Tea room 22- A Farmhouse kitchen, anyone for a cuppa?

[UniS]

Welcome to the 22nd incarnation of the tea room. This time we are watching for spring from a cosy farmhouse kitchen. There is an aga for baking virtual cakes and an inglenook with toasty fire and settles to rest weary bones on. The distressed chintz sofa and footstool have arrived safe and sound and the priest hole is around here somewhere. On the Window sill is an aspidistra its pot surrounded by a hand holding circle of nearly naked mohawk babies, they have placards and a brazier.

Outside in the surrounding fields can be found the tea room horses, Earl and Lady Grey, also a herd of bison AND a Ha Ha to keep the bishops from invading.

Usual rules apply, no fisticuffs, if you want an argument go else where. Mellors the butler / game keeper will supply all sorts of things on request. Welcome Mums of one, none or many to the tea room of requirement.

Cats help too, amber. Stroking cats is very therapeutic and relaxing - so get ahold of yours and give yourself half an hour of "therapy" every day.
If you like, I have a couple of book recommendations that might help you in your circumstances - would you like me to link you to them?

Tee - hope LCT gets better soon! Viruses of unknown type are vile.

LOL at Father Jack reference - yes, that had me smirking as well

Serpent - we did indeed have the walnut squish with ice cream - it was very nice!

Thumb, yes please. Any handy hints always useful. The cat will thoroughly enjoy being stroked for half an hour. Not sure what Mr B would make of it though - he's not a very huggy dog!

No problems!
Here are the two books, both available at Amazon of course!
Jane Plant's book - she is an amazing woman, her journey through breast cancer and out the other side is truly incredible. I have heard her speak, and met her - she was the Crown Geologist, or whatever the proper title is and her breast cancer kept coming back until she realised a very important truth - and dealt with it once and for all.
this is another dietary book that was recommended to me by my friend who has had Ca breast twice now - she has found it incredibly useful.

I will also point you in the direction of the Penny Brohn Cancer help centre - they work alongside conventional medicine in the treatment of cancer patients, and provide a means for them to take back some control of their life. Entirely up to you whether or not you think that it would be appropriate for you but I can assure you that they never go against anything your doctor would say to you.

Not only do these books help with the disease but they help to mitigate the side-effects of the treatments you will be having; and give you good scientific understanding of the processes.

Anyway - hope you find them useful! Not exactly a "Haynes Manual of How an Amber Works" but they should be up your street, I think. The Fine Lad might be interested in them as well for a spot of light reading prior to his course starting...

Nifty - thanks!!

I don't want to make it all kick off in here, as I know we are in a Soft And Gentle Space, but can I just say (very tentatively and with the kindest of intentions) that there's recent evidence that it makes no difference to your recovery, or necessarily your wellbeing, whether you deal with the psychological fallout of cancer in any particular way. Sometimes it's enough just to get on with being treated and that's that. The current rhetoric of 'battling it' and 'going on a journey with it' or whatever can be an additional pressure for some people, that they would probably rather do without. It's important people do what's right for them and not feel they have to 'triumph'.

Now before we all mutter about this to ourselves, I am handing out home made toll house cookies and Mellors is about to give everyone a foot massage.

Hi all
Amber I am sending you positive love and vibes
boffin welcome! I am sure what you say is right in terms of people being forced to "glorify" something if they are the type of person who likes to keep quiet. We all have ways and means of dealing with life events particular to ourselves

i think for an Amber understanding might well be helpful but it is of course for her to choose
the great thing about our tea room is we are truly supportive so if Amber wants a Journey we will go with her. If she wants never to mention boobies again that will be fine too
we're not evangelists except perhaps Father Jack over there in the pulpit

But an interesting point boffin. In a slightly different context I had, while on my slightly tortuous journey to parenthood, a belly full of the "if you just believe/ stop trying/ drink virgin water/ don't drink coffee/ shag naked in the moonlight" type comments. I never sought such advice never even talked about ttc but still...

Other people of course find such things helpful

So what you say BM is intersting and timely

:: hands over carrot cake::

Of course other people

Mmm, Toll House cookies - haven't had one in AGES! Thanks!

Good "run" around soft play this morning. It still amuses me how much BabyScout likes ball pits, even if there are bigger, scarier, rougher big kids in it.

Boffin, whether there's research to support the notion of positivity or not, being positive feels 100% better than panicking myself into oblivion, having tried both approaches

I might mention a bit of what's going on with me from time to time purely for tea room interest (and of course leaving out gory details) but the research that's really shown itself to be true very recently (Vanderbilt research group) is that friendly people in the lives of those with BC make a huge difference to the outcome. And this is one heck of a friendly place.

What's virgin water? Am I too young/old to find out?!

amber - I'm hoping it's not that kind of water, you know, the stuff you pass - that would be unpleasant. Perhaps it was bathing at Lourdes? or water that had been created in a lab and never been drunk before? But generally I feel that oxeye was just making up ridiculous concepts to demonstrate the loon-status of some of the suggestions she was given in order to help her have a baby.

Talking of which - I am going to try a loon of my own - a herbalist who has had good results, apparently. But if I don't like the concoction, I will find it very difficult to take...

Personally, as amber's (I hope) friend, although I've not known her long, I will do/say not do/say whatever Amber needs for support through this. Blow the research!!!!

Um, Toll House is Nestle. Are we allowed to eat those on MN?

::tee still marvels at a boycott that's gone on for about 40 years with no affect and takes 3 cookies::

Well, LCT is obviously feel some better as, although he reject lunch, he has happily eaten a biscuit and is throwing playing with his blocks.

Ideal support - carry on as absolutely normal. I've never been normal, so I'll have to carry on as abnormal

Tee - that's reminded me of something amusing - miniThumb has taken to complaining of tummyache quite a lot, especially when he's just been told off or isn't allowed to do something he wants to. I've tried asking him if he wants medicine for it, and he's said "No-o", slightly uncertainly - but when I've asked him if he wants a sweety, he says "Yes, that will make it all better" thus amply demonstrating that there is nowt wrong with his tummy!

Does/did anyone else's offspring complain of tummyache when not getting their own way a little upset? Or is that just mine?

thumb. With how little he's eating I'm happy to let him have the biscuit today. He's brain is sure to leak out his ears later anyway with the amount of ITNG and Sesame Street he's watched today!

Sorry, thumb, BabyScout doesn't speak yet so don't know about tummyaches (or lack of). He wails or becomes clingy when something's wrong.

Speaking of babies and something wrong -- I think, maybe, tooth number five has cut. Not 100% sure. Have found BabyScout doesn't let me near his mouth when he's about to cut or has cut a tooth.

Amber. Virgin water was a made up idea as Thumb said to demonstrate mad things you get told
I shall be warm and friendly and supportive :blows little kisses at Amber's boobies:;

I didn't mean to be rude to Boffin I hope it didn't seem that

yes. Oxboy often says he needs medicine and has a tummy ache. He likes one brand and dislikes the second I always offer second to judge reality of illness
also he's not good at analying what the pain is. Sometimes it's hunger. Imetimes need of poo. Once a stitch

'ere! Do we know each other well enough for you to be blowing kisses at my boobies!!?

FineLad is hopeless at noticing pain. Witness his behaviour after the last major league rugby match of last season in which he wandered casually up to his coach, to report that he'd broken his foot and felt perhaps he should go see the nurse. He had, too. Some time earlier in the match. Hadn't really noticed.

Oh yes Amber. Of course we do

() () Amber - give this to any consultant, just in case he needs a guide...

(ere, those nipples look a bit perky!)

Those are very perky, Mary.

LCT still ill which is bad. Into bed at 7, though, which is good.

Ice cream anyone? I have Rocky Road and some sort of chocolate brownie thing.

No offence taken at all.

(.)(.) This might be better.

() () Or this

MrScout stuck on an unmoving train out of the Big Smoke. Guess I'm not going to the pub after all.

Scout, does he ever get off the train, or is he living a kind of commuting half life?

Drat re train.
Yes please to ice cream!
In theory I am out at a party for a short while soon. Am I brave enough to go on my own? Hmm...