But I Smile Anyway…

Hey there Peeps! Time for our weekly catch up, get that drink ready!

• If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that it’s been a lovely, buys, but not busy first week of the break. As you read, Lil Man is back to school, and Lil Princess and I are embarking on the first of a few girlie days this week!
• If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that the kids have been out most of the week for hours at a time, playing with their new street friends. I am seriously so happy that they have bonded with each other, and that we can let them out with no worries (well, almost no worries, but the story of this gang deserves another post, of its own!)
• If we were sipping chai together I’d say that we ended up at the cinema twice this week too, to watch The Secret Life of Pets 2 and Aladdin. The kids really wanted to see the first one, and I was desperate for the Disney one! Actually, Lil Man refused Aladdin at first, so the plan was to watch that with Lil Princess next week… who I had to bribe to watch it with me… But, that was the film we saw first last week, after Lil Man had a change of heart… and it was such a good movie! I absolutely love the animated version, so was skeptical of a real life copy, but I had no need to be! Aladdin was gorgeous, Jasmine was beautiful, the sets were amazing and Will Smith as the Genie did Robin Williams proud, both making the character his own, as well as keeping the original Genie spirit alive. The kids were buzzing after it, and I was singing the songs to myself all evening. In contrast, The Pets film was… cute… but a little flat after the magnificance of Aladdin. Can’t wait for The Lion King now!
• If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you I started the arduous task of EYFS report writing for school. It is so time consuming and the information needed changes from year to year, so we have to start early… just so the end of July doesn’t fly by in a haze of paperwork.

• If we were sipping chai together I’d say that I managed to read lots too, as well as get started on the editing of my book, which was really exciting, and fueled by an hour long conversation with my editor, who is just lovely, and was so encouraging with her comments. I forsee a little work, not crazy rewrites, but some overhauls, and a few additions with a couple of take outs as well… but all in all, positive stuff! So positive that I have started the hunt for my book cover too!!!

• If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that I have done hardly any house work… is that bad of me? This week has been about relaxing, letting the kids be kids and the Ritu be Ritu! Aside from the cursory wipes of surfaces and hoovering, and the dishes, oh, and the laundry, I have done none. And I feel great for it! Sometimes you have to let go of routine a little!
• If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that Hoppaling Hubby is no longer in a cast! Yay! But he is now in a walking boot, which is a cumbersome device that means eventually he will be able to put weight on his foot, but there is still a definite second lot of 2 weeks where he can’t drive or go to work… Frustration is getting to him, as it would to us all… Cabin fever and all that … but we did get out to Lil Man’s cricket match, which was a change for him.

• If we were sipping chai together I can’t forget to mention that I was driven to emotional tears of joy from a most wonderful review of my poetry book, Poetic RITUals, by the lovely Lucy Mitchell! Check it out below!

• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that, as I mentioned earlier, this week will be devoted to some girlie time with my Lil Princess, a little shopping, a little hair pampering, a little nail stuff… that kind of thing.
• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d mention I shall be taking Hubby Dearest to his office one day, for the first time in nearly 8 weeks. I hope he appreciates the taking away of my holiday time… but it means lots more uninterrupted reading time for me whilst he is catching up with his colleagues!
• If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that another exciting thing is that I am being interviewed for a Podcast tomorrow! More shall be posted, as I know more!

Have a wonderful week, Peeps! Let me know how your week went!