Tearoom 25 - Benvenute a Venezia!

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YOu find us this time in a glorious palazzo in Venice, near to St. Mark's square, and on the water. With gondolas and vaporetti in abundance to transport us around to the various sights etc.

The palazzo itself of course has marble floors and fabulous murano chandeliers but aside of that we have the usual distressed chintz comfy sofas, assorted animals, bishops in their corner, priesthole for emergencies and a single solitary aspidistra in a bomb-proof glass cage to protect it from the ravages of a certain Canadian.

All are welcome - drop by for a cuppa, a glass of something stronger and a chat and relax in the safe and kind surroundings here.

Cin cin!

I daren't think, Bean. Somewhere below our huge and vulgar new telly, Merlin, Arsenal football club and chicken tikka masala, but above violin practice and tax returns.

Oh God, JB - MUCHOS RESPECTO dear friend!

As a moody principled listening to Oasis too loud spotty teenager I refused to eat anything Nestle or imported by Nestle, a fruit label (I'd tell you if I could remember which one) and wouldn't shop at Gap, wear sports labels or have anything to do with MacDonalds... I also refused to eat meat and fish...and never missed an AI meeting.

If my teenage self could see me now she would be SOOO disappointed.

Ani Difranco has this song about Multi-nationals selling off chunks of air so it is as easy as breathing to participate and I remember a Ben Elton quote about how simply by living on account of the systems around us we in the West oppress others.

THANKS for being someone who stops and THINKS. You've made me stop and think too.

Ha ha ha - about huge telly!!! My parents have a massive telly that they skype us on... They are coming to stay soon - I suspect while they are here they will change the wardrobe into a diary room, we will be left with challenges and every week one of us will be voted off to add that bit more to their TV viewing experience!

Oh tea, I do really heart you :)

Well, not furiously... you know what I mean!
How are you??? I like the Mexican face-saving thing :o

Just popping in briefly before "yoga school" starts for the weekend (that's what DH and JB call it). I've dosed myself with cough syrup because we're meant to do a 15-minute practice teaching tonight... I will have to wing it because I've not taken had time to rehearse... maybe I could plead my cough and do it next weekend (eeep!).

x's and o's to all if I'm not around much this weekend.

I think it's another early night of drinking for me again....

Thanks Scout, already have a beer!

All I can say is save me from toddlers!!!

Wanna send LCT over for a play with TS?

Do you think some first class stamps stuck to his forehead would get him there?!?!

Yup. And an address label sewn onto his jumper.

Back from meeting the Archbish. Great fun. Yippee, wine!

Perhaps with a juice box for sustanence?

Tea: my teenage self would have me down as a goodfornothing bourgoise procrastinator who had sold out big time by marrying, and even more, for having children. My friends and family remind me of this repeatedly and laugh heartily at how the mighty have fallen. I just shrug. But personally I blame David Hume. I have never been the same since reading him. (But saying that he is now my favourite no. 1 philosopher)

In terms of the pecking order. My two seem to work on a principle of cupboard and bed love. If they are hungry or tired I am the no. 1. At all other times I struggle to challenge Bob the Builder, lego, any cuddly toy or -at my worst- a spare piece of cardboard found on the floor.

Lotus aka JM: Mexico has a culture which is anxious to please, afraid of offending you and ridiculously and hypocritically submissive to authority. Learning Spanish is a piece of cake compared to understanding the culture of a place where all laws are up for negiation, noone thinks rules apply to them and generally criticising authority is not acceptable. My teenage self would have imploded. Happily the post-Hume me is infinitely more pragmatic.

Hmm. Perhaps I need to read some Hume. I was thinking the other day I should revive my brain from its jelly-like state by reading some philosophy. Meanwhile, there's always

::Thinks: David Hume could out-consume Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel::

Scout - if you're hosting a toddler sanctuary please could I send mine as at this rate he is unlikely to make it to his 4th birthday...

Maud: I can heartily recommend "An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding". It can be tough going (for the language of the 18th century) but it's still a cracking read. His political essays are also very good: this is where the pragmatism is most on show, I feel.

All toddlers welcome. Send in a box, with lots of stamps on to ensure they arrive. Don't forget the airholes. The kiddies can play with the boxes. And send snacks, lots and lots of snacks. TS has two hollow legs and I'm not sure I can cope with three with hollow legs without backup (need to go to the store to stock up on toddler treats).

Catita
It sounds interesting. I havenever read much philosophy apart from a little Popper.

CMOT How did things go? I have been keeping my ears crossed for you.

I am very excited today, because DH gave me a bicycle for Christmas (well, a promissory note) and we went to look at bicycles today.

I might even have a bicycle by tomorrow evening....

(and perhaps my over plump shape might start to get a bit fitter.... )

Scout do you take 8 year olds as well?

Donki, sure, why not, but same rules apply -- send food!

Ok, toddler is packed...

Lots of snacks including sandwiches for the journey
Air holes checked
Fireman Sam pants - several pairs
45 trains/tractors/cars
Toothbrush
Passport
Top Gear DVD (don't ask)
Reward chart

Have I missed anything?

Donkey - I am desperate for a bike, that's a great present idea.

Sorry Donki, predictive text thingy

I forgot to add: pack pillows. I have lots of blankets but no extra pillows. Do the boys mind sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag? Do have blow-up camp mat if required.

Sorry, boys & girls -- I can't remember what flavor SmallBean is .

Small Bean is blue. Quite happy on the floor, I will include favourite pillow and sleeping bag.

Have also packed box of wine for you - safer than bottles!

TS will follow Small Bean around, especially if he has trucks/cars/trains so he can play with the wheels. He loves wheels.

Cheers for the wine. Oh, I should have waited until they were all asleep.....

::Packages Girl up, as she might be unbearably bossy quite helpful with the younger children::

::Opens the ::