But I Smile Anyway…

So, another week has flown by, of this final term of the academic year… another manic one, if I an honest!

Let’s give you a quick recap, along withour weekly drink! Ready?

• If we were having chai I’d start, with that thing called work/school. You know, being a phase leader for this department is a tough slog, especially this year. With new curriculum stuff to sort out, assessment for another incomplete year, reports to write, sorting out the classes for next year, and a high leven of need from several of our pupils, it has really threatened to push people over the edge. So much so, that I have had staff members in tears, as well as me, feeling that we aren’t able to do more for certain children, but we are doing the best we can under circumstances out of our control. Staffing was better, this week but there was still a lot of upheaval, with meetings, and more meetings… and a few heartwrenching sessions with one particular child. Still, we have such a good relationship with the parents, that we all know we are trying our best to give each child what they deserve.
• If we were having chai I’d go back to that old report thing… I still have ten more to write, but I managed to snatch a couple of hours one evening to get some done, with the help of my furry pal… Jaffa cakes were also there as a support…

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that cricket has still been pretty full on, with Lil Man playing for the U17s, the Mens Vth team, and filling in for the 1st team, too! There were some ups and downs, but he got 4 wickets for 32 runs off 6 overs in the 1st team game, so, even though they lost, he did really well! But, I have to admit that I am getting very tired now… counting the weeks until the league season ends…
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I feel like I have barely picked up a book the last few weeks. When I do, I am so tired that I fall asleep when reading. I can’t wait to get back into my proper reading routine!
• If we were having chai I’d end by saying that it was my bro in law and wife’s anniversary, so as we were unable to be there, I arranged for a luxury breakfast hamper to be delivered, so they could be treated at home, since with his foot in a cast, my Bro in Law can’t actually get around anywhere, right now! 

This week, along with the usual work stuff, I hope to get the data done, and the reports written, alongside a biggie. Lil Man turns 16 this week! When did that happen? I admit to feeling rather old now!

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!

So, the first week of the last term has whizzed by, and boy was it a doozy!

Let’s give you a quick recap, along withour weekly drink! Ready?

• If we were having chai I’d start, as I always do, with school. So, I always love this last term of the year, it is a time we see so much development within the children. But, what I didn’t count on was being short staffed! It was a bit mad, I’ll admit. One of my team was really unwell, meaning we were down for four days, then another who works two days, had to be off as her daughter was isolating, due to a bubble bursting in her school… plus, we had candidates in every morning, being observed for a position as a one to one support TA for one of our children. Oh, and I had a new student, in, too! There weren’t enough hours in the day, to be honest. I had hoped to try and write a few more reports, but that didn’t happen, either! In fact I did bring my laptop home for the weekend, but it has sat, untouched, as I was so exhausted. It was also Olympics week, through the school, so we tried our hardest to give the children lots of opportunities to learn, about the games, the different sports, the history, diversity, through countries taking part, and the Paralympics, and also a topic on Japan, as that is where the 2020 games (2021!) are meant to be held. The children loved it, to be honest, and seeing them so engrossed was lovely.
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that another reason I was shattered was that for the first two evenings, I also acted as Cricket Mum taxi, and we didn’t get home until past 9pm, due to Lil Man having games. I don’t mind taking, him, I never have, but it made for very long days… on top of extremely hectic school days.
• If we were having chai I’d excitedly let you know that my reading/writing area is pretty much ready, too, and I managed to spend all of Saturday afternoon there, not writing, unfortunately, but reading, and enjoying my own peace!

• If we were having chai I’d say that as it was Father’s day on Sunday, we went to see the In-Laws, as well as spent a while talking to Pops on the phone. It’s not the ideal way to celebrate, but at least we had some sort of contact! And Then Sonu Singh and I chilled to read! Well, I read, he chilled!

This week, I hope we are fully staffed, so things can be a little back to normal, though what normal is, I don’t know! I have three SEN children being observed, a phone interview about an initiative we were meant to use, but didn’t get to, a meeting with the rest of the Academy EYFS Phase leaders, then a meeting with our Senior Leader tutor… and that’s just school! Cricket will factor in it too, weather-pending, but how many games or practices, I don’t have a clue!

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!