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.

Just realised how awful above comments about softplay mums sounds. Only excuse is that I was probably still smarting from 'onliest' comment.

Here - there's just about enough soup left to fill a bowl, racingsnake. And would you like a rude homemade roll?

Good news about the softplay. There are a few near us (large conurbation). The one we go to most often is more in the Rainbow Honey and Hector Ulysses vein! Interestingly, BabyBocca was always first to the top of the perilous-looking slide and I always thought that was to do with her status as an only, that she was so bored of the sight of her wizened old mama that she raced off to terrorise have fun with any children she could find! Which I think kind of proves my theory that whatever an only child does, it's always possible - if you're so inclined - to ascribe it to their only status. Eg: a topical example I have just made up - only children must get more colds than other children because, as there are fewer children in the home, they get less chance to build up immunities.

I like the sound of the combats and swingy necklaces look, too. But is it best suited to the lithe of limb and modest of nork?

I think hessian sacking sounds very practical actually. I am actually more of an ankle length skirt (not out of modesty, but practicality and I look odd in trousers) with a distinct lack of accessories type of person. I will admit to leggings under long tunics, as I find them very practical.

DS adores softplay. I hate it as I have to sit amongst the groups of women on my own (we live in a town too small to have its own, and as we only go at the weekend its always party time) whilst DS rampages around having fun. He is hyper social, unlike the only stereotype.

Did I spot a hot chocolate with cream ? And as it is now advent, can I have a mincepie ?

Yes, should have said that there is a glass dome full of mince pies on the tea room counter right now. We are also now offering Boccababy's current favourite drink - hot Nutella (dissolve a generous spoonful of Nutella in hot milk - delicious unless you're nut-allergic).

cmot - It's because I have all the wrong attributes for trousers - vast waist, stumpy legs - that I generally avoid them. I would like to buy a pair of jeans (or combats) but a recent attempt ended in tears of frustration and rage. So I'm a skirts/dresses/gowns kinda gal too.

BoccaBaby will be starting her two Advent calendars tonight. Were you all ripping them open at dawn?

~No more soup? Well, just a lewd roll then please! And a mug of tea!

Glad you like my Stylee ideas! Sorry to be off beam Mistle!

I have no norks to speak of, not even when BF and I never really managed swingy necklaces, but I have always fantastised

We opened our three advent calendars (two for DS, one for DH) in bed with milk/ tea this morning

Ooh, that sounds really nice. I have Green and Blacks equivalent, so may try tonight.

I have long legs, so should look good in trousers, but have problems with ones that minimise my tummy, but don't then slide off. I hate jeans buying -its an exercise in frustration to me.

We will have to find all the decorations that belong to the advent calendar - they must have got put away with the tree decorations last year. MIL did buy a choc calendar for DS, but we are choosing not to give it to him.

Yesterday I realised that perhaps I should wear makeup outside work a bit more. As we were visiting DH's grandmother in hospital (she has dislocated one of her hip replacements after 'only' 18 years) I had applied makeup and was trying the green eyeliner I got free in Boots. DS peered intently at me, told me to take my glasses off, peered some more, and then touched my eyelid and enquired very seriously as to why I had got paint on my eyes

GMIL very chipper and enjoying the social aspect of hospital. She is 95 and was telling us that some of the youngsters had let themselves go. They were 87ish and hadn't put makeup on in the morning

and thanks for the mince pies Bocca!

Regret to inform you all that, despite long searching, I do not own a single checkered shirt. Sorry to shatter your day Daisy! Also, despite Daisy's prurient fantasies, do not own a dominatrix outfit...

Feel very honoured to think I could be considered Bocca's Doppelganger [awestruck emoticon].

Pleasd to put forward further evidence - had WS not been so ill last night I couldn't really drop in for long, I had been going to suggest a Tea Room choir.

On Tuesdays WS and I go to a music group which is totally for mums. Toddlers and babies merely play on the sidelines. We are currently working on The Rhythm Of Life. Not a Dingle Dangle Scarecrow in sight.

This is us: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJEjFZQIANY&feature=related I am the one in the red hat. Think I may have spottd Bocca there too in maroon on th left with long hair and bandana, also Daisy with long black hair.

T42 wonders in a little shell shocked!!!!

Shortly after joining the now World reknowned 'Mumsnet Orchestra' our boiler - having no musical talent got so jealous it poisoned me and my close family (dd and dh)!!!

Bad things - we all could have died!!!

Good things - 1) We didn't - 2) the fireman rescueing us , 3) when they kept saying 'tacky cardic' over and over thinking "Oh this is just like in Holby City" 4) the paramedic having a complete fit because she discovered she had stepped in what me and dd like to comically call dog crapido (This is just like Green Wing)!

Six hrs on oxygen (me and dh) three hours in the oxygen chambre (???? - dd) plus over-night observation and our bodies are fine. Completely back to normal infact!

Boiler turned off (new one to be fitted asap - infact as it had been being a bit slow in heating water we have bloke booked for tomorrow anyway - two days too late!) and CO detector fitted our minds are ok too!!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6LVGcIC1Tc - Just because I like it!!!

T42 puts her Amys on and starts to prance around with dd and dh being careful to ensure her pinafore rides up to show off her very beautiful floral tights to their full!!!

CMOT we had a very similar situation re makeup - drop off for school in morning - I basically don't wear makeup (allergic to most of it and really can't be bothered ) - MJ went up to one of the other (very glamorous, fully made-up) mothers and demanded to see her eyes and asked her why she had colour on her eyes and pointed out that 'mummy doesn't put that on her eyes' just to underline the whole thing!!!!

Bocca - nutella - not great for those allergic to chocolate either!

Very here - ds hasn't opened his advent calander today at all

T42 glad you are all OK.

I think that your pinafore might be riding up a little too high. Mellors seems to be getting a bit excited and I'm not sure that its sensible with your dh around.

PS - we have a carbon monoxide alarm plugged in 'just in case' - didn't cost too much - we thought better safe than sorry, particularly as our boiler is a little old now.

tea - Yikes! So glad to hear you're all fine. How did this happen? Who found you? Or were you well enough to summon help?

racingsnake - If only you knew! Many people would think being likened to me the grossest insult. Besides, I was only thinking of the geriatric-no further reproduction-pity scenario.

If only I was young enough to be any of the youths disporting themselves in the video.

I am quite fond of maroon, as it happens, but prefer to refer to it more poncestastically as wine or even aubergine. Spookily, I do quite often wear bandannas - part of my ongoing obsession with headgear - although my hair isn't long.

Cmot - I didn't know G&B make a Nutella-a-like. I shall look for it. This drink was inspired by a cafe in France which sells coffee with a slug of Nutella - BoccaBaby and I decided the coffee was getting in the way of a delicious drink! You also get a nice sludgy chocolatey layer in the bottom - yum!

On the theme of make-up, I have decided to wear it more often and am currently experimenting with eye liner pens. Am currently working the Amy Winehouse look.

Well, inspired by the Rhythm of Life, I now wonder whether we should attempt to stage a Tea Room musical. This is what I think we could aim for - All That Jazz.

Champagne, anyone? It has medicinal properties, you know, tea.

Mistlethrush - are there really people who are allergic to chocolate? I didn't know.

Yup. Me

I'm also lactose intolerant, so the milk wouldn't do me any good either - so, all in all, not an ideal drink for me!!!

Send a whole bottle my way please Bocca!!!!!

I was all set to go to sleep on the kitchen floor, dd was taking what we thought was a nap on our bed and dh - who saw me falling over several times in the hallway with a packet of pasta in my hand (I have no memory of this) said "We are all really ill Tea - I don't think I can walk phone the dr!" I remember taking him the phone and crying because I couldn't talk properly so he called the dr who told us to open windows, turn off gas and get out the place and that he would contact the firemen and paramedics!!!! We left with no shoes and one house key that caused us problems later down the line BUT we had to just get out!!!!

T42 gets emotional while dancing and singing to this (well she has had next to a bottle of champers!!!!!).....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv6lHwWwO3w

Mistlejunior is trememdously outgoing and rarely clingy - I thought that was because he was an only - is it meant to be the other way round?!!!

T42 - horrific. At least you managed to ring the Doctor and get out - how did you get dd or did someone come and get her out for you?

Oh Tea! What a lucky escape!

Have a magnum of champagne! And do tell us about the lovely sapeurs pompiers - were they as hunky as Mellors?

We should all go and buy carbon monoxide monitors.

On the clinginess .... I really don't know. I thought that BoccaBaby's complete absence of clinginess was about her being an only, but I do wonder whether I'd be saying the same thing if she was clingy. When I'm grown up I'll do a PhD on child development, with particular reference to the only child.

Well we panicked when the dr said it was probably our boiler, I got dd and carried her out, DH not only managed to stand and walk but opened all windows and turned gas off. He pushed me out the door too. I then started panicking saying I had left a gas ring on because I was cooking dinner (maybe linked to why I had the pasta in my hand - I don't know and I don't think I ever will) and insisted on going back in but dh followed me in and pushed me back out the door!!!!

Actually my dh was quite a hero!!!

The fireman bit is a bit of a blur but I remember they arrived and split into two teams - one checked apartment was safe and the others did first aid on us and then the paramedics took over!

When I phoned my Mum this evening to tell her what had happened she said "I will be forever thankful to your dh for saving you all."

(T42 collapses on sofa and drifts into a champagne supernova dream with dh and dd next to her!!!!!)

Holy shit tea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry re bad language, cover the DC's ears, but really... I am horrified!!! I'm so glad you're okay!!!

(still somewhat suffering from PND emoticon)
Sorry, things still get to me sometimes.
HOLY CRAP!!!!!
Gah!!
I am going out tomorrow and getting a carbon monoxide monitor.

Just popped my head in to see what you all are up to... was sat here watching this ages-old movie with Michael Yorke called "Logan's Run" - hilarious from the 2008 perspective, then had this thought that this movie is older than tea!!! Was ROFling and thought I'd see if I could catch you all.

On the subject of emotions all over the place (the aforementioned PND still gets me occasionally), today was one of those days. I had an email from a friend who's not too up on current affairs, and she forwarded me one of those chain mails that went around about Jamie Bulger. I'm sure I don't need to tell you (except tea who was about 14 when the poor little tyke was killed) - anyway, the email described what happened to him and then there was a petition regarding his killer, who were released, and relocated to Australia under complete anonymity... which to this day horrifies me... anyway, was in floods reading this email. I was horrified enough when it happened, but didn't have my sweet little boy back then, and now I do, and the thought of anything, much less something this evil, happening to him just terrifies me beyond words. I can't even watch those adverts on TV asking for donations to children's hospitals. Fortunately, neither can DH, so while he sometimes doesn't know what to do with me when I'm having a bad day, he understands this sort of thing...

What a lot of emotions around tonight! This will certainly be one of the more dramatic sequences when they film the story of the tea room.

Just going to settle Wrigglenake and Racingpig in the wing chair, stir up the tea room fire a bit and research carbon monoxide monitors.

Think the Norland nannies may have moved on because they were unable to approve of Wrigglesnake's behaviour. She is Badly Brought Up. As proved by the fact that she is up at 4am again.

Just make myself a nice cup of tea ....

Good morning all!

I'm just going to put this plate of deceptively delicious-looking biscuits on the counter, but I intend them for duck feeding. I managed last night to make a batch of revolting biscuits! Not easy. I feel that a duck-feeding expidition is indicated. Surely no well-run tea room would be too far from ducks to feed?

(In case anyone wants the recipe - so that they don't inadvertantly copy it - I didn't have the right spices, so improvised with powdered ginger, white pepper and lemon juice, instead of cinnamon and orange. DON'T DO IT)

Better just leave a note in case T family tucks in when they wake up and end up back in medical attention.

racingsnake - maybe you can't see the tea room's duck pond from the window overlooking the garden. It's at the end of the garden, past the ha-ha and the aesthetically pleasing rare breed sheep which keep the lawn down, as Mellors seems rarely to exert himself with the lawn mower. I must get Mellors to hack back the undergrowth. It's like a jungle out there ....

Beerfortwo hops up and out to work still smelling a bit like a hospital bacause the water is too too cold to have a shower.

Teafortwo and milkfortwo say "Bye I love you" and "Biiiiaaa elephant" roll over, and go back to sleep!!!! Safe in the knowledge that a friend of ours is lending us her bath and we will pop down there when we are feeling less sleepy.

Mmmm nice looking biscuits... reads note... or maybe not!!!!

JM - thanks for your tears!!!!

I certainly shed a few too. When the paramedics left I started crying because I was really overwhelmed by what they had done for us - and to think - we were just one family from a list of people they had helped maybe just that day let alone the whole massive list of people each of them had helped in their entire careers!!!! I am starting to get a bit teary just thinking about it now.... I'll just help myself to a nice cup of tea mines the same as the monkeys drink! (Obviously not that jar of French hospital tea over there - that tastes v odd indeed!)