But I Smile Anyway…

Hello again, Peeps! I cannot believe we are in June, right now!

I’m still on half term, though my kids are back in school, so I have a little more time to chill out with you, today!

• If we were having chai, I’d start by mentioning the BIGGEST thing that happened this week. It was release week for Book 2, Straight As A Jalebi! I won’t post all the Instagram posts here, but there are plenty, and you can pop over to have a look if you wish! Release Day was wonderful, with a Release Day party hosted by a group on Facebook. And I think I spent all day on my phone or laptop, answering comments, and checking rankings, because it can get obsessive. I was amazed to hit the top 5k ebooks in all of Amazon.co.uk at one point, too, as well as staying at #2 in a category for hot new releases! Reviews are starting to trickle in, and the official book tour starts on 12th June, so there will be more promotion then, too. Hopefully, the paperback will be available by then, too! This moment below was rather special when both my book babies were in the top 30 for one of the categories!

• If we were having chai, I’d ask you, nervously, whether you have downloaded it, and had a chance to read it, yet? Reviews are beginning to show up, and I am nervous as anything! But I appreciate feedback from everybody! https://mybook.to/StraightAsAJalebi
• If we were having chai, I’d like to share my dedication with you, in this book. I hope this sentiment means something to everyone out there.

• If we were having chai, I’d say I wasn’t able to totally forget reality, what with all the craziness of Publication Day. This here school teacher still has duties, even in her holidays, and the first one was to carry on with my report writing. 8 left to go!

• If we were having chai, I’d tell you I spent a long time in the garden, too, when the weather was good, and this was my new seat to chill in since Lil Princess has taken over my gorgeous egg chair!

• If we were having chai, I’d say that, talking of Lil Princess, went to get our hair done. I have finally lost all the dye off my head, and she went RED!

• If we were having chai, I’d mention that Hubby Dearest had a couple of days off, and he pottered around in the garden, plenty. Along with flowers and plants, and new furniture, we even ended up with strawberries!

• If we were having chai, I’d say that Wednesday was a bit mad. We had Lil Princess’s appointment, followed by a mad dash back home, to get Lil Man, as he was playing in a cricket match! They won, thank goodness. (Unlike the game on Saturday…However, he did get a wicket, so not all bad!)
• If we were having chai, I couldn’t fail to mention something else that was big, for me. After 4 years, I was finally able to go and see my best friend. It has been hellish since just before lockdown, and, what with life and situations, we haven’t been able to see one another. She had an op, last week, and I was determined to see her as soon as I could. It was a wonderful trip. The kids came too, and we had a blast! Her parents came. They are like another set of surrogate parents for me, and I spent a lot of time with them during my Uni years, as they were closer than Pops and Mum. This is another branch of my family, that I chose. Loved being with them, even though it was only for a few hours.
• If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. He has enjoyed chilling with us all this week, and, as usual, loved to take over all the places I wanted to sit!

This week, the kids are back to school, but my school has one more week off. Sounds blissful, doesn’t it? Well, I still have to get up, to take them to school and get Lil Man to any exams. And Hubby Dearest will be working from home some days. I have reports to finish, and a new set of class lists to get organised, too, for September. I have a physio appointment too, regarding the pains I have been suffering. Oh, and a Society Of Authors meet-up, where they want me to talk. but it’s not all work. My plan is to get a pedicure, one day, as well as maybe even go to the cinema, alone, to see Disney’s The Little Mermaid! How’s that for empowerment? But still, a busy week, all in all!

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Hello again, Peeps! And relax! Yes, it is finally half term for us, and even though it feels as if we have had 101 bank holidays, the term has been so busy I am definitely in need of a break!

Have you got your drink ready?

• If we were having chai, I’d start by telling you about school. I mentioned last week that we were celebrating Cultural Week as an extension to World Diversity Day on May 21st. We had a blast with the children, talking about their own backgrounds culminating in two days at the end of the week where we all dressed up and had a whole school focus on specific countries. The hall was converted into a departure lounge, and we all set off on our flights to different places. Over those days, our classes visited Aruba, Australia and Barbados, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Andorra! I was dressed up as an Australian on Thursday and a Kenyan woman on Friday. Sorry, no pics, though. I totally forgot to take any as I was so tired! The kids loved it, but it was a hectic end to the term, and we were all ready for our break!
• If we were having chai, I’d tell you it was Pops’ 77th birthday on Monday. I wish we lived closer so we could celebrate together, but we make the most of what we are given, and we caught up by telephone!

• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that I continue with my journey to ensure mental health is at the forefront of my mind and that of everyone around us… Lil Princess had another of her appointments, which went well, and a sleepover with her friend, which was good for her mental health. And Hubby Dearest and I had our first date night in so long, I can’t even remember! A meal out, though we were both exhausted!

• If we were having chai, I’d say I was touched to find a beautiful review of Marriage Unarranged on Instagram, too, this week, which made my day!

• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that one of the rhododendron bushes began to blossom, too, and that made me so happy!

• If we were having chai, I’d say that Lil Man had his first A-level exam, and he thinks it went well so far. Fingers crossed!
• If we were having chai, I’d mention that On Sunday, we celebrated two years in our home with a visit to the temple, then three hours of setting up another piece of garden furniture!

• If we were having chai, I’d remind you all that the publication day for book two is on Thursday!

• If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. I confess that the week has been so manic that I didn’t even get a chance to take a picture of him this week, so you get a bit of a throwback pic of him staring at my shiny shoes!

This week, we are on Half term. Today is another bank holiday. Lil Princess and I will be going to the hairdresser. On Tuesday we are going to visit my best friend, who I haven’t seen since before the lockdowns! Wednesday, we have a few appointments, and Thursday is PUBLICATION DAY! EEEEEK!

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Hello again, Peeps! Well, it was supposed to be a normal 5 day week for me…

Have you got your drink ready?

• If we were having chai, I’d start by telling you about school. We continued our learning about growth, concentrating on the children themselves! I love this week as we get them to bring in baby photos, and I make a slide show of them all, then they have a guess at who they think the baby is. We also add our staff baby pics into them, too, which they love! We had a visit from a storyteller, which was absolutely fantastic. I love anything based on storytelling, and this lady was brilliant with the kids, using props and the children’s ideas to create a story with them! We also had Height, weight and vision checks which are done as standard in Reception in the UK. It throws the day a bit, but we cope.
• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that due to her not feeling well, Lil Princess was off school for a couple of days, and one of them, I couldn’t leave her, so even though I was working from home, it ended up being another four day week for me. She also had the second of her sessions which appeared to go well. This really highlights mental health for me, and it is something we all need to be aware of for ourselves and the people around us.

• If we were having chai, I’d say I also had a training course on Wednesday about manual handling. You wouldn’t think we need this kind of training, but even in primary schools, some children need to be moved, or their behaviours deescalated so they are safe and those around them are, too. It was a very interesting practical session, where we were taught different safe holds and techniques to help calm a child down and manoeuvre them safely.
• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that Lil Man took two fantastic catches in his match on Saturday! He didn’t get any wickets but bowled well again, despite the team losing with another super tight game.
• If we were having chai, I’d mention that Lil Princess and I spent the afternoon on Saturday in the garden while father and son were at the cricket! The weather was glorious, and we caught a few rays while I read and she watched videos. I look forward to more pleasant days like that!

• If we were having chai, I’d say that I also won a competition! I received a copy of Jean Fullerton’s new book in the post, which was a lovely surprise!

• If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. I haven’t been able to use my desk to write properly for many reasons, but I still use it, promise! Nevertheless, Sonu Singh is keeping my chair warm for me!

This week, it is the last week of this term, which means a much-needed break for two weeks is coming! My own kids have one week off, so I shall try and make the most of those days, but right now, I still have one more week at school to deal with. We are having a Culture Week in school, learning about different countries and what is special about them. The children will be encouraged to think about their own heritages too. And, yes, of course, there will be dressing up towards the end of the week! Interspersed through the week will be meetings, a trip to my beautician, as well as a team-building event at the Panic Rooms local to us. We always have fun there, so I look forward to it! Lil Man also has his first A-Level exam this week! Wish him luck, please! It’s also Pops’ birthday today!

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!

Hello again, Peeps! We are on another bank holiday, thanks to Charlie King Three and his coronation!

Have you got your drink ready?

• If we were having chai, I’d start by telling you about school. It was another four-day week. Sometimes I think I could get used to them, but I am more exhausted at the end, as we are trying to make up for the time we weren’t in on Monday! Plus, I think the children have been quite thrown by it, too. Still, we had another fun week, learning about fruit and vegetables, and the children made fruit kebabs, did still life fruit painting, and were outside planting veg, too!
• If we were having chai, I’d tell you I had to take Lil Princess to the first in a series of 10 appointments, which are group therapy sessions to help with her anxiety. She is moving forward but still finds things tough to cope with, so I hope she finds something positive in these sessions.
• If we were having chai, I’d say we had some sad news on Tuesday. Hubby Dearest’s cousin, my Mum-in-Law’s nephew, passed away quite suddenly. He was no age at all… and being in India is even harder as we don’t always get all the details. Needless to say, it has been an emotional time for the family.
• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that Lil Man finally played his first league match of the season that wasn’t rained off! They lost, but literally by a wicket, so he wasn’t best pleased when he got back, as is the norm, but we got over that misery!
• If we were having chai, I’d mention that as you know, my go dot me time activity is reading, and I treated myself to a rather fabulous gadget! You know when you are reading your Kindle or reader, and your hands are comfy somewhere else, like when it’s cold, and you are snuggled up in bed? Then you have to reach out to tap your Kindle to turn the page? Well, I got an ebook page-turner! It is brilliant! I can chill wherever I want and not move. I rest my Kindle on my little Pill-o-Pad and click away as I read!

• If we were having chai, I’d say that I am aching a little as I was putting some furniture together, as Hubby Dearest mowed the lawn! We are getting summer-ready in the garden! It was a lovely day on Sunday afternoon, hitting 20 ℃, and not only do we have some new seats, but also water features!

• If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. We had another chilled reading session, and what was even cooler was that Andi Osho, famous comedian and author of the book we were reading, even commented on the picture! Sonu Singh and I were rather pleased!

This week, it is, theoretically, a back-to-normal week… but what is normal? It is a busy week, if I am honest, with things happening every day either in school or at home… So I may be fraught by the end. I have training, meetings, lots of paperwork to get set, too, what with the new intake information coming to me, plus the home stuff, like cricket training and matches, and appointments, and also being there for Mum-in-law at this sad time, I shan’t be sitting pretty, anywhere!

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!

Hello again, Peeps! We are on another bank holiday, thanks to Charlie King Three and his coronation!

Have you got your drink ready?

• If we were having chai, I’d start by telling you about school. It was a short week, all things considered. We had Monday off because of the bank holiday, then four days in school, but it felt even longer than usual! We started the week with a load more absences, as well as another strike day. So I had three members of staff to cover (1 strike, 2 sickness), which was fun. Thankfully we have a volunteer in on a Tuesday, and she really helped out, as well as another member of staff from another part of the school. Ever grateful to those people able to step in to help out with the craziness of the Early Years! We were were planting, drawing, painting and writing about sunflowers this week, and I have to tell you, I think we have hit that mic drop moment for a good few of the children, where things have properly clicked! It’s like a switch flicks, and they are either attempting to write more, independently, or writing in sentences that we can read, and they WANT to, which is even better! I also had a sad moment, when one of our children had his last day with us, as he is moving to another area. He is such a sweet child, and we will miss him a lot… His family gave a card and beautiful scarf as a gift from them, which was so touching. As I always say, totally unnecessary, but a sweet gesture, nonetheless.

• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that another thing we did was spend the whole day concentrating on the important occasion that was to be taking place on Saturday; the Coronation! We had an assembly where we talked as a whole school briefly and sang the National Anthem, followed by lots of time in class talking about what a Coronation is, in child-friendly terms, making crowns, and lots of Coronation-related crafts! Then in the afternoon, after a little more Coronation learning, we had a whole school tea party on the top playground. The weather forecast was dubious. We thought we would have to cancel, but we ended up with a dry, sunny 21℃ afternoon!

• If we were having chai, I’d say that the next day was the Coronation. Weather-wise, it was drizzly. I had every intention of watching all the pomp and circumstance. I am not a Royalist, as such, but I am so aware of the fact that we are a part of living history, and I love to learn about the different customs and traditions. So I sat, watching, for a while, then Cricken Mum duty struck, as Lil Man had a match. We kept an eye out for messages about a cancelled game due to the weather, but they were adamant that it would go ahead. I ended up with the Coronatino streaming live on my phone as we drove, and we parked up in time for me to see the main event, as in the crown being placed on Kin Charles III’s head! Then I got back in time to see the procession and the Royal Salute. It was pretty amazing, I have to say. Hubby Dearest went off to watch the match, which, not unexpectedly, did get cancelled so they were back home early, too.

• If we were having chai, I’d tell you that last week I was busy with edit revisions. This week I was sent the e-arc, and spent the afternoon, after the Coronation, and evening, reading and going through the formatting! A few little tweaks cropped up, which I reported to my publisher, ready for change when they are back at work on Tuesday, and my (uncorrected) arc has winged its way to the Blog tour advance readers. Now is the time to get nervous!

• If we were having chai, I’d mention that while I nervously await the feedback and reviews from the Blog Tour readers, it is always a pleasure when I find a new review for Marriage Unarranged, too! It’s only 79p on Amazon for Kindle, if you were interested…

• If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. I have been, as always, reading plenty and he likes to sit with me if I am chilling on my bed. I think he liked this particular book I was reading as he claimed it as his own!

This week, another four-day week, but plenty going on…you know what they say, no rest for the wicked! After relaxing today, since it is a Bank Holiday, I have my student volunteer’s tutor in on Tuesday, an appointment to attend on Wednesday, and the dentist on Thursday, as well as a busy reading week, and cricket duties doubling up, too! I will write new words… I will… soon…

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!