Episode 32 - The New Zealand tea room

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Well folks, here we are, beside the hot springs of New Zealand.

The tea room (with the customary distressed chintz sofa) overlooks the steaming, bubbling lake. For the bold and sporty, hiking, biking and sky-diving are on offer. Personally, I'm not planning to leave the spa.

Please come and join us for a celebratory drink and conversation ranging from the profound to the profoundly silly. The cardinal rule remains: no fisticuffs.

Morning - looking forward to update on keyworker... the general idea was to make her realise that its clearly her that's the problem, without having to say it to her face

MC's been having a run of bad dreams that wake him up... which wakes me up - and he's been sneeking in to bed - then wriggling and asking the time at too early o'clock.... [yawn]

JM - I've started a pilates class at the gym - and am enjoying going - although I find I can do some of it easily and other things are nigh on impossible.... Would it be silly to try yoga too? or should I sort out pilates a bit better and then perhaps consider it?

CMot - you'll just have to restrict yourself to instead of waving. Sorry elbow's still playing up.

If anyone's up for a bit of culture, concert in London first saturday of March 7.30 St James Piccadily....

::Waves back at Scout and the delightful-as-ever Toddler::

Maud, the delightful toddler did NOT fall asleep on the way home yesterday. There was too much action with the fire engines, ambulances and buses going by. I got him to bed by 6:40 last night though.

UNiS sends lots of virtual waves to one and all.  

OO
\ /
 v 

and some ice cream.  2 scoops.

Oh, and Maud, I think Toddler was trying to tell me about our visit with you yesterday. He kept saying what sounded like Mrs and talking about the car and bars and juice.

I have worn my Toddler out.

Who'd like some ?

Boy has worn himself out...
We have been dangling a reward in front of him for learning to swim ( functionally swim a width with no float) , a body board when we next go to the beach.
He was close to it last week, ie - he "said" he did a width in swim class, but I can;t see if he puts feet down and he is in depth so "could" dab. So, this week I took him for a half hour swim just after his class. Just before we got out he accepted my challenge to "see who could get furthest" and promptly swam a width on his back, high fived me, said " again" and off we went again, after 4 widths I hauled him out to get dry.

next beach trip will be expensive! Can't get boy a body board and not get at least one adult size one as well.

However I'm very pleased with him, swimming seems to have "clicked " just recently.

Well done, UniS's Boy! Will you be going to the beach any time soon?

I thank blame swimming for Toddler's head first divers' dive into the ball pit today. The (substitute) instructor had the kids gliding off the floating rockets last week and Toddler took to it like a duck to water.

Forgot it was half term and the soft play place was nuts. TS came home red, sweaty and exhausted though so I guess he enjoyed his dives.

Yay to Unis Boy! He'll sleep well tonight! And thank you for ice cream - chocolate caramel cone - my favourite!

Scout - would be lovely! I love Friday night with nothing much to worry about for a couple of days.

Small Bean has his second proper swimming lesson in the morning. Last week went really well so hoping that he enjoys it again tomorrow. 'Twas a sad moment leaving him by the pool though and not being allowed to stay.

MT - I still haven't spoken to key worker yet. Mr Bean has done the nursery run for the last couple of days and I think I need to pluck up the courage find an appropriate time to ask some pertinent questions.

Yay to all swimming and diving boys! And aw that lovely Toddler has been talking about me.

::head swells::

The West Coast Report:

Had chocolate for breakfast. Followed by hot chocolate. :o Scout, I love you. Can't wait to try the veg dip.

Eyes better. Still have brain ache from adjusting. But I can see theyr on the DVD player when I'm sitting on the couch. This is a really big deal.

JB and I are both jet lagged. He was up at 3:45 am this morning. After falling asleep in the car on the way home from the airport at 7:30 pm. Not Good. We had to have a nap, both of us were coming unglued by 1:30 pm. This means he'll be up until stupid o'clock. But at least he don't wake up at stupider o'clock tomorrow morning.

Our freezer died while we were away. I really HATE thriving away that much food :( but I'm not risking food poisoning.

How's everyone?

JM, I love your breakfast! Hope the dip is alright. It was a joint operation with Toddler being the chief pourer and stirrer. I hope it didn't explode all over the place.

last year our first beach trip with swimming was in April... not so far away now.

We live about 50/ 60 mins drive from the north devon coast, plenty of surf. I guess we will probably do 3 or 4 surf swimming trip a year and maybe a winter NOT swimming one too. Last year April - October for swimming.

:o Scout

Morning all. O5:55 am here. JB woke up early. After I went to bed late, [sod's law]

Did something stupid to my back yesterday. It's a bad joke when the chiropractor has a bad back.

Hello my dears! how nice to see you all. Just back from half term break, Oxfamilyski - like Wifamilyski but we don't get up from falling simply by waving our arms up and down
great week but now we're all ailing - hands up who has a hacking cough/ flu??!!
glad to hear Maud and Scout have been meeting and parcels flying to canada...
sorry CMOT your arm is still bad and hugs to all others
(UniS you won't regret the spend on body boards, we love ours....)

welcome home Oxeye. No broken limbs then? did you have much fresh snow??

Unifamily had a gardening afternoon. One bed of elephants ears has been removed and will eventually become more lawn ( football pitch). assorted echinops and michlemas daisys have been moved to teh back of teh flower bed. after last years failure to move them resulted in a path overrun with 5 ft tall flower stems.

::clasps Oxeye to her ample bosom::

I had planned a gardening afternoon, but friends invited us to the park and then a session of tea, cake and bananagrams.

Brrr, it's chilly and uncomfortable here. I think Toronto weather wanted to follow us. Get away, you!

::clasps:: ::glugs::

ah yes, much better

Maud your day sounds more my cup of tea (sorry UniS) gardening is something I always feel I ought to do more than actually want to do. ... though I know tis your passion
did some park time ourselves, what a glorious day its been!
feeling gloomy about back to school tomorrow

No broken bones here (this time anyway!!) How was your ski UniS?

::tucks JM in a nice plaid shirt rug

I lack in bosom but can I join in the general hugging anyway?

Schools are back in session which means all of our activities are running again. YAY! We've changed swim groups (long-ish story) so this is the first week with our new swim day/time. I'm excited about it, though, as it means TS will get to stay with his friend (who, now that he can say her name, has been talking about her and "ool" (pool) and "play").

For those in the know who might be able to help -- last spring/summer TS and I planted some sunflowers in a large outdoor pot (and I do mean large). The sunflowers are gone (snails) but there's some growth which I'm assuming is weed. I'm hoping to use the pot again to grow some smaller flowers. The pot has been standing outside all winter (it ocassionally got a holiday sign/decoration stuck in since it's next to our front door). Do I need to start with fresh soil?

JM, have started another collection of chocolates for breakfast for you.

Oh Scout, you are the best. I have been putting a teaspoon of the hot chocolate in my coffee and it's just decadent. You must let me know what I can send you.

Morning all, tired, it's chilly and rainy here which means ibhave to get fully dressed today and my low back hurts, I did something stupid to it this weekend. And I have a stupidly busy week catching up on everything. Meh.

Jm - had to :o at the irony of a chiro with a bad back... sorry. Hope you get it sorted soon. Get you and your hot choc coffee mocha habit.

~~ waves to all.

Chilly house this evening, owing to all teh upstairs windows being ripped out and replaced today. SHOULD end up warmer and with less condensation.

just for now I'm happy by teh woodburner, DS is reading to DH, we had pizza for tea and I have made 5 very thick rubbery pancakes to use for racing proposes tomorrow. Life is good.

Not to worry UniS - I have to :o too.

I am a poorly Scout. I don't know if I have it in me to deal with Toddler today.

stick a stamp on his forehead and post him down here scout. he can come pancake racing with boy and watch builders replacing windows and ask a thousand questions.

righto,off to potter in the garage as kitchen is full of builder and has no windows