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.

presents for sure start staff. yes to token thank you pressie,if its several staff consider doing it at a " biscuits for staff to share " level, also try and be discrete about giving it to them , some families using centre will be on tighter budgets than you and may WANT to give a pressie but can't afford it.

Boy and I practically lived at our local surestart childrens centre for boys first 2 years. staff do appreciate biscuits etc. Boy age 3 did give one staff member a bangle he chose for Christmas, she wore it at work quite a bit and seemed very touched by his pressie.

Today I took boy shopping for a thank you present for city preschool staff as hes leaving after 5 terms. I suggested sweets, he was adamant it should be " prizes" pencils and rubbers! so we have got both. I guess the prizes will be used as they reward X number of stickers on a childs chart with a prize. Vilage preschool we are giving a book, "Harry and the Dinosaurs go to school" and I guess I'll sort out a box of biscuits.

Yes, I thought I'd go early for a session or stay late so I could do it more "privately" if that makes sense.

Pants! was in the middle of a big long post then pressed the wrong button and Pouf! it was gone. Bah.

Amber - glad you are ok after the tests - hope you can forget about the operation for the time being.

UnSerpent - had a look in my book for you and it suggests Rock Rose for terrors, night or otherwise, and nightmares, especially for children (It's in Rescue Remedy). OR - if it's anxiety and stress causing sleeplessness, then vervain is the one you need. Couldn't specifically find separation anxiety but perhaps these 2 will help. You can use several of them at once, you don't have to choose between them.

Scout - sorry re your guiding tribulations.
Re. the present - I think discretion is definitely the way to go, and something shareable and edible.

JBM - :( re your patient. And DH's backhanded compliment.

The only thing we left out at Christmas was a mince pie - parents both teetotal, and I can't remember ever doing carrots for the reindeer. A cup of tea might also have been suggested at some point...

ummm, chocolate. just had a rather nice piece of milk choc with crunchy toffee pieces embedded. Would you like some?

preschool party tomorrow. And I'm on parent helper duty. eekkkk, gonna be a lot of washing up. maybe I should take rubber gloves.

Then going to watch KS1 school play in afternoon. Have nearly finished christmas cards. must try and get boy to sign one of his tio a preschool friend. so far hes only written teh boys name and stuck some stickers on, which is nice, but slightly tricky for recipients parents to work out who its from.

Off to the wilds of Buckinghamshire/Oxon borders today, to try to teach a vast number of people about autism and our needs. This'll be fun with a cough and headache.

Oh heck....

I just did the conversion on my weight after today's monthly hospital appointment....

Someone pass the biscuits!

There are some advantages to not knowing how much one weighs !

I've lost 10% of my weight since August. It's at 10% the intervene.

Eeek.

MMMmmmm, I like sticky toffee pudding!

Here you go, Scout. Dig in.

Here, have my jaffa cakes - I need someone else to eat them before I do !

Scout, do you need your Galaxy choccies back? It would hurt... but for you... :o

Feeling better about my patient today. DH saw him day before yesterday and he said he wished I could have seen him, too, it would make me feel better, because he (the patient) was being his usual cheerful and positive self. Still... why??? But I can't go down that road of questions, or it'll never end. Why war... pain... sadness... abuse... gah. Must stop.

Had follow-up w/ surgeon yesterday and he is very pleased with how things are looking. Infection gone, laser burn mostly healed. I asked him to pull the stitches and he got as many as he could. Which felt odd but not at all painful, thank goodness. I have one more follow-up in four weeks. I must say, he's extremely thorough, which is lovely. I just wish that how I feel could catch up with how it looks. I'm still quite uncomfortable, occasionally. But I suppose I have to remind myself that it has only been a month. If I'd poked the small scar on my knee after a month, I doubt it would have felt good. It's just such a tender area, and there's no way for anything not to touch it.

On a positive note, DH had an appointment with an acupuncturist yesterday and he was very pleased with her. So I might go see her, too - maybe some constitutional therapy would be good for me. Feeling tired and depressed and run-down, even though everything is going swimmingly. But I think two ops in two months plus the massive upheaval from renovating was a bit much. Thank goodness it's all done.

Moan over...

Would anyone like some yummy curried butternut squash soup? With or without lewd rolls? It has everything in it :o - I call it "clean out the refrigerator soup". Butternut squash, potatoes, coconut milk, lentils, peas, chorizo and shredded chicken. It's quite spicy but turned out well, I think. Pass me your bowls.

Thanks JM, but the Galaxy is yours. Now, if you could go to Philadelphia and send me back a dozen real cheesesteaks THAT would fantabulous.

Hi all. Just popping in to share the following
link.

JM's not mentioned, but I am sure she'll recognise folk that are.

I'm feeling the need for comfort food -- anyone care to join me?

LostOstrich, good to see you. Good idea to talk to nursery, but anxiety is very deep seated. I have even put it down to a very anxious pregnancy! But certainly a good idea to get nursery on board. Wouldn't have thought of vervaine or rock rose on my own

However, Wriggle's problems are now forgotten, since AP seems to have a real problem. Over two weeks nausea, exhausted and wobbly at the least effort and having problems with her memory. Waking at night not knowing where she is or what she is doing in this house; she says it is like a 'waking nightmare'. Doctor came and was rude, doesn't think it was a stroke but says keep an eye on it and prescribed antibiotics. Not sure now if I have said all this before now . Any ideas, Health-type people? Especially about nausea?

Sorry for endless moaning!

On the up side - it was positively spring-like today!

Bless BabyScout's little fleecy pajamas -- he's sleeping right through the town's Christmas fireworks.

US, I am not a medical type, nor do I play one on tv, but how are antibiotics supposed to help a sick stomach and confusion/memory loss?

Serpent, sounds to me like AP might have a bladder infection. They often cause nausea and confusion in the elderly, and tend to escalate as they forget to drink as it becomes worse. So worth really encouraging her to drink loads. Is she eating OK? If not, you can make v nutritious and easy to drink shakes by blitzing frozen soft fruit with icecream and full fat milk. Or you can get complete shakes from the chemist - Fortisip they are called, and are v high in calories for their size.

JM - good to hear that the Dr is pleased, and it would still hurt if you poked a scar anywhere one month on. Acupuncture sounds like a good idea - nuture yourself a little.

I have bought myself a lavender and wheat bag. The gentle heat is luvverly, and it is super long, so can rest my forearm on it and shape it under my hand. Bliss.

DH is out at a black tie dinner near to Scout. I am supposed to be writing christmas cards. But am finishing my christmas shopping instead

AP's symptoms do sound very like my MIL's when she had a bladder infection, so the GP may well be correct in prescribing ABs. MIL used to make her infections much worse by refusing to drink, so do ensure that AP is getting plenty of fluids.

I don't often use my lavender and wheat bag but it is indeed divine.

Would anyone like some mulled wine and ginger cake?

AP is behaving very well and drinking loads.

Wriggle has a wheat and lavender Bagpuss, which I she loves very much.

Yes yes mulled wine. I have just slowed down my diet by indulging in 1 1/2 home-made Christmas biscuits. Makes up for yesterday when I forgot to eat anything until 8pm.

Accupuncture is, I think, always a good idea.

Should also be writing my Christmas cards, at least the 37 to my class. I always decide not to send any, then feel badly for the people who send them to me, so send them far too late.

I'm bored. Lots to do but can't be arsed.

Wish I could sew/crochet/knit. Found lots of fun toys I want to make for BabyScout and can't.

Me too.