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Original poster

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

999 replies

UniS · 07/09/2011 21:09

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 Brew and help yourself to a Biscuit

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ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 29/09/2011 22:50

My take on it is that the school isn't rough - the Head, the Deputy Head and the mother of the bullying girls are very impressive - but some of the pupils (and their families) are, ahem, quite challenging.

Scout19075 · 29/09/2011 22:53

Maybe I'm showing my age or abilities (I was always in the faster-tracked classes) or the fact that I went to a fee-paying school but we would have never, EVER acted like that. I don't mean the bullying but the backchat and disrespect and all that. Not to say there wasn't the odd fight, but it was mostly boys and after they beat the crap out of each other they were friends again the next day.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 29/09/2011 22:58

No, we would never have behaved like that either (girls' academic hothouse, different era) and some the behaviour from the pupils I find shocking. But I am impressed that all the staff are united in challenging it. As we face the prospect of secondary school transfer, I am having to realise that that is what one has to look for - I don't believe there is any secondary school in London which does not have some pupils like that bolshy boy who is just being excluded from the school.

Scout19075 · 29/09/2011 23:05

I think the local secondary here is full of lads like those two boys. Sad

mistlethrush · 29/09/2011 23:07

Scout, I was in a single sex school - normally to be found near the top of the rankings on results....

In my year one of the other classes was given a new teacher - they had her in tears in the lessons and she left after a term and a half to go and find a different career, having done a 4 yr teaching degree. And they didn't give her to my class as I think we were worse.

We treated student teachers much better - gave them hell during their solo teaching, but any time they were being assessed we were really good.

Haven't seen the programme though..... meant to be finishing another report this evening and really should get on with it.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 29/09/2011 23:07

Hmm, but it's also probably full of the boys they didn't feature because they were sitting down and getting on with their work and so weren't creating any drama.

Scout19075 · 29/09/2011 23:16

Given the parents I encounter in various groups, activities, etc., and the yahoos I see on the path into town I don't hold out much hope. Not to say there aren't some lovelies out there, but....

I did got to Elementary School with a troubled yoof who left my high school after freshman year -- rumor had it he got kicked out my school, went to the local (public) high school and got kicked out of there so was shipped off to boarding/military school. But no one can confirm that.

I did have an agruement with my freshman year religion teacher, but it was more along the lines of questioning things and she didn't like to be questioned/challenged. People couldn't believe I had actually done it, though, because I was one of those mousy "good girls" who just blended in and plodded along. (Still am that way, actually....)

Scout19075 · 29/09/2011 23:28

Can anyone tell me if those that want to leave school/education at 16 have to complete that academic year?

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 29/09/2011 23:30

I dunno, but I've always assumed not.

Scout19075 · 29/09/2011 23:32

So someone with a mid-September birthday, who didn't want to go onto higher education could have dropped out already?

Jacksmania · 29/09/2011 23:33

Hugs to all of you who have messaged me. I have been dealing with stuff, and tend to withdraw when there is stuff. xxxJM

Scout19075 · 29/09/2011 23:35

Oh dear, JM. Stuff. to stuff.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 29/09/2011 23:37

Aha. I know there's no requirement to stay for GCSE exams and had thought that they could bail out as soon as they were 16, but this website suggests that they have to stay until the end of June after they turn 16.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 29/09/2011 23:38

Oh dear, JM. Have hugs, cake and a message with Mellors. Or possibly not in that sequence.

Scout19075 · 29/09/2011 23:38

Thanks Maud!

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 29/09/2011 23:41

You're welcome, Scout. I learnt something too.

Scout19075 · 29/09/2011 23:41

I've just realized I seem to have old FB back.

Good night lovely tea room ladies. I'm off to bed. We're having a morning at soft play so need a good night's sleep to brace prepare myself.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 29/09/2011 23:44

Good night, Scout!

Thumbwitch · 29/09/2011 23:54

welcome to ChablisLover - excellent name and sentiment! Me too.

I have 1DS, miniThumb, who is very nearly 3.10 and we live in Australia, courtesy of Aussie DH - been here just over 2 years now and I have just been granted my permanent visa - hurrah!

I am Very Old and have not quite given up on having #2, but the kind ladies in here are very accepting of extra children anyway (although most only have 1, there are 2 ladies, MaryBS and Catita, who have 2).

I did laugh at UniS's idea of catholic fairies dying if a non-Catholic takes communion - I have never taken communion outside of my own church (Methodist) cos it just feels wrong (to me).

JM - hope the stuff isn't too overwhelming, my dear - have a very sneaky (((hug))) anyway. And some Thanks to brighten up your day. :)

mistlethrush · 30/09/2011 00:12

I think we could have a 'who's oldest' competition TW, but I think that Amber might win (and long may that continue!!!!)

Welcome Chablis (sorry, rather busy over here!) have another Wine ?

JM - hope things not too bad.

Report done.....

Thumbwitch · 30/09/2011 00:49

:) at the Who's Oldest competition - I know I just beat oxeye, and I know Maud beats me - but not sure where Amber fits in (or anyone else in our decade)

Hurrah for the report being finished! Have some Wine and go to bed :)

Jacksmania · 30/09/2011 01:55

Well, shoot, I'll just jump in and out myself - I was 42 in April :o

Thanks all. No, stuff not too bad, and life is good in general. My head just tries to do me in every once in a while - anxiety and depression, and it's been a crap crap crap summer in that respect. Which is stupid because, as I said, life is good. I think my brain got broken a little bit when JB was born, and I'm working very hard on getting it fixed, hopefully for good. But when I'm in the grip of "the black dog", it's very hard to see past the tip of my own nose, and even harder for me to turn to people. Turning away and inwards is a lot easier. Partially because people can be so tactless. I have gotten out of the habit of confiding in pretty much anyone, and it only takes one or two comments such as "gee, you don't look like an anxious or depressed person" or "chin up, it's not that bad" to make me lose the desire to say any more.
Ironically, just recently I decided to tell a few key people how much I have been struggling to cope, and they were very supportive, which has helped enormously.
So, that's why I've been away from the Tea Room. When things are bad, I feel like I have nothing worth saying, so I end up not saying anything. Thanks loads to everyone who's enquired Thanks, I will do my best to stick around and find something worth saying :)

Thumbwitch · 30/09/2011 02:14

JM - you do have things worth saying and tbh, even if it's just "hi" it's nice to hear from you. :)

And you're younger than me, btw Grin by nearly 2 years.

Hope the black dog has fecked off for the winter - did you need to go back on the meds again? don't answer unless you want to, I know it's not something that you necessarily want people to know.

Glad your key people have been supportive - it does make the world of difference :)

Catitainahatita · 30/09/2011 03:28

Hello all! Hello Chablis, nice to see you here. I'm Catita I have 2dc much to my surprise.

A special hello to JM too. I shall just ooze sympathy via the MNWWW and send you one of your special I hope you start to feel a bit better soon.

I'm frustrated at the mo since I still haven't heard anything about my job applications and it has been a month. I phone both places a couple of days ago and they said that they would be in touch "soon" which in Mexico-speak means anytime between tomorrow and next year, or in fact never.

Thumbwitch · 30/09/2011 04:09

oh dear Catita - does that also signify a distinct possibility of a negative response, or are you still hopeful? How about MrHatita - does he already have a job?
You're just going to have to write a(nother?) book if a job doesn't come through.

I bet it's nicer living in Mexico City than where you were before though! Safer, at least. :)

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