The One and Only Tea Room - Now Hanging in Babylon

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

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.

Yes. There are lots of children's classics which I didn't read as a child and now I struggle to read the adult literature I want to, so don't feel I can take a diversion back. I'd never even heard of Diana Wynne Jones before I joined the tea room.

Another literary dunce here. I have not heard of Green Know but it sounds fun, magical quilts and ebony mice!

Scout glad all a bit better

CMOT sorry to hear about DH it has been a long struggle and you are being very dignified (and very quiet) about it too

UniS hols sound fab

Quiet day here, trying to get things done, work intrusive, OxBoy demented with excitement since we are on the Count Down to return of OxBloke (Mummy, I love you but I love Daddy more!)

Evening all!

There must be something in the air this week - having spent last night reading about everyone's toddler falls and bumps I got a call from nursery this afternoon to say that Small Bean had fallen, bumped his head and they had the paramedic with him. Good news was that I was on my way back; the bad news was that I was still 100 miles away.

Anyway, made it back in record time and Small Bean was fine, huge egg on his head, and chatting away to "my doctor". He now thinks he has his own private medic. Very, very, scary and felt SO guilty not being there. Absolutely brilliant service from the local emergency team though - I was very close to hugging the poor chap!

I've now calmed down, SB is fast asleep and think I will be having a large glass of in front of The Apprentice tonight.

Sorry, meant to add...

Those of you talking about making a will, I thought ours was very simple until the solicitor started trying to ask what we wanted to happen in case of what she called an "Armageddon Moment". By the time she had suggested a scenario where me, DH, SB, parents, PIL, SIL, sister and numerous others all met our end at the same time I had my head in my hands and could only suggest "do what you want - I don't care anymore!".

Oh dear, Oxeye. I think Guess How Much I Love You has a lot to answer for, as it encourages the littlies to quantify!

For anyone who likes the music of the 70s because it was the soundtrack to their yoof I gather from the Queen thread that last week's documentary is being repeated n BBC2 tonight.

::pours for all::

Have just been reading back and spotted that someone is quite keen on quail. I have quail - I have never met an animal more prone to bloody murder and pecking out each others' eyes. Whereas my chickens are all caring, sharing characters. It must, I suppose, be something to do with the way they live - I wish someone would offer them a large, outside home. That is probably what they need.

Have emailed Tea - I don't think I can make the zoo meet up on 1st July, although my school will let me have June 30th. Was anyone else going?

Maud, I find some 'children's' books quite as worthwhile and memorable as adult books.

I know, Serpent, I have the same debate with members of my book group. We occasionally read books aimed at young adults (and maybe we have simply made some poor choices) but they always disappoint me because what I'm looking for from a novel, far more than 'action', is character and psychological depth, and they never seem to have it because they're all written at a superficial level suitable (so the publishers appear to believe) for people without much life experience.

Muad, I am trying to think of examples which would prove otherwise to you, but failing at present. (Probably due to long day teaching, g&t and Wriggle burbling loudly next to me.)

And due to the fact that I have spent over 2 hours trying to write various files to CD to back up my computer and am going crazy with frustration at constant failure. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh

I'm sure there are some, Serpent.

His Dark Materials are supposedly childrens books, but are deep and complex.

Though I wouldn't choose childrens books for a book group, I very much enjoy reading them. Some have little depth, but that fills a place for me sometimes, and I like the comfort factor (I know chick lit/romance fills that for many people).

Now, you see, I had to abandon Northern Lights because I just found it unbearable, and yet I enjoyed the film. Of course, Mellors lookalike Daniel Craig always helps.

Unbearable - in what way, Maud? I found the first one really interesting, the second one heart breaking - probably to do with personal stuff at the time, including the death of my pet ... sparrow and the last one too gloomy and depressing to finish.

I had brought up the sparrow from a tiny naked chick and it flew around our sitting room in the evenings and spent its last hours sitting on my neckunder my hair, for comfort, I think.

Nothing I can pinpoint. Just an incompatibility between his writing style and the way I like to read - as I said, I liked the film.

I have just finished Northern lights with my year 8 English class. I quite like it, and the kids enjoy it. Still needed to explain a lot, to them though!

Returned home from conference to find the house resembling some kind of student dump. It's alright though cos he was "looking after LittleMan" grrr.

On with the relentless marking. And only a few comments from virtual strangers "ah but you will have.more" etc, Sometimes I want to say, piss off. But I smile, and say not now, and cry a bit inside.

I can think of a number of authors, both for adults and children, whose work I would like to read but the way they use language just makes me squirm. Only light, rubbishy, comfort reading, but even so, it has to be well written. Then there are some authors whose stories I don't much like, but I jusy love the way they put words together; for example, Geraldine McCaughrean.

Oh dear, PracticallyImperfect. Would a flailing handbag on the back of the head be an option?

If Bloke has sole charge of Girl he will take excellent care of her, take her somewhere interesting and educational and make her a lovely meal, but it would never occur to him to hang out the washing, put out the recycling etc. I hate to resort to generalisations, but it does seem to be A Man Thing.

Gosh, I wonder, does bursting into tears when people ask " that question" work? does it stop them asking?

I like reading children's books. Just read another Diane Wynne Jones new to me, The Magicians of caprona. I knew it existed I just hadn't got my hands on a copy. Any ho, I now have spare copies of 2 DWJ books, "The lives of Christopher Chant" and "Charmed Life" , if you would like them PM me. Would dearly like to swap them for " Conrad's fate" or "Witch week" but that is too much to hope for.

I have decent collection of Monica Edwards storys and would kinda like to collect girls school story books but many are frightfully dear now thay are popular to collect. SO I only have a couple of hard back angela brazils and some Farm School books.

Mellors is just sorting out the hanging bookshelf, so you can join me in nestling on teh sofa witha good book.

bean -- How's SmallBean? How are you?

Think I've got two rather tatty paperback copies of Witch Week. Will check tomorrow.

I used to love Monica Edward's stories. I'd forgotten about them. I vaguely remember a fox cub and some Jersey cows. And a fire?

Scout - he seems ok. Has been asleep since 7pm so i'm hoping that it will last. Keep going up to make sure he's conscious though, however silly it seems.

It's so scary though isn't it? How is TS today?

Hi all.

Tried to read and catch up but too much to take in! I'm on MN App so can't scroll back and check as I type!

I do gather that BeanSprout has a bump, practically (sorry if I got the name wrong, horrid memory) has unthoughtful acquaintances and some one agrees with me in the last book of Dark Materials.

If you want some excellent adolescent fic Hunger Games is fantastic. I am dreading the movie.

Really must go to sleep. Another busy day ahead.

Not silly, bean, I was the same until about 4 a.m. Though he had me up at least 1/2 dozen times between 1:30 & 3:00 lost paci, missing Bunny, cuddle request, wet bum, etc. TS is fine today, thank you. Slightly more hesitant than normal, but his smiley, happy-chappy self. His nose (inside) is black from the dried blood/clots but I haven't worried about trying to wipe them away no matter how they look didn't want to fight/struggle with him as well as not wanting to disturb clots. Looking at him in the light of morning his lip is still puffy and he has carpet burn above his lip. He was hesitant/gentle with his toothbrush (he loves his toothbrush, is usually vigorous with his chewing/brushing) but ate like a horse so thought his mouth/face must not hurt too much.

UnSerp- that would be very kind of you to check, please. UniS will now cross her fingers and keep them that way till tomorrow. Witch week was teh fist DWJ I read, whilst staying at a friends house years ago.