stairs!!! No one can say I was lazy this Sunday! And, as I mentioned above, I will tel you what I was up to, next week!
• If we were having chai, I would bring it back to Sonu Singh. He’s a good kitty, sensing when I am a bit down. We just chilled and he had a great scritch with me, before laying down and going to sleep.

I fear it may be another one of those weeks… I am up early today to take my Mother -in-law to an appointment, and I have a trial YouTube interview in the evening. I have to be taxi Mum for Lil Man on Tuesday, and I am also hoping my best friend will be coming over, too. Then, on Friday, I am hoping to meet with some friends, if they are free, as I taxi mum Lil Man around for his social life! Words? Maybe. I hope so!

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Good morning, Peeps! The first offical Monday of the holidays! I have been off since Wednesday, though, so I feel like a bit of a cheat!

i can enjoy a leisurely chai with you, today, so I hope you have a lovely, long drink ready!

• If we were having chai, I would tell you that it was a very emotional start to the week. We had our transition days, so my classes were sent up to their new Year One teachers for a morning, and we invited our new children in to visit us for the morning, too. It takes this day for it to really hit home just how much the children we have been nurturing have grown and matured as we meet those little ones who are at the very beginning of the journey… and it makes us realise how hard both the staff and the children have worked to get them there. Monday afternoon, we had a little party. Tuesday, our last official day, was very tough. It was my dear head teacher’s last day, as well as for a couple of other members of staff. Plus there were three maternity celebrations to be had! The children had been practicing a song written for our Head, and as soon as I heard it, it brought a tear to my eye. I knew there was no way she would be able to stay dry-eyed. And she didn’t. But before that, there was an amusing assembly by the Deputy Head dedicated to her, asa well as the Year Six children singing her a song. The staff did an impromptu flash mob dance to a song associated with leaving staff the last few years. There was also a silly song video compiled with all the staff doing silly things, dedicated to her. We had aa fantastic meal out on Wednesday celebrate her sixteen years at the school. Less tears, more laughter, and the reassurance that this was not the last time we would be together.

• If we were having chai, I would mention that saying goodbye to our classes is always a tough time, and, as always, the parents and children astounded us with their generosity with end-of-year gifts and cards…

• If we were having chai, I would say that I made sure to get myself back in the writing game, too, now holidays started. Not every day, but most days, and I am making a dent in Book three! Plans have been written, and words are beginning to flow!

• If we were having chai, I’d jump back to Straight As A Jalebi, and say I am grateful to those readers who have left reviews, and we are now on 50 ratings and reviews on Amazon!

• If we were having chai, I’d share that I managed to watch a bit of a cricket game this weekend, as Hubby Dearest wasn’t too well, so I saw the end of the game, where (not so) Lil Man got three wickets! It’s been while but it always makes me proud to see him bowling successfully.
• If we were having chai, I would bring it back to Sonu Singh. He’s happy to have us all around him, and miaowing all the time for food! But there are plenty of times when it is just me and him who are awake, or around, so he joins me for a read, or as my meal partner!

This is the first full weel of the holidays, and though the first couple of days will be a little calmer, I have some appointments to attend with Lil Princess, as well as a wedding and Valima ceremony to attend for a dear friend and colleague, then we have that shopping trip with the in-laws that got cancelled last week. A possible office move may occur on the weekend, as Hubby Dearest wants to move to the upstairs room, so he is not disturbing everyone when he works from home, and is on the phone… but I am loathe to let my beautiful room go, permanently!

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Good morning, Peeps! I’m still at school today but tomorrow, we finish, officially, so I am taking each day as it comes right now.

My Chai is ready. Have you got a drink?

• If we were having chai, I would tell you that last week was a super busy one. There is always so much to do at the end of the year, and even though we have got data and reports out of the way, we still have other paperwork that needs completing, as well as things to get ready for September. All this we need to do, keeping in mind that we still have a class of children who are pretty exhausted but need to keep learning while they are with us. So it’s been a chilled week in terms of planning for us, but fraught as we keep the children in check.
• If we were having chai, I would mention that the emotion I know we will feel on Tuesday as we wave goodbye to our classes began building last week, as the Year 6 children had their leaver’s assembly and then their party on Friday evening. They are an extra special class for me, as they were my first ever Nursery class. So I have watched a lot of them grow over the last eight years. Some are taller than one, even though they are only eleven! There were tears and lots of hugs, as well as touching comments from parents too. Nothing will change my thinking that each year I have to create a new section in my heart for the new pupils, who will find their place there alongside all the children I have already taught. Some parents even started their gift giving and they have touched us with some of their thoughtful words and gifts. 🙂 We also had a shared lunch on Thursday which was also a little baby shower for three of my colleagues who are expecting over the next couple of months! It was a lovely chance for all the staff to mingle, too, which rarely happens due to our different daily timetables.
• If we were having chai, I would say that I have been reading plenty as always, because writing does not come easy when I am still in school mode. I have had the honour to read a few books extra early for different author friends of mine, and spent time writing up questions for them to answer when they come to visit for a Book & A Brew post with me a little later in the year!

• If we were having chai, I’d jump back to the writing and say that I do have a plan of sorts once we finish up, and in order to keep me accountable, I created my own little word tracker chart on Canva! You might call it procrastination, but I call it inspiration!

• If we were having chai, I’d share that Lil Princess is now also on holiday, and she celebrated her first day of summer break by going to watch the Barbie film with her friends! I was a little gutted as I wanted to go and watch it with her, but I am so glad she is stepping out of her comfort zone and going out a little more with her friends. She wasn’t totally enamoured of it, but then she doesn’t always like what everyone else likes, and sitting in a cinema hall for a couple of hours can be too much for her, so she went for a few trips to the loo, and for a snack, to stop herself getting agitated. Still, she went and had fun, and I am proud of her for facing some of her anxieties to do this.
• If we were having chai, I would bring it back to Sonu Singh. This week I had to get the clippers out and trip his pointy claws because every time he would come to us to knead our tummies or anything, he was catching on our clothes and the bedsheets. However, claw cutting is not his favourite thing. I am very gentle, I promise, but from a young age, he has hated it. In fact, when he was a kitten, there was a day when he saw the clippers on my bed and realised what I was about to do. I turned my back and he knocked them off the bed and was off down the stairs, trying to knock them down each step. I think he wanted to go and hide them! Cheeky little so and so! Still, it was time for that event n Sunday, and he rewarded me with a gentle biting session! No owners were harmed, honestly!

Two days to go, then I can breathe, kind of. I am still seeing my workmates on Wednesday as we have a leaving-do to attend, as well as being back in Gravesend on Thursday, too, because Lil Princess is meeting a friend, and I need to take Lil Man and my in-laws out shopping, too! Friday, we have an orthodontic appointment, and on Saturday there will be cricket, followed by a baby shower for one of my colleagues. Somehow, I will squeeze words in, too, I hope!

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Good morning, Peeps! Only one more Monday left of term, after today! So, it’s still busy, busy!

I’ve got my green tea. What have you chosen?

• If we were having chai, I would tell you that school has been quite surreal the last few weeks. There is that strange feeling of the children suddenly growing up, getting bigger and maturing. Picking up things they were unsure of only a few short weeks ago… Makes me feel better that most will be better prepared for Year One, but it still surprises me how much they can change! We’ve been finalising reports and data and talking to the class teachers above about the children joining their cohort next year… Meanwhile, I have been trying to sort out the lists for next year and get home visits sorted out, too. There is a lot of restructuring happening next year, including my responsibilities, so I need to get my head around everything!
• If we were having chai, I would mention that Lil Princess was with me in school for work experience, along with one of her friends, who also used to come to our Primary School. I’ll start by saying well done to her because for someone who has the level of anxiety that she does, coming into a class of 30 4-5-year-olds who are so loving and in your face can be quite scary. She was in school for three days and at her own school for two days to break the overwhelm. My SEND kids loved her, and one even wanted to come home with her. He followed her around saying, “You are my best friend!” and was so upset the two days she wasn’t there! And another fell asleep on her, too! She was brave enough to not stay in my class with me, but in a class with another teacher, after her first day, which was another big thing for her. That colleague of mine complimented her on how she worked with the children and built a gentle rapport with them. I am immensely proud of her!
• If we were having chai, I would say that I have had a naughty food week this week, and it is all because of school and lovely parents! (and event catering on Friday!) On Wednesday, a parent brought. individually served bags for the whole of our team as a thank you for teaching her children. There were samosas, spring rolls, bread pakoras, and a chickpea salad to eat. I used it for two meals! And on Thursday, another parent made food for the whole school staff! Biryani, curry, chicken drumsticks, raita, pitta bread, and a trifle to top it off! On Friday, I was asked to represent the senior leaders of our school at an event and they had a lovely breakfast, including freshly baked croissants and cookies. So, you can see why I may not have lost anything this last week!

• If we were having chai, I’d mention that I have started wearing lots more dresses because I feel like being floaty… I bought a few last year but never wore them, but now I have decided to forget what I think anyone else will think, and wear them, happily. And you know what? They make me feel so happy! (Just ordered two more, too!)

• If we were having chai, I’d share that I have a new word to describe how I feel pretty much 100% of the time… What with perimenopause, dealing with school stuff, and some of the home related things we have going on, this is my favourite word, right now!

• If we were having chai, I would bring it back to Sonu Singh. He keeps chewing at any plant he can find, then makes himself sick. Silly kitty! But he’s loving being in my office. Here he is, curled up asleep while I write this post!

One week and two days left of school… not that I am counting! It will be a strange week, filled with emotions as one member of my team finishes with us and leaves for another post, and another who has her last day for the year or Friday. Though we still have a few days left after the weekend, I have a feeling there will be some children who may not make it to the end of the term, too… And it is the Year Six leaver’s party and assembly. This year six were my first ever class taught in this school for a whole year, when they were in Nursery, so I have watched some of them grow for eight years. I feel there will be emotions involved! Elsewhere, Lil Princess has a sleepover, and I have a baby shower to attend!

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!