But I Smile Anyway…

It’s that time of week again! Chai time! 

• If we were sipping chai together  I’d say that, for the most part, we are a healthier bunch! So, the sniffles are still there, and my foot still hurts, but we’re cool!
• If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that moderation, my first experience, was actually really interesting. It is fascinating to see how everyone in our Academy, at the different schools, teaches and assesses the kids. We had our discussions, and I look forward to the next time, when we look at progress made, and what happens next… This is a part of teaching I haven’t experienced yet!
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d say that I have found a way to make Lil Man remember things he needs to sort out at school, off his own back… Threaten to not let him go to a party! It’s been two weeks that I have been asking him to go an pick up some books from the Spanish teacher for his revision and print out a paper he needs for a science assessment… Surprisingly (not) he forgot EVERY DAY, then when I mentioned ‘no party’ on Wednesday evening, he suddenly managed to come home the next day with everything done!
• If we were sipping chai together, you’d remember that cricket fever is still running high in our household, and Lil Man had his second trial for the District team…
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d say that I am getting rather scared of how fast our children are growing up… He has teenage parties to attend, and has a voice that is squeaking, and trying to break, and she, at ten, is now reaching hormonal highs, if you know what I mean… My babies are no longer babies! Stop the clock, I wanna get off!!
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you about the wonderful evening I had with my Tootie Frootie mums, complete with Secret Santa gifts! We met for drinks, before heading off to Rico Sabor, a great paella restaurant, serving a Christmas menu with a Spanish twist. There was music, great food, wonderful company and I discovered a love for Virgin Mojitos! We ate, danced and took umpteed silly photos too!

• If we were sipping chai together  I’d tell you that I was exhausted, after a late night (2am and I don’t see much of each other) and I slept in untoll 10am!
• If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that the rest of the weekend was a lovely festive family snuggle time, complete with getting the Christmas tree up!

• If we were sipping chai together  I’d tell you that Sonu Singh is expecially happy. He climbed into boxes as the tree was taken out, he tasted the branches several times and knows he has his favourite spot set for the next few weeks… behind the tree. He even got mega excited at his own advent calendar!

• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that I am now nervous about my first formal observation of the year. It is always tough being watched. I know I am a good teacher. I know what I believe in. But you always know that the day something is going to go to pot will be the day someone is watching you!
• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you we have a team building event at one of the Panic Rooms here. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I mean they are puzzle rooms you enter as a team, and you have an hour to solve a mystery. We did this once before so it’s exciting to be going again!
• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that I am excited for the Jingle Bell Ball! Can’t wait to tell you about it next week! Yes, there are a few acts I don’t have a clue about, but I hope to be able to recognise the songs, and embarrass my daughter with some silly dancing!

Have a great week all! Let me know how your’s has been!

Well hello there! It’s Monday morning so it must mean time for our Chai And A Chat catch up!

• If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you that Monday and Tuesday were total washouts weatherwise, and other! It was windy and rainy, and even haily at some times! I was glad to be inside in the warmth, to be honest…
• If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that the reason for my being at home was because Lil Princess was still not well, neither was I and Lil Man had the sore throat from h*ll accompanied by some suitable hot temperatures… it ended up being tonsillitis, and he was prescribed antibiotics.
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you that the braces have not been successful so far, because of his sore throat. I couldn’t expect him to put up with the pain of those things whilst he could barely eat or talk! Hopefully, we can try again next week.
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d say, rather sadly, that I wasn’t able to attend the moderation, part one, because of the sickness etc. But never fear, there is part two next week, which I should be able to attend!
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d let you know that Lil Man’s first district cricket trial was very promising. I now think I know what it means to bowl a left Chinaman, but I still can’t be sure…
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d also sadly tell you we heard of the passing of two lovely family members this week… Death is never a good thing, but when it ends someone’s suffering, I guess you see there is a silver lining…
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d happily say that we managed to get out and have our anniversary dinner out too, though that was not without its own drama, trying to instil the importance of family time, and NO PHONES at the table! Yes, Lil Princess, I’m talking about you!
• If we were sipping chai together, I would also be extremely pleased to tell you I have started the edit and read through finally! Four chapters done so far!!! I may just finish this stage soon!

• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that I am really looking forward to my meal out with my Tootie Frootie mummies on Friday!
• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you Lil Man has another trial for his District Cricket possible selection…
• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies  I’d say I hope these colds that are threatening to hit decide to disappear!

Have a great week everyone! Let me know what you’ve been up to! 

Well hello there!

Another week, another hot drink and time for a catch-up!

• If we were sipping a chai together, I’d be requesting another day added to the weekend – It was another busy week last week!
• If we were sipping a chai together, I’d admit that I finally, after a few years of ‘proper’ teaching, was a part of a real parents evening! As a nursery teacher our parent consultations are a little different, but this year, as a bona fide Reception teacher for two days a week, I found myself with the job of manning one of the two evenings we invite parents to come and discuss their children’s progress. I’m used to hearing about the nightmare meetings, things going over time, late nights… I was dreading it. It doesn’t help that I am prone to chatting too much. This was going to be interesting! But you know what? It went great! The parents were amiable and willing to listen to advice, there was laughter, and only the one no show! Yes. I’d definitely do it again!
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d let you know I had to attend the same kind of meetings for both my children. Lil Princess is in the final year of primary school, and with the SAT’s bearing down in May, I was intrigued to hear how she was doing, and her teachers sang her praises. She is performing exactly as she should be, and her teachers think that with a little push, she could even be in that above average group! Well done Lil Princess! Lil Man’s one was just as key as, in year 9, the children in his school embark upon their subject choices for GCSEs. Academia is not his thing, but everyone was positive about his efforts, and there was talk of him pushing himself a little further so he could move up to next level groups. Couldn’t be prouder of them!
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you we celebrated Diwali or  Bandi Chhorr Diwas on Wednesday, both at school and at home. The children at school had a whole day of Diwali-themed activities, including samosa tasting and dancing to Bollywood and Bhangra music! We made divas and firework pictures, the halls were a sea of glitter! Got home and after paying our respects at the Gurdwara, we ate loads, and finished off watching the fireworks with our neighbours!

• If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you Thursday and Friday whizzed by in a blur of afterschool clubs, cleaning and shopping. I was glad of the weekend!
• If we were sipping that chai together, I’d tell you that Pink Gin is lethal. Full Stop!
• If we were sipping that chai together, I’d say a little girlie time is always good, having spent an afternoon with my own Lil Princess, shopping and popping to Starbucks, and talking about what to wear when we attend the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball!
• If we were sipping that chai together, I’d tell you how we visited the memorial garden in our town of Gravesend to see the wreathes that had been lain in honour of all our fallen heroes, including a handmade one from the children in Lil Princess’s class. #lestweforget

And for the week ahead?

• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies, I’d let you know that on Friday, I shall be dressing up as a large yellow bear. No, not Winnie the Pooh, but Pudsey! It is BBCs Children In Need so we have a wear spots day on Friday to raise money for charity, and I am going to be really comfortable in school in my Pudsey onsie! (quite possibly, photos to follow!)
• If we were sipping that chai together, I’d say I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for Lil Man who has been selected to try out for the District Cricket team. There are three try out sessions, starting next week. He’s worked so hard, I hope he gets on the squad!
• As I mop up the crumbs I’d mention that I’m so grateful to have you to blurt my news out too!

So, what’s your week been like, and what are you looking forward to?

If you want, drop a line in the comments, or even link back to this with a Chai and a Chat post of your own!

Well hello there!

Another week, another hot drink and time for a catch-up!

• If we were sipping a chai together, I’d have slumped on the chair, with a grin and said: ” I survived the first week back!”
• If we were sipping a chai together, I’d tell you we got the kids enrolled in a maths tutoring session. I have never been one for tutoring, especially if it means teaching to pass a test such as the 11+ selective test we have here in the UK. If a kid needs heavy tutoring to just get in a school like that, they will need a lot of support for the rest of the time they study there. However, if a child is struggling, then a little extra help is not a bad thing. I am a teacher, yes, but I cannot teach my kids. We fall out. They don’t listen. I get frustrated. We argue. Nothing is achieved. Lil Man requested some extra help, so after a little research, we found a tutor and programme to start him on. Hubby Dearest thought it would be good to get Lil Princess involved too, as maths has never been the strong point of either the kids or me. She wasn’t impressed. He was pretty cool with it. At the end of the session, she bounded out. “It was great, Mummy! Can I go again?” He was still cool, a more understated reaction, but I think it will do them both the world of good.
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d let you know that the Halloween party was a success. The Zombie Cheerleader was more interested in proper makeup, rather than the deathly pallor usually associated with Zombies, and there were a few meltdowns, as I applied white to her face, and a dark shadow under her eyes… However, my eyeliner flicks were apparently ” on fleek!” The costume was such a success she decided to wear it at the school disco the next day too!
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d tell you the school disco was such fun! There are two; one for the younger children, whom I teach, and the one for older kids, more Lil Princess’s age. At the first, I am able to join in with full gusto, dancing around, generally fooling around like a loon. The kids love it. The second one, I am relegated to the snack room. Apparently, I am too embarrassing for her! And I hit over 16,000 steps that day too!
• If we were sipping chai together, I’d mention the book I just finished, Fresh Off The Boat by Eddie Huang. Have you seen the series on TV? It’s a cute, but funny take on life as a young Chinese kid who is trying to work out where he fits in to life in the USA, having been born there, but to FOB (fresh off the boat – immigrant) parents, who refuse to let go of any of their cultural thoughts and customs. I started it with such excitement, and I had even got the sequel. But it was a hard read. Not because there were tough issues covered, but more the way it was written. Eddie thought/thinks of himself as a bit of a ‘homie’, so there is so much affected ‘black American’ lingo in the book, and rather a lot of effing and blinding. The story itself was interesting, how he got himself into so many scrapes over the years, trying not to blend in, and be the typecast Asian kid. I think he speaks for a certain generation of kids, but not all. I will read the sequel, partly because I bought it, and also because I do want to know what happened next… but I have to say, I much prefer the light-hearted TV serial!

• If we were sipping that chai together, I’d let you know that I am in awe of the NaNo writers out there, trying their damndest to be NaNo winners this year, as I sit, looking at my WIP, and can’t quite get started!
• If we were sipping that chai together, I’d let you know we had a funeral in the family this week too. I was unable to attend, as I had school, and someone needed to be home for the kids too, but it was Hubby Dearests aunt who had passed away. A lovely lady who we had only seen a few weeks previously, but she was unwell. Wishing her soul is at peace now and not in any more pain, and thoughts going out to our uncle and his four daughters. It doesn’t matter how old you are, losing your mother will always be heartwrenching… 🙏

And for the week ahead?

• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies, I’d tell you that today is the day of my first official Parents Evening! Yes, I have held parent consultations for Nursery in the last few years, but they are more informal meetings with parents. This year I am to be official Reception teacher for one of the two evenings this year, and we are all usually sat in the school hall, where parents will have made appointments, and I will have to curb my tendency to get really into conversations, discussing how the children have settled into school, and where they are, progress-wise! I’m kinda nervous, but excited too!
• If we were sipping that chai together, I’d say I also have my own kid’s parents meetings too. And Lil Man’s is his first one regarding his journey into GCSE-land! Kinda nervous about that one, as he has to pass these tests, but at least he has 3 years to study for them!
• As I mop up the crumbs I’d mention that our wedding anniversary is creeping upon us, as well as Christmas, and I have no clue what to get for presents! The kids are sorted – Lil Man already has his, an XBox, and Lil Princess does too – we are going to see Little Mix next year. The tickets are her present. But the in-laws? And Hubby Dearest? He is so hard to buy for!!!!

So, what’s your week been like, and what are you looking forward to?

If you want, drop a line in the comments, or even link back to this with a Chai and a Chat post of your own!