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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?
amberlight · 21/02/2011 15:43

Oh go on then...tea and a bun would be splendid.

Just had a bunfight with a large computer company that have taken money for a computer and just told me they have 'no idea' when it's going to be delivered and they are waiting for parts, of some kind, they're not sure what kind. I think not. One order cancelled. Hmm

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 21/02/2011 15:53

::Proffers tea and bun::

Yay, Amber, consumers' champion!

DutchOma · 21/02/2011 16:12

Amber you can't train a CAT. Maybe a dog, maybe an old dog, maybe a young cat, but never and old cat.

teafortwo · 21/02/2011 16:13

Maud - Aaaaaah I see. I take it where you live the playschemes are sadly rather lacking and best avoided then? That is really awful for parents and children who have to work and a pressure for you. Grrrr!!!

My own GPs have always been old even when they were young. So they quickly ran out of energy with us too and so when we got older we were sent for holidays to our young coca-cola drinking, Madonna listening, ford escort driving young uncle... my sister and I had a blast. I was telling my Aunty (who was then much to her own Mother's horror his live-in girlfriend) last time I saw her how I so loved her glam blue mascara, big perm and scooter and remember fondly the bright pink Nike boot trainers and tight Levi jeans they took such pleasure in buying me! Grin

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 21/02/2011 16:18

No, the playschemes aren't lacking. The difficulty is that, because of the hours we work, we need to use the one in the workplace - we can't get back home by the time our local one closes - but GardenGirl seldom knows anyone there and doesn't feel very enthusiastic about going. (She wouldn't know many of the children in the local one either, because it's based at an after school club which doesn't serve her school). In many ways the scheme is fabulous (lovely staff and outings to exciting places such as Imax every day) but we tend to use it only in the long holiday.

Catitainahatita · 21/02/2011 18:55

You have to watch out for cats Amber. You think you are training them, when in fact they are training you.

I'm glad to hear Milk is having a great time at GPs Tea (and that you are enjoying a rest). Oh and, it was an interview on a local uni radio. Not quite IOT unfortunately, when I get the call from a national network I may just remember even without my snazzy diary-in-a-phone.

Mr. H is off to a conference today. He'll be away all week (until Sunday in fact). Now I am sure that the break will be good for him; but, I do feel that he needn't have gone for the whole week (weekend included). His paper is on Wednesday. He could come back on Thursday or even Friday. But no, he has chosen to be away as long as possible.
Angry And he had the nerve to tell me this morning that he didn't really want to go, as he would miss the children too much. Serious control was needed on my part not to snap back that he was the one who had decided to go for a whole week.

Donki · 21/02/2011 19:26

I am very lucky really that as a teacher, my holidays are usually the same as the Young Donk's although I find it rather difficult to do the preparation I should be doing when the YD wants me to play with him....

I confess that I find it v. hard to motivate myself to work in the evenings during the holidays - not helped by Donk's Husband who seems firmly of the opinion that I should be spending some time with him once he is home from work in the evening.

Nonetheless, it is much easier than having to look for childcare...

I am really excited - have just booked the flights to visit Alaska during the summer holidays.

teafortwo · 21/02/2011 19:35

Ouch Cat - that does sound difficult to deal with. Sad I don't really know what to say other than hold in there. x

Wine or Brew?

Maud - I feel GardenGirl's pain. As a youngun' a holiday playscheme with lots of girls and boys I didn't know very well having 'what adults call fun' would have been my idea of complete 100% hell! I am lucky because so far Milk completely loves her playscheme and actually asks to go when she doesn't need to... Confused

Tee2072 · 21/02/2011 19:56

Hello!

Cat I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. I hope things get better soon.

Oh god. Playschemes. Birthday Parties. Play Dates. I'm such a misanthrope, I hate most other people in real life. Does LCT have to have friends? Yeah? Darn. Good thing he's so darn cute.

So acupuncture was interesting. Didn't hurt. Hasn't helped yet, but she said it would take few sessions. Next week I get electrified with it!

Wine anyone?

Catitainahatita · 21/02/2011 23:15

The thing is that he planned the trip months ago. I knew all about it, apart from the detail of the duration. This he informed me on Saturday. He said he didn't think it was important as he knew I had already got a babysitter for my afternoon classes (which is true. I Don't have class on Fridays). I think if it had been spontaneous or something he had arranged recently I wouldn't be annoyed as I do think time away will be good for him. Its just that this means he planned it when in a good patch. Hmm.

Donki · 21/02/2011 23:24

Wine yes please Tee!

I think that I would be annoyed too Catita - but DH is notoriously bad at remembering to put things on the calender. He never remembers to look, either. This means he winges about stuff of mine that he doesn't remember about, despite it having been on the calendar for weeks.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 21/02/2011 23:44

Aaaarrrgh, men. Heard a documentary this afternoon about life in a convent and was sorely tempted.

In the meantime, even though it has no visuals, .

Tee2072 · 22/02/2011 07:10

::places large pots of coffee and tea on sideboard along with full English::

Another horrible nights sleep thanks to LCT's cold. I don't think he needs a GP as it is obviously just a cold and the snot running is causing the cough as he's fine when he's not lying down!

amberlight · 22/02/2011 09:07

Cat, that's jolly unreasonable of your dh. Grr.

Tee, have the tea room duvet and get some more sleep. Thanks for the tea!

::Amber ponders whether her cat could be training her::

teafortwo · 22/02/2011 09:12

"Aaaarrrgh, men. Heard a documentary this afternoon about life in a convent and was sorely tempted."

LOL!

Grin - thanks Maud that gave me a good morning belly laugh!

Tee2072 · 22/02/2011 13:23

::grabs alpaca throw, some coffee, chocolate and a nice big pillow and goes to the priest hole::

Can someone bring me a bolly once it's opened? Thanks.

mistlethrush · 22/02/2011 13:49

[lowers down an uncorked bottle to Tee]

Want to tell us about it?

I am SO lucky that mistlechick throws himself into 'playschemes' with gusto. He's now been on the Kings Camps ones at home and also when staying with my parents (we don't mind booking him in on a few days when he's staying with them - it gives them a bit of a rest and he's still with them a lot - just feel it takes some of the pressure off them Grin) and he has been eagerly charting which weeks he might be able to go again this year.

There is one run by the school - however, its on their 'main' site which is less convenient than the one we sent mc to - and the hours available are not quite as good either - which makes it even more of a hassle getting there in time in the evening.

Cat - dh - sympathies. I sometimes think that dh's just don't think. And then don't think what they're actually saying as they say it. Angry

Lewd roll and some spicy tomato soup (soup with a bit of paprika in Amber - you're quite right, you can't grow tomatoes that are spicy Grin) anyone?

Tee2072 · 22/02/2011 14:00

Well, I think the last full nights sleep I had, where I not only didn't wake up or get woken up during the night but also slept until I woke on my own was about a month ago, if not more. If LCT isn't being ill (he's running a fever at the moment, BTW) then my own chronic pain wakes me.

I was hoping to ignore work tomorrow and sleep while he is at nursery but this fever is saying he's not going tomorrow and this week has been particularly bad since Saturday night with LCT waking at midnight every night since and not going back down for between 1/2 and 2 hours.

So I am virt6ually hiding.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 22/02/2011 15:47

Oh dear, Tee.

::Lowers fluffy pillows and snuggly duvets into the priest's hole::

Would a hot milky drink help?

Tee2072 · 22/02/2011 15:56

Couldn't hurt Maud.

There is more than that going on. I'll post the rest at the other place at some point, I'm sure.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 22/02/2011 15:59

::Sends a vacuum jug of hot chocolate down into the priest's hole::

Catitainahatita · 22/02/2011 16:24

Give Tee a badge "Mums 4 Sleep".
I am totally with you on this. Gatita is going on 16 months old and still has yet to sleep through the night. She wakes up on average 3-4 time, sometimes more. Last night K had a nightmare and was awake for an hour or so. Mr. H snored and snored and snored and in the end I kicked him out of the bedroom and sent him to sleep on the couch.

Catitainahatita · 22/02/2011 16:40

Last night? God I am losing it. I meant Sunday night (night before last). Last night was actually ok as Gatita slept with me in the absence of Mr. H and consecuently woke up less (or went back to sleep without waking me first).

Brew and/or Wine for all I think.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 22/02/2011 16:48

Oh, yes please. Brew for me now and Wine when I'm back from Brownies, please.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 22/02/2011 16:50

It's a very dull thread, but if anyone can help me with my electronic problems I'd love to hear from them.