Tea Room the Twentieth: The Greek Island

[asmallbunchofflowers]

Welcome to the twentieth (yes, really) Tea Room.

We find ourselves on a sun-kissed Greek island, where our whitewashed, blue-shuttered house nestles in the dappled shade of a gnarled old pine tree. In the olive grove, Mellors the gardener/handyman/factotum is tending the tea room menagerie of horses, camels, bison and guinea-pigs, recently joined by some recalcitrant old donkeys. The distressed chintz sofa, aga and cardboard cut-out of George Clooney have survived the relocation from the south of France and the aspidistra has pride of place on the mantelpiece.

Come in, put your feet up and join in the conversation. It may not make sense, but that's not important. What matters is the lovely people here and the chance simply to relax.

I remember MrScout sending me a package of smellies from Lush when we were dating and t was very nice. Then I went into one when I was visiting and ended up with a migraine. That put an end to Lush.

And just a slight rant (well, two, really).

Why on earth is BAA apologizing for the snow disruption?! Honestly! They do not control the weather and if it's as bad down at Heathrow and Gatwick as I think I wouldn't want to be attempting a take-off or landing. I've done both in extreme weather (Minneapolis and Chicago) and it's as scary as hell and I swore I'd never do it again.

And why, why WHY must people FB Status their every single thought. Do people not realize that everyone reads these things and we don't all want to know about the BF's crazy ex or how many syns you blew through cuz you were "trapped" inside because there was a snowflake. ARGH! Sorry. I know I occassionally write a lame status, but made a conscious decision months ago that no one cares and to keep status light and fluffy and as few and far between as possible. It's people that FB Status change every 4.53 minutes that drive me nuts! (I should add, I expect it from any of the Guides/Seniors who are my FB friends, but the person/people I'm rantng about are my peers.)

And breathe....

Just went upstairs and my boys are asleep on my bed. Aww, bless.

Really regretting not getting the sled I was eyeing last weekend. MrScout has said we can stop at a garden center on the way to his parents to get BabyScout one. I have his snowpants and walking boots out, all ready for a play in the snow!

Full English, anyone?

have not read back yet

BUMMMMMM after yesterdays cancellation of DHs choir concert , tonight the church 9 lessons and carols has been cancelled. BUMMMMMM. and WHY why why. reasons cited don;t sound very convincing. an elderly church warden who lives 4 miles away is not the only person capable of turning on the heating. even if they are the key holder, younger legs CAN go fetch keys and turn heating on. DH is fuming, hes on PPC ( is youngest fittest member of PCC) and wasn't involved in decision at all.

NO one is going to come to a 9 lessons service in Mid Jan.

Fume, mutter, mutter.

Pass me a choc chip cookie someone.

BUMMMMM on your behalf, UniS.

I am still fuming at the school's decision to close at the sight of the first snowflake. The reasons given were that (a) the caretaker couldn't get the path clear, to which my reaction is so what - walking through 2 inches of snow is not a cruel and unusual punishment - and, besides, many parents would be happy to shovel snow if it meant the school could open (b) the caterers couldn't deliver the food, for which I would have thought the appropriate response was to tell the children to bring a packed lunch, rather than close the school and (c) the teachers couldn't get their cars to school, to which my reaction is I had to get to work by any means possible, so why not the teachers. Am grumpy again just thinking about it.

:( UniS. We have 2 services going on this afternoon (we have 3 churches), I'm taking one, the vicar is taking the other. I've got the warmer church though :)

The school situation is indeed a mystery.

I rather hope to sort out wrapping the rest of the Christmas presents later on. But alas I may have to go to the cinema instead. It's a hard life...

Oooh. What would you see at the cinema, Amber? I am hoping to pack as many cultural experiences into the holiday as I can.

I had a bit of a rant earlier about the school. And I do appreciate the difference between school and childcare. Even so, I do think schools around here are too quick to close.

Good morning all, nothing interesting to add, just wanted to say hello, drop off some Bolly to replenish dwindling supply, and leave a ((((HUG)))) for all who are feeling blue.

Have heard of the snow situation in the UK. One of my patients who is studying in Wales for the year was due to come home on Saturday and could not get out of the town where her university is (Bangor?) because the trains weren't running. So she's going to try to get on a flight to come home Tues.

I find it a bit odd that the UK is getting dumped on with snow - you'd expect it in Canada, but over there?

woooo Hoooooo. we have a 9 lessons to go to. There has been a plot hatched ( inteh pub I think) and a ring round, and we are having a service in teh small chapel in our village rather than teh big church a mile away. Hurrrah. DH and I both much cheered.

that' great, UniS! bet it;s more of a success than the bog one anyway and you#ll all enjoy it so much you'll want to do it every year!

ttyping onehanded here so please scuse typos - miniT on my lap as he too is awake and cannot get back to sleep.

ok, onr needs correcting - bog = big

Been to cinema with DH. Saw the third Narnia film, which was great. Was supposed to be at a carol service but still struggling too much with silly cough so thought they'd better do without that.

oo, was it good? They showed the first two on tv here prior to THe Voyage of the Dawn Treader cinema release - I was pretty impressed with them, I have to say. Still haven't managed to get to see the Harry Potter though, so I doubt I'll get to see this either.

Small, school closure has a lot to do with H&S - if the path isn't clear and a child slips, there could be litigation ... v annoying. Our HT doesn't even dare let the children play in the snow. Ten years ago I used to work in a school where they just brought in boots on snowy days, but so much has changed.
Not impressed with the second Narnia film after the first one - was the third one better? The first film was pre-Wriggle. I took my whole class and spent over £200 on tickets (which as far as I remember was all re-imbursed by parents), spent half the film taking children to the loo and cried because I didn't have a child of my own ... how things have changed. Need to remember this when I am inclined to grumble.

I know that the closure is done in the name of H&S, but my point was that very many of the things which are not allowed in the name of H&S - such as walking on a snowy path - are in fact not a "risk" in meaningful sense and any parent who would sue is (bluntly) a loon. Bringing in boots seems to me like the perfect solution!

SmallGirl loved the Narnia film and opines that it is probably the best of the three, although (she says) that might in part be because it's in 3D.

Absolutely brilliant!! Well, if you like that sort of thing, which I do.

Amber - he does indeed go into Lush, I'm the one that has problems with the smell....

His overload issues are usually sound/vision related.... and he gets totally lost in some tactile sensations like washing his hands...

SmallGirl has just discovered Lush. They made a huge fuss of her when we went into the Brighton shop and now she is hooked. Excellent marketing strategy.

I like Lush, as does ds. DH abhors it.

Small/Oxeye - I won 4 tickets for the Hyde Park Winterwonderland with rides/skating for tomorrow, but as our trainline has packed in, we can't use them. Do you want them ? - they were to be collected from the main entrance.

Are you sure you won't be able to get here, Cmot? If you really can't, then yes pleeeease. SmallGirl is very keen to go. Is there a secret password we'll have to give at the main desk? If so, send me a message. And thank you sooooo much.

I was put of the Lush shop by the smell, and put off the products by a bad case of all over urticaria after using one of their bath bombs that I had been given....

I'm sure - it was only doable on the train as a day trip. I'll email the woman to check, but was not told I needed ID to collect them - will pm you though. Tickets are for 4

Strangely Donki, my very allergic mum can use their shampoo with no probs when she was reduced to only newborn shampoo before.

My brother and his wife have decided not to visit my parents at all at christmas - they were due to be there on Boxing day. So its all up to me again. Gah.

Gah to uncooperative siblings. Is there some compelling reason why they can't visit?

I wonder whether Oxeye will come too. 'Tis very kind of you, Cmot.

CMOT, drat!

Had to give Mr B my hot water bottle under his blankets this morning - poor wee dog was shivering with cold even in a room with some heating and a thick duvet to lie on/under. Think I need to get him a terrier bed or pyjamas for this weather.

Ok, not trying to compete in any way but LOOK! Snow in summer in Australia! Some places might even have a white Christmas, can you believe it? In AUSTRALIA!
not near us though - well, not near enough to travel to anyway.

We went into Sydney today to see the Christmas decorations (sort of) - nothing like Oxford St or anything - but we went to the Queen Victoria Building shopping centre, which is an amazing old building with many original features (looks a bit like Harrods on the outside) and a great animated clock! Spent a bit of money, mostly on sale items, had a good time. feeling slightly less down but things still a bit tense between self and MrThumb.

CMOTD - boo to not being able to use your tickets but lucky for Small and Smallgirl, and possibly Oxeye and Oxboy.

Amber - how kind of you to give MrB your hottie this morning! Have to get him one of these

Good lord, that IS Mr B! Well, a slightly whiter version of him!

Arrgh re continued tension with MrThumb. Any hope of him cheering up before Christmas?

Snow in Australia in summer?!