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.

Oh, lovely , thank you bean.

Yes, on a normal week when it's just TS and I I'm pretty regular with bedtimes and routine. The odd Seniors night throws it but he doesn't normally sleep later the next morning.

It sounds like I do the same things as MT and bean, too. It's only since being in a big bed and I know it's typical and developmental. It's just relentless when you're on your own.

Bean - yes, I did go - it was a nice evening and a replay is planned (15th August? or whichever is the Tuesday evening....). And I got to cuddle a cute baby too which was a bonus.

Met someone who has just moved into a house I've visited several times on coffee mornings (and gave her a lift home)

Stealth had done everyone fab name tags....

Morning all ! Anyone for a . It is grey and manky here still, and ds has a school outing today to go and look at historic buildings - they are doing the tudors this term. This topic has become an intense interest for ds, who has been demanding I read to him from daddys tudor books. Which is a bit odd tbh, but he seems to like listening.

Meetup sounds fun MT.

Anyone got good plans for the weekend ? Many events round here called off as there is so much standing water

Yes please CMot

We've just booked a holiday week in Northumberland so that we can take DS to see some of the Roman things up there. He's happily reading the horrible histories to himself now though . I would like to go and see the birds that week (baby terns and puffins coming in to feed their chicks), but we'll have to see what we can do about the dog etc.

No plans for the weekend yet - we're going to wait and see what the weather brings before we make any plans, although it would be nice to get out and 'do' something a bit different for a change.

It only took 20 minutes to get Toddler to stay in bed/go to sleep tonight. And he didn't get out of bed at all at nap time earlier. WAHOO!

Sounds as though you're getting there scout!

(I'm presuming that most if not all of us remember those?)

anyone?

Sunshine here for a second day running!

Toddler's been getting the hang of his bed. Probably helps we've been exhausting the poor kid.

puts a 3rd saucer in a tea chest, and a mug , why do we have saucers?

Back from being up-country for bank holiday weekend. had a nice walk in bluebell wood on sunday. Boy, in full on " boy with stick" mode, ended up covered in mud.

Waved as we went past your neck of the woods CMOT.

Unis - I think its because some people like to drink their tea from a cup and saucer... or perhaps cool down some of their tea or coffee by pouring it into the saucer, one or the other, I'm not sure which.

MC has been EXTREMELY energetic today. Very tiringly so. When he wasn't actually running anywhere, his tongue ran away and he wasn't thinking what he was saying any of the time or listening to the answers... Grrrr.

[helps with random packing]

Would anyone like a Bank Holiday with some nibbles?

We survived a weekend at the PILs. Small Bean loved visiting local castle yesterday and had so many questions about knights and banquets and jousting . FIL not so good, he set the table for breakfast yesterday and put out a bottle of wine . It's been quite hard explaining to Small Bean why grandad doesn't get his name right or asks the same questions so many times. Long drive home today, thank goodness for the iPad!

Lovely to be home though. Hopefully things won't be quite so chaotic for the next few weeks and I'm looking forward to being here a little more often.

A would be lovely.

Ds and I have been teaching his pony tricks this weekend. Tiddler totally delighted that others at the yard are fascinated by these.

Bean, ds copes quite well now with the concept that my mums brain doesn't work too well, and that he needs to be patient. Its hard though isn't it ?

Were you at the Woods open day UniS ? Bluebells are lovely this year

I won't be around this week - off to Spain for a conf.

The woods indeed - With little cousin and VERY muddy welly boots.
Also went to "Steam" with grandparents, and 10 pin bowling today with cousins. Was a pretty busy weekend!

what tricks CMOT?
we went to woods with bluebells too this weekend, very lovely
now I feel all end of holiday back to school sort of feeling, daft after only one extra day but it does make a difference! I want to stay at home tomorrow too

::Staggers in:

::Clasps Oxeye to her ample bosom::

::Waves at everyone::

::Staggers out::

Packing done - I think that the NMBs have been busy - so we're off back to the oranagery.

The aspidistra is looking good in the corner, although its not too obvious. Anyone for hot chocolate and lemon cake on a nice sunny morning?

Oh, have a missed all the hard work packing? What perfect timing. :o

Here, I'll bring the aspidistra.

Where are we going, by the way?

Oh, to the Orangerie. Missed that part, too.

I'll be right along.

After I clean up a little...