The one and only Tearoom, to be sure , it is.

[UniS]

To pinch an intro from the very first one and only tea room thread. in 2009.

The tea room is now officially open, serving hot chocolate, tea, freshly-squeezed orange juice and a range of home-baked muffins. Tablecloths and crockery are charmingly mismatched antiques (no Cath Kidston here). We overlook an attractive although somewhat overgrown garden, with a distant view of rolling countryside.

Everyone is welcome but house rules dictate that anyone indulging in fisticuffs will be ejected.

Please come in.

2011
We seem to have fetched up in Ireland, this place looks remarkably like a pub,There is even a guiness barrel over there. The NMBs are all sporting shamrocks. The mirror ball is here, but I leave teh rest of the unpacking to someone else.

Oh dear. Wriggle likes to kiss her friends goodbye, whether they like it or not. Encouraged by M.Snake, on a cultural basis - much more kissing in France.

Cultural is different and she will soon figure out when it's acceptable/expected. My BiL does the same with my nieces/nephews kissing hello & goodbye as he does it (born & bred British but likes to think he's Spanish) but my SiL doesn't do it and doesn't push it. I've seen them kiss family but not friends. (Personally I'm uncomfortable with it but that's because it feels very forced -- other kids kiss/hug me hello/goodbye and there's much more warmth behind it and I don't think my BiL rates me so I wish he'd keep himself to himself.)

I'm big on camping, but really, does this surprise people?

Speaking of camping, anyone have any ideas of things to do with a duck theme? Besides Duck Duck Goose.

Well, on our left we have DCMB's real tent, a brand-new Outwell Montana 6. It is mildly glamped with solar fairy lights and a variety of home-made quilts (courtesy of DontCallMeGranny). On our right is DCMB's Fantasy Tearoom Tent. This is a 6m canvas bell tent bedecked with LOTS of solar fairies and bunting, containing a super-kingsize bed and more tealights than you can shake a fire extinguisher at.

I suspect for every child who doesn't understand physical boundaries there is at least one who has major problems having those boundaries crossed - it's a difficult thing to manage. And I do think forcing kisses on other children could be effectively bullying - you'd have a child who was both aware of the discomfort they were causing another child AND young enough to get away with it though (I think most adults would disapprove of a 12yo who forced kisses on another child, but may well think it 'cute' in a 6yo). Fairly unlikely.

But as someone whose personal space has a radius of about five feet, I rather sympathise with MistleChick.

Q. How do you get down off an elephant?

A. You don't you get down off a duck.

HA!

UniS - you got hit and have a bruise! How big/old is the child?

Scout - erm...I don't get it

Scout - are you camping anywhere near a river? Could you have a duck race... Lots of plastic ducks, everyone chooses one and they are all set off down the river.. Prizes for winning duck(s).

Alternatively some sort of duck treasure hunt with duck clues...

Hook a duck?

Fuzzy duck... hmmmm... Maybe not at that age...

Down off an elephant -- you were sitting on it and needed to get down/off

Down off a duck -- ducks have feathers used for duvets, etc., called down

(sorry, that sounds very patronizing.... not meant to be!)

We are camping near a stream (stream on camp and our site/s butt onto it) that feeds into a river (which does go to the North Sea not too far away). We're doing a "Bobbing for Ducks" duck pond and I'm setting challenges (instead of getting sweets or something). We're also going to feed the ducks that are on camp (TS will be good at that!). The girls are 15 so fuzzy duck (with non-alcoholic beverage) could be very fun/hilarious to watch.

Ooh, aaah! The Outwell Montana 6 is the tent that I was ogling when we were camping in Norfolk - half the tents on site seemed to be that one. Slight gulp at the price though, as ours cost about a quarter of that and we only go for about two weekends a year. By the way, DCMB, solar fairy lights are currently BOGOF in Sainsbo's.

::eggs DCMB on to further solar fairy light excess::

::alreday has own garden looking like Blackpool::

I agree that kissing could be bullying if the child was aware that the other child was upset and was still doing it deliberately to upset them. Misplaced affection, though, I think is rather different (although still irksome for the recipient).

Scout - I got your joke.

Q: Why do elephants paint the soles of their feet yellow?

A:: So they can float upside down in bowls of custard.

Ok that made me laugh - even harder when I actually tried to picture an elephant crammed upside down into a custard bowl. In fact I laughed so hard and tried to laugh quietly so as not to wake up The JB that I think i pulled a muscle .

Not doing much this weekend. Mum was here, just flew home this morning so The JB and I are on our own. Going to meet up with friends to watch the Langley Family Day Parade, and the. I have to find a way to keep a three-year-old entertained that does not involve too much exertion for the three-year-old's mum. Hmmmmm...

Q: What did the duck say after it went shopping.

A: Put it on my bill.

Ohhhh, solar fairy lights on offer?! I think the Seniors will need some of those for the garden of the monstrosity of a tent we're going to borrow -- it's something like a 12 person with room for more than twice the actual number of people listed. It's so big it has an instructional DVD telling you how to pitch it. Still, they're all going to sleep together Slumber Party style (their choice/vote), it means we don't have to lug canvas patrol tents to Norfolk and pitch them, deal with groundsheets that are too short/old/holey AND it's doubling as equipment/craft storage and wet weather shelter for meals.

Goodness knows what time Toddler woke up but we've been downstairs for ages. Need caffiene and pizza (good, gooey, greasy pizza you can't find here). TS's sitting on one of the chairs using the baby monitor as a phone, full of enthusiasm and energy. Me, I just want to curl up in a ball and cry.

How can you tell an elephant's been in your 'fridge?

The footprints in the butter.

Ouch Scout. Hate mornings like that. Have a .

How do you catch an elephant?
You take a jam jar, a pair of pinchers and binoculars. When you see the elephant through the binoculars the wrong way, pick him up with your pinchers and put him in the jam jar

Oh, he's been full of energy chasing cats, pulling out toys, squealing in delight (mostly at the cats). At least he's been useful "hung" clothes up on the airer and helped put laundry in the washer then tried to push the buttons to start the machine. I've managed to print out a bunch of newly created challenges for Seniors camp and some other bits & pieces we need for the rest of term. At least it's been productive.

Q: How do you know there are two elephants in your refrigerator?
A: You can hear giggling when the light goes out

Morning all. Tea's on

How can you tell there is an elephant asleep in your bed?

He's wearing your pyjamas.

Anyone willing to take Toddler for me before he goes outside and I leave him there to his own devices while I go back to bed? ARGH!

I'll take TS - he'll be good company for Small Bean. Would he enjoy coming to the fish Market with us this morning?

Enjoy your snooze!

I'm sure he would, bean, thanks!

Have finally, FINALLY got him to sleep. He's been shattered for the last three hours and a little horror. Actually, he's not the horror, I just have no patience today and lost it. I can normally cope with stupid o'clock hour but not today.

Sorted, send him over when he wakes up. Now, go to bed please!

Q: How does an elephant get down from a tree?

A: Sits on a leaf and waits 'till autumn.

Maud I cannot WAIT to get this tent up - I fell in love with it in person but now its glory is fading in my mind, I need to be able to go into it and go mine, all mine!

Enjoying the elephant jokes. I was going to contribute the one about footprints in the butter but Tee got there first. :o

Afternoon all.
Got lost for a while - but just found you all in active convos again.

Elephant joke:
How do you get 2 elephants in a mini?
1 in the front, 1 in the back.

How do get 2 whales in a mini?
Down the M4.
(to Wales)

::Wonders whether the next tea room should be on a virtual campsite, with nightly campfire and cocoa in tin mugs::

Q: Why do elephants paint their toenails red?

A: So they can hide in cherry trees.