“There’s nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”
~Nelson Mandela~
Well, hello, my dear, dear Peeps! And, thank you, Spidey, for coming back with a great quote to start this post. 🙂
Thank you to those who have kept in touch over the last year despite my not being so active on here. I have visited blogs here and there and posted book reviews and book tour posts, but other than that, I have been a bit caught up in a whole load of other things, personally.
So, what’s been happening in the life of Ritu?
I left you guys dangling a bit when I went ‘on a break’ at the end of September, 2023, after finding myself at the point of breakdown.
Lil Princess suffered a lot these last few years, with still to be diagnosed ASD, as well as some severe Mental Health problems. And I was her chosen person, so I had to ride the increasingly dark lows as well as the manic highs with her. It took a toll on me and my own health, as she wouldn’t communicate with anyone apart from me and one of her teachers at school.
I ended up off work for six weeks before Christmas to support her lowest period.
I won’t go into the details, but suffice to say, I would never wish the situations we encountered upon any family. It was extremely tough. The hardest time of my life, to be honest.
It was even tougher as she wasn’t up to sharing anything with the rest of the family which impacted her dad, Hubby Dearest, as well as her brother, Lil (Big) Man. Feelings of helplessness were big…
But, over the last nine months, things have changed, and with a lot of support she is in a much better place.
Such a good place that, despite missing around 30% of her learning time and education, she still managed to pass ALL her GCSEs, as well as gaining an A in her Literature and B in English Language! She’s off to Sixth form this week, to start A-Levels – a day I wasn’t sure we would see, at some times.
Lil (Big) Man has completed his first year of his apprenticeship, and apparently, he is one of the top-performing apprentices in the company, which is a global firm. Fantastic news!
I’m still driving him around though, so we are working on getting that license, when I will be able to hang up mum taxi duties, for him at least. Keep your fingers crossed!
I’ve not been able to spend as much time with Pops and Mum as I would have hoped, because of being needed to ferry Lil(Big) Man around, but they spent time with us at Christmas, and a few days in. the summer too. Pops was in hospital, too, at one point, and it has just highlighted how fragile life is. He’s 78 now, and Mum is shouldering a lot. I am always there, as well as my Brother, emotionally, but not being able to be there physically, all the time, is a different drain on our hearts.
Sonu Singh is now ten years old, and still as wonderfully grumpy as always. I do love him!
Then, in April, Lil Princess got a new kitten, Minnie Kaur. She is a little minx! But, so, so cute. These two are still working on being friends, but they are getting there! Here’s Minnie!
School was tough in its own way, as we had our first full academic year as a part of a new academy. So many changes, and expectations that weighed heavily upon a much-reduced staff, with inconsistent leadership as our head left, and we had an interim head, (our original deputy) who moved on to pastures new. I had several members of my team who had long periods of time off, due to health, which impacted everyone, including the children. An unintentional injury sustained after trying to look after an SEN child has left me with a scarred arm and a dodgy knee. All this, plus I had that six-week stint where I was out, too, meant it was pretty rocky, most of the year.
However our new head joined in April, and things are beginning to ease into a more consistent routine.
I’ve spent the last couple of years spilt between two classrooms, as the EYFS Phase Leader. This academic year, though my management role is the same, I am now going to be in my own classroom for the whole week (bar my management time). I have a class name, too, Hedgehog Class, and have spent a lot of time in school over the holidays, shifting things around, cutting and laminating, and creating a new environment for my first batch of Hoglets!
Here’s hoping this academic year is more stable with a solid leadership team, and, fingers crossed, my own personal circumstances more settled, too.
Writing-wise, I have news, too.
It took a long while for my writing mojo to come back after a year or so of not being able to focus, given what was happening at home. However, in April, with everything on a relatively even keel, I wrote LOADS! And then, during the May half term, I wrote THE END on book three in the Rishtay Series, In God’s Hands.
The story has a heavy dose of infertility, which was quite emotional to write about, given my own fertility issues when trying to start a family, but I hope my own emotions helped to mold the story.
It’s with the publisher and editor now, and we are scheduled for a November 5th release.
Feedback from my three alpha-readers has been positive, and that is without edits. I’ve made a grown man cry several times, and been told it was real women’s fiction, gripping, and they felt compelled to read more.
So far, from my dear publisher, I got this: “Absolutely loving book three, think it’s your best yet. So proud of you!”
Lil Princess wants me to add a book to the series, highlighting Mental Health, too, so maybe that will be an addition in the future. I’m too close to that situation right now to write it.
Right now, I am planning another project, which, when underway I will reveal more about.
Healthwise – perimenopause is playing merry havoc with my system, right now. We thought we had the HRT prescription down, but things are not quite right so I am waiting for another set of appointments. The probable Fybromyalgia is still there, raising its head once in a while, and now there is a chance I may be lactose intolerant! So, I’m doing a bit of a lifestyle overhaul, but nothing too over ambitious. No dairy, and short daily Pilates session, along with a couple of supplements to help with hormone balance and gut health. Wish me luck!
As I did mention in a review post last month, I went on holiday for the first time in 20 years. Like a proper break, to Gran Canaria with Lil Princess. It was much needed, and we had an amazing time.
I also attended my first Romantic Novelist’s Association conference. A whole weekend, and two nights away, with no-one but romance writers, and plenty to learn. I met people I have conversed with, virtually, for years, and that was one of the most magical things about the conference. It was in the hallowed Royal Holloway University, and I think I 100% want to sign up for the next one in 2026!
Don’t worry, I shan’t be disappearing any time soon. I think my priorities have changed, and as that happens, so do we, as individuals, evolve.
I’ll still be reading, reviewing and blog touring, as well as popping in more regularly with updates and, who knows, I might have the energy for a few writing prompts, but no promises!
Also, I turn 49 in a couple of days, so this is the last year of my 40s… Eeeek!
“Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.”
Polar Express
I just wanted to take a moment of your time, before the craziness of Christmas Day hits, to wish those of you celebrating a wonderful Christmas, filled with family, friends, food and festivity!
We are in week four of school now, for the academic year, and things are already a tad fraught.
Expectations from up above, higher than our head, and pressures with shortages of staff around the school, along with managing different levels of need in our new classes, means that I am so busy constantly.
I don’t have the same headspace I used to. Things are fogging over. (Thanks Perimenopause, for your input!) And I still have home life to think of, too!
But I will keep swimming like Dory says, because that is the only way I can get through…
So, Peeps, what do you do when you feel overwhelmed? 😊
“Surround yourself with like-minded people. Success is a group activity.”
~Angel Alzona~
I love this quote, Spidey. Thank you!
Quite possibly, as you read this, I will be in the middle of the second session of a wonderful virtual retreat for writers and authors, new and old, run by an amazing woman, Anita Faulkner.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that I have had a tough time, recently, and can’t get my writing mojo to spark any joy, whatsoever.
Anita’s offer of this retreat came at a time when I knew that I needed to do something to help myself. I am also aware that there are some battles that you can handle alone, but many are won with the support of others.
Yesterday was a beautiful session about finding your why, and your goal. We came away with little tasks to do over the next week, and I am already on it! Today will focus a little more on what we wish to achieve in the next six weeks. Then Anita will hold catch-up sessions for us to attend, during those six weeks, where we can share our successes or the walls we are finding hard to scale.
Alongside the retreat, she has set up a Facebook group for all members of the retreat to be able to communicate with one another.
It has already been such a wonderful place to be, and the support everyone gives each other is heart-warming. Some writers have not taken their first steps towards publication. Some are finishing WIPS/first drafts. Some need encouragement to get writing. (ME!) Some are looking at the next steps towards achieving dreams of publication.
We’ve shared stories, and our struggles, knowing it is a safe space. We’re supporting one another, and it has been a real boost.
I finished yesterday’s session filled with hope that I can do this. I have a feeling I will be finishing today’s with even more gusto to get going!
And, I have a vision board to complete!
So, Peeps, have you ever done some sort of in-person or virtual retreat to mix with others in the same boat as you or those with similar goals? 😊
“The heat index is somewhere between OMG! and WTF!”
~Anon~
You’re telling me, Spidey.
Wow. It is hot.
We thought we might get a very warm August, which I can cope with, as we are on summer holiday. You choose what you do and how you dress.
Instead, we had much cooler temperatures and even many days of rain.
Then, the week we start back to school, the Gods decide it would be a great time to turn the temperature dial.
Fabulous.
The week we had home visits, we spent walking the streets, from house to house, in very warm temperatures, and as I sit here typing this, they are still pretty high.
I know they don’t hit the heights of some countries, but the heat in the UK is of another level.
Humid, uncomfortable heat.
We aren’t really prepared for any extreme weather conditions here. A few flakes of snow, and the country comes to a standstill… And the buildings aren’t equipped as standard with A/C so we suffer in the heat, too, in houses with insulation to keep us warm in the winter…
Lil Man is playing in a cricket tournament today, too; poor thing. I think there will be lots of water consumed!
Meanwhile, I sit here and melt… I believe it ends in a day or so… (Thank goodness!)
So, Peeps, how do you cope with extreme or unexpected hot weather? 😊
But I Smile Anyway... 