Another week passed at school. I had my special Beaut back in class, this week (He’s my special needs child) I have been worried about him being at home, but equally, was worried about him being back in and adapting to the new routines and systems, but you knw what? He did really well! The rest of the week has been filled with paperwork, as we reaad new policies that have been sent to us by the government, regarding reopening to all pupils in September, including our brand new starters in Reception class. Such woolly advice! I’m just glad our head and the Senior Leadership Team is sensible enough, for the most part, the help organise things for us in the best way possible. I have some new responsibilities going forward, so am trying to prepare for them too!
We had our two birthdays on the Monday, as you all know, so a socially distanced birthday cake was cut in the garden with a candle on a cupcake so he could blow it out, and not worry about blowing on the cake everyone was going to eat! Except it was blowing up a gale, so I had to hold the cake through the kitchen window, for him to blow the candle out! And we video called Mum and sang to her! We will have to meet to celebrate that 70th at a later stage.
Fitness-wise, I have carried on with my Flat Tummy challenge, and the Plank Challenge ( I can hold a plank for 1 minute and 10 seconds!) and I completed week two of the CouchTo5K runs as well!
The rest of the week flew by in a blur. I’m getting up early, but falling asleep fast too. The weekend was a mix of the boys visiting barber shops, and us girls attempting to get to the hair dresser too! Pubs and restaurants opened on Saturday, and as Lil Man and I went on our walk, on Saturday evening, I was slightly alarmed at how many people were out, and crammed in to certain venues! Don’t they get that the virus hasn’t gone away yet?
I am also still trying to eat a Keto-style diet, and this weekend, I experimented with Keto bread… I’ll let you know what it tastes like next week… it’s cooling as I type!
This week, we are still at school, preparing for the grand reopening in September, as well as teaching our mini class that we have.
I also have the 2nd birthday of my Finndian nephew #2 on Wednesday. Can’t believe time is flying so fast!
Also, Lil Man is playing his first cricket match of the season, on Sunday, so fingers crossed for better, less windy weather!
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So, we have lived fourteen weeks in this strange new world…
Go, grab a drink, I’m here, waiting, with mine.
So, the second week back at school was interesting, in a different way. The children have settled down to this alternative way of leraning, and I am surprised how they aren’t asking to mix with the other classes, satsified with their own little bubble for company. I’m not complaining, it would be harder if they weren’t enjoying it. I hav been told I have one of my Special Ed children coming back, on Monday, but for a trial, as if he cannot cope with the way we have to school at the moment, he won’t be able to stay. But Monday will tell us what we need to know.
I also had a meeting with the Head to discuss next year. I cannot tell you the BIG news, but I can confirm that I will still be in Reception next year, and maybe I’ll be able to complete a full year with no craziness, this time!
In other worlds, the pains are still there, but not as bad, but I am still tired after a day at school. Naps happen without me intending, if I sit for a moment.
But, I have been busy with other things too. I thought that, to combat my low energy levels, I need to do something healthy, so I signed up to Couchto5k. This is an NHS approved app, which helps you begin to run, in small increments, building up your stamina and fitness. And I completed the first week’s 3 runs! It’s been very hot here the last week, so aside from the first day, where I stupidly decided that 5.30pm would be aa good time to go, and I melted, slightly, Lil Man and I have been going together, as he has signed up too, even though he can run 5k with no worries. See, my supportive son ❤
I also downloaded two other challenge apps, the 30 day Plank Challenge and the 30 day Flatter Tummy Challenge, so I am trying to do those as well…
Aaaaand… I am trying my hand at Keto eating again too, for a while, to hopefully lose some of this fat! I did attempt this before but found the prep hard work, but this time I am determined. Sunday brunch was yummy, and totally diet friendly! Keto Almond flour and coconut oil pancakes with berries!
On Saturday we had a socially distanced celebration for my Brothe-in-law and his wife as it was their 10th wedding anniversary. Typical that the gift we ordered didn’t arrive on time, so I hope I can get it to them on Monday instead.
This week, I have two special birthdays to celebrate. They’re today, actually, you’ll see a post it a short while. Lil Man is 15 and my darling mum is 70! Wow! Where does the time go? Aside from school, and the exercise, my aim is to get my writing mojo back now too. Wish me luck!
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!
Monday loomed ahead of me, last week. Back in school FULL TIME! I was looking forward to it, but dreading it as well. And…
It wasn’t that bad! I had a third of my children back. They have all grown so much, and though I was exopecting some emotional outbursts, the little lovelies settled right back in. We have a different TA in our class, but she is someone who is familiar. The difference was we have another teacher in, in the afternoon, so my lead and I have time to get set for September, with class lists, different policies etc. and planning and preparation for this class.
I reckon about an hour of the day is taken up with lining up ad hand washing. Some children are positiely surgical about it. Some a bit slapdash, but we send them back!
The children are dealing with a change in timetable, and a change in what they are allowed to use in the classroom. I am sure they find that rather strange, seeing as they had more or less free rein in the room, before. But, I am getting more one to one time with them, so that is wonderful. I can really see which children are flourishing, and which ones have stepped back, so need the extra support. It does make me wonder what sort of catch up we will have to do with the rest of the class coming back.
The world is strange, having to be in a bubble. But we are adapting, slowly.
Being back at school has knocked me for six, though, I tell you. I haave been exhausted, falling asleep early, most nights, apart from the first, where I was overtired, and ended up awake until 2am. That meant a zombiefied Ritu on Tuesday!
In other news, an update on our feline child, Sonu Singh. I think he may be broken… either that, or he’s too plump for the box, choosing to lay on the flap instead!
It was Father’s Day on Sunday which was lovely. After Hubby Dearest had his lie in, we got ready and went for a socially distanced lunch with the in-laws then chilled together at home. I spoke at lenght to Pops too, and only wished I could be there to see him, and get one of his legendary hugs. The present I got for him still hasn’t arrived and this is really frustrating me, but it will arrive soon enough.
I was also blessed with this comment on Instagram, this week. Fancy being someone’s favourite read! And another reader told me they were about to reread it! I feel on cloud nine. Now, someone give me time to write book two, please! If you want to have a read, click here.
This week, as well as being back at school, I have a meeting to discuss the plans for next academic year, with regards to what I will be doing. Will I be in the same year group? A different one? Who knows?
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!
Twelve whole weeks, we’ve adapted and adjusted. TWELVE!
Go, grab a drink, I’m here, waiting, with mine.
The week started with school, for me. We had a training session booked, by a company called Team Teach. This had been booked pre COVID-19 and after a lot of umming and aahing, our management decided to ask who would be willing to do a socially distanced version of the training. Team Teach basically gives us the knowledge and understanding about restraining a child, if the need ever arose, and you’d be surprised the amount of times we need to know how to do this safely, gently, and correctly, with primary school childen. The training has to be done every three years to keep us up to date with all the changes that happen in the world, and this training came at a particularly sensitive time, what with the George Floyd case in hand. Now, as a training about suitable restraints and techniques, usually it is a very physical session, but as we couldn’t touch anyone, the trainer brought his wife along to demonstrate holds, and refresh our memories. It was good, though, because we had a lot of talking time, so we could discuss things like de-escalation, and diversion, and techniques that would avoid the need for physical restraint, if possible. But I tell you what, I ended up with a bad back after… sitting on one of those chairs for a whole day, in the hall, which was cold, was no fun!
I had another day in with the children, a grand total of nine keyworker kids, which was fun, even though it rained the whole day! We did plenty of arts and crafts, then we spent time doing some of their online learning in the computer suite. One more morning was spent in school, tweaking and setting up the classroom, ready for the 15th, when my much reduced class is due to start back up.
Home-wise, it’s been quiet. I haven’t really done much writing, but I read lots. Cooked, cleaned, did a lot of laundry and made two trips to the supermarket. I have been used to going on a Tuesday, during the lockdown, but as of tomorrow, I am back fulltime, so I did my normaal shop on the Tuesday, then went on Sunday for this week’s shop. We’ve been lucky, with no queues the last few weeks, but when I got there the second time, on a Sunday the queue was huge! Still, it moved quickly and I got all we needed.
I have been carrying on with my brush lettering, and the final project was to make bookmarks. What do you think?
Saturday marked the Queen’s official birthday, and usually the day is marked with much pomp and circumstance. This year the event waasa televised, and the Queen watched her guards from a little marquee in the grounds of Windsor Palace. See, we all have had to adapt… even the Queen.
We decided to try a special make at home pizza kit this week, from a local business, Saucy Dough. They provide dough, tomato sauce and the cheese ready for you to roll the base out and make up your pizza yourself, before baking it. The kids really enjoyed it, and I liked adding my own toppings to it, too!
I must tell you a funny story. Last week, I decided to run a FaceBook ad, which I have done once or twice before. I realised last time, that I needed to (unfortunately) leave out countries lile India and Pakistan, because of the unsolicited messages that would come from random men. But I forgot to take India off the country list this time… The ad below, is something like what I would have posted, with the same wording. This time, however, I have ended up with over a HUNDRED, if not more, messages from random, desperate Indian men, either sending hello, hi and good morning messages, or what can you do for me, style questions. And a marriage proposal from a 50-year-old, and a photo from a man, with him posing with his mother… (so I can see what a lovely mum he has?) but the worst? Proclaimations of love on my posts, and then… pornographic images! NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE INDIA OFF THE NEXT AD!!!!
Aside from that, the world is still going mad, with the Black Lives Matter movement, and the demand to remove historic statues from places around Britain… I’m doing what I can, but I am upset with how some people are dealing with things…
This week, I am back to school fulltime, with my much reduced class, so I anticipate a lot of tiredness, and high emotions over the week. Time will tell how things go… wish me luck!
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!
We’ve now wrapped up eleven weeks in this strange #newnormal… and things have got a lot stranger this week…
Go, grab a drink, I’m here, waiting, with mine.
Let’s start with the stuff world stuff… I know no one will have been able to miss all the escalation of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, since the sand and unnecessary death of George Floyd. This week, I haven’t been well (more on that below) but, I have been following events and happenings around the globe, either in support of, or against this movement, in horror, anger, and solidarity. This is definitely something I will write about at length, in another post, but it has been great to see the resources that have flooded the internet specifically targeted at South Asian folk, and for them to turn their eyes inwards for a moment, before jumping on the bandwagon, because there are deep-rooted stereotypes and offensive behaviors within our own culture, that we could and should be addressing, to help educate this movement. (Some words I already wrote regarding this… here.)
Then there was 1984 and the Operation Blue Star attack on the Sikhs in India. This week marked the 36th anniversary of the huge genocide that occured in the holy city of Amritsar, and across many places in India… Again, another time to reflect, educate and try to change… (I wrote about this earlier in the week too… here.)
I mentioned being unwell. Yup. I had a strange week, to be honest. It all started with a strange stomach ache on Sunday which kept drifting back and forth, followed by more aches and pains, and fatigue… Oh, the tiredness. It was awful. I spoke to school and said that I had planned on popping in to do some preparation, but I was going to rest up. That was all fine… then on Wednesday, a cough. A new cough. No temperature. I was still smelling and tasting fine, but this cough, was coming and going. Was it the dreaded virus? A heaviness on my chest as well. I was scared. Maybe it’s anxiety. Who knows. The next day, things were the same, so I checked with 111 and then the GP, who said he didn’t think it was anything to worry about, but, and especially, as I was going back to school soon, and I had family back home, I should get tested. I agreed. Deep down, there was a gnawing fear that I may have picked up COVID-19 from somewhere… I booked the test at one of the pop up drive in centres local to us, and anxiously counted down the hours til I had to go. It was a surreal time. I could still drive, so I took myself off, having given myself a scare already, by watching the videos of what test involve. The centre was filled with signs saying KEEP WINDOWS CLOSED. I had to keep my email open on my phone with a booking in QR code that was scanned at several points, through the window, to register that I had arrived. Then I was given the choice of whether I wanted to do the test myself, or get a professional to do it. I opted for the professional, as I knew I’d gag if I did it myself, and possibly not get the sample they needed. Then after driving through around three checkpoints, I arrived at the place I was allowed to open my window. (Can’t do the test through glass, obviously.) After a quick chat about what was going to be done, I bravely opened my mouth to have my non-existent tonsils tickled for ten seconds by a rather long swab. Uncomfortable, but bearable. Then it was the one I was really dreading… the nasal one. After blowing my nose I offered my nostril, and fought back the “ouch!” and tears as the swab was stuck up my nose, and twisted around, gently, but painfully, for ten seconds, before being sealed up swiftly. I was told results would be with me within 48 hours but they were often sooner. Good job, as it was Thursday, and I needed to know the next day, as it impacted my work too. Ten minutes was all it took, and I was lucky there was no queueing. Apparently they’d had a lot of teachers coming in recently. It was a tense wait, for that result to ping back, and by mid afternoon, I got the confirmation that I was negative for COVID-19. It eased a little of my anxiety, but meant that my health was probablu a mixture of another virus, hayfever and the mysterious joint thing that hasn’t been diagnosed yet. But I AM OKAY, and for that I am so THANKFUL!
The rest of the week was filled with a little writing – not as much as I wanted, because I hadn’t been feeling it, but still, some more words are better than none. And a few modules on various courses I have signed up to for marketing purposes and learning new softwares I am using. If you remember, I have been learning lettering, too. I earned a Calligraphy diploma a couple of weeks ago, and though I love the structure of the traditional Calligraphy script, I have always been mesmerised by brush lettering, or hand calligraphy, with it s softness, uniformity, but also the ability to create it your own. So I have been doing a course in that too, and I have found it to be so theraputic. I had a little project to complete as part of it, where we had to create a background as well as some lettering… what do you think?
I had requests from some of my Insta followers, to write specific things, and one was to write Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. I joked that I didn’t have a piece of paper long enough, then, you know me. Don’t challenge me if you don’t think I can do it… determined Ritu managed this (even with one spelling mistake, but with a word that long, one mistake is forgiveable, don’t you think?)
The rest of the family are well, they’re back onto the home learning, after their week off, and either it is a chore to wake them, or they surprise me by being up and at their computers before I ask.
And that was weel eleven!
This week, I am in school on Monday and Wednesday, as timetabled, and quite likely, I’ll be in another day too, to prepare for the eventual opening on the following Monday. We have had to do the parent surveys again, to see who wants to send their children in. Some will be more confident, having seen other schools already open. Some may have changed their minds, not convinced that the situation is any better, since lockdown began to be eased. After we get the new numbers, there will be more to do, again…
And, since it wasn’t as successful last week, I hope to get some more words down… Marriage Unarranged is getting lovely feedback and there are calls for another one… I need to get a wiggle on!
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!
