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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?
UniS · 15/02/2011 22:27

I read fast, but I skim read. NOt got into e books at all, I like paper and pages to turn, find text harder to read on a screen.

Would any one like to share this enormous slice of cake? I bought it at lunchtime from a sandwich shop, I was a little ?? about paying 2.10 for a slice of carrot cake, but it did look nice and has lots of icing. The portion I was given was HUGE, practically needed its own cake box. I'm ashamed to admit I gave up half way through and saved teh rest till later. I'm not normally defeated by cake.

Having been working a town 70 miles from home last two days I did do a quick trawl of the cheaper charity shops in that town and came away with 4/ 5 new ones for shelf. Including an Anthony Buckeridge but not a Jennings story.

Boy is being a pickle with school reading book this week. He has got it in his head that he can;t read it. so he sounds out the letters but won't work out what word it is ( including words that he can sight read in a different book 5 mins later), then guesses at something totally different, then wriggles and trys to hide under a blanket, then cries. ARRRGH. he is knackered. I am seriously contemplating sending him back to bed after breakfast tomorrow and signing him off school for the morning.

Its long drive 70 miles each way to spend all day on ones feet and thinking and doing stuff, I'm knackered. Two days left working in this bunch, then half term. hurrah. How do you people that work full time manage. My hats off to you.

On an unrelated note. Any one know who sells braces for small boys to stop their trousers falling down?

Scout19075 · 15/02/2011 22:34

WOW!

AgenteSecrete · 15/02/2011 22:39

This thread really does move fast, doesn't it? Going back a bit, thanks for the explanations about the difference between condensed and evaporated milks - was definitely condensed I meant anyway. And Scout, am really rather Blush at having misinterpreted your bewilderment (at the thought of contaminating jelly with milk) as ignorance of the existence of said milk! But you really should try it one day. It is yummy! And I probably really should move on from this topic, as the thread definitely has....

Mistlethrush, just so you know, I am actually a new poster on here, not an old timer in disguise. Although as Maud so cunningly deduced, I am really rather Old in a general sense. Code word Methuselah, Maud? Or random references to old money/Dr Who with Jon Pertwee/watching the moon landing as it happened..? Anyway, I guess this probably explains why SecretBoy is so highly unlikely to ever have a sibling.

I am getting quite jealous with all this talk of delicious gadgets. Wish I had an iPhone and/or an iPad. Maybe next phone upgrade. Kindle might be a bit pointless given how little I read these days, and given that practically the only stuff I read these days is chick lit, for the old escapism/switch off factor. If I try to read something "proper" (apart from Austen etc, which is basically early chick lit really, isn't it?), I'm nearly always disappointed by it and then regret the time invested in reading it, whereas with chick lit you pretty much know what you're going to get from the get-go - no high hopes, no disappointment!

But I'm rather strange like that. Can definitely see the appeal of the Kindle for them what loves to read and needs to get through some turgid hours. Amber, we don't "know" each other as such, but hope I can still send you my warmest wishes for your treatment and recovery.

Yes, I'd love to share that carrot cake, if I may, UniS. And some of that chocolate fridge cake, if there's any left, Maud? All the cake you want, and zero calories! This really is a very special tea room! Although it does seem to get in the way of other stuff like sleeping. If you don't see me for a while, I'm just in bed. Night all.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/02/2011 22:46

Code word Methuselah, indeed!

Remembers watching the moon landings on a giant telly that was wheeled into the school hall on a very tall trolley, so that everyone at the back could see, but would never admit this publicly

Good to see you again, Secrete!

Donki · 15/02/2011 23:05
Donki · 15/02/2011 23:07

Rather late in the day - but we used to get given a special pudding made by whipping jelly and evaporated milk together and then letting it set.

I used to think it rather yummy....

Donki · 15/02/2011 23:07
ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/02/2011 23:09

::Whispers::

Something you once said, Donki, led me to believe that we were of the same vintage, ie incredibly youthful and vibrant.

Do you need cake? We still have lots here.

Donki · 15/02/2011 23:14

CARROTcake?!

Thank you Maud

I know you are an old hand here Maud, but I can't think what your old nom de tearoom was....

Donki · 15/02/2011 23:15

How are the aspidistras doing in the biodome?
I trust that Mellors hasn't been overfeeding them...

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/02/2011 23:17

::whispers::

They're thriving. We will soon have enough to colonise all of Canada.

Check your PMs!

oxeye · 15/02/2011 23:17

Crikey, we're on Most Active, there must be something good on TV for the rest of MN Grin

Yes, a new vintage could be "who do you rate as the real Dr Who - Pertwee for me all the way... although David Tennant has made a close recent run...

oxeye · 15/02/2011 23:18

oh look, here come all the NMBs, they have donned wigs in honour of Amber....bless them

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/02/2011 23:22

Minority view: I quite liked Christopher Eccleston too. A bit too much gurning from young Master Tennant.

We're quite often on Most Active. Good job they don't try to measure Most Sensible, or we'd have nary a chance.

Donki · 15/02/2011 23:26

No reflection on anyone present, but I think this equid had better go to bed.....

Night all!

oxeye · 15/02/2011 23:31

Night Donki!
Yes, I liked CE but you blink and you miss him

Allons Zeeeee has become a bit of a catch phrase in OxTowers and I wept rather more often than is probably sensible for children's sci fi ... Hmm

I don't like the Chinned Wonder doing it now... Grin

Right, off to bedfordshire with Mellors night all

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/02/2011 23:37

Oh yes, allons zeeee is much used in MaudVillas too. Want our child to be bilingual doncha know. ::Fat chance as neither of us is a native speaker emoticon::

Well, I did wonder why we hadn't heard from Mellors for a while although it might have been more tactful to have your illicit night of sin before OxBloke got home.

amberlight · 16/02/2011 07:28

I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you! I turn my back for 5 minutes and someone's stolen Mellors! However will I get this new set of shelves put up now Hmm?

Charity books are good in a way but they usually smell of Old Book which is very alarming for me for some stupid sensory reason. And they hardly ever sell the sort of Very Obscure technical stuff I want to read (though they are very nifty for old local history books, which I endure despite their mouldy smell).

Who's for a Brew or other drink of their choice to start the day?

Tee2072 · 16/02/2011 08:24

Brew of coffee would be lovely, thanks amber!

I do like wandering used/charity book shops. But it is much more convenient to have them on my phone for carrying about with me! Of course, I can't read on my phone in the tub, so books will always be in my life! Grin

MaryBS · 16/02/2011 09:15

Charity shop books are generally too expensive, IMO. Daughter wanted two Jacqueline Wilson books - one was £4, the other £3 Shock. The sort you could buy in Tesco for 2 for £6! I walked out, but when she got upset, I relented and went back - and they'd sold them! BUT I was able to order them off Amazon and got both of them for £4.20 inc. postage.

I am not coping well with a social situation. It could probably be sorted out quite easily, but I lack the social skills to explain to someone who is very different from me why exactly I am having problems. It seems everything she does to make things better just makes me feel worse. :(

UnSerpentQuiCourt · 16/02/2011 11:43

UniS, I got Wrigle's braces very cheaply after a brief google search. I did try and find them to send them to Boy - she doesn't seem to need them any more and much prefers skirts, but on reflection, your boy may not want little bees with smiley faces on his.

MaryBS, what expensive charity shops you have in your area; I would never pay more than £1.

Will certainly not mention the moon landing poster handed out at my school which spent many months in pride of place on my bedroom wall.

thumbdabwitch · 16/02/2011 11:58

Mary, I agree with Serpent - you have expensive charity shops around you! Cancer Research and Oxfam, perhaps? They tend to be on the pricey side.
Where I lived in the UK, we had about 5 or 6 charity shops in the town - very good for books. But yes, I didn't like paying more than £2 for them - and preferred paying less! But the £2 were usually in good nick.
I collected most of my Georgette Heyers from charity shops, jumble sales, etc. And then had the most amazing stroke of luck when I was working with the retired Art dealer - I was offered some old books in their garage and there were several GHs, of which about 5 were ones I didn't have!! Brilliant. Ended up having to buy the last few new though, when they were reprinted (mostly the murder-mystery ones - they were MUCH harder to find!)

Re your social situation - do you wish any help? can we help at all? If not, tell me to mind my own business. :)

BoffinMum · 16/02/2011 13:00

I have been writing a huge blog and tweeting for the first time. It is incredibly exciting. In one day I have had 180 views and on Twitter I already have 5 followers (not including Colin Firth, sadly). It is actually quite addictive, so I am coming in here for a Brew and a cheese toastie, to take my mind off twiddling with my posts. Oo-er matron.

Now I wonder if Mellors is on Twitter, and if so, what would he say? Perhaps something like this?

--

@tearoom F**K me, another aspidistra bites the dust. How going to tell girls?