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Chai And A Chat #139 #ChaiAndAChat

14 Jun 2021 38 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chair

I was lucky to have had two weeks off, for half term, considering the housemove, but it went so fast!

And now, before I get an early night, ready for school, let me have a catch up. Drinks to hand? Mine is an ice cold glass of water, as it is boiling here!

If we were having chai I’d sigh, and say, we are so happy to be in our new home, but boy, are there still lots of silly things going on! The Vendor never got back in touch, so we will have to take other routes to resolve some issues, but we will get there. The garden is looking lovely. In fact, I am sitting outside as I type this! And I feel at peace, totally, right now.
If we were having chai I’d tell you that Sunday nght I went to bed shattered, but really happy, as I got my writing/reading space organised. Now, it wasn’t where I had planned it to be, because there is an l-shaped room in the eaves that Hubby Dearest was going to use as his office space, but due to internet issues, it wasn’t working out, so he ended up shifting to the spare room, downstairs, then into the small bedroom, which was actually going to be my space, once I was all ready to set it up. Anywho, things happened, or didn’t, and he is now going to stay in the downstairs room, as it is more light and airy, considering he will be in there all day. But I have now been gived the upstairs area as mine… and I have been very busy, ordering shelving, storage, etc, for the room. Hopefully next week, I can share photos! But I was building flatpack furniture in the heat we are experiencing right now, and that wasn’t fun! My new chair should be arriving tomorrow, and I can start to slowly shift books here, ffrom my in-law’s house, where they have been in storage the last few months! Boy, have I missed those!
If we were having chai I’d mention that we’ve been practicing the new commute, since Lil Princess didn’t have 2 weeks off, like me, so that was handy, but I have ended up driving double what I would usually do, as I was coming back home every morning, then doing stuff, and then driving back, picking her up, then going to cricket matches, or practice! Cricket season is very time-consuming, I tell you! Actually, on Tuesday, we went to a match, and I had been so busy all day, I hadn’t even eaten lunch! So, I ended up with hot chips as we watched. I can’t complain!

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If we were having chai I’d say how on Tuesday we ended up staying the night at my in-laws, as I was taking my father -in-law to have cataract surgery, and we needed to be there at some unGodly hour, so if I was travelling from home, I’d have had to be up and out the house by 6am! And to drag Lil PRincess too, at that time, would have been unfair. Anyway, we stayed, and I took him. I was there for around five hours, as the procedure was taking place, so I took time to relax, a little, and reaad, but ended up chatting to two other women who were waiting for relatives to have theirt procedures done too!
If we were having chai I’d mention that I managed to watch Friends; The Reunion, too and I was so glad I did. Watachinng Friends when it originally came out, during my years in Kingston, living with a Friends freak, I became a huge fan, too, and even now, when the reruns are on, on the Comedy channel, I could watchc the epsiodes over and over. It was actually pretty emotional by the end!

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If we were having chai I’d have to tell you that ‘that time of year’ has come. Report writing time! So, even though we aren’t officially at school, I needed to make a start, which I did. Still loads to do, but, as I said it’s a start!

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If we were having chai I’d like to end, today, on some of the flowers that are in bloom, right now, including my first roses! So pretty!

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This week, we are back to school, thata grindstone well and truly on… But this week, we are celebrataing the Olympics for the whole week, so it is going to be off time table learning, with lots of opportunities to teach the children, school-wide, about the games, and diversity, too! Home wise, there will be cricket (when is there not?) and more getting things sorted out, slowly… Oh, and more reports, obviously!

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 – Part 327 – The Daily Grind

13 Jun 2021 50 Comments

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

“Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up, depends on us”
L Thomas Holdcroft

You picked a good ‘un there, Spidey!

The grindstone is pretty much everywhere in my life right now, from the daily grind, to the tough graft of setting up a new home, to the work graft which will be starting up again tomorrow!

Currently, we are settling up the home office spaces, and trying to get the wardrobe situations under control. I am constantly on the go, it seems, either cleaning, ordering and paying for new stuff, or putting flatback furniture together!

It is definitely a grind, I tell you! But, I’m positive. It will get so much better, because of all the effort we are putting in! Our new home will be polished in every sense of the word, because of all the work we are putting in.

So… tell me, are you following the Euro Matches this year

Waiting To Begin by @MrsAmandaProwse #NewRelease #BookReview

11 Jun 2021 11 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Amanda Prowse, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Waiting To Begin

Now, if you read this blog regularly, you’ll know that I am one HUGE Amanda Prowse fan, and any book she releases, will automatically go to the top of my TBR pile, because, well, you know, she is my FAVE!

So, a few short months ago, I was approved for an arc of what is her twenty seventh full length novel, called Waiting To Begin. Here’s my signed copy! (Sorry, #fangirling like mad, here!)

Here’s the blurb:

From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes a story that asks: what would you risk for a shot at happiness?

1984. Bessie is a confident sixteen-year-old girl with the world at her feet, dreaming of what life will bring and what she’ll bring to this life. Then everything comes crashing down. Her bright and trusting smile is lost, banished by shame—and a secret she’ll carry with her for the rest of her life.

2021. The last thirty-seven years have not been easy for Bess. At fifty-three she is visibly weary, and her marriage to Mario is in tatters. Watching her son in newlywed bliss—the hope, the trust, the joy—Bess knows it is time to face her own demons, and try to save her relationship. But she’ll have to throw off the burden of shame if she is to honour that sixteen-year-old girl whose dreams lie frozen in time.

Can Bess face her past, finally come clean to Mario, and claim the love she has longed to fully experience all these years?

And my ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!

Waiting To Begin is the story of a woman, Bessie, but told on two simultaneous days, her birthday, but thirty-seven years apart.
At sixteen, Bess thinks she has it all. Her results are out today, her future is all but planned out, she just needs those results to get where she wants. Bess’s family is your usual type, a caring, but an annoying set of parents and an older brother who is just – urgh! She’s got a tentative boyfriend and dreams of their life together
Thirty-seven years later, Bess is content. Well, on the surface, anyway. Nothing quite panned out how she hoped, but she’s not unhappy with her life. A doting husband, two great kids, one of them married, their own home. But, there are still gaping holes in her life. There are still secrets that are eating away at her, affecting everything she does, though no one else knows.
Not wanting to give the story away, I will comment on the essence.
Decisions we make, flippantly, can have huge effects on our life. The need to be keeping up with the rest of the world can eat away at you, making you do things you might not have, otherwise.
My heart filled with pity for teenage Bess. I wanted to scoop her up into a hug, and tell her everything will be okay. I will admit to wanting to physically harm a certain young man, too,
The same sorrow was felt for older Bess, who is sifting through her life decisions, not sure whether to rock the boat, but finding herself in a situation where she has no choice.
An emotional story that will definitely tug, hard, at your heartstrings.
When Waiting To Begin flashed up as another new book to come, by Amanda Prowse, I jumped at the chance to read, because she is my all-time favourite author.
Her stories never fail to touch the heart, and the way she tells them leaves you emotional for a long time to come,
Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Amanda is a hugely prolific author, writing stories that really resonate with the reader. You need to check out her website to find out about all the amazing books she has written. I can proudly say, I’ve read them ALL!

http://www.amandaprowse.com/about/

Chai And A Chat #138 #ChaiAndAChat

07 Jun 2021 63 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: blo gPost, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat

A whole week has gone by since we moved into the house. A full week of half term has slipped by. Thank goodness I still have one more week!

Right, so, did you get your drink? I’ll update you on more house shenanigans!

If we were having chai I’d tell you it was a jam-packed week. Even though it was half term, once you move into a new house, there is no such thing as relaxing, for the first few weeks, at least!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that I have been driving to all the local supermarkets, to work out the best one for my weekly shop. Asda, a straight drive, perfect. Sainsbury’s could be straight, but the journey involves a stretch through a country lane where no one can pass you, so you could end up having to reverse, to let another vehicle pass! There is another route, so it is still an option. Hubby Dearest discovered a local Co-op, so for little bits, that will do. I did try the local Tesco, but, erm, local? Well, the SatNav took me on a 45 minute journey there, then on the way back, it took half an hour – definitely an only in emergency place, but it was a lovely store!
If we were having chai I’d mention that Amazon has become our best friend. We have ordered so many bits and bobs, to get going, from a nest of tables for the living room, to cleaning products in bulk, and a whole host of other things. The delivery driver is going to know our address off by heart!
If we were having chai I’d say that the gardener came and cut the lawn, at least, and the garden is looking pretty good, already. We have a random fence to remove, and some weeding to do, but then it is as good as it is going to get, for now! There are beautiful Rhododendron bushes too, most with purple flowers, but one with fuschia coloured blooms, too!

If we were having chai I’d have to let you know that there are some amazing walks around here, too. We haven’t been on many, yet, but I look forward to getting to know more of them!

If we were having chai I’d leave you with the image of a very cosy Sonu Singh, who is more than happy, and trying his hardest to find all the hiding spots, or sleeping all day!

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This week, I am still on half term break, but there won’t be lots of relaxation. See, Lil Princess is back at school, so I’ll be practicing the commute every morning, to get her to school, then there are appointments with furniture people, as well as Lil Man and his cricket matches. Oh, and I need to start writing my class reports!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 326 – New Tricks

06 Jun 2021 44 Comments

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

“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.”
Old African Proverb

Thank you, Spidey for a thought provoking quote to ponder upon, this week.

And, thank YOU, Peeps, for bearing with our little break, last week, as we dealt with the craziness of moving house.

If you read my Chai post the day after, you’d have found out that we finally moved into our forever home, but the move wasn’t without a huge amount of angst. When are these things ever simple?

There were moments when we wondered whether we had done the right thing, to be honest, but when I think back over the last week, there have been so maany opportunities to learn new skills, that I have to count that as a bonus.

In dealing with an errant vendor, and an estate agent who isn’t as much help as he should be, on top of trying to keep a stressed Hubby Dearest calm, I have learned a lot.

And, to add to my new skills, I have become an expert at putting together ottoman beds (three, put together by myself and Lil Princess!), assembling a TV cabinet with a little assistance, locating switches for different services that weren’t working, how to use a dishwasher (never had one, before!), how NOT to fix a washing machine, and I have taught myself how to fix loose toilet seats on an enclosed toilet! (Thank you, YouTube!)

I’ve also attempted, but not mastered, the countryside driving that we will have to do a little more of, with some places having such narrow roads, that there isn’t even a pass point for another vehicle to pull over in!

All skills that will come in handy, at another point in my life, I am sure!

And, I’m sure there will be more to come. We have the internet being connected tomorrow, properly, so the next thing to learn, is how to us the smart home system that has been set up here, that controls the heating, water and lights!

Though we had some really rough days, I’ve come out, the other side, with plenty of new knowledge, and a house to be proud of!

So, tell me, what new skills have you learned, or taught yourself, recently?