Would anyone like a cup of tea and a muffin?

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

I'm tired and in need of refreshment.

The tea room is now officially open, serving hot chocolate, tea, freshly-squeezed orange juice and a range of home-baked muffins. Tablecloths and crockery are charmingly mismatched antiques (no Cath Kidston here). We overlook an attractive although somewhat overgrown garden, with a distant view of rolling countryside.

Everyone is welcome but house rules dictate that anyone indulging in fisticuffs will be ejected.

Please come in.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQOYCXKfpt4

ssssshhhh.... it is quiet.... but nice!

Help yourselves to as many coasters as your offpring can manage, please. We do a very good line in wonky pentagons. The less material that gets home, the less that can be marked.

Maybe it would be an idea to unclothe the tables before the evening gets going. Encountered a very tight-lipped Norland nanny this morning wondering whether Napisan really could be expected to remove red wine stains.

Just a little break behind the pot plants before I heave my old bones home. Don't let me interfere with you young things.

In rl I can't get enough of this song... I think it is perfect for tonight....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lv5J68U-ho

What is your new hairdo like mistlethrush... are you pleased with it...? I am also having the chop tomorrow!

Hi racingsnake...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAkqTC_Bwts

This is for you!!!

T4T its the same as normal. ie no one in the office will notice that its been cut. But I'm pleased as it was definitely getting too long and therefore unmanageable.

Is anyone joining me for a tumblerful? The bubbles tickle rather drinking from these, but its rather nice in some ways.

Hey! These coasters make rather good mini-indoor-frisbees! Here RS - catch!

Wow! I spend a day away from the tea room and suddenly we're in the midst of Prisoner Cell Block H!

Here, tea, take this wig and glasses - as you're now one of the 10 Most Wanted you're going to need to keep a low profile for a while. And ditch the fascinator - they've included it on your photofit!

I know everyone's feeling rather tired after the day's excitement but, even so, a little bop to this is in order!

And I forgot to say 'cheers everyone!'

Everyone starts to bop... but freeze when Mr Bojangles and the gardener join the dance floor and quite frankly tear it to pieces!!! !!!!

When the events in this tearoom are turned into a play and then into a film I think the ending needs to at least match this...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z88U915uq8&feature=related

T42 puts her glasses and wig on... nice!

to last message.>>

Good morning all!
May I please have a chai latte?
{[puking emoticon]
Just kidding, I really don't like chai... I'll have my regular please!!
Oh!!!

Look what I found at the garage sale down the street!

So I finally decided to look up what an Aspidistra looks like... since I single-handedly decided to get rid of the poor thing until Mistlethrush revived it... and what did I find in the write-up on www.floridata.com: "the humble aspidistra, aptly named "the cast-iron plant" for its ability to thrive in the most adverse conditions"... such as the mumsnet tea room???

Aaahhhh... that's better. So what were you all up to last night?

Evening, everyone!

Well, I was here briefly last night. I had a bit of a bop to Jailhouse Rock, but everyone was shattered after the drama of tea's escape from custody - drat! I missed it - so I think the party wound up quite early.

I made a start on my Christmas shopping this afternoon, so my feet are aching. Aaah! It's nice to veg out on the sofa for a bit.

Whatever happened to MadBad? She may have disappeared before I found this establishment; keep seeing her name above the counter when I come in and I do wonder.

racingsnake - Some time ago, MadBad sustained a shrapnel wound in the now notorious Battle of the One Child Topic. She was making a good recovery but then, shortly after she opened this refuge tea room (which was all part of her rehabilitation), pagwatch flung open the door and knocked her unconscious. She was stretchered away to the MN State Home for the Bewildered. She's making good progress there - although she can't talk yet, she watches Casino Royale on a loop and becomes very lively whenever Daniel Craig dons his tuxedo. I have been visiting her regularly and she has appointed me as locum manager here until she is well enough to return.

What's going on chez racingsnake? How old is the little racingsnake?

Little racingsnake (racingworm? racinggrub?) is 2.4. She is at the moment snoring loudly on the sofa next to me (possibly you didn't notice her due to large amount of foliage around the place now), having worn herself out at a birthday party in a very draughty barn where even the barbecue was giving out cold. She spent the afternoon jumping in puddles (although without the guinea pig in a bucket).

Good morning ladies. Anyone want brunch? Today we are offering smoked salmon and scrambled egg muffins.

I've whipped up some drop scone batter 9orange and sultanna) - who fancies a hot drop scone dribbled with golden syrup or smothered in butter?

Yes, please!

Mmmm, lovely, thanks MT

Feel somewhat jaded - the dinner on Thursday went on till after midnight (v chi chi restaurant, possibly spoiled somewhat by distinguished US guest getting absolutely plastered and swearing loudly and profusely). Friday, left meeting in good time to get 15.51 train. Stood at Paddington for 30 minutes as train late in getting there, and they still insist on cleaning it. In spite of assurances to the contary, down train was already on the single track line... So we were an hour late. I didn't get to the meetup.

And the low point was taking DS to his friends party. He had a lovely time. In spite of my efforts no one spoke to me. I felt like I was 16 again and standing at a party pretending that I liked being alone. DS came and got me to go and play, so I bounced with the children instead.

I understand how you felt at the party. Have had the same experince at toddler group - probably due to my advanced age. Totally out of all conversations. Gave up toddler group as it made me miserable but will have to start something of the kind again as Wrigglingsnake is probably not being 'socialised'. Her best friend at the moment is Racingguineapig.

(Not suggesting for a moment, cmot, that you suffer from advanced age. In fact, in the flattering light of the tea room chandelier and in spite of the voluminous fascinator, I can see quite clearly that you are just a young thing.)