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Chai And A Chat #68 #ChaiAndAChat

27 Jan 2020 45 Comments

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

Happy Monday to you all! I hope you’ve had a great week!

If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that my patience has definitely been tried this week! Firstly we had the staffing ins and outs… never easy for any of us, adults and kids, but hey, we coped. Then there was the planning and prepping. My colleague and I managed to get the planning done before our official day, so it left me to create and locate the resources needed for the following week, alone. It’s easily done, but just time consuming. Oh, and we had a visit from a specialist teacher to observe my autistic Beaut. They are wo well meaning, but sometimes they forget that we are not a special school, and aside from that one child, I have 28 others to think about… Did I tell you I have another space in my class? One of my lovelies has left, as her family moved too far from the school for it to be viable for them to bring her here daily. So that leaves me with a spot… And seeing what I got when the last spot was filled, fills me with a new dread…
If we were sipping chai together I’d go on to news about my Growler… She seemed to have such a good week. Yes, there were a rew growls, but it was also her birthday, and with plenty of cuddles, smiles and cadjoling. Then Friday came. Oh my, what a Friday! We started off wonderfully, then breaktime was great. She’s starting to play with a couple of others, which is wonderful. But trouble started when she had to go to do her phonic learning with another group. Shoes flung off, and curled into a corner, her group leader had to bring her in separately, once the rest of the children were back from the lesson. Then I started our Numeracy learning. She appeared happy, and was especially pleased when I set up a special game for her to access on my class SMART TV. Better than her sitting and not understanding what our work was about. A couple of visitors into the classroom threw her, and the next thing I knew, growl central started up… She was curled up in the tiniest of spaces under the TV. I tried to move her gently, and got her one of the soft toys she likes to hold for reassurance. She managed to slip back into the gap. Then when we were finally out, she growled as I led her to where I was sitting, hoping to engage her in an activity near me. She started to grab herself, so I thought maybe it was a toilet visit she needed. The one other adult in the classroom, my support, was asked to take her. I kept the rest of the class busy with their tasks, until a few moments later, she reappeared, saying she was going to get help; the girl had locked herself in the toilet. Basically, in the last 15 minutes of her time at school, we had the headteacher, and office manager, trying to open the door, then attemtps to extricate a 5 year old who had attatched herself to the toilet bowl, accompanied by high pitched screams. Her mum’s arrival didn’t immediately help. It took mum a few minutes to get her out of the cubicle too. Heaven knows what she will be feeling like on Monday! And I wonder why I was so exhausted in Saturday, that after a visit to the temple, I literally ended up in bed the whole day!
If we were sipping chai together I’d have to mention that I have found a new hobby. I want to learn calligraphy! I have created a little kit for myself, and I must share this beautiful quill pen that I aquired…! That’s just me and stationery!

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If we were sipping chai together I’d say that I am nervously excited now. It is two weeks to the release of the book, and the last time I looked, preorders were at over 40! You guys, I am overwhelmed by your support! I have to share something funny though. I have been experimenting with Facebook Ads. I set up a small one to run, long term up to the release date, and targerted the UK, USA, Australia, India, Pakistan and the UAE… And since then, the ad has been inundated by likes… by random Asian men! 😂Surprisingly, no sales from there…

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If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that Lil Man wanted to return a basket ball that wasn’t up to scratch, so the kids and I ventured to Bluewater to return it, and had a lovely meal out as well.
If we were sipping chai together I’d have to share this too. Friday was Chinese New Year and we had an afternoon of celebration at school. The kids had noodles to try, games with chopsticks, dragon masks to make, and at the end, I bought them all Fortune Cookies to share. They loved it all! There were a few fortune cookies left, so I bought them home. And this was what one said…

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If we were sipping chai together I’d admit to falling for another of those challenges on Social Mendia. I swore I wouldn’t, but I ended up having to. Have you heard of the #DollyPartonMemeChallenge? She posted a meme of her alleged profile pics on various Social Media sites, spoof ones, obviously, to show how different a single person can be perceived by their profiles… so, here’s mine!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7yEPgMg2m1/

If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that this week, will be the calm before the storm, so to speak. The last week of January, then Feb hits with a BAM! We have ALL the birthdays in my in-laws family, my bro-in-law first, Hubby Dearest and my Mum-in-law on the same day, and then my Dad-in-law and Lil Princess on the same day too! Coupled with Valentines day, and a couple of weeks in, my Publishing Day, I think I should try and get my thinking cap on for gifts, and also get a little more rest in!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that it’ll be assessment time before I know it at school too! Dear God, help me!

Right, that’s me done Peeps! Let me how your week has been!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 256

26 Jan 2020 36 Comments

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

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
Phyllis Diller

Well, thank you for that, Spidey. You know exactly how I feel about smiling. 🙂

Personally, I feel so much better, when I have a smile on my face. Even if times are tough, that slight upwards curve of my lips, sets the tone for how I approach things.

I guess a smile helps to send positive hormones around your body, and they will make you look at situations in a much brighter way.

Equally, greeting someone with a smile (a genuine one, though) eases moments too. I know that as long as I have a smile for my parents, when opening the door every morning, and more smiles for my pupils, the parents leave, reassured, and the children come in happier, too.

I am known for having that smile on my face. When I was at university, I was described as ‘that smiley, curly haired girl from Birmingham’. See, the smile was always noticed first!

And I am totally unable to put a false smile on.

Even if I try and smile to mask any hurt or upset, it is quickly picked up on by those closest to me. Because that smile won’t reach my eyes. (That’s how you can tell anyone’s genuine smiles – if they smile and their eyes shine, or even crinkle at the edges, that’s a real one. If they are all teeth, but the eyes are a bit dull, and wide open, hello fake smile!)

Equally, a smile from a stranger can be worth more than you know. It costs us nothing, but benefits us by exercising plently of facial muscles, and can give someone who may be feeling forgotten, a real boost.

So… today, I won’t ask a question. Today, a challenge. Try and smile a little through adversity, and see how it might change your outlook on a situation. Or give someone who looks like they need it, a smile.

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps. Smile, and enjoy your week! ❤

January 22: Flash Fiction Challenge – 16:00 Bench

24 Jan 2020 21 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 16:00, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, The Bench

Charli’s Carrot Ranch prompt this week:

January 23, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a park bench. Use this gif to choose a timeframe and write the story behind that particular scene. Use the time as your title. Go where the prompt leads!

16:00

How much longer?

It’s been half an hour now.

I know she likes to keep me waiting, but this is taking the mick.

I hadn’t counted on the bench being wet either.

Who would have expected rain in June?

Actually, what am I thinking?

It’s England. Rain can happen at any time.

At least the flowers still look good.

They should, at that price.

Does this mean I’ve been stood up?

I wonder how many others have sat on this bench, waiting.

What’s that? Oh, a message.

Seriously?

She’s not coming.

Had a better offer.

Prosecco with the girls…

January 23: Flash Fiction Challenge

Entrance #writephoto

23 Jan 2020 18 Comments

by Ritu in #WritePhoto Tags: #WritePhoto, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Entrance, poem, Sue Vincent

Sue’s #WritePhoto Prompt

Come
Inside
This entrance
Beckons to you
An entrance filled with
The prospect of many
Adventures
Will you
Play?

Ritu 2020

Thursday photo prompt: Entrance #writephoto

Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 23rd, 2020 – Drive

23 Jan 2020 19 Comments

by Ritu in #jusjojan Tags: #jusjojan, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Daily Prompt, Drive, Linda G Hill

It’s Thursday, and we’re back to our regular daily prompts, this one for the 23rd day of Just Jot it January 2020. Janet gave us our prompt word for today. Thanks so much, Janet! Please be sure to visit her blog to read her post and say hello. And follow her while you’re there!

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 23rd, 2020, is “drive.” Use the word “drive” any way you’d like. Have fun!

The first thing that came to mind when I read this prompt this morning, was my journey to learning how to drive.

As a child, my mother would drive us to and from school, and to do the shopping, but any other drives, long or short, were always undertaken by Pops.

Mum was always nervous to go further than the few local places she was familiar.

I couldn’t wait for that time when I would turn seventeen, and could legally get behind a wheel! I’d zoom around everywhere.

Well, that’s what I thought…

Seventeen came, and I was gifted driving lessons by my parents. It was extemely nerve wracking but I managed to move that huge car around the roads. Heck, I was driving!

Then came the test.

And guess who failed, because of a Coke can?

Me, that’s who!

I was reversing around a corner, and I spotted a can on the road, via my rearview mirror. Desperately trying hard not to drive over it, I manouvered away, and found myself in the middle of the road, rather than neatly by the side.

Yup, fail.

Second attempt – it was a few silly mistakes that caused me to fail.

Third attempt – you know, I just wasn’t ready…

Time came for me to leave home, and go to University. I wasn’t going to need a car here. Being so close to London meant the public transport was pretty good, and who wanted to pay exhorbitant parking prices?

Once I finally qualified, and decided to come back home, I realised that it was now or never. I had, by then, met Hubby Dearest, and we were engaged.

If I was getting married and moving to Kent, I needed to know how to drive, or face five hours in a coach, or three on a train, with various stops, to be able to visit my parents.

My mum encouraged me. “You can do it, Ritu, it only took me five attempts.”

Five? I was nearing that already with three fail certificates under my belt!

I had just over a year before the big day.

A new instructor was found, someone who taught my brother too (Younger, and yes, he passed before me on the FIRST time!)

And so, the lessons began. He was great, Ken, the driving instructor. He pulled no punches either.

It got to a few months before the wedding.

Ken: “I don’t think you’re ready yet…”

Me: “Why don’t I book my test for as late as possible, before the wedding? I have to try…”

Ken: “Er, okay…”

No, you’re thinking right. He wasn’t convinced!

Anyhow, I worked my butt off and three weeks before the wedding, I nervously sat at the Test Centre, waiting my turn.

The Examiner entered. Ken’s face dropped. But he said nothing, bar, “Just do your best.”

The test started. Vision test passed. And I pulled out of the Test Centre park. It all went well.

Until I shifted my gear from fourth to third, instead of fifth, on a dual carriage way.

Examiner: “Er, I think you might need to check your gears.”

Damn! Failed. I knew it.

We started to chat, and I began to relax because I knew I’d failed. Then, I did it again!

Another polite reminder from the Examiner.

We started to chat about general things, and the fact that I was getting married came up. I said that it would mean the world to have a licence, as I was moving so far away.

He asked where I was moving, and when I mentioned the location, in Kent, he told me that he used to live there. Small world!

Then he started asking about the wedding – knowing Sikh weddings are big affairs, and that generally, there is a great free bar at the party!

Before I knew it, he told me to pull up, and I realised we were outside the Test Centre again. Ken stood there, nervously looking out for us.

Examiner: “Now, I need to give you your feedback and results. I need you to look at me, and please, don’t smile.”

Me: “Er, okay.” (Does this guy even know who I am? Ritu, who is known for her smiles!)

Examiner: “Right, well, I am pleased to say that you have passed. I know you were nervous, but just take care with your gear changes. Otherwise, you did great!”

Me: [fighting the urge to smile] “Really? I passed? No!”

Examiner: “Yes, you have. Look at Ken’s face. I think he is sure we have bad news to give to him. It’s okay, he’s an old friend of mine. I love winding him up. Now, you have a wonderful wedding, and you can send the invitation to the wedding here!”

With a wink, he left me sitting in the car. Then turned to Ken with a stern look.

Ken rushed over. I handed him the paperwork.

Ken: ” You passed? I don’t believe it! No, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that he’s the toughest examiner here. When I saw him, I was convinced it wasn’t going to go our way. In fact, he failed one of my pupils who was the best driver I had ever taught, and I have been teaching for a long time. Still, well done. I’m proud of you. Surprised, but proud.”

And with that, I was finally unleased, legally, on the roads!

I got a pretty awesome wedding present – the ability to get home whenever I wanted. And I even had a second hand car ready for me to take!

That was another bit of fun… the first time I drove on a motorway, was the three hour journey to take the car to my new home!

And there you have it, my journey to learning to drive!