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.

Oh good luck Roslily hope you get to spend Christmas where you want
scout I guess you are stressed because you are the kind of person who wants to manage and direct situations (in a good way) which I guess is impossible in this situation
cmot hope hand is a little better
unis great story. We have letter sent and reply received no Santa in bedroom not because he doesn't want a strange man in his room but because he is afreared santa will say " ho ho ho" very loudly and disturb his sleep!
Amber hope mull is helping. Is your church getting amy better?
Did Catita get her mum over to Christmas in the end do we know?

Also for Those In Need of Silliness and Cheer
Rudolph!

Hello Roslily! Glad you're feeling better.

Oxeye, agree with you assessment (is something I know about myself). I also think they're a bit desperate for attention and know they can/do get a lot when around their Grandparents' so all clamour for it. And I felt sadly lacking in ability (and desire, too, if I'm honest) to keep up with all of them and BabyScout. BabyScout had to, and rightly so I think, had to take my priority.

Awww, very sweet, UniS. What has he wished for?

Thanks for the silliness, small!

MrScout's picture made it on the Region Christmas email as the main picture. [Proud of MrScout emoticon]

Tea, Wriggle has answered Milk. Please tell me that Milk didn't write that by herself? Wriggle is still working on writing 'A'.

Oxeye's personality assessment sounds spot-on to me, Scout, as it's just the sort of person who ends up as a Guider.

Hi Roslily. Hope the psych appointment goes well tomorrow. Has Mellors helped at all?

I have just finished writing my Christmas cards so will be rushing to the post box tomorrow. Taking the principle of just in time a little too far, perhaps?

I am a glutton for punishment.

...I thought I was a leader because GSUSA got their claws in me when I was eight and never let me go. LOL In fact, I'm still on the mailing lists (email and snailmail) for two councils and National. Oh, and on a couple of different FB pages.

Can hardly believe Christmas is around the corner!

Gosh, that is a little last minute on cards isn't it!

Hi all. A little marzipan object of delight to go with your hot choc?

Scout, I am frequently thankful I just have the one, every time we go to the house of friends/ rellys with large families. the clutter and noise and shoes everywhere! how do they cope.

Boy not seems too well, hes been a bit subdued all day and just awoke screaming and crying from a bad dream and boiling hot. hope Medised works its magic.

Letter to FC- well, I wrote
To Father Christmas. then boy drew a pic of xmas tree, a candy cane( very small), a stocking( very big) and a present with his name written on and put a big circle round all of them. He would like a trailer and baler for his telehandler, but doesn't know how to draw that, so they are in the present apparently- they won't fit in his stocking. I'm very pleased he is wiling to draw a bit now. this time last year he just refused to draw at all, but wanted to copy writing.

... I thought I was a leader because GSUSA got their claws in me when I was eight and never let me go.

I'm sure that's right, Scout, but I'm still guessing that the reason you let them get your claws into you and haven't wriggled free is because you are good at leading and managing situations and know you're doing a good job. Whether the job is so good for you is something we've discussed before!

I'll pass on the marzipan. Would anyone like a slice of ultra chocolate Yule log?

I would!!

Oxeye, my own local church is lovely beyond all description. The stroppy bunch, on the other hand, are remaining resolutely stroppy as far as we can tell. But it's Christmas and I don't care what they think of me

Could someone please explain to BabyScout that the fluffy cat does NOT like him. He just got clawed and is STILL going back for more. (Trouble is, the four black ones tolerate him and let him touch/pet/kiss but the fluffy one doesn't like people in general.)

Morning all. Would you like some hot chocolate to go with the ultra chocolate Yule log?

Done whirl round shops. Very, er, entertaining.

Scout, not sure I can help re Babyscout. Having same conversation with Mr B, who now keeps trying to befriend our new cat Mr S, to little avail.

May I have an extra large hot chocolate with an extra large shot of something?

Have migraine (thank you, BabyScout, for the three hours of sleep last night) and chocolate is the cure.

Oh woe to the migrainous and any other pestilences - hope you all recover soonest!

Small, I think I can outdo you on last-minuteness - I posted most of my cards on Monday and Tuesday this week - to ENgland.
I'm planning on blaming the snow...

Cats - nope, can't help with BabyScout's fascination for the fluffy one unless you de-fluff it. Short back'n'side should do the job (and will have the added side-effect of ensuring fluffy cat stays well away from all humans forever more).

Have been playing my Christmas record very loudly today - put up the second tree in the dining area to add Christmassiness as I am somewhat lacking in that dept.
Tonight we drove around the locale to see if anyone can afford has managed to put up some decent lights - found a few so miniThumb was very happy (mind you, he was jsut happy to be going in the car after dark! That's a special treat for some reason )

Tomorrow might be a bit of an Ordeal. We are having lunch at MIL's. BIL will be there. Hopefully sans alcohol. DH's uncle and cousin will also be there, so that should help (but no guarantee apparently). If anything untoward occurs, I am out of there with miniT. We are leaving in time to go to the Christmas Carol service at the local Uniting Church - it's a children's service so should be nice - and it's at 5:30 so gives us a definite end-time to the visit.

We have also been invited to said Uncle's place on Christmas Day eve. I don't want to go because BIL will be there as well, and alcohol will be a given. Too much of a risk, and I'd already told MrT that I didn't want to travel anywhere on Christmas Day - he of course is now saying "we'll see how it goes tomorrow" MInd you, I've also told him that he would have to drive as I have no intention of it - so he'll have to abstain through the day and he might not manage it, so I might be fretting unnecessarily.
Hélas, the things we do for "fairmmmlee".

did some one mention chocolate? Yes please to ultra yule log.
Boy stll to poorly to want top go sledging . excessive cbeebies going on instead.
Off to look at Norad santa tracker now at boys request.

This is where I'm glad of a family Christmas with just the four of us, so we can be appropriately aspie-like and eccentric and think it's great fun and not worry anyone else or have to worry about matching the behaviour of anyone else. Very relaxing

Drat re pooly boy UniS - hope he's recovered by Christmas day.

Hi all

All well here, just crazy busy. Hope to catch up tomorrow. Love, xxJM

I'm up to my elbows in wrapping paper and bows. I need a break.

Would anyone like a hot chocolate and slice of ultra chocolate Yule log?

yes please to choc an log.
smug moment, I am fully present wrapped, only a stocking to do.
Parents have arrived, DH is now off work till new year. Hurrah. Boy is still very fraigile and crumbly

I can see light at the end of the wrapping tunnel. Just four more to do (and that's with all stockings done). So nearly there.

Would Boy like a very tiny piece of Yule log for medicinal purposes?

No wrapping done here . No guests, so we get a peaceful christmas day.

This was a snow free day, so we didn't get any more accumulation thankfully.

DS was a lot more pleasant after a 2 hour run at softplay, so we made brazilian cheesebreads and gingerbread men

Am about to wrap. It is unheard of early for me. And I have given up finished work so all relaxed. I am still writing cards. I figure even in the new year it is better that I have taken time to write and keep in touch than not I know it's a feeble excuse
happy Christmas lovely tea roomers. I might not be back xxx