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.

And by the way, did you all like the Christmas names I made up for you? (Maybe I shouldn't bring it up again yet since Bocca said we shouldn't have a collective name changing tea ceremondy until tomorrow...)

Yes, yes, yes - lovely Christmas names...

Actually seeing as it isn't Christmas yet - It was a traditional German drinking song I was singing... it even has a dance - want to see???

I think we should all learn the words and dance and do it whenever anyone says "And when is the next baby coming?" - It is sure to change the conversation!!!

Let me just put some music on...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJxxYlcN0Is

• This should cheer you up Rebel!!!!!

" .... if you are of an advanced age, comme moi, they are just very sympathetic, as if poor dd is always going to be handicapped in some way due to geriatric nature of parent being unable to procreate again. It can be hard when it was not really a positive choice but one is trying very hard to feel positive about it.""

racingsnake - are you in fact my doppelganger? I have reached the place where I really am happy with my situation, but you have described perfectly what I experienced so many times when BabyBocca was younger and we were knee-deep in heavily-pregnant friends.

As always, I think the remedy to today's problems is a copious supply of champagne. Would anyone else like a glass? And by the way, the edict on no name changing before 1 December didn't come from me. Bossy I may be, but not that bossy!

I have a three strikes and you're out policy on this question - 1st time 'we aren't planning anymore', 2nd 'it's not something that's going to happen for us', 3rd time 'I've lost 3 babies, and we don't need to go through that again'. No one has gone on about it after the third asking, apart from MIL.

My old boss, who was childfree by choice, said that when his wife was asked about children and didn't want to get into it, she'd say 'it wouldn't seem to be Gods will' which usually ended the enquiries. And as she said, if god had meant her to have children, she'd have wanted them afterall.

We have been terribly festive today at the Victorian Street Fair - mulled wine was drunk, mince pies/pork in a roll/roast chestnuts consumed and the carousel ridden. We even ventured into the cathedral to hear a recital. DS liked this. He liked the fact that they had the chapter house open for refreshments even more as he demonstrated an amazing turn of speed round the perimeter bench . The old ladies sitting on it were very understanding about it, as he did still manage to say 'scuse me'

I did like the name - still not sure whether to change. It just feels wrong somehow

Champers, champers, over here!!!

Oh, before I get too sloppo on bubbly at mid-day can I ask you lovely mummies in the U.K., when someone says "half two" (in terms of time), does that mean half past two or half an hour until two (ie half past one)?
Have read it in books a few times, scratched head, could not figure it out from context.
Thanks!!

Its half past two - just that lazy dropping a word thing.

Thanks Cnut!!
Just saw you on the BF thread... was going to tell the lovely new mum same thing as you but then didn't have to so just wrote "echo cnut".

I noticed that you have a Pump in Style - when I was looking at pumps, that was the one I wanted. But couldn't afford ! Me and my Lactaline had a long and happy time together - it seemed very weird the first time I went on a trip without it though

Got mine used on Craigslist, the girl had used it twice and then gave up BF'ing. Sold it to me for 1/3 what she'd paid... only way I could afford it. But it's been wonderful.

Well, it's Saturday night, I'm watching trash TV, so it's time for my alter ego to hit the dance floor.

As I have only one child, I have a great deal of time on my hands and so have just joined the Mumsnet Orchestra. What talents can you all contribute?

Flute, piccolo or soprano voice... or see the thread for my culinary instrument contributions (tea especially should look).

An orchestra - great idea - somewhere to show off your talents Bocca and JM - I thought I could write some lyrics for a choral section.... (see thread)

Goes up stairs to rusty old type writer and starts bashing out some lyrics in German - I am working on a special piece about the tea room!

We could start a bit of a 'palm court' trio/orchestra in here (if its an orchestra, we would of course have to apply for planning permission for an extension first, but if its just a small group, I'm sure that they'd fit in behind the aspidistra and we could pretend it was a palm tree instead).

I also find that, if I'm pressed on the 2nd child the retort 'if it hadn't been for the mc I'd have had 4 by now' normally does it...!

Sorry Ive been missing from the cafe - weekend of rehearsals and concerts - just a quick pop in before the next rehearsal...

I see Racingpig is doing quite well with the nest building - its becoming quite a structure now with the sections of tablecloth he has managed to nibble-off, a few discarded fascinators and the significant number of corks and twiglets providing structure and nibble material.

Yes, a palm court trio would be delightful. I think that if we shoved the sofa along a bit - and, frankly, by the time racingpig has finished disembowelling it for his/her nest we'll probably need to burn it, anyway - we could make room for a potted palm besides the aspidistra.

Mistlethrush - you sound like an ideal candidate for the Mumsnet Orchestra. Would you like to join? Its origins lie in the unlikely skills that some MNers developed on their children's toy instruments but we now have some proper musicians and singers on board.

I have signed up for the orchestra. This evening we were experimenting with recorder for the 2.6 year old. My ears may recover soon as blowing softly is only happening occasionally

You see, recorder is thinking small. Ds got a violin when he was 2.6... I am very pleased to report that he can actually make quite a nice sound on the open strings (this happened quite quickly, luckily!) We are just on open strings at the moment.

In fact, its much nicer listening to him play the violin than it is playing the 'train' whistle that my mil managed to 'find' from its carefully 'lost' place at the back of the bookcase - she had to retire for a rest after a while!!!!

Do you want me on violin for this palm court music - probably more useful than viola. If no one else steps forward, I'll have to drag dh in to be cello or bass...

I do NOT consider myself to be a pushy parent!!!! Pushy parents would insist on practising every day. I don't think we've had the violin out for several months!!! (although I was thinking that we'd have to start getting it out 'for fun' at least a couple of times a week )

No! No! No! I am talking about myself. It is quite obvious that the mistlethrush home mistlenest is a genuine hub of unforced musicality.

The pushiness is solely my own.

dont' wrry, I'm not going to founce...!!! [GRIN]

You'll just have to imagine the 'squeeek squeeeelk squeeeeek' from mistle junior to go alongside that!!!!!