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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 · 22/02/2011 22:53

Ginger biscuit any one?? good for all that ails ye.

Cat- sympathy for your on conference induced absence of DH. FWIW I've never known DH to NOT stay for the whole of a conference, regardless of what day he is giving his presentation/ seminar/ chairing a session , The whole week is work and he is busy networking ( gossiping with old work buddies) OR increasingly now, he is in meetings with people he could do with talking to that work on another continent but are at that conference. Think he's off to the USA twice this year, he managed to send a member of his team to the 3rd ( which is actually the 1st IYSWIM and clashed with boys birthday AND party and me working 2 weekends). I lose count of the shorter UK/ Europe based ones, some of which handily are now AT the office he works in as it has decent sized conference facility on site.

sorry , that doesn't help does it. It is annoying when I can;t do what ever with out finding a babysitter as DH is at a conference dinner.

Day out with boy and a few other local families tomorrow. somewhere i havn't been before, hoping boy enjoys it. We managed to get the city jobs done today, feet measured and new school shoes ordered. Its not hat boys feet are massive, but they are a funny shape, very wide at the toes. Bought a wet suit for him too, days at beach and local stream swimming hole planned for this summer.

UnSerpentQuiCourt · 22/02/2011 22:53

Haven't read back, I'm afraid, due to just having returned from lovely day at Longleat.

Have offered to look after friend's two girls next weekend for an afternoon and evening in their house. After trial this afternoon, I realise I am going to have to work at this - friend doesn't like to say no to them. Hmm Had a challenging afternoon, not least at seeing Wriggle backed up against the wall by her little friend because she wouldn't 'be a boy' and kiss her. Wriggle insisted she was a guinea pig.

Anyway, I am thinking about fun activities I can take with me to entertain a very very spoilt four-year old and two-year old so that Wriggle has a great time too. I had thought of biscuit decorating, making drop scones for tea, making popcorn, face painting, making ears and tails ... has anyone got any ideas? There will be dvd's if I can work the player but they have quite literally got everything that has ever come out.

teafortwo · 22/02/2011 23:14

Why, why, why, why did I think it would be clever to stay out in Paris until close to midnight when I have to pack for deepest darkest Brittany????

Confused
UnSerpentQuiCourt · 22/02/2011 23:22

Have you found your vegetable seeds? Didn't suggest any as I can't really think of much to sow outside a polytunnel yet (apart maybe from broad beans). How excited are you about seeing Milk? Answer to your rhetorical question is 'because you are being a person not a mummy for the first time in 4 years'. Probably.

teafortwo · 22/02/2011 23:53

VERY excited about seeing Milk!!!

We got her a handbag instead... Beer thought seeds weren't enough to take seeing as it is MIL's birthday soon.

And - LOL!

Must pack...

teafortwo · 23/02/2011 00:13

YIIIIPPPPEEE - packing done. T'was utterly painless when packing for one.

I have been wondering for a while, purpleknitting Mum, do you/ could you/would you like to knit some mice like this - 4.bp.blogspot.com/_iOYQUgwFR5M/Stx4d9fadwI/AAAAAAAAA1k/NSrE_YS3fvc/s400/_my_little_mice_in_a_box.jpg?

amberlight · 23/02/2011 07:42

UnSerpent, home made playdough - take bag of flour. Worth it to see the expression on the mum's face when she comes home Grin

Hurrah re packing, Tea!

Morning everyone. I have a houseful of teenagers who retired to be at 4am. I am a little tired.

::gets extra strong coffee going, some of which is purloined by the Bishops, fresh in from a hike through the mountains::

Tee2072 · 23/02/2011 08:22

Blerugh. Coffee?

::heads back to priest hole to nurse her combined cold and fibro flair::

CMOTdibbler · 23/02/2011 15:18

Cake ?

Catitainahatita · 23/02/2011 15:30

CMOT: You question reminded me of about the Church of England "Cake or Death?" For those looking for a but of cheer today I highly recommend it.

Unis: Yes, I know this is why Mr. H has decided to go for the whole week. It is what we used to do before the children came along. But since then the agreement has been only to go to the strictly necessary. Hence me being annoyed with him. I could be that I am just jealous; but honestly I don't network as well as he does and now we ave the children I am always anxious to return to them asap. I suppose I don't understand why Mr. H doesn't feel the same.

Catitainahatita · 23/02/2011 15:35

Unserpent: I second the home made play dough (all you need are flour, water and lots of salt); it's great fun if you also let them loose with the childfriendly cooking instruments and a baking tray.

Also as activities for a 4 and 2 year old:

  1. dressing up (you could previously do a cutting and sticking activity and make cardboard hats and/or crowns in preparation)
  2. DVD of something they both might like from Cebbies or that ilk for a quiet moment (for them and you), you are going to need it.
Donki · 23/02/2011 16:54

Anyone else remember Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart with affection?

here

Anyone for tea? Especially those with an outbreak of teenagers or colds...

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 23/02/2011 17:01

Tea would be lovely, thank you. I remember the Brigadier from the first time round (and from his reappearance in the Sarah Jane Adventures).

Donki · 23/02/2011 17:10

I thought that you might Maud - I think that many of my favourite Pertwee stories had him in...

(Although I think Miss Hawthorne, and Bessie stole the show in this>>

Tee2072 · 23/02/2011 17:16

I was very sad to hear he died.

I don't normally drink tea, but maybe it will make me feel better. My legs hurt so bad.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 23/02/2011 18:38

I wasn't very interested in Doctor Who when I was small, but am reliving it all with GardenGirl now as she is A Big Fan.

Oh dear, Tee. What else would help? Mellors is on standby with the aromatherapy oils and fluffy towels.

Tee2072 · 23/02/2011 19:07

A week worth of sleep in a five star hotel would be a nice start!!!

purpleknittingmum · 23/02/2011 19:11

Hello! Happened to come on and there is a post for me!! How exciting!!

Never done anything like that before, knitting and sewing material to it. They do look a tad fiddly! Is a pattern available?

UniS · 23/02/2011 19:13

ahhh, I see Cat. Now DH and I never had "that" chat about altered arrangements re conferences, I felt it more relevant to have "that" chat re Cricket, which he now only plays one day per weekend and one evening a week.

UniS · 23/02/2011 19:51

Over heard in teh pub the other night

" having one child makes you a parent, having a second makes you a referee".

purpleknittingmum · 23/02/2011 20:02

At times I feel like a referee between my daughter and husband and he feels the same with me and her!

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 23/02/2011 21:04

I think more and more that we should have had The Conversation about football. But I remember that The Gardener looked thoroughly mystified when a friend suggested that he wouldn't be going to football once we were married, so wonder what the point would be. And then I remember too that Oxeye manages with OxBloke rafting down the Limpopo, so I kick myself up the bum and put on a cheerful face.

Bolly, anyone?

Scout19075 · 23/02/2011 22:25

Finally have internet restored!

HI EVERYONE!

UniS · 23/02/2011 23:15

Hi Scout. did you miss us?

UniS · 24/02/2011 18:49

BOO

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