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Tea Room the 23rd - The Canadian Rockies

996 replies

Jacksmania · 11/02/2011 16:49

Welcome to the 23rd incarnation of the One-Child Tea Room. Not to be misleading - although its inmates inhabitants mostly have just one child, we also have mums of many (but no dads yet... hmmm...). Everyone is welcome.

The usual rules apply - no bunfighting. If you like that sort of thing, go elsewhere.
Other rules: bring Wine. Or [tea]. :o

We find ourselves in a lovely spacious log cabin in the Canadian Rockies. Enormous west-facing windows show a gorgeous view of the sunset over the mountains, and there are log and/or gas fireplaces in every room, even the priest hole (which is a Hiding Spot of Requirement for Those In Need) and the bathrooms. In the open-concept living room, we find the Aga gently simmering against the wall, the bar fully stocked, and the cappuccino bar prepared to dispense any hot beverage of your choice.

Fluffy duvets and colourful pillows abound on the deep, squashy couches and armchairs. Outside, we see a vista of deep snow, dotted here and there with deer and bunny tracks. The walking trails and access roads have been ploughed clear of snow by our able (and hunky) handyman, Mellors, who is also available for massages and facial treatments in the Log Cabin Spa.
There is a hot tub outside on the west-facing deck, with a mini-bar conveniently nearby.

There are no aspidistras in this log cabin, as the cold of the Rockies causes them to shrivel and die. However, the Naked Mohawk Babies have come along and are swarming along the rafters, and in the adjacent stable, the Tea Room horses, Earl and Lady Grey are available for snowy rides. The bison are frolicking in their snowy paddock, and I have no idea if the bishops followed the trail of breadcrumbs or not.

(For newcomers, the last paragraphs obv. makes no sense - just go with, all will be explained.)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/02/2011 08:48

Morning it all. Hot chocolate and Chelsea buns on the aga.

Mr Firth doesn't, ahem, do it for me in the way Mr Clooney does, but I do admire his craft and the fact that he takes up causes (some of them unfashionable) and generally seems like an all-round good bloke.

JM - Tee's absolutely right. You've been living with those problems a loooong time, you're entitled to moan.

CMOTdibbler · 15/02/2011 08:58

Everyone is entitled to a moan - heaven knows me and badarm moan enough, and I know that it is pretty minor compared to others troubles.

I watched Mamma Mia and Casino Royale back to back on the plane last week. MMMMMMmmmmmm Grin

MaryBS · 15/02/2011 11:14

There's no need for anyone to leave, least of all JM (well except where RL gets in the way) and Amber! And whats more, I don't think anyone is seriously suggesting that! Shock

I suggest we all have a nice mug of hot chocolate and some Canadian stuffed bagels! Or perhaps even some waffles with maple syrup?

thumbdabwitch · 15/02/2011 11:17

JM - hope you clear your horrendous backlog of paperwork etc. I have similar that I should be doing as well - but my paperwork involves writing stuff for publication and I can't seem to Step Away from MN and FB long enough to concentrate on what I'm supposed to be concentrating on. Very Bad. Must Try Harder.

I was Very Impressed with Colin Firth in the King's Speech - it's hard enough to put on a speech impediment properly, but then to work on a put-on speech impediment as well - that's brilliant!

I like the mug.Brew

UnSerpentQuiCourt · 15/02/2011 12:34

Now, ladies, could we all settle down and stop talking about leaving. We can take turns to moan; there's plenty to go round for everyone.

Maud, I am still not feeling right; still a bit shivery and light headed and so am staying home to finish off the marmalade rather than scrubbing the polytunnels with a broom in the rain which was my plan for this afternoon. So make sure you have the tea and biscuits and a really long rest afterwards.*

Off to brave the rain to get in some wood to light the fire now. Mellors is far too busy still admiring JM to nip over and sort out my RL fire.

amberlight · 15/02/2011 12:48

::hands out Just The Right Things for those whose medical teams have given them alarming news::

Jacksmania · 15/02/2011 14:34

Um, just to clarify - I'm not leaving Shock - don't even suggest it!! My life would be vastly different and not nearly as really good as it is most of the tome, without all of you and MN!!

And of course there's no Owie Competition. It's just that I feel a bit silly bitching about a knee that is entirely fixable, I'm just so sick of contemplating more surgery... meh.

I really didn't mean to come across the way I apparently did, apologies to everyone. Blush.

But RL is piling up a bit at the moment, and MN and FB tend to suck me in. And I really don't feel I have anything terribly positive to say right now and don't want to be a drag. That's all. Not Leaving. Heaven forbid. Just probably not posting as obsessively as I normally do.

(Note to self - do not post very late at night (by my standards) when feeling extremely tired and overwhelmed. It will come across as Drama Queen Bulksjit.)

OP posts:
Jacksmania · 15/02/2011 14:36

Hey, I've invented a new word :)
I think we all know what word it was supposed to be ;)

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 15/02/2011 14:36

I sent mistlechick off to school with his karate uniform ironed Shock - and i had managed to find his belt. Which is a good thing as he had his first grading test today - I do so hope that he manages OK otherwise he'll be very down. I am overawed by how the two karate teachers (both men) keep upwards of 40 yr 1 and yr2 children, all wanting to kick and hit things because they're doing karate, under complete control - there is never ANY question of there being a riot - unlike last Friday's tennis lesson (only max 16 children) Hmm

mistlethrush · 15/02/2011 14:37

(Cross post - nice one JM Grin)

amberlight · 15/02/2011 14:38

I like bullsjit as a word. Is it the Norwegian version? Grin

Back from consultant. Deadly potions get forced on me either next Tues or the one afterwards. Can you tell I'm looking forward to this? Hmm

Tee2072 · 15/02/2011 14:48

Amber, perhaps you can act out the to make it more interesting? Grin

Sorry JM if we all misunderstood, with me leading the parade! Blush And I adore your new word!

MaryBS · 15/02/2011 14:57

Would anyone like the last chocolate brownie? :o

This is crazy, we're all entitled to a moan, and it isn't a competition over who has got the worst bodily ailment :o, so (and I'm stamping my foot on this, thus damaging my knee a little more by doing so), its back to normal, in tearoom terms, with everyone free to moan.

In fact, in fine tearoom fashion, the last chocolate brownie is awarded to anyone with the least convincing or most minor ailment they can come up with :o

I go first. I have a hang nail which is really bugging me! If I rip it off, it might bleed a tiny smidgeon....

who's next?

Scout19075 · 15/02/2011 14:59

My fringe is too long and keeps poking me in the eye therefore making my eye water.

amberlight · 15/02/2011 15:00

lol! Grin

I think it's because people worry that if they talk about something wrong in their lives, it might add to the travails of someone with bigger worries? Is that right? If so that doesn't apply to me. my brain doesn't work that way at all.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/02/2011 16:03

Just back from friend's cake sale. I have a large tin filled with ginger cake, chocolate fridge cake, honey and nut muffins, Battenburg and coconut and oat cookies. All homemade. Do tuck in.

Amber - Yes, that's it, I think. And also (perhaps) the fear that one might appear self-absorbed by complaining (for instance) that one's fingernails keep splitting and breaking-off while other people deal with much more consequential problems.

Let's all eat cake.

amberlight · 15/02/2011 16:08

Since all my pain responses work the wrong way round, 'tiny' pains like a split fingernail hurt way way more than huge stuff anyway, so that would make more sense to me than people complaining about big stuff.

I'll have a large slice of Victoria Sponge please.

Jacksmania · 15/02/2011 16:10

It's not like I can stay away from you lot too long anyway. I love you all too much. Soppy, but true.

And that is indeed it, I don't want to add to anyone else's burdens if things are a bit pearshaped in my, seriously, really really nice life.

Ok Tee, you're forgiven (and everyone else) :o

OP posts:
amberlight · 15/02/2011 16:14

Listening to other people never bothers me in any negative way whatsoever. Otherwise I couldn't do the work I do on domestic violence/autism/child protection etc etc. My brain is weirdly wired but it has its advantages for some stuff.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/02/2011 16:16

There wasn't any Victoria sponge in the tin when I brought it home but - tada! - this is the Tea Room of Requirement, so now there is.

::Proffers a large slice to Amber::

amberlight · 15/02/2011 16:19

Brew Thanks!

CMOTdibbler · 15/02/2011 16:39

Brew cheers ! Mwah to JM.

Amber, do you have a Kindle ? It might be worth getting one as theres going to be a lot of very tedious waiting around in your life soon. And you can read them with one hand only which is useful with lines in.

Have sent my passport off for renewal. I feel bereft without it as it is always with me. And it had all nice visas in it

::sneaks a large slice of battenberg::

amberlight · 15/02/2011 16:44

I was pondering a Kindle, I must admit. They look like fun.

At least Mrs Consultant was completely honest with me about not bothering with trying to save my hair from wandering off, as it won't work. Luckily I find the idea of having wigs hilarious rather than scary/dispiriting. Grin But I'm a very subversive person.

Tee2072 · 15/02/2011 16:49

MWAH JM. I feel much better now.

I am not really in a cake mood. I did, however, buy both chocolate chip and chocolate sandwich biscuits today, as I couldn't make up my mind. There are piles of them on the sideboard over there. ===>

Honestly, with me, I am perfectly happy to listen to anyone else's issues, especially health, as I am so very bored with my own. Just so long as y'all give me a second to get the words out of my mouth as my Aphasia is quite bad this week. Took me 30 seconds to get the word screwdriver out yesterday and just now thought of the word rice cake after suggesting it to MrTee for LCT as a snack about 20 minutes ago. So glad I haven't forgotten how to point!

Oh, maybe just a small piece of chocolate cake....

oxeye · 15/02/2011 16:54

Hello. Can you budge up on that sofa? I've had a bulksjiv day and need came Grin