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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?
Donki · 17/02/2011 20:50

Umm
Can't say a lot.
'Tis school - an unfounded allegation by a mixed up and unhappy student.

The head is being supportive, but it's still very worrying.

Donki · 17/02/2011 20:51

(Actually, the head is spitting feathers - but not in my direction)

UnSerpentQuiCourt · 17/02/2011 20:51

Check with your union. Nasty nasty thing.

Donki · 17/02/2011 20:56

Am 'phoning the union in the morning. I hope it will all blow over, but the Union will support me better if they know about it earlier rather than later...

BoffinMum · 17/02/2011 20:57

Here you go, Donki, these just arrived for you.

Donki · 17/02/2011 21:16

Thanks BoffinMum - that was very kind of them. :)

Donki · 17/02/2011 21:20

(By the way CMOT, that's the smartest I've looked in ages....)

mistlethrush · 17/02/2011 21:26

I've just seen something about the fact that there have been videos produced showing you how you can teach a violing lesson without actually touching your pupil.

What is the world coming to if you can't help your violin pupils to hold the instrument (which, when you comet to think about it, is a stupid shape etc to play) more easily and comfortably - or tap a finger etc.....

Now, I can undestand having glass windows on teaching rooms - although that's distracting for pupils - but banning any physical contact whatsoever?

CMOTdibbler · 17/02/2011 21:30

I hope it's all sorted soon Donki - must be really distressing.

Would you like me to plait your tail too Grin

mistlethrush · 17/02/2011 21:31

Sorry, meant to say here's some hay and some purple carrots, a bucket of Wine and a [hug]

BoffinMum · 17/02/2011 21:34

It is daft not to touch a pupil, and I continue to do so when I teach.

mistlethrush · 17/02/2011 21:38

mistlechick's teacher's would be hard pressed not to touch him... as he throws himself at them for a hug (on occasions at least!)

Scout19075 · 17/02/2011 21:43

I once worked at a summer camp that had children as young as 3 staying from 7:30 in the morning until 6 p.m. Supposedly the councilors weren't allowed to hug/pick-up/touch/hold hands of the children. I defy anyone not to hug/comfort a tired, cranky child who's been outside for 11 hours a day for weeks on end.

Tee2072 · 17/02/2011 21:45

I hope you're okay Donki. Wine big bucket of Wine Grin

Donki · 17/02/2011 21:54

Donkey tails don't plait very well CMOT - it's a bit different to a horse tail.

I am sure that I will be ok. It was just a big shock - and worrying, because it brings home just how vulnerable you are to false accusations.

I am SO glad that it didn't happen when I was doing short term supply....

I feel safe in the priesthole.

UniS · 17/02/2011 21:58

Unis passes a fine carrot to DOnki. sympathy.

Kindle for hair loss- interesting, maybe DH has been kindling with out me noticing.

How on earth do some of you guys manage to work full time and run a house and family. I'm working 5 out of 7 days this week and its flipping hard. Might be easier if I could get a proper meal at lunchtime ( boy and DH can) but has not been possible for me.

Soup du'jour with real rocks- interesting concept. Can I take one of Mistle chicks petit pain risqué with the flask of soup tomorrow.

Wow, that accent got there thanks to the spell checker! Café , look there's another one...

oxeye · 17/02/2011 21:59

Loving the shared merkin - a step too far I think - a second hand merkin doesn't have a bit market in my mind....

Donki so sorry to hear you are being worried, even if only temporarily, hope you get some help/ relief from the Union/ sorted out soon

UnSerpentQuiCourt · 17/02/2011 22:13

Donki, it is terribly shocking and undermining to be on the receiving end of a false allegation - it happened to dh once. Union is the way to go; that's what they are there for.

Oxeye, I am a terrible shouter (but never, never, never abuse or ridiculing, just a bellow of firm 'Stop that NOW.') I speak too loudly at school, too. I can stop a child across a crowded park with a single roar word. Blush I wish I was softly spoken and gentle in class, but it is not me. I do think my class has fun, though. Don't always know about my daughter, although she has made up her 'Serpent is lovely' song.

Tee2072 · 17/02/2011 22:46

I forgot to tell y'all that a restaurant near here has one of those sandwich board signs outside titled 'meal du jour'. Jours must have come down drastically in price to be able ro make a whole meal of them! Grin

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 17/02/2011 23:25

Don't know what to say to Donki except ring the union and have this unfeasibly large bag of crunchy purple carrots.

::quaffs Bolly::

Catitainahatita · 18/02/2011 02:57

Just popping in to fill up Donki's carrot bag and send her a big virtual hug. I hope manage to get things sorted quickly and with minimum emotional heartache.

Jacksmania · 18/02/2011 04:02

Donki - (((((HUG))))) Don't know what else to offer and hugs are what I do best. Hope it helps :(

Tee - :( and [EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKK] at dropping LCT. You ok now? xxx

Amber - I love scarves too! Scarves, shoes and jewelry... mmmmm!
I found a fabulous Oriental shop in White Rock (where our nearest beach is, about a half-hour's drive) that do wonderful scarves with silver embroidery and cut-outs... dirt cheap too. If you need a treat when you start your potions, let me know and I'll find you the prettiest one and then I'll give it to CMOT when I see her in April, along with the magic anti-radiation burn cream, and hopefully she can mail it to you.

(((HUGS))) to everyone. DH is at a continuing education course until Sunday, so JB went to grandma's today while I went to work. Is it bad that all I could thing was "thank f*ck I have a night to myself"? Blush
And I'm not planning on pissing it away Mumsnetting either, I'm going to update some files, do a CE course of my own and look at some x-rays. All of which I can't do with JB around, bless his little socks.

OP posts:
Jacksmania · 18/02/2011 04:02

The only problem I see with this scenario is that I've had Wine.

OP posts:
Jacksmania · 18/02/2011 04:28

Mary - could you send me a Scrabble invite or a link? Thank you :)

OP posts:
amberlight · 18/02/2011 07:31

Intriguingingly there is no rule whatsoever to say that those in charge of children cannot touch them in sensible ordinary helpful everyday ways. Provided it is done openly, by people who are CRB checked in the normal course of their duties, & taking into account any needs of the recipient, physical human contact is an absolute need for ALL people.

www.davehewett.com/

?Do touch: physical contact and people who have severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties?, in Support for Learning, 22, (3), p.116

I'm working with the marvellous David Hewett who has much to say on this subject re the use of safe touch to reach children on the autism spectrum, for example. He makes the argument that an absence of normal contact is as harmful to a child's development as an absence of any other basic need.

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