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Chai And A Chat #119 #ChaiAndAChat #CoronaDiaries Week 43

25 Jan 2021 27 Comments

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

The third week of this year has passed in a blur of lockdown… I’m not sure where the time is going\1

Anyway, let’s get to it. Where’s your drink?

If we were having chai I’d begin with the usual, school stuff. So it was my week away from the Key Worker children, but I still had to be in most days, just to make sure all was going to plan. I think I had 100% engagement with the online platform, so that was pretty ace, and when I checked on the weekend, a couple who hadn’t uploaded work, had tried to, so that was great! We had another child as well, so that spiced things up a bit. However, two things took precedence, last week. The first, the LFD (Lateral Flow Device) tests that the government want us to take, if we wish, twice a week, ourselves, to test for any asymptomatic cases. This is not for pupils, just the school staff who are in, so we can self isolate when needed, but we only test twice a week, so we could get a negative, be postive the next day, and still spread things around, then find out at the next test… a few training sessions later, all I think is what a waste of time, and it kinda looks like a pregnancy test! The second thing that drained many hours was trying to wrok out how we can upload videos onto our online platform… Don’t get me started, just know that I have recorded myelf several times, and tried so many ways, but for some reason, the platform we use won’t always accept them, or the medium we use to record requires parents to have accounts too… such hard work!
If we were having chai I’d have to share with you that it was our Sonu Singh’s 7th birthday too, on Wednesday. In cat years he is now older than us all!

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If we were having chai I’d let you know that I am still doing my journalling. One of the challenges was to write about what others think of you and your best qualities… I put it out there, and here are some of the answers. I was touched by some of the comments, and there were even more added after I did my journal spread. It’s definitely something for me to reread on days I feel bleurgh…!

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If we were having chai I’d say that we had no viewings of our property, which was a bit frustrating, but saw a couple of others… and all I can say is “Watch this space!”
If we were having chai I’d end with telling you of my disappointment that almost all of the country got snow on Sunday, and we got RAIN! No fair! I was so excited, even popping my woolly socks on, ready, and then NOTHING! What a disappointment!

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This week, I’ll be doing house things, as well as being in school, and the usual bits and bobs.

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 307 – Fate

24 Jan 2021 33 Comments

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

“What’s meant to be will always find a way”
Trisha Yearwood

Thank you, Spidey. You’ve been reading my mind, again, haven’t you?

Fate.

What will be, will be.

You know, in many things, I do believe in fate, but fate doesn’t have to be left alone. You can give it a helping hand, in many situations.

If you have a dream, a goal, an ambition, just hoping for the best, won’t work. You need to give it a helping hand. You need to put effort in, as well, as that hoping for the best.

But, some situations are a little different. You aren’t in control of things, and it is fate that kinda takes over.

Take our house search, for instance.

We are putting a huge amount of effort into trying to find that dream home, as well as push the sale of our own hosue, so we can get moving, but sometimes things are jsut not in our hands.

Just because we fall in love with a place, doesn’t mean it’s ours to have. There are others out there, doing the same as us, and sometimes, they slide in, before us, and suddenly a Sold STC sign goes up.

Similarly, people want to come see our place, then they pull out for various reasons, or it’s not quite their thing… Or if it is, something else crops up.

It’s enough to drive a person mad, but this is one situation where I feel fate plays a huge part.

Our perfect buyer hasn’t been to see it, yet.

They say you just ‘know’ when you see your perfect house. And we thought we ‘knew’ the other week. So much so that we put an offer in, but it ended up being knocked out by someone else.

Kismet. Fate.

I was sad for a little while, then thought about it. Why get upset? It was obviously not the right place for us. And we’ve seen others, since, that might be the one instead.

Still waiting for fate to tinkle her bell, though, to tell me that maybe this one is ‘it’.

So… tell me, do you believe in just ‘knowing’ about a new house?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

#SoCS – Jan. 23rd – Blank Sliding Off

23 Jan 2021 31 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: #SoCS, Blank, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Stream Of Consciousness Saturday

Thhis confusing post was brought to you, thanks to Linda’s #SoCS Prompt this week:

Your prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “close eyes and point.” When you’re ready to write your post, open a book, a newspaper, or whatever is handy and close your eyes and point. Whatever word or picture your finger lands on, make that the basis of your SoCS/JusJoJan post. Enjoy!

I looked to the right and the book next to me was Sugarbread by Balli Kaur Jaswal. The music was playing and I closed my eyes, and danced around with the book, as my daughter watched, laughing at her strange mother.

I opened it at a page and pointed, then opened my eyes and looked and I had chosen a blank page.

Blank.

Does that mean I get a blank canvas? I get to choose whatever I want to write about! I danced about again in exhileration, then the joy killer, aka Lil Princess, said “That’s cheating!”, and she made me do it again.

So the second time I closed my eyes, danced around and opened my book, my finger landed on the phrase ‘slide off‘. She then proceeded to giggle as my face took on a confused expression.

What am I supposed to write about?

I can’t even separate the words, as my finger was slap bang in the middle of them, and we have to play this by the rules. (Though if that is the case, I should stick with blank...)

So maybe I’ll think about the weather and all the rain we’ve had here in the UK, recently. I’ve had a few days where I have sat in the car and watch the raindrops race down the outside of the car, gather, and gently slide off the edge of the wing mirror…

Oh, my, Ritu. What on earth are you typing?

I haven’t a clue. My mind is blank.

I think I should just slide off, right now, slip away, quietly, whilst you, my reader Peeps, scratch your head and wonder what on earth I’m on about…

Til next time!

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2021 Daily Prompt – Jan. 23rd

January 21: Flash Fiction Challenge – Well, Someone Saw The Light…

22 Jan 2021 28 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills, The Light at the End of The Tunnel

Charli’s Carrot Ranch flash fiction prompt.

January 21, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that rephrases “light at the end of the tunnel.” Think of how the cliche replacement communicates a hopeful ending and aligns with your character or story. Go where the prompt leads!

Well, Someone Saw The Light…

“That’s it, babe, we’re nearly there!”

Becky took one look at her boyfriend, Jake, standing there at the other end, camera poised.

Dear God, if only she was able to get up, she’d have grabbed the camera, flung it in the bin and clouted him, one, before getting on with the job in hand.

Another wave of pain.

“Yes, babe! Nearly at the finish line. Come on, one more push and-”

She pushed, she delivered, she smiled, as her prize was handed to her.

Another grin as she saw Jake sprawled on the floor.

Silly git fainted, didn’t he.

January 21: Flash Fiction Challenge

Returning #writephoto

21 Jan 2021 30 Comments

by Ritu in #WritePhoto, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #WritePhoto, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Flash Poetry, Photo Prompt, Return, Sue Vincent

Sue is back with her #Writephoto prompt after an enforced break. We are so happy to see you back with your prompt, Sue. Gently does it!

So the prompt is RETURN along with the photo:

The
return
of normality
That's all we seek.
The 
return
of affection
That's what we need
The 
return
of common sense
That Politicians lack
The 
return
of our lives
That's what we miss

Ritu 2021