Episode 33 - The Orangery - Tea anyone?

[mistlethrush]

The tearoom has traveled back to the Orangery for another visit. There are bluebells in the nearby woods, and Mellors has Earl Grey and Lady Grey ready for some excursions. Mellors has, indeed, been overwintering away from Canada for some reason - I think he's been helping Maud out in the garden. There are tulips out in urns outside, and there are a few tables out in the sunny courtyard for use between showers.

Whether you have one child or several, pull up a chair and share a or a . The only rules remains no fisticuffs.

Cake pops looked fabulous, and were vv popular. These ones were made in a little machine like a sandwich toaster, but where the two plates have 6 hemispheres each. Takes 4 minutes a batch.

Good to hear Wriggles party went well.

First day of holiday club for Tiddler today - he's been counting down the days for weeks.

Dads night in hospital showed nothing specific wrong, but is obv that his heart is starting to struggle

Sorry to hear that, CMOT :(

It is hard to watch loved ones as their bodies and/or minds fail...

Very sorry, CMOT. How old is he? Did you tell us he was in the background of Midsomer Murders? (Not that it is of any relevance, just imagining him.)

He's 78 - kind of your typical country bloke who has worked very hard since he was a child.

Yes, he's in the very background of a couple of episodes, but its all filmed in their town or v close, so loads of people they know.

He sounded brighter today as we had our 'stealth' phone call while mum was out. This lets him let off steam a bit, bless him.

How is your mum LaBelleDame ?

She no longer seems to have so many flashbacks, but feels very 'far away' all the time and forgets simple things like where the saucepans are kept (but can always find them by looking around a bit). She sometimes thinks she might have made up the terrible things she remembers in the flasbacks and feels guilty about such awful imaginings. She is at all times perfectly rational and intelligent to talk to. I wonder if the people who perpetrated the hoorors she remembers are suffering in the same way?

But I have just ended up shouting at Wriggle again because both she and AP need me to tell them exactly what to do every minute (for very different reasons - Wriggle needs to write thank you letters and be supervised for every resentful word , AP feels totally lost and just sits if I don't instruct her )

Have had inspiration and left them together, with instructions not the leave the kitchen until at least three thank you cards are written.

They did two.

I'd get her to do one, nicely, and then colour photocopy it. Less stress all round.

I'm sorry that AP is still finding things so hard. If you gave her a list of things to do, would she follow that ?

Yes, we do that a lot, but recently I haven't got round to it. Need to do it again. Write a new 'to do' list.

Would a colour photocopy really be acceptable?

It would to me - I was in awe when one of ds's friends mums thought of that one.

Hello all, I haven't fallen off the planet, have just been v v v busy and we are now on holiday, camping in southern Oregon. Having a lovely time.
Will update when we come home (Sun or Mon)

Hello JM!

LaDame - Good go hear that the party went well, photocopying thank you letters is inspired - I will be stealing that idea.

CMOT - was your cake pop machine from Lakeland? I keep looking at them and wondering whether I really need one!

Is it the weekend yet? Is it too early for ? I am fed up of work politics this week and will be glad when it's Friday.

nobody NEEDS a cake pop machine, but it might be fun to own one. AND the more there are out there the less the arty wank cupcake crowd can make a killing selling cake pops at over inflated prices at craft fairs.

Hi JM, thanks for the camping supplies. The portable moat pump is particular useful in all this rain.

It was indeed from Lakeland. They do look impressive for v little actual skill, and I find little wrong with choc and cake. They'd be nice as part of a choc fondue.

I'll join you in that Bean, for much the same reasons. I have a nice 5 hr round trip drive to the factory tomorrow for my sins.

Rain just starting again here after 2 hours of sun

Cheers! CMOT!

I often wonder whether our paths cross on the motorway as you seem to do as much silly travelling as I do?!

UniS, I agree with your assessment of the driver in the Little Red Train series. Toddler got another L.R.T. book today he loves them so and I just couldn't read the two we already owned again over and over and over without a breath and I wanted to slap the driver. But Toddler loves them and he was very happy with the new book so much so I had to read it several times in a row and it was his only book at bedtime as I told him three stories and kept choosing the new book.

bean, Toddler loves that train DVD and will start his day asking for it. I have to limit it to the evenings or it would be on a constant 24/7 loop.

Toddler had his first ride on the top (on the front seat!) of a double decker bus today -- oh boy was he excited!

Is it too early for the disco ball?

I'm glad he likes it Scout - you can always order the fire engine/tractor/digger for some respite .

Never too early for the disco ball...

Freedom!
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temporarily...

Wahay Donki !!!

Enjoy the freedom, when do you go away? Do you have plans for the Summer?

Yay for holidays!

Oh, did I mention I am officially troopless for the first time in 30 years. AND none of my girls showed up for the last meeting. [Not impressed emoticon]

Still haven't heard from the hospital regarding round two -- I'm trying to decide if I should harass them or wait until August.

Woohoo Donki !! Have a large from me

Off to see my parents for a few hours tomorrow. Poor dad sounded so fed up when I phoned him for our 'phone call when mum isn't in' today. He's starting to realise how little she understands now

Toddler has done my back in. I am not impressed and he's heavy enough anyone that carrying him is a challenge.

CMOT, good luck today.

::sharing in the sense of freedom::

Oh dear, Cmot. I'm sure your parents will be glad you have visited.

::fortifies you with some of Donki's wine::

That is really poor, Scout. I guess they knew it was your last meeting, so a complete no-show is very rude.

::shoves you to the front of the queue for a shoulder and neck rub from Mellors::

Sadly summer holiday means all of our activities stop, too. No swimming, no skating, no Busy Feet, no Tots (parent & toddler group/s). Toddler knows what the day is by the activity we go to. And if it doesn't stop raining we'll never go out we need an ark around here.

Anyone for some Saturday night nibbles?