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.

Bocca I don't think you need to worry. We're doing this for ds as we think that it will be the best for him - I know that there are many children who would do well at either type of school - and there are swings and roundabouts regarding all of them... I mean, our opportunities for holidaying abroad will be severely reduced due to the school fees - yes, I would like him to benefit from that (when his ears are sorted - not taking him on a plane before then) but would be much more likely if he was going to the local school. He would also have more friends within walking distance if he went locally. And I probably wouldn't have to spend so much on school uniform .

The peace lilly looks particularly happy at the moment. I wonder what can have done that for it

When I first read that quote my dd had been saying "Awadayhah" instead of "water" all the time. It really annoyed me. On the same day I read this I realised she only ever said "water" and I missed my little girl who used to say "awaddayhah". I had to let her go.

She also used to shout "Wazawoooo" everytime she saw a dog - and as much as I love her saying "look nice dog" there is a part of me that misses that next to primal call of "wazawooo"!!!

I think the letting go to develop further is the hardest part of parenting. I thought the quote explains it rather beautifully! Re-reading maybe "daily deaths" is a bit strong though!!!

Christmasteafor two - I thought milkfortwo was a boy! Am I very confused or just very unobservant??

It's probably having been left off JacksMama's list; I am calling my existance into question.

Quite depressed by reading all your thoughts re school. I resort to the tried-and-tested ostrich head in the sand technique to pretend RC will not be old enough for school before I know it. Also I work in schools and don't like what I see.

that I have unknowlingly been moving in nannied circles - the closest I have ever been able to come to that is when the Norland nannies dried RC's tights after over-energetic puddle 'plashing.

People have suggested that I could get RC into private school by working in our local one (very eccentric and horsey but luckily keen on French) but since I don't even want her in school ...

Hello Reindeersnake, do we know you? are you there? do you exist?

OWWW!!

Actually, I love the idea of home edding a child because you are a teacher!

I feel that schools can so try to squeeze you into the Shape that Society Wants, but then that's what so much of growing up is about itsn't it...
hells bells

listen to me!

Pass the prosecco! At least someone will think I am simply having a sandwich for lunch!

While filling the baby bath and all the jugs in our apartment with water from the kettle for my shower (- no boiler washing technique )the washing machine emptied into the sink and the sink didn't drain so then it emptied over kitchen!!!!

It is all getting a bit much - a boiler we can't switch on - unless we want to be rushed to hospital again (new one not being fitted until Tuesday - for 2 thousand euros ), a blocked sink and edukashion concerns!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!

THANK BOCCA theres the tearoom!!!!

Oh T42 what can I say?

here is a lovely warm MochaLatte for you dear!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfyeXrdZZ1o

And the cleaner hasn't turned up for the third week running...

Ah, yes, this cafe needs a little Nespresso....

Maybe we could send Mellors round to CT42? Sounds like he might do more good there than he does around here. (In many and varied ways he may do good over there)

Can't really home ed RC because I need to work for the money, but school is all about forcing everyone into the same round hole. Maybe it is what life is all about, but how can you watch your own child being forced into the hole? The process does not do them much good. How early should you learn that you aren't really very good at things and people don't really like you? On the other hand, they will have to live in the real world afterwards ...

MISTLE, REINDEER, I AM SO SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is baby brain (thank you Daisy for saying I'm lovely with it though... don't feel terribly lovely atm)

CT42 - our water heater broke and spilled a huge stream of water on the garage floor and from there out into the driveway recently, and kept going until we turned the water to the entire townhouse off - so we had no water, cold or hot... it was horrible, and so expensive to replace.
(HUGS) (or a supportive pat on the arm, whichever you prefer)

Here you go T42 and JM - a lovely hot bath awaits!

Oooh Daisy thank you!
Could I possibly ask you to watch Jackbaby while I soak? He's sleepy so just needs a cuddle... thank you!

Ooooooh la la, la la, la la!!!- look at all my new things from my shopping trip!!!!

I am quite up for the hug and Mellors being my cleaner - but I think if you don't mind JM, perhaps we could take it in turns with the whole bath thing ... I am a bit shy about bathing with other people... apart from dd!!!

Hey you lot are really terrible - I am craving a decent bath and mincepies and these online ones just leave me hungrier for the real thing!!! When I get back to England before putting my bag down or saying hello to my df (darling family)I think I will be upstairs itbwamimh (in the bath with a mincepie in my hand)!!!

heeeellllllooooo.... anyone there????

• did I break the teashop????

LOL - hi tea!
I'm all done bathing, you can go now.
(Didn't really mean I wanted to bathe with anyone )
So what did you buy???????????

Yes, what did you buy??

Hi reindeer - are you still speaking to me?

Hey tea - just saw your post on sniggering about babies' names - what is your daughter's name??? I'm really curious now!
(Jackbaby's full name is Jackson Douglas if you're curious).

If I exist, I am still talking to you, JacksondouglasFirstChristmasMama.

Missed sniggering.

The sniggering was on a thread called "have your ever heard someone's dear newborn's name and had to choke back a giggle" or something like that. Tea posted that she never had until she saw this thread, but that people often give her kind of looks when they hear her daughter's name, so now I want to know what she's called.
(nosy emoticon)

How are you? How are things at home?
(hug or supportive pat on arm, whichever is appropriate)
Here, have some yummy curry I made yesterday. Careful, it's hot!

Things have been a bit fraught today; I could be living with two 2-year olds! Lots of people taking out their tempers by slamming doors and throwing things. Then I get to spend the evening tidying it all up. [Feeling very sorry for myself emoticon]

I'll have a and a , please, and a portion of curry with lots of lovely yogurt to cool it down. And a glass of something delicious, relaxing and alcoholic.

Still, (alcohol begins to work and life begins to look rosier) dd did just say 'Oh, maman, darling!' and dh did say 'That was nice' about supper (nicest thing he said to me for some time).

How are things in Jackson's homestead? (I do cling to the Dominican image) I imagine wall to wall xmas decorations, roaring log fires and a 15 foot Chistmas tree, probably cut by your dh.

We got married in July - so I was buying frames for a few of the outstanding pictures that the photographer took of our friends for xmas prezzies, one each of our little family for our Mums and a few of us three for myself too.... beerfortwo thinks it is "Sooooo naff" to have wedding photos in frames and out but I think one or two arty ones here and there rather trendily leaning against a bookcase for example could be v cool!

Hey - Why all the questions about my daughter's name - You all know she is called milkfortwo!!!???!!!!

racingsnake - Does your dd always call you Maman??? dd often calls me Maman but it doesn't hit me in the heart like 'Mummy' does!

Sorry tea, I was just curious because you said you get funny looks when you tell people her name. I thought if I told you Jackbaby's real name you might not feel odd about telling us DD's. Sorry if I overstepped.

Reindeer, have a hug, a pat, curry, a blankie, something lovely and alcoholic and someone who says nothing but nice things to you!

I think you may have a slightly exaggerated vision of an up-north Canadian Christmas... I live in an area where it rarely snows on the streets (lots on the mountains though) and rarely gets below freezing (so the projected cold snap of up to -8 tonight has us all in a dither). The grass is usually green at Christmas and snowdrops and crocuses pop out in February.
We haven't decorated yet because we need to rearrange (red: baby-proof) the living room, which we are doing tomorrow. We have a fake Christmas tree, I am too much of a granola-girl to be able to stomach the idea of cutting down a tree each year. If we had a wood-burning fireplace I might, but ours is a gas fireplace. But we do decorate wall-to-wall... though with Jackbaby jailbreaking his little play area all the time, we may have to be more restrained this year.

I just had three whole hours of me-time, as DH was at his mum's with Jackbaby. I had the most lovely nap, so deep I woke up all muzzy-headed. Must now shake out the cobwebs and go to the grocery so we can eat something other than left-over curry

JM, I was teasing.... I don't mind telling you... her name is... (whispers proudly announces)

Vesna

, and !!!

• at JMs me-time!!!!