“When that day you all know is coming, arrives, and you really don’t know how to feel…”
Ritu Bhathal
(I will tell you all about it, I promise, but not right now!)
For Linda’s #1LinerWeds
One-Liner Wednesday – Nervous Anticipation
05 Oct 2022 25 Comments
in #onelinerwednesday Tags: #1linerweds, #onelinerwednesday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Overthinking
October 3: Flash Fiction Challenge – Chai Time
03 Oct 2022 14 Comments
in #CarrotRanch Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Chai Time, Flash Fiction, Tea
Charli’s Carrot Ranch Prompt, this week:
October 3, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about any ritual involving tea. It can be a daily afternoon tea prepared specifically or the reading of tea leaves in a cup. What do you know? What do you imagine? Is your story deep and ponderous or bright and flash? Go where the prompt leads!
Chai Time
Water simmers as I add tea leaves.
I peruse my spice cupboard, wondering which to add, today.
Fennel seeds, cardamom pods, cloves, some cinnamon, too.
Each releases its unique scent into the air as it is added to the deep brown liquid.
Milk added, the boiling halts as the liquid begins its simmering journey again.
A careful eye is needed as the bubbles increase and the froth begins to rise.
Gas down, froth down.
Gas up, froth up.
Three times, then off.
Strain it. Pour it into a cup.
Perfect masala tea to warm the cockles of anyone’s heart.
Chai And A Chat #205 #ChaiAndAChat
03 Oct 2022 29 Comments
in Chai and a Chat Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat
Morning, Peeps. I honestly don’t know where the time is going!
Got a drink? Great!
- If we were having chai, I’d say that week five in school was all about seeing how the children settled into the proper Reception routine and timetable. Reality has definitely hit for them now, as they realise that school isn’t ALL playing. There is a lot of it, but we must start focusing on certain things that they HAVE to attempt so we can help them with the beginnings of academic learning, as well as nurturing their social sides. Bugs are hitting, too, with temperatures and coughs and colds… A typical start in EYFS, to be honest!
- If we were having chai, I’d tell you my own two are settled back into school now, with Lil Man gearing up for his final exams in May/June (how did that happen?) He isn’t interested in going to university. He’d rather get a job, or start an apprenticeship of some sort, in Business and Marketing and learn while he earns. Fair enough, I say. We had an evening event where the school staff talked about the options available to the children after A-levels. It is so different to when we were at this age and stage of education that I am glad I went to gain an understanding of what is out there.
- If we were having chai, I’d say that the weather has definitely turned, too. It was cold most mornings, and the wind and rain really picked up on Frida evening and Sunday morning!
- If we were having chai, I’d mention that I tried something new on Sunday evening. Lil Princess and I went for a walk, as has become a lovely habit. She has become quite introverted over the last two years, and it is great to see her begin to come out of her shell and ask to go for a walk. Anyway, I digress! We walked a little further today, as she suggested we walk to the local Co-op. All in all, the round trip was 3.2 miles, which was further than she had walked in a long time. I was out of breath and experienced hot flushes as we hit the home run, but it was worth seeing her out and about. While there, I picked up this intriguing new Coca-Cola flavour, Dreamworld… There was nothing on it to describe the flavour. Apparently, it tastes like dreams! It was weird. I am not sure what my dreams would taste like…
- If we were having chai, I’d leave you with Sonu Singh. He decided I had been reading too much, so fell asleep on my Kindle! Bless him.
This week, I think school is relatively ‘normal’, though what is ‘normal’ when it’s at home? One staff member is on a day off on Monday, so cover is to be provided there, but the rest is pretty much the usual, apart from Thursday when I have a meeting at lunchtime. And I have a doctor’s appt to discuss the perimenopause again on Tuesday… wish me luck!
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 395 – Weather Alert
02 Oct 2022 25 Comments
in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Spidey's Serene Sundays, weather
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”
John Ruskin
Thank you, Spidey, for helping me with another great quote!
Yes, yes, I am late again, but I was too tired to write the post last night!
So, where was I? Ah, yes, the weather…
As I sit here typing, the rain is beating a merry rhythm on my study window.
I won’t complain. After the extreme heat of the summer, the grass needs as much of a soaking as it can get, and I much prefer my garden to look lush and green, rather than scorched and yellow as straw.
It’s easy to get grumpy about the weather, isn’t it? For some, nothing is right.
The rain is too wet
The wind is too blowy
The sun is too hot
The snow is too cold
But, sometimes it is good to try and find that silver lining.
The rain is nourishing our plants and wildlife and refilling our reservoirs.
The wind is giving everyone a little shake-up to remind you to sweep up those leaves later.
The sun is giving your that dose of Vitamin D that some of us really need, and warming our souls.
The snow lets us cosy up with our loved ones and enjoy just being together.
Before anyone says it, yes, extreme weather is something different. Hurricanes, heavy storms, heatwaves; they aren’t fun, and not for the faint-hearted…
I think that even though some weather may make me sigh, disheartened, because the rain cancelled plans, or the heat is too much for what we wanted to do, there is still always something positive about it all.
I don’t even have a favourite kind of weather, or season, because each kind brings something positive, with it.
So, tell me, what is your favourite season?
Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!
#SoCS Oct. 01, 2022 – Me
01 Oct 2022 26 Comments
in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, Socs
Linda’s SoCS prompt.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “me.” Find a word that starts with “me” or use the word “me” as the theme of your post. Have fun!
Me.
It’s not selfish to think of myself sometimes.
I mean, I give my all to the world every single day.
As a wife and mother.
As a daughter/daughter-in-law.
As a sister.
As a friend.
As a teacher.
As a manager.
As a colleague.
As a writer.
As a reader.
Some days, when life allows me the luxury, I just forget about everyone and curl up with a good book and a cup of tea.
Self-care at its finest.
Sometimes we have to put ME first, otherwise we won’t have anything left in our reserves to cope with the rest of our responsibilities, and it’s taken me a long time to realise that.
But I Smile Anyway... 
