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.

::shuffles closer to Maud and George::
thanks
x

mc has gleefully gone to school in summmer uniform today as the edict went out yesterday that they were allowed to. Of course, if its arctic conditions again next week I have no hope of getting him back into winter uniform, but as its now officially sanctioned, I don't see how I can get into trouble any more!

Not looking forward to single-handed birthday party preparations - looks as if we're catering for about 30. DH is at a conference, leaving today. I have had to write myself a schedule of what I need to do when - so things like the cake get dopne. He's having a snake pit this year - he likes it and it looks less work to decorate than the other 'acceptable' option.

When leaving for work this morning, I noticed a goldfinch on the mini-willow picking the soft down of the pussy willow bits for its nest.

Stay away from me, Oxeye, as I am still full of revolting lurgy, but feel free to drape yourself over admire Cardboard George!

::sneeze:: too late Maud!!
::places George as cordon sanitaire on the sofa::

Mistle great bird spot and good news re birthday
I have made a List of Vital Things to Do This Week because I was feeling panicky but it is so long it has not had the soothing effect I hoped - just looks like a very long list!

Easter Bonnet day today at school

I have heard George described as many things, but never that.

::wink::

Boys classroom "should " have been quiet on Monday- 7 children were off with the lurgy, 27ish % of the class!

Had parents evening today. No nasty surprises thankfully. Boy on tartet to be free reader by end of next term, maths on target when he trys, in lala land when he doesn't. Writing acceptable when he does any, but like getting blood out of stone so very little evidence to assess on.... Like I said, no nasty suprises and some targets to work too.

BUT, why is there always one family who manage to turn their 10 slot into a 30 min one, meaning that every one after them is hanging about waiting an extra 20. Not even parents of one the "troubled" souls in the class AFAIK.

Hello tearoom ladies! Lost you all again. Back Dahn Under now and will resume normal service in a couple of days when the jetlag has worn off.

Hope you're all ok :)

Bleurgh, feeling a bit cross-eyed this morning (it's 7 am).
Was woken up by JB vomiting at 1:30 am. He hates vomiting, and gets really upset. Stripped the bed and his clothes, three everything in the wash. Migrated to the couch. Repeat at 2:30 am.
Ended up on the other end of the couch. No more problems.
But I didn't sleep well for the rest of the night, probably waiting for a recurrence.
Sigh. Up I get. Neeeeeeeeeed coffeeeeeeeee...

I think I need

Me, too.And it's only 1 pm here.

Incoming, JM!

JM, would you like a top up as well?

Have a soothing backrub and hug JM

Well, next week I shall be on the same continent (but on the other side). For two and a half days. With economy flights. Waaaaah.

Me too! Sorry I haven't been around much. Will be glad when it's the end of next week and we have a bit of a break.

Don't really have much to report, Small Bean is being very lovely at the moment. Some of the problems at nursery have been sorted and his behaviour has been so much better.

Tops up and sends hugs to JM and a first class plane ticket to CMOT.

Ice cream, get your ice cream here. one scoop or two?
whats your flavour?
Flake or clotted cream on top?

ooo ice cream - I need vanillabean, please, if you have some?

JM - that's rough and I know exactly what you mean about not being able to sleep in case it happens again. Minithumb tends to do it in 3s, so I can't rest until the 3rd bout has happened. :( Hope JB feels better soon - is it a bug, do you think?

Boo to long haul flights. Am right off them just now.

I'll have a chocolate one please Unis. With a flake [greedy emoticon].

TW, not surprised you're off long-haul flights. Did you enjoy the rest of your trip? How is Minithumb?

bean, we had a lovely time, really fantastic. Hard work but still great. Minithumb is fine - woke up at 4am today though and couldn't pretend to sleep for more than half an hour so we've been up too long already
He has to go to pre-school today though, he's been looking forward to it!

one vanillabean, one chocolate, and one mint choc chip (for me) coming up.

Is there any peanut butter ripple, UniS?

CMOT, are you off to see my people again?

TW, while your long haul is VERY long haul, I'm quite envious. I'd love a long haul to my people right about now. Yes, I know people here are my people, too, but no one sounds like me.

After a struggle this morning Toddler surprised me and made me proud at swimming today and we had, more or less, a good afternoon (definitely good compared to this morning before swimming).

Thanks all - I will have more , even if it's only virtual, the lovely bottle of Two-Buck Chuck that's waiting for me at home is keeping me going :o

No, I don't think JB has a bug, I think he ate too many hot dogs (vile things) for dinner, and drowned them in too much ketchup. Bleurgh. He was completely fine this morning and is now happily at G-ma's.

((((HUGS)))))) and more and ice cream for everyone.

Scout, no, I'm off down under. 48 hours of travelling for 8 hours of actual work

CMot - that's a silly amount of time to travel for that much work! Hope its as easy as it can be. Any chance of an upgrade if you turn up looking smart (which I'm sure you will be anyway).

Bean - really glad ot hear that nursery is better than it was - I hope that the new person has worked out what she was doing wrong - sounds like if if problems have stopped.

We also had a good parent's evening - and teacher was surprised when I said that mc and I didn't 'rehearse' what he was going to write in his writing (other mums clearly do) as it was very imaginative. - she wasn't worried that I didn't (I don't because he doesn't want to cooperate and it feels as thoguh it would be counterproductive). However, she wants me to chase up on seeing if we can get some further assistance with the mood swings.

Is anyone else having lag with typing? I'm writing in the dark as the screen is so far behind!

peanut butter ripple ice cream coming your way scout......
m
V

what is the PB rippling through I wonder, if you can tell me I'll give it try in RL sometime.
Thanks for teh reminder to remove the battery pack from teh ice cream maker in freezer.

CMOT- that is far tooo much travelling for 8 hours work. doesn't your mob have a carbon audit to go through ...

Proud mummy moment

Boy has passed stage 3 swimming in one term. Hurrah for boy, he can officially swim.
Now we will take a break from formal lessons for a term or two . let him be a bigger/ more co-ordinated child before he starts stage 4.

Well done, Boy!