January is a strange month! Hope you stay cool this coming week and all your plant babies survive. I've already started the sprinklers this morning, hoping early morning waterings will prevent my trees from getting too shrivelled. What sci-fi did you read?
I'm hand watering at the moment but I think I'll start the sprinklers going this evening... the next few days are going to be challenging and I've just planted a couple of new babies (a callistemon and a correa)! The book I read was Ringworld by Larry Niven - my Jólabókaflóð blind book date (popped into the pile by my middle brother who just loves a good Sci Fi (and whose library books I would read in between library visits and I'd run out of my own when I was a child). It was good, and his alien worlds and species were rich, but I rather felt his 'love interests' were a bit shallow. My brother tells me the book is part of a series set in that world and there was a sequel where maybe the female protagonist (who was suddenly off on a side quest with a late introduced character) might get some further air time. Who knows? It was written 40 odd years ago and, I guess, things were different then. Stay cool. Fingers crossed for your garden, too!
Firstly, I would very much like your apple muffin recipe (and more info about where you get your chai) please 💗 Secondly - January is never laid back, is it. The first week maybe but then suddenly it’s nearly over and you marvel at the blur, knowing you did stuff but not quite remembering what, only you barely sat down. That’s me anyway. I have to say, I am SO glad I’m not prepping to return to the classroom next week but I hear you on the need to engage with kids to talk about stuff we enjoy, with no strings (like interviews and assessment) attached. Wonderful newsletter as always, Cate 💗
Thank you... I bake muffins by using a fairly basic recipe and playing around - true bakers would probably be alarmed at my lack of accuracy with amounts :-) As for the Fire Chai Tea, I get that from Adore Tea. They are online but they have a lovely tea room and shop in Mitchell - well worth the visit - and they do quite a nice high tea. As for January, I currently have that song from way back when rolling around my head with lines like 'you make me sad with your eyes' and 'sick and tired of your lies' - it was about a character in a book, not the month, but it fits just a little bit! Like you, I'm glad to be out of teaching; it is not the profession it was when I began, and the stresses on people who really care about what they do just keep mounting up. Love to visit - wouldn't want to live there!
Lovely… I think I might go off and have a Chai tea now and bake some muffins. Great that you have got into writing middle grade, don’t give up on your story idea you write wonderful novels and your voice will shine through. Also good luck if you do embark on the school visits :-) with your wealth and knowledge and experience in teaching, the kids will love it!!
I hope you enjoy(ed) your chai tea and muffins <3 Middle grade is my happy place - I think my psyche came to rest at age 11 or 12 and I just love that sense of adventure and budding independence. School visits are so rewarding and a lot of fun, but I do find them tiring these days, not so much physically (indeed, it can be invigorating) but all the stresses of getting things ready and just right. Once I'm there, it's worth it all! This is more about whether I want to ramp it up or temper it. As with most things in life, I want a bit of both! :-)
I had a strong black tea instead but sadly, no muffins yet ;)
Oh me too, I am conjuring up ideas for a middle grade novel. I love reading adult fantasy too, but feel comfortable writing for the upper primary ages. Absolutely, it is exhausting preparing for school visits but always an amazing experience when you’re there. 😊
January is a strange month! Hope you stay cool this coming week and all your plant babies survive. I've already started the sprinklers this morning, hoping early morning waterings will prevent my trees from getting too shrivelled. What sci-fi did you read?
I'm hand watering at the moment but I think I'll start the sprinklers going this evening... the next few days are going to be challenging and I've just planted a couple of new babies (a callistemon and a correa)! The book I read was Ringworld by Larry Niven - my Jólabókaflóð blind book date (popped into the pile by my middle brother who just loves a good Sci Fi (and whose library books I would read in between library visits and I'd run out of my own when I was a child). It was good, and his alien worlds and species were rich, but I rather felt his 'love interests' were a bit shallow. My brother tells me the book is part of a series set in that world and there was a sequel where maybe the female protagonist (who was suddenly off on a side quest with a late introduced character) might get some further air time. Who knows? It was written 40 odd years ago and, I guess, things were different then. Stay cool. Fingers crossed for your garden, too!
Firstly, I would very much like your apple muffin recipe (and more info about where you get your chai) please 💗 Secondly - January is never laid back, is it. The first week maybe but then suddenly it’s nearly over and you marvel at the blur, knowing you did stuff but not quite remembering what, only you barely sat down. That’s me anyway. I have to say, I am SO glad I’m not prepping to return to the classroom next week but I hear you on the need to engage with kids to talk about stuff we enjoy, with no strings (like interviews and assessment) attached. Wonderful newsletter as always, Cate 💗
Thank you... I bake muffins by using a fairly basic recipe and playing around - true bakers would probably be alarmed at my lack of accuracy with amounts :-) As for the Fire Chai Tea, I get that from Adore Tea. They are online but they have a lovely tea room and shop in Mitchell - well worth the visit - and they do quite a nice high tea. As for January, I currently have that song from way back when rolling around my head with lines like 'you make me sad with your eyes' and 'sick and tired of your lies' - it was about a character in a book, not the month, but it fits just a little bit! Like you, I'm glad to be out of teaching; it is not the profession it was when I began, and the stresses on people who really care about what they do just keep mounting up. Love to visit - wouldn't want to live there!
Lovely… I think I might go off and have a Chai tea now and bake some muffins. Great that you have got into writing middle grade, don’t give up on your story idea you write wonderful novels and your voice will shine through. Also good luck if you do embark on the school visits :-) with your wealth and knowledge and experience in teaching, the kids will love it!!
I hope you enjoy(ed) your chai tea and muffins <3 Middle grade is my happy place - I think my psyche came to rest at age 11 or 12 and I just love that sense of adventure and budding independence. School visits are so rewarding and a lot of fun, but I do find them tiring these days, not so much physically (indeed, it can be invigorating) but all the stresses of getting things ready and just right. Once I'm there, it's worth it all! This is more about whether I want to ramp it up or temper it. As with most things in life, I want a bit of both! :-)
I had a strong black tea instead but sadly, no muffins yet ;)
Oh me too, I am conjuring up ideas for a middle grade novel. I love reading adult fantasy too, but feel comfortable writing for the upper primary ages. Absolutely, it is exhausting preparing for school visits but always an amazing experience when you’re there. 😊