Tea Room the Eighteenth - the Cricket Pavilion

[thumbwitch]

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.

Scout and other transatlantics - what is 'shortening'? Reading a book with lots of recipes in and it keeps referring to 'shortening'. Reminds me of a song we sang at primary school: 'Mamma's little baby loves shortening shortening, Mamma's little baby loves shortening bread.' (Why?)

wanted to share this with you, some of you in particular. just need to whiffle a bit so its on not on top line tho,

Listened to this on Radio4 ages ago, was just reminded. Is this what a Tea room might look like if it ever happened??
www.sarahness.co.uk/

Isn't it margarine? shortening, that is.

Shortening It's like a lard. Doesn't need to be refrigerated. Good for greasing baking pans/tins so things don't stick. Can be used in recipes as well.

I'm sorry I missed your departure, AandO. Have a fantabulous adventure and don't forget about us!

amber, university! Eek! It feels like yesterday since I left for uni but in reality it was a lonnnggggg time ago. Feels like ages until BabyScout goes but knowing how quickly this past year went I'm sure it will fly. Does FL know what he wants to study?

Good day with MrScout and BabyScout. Even got almost 90 minutes of alone time to take a slow walk into town, do my errands and walk back. Was very nice.

Does anyone know what Ann Whittecomb said on Strictly while they were standing & smiling for the camera before their training video?

Scout, no, missed the bit on Strictly, alas.

University trip with ds was . He doesn't want to be more than a couple of hours from home, but that still means there's about 10 decent ones (on paper). But this one was very "1960s toilet block" in decor and feel, and seemed to have a budget of £3.50 for the year. Despite being one of the better thought of ones. I'm trying not to worry about it.

In typical Amber style, I ended up ignoring their "there is no parking so you must take a bus for 40 mins from the park and ride" request. There was parking. I parked in it. Ambers cannot use buses. And then I found the back way into the building so ended up confusing all the staff by not registering or getting the right info.

One day I will find out what "HTH" means too

HTH = hope that helps. I presume this uni is a "no" then? What did Amberboy think?

Can I use Tesco corn flour to make gravy? According to google, it is gluten free, but I like to be sure...

Thanks!
AmberBoy was completely underwhelmed by that Uni too.
Corn Flour is supposed to be gluten-free, yes. Or "Free & Easy" make a vegetable gravy mix that's gluten, yeast and dairy-free.

corn flour is fine and normal to use for gravy. Bisto powder is made from cornflour and has never caused me a problem but I wouldn't touch the granules.

Howe are you feeling, Mary? Improving still?

Amber - am impressed by your wayfarer skills in getting into the Uni from the carpark-that-isn't-supposed-to-exist!
Forgive me for asking a very personal question and feel free not to answer it - but does the Fine Lad also have any aspie-type issues? I can't remember whether or not you have said (I might have missed it)

I did my Masters on work day release at Brunel Uni in Uxbridge - was sooooooooooo glad I hadn't been a full time undergraduate there! Concrete jungle built in the 60s at the height of concrete's popularity - it looks mostly like some sink shopping mall! Very depressing place.

Thanks yes, I am still improving, nothing more than a sore stomach now! I had to resist lots of food today, it being harvest (went to 2 harvest services).

I've got Bisto granules, but not the powder. Am just trying to fathom out whether i can eat Tesco's fajitas without the tortillas, looking at the ingredients for the seasoning, I might be OK, but can't tell for sure. We're giving the roast a miss till tomorrow!

I went to Brunel, did my 4 year degree there, and found it a good uni, not at all depressing! Still, I can understand why you thought it so! Did you know that the lecture theatre was built back to front by mistake? And that Brunel appeared in one of the comedy sketches "5 go mad in..."? If you remember them?

I see someone's done a name change :)

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving everyone!

I am a complete mess :o - I have a black eye because Jackbaby's forehead bounced off my left eyebrow hard enough to bruise, and my lower lip and part of the skin underneath are burned, courtesy of another encounter wit hot pizza cheese . Apparently last week's burn on my chest didn't serve as enough warning to let pizza cool off before scarfing it down!!! :o It's funny but also appalling that it raised a blister on my chin. Didn't know pizza could be hazardous to your looks health!

It's a long weekend for us here because of the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow. Bliss. We are going to Jason's aunt's later, she's doing the full spread and we don't have to do anything except bring some wine... even more bliss!!!!

How is everyone?
xxJM

we are sick. miniT has been awake for the last 3+hours, raging temp and cough, looking like a boiled tomato. given calprofen, he's cooling down a bit now but still spiking. of course I have no functional thermometer (both digital, need new batteries) but you can feel him heating up. Very occasional sweating. alert but tired - tis 5 am - so not panicking but he can't sleep. I have deep-chest cough, very rasping.
DH asleep - not interested.

JBM - you have typed a name up there, might want to get it deleted?

Hello. Long post eaten last night. I gave up in disgust.
Unis laughed at knitted husband. Am tempted

Amber and Mary for different reasons well Done both of you. I think if you're the right age and attitude uni aesthetics matter little. Course and people keep students going!

Had lovely weekend but off to work now. Hope mini thumb ok
any news of small elsewhere ? She was middle aged and gloomy and now gone ....

Mellors is standing by with a hot massage towel for those requiring more than a drink.

Yes, ds is indeed a 'stealth aspie' as some would describe him. Very autistic as a young lad, now much more amenable and generally splendid thanks to bl*dy years of effort on our part to explain society rules etc etc. But he likes to be fairly incognito about any difference. Many teens do.

Unis accepts large glass of something she has zero need for, but just rather likes...
Many thanks.

We just had a fab day out at the beach ( again, 2nd this week) . The sea is just about warm enough at this time of year from me to venture in. had a fun 15 mins jumping waves with DH and boy . Also, sand castles, drawing, fishing in rock pools - catching 1 crab, 4 shrimp and a couple of baby lobsters- , kite flying, cake eating and canal building. BLISS.

sand shoes by the door if you want to share the joy.

sounds fantastic UniS. I'd better not tell DH he's have moved your way and away from the Big Smoke in a flash

we went to the beach but the close to london variety. Lovely day though didn't strip off for the sea, paddling only

We are off to the seaside tomorrow, all being well.

Thumb, I'm sure that you know this, but when we rushed to the hospital at 2am with Wriggle when we couldn't get her temperature below 40C, we were told to give her calpol and ibruprofen for babies at the same time, as they work in a different way. It worked and she was much more comfortable.

I am on the phone trying to sort out a problem with my line. I am at present holding. I have been doing this, with a short break to pick up Wriggle, since 3pm. I have spoken to two people, but then get put back onto hold. Am losing the will to live.

And ... Small... are you out there? Have you got a problem that we could help with? Can you talk to us through The Other Place?

DS has just asked if I have ever done it with a black puffle. My mind is now boggling!

done what??? the mind boggles.

Any one fancy a game of boggle?

www.fun-with-words.com/boggle.html?hx=5e1#ConTop thought I'd find a set somewhere round here.