And here was me, thinking I may just be able to wrap up the #CoronaDiaries hashtag, when BoZoBoJo and his gang decide to announce Lockdown #2! A lockdown with differences…
If we were having chai I’d start with school. Oh, no, I don’t have to, because we were on half term, weren’t we? So no thinking about school, or work, planning, staffing. In your dreams, Ritu! But more about that later!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that we didn’t end up getting the skip, even though it was on the list of things to do. I think we have all been a bit deflated of energy, and the will to do anything was just gone, so I moved bits about in the garden, but the stuff that needs to go, is still there!
If we were having chai I’d say that we did get our valuations done, and out of three, we found who I hope will be our dream agent, with a great valuation of our property, and a very reasonable fee… however… more on that, too…
If we were having chai I’d mention that Sonu Singh had his stint at the vets, for his scale and polish, and the removal of one broken tooth. Poor thing was still high on his painkillers, when he came back, and once he remembered food, it was like he had the munchies, darting from bowl to bowl, licking anything he thought would have food in, and even dipped half his head into his water bowl, unaware that he was soaking wet on one side, as he tried to snuffle for more food! My boy is fine now, though, thank goodness!
If we were having chai I’d have to let you know that we are on a mission to get Lil Man in the kitchen! My brother had a chat with him, one day, and told him, that it was really important for him to learn how to cook. Obviously, I have been trying to instil this in him, and Lil Princess, but coming from his on so cool uncle, he took heed. The challenge was on, for him to learn how to make eggs, at least two ways, and the boy done good! We started with omelette, me making one first, and him copying and following my lead. Apparently it didn’t taste good “because someone else hadn’t made it for me!” But it was good. Then day two was scrambled eggs, which he did really well with. I went shopping on the Saturday and came back to a sink filled with dishes, but there was still a proud mum moment, as he had made himself scrambled eggs, with no supervision! (Now to get cool uncle to challenge him to tidy up after himself!)
If we were having chai I’d get back to that news I keep hinting at… the announcement of a second lockdown. Yup. It was that news we were all expecting, yet hoping not to have to endure. That news that we dreaded, but knew was inevitable. England is officially in it’s second national lockdown from Thursday. But it’s a lockdown with a difference. All non essential businesses have to stop, including bars/restaurants, retail shops, gyms, hair salons and beauty bars. If you can work from home, you have to. Unless you are in the construction industry, or in manufacturing of essential goods, Emergency services, and health care, and education. Yup, so we at school are still same as before, soldiering on, with our children coming in, so the kids have the least amount of disruption. There is plenty to worry about, but we just have to keep going. We are a staff member down this week, due to a necessary medical procedure, and her needing to quarantine before it, I have 4 prospective members of staff to meet and observe, my classroom needs to be totally reset, as it was left in a tip on the Friday before breaking up due to the flooring being done, and I have a new boy starting tomorrow, too! So all these things meant there was a certain amount of school encroaching upon my week… And now, I worry about whether we can still go ahead with the house sale, etc… if we are in lockdown? Oh, well. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?
This week, it’ll all be about school, preparations for the next four weeks, drawing up virtual learning plans, just in case, and interviews. Oh, and juggling staff where we have a shortage… And thinking about my own two, and possible childcare, as I don’t want to drop them to my in-laws, as they are classed as vulnerable, unless absolutely necessary. I guess we’ll just wait and see. I mean, we haven’t been given the official guidance, yet, and that might add a whole heap of extra touble on our plates!
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!
“It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.”
C.S Lewis
Wow. Profound quote, you found there, Spidey!
And quite apt, again. (Seriously, how do you do that, every week? Find something that suits my mindset?)
As I type this, I am mulling over the aannouncements made by BoZo, sorry, BoJo, aka Boris Johnson, our bumbling buffoon of a Prime Minister, this afternoon evening. (It was due for 4 pm, then stretched to 5pm after which, it was sometime after 5 pm, which ended up just after 6.30 pm, I think.
Sorry, where was I?
Oh, yes. That announcement.
Well, it appears that as of Thursday, (because the virus knows to wait until then before spreading more) England will be entering national lockdown take 2.
Similar to that of March, but different, still.
Last time we all thought it was a couple of weeks, but it ended up months, before measures were eased.
This time, it runs for four weeks, until December 2nd. Because them, up above, think that a month should be enough to help us get back to some semblance of normality by spring, and quite possibly a better Christmas… I wait and watch.
Actually, no, I don’t wait at all. Because it’ll be daily duty as usual for me, and all the other staff in the education sector.
Baasically, all non-essential business have to close, incuding retail shops, hospitality businesses, like bars and restaurants, gyms, etc.
If you are in offices, you are back to working from home, indefinitely.
Certain industries that can’t function from home, such as construction, and manufacturing, may still be open.
But don’t worry, the drs and hospitals will be in full swing. As will all other emergency services, and supermarkets.
And nurseries, schools, colleges and universities.
I am so torn by this decision.
On the one hand, why are schools not being shut too, as they seem to be the areas where infection rates are rising, and though children may suffer much less from the virus, they are also carriers who can transfer it to members of their own families?
And on the other, it is important for schools to be open, because of the effect the last lockdown and closures have already had on the progress of many children, and, more improtantly, their mental wellbeing.
If we closed, it would be to go to remote learning, which we are lucky to be able to access, and provide for ‘most’ children. (‘Most’ because not all have electronic devices at their fingertips for a whole day at a time. Especially if you are in a family with several children of a younger age.) My two being in secondary, are computer literate, and though they don’t like it, they can access everything.
But, I hate Remote Learning for the younger kids.
It’s much more accessible for the older kids, who can take instructions, understand computers and technology, and hand in work. aside from ensuring your kid is up and logged in, most parents shouldn’t have to do much more.
With the younger ones, firstly, exactly how long do the Government really expect them to be on a screen for? My class are of an age where we are teaching them about behaviour and social interraction. Not sitting, staring at a screen, which most are pretty good at, but that’s only if it’s mindless YouTube videos. Kinda impossible when they are at home.
Secondly, we are responsible for laying the foundations of what will be a good base for a child’s education. That’s why we are called the EYFS – Early Years Foundation Stage.
I may be able to record an input, and design tasks for a child to do at home, to begin to understand addition, takeaway, language of position and size. I can set work to help them learn their sounds, and form letters. I can read stories for them, and ask questions. But, it’s then down to the parents to ensure they are doing these things, and to sit down and participate with the child. And they’re not teachers. Sure, many will try their hardest. But some parents have more than one child, in different classes, of different abilities. How are they expected to cope with trying to supervise ‘lessons’ for all their kids?
I hope most of my class turns up, come Monday, for their education’s sake. But I worry about if we suddenly have to provide for both home learning and in school learning, if parents decided they don’t want to send their children in. It’s a busy enough life, as a teacher, but this means teraing yourself in two. Providing content which is consistently updated and uploaded to our hub, and teaching the same, if not more, to the children who are in.
Then I also have to deal with the worry that my own family have, about us, as school staff, and pupils (Lil Man and Lil Princess) being in school, while the rest of the country is in lockdown. I know it is preying on Hubby Dearest’s mind a lot. He is so tense, and is still suggesting I jack in my job in school, as my health and wellbeing is more important to him than my salary.
But, it’s not about the money. Teaching, and the children; it’s in my blood. It’s what I’ve wanted to do, since I was six. It’s my vocation in life, and with a vocation, you take the ups with the downs.
Oh, and you cannot mix with another household, inside, or out, unless it is with one other member, and that is for recreational exercise purposes… (in the cold and dark, at the moment). But, you can look after children from another household as part of childcare… (and risk your kids taking the virus into the heart of another houshold, filled with more of your loved ones who you might not be able to actually meet, because you can’t actually mix with them!)
Seriously, my brain is all a-kerfuffle… but, I’ll have it all in place, come the next set of changes…
So… tell me, are you someone who knows how to carry your load, or does change unbalance you?
Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps. And enjoy your week!
Ooooh, what a wicked web of secrets and lies Nicola Marsh weaves in her latest suspense-filled book, My Sister’s Husband! From the off, I was pulled in to the story of two pairs of sisters, with lives and experiences that mirror one another, in an uncanny way. Brooke arrives home, to celebrate the wedding of her sister, Freya, to Ryker, after a lengthy absence, and finds herself reuniting with family, and finding out way more about her own history than she ever imagined, Just how twisted can a person can be? I was on the edge of my seat, as I read this book, and though I spent most of the time trying to second guess the outcome, I was so off the mark when all was revealed. Definitely a recommended read! Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Carole Matthews has done it again! I was so happy to be able to visit the gang at Hope Farm again, having truly enjoyed Happiness For Beginners, and Christmas For Beginners did not disappoint. Molly is settled into Hope Farm’s new home, complete with a state of the art mobile home for herself, her trusted friends Bev and Alan, a surrogate son, Lucas, living with her, and not forgetting the crazy animals who help to create the education she offers to the children who. come to visit the farm. All that’s missing is a more regular appearance from Shelby, her partner, who also happens to be Lucas’s father, and a famous soap star. From the off, I was feeling a sense of ‘things aren’t quite right’ between Molly and Shelby, and I rooted for her to make the right decisions, on several occasions. (Which she does, eventually.) There is laughter in this. book, thanks to unruly animal, heartache, loss, but also, an overwhelming amount of love, both romantic, and otherwise, and above all, hope. Such a lovely read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, Susan Lewis, I do love your books! A woman stifled by her overpowering husband finally finds a chance to escape a life of misery, with her daughter, and sets herself up with a new identity and life far away. New names, new looks, new home, new friends. But that fear never leaves… I loved the way this book was written with the chapters of the story interspersed with letters from someone who obviously wronged one of the main characters. I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving away too much of the plot, but I was totally drawn into the whole plot, and there were twists. Oh, were there twists! I was left guessing for most of the book, on a lot of points, and all the guessing ensured I continued reading. Definitely a recommended read! Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a delight of a story! Finding Henry Applebee is a story about several characters, of which Henry is the main one, An eighty-five-year-old man on a mission heads to Edinburgh to fulfil his heart’s desire, except it was never going to be that simple, was it? A young woman is also heading to Edinburgh to act out the last of her mother’s wishes. A twenty-something American Jazz musician is on his way to watch a much longed-for performance. A chance meeting on a train. changes the lives of all three of these characters in a wonderful way. I enjoyed reading this story, interspersed with flashbacks from the past featuring each of the main characters, adding layer upon layer to the plot. I wanted to keep Henry Applebee, and look after him in my own home – what a sweetheart! The story is filled with romance, of a deeper nature. What people do for love…
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kate isn’t really looking for love, but her best friend, Laura, seems to think she should be. So strongly, that she coerces Kate into signing up for a course of twelve dates, leading up to Christmas. Forced into a situation she really didn’t want to be in, Kate embarks upon her dates and ends up with a mixture of disappointment, surprise, passion, fear… but does love make an appearance? I enjoyed this easy read of a Christmas romance, where love showed up in an unlikely place. Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I adore reading about the character sets that Tess Thompson creates, and I was lucky enough to have won copies of the first three in the Blue Mountain Series, a couple of years ago. When I heard that the fourth was coming out, I didn’t hesitate to pre-order. This fourth book follows the Lannigan sister, Teagan, as she settles back into life in her childhood town. The death of her father and one of her brothers, has in some way or another, brought all the siblings back to the family land that holds such memories, and she has her own home build, to house her and Cris, her child. Teagan is a prickly character. She’s not open to trusting people too easily, but when a certain person walks back into her life, after an intensive fling a while back, she is torn. Does she give her heart to the guy who may just swan off after he gets bored, or does she protect herself and her little boy, who is crying out for a father figure? Wyatt Black is a country music star with a block. After suffering PTSD when a shooter killed tens of people at one of his concerts, he is stuck in an emotional rut. The only thing that he wants is to anchor himself near the one person he can’t get out of his mind. Teagan Lannigan. What follows is the tale of how they come together, once again, but not without plenty of bumps in the road, and even murder! One thing I love about Tess Thompson’s books is how characters jump from one series to another, so there is already a familiarity to the story because you feel like you already know something, Wyatt Black features in the Cliffside Bay series, briefly, too.
I’ve had this pon my kindle for a long while now and finally got a chance to read it. Imagine being a 16-year-old, living your normal, boring life, then finding it turned upside down by a prospective Rock God moving in next door? And falling head over heels with him? What about being at Death’s door, then being given a second chance at life, and grabbing all opportunities life throws at you, even if it casts you in the light of ‘the Other Woman’? This book follows the diary entries of two very different girls, Renza, and Stella, and how, in the height of the Swinging Sixties, they fall for the same guy. And even though he’s stringing along two women, you can’t help but feel for Scott, too… I enjoyed this story, Kinky Boots, and all! I always wonder how two authors write a book together, and this novel shows how a good collaboration works!
I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I started reading this book, but, I have to say that once it got going, I was pretty much hooked. One man finds himself the owner of a large house, but with conditions attached. Strange conditions. Three very different women end up renting apartments in that same quirky, old house. Three women who have experienced very different losses. Inexplainable happenings, and a letter partially destroyed, bring them all together, and mysteries get solved in an extremely twisted manner. It was strange, but I really enjoyed reading it!
What’s not to love about this book! Grace is a single mother, trying her hardest to give the best of everything to her son Archie, with the help of their dog, Becks. Working in a small estate agent, she bumbles along with her life, still silently grieving the loss of her mother, and harbouring guilt at her failed marriage. Thankfully, Grace has people in her life who care, like a best friend who wants to get her back on her own two feet, not just as Archie’s mum, but as a woman, too, with makeovers and online dating set up. And a rather dishy gardener happens to show up on her doorstep one day, and who just keeps on appearing… Add in an ex-husband who wants the best of both worlds, and you have a recipe for an interesting tale. But how can I forget one of my favourite parts of the book, the silent letters of support from Grace’s mum from beyond the grave? I have to admit that my eyes teared up when reading them. It made me feel warm inside, to imagine that those we love and lose, are actually still there, watching what we are doing, cheering us on, sending us signals… Archie’s a dream of a boy, at that awkward age when it’s far too hard to show your feelings when you are still a little boy, but a the cusp of growing up, needing your mummy but wanting to appear too old for ‘all that’. I felt for Grace. I wanted to go and slap her ex in the face, myself. I giggled and cringed through the stories of online dating, and warmed so much to Vinnie, the gardener, that I rooted for romance from the off. Kim Nash has created a whole cast of characters that are likeable (or not, if you could the ex) and ones you want to get to know yourself. A feel-good book, with plenty of ups and downs, moments of joy and laughter, and times where you feel truly choked up with emotion. Well, I did. Fabulous read!
Predator by Zoe Caldwell
It’s a five star, but you’ll have to wait until the 2nd November for my review, as I’ll be posting about it separately, but if you are up for a dark, kinky thriller, then this one is for you!
In this day and age, networking is key for both traditionally published, as well as self-published authors. But where to start? The amount of different social media platforms out there can boggle the best of minds, so it is always to great to have a thorough guide, and who better than a successful author and entrepreneur, to step up and share her tips and ideas? Lizzie Chantree has put together a wonderful resource, that is a quick read, but filled with so many gems to help you get started, and continue growing your social media presence, and work with other writers, your readers and businesses to benefit not only yourself but the wider community, too. Definitely worth the read. Now, I’m off to schedule some posts… everywhere!
Hitting that era of life where menopause may become more of a reality than one of those things that might happen in the distant future, I began to read this book with a little more curiosity than usual. Lyn is in the throes of the beginning of menopause. She’s all hot flushes and had a No Entry sign firmly placed ‘down there’, much to the frustration of her husband, Neil. Things come to a head when she discovers he’s found ways to lubricate himself, without her assistance. Armed with the keys to what was their holiday home, Lyn ups sticks and moves to Cornwall, to start up her new life. She signs up to a matchmaking site, with ‘companionship only – NO SEX’ firmly ticked on her profile and proceeds to meet some characters, some of which become longstanding friends, and some, she’d rather not see again. An easy to read book, and I really liked some of the characters, especially gentleman Peter and transexual, Jamie! But, though the ending was very ‘happily ever after’, part of me wanted her to make a different choice. Still, an enjoyable read.
I’ve read some of Kay Bratt’s more recent reads before, and had the Scavenger’s Daughters on my kindle for a while now, so decided to read. A different type of story, with some heart-wrenching scenes within the tale. I have no real knowledge of the situation in China, especially during the times of the revolution and after, so this was eye-opening. I truly hope there were men and women like Benfu and Calla, willing to give love and homes to the thousands of abandoned girls. A touching story. I look forward to reading the next one.
After learning of all the good, Benfu and his wife Calli have done for abandoned daughters of the country, we get to follow the story further this time from Calli’s viewpoint, and the eldest of the adopted girls living with them now, as well as a new character, Li Jin, who is another woman, passed from pillar to post within the system, before suffering beyond what any girl should have to suffer. All before a secret is unearthed. Another tumultuous ride in the life of girls in post-revolution China.
The third book in the Scavenger’s Daughters series focussed on the twin girls Benfu and Calla look after, Ivy, and her blind sister, Lily, along with a little more about Sami, the girl who Li Jin, the blood daughter of Benfu and Calla, brought with her to live. They now have a bigger home, but still, it is filled with folk who they want to help and is run by love and the goodness that runs through the veins of its inhabitants. Until that is, misunderstandings occur, and one of the twins ends up incarcerated, and Sami stirs up her own trouble. I’m sure that much of what is written has an element of truth in it. Quite possibly, not all this would happen to just one family, in reality, but it makes for interesting reading, and, as I have mentioned in reviews for the previous books, I feel more educated with each book I read.
Red Skies, the fourth in the Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters, was another heart-rending read. This time, we concentrated on Mari, one of Benfu and Calla’s eldest ‘daughters’, who lives away from her family, with her husband, near Beijing. Having been rescued from the streets as a child doesn’t mean that she’s spared any difficulties as she enters adulthood, and these are what Kay Bratt has explored in this book. Mari is a ‘good wife’. She’s nursing her husband back to health after a serious fall, and juggling trying to work, to cover costs of living, with caring for a man, who is a mere shell of himself, and slowly turning to his medication for support, rather than his wife. An Ni is a young girl, forced into the begging cycle by a gang who found her as a babe. Her path crosses with Mari’s one day, and little do they know how intertwined their lives will become. Max is an American in Beijing on work duty, with a very personal mission he’s trying to complete as well. There are so many layers to this story, from the begging gangs to adoption, to loss, in many forms. But there is always hope.
This prequel to the Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters series was truly heart-rending. In The Palest Ink, we learned much more of Benfu, the Scavenger’s, history, and how he came to be where he ended up, in Wuxi, with his beloved Calli. It also follows the story of his best friend, Pony-Boy, and the ending truly had me in tears… The horrors that were experienced by some in China during those times, were unknown to me, so it was eye-opening. Thank you, Kay Bratt, for educating me in an era I had no knowledge of.
Phew! Seventeen books. That’s not a bad run, is it? There are a mix of new releases, as well as older ones, there, that I wanted to read, from my never-decreasing TBR pile. Which ones tickle your fancy?
Good Day, Peeps! I have another wonderful guest on the blog today, to introduce her new book, Networking For Writers, to you all. It’s releasing TODAY!
Please give wonderful fiction author, entrepreneur and now non-fiction writer, Lizzie Chantree, a huge welcome!
Hello everyone. Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog today, Ritu, I’m thrilled to be here!
My name is Lizzie Chantree and I am a women’s fiction author. I write books about strong minded entrepreneurs with some pretty unusual businesses, which is a lot of fun. I have been lucky enough for them all to become international bestsellers in various categories and to have hit the #1 spot more than once too. I have just written my first non-fiction book, to help writers find their way through the minefield of book marketing that can sometimes seem a little overwhelming.
Networking is about being social, but it is also about structure, discipline and focus. In my book I offer insight into the tools I use to sell books, keep my author brand up to date, find writing groups to join or create and I explain how not to waste valuable writing time through procrastination and self-doubt. I attribute my success to my incredible community of support, which grows daily, due to easy to learn techniques and I hope that this reference tool can guide others to be able to follow their dreams and enjoy every minute of the journey.
The Blurb
Are you swamped with book marketing and looking for a way to find new sales? Learn simple and effective networking techniques, to grow your readership and connect with other authors and book lovers, today!
Whether you are a new or experienced writer, self-published or traditionally published, this book will show you how to grow your readership and author network, through some of the most powerful of all marketing tools – word of mouth and recommendation.
This book will show you:
How networking can help you sell more books.
Why author branding is important.
How networking hours work.
Specific Facebook groups for writers
How to utilise social media to grow your readership.
How not to waste valuable writing time.
How to make our marketing more effective.
Throughout Networking for Writers, we will explore running or attending book signings, hosting seminars, finding a writing buddy or mentor, author networking groups, social media planning and so much more.
In this day and age, networking is key for both traditionally published, as well as self-published authors. But where to start? The amount of different social media platforms out there can boggle the best of minds, so it is always to great to have a thorough guide, and who better than a successful author and entrepreneur, to step up and share her tips and ideas? Lizzie Chantree has put together a wonderful resource, that is a quick read, but filled with so many gems to help you get started, and continue growing your social media presence, and work with other writers, your readers and businesses to benefit not only yourself but the wider community, too. Definitely worth the read. Now, I’m off to schedule some posts… everywhere!
Honestly, the way I am feeling, I’m not sure I have the energy for a drink, let alone a chat, today, but I will stop, and sit down for a short one with you, because it has been another crazy week, and thankfully, today is the first day of half term… and, boy, do I need the break!
If we were having chai I’d take a huge sip, before starting up with school.Week eight of the term that feels like it’s been going on forever, in a surreal parallel universe… Well, the Pumpkin Soup learning went down well, and then we got the beginning of a Chicken Pox run in my class… then, as we crawled towards the end of the week, the inevitable happened… and we ended up with three bubbles closing within school as we had four cases of Covid-19 positive results. A nightmare to end a term that has been hacking away at all of us. Thankfully, it wasn’t our bubble, but still, that’s a lot of potential people it could affect… I’m glad we’re all home for a week, now, to have that total break.
If we were having chai I’d remind you that in the summer, my classroom floor was meant to have been sanded and polished, but due to the guy being quarantined, it got postponed. Well, as we are off this week, it was booked in, so Friday evening saw me humping furniture off the flooring, onto the carpeted area, again, and though the floor will be lovely, shiny and new, it also means that I have to be in on the Monday, brighter and earlier than usual, to get everything put back into place! I need something to cheer me up, so here is a little gallery of prints (swipe on the Instagram post to see the different ones) of portraits done by my students over the last few years!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that though nothing major happened with the house, it has been great to have no one around, tinkering with things! And I did manage to contact some estate agents, who will be coming round this week to give us valuations. It’s really happening, y’all!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that I was pretty excited to have finally hit the 2k follower mark on Instagram, too, last week! Its gone up and down, since that post, but still… 2k!!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that we managed a brisk faamily walk to the local prom on Sunday afternoon, after an extremely lazy day, since the clocks went back, allowing for a lie in! I needed that blast of cool, refreshing air.
This week, it’s my brother’s birthday so I’ll be celebrating from afar, seeing as he is in Finland, and, even though we are on half term, there are countless things to do, including getting another skip to do more clearing out, taking Sonu Singh to the cat dentist as he has bad teeth (and it’s so expensive!), and ferrying Lil Man to get measured for his new cricket bat, as well as getting valuations done on the house. But, my top priority will be rest.
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!
![Only One Woman by [Christina Jones, Jane Risdon]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZgNHZFaUL.jpg)
But I Smile Anyway... 