But I Smile Anyway…

Oh, man… anyone gotmatchsticks to keep my eyes open, while we sup our drink?

It’s been another one of those weeks… (when is it ever not, in Ritu World?)

• If we were having chai I’d begin with updating you about school. So, this week the children in our class were staying for lunch for the first time. I was dreading it, since there was a new format, where the teacher stay with thoses having packed lunches, and the assistants were to go to the canteen to support those eating school lunches. we adapted it slightly, as there were few children having packed lunches, so my team teacher had lunch with the packed lunch kids, and I ventured over to the canteen with my teaching assistants, to see how the school lunch children would settle. I have to say, that apart from a couple of teary faces, most did really well. Then illess kicked in around school. Children with streaming noses, and even pants being pooped in twice! I only had a couple off, over the week, but the other class was depleted from 27, to 20 by the end of the week! Elsewhere in the school, absences started, where people kept their children off with temperatures, or coughs. One of my colleagues was called as her son, in a different school, was sent home. It meant that, until he had a negative test, he couldn’t come back, so she was unable to be at school. That meant, in turn, that I was asked to spare an adult… which left us a little short. Then the nursery teacher was off, so we had to scramble to find a supply teacher. And I had to deal with a biting incident, and then a parent calling about said biting incident, and another parent calling to ask about a child in school with a runny nose… Basically, it was never-ending. I was grateful for the weekend, but rest wasn’t meant to be…
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that, alongside the craziness of school, I was acting like a taxi service for the kids, with training or tutoring, or more training, followed by cricket matches… and a trip to Bluewater. I haven’t been there since lockdown started, and to be honest, I was a little nervous. Lil Princess had a friend who was celebrating a birthday, and there were four of them who were going to chill in the shopping centre. I had agreed to take her, as she has barely been out over the last six months, and I felt that this would be good for her wellbeing, then the cases of Covid-19 started to rise, and the talk of a possible second lockdown began. And talk of cancelling was met with sulks and moods, so I took her. And as it was Friday, I was shattered, so after a few moments of walking around, I ended up in Costa, with a huge Chai Latte and my Kindle. I was there for nearly two hours, and I tell you, I could have happily fallen asleep!

• If we were having chai I’d update you on the house. So the front is painted. The porch is nearly complete, the downstairs bathroom is functional! The inside is being painted… The last set of wardrobes upstairs have been dismantled. My husband has more clothes than me! And he is awful at getting rid of things, too. Some of the guys doing the work are very aware of us wanting to get things done quicker, and have volunteered to work weekends, so that has been a bonus in one sense, as things will get finished sooner, but the bummer is that there is no rest time for us. There is always something that needs doing, or a room that needs clearing… hence the tiredness. Still, it’ll all be worth it in the end!

This week, the kids in my class are finally staying fulltime… let’s see how they (and we) cope!

Fingers crossed that the plumber guys will have finished, and the painters will be done, and possibly only the flooring left!

I can’t even think of anything else to focus on… life is too crazy, with school and home improvements!

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Good morning, Peeps. Where do I start? It’s been busy for SO MANY REASONS!

You ready with your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d start by telling you that Monday, being a bank holiday, was a lovely chilled day. No builders, no nothing. Just relaxing. But that was the calm before the storm!
• If we were having chai I’d take a deep breath and start my recount. Tuesday was the first day at school, with the children in. Bear in mind, my class of children have never met me, or any of the staff here, never been in their classroom, some have never left their parents. Then they were sent into a classroom, no parents allowed to accompany, with a bunch of strangers, big and small. I expected mayhem. But it wasn’t as bad as all that. I have a class of 28 pupils, at the moment, all of them 4-years-old, right now. Two cried. One stopped, the other made noise continuously. I have identified my pickles, too! There are a couple. But, alongside the constant handwashing, that takes probably an hour out of our teaching day, the children, by the end of the week, settled really well. The criers were just superficially making noise for mere moments, then busying themselves. I do love them ❤
• If we were having chai I’d mention that, I conducted my first ever observation and interview. Big thinkgs or my first week! I also dealt with being a member of staff down, due to sickness, and helped to settle some extremely distressed 3-year-olds in Nursery, too. Oh, and had to help with my old Special Needs pupil from last year, too. It was really quite packed!
• If we were having chai I’d let you know Lil Princess and Lil Man each had one day in school, sort of an induction, to get them ready for the Monday, when everyone is back in. Lil Princess really needed it. She loved being there with all her friends, after so long, and Lil Man was glad to be back too, surprisingly!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that we had appointments galore, too! On Wednesday, I went for my MRI scan on my knee. What a strange experience! I lay there, half in, half out of the large tunnel, with earphones on, and as the loud beeps started, they began to sound like words. Anyone else ever experienced that? I asked the nurse, who laughed, and said no one had ever said that before! All I could hear was Twit Twit Twit Twit over and over, morphing into Party Party Party Party, then Toy Toy Toy Toy, changing back to Twit… (yes, I know, I think I’m losing it!) Then on Thursday, I was meant to be leaving early to take Lil Princess for her teeth extractions, but the appointment was cancelled as the dentist was unwell. It’s been rebooked, but not until NOVEMBER! That’s a long way away. She was not impressed. For some reason, the strange girl wanted to have injections! On Friday it was the turn of Sonu Singh, to have his long awaited booster shots. The first pallaver was that I couldn’t find the door to his cat carrier. It’s hard enough to get him in there, but without a door, there would be no chance of transporting him anywhere. So I had to go and buy a new one, first, then take him. Shots given, I was told to book in for boosters in three weeks, and aa scale and polish, because he hasn’t been looking after his gums… this involves a whole day in the vets, and costs at least two hundred pounds! Oo-er!
• If we were having chai I’d have to update you on the house. The bathroom is nearly done, I think, maybe a couple of days to go, then he can start the upstairs one. We have guys fixing the porch, and painting the exterior. The Summer house is getting a lick of new varnish. In fact, some of the guys even came on Saturday and Sunday, to get things done asap! It’s getting there…
• If we were having chai I’d not forget to remind you that it was my birthday on Thursday. I thank you all who wished me, from the bottom of my heart ❤ We didn’t do much, due to the builders, and the fact that Lil Princess was meant to be having teeth out, and it was a school night, but I was spoilt, nonetheless, with flowers, cards and presents from faamily and colleagues. I felt very special ❤

• If we were having chai I’d say that I was back to being Cricket Mum onn Saturday as Lil Man played another match. He’s enjoying playing with the Mens Vth team, as he gets to play with seasoned adults, as well as some of the youngsters, and we get to travel to some beautiful local villages, too!

• If we were having chai I’d sigh and say that Sunday, I needed to relax, as much as I could, to prepare myself for the coming week, so aside from talking paint, woodwork and varnish, and catching Ranjha, the boy Parrotlet, as he got out of his cage, and narrowly escaped the threat of Sonu Singh, who saw him, and wanted to play, I read a little, and had a lovely bath!

This week, my class will be staying until 2pm, and experiencing their first lunchtimes with us. This could get interesting…

I’m hoping we have a more or less completed bathroom by the end of the week, and there’s a chance the inside painters may even start too! Outside might even be finished.

Other than that, it’s just mainly surviving, and hoping my two have a good first week back to school, as well.

Oh, 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!

Good morning, Peeps. It’s a Bank Holiday Monday here, so I am not rushing off to work this morning, but quite possibly rushing around doing other things.

You ready with your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d probably sit down and scratch my head, before trying to work out what went on, last week. I know it was busy, but days are blurring into one, if you know what I mean?
• If we were having chai I’d start by mentioning the house tidy. Yes, that is still going. I clear areas up, and end up with boxes packed that need transporting to the in-laws’ home, things we need, but not right now, so they can be homed somewhere else for now. The tiling is coming along nicely in the gutted downstairs shower, too. I believe we have a team coming this week to start rendering the porch as it was never completed when we had it built, and then painting the outside of the house. I still have two cupboards to destroy, but they’ll take a bit more time.
• If we were having chai I’d have to say that there was drama on the Monday night, though! Our boiler is a little old and temperamental, and it decided it didn’t like it when the new radiator pipes were set, so when I went to wash dishes, there was no hot water. This meant no showers for the kids, and we couldn’t reset the water pressure. The plumber came over, happily, and tried to no avail, which meant an emergency stop over at the in-laws, for the night. Thankfully it was sorted by the team the next day, but when you’re already a little stressed with the work going on, this was not a welcome addition to our our catalogue of issues!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that we had our socially distanced family dentist appointment on the Monday, too, and thankfully, all three of us (not Hubby Dearest, he doesn’t come with us!) have been brushing well, so that’s a relief! Even had my eyebrows done, and they feel so good after all this time! And I got their school shoes too. I think uniform is all done. If it isn’t I’ll have to sort it out as and when.
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that school opening for the children is imminent! I was in on Tuesday for a couple of hours, after having to attend a webinar at 8.30am (at my in-laws, where we’d had the emergency sleepover). A bit of paperwork, and planning done, I came home and intended to rest up on the Wednesday, ready for INSET days on Thursday and Friday, and the official beginning of my new Senior Leadership Team role, as Early Years Phase Leader. The two training days went as well as they could, with me ending up with one staff member going on early maternity (don’t blame her, it is too up in the air with COVID-19, I wouldn’t feel comfortable being pregnant, and at school with young children). So now we have a supply for a few weeks, until we find a permanent replacement. I have been making staffing plans, and timetables, and ably assisted by a wonderful team. Thankful I have them, to be honest!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that the weekend was a mixture of resting, as well as some more clearing up, in preparation for the week ahead. But I did rest, as well as read lots. I think I read four books this weekend, alone! I did contemplate writing, but my brain was far too flummoxed for it, so I left it.
• If we were having chai I’d say ‘talking of books, you know mine…?” and then I’d sneakily mention that Marriage Unarranged is on sale until the end of the day Thursday, 3rd September, which also happens to be my birthday… so if you haven’t got it yet, and you are in the US or the UK, it is on Kindle offer at 99p/99c! Grab it while you can! https://getbook.at/MarriageUnarranged

This week, after the Bank Holiday, we will be officially open for school, so I know my time will be taken up with all the stresses, and fun of starting a new school year, and meeting my new class. I look forward to telling you all about it!

I truly hope that the builders are nearly finished with that bathroom, too, by the end of the week…

Finally, I have one of the appointments for my joints, and I go for an MRI scan on Wednesday… wish me luck!

Then Thursday, along with my BIRTHDAY, I have to take Lil Princess to have two teeth extracted, in preparation for the braces she will be having fitted…

Oh, 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!

Let me just sit back, and put up my aching feet… It’s been another manic one, Peeps!

You ready with your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d remind you that this week, I had planned to be on a mission. Mission Clear Out. And I am happy to report that I have been extremely productive in that respect. As of now, both kids rooms now only have their beds, desk, a hanging rail for clothes, and a set of plastic drawers, for bits and bobs. Should make life easier when moving furniture to paint! The living room is down a couple of bookshelves, and sans CDs, with the consoles not used anymore all packed up, ready to sell. The side board is being emptied, precious dishes wrapped and packed intp boxes. The upstairs bathroom is being prepped for some extra tiles, and regrouting in the existing ones. The downstairs one has been totally ripped out. The builders exposed a leak which has been sorted out. We haave people coming to sort out a guttering issue, quotes rolling in for painters for internal, as well as external walls. The kitchen will be Marie Kondoed again, soon, so what we have is only what we use and need, not what we were gifted because everyone thought we would be using certain things. The next big job is our bedroom, which has become the place to hoard things. I’ve moved a lot of stuff, but there is still plenty to do, which I hope to achieve this week. And the Skip has arrived. So that is two large wardrobes, three book shelves, a small chest of drawers, so far, that I have demolished, ane one shelf that landed on my foot! OUCH! But, I’m okay, don’t worry!

• If we were having chai I’d mention sullenly, that my writing has taken a hit, because of sasid activity around the house. I managed to add 1.2K to the manuscript, and wrote, published/scheduled several blog posts. I did manage to read, though, and got to the end of my ARC list for now, so I am working on the paperbacks by my bedside… (Once read, I can decide if they are worth keeping or passing on – less to pack!)
• f we were having chai I’d tell you that the local Age Concern charity shop has benefitted from two cars full of donations, and there are more to come! Seriously, where did all this stuff come from????
• If we were having chai I’d ask you to cast your mind back a few weeks, when I finished term, and was disappointed because I couldn’t set up my classroom, due to the flooring being done. Well, I got a message on Wednesday to say that the guy who was meant to be doing it, got caught up in the quarantine thing, and so they’ve had to reschedule… Which means I managed to get in to set the furniture up, at least, but also means that I will have to dismantle everything again come October, when they have been rebooked!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I am really tired. I’m not sleeping well, knowing that we have so much to do, but also thinking about getting back to school. I am having a few more soaks than usual, to ease my aching body, after days of hefting boxes around. The thought of everything looking sparkly-new is what is keeping me going, though! And the possibility that we could be selling up, and in our forever home sooner rather than later! (I’m dreaming of office spaces/libraries, and a lovely kitchen!)
• If we were having chai I’d say that this week has been a week filled with reflections. That Marie Kondo has something, you know. I am so sentimental, and I keep a LOT of stuff that I never look at, but they are things that, when seen, trigger memories. I have had to think long and hard about whether they are really worth keeping, if the memory is in my head, anyway? It has helped me to let go of a lot of ‘stuff’ that I am keeping for the wrong reasons, and also, my thinking has spurred both my mums on, to start their own sort outs, too! It’s quite freeing, you know!

This week, that dentist appointment that we were meant to have? Got cancelled, so we are going today. They time to school shoe shop… give me strength!

More charity shop drop offs, too, as well as more clearing out to do.

I also am officially back in school come Thursday, so life is gettinng back to some sort of normality…

Oh, 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!

I’m sorry, where did that week go? It feels like mere moments since we last sat down and had a chat!

(Gotta tell ya, I do miss going out to Costa and grabbing a Chai Latte, but at least I can have one at home with you!)

• If we were having chai I’d excitedly tell you that even though it was short, the time we spent with Pops and Mum was wonderful. We went on walks, and I dicovered parks and places I never realised were so close to their home! And Lil Man found a cricket club too, so he was over the moon. We ate plentifully, as Mum didn’t stop with her cooking, and consumed many calories, talked so much, and just generally made up for the eight months we had missed.

• If we were having chai I’d mention that I was so worried about the drive back, as we had been lucky on Sunday, getting there in record time, considering it was HOT and we had no a/c, but Wednesday’s drive back was good too, phew!
• If we were having chai I’d let you know that it was the week of the Grandparents. We’d been back one night when we went to the in-laws to stay there one night too, as we have managed to meet fleetingly, in gardens, and one evening where we had dinner together, but not spent quiaality time. The kids hada fun watching film after film, and the grandparents were most happy.
• If we were having chai I’d have to tell you, excitedly that I have managed over 10k again on the manuscript, and the word count stands at over 53k, now! I know my output is going to drop drastically now, because life has things planned for me, but if I can keep going, a few words every day, hopefully Ill have a completed first draft before I know it! (I’ve already got a cover, but I’m not showing that off, yet! 😉) Been too busy to post many more pics, but that is one from mid week, before I hit my target, so you can see, I’m getting there!

• If we were having chai I’d have to share my latest lettering project, which I am soooo proud of!

• If we were having chai I’d be able to sigh with relief at the fact that I can finally say I have started that dang clear out! At least two day have passed filled with emptying wardrobes and collapsing the ones that are falling to bits, and sorting out cds, DVDs and books that I an sell, or donate to charity. It breaks my heart to lose books but sometimes you have to do these things. There are certain books I’ll never get rid of, but a lot which I held on to for nostalgia’s sake. However, my childrens books, nope. They ain’t going nowhere! And as you would expect, the kids got imvolved too, including my furry son… Though I’m not sure whether he was more hinderance than help!

• If we were having chai I’d also have to say that reading is still going, too, at least another 3 books read and reviewed this week. I am currently at 106 read this year, and another 4 months to go!

This week, I will be extremely busy. Hubby Dearest has the week off too, so we are on home improvement mission, with clearing out to continue, and some workmen coming to do some bits around the house that we can’t. So much stuff!!! But I am determined to become Mrs Minimalist… (Yeah right, Ritu… we’ll see…)

I will attempt to write some. If I can get another few K written, I will have hit 40K written in four weeks, which was my target, before term starts.

I will still have a few more days before school officially opens, but I need to go in from next Monday, to sort my classroom out. Hopefully the flooring is set by the end of this week, so I can do it! I still have some paperwork to do, too, which my laptop refuses to let me access while I am at home, so that needs sorting out as well. All means less writing time, but I am determined, when I get my mind set.

There is also dentist appointments, and a catch up with friends, too, so yup. Another busy one!

Oh, 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!