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.

Having been born in Germany and gone to school there until I was 12 (elementary school for grades 1-4, and then Gymnasium for grades 5 and 6), i agree with both of you that there are advantages and disadvantages to the German system. It's excellent that there are three educational streams; at least in theory they should meet most students' needs. But there is the danger of slotting students into a stream too early, and limiting their educational possibilities. If a student is streamed in one of the lower systems, it is much more difficult to "stream up", so to speak. Much easier to leave Gymnasium and go to a middle school. And since the decision has to be made in grade 4, at age 9/10, I don't think it's always obvious what's best for a child.

Ah, Jacksmama, I had forgotten that you had experience of German schools.

Sehr interessant.

I'd let your vocabularly have a sit-down to recover, in that case

Afternoon all. I would describe today, but I won't. (Hooray, they say!). Who's for virtual choc cake?

Oh yes please. Would you like some of this appearing-as-if-by-magic steaming pitcher of hot chocolate?

Why, I would! Thank you!

You know, I've been thinking. Perhaps the answer to the meaning of life isn't 42. Perhaps it's chocolate.

Chocolate would be a more understandable answer, this is true. And easier to get in the shops.
I've tried asking for a 42, but very little happens. Sometimes you get directed to the nearest bus stop...

Please give me strength today for I am struggling.

My 13-month old who got to bed at 9:30 last night (Guides -- GRRR) and didn't sleep late so was still up at 7:00 and has a total of 3 minutes sleep all day. He is exhausted and whining and miserable and we have Seniors tonight.

I quit. I quit Guides, I quit Seniors, I quit my life!

(Thank you for the hot chocolate, amber. Can I have a bit more brandy in it? It's a vast mug, after all.)

I'm dreading tomorrow. Scary hospital tests of Female Sort which are investigating something that might be scary or might just mean a major operation.

Have a hug and marshmallows Scout. It doesn't matter how late ds stays up, he just gets up at the same time.

Will be down at the Hyde Park Winterwonderland (I won tickets on MN) on the 20th if anyone is around ?

It's a good thing BabyScout is cute or he'd be traded in for a kitten.

Oh dear, Scout and Amber. Have a hug and a supportive pat on the shoulder for your separate woes.

CMOT - what a serious competition enterer ( and winner) you seem to be. Whats teh secret.

Chocolate is defiantly teh answer to everything and life.

UniS - I suspect entering the competitions is a good start. I am clueless about them.

Just had an email from a SS mum that the girls' friend died today but that not all of them know about it. The ones that do aren't coming tonight. Another one (different school) isn't coming because of a test tomorrow. Wondering if I should cancel tonight and is it too late to....

Oh goodness....that's awful...
Depends if you feel up to running it? I think in a way it can be a comfort to people if things keep running, but much depends on whether the info has or hasn't leaked out by the time people arrive there? Heck, not sure.

I've been asked to keep it confidential. But hadn't thought about leaks. EEK!

I was thinking more along the lines of half my unit has already called out on me, and out of the other half one I haven't seen all term, another I haven't seen for half a term, and two others are flighty and forget half the meetings.

Unis comes in, puts Qi on TV for you all and hands round more chocolate. hot and otherwise.
Scout- I'd abandon, todays not gonna get better.

(((HUGS))) for everyone who's sacred, worried or sad.

Oh, and chocolate, of course. I'd share my stash of Galaxy, but, well, it's here, and you're not. (Which is too bad, really.)

Ummm... that's (((HUGS))) for everyone who's scared...

...offering to hug anyone who's sacred seems a bit... well... hmmm...

I should have abandoned. Only TWO showed up. TWO! And only three actually let me know they weren't coming. I am NOT pleased.

Unlike Guides who can tell their friends they're not coming with Seniors they're to let me know because there are so few of us and I'm the only leader and I have BabyScout.

I am NOT pleased.