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.

That's a really kind offer, but I think we've just moving out of the Disney zone or, rather, we're into the Disney not-quite-teen stuff. Or maybe the flannel's enough.

My mother who will be 60 this year would argue that you're never too old for Disney.

Up to a point I'd agree with her, but I'd probably go back to things like Bambi which to my shame I've never seen.

I think I have that one, too.

WOW, what a night at teh pub!!!! jsut about all teh village were ther eminus teh teenage girls who wer babysitting for teh rest of teh village families. LOTS of music, cheese and cake, Out with DH, had a good chin wag with a couple we don;t normally see at teh pub but our kids are at school together. bliss.

That sounds delightful, UniS. Everything about your village sounds lovely.

I'm orf to bed. Good night, everyone.

damm I look like I'm pished. not, honest. only 2 pints in 4 hours. JUst can;t type ver well. gotta drive tomorrow am, and start work at 8am. So took it gentle. off to bed now.

Scout's who decide to make cocktails at home (even though it was only one it was a large one and stronger than I realized when making it) should not stay up until after 1 a.m. I'm sooooo tired!

ScoutTroop had a lovely day out enjoying the sun. I hope tomorrow is equally as nice -- I'll take Toddler to the park to feed the ducks.

It has been glorious here today. Have spent pretty much all day outside getting garden jobs done. Much swearing trying to assemble greenhouse, lots of digging and planted some summer bulbs. It really feels like Summer is on its way.

Made Ginger cake with Small Bean helping. Life is good!

I wanted to be in bed by 9. ARGH!

I like Agatha and Audrey. Could never do Finbarr, agree Maud. Nor Billy, half boy half fish

As some of you know, Oxboy has an extremely unusual name. Just heard of one other, am sort of pleased but sort of not...

If you move to OUT Maud you will be joining half of the Smoke I think.

Good weekend but Oxboy has gone to bed with livid throat and tonsils,

Am having a mental Mum versus Worker battle. What to do....

Oxeye!

::Another bout of frenzied to-bosom-clasping::

Oh, we'll never move to YOUT - it was 25 years ago that I heard that remark, probably - because we both have London-based jobs, although if I could work out a manageable way of accepting the offer of a PhD there, I'd go like a shot.

Was the other OxBoy named in honour/imitation of the original? I'd be a bit miffed, even though I know we don't 'own' our children's names. I suppose this is because my own name is quite unusual. If I'd grown up as one of 5 (say) Artemisias in the class I probably wouldn't be so possessive about mine and The Girl's names now.

Eek about the mental wrestling. Is this about tomorrow if Oxboy is unwell or more generally?

Oxeye, I sympathise with the health thing. I have had an eye infection all week and I'm sure it's a matter of days before Small Bean gets the same and is evicted from nursery. I hope OxBoy makes a speedy recovery.

Maud, I'm sure I have asked this but how old is Girl? I have just got the DVD of Nanny (don't ask) but I am sure one of the children is an Artemis - funny how you don't hear a name for years and then it is mentioned twice in a couple of days.

::general clasping::

Other Oxboy is older, so no copying there! (except by moi!) tis just a bit odd because I am wholly unused to other than "oh, great name, don't know any others! etc

Work/ Mum tussle is what do I do tomorrow if/ when Oxboy is ailing and I have to work....management strategies etc

Feel a bit awful because looking back through the day there were moments when he was obviously trying to tell me he wasn't "right" but I thought he was being peskers. I must properly listen to him a bit more....

Argh, Oxeye.

::supportive shoulder rub::

::Well, I suppose all shoulders are supportive as they stop your arms falling off. Arf.::

Would Mrs Treasure be able to help?

thanks for rub Maud

Q: Where to Generals keeps their Armies?

A: Up their Sleevsies
::arf arf::

I've had a painful wrist the last couple of days. All I can think about is CMOT and her amazing Stoicism in the Face of Considerable Wrist and Arm Adversity

I am considering many complicated and complex machinations chez demain so feeling exhausted in anticipation...

I hope it all works out. I'm orf to bed now to recover from that joke.

Good night Oxeye and any lurkers.

night night

I must admit that I've been really lucky re illnesses. Mc has been off school just one day in the 3.5 years he's been there so far - he normally manages to save illnesses for weekends and bounce back for the week.

Very overtired boy still - what with the lazer fun in a soft play on Thursday night (bedtime 8pm instead of 6.45), the meal on friday (bedtime 8.30 - but worth it) and Saturday going to see Iolanthe which he somehow managed to stay awake the whole way through for (bedtime 10.10pm) (I thought DH was booking the matinee tickets when he asked me if he should book - because, of course he would have specially commented given the show started after MC's normal bedtime - but apparently not....)

Moved into his new bed last night - big sucess although not huge amounts of spare room in his room anymore. But he's not expected to play in there so not too bad for the moment.

Feels like spring is really here - had a lovely visit to the local RHS place yesterday morning - wonderful weather.

Tiddler is ill today too - he came into our bed at 7, and just lay there floppily which is so not him. A decent temp rise too. Then went back to sleep for an hour after medicine. Fortunatly no meetings/conf calls today, so me and the laptop are on the bed working next to him while he (very quietly for him) watches Cbeebies

I was SO glad when mc decided to switch from cbeebies to cbbc - particulalry the animal programmes are great on there, and he's happy to watch them on the iplayer too.

Tiddler is about 50:50 Cbbc to Cbeebies now - he's terrified of Scooby Doo and Sarah Jane adventures, and theres several programmes I don't think are suitable for him, so that cuts a lot out of the time slot he ever views in.

He has more energy now, but very emotional

Mc was like that on Sat pm after we got home - he stubled and trod on the dogs foot and apologised to her and then burst into floods of tears!

Roar is good - recommend Iplayering that one.