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Chai & A Chat #10 #ChaiAndAChat

10 Dec 2018 34 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #ChaiAndAChat, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Chai and a Chat

Well, well, well! We’ve got to the tenth week of Chai & A Chat! And what a week I’ve had… again! (is it ever quiet…?)

If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you my week at school has been even more manic than a usual manic run-up-to-Christmas week! We’ve had a colleague taken ill, and hospitalised, which meant that I had to take my Reception class for more time, but my manager had to take the other class, so… I ended up having no observation! I was gutted as it was all planned for, but what can you do? I’ll have to get it looked at in January instead… more waiting.
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that the nativity play songs are running through my head constantly, but the worst thing is that I won’t get to see it being performed to parents, as the day they do that, is my Nursery day!
If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that the craziness of ferrying Lil Man to and from his district trials is finally over. Three weeks of rushing to and from this place, in the dark – over. We just need to wait for the results to see whether he has been selected!
If we were sipping chai together I’d excitedly tell you that the Capital Radio Jingle Bell Ball was amazing! We saw Liam Payne, Ellie Goulding, Olly Murs, Rak-Su, Jonas Blue, James Arthur, Dalton Harris, Loud Luxury, Halsey, Anne-Marie and Rita Ora. David Guetta was there too but we slipped out before he came on to get the girls back home without being stuck in traffic! Seeing a concert at a proper venue was great, even though I can admit to you all that I knew about 4 of the acts by name before… and had to listen to the songs to realise I knew the others too… old? Me…? Nah!!!!

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If we were sipping chai together I’d also mention that we did some visiting on Sunday (yup, I told you it was full on!) We embarked upoin a 2 hour journey to a little place in East Preston, called Littlehampton, where Hubby Dearest has a cousin. She has a gorgeous 20 month old, and also is now proud mum to 3.5 month ond twins! So I got a full on baby fix today! Clucky much? Oh they were gorgeous! ❤

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If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that next week isn’t going to be too much easier… we are still short staffed so I shall be juggling an awful lot of stuff at school…
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d whisper that I am so NOT prepared for Christmas…I haven’t bought proper presents for anyone, other than the children… I am forseeing a crazy shopping spree next weekend… eeeks!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d mention that it will be Lil Princess’s last ever Christmas performance at Primary school… time for me to get a little choked up… but she doesn’t want me to come… so I will be sneaking in at the back to watch!

And that is the end of this exhausting week! Phew!

Tell me, how has yours been?

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #10

10 Dec 2018 31 Comments

by Ritu in Blogmas 2018 Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas, Blogmas 2018, Link Dropping

Day 10.

Don’t link drop!

Do you know what I mean by link dropping?

I’m not talking about leaving your links where you are responding to a challenge or prompt, or even when you are at a blog party, where you are invited to leave a link to a particular post…

No, I mean when you visit other blogs, desperate for followers, and you type ‘Nice post!’ (Always a no no, see yesterday’s tip!) then your own blog link, or a ‘Please follow me!’ plea!

These types of comments always put me off, because a blogger hasn’t attempted to interact with me, allowing me to get to know them a little better. Often, if someone has been commenting regularly, I’ll click their Gravatar and check their blog out myself, to see whether their content is something I would want to read.

If it is, I will follow myself. If not, I won’t.

No offence to that blogger, but I’m sure they’d rather have meaningful interactions, rather than empty likes…

But often, a link drop will either get ignored, edited, or if a repeat offender, binned!

And I think I speak for a lot of seasoned bloggers when I give this particular tip…

Of course, if I have asked for your links, then by all means leave them!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 199

09 Dec 2018 34 Comments

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

“Nothing can dim the light that shines within you.” Maya Angelou

There are times in life when everything seems to be trying to beat your enthusiasm out of you.

At work, you are being confronted by problem after problem, at home the kids have all ganged up and decided to have massive tween/teen meltdowns at the same time, and your partner is not being supportive, or is having his or her own issues…

Nothing seems to be going your way.

But no matter what is happening, you have to hold tight to that flame of hope and positivity that shines within you.

Don’t allow it to be dimmed, as the great Maya Angelou says, or put out. It’s the one thing that will guide you to a better time and place.

So… tell me, how can you let your light shine brighter?

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #9

09 Dec 2018 41 Comments

by Ritu in Blogmas 2018 Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas, Blogmas 2018

Day 9!

Interaction is KEY!

You can’t go building a blog without other people.

You want to be read, but you kinda have to return the favour.

I’m not talking about follow for follow, but actually reading other blogger’s posts and interacting with them.

Liking and commenting on their posts opens a doorway for a genuine following.

And not just ‘Great Post!’ or ‘Love this!’ but meaningful comments that can start a conversation.

I know you can’t do that for every post you read, but if you make a point of commenting on a specific amount of post read in a day/week (target is up to you!) you are sure to see the return coming to your blog, and them doing the same.

These interactions will build the kind of following that is actually genuine, and not just numbers of people who click follow, but never read your posts.

#SoCS Dec. 8/18 – Musical

08 Dec 2018 28 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, Musical, Socs, Stream Of Consciousness Saturday

Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week…

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “musical.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

I do love a good musical, don’t you?

From as long as I recall, shows and films filled with song and dance have been a huge part of my life.

It started as a youngster when the type of musical I was exposed to was of the Bollywood kind. a three-hour long extravaganza filled with story, and peppered, every ten minutes, with colourful songs and dancing.

That started my musical thirst.

As I started school, I took a great interest in anything drama based, and we were given the opportunity to go to several theatre musicals, such as Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, when it first started, Cats, The Phantom Of the Opera… I loved them all!

I would sing the tunes in my own way regularly (still do!)

And even now, though the opportunities are less, I try to get a chance to watch them. Last year we went to see 42nd Street for our anniversary, which was brilliant.

I’ve even seen Jerry Springer, The Musical!