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Original poster

The One and Only Tea Room - Now Hanging in Babylon

987 replies

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 13/05/2011 23:57

Well folks, here we are, transported through time and space to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Golden couches and the distressed chintz sofa are arranged on a terrace overlooking the Euphrates and, as we recline on the exquisitely-soft cushions eating peeled grapes, we can enjoy the warm fragrance of the gardens' many exotic blooms. The garden is tended by the indefatigable Mellors, with occasional help from the bishops, rabbis and any passing world leaders. Somewhere behind the terrace there is an aga and a priest's hole, with optional massage table.

Please come and join us for a celebratory drink and conversation ranging from the profound to the profoundly silly.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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amberlight · 27/05/2011 19:01

I love presents in sparkly girly paper...but that's probably not surprising and shouldn't be taken as any indication that any rightminded tweenager would Grin

Scout19075 · 27/05/2011 20:10
UniS · 27/05/2011 20:20

wooooo, D I S C O

AMber- get back on that hammock and boogie in a i=virtual fashin.

I'm knackered and grumpy tonight, oops. Got to the swim pool with boy to be told the pool would be closing early - so we didn;t swim, I'm not paying full price for 15 mins. Boy in tears at teh injustice of it all.

Donki · 27/05/2011 21:37

Woohoo
It's the holidays!

Carrot wine anyone?

Scout19075 · 27/05/2011 21:47

Cheers, Donki!

Donki · 27/05/2011 23:13

Cheers Scout!
Hic!

Original poster
ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 27/05/2011 23:20

::Staggers in::

::Gives Amber a gentle push on the hammock, as the motion will ensure she stays asleep::

Possibly good news: I've been offered a new job.

Possibly bad news: Girl has been sick and half-term trip is postponed, possibly cancelled.

I was quite nervous opening Scout's link - when it said bare naked ladies I worried that it might be something entirely unsuitable for NMBs, faith leaders and me.

::Throws shapes listlessly::

OP posts:
oxeye · 28/05/2011 00:54

Goodness Maud, that is a lot of news in a quick fashion!
simillar job? interesting? ...

Girl - bad news. We have been fending off lurgies this week because I am keen to go away with Boy - is your trip postpone/ cancellation related to sickness?

Amber, gentle hugs and hammock swings. I am amazed you are up at all...

Tee, hope eczema resolves

Scout, I would think sparkly princess paper humouress. Contents are what counts!

MaryBS · 28/05/2011 03:57

Good news about the job Maud, but :( about Girl...

amberlight · 28/05/2011 08:11

Couldn't sleep, Mary? 3.57 am??!

Maud, yay re possible job situation, drat re sick dd etc - hope she's much better v quick.

Feel slightly better than yesterday. Does this mean I can attempt the garden centre for a raid on their tomato compost?

UnSerpentQuiCourt · 28/05/2011 08:57

Only, Amber, if you take a purely supervisory role in the procedings. And then have a restorative coffee and cake in the garden centre cafe.

Maud and Oxeye, can you tell us where you are going for half term, or would that be Too Revealing? I love virtually joining in others' holiday plans, expecially small, non-stressful holidays. Full-on summer holidays ... noooo Envy Shock

We have lots of little plans: Longleat, maybe, a day at Salisbury Festival, a day at the Bath and West Show, a little local arty workshop, a birthday party, some vegetable sowing ...

MaryBS · 28/05/2011 09:55

Am having lots of problems sleeping - worrying too much about stuff!

Agree on garden centre, although I guess you could give directions from afar? Send them and then you don't get caught up in all the bustle?

mistlethrush · 28/05/2011 10:07

lakes for the week, so I'll see you when I get back...

DutchOma · 28/05/2011 10:46

Garden Centre ok. Tomato compost ok, so far as it is just pointing at what you want for someone to pick it up and cart it home and there unload it.
After this, it must be left totally untouched by Amber hands until such time as you feel sufficiently rested to start planting tomatoes. The risk is not in the garden centre, the risk comes when you get home and the weather is nice and you want to plant tomatoes.

amberlight · 28/05/2011 12:43

FineLad and dsis wrestling tomatoes and compost!!

DutchOma · 28/05/2011 14:20

Good for them. You keep out of it and get back to the hammock.

Catitainahatita · 28/05/2011 18:35

Good news about the job Maud. I hope Girl is feeling a bit better now. You lot are all on half-term then? Enjoy yourselves.
Bad news here: Mr. H failed his civil service exams: probably his first ever academic fail and is a bit fed up about it. In his defence they were not very fair exams: it was all multiple choice with questions taken from current legislation and policy in education with different words missing. He had to choose which of three synonyms was correct. And they wonder why education in Mexico is so bad ....
Good news: I'm applying for a job in Mexico City. The deadline is August for applications. Interviews and the like will be September. In the meantime we are also going to request our sabbatical for the next academic year; Mr. H has is applying for a Postdoc and I intend to finish writing my book. If I don't get this job, hopefully the year in Mexico will be enough for me to find at least a part-time teaching post.

UniS · 28/05/2011 20:20

fingers crossed for something coming up roses for you Cat.

We have started to make tentative summer trip plans, today boy did 20 miles on his own bike... so... we think he may be capable of a short tour on his own bike rather than the tandem... maybe. Could use Tandem any way if we prefer.

Amber
Virtual tomato planting only. you may of course lounge on hammock and direct proceedings.

Tee2072 · 28/05/2011 21:21

Sorry not been around, all. Not sure what I've been doing...but something!

Cat that sounds promising. Good luck!

Amber! Sit! Grin

Mary I hope you get some sleep tonight.

Well, LCT is dripping with cold again. He's been sleeping horribly so he's in bed with me tonight as he tends to resettle quicker if he can just snuggle up when he wakes up. The good news is his speech is coming on leaps and bounds. I did read somewhere that a 2 year old should have over 200 words, so we're not there yet and it made me go Hmm really? But he's adding words daily. Surprised the heck out of his dad today when he said 'Apple' dead clear, pointing at the fruit bowl!

Donki · 29/05/2011 14:44

Gosh it's quiet in here.

It's quiet in RL as well - the YD is away with cub scouts. I hope that he's enjoying it.

I am awed by the enthusiasm and love of young people of the leaders - in a society where I think children and young people are often not valued.
The scouting and guiding movement is beyond price.....

amberlight · 29/05/2011 16:55

It's not deserted, I'm just kipping in the corner after a hard afternoon trying to teach dh to cook (rather than chase me round the kitchen with the glace cherries... Shock )

Yup, scouts etc do a fantastic job.

::plumps up the hay pile for Donki and offers a bucket of especially refreshing carrot juice::

Donki · 29/05/2011 17:12

Thankyou Amber

I'm just back from prospecting a longer cycle ride to do with the YD - and I'm horrendously unfit....

Donki · 29/05/2011 17:13

By the way, Amber - Why was your dh trying to chase you round the kitchen with glace cherries

Tee2072 · 29/05/2011 17:21

Thanks for asking, Donki, I was too afraid to. Grin

Just waiting for our Sunday dinner to be done around here. Chicken, baked potatoes and stuffed courgette. YUM!

I wish my DH was willing to learn to cook. He cooks about 3 things.

amberlight · 29/05/2011 17:57

I think on the grounds of ladylike behaviour I'd better not be answering any questions about my dh's antics in the kitchen. Grin