But I Smile Anyway…

Hello Peeps, another Monday has come, and we have another week’s worth of catching up to get on with.

Have you got your drinks ready? Mine is here!

• If we were having chai I would tell you that, in a strange way, I was so excited about returning to school because even though the week has its fair share of stresses, we also had a fun day to look forward to, with the kids. I’ll start with the stresses… So I had a big meeting on Tuesday, an EYFS Audit, where two members of the Trust our school is a member of, came in and questioned me on various elements of my department, followed by a tour of the Early Years. One was on time, one turned up late… which meant that they didn’t get to see the amazing things my Teaching Assistants had sorted out for the children to be doing outside because it was almost home time before we got to go down there! Still, I think it went okay. Then, Wednesday, we had what is kindly called a Trust Development Day, but that masks the true reason. It is like a Mocksted. Basically, a practice mini Ofsted examination run, where all the heads of the other schools in the Trust, along with the CEO, come to scrutinise our school. Seeing as both my head and I are in recovery from covid, as well as two other key members of the leadership team, and two office staff, it wasn’t best timed, but something that we just had to do, seeing as it had been postponed, due to COVID several times already. And we had the added fun of the CEO of another Trust, and one of her heads coming too! Blimey, is all I will say, along with the fact that I had to conduct the whole of that morning, with meetings and tours, dressed as a Pirate Captain… see below! And it seems that it went well, too!
• If we were having chai, I’d mention that staff shortages were also a thing, as one of my co-teachers had to take early maternity leave, so we were short for 2 days. However my other co-teacher stepped up and came in for a couple of extra mornings, to help with the staffing, and we also had a day with the new teacher who will be the maternity cover, as well. Then, on Friday, the second co-teacher fell ill, so we were short again. All I can say is thank goodness for volunteers, work experience students, and a fantastic team. We made it through!
• If we were having chai I’d have to tell you that Pirate Day was spectacular! The children absolutely loved every moment of celebrating their term’s topic, and really got involved with every moment of the day! We all had a smashing time!

• If we were having chai I would have to admit defeat to Covid. It was totally exhausting and O found that I was taking my inhaler several times during the day, and by the end of the day, I was shattered. I think I was asleep by 9pm most days…
• If we were having chai I’d say that despite feeling not my best, the weather was again fantastic last week, and we enjoyed Saturday, with Hubby Dearest getting more things ready in the garden, including new flowers, solar lights and a firepit! The Barbeque was meant to arrive, but it didn’t. Never mind, still time for that to come too!

• If we were having chai I’d have to mention that Sunday was Mother’s day, and though the clocks went forward, and I was still up at the crack of dawn, I was spoilt rotten! Lil Princess even made me a cake!

• If we were having chai I would end with a pic of my furbaby Sonu Singh, enjoying the sunshine in the conservatory! He’s one LOOOONG Kitty!

This week I will be half praying that Monday goes by without the dreaded Ofsted call. If we get to lunchtime and nothing, then we can all breathe a sigh of relief until after the Easter break. If we do, then we will be under big stress until the end of Wednesday! I don’t know if I just want them to call, so we can get it over with, or not! Other than that, it is the last week of term, filled with Easter fun. The kids finish on Thursday, and we are having a staff social night on Thursday Evening, in school. A Big Quiz and Fish and Chips! We are back in on Friday for an INSET day, then it is the holidays for two weeks! Roll on this week!

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Well, if you read Spidey yesterday, you’ll know exactly how my week went, but if you didn’t grab that drink so we can have a catch-up!

• If we were having chai I would admit that last week’s shortened Chai was brought to you by Covid (the Deltacrom varient, we think.) Yes, I tested positive the Friday evening before, so I was really not very well. I am much much better than then, now, however I have issues with breathlessness, so will be going everywhere with an inhaler for a little while… Other members of staff tested positive, too, and I am aware that quite a lot of children were off over the week, as well. I am just so, so thankful for my team, who rallied around and ensured that the children didn’t suffer not having their teacher in school with them. They also sent me flowers, which I ws so, so touched by! And we had a decent supply for the whole week, too, which in itself is a miracle, because a lot of schools have had staff shortages due to the sudden influx in positive tests, and not been able to find cover, meaning year groups have been sent home, with remote learning having to take place.
• If we were having chai, I’d mention that despite me being really unwell, we managed to contain it, and no one else tested positive in my household, so Yay to that!
• If we were having chai I’d say that despite one extremely wet day, the week was actually rather pleasant, weatherwise, and we had a beautiful spring weekend, where this virus allowed me to at least enjoy the garden.

• If we were having chai I would say that we also quietly celebrated Sonu Singhs 8th Gotcha Day with us. He;s been with us since he was 8 weeks old, and his such a character. He has been sitting with me throughout this virus, coming up and giving me his cat cuddles. I would not be with our our furbaby.

This week I will be back in school minus one of my teaching staff, who had to go on her maternity leave early, and with two rather stressful visits/meetings to contend with, in the first half of the week. I shall have my trusty inhaler with me to get me through, and no doubt will be asleep before my head hits the pillow, most nights, too!

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Another week that felt a month long…

Is your drink ready?

• If we were having chai I would tell you that I am not feeling too bright, so today will be a very short chai..
• If we were having chai, I’d mention that school has been up and down. Kids in and out, so many other things on our minds, and the whole situation with Covid not getting any better… But, I had a very productive meeting with the parents of one of my children, and the Governor’s visit went swimmingly!
• If we were having chai I’d say that I have not been able to get into gear with my writing again, because I have too much going on.
• If we were having chai I would excuse myself because I am feeling rather rough… Maybe an extended chai next week?

This week I am focussing on just getting through. There are staffing issues, being run down, as well as all manner of other things happening, that I can’t even think about right now!

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Well, that week whizzed by, didn’t it?

Is your drink ready?

• If we were having chai I would give you that school update that I know you all wait for. Well, I made it through a full weel, with no illness, so that is a poisitive! However, there were headaches. This week was a tad mad, with so many things happening. So many meetings, forms to fill in, and special days happening, that the week did whizz by. I had a meeting which I was dreading on Thursday, and was worried about how it would bode for my day, when it started with my breakfast preparations looking like this. Thankfully the mishap wasn’t indicative of my day and the meeting went even better than I could have hoped! I breathed a huge sigh of relief! Especially since I had also been in costume for said meeting (see below) as it was also World Book Day!

• If we were having chai, I’d have to tell you that on Tuesday, though, a lovely thing happened. One of my children is Romanian, and his mother came in with a bag filled with tulips. She explained that the 1st March is Martisor in Romania, the celebration of the first day of spring. Gifts are given, and it is quite a celebration. With this in mind, she printed off a sheet from the internet, forme to read to the children, to teach them about why it is celebrated in Romania. She has bought a tulip for every child, and each tulip had a little nte from the pupil, saying Happy 1st March and Happy Srping, from him! This touched my heart! She had also created larger bunches for the staff. They are still blooming beautifully in my vase! This is the way education should be in the EYFS, with in the moment learning. I love my class and their families!

• If we were having chai I’d remind you that it was World Book Day on Thursday, too, and you know I like a bit of dressing up! We decided that our team theme would be the Mr Men and Little Miss Characters, and I, obviously, was Little Miss Chatterbox! Could any other have been more appropriate? We had such fun, and the children really enjoyed themselves, too! Oh, and I had to go to the orthodontist dressed like this, too… as well as that meeting I had mentioned above!

• If we were having chai I would confess that the week has been dire for writing. 0 words, I have to admit, but the stress of the meetings, etc, meant I had nothing to give! Still, Hubby Dearest was a total doll, and he set up a new monitor for me in my office so I have a larger screen to work on when writing! Oh, I do love him, so! I am getting used to it but it is definitely easier on the eyes! And do you like my new fluffy chair throw? I feel rather decadent with that on my seat, and warmer, too!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that despite the rain that has been tipping down, on Saturday we managed to go out for the evening. I had a little shopping do to, pluse we hadn’t been out to celebrate the family birthdays last month, so we had a meal at The Big Easy, in Bluewater, which was so filling… Seriously, I need to stop eating so much! My waistbands are becoming less forgiving, every day!
• If we were having chai I’d end with a little pic of my gorgeous Sonu Singh who sat in the conservatory observing the rain falling down the conservatory roof for ages…

This week I have a meeting with a parent, an observation to do on a student, a meeting with our EYFS Governor, plus a few sessions where staff are in and out. Coupled with that Lil Princess will be joining me in school as their school is shut on Friday, so I get an extra set of hands! I can’t even think what else is happening, but I’m sure there is plenty!

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Gosh, it’s been a crappy week, in so many ways, but there were good bits, too…

You ready for a recap?

• If we were having chai I would bring you up to speed with school, since we were back last week. It was a hectic week, with so many ‘things’ going on. There were meetings, and I had a lesson observation. The nurses were in, doing height, weight and vision checks, too. We had meltdowns from SEN children. Absences. But, the kids coped wonderfully with the health checks, and my observation went swimmingly, I believe. I am just so shattered…
• If we were having chai, I’d probably swap for a hot water, as I have a delicate tummy. I ended up at home on Friday because Lil Princess kindly passed on her dicky tummy to me. I have spent the best part of the last three days in bed. All I can say is thank goodness that I began using the online grocerey shopping!
• If we were having chai I’d ask you if you were aware that COVID is now gone? Well, that is according to our government, who are now wrapping up any special measures, including routine testing for staff and pupils, and isolations for a certain amout of time. I mean, I know it has to happen, sometime, but it feels like it has all just come about rather fast, don’t you think?
• If we were having chai I wouldn’t be able to avoid mentioning what is happening over in Ukraine. My heart is so heavy, rigth now, it doesn’t know what to think. One of my old colleagues is from the Ukraine, and when you know someone who is being directly affected, it makes everything even realler. On top of that, it hit home that Finland is on the border of Russia, too, and they are being threatened with sanctions, by Russia, too. They are 50km away from that despot, Putin, and it scares the Bejesus of me. It is consgtantly on the news, so I am anticipating questions from even the more astute, younger children who I teach. What do I tell them? I find it hard to discuss the situation with my teenage kids. Lil Man is asking if he’ll have to sign up…
• If we were having chai I’d try and lighten the mood a little with this news. My Book Baby, Marriage Unarranged, had an Amazon Orange flag on it for a little while! Thank goodness my publisher was able to screenshot it and send it to me! These ratings change so fast so it’s great to have it there, in picture proof!

• If we were having chai I’d want to share with you, a little something that I had done. I always loved the little sketches and drawings that other writers and authors have as part of their branding, so I had one done! What do you think? Even got Sonu Singh in on the action!

This week is another busy one at school, with Shrove Tuesday to celebrate, as well as me doing some observations on my team, World Book Day (One of my favourites!) and we have a visit from ZooLabs, too, which the children will really love. Homewise, I just hope I am feeling better, and get some more words down!

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!