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 ...

Gorgeous fish, MaryBS. I will show the picture to Mellors so that he knows what's required.

Just had a look at that ginger thread. It seemed like a troll spoof to me, but in the context of moving to Australia it seems to me that ThumbDad's concern about how a redhead would cope with the sun was quite reasonable. But in any event, how rude.

No takers for the soup and lewd rolls then?

Madbad, at the risk of blowing my own trumpet, I got a distinction for my essay and another for my presentation, both for my Doctrine module. I was seriously surprised, because my marking tutor is an academic and I'd unwittingly picked subjects she knew a lot about!

Just to check, I'm not likely to find Mellors round my way, with a fishing net, am I?

A supply of lewd rolls would be interesting, I could then spare a few for my vicar!

Am considering making chocolate brownies later, would anyone like some high tea?

Mary - as they are modeled on rockets they are completely OK, even to feed vicars... its just that they don't actually look that way in practise

No, Mellors can be guaranteed not to pilfer Koi from ponds. Have you had that problem in the past? - I hope not. At least I can keep mistledog inside and don't have to worry about her being dognapped. Although I did sometimes in our previous house - and I would never have left her tied up outside a shop near there - although I do now (nearly forgot her last time - good job she'd got bored so woofed at me really )

TW - very justifiable concern - particularly if you're also worried about over-use of sunscreen (which I've dabbled at looking at on a few threads but really must look into properly). Thin long-sleeved tops and sunhats must be the way to go?

Don't worry, MaryBS - Mellors is on his way to the garden centre and aquatic suppliers with the tea room cheque book. Heaven knows what he'll come back with! (And that reminds me that I need to get the honesty box out - it seems to have got mislaid in the move - or that cheque may bounce!)

A high tea would be wonderful. I'll get out the antique cake stands and will knock up a few scones to accompany the brownies.

Morning all.

MaryBS I hope you don't mind but I had a wee look at your picture of the koi. Wow. We have ants in our backyard; not really something to brag about.
Also it sounds like you are doing v. well at your course. This must be really hard work for you, studying is so time consuming and it it hard to fit it around parenting.

To the doglovers... crickey I did not know that breed-choosing was such a complex affair. It just shows that as more of a cat person ( will I be asked to leave?!) I know nothing about dogs.

DS however is fascinated by dogs. They are his favourite animal by a long way. So I may end up as a doggie person before I know it.

MT and madbad - yes, sun is going to be a potential issue for both me and miniThumb - he has still got porcelain fair skin, and will almost certainly freckle (DH is very freckly as well as me), even if he hasn't got noticeably red hair.

I found a good sunscreen in Aus when we there last October - all organic, no nasties and made with zinc oxide as the active ingredient - the white stuff that cricketers etc. stripe down their nose. I have BIG ishoos with sunscreen generally, especially the nanoparticulate stuff that goes into the skin - I don't WANT nanoparticles of titanium dioxide or PABA under my skin, thank you very much!

If anyhone is interested in the weird and wonderful world of naturopathic medicine's take on this, this link has some good info on UVA, UVB and vitamin D - quite concerning stuff!

So yes, it will be long sleeves, hats and only being in the sun for short periods most of the time, and sparing use of sunscreen when absolutely necessary (days on the beach mostly) - SOME sun is necessary but I don't want him to burn - too many bad memories!

MaryBS - you must have done REALLY good work if you chose the lecturer's specialist area and you got a distinction - well done!

MMmmmmmmmmm...

I always longed for bright red hair and freckles.

Lovely to see, you, Mary.

Wriggle had the most wonderful morning, after being pulled off me screaming. She then cried for one minute and played for the rest of the morning. On the way home she asked me if she could go back next week!

Racingsnake - Turn on CBBC now! On Smart, Kirsten is painting the portrait of a very handsone guinea pig. A potential beau for RacingMissPiggy if things don't work out with Racingpig?

Cake, anyone?

Cat, that's fine about the koi, they're not at all coy, iyswim! LOL. Yes, the coursework has been hard at times, so many times have I wanted to give up, but kept going. The way I looked at it was, take it a step at a time, don't look at the finish line. Now the finish line is nearly here, and I'm starting to think "what's next?". Scary!

Mistlethrush, no, nobody has nicked any, although I'm told some of them are worth a bit.

Thumbwitch, it helped having a good tutor, and being REALLY interested in what we were doing. That's the thing about Asperger's, we're really good at whatever our narrow interests are, usually enough to bore people to death on the subject (then I can bury 'em, LOL). And as for the phallic shaped rolls, that'd be the reason I'd offer them to the vicar, he is very irreverent for a reverend! I'd just love to see the look on his face!

Chocolate brownie anyone? Hope no-one minds but they're nutless, but have marshmallows in, instead. Really sticky too!

oops, sorry, it was mistlethrush, not thumbwitch and the rolls...

Mary - easy mistake... I've certainly not taken offence!

We had a great vicar here for a while - his Easter sermon one year started with the fact that his wife had banned him from mentioning Dr Who and reincarnation.... Unfortunately he's gone somewhere where he has a potentially larger flock and actually some 'staff'....

Ds 'helped' dh to make some bread this afternoon after school (Mary - dh currently unemployed, I'm having to wk f/t but get to go and pick ds up after school, deliver him home and then start work again) - it consisted mainly of dh shouting at him and ds coming to me to complain that dh wasn't letting him help I wish dh would get a job and then ds and I could happily muddle along after school - and actually do some of the things that need doing like reading his school library book before it goes back etc...

Amber enjoyed the chocolate brownie with her cup of tea and waves at everyone

I've ventured onto the other thread - didn't the other day as I didn't want to add to it at that stage. However, I've been having an email discussion with Amber - and it sounds as though a 'tearoom' type place within SN or similar - but perhaps more easily found and accessible - but where potentially troubling (not sure that is the right word) posts are frowned upon might be quite a good solution.

I don't know about you - but when madness seems to attack various other bits of MN I'm glad that there is a little haven here to retreat to...

urrrrmmmm - confession time (ha ha)- I thought Justa our old mucka and MaryBS were the same person!!!!!!

That is why I just acted like normal and didn't give you a warm welcome MaryBS!!!!!!!!

So here is a big cakes I have made in your honour - it says "Welcome Mary" and a song......

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLkCWT2neuI

Of course I acted like normal when I thought you were Justa because Justa is so lovely and friendly we are all feet up and slurping tea when she is around - but we do like to make a little effort when someone new wonders in the door!!!

evening all. Hi Mary. I frequently get MT and TW muddles up...Join teh club.

choc brownie- I don't mind if I do. Ummmm marshmellows not nuts, my fav. My frioend S and I ended up by teh "ice cream sprinkles" section at teh supermarket today, trying to work out which sprinkles were gluten and dairy free. Turns out that stuff that goes solid when it hits your ice cream is OK but not regular cheap choc sause :-(

bum about that holly bush being dug up. How annoying that neighbour didn't give you any warning of hedge digging up.

Unis's top tip of teh day- do not let a small boy take a nap accompanied by marbles instead of cuddlies... no nap, lots of playing marbles.... have put him to bed early instead.

Just to update you all before I buzz off to DS.

On the other thread, we seem to have reached a consensus whereby we are going to suggest (via a thread on the "Site stuff" board) that MN sets up a "Safe zone" board where threads can be started for strictly non confrontational periods.
There is also the suggestion that threads started there but that later somehow get bogged down in confrontation could be moved away back to the main board (who even knows if this is technically possible?) Not all agree on this point.

Justabout is going to start the thread in site stuff quite soon (we said 8pm UK time), so if you want to drop in and have a look it should be up and running soon.

I'm not sure if the idea is even amenable to Amber as it is somewhat of a compromise based on her original suggestions. I hope so.

Thumb: please wave to Amber for me! I think Justa will inform her of developments.

"nonconfrontational periods" What do I mean???

I think "purposes"... what kind of slip is that I wonder?

lol at nonconfrontational periods... it that a reallly really laid back one that gives no resistance to a mooncup.

OK. I think we have a landmark. First mention of a mooncup in the tea room.

sorry- lowering teh tone AGAIN....

Have just put a pic on my profile.

What a lovely fascinator

I note that Mellors got a mention in the Observer this weekend - I wondered if the columnist was a MNetter

Bolly anyone ?

Ds had a total tantrum this evening - MIL/FIL were here when he got back from nursery (they are off on holiday till the start of July so wanted to hand over his present), and really he just needed to chill. It was rather wearing, and he has gone to bed in his t shirt and no nappy (I'll have to sneak in and put one on in a minute)

What is that on Boy's head, Uni??????????????

(PS - he's soooooooo cute!!)

Mellors was mentioned in the Observer? Please, Cmot, provide a link. Quick!