But I Smile Anyway…

Two weeks of the holidays, done, and I feel like I have lived several weeks within them, to be honest!

Another eventful week, filled, not with school, but plenty of other stuff! Right, got your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d start by saying that cricket is exhausting. Not the playing, because I don’t do that, but the taxiing around, and the watching and the waiting… At least another four days where cricket took us hostage.. I guess it is a good thing I kinda enjoy it, eh!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that we ventured to Bluewater one day, and there were moments there, that I didn’t think I’d see, like my two actually saying they want to wander off, together, instead of trying to kill each other, so I could browse the statationery shops and book stores in peace! To be honest, I didn’t, because I am still not confident that they wouldn’t end up in an argument, but it was good to hear. They wanted to do a bit of shopping, and then after popping into M & S for some special food, we went home.

• If we were having chai I’d mention that, in other news, I spent forever in the car, ferrying the in-laws to various hospital appointments, which was fine, as, even though they were early starts, I am up early, and because it waas the holidays, I didn’t have to take time off, unlike the others in the family. So, two covid tests, and a cataract op later, I feel I have had my fill of them. There was also meant to be a knee replacement op, too, but it got cancelled 48 hours before, as the consultant hadn’t done all his checks. So my poor mum in law had to isolate for ten days, and we couldn’t even take Pops and Mum to visit them because of that isolation, for nothing!
• If we were having chai I’d say that the reading slump has finaally ended. I think I must have read around five books just this week. Honestly, I am listening to my body, especially in those periods of time that are my own. I am not going overly crazy with cleaning. The house is clean and tidy, but I am not obsessing over it. If I have spare time I grab my kindle or book, and snuggle on my sofa, in my reading/writing snug, in the garden, or on my bed, and I read until my eyes droop. If they do, I place the book to one side, and snooze. Another few days of that, and I hope to have shifted the exhaustion!

• If we were having chai I’d have to admit to being awful with eating. I have been so, so good, losing a few lbs, doing a bit of exercise, then eating well, and the lasat few weeks it’s all gone to pot! Like, totally! the scales are showing every increasing numbers, my enercy is so low that exercise is the last thing for me to do, and I want to constantly graze! Not good! See, I manage two fantastic, healthy meals, then the afternoon slump hits, and all I do is eat snack after snack…

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that those aches and pains are still there, my shoulder worse than it was before. But, we did manage to order and fit together, the garden furniture. It is being used in the conservatory at the moment, as we don’t have a dining table, but it looks rather lovely! I’ve enjoyed a couple of meals and tea times there, looking out over the garden as I eat, or read.

• If we were having chai I’d leave you with an image of Sonu Singh, who approves of the table, too!

This week, there is cricket, oh and the DREADED GCSE RESULTS for Lil Man! We are all nervous. I just want him to pass, and get his place at the right Sixth Form for him, to be honest. Other than that, no plans… maybe I will be more rested, eh!

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One week of the holidays done, and I have to say, it doesn’t feel much like rest and relaxation, especially when you have a son who plays cricket.

Also, I have been overindulging here so my drink of choice is a green tea. What about you?

• If we were having chai I’d start by giving you a quick overview of the week… It was busy. Not one day was filled with nothingness, which I think I realy need, right now, but the plus point pf not being at school, was that I could sit back and nap, when needed!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that there was, as I mentioned earlier, a whole lot of cricket happening this week, Lil Man was selected for the District team this season, and they had a three day cricket festival to attend. He was due to play two of the matches and was very excited. The place the festival was being held at was a very prestigious boys boarding school, not far from where we live, with sports facilities that would shame your local sports clubs and gyms, seriously! We arrived on the Tuesday to be told the match was cancelled, as the other side couldn’t get a team together. Obviously, he was disappointed. But the coach said they could stay for a while and train in the state of the art cricket nets that this school has, so while he did that for an hour, I went for a stroll around the grounds of this school, that looked a bit like Hogwarts, I kid you not! The mixture of old buildings (school establised in the 16th centure, I believe) and modern facilities was amazing, along with beautiful gardens, filled with colour, and gorgeous lavendar. We walked around 8k steps!

• If we were having chai I’d say that Wednesday was a more successful day for him, Cricket-wise. The weather was rather inclement, with covers having to go on three times, as we ran under trees for shelter, from torrentioal downpours, but they won the match. Though he only bowled two overs (should have had more!) he got two wickets so left the game with a huge smile! And on Cricket news, he played a mens game on Saturday, and again was left to bowl at the end, but only managed one bowl, getting the final wicket out on his first, and only throw! Sunday was a whole afternoon of cricket again, with his club having a cricket week for this next week. They kicked it off with an inter club fun tournament and he got a wicket again, and caught one out, too, so pretty productive!

• If we were having chai I’d sthen fill you in on the next exciting part of my week, which was Pops and Mum coming over to see us, in the new house. I haven’t seen them for a year, so this was so, so special. They arrived on the Thrusday afternoon, and we spent the three days they were with us, just chatting, eating, reminiscing, walking, and Pops got to watch his grandson play cricket for the first time, too! Originally we had plans to go out and about more, but due to the current circumstances, we decided to limit that. But, mum did request visits to the local supermarkets, because she is odd like that! It was blissful. There were tears upon them arriving, and when they left, but I feel blessed to have had that lovely time with them!
• If we were having chai I’d sigh and admit that the writing bug hasn’t hit me, yet. I was hoping that this holiday would give me the boost to really get going with writing again, but energy levels have been so low, I just can’t get my brain into gear, yet. But I have been catching up on my reading, as well as ending up with more new books on my Kindle and shelf! Ooops!
• If we were having chai I’d leave you with an image of Sonu Singh, who seems to be using my desk chair more than me, recently!

This week, yuo, you guessed it, cricket, as always, with a game today, maybe Friday, and Saturday… but I also have a new duty this week, of hospital visits, for the in laws, as I am on holiday, so it means no one else has to take time off to take them to their various checks. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are my medical days, that means! Maybe, just maybe, some words will appear on my screen, and I hope to devote more time to doing things that will male Lil Princess happy, too, since cricket is definitely not her thing!

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!