Welcome to the Seventh Heaven Tea Room (BYOB. Biscuits, crisps and cake provided)

[Catitainahatita]

Hello and welcome to the seventh incarnation of the tearoom.

If you have found us by chance and/or curiousity you must know that the tearoom is a virtual safe haven for all those seeking a friendly word, a good cuppa and plenty to snack on. By virtue of its magic nature, no food can cause any physical damage, so chocolate, alcohol, transfat and all such can be consumed guilt- (and magically calorie-) free.

We have a wide range of soft-furnishing to relax on; a lovely garden with a swing and a ha ha; a variety of animals; a spa and (for some unknown reason) an apidistra.

Everyone is welcome, if you have one child, ten or none at all. We are a tolerant and fisticuffs-free zone. Instead we employ our energies swooning at Mellors the Gardner cum handiman thinking a silly things to get up to.

Please come in and say hello. You never know, you may end up joining us ...

Good luck to Mr. Amber!

I don't think so - surely someone would have brought it to my attention? but perhaps everyone was too polite...

Raining again here. Good thing I brought my waterproof as it looks as though I will need it for the school run - have ladybird umbrella safely in car for MJ....

I suggested to ds that he might like to plant some seeds with Dh's help when we got home - ds all excited. Dh took spade down the garden to 'move the surface off' which I thought was a very odd thing to use to plant seeds - and shortly afterwards ds came in saying that daddy was doing everything and would't let him do it - Dh told me that ds didn't want to get his hands dirty... not quite sure which one to believe there!

Ds played a beautiful scale on the piano - c major (so just all the white notes) - but it was nicely legato with only one note at a time - I was

Morning all,

I'm writing this from home as work is shut until further notice I'm hoping this will just be a nice holiday, as so far no one is ill round here, but still.

I wrote to my endoctrinologist this morning about the whole thing (he doesn't work here anymore and sees me as a special favour at weekends when he is around). I don't think there is any Tamiflu (the vaccine) available at the mo for those who aren't health care professionals, but since I read the list of at risk people I kind of thought I might be ale to get some special treatment. The most at risk are to whit

1. 25-45 years old (tick)
2. Pregnant women (tick)
3. Diabetics and those with other chronic illnesses(tick)

I'll see what he says. In the meantime I am resolutely not leaving my house. I have to say it seems a bit overkill, seeing as the virus (at least here) seems not to be as lethal as first thought, but still, I'm not keen on finding out for myself.

Happily I am no longer since my gynocologist gave me some magic taking nausea away pills. I thought, what the hell, I´ve made to the 3 month mark now, so there should be no risk (she assured me there was none anyway but the spectre of thamalahide (sp. ?) still gives me the heeby-jeebies).

Gosh Catita, that sounds grim (the flu not the sick) poor you, yes, stay inside and we shall send supplies

Mistle, lol at your boys and their gardening. I listened to woman's hour this morning and they said plant carrots in a bucket so no carrot mite, perhaps MJ could do that? Easy peasy on his own, and leave Dad to the spade?

Tea anyone? (the drink, not the lawless lass )

Yes please to tea Daisy.

And MT, if MJ doesn't want to get mucky hands, he could be offered gloves which which to do the digging, don't you think? Even some professional gardners (plus my Mum) wear them on occasion.

I must also note that all is not as terrible here as is bein painted in the press. Having just perused the Guardian and other broadsheets it appears that the apocalyse has begun here

Well, apart from the fact we had a minor earthquake yesterday morning (5.2 on the Ricter scale) I think the horseman are still grazing their mounts

To explain: while the number of cases of the influenza have risen in the last few days (from 100+ to 30+ yesterday) conversely the number of deaths has fallen consistently (6 on Sat, 5 on Sun and 3 yesterday). There are still only 20 confirmed deaths out a possible 150. This suggests that the original deaths were partly because the ill people didn't seek help in time (all died of complications related to pneumonia).

Yes we are all in quarentine and taking extreme precautions, but life goes on.

Whooey,

poor old you, hope your rations are bearing up!

A very careful (((hug))) for Catitia.

Just got home from a rather tiring day out with no car and no mobile, therefore dependent on very kind friend who took us along with her and her 5-year old and baby. Trouble is, I had to sit at the back of the car as baby was in the front, and the only person I have ever heard of who gets more car sick than I do is MistleChick. Cannot get over the sicky feeling even now.

No mobile as it is broken. Had not realised how dependent on it I am.

When I got home quickly checked the e-mails to find that my job share teacher had written all the Technology reports and left the science reports to me - the opposite to what we had agreed. She was at school today, I wasn't, so she has handed in her reports and I can now tear up my carefully compiled DT reports and start again. Reports go out day after tomorrow, so will have to write all tonight.

High point of the day - browsing charity shops with friend and children when I spotted some armbands. I explained to Wriggle what they were and left her trying to blow them up while I looked at adult things. Turned round to find she was wearing nothing but arm bands and marching off firmly to look for the swimming pool! (Which is in another town, so not much hope.) She repeated the performance in the cafe afterwards when my concentration lapsed for a moment - obviously she enjoyed going swimming last week in the new heated children's pool we have found.

Catita, lots of tea from me too.

RS, oh no re you having to redo all the reports. I bet you've thought some rude things about your co-worker. Brilliant about wriggle and the armbands, though

Well, dh has had tests, and as we suspected, won't get the results till July!

Oh FGS - not until July???????? Ridiculous.

July?? Can we assume that that means that they don't think it is anything too serious? (Is there a record for the number of 'that's in one sentence?)

Monsieur Racing will have another scan in May and the results will be imparted in August. I had decided that that (another two!) was a good sign. Although less good that the appointment was made for right in the middle of the dates that he had given them as not possible. (!)

7/32 reports rewritten. Wriggle has a cold and is now snoring loudly.

Catita - sorry to hear that you're under effective house arrest! Hope all continues well with you.

Racing - reports - what a crap thing to throw at you! Please tell me that you will do the same thing to her next report session! Love the arm bands story!

I can't believe that it takes so long to get results - both sets! Its completly ridiculous. How on earth can it take that long

Gardening - I do have gloves (I get really dry skin so find it really difficult getting the mud off properly if I don't) - and so does MJ (small, blue ones) - he also has a small fork (like mummy's) and has lost his small trowel at the moment - I found some great larger tools at the NCT sale - small rake, broom and spade - just the right size! Does make it a lot easier for him to help... And he loves watering - and can control the waterbutt tap fairly well - its just controlling which plants he waters that's the problem!

MT- we have an enthusiastioc waterer here as well, but he can only reach teh plants at teh front of teh veg bed, so they get drowned and all else stay dry...
His 1st morning at preschool today!! hurah for my little bear, he handled it pretty well. his early morning bravado and excitment became nervous and a bit clingy when we got there, I stayed the whole session but for most of it managed to stay in teh background. Ended the morning with 3 kids sat on me for story time! my own and two little boys he had met for 1st time today.I think I'm going to enjoy vounteering as a parent helper- I got to play with lego and compost. not at the same time I hasten to add.
So now I shall sink gratefully into tehtea room sofa and watch teh flames flickering in teh fireplace for a bit. Thank you for teh hot choc mellors, much appricaiated. Donk, may I warm my feet under your hay pile?

Congratulations, UniBoy! How old is he? Parent helpers can be wonderful; it's great to have another adult in the room. 21/32 completed.

MadBad, yes he is a scias (sias?) inspector. I am glad you mentioned that because it has now come back to me that he also wants to see the scias form, which runs to many tens (hundreds?) of pages and asks the same questions in 13 different ways.

Off to bed now and will worry about that in the morning.

Haven't seen any NMBs about recently. Hope they are not Up To anything.

Catita - pleeeeaaase pleeeeaaaase - if you have time will you write a report on recent events here? -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/living_overseas/613580-from-our-own-correspondent

I really think you have lots to tell us!

Anyone fancy a coffee from a nice hot cafetierre, served on the terrace in the sun with croissants and homemade jam - there is some fruit around too I think... Nice and sunny here now although it was grey wehn I dropped MJ off this morning.

UniS - sounds a very positive first morning. MJ has accepted it as just part of the norm - he started nursery at 6mo () so the whole thing has just become rather part of a routine - even changing up to his new school didn't seem to phase him in any way which is good. Mind you, this is the same boy who, when we looked round a school when he was only about 18mo, decided to join in the reception class maths lesson, found himself a chair next to the teacher and settled down very happily - practically had to drag him away kicking and screaming!

OK - so breakfast wasn't a great hit - how about pea and pear soup (I have had it, really!) and a lewd roll...?

Sounds too good to miss!

Yes please. Sorry, bit distracted with financial calculations and book planning today...will apply myself to saying polite things like "Hello!" soon

Amber - sorry to ask, but is there anywhere you would recommend - my friend has just managed to get a diagnosis of aspergers for her daughter (who is now 14/15) and it seems to have knocked her daughter back even more - just wondered whether there were any really good sources of help - websites/books etc that I could draw to her attention. Currently my friend feels really tied as her daughter has become very clingy - she even came with her mum to do babysitting last week as she didn't want her mum being out without her...

MT, glad to help. I'd strongly recommend the alarmingly-named but excellent "Freaks Geeks and Asperger Syndrome" book, written by a teenager with an ASD.

I'd also recommend she looks at the Tony Attwood website, because it is so positive:

www.tonyattwood.com.au/

The local autism charities can be accessed through the National Autistic Society - easily searchable online, and they may have a good teenage support group/outreach service available too. Also their website is a treasure-trove of good reading material and information for her and the rest of the family.

We just don't like change, and a diagnosis is a change. I know that I was very when I had mine, even though I'd suspected it for years. (They just didn't really diagnose women before then!). Gradually feeling more secure again will happen, with the right thinking and help.

If there's more I can do, feel free to point them in my direction. I'm CAT-able on mn.

Morning all! I would love coffee and croissants, in the sun, seems more right than soup even though it's lunch time!

Racing by the time you read this the reports will be a distant memory

Mistle like gardening stories, DaisyBoy does sweeping and watering with alacrity

MadBad one of my favourite charities is called Thrive - used to be Horticultural Therapy which was much more Does as On the Tin but not so catchy... they do great things with mental health and plants

UniS hurrah for PetiteCycle - sounds like he did much better than DaisyBoy who started pre-school in Jan - lucky you being parent helper, sounds heaven - I had to kiss and leave (and go home in a tizzy and a bit teary truth be told!!!)

Catita hope you're bearing up

LOL at the Piggies helping Racing - that's where all the twiglets have been going - the Racing Support Team ate them!

Ahh, so that's where they have been

On the deck? I thought that pond looked bigger than usual but no-one told me we have a tea room yacht! Oh hold on You mean 'decking' type of deck, don't you. Drat. Was looking forward to a quick hoist of the rigging with Mellors

Croissants would be lovely, or soup, or both.