Well hello, again Peeps! Have you got that drink ready? My chai is waiting!.. I have a doozy of a week to tell you about!
If we were sipping chai together I’d sigh and possibly be looking for something stronger than a chai! (That, I said last week, and it still stands this week too!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that the half-term holidays is a chance to recharge your batteries… yeah right!
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that the simple car service and MOT did not go to plan. I can’t bore you with all the details, but if you click here, you can read my anguish in full! Basically, it failed its MOT on something ridiculous and the garage could have sorted it out easily… and there were other issues, I have emailed the company I booked through to complain, and am still waiting for a response… Oh, and it was dang expensive!
If we were sipping chai together I’d say the above rigmarole really messed with our plans. As it was Lil Princess’s birthday in the week, there were umpteen things to do, and being without a car for two days really didn’t help. But it did give me a chance to do more #KonMarie- clearing! I got up into the attic and really had a good scour around, in the dusty place, found some gems and got rid of loads again! I think another 10 bags or so of old soft toys, puzzles, more toys and clothes, again!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that all was not lost though. I treated myself to the All-New Kindle Paperwhite and it is lovely! All my unread books are ready for me to dive into, which is just perfect! My old one was cleared and set up for Lil Princess, and she loves it!
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that on top of the car-aziness on the Monday and Tuesday, we had an impromptu visitor. Hubby Dearest informed me that his cousin, who was visiting from the USA, was popping over, and would possibly be staying over. I do get on with this cousin of ours. He is great fun. The kids love him too, but it was just a bit manic, with my hallway full of black bags full of stuff that no longer sparked joy and me with no car. ANd the worst thing? He was driving up in his parents’ car, and all the electrics failed as he was nearing us, so he had to abandon the car, and get a lift to us too. I don’t think this is a good week for cars in our family…
If we were sipping chai together I’d say that Wednesday and Lil Princess’s birthday finally arrived. She tells me it was her best birthday ever! We finally relented and got her a SIM card for her phone, and as she walks home alone some days, I feel it was a good call, but not before a lot of coaching on the appropriateness of how to use a phone, Social Media, sending (or not sending) photos to people, etc. She also got an Instax camera which she thinks is the bomb! Added to a catch up at an ice cream parlour with her friends, and CAKE, and lots of lovely presents, she really did have a wonderful day!
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know we even managed a mother-daughter nail appointment on Thursday, a girlie lunch date on Friday while Lil Man was meeting his friend, and on Saturday, we had our hair done. Truly a great bonding week for us both! We also watched Life of the Party, where a mother ends up going to college with her daughter, and despite huge embarrassment and misgivings on the daughter’s part initially, they both have a fantastic time in the end. (I still don’t think Lil Princess is convinced that it is a good idea for us in the future thought…!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you Lil Man discovered his Dhol drum again too, and I really wish he’d take it up again. He is so good… That is my boy playing below. What do you think?
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know we managed to help the in-laws get packed and ready for their extended trip back to the Motherland too. It’s always bittersweet when they go. I appreciate the freedom we suddenly have but miss all the support they give, and the reassurance I have that no matter what, the kids are always in a safe place.
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that it is back to school time, and though I am always up for the new challenges that every term brings, it’s always a little fraught while the in-laws are away, and I can never give my 100% as I am worried about my own children after school!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d mention that we find out where Lil Princess will be going to secondary school this week too, and I am as nervous as anything. She wants to go where her brother is, and I am hoping she gets her place there, but you honestly never really know… Roll on Friday, with some good news!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d add that I’ve also got another Tootie Frootie night out planned on Saturday, to a comedy night, and I am just a tad excited, especially as I personally know two of the fantastic comedians who are performing!
Have a wonderful week, Peeps! Let me know how your week went!
Well hello, again Peeps! Have you got that drink ready? My chai is waiting!
If we were sipping chai together I’d sigh and possibly be looking for something stronger than a chai!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that it’s been another week of fun at school. A four day week for the kids meant that we had to squeeze in plenty, to make sure all was covered, and another bout of short staffing meant Wednesday in particular, was rather trying, but, again, we coped, and I am still here!
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that Thursday, aka Valentines Day, was memorable for several reasons. I got feedback from my writer friend for my manuscript, and though there was plenty there that I could work with, there were some items that I found a little hard to stomach… But, I got over it! Then I was informed that my Brother in Law feeling great, so he wasn’t able to go to the function we were meant to be attending at the weekend, which in turn impacted upon our plans to go to my parents as a family. Hubby Dearest doesn’t get to go often and I was so happy he was coming with me, as were Pops and Mum, but because of this turn of events, he would now have to drive his parents, meaning they would head back home, leaving me and the kids to go to Birmingham. Simple.
If we were sipping chai together I’d say I lied. Nothing is that simple, is it? On the same Valentines Day, Lil Man came home with a terrible headache and fever. This meant playing nurse to a teen who was even more grumpy than usual, and not agreeable to anything, trying to keep calm about our plans falling to pieces, and cooking a dinner to celebrate what should have been a romantic night… At least I got flowers!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that Friday was a training day for me with the Brilliant Doctor of Happiness, Andy Cope, and it was another inspirational session (yes, I bought another book…) And there was more computer-based training in the afternoon for all staff, which I had already done, but needed to assist the older members of my team with. Then we were done !
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that Lil Man was still not well, so he’d been off school that day with his grandparents. I arrived home to find him on the sofa, not having eaten anything major all day, still burning up, and still suffering headaches. I was a little scared. He’d mentioned one of the lads hitting him on the back of the head a couple of days before (bants, they call it – I’m not sure if it was more being picked on…) And with his history of concussion, I was worried. At the course that day, another teacher had been talking about her son’s 14-year-old friend who got hit on the head, then lost the ability to walk for a while… We made the decision, with me getting rather emotional, that we wouldn’t go anywhere on the weekend, and if the headaches lasted until the next day, we would go to the hospital.
If we were sipping chai together I’d confess I was so upset on Friday night I cried. It really hit me this week, how far I am from my parents, and that they aren’t getting younger. Pops had an investigative procedure on Sunday, and it seems to have been okay, but still, I wanted to see him and had been hoping to, before ill health had struck the household again. As I rang Mum to tell her of the change in plans, she was so calm and kept saying “Don’t worry, God willing, we will see each other soon.” That made me feel even worse… what if God had other plans…? Pops and Mum are also addressing the issue of advancing years by seriously considering downsizing their property, meaning a whole load of #KonMarie type sorting out happening there, and them looking at flats and bungalows…
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know I had to see Hubby Dearest off on Saturday morning, then checked up on the patient, whose fever seemed to have subsided, thank goodness. We spent a calm day watching films and when the kids were settled doing their own things, I started in earnest, to go through the wardrobes of the house, and I did really good! 15 bags of clothes cleansed from our cupboards! I spent around 3 hours doing that, and then got read of 14 of them on Sunday morning! There is one bag which was filled with Indian outfits that mum-in-law is taking to India, but the rest… gone! I need to get three large bags out from the attic to sort them out too, then it’ll all be done, clothes wise. There is still so much more to do though!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you we had a chilled out Sunday too. After a leisurely lunch we popped into Bluewater Shopping Centre and had a wander around, picking up bits and pieces for Lil Princess’s birthday that is coming up, and my Father-in-Law’s too.
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d breathe a sigh of relief and say “Thank Goodness it’s Half Term!” A week off. But it’ll still be busy! Today I’ll be carless, as my car goes in for service (hopefully it won’t cost a bomb!) and we have dentist appointments. There will be hair and nail appointments, as well as get-togethers this week, to celebrate when that Lil Princess of mine turns 11 too… I’ll be wrapping presents soon!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that I am also excited as I have spoiled myself with an All-New Kindle Paperwhite which should arrive later today, and I can start transferring my TBR list onto there, then wiping my old one clean to give to Lil Princess, so she can start her own collection!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d add that I’ll need to be on hand to help the in-laws back as the next time I speak to you over a cuppa, they will have flown to the Motherland for 6 weeks!
Have a wonderful week Peeps! Let me know how your week went!
Well hello again Peeps! Have you got that drink ready? My chai is waiting!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that the illnesses seem to have subsided, but there are still coughs and sniffles abounding. We’ve had other staff off sick, and on Friday, there were only 10 children at my afternoon nursery session!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that work has been mega busy nevertheless, as, with staff shortages, it means a whole lot of juggling the human resource we have to fit the craziness of the timetable! But we coped. I’m writing this, aren’t I?
If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that I had an interesting conversation with my Headteacher… about my future… and hopefully soon enough, I can tell you what might be on the cards for teacher Mrs Bhathal, aka me!
If we were sipping chai together I’d excitedly tell you about a fantastic opportunity our school had, to have a Pantomime Dame, Mama-G, come and read a story to the children. Now, who wouldn’t want child-friendly drag queen to come and read to the kids? (S)he was brilliant too, reading a story, How To Be a Lion first, then reciting one of his/her own ones to the children, all about a boy who liked to twerk! It was hilarious!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that we had even more birthdays to celebrate. This time it was my mother-in-law and Hubby Dearest. He was her 21st birthday present, and 42 years later, they are still celebrating together!
If we were sipping chai together I’d moan about orthodontic visits. We’ve had to hare over to the surgery twice over the last two weeks, for appointments for Lil Man. He was fitted with a removable device in October, but it was so uncomfortable, he was unable to keep it in, and refused to wear it. It took him a couple of months but he decided he’d rather have the fixed ones instead. The appointments were a flop. They were still trying to convince him to stick with these ones, but they would need to make new ones at a cost of £70 to me… We have 6 weeks to help him make a decision as to which one he’s going to go for…
If we were sipping chai together I’d excitedly tell you that my brother and his little family are coming over in May and I am stoked as I finally get to see my baby Finndian nephew #2. He’ll be nearly 10 months by then, but finally! I can’t wait to give him the huge aunty cuddles that have been accumulating! And my #1 Finndian nephew too! Such a cutie, growing fast and chatting away in his Finnish/English hybrid mix! May can’t come fast enough!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that we have a crazy trip due this weekend, arriving in Leicester for 9,30am, which means waking at the crack of dawn, and leaving by 6.30am from here, but the saving grace is that we will stop off and spend the night with Pops and Mum!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that I am soooo looking forward to Friday. The kids finish school on Thursday and we have a staff training day which is being held by Andy Cope, of The Art Of Being Brilliant fame. We had a workshop by him in September, and it was, honestly, life-changing for me. If you want to read a little more about it, I posted here.
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d add that half term break also starts for us on that Friday -Yippeee!! Can’t come soon enough!!
Have a wonderful week Peeps! Let me know how your week went!
Have you got that drink ready? My chai is waiting!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that I was ill… oh so ill… this week. I ended up being off work for three days, Monday to Wednesday, and quite possibly could have been off the whole week, but the guilt factor of not being at school drove me back… It started with the vomiting and upset stomach bug, causing me to have really bad lower back pain. I swear, I had a hot water bottle attached to my person for almost 72 hours! Then a cough developed, which is still with me… It was definitely not nice being off…
If we were sipping chai together I’d whisper that the only plus side to being off sick was that I had many, many hours to read! I actually read 5 books over those few days, and was able to write a big long book review post about them, and the others I had read in January! Did you read it? If not, click HERE!
If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that the children were excitedly hoping for a falling of the white stuff. And well, we got a little bit. On Tuesday there was a sprinkling that turned to ice by the morning. On Friday, all waited with bated breath… would we get that snow day? But no. It seemed a large part of the UK was snowed under/in but not us here. The kids were most disappointed, and even more so when the white stuff did fall… at night on Friday, so there would be no snow day chances as it was the weekend, then, when we woke, it had all but melted! Gutted!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that I still haven’t received my feedback from my friend regarding the manuscript, but he’s been busy with a family wedding and his son’s 16th… I think I can forgive him. I have also sent a copy to a really wonderful comedienne friend of mine to get her opinion too. Fingers crossed!
If we were sipping chai together I’d also mention that, whilst on my sick bed, I experimented a lot with Calibre and managed to make my manuscript into a mobi file, so it can be read easily on an e-reader. It’s not ready to be published, but being able to go through it on my Kindle added a different perspective to my editing… and it was a special moment to open my ‘book’ on my Kindle for the first time!
If we were sipping chai together I’d excitedly tell you that my lovely lady friends, the Tootie Frooties, have arranged another outing. Unfortunately, not all can come, but the ones of us who can, are going to a comedy night! It’s not for a month or so. but I’ll be sure to keep you all informed!
If we were sipping chai together I’d also mention that as February is here, we are also full on into birthday month in my in-laws family. Sunday we celebrated my Brother-in-law’s birthday, and we have my Hubby Dearest and Mother-in-law’s to come on Friday, then Lil Princess and my Father-in-law’s a couple of weeks after! It’s gonna be an expensive month… and don’t forget Valentine’s Day!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d moan that despite getting a sickness bug, I didn’t lose any weight… so I am still hoping to sort that particular mess out!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that Lil Man’s braces saga is starting up again. He has decided he wants fixed braces now, so I have a few crazy rushes from school to get him to appointments over the next couple of weeks. Mummy’s Taxi? Yup, that’s me!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that I can’t wait for half term… two weeks to go!
Have a wonderful week Peeps! Let me know how your week went!
Well hello, there Peeps! Time to sit down and kick back with a drink and little sweet treat for the last time in January! (Can you believe it?)
If we were sipping chai together I’d ask you if you managed to see the Full Blood Wolf Moon on Monday? I still don’t know why it was a wolf moon, though I did try to catch it. But who’s gonna stay up until 2am and wait until 5.30am on a work night? Not this teacher… Still managed to get a lovely shot of the moon at 7.30am the next morning, as it was still bright… followed by an amazing sunrise shot the day after. Makes me wish I really had a better camera, but my phone doesn’t do too bad, does it? Thank you Huawei P20 Pro!
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that the week went relatively smoothly, as far as it can in the life of a teacher/wife/mother/daughter… You’ve read about my average weeks. You know the score. Still, things are never just simple. On Thursday I awoke to find out that my manager was off sick. She is never ill so that always worries me. But I have learned that if your body is telling you to rest, you have to, and I was glad she listened to hers. Knowing a supply would be in to cover our Reception class (my manager and I share this class, but on Thursday, I teach in Nursery so couldn’t cover), I arrived a little earlier to help set the class up and prep the supply teacher. On arrival at school, it became apparent that she wasn’t the only one off sick or out for the day. The Head was at a meeting, the deputy head was sick (another one who is NEVER ill!), and of course one of our class Teaching Assistants was sick too, along with others. The bugs had hit the adults hard! So, it was a slightly fraught day, with other events that helped to keep us all on our toes… But we survived!
If we were sipping chai together I’d then go on to say that crazy evening of mine which I mentioned last week was to happen on the same day! So, armed with one child, we rushed home, and she got herself preened for her party, then I deposited her at Bluewater for her party. I rushed back (as much as you can rush in rush hour traffic) to my in-law’s house to pick up Lil Man who had his cricket training, and dropped him off. Then joined the traffic again so I could pick Lil Princess up. I should have taken the time I had free to browse the shops while I waited, but there were only 20 minutes so I leisurely walked through a small section of Waterstone’s book shop, without buying (so hard!) and headed over to pick her up. It was fascinating to see the group of 10-11-year-olds all sat with phones, or running off to different parts of the restaurant to take selfies… what has this world come to? Last year they were just excited to go to a trampoline park for a party… Then we jumped in the car, and raced back to pick up Lil Man from his training! Hubby Dearest was stuck as he travels back from work during these times so would have found it hard to actually assist with any of the taxi services… I needed a drink that night, but settled for an early night!
If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that I haven’t heard anything back feedback wise from my friend yet, other than he thinks my villainous character is rather naughty! I finished his book and emailed off my feedback. I do find it hard to read and be critical of a person’s work, but after having feedback from trusted friends already on my own manuscript, I can see how important it is to get that honest feedback. I hope he was happy with what I had to say… Now I just wait with bated breath for his opinion of mine…
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that though I may not have been as creative this past week, Lil Princess has been really busy! She is loving her watercolour paints and aside from her daily Mickey Mouse drawing, she is stretching herself with painting… check out these fantastic pieces!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you she also decided that my face would be a great canvas for her creativity! Three years ago I allowed her to be let loose on my makeup drawer and face. And now, thanks to watching umpteen more makeup videos on YouTube, she felt the need to try again… here is the result. The first pic is three years ago, the second from this weekend. What do you think?
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that I didn’t opt for a cheeky Costa this week, as I didn’t have the chance, but an impromptu trip to the local swimming baths meant I enjoyed the delights of a wishy-washy cuppa and bickie, alongside my Kindle, as we watched them swim! Why swim in this awful cold? I can hear you ask. Well… On Saturday we awoke to no proper internet. It was a tragedy – for the kids anyway. No internet meant the on-demand function wasn’t working on the Sky box or Netflix. It meant that the Xbox couldn’t connect so Fortnite couldn’t be accessed. It meant the PC was unable to allow a weekly fix of Roblox or YouTube… See? Tragedy! What would we do? I suggested reading, painting, playing outside but none of those suggestions were agreeable, then suddenly swimming came into the equation. At least we ended up with happy kids. And the internet? Well, it came back on once we were back. It seems Vodafone were having issues, and we get some sort of recompense for this disaster that struck our household! In fact Hubby is on the phone as I type, hammering out a deal with them… He does love this sort of thing
My Leisure Centre cuppa
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you I still need to sort out this eating problem of mine! Where is the stop switch on my mouth – eating function?
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d mention that I may start up with some of the creative writing challenges soon too. I am feeling rusty…
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that I hope to really get stuck in with the ‘KonMarie’ tidying too over the next week. I’m trying little sections at a time, but it is a big job on the whole!
But I Smile Anyway... 