Tea Room the Eighteenth - the Cricket Pavilion

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Welcome one and all to our new abode - a lovely old-fashioned Cricket Pavilion, with decks outdoors and a rather lovely Members' Bar, complete with deep-seated leather comfy chairs and any drink you care to mention.

Our outdoor amenities include the well-tended cricket pitch, kept immaculate by Mellors, our multi-purpose man; a couple of tennis courts round the back for those who prefer the Wimbledon scene; and another multi-purpose pitch (can be used for hosting Fine Lad-style rugby matches, or Little Kickers' football, or the occasional All Comers' Lacrosse Tournament.

Bishops abound, mostly snoozing in the leather armchairs; there are sundry animals around - guineapigs and bison mostly - and of course the Naked Mohawk Babies, fetchingly attired in cricket whites (most unusual for them!)

The cricket pavilion tea room is open to all - those with only one child who need a safe haven predominate but having more than one child is fine - come in, have an egg'n'cress sandwich and a glass of Pimms!

*other fillings and beverages also available.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with toys like this. I'm trying to decide if it would last a few years (therefore making it a good present for BabyScout for Christmas).

Buy the hat - I have several red hats (and pairs of red shoes), and most def clad in M&S's finest.

I don't think those do last Scout. Maybe a year, but not much more really

I'm a bit worried cuz BabyScout's a big-ish lad already that he might not fit it. I'd really like to get him a riding sort of toy but don't know what. Coupes are too big for our tiny house, scooters too old for him, etc. Anyone have any suggestions based on what their DCs enjoyed?

Last of BabyScout's birthday present (from his Mommy and Daddy) arrived today so got it wrapped to go with the other presents that have been arriving for him (have I mentioned his American Grandparents sent a package for BabyScout's end-of-October birthday that arrived before my mid-August birthday?!).

LOVING the dress/outfit, BTW, CMOT. I could never pull it off but it looks fab on you!

DS had a rocking horse that could be scooted round too - he loved that

Oh. It's definitely red shoes no knickers and icant imagine the oxfamily "drawers" on washing line would attract anyone

I have never heard anything about red knickers or red hats or red shoes -- I am definitely sheltered!

at the word 'drawers'. How very Les Dawson. I was on a thread last night where someone used the expression 'a bit of nooky'. For someone who grew up in the era of Dick Emery, it was hugely amusing.

Scout - How about this, although it is only for indoors? Lots of the children around here have balance bikes, although I guess not from a year. We went the conventional trike > bike with stabilisers > bike route, although it took a long time for the usually intrepid SmallGirl to be willing to jettison the stabilisers, so that the kids on balance bikes were on two wheels long before her.

Mistlechick is the heroic cyclist - perhaps Mistle can suggest something? Or Oxeye, who is herself a devotee of the bicycle, I believe. This photo was taken at this summer's London meet-up.

Love the ladybirds, but our budget is rather different, so this was what Wriggle had. She still loves it now at 4, although her knees do knock her chin! Younger friends also love it (including those with well-heeled parents and tasteful wooden ride ons at home). That being said, she did tend to tip over backwards at times when she first rode it. Good for her resiliance, though. Having thrown caution to winds and paid £10 for this, Wriggle last year found the identical one at a car boot for £1.50 and loves that one even more than the original. We are building up a fleet of ghastly plastic vehicles. Not how I imagined parenthood.

SmallGirl never had a ladybird but I always coveted one. I agree that they are £££ but round here they often appear at NCT sales (from which most of out baby equipment came). I think one just has to reconcile oneself to all the primary-coloured plastic (although we do live on the fringes of an area in which Hugo and Claudia only have organic wooden toys hand-crafted in Lapland by pixies).

And when Hugo and Claudia's Mummy and Daddy get tired of London they move down here and Mummy takes a gardening course with DH and H and C attend Wriggle's playgroup before not going to the village school ... Sadly they seem to sell off their organic wooden toys hand-crafted in Lapland by pixies back in London, because they are conspicuously absent around here in their second-hand state. What they do sell around here is their lovely bought-in-France children's clothes, which is why Wriggle's (often quite stylish) French wardrobe comes from the local second-hand children's clothes shop. Although Catimini is still silly money.

And I know I would look ridiculous and not unlike a Fat Pottery Teacher.

Yes, I hadn't quite worked out what Hugo and Claudia's trajectory would be but, Serpent, you are exactly right. Hugo and Claudia do tend to leave London just before transition to secondary school when, if nothing else, they can trade their London semi for a nice old rectory.

Hugo, by the way, was one of the names for my fantasy son. Just as well that SmallGirl was a girl, as SmallBloke would never have countenanced the name (especially with the others I had in mind).

What a pity that their toys don't go to your local charity shops, although that may be because they are inherited organic hand-crafted etc etc and so will go into a trunk in the attic ready for the next generation. My best ever NCT bargain for SmallGirl was a three piece Catimini outfit for about £6 the lot. Now I look in their window in France and gasp "how much?" weakly before heading for DPAM.

sit n rides.
boy had this one www.kidsplaystore.co.uk/little-tikes-push--ride-walker-269-p.asp for Christmas when he was 9 months. He loved it and used it as walker and sit n ride once his legs were long enough till it was passed on well after his 2nd birthday ( by when he had a balance bike) .
This onewww.kidsplaystore.co.uk/little-tikes-all-terrain-vehicle-214-p.asp he still tried to squeeze onto at toddlers every week at the ripe old age of 4.

Both are fine for indoors or gentle out door use. not very big.

CMOT- Red frock- wow.

Found a knitted hat and mittens set in boys size in charity shop today- I don't think I could even buy the yarn for the 1.50 they were asking for it. bought it obviously.

ohhh, hot choc, just the thing for a chilly night. Mines a bucket.

Catimini !!!! how MUCH. for a pair of legging... 26 quid. what is teh world coming too. ANd their boys stuff is DUlL dulL dull.

Good evening, FPTMOO. What can we call you for short? Fat seems rather rude, and the (almost) acronym FATMOO is scarcely any better. Do make yourself at home, but be careful where you tip your hot ash.

Would you like a hot chocolate?

What was that whirlwind of multicoloured fringed lambswool that just passed? And has Mellors been burning leaves today?

Catimini boys' stuff is dull. And yes, more for a pair of leggings than I have ever paid for any item of Wriggle's clothing. But beautiful.

Could I help myself to this hand-thrown pottery mug of rather excellent hot chocolate?

The hot chocolate is certainly yummy. Thanks, Unis and do help yourself, Serpent. I guess that charming and unique mug was left behind by FPTMOO.

There is, I fear, something decadent about a society in which a pair of child's leggings can cost £26.

Welcome FATMOO you will be right at home here

Yes, Small, I feel your pain - there is a real problem wiht leggings at £26 but then when I buy three T-shirts for £3 from some of our supermarket emporiums I fear for the child labourers from whence they have been produced

I have never heard of Catamimi, the link (bar the price tag) is lush. Did you see that? i used "street speak" which is good. It was my birthday. I am now 101. That is less good

Scout - we have two plastic ride ons. Both given. One a motorbike, bit like UniS second link, but two wheels. One a train like Wriggle's but sturdier. Oxboy has had them since about 18 months and still plays with them daily 3 years later. Having too is great more to trip over because he always ends up with races with friends etc. But we are blessed with a large kitchen table/ race track

by the way, Small, thank you so much for the DD link. Yes, we did so much in such a short time

poor Jennifer, she's 50 this year as is Carol Vordeman. I feel so very old now

was FATMOO not the serpent in disguise?

I wouldn't like to speculate - heaven help the suggestion we were an unfriendly tea room quiche

oh, by DD i meant dirty dancing, not daughter!

Catamimi!!! He he he...
What funky yummies you have where you live!

Over my way the yummies like things like this:

www.bonpoint.com

And yesterday I happened to find myself searching the owner of this coat (but in blue which perhaps means it was last season's - tut!):

www.diorcouture.com/uk/dior_uk.html?event=4.253

it was lacking, in my mind, the most important label of all... uuurrmmm... the child it belongs to name!

Scout - Get one with an adult handle - they are fab to use as a more 'I am big and sophisticated' buggy too.

grrr - link didn't work... see p2 of girls clothes and look out for the coat!!!