Tea Room the Nineteenth

[amberlight]

All in need of a restful break and a chat are more than welcome to the nineteenth Tea Room.

We find ourselves in the South of France, where the warm sunshine is just the thing for those who are missing the summer. The tea room has its aga and its distressed chintz sofa...and its potted plants. The usual fictional tea room inhabitants are here, as ever: Mellors, the gardener/handyperson with the handy ways with massage; the collection of tea room animals including the horses, camel, bison, guineapigs and sundry others; the Bishops and other faith leaders who joined us a while back and potter in for the occasional cuppa. It may not make sense, but that's not important. What matters is the lovely people here and the chance to just relax.

Fantasy next door neighbour for witty banter over the garden fence: Stephen Fry (good choice)

Fantasy next door neighbour to help next time a pipe bursts: James Strawbridge from 'It's not easy being green'

Fantasy next door neighbour to bring spare cake: Nigella because it would make me think that eating the cake might make me look like her

Fantasy best friends to drink lots of wine with: Emma Thompson(me too), Jeremy Hardy, Linda Smith, Michael Palin, Roger McGough and Sandi Togsvig.

Can't think of anyone further.

I used to really love those Sainsbury's ones that used to go "Simply take..." too... and this will always have a very special place in my heart...

Oh yes! Some excellent friends there - may I borrow some? I would also like to add Arthur Smith.

Of course, I already am Jeremy Hardy's friend. He once pushed the button for me at a pelican crossing. That practically makes us best friends, right?

It is very to have swoon-objects at my age, isn't it?

And John Hegley.

Goodness you've had a chatty evening!

St Nick - there is a town in Belgium that has a huge statue of St. Nick (looking like Father Christmas) outside its church, and looking onto one of the largest market squares in Europe. I can't remember the name (of course ) but will attempt to find it for you.
One of the stories of St Nicholas is quite perturbing, if you know it - 3 little boys are going to be eaten, having been murdered by the butcher, but he brings them back to life. There is a choral work by Britten (I think that's the one we did) about him, you coudl maybe find some of the music for it on line.

Gotta go to playgroup now so will write more later whne you're all asleep!

oh yes, and Dannii doing Grease and the Santas going bonkers at the end - it shows a lightness of touch and humour that, well, Small might make one look again at their clothes, non?

Harrumph. Hours (well, minutes) on the website and I couldn't work out which one you were talking about - although several looked promising.

But the ad is a joy, isn't it?

I just dropped by to procrastinate briefly...

Hot chocolate anyone?

Yes please, Donki. I'll take it to bed with me. How are you?

Mmmm lovely.

Tired, fed up, swamped by work to the point that because I am floundering to keep my head above water, I'm not working efficiently, because that would need a breathing space.

Oh, and have performance management observation tomorrow, despite only being ther for 7 weeks so far, and temporary. And not having agreed performance management targets etc.

Eek. Poor you. Have a soothing ear and hoof rub.

Nighty night.

I have just checked my email and I feel sick. Really, truly sick. I dare not post details but there is going to be major discontent in the (inlaws) family and I just want to run away.

Aw Scout and Donki :( much sympathy to you both! Is there any way you and yours can stay out of it Scout? Hoping all goes well today Donki...

Fantasy next door neighbour for witty banter over the garden fence: Rob Brydon

Fantasy next door neighbour to help next time a pipe bursts: Sir Steve Redgrave (he's at home in the water! Pretty fit too!)

Fantasy next door neighbour to bring spare cake: Michel Roux

Fantasy best friends to drink lots of wine with: David May, Jeff Lucas (saw him with Adrian Plass on Monday night, I was CRYING with laughter!), Lionel Blue, Shappi Khorsandi, Al Murray

Miscellaneous swoon objects : Richard E Grant, Alan Rickman, Johnny Depp, Colin Firth

True love of my life: Dave

(I have a confession to make, I c&p'd someone elses, and nearly left in THEIR love of their life. I think I might have had some explaining to do as to why I loved their DH... )

oh dear, Scout and Donki, tea/stiff drinks/shoulder rubs and much sympathy. SCout, have sent you a message in the Other Place.

Mary - funny!

I have been thinking about the fantasy list but really haven't a clue, because I've never really thought about it before. Years ago I used to fantasise about being Madonna's friend but not any more, I don't think she'd be as interesting now. I could make a list but it wouldn't be accurate.

Gah! How could I have forgotten Alan Rickman as swoon object?

Actually I liked Alan Rickman best when he was a baddy. Like in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and Snape in HP. I wanted to be the good woman who made him into a good man

Oh yes, Alan Rickman and Lionel Blue. Not in the same categories, but definitely needed on my list.

Thank you for all the St Nicholas ideas - beginning to put together a good list. Looking forward to the day now!

Uni, have you come across the Animated Bible Stories DVDs? They're fantastic for provoking discussion with children, and extremely visual. We've used them with great success as an after school club. I did one on Joseph, and talked about sibling rivalry - it was hard to shut them up, but it really made them (and me) think!

(for some reason the sound isn't very loud for me, not sure why!)

Scout - can you explain in general terms? :(

Mary, I just read back a whole bunch and laughed so hard at "f*ck me with a coathanger, where has the earth gone" that I woke up JB (it's just half past seven in the morning here). I like starting my day laughing like a loon :o

Ok, favourite fantasy neighbour to chat with... Sir Derek Jacobi. Preferably in a monk's gown doing some light weeding in his herbarium.

I love the idea that having Nigella as a neighbour could mean that one ends up looking like her. :o
My favourite cooking neighbour would probably be Anna Olsen. I doubt she's known in the U.K., but is rather well-known in North America on the Food Channel. Her shows are "Fresh with Anna Olsen" and "Sugar". 'Nuff sed.

I think I just ran out of ideas. Will ponder.

My house is still an unholy mess. (Don't mean to offend anyone of the religious persuasion.) They're going to lay the flooring in the next few days so everything is cleared out of upstairs. It's all downstairs where we are currently living. All over the place. GAH!!! I keep telling myself to "embrace the mess" but being an orderly soul, I'm having a hard time with that.

Ok, must get ready for work. Hugs and whatnot to everyone who needs them! xxx

I have had a rant on the other site, under "Discussions."

ARGH!

Oh, I like Alan Rickman -- not as a crush but he's fantabulous! David Tennant is dreamy. Quite like a younger Michael J Fox and Christian Slater. Used to like Ewan MacGregor, but he annoys me now (don't know why). Stephan Fry and Hugh Laurie would be fab neighbors.

My two got called "retards" yesterday, by DD's ex-boyfriend. School has dealt with it, DD has only just told me :(

and for you and your children, Mary.

Mary, arrrgh!

Absolutely brilliant learning disability conference in Oxford today - got looked after by a really lovely chatty man who gave me such a laugh and such confidence. Really needed it. And had big apology off the message board person that had called me a Rude Name, which is lovely too.