The Nordic Tearoom (Number 31)

[beanandspud]

We have moored the barge for the winter and have moved to a beautiful, cosy log cabin in deepest Scandinavia overlooking a frozen lake and surrounded by pine trees.

Mellors has lit the log fires and candles, it is snowing outside and there are comfortable seats for everyone and fleecy blankets to snuggle up in. For the more active tearoomers there are skis and sledges outside as well as a steaming hot tub for winding down after a busy day.

So pull up a chair. The kettle is on for and there is always plenty of depending on your mood and time zone. (Alternatively there is schnapps, smorgasbord and smoked fish).

Everybody is welcome ? share as much or as little as you like ? but no fisticuffs please!

I have far too many mince pies in the house.....why do I over buy them every year? www.mumsnet.com/tch/1.gif

Are you OK Maud ? Hope treatment isn't serious ?

Brother has always been an arse to them - basically he has only ever rung or visited when he wants something. I sort of hoped that when he married (and now has a baby) he would be at least superficially nicer to them, but alas it seems that it has actually made him worse as she just wants to get to her family asap. I know they are annoying, and the house is a mess, but you have to work round it - and to only see their grandchild for such short periods (they've seen him for 30 minutes in total so far, and he's spent two weeks at sils parents) hurts them a lot. And my parents are very frail, so won't have a lot of time - and mum won't remember soon the way things are going.

Argh. That is tough, Cmot. Do you have the sort of relationship where you can talk to him, ahem, frankly? Would your SiL be an ally?

No - in fact we don't have a relationship. Not that we ever fell out, just he left home at 18 to go to uni and never really came back/ wrote/phoned. We are fb friends, butthats all.
I'd hoped sil would make him do more for parents, but it has got worse since they were together.

Oh - I recognize temporary's style now :) - thanks Maud.

Cherry, if you wouldn't mind sharing the hot choc? :o [shameless]

Maud - hope treatment not serious and that you're ok?

CMOT - bleurgh :( re brother. Send him to my house, I'll throw him off my roof. :o

[cheers[ beanandspud - I just felt so bad for everyone who's had a crap Christmas. I missed my parents but other than that, it was lovely!

Knee's doing ok. I've been careful with it :)

Argh again. Would some passive-aggressive FB stuff work? A status update saying something unsubtle like "So important for children to know where they come from - DS did enjoy seeing his grandparents today and they value their time with him"? Then again, it sounds if if he would be impervious to the hint.

Have to admit to being an utter arse yesterday though :o - since my teenage years I have not been able to read any books about vampires and then have a good night's sleep after - decades on and I'm no different. Started reading Nora Roberts' Circle Trilogy yesterday, which is about vampires, but FFS, it's Nora Roberts - there's romance and giggles and all that stuff, and it's not in the least scary. But nooooooo... come bed time, who was sat up in bed with JB sleeping beside me with all the lights on because DH was out? Um yeah, that would be me . I had the crappiest night's sleep, started up at the least noise... FGS. How old am I????

hello.
Hi Cheery. Welcome to the tea room

Shit presents... not really this year. nothing earth shattering, tho DH did listen to hints and apparently my christmas sewing machine has been hiden in teh house since october! its 2nd hand but thats just fine, it has teh manual and all its bits and bobbins. I also gave DH usefull tools so we are equally boring I guess. Also gave DH and boy a 2nd hand game , which they both loved playing. So I guess I'm boring AND cheap. Thankfully Dad LIKES marmalade and yellow ducks, so he was quiet happy with his pressie.

Wasn't given enough books, but then I didn't ask for any specific books this years, maybe thats why.

never have quite worded out this spelling lark :)

I have my house back now. Off for a long walk tomorrow, GPS batteries fully charged, map ready. Just got to wake up early enough.

Ok, I was obviously wrong about temporary's identity .

well done maud.

Wot, me?

Eh?

And possibly more to the point - do I need to get that post removed now?

I think you do - announcing someone else's name-change, not that we know who it was, rather defeats the point, doesn't it? It's a serious breach of MN etiquette.

Duly reported myself.

big walk turned into 2 short walks with hail and rain interludes and lunch in teh car between. Was nice to blow away a few cobwebs tho.

Now I'm back, any one for a cuppa and a slice of christmas cake?

Is there any on the go?

Sorry to have a moan but I am finding these few days with the in-laws very hard. Small Bean is trying hard but being cooped up in the car for 5 hours followed by being cooped up in a not very child-friendly house is proving quite difficult. The weather is terrible and fil can't really get out so it is difficult to just go out for more than an hour or so without looking a bit rude. And despite being asked what time we would like dinner it is served about 45 mins after by which time Small Bean is fed up and grumpy. And he gets tutted at for not wanting to sit at the table for 3 courses plus coffee - he's only four!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

If it helps we have some similar problems (not all of them, but some) here, too, and Toddler's only two. I feel your pain.

aplenty for you then Bean

We have had a lovely day - nice long walk with dpony (well, ds rode obv) and a lesson for me, followed by a family discussion on whether to get a rabbit. I am the only dissenting voice - but only on the point that cat v rabbit matches rarely end well.

Oh help.

We're committed to yet another family dinner with everyone tomorrow. This time 'round the SiL with the large family instead of them coming here. Oh help.

all round for them as needs it, and for anyone else. And a slice of Christmas cake too, thank you UniS!

My ankle is almost ready for walking again - I've been resting it lots and only walking shortish distances, as in shopping distances - but am hoping it will be up for a zoo trip or a mountain or beach walk next week. Got a nice new strap for it, just for extra support - but won't over-reach myself.

Bean, how much longer do you have to go? I find it mildly irking that some grandparents are utterly unable to remember what having small children themselves was like - maybe the mists of time have clouded the less-good aspects of child raising.

CMOTD - get one of those really BIG rabbits - that'll sort the cat out (and probably everyone else too, up to and including the pony!!)

Maud, you're carefully not answering questions about medical things, perchance, but have a anyway. And one for anyone else that wants one.

I'm quiet on here at the moment. Largely because I'm finding it easier to be in fewer places for social interaction at the moment, which is entirely the fault of my own brain and how it works (or doesn't).

Amber, even when you're quiet, you're here, that's what counts. [hearts]