Well, hello there, Peeps! How are you? What a week… (I apologise if sny of what I type makes no sense, as I am writing this, tired, and with a bit of brain fog – might be related to that booster jab I had on Saturday…)
Are you ready with your drink?
If we were having chai I’d tell you that I feel done in. School is tough. I can’t even really explain it. But what with Covid Rates going up, and staff members dropping lile flies, it’s not an easy place to be, right now. We are supposed to be thinking about the nativity, but something tells me we won’t be able to do one, again, this year… I just can’t… But, in other Covid related news, I had my booster jab, at least!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that once the week finished, we ended it with an evening of putting the Christmas tree up! Yes, I know it’s not quite December, and usually, I refrain until at least the 1st, but this year, it feels like we all need that extra bit of happiness, so, here it is!
If we were having chai I’d update you on Project House. The handyman was in, again. Yup, the jobs are never ending! This time we got a new bathroom heater installed, and some stubbord wall fixings removed, as well as curtain poles put up. Still a few bits to do, but we are getting there!
If we were having chai I’d have to mention that we got our first snow in the new house, too! While some parts of the country were getting battered by a storm, we awoke to a smattering of snow!
If we were having chai I’d say Pops is doing really well after his surgery, though I think he is already getting antsy about not being able to do everything yet! Poor Mum is being Florence Nightingale, and trying to stop him overdoing things. I really wish I was closer, so I could help! But, it’s good to hear Pops so much happier. Thank goodness.
If we were having chai I’d tell you that I spent the weekend reading a behemouth of a book (nearly 600 pages!) ready for a book tour, and it was a paperback, so I found a great solution to aching arms!
If we were having chai I’d share with you that Sonu Singh had his scan, and blood tests, and thankfully, all is clear! Phew! He’s still on reduced food rations, and is still not very pleased with us!
This week I feel like I don’t know what is going on… My mind feels a little foggy. However, I might have some interesting news to share, come the next update! There is a vastly understaffed school to attend, as well as meetings, and a little cricket, still, along with a beautician’s visit, too…
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!
Where did that time go? I remember it well, that morning I opened Facebook and a friend had posted that she had started writing about he depression, to help her, and here was a post. Would we like to read it?
Why, yes. Yes, I would love to read and support her.
So off I went, and read her post, and began to comment, when I was asked to create an account. Fine. I did that.
Then a little thing pinged up saying ‘Why not start a blog!’
The thing is, I actually had no idea what a blog was. However, in my infinite wisdom, I decided that yes, I would like to. I’d learn, and muddle along, and probably give up after a few days.
Name? But I Smile Anyway was the first thing I thought of, because it is, pretty much, me.
What was I going to write? Who knew? I certainly didn’t!
But, over the years, I have posted thousands of times, thought pieces, humour, poetry, fiction, reviews, life… And with those posts came you wonderful readers.
Some of you have been with me since the beginning, some joined in along the way. And I love my (not so little) blogily. I have been fortunate to have met some of the awesome bloggers I befriended, over the years, and honestly, you guys are genuine friends (and, some, like family).
You have encouraged me, laughed with me, cried with me, and generally put up with my nonsense for SEVEN years!
If it wasn’t for you, I would have never thought to publish a poetry book. I don’t think my debut novel would have ever come to life. And book two would absolutely not have been in the pipeline!
Oh, and I wouldn’t have had a second (not so used) blog, either!
You guys.
Thank you so much for being with me on this journey. Long may it continue!
“We’ve been together seven years. We’re pretty much like family.”
Shane Filan
So, do you know how long you have been following me? How long have you been blogging?
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “golly gee.” Use “golly gee” or another interjection that displays the same sentiment in your post. Enjoy!
Golly Gee!
Quite the expression to use for how I felt on my way home from work, on Friday evening, when I received a call from someone I know, telling me they had recommended me as an author for them to sign up to their Publishing House!
Apparently, she sent the link to my book to one of the co-founders of the Publishing house, and they loved the sound of Marriage Unarranged, and the future titles to follow!
Now, I’m not holding my breath, because I need to see what the deal is, but Golly Gee, indeed!
How’s your week been? I’m sure it’s been hectic, if it’s been anything like mine. Well, it’s time for my Guest Writer Spot, so sit back and enjoy an entertaining story from the lovely Ritu Bhathal.
Where do the Colours Come From?
By
Ritu Bhathal
“Oh, Matty, not again!” I placed my cup of tea on the dining table and hand on hips, tried to send a look of stern disappointment to my child.
I’d only popped into the kitchen to flick the kettle on, leaving the mischievous three-year-old for a moment.
Yes, that minute was a little longer, as I chose my mug for the day and dropped a teabag in, ready for my morning cuppa.
Oh, then I had to load the tumble dryer with the wet clothes I’d forgotten to decant from the washing machine last night. Praying they wouldn’t have that awful damp smell…
There are some people who you know, without a second glance, that you are going to be happy to help, and one of those, for me, in Lizzie Chantree.
Now, we haven’t met IRL, but have been social media compadres for a good couple of years, and I have read a few of her books, including her non-fiction, Networking For Writers. I’ve also been a member of her Facebook writing group, where she is a constant source of motivation.
Now, our busy Lizzie has got a new release out… on November 23rd, and it sounds like it will be a wonderful read!
A gorgeous romantic story of love and new beginnings. Learning to love herself and be content on her own is the first step. But will Olivia be able to leave her past behind, follow her heart and find lasting happiness? A read full of humour, romance and tear-jerking reality, from international bestselling author, Lizzie Chantree.
Here’s the blurb!
The Woman Who Felt Invisible
Have you ever felt invisible? Working as a stationery supervisor and a sitter to a pair of internet famous, delinquent dogs, wasn’t how former cyber-specialist, Olivia, imagined her life turning out. Working in a tiny cubicle with a decrepit computer and being overlooked had suited her for a while, but now she’s fed up, lonely and determined to make the world ‘see’ her again. Old school friend, Darius, wants to fill Olivia’s days with romance, but their love of technology has taken them on very different paths. Gorgeous undercover policeman Gabe, is steadfast in finding out if Olivia was part of an online scam, but something doesn’t feel right and he suspects someone else was manipulating her life. Can love blossom from the most deceptive of starts? And can someone who feels lost, find a way to flourish against all odds?
Lizzie has been kind enough to provide an extract from the book for you to peruse:
This was it. This was Olivia Tenby’s life, now. This was how low she had come. At the age of forty-one, she was sweating her guts out in a house that felt like a furnace, babysitting two delinquent Labradoodle dogs called Bertie and Belle, while their owners swanned around getting even richer somewhere else. Wiping her palms across her face, feeling glad she’d discarded her top so that she couldn’t drip on it, she pressed a button. Music blared out of speakers set into the ceiling. This house had everything – lights that came on when you spoke to them, a vacuum cleaner that tripped you over while it scurried along the floor of its own accord, and a fridge that dispensed perfectly shaped ice cubes into crystal glasses.
Olivia looked around furtively for a moment, and then laughed and decided to go for it. Her job as dog sitter extraordinaire had begun two weeks ago. She’d been told to entertain the excitable animals in any way she could think of, as they were naughty and destroyed everything while the owners were out – which they always were. Olivia hadn’t even met them, which was baffling. They left her notes with instructions on how to stop the dogs eating the walls and making a mess of the thick pile carpets. She actually quite liked the job, it was as easy as walking in a straight line. Then she thought about how wobbly she always was after three vodka and cokes, and quickly pushed that picture aside. The dogs were bored and, although her job included giving the house a cursory swipe with a duster, it was always immaculate when she arrived. Something was a bit weird, though, as the place was incredibly hot. The dogs liked to slobber all over her, making her even hotter. So she’d taken to stripping off as soon as she sat down with the pooches, otherwise she’d probably pass out and be found weeks later, mummified in dog hair.
Here’s a little more about Lizzie, and her all-important buy links and social media links, too.
International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now works as a business mentor and runs a popular networking hour on social media, where creatives can support to each other. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about women with unusual and adventurous businesses, who are far stronger than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex.
Book links: Lizzie Chantree. Universal book buy link: The little ice cream shop: viewbook.at/IceCreamShopByTheSea Universal book buy link: Networking for writers: viewbook.at/NetworkingForWriters Universal book buy link: If you love me, I’m yours: viewbook.at/IfYouLoveMe-ImYours Universal book buy link: Ninja School Mum: viewbook.at/NinjaSchoolMumRomance Universal book buy link: Babe Driven: viewbook.at/BabeDriven Universal book buy link: Love’s Child: viewBook.at/Amazon-LovesChild Universal book buy link: Finding Gina: viewbook.at/FindingGina Shh… It’s Our Secret: https://www.bhcpress.com/Books_Chantree_Shh_Its_Our_Secret.html The woman who felt invisible: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09J98F32J
Social media links: Website: www.lizziechantree.com
But I Smile Anyway... 
