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.

and Bolly...

and, of course, the tearoom!!!

I am also getting sorted for tomorrow and was smiling at the strange mixture of things in my bag...

pig templates - check

How to make a paper snowflake instructions - check

Shopping game - check

Article on the wonders of caves - check

shaker - check

and

cuddly toy!!!!

Being a school teacher is fun!!!

PIG templates?????

[boggles at carrying around a template of an entire pig]

UnSerpent, I am completely in agreement with you re eating as much as possible of an animal if we're going to kill it... in theory at least. In practice, I draw the line at eating brains and sex organs, because of the [eeeeeewww] factor of eating bulls' penises, and liver and kidneys (because I cannot bring myself to eat the body's waste removal organs). Other than that, chomp chomp.

Was going to say something else but don't know what. Feeling scattered today. Am at work, very tired from running around like mad with my parents, and wishing I could just know that Jackbaby is well taken care of for a day or two so that I could just sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Even thinking it makes me feel selfish. :(

Scout, sorry; am very distracted trying to think what on earth to do with 37 children in maths tomorrow. Wobbles are awful, but I really think it gets easier. You are at the hardest time; wait until LittleScout is older and becomes reasonable and you can talk to him and have fun together ... then think of all the things you can do together which you friends can't because they have to take their toddler/baby along too. Also, I enjoy borrowing the older siblings from friends for fun days out which they wouldn't get otherwise and then giving them back and having a lovely peaceful evening with just my child ...

Serpent - I will shortly be receiving my order of Montmorency cherry juice from my friend in the UK - that will put paid to any gout. Might have to lighten up on the red wine as well :(

Am I the only one who couldn't see JBM's actual shoes?? Only pages of other shoes by FLuvog [sp]?

I agree totally with eating as much as possible of various animals - and using the skins - otherwise it does seem horribly wasteful. There is this vile practice in Asia where they catch sharks, cut off their top fin and throw the sharks back into the sea - where they die because they can't swim and get infections - that is disgusting. Shouldn't be allowed.
And I lurve sausages of the beef variety like wot we get out here - yum!

I feel fuzzy.

DH has gout... does that juice really help then?

That should be "My head feels fuzzy." Bah.

Mary - my friend swears by it! He started getting it from America because he had gout himself - it helped loads, he doesn't need the drugs any more - and he was so impressed he started his own company. It doesn't just help with gout, it's all inflammatory conditions - so arthritis, sore muscles etc. etc. I love the stuff and miss it badly - didn't think I could get him to ship it out here but there is a new thing apparently called M Post which means it only costs £10 to ship 3 bottles (3m supply), which is great. It isn't the cheapest stuff in the world but by gum it's good! here is his website but you can buy his stuff in Holland & Barrett, and possibly even Waitrose, not sure! You don't have to even buy the juice any more - it comes in capsule form or you can buy the cherries themselves in a dried form (like sultanas only nicer and with no added sugar)

I'm sorry I can't face Cricket Soup it makes me think of legs and wings. Anyone else watching Lost Land of the Tiger - bit sensational for US TV Market(sorry scout) - I do think those of us brought up with David Attenborough like our Nature Reports Understated but it's compelling. Narrated by Lucas North (Spooks) so I keep expecting dire things ot happen. Iam also a little in love wiht the Bug Professor ...

Scout - the baby ache does get easier. I think it hits at milestones (such as birthday) and at this age when so many people go for two. I know for you the idea of having two (or more) is not necessarily resolved yet, which makes it harder. For many many reasons I know I will not have another and as an adult and me and my life it is the sensible and right choice, with which I am fine, but there is part of me - the part that always sees life a certain way - that never imagined I would only have one child, and that part of me does rear up from time to time - but I think rather than trying to suppress it I try to embrace that feeling. It's a bit like the "I would like to climb Mount Everest" or "when I grow up I will be a ballet dancer" - perhaps never to be, but our dreams are part of us.....

JM - those shoes are amazing! What a S&B tea room we are - what at the heels like? and CMOT your cape is wonderful. Glad your hand is better - sorry I mispelled Tiddler's name and I love the hymn singing. Oxboy is currently singing a "days of the week" song below his breath when he concentrates on things, which I love

am splitting posts cos I have too much to say!

Scout - Christmas wine alert - I have suddenly remembered the wonder that is the M&S Mulled wine bottle - not sweet, just perfect. poor in pan, heat, drink. I think it's about £5 a bottle. Mum and I got a little fixated on it last year. There was nearly a Turkey Disaster we laughed Dad got Stern and Averted it.

However, it's not in shops until normal people start to think about christmas

TEa - love the sound of your lessons, were the pigs dressed as snow flakes?

Racing - how are your Resolutions going? And has AP lost some of her Outdoor Trepidation after her long period of seclusion? How is the CLOT?

Small - cheers my dear - clinks sherry glass -

Mary hope birthday fest was great and all well at home - how is Scouts going for DS now?

Amber - is DH ok and how is Fine Lad recovering?

UniS - how did you cook mince and apple together? I have glut of apples and Oxboy is no longer keen on puree

DH struggling on nobly (with me acting as his chauffeur for our clients who wish to view investment buildings). Fine Lad has recovered beautifully and is back being menacing in the nationals for rugby (hurrah!)

I've driven half way round the country so far today. That calls for tea and chocolate cake. Ah, as if by magic, there some is!

Oxeye, thank you for your kind enquiry. AP is suffering from just as much trepidation, and is inclined to go round in circles (metaphorically) 'Why am I seeing the doctor?' 'So that she can sign your form for your disabled badge. And you can also ask her about the chiropodist.' 'That's good; it will save a journey.' .... A couple of hours later: 'I'm not going to see the doctor, am I?' And yet most of the time she seems so competent and reasonable. She just sort of won't take on anything new, like microwaves, digital TVs etc. And they have turned off the analogue system, so I have taught her how to use the digital ... goes really well .. a couple of weeks later she tells me she can't do a thing with the new set, so I make her a step by step guide, which works well for a week or so ... a couple of weeks later she tells me she can't do anything with the set .... (repeat endlessly)

And yet .. if I want to discuss philosophy, etymology or medival history, or if I want someone to quickly crochet a dog lead or an entire space suit for one of Wriggle's toys, she's the first person I would ask.

I am trying to make everything seem very safe and normal and not let on that I am repeating things for the fourth time today, then I lose my temper and shout at WRiggle because I find it all too scarey (and the more I am trying to explain things to AP, the more Wriggle tries to butt in).

and I have not yet found a way of telling AP that we are going away for a week in half term, because I know that she will go into panic mode, but we have to go because it is DH's family who has asked us and he would be furious if we didn't go ....

Have ordered HubbyScout's anniversary present today. Also ordered something for BabyScout's birthday and something for Christmas. BabyScout's stocking is finished (yes, he's getting a stocking even though he's little) and will get him one other thing for under the tree. HubbyScout lets me do the shopping for all of the children in the family, so he'll help BabyScout open his stocking Christmas morning.

Took BabyScout to soft play for the first time today. He LOVED the ball pit, especially since he could happily crawl around in this one (the last ball pit he was in he enjoyed but it was "deep"). He also went down a slide by himself which he seemed to think was funny. I can see why some people find them hell on earth. I was with a group of people who have older children they could let off to play, but I stayed with BabyScout in the baby section. One of the boys of the moms I was with (who I've only met once before) was being a right pain in the a$$ in the baby zone (where he shouldn't have been) I had no problems telling him off (would have told him off even if I hadn't had met him before as I was telling other random children to watch out for the babies, etc) but he just wouldn't listen to me. Some other mom complained to one of the workers, who came and had a word with the mom who later made comments like "Not my son..., blahblahblah." I wanted to tell her to wake up, but didn't and now I wish I had. But I could only do so much and in the end removed BabyScout from the situation because I saw it ending badly. I took him back to play later, when I knew the bigger boy was being "watched" and was staying out of the babyzone. They are hard work (babies and children in soft play zones) but BabyScout really seemed to enjoy himself. I think we'll go again. [glutton for punishment emoticon]

Anyone for chips and cheese and salsa?

Serpent - my mother is not as aged as yours, but mentally a bit worse I think. Someone explained it to me as dementia takes away your ability to write new memories to your lifebook, but the older the memory, and the more you have read it, the easier it is to read. So mum can still knit, although more and more mistakes occur, but can't learn anything new.

I try to just let her go over the same stories and questions (while mentally doing something else), and don't challenge her memory on anything. I've had 'Contented Dementia' recommded to me as having lots of coping strategies

Scout - that sounds a bit crappy - can't be doing with those mums who are all "Not my little Johnny, he'd never do XYZ" - well yes he would missus cos I've just seen him! THe only soft play place I've been to here, they police the baby area quite strictly and chuck out any DC who are over 4. But then 4 is still quite big against small babies.

Serpent - that sounds rough with your AP - we only had to deal with dementia in my grandma and that was hard enough - and CMOTD's explanation seems absolutely right, from what I remember. There was a report out recently that combination of vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid help to reduce brain shrinkage in older patients - but whether that actually affects their cognitive decline is another matter entirely, as a study done in 2008 suggested that it made no difference. :(. Might be worth putting AP on a B vitamin complex supplement though, see if it helps?

I suppose that I don't want to even think the word dementia, because most of the time she is perfectly rational, reasonable and my mother just as she always was. I remember my paternal grandmother with dementia - she was unrecognisable and unreachable.

Have ordered the book from Amazon but can see that I will have to hide it well.

Was quite pleased when my sister appeared to be going to visit frequently and take an interest, but unfortunately when she visited last weekend I made the mistake of waking her up at 7.30am to ask her to look after Wriggle when AP was feeling particularly fragile and had a bad cold. Sister stormed off home and has now texted to say that she had just bought a canal boat, so will obviously be busy for a while.

UnSerpent, (((((((((hugs))))))))) (or large cuppa, depending on preference).

I'm working nationally on making environments accessible for people with dementia or other neurological challenges (including my own) and it's well worth finding out how to adapt things even in the mild stages (and even without the person really recognising the reasons why you're adapting them).

Argh re your sister...

Yes please for chips, cheese and salsa

'without the person really recognising the reasons why you're adapting them' I think that is the key, Amber.

Just feeling very lonely with this - my father is dead, my sister has her own ishoos, DH is ... well, DH, WRiggle is 4, we have no close cousins, etc, and now my mother needs my help ... I am for the first time feeling alone in the universe - as indeed we all are, from the moment we are born, I suppose.

Scout - I remember when Wriggle was a baby looking at all those great big hulking three-year olds with no great pleasure and being very indignant that they were anywhere near my baby ... now I look at my adorable little four-year old with fond blindness ... I think you'll find that they just can't see how their child appears to outsiders. No defense, of course!

Wriggle is not at all good with little ones and it is very embarrassing - she doesn't hurt them, just wants nothing to do with them, when of course the younger siblings of her friends see her as a glamerous Big Girl and want to play with her All The Time. I am trying to work on it with a mixture of brainwashing and bribery, but it is not too successful.

SmugFriend yesterday said, 'Typical only child syndrome' when Wriggle did not want to give her lolly to younger sibling of friend. I immediately secreted in my bag the gahastly Hello Kitty I had bought for her daughter ('Buy them anything they want while they are with you and I will pay you back') to suprise Wriggle with later, showing that I am a Bad Person who would steal toys from toddlers.

Wriggle is not allowed 'anything she wants' and we had to walk through shops with her friend saying 'I'll have that and that and that' while I said 'no, no and no' to my daughter ... and then she is called selfish!

Oh, the three year olds playing in the ball pit didn't bother me. They had every right to be there as the area was for the under five crowd. It was the seven-year old who wouldn't take "No" and "Don't do that" and "Watch the girls in the ball pit" (I wouldn't allow BabyScout in the pit while boy was tossing large/heavy soft-play shapes and cubes into the pit). He kept knocking over the three and four-year olds that just wanted to play in the ball pit with balls. The girls were even telling me the boy was naughty and wasn't listening to grown-ups (I wasn't the only adult telling him off). I let BabyScout in the pit with the toddlers and the only time I said "Please watch out for the baby" (and yes, I did say it nicely) was when one of them went diving and landed on him, bending his legs in an awkward position. He wasn't bothered by it, but it was more of "look before swimming" type of comment because there were other babies starting to join in the fun.

I am very relaxed and will often just let BabyScout get on with it.

Saw something while there that reminded me of the Helicopter Parent thread that was hot on here for a few days. Toddler fell over (as you do at soft play) -- wasn't bothered in the least but the mother scooped up said tot immediately and started soothing the hurts away, smothering in kisses, encouraging said tot to "wipe away the hurt" and "let's go play with the blocks." Please, the tot wasn't even crying, why all of the fuss?!?!

Yes, soft play brought out my judgy pants today.

Scout- take those judgy pants OFF your head.

evening all.

I was going to say something to some one, but can't remember what or who, so never mind.
Beer and peanuts any body?

Yes please to the root beer. Thanks!

arrrr, yes.

Oxeye-

Baked Apple and mincemeat. core an apple. score a line round the middle ( equator style) BUT do not cut in half. Fill hole where core was with a spoonfull of mincemeat ( left over from christmas) . bake in teh oven ( in a dish to catch the goooo) for 30 mins ish on 180- 200 ish. Rather fine hot and not half bad cold. The apple goes kinda fluffy and the spices from the mincemeat permeate and the sweet goo stuff at the bottom is lovely.

Today I tried cooking a pear cake, but I think I forgot to put any egg in it. so we shall see...