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.

Is it open again yet? I've just offered croissants to everyone on the -ahem- other thread? Come on, MadBad, I don't want to have to take everyone to Starbucks - you have to PAY there

I am behind Mulan in the queue but only to apologise for my terrible dancing last night and to pay for the damage to the aspidista. Can I assure everyone that I have full medical malpractice insurance for anyone feelingthe after effects of my attempts to creat a new method of massage incorporating salsa and the application of muffins to afflicted areas ( btw the jam was organic and any stainning will probably be minimal.)

Having sobered up I have also remembered that I actually have three children so appear to be somewhat lost. Does anyone know the number of a reliable taxi cab that will get me back to active convos?

Thank you Madbad for your generous hospitality, eccentric decor and extensive menu.

Mulan - I'm at work today so the cafe will be self-service. Please leave payment in the honesty box, just behind the now rather bedraggled aspidistra. It's a common misperception that drinks and cakes here are free. They're not, although prices are extremely reasonable.

Pagwatch - please come back at any time. Before you get into the taxi, you might want (ahem) to put your cardigan on the right way round and remove the muffin crumbs from your hair.

I'll be back soon to check on you all ....

I'm bringing an even bigger bottle of gin today...can I leave it behind the aspidistra?

Morning all! - I had a tricky night last night soaking my clothes to try and get those jam stains out - try Napisan Pag!

Then had to soak DS after his exhuberant gardening experience

Just going to slump in this comfy horse hair sofa with delicious cup of Fairtrade Earl Gray before giving that poor aspidistra a prune a a little baby bio

Oh, let me just remove that now bedraggled fascinator from under my left buttock cheek

If I bring meringue kisses (passionfruit or raspberry - you choose), can I come in too?

MWAW MWAW!!

there are some kisses

Good morning all,
I need another latte... we just had our kitchen measured for new counter-tops and found out they have to rip the tile off the backsplash... which we did NOT budget for... so could I possibly have something sweet and alcoholic in my latte? I thought I heard another bottle clinking somewhere...
Hi Daisy, I did go to Vancouver yesterday... got a lovely lecture on how to take care of aging (AGING!!!) skin from the girl at Kiehl's... I suddenly feel old as the hills in my late 30's...
Sorry I have no baked goods to bring today but I am trying a new recipe for pear and walnut loaf later!

Well, hello ladies.

I'll pass on cooking sherry in my latte... perhaps you should turn the Mumsnet Cafe into a BYOB (bring your own bottle) kind of affair? I rather had Frangelico in mind... must hunt some up... could be induced to share. Will leave it behind the potted palm when I have to go.

Yes, BYOB is exactly how we are operating until our full liquor licence comes through. The problem today is that Bucharest both brought it and drank it, but please feel free to bring Frangelico next time you stop by!

Madbad - well done today. (You know what I'm talking about...)

'Ello - am back with charmingly naive folk style christmas decorations. And a red sequinned bottle of Absolut vodka.

Having consumed my own weight in coffee today in attempt to stay awake, be nice to people, and drive back from Heathrow (am v v impressed with T5, but not with trying to shop at 5.45am because I managed not to pack my mascara), I need a camomile tea please.

Will ba making the almond muffins tomorrow in an attempt to occupy DS (who greeted DH this morning with a layer of congealed vomit, and threw up again. Apparently has a chest infecion AGAIN, and on antibiotics) who still can't go to nursery. And to placate DH who was left with ill toddler to occupy/take to doctors/mop up.

Actually, make mine a Stolly Bolly..

Squeaver - not sure I do, actually. Am tired and dense and exhausted by round the clock muffin-baking. Anyway, don't want to sound ungracious so thanks for your thanks.

cmot - the deccies are delightful but I'm so sorry to hear that cmottiddler is still unwell.

Shall we all have some champagne? I bought some for yesterday's opening and I think there may still be a bottle or two in the fridge (I hid it behind the organic carrots to keep it out of Bucharest's clutches). I've never fancied corrupting my lovely champagne with vodka, but am I missing something?

Sorry, I was talking about that "other" thread and I think your efforts to do some "sorting out" have been great.

Have been composing "let's all be friends" posts in my head all day, but now I'm just hoping that this storm will blow itself out.

Def champers time. The whole stollybolly thing is quite tasty, but I wouldn't actually do it with good champagne.

Squeaver - I'm going to retire from my role as self-appointed builder of bridges now. I think the storm is dying down and I fear that anything more which reminds people that there was a storm may be counter-productive. Remind me of that if you see me posting tomorrow!

Anyway, we still have guests in the cafe so let's be sociable. I thought tomorrow we might all go hat-shopping, but we're too late for that today. So here's some rather nice champagne I brought back from Reims a little while ago. Cin cin!

If we're going hat shopping we need to do it in Paris. Let's wait til Tea4Two gets back from her hols and then we can all descend on her. If she's asks if she missed anything whilst she was away let's all chorus "NO!"

Prost !

Paris on the Eurostar. Wa-hay!

Hmm, that bolly is lovely, just what I needed. My you are classy folk

My baking is not up to much. DS and I made some wonky animal cookies. The recipe said enough for 30 biscuits. We got 13. Perhaps we could recyle them as artisan inspired door stops?

Jasksmama I say bugger the Vancoouver anti-aging ladies, they're just trying to flog you expensive unguents! Embrance your inner pensioner!!!

Festive reindeers with wonky hats, like it [hic]