You all know that I have stepped back from posting regularly because I mentioned being rather tired. I felt that a little mental break would help.
I had submitted my manuscript to a publisher and used that six weeks of waiting to step back from that creativity too.
Unfortunatley, I can’t step away from motherhood, or my day job of being a teacher, but even there, I have tried not to stay later than I have to at school. Usually, I’m in from 7.45am, and I leave betweek 5-5.30pm.
As for home, I have skimped on wheat I can, ironing as and when I need to, keeping the hosue clean and tidy, but not pushing myself too much, and sleeping earlier.
But it hasn’t really made a huge amount of difference.
Take yesterday. I had a littel cat nap in the afternoon, except when I woke up, I realised I had slept for 3 hours! And I could have stayed asleep for longer.
Drained.
That is how I feel.
Adn I know I can’t give my best in this state.
I have called the doctor and made an appointment, but the earliest I could get was in NOVEMBER! I hope that I can ring in during the half term and see him earlier. Maybe it’s a vitamin deficiency, or something else.
Whatever it is, I need to get it sorted. I can’t exist like this.
I have a book to get out there. I have a class to teach. I have two children who need encouragement. I have a husband who needs his wife by his side. I have a family who want me to be the best me I can be. I have friends I don’t want to miss out on seeing…
So… tell me, what suggestions do you have for lessening this exhaustion?
Hello all! Please join me in welcoming my dear friend Eloise De Sousa for the last day of her Blast Off blog tour for her newest book, Space Dust! For a little review by me, you just need to read down to the bottom!
Hello and thank you for joining me at Ritu’s beautiful page. This is our final stop on the amazing tour Blast Off with Space Dust. I’d just like to thank you all for joining me on this exciting trip through the blogosphere and for spending time visiting all these great bloggers who have been kind enough to host Space Dust.
Let’s get the party started with a final giveaway. How about
10 more free ebooks? Just click on the pic below to receive your free
ebook copy of Space Dust.
Remember, there are only 10 available so you gotta be quick to get that winning click!
Click the Image!
It has been an incredible journey. Every stop has given us
the opportunity to meet new blogging friends and readers, as well as learn more
about Space Dust, its characters and the writing process behind it. I’d like to
add a bit more to our last post about striking the right note for readers. When
creating an event in the school library where I work, I enjoy adding a little
extra by holding treasure hunts and giving away prizes such as word searches
and book markers. That way, I know I am catering for my readers and rewarding
their continued support. Since I haven’t thought of a way to add a treasure
hunt to this tour (which would have been fun and something to think about for
the next one), I do have some prizes for you taking part. Please find below a
word search created just for Space Dust readers.
Now a little music. We have travelled through space and
found some pretty awesome creatures along the way. The only song I can think of
that suits this trip is the famous song by Bob Sinclair’s ‘World Hold On’.
For our final celebration, here is a snippet of me reading
the Space
Dust to the Birch Hill library children who attended the Summer Reading
Challenge over the summer holidays. As you know by now, Space Dust was created
to help encourage children to participate in the Challenge, to read more about
space and, of course, to enjoy the many activities available at their local
library.
It’s now time to say good-bye…
Our canoe is packed away and so is the absolute
favourite spoon.
Big Ox made sure Little One is asleep, and Mummy will
be home soon.
Tomorrow is another day filled with adventure and fun.
Who knows where they might go – maybe the moon, or the
sun!
I do know Big Ox won’t be around to play,
so who will help Little One fill the day?
Will Mummy be able to go on a trip to the moon,
steering Big Ox’s canoe with his absolute favourite
spoon?
With that in mind, I will bid you farewell.
Let me know what you think of the book;
receiving pics or reviews of the book would be swell!
Find out more about my books or about me, please click on any of the links below:
And there you have it! Eloise’s tour is done… what with a giveaway and wordsearch, you guys are pretty lucky!
But wait… I haven’t finished yet! Here’s my review…
A children’s book needs imagery, and Space Dust has that in spadefuls. Imagine the mind of a little one who has been left at home, by mummy, with no explanation at all.
That’s what happens to Little One, but he’s lucky as he has Bix Ox with him, to take him on an adventure of his own, into space, on his canoe. They visit planets, and see amazing space creatures, collecting space dust on their shoes as they go.
Enjoy Eloise’s beautiful illustrations and poetic words that give the story a wonderful rhythm.
I read this book to the children in my reception class and it it was lovely to watch them react in different ways. The children with English as a second language were engaged by the striking illustrations and the children who had a better grasp of the English language, were awestruck at the thought of space lions and seahorses in space!
Happy Monday to you all! I hope your week treated you well. Here’s my update!
If we were sipping chai together I’d start by telling you I spent another week stepping away from the blog, not challenges, but reading plenty. I am definitely feeling mentally stronger for the time away. It just goes to show, burnout is real!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you we had a wonderful time at school again. My beauts have settled down well, and my special beauts are as special as ever, but with my team back up to full capacity, it was good to operate as a proper team this week. We even went on our first trip out. It wasn’t far, but we walked down to the local library for a special story telling session, and for a chance to show the kids what a library is. You’d be amazed at the amount of kids who have never been there! They were given a chance to explore the children’s area, and the parents who volunteered to walk with us read stories with them, then we had the librarian read the children a story together, before getting back to school ready for lunch. I think the kids enjoyed themselves! And we are also preparing for Harvest festival, which involves each year group in school performing in a whole school assembly. This will be the first time our reception class actually go to assembly, so it will be big for them. And I admit, I managed to add a bhangra twist to our song and dance… let’s see how that works!
If we were sipping chai together I’d say that I have been relaxing by getting out of school before 5pm, as much as I can, and aside from the usual housework, and my own kids extra curricular activities, I have been reading. I can’t read much in the week, because tiredness means I fall asleep, but at least I read a few pages, then the weekend is a time for surrounding myself with my precious books, and reading away! I was given a gift card for my birthday by a dear friend and I managed to spend it at Waterstones on some new books!
If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that Lil Princess has been busy with her art again, and produced this beautiful canvas las week. It hink it’s pretty stunning for an eleven-year-old!
If we were sipping chai together I’d whisper that Hubby Dearest has had a great week at work, and signed a huge deal so we went for a meal to celebrate!
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that I had several lovely video calls with my brother and my little nephew, Finndian #2! It’s always such a pleasure to see him growing so much, and he nearly said Bhuaji, or Pooji, as they call me, which means aunty. #heartmeltmoment ❤
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that next week we have nothing planned again, for which I am grateful. But you know what life is like. Something always comes up!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that I am excited to have Pops and Mum badk in the country too this week. They have had an awesome time on California, visiting Pops’s sister, and many friends they haven’t seen for years! The photos they have been sending are a pleasure to see. They look so happy, and in all honesty, isn’t this what retirement should be?
Right, that’s me done Peeps! Let me how your week has been.
But I Smile Anyway... 