Chai & A Chat #11 #ChaiAndAChat

Well here we are at meeting number eleven… heaven!

Yes, it’s been another eventful week (when is it not, where I am concerned!)

  • If we were sipping chai together  I’d tell you that my dear colleague is still not well, and has been signed off for a while longer, meaning I shall be changing my priorities for the next couple of months. Reception will get my attention more, and Nursery loses me for a day. I am a little gutted as I love being in Nursery, but equally, I hold a strong belief that children of a young age really need to have continuity in their education. Different faces appearing to teach them, with different methods, confuse them. So, even though it is a change I’d rather not make, I suggested I take more time there so the class I am with at the moment manage to continue with the same staff they are familiar with, rather than lots of different faces. The other class will then also get two teachers they know until our colleague is back… But it’s so annoying… I had written my reports for our class, ready to go out on the Friday, but as the other teacher hadn’t done hers due to her illness, we will have to rewrite them in January now! Grrr!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that we’ve been in full Christmas mode in school this week, with carol concerts for the older children, the Key Stage one Christmas performance and our Reception Nativity. You can’t beat a primary school play! The kids did so well too!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d moan about these parents who send children in when they are still unwell, spread the viruses they have, then keep them off again. Yeah. Thanks. As a result, I have had the worst cold, Lil Princess has been coughing and spluttering, Lil Man was coughing and Hubby Dearest got the lurgy from me! It prompted me to do a little singing, after reading a fantastic rewrite of We Three Kings by Sue Vincent! If you haven’t heard it, check this post out, the singing link is in there!

https://butismileanyway.com/2018/12/14/sues-songs-for-the-seasonally-challenged-we-feel-ill/

  • If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that it was Christmas Jumper day on Friday too. I love a Christmas jumper! The charity, Save The Children, run an annual Christmas Jumper Day, and we all donate money for the pleasure of wearing a festive knit! I have quite3 a collection so didn’t need to buy another, though I have found a great one for Hubby Dearest… He’s a bit of a Rap fan… or he used to be, anyway!
  • If we were sipping chai together  I’d share with you my favourite jumper which I wore, and by the end of Friday, I managed to acquire a red nose to match it! And Sonu Singh joined in with the fun too! 
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d confide in you that we went to get our hair done on Saturday, as a pick me up, Lil Princess and I. My experience was fine, but she was devastated as they found a few nits in her hair… so they were unable to give her a trim! We spent the best part of Saturday afternoon treating, combing and checking her hair… think I got them all…
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that we had a function on Sunday at the Gurdwara where we had to attend, and then cookies were baked for school too, and I attempted to make some salt dough ready for school today… 
  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that the end of term is finally in sight! Phew! We finish on Wednesday and have the staff Christmas party to look forward to on Thursday. The kids will be having a sleepover at friends, but I may have to ferry Lil Man to an extra set of cricket training sets on both Thursday and Friday, so no relaxation time then!
  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you I can’t wait for a little family time…

So there you have it… only two weeks left of this year to go! What ore fun will be chucked at me this week?

Have a great one Peeps! 

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #17

Day 17

My muse, my tea my workstation!

Pose a question…

Okay, so you have written that fantastic post, poured your blood, sweat and tears into it… yet there appears to be no real engagement.

Here’s a little tip, always end your post with a question related to your content.

Give your readers something to think about, and answer back. It is always a great way to get that interaction going!

And when you have lots of decent comments on a post, (that are answered) people are more likely to add their thoughts!

The Girl In The Corner by Amanda Prowse #BookReview @MrsAmandaProwse

I’m back with another review!

As you can tell by the length of time between this and the last review, my reading has been little and often, rather than steaming through books, but you can thank the time of year for that!

Anywho, where was I? Oh yes! My review!  I was pleased to receive a copy of Amanda Prowse’s new book, The Girl In The Corner via NetGalley, and as a complete fan of her books, I was not disappointed in the slightest with this one either!

Let me give you a little info on the book first.

The Girl in the Corner by [Prowse, Amanda]

Rae-Valentine and Howard were childhood sweethearts. They’ve shared twenty-five peaceful years since they were brought together by Dolly, Howard’s larger-than-life sister. But now, on the night of their wedding anniversary, Howard reveals a shocking betrayal that leaves Rae reeling.

Heartbroken, she takes Dolly on her would-be anniversary trip to Antigua and the two women drink and dance and talk like they haven’t in years. But in the break from real life, Rae realises her choices have always been made for her, and suddenly she’s questioning not only her fragile marriage but also her one-sided friendships. Is she really the pushover everyone else sees?

When Howard comes looking for reconciliation, Rae has a choice to make: keep the peace, as she always has, or put herself first for once and find out who she really is.

And my review…

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yet another wonderful page-turner by this wonderful author, Amanda Prowse.

I was hooked within mere pages, wanting to read the story of the rather exotically named Rae Valentine, who had an extremely unexotic life.

Much like a lot of women out there, Rae Valentine finds herself in an almost prescribed role of wife, mother, carer, cook, cleaner, general dogsbody, then a shock admission from her husband sends her life spinning off axis.

Will she forgive him?

Will she sink back into that corner, content to be an observer, and the good old Rae Valentine expects, or will she finally take her own steps into the centre of the room?

Beautiful, believable writing, hinting at a life we can relate to, a person we probably know, and an ending that has left me wanting Amanda to get writing on a sequel!

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This title is expected for publication in December 2018.

See my review on Amazon here.

Buy The Girl In The Corner here.

Image result for amanda prowse

Find Amanda and more abouther and her amazing books here.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 200

Wow Spidey! You’ve hit your bi-centenial post! Who’d have thought that a child’s figurine, found in a cross-legged position a few years ago would have led to 200 posts?!

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When the ‘I’ is replaced by ‘we’ even ‘illness’ becomes ‘wellness’ – Anon

And what a lovely bit of wisdom you have found for this week! Quite apt for my family and I this week.

We have all been struck down by the dreaded Christmas lurgy… The kids are coughing, my nose is streaming, Hubby is the same. We are keeping the tissue business afloat, I think!

But we are not suffering alone. We are together. And pulling each other through this period of feeling bleurgh…

And isn’t it true, that if, when you are unwell and feeling miserable, a little company can really cheer you up!

Heres hoping we can shift this yuckiness before the Christmas week starts, so we can really enjoy our holidays!

So… tell me, any tried and tested remedies to share?

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #16

Day 16

My muse, my tea my workstation!

Join blogging groups on Facebook.

I had underestimated the power of a group of bloggers behind you, but around two years ago, I was convinced to join a Blogging group on Facebook. 

There were daily opportunities to share your work, with specific reasons, from sharing others posts, to commenting on them, and even a day where a specific blogger was showcased.

My stats rocketed, and there was a whole load of advice available on tap. I didn’t feel like I was asking silly questions. 

But… (there’s always a but) try to look into groups which don’t have thousands of members, unless you are ready for reginemted sharing policies.

Since then, the group I had joined, closed, but the members had formed a closeknit group and three or four others set up their own similar groups to carry the momentum on.

It can be time consuming, but you can choose when you want to interact. 

The main stipulation is that you should share/comment on a mimimun of 2-4 other particicipants posts.

I try to visit all posts on the threads I am involved in. 

By joining a blogging group, you will find yourself exposed to a whole host of blogs you wouldn’t have known existed, and others will find you. It’s a win win situation, as long as you are able to give the time to sharing!

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