MN tea ladies have landed in the House of Commons...

[policywonk]

... and we all look pretty silly

Just waiting for the slebs and worthies to show up so that we can spill hot liquids on them

OBM has just offered Gareth Thomas (Minister at DFID) a 'Mum' tattoo - things are turning surreal

He turned me down.

what's this? have i missed something? are you all netwirking again?

InmyheadIminParis - we're in members' dining room, tea pots ready, biscuits of all descriptions standing by... just wondering how many I can snaffle before everyone arrives...

becksydee here - DS is currently snoozing in the corner of the members' dining room, but will no doubt wake up as soon as i pick up a teapot! must say we are all looking very glam in our vintage housewife getup

apparently we're expecting annie lennox a bit later - i wonder what her favourite biscuit is

Valpollicella here... Just poured my first cup of tea ...and I didn't spill and

Oooo Annie Lennox has entered the room and is wearing a fab leopard print fur coat...she's just talking behind me right now...

(Valpollicella btw)

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?!

It's the White Ribbon Alliance Minute for Mothers in Westminster Aitch. We're doing a cafe (serving tea in pinnies) at the House of Commons RIGHT NOW. There was a sticky thread seeing if MNers wanted to come and be tea ladies.

I really can't imagine OBM in a pinny

I am trying

Carrie's giving a brilliant speech. She's fantastic at this - she's clearly moved, and very moving, talking about her experiences in Malawi - 3 hour 'bicycle ambulance' to hospital sounds like utter hell.

Now Gareth Thomas is up. He's done a lot in this area. Babies crawling over the podium - poor man..

yes

god

(what are we doing about that BTW?)

I look FANASTIC in a pinny mp.

Jo Cox from the WRA talking about how fabulous it is to see so many women in the House of Commons.. says we should have a Mum's Cafe every week.

V odd to be 10 feet from Annie Lennox. Feel like I've been watching her on telly for ever and now she's right over there

OOh she's v good actually. V angry about media focus on celebs and failure to engage with serious issues.

Annie Lennox is deploring fact that the press coverage for Int'l Women's week has been so slight, in comparison with prurient interest in thingamijig's divorce.. she's very fiery - urging us all to speak up for the 1 in 8 African women who die in childbirth. She's brill - so brilliant to hear someone mention 'feminism' in bleedin' public.

Do you mean about financially supporting some stuff Morningpaper ?

I can email MNHQ and ask if it would be OK to get in contact with GoodGifts and see if they can find a partner to deliver antenatal shelters or midwife training, and could offer it as a Mumsnet gift ? I don't think Oxfam or WRA do specific item donations

(this is not in the spirit of course but look at annie's upper arms. proper aberdonian lady meaty biceps, those.)

yes yes

are Mumsnet doing something? Liek sponsoring a midwife?

that would be cool, actually, esp if olivia could keep in touch and report etc.

A mum tattoo? Is that like a Chinese burn?

I'm still wearing my tattoo with pride. Wonder what ds will think of it when I pick him up from school?

But thanks to all for a truly brilliant morning. MN rocks

Can't wait to see the photos. x