But I Smile Anyway…

Boy am I glad to say this… I am finally on holiday!

Still, an eventful week, as always. Is your drink ready? Mine is, and for once I can drink it while it’s still hot!

• If we were having chai I’d start by updating you on the final week of school. Wow. Seriously, what a week. It was our last week with our current class, and the emotions ran high, the whole week! We started, on Monday, with a transition day for the children, where they go and meet their prospective teachers for the next year, and spend the day in their soon-to-be classrooms. Usually, I would have the children we will be teaching in, in reception for the morning, too, but this year, being the way it is, we couldn’t do that. Instead, the day was filled with phonecalls to the new pupils parents, introducing ourselves to them, and answering any questions. All I can say is that next week will be very interesting! On Tuesday, another bubble burst in school. This time the Year six classes, which was so sad, as that meant these children were to miss the last ever week of their primary school. The chance to say goodbyes, taken away… it was so sad. That was a class I had from Reception, so I was especially gutted not to have been able to say goodbye to them. We had a mini graduation for our little lovelies, too, which was precious. They all wore a little mortar board had, and had their graduation scrolls created for them, and a photo taken too. We made Little Bags Of Happiness with them, too, as a gifts for them to take home from us, filled with little significant goodies, and a poem attached. They had a film afternoon, and plenty of fun activities, followed by a class dance party before the final day ended. IF you read my Spidey post from yesterday, you will know just how emotional everythig was, and we were spoilt rotten by the parents, I’ll be honest. There were tears but laughter, too!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that my head teacher took the leadership team out for a meal on Friday night. That was my first meal out since the pandemic started. It was such a lovely evening, too, with everyone who was able to come, fully relaxed, and happy. And I am pleased to announce, that you are reading the words of the new, permanent EYFS Phase Leader! This year was a trial run, as I wasn’t sure I would cope, but you know what, though I miss the time I can’t be with the children, I have loved having ateam to manage and look after. And to be honest, they are the best team ever. We all gel so well – long may it last. Yes, the responsibilities are huge, but the rewards are just as great… just dreading the thread of OFSTED now, which is due to happen next year!
• If we were having chai I’d say that outside of school, I have cricketed every night, pretty much this week. We had three lots of training sessions for the North West Kent District team that he has been selected for, as well as two lots of training with the adult teams in his club. Then, well, I am such a proud cricket mum right now. On Saturday, he played with one of the adult teams, and he was just on fire, and even received recognition for his performance! He got five wickets for eight runs in five overs. The lad hasn’t wiped the grim off his face since Saturday!

• If we were having chai I’d sigh and, with a smile on my face, say that finally I am on my break. I have high hopes for rest, writing, etc, but who knows what the next four weeks will bring… I did open my Scrivener project, the other day, to make myself feel writerly, again… and my furry muse sat with me! We all need our personal cheerleader, and this one is mine!

This week, it is still filled with cricket, with a three day tournament with the District team, followed by cricket week at the club, the week after, but forget taht. My most exciting news is taht Pops and Mum are coming down to stay! I haven’t seen them in nearly a year and I can’t contain my excitement, seriously!

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Finally, I write this as I hit the last week of term! I am sorry it’s late, but life has been hectic in different ways.

Let’s give you a quick recap, along withour weekly drink! Ready?

• If we were having chai I’d start by telling you that I wasn’t at school, at all last week… Yup, our bubble popped, due to a staff member testing positive, and as a result the nursery, and my Reception class was affected. So, instead of celebrating the last full week with the kids, I was drafting up home learning again, with the children, recording stories, and catching up on the mountain of emails accumulated in my work in box. It was very productive, but I really wish I had been at school, instead!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I have been horrified by the racism that poured out onto the screens on social media, and even out there, in reality, focussing on three individuals who happened to be black-skinned, and who missed penalties, meaning that England unfortunately didn’t win the Euro 2020 final… sickened, I was…
• If we were having chai I’d say that the temperatures have been getting higher and higher, ending in an extremely warm weekend, so it stands to reason that we spent a long time in the garaden. The inflatable pool was out, ice cold drinks, ice creams, and fun!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I have been sitting here, stewing over the prospect of #FreedomDay that Boris Johnson has decided wil happen today… wheree all restrictions will be lifted, more or less, because, desipte numbers rising, he says, “Well, we have to do it some day…” I really don’t know what to say… Actually, I do… My thoughts on Instagram, yesterday…

This week, it’s the last week of term, so there will be lots of fun, on top of the push to continue to plug gaps created by lockdown. The children met their new teachers today, and I spent all day calling my new parents for next year. Had my end of Year Performance Management, finished doing all the ones I needed to do on my team, changed display boards… The rest of the week will be a mish mash of the same, with 5 days of cricket training or matches, and hopefully, I’ll end the week, with a meal out with our management team, fingers crossed!

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So, we are finally at the penultimate week of term, and it’s going to be different, but that’s for next week! Last week? Well, read on!

Let’s give you a quick recap, along withour weekly drink! Ready?

• If we were having chai I’d let you know that we had another interesting week at school. It was all a bit higgledy piggledy, because we had staff in and out, school work experience pupils in, and with Monday being a staff INSET day, that left us with just 4 days with the children. We also had the height, weight and vision xhecksfir them, that are usually done much earlier in the year!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that we did manage to have our children’s first ever sports day, of sorts. it wasn’t the way things usually are, with the parents coming, and EYFS and KS 1 joining together, because of needing to avoid bubbles mixing, but the children had a whale of a time! We had balancing races, the egg and spooon race, the over under game, a sack race, as well as some running races at the end. And, I won the teacher race too! That is more of an achievement, to be honest! 😂
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that data and reports are done, all proof read and printed out, ready to go out.
• If we were having chai I’d let you know that I am trying so hard to make sure I read, little and often, as it isn’t easy right now, and I need that wind down time, but it’s little and not as often as I’d like!
• If we were having chai I’d share that Lil Man had the last match of his Under 16s league and their team won. He was even more excited that he came out as the top wicket taker of the team for the year so far! I was extremely excited that I got to try a new Kitkat at the match!

• If we were having chai I’d also remind you that I am still doing Sacha’s challenge over on Instagram. Head over if you haven’t seen!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I am writing this before the BIG MATCH. As you are all mostly going to be aware, England are in the Euro 2020 finals, and the country is going mad. The first major tournament final that has been reached by the Mens team, since 1966! Still got my fingers crossed! UPDATE: So, it was a nail-biting game, with an early goal by England, which got equalised in the second half. Another 30 minutes of extra time gave no winning joy. So, we went to penalties. And in the end, Italy won at 3-2 penalties. Well played Lions. We’re proud of you. I dread to think how fans reacted, last night, though…

• If we were having chai I’d end by updating you on tha cat of mine, Sonu Singh. He’s been doing his usual, and though there was no sneaky treat stealing, he has been begging for food a lot more! Oh, and he spent lots of time with me, up in my writing room, in Saturday, as I read, while he lounged on the armchair with me!

This week, it may feel a little slower, but that doesn’t mean I get an easy ride. There is still so much paperwork for me to do, along with keeping the kids (mine, as well as my class!) on track, so I will just keep trucking along, and hope the week passes smoothly!

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So, Three term weeks, down. Three more to go… I’m not counting days, honest…

Let’s give you a quick recap, along withour weekly drink! Ready?

• If we were having chai I’d start, with that thing called school. So, paperwork wise, I think I managed to get pretty much everything done that I had hoped to. Using two evenings of working until 10.30pm, I finished most of the reports, and only have a few little statements to add to several of them, which should be done by Monday this week. Data – we smashed it out. The Good Level Of Development that is looked for by all is extremely low, but considering the lockdowns, and level of need in our year group, it was expected. All kids have made progress, and are ending the year happy, fulfilled little people, and that is all I can expect, especially with the hear we have had.
• If we were having chai I’d mention that I had a new pupil start on the Wednesday, less than a month before we break up. It’s never easy for a new student to start, especially one so young, from a different country, who has never experienced school, here, before. Still, he did say that school back home wasn’t as fun as ours, so that was good. Poor thing had to be sent hom, after being unwell, though on his second day, so that was a bit sad. Still, I hope he is better for this week! The rest of the class have been great. We are a hardy bunch, in my class, whereas the other Reception class was dropping like flies! We were secretly worrying that our year group bubble would burst, and so close to the end of term, that is not what you want, or need! We are already getting emotional at the thought of these children aready moving up to Year One, because, quite honestly, we don’t want to lose them, yet!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that there was still cricket, as always. (When is there not, in the summer months, for me?)
• If we were having chai I’d let you know that this month, I am taking part in Sacha Black’s month long #WritersOfInstagram challenge on Instagram, so if you’re on there, you’ll see daily posts from me, as I try and post. I am so excited to be a part of her street team for her newest Non-Fiction book all about Side Characters, too!

• If we were having chai I’d share that the weather has been very inclement, but not cold. We have had sun and rain, but it is sticky and humid. Still, the garden is getting a good drink! We also had our first visitors to the house, aside from the in-laws, which was lovely! It was Lil Man’s birthday on Tuesday, as I mentioned to you last week, and he is now a fully fledged sixteen year old! So, a friend of his came round with his younger brother and mum, who is a good friend of mine, and we had a lovely catch up.

• If we were having chai I couldn’t not mention the Football! Okay, so I don’t watch it, but how exciting that England are in the semi finals!
• f we were having chai I’d end by updating you on that kitty, Sonu Singh. He’s happily finding his feet here, in the new houe, and not long ago, I found him sat in a strange place. Somewhere he doesn’t usually sit. So, I looked at him, said “What are you sitting there for?” and got on with putting clothes in the dryer. Then I noticed some little pieces of paper and card around him. Picking them up, I pondered upon where they had come from, when I realised he was sitting on something. The cheeky cat had got into one of the cupboards, and jostled a treat packet out. He’d had a go at opening it, before realising it was fruitless (treatless?), so sat on the evidence! What a naughty kitty! Love that cat, mischief and all!

This week, we have a team building Inset day first, which means a four day week with the kids, and data will be done and dusted. Reports should be gone, see ya, bye bye! Maybe, just maybe, I will be able to chill a little. Oh, Sports Day, too, as well as Hearing and Vision Checks for the whole class, then cricket. There’s always cricket. abnd Lil Man has a dentist appointment. I’m already tired!

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!

So, another week has flown by, of this final term of the academic year… another manic one, if I an honest!

Let’s give you a quick recap, along withour weekly drink! Ready?

• If we were having chai I’d start, with that thing called work/school. You know, being a phase leader for this department is a tough slog, especially this year. With new curriculum stuff to sort out, assessment for another incomplete year, reports to write, sorting out the classes for next year, and a high leven of need from several of our pupils, it has really threatened to push people over the edge. So much so, that I have had staff members in tears, as well as me, feeling that we aren’t able to do more for certain children, but we are doing the best we can under circumstances out of our control. Staffing was better, this week but there was still a lot of upheaval, with meetings, and more meetings… and a few heartwrenching sessions with one particular child. Still, we have such a good relationship with the parents, that we all know we are trying our best to give each child what they deserve.
• If we were having chai I’d go back to that old report thing… I still have ten more to write, but I managed to snatch a couple of hours one evening to get some done, with the help of my furry pal… Jaffa cakes were also there as a support…

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that cricket has still been pretty full on, with Lil Man playing for the U17s, the Mens Vth team, and filling in for the 1st team, too! There were some ups and downs, but he got 4 wickets for 32 runs off 6 overs in the 1st team game, so, even though they lost, he did really well! But, I have to admit that I am getting very tired now… counting the weeks until the league season ends…
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I feel like I have barely picked up a book the last few weeks. When I do, I am so tired that I fall asleep when reading. I can’t wait to get back into my proper reading routine!
• If we were having chai I’d end by saying that it was my bro in law and wife’s anniversary, so as we were unable to be there, I arranged for a luxury breakfast hamper to be delivered, so they could be treated at home, since with his foot in a cast, my Bro in Law can’t actually get around anywhere, right now! 

This week, along with the usual work stuff, I hope to get the data done, and the reports written, alongside a biggie. Lil Man turns 16 this week! When did that happen? I admit to feeling rather old 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!