Tea Room 17 - The Tropical Beach Hut

[amberlight]

Welcome to the 17th version of the Tea Room. We find ourselves on a tropical beach, with the tea room now in a beach hut on stilts, the waves lapping on the golden sands beneath. Palm trees surround us. Our virtual gardener/beach surfing dude/handyman, Mellors, is here to tend to your every need. He looks like the person of your dreams (male, female or otherwise ). There are of course holidaying Bishops and other leaders of faith, the Camels, the Bison, various guinea pigs, the tea room horses, a life-size cut out of George Clooney, the NMBs (please don't ask me to explain how Mohawk Babies joined us, and a wide variety of other virtual followers. We chat, we relax, we share how life is. All in need of friendship are most welcome. The kettle is on...and the distressed chintz sofa has of course made the journey over. Enjoy.

I need cocktails.

Big hugs for those having a crap, crap day.

Scout: all babies fall off things. Accidents happen, even to the most careful among us. But its a horrible shock. Have a TR of requirement cocktail of your choice.

Acceptable shows of affection for Amber and her strapping lad. I hope the surgery is successful and stressfree.

I had my hand shaken by out state governor today. I obviously am a VIP and shall demand to be treated as such forthwith (ha! chancw would be a fine thing.... )

toffee cocktail coming right up scout. its big advantage is that one can drop it down to you in priest hole with out worrying about spillages.

That's the beauty of the TR, Scout. All food is vitually consumed and has no adverse effect on your metabolism.

Have some tequila to wash down the nachos...

So why did you have your hand pumped, Catita?

Mmm, toffee cocktail -- yummy. And nachos. Mmmmmm.

What was the email thing, Scout?

Um... without going into too much, there was an email from a woman on my team at work who wants to talk about my return. I'm not due until the first half of October but am sending my letter of resignation in at the end of August. I'm only required to give a month's notice but am giving a bit more to make sure it's received. However, said woman that emailed me is neither my line manager nor HR but likes to think she is. I do not trust her farther than I can throw her.

Now I have to figure out do I email her back and if so, what.

Scout, my understanding is she is breaking UK law by contacting you to ask that whilst on maternity leave. You could say you will be in touch with HR shortly to advise them of your plans, and leave it at that, maybe copy HR AND your line manager in so they are aware too??

Am still on hols, just grabbing some sneaky internet time...

Anyone fancy going surfing with DD? She's had a lesson plus has hired a board and is loving it! Catch those waves dudes!

Love to all...

Scout - why not just forward the email to HR, and ask innocently if this is from them?

Mary's idea is great - love the extra copying into line manager and HR!

Mummytime - a name change? Hint please? [fick]

Morning everyone.

Hope everyone is feeling ok, but just in case I'm lowering some crossiants and coffee into the priest hole .

Feeling chirpy enough today. Best friend lifted my spirits and dh has woken in good form . Got loads of work to do though and am stressed about that. See my job ended a week or so back but I still have some final things to do on my report. Unfortunately I seem to have got into holiday mode slightly and am finding it hard to focus on work.

That is weird about the email Scout. How are you feeling today?

I need to tread a bit carefully re: work. Before I left on maternity, only about a month or two before, she was given "new role" (in addition to her normal duties) in (since I can't remember what it's actually called) pastoral care/HR liason. She is one of the nosiest people and I continued going to my LM and/or HR instead. I have, in case you haven't figured out, a complicated medical history (even before this latest development) and so was regularly off for hospital appointments for both myself and BabyScout, and thought as long as my LM and HR knew, I didn't think anyone else needed to know. I didn't feel she needed to know because she has actually shared information before I was ready to make it public or that I didn't want shared. She is also best buddies with the partner over the team.

What irked me, in addition to asking about my return, is how she did it under the guise of asking about BabyScout. It was really sticky-sweet, if you know what I mean.

I think I will send my letter in a few days earlier than originally planned (so the week after Guide camp instead of two weeks after). I was going to send it special delivery (signature required). I was also planning on emailing my LM on the day I post the letter to let him know -- but that was more as a courtesy because I have a lot of respect for him and he was very good to me, even before I was pregnant but definitely after he found out I was. Then, about two days after I send it respond to her email (ccing LM and HR) and say "oh, sorry, been away, I've been in contact with HR regarding the end of my leave."

(Is it really illegal to contact me about returning to work while on maternity? Then how do people return?)

Another namechanger here but should be easy to figure out. :) Jackbaby has been fixated on "Cars" lately so we have seen less of the talking rodent. Makes for a nice break.

But who is Mummytime? (nosy and fick) :o

Scout, no advice re UK law obviously. How are you feeling?

I think there is something about contacting you early about returning to work - no problem when it is nearly up, but you shouldn't be put under pressure to return early.

I left two weeks before maternity kicked in because I had holiday to use. But, really, I have two months maternity left. Is that too early? Either way, am not returning (YAY!).

I think Mummytime is a regular, just not regular to the TR.

I'm okay, thanks JB. BabyScout and I are having a Scout and BabyScout day. We've met my friend for lunch and went to Messy Play. Will have pictures of BabyScout with a purple nose on FB later.

Pizza and cocktails with pretty umbrellas, anyone?

Thanks Scout, I'm starving. Dh is in the kitchen making us pizza in RL actually. He didn't take his 'emergency only highly addictive' meds today, just the regular daily ones they gave him. He is alot better on them, a bit zonked but he still managed to paint a room, go to the bank, and make a home made pizza. Much better !

Mmmm, can I have some RL pizza AandO?

I completely forgot about dinner and have nothing in the house (succeeded in using up all of the perishables before camping for a week). Can't go to the store since BabyScout is sleeping and HubbyScout isn't home yet. Might offer to go pick up a pizza when he gets in.

How's LittleO and camp?

mmmm, that was yummy! Sorry Scout, ate it all, otherwise I'f offer to post some .

LittleO is actually loving camp! He has been refering to his 'best friend' (a boy he met on Monday ). I get to go to a 30 min performance of the kids tumbling and jumping on Friday . It will be really lovely to see him with all the other kids.

What time will Hubbyscout be home? Are you not starving?

When does camp start?

one pizza deluxe cocktail coming right up. It has an olive and chunk of cheese for garnish AND a parasol.

For scout, this has lots of very easily consumed calories.
For every one else, this has zero calories but tastes exactly like pizza with your favourite drink on teh side.

For dwellers of the priest hole- I've posted a couple of pizzas down the chute. hope they arrived intact. Figured you didn;t need teh cocktail version as you have access to teh wine cellar.

Scout: here in Mexico 2010 is a big historical deal. We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the revolution and 200 years of independence. One of the many projects timed to coincide with these dates was a book about these historical moments in time. I am a coautor and DH was the editor. The book was offically released and presented with aplomb (and a big wind orchestra) yesterday. The gov was there and was shaking hands with all those responsable for it. Hence I got my turn. All very exciting.

Link

www.tamaulipas.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletines/boletin.asp?no_bol=2698&fecha=10/08/2010&secre=GOBERNADOR

I'm not on the photos but DH is. He's the rotund one with glasses at the end....

Wow Catita, I'm impressed!

Me too, Catita! (Too bad my Spanish is rubbish, though. )

Camp starts on Saturday for a full week. Babies need a lot of things for camping. And because I don't trust a lot of the food (too spicey, too smokey (woodfire), too salty, things he's not meant to eat yet), I've got a stock of BabyScout food in addition to milk, cups, bottles, snacks, etc. I'm taking two inflatable paddling pools one to keep BabyScout in one space with all of his toys and the other to fill with water if the weather is nice. There will be several >5 in our subcamp and our neighboring subcamp, so I've said all of the little ones can come "swimming" if it's warm. We also have all of HubbyScout's camera kit (including computer) to take. And, of course, normal camping things tent, sleeping bags, plate bags, flashlights, boots, etc. I haven't worn my wellies and/or my walking boots in two years last year when I was very pregnant neither felt comfortable and I wore trainers the three weeks we were camping so really need to dig them out. Too much to do -- ACK!