09 Oct 2021 18 Comments
in #ColleensWeeklyPoetryChallenge Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Colleen Chesebro, Tanka Tuesday
It has been a LONG while, since I wrote any poetry, but, I felt the need, today, and what better time to do do it, than when my sis, Colleen, has her Poet’s Choice challenge?
Words, all jumbled up Swimming around in my mind Stories to be told The time has come, to allow Tales to come to life, again Ritu 2021
09 Oct 2021 18 Comments
in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Lid, Linda G Hill, School, SEN, Socs
Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week:
YouYour Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “lid.” Use it in the literal sense, use it in the metaphorical sense, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
Shhhhh! Can you keep a secret? Can you keep a lid on it? Lips shut? Schtum?
Well, my little secret is that I am writing this whilst a little tiddly, to say the least! I haven’t had a drink for quite a while, and tonight, I have consumed a whole bottle of Gin Fizz… Oops! A WHOLE BOTTLE!
Now, it’s not often that I indulge.
To be honest, we teachers may say we are going to drown our troubles on a Friday night, but I know that I, for one, am so shattered, that a drink would just send me to sleep, early, and I can do that without the liquid assistance!
However, tonight, I felt the need to. It’s been five weeks since we went back to school. I have a wonderful, but very challenging, class. Three children who require one to one support, but who don’t have it, yet, because of resource. Another who has medical needs on top of other needs, too. All of them are loveable children, who need specialist provision, but the world around us thinks they need to be part of an inclusive education.
I’m all for inclusion, but sometimes, it isn’t the right thing for those kids.
I find my inputs interrupted, every time, as one of my lovelies walks through the rest of the class, like a bulldozer – no spatial awareness – to come and sit on my lap, or to take my hand and lead me to whatever they want, at the time. Or, in groupwork, my group is left unattended, for a few moments, as I deal with a meltdown, or an issue with one of the children who have these needs.
You see, these kids find it hard to conform to what the rest of the class are doing. They dance to the beat of their own drums, right now. They are still exploring the environment, and can’t follow instructions. Yet, in their own way, they show their own brilliance.
It’s not easy, but the rest of the class have been angels.
They are aware, already, at the age of four, or five, that there are children who have very specific needs, and there is barely any fussing. They just let those children get on with whatever they do, whilst waiting for Mrs B to get back to them.
These kids are superstars, seriously.
All of them.
With needs or not.
All children are blessings.
Did you know that the Cockney rhyming slang for kids is saucepan lids? See, my ramble did have something to do with the prompt, I promise!
And now, I shall sign off, as the words are starting to swim in front of my eyes!
02 Oct 2021 56 Comments
in #SoCS Tags: Aspire, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Expire, Inspire, Linda G Hill, Socs
Linda’s (or, actually, Dan’s) prompt for SoCS this week:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “inspire/aspire/expire.” Use them in any form you like. Use one, use two or use them all if you want. If you use two, you get bonus points! If you use all three, Cheryl will put your next drink on David’s tab. Enjoy!
I aspire to inspire as many of my pupils and readers as I can, before I expire!
There.
Got em all out in one sentence! Surely there should be another bonus point for that…? Or, maybe a visit to Dan, Cheryl and David!
Anywho, about that sentence. It’s filled with truth.
Ever since I can remember, that has been my hope and dream. To teach, to inspire children to love learning, and books. To know that words hold may meanings. And, the same hope is there with the words I write, on here, my blog, as well as in my poems and stories.
Yesterday, I received a notification that my blog had hit 500K views. That is Half A Million clicks to my little baby blog.
I was gobsmacked, humbled, but a tad excited.
It did make me wonder, though. What makes people come to visit my blog… or what makes readers keep coming back?
I am so grateful to everyone who does come on over to my little space, and I do hope that a little smile is spread whenever you read.
I hope Spidey inspires someone, along the way. I hope my book reviews point you towards a next read. I hope my Chai and Chats are a little glimmer of the real life of a mum, wife, teacher and aspiring author… I hope your interest in my blog never expires.
I hope you have fun. 😃
11 Sep 2021 22 Comments
in #SoCS Tags: #SoCS, 9/11, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Stream Of Consciousness Saturday, Where
Today’s SoCS prompt from Linda:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “where.” Use it any way you’d like!
It’s inevitable, today, isn’t it, to think back to that day, twenty years ago?
A day that is burned into the memory of all those who were around at that time.
I just sepnt time telling my thirteen year old daughter about it all.
Where was I?
I remember being unwell, and had called in sick at the bank I was working in, at the time.
Laying in bed feeling sorry for myself, I was dozing, when Pops rushed into my room. “Quick! Switch on your TV to the news!”
As the screen turned on, all I saw were repeated video clips of an airplane flying into a building. Reading the scrolling headlines at the bottom, I came to know that something had happened in New York. One of the Twin Towers had been hit.
Was it an accident? Or…?
As the speculation spread, we were watching, live, as the second plane struck.
Horrified, we didn’t konw what to think.
Then I remembered that one of my friends had been visiting New York, and was planning on going up to the roof of the Towers. In fact she had been the day bofore and mere hours before the attack, had posted photos of herself and her friends, up there.
Was she okay? Was everyone okay?
The news continued to get worse, with the Pentagon attack, and a fourth plane crashed, after brave passengers fought the hijackers. That one was believed to have been headed for the White House.
Panic spread across the world, not just the US.
The began to mention Canary Wharf in the UK, in London. That’s where Hubby Dearest worked at that time. We were counting down the two months until our wedding, at that time.
I was frantically calling him, to make sure he was okay.
There were reports of suicide bombers in the area, but they were unfounded.
Thankfully, he was safe.
Unlike so many others in the US. Almost three thousand lives lost.
Terrorism is a horrible thing. It achieves nothing for the masses, just breeds fear and hatred, instead.
I wish we could say that the world learned from this awful incident, but sadly, it hasn’t.
We are still surrounded by situations, across the world, where terrorists reign, in some areas. People are living in fear of their lives.
Sitting here, remembering everything, my stomach still churns at the memories…
That’s where I was, twenty years ago…
21 Aug 2021 29 Comments
in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, cricket, Ode, Socs, Stream Of Consciousness Saturday
Linda’s treat for us this week for #SoCS:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ode.” Find a one- or two-syllable word that rhymes with “ode,” or use the word “ode.” Have fun!
Rather than faff around, I shall just write an ode, shall I?
On a topic rather dear to my heart, at this precise moment!
An Ode To Cricket
There once was a time when cricket
Was something that bored me to tears
Who'd have guessed it would become more appealling
As I advanced in my years?
In my teens, a game lasting a day
Seemed an incredible waste of my time
I'd rather be out shopping, or reading
More important things to do in my prime
Yet now, you will find me transfixed
Either at the ground or on screen
As I cheer on my bro from the sofa
Or the sideline, as I watch my teen
Each bowl balled, keeps me transfixed
Each run scored makes me cheer
When they get a wicket I'm grinning
If they get out, I sneer
I'm learning the lingo real fast
5 for 8 off 5 *
Tapping scores into my WhatsApp
To keep family updated, live
Oh, Cricket, you've wormed your way in
Look, how far you've come
I'm not a cricket widow
I'm quite proudly, a cricket sister and mum!
Ritu 2021
And there you have it, a little (SoCS) ode to cricket.
Today, I wasn’t watching the match from the sidelines, but my brother is playing for Finland, in a proper international T20I tournament, and I watched both matches live on YouTube, and they won both against Sweden, so, Yay! to the Finnish Bears! Another two matches tomorrow.
And Lil Man? Well, he was playing for the Mens 4th team, and with the win they secured today, their team has topped their league for this season!
I’m an extremely proud Sister and Mother, right now!
The season is still not over, yet, for my son. Maybe three weeks to go, but, however tiring it has been for me to ferry him to and fro, over the last few months, it’s worth it, to see him progress.
*5 for 8 off 5 – that was Lil Man’s best bowling score this season, and, unless anything changes over the next couple of weeks, it has him at the top of the bowling performances leader board across the club! It means he bowled five overs, and got five wickets, giving away only eight runs. Pretty good for my little Lefty Spin bowler!
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