09 Oct 2021 18 Comments
in #ColleensWeeklyPoetryChallenge Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Colleen Chesebro, Tanka Tuesday
It has been a LONG while, since I wrote any poetry, but, I felt the need, today, and what better time to do do it, than when my sis, Colleen, has her Poet’s Choice challenge?
Words, all jumbled up Swimming around in my mind Stories to be told The time has come, to allow Tales to come to life, again Ritu 2021
09 Oct 2021 18 Comments
in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Lid, Linda G Hill, School, SEN, Socs
Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week:
YouYour Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “lid.” Use it in the literal sense, use it in the metaphorical sense, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
Shhhhh! Can you keep a secret? Can you keep a lid on it? Lips shut? Schtum?
Well, my little secret is that I am writing this whilst a little tiddly, to say the least! I haven’t had a drink for quite a while, and tonight, I have consumed a whole bottle of Gin Fizz… Oops! A WHOLE BOTTLE!
Now, it’s not often that I indulge.
To be honest, we teachers may say we are going to drown our troubles on a Friday night, but I know that I, for one, am so shattered, that a drink would just send me to sleep, early, and I can do that without the liquid assistance!
However, tonight, I felt the need to. It’s been five weeks since we went back to school. I have a wonderful, but very challenging, class. Three children who require one to one support, but who don’t have it, yet, because of resource. Another who has medical needs on top of other needs, too. All of them are loveable children, who need specialist provision, but the world around us thinks they need to be part of an inclusive education.
I’m all for inclusion, but sometimes, it isn’t the right thing for those kids.
I find my inputs interrupted, every time, as one of my lovelies walks through the rest of the class, like a bulldozer – no spatial awareness – to come and sit on my lap, or to take my hand and lead me to whatever they want, at the time. Or, in groupwork, my group is left unattended, for a few moments, as I deal with a meltdown, or an issue with one of the children who have these needs.
You see, these kids find it hard to conform to what the rest of the class are doing. They dance to the beat of their own drums, right now. They are still exploring the environment, and can’t follow instructions. Yet, in their own way, they show their own brilliance.
It’s not easy, but the rest of the class have been angels.
They are aware, already, at the age of four, or five, that there are children who have very specific needs, and there is barely any fussing. They just let those children get on with whatever they do, whilst waiting for Mrs B to get back to them.
These kids are superstars, seriously.
All of them.
With needs or not.
All children are blessings.
Did you know that the Cockney rhyming slang for kids is saucepan lids? See, my ramble did have something to do with the prompt, I promise!
And now, I shall sign off, as the words are starting to swim in front of my eyes!
04 Oct 2021 48 Comments
in Chai and a Chat Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat
Well,hello, my lovely Peeps! Can I start by saying thank you for all the lovely wishes. Though I am still tired, I am feeling, healthwise, much, much better!
Now, is your beverage of choice ready? I have my chai here, piping hot, and filled with wonderful spices to keep germs at bay!
This week, it’s a busy, but hopefully productive one. Monday sees the fitted wardrobes being installed in our bedroom, and on Wednesday, new carpets in our room, and Lil Man’s one. And on Thursday, oh, I am so excited, because my favourte author, and all round wonderful soul, Amanda Prowse is coming to my school to read her newes release, which is a picture book, illustrated by her brother, Paul Ward Hall, to three year groups in my school! I can’t wait to share some photos!
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!
03 Oct 2021 42 Comments
in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Panic, Petrol, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I apowerful quote, there, Spidey. Thank you, so much for that.
So, for those of you, not in the UK, I’ll just reiterate the state of affairs here. We are in the midst of a fuel buying panic.
Fantastic.
That’s to add to last year’s Toilet Roll Shortage, the pasta wipe out, and precedes, what I just know will be coming soon… the Turkey disappearing act.
I know I ranted a little in my Chai post, on Monday, but the hope was, honestly, that by this weekend, things would be more or less normal. Panic would have died down. People would have begun to take notice of those in power, who were desperately trying to reassure the Brit public that there is NO shortage of fuel, simply a lack of drivers. The fuel is coming, a little slower than usual, but it’s there.
No need to top up constantly, when and where you can. Just take what you need, and go about your usual business, they say.
Is anyone listening?
I don’t think so.
I had, just by chance, filled my tank prior to this craziness, so knew that I would be okay for the next week, at least. So, even as I saw the needle slowly moving towards the emptier side, I ignored the queues of motorists at the stations that were lucky enough to have fuel. I didn’t need it, desperately. I could still get to work, and home. I could still ensure my own children were able to get to their school.
I thought, by mid week, things would be calming down, but no. Every garage either had blockades and signs saying no fuel, or queues stretching back a while, which also meant that traffic was heavier than ever. That also meant more idling around in a car with an engine running, in traffic, using more precious fuel.
So, on Friday, I had to join the queue to fill up my tank, too. Because I really needed it. Not because I thought I should, ‘just in case’.
You see, on top of the stupidity of the panic buyers, who really need to get a life, and stop following false news, then spreading it, causing panic, we have a very real issue, which is the effects of BREXIT.
See.
This was what so many of us were attempting to vote against, but those pro Brexit lot got a bit too big for their boots.
Now, we see our grocery bills begin to soar, as the prices of food we are used to seeing go up, since we aren’t part of Europe. Visas are needed for every trip we wish to take, even if it is just to hop over the channel to France. Honest workers who were keeping certain parts of our economy going, were forced to leave. Many of them the same drivers who were keeping the fuel coming…
Yeah. Thanks BREXIT-ers.
In a round about way, it’s all thanks to some of you and your skewed views that these people were taking our jobs, and houses, and even our benefits, that we are in this mess. Because, let’s be honest. It’s not like you’ve tried to take those jobs up, now they are available… even though unemployment is sky high.
(Though, I know there are some who voted to Brexit for their own reasons, there were, unfortunately, far too many who were misinformed, thinking it was all about immigration…)
Right, I am stepping off the soap box now. It’s become more lecture than inspiration… Sorry, Spidey!
The most important thing to remember is that as long as we have enough, we are richer than many. Too much, and it’s just greed.
So, have you been affected by the craziness of panic-buying, ever?
Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!
02 Oct 2021 56 Comments
in #SoCS Tags: Aspire, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Expire, Inspire, Linda G Hill, Socs
Linda’s (or, actually, Dan’s) prompt for SoCS this week:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “inspire/aspire/expire.” Use them in any form you like. Use one, use two or use them all if you want. If you use two, you get bonus points! If you use all three, Cheryl will put your next drink on David’s tab. Enjoy!
I aspire to inspire as many of my pupils and readers as I can, before I expire!
There.
Got em all out in one sentence! Surely there should be another bonus point for that…? Or, maybe a visit to Dan, Cheryl and David!
Anywho, about that sentence. It’s filled with truth.
Ever since I can remember, that has been my hope and dream. To teach, to inspire children to love learning, and books. To know that words hold may meanings. And, the same hope is there with the words I write, on here, my blog, as well as in my poems and stories.
Yesterday, I received a notification that my blog had hit 500K views. That is Half A Million clicks to my little baby blog.
I was gobsmacked, humbled, but a tad excited.
It did make me wonder, though. What makes people come to visit my blog… or what makes readers keep coming back?
I am so grateful to everyone who does come on over to my little space, and I do hope that a little smile is spread whenever you read.
I hope Spidey inspires someone, along the way. I hope my book reviews point you towards a next read. I hope my Chai and Chats are a little glimmer of the real life of a mum, wife, teacher and aspiring author… I hope your interest in my blog never expires.
I hope you have fun. 😃
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But I Smile Anyway... 