The One and Only Tea Room: Tea, muffins and champagne served at all hours

[BoccaDellaNativita]

Well folks, here we are!

We were on the brink of filling the old thread so I thought we'd better start a new one now. There was a rumour that we were going to be evicted from our old premises, but we managed right at the last minute to get an extension on the lease. So it's business as usual. We're still in our charming old tea room, overlooking our beautiful garden complete with ha-ha and duck pond. And Mellors the gardener.

Please come and join us for a celebratory drink.

Umm, Christmas round up:
No sickness (did that pre-Christmas, sympathy for Bocca and Racing mop households )

Lots of food and presents, mostly excellent, mix of those you wish you were bought and lovely ones for you

DH excelled himself by building Daisyboy a garage and Daisyboy excelled himself by LOVING it above all other things

Now, back catching up with work while all others sleep

Except that mellors stays [stern look]

he's practically family and it sounds like Racing has whipped him into line

I love the duck pond fence and great bird table... isn't that Tea4two draped across it right now?

No, tea is off practicing Blondie lyrics...

I'm still holding out for Reese Witherspoon for tea.

Daisy... Rene Russo?

Reese Witherspoon

Heh, I think either Blondie or Reese Witherspoon for Tea, or Kirsten Dunst?

What about Kirtsten Scott Thomas for me [slightly begging emoticon] and this is the Tea Shop of our dreams?

Just dropping in for a moment make sure that Mellors is still hard at work.

Hedge is looking much better and there's a nice heap of brushwood piling up to make a bonfire for CMOTtiddler and Daisyboy to dance round. That'll be great in this weather. Notice Mellors is looking rather haunted and seems to be checking for Bocca - probably planning to rip his shirt off at a moment's notice. I wonder how long this eagerness to please will last?

I think KST looks just right for Daisy. I wasn't sure at first, because Daisy's long black hair confused me, but I now realise that that was just a look you were trying out and KST portrays the real you.

Off to take dh to doctor now and at the same time to take WS to throw shiny coins into the sacred spring in the same village and wish for things. Have wished for a baby for so long - what to wish for now? Probably WS will be doing the wishing.

Can't remember if I left my plans for the Christmas scene of The Tearoom, The Movie lying about.

I thought we should have a series of vignettes with "I'm dreaming ..." playing in the backround, showing scenes of CMOTtiddler watching TV on his tractor, Daisyboy enthusing about his garage, Baby Bocca throwing up into a bucket and Wrigglesnake oozing green slime being cute, witty and winsome a la Outnumbered and WS carrying a suitably festively adorned Racingpig around in his bucket. Wasn't sure what Mistlechick was doing in his scene and have had no info about the cute doings of MilkForTwo.

Daisy, if you want KST, you can have her. I thought Rene Russo just had that certain fun something that you do.

Please not La Dunst for tea!! She has no lips!! (Kirsten Dunst, not tea.) And she's a terrible actress IMO, not fun at all!

Kirsten Dunst has no lips? Hmm, I see what you're getting at. It took me a long time to cotton on that she was the vampire tot in Interview With The Vampire (about the only Tom Cruise I can bear to watch, but that's a rant best saved for another day).

Cmot and racingsnake - your pep talk has certainly done the trick and Mellors has done more work in the last couple of days than he has done for weeks. But, racingsnake, I deny any responsibility for the haunted look in his eye. Were you meaning to suggest that I would rip off his shirt or that he would rip it off in an effort to ingratiate himself? Much as we all enjoy the sight of Mellors' manly chest, I must reiterate that the tea room rules specifically forbid customers' forcibly removing employees' clothing. We do not want a sexual harassment claim against us. (And to answer your question: what about wishing for inner peace and acceptance? I always think its best to keep one's wishes or prayers as open as possible).

BabyBocca is pleased with the outline for the Christmas scene, although I think we must be careful not to overplay it as one person's cute, witty and winsome is another person's precocious and objectionable brat. So, without presuming on racingsnake's role as producer/director, I offer some thoughts on Method Acting.

MJ was insisting on making ANOTHER model with his mecanno set (4+ recommendation - definitely more like 5+ in terms of the number of instructions you have to follow to get from the pieces to the actual model that you can then drive round the kitchen....) in his scene...!!!!

Cello doesn't get in the way - dh's is upstairs at the moment - although his db does get in the way... its my viola mainly. Or the curly hair. Not really sure...

Have survived a morning with MJ's 'best' friend over - only had two melt-downs, and friend survived quite well with both. Its probably much more of a 'big' thing if you've only got one - whereas if you've already got two to cope with, one extra that potentially occupies one of the two at least is probably not too much of a big thing....

Bocca, I wouldn't dream of suggesting that you would forcibly remove any of Mellors' clothing. I do feel, though, that he has been following many conversations in here and has finally realised that his days of comfort with the harem in his shed could be numbered unless he aims to please. Has anyone else noticed that he has been standing in rather noble poses outside the window whenever two or more of us are gathered together and that the cardboard cutout of actor-with-grey-hair-whose-name-has-temporarily-escaped-me-due-to-multitasking is missing?

racingsnake -

Hmmm, if Mellors wants to please then he should understand that the cardboard cutout of greying at the temples in a very distinguished way George Clooney must be reinstated forthwith.

Oh no! What is that roughly 6 foot shape atop the bonfire in which Cmottiddler and daisyboy are baking jacket potatoes?

I had noticed that he seemed to be rather lacking in certain items of wardrobe recently - I thought that it was just that he'd taken to doing a bit more in terms of garden work - but, come to think of it, he does seem to have been visibly heroic certainly in terms of this poses...

Racing a hug for your shiny coins and wishes, I know that longing for a baby...

JM oops, I wasn't meaning no to Renne, she is great and fab and, particularly in Thomas Crown, seriously foxy. Now I have a terrible Libran dilemma - who to be? who to be?

Bocca don't worry, Daisyboy is sufficiently well trained, he won't let George smolder. when at the registry office place they told me I could choose any surname for DaisyBoy I nearly went with Clooney...

JM you are so right about Kirsten what was I thinking?

ok, love to all, and kisses to Mistle - don't pretend, give Mellors back his shirt! Poor boy....

Bocca, I am so with you about Tom Cruise. I can't bear him. Although I didn't think he was any great shakes in Interview with A Vampire, either. The one movie I actually do sort of tolerate with him is War of the Worlds. Mission Impossible 2 was ok, too. I could think of dozens of actors I'd rather see in "Valkyrie". The story is fab and it looks like a great movie but I can't watch anything with the shuddersome TC in it. I wanted to stick a skewer in his eyeball during his interview with Matt Lauer when he got on his high horse about PND. What the hell would he ever know about PND?? Now, having experienced its joys (ha ha, hollow laugh) I hate him even more...
OK, rant over.

On a different note, I do suspect that Mellors was feeling some jealousy over the tearooms fascination with appreciation of George Clooney .

Do you think that Mellor's might be the reason I found a black mask and cape on the coatrack last time I was rummaging...?

Daisy - I can also plead libran indecision regarding who to choose...

RS didn't know what to say re coins. I know where you're coming from. I am now busy encouraging MJ's friendship with another boy of his age with an older sister - if the friendship continues well I hope he will benefit from having a proxy older sister this way. I think I've given up, although the loft would be looking significantly emptier if I could just face the facts and get rid of things rather than hold onto them, 'just in case'.

I think my problem with Mr Cruise is that I just cannot see him as any sort of romantic hero. He looks about 17 which, for a lady of my advanced age, would be taking the toy boy thing far too far. And he makes films which don't really appeal to me - IWTV being the only exception I can think of right now. I don't want to do him any violence, but I might be tempted - were he ever to drop into the tea room - to give him a nice biscuit and a mug of warm milk.

Anyway, let's get into an optimistic mood for the New Year.

Right-o. Let's enjoy the rest of 2008. Who'd like a glass of champagne?

And just wanted to pass on a tip, vis a vis finding quasi-siblings for one's only. The penny has just dropped here that 'family tickets' for theatres and other attractions, which cover two adults and 2 or 3 children, often cost the same as standard tickets for two adults and one child. So we've just taken BabyBocca's friend to a Christmas show at zero cost to ourselves but with much joy to BabyBocca and FriendofBabyBocca.

I have seen the future and it works.

Yes, we shall be doing that too. However, I am going to wait until mj is able to sit relatively still so that he doesn't appear to have ants in his pants. Sitting next to a really fidgety small person is my idea of hell!

A glass of champagne would go down very well thank you.

Tom Cruise not my bag either, and I must admit that George doesn't float my boat very much either. However, I apologise for my son trying to do a viking cremation with his effigy earlier..

Bocca - yes, its a good one to use - also note that you can use Family Railcard for you and any selection of children. I admit that they don't check the other adult, so I use mine for me and mother of DS's most beloved and one child ticket (as neither are old enough to need a ticket, but for a pound we get 33% off our rail fares). Some places do an annual pass that still works out as cheaply for a family, but allows you an extra child or two to come with you for nothing.

Actually, that reminds me that as DH partakes of a hobby that requires a day a month, the WAGS get together during that, which means that DS gets a full day (and night in our case) with this little girl close in age to him who is an only, and they love doing the bath together etc.

Anyway, did I hear mention of bubbly ?

Oh yes, the 'bribe a friend with the offer of free culture' approach only works from (what?) 3 or 4 upwards. I agree entirely about the pains of sitting next to (or in front of, grr, don't get me started) a fidgeting child who is getting nothing from the experience and is spoiling other people's enjoyment.

Your very good health! Are you going out partying tomorrow? I am not, but am wondering whether to invite Mr Jools Holland to stage his hootenanny in the tea room. Would you like to bring your viola and jam with him?

I think my violin might be better than viola for jamming...

I think I will have another glass... I only have mj tomorrow morning and don't have to be respectable by a silly hour to be ready for additional children...

Dh and I had the delight of sitting the row in front of mother with two smallish girls for Calamity Jane (is that the one with the windy city?). They joined in with most of the songs - just a bit behind the beat, and slightly out of tune. I had the smallest one sitting behind me and was regularly kicked in the gap between the bottom of the back and the seat - that is until I put my hands down behind my back and grabbed the toe next time it made contact [evil grin] - she swapped places for the second half and there was a lot less noise!

We will be starting to take mj to 'children's concerts' - as long as its interesting enough we have some hope. He's already quite good at recognising instruments off the radio (normally Radio 3 [smug!])

I admire your mettle! I was repeatedly kicked and prodded yesterday by a wee poppet (aged no more than 2) who clearly didn't understand the show and wasn't interested in it - after all, why should she be? At one point she was resting her head on my shoulder (yes really) and holding the back of my seat as she performed some sort of gymnastic feat. I tried a few steely glares over my shoulder but they had no effect.

Are you anywhere near Birmingham? I've heard good things of the children's concerts in the symphony hall there.

I'm afraid that my musical skills don't go as far as the ocarina. There must be a guide you can get for fingering etc which would help - can't find it on first page of google.

No, no longer near Brum - left quite a long time ago now. There are children's concerts here though, haven't tried as yet. Must get round to making time.

Yes, I'd like another glass please. Still feeling rather maudlin.

Yes, I need to do some more googling to work out the difference (apart from the obvious) between a 4 hole and a 6 hole ocarina.

I'm sorry to hear you're still feeling maudlin. Anything we can do to help? Here's another glass and a bowl of assorted toothsome snacks.

((hug)) and ((supportive pat on arm)).