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!

Oh Amber, so sorry to hear that. I hope it is all going well and that you are getting plenty of support. xxxx

Tee - LittleO fell out of bed every night for about two years! We put a cot matress next to his bed for him to land on.

UniS - I think toy story 3 is very scary. I watched it with LittleO and haven't put it on again. It seems a bit much. But I guess a lot of the darkness went over his head, like with the latest shrek film (shrek forever after), als realy dark but LittleO just didn't follow it. I like films like Ponyo, have you watched that.

Bean - Welcome! I joined the tearoom a year or so ago but have been absent travelling for the past 6 months. I have a 4.5 year old only ds. Was firmly in the 'I only want 1' camp until I went to India. I met people there with more than one child that were still travelling and following their dreams, and the kids were having fun while they did it and not suffering from it at all. Before I went there I felt if I had a 2nd I'd have to write off my travelling and phd dreams, India made me realise that this isn't the case. So, we tried for a 2nd, had a mc, now trying again. Much emotional trauma involved.

Aww, A&O - feel for you lovey, just had one myself :( It's not good, is it.

Cooked breakfast sounds good, thank you Amber! So long as there isn't any Italian sausage involvement...

TS duly been to duty doctor at GP. Because snot is now just yellow and clear-ish (and no tie-dyed bedsheets this morning) instead of green and yellow and stink appears to have gone we're going to ride it out for another day or two. If the stink comes back or he goes green again they'll give him ABs. If that doesn't work he'll refer TS to have some look up his nose to see if he shoved something in there (don't think he did cuz he started off sneezy and with a low-grade temp).

Also seem to end up with the same doctor on duty whenever I take TS. He's really good with the littles and doesn't treat us moms like we're morons or over-reacting.

That sounds reasonable Scout. If it doesn't clear in a few days though, do go back, especially if he gets a cough - I tried to ride out miniT's cough once and gave in after about 6 weeks (yes, I know but it really wasn't that bad, only when he was lying down) and he got ABs and was clear in about 2 days

Glad you have a nice doc! They do help. Mine is rather lovely too but it takes a week to see her usually.

We can request specific doctors, but it could take up to 3-5 days to see him/her. Or if you call at 8:30 you can usually get in that day for the duty doctor. I just always seem lucky and get the same doctor doing duty appointments. They do prioritize a bit sometimes, though, so usually I say "sick x month old" and I get in. There were lots of poorly littles in today.

I happily put off going to the doctor myself (except in certain situations) but I don't mess around when it comes to TS. I figure he can't fight for himself so I have to fight for him. Might sound very PFB-ish but I don't leave unless I'm happy with the discussion/diagnosis/that I understand everything.

AandO, do you think you'll go back to India or try somewhere else?

Agree, Toy Story 3 is dark, but most children stories are. I bawled like a baby when I watched it. So glad I saw it at Mom & Dad's rather than the theater like I was trying to (I don't do public crying except at funerals).

Hi beansandspud - gald to see that there's still some around for later on if I manage to pop back after work! There seem to be a number of people in here the same age as me which makes me feel not quite so ancient. I've got a just 6yo ds (mistlechick / MC) who is acting like a golden retriever puppy at the moment - masses of enthusiasm, bounce, energy and appetite - luckily with more brains though. We were aiming to be a 2 child family - but had to wait 6 yrs and a lot of heartache for Mistlechick and 2 mc since then overshadowed by threat of treatment that was necessary for mc prior to Mistlechick..... so I think I have managed to persuade myself that its really not going to happen. In any case, Mistlechick feels such hard work at times I don't know how we'd cope with a 2nd!

Amber - get thee to a bluebell wood - I'm sure it would do you good to have an hour or so off in one. They're just coming out (was down at the weekend) - unlike up here were there are a few that have blue on and the odd flower out, but most flower stalks only just emerging from the ground - I think its going to be a rather peculiar bluebell season round here.

Hi DutchOma - glad you made it to Venice.

A&O, sorry you're feeling blue about being home - why do you feel like you're livign for someone else, and are there any things you might be able to do to help with that feeling?

Thank you Mistlethrush. Now, where is the nicest music in Venice?

Luckily I have a bluebell wood at the bottom of the garden so can stroll through it at my leisure

Ooo, doctors - that reminds me, need to go see mine!

::puts delicious plate of Venetian goodies out for mid aft snacks::

Dutch - depends on what sort of music you enjoy really...

Although the NMBs have managed to find some tiny accordians and are doing their best at serenading by the sound of it. I think trying to eat icecream at the same time is probably their undoing.

Amber - lucky you!!! We have one within walking distance which is good - but not as handy. I'm sure breathing in the wonderful scent is good for you (although if its as dull down there as it is here they won't be that scented) - has your sense of smell been affected? - mine was.

Afternoon tea room!

Ooh, thanks Amber. I could use a little something before I do the 'school' run!

Just did my US taxes only to see that they aren't actually due until Monday this year. Oh well, at least I can jam them into the post tomorrow and forget about them. Now to sort my first year in business in the UK!!

Mistle I think you're right about the ice cream and the accordians. Doesn't seem to be working too well for the poor NMBs.

Really should get going. At 22 months surely he's old enough to find his own way home....

Bad Mummy Award candidate . Having forced Wriggle to spend a busy morning Having Fun with friends, which she didn't enjoy at all, then took her to GP, who prescribed a MASSIVE dose of ABs and said if she's not noticeably better tomorrow, he would like her to go into hospital for intravenous ABs. Ooops.

One of the things I forced her to do today was to accompany me buying my birthday present to me (for next week); a cardigan on extreme vivid pinkness with frills.

Tee, we unscrewed the legs of the bed.

I've done that Serp. Was sure LCT was fine, dragged him hither and yon...found out he had a double ear infection and a throat infection and an upper respiratory infection, not just being bratty.

Thanks for all the falling out of bed suggestions. There are pillows next to the bed and a cot mattress up against the wall, which is very near the side of the bed. His bed has a bed rail, but he won't sleep in it. Well, we're trying again this weekend, so we'll see. Anyway, divan bed, so no legs to remove either! It never bothers him when he falls anyway, he barely wakes up. It just bothers me!

I really should be in bed...

Don't worry, UnSerp. It's hard to know the difference, even when they can talk.

Envious of amber's bells. Hope you're taking pictures!

Tee, TS rolls into his headboard and it makes me jump every time, even though he does it upwards to 3-5 times a night and has been doing it for nearly a year. It doesn't phase him and he doesn't wake up.

MrScout is late tonight and I'm in bed with my laptop watching the Time Team Special. My face is starting to hurt again so will get painkillers when I go to get my nighttime cocktail.

ohh eek, re coughing children and AntiBs... wondering if I should take Boy, he's been hanging onto a cough for weeks, to the point that it now sound like a sneeze and I think its a habit. DH and I both still bit rattly chested ... so maybe I should.

biscuit any body? They seem appropriate.

Had a friend of boys over for lunch today. And I think boy is a bit picky about food!!!. Today visitor managed to nibble on half slice of bread and butter and 2 slices of ( peeled ) cucumber and one or two choc raisins, in the time boy ate a round of sandwich, some crisps, 2 slices cucumber , a slice of fruit cake and half an apple. If boy messed about with not eating his packed lunch to that level, he would be on 1 sandwich and a drink and no fruit, no chese and definitely no choc bisciut for as many days as it took to get him to eat what is in h is lunch box in a reasonable time. Mean mummy that I am I have deducted bits from his lunch when hes been dawdling before, only had to remove crisps and biscuit for him to get the idea and start eating rather than talking.

mind you, visitor has a parent who goes armed with snacks at all times and feeds child snack every time they are grumpy.

Ho HUm, we do not have to parent our own children as our friends parent theirs.

Good evening! Lovely to meet you all, I don't get on here so much during the day.

Tee - we have the falling out of bed thing too - I frequently find Small Bean on the floor and it bothers me far more than it bothers him!

Not sure how much there is to tell about me... We live in the North of the UK and whilst I had never planned to have just one child that's the way it turned out. I work full time but love weekends and holidays and doing nice things with DS. Most of my friends/family are having 2nd and 3rd children and I kind of stumbled onto here looking for some moral support, some chat and some fun.

Loving this bit of Venice though, have had a bowl of fantastic seafood pasta and it's such a calm, atmosphere!

Sorry to be a bit thick but what are NMBs?

Hi, beanandspud! NMBs are naked mohawk babies.

I'd like to say that after a while it'll all make sense, but fear that may not be true!

OH man. What a day.

I have SUCH a headache. Bonked head on cabinet yesterday - lord knows how, it's been in the same place for the last 6 years!! [stupid emoticon]

Passes Jacks some painkillers and a nice cup of .

Maud, am in the process of responding.

UniS, thanks for the cookies!

This is going to sound really lame but I'm so excited -- I have my first Mommy/Toddler date next week! Toddler and his little friend and us moms are going to go swimming (no classes because of term break). AND because they're both moving up to the Toddler class next term we said we want to try to get into the same class. Mom of five month old in our class said Toddler and Girl are so cute and how the recognize each other. And they do and I know kidlets this age play independently but they play well "together" if that makes sense. YAY!

Can I join you lovely people please?

Er....is it just tea or do you serve wine too?

:: Unis hands K999 a ::

Welcome to teh Tea room, plonk yourself down and take teh weight off your feet. Mind the guinea pig in the sofa.

Would any one care for a little twiglet suprise? Its pink...

Ooh thanks!! How civilised!

Hello K999!

I am very new around here but cheers ...

Cheers! Any nibbles? I am starving! Not had any dinner. My sister is moving house tomorrow and I have been along at hers cleaning kitchen cupboards!

This is the tea room of requirement, K999, so Mellors (have you met Mellors, by the way?) will serve you with whatever snack you most crave although most snacks here contain twiglets.