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.

I can cope with pulling off ticks from the dog, but really think that that should be as far as that sort of thing goes (in fact, managed to squash one before it got through the dog's coat the otherday - having been through the sheep up in the Lakes).

all round? I appear to have some left over Cartmel sticky toffee pudding - there are bowlsful keeping magically warm on the side with a choice of icecream or clotted cream.

Just sat in on music lesson at Ds's school this morning. Probably 90% of them were signing fairly in tune - only two or three droners - and getting the hang of rhythm quite well too. Nearly all of the lesson was spent singing and clapping - tiny bit on notation.

Mmm, tick removal - sheer romance ! Ds knows about use of the 'tick pick' thanks to Deadly 60

DH and i have just decided on a day out together - on our own - next Friday. What a thought !

Four weeks left, one more appointment (until my follow up in December) AND, the big one, I didn't lose any weight this month!

Hurrah ! Now, more sticky toffee pudding and extra clotted cream for you

Scout, hurrah re the news!
CMOT, where are you headed for? Somewhere good I hope?
MT, yes please to and virtual ice cream.

Three Counties Show - I feel bad as ds loves it, but will be at school on Friday, on the Saturday I'll have another child with me (looking after her while dh and her dad play D&D) and I can't manage both of them there (but might think about it), and Sunday he has a party. But it does mean dh and I can actually watch things without having to admire forklifts

I used to love going to The Royal Show - but the last time I went it was a real let down - and the following year was the last one.

I used to like going through the cow sheds - seeing them washing the bulls and groming the cows etc - and seeing the pig owners trying to handle their charges was hilarious at times.

Will have to find a more local one that goes someway to filling the gap.

CMOT a day out sounds splendid. Don't feel bad for DS he is doing other lovely things! Nice for you and DH to have some space and time alone (with the other 10,000 Show go-ers!)

Scout well done!

Yes, oddly enough, Oxbloke was fondly remarking he might by a tick extractor - rather than rely on his wayward wife!! (don't forget the mouth parts!) was ringing out at about 1am in our house - heaven help what the neighbours thought we were doing!

Sadly OxBloke might be off again very soon because things are Not Well in Limpopo Land

Just popped on looking for but Cartmel sticky toffee pud - my favourite - yes please MT!

CMOT - I love going to the county shows - even the small ones. I have always wanted to go the The Royal Highland one but never made it when we lived in Scotland. Strangely though I always come home from these things with chutney despite having cupboards full of the stuff - I think it's in the rules of entry!

Scout - hurrah! Has TS recovered now?

Will be back later, just have some work to finish off (and it's time for GQT!)

I LOVE that sticky toffee pudding!

ummmmmm, sticky toffee pudding.
UniS nose dives into a bowl full. with ice cream on the side.

Heaven.

Oxeye- Oh dear re ticks, did he not fin dthem till 1am? I had to get Dh to detick me the other day. one had decided to have a munch under a boob. I couldn't see the little bugger to do it myself.

Well done Scout !

I am glad that all the small ones with bumps are recovering - like all the others the YD has had a couple of trips to A&E, and been glued twice.

Oxeye - I loathe ticks. I used to have to pull great numbers of camel ticks off the horses when I worked in dubai. Sometimes it was as though they had bunches of grapes hanging from their docks..... and then sometimes when you got one before it had gorged, and you put it onto the floor to squash it would try to sink its jaws into you before you got rid of it....

If DH took up being tick bait as a pass time I would insist that he had a complete head to toe inspection before he was allowed in bed!

Went shopping for the first time today after the GP told me to avoid wheat and dairy.

I did not enjoy it.

I love cheese, and most things dairy (apart from milk!).
AND I can't have croissants or crumpets or spiced fruit muffins for breakfast.

And I can't have pasta.

The gluten free pasta is tasty Donki. I found breakfast the worst meal to go GF on. I made some apple crumble with GF flour and that was rather tasty too :)

Am back at the hospital on Monday to see the Dr about where they're going to go for me, given that the gastroscopy only showed minor irritation. They did another blood test, but I never did hear the result, so maybe they'll tell me that on Monday.

Friday , , anyone? Donki - I think it's gf and dairy-free as well.

I know nothing about tick removal but it sounds pretty grim.

Warburtons do a nice gf fruity bun, and the Proceli croissants aren't bad imo. Not so keen in gf crumpets, but they work. My general tip is that gf bread products, apart from sliced bread, need 20s in the microwave before toasting.
Rizopia pasta is my favourite.

I've been gluten free since 1996, so its all normal to me now. DH bought me a gf sandwich from Waitrose today, and I realised I'd never had a prawn sandwich. GF is soooo much easier these days !

Bleugh on the ticks

The other problem with gluten free bread is that the spread has to be dairy free - and I LOVE butter. Butter substitutes just don't taste right......

Yes I am being unreasonable.
I feel unreasonable.

The YD has been horrid since he came home today.
Stamped on the lone orchid that is growing in the lawn - (by accident, but because he was ignoring me and being a complete giddy kipper)
Drawn on a couple of books.
Drawn on the wall.

I am not sure how he has survived to bed time to be honest......

Thankyou for all the cheerful advice on Gluten free - I did appreciate it, honest. I just wanted to stamp my hooves a few times before I gave in.....

The YD has just had a lovely story time too.

Unfortunately I then looked at the TES website. To find that the new OFSTED criteria include failing any schools that get below average results.
That will be about 50% then.... (assuming a normal distribution)

Honestly this govenrment makes my blood boil sometimes.

oh, I frequently stamp my hooves and have a strop. Particularly at conference dinners where I get melon as starter and pudding.

Glad to hear YD improved things. Tiddler was lovely today (this may not bode well for the weekend). He has a lunch date with the love of his life tomorrow, so they'll be happy

Wriggle and I didn't have the best evening - I ended up saying to her that I hate playing. I love drawingpaintingcookingbakingmodellingreadinggardeninggoingforwalkshavingadventurescutting stickingwatchingdvdsplaycomputergamesdoingpuzzlesgoingtothefarm with her but I HATE HAVING TO BE THE MUMMY CAT.

Lots of tears and Wriggle begging me to telephone the school and tell them that she was never coming, not even when she's big.

UniS, it's my PTA fete tomorrow and DH's on Sunday,walls need building - I need to make a to-do list but book will be on it.

I think that two people have said that they could do a London Zoo meet up on Thursday 30th - anyone else?

:: stamps feet as well::

I want to go to London Zoo! Not very practical - distance/work etc. etc. But it sounds like a lot of fun. Do they have pandas?

For those of you in The South... Would it be easy to take Small Bean on the London Duck Tour? We are coming/going down next month and I think he would like it but I do worry about taking a small person on a boat.

How small is he? Wriggle had great fun on boat trips at just 3. She doesn't get sea sick.