Tearoom 35: Sun, sea and sand...

[beanandspud]

This breathtakingly beautiful island has unspoilt powdery white sand beaches, crystalline turquoise waters that wash over pristine coral reefs, and verdant green rainforest.

Scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and sailing trips are available and you can discover the island's charms on foot (with or without Mellors the guide) by mountain bike or private island buggy.

For those in need of pampering the spa offers a selection of luxurious treatments to soothe and heal both body and soul.

For dining, enjoy a freshly prepared meal at the tearoom, a picnic on the beach, or a delicious dinner in the oceanfront restaurant with its stunning sea views. There is , and good company, everybody is welcome.

[mistlethrush]

Home from parents today. Horrendous trip down - took 2.5 hrs longer than it should have done. Dream of a trip back up to make up for it, although could have done without the heavy rain in places.

Happy New Year to all!

[Scout19075]

Not in the NYE spirit but I haven't had heartburn like this since a few days before I had SB. I've tried everything bananas, milk, the lot. Might have to go find some of that chalky American stuff that we put in my in-laws' cupboard for just this situation. I hate it it tastes and has the most awful texture and often seems to give me the shakes (HOW?!?!) -- but it works. Merry New Year to me.

[Donki]

?Emerges from the priesthole with ink stained hooved and nose?

Happy New Year!

I hope you feel better soon, Scout!
Glad you got back safely MT

I am downing tools for visitors and Sherlock tomorrow... but must spend the rest of my time chained to my pen computer in the priesthole.

[Scout19075]

Happy New Year.

[Donki]

Visitors gone.
Sherlock watched.
Back to the priesthole for me now...

[mistlethrush]

I hope you manage to get it written sucessfully Donki.

Back to work tomorrow :(

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Happy New Year everyone.

We also watched and enjoyed Sherlock. Good luck with the essay writing, Donki.

::Proffers carrots and pen/pencil/keyboard::

[Scout19075]

I'm looking forward to Sunday night's Sherlock.

Donki, how's that writing going?

Today's goals: find a place that will do color printing, get some index cards (and maybe an index card file box) and attempt to make sense of the Lego that has overtaken the PiL living room. It's not all SmallBoy's, though, so I'm not sure how much of it I can/should move. (For the record, my Christmas Lego is complete but safely tucked inside it's box, ready to go home and be displayed -- SB is not getting his hands on mine!)

[Scout19075]

Oh and we need to pick up our John Lewis order at one of the local Waitrose stores. If the weather holds out I might go and try my new roller skates. WAhoo!

[Donki]

Thank you for all your good thoughts.
It has to be done by 4.30
I will get it into the best state I can - and resign myself to resubmission at a later date. It is not the end of the world.....

[mistlethrush]

I got the leaning tower of pisa in Lego - I think MC expects to be able to 'help' with its construction.

Donki, you can only do as well as you can do in the time you have.

[UniS]

scout- what was your Lego?
MT- yours sound's cool, what size is finished model?
boy has since Christmas built the Lego treehouse , Lego race car, coastguard 4x4 and trailer and police boat, he is saving the little helicopter for holiday! The tree house has been joined by 2 more tree houses and a "flyer shed" from his big box of Lego to make a base for the mass of mini figs he found in his advent calendar. We are Lego tastic.
last week day before school goes back, boy has a friend coming to play after lunch. I intend to get a few jobs done while they entertain each other and scatter the dressing up box all over the house. last time this girl was over she ended up as a pirate and boy as a dog... any thing might walk down the stairs today, tho a ninja or two is most probable.
chin up donki, resubmission isn't the end of the world, at least your handing SOMETHING in so your tutors can tick the box .

[Scout19075]

UniS, I got The DeLorean Time Machine. I've had to rescue and hide my Hogwarts Express that SmallBoy found last time we were here. Between SmallBoy and his father I think they got eight or nine new Lego sets for Christmas. This includes two big sets (a castle for MrScout and the Fire Station for SB), several medium to medium-small sets (like a Creator house-turn-windmill, space ones with a rocket and truck, etc.) and a couple of mini Creator ones that come in those little plastic boxes. SB can do Lego himself (though not Technic, he finds those too hard), it just takes him a bit and he plays with the parts/creations as he's built them (so with a two part kit he'll build the first model, play with it and go back later to build the second model). He's on day three or four of the fire station but it's all been his work and he's really enjoyed it. I've been keeping parts on a tray and built models on another tray so they don't get stepped on/taken out/drug about by a human or cat though MrScout seems to think putting the pieces on the floor is the way to go but knowing SB's habit of leaving it and coming back trays are the way forward.

I'm already pondering how I'm going to get all of these built models home. Suggestions would be most welcome! I know/can take the little models, like trucks home, as I've done it before, but it's the big castle and fire station I'm worried about.

[mistlethrush]

I think its the Lego Technic Racecar that's 11+ (he's rather good at lego so we don't worry about the age requirements now) - I'm not sure whether we've got the battery pack / motor you can add with it but it definitely can be motorised.

We've got the police station at home and someone gave us the hogwarts castle but no instruction book (need to down load that). He has most of the police vehicles and the Fire rescue helicopter - but is now finding the technic ones a bit more of a challenge and more fun. I do like the ones that you can build into 3 different models as that encourages him to build one then take it apart and build another rather than just play with it.

Unfortunately (probably) a Lego shop has just opened in town - and someone gave him a box to fill for Christmas so we're going to have to go in and see how it works...

[Scout19075]

MrScout was torn between the fire station and the police station but police went out of stock while he debated with himself so fire it was. We have several Creator sets and SB has already done the three models on one of the mini sets Grandmom & Grandad Scout gave him for Christmas.

I now need to think of storage because the clip box cake box has long been outgrown....

I love a lot of the Main Street Lego (like the cafe, movie theater, etc.) but I have no where to house them.

I've always loved Lego.

[Donki]

MT The YD loves the new Lego shop

[mistlethrush]

MC has pleaded for the skylanders... but we have not given in to that - but have allowed minecraft - although he generally only plays on the 'creative' side. Some very impressive abodes have been developed....

[Donki]

Shit! My brain is fried.
I cannot make it all make sense on the bage. I understand it all, but writing a coherent critique (with references) of my Audiology Protocol has led to buffer over-run so to speak....

Aaargh!

[Donki]

And having two boys shouting up and downstairs about Minecraft (they are on different computers doing multi-player) is not helping...

[mistlethrush]

Had I known, we could have looked for the walkie-talkies and lent them to you for the day to avoid the shouting.

I'm sorry I can't help now - although I could at the weekend if you want someone to read something through for you (or forget it all and have a cup of tea somewhere).

[Donki]

I think I will try to forget it all.... whilst I write cover lessons for a week's lessons next week. (I am away at a residential for the course)

I guess I will be grovelling to my Tutor....

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Commiserations for the ongoing essay pains.

Scout - A friend of mine uses a plastic chest of drawers (the sort they sell for stationery/DIY storage) to sort and store her Lego. Something like this. The big debate is whether to sort according to shape/size or according to colour. ::grin::

I used to love Lego and it pains me that The Girl has never been interested as I wanted to buy it for her and play with it myself. Maybe I should just buy myself some anyway. I could buy a little 'entry level' kit and develop my addiction from there.

[Donki]

I feel as though its all my own stupid fault that it isn't finished. Chronic procrastination....due to anxiety, plus I wrote a 4000 word essay in support of the application for a statutory assessment for the YD just before the holidays when I should have been doing this. And it ate my brains. I found trying to write a coherent and well presented account supporting the application (and so having to focus on all the scary problems, our fears for next year (transition) and the future, and none of the good stuff) very emotionally draining. It left me with no brain space for ToD stuff.

But I know what was more important! So I am trying not to beat myself up but just to get on with... this evening off, then cover lessons for next week. Then if time, getting on with the essay and finishing it.

(Repeats to self: resubmission is not a disaster....)

[Donki]

Thank you you wonderful lot!

[mistlethrush]