But I Smile Anyway…

Well,hello, my lovely Peeps! Can I start by saying thank you for all the lovely wishes. Though I am still tired, I am feeling, healthwise, much, much better!

Now, is your beverage of choice ready? I have my chai here, piping hot, and filled with wonderful spices to keep germs at bay!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you though I felt better and managed okay at school, there were plenty of sniffles and coughs around me. In fact, I had to send one of my colleagues home, as she was really unwell on one day, and, as most teachers will, she struggled in, and insisted on staying. but, as I have learned the hard way, our health is our first priority, and if we work ourselves to the bone, what do we have left to give to those children, who we want to teach? As always, the team was just amazing. Everyone rallied around to make sure that we were covered in all areas, and it helped that one of my little lovelies that has high need, was off, as well, meaning there was more manpower to deal with the rest of the class. (Obviously, I was not happy that he was unwell, bless him. I hope he gets better, soon!)
• If we were having chai I’d say that on Friday, Lil Princess and Lil Man had an INSET day at school, so they were off. Lil Princess came into school with me. She hasn’t been able to do that for over a year, due to the pandemic, and even though she can be a moody teen, she genuinely loves to come into school with me, helping withthe children, and putting faces to names, after hearing my stories of the tays gone by. In fact whe was truly initiated to my lovelies, what with our first ever changing clothes, for P.E., and one of my higher need children took a fancy to her, and sat on her lap, unattended, and even showed her love by farting on her! It made her giggle, thankfully. I had visions of teen girl storming out!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that I had actually been dreading the P.E. malarky, since we had a year of no dchanging, with children coming in, on their sports clothes, on the day of P.E., plus, with so many of these children, they ahve been at home more than at Nursery, so the level of independence has been lacking. However, and it’s a big, however, they surprised me! Out of 27 there were 4 who we didnt change, due to severe needs and risk of melt downs, and all the others, bar 3 were pretty good, needing minimal help or guidance, to follow instructions, and get ready for P.E., then change back, after! It will be interesting to see if any of them managed to swap clothes, though. I will find out today, no doubt, if a parent comes up with randomitems that their child came home in, that wasn’t theirs! Still, I have reiterated, many times, the need for names in all clothes, and shoes, so if there is a swap that can’t be traced… it’s not our fault!
• If we were having chai I’d say we finally had our first Cricket free week for the first time since April, and it was bliss! Mind you, had there been a match, it would have been cancelled as on Saturday, the heavens opened, and boy, did it pour!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that we are well on the way to getting those last bits and bobs ordered for the house. We were due to get carpets cleaned, on Saturday, and the guy turned up, but his machinery was too high voltage for our fusebox! Apparently an issue with newer fuse boxes… but, he is coming in a week with a slightly smaller machine, which will still do the job, fingers crossed! We have a coffee table ordered, too, and looked at wardrobes for the kids rooms, and the spare room, too. It’s getting there, Peeps!
• If we were having chai I’d  say that if you read my blog over the last few days, you’d konw that the whoe petrol fiasco is still going, but hopefully this week, will ease off. Also there is that small matter of my blog reaching 500K views! Taht is half a million of them! It has really fired me up, and I want to get back in the writing saddle, 100% as soon as I can! Thank you, everyone!
• If we were having chai I’d leave you, again with an image of Sonu Singh, as he tried to convince me that it is time to stop reading, and start stroking him!

This week, it’s a busy, but hopefully productive one. Monday sees the fitted wardrobes being installed in our bedroom, and on Wednesday, new carpets in our room, and Lil Man’s one. And on Thursday, oh, I am so excited, because my favourte author, and all round wonderful soul, Amanda Prowse is coming to my school to read her newes release, which is a picture book, illustrated by her brother, Paul Ward Hall, to three year groups in my school! I can’t wait to share some photos!

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I wish I could start by saying I am a much healtier Ritu, this week, but thats not quite the case… but, I am better, I promise!

Sipping on Lemon and Honey, right now. Hopre your brew is hot. Ready?

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I managed a whole three days in school this week. Wednesday and Thursday ended up a total write-off, as I felt so unwell. I figured that a day in bed would help, and, as it was my management morning, and plannig afternoon, we wouldn’t be understaffed. What I didn’t count on, was that one day wouldn’t be enough, so a second day was needed. I’ve been tested, don;t worry. It’s not THE COVID! But what the BBC wrote an article on, which is basically the WORST COLD IN THE WORLD! I was only saying a few days before that usuaslly those who work in schools, especially with the younger children, have the constitution of an ox – we are subjected to so many coughs, sneezes, etc. woth no barriers, as these are the children who are still learning how to cover mouths and use tissues. Heck, half the time we are the tissues for them! But, since the pandemic began, we’ve all been more sheltered, wearing masks, mixing less, so it was inevitable that our own immune systems would suffer a little setback. And that is exactly what has happened here. It started with a sore throat, then the cough, and the runny-morphing-into-blocked nose, and congested chest. No temperatures, just feeling really yuck! I was back on Friday, but it will take a while for this cough to totally clear up. Still, thank you guys, for your well wishes, last week, they are always much appreciated!
• If we were having chai I’d say that school, the days I was there, were colourful. The children are now in full time, except for the three for whom a full day of structured learning would be too much. Most have settled amazingly. They do complain about being tired by the end of the day, but that’s us too, and they are four and five, so I don’t blame them! However, the toilet incidents are getting a bit mad (thanks to some of my three lovelies!) I can’t go into details here, but put it this way, when there are already needs, these children find processing the whole toilet thing, evne harder, and we have to try and juggle their needs and whims, sometimes with no warning! We had the Reception Baseline Assessment, to complete, too, which we did manage, apart from one child who was off. Yup, a lot of kids off, with these bugs, coughs and colds, right now, too. I had full attendance the first week. Since then, pretty much every day there has been a child off, or three… It’s not me, I promise, but the kids have been so kind as to share… with me…
• If we were having chai I’d mention that on my sickbed, I read a couple of books, continued to keep up to date with the work emails, because I would have been swamped, otherwise, and generally rested. Hubby Dearest kept me supplied with food and hot, soothing brews, too, bless him.
• If we were having chai I’d say I thought we had the last of the cricket matches this week, but there might be one more, before we close the chapter of the 2021 season, along with some presentation evenings, for Lil Man.
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I am missing Pops and Mum, lots, since they are out in Finland with my Brother and family, but my heart is warm, knowing they are all together. My Brother has been missing everyone, and at least I have been able to see my parents a couple of times, through this pandemic, whereas he hasn’t fort two years, so this trip is a blessing for them.
• If we were having chai I couldn’t forget to mention the fuel fiasco that has engulfed the UK the last few days. Here is where the news and social media need to hold their hands up to accept the blame for some true stupidity. So, there was an article about HGV truck drivers being scarce, meaning that BP would have a little difficulty getting stock of fuel out to it’s petrol stations as usual. Cue the media sending out the message that THERE WILL BE NO FUEL SOON, SO ALL YOU TOILET ROLL AND PASTA HOARDERS FROM THE FIRST LOCK DOWN, GO AND UNNECESSARILY FILL UP YOUR TANKS AND ANY OTHER RECEPTACLE, WITH FUEL, BEFORE IT ALL GOES! Sorry about the Caps Lock, but that just highlights my frustration, and that of many. Now, petrols stations across the country are either left with no fuel, or selling little bits at exhorbitant prices. But the thing is, there is no shortage of fuel! It was jsut taking a little longer to get out to certain petrol stations! Now, people who genuinely need the fuel to get to work, places of emergency, or even to go on a long awaited trip, are stuck with nothing in their tanks! Well done, all you idiots. If you wanted to homeschool your kids so bad, you should have just said, and we could have set work for you. Now, there will be teachers who can’t get into school, so some classes will have to be at home. The same goes for doctors, nurses, carers, shop workers, and all other key workers, including HGV drivers! One was quoted to say that he was meant to go and deliver fuel, but because the idiots had cleared out all the local garages, around him, he couldn’t fill his own vehicle up, thus not being able to get to work to drive his lorry! Again, WELL DONE, panic-buying wallies!
• If we were having chai I’d leave you, again with an image of Sonu Singh, when he came face to face with one of the neighbourhood cats. Despite a rather evil stare, he’s pretty friendly, and when he comes to visit our garden, if we are outside, he miaows loads, and wants to be stroked. Even follows us around! Sonu watches on, unimpressed…

This week, at school, I hope to be in all week. It’s possible that my special lovelies will go home for lunch and begin coming back for the afternoons… let’s see how that works! I am also spending a day in the Nursery, and two colleagues have birthdays, as well, this week! I’ll be visiting Lil Man’s Sixth Form College for a parent presentation, too. Other than that, I will be trying to rest up, and get my self a heap better, compared to right now!

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’ll barely squeak out a hello, today, my voice is not it’s best… sore throat…

However, a soothing chai will help, as we recap my week. You got yours?

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that Hubby Dearest has been busy this week, chasing up various jobs that need doing around the houe, getting quotes for different things, looking at some of the furniture we need to order, etc. Thankfully we haven’t had any more silliness, apart from the boiler having a funny turn one night, meaning the hot water stopped for half an hour! Cue panic stations, until all was settled. fingers crossed, that is it, now!
• If we were having chai I’d say that school has been a bundle of laughs this week, too (not). We have had staff shortages, due to illness, Covid, and other matters. Nothing that is the fault of any of my team, but unfortunately, something that impacts upon the children, and the wellbeing of the rest of the team. The children were in for lunch as well as the morning, last week, so it was interesting to see how they coped. Last year we found that many children were. unable to feed themselves, or use cutlery, and I worried that this year would be even worse. However, they have surpassed our expectations by miles! Aside from one child with huge anxiety about the canteen, and being out to play with the bigger children, the rest were more or less a dream. They lined up fantastically, ate well, and finshed fast, so much smoother than anything I have seen over the last few years, to be honest! Of course, it helped that three of my children who have needs weren’t staying for lunch as they are unable to feed themselves, and one can’t eat anything but puree, so they went home, but I was so proud of them all. They are showing, well, the majority are, that they are ready for the more structured learning, and they really want to learn. My much reduced team worked so well, with us all juggling things to make sure all children had all they need, and we finished the week happy, but exhausted!

• If we were having chai I’d have to say that I was extremely excited to get this bookmail, too, this week. My fave author’s first ever children’s picture book, illustrated by her brother! And, the best part, Amanda will hopefuly be coming to my school to read to my children!

• If we were having chai I’d say that not much else has happened in life, aside from school. There was only one cricket match, on Saturday, which was Hubby Dearest’s duty, phew!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that we did have a couple of visits to the orthodontist, one planned, one not. It was tightening time, and that was fine, except they left a wire that was digging into Lil Princess’s cheek, so thankfully they could fit us in, and that was solved, too!
• If we were having chai I’d leave you, again with an image of Sonu Singh, showing you all exactly how I feel as I type this!

This week, at school, the kids come in full time! I know I’ll be tired by the end! I also know I won’t be fully staffed, but fingers crossed, we cope, this week, and hopefully the week after we are in a better position. We also have to carry out the Reception BAseline Assessment, a statutory baseline that the DfE want all Reception classes to do, to see where the children are starting their academic carreer. Feels pointless to me, but who am I, anyway? We don’t get any data that helps to support our own planning, just a waste of time, and it takes an adult away from the rest of the class, too! Stsill, I shan’t complain…. much!

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Hello, all! ISo, I survived week one of school, just!

Did you grab your drink? I hope mine won’t go cold, as I regale you with the tales of the week gone by…

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that the house woes decided to follow us into this week, too! We had a boiler and Water tank service booked, as it needed doing. That was completed, but in doing so, we found out about more incompetence surrounding the previous owner! The service engineer recognised the property. He’d been there before, not to service, but to attend an insurance call out. He knew this, because there were still markings he’d left, with recommendations, around the boiler! One included the replacing of a part costing a mere £10 that would avoid the risk of toxic gasses entering the environment. This hadn’t been done, yet that huge boiler was in a cupboard in the room that was the previous owner’s child’s room! And he just left it! He also insisted that he had had the boiler serviced, the year before, but was unable to provide the certificate. The engineer confirmed that this boiler had not seen a service for several years… Still, it’s all rectified now, along with the radiators all being checked, and the new remot Hive system all being set up, too. That, however, wasnt the end of the house giving, and giving, and giving… On Wednesday night, the elextricity went off in one area. This switch has tripped before, and even though I did report it to the insuranc,e it seemed to reset itself. Well, on Wednesday, it wasn’t resetting. So I arranged another emergency call out, as we had no lights, and no ppwer in the kitchen. Long story short, we got an engineer the next evening, and he was gobsmacked at the way the place had been wired. To start with, you couldn’t open the fuse box without removing the door to the fuse box cupboard! Once open, there was so much cross wiring, and overloading, he just mumbled and tutted for two hours, as well as hummed and laughed at his own comments! So, two main faults were found, that he, I think, has rectified, with no need for any follow up. Let’s hope the week to come brings no more house shaped emergencies!
• If we were having chai I’d take a deep breath, and say school… We had the children in for the first time. They were only in for half days, but I can tell you now, that the exhaustion I felt by Friday was unreal! Honestly, I have a lovely bunch of characters in my class. Many who are truly ready for school, but a lot who have reallt felt the effects of the constant lockdowns, with nerves, and delayed development in certain areas. I also have a lot of Special Educational Needs, so, we had our hands full, dealing with settling the whole class, as well as being hands on with the children who needed the additional support. We had things thrown around, tantrums, a few behaviours that I will need to squash early on, pooey nappies timess two, a child peeing int he playground, one eating Playdough, as well as a runaway! So the doorhandle is being moved higher to prevent the runaways! The rest? We will see what happens. But, honestly, they are lovely. They are already sitting beautifully for circle and cafrpet time, most are tidying up a dream, there is amazing imagination, and many are fantastic with numbers already, too! It will be a challenge, this year, but I feel I have already set up the foundations of good relationships with parents, so fingers crossed, this year will be a good year! Fingersw crossed for no more lockdowns!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that my own two children were back for their first week, too. Lil Princess has a spring in her step, again, despite having to get up a little earlier, and Lil Man, who is not so little, has been fantastic, too, even sitting up, studying in the evenings, which I didn’t think he would do. There is some conscientiousness there, I believe! And seeing him in his suit, every moring, oh, my heart swells!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that I was bracing myself for the late evenings due to cricket training, but in the end I didn’t have to worry, as the club is closed for work to be done of the grounds! He did have one match, though, on Saturday, which Hubby Dearest took him too, and he played really well, again! Three wickets for twelve runs off eight overs! Boom, Lil Man!
• If we were having chai I’d say that I think the weight loss thing might kick back in, now, as gthe routine of schoolis set again. I can’t sit at home grazing all day, and I am hitting my step targets every day. Again, fingers crossed!
• If we were having chai I’d sigh with relief and tell you that Sunday, I was able to have a full day of rest, after making sure all my tasks were completed on Saturday. Grocery shopping, done, houe cleaned, laundry up to date… Perfect! Just us at home, and me with my books!
• If we were having chai I’d leave you, again with an image of that furry baby of mine, Sonu Singh!

This week, at school, we will be having the children in for lunch as well, so I will get a weeks work to f school dinners, as well as seeing how the children cope at lunchtime! I’m pretty sure I will be knackered, but I am hoping that cricket practice, and games are now well and truly done for the season!

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, all! I’m back, with my first update of the New Academic Year!

Just about enought time to squeeze in a quick cuppa, while I tell you how my week went!

• If we were having chai I’d not start with School, because last Monday was a bank holiday. Instead, let me regale you with a set of disasters that started before school, and didn’t really conclude until Saturday! So, I woke on Monday, earlier than the rest. That’s a usual occurrence. I sipped a cup of tea as I read, before thinkint I’d wash up the dishes and go shower. Except I couldn’t. Because there was no WATER! After a little digging, it appears that a water mains burst, near us, rednering waterless for the best part of the day. That is no fun! It came on briefly in the afternoon, allowing Hubby Dearest to shower, but then went off again until 8pm. Great! Still, it was back. However, I woke on Tuesday, a little nervous about school, to find that a switch had tripped in our electrics, meaning no lights downstairs, at all, and the whole of the kitchen was without power, lights and sockets! Cue me running around, trying to find alternative sockets for the fridge freezer, and a place to plug in my kettle! Then I got a message from one of my team. She was ill, and wouldn’t be in. No worries. We were on INSET day, so that could be managed. Left the house with Lil Man who had to go in for his first Covid test, pre starting Sixth Form. And the road was closed, out of our lane, meaning I had to find a new way to get to school! A little later we arrived at our destination, frazzled, but ready for a new day. The power was restored at home mid morning, but the internet decided to be a pain, instead, disconnecting itself from all the WIFi discs we have around the house. So, that evening, I was trying to help get it all reset, and then proceeded to lose my phone behind a radiator! Don’t ask. forty five minutes of struggling, but we got it out. The internet issues didn’t, end, with the connection going again on Thursday, and it took me until Saturday to actually get it all set up again. Fingers crossed, it is all okay, so far.
• If we were having chai I’d catch my breath, then let you know about school. So, we had 2 full days of INSET, which is in school training and preparation days. These involved meetings, to go over changes, and developments, time to meet new staff, training on a few new ideas, and refreshers on others, as well as time in the classrooms. At least these went relatively smoothly…! Thursday and Friday were the days we had booked for home visits to children who weren’t a part of our school nursery, so we could meet them, and they were a little familiar with them. And weren’t they eye opening?! I am already aware that we have a large number of high needs pupils beginning, but all I will say is that we will have our hands full! No further comment. Oh, actually, there is one. Despite a slight fear of what is to come, the children do seem lovely! And another, some of these children have gorgeous pets! I was in school until a little later on Friday, so I could get the room as set as possible for Monday, when the children are due in for half days. Someone has misplaced an important set of keys, which opens one of my storage areas, so it was a little tough. I am hoping we find that sooner, rather than later!
• If we were having chai I’d have to say that, as always, cricket was still there, hovering in the background, and sometimes coming forwards… a couple of weeks to go… He had two training sessions, and then on Saturday played for the Mens 4ths team, and got Man of the Match! Three wickets taken. Well done, Lil Man!
• If we were having chai I’d have to mention that it was a special day for me, on Friday, as most of you know. It was my birthday! Needless to day, aside from the fact I was at work, it was lovely! Actually, the work part was as good, too! My colleagues were amazing, and I left work feeling so loved. At home that feeling continued. My dining room table is filled with cards, and I was even sent one from my own school, as I am a part of the Old Girls Association there!

• If we were having chai I’d say that we spent Sunday going out to lunch, as well as heading to the in-laws to cut a belated birthday cake, followed by much ironing and getting the kids ready for school/Sixth form, today!
• If we were having chai I’d leave you with my ever present furbaby, Sonu Singh, curled up on Sunday morning, beside me, keeping me company as I read!

This week, well, it’s time to welcome those little lovelies into my classroom for the year, as well as prepare all manner of other documents, ready for this academic year. The kids are both in school as of today, so a semblance of normality should settle, now… here’s hoping!

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!