But I Smile Anyway…

Well, lookie here, it’s Loveuary! February, the month of love has started, and we’ve enjoyed the first week. How was yours?

Now, grab your drink, I definitley need a hot one, as it is freezing, here!

• If we were having chai I’d start, as always, with school. It was my week away from the kids last week, but that doesn’t mean I got to sit at home, in luxury. As the Phase Leader, for the EYFS, I have to be in more than the others, to make sure everything in my department is running smoothly. I aim to be at home, working, on a Friday, but the rest of the time I am in. This week, however, I was also at home on the Tuesday, as I needed to add taking Lil Princess for her HPV vaccination, to my list of things to do, and I also had a long two hour + Google meeeting with an advisor who is giving me and a couple of my colleagues some support with leadership skills. But that means Monday, Wednesday and Thursday were pretty full on! We have had such a headache, trying to offer video provision to our remote learning, and I think, after what feels like weeks of testing, research and failing, we got there! So, we’ve been recording video introductions of our week, and getting stories read, and recorded, too. I hope the children enjoy and appreciate them! I had wonderful phonecalls with many of the parents, too, and even though we don’t know the definite end to all this, the majority of them have been amazing, and really appreciative of whatever we are trying to do for the children, and them. It’s times like this that I remember why I do the job, I do!
• If we were having chai I’d remind those of you that have been with me for the last few years, that February is not only the month of romance, but in my in laws family it is full on birthday month! We celebrate my brother-in-law, then Hubby Dearest and my mother-in-law, followed by my father-in-law and Lil Princess. Last week was the turn of my Bro-in-law. It’s a strange time to be celebrating birthdays, during a lockdown, especially when we are used to being all together. We couldn’t even go out shopping for him, instead, relying on good old online for gifts. I delivered the bag, then got home to find that we had a delivery of our own. His wife, my sister-in-law, had arranged for a cake to be delivered to us, so we could do a video call cake cutting, and have some to eat, even though we were away from each other. How lovely of her! It was strange, but lovely, to be able to see them, and have a catch up, and the cake was yummy!

• If we were having chai I’d update you on the house front. So, things are still, tentatively, going well. We had three viewings on the weekend, and there was promise from them all. Here’s hoping an offer materialises! It’s only once that happens, that we can take the next step, with our forever home, you see. We are trying hard not to dream too hard, until things happen, the way we want them to, but fingers crossed!
• If we were having chai I’d have to tell you of my huge disappointment, yesterday. We had been told that there would, finally be snow. Lots of snow. The Beast from the Baltic was due to vistit the South East, bringing with it, around 20 cm of snow. I woke early, but purposely didn’t open the curtains, because all I wanted to do, was fling open my drapes and view the glorious blanket of white. Finally at 8.30am, I could wait no longer, and, looking out, I could see the swirling flakes of snow, but, on the ground, nothing. The snow continued to fall all morning. ALL MORNING! Yet still, nothing. We had two viewings of our house, at lunchtime, and, as we sat in my car, the flakes got bigger. Was this going to be it? No. It carried on, falling relentlessly, yet every flake melted, as soon as it hit the ground. It was only at around 4pm that we got this… I’m told, by the weather people, that tomorrow morning, I will definitely wake to proper snow. I’m not holding out any hope!

• If we were having chai I’d end with letting you check out my new Kindle holder… 🙂

This week, I’ll be busy with Hubby Dearest’s Birthday (today), and mother-in-law’s birthday (also, today) followed by craziness at work, with parents coming in to pick up resources, weather-pending, and another Google Meet with the CEO of our academy, so I can demonstrate the home learning we have to offer our pupils, alongside two of my colleagues. I’m also on duty, this week, so, again, weather-pending, will be with the Key Worker and Vulnerable kids this week. Fingers crossed for some good news from the viewings, and it will also be Valentines Day on Sunday. Oh, I do hope for that snow!!!

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Another week goes by in a blur… and that’s the first month of 2021, GONE!

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

• If we were having chai I’d start with a quick school update. So I was on in-school with KW Children duty this week, and the week went pleasantly enough. We were given our LFD test packs this week, so we now have to test twice a week, to locate any possible asymptomatic cases within staff. I did my first one on Saturday. I was so nervous, to be honest. Obviously, I don’t want to be positive. For everyone’s sake, and for more selfish reasons. We had a few things happening this weekend, as well as several appointments over the week which I really can’t afford to miss or reschedule… the pack honestly looks like a pregnancy test, except you don’t pee on a stick, you still do the throat and nose swabs, before putting your sample on the test. It was Negative, thank goodness!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I was very happy to hear that my parents got their first vaccinations on Saturday. One step closer to being able to be together, I guess! And my in-laws got their letter through to book an appointment for theirs, too. Mum in law wanted an asymptomtaic test first though, to ensure they were both fine, so I booked those in for them, and they also came back negative. So at least our parents will be vaccinated with the first shots. Thank goodness.
• If we were having chai I’d update you on house stuff. So, we decided to get new photos done of the house, by someone more professional than the estate agent who did the original ones. I teel you whata, going professional is tiring! I spent Saturday doing a huge disappearing act, taking clothing off our clothes rails, losing unnecessaray furniture, stripping the kitchen bathroom and living room, buying throws and cushions to look a little more fancy, and dismantling Hubby Dearest’s office on our dining table, so the room could look more like a dining room for the pics. I exhausted myself on Saturday, then before the photographer arrived on, at 11 am, I was shifting furniture, and doing a last minute clean. The photos took 2 hours, with a bout of me running up and down stairs moving things. She was a great photographer, too. Then, when she left, it was mission get back to normality, again. I didn’t even eat, all day, until 5.30pm! And I think my Fitbit told me that before, I sat down, I did 20.5K steps! But, at least the photos are done, and hopefully, they will help get some more viewings in… then we are another step closer to our dream home.
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I received my January treat to myself. It’s a Covid mug! Can you read it without singing?

• If we were having chai I’d finish by telling you that I completed my January journaling challenge! 31 days of prompts, and creativity in my journal. It has made me think about how I can use the skill regularly, now, too!

This week, I’ll be hoping for news on the house situation, taking Lil Princess for her HPV Vaccine, doing all the usual school stuff, as well as a few online trainings, and a Zoom meeting…

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!