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.

UniS, we went on the steam train near the Abbey. Lovely day out and VERY excited Toddler. We also got to see "Duck" which led to even more excitement and a postcard for his door. On way back to the Thames Valley yesterday we (MrScout, Toddler & I) stopped at a National Trust place where I watched a family order and did wonder if it could be you/the UniS family based on the order but realized that the boy looked a bit older than I think Boy is.

Fancy tin for seed packets? I so NEED one of those Maud! [drool emoticon]

I have a couple of days at home this week as Small Bean starts school and I want to at least be able to drop him off and pick him up for the first few days. Tidying the garden and reading the Autumn Dobies catalogue in peace with a nice cup of tea is high on my list of things to do.

You don't need one like mine, Bean, as (I realise too late) it's like one of those boxes that people used to keep index cards in - there's nothing to hold the lid closed so, if it falls off the shelf in the shed, all the seed packets would fall all over the place.

Seed storage porn

This one comes with more seeds

This one I like

my seed packets are stuffed in an ice cream tub in the shed. Tis not pretty.

I'm sure that's the best way, UniS. I hate myself for succumbing to all this garden poncery but I am addicted to it.

I've looked through the christmas RHS catalogue - and they have a nice seed tin in it. It would be full in this house, most packets unopened

Yay for home/Scoutshire!

Phew!

Cups of tea all round!

And how about some lemon drizzle cake too?

Now you're talking Maud, that sounds lovely. It wouldn't spoil supper would it?

Being the cake of requirement, it wouldn't spoil anything, Mistle!

Being the cake of requirement, it wouldn't spoil anything, Mistle!

G&T and twiglet surprise anyone?

ohh, what a suprise!! wow, packs punch that twiglet suprise. Good vintage.

Took boy out for a bike ride today, just a short jaunt (!! 10/ 12 miles sort of thing! ) with a look round a NT property and a large slice of cake mid way. He's getting fast. I had to peg it some to keep up a few times.

What sort of bike should I be looking for for mc's next bike then UniS? He's sort of 10ish sized even though he's only 7.... and desperately wants gears (I said to him that he should be grateful to Boy in that his next bike should be able to have gears!)

well, he will fit 24 inch wheels for sure, maybe 26 inch which would be faster and mean the bike will fit him longer. If I'm being a bike snob ( and if budget allows) look at the Isla bike 26 inch wheels bikes, theBeinn is a good hybrid does everything bike. Other good makes- specialized, giant, Edinburgh Bicycle co-op.

Try and find a bike that weighs less than half MCs own weight, the lighter the better at this age. Personally I'd go for mudguards in this country, not all bikes take them tho. Knobbly tires are not mush cop if he never does more off road than the local park. 6-8 gears on a rear dérailleur should be enough. having a front dérailleur as well is still a bit confusing for 7 year olds... get him used to a single gear shift first. Twist grip works well for children once they get the knack.

Boy tried a 24 inch Beinn today, 8 gears. he only sat on it, but it was enough to show he could ride that size , I'll be looking into hiring a club 24 inch for him next summer. Hoping we can tide over with a club bike till he is tall enough for a 26 inch wheel one.

Well if Boy is on a 24", I should think we'll be able to get mc onto a 26" in 6 months - he's done another growing spurt over the summer - he's a bit like a plant, give him plenty of fresh air (and of course the resultant exercise), sunshine and good food (and plenty of sleep) and he shoots up.

We've got an Edinburgh Bike Coop near - we'll go and have a look. I might look for an Isla bike on ebay though perhaps - or I suppose it would at least have a good resale value (provided that its not too scratched etc) if we did get it anyway.

Isla bikes go for nearly their original price on ebay - ds has a 24 Benin, and it is brilliant. His friend has a ridgeback which is much heavier, and not as well set up for small hands imo.

He has also shot up over the summer - 125cm tall now

How old is he again CMot? And how's the pony?

Must be the season for growing boys. MiL commented on Sunday how Toddler grew over holiday and looking at him this morning during a nappy change his tummy looked so long and lean.

He's 6 and 3 months, so is tall for age. Pony is fab, although in the 'field of shame' now as getting a bit tubby and the farrier reckons that he is of a type to be lami prone in the future (though totally fine now) so we need to get some weight off him. He is not impressed by being in there and away from his herd.

I think they all grow more over the summer - dh took him to a class gathering last week and they had all outgrown their summer clothes

mc looks fine in size 9 and 10 clothes now . I think he's about 135cm - so I should think your's will be similar next year! (he's 7 and 5 months now) (Your's is very close to UniS's Boy).

Yes, they are the same month. Off to buy school shorts now - in size 8 !

I bought some for DS in an age 10!

One of his rugby shirts swamps him - that'll have to be the spare - and if he turns the cuffs up its fine... just will keep his knees a bit warmer . Based on the things I managed to get from the 2nd hand uniform, a 30" fits him nicely with a bit of growing room...

Just got to finish naming it all now.

and wasabi peas anyone?

Small Bean has also grown like a weed over the Summer - fresh air, exercise and sunshine seem to do the trick. He pulled an age 6 t-shirt out of his drawer today that I had bought in the sale and stashed away and it wasn't particularly large on him.

School tomorrow ... he does look rather lovely in his uniform though if I do say so myself.

Unis, while you are the tearoom bike guru do you have any advice for getting Small Bean off stabilisers. With hindsight we maybe shouldn't have left it so long but he seems to have no sense of balance at all without them. I have been looking at the Isla bikes and I suspect that his very small, heavy 'toddler bike' isn't helping the situation?

at CMOT pony being in the field of shame!