But I Smile Anyway...

Chai And A Chat #242 #ChaiAndAChat

19 Jun 2023 20 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat

Hello again, Peeps! What a week! That is all I will say…

But, for now, let’s recap last week! Did you grab your drink?

If we were having chai, I’d start by telling you just how crazy this first week back was! (Honestly, I didn’t know if I was coming or going so much was happening! It started strangely because my two part-time teachers were swapping days, so everything felt topsy-turvy! I had so many meetings, too, from one with a school improvement officer which should have been an hour long, but took 2 and half! That evening we were in school until 6pm on a report writing evening. Then, the next day I had a coffee and catch up with my parents to let them know how we would be handling the next few weeks to aid their children with the transition from Reception to Year One. I cried. I always do. Especially when I mention the pride I feel, seeing how much these children have progressed and grown! That same day I had another meeting with a lovely lady who is going to give us some strategies to help certain issues in the nursery. And to top that day off, we had a whole academy pledge evening, where the proposed pledges we, as staff, would make to the parents of our schools were introduced. There was also a fantastic chat with Parm Sandhu, the only female Indian Superindentad of the Met Police. She talked about the difficulties she faced in the profession, including racism, sexism and misogyny. Thursday and Friday I played catch up!

If we were having chai, I’d tell you that my Instagram has been filled with reposting the wonderful reviews from the book tour. I have been blown away, if I am honest! Just an example of one of the posts… https://mybook.to/StraightAsAJalebi

If we were having chai, I’d say that it was a bit of a rocky weekend with certain people’s mental health issues, which meant a lot of walking on eggshells, but we survived!

If we were having chai, I’d say it was also Father’s Day on Sunday. I rarely get to be with my Pops, but we managed to bring the in-laws over, so we could spend time with them on Sunday.

If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. I am afraid there are no pics this week because I have been so busy, but I can share an old one, because he has been doing this pretty much all week… lounging in the sun!

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This week, I think the week is relatively ‘normal’ at school but I may have spoken too soon! I have Wednesday off, so will spend time in the morning doing bits and bobs, before taking Lil Princess to her weekly appointment. And Lil Man finishes his exams on Friday! How did that happen?

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 #432 – Father’s Day

18 Jun 2023 15 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Father's Day, Spiderman, Spidey's Serene Sunday

Thanks, Spidey.

What a week… That is all I can say…

And today is Father’s Day here in the UK!

This is a shout-out to the special fathers in my life.

I wouldn’t be the person I am without my Pops. He is my inspiration, a constant support, and I confess to being the world’s biggest daddy’s girl!

Obviously, we are celebrating Hubby Dearest, too. Even if I tried, I couldn’t choose a better father for my children.

Then, I will remember my father-in-law, who is the reason I have my hubby.

And I will acknowledge my brother, who is an amazing daddy to my two Finndian nephews!

So, Peeps, who is that special male role model in your life who you would celebrate today? 😊

#SoCS June.17, 2023 – Sight

17 Jun 2023 16 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Socs

Linda’s SoCS prompt…

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “sight/site.” Use one, use them both, use them any way you’d like. Bonus points if you use them both. Have fun!

When you are in the thick of turmoil, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that this, too, will pass.

One-Liner Wednesday – Tired

14 Jun 2023 20 Comments

by Ritu in #1linerweds, #onelinerwednesday

For Linda’s #1LinerWeds Challenge

Chai And A Chat #241 #ChaiAndAChat

12 Jun 2023 24 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat

Hello again, Peeps! I am on the home stretch now at school. Term 6 has started. It is both a really fun one and a hectic one, with reports, data, transition for the next year, sports days and all sorts happening. And that is just school Ritu’s busyness. There is Lil Man finishing his A-Levels, and his non-stop cricket. He also turns 18 in a few weeks! Then Lil Princess has her needs, and I really need to write this book three!

But, for now, let’s recap last week! Did you grab your drink?

If we were having chai, I’d start by talking about school, but not necessarily mine. I did pop in, yes, for a morning to get some printing done and to water some of our beds, but other than toil away at the last reports (with my helper… see below) I had plenty of other stuff to keep me busy. I was mum-taxi, as my own kids were back in school. So no lie-ins for me! (But, seriously, who even knows what a lie-in is, once you reach a certain age!) Lil Man had one more exam which he feels went well (yay!) and Lil Princess had a bit of a wobbly start to her term. I think it threw her with me not going in to work when she was in school. Still, we work on the anxieties… and things are calming down, again. I didn’t get to the cinema, or the Society of Authors meeting due to some personal issues, but I still had positive moments to the week.

If we were having chai, I’d not be able to continue if I didn’t mention that book release and updates! So there are a few more reviews, and, fingers crossed, things have been positive so far. We even reached #1 Hot New Release in a category! Did you get a chance to pick your copy up? https://mybook.to/StraightAsAJalebi

If we were having chai, I’d take a moment to let you know it has also been released as a paperback too, now, so if holding a book is more your thing, the above link will take you to the Amazon page where you can order it! 🙂

If we were having chai, I’d say that the official book tour is also starting today via the fantastic ZooLoo’s Book Tours. I will share the daily posts so you can see them, too, as they come about!

If we were having chai, I’d tell you that other than book release stuff, I managed to go and get a pedicure. I think it was my first in a couple of years! See, I do tty and get that self-care in!

If we were having chai, I’d say that the weather has turned to scorching temperatures now, and we had a weekend of high heat. Lil Princess and I chilled in the garden on Saturday, while the lads were at cricket!

If we were having chai, I’d say that the rest of the week was hectic, for various reasons, but I tried my hardest to relax, as well, even though it doesn’t seem like it. I cooked more, which I always enjoy. Then one evening, the lock in the main bathroom broke! It got stuck, locked. Thankfully no one was inside! It’s the one Lil Princess uses, and changes to routine can really affect her negatively, so we needed to get that opened as soon as possible! I managed to find a reasonable locksmith who came the next day and opened the door, and disabled the lock. Again, he’s another tradesperson to look at the way things were done by the previous owner and shake his head in disbelief! He was back on the weekend to install a new handle and lock, so we are all good again!
If we were having chai, I would mention that. I have been reading, as usual, and I got lovely book mail from Amanda Prowse, with an arc of her soon-to-be-released All Good Things. It is fab! And Mandy will be joining me for a Book and a Brew nearer the release date, too!

If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. He’s getting a double mention this week! He’s sat with me at report writing time, in the conservatory as I eat breakfast and dinner, and even when I read. I guess I am rubbing off on him!

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This week, I am back to school too. It is busy, with several meetings during the day, a member of staff with a complex health issue, meaning we will be short-staffed half of the week, every week for a while, and we have two late evening training/meetings. Lil Man has two exams this week. It is also Father’s Day on Sunday, so I need to get prepared for that, too! Oh, and as I mentioned before, the book tour starts today, too!