But I Smile Anyway…

The third week of this year has passed in a blur of lockdown… I’m not sure where the time is going\1

Anyway, let’s get to it. Where’s your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d begin with the usual, school stuff. So it was my week away from the Key Worker children, but I still had to be in most days, just to make sure all was going to plan. I think I had 100% engagement with the online platform, so that was pretty ace, and when I checked on the weekend, a couple who hadn’t uploaded work, had tried to, so that was great! We had another child as well, so that spiced things up a bit. However, two things took precedence, last week. The first, the LFD (Lateral Flow Device) tests that the government want us to take, if we wish, twice a week, ourselves, to test for any asymptomatic cases. This is not for pupils, just the school staff who are in, so we can self isolate when needed, but we only test twice a week, so we could get a negative, be postive the next day, and still spread things around, then find out at the next test… a few training sessions later, all I think is what a waste of time, and it kinda looks like a pregnancy test! The second thing that drained many hours was trying to wrok out how we can upload videos onto our online platform… Don’t get me started, just know that I have recorded myelf several times, and tried so many ways, but for some reason, the platform we use won’t always accept them, or the medium we use to record requires parents to have accounts too… such hard work!
• If we were having chai I’d have to share with you that it was our Sonu Singh’s 7th birthday too, on Wednesday. In cat years he is now older than us all!

• If we were having chai I’d let you know that I am still doing my journalling. One of the challenges was to write about what others think of you and your best qualities… I put it out there, and here are some of the answers. I was touched by some of the comments, and there were even more added after I did my journal spread. It’s definitely something for me to reread on days I feel bleurgh…!

• If we were having chai I’d say that we had no viewings of our property, which was a bit frustrating, but saw a couple of others… and all I can say is “Watch this space!”
• If we were having chai I’d end with telling you of my disappointment that almost all of the country got snow on Sunday, and we got RAIN! No fair! I was so excited, even popping my woolly socks on, ready, and then NOTHING! What a disappointment!

This week, I’ll be doing house things, as well as being in school, and the usual bits and bobs.

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Week two of this school home learning, and official lockdown three done… How was yours?

Right, got your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d begin with telling you about school, as always. It was a bit surreal, having just one child in for three days. He is a vulnerable child, and the extra attention was definitely good for him, but it means, for safeguarding sake, we need two adults at all times, for safeguarding and child protection reasons. We did think about having him incorporated into another yeargroup bubble, but it wouldn’t be fair, as each group are accessing the relevant learning to their age, so he would have been thrown in at the deep end, really. But we coped. So did he! Planning was done, many phone calls made to parents to make sure they were okay, and the odd device (government ones) handed out to families in dire need. We’ve had some online training too, and I know there is more of that to come. The great thing was that I managed to actually get everything done, that I needed to, so I could work from home on Friday, which was great. I woke a teensy bit later, but was no less busy, being logged in to interact with, and mark the children’s work, as well as being in touch with my team, and setting rotas for the following week.
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that we had to make a decision to try and lessen any contact with the in-laws, including the food delivery mum likes to provide. The numbers of the virus cases here in our area are amongst the highest in the country. Even though it really helps me, to have a little food made, so I can quickly rustle up dinner, a couple of nights a week, the risks are too high, and considering all four of them are classed as vulnerable, we can’t take chances. But Mum wasn’t too happy. It is hard to try and explain why we are making certain decisions… But we know it’s for the best.
• If we were having chai I’d add that our house situation is also something that they aren’t happy about. If we can’t see them, why are we still looking at houses? Tough to explain to them, but we need to carry on with our search or another part of our life is put on hold. We had another viewer of our property, and went to see two prospective homes as well… all done in Covid secure situations. I do hope I have positive news to share with you soon…
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I finally finished my Bridgerton series reading binge, too! All eight books, read, as well as a second epilogue volume, too! Fun and games! I shall miss Regency romance, as I dive into the next lot of books I have to read!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I am still journaling every day, too, and it is my little respite from the world.

• If we were having chai I’d have a really sad face as I share the next bit of news from our world. A few days ago, when I went to have a catch up with my birds ( we have two parrotlets, Heer and Ranjha – miniaature parrots) I found one of them, the boy, Ranjha, dead, on the floor of the aviary cage, and poor Heer, the girl, just standing by him. He was only four. And we have no idea why he died. It was a sad time… And amazing how Sonu Singh was affected too. He keeps going and sitting at the cage, almost as if he knows Heer is alone now, and needs company. She was very quiet the first couple of days, after her mate was taken away, but is back to her feisty self again, now. I got her a little mirror so she thinks she has company, as well. RIP our beautiful Ranjha…

This week, I’ll need to ring the doctor first, to apologise for totally missing an appointment that I had booked, last week, and trying to rearrange it! Then, there is school, but maybe more working from home this week, as I am not on Key Worker children duty. And house stuff… it’s all a bit same same, isn’t it?

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Well, what a week, that has been! I sit here, on Sunday night, writing this, and feel exhausted just thinking back… and when considering the future, too…

Right, got your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d begin by telling you how the first week of remote learning at school went. As most of you know, especially if you read my Spidey post yesterday, and the the other one on Thursday, it’s ben a tough week. You wouldn’t think that having no children in the classroom could be more exhausting that having a whole class full, would you? Well, let me tell you, it is. Aside from my management responsibilities, I was on the computer all day, either responding to and commenting on learning, researching other ways to engage our pupils remotely, planning for next week, with my team, or answering emails from parents and SLT, (Senior Leadership Team). On top of that, we were phoning each family, to make sure they were okay, and giving them support and advice on how to help their children. And making rotas, and trying to be prepared for situations of any eventuality. I was shattered. And I still am, to be honest. IT is very hard to switch off, too. I have, even though I said I wouldn’t, been on our online learning platform, to see if there is anything I need to mark, or handle, urgently. But it will make tomorrow a little easier. that’s what I tell myself, anyway!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that one way I have helped myself to relax is, is to continue my #journalingjanuary challenge, and I have really enjoyed it!

• If we were having chai I’d say that my reading goal for this month was to read all the Bridgerton series, after bingeing the series on Netflix on Boxing day, and out of eight books, I am now on number seven! All in January. #Bridgertonuary I may just finish them before January is up. Don’t fear, though, I have plenty of other books to read!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that life outside of school continues, and we had someone come aand view our house on Saturday. Apparently there may be another viewing, too. And we went to see another prospective forever home, but, alas, it wasn’t the one to make our hearts tingle. Onwards and upwards. It’ll come forward, soon enough…
• If we were having chai I’d have to give you some HUGE, wonderful news, though. Lil Man, after three years of trying has been selected for the North West Kent Cricket Squad! He is over the moon, as are we, but, obviously, until the lockdown ends, there can’t be any face to face training, so they will be having thrice weekly Zoom meetings, and a once a week squad training session, online too, focusing on fitness, so they are all in a good place, once things get back to some normality. Happy mummy, here!
• If we were having chai I’d leave you with a photo of my gorgeous Sonu Singh, who tried very hard to get my attention, and to stop me from reading… but it didn’t last long!

This week, I’ll be trying to juggle all of the above at school, along with a couple of my pupils in, as well, under the Key Worker or Vulnerable status. It will be interesting to see how things pan out. Obviously, I have to still plan, and respond to everything online, as well as be there for the children in front of me. Let’s see how this works. And we have another house to go and view, as well as getting feedback on the viewing of our property. Honestly, I can’t think much further than all that!

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!