But I Smile Anyway…

And that’s it. In the blink of an eye, the holidays are toast!

I’ve got my last drink of the vaycay. Have you got yours?

• If we were having chai I’d probably begin by lamenting the speed with which the time has flown. I feel like I havent been very productive this summer, because, usually, I would at least write – but the mind has been nowhere near ready, I’d have been in and out of the school getting things ready – not as much as I wanted, and I’ll explain my frustrations a bit more, below. I’d had plans to get a lot more of the little bits and bobs done in the house, but, apart from new garden furniture, nothing else was done…
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I have continued to read. My reading mojo picked up, at least, so where I feel I have been extremely lazy (though I wasn’t being lazy, I was resting and recuperating, when I could, with a book or kindle in my hands!) in many parts of my life, I read almost twenty books!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that, obviously, cricket was another big part of our week,w ith Lil Man having two matches for his District team, three other training sessions and a mens match for his club. There have been some interesting conversations over the week, regarding what he needs to do, next, to progress, because, unfortunately guidance and support has been lacking where we had hoped he would receive it. however, early days… I’ll fill you in more, when I can! He did, however, have many compliments thrown at him, on Saturday from his club members, for his amazing improvement and performances over the last year, which was nice… but. a little too late?

• If we were having chai I’d have to admit that though the sky looked like that on the Monday, Wednesday’s match brought a very hot afternoon, adn this silly cricket mum forgot her sunscreen, so ended up with a burnt nose, arms and chest! Ouch!
• If we were having chai I’d say that we managed to get to Bluewater as a family, to a) pick up the remaining bits of Lil Man’s suit for Sixth form, and to have a lovely meal in Nandos. It is the first meal out we have had as a family, since the pandemic started! Oh, and finally got Lil Man’s hair cut, ready for his start of term. He’s also got his vaccination, since the 16 and 17 year olds were offered their one shot, too.

• If we were having chai I’d end with a little photo of Sonu Singh. I did open my laptop to do stuff, but he was havnig none of it. It’s like he knows time is drawing closer, when we won’t be home with him, all day… I’ll miss my fur baby when we are back at school!

This week, well, aside from going back to school, and keeping track of the days I have to ensure my two are in for their pre starting school Lateral Flow Tests, it will also be my birthday week!

As a little gift, so to say, for all your support for me, Marriage Unarranged is discounted for the week, so, if you fancy a fun read, please go ahead and download it, and it’ll be like a birthday gift to me, too!

https://getbook.at/MarriageUnarranged

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!

Oh, Lordy, four weeks down, and only one to go!

Well, if you’re ready with your drink, I’m ready with my recap!

• If we were having chai I’d start with a little sigh, and say that I still feel very, very tired. It’s not going to be a long post, today. I don’t have it in me, to be honnest, and with just a week of holiday left, I am not sure I will be firing all cylinders at the beginning of term.
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that we went suit shopping for Lil Man and his Sixth form. It’ll be strange seeing him getting ready to go to college, rather than school… with his suit on rather than uniform, but how wonderful, too!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that I popped into school briefly on two occasions, to move a few bits around, and get some things ready. There isn’t a huge point in doing too much right now, because we really don;t know what the cohort of children will be like, so the basic preparations will be done, and we can take it from there.
• If we were having chai I’d go a bit quiet and say that, again, I have eaten far too much this week. The scales are mocking me. Nuff said…
• If we were having chai I’d excitedly tell you that this week Lil Man’s Under 17s team won their league, and the cup match, then on Saturday, the 4ths Mens team he plays with, also won their match, meaning they will finish top of their league! And on the cricket front, my brother was playing a T20I tournament with Finland, against Sweden, and after four matches, they drew 2-2, so not a bad cricket week, all round!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you it was Rakhri on Sunday, where brothers and sisters celebrate their love for one another. I miss being with my own brother, but always feel blessed that my own two have each other to continue this tradition with.

This week, I still have two intense cricket days, where Lil Man is playing for his District team, along with three traininng sessions, and another match on Sunday. I also have to go into school for the day on Tuesday, to spend some time with my team, getting set for September. But Hubby Dearest has time off on Thursday and Friday, so it will be lovely to chill with him, too, and hopefully relax a little before back to school hits!

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!

Have three weeks of my break really passed me by? Do I really only have two weeks left?

Well, if you’re ready with your drink, I’m ready with my recap!

• If we were having chai I’d start by telling you that since the holidays have started, I have no idea what I am doing… my life is so up and down, with things going on, constantly, that I forget what happened last week/this week, what is yet to happen… I think, this week, my mind spin is coming from the fact that I didn’t have a huge amount planned, so I was a bit lost, to be honest.

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that, as always, cricket still featured heavily. (It’s the summer, it’s the season, I can’t get away from it!) He had two more one to one sessions with some of his district coaches, who appeared very impressed with his skills and progress. There were three club training sessions, where I had a great chat with one of the ‘cricket widows’ as she described herself, with her husband being the director of cricket for the club, and two sons who have been immersed in cricket since they were mere dots. Then, he had his club match on Saturday, where he did phenomenally. 3 for 11 of 9. In plain English, that means that he bowled for nine overs, and managed to get three wickets (batters out) only giving away eleven runs, which is pretty good!

• If we were having chai I’d mention that Lil Princess and I went to the haidresser for trims after a good six months. I have also decided that I need to sort my diet out, so after a post I saaw by my author friend Dan Wilcocks, pledging to only shave his beard once he hits his target weight, I have created my own little challenge #keepinggreyuntililovehowmuchiweigh – yes, I am not dyeing my hair until I hit that target. My roots are pretty obvious already. Who knows, I might just like the au naturel look, but for now, that is my incentive, and boy, do I need it… I ate FOUR donuts in one go on Saturday. I am SO ASHAMED!
• If we were having chai I’d say that

• If we were having chai I’d excitedly tell you that Lil Man’s GCSE results came out, and HE PASSED! So, as of September, he will be attending the Sixth form of his choice to continue his education. We are so proud of him!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that we had a lovely lunch on Sunday, with my in-laws who came around after a long time. My Bro in law has been in plaster and a walking boot since April, and he was unable to move, before this, so it was his first time at the new house. Such a lovely few hours, it was.

• If we were having chai I’d leave you with an image of Sonu Singh, who is still very haappy with the new table!

This week, there is cricket, as always, but only the the club training, and a match on Saturday (and possibly, Thursday). I have an appointment to take my father-in-law to, on Wednesday, and I really need to log into my work laptop, and also pop into school, too… But, I also am still on r & r mode… I need to be in tip top condition for the begining of school, so I’m still reading and relaxing!

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!

Two weeks of the holidays, done, and I feel like I have lived several weeks within them, to be honest!

Another eventful week, filled, not with school, but plenty of other stuff! Right, got your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d start by saying that cricket is exhausting. Not the playing, because I don’t do that, but the taxiing around, and the watching and the waiting… At least another four days where cricket took us hostage.. I guess it is a good thing I kinda enjoy it, eh!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that we ventured to Bluewater one day, and there were moments there, that I didn’t think I’d see, like my two actually saying they want to wander off, together, instead of trying to kill each other, so I could browse the statationery shops and book stores in peace! To be honest, I didn’t, because I am still not confident that they wouldn’t end up in an argument, but it was good to hear. They wanted to do a bit of shopping, and then after popping into M & S for some special food, we went home.

• If we were having chai I’d mention that, in other news, I spent forever in the car, ferrying the in-laws to various hospital appointments, which was fine, as, even though they were early starts, I am up early, and because it waas the holidays, I didn’t have to take time off, unlike the others in the family. So, two covid tests, and a cataract op later, I feel I have had my fill of them. There was also meant to be a knee replacement op, too, but it got cancelled 48 hours before, as the consultant hadn’t done all his checks. So my poor mum in law had to isolate for ten days, and we couldn’t even take Pops and Mum to visit them because of that isolation, for nothing!
• If we were having chai I’d say that the reading slump has finaally ended. I think I must have read around five books just this week. Honestly, I am listening to my body, especially in those periods of time that are my own. I am not going overly crazy with cleaning. The house is clean and tidy, but I am not obsessing over it. If I have spare time I grab my kindle or book, and snuggle on my sofa, in my reading/writing snug, in the garden, or on my bed, and I read until my eyes droop. If they do, I place the book to one side, and snooze. Another few days of that, and I hope to have shifted the exhaustion!

• If we were having chai I’d have to admit to being awful with eating. I have been so, so good, losing a few lbs, doing a bit of exercise, then eating well, and the lasat few weeks it’s all gone to pot! Like, totally! the scales are showing every increasing numbers, my enercy is so low that exercise is the last thing for me to do, and I want to constantly graze! Not good! See, I manage two fantastic, healthy meals, then the afternoon slump hits, and all I do is eat snack after snack…

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that those aches and pains are still there, my shoulder worse than it was before. But, we did manage to order and fit together, the garden furniture. It is being used in the conservatory at the moment, as we don’t have a dining table, but it looks rather lovely! I’ve enjoyed a couple of meals and tea times there, looking out over the garden as I eat, or read.

• If we were having chai I’d leave you with an image of Sonu Singh, who approves of the table, too!

This week, there is cricket, oh and the DREADED GCSE RESULTS for Lil Man! We are all nervous. I just want him to pass, and get his place at the right Sixth Form for him, to be honest. Other than that, no plans… maybe I will be more rested, eh!

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!

One week of the holidays done, and I have to say, it doesn’t feel much like rest and relaxation, especially when you have a son who plays cricket.

Also, I have been overindulging here so my drink of choice is a green tea. What about you?

• If we were having chai I’d start by giving you a quick overview of the week… It was busy. Not one day was filled with nothingness, which I think I realy need, right now, but the plus point pf not being at school, was that I could sit back and nap, when needed!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that there was, as I mentioned earlier, a whole lot of cricket happening this week, Lil Man was selected for the District team this season, and they had a three day cricket festival to attend. He was due to play two of the matches and was very excited. The place the festival was being held at was a very prestigious boys boarding school, not far from where we live, with sports facilities that would shame your local sports clubs and gyms, seriously! We arrived on the Tuesday to be told the match was cancelled, as the other side couldn’t get a team together. Obviously, he was disappointed. But the coach said they could stay for a while and train in the state of the art cricket nets that this school has, so while he did that for an hour, I went for a stroll around the grounds of this school, that looked a bit like Hogwarts, I kid you not! The mixture of old buildings (school establised in the 16th centure, I believe) and modern facilities was amazing, along with beautiful gardens, filled with colour, and gorgeous lavendar. We walked around 8k steps!

• If we were having chai I’d say that Wednesday was a more successful day for him, Cricket-wise. The weather was rather inclement, with covers having to go on three times, as we ran under trees for shelter, from torrentioal downpours, but they won the match. Though he only bowled two overs (should have had more!) he got two wickets so left the game with a huge smile! And on Cricket news, he played a mens game on Saturday, and again was left to bowl at the end, but only managed one bowl, getting the final wicket out on his first, and only throw! Sunday was a whole afternoon of cricket again, with his club having a cricket week for this next week. They kicked it off with an inter club fun tournament and he got a wicket again, and caught one out, too, so pretty productive!

• If we were having chai I’d sthen fill you in on the next exciting part of my week, which was Pops and Mum coming over to see us, in the new house. I haven’t seen them for a year, so this was so, so special. They arrived on the Thrusday afternoon, and we spent the three days they were with us, just chatting, eating, reminiscing, walking, and Pops got to watch his grandson play cricket for the first time, too! Originally we had plans to go out and about more, but due to the current circumstances, we decided to limit that. But, mum did request visits to the local supermarkets, because she is odd like that! It was blissful. There were tears upon them arriving, and when they left, but I feel blessed to have had that lovely time with them!
• If we were having chai I’d sigh and admit that the writing bug hasn’t hit me, yet. I was hoping that this holiday would give me the boost to really get going with writing again, but energy levels have been so low, I just can’t get my brain into gear, yet. But I have been catching up on my reading, as well as ending up with more new books on my Kindle and shelf! Ooops!
• If we were having chai I’d leave you with an image of Sonu Singh, who seems to be using my desk chair more than me, recently!

This week, yuo, you guessed it, cricket, as always, with a game today, maybe Friday, and Saturday… but I also have a new duty this week, of hospital visits, for the in laws, as I am on holiday, so it means no one else has to take time off to take them to their various checks. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are my medical days, that means! Maybe, just maybe, some words will appear on my screen, and I hope to devote more time to doing things that will male Lil Princess happy, too, since cricket is definitely not her thing!

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!