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.

You can have some of ours - we have plenty, it's been snowing all day yet again. Don't think we'll be seeing anyone over christmas at this rate.

We sledged into town today, following ds not getting dressed till 11, having shed pjs at 7. Coming back from town dh and ds decided on a chip shop pop in, so ds was hauled along on his sled eating chips. I was jealous !

Now then you lot (NMBs), you've got some mopping up to do!

Could someone please explain to me why Christmas equals ghost stories (on tv)?

It just does, Scout. It's an English thing (even if the ghost story is by Henry James).

That's what MrScout says "It just does." But...but...I don't understand! [wails in frustration -- every bloomin' year!]

Thanks CMOT - how can we get it delivered? YD would be very excited if we could have enough for an igloo!

I guess it's the whole 'ghost of christmas past/present/future' thing ?

I'll pack some into the the dhl van shall I donki ? Sure they won't mind

A Christmas Carol ghosts I understand -- it is a Christmas story. But the Hounds of Baskerville? Really?

Yes, I was going to say it's born of the Dickens' Christmas Carol story with the ghosts.

CMOTD - so long as you use polystyrene boxes with some dry ice, it should last long enough to reach Donki and YD.

(I used to love getting those boxes in the labs - and dropping the dry ice into the waterbaths, especially the ones that had griddled bases, to the CO2 bubbles would come up through the holes - such a child!)

Hope all sick people get better before Christmas - such a miserable time to be ill. I mean, any time is miserable, but knowing you're supposed to be enjoying yourself and can't makes it worse, I think.

MiniThumb is just starting to develop a fine line in serious whining. It's Very Annoying. More so because I am reacting the same way my mother used to - I can hear her voice coming out of my mouth and it's quite distressing. Serves me right? That whole familial karma thing coming back to bite me?

Dry ice! Yay!
Have you tried dropping some into a kettle of boiling water?

not boiling no, but our waterbaths were at 37 deg C, and we had one at 56 deg C (why? can't remember) which was more fun - so I can guess what happens!

I miss dry ice...

SmallBloke, who Knows About Literature, says that the tradition of spending winter evenings by the fireside, telling blood-curdling stories to make your hair stand on end, goes back at least to Shakespearean times. Dickens merely capitalised on it with A Christmas Carol.

Mulled cider, anyone?

Thumb - Sometimes my mother's voice emerges from my throat, too. Aaaaargh!

I really love finding out about the history of customs and festivals. That was a very interesting chat to listen into.

Did anyone listen to this on Sunday?

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wntyn

I found it quite lovely.

No, we often listen to the Food Programme but not that one. I did contribute to the panettone thread yesterday, though!

Hi. We have enough snow to share with YD too. Work is finally winding down. Yah!
I think. Ghosts and scarey stories are part of hunkering down by the fire scout. Passing the long winter nights
cmot how is your hand?

I'm a bit behind but we love rat pack, cole porter and elvis xx

DS is so far unimpressed by Elvis, but we have some christmas Rat Pack, and he sings along to that.

Have had all assessments done now, and back to see thebighandman on 13th of Jan to hear his thoughts. Feel like I spend my life doing physio and putting one splint or another on though. More acupuncture today which will be lovely - or at least as the needles will be in goodhand it will take my mind off what she is doing to badhand

Coffee and pastries ?

Looks like dh will be shovelling snow yet again today - 5 days in a row this'll be. I am not much use with this process

Coffee and pastries? Ideal!
One of those days that is best left undescribed, but it's nearly over (hooray)

I can say this here, in the tea room, since it's a safe space (yes, I'm waffling a bit so it doesn't end up in the lead line), and apologies to those regulars with more, but days like yesterday and today make me glad I have an only. My SiL and her brood stress me out. There are way too many of them with so many extreme personalities that you just can't cater for them all at once. I'm just the aunt and I felt guilty that I couldn't look after BabyScout AND all of their needs at the same time.

I need a vacation already and it's only the start of Christmas.

Mulled wine and mince pies anyone?

If I can have an extra splash of mull in the mulled wine, yes please!
Yup re trying to cater for loads of different people's needs.

Stress at Christmas isn't quite what you need.

Mellors is available for a nice relaxing massage to soothe away those tensions?

Seriously, I'm just the aunt (and the aunt by marriage at that!) so why did I feel so bad/guilty?

Has your day gotten better, amber?

hi guys. I have been ill, but much better now. We are worried that we won't be able to get to family for xmas, really hope we can.

I have psych appt tomorrow, which I always get nervous about.

Hi Rose, would you like a calming moment with Mellors? hes all yours. just give him back later....

Boy has "written" to father christmas. its stuck to living door to be sure FC sees it in 2 nights time. Ahhhh Bless moment.