Tea room the Eighth - sun, sea, sangria, and perhaps a sandy Mellors

[DontCallMeBaby]

Greetings, welcome to the eighth incarnation of the tearoom.

The tearoom has been, and will be again, a virtual safe haven for anyone up for rather random chat and a comprehensive range of virtual snacks. Nothing in the tearoom will make you fat, or drunk (unless you want it to) or cause an allergic reaction.

The new tearoom location is a beautiful beachside cafe (no need for factor 50, the virtual sun will just lightly tan you, bring out your freckles or simply warm your skin, as you prefer) with a range of garden swings, hammocks, sunloungers, deckchairs etc (as well as a rather incongruous, but well-loved, chaise longue). For those in need of sanctuary, we have managed to fashion a new priesthole out of woven grasses.

Our fellow residents include Mellors the rugged gardener of few-but-well-chosen words, the naked mohawk babies, a coterie of bishops, various domestic pets, and a selection of others. On the human side, all are welcome - while we live in the One Child topic some regulars have more than one, and we are welcome all (except people who put their heads on one side and tell those of us with one child that it's just not fair to have only one child).

Please help yourself to a glass of Champagne and a canape on the way in ...

This may help re: cassock/hassock

Love the cassock/hassock - it actually made me laugh after a day trying to prepare children for inspection including y5. Off to get a drink now then back with more questions. One will be, what does a verger do?

He verges, of course

Right. I think my year ones will find that totally logical.

The Vergers role seems to be different in each church or cathedral, but some of the main responsibilities are for changing altar frontals and dusting and cleaning the church. The Verger may also have custody of the keys, supervises the cleaning, sorts out the lighting, turns on the heating and arranges or carries out minor repairs to the church.

(I have my own key to our church )

Wow, such a lot has gone on in my absence as usual.

I had a stinker of a migraine yesterday and was keeping away from the computer and its nasty flashing lights. Sadly today I've got exciting departmental meetings all morning, so I may not be back til tomorrow. Still, wanted to say hello and welcome Amber back and reassure Jacksmama that I am not at death's door ; not even close!

I hope CMOTjunior has a good day and CMOTsenior feels sufficiently crap as to come home with his tail between his legs and apologise profusely for last night.

I am currently keeping my hat over my eyes as I think seeing bishops "au naturelle" might bring my migraine back . That's if talking to my collegues about exams, assessments and next term's arrangements doesn't do it or me.(My unexpected maternity leave is not very welcome since we're short staffed to be blunt and my absence will mean others will have to do extra)

Am sat here laughing like a loon at naked Bishops, ermine-trimmed speedos and turnips in church... you lot are mad... in the best possible way!!!

Welcome back Amberlight!!!
[delighted emoticon]

Cat - thanks for the reassurance .

Ecco shoes - lovely. Make my feet sigh with happiness.

Would anyone like to share my lovely beach hammock? Not to be confused with a hassock or even a cassock .

Since it's morning here I have brought mimosas (champagne and orange juice) with fresh raspberries in.

Shove over then

JM - I need to know the real weather in Toronto for next week. Do you think it will be jacket weather in the evenings, or will a wrap be sufficient ? I am mentally constructing my wardrobe, and hate taking things that I don't end up wearing

CMot, you'll be needing a hammer and nails for constructing that wardrobe then?

Vergers also herd the vicar into position. They carry a long stick with a ball on the end to prod them into position with, I believe. There again, I believe almost anything

I'd love to share a hammock, but I have to warn you that my co-ordination skills are not hammock-friendly and we will all end up either in an octopus-in-a-string-bag sort of knot together, or unceremoniously dumped on the sand.

PS Toronto weather forecast to be variable and about the same as the UK for next week.

Did you want a wardrobe built, Cmot? I am at your disposal.

I have been pummeled by my osteopath and am feeling generally a bit freer - have to wait and see whether that lasts and whether I can get up anymore easily. Still want to go to the nice one in mid-Wales that I used to go to once a year (every music course - used to book one year ahead!) as he was particularly thorough and, to be honest, better than the one here - but I can't justify a 3 hr trip for that...

Might pop in later on.

In the meantime, Amber, had you seen that Mellors has carefully sorted out some rush matting for you which magically stays on top of the sand and lets any sand on it fall through - but, of course, the sand here isn't the sort that's all scratch and gets in food and drinks and sunscreen anyway.

Rush matting?!

No chance of a magical transformation to a nice soft mat, is there, if I ask nicely?

Ah, that's better...

Sorry, should have mentioned the Rush Matting Panic on account of how some had splinters and Aspies Never Forget**this is like Elephants Never Forget, but with less elephant

Weather in Toronto for CMOT. I just rang my mum to ask and she said it was pretty much spot on for wht they're having.

I don't like rush matting either - how about one of those fabric sunloungers?

Ooo Amber, we forgot The PCC

knock, knock

.... whose that knocking on the tearoom door???

T42 walks towards the beach hut style door....

Could it be yappybluedog...???

I do hope so!!!!

Yes, Tea, I hope she might drop in, too. Some of the posts on that thread were unnecessarily destructive, I thought.

Ah well. Bolly, anyone? And, magically, we have another pitcher of pina colada. Time to crank up the juke box, I think.

Aaaahhhhhaaa haaaa haaaa - I love the song madbad!!!!!

I also loved your posts - It is interesting to see how we were all posting when this topic first developed and how we post now - your posts were always interesting before but now they show so much insight and understanding - seriously I was impressed!

I think I will change the song because Mellors has just started dancing and it is so very close to spoiling my illusion of him it is awful!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBJmyrx26Gc

I am a big fan of this lady - and secretly hope she is an mner...

What do you think?

I think she is a bit marmite, really...

Looks thoughtfully up at night sky...

Mmmm - marmite.... Milk loves marmite due to being force fed it by me in an attempt to make her British!!!! Ha ha!!!

Ooh. Can't really decide (no sound on this PC, alas) but I have liked girl + guitar combos ever since Joan Armourplating, so that's a good omen.

Thank you JM - its hard to tell what the weather feels like somewhere from the weather report. I will mentally wave at your mum when we are there

DH is rather penitent. He claimed to have had only 2 glasses of wine, but then remembered some beer too. In a spirit of forgiveness, I actually ironed him a shirt

And am mulling over the implication that insight and understanding are qualities I've only gained recently.

CMot - where did he stay?

Amber - sorry, should have mentioned the nice rug!

Is Mellors twighlighting elsewhere again tonight?

He eventually found a Travelodge. Now why he didn't ask me to find somewhere for him to stay I do not know, but that is the nature of the drunk man.

oh no no no - I am not saying you only gained those skills recently madbad - I am saying you had them before but your last posts were exceptionally insightful and understanding. I was really impressed.

I didn't post after you because it was so good - I just couldn't...

... While T42 nine months ago would probably have wondered in in her size ten dm boots and made some daft joke that would have made a huge a mess of things!!!!