Tearoom 25 - Benvenute a Venezia!

[thumbwitch]

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!

Eek, I thought they WERE statues! You should see where I've hung my towel... .

Brilliant advice, Amber :)

I've issued some teeny tiny fig leaves.....

Where to look, where to look?

Gosh, this thread's nearly full! I lost you for a few days, sorry - haven't read back more than a couple of pages.

Am in the UK - am running around like a loon, trying to fit in visits to as many people as humanly possible in 3weeks. It sounds like a long time to start off, but it diminishes very rapidly!
I now have spaces available only in week 3 - a few evenings and some daytimes - see the Other Place for any further commentary.

Amber - pleased to hear that things appear to be working well - yay!

MT - :( for you and have an unMNly ((hug)) or several.

UniS - I'm pretty sure I've thanked you in the other place for sending the 4yo t-shirt - I found it in the unopened post pile yesterday. It's lovely! :)

Who is going to do the new thread then? Or have I missed it - has someone already started it? Where are we going next?

thumb's package from UniS reminds me....

JB, I know I confirmed yours finally arrived here but I have to say the contents are YUMMY and soooo rich/filling. I need a glass of milk with them, so I sit with a bar and a pint of milk and all is right with the world.

to thumb -- glad you're enjoying your visit.

amber, I know I'm a bit late but have a great weekend.

Evening all.

There was talk of Babylon, hanging Gardens of, are we going there?

John Torrode and Greg Wallace are hosting Have I Got News for You tonight. Should be interesting!!

Happy Friday everyone!

Amber - I suspect I am too late but have a fantastic weekend.

Mistle - hope that you're ok. I think I understand a little how you feel - even though it might not change anything it's one thing making the decision yourself and another thing having it made for you.

Tee - I hope you don't mind but after reading something on another thread I had a look at your blog and LCT is absolutely gorgeous!!

:: pulls up comfy chair and opens the ::

It has been a long week and so good to get to the weekend. Have just realised that I have driven over 1000 miles for work in the last couple of days and I am shattered! Not helped by Small Bean deciding that 5:30am is a good time to get up.

Anyone doing fun things over the weekend?

Ooh, thanks for thank - I love Greg and John so will be watching.

(although I can never look at Greg the same way since a columnist described him as a 'haggis in specs')

Sorry, thanks for that

beanandspud I like it when people read my blog! I have no secrets. And thanks, I think he's pretty neato and cute!

Tee, how was LCT's bedtime tonight?

beanandspud, I don't know what we're doing this weekend. I'm taking things to our Guides Jumble Sale for donation tomorrow morning (but haven't committed to helping because I think it would be impossible with TS). I'm sure we'll go grocery shopping at some point (lame/boring/a chore to most people but I really enjoy it [former food marking/private label geek emoticon]). How about you?

It took him ages to fall asleep, Scout. Even with his dark curtains the sun was just streaming. I really need to get him a black out blind or something, although we are probably moving at the end of the summer so not sure it's worth the effort! How about TS?

We are probably doing nothing fun this weekend. MrTee is invigilating (I have no idea how to spell that) an exam tomorrow so LCT and I are off to the shops and maybe a run around the park.

We have food shopping to do too which is usually good fun. Planning to go to local County Show depending on weather, Small Bean will enjoy the animals and shows. DH and I will enjoy the food stalls - I guarantee that I will come home with a year's supply of pickles/chutneys/jams....

Tee - don't know whether it helps but I think you can buy stick-on blackout blinds, I'll see if I can find the link. Are you moving far?

Not sure yet, beanandspud. We rent and can't afford to buy. My dream is a 4 bedroom house a little bit further out with a bit of garden for LCT as we live in city centre at the minute. We don't have a car so needs to be fairly close to city centre and the train for MrTee to get to work. I work from home so commute isn't an issue for me. Unfortunately we're having trouble finding anything that isn't right next to the University where we don't want to live. But we need to move from this much too expensive flat, even if it means downsizing to a 2 bedroom (we have 3 at the moment).

Our lease is up 31 July so I will start really looking next month.

It's Friday niiiight! Syd's already on the dance floor, with one alightly-squashed rabbi, several bishops and the NMBs.

Mistle - Sorry to hear of your problems.

Is Serpent about? I saw a bit of An Education earlier and wondered whether she'd read the book and what she thought of it.

Back in a mo.

Cheers for the smile, Maud. Can I interest you in some ?

Tee, TS was doing well at bedtime (down just after 7 and all was quiet, not even sounds of getting comfortable) until some yoofs decided to perch somewhere close and cackle. Then he decided to chatter. Went quiet again until MrScout came home (early) around 7:45 then we heard squeaking (like he was meowing to the cats but we don't have a cat). He went out soon after that. No whinging/struggling tonight but think he'd have been out earlier if the yoofs didn't decide to use the green across the street.

We have portable blackout blinds, so you can take them anywhere, even on holiday if needed.

Thank you, Scout. I don't mind if I do.

Yes, Maud, I enjoyed it (and watched the whole film) and was lamenting the fact that we don't have more times to sit down and watch a film/read a book and discuss it.

Occasionally lurking at the moment as so very busy with projects for work. I have three presentations to teachers and resources for other teachers to write (easy part), think up (pretty hard) and make 'entertaining and educational' (so no pressure at all there). The 'funny' bit is the hardest of all; I did it once by accident and found that my resource was being passed from school to school all over the county, but they seem to think I can repeat it at will.

Funnily enough, since my parcel from Maud, I feel that I know you personally ... all the more reason to finish my parcel for Mistle. I keep changing my mind, rejecting my sewing projects (half a scarf with appliqued autumn leaves so far) and doubting my taste in books.

I found putting the parcel together excruciating, hence my question about whether you'd enjoyed the book. I kept picking things up and rejecting them, thinking what if she hates it? what if she hates it?. I enjoyed the half hour of the film that I saw. Hopefully it will be on again soon.

Yikes! 993 messages! and that's before this one! Are we Hanging in Babylon yet, Maud?

Tee, I second the virtues of travel black-out blinds (eg Baa Baa) - just gotta have something in the summer. Another portable alternative is black-out curtain backs from John Lewis, if you already have regular curtains up - they just hook in the back, easy peasy. I think JL deliver most stuff to NI if you are interested.

MT - for you. Understand you feeling low. Hope the tea room supply of virtual hugs is of some help.

Thumb - nice to see you! Very exciting that you're over here - obviously I haven't got to know you all that much yet, or vice versa, and I know how crazy it is when you're back on a short trip home and trying to cram everything in, but if you are are around in London and have a wee window you'd like to fill, please do pm me! (Unlikely, I know but you never know....) Hope trip goes well, anyway!

Oxeye - is it you performing at St James's tomorrow? (sorry, memory gone to hell in a handbasket, one of my favourite phrases too, Amber!) Anyway, would love to come and see you but MrS has been working a lot of weekends lately and this one I have him at home, and concerts are really Not His Thing, so it'll be cuddling on the sofa instead I think. But hope it goes well and break a leg!

Maud, here's another something
Perfect for a slow dance with Sid, perhaps?

Oh lawks, lapin, I don't want a slow dance with Syd. ::Far too old for any of that emoticon:: I might, though, invite him to .

I suppose, though, that as I suggested the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, I ought to do something about it.

Watch this space.

Oooh err. I hope you all like it.

::Starts to pack::

See you all in Babylon!

oh I can't resist taking the 1000th message...

Who will get the last say though?