But I Smile Anyway…

Three weeks of term gone! Seriously, where has the time gone???

Let’s catch up! Grabbed a cuppa?

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that it’s been another interesting week at school. We had a four day week, what with the May Bank Holiday, so there was an awful lot to fit in, what with Number Day on Friday, as well as an after school meeting about a new EYFS charter that our school Academy and and another want to collaborate to create. The kids were great, as always, showering me with lovely little pictures and notes. It is so wonderful to see them actually writing independently, now, and us being able to read what they are trying to write! We had a Specialist Teacher in, well, two actually, to see two of our students, and though they are hard work, we were reassured that we are doing all we can for both these children. However, I am getting more detail about next year’s intake and O.M.G. I am sorry, but be prepared for a lot of school related things, come September! 😳
• If we were having chai I’d rewind back to Monday, where I ended up spending three hours in the car, watching Lil Man play a cricket match, and it was a good un! Yes the weather was awful, and the wind nearly carried my car across the motorway at one point. Yes, as I sat in the car watching, the surrounding trees were nearly bent double. but, the long and the short of it – They won! He played four cracking wickets, getting one for eight off four overs, and of those four overs one was a maiden, and one was a maiden with a wicket! Oh, and he caught one out, too! His Geoffleship, you would be proud! (Did that sound like a different language to you? I am only just learning cricket-speak!) It basically means he bowled four overs (six throws per over) and gave away only eight runs, and he got one batsman out, too. The catch was a bonus extra! There was two nights of training, too, and though he wasn’t picked for one match, he was for another, but it got rained off. Instead he spent Sunday afternoon practicing his bowling in the cricket club nets.

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I have been enjoying lots of reading, as always, even though the weekdays tire me out. I was chosen to take part in the book tour for Dawn French’s newest book, recently released in paperback. and I was also given an arc of another imminent release, of which I was one of only eight arc readers to be chosen! On, and I was tagged in a lovely post about my books, too! Must get that writing mojo back… actually, I have been recording voice notes with ideas for the scenes not yet written for book two… that’s something!

• If we were having chai I’d mention that the house stuff… still at solicitors stage… so watch this space…

This week, along with usual school duties, I am covering nursery for an hour or so, then I have a meeting, with real other people, not a screen, to discuss that charter I mentioned, above. I have a Zoom style meeting with someone to get quotes for removal services, too. There are the obligatory cricket training sessions, as well as a match too. Oh, and I will be on at Lil Man to knuckle down, as his assessments start next Monday! Eek!

This still stands, too!

Now, I will say this here, so hold me accountable, folks.

On top of school, the next five weeks will be hectic. We have Lil Man with his GCSE year, coming to an end, so even though they don’t have exams, there are still assessments happening, so his teachers can submit their grades for qualifications… And there’s the house. I can’t say much, but, things are moving, and this is why I need to step back, a little from some of the weekly prompts, so I can get the clearout done! Evenings and weekends will be being used to sort out the chaff from the wheat, so to speak… And, to add to that, Lil Man’s Cricket, as well as countless courses and forums we have been asked to be a part of, to keep up to date with school changes.

So, if you see me on here, too much, call me out!

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!