Chai And A Chat #191 #ChaiAndAChat

Good morning, my Peeps! One week down for Term 6 and 5.4 left! (Is it bad that I am already counting the days until the summer break?) I don’t want it to go too fast, as I will miss this class, but there is also so much to do!

Right, so I have my cup of chai. You got yours?

  • If we were having chai, I’d tell you that school was HECTIC! There is always a lot to do, but this term is filled with assessments and data collections, as well as preparing the children for the next year, including our admin that needs doing, and, on top of that, I have to get the class lists ready for next year. This week also had the dreaded meetings for staff so they know where they are going to be based the next academic year, which can be a stress for some, but being as I am the Phase Leader in my department, I ain’t going nowhere, y’all!
  • If we were having chai, I’d say that, as usual, cricket featured heavily on the weekend, as it always does, and Lil Man and his team won their match at a very picturesque ground on Saturday!
  • If we were having chai, I’d mention that Lil Princess was in her element this weekend, and she baked some cookies which turned out HUGE, but they were delicious, too!
  • If we were having chai, I would have to mention Sunday being Fathers Day, too. Obviously, I couldn’t be with Pops, but my in-laws came over for lunch, and we had a great family afternoon. It had rained a lot overnight, but the afternoon was pleasant with a breeze blowing!
  • If we were having chai, I’d whisper that I am convinced I am now in the throes of peri-menopause. Lots of little things are happening, including weight gain, headaches, and hot flashes are starting, but the most concerning sign recently is my forgetfulness! Seriously, I kid you not. The other day, I asked my daughter the name of a friend of hers and forgot it within a minute. I had to ask her again and still nearly forgot it. It was only after repeating it in my mind for a while that I kept it in my head! Then I asked her another question which I had already asked, to her frustration! The biggest thing I did, was that I forgot which fuel my car takes! (I also learned something new during this time of frustration, but boy was I embarrassed!) I went to the pump, undid the cap and such the nozzle in. but it wouldn’t go in. A stubborn metal bar was blocking it. I started the car and stopped it, thinking there was a silly fault. I even got a man from the next pump to check, to no avail. I thought I was never going to get the car filled! The man suggested I ask the staff at the pump, and a very helpful lady came to assist. After looking, she kindly pointed out that I was trying to add unleaded fuel to my diesel car! And the metal bar was a safety thing newer cars have now to prevent said mishap from occurring! Who knew? Well, I certainly didn’t, but I do now, and aren’t I glad because I could have totally buggered up my engine with the wrong fuel! And the forgetfulness doesn’t end there. I also forgot where my car was parked in the supermarket carpark! Thank goodness Lil Princess was with me! She just went to the car and waited while I turned around from my search for the elusive car to see where she was standing! Honestly, this is not good!
  • If we were having chai, I would end, as always, with Sonu Singh. Look at him being all cute and cuddly… but I wasn’t best pleased with this kitty as the ‘feed me’ refrains started at 4.30am on Saturday morning, then 5am on Sunday! Thank you for ensuring that I am knackered by 7pm every night, Sonu Singh! It’s a good thing I love you!

This week, we have children’s dental checkups at school, as well as staff in and out over the week for various reasons… Lil Man has possibly two matches which he is thrilled about, but I am a little warier, as that is me doing the driving around! Lil Princess has her first set of mock exams in preparation for GCSEs starting next hear! Wish her luck!

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!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 380 – Happy Pops Day!

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“A daughter needs a dad to be the standard against which she will judge all men.”

Anon

Thank you, Spidey, for a wonderful quote to celebrate that special day, that is Father’s Day, here in the UK today.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know what my father, affectionately known as Pops (formerly Papa), means to me.

He is my world, my inspiration, my support, my heart.

Growing up, I was never made to feel like I was anything other than perfect in his eyes, especially considering the comments that were made when I was born.

My parents had been married a couple of years with no signs of a baby arriving. And when I was due, my mum’s mum came over from Kenya to support my parents as they transitioned into parenthood. Many lamented that it was a waste of a trip for my grandmother, as a grandson would have been a much better result.

In fact, one woman was practically in mourning at the fact I had arrived and not a male version of myself, until Pops stopped her in her tracks and told her she should be ashamed of herself, being a woman herself, and saying such things about his little girl.

His sense of equality has always been there, with him showing the utmost respect to everyone around him, and working with my mum to form one of the most perfect partnerships in marriage, that I have ever seen.

Having lost his own parents at a very young age and having been brought up by his brother and sister-in-law, he always felt that mum, my brother and I were his first proper ‘own’ family. Those that were his, truly.

Pops, and mum, never let us want for anything. We were never spoiled, though, but that sense of always having enough was instilled in us from an early age, and we lived a blessed, though hectic, childhood filled with trips back to Kenya, and countless weddings, parties, babies being born, numerous visitors, and family staying with us. It could have been tough, but we never felt it because of our parents.

He’s a spiritual soul. Everyone who meets him feels that sense of calm exuding from him, and if you ever experience aPops hug, you’ll know what I mean.

He is an uncle to many, grandad to a small army, too, and even great grandad! (It’s traditional in our culture to not have great uncles and aunts and cousins once/twice removed. Rather, if your nephew or niece has children, they call you grandma/grandad, too… even I have a few! Oh, and your cousin’s kids are your nieces and nephews too. I have a HUGE family, filled with cousins, hence my parents extended status in relationships within the family!)

The love he shows is given back to him by all these youngsters; the respect he shows everyone, is returned to him tenfold.

Last year he even shocked me by reading my book. My Pops is not reader, by any stretch of the imagination., but he kept a paperback copy of my book beside his armchair in the living room from the moment I self-published it, wrapped in cellophane to protect it. He did try reading it at first, but couldn’t, then took the plunge again and even read through the mildly naughty bits this time, getting to the end.

That is love, you know. If you can read your daughter’s words, even though they make you a tad uncomfortable, and come through the other side, that really is love!

My first love – Pops

I always dreamed that I would have a husband like my Pops, and I have been so lucky to be blessed with my Hubby Dearest, who is different but so similar in his thinking. And he is a different but no less loving father to our two kids, who, as they pass through the difficult teenage years, test us daily but make us so proud. They are lucky to have a dad like him!

And though my Pops is further away from me than I would have liked, I have my father-in-law here, who I will be forever thankful too because, without him, I wouldn’t have my wonderful Hubby Dearest!

So, are you celebrating Father’s Day? My thoughts are with those whose fathers are no longer with them or those with absent fathers. Is there another male in your life who you thought of as a father?

namaste

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

No Place To Run by @mredwards #BlogTour @fmcmassociates

I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to read and review this amazing book, by Mark Edwards. His latest release, No Place To Run, is the first of his books that I have read, and I was hooked!

Two years ago, on a trip to Seattle to visit her brother Aidan, fifteen-year old Scarlett vanished into thin air. After years of false leads and dead ends, Aidan has almost given up hope.
But then a woman sees a girl running for her life across a forest clearing in Northern California. She is convinced the girl is the missing Scarlett. But could it really be her?
Heading south, Aidan finds a fire-ravaged town covered in missing-teenager posters. The locals seem afraid, the police won’t answer any questions and it looks like another dead end―until a chance meeting with returned local Lana gives Aidan his first clue. But as they piece together what happened, Lana and
Aidan make deadly enemies. Enemies willing to do anything to silence them.
Only one thing matters now: finding Scarlett―even if it kills him.

My Review

No Place To Run by Mark Edwards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first Mark Edwards book, and I have to say I was not disappointed at all!
An email out of the blue alerts Aidan to the possibility that his sister who has been missing for two years, may have been found.
Aiden is a Brit who moved to the US for work, and his 15-year-old sister went missing while visiting him.
I was hooked within a few pages, as I became immersed in the story.
And what a story!
Following Aidan, as he chases up a lead from a train passenger who is convinced she recognises a girl seen running across a field as his missing sister, we are pulled into a darker, twist in the tale, as sinister goings-on are uncovered in a small southern town, involving other missing youngsters.
I don’t want to give much away, but, as I said before, I couldn’t stop reading, and the ending was totally unexpected!

About the Author

Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in
which scary things happen to ordinary people.
Mark has sold over 3.5 million books since his first
solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013
and has topped the bestseller lists numerous
times. His other novels include Follow You Home,
Here To Stay and The House Guest. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss.
His last book, The Hollows, was published in July 2021. Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children and two cats. He Tweets at @mredwards.

#SoCS June 18, 2022 – Cent/Scent/Sent

Linda’s SoCS prompt.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “cent/scent/sent.” Use them in any form you like. Use one, use two or use them all. Bonus points if you use all three, and Cheryl will put your next drink on David’s tab. I know, you used to get bonus points for two, but inflation… Enjoy!

She wrote a letter, spraying her favourite scent on the paper, before sealing the envelope.

That should be enough to remind him… A sniff of my perfume, and he’ll come running.

A cough alerted her to someone’s presence. Her brother stood at her doorway and pretended to gag. “What you trying to do? Suffocate the poor bloke? You’re better off just sending him a text!” he rolled his eyes and walked off.

Stupid man, what does he know? Always has to put his two cents in, even if they’re not needed...

Carefully licking the lip of the envelope, she stuck it down and placed a stamp at the top right-hand corner.

I’ll post it in the morning. Once I’ve sent it, all I need to do is wait…

One-Liner Wednesday – Life Isn’t Always Straightforward

“State of mind, right now: AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!”

Ritu Bhathal

For Linda’s #1LinerWeds

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