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.

Morning all!

Hmm. DS has a cracked rib from his last rugby session.

Who's for tea/coffee?

Ah yes, Bonpoint. Surely there has to be a happy medium between the sweatshop-made t-shirts and a zillion Euros for a pair of exquisite hand-woven-out-of-dew-by-Parisian-fairies tights.

Oxeye - Congrats and commiserations on the birthday. Fifty is, ahem, no age at all. As you will discover in many years' time, you mere slip of a girl.

Birthday cake for Oxeye and other goodies on the aga. Do tuck in.

Ooo, Happy Birthday Oxeye!!!

Oooh - Happy Birthday!

I am also aghast that anyone would dream of paying that much for an item of childrens' clothing that -could- would be torn at the knees on its very first outing.... I also find some good clothing buys at the NCT sale (next one coming up soon) - I am lucky in that there is someone that is clearly having a clear out of the 'next size up' of clothes just when I want to get them - so end up with Next trousers for £2 etc - all in vgc... Also picked up heaps of wooden train track, lego, and Kids K'nex all of which have gone down well.....

Ride-ons - Ds didn't have one he used much here, but had a little fireengine that he loved at my parents' - started as a walker (although a little bit light for that really) and then a ride on. We did have a tricycle - adult handle a must. But he started on his balance bike at 18mo and never really looked back.... There are several benefits I have seen to balance bikes - firstly, he actually went a lot quicker than any of the older children we saw on bikes with stablizers. Secondly he rarely feel over/off - because he knew that his feet were the balancing points and stuck those out if he was a bit wobbly (the number of children I've seen topple over on a slight camber on bikes with stablizers), and thirdly, when he came to use his bike with pedals, he could do the balancing bit - so you didn't need to hold the bike if he needed a bit of a push - you could push the centre of his back which is significantly less uncomfortable. Oh - and his balance is amazing now - which means that he has really good control over his bike - I'm sure UniS's boy is similar.

Happy birthday oxeye!!

Family's gone home. I'm sad because I miss my mum, but relieved too - this was a really stressful visit. I genuinely love and care for my stepdad but he is exhausting. And I think he occasionally really enjoys his infirmities and limitations because it means people do things for him. And then I find myself actually getting angry at my lovely mum for indulging him so much. When it's none of my business and I have no right to judge her choices.

Honestly, I don't feel like I handled this visit very well at all, or stress in general, and I've found myself thinking perhaps I really do need to go back on my ADs. I seem to be fine when life is just ticking along, but how often does it do just that? There are always stresses to deal with, and it seems that I don't handle stress well.

Add to that that my estranged sister is trying to jerk my chain and play her usual games... and that I have not yet learned how not to allow her to push my buttons...

... and I have seriously a year's worth of paperwork to catch up on at the office and I'm now so far behind I'm frightened...

.... gah, JM's a little fraught today.

On the bright side... we're seeing a friend and her little girls today. And my laundry is all done and put away, my house is tidy and it's quiet. I am ashamed of myself for being so very relieved that my parents have gone home again, and even more ashamed of the fact that I really wish my mum could always come visit by herself :(. But bright side again, when I have my last op on my poor mangled bits in November, she's going to come for a week to help. By herself. :)

SCOUT or *CATITA - have BabyScout or Gatita started to hip-sit yet? You know what I mean, when you have a heavy toddler perched on your hip and your back's being pulled every which way.

JB has outgrown his Hippychick hip seat. It's a broad belt that goes around your waist, with a padded seat that you can put on either side that he sits on, and then all you need to do is put your arm around him to keep him close to you.

I don't know anyone else with a small enough baby who might want it that I like well enough to give it to - would either of you like it?

I'm going to have a bit of time out from the thread and other pages - think it's needed.
Take care all xx

Happy Birthday Oxeye!

Oh, Amber. Is something wrong? Come and talk about it if you wish. If not, I'm winching a basket down into the priest's hole which contains a flask of hot chocolate, a bottle of brandy (to give the hot chocolate some zip, if required), some freshly-baked shortbread and some rare back issues of Practical Lawnmower Maintenance And Advanced Dressage Monthly.

Hugs to JBM. I am convinced that some people do enjoy their infirmities because they give them a certain sort of power, as people dance attendance on them. But your mum sounds lovely (and your step-dad too, I'm sure). I have always believed in the Chinese proverb which says that guests are like fish; they stink after three days.

Don't go Amber - but I know that life is v stressful atm for you. Know our love is with you.

Happy Birthday Oxeye !

JB - relatives eh ? Perhaps I can offer you a swap - your sister for my brother? But think my parents are more infuriating, so can't help you there. But it will be nice to just have your mum after the op.

Been to physio today, and now have appt for 3 times a week. Shes going to try some acupuncture on me too next week. Physio hurts, but is making a difference

Uuuuuggg - I saw a friend of mine in the street "How are you?" I asked "Beeeaaauuugh!!!" She answered "It is the time of year for feeling bad!" She is right everything does feel mweeeh at this time of year. Seems like with Amber hiding out and JBs recent guests the tearoom is on a seasonal downer too.

I would suggest a cheering disco but I have a huge thick head [sniff sniff - horrid cold emotion] and feel too delicate to get involved with noise and lights!

Now they are really perfect!!!

Ah, and here is Mellors with a jars of Vicks and ready warmed hands

The priest hole is well stocked amber. see you in a bit.

JM, help self to tea room choc cake.

Boys room is TIDY, first time this summer. And I've fitted in a 2nd bed for his cousin ( coming to stay next week) . He has also enjoyed playing with some toys that have been ignored all summer but came to light in the tidy up.

WOW!!! Mellors certainly knows a few good tricks with that Vicks!!!

Congrats on boys room being tidy Unis and how exciting re cous coming to stay!!!

So... What shall Milk and I do for half term??? - Mustn't cost lots and lots but must give us something to look forward to as this first half term is feeling v much like an uphill struggle. We both need something lovely to really 100% blow the cobwebs!!!

Tea, have this hand-woven mug of honey and lemon with a nice dash of whiskey. And a hot water bottle for your feet.

Amber, have a nice break if that helps, but don't forget to come back soon - we need you here!

Oh warm non threatening snuggles all round
jm. It's normal. You want and don't want. Even best of parents hard to have to stay because it mixes child and adult roles a bit you're doing brilliantly and if youneedto go back on ads x

All others hugs and bolly. Special engine repair for Amber
thanks for bday wishes
tea what is plan or budget? An away day or more? What about lush trip to countryside or versailles?

Ha ha ha - hand-woven mug!!!

Yes - a visit to the countryside might be just the ticket Oxeye... (but in a positive way iyswim)...

Is anyone-else starting to have the C word rear its ugly head...???

I mean (Christmas)

Tea, I remember a wonderful playground in Square Trousseau (I think), just round the corner from the Marche d'Aligre, where DH has his shoe box appartment. I think that I might find that it is quite an ordinary playground, now, though; vast amounts of money are being spent around here on new play equipment, so that Square Trousseau was probably just the best place I had seen at the time. (Beneficial effect of Hugo and Claudia's Mummy lobbying the parish councils around here?)
I love La Coulée Verte (which is a park at roof level on top of a railway bridge) nearby and then you can walk to the Bois de Vincennes (I think) and look at all the posh houses. We also like looking in at the workshops under the arches of La Coulée Verte, where you can (could) watch glass blowing, etc.
Depending how you feel about animals in cages, we also loved to wander around the pet shops near wherever it is they have the bouquinists on the Seine and make get-rich-quick plans of breeding very ordinary chickens to sell for 100 euros each.

What lovely ideas rs!

We should defo check out that park! We have some friends that live in Bois de Vincennes so we can visit them and see the park in one go!

That elevated park does look gorgeous!

Oh now I really really want to go to gay Paree.

... just so you don't think I was showing off via posh friends they do not live in any of the houses of which you speak, serpent!!!

Funny, everyone and his dog wishes they could live in Paris (and I do like living here too most the time) but today I spent the whole day daydreaming about being anywhere really anywhere in the World but here!!!

I'm not sure I want to live in Paris, but it's almost exactly two years since we last went and I feel the urge to go there again. Oooh la la!

Elevated park to Bois de Vincennes was a long walk although very pleasant except for one place where you had to try and cross the Periferique on foot.

Oh, I wish you were here, Tea. You and Milk could come and take the dogs (there is of course no quarentine for tea-room dogs) for a walk down the lane, then make plum jam while the girls play on the stoep with Wriggle's best friend who often visits on Thursdays. There is a large collection of farm animals (toy), a dolls house inhabited by Sylvanian guinea pigs and a bag of fairy dresses for dressing up.

We could collect some eggs and make omelettes for lunch, then go to town and drink hot chocolate in my favourite little cafe in a second hand bookshop with a ghost upstairs, browse the charity shops for further dressing up clothes ...

Would that sort of day cheer you up, or would you need something more cosmopolitan and dynamic? You might have to try Oxeye, in that case. Or something more healthy, in which case UniS is your woman.

And WHO AM I SENDING A PARCEL TO??