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.

Merry Christmas!

well, Christmas is over for most of you now (apart from JM of course) - it sounds as though you mostly had a good time, despite ILs!
MIL came over early yesterday morning to see present-opening - stayed all day, we went to MrT's uncle's place in the late afternoon because BIL wasn't going to be there and had a few snacks (all we could manage after enormous roast goose lunch!). They thought we were going to stop for a meal in the evening but no chance! Full as bulls, we were - but MrT and miniT might go over there for lunch today. I won't - I'd appreciate some down-time now.

A lesson well learnt - don't give your DS his toy drumkit before lunch. Wait until after the post-prandial snooze before allowing him to open it and get it set up. Then you won't suffer a rude awakening accompanied by much giggling.

Hello ChildofIsis - hope you do more than just lurk - dive in whenever you feel like it!

Happy Boxing Day everyone!

Happy Boxing Day!!!!

Wow, that was a great Christmas Day here.

Happy Boxing Day! Think I may actually have flu, as I have rarely felt so ill. Spent a very hot and confused night on the sofa and ache all over. But we had a lovely Christmas dinner with friends in the Tudor farmhouse they are thinking of restoring, with big trestle tables in the smaller empty room, heated by a wood burner set up for the purpose. Icecream stayed beautifully frozen in the room next door.

Gosh, Serpent, that sounds tres tres romantique!

Oh dear about the drum kit, Thumb. Did you buy it? I admire your bravery.

Small, I didn't pay for it but it was my idea. I am happy he has it - he loves it to bits and is showing good aptitude for it already - the reason I thought it would be good when I saw it is that he had a go on a real drum set while at my jammin' sesh mate's house a few weeks back, and he seemed to have a bit of natural talent there (I am crap at it, have timing co-ordination ishoos between my hands, has always been a problem in piano playing as well). I might upload a short vid of him bashing them to t'Other Place so you can suffer see for yourselves, should you wish!

Serpent - boo re 'flu-iness, but the Tudor house event sound fantastic! Did you take pics?

amber - glad you had a lovely Christmas Day, you all looked very happy so that's a good indicator

Cocktail, you say? Oh yes, please. Something rather large would go down well!

Although I have had half a bottle of fizz to myself today - DH can't drink it, it goes straight to his knees - which was rather decadent and lovely. I have an excellent fizz bottle-stopper that keeps it fresh for a day or two, so can get away with it.

Well, if you're happy with the drum kit then that's all good, Thumb. My favourite Christmas pressie is a ukulele, so I am now aspiring to join the Ukulele Orchestra of GB!

Here. Have some Apple Cracker (champagne, cognac and calvados). 'Tis delish.

Driven through best part of a foot of snow and ice to see old friends. Brilliant fun. Even won a game of cards, which is unheard of for me!

Thumb, there are bottle stoppers for fizz?

Serpent, yup, my non-expert view would agree with yours - you've got flu. Plenty of fluids, loads of rest. Put those feet up!

That's Christmas for another year, then.

Chocolates, anyone?

Yes please, Scout! Any caramels there?

Of course, small, tis the Tea Room's Christmas Box of Chocolates.

I could really do with another RL chocolate or five.....

We are knee-deep in chocolate here. We opened one box yesterday and have already scoffed all the nice ones, leaving a heap of strawberry creams and other vile stuff not to my taste.

So, are you home now, Scout?

nom nom nom

I'll help yo out with teh strawberry creams, I like them.
Currently scoffing a chocolate orange with DH and Mother.

Still at the inlaws -- probably until new year.

Lots of chocs here, too, but I'd probably look a bit piggy-like if I went raiding.

Realized I barely ate any lunch and had no tea/supper. BabyScout hasn't eaten for three days, until today, and I was so excited he was eating kept feeding him from my plate at lunch and it took the whole meal and he was still reaching for more food. Same thing happened with our evening sandwiches. Really should go scrounge for food.

Don't forget, Scout, that chocolate is a fruit (or do I mean vegetable?) and so counts as one of your five a day. But it does sound as if you should go in search of some, ahem, proper food.

Mmm, chocolate! We do have chocolate covered fruits here....

Scout - Am I right in thinking you're a fan of Kermit? I've been after hearing it in an advert. Enjoy.

Very good, small. That has made me smile.

BabyScout still has presents to open. Present opening seemed to coincide with naps and I've been trying to keep to his schedule/routine, especially since he's not well, so we've been opening a few presents at a time. He's a very lucky little boy and has received lots of toys he's loving. He went for his afternoon sleep clutching his Duplo plane (from Santa) in one hand and Bunny in the other.

Oh I love Duplo and Lego. SmallGirl is not very keen, which saddens me greatly.

MrScout bought me the Harry Potter Hogwart's Express train in Lego for my present. I was very surprised (and excited!) since I thought my CricutCake was my present.

Amber - look here for various options of stoppers for champagne bottles. We have the one on the second row, second one in.

MrThumb got me a rosequartz rock crystal lamp for my big present. He was very excited about it because he knows the sort of thing I like - it's rather lovely (would it be very ungrateful for me to wish he'd bought me the flippers I actually suggested instead? Probably, eh.)

miniThumb is still entranced with Buzz and Woody, but having now watched Toy Story 3 this morning, we have reverted to the original (less scary) and he is acting it out with the two toys - having a great time!

More bolly anyone?

Hogwarts Express, in lego? Wow!!!

Thumb, I had no idea there were such things! Thank you!

Sales today. I shall brace myself for the onslaught.

Sales!!! no thanks. I'm staying home again. will venture to local farm supplies shop tomorrow for boy to spend his christmas money on a tot traler for his tractor.

that should have been TOY trailer