The moving castle tea room touches down for the 29th time

[UniS]

Welcome to the tea room. Open to those with one child and those with more and maybe some with none ( hi dave the trucker).

This time we are heading to the mists and mellow fruitfulness of Autumn in a moving castle with a mind of its own. The roaring fire is maintained by magic and Mellors the gardener handles wine and spirits along with massage duties.

The first rule of the tea room is this
No fisticuffs.
The second is this
Put the kettle on for and help yourself to a

Maud, I just use craft/school glue, not a hot glue gun like suggested on my previous link. It's an easy/cheap craft. TS is making them for his cousins and some of his "friends."

Very nice, UniS.

I'm not sure my jam worked. I guess I'll check in the morning.

Swimming day tomorrow. Think it's supposed to be nice/warm here so we'll probably go for a walk or to the park/playground in the morning.

ahhhhh, CMOT you shouldn't have . What a lovely bunch of

I've been awake since 4:45. Toddler woke up at 6:30, just as I was falling back to sleep. Double . I think it might be a long day.

Scout, if it hasn't set, put a few jars at a time in the microwave and blast it. It used to work for my mums jam - she likes making it, but is dire at making jam, and I don't like pouring jam

Amber

Ooo look, soup du Jousting avec les rolls tres sportif! Ideal.

Done all the reading-of-reports and typing-of-opinions that any one worker can fit into a morning. Think I'm ready for a lunch break.

Bishop, will you please stop waving it about - they'll all want one like it! So sorry, he's not been the same since they handed out the new iPads...

I made it up to 9.15pm and then took myself to bed - glad I stuck it out until then though as I was starting to wake up regularly from about 5.30 so I'd never have made it through to a decent time if I had gone up at 7.

Managed to keep it together in meeting (important) today. Feel grotty now though - but need to sort a few things off before going home.

MT, please take care of yourself. Would a blanket and a on the sofa in front of some mindless television viewing help?

ACK! Spider who could eat me for snack is back!

Blimey, just saw the "guest list" for Thanksgiving dinner. Usually it's just my parents, sister & brother, grandma and MrScout & I (and now ToddlerScout as well). It seems as if "the Ohio crew" are coming in. My parents house is the size of a tea bag -- twenty people for dinner should be interesting!

Hi all, sorry I haven't been around much. Have had horrid cold, on the men's now though.

20 revellers in a small house sounds lime fun!

But is that an American teabag sized house for a British teabag sized house. I assume there are SOME small houses in the US, I've just not seen one.

Evening all.
Bishops and i-pads, what ever next. Is someone trying to drag the Anglican church into the 21st century? They have barley gotten used to the 20th round this way.

My PiL could hold 2-3 of my parents house and my PiL are in Berks.

Ah, the home counties, Yep that could be a pretty big British teapot house then.

20 people will just about fit in my parents kitchen BUT only if they are family and don;t mind not being able to get of their chair until everyone else gets down from table. Also, if you are the one nearest the sink ... You will need to wash up some forks between main and pudding. Dads plan for a summer birthday party in the garden didn't quite work out the other year. It was quite jolly but kinda cosy.

On the mend, not on the men's .

We struggle getting Mom, Dad, G-ma, Brother (Sister-in-Law when she was alive), Sister, MrScout and me into our kitchen/dining room (it's all one space, with a counter). We added ToddlerScout last year. Once you're sitting down there's no moving. Goodness knows where we're going to put everyone.

Good evening!

Bishops with iPads, tea-bag houses...

MT - I hope you have managed some rest today and a proper night's sleep?

I have just made tomato and chilli jam - it smells great but I think it's quite dangerous. And I'm not sure my fingers are going to ever stop stinging from chopping up chillies.

DH is away until Friday so feeling a bit sad and lonely!

Its not THAT long now bean. Its nearly Wednesday and then he will be home the day after tomorrow. keep your chin up and smile smile smile.

Hello, stick! Would a help?

I've been wondering what I could have done differently today. TS and I went for a walk (didn't see greyhound type dog & owner today). Came across three hoodie-wearing yahoos (my guess what late teens, early 20s) with four unleashed dogs. The boys didn't seem to have control over their dogs and I saw one kick one of the dogs when it didn't stop. The dogs kept trotting along, weaving in and out, and came upon TS and I (TS was pushing Bunny). The dogs went right up to the toy stroller, Bunny and Toddler and to sniff him, investigate, etc. The top of the dogs heads were almost as high as Toddler. The dogs never stopped and it happened so quickly that I didn't have a chance to scoop him up (and, honestly, was scared that sudden movements would have sent these dogs into a frenzy). TS was clearly not impressed and, while keeping a tight grip on his (toy) stroller, kept moving around to try to get away. I managed to get myself behind his back and hold him. Two of the boys said nothing as the dogs surrounded and kept going but the third, who I don't think owned one of the dogs, mumbled a "sorry" as he walked by.

I really wanted to say something about the kicking and the lack-of-leash thing when they clearly didn't have control of their dogs but was, quite honestly, afraid of the dogs and the boys (and it takes a lot to scare me). What would you have done/should I have done? Most other dogs we encounter on the path are well trained (respond to commands to stay walking with owner) or on leads (and, honestly, usually both).

Unis - I know it's not long and tbh I should be used to it by now!!!

Scout - I'm not sure what else you could have done. As long as you and TS are both ok I would just hope that your paths don't cross too frequently.

You don;t have to like it tho. worry not. FRiday WILL roll around eventully. Be nice to see him a agin then I'm sure.

Scout - with dogs, the last thing to do is to scoop TS up.

I sometimes tell children that scream and run away from our dog (very placid 11 yo who is not the least bit interested in other children) that they're going to get dogs chasing them if they do that. You want to be as uninteresting as possible, whilst providing as little opportunity for any interaction. So, arms crossed ideally - or, yes, pull TS towards your legs and get him to put his hands between him and you out of the way. Avoid eye contact - look away (I know that's difficult!) or sort of look at them out of the side of your eyes instead. Be quiet and still. It is frightening when a pack of dogs surround you like this - but if you're not interesting in anyway, its extremly unlikely that they'll do anything to you, even if they are out of control. Pity we're not closer as DS does a really good introduction to our dog for smaller children that are a bit worried about dogs. I should say that I'm not advocating that he gets friendly with dogs in particular - but its much better not to be particularly scared as that in itself is more likely to trigger an aggressive response from a dog if they are that way inclined.

I was complemented in the park last weekend on MC's very good interraction with someone else's dogs - firstly, he asked if he could stroke them, and did that very nicely and sensibly - and then he managed to get one of the dogs to play 'stick' with him very sucessfully. He is never allowed to stroke a dog unless he's asked the owner first .

Report nearly done.

Thanks MT. I feel better. Normally when TS sees a dog on the path he stops and watches it (sometimes points) and then looks to me for assurance. But these were scary-looking dogs (again, crap with breeds) and were eye-level with TS and in his face. He was not impressed. Not screaming or squeaking or anything, just sort of doing a hop to get away from them. I think I instinctly got right behind him so he'd know I was there but so that he couldn't back away from them any more because I was afraid they would go after him (and he's still a toddler who can't run properly and in his fright would trip over the pebbles). About a minute or two after they left he ran to me for cuddles. He put his head on my shoulder and clung on two things he rarely does so I think he needed reassurance. I'm glad, though, that he wasn't in his stroller because I think he would have instinctively hit out/moved his hand in a "get away" motion had he been strapped in and not able to move his body away.

I don't allow him to touch pets/animals unless we know them. He knows the inlaws cats and the cat next door, both of which come up to the Scout family for strokes, so he knows he can pet them if MrScout or I are around. But, for as much as he loves cats, he doesn't go chasing the neighborhood cats or try to stroke them (just the next door neighbor's because, as I said, he knows that one).