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 ...

TW - no, Berlioz and quite a few French composers usually only have one upper part. Not sure why. I do know someone who is a Berlioz expert, so perhaps I could ask him and report back?

I like the Verdi Requiem to sing. I did one performance of that with large choir and large orchestra in a limited space - choir had to stand throughout as there was insufficient space for chairs. I stood on the corner of the platform (about 1m high at this stage, no railing) with the bass drum just behind to my right, and the timps sort of infront/beside me - so if I'd fallen I wouldl have gone into one or the other. The beginning of the Dies Irae was FANTASTIC!!! For anyone that doesn't know, the music starts a bar before the choir - 4 beats with the timp on the beat (very loud) and the bass drum off the beat (or is it the other way round?) 1st time through was a bit of a shock standing there!!!

oooo time to join in!

Science festival and noodles sounds fantastic! I want to come and play!

I love Mozart's requim but don't know the others so will have to fine them and listen.

UniS did your DH get home ok?

CMOT thanks for the fairycakes, here is some coffee to go with

Mistle imprsessed you can sing after "worthy" food, I love waggamamas never tried Tampopo, must do

We had lovely weekend camped in New Forest (in one of my 15 homes - you see, I am the Queen ) and stayed with friends on Sat night so got the outdoors but avoided the rain!

Scottishma so sorry re the "more babies" thing, ain't it tiresome? CMOT I bet your DS didn't really want another, just fancied taking a baby home... and good for you chatting at rugby, I know you find it hard and have in the past felt the "groups" weren't so welcoming

Daisy - did you take your yurt and were you woken by ponies nibbling the door ties?

New Forest sounds lovely.

If you fancied the many and varied festivals plus noodles there is a lovely campsite at the Cotswolds Farm Park, which gives easy access

Funeral to go to tomorrow - my Dads cousin, who was actually the emotionally closest member of the family to me. And def to dad as David was older than him enough to understand what was going on in the family, but close enough to go out with

Sorry to hear that CMot...

Hello all you noodle lovers, culture vultures and intellectual types!

I am twirling around on the beach in a delighted frenzy as we speak!!!!!

My sister, who had asked me not to visit when her baby is born.... has e-mailed to say she was being harsh and I can go and see the baby after-all!!!!!!!!

I spent a good week sulking and foot stomping for nothing.

I think this calls for at least two glasses of champagne each - I have put a strawberry in the bottom of each one to make them look chic as well as summery!!!!!!!!

Hmm. Now feeling that I must be uncouth as well, for introducing a potentially offensive term to the conversation. But, actually, I think that Thumb is onto something when she points out that there are some terms like goth and vandal which no longer mean anything in identifying a person's nationality and only have their later meaning.

Are there still real (geographically based) Goths and Vandals? Perhaps that's why the terms aren't offensive anymore.

Tea, I must have missed something - am that your sister didn't want you to come visit when she has her baby - but delighted that she's changed her mind!!

Here, have a Sparkling Lemondrop to celebrate!

How are you all this morning?

• sorry cMot I was so busy twirling round and round that - I hadn't read your post thoroughly...

I am really very sorry for your loss.

Your Dad's cousin sounds like the kind of person everyone needs in their life. Lucky you to have had such a smasher - and unlucky you that he isn't around anymore. Life is too short. Too short for sure....

So.... cmot - wishing you really lots of good luck for tomorrow - saying goodbye is so bloody hard - I know as I also have had to say goodbye to a few smashers too.... they really are the hardest to say goodbye to. So hard that actually we never do say goodbye properly just let them carry on living in our hearts and in the things we say and do.

I will be thinking of you and your family lots over the next few days.

x x x x x x x x x x lots of love

[offers hand to hold.... if needed]

JM - I hadn't mentioned it on mn before I was just stomping and sulking in real life!

Madbad - I do not find Vandal and Goth offensive but then again I did once referred to a neighbour as a Kiwi. Much to gasps from the group of people I was talking to. Apparently it is un-pc to call someone from New Zealand a Kiwi unless you are a New Zealander yourself - then it is ok.... oh well you live and learn!

When I was a teenager I was quite grungy - I think it would be quite cool if there was a Land of Grunge....

Thanks tea - it's odd because his death has been a long time coming - he had an inoperable but slow growing tumour that was just enormous, and he was 80 ish, but in someways that made him more special. He was housebound for the last 15 years or so, and therefore was at the centre of a bustling house full of children/grandchildren/greatgrandchildren as three families live in the house, but was always glad of some new gossip and a visit.

As was his wish, he'll be buried in the garden, next to his wife. No church, just in the house

Oh CMOT - for you.
Would a (((HUG))) be wlcome?

Thinking of you CMOT.

oh, CMOT I have to cut and run, but good luck tomorrow, and I hope you can enjoy memories as well as sadness

Tea glad you are having a good sister day, know you were upset last week

at others

hugs for CMOT

Sorry to hear of your loss, CMOT Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Symathy CMOT.
Tea all round and a slice of carrot cake with out NMBs on top. Oh, sorry, make that WITH NMBs on top. you might want to scrape off teh iceing...

We be off for a bit of road trip tomorrow, will pop back when I can.
Waves to Amber if any one sees her.

• Did someone say carrot cake???? - I could do with some of that.... mmmm!!!!!!!!!

Evening, all.

Busy few days, been out and about and very busy, so will try and leap into conversation without doing any back reading. Please excuse any faux pas.

Tea, why did your sister say something so strange in the first place???

CMOT, sorry to hear about your loss. Lets raise a glass of this rather fine rose I have just found here to your cousin.

MadBad - I have been gardening! I have found a way of squeezing in a tiny gardening slot - about 30 - 45 mins between Wriggle falling asleep and it getting too dark. In fact, I am off there now. May be back later.

So, another square metre of veg garden cleared. The trouble with doing it in June is that the plants are so recognisable. It's one thing in March or April to clear all the little unrecognisable seedlings, but now I have just spent ages dithering over the fate of a four foot teasel and a clump of poppies just ready to bloom. (Both have been spared and will look very untidy in my rows of runner beans). I now understand why the tea room gardens are always overgrown; Mellors can't bear to dig anything up.

Thanks all

Am impressed with your dedication to gardening Racing - we are keeping the strawberries alive, but I fear thats my limit

I'm still avoiding packing... lah ah lah. maybe it will do it self if I ignore it.

We are also keeping strawberries alive - for the blackbirds to eat as I haven't got round to netting them. (The strawberries, not the blackbirds.)

UniS - I tried that with my year 9 books
Sadly they have not marked themselves...
(but I do have until Friday!)