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 ...

Daisy - I have just landed a new job as dancer and chanteuse, but I have to take a friend with me. Are you free to join me?

Morning all,
I take after last night's shennanigans you are still nursing very nasty virtual hangovers.

I'm all of a jitter this week because of childcare emergencies. DS was being looked after by a lovely neighbour who has to go for a hysterectomy. So I looked round at nurseries for when we get back from the UK (we go on Sunday!!)Trouble was the nicest best place said to me that DS had to start this week or else lose the place. Cue frantic search for all necessary documents last week lus medical exam (which he failed due to a cold!). He finally passed his medical on Tuesda morning and started yesterday. He is a bit traumatised, wee love, but i hope he'll have a better time today. Obviously he'll have to go through it all again when we get back; but I really didn't want him to not get in at this nursery. I am trying not feel like a Bad Mother today, but having just left a protesting DS ("No, No mami no no") at the nursery, I feel a little crap.

Shennanigans? Did I miss shennanigans? Boo. I will go for a bacon and egg roll anyway, and the aspirin, as am suffering from swine flu a bit of a cold.

Good morning!

(((HUGS))) and sympathy all around re child care, hangovers, swine flu colds etc.

Would anyone like some milky cinnamon coffee and warm cinnamon rolls with icing ? (Guaranteed safe for everyone incl those w/ dairy, wheat/other allergies or caffeine and sugar sensitivity.)

I took Jackbaby to a professional photographer yesterday to have pictures taken for Father's Day. DH has no clue . They took them with a digital camera and we looked at them right away - I swear, in a few of them the kid looks like a model!! Me, on the other hand, not so great. The really fun thing about all this was that the photographer we had was the one who did our wedding!! She works at the studio now, no longer independently only. She has known DH since they were in high school together. I have to say that even with the skills of her camera, I have aged a bit in the last three years. Lines have popped up that weren't there before. My face looks more tired. Sorry, I know I'm a vain old bag - and there are much more serious problems in the world. But I always used to look so much younger than my actual age that it's a shock to look at pictures and see that Dolly Parton was right: "time marches on, and it marches all over your face!" .
Anyway - will be able to pick up the pictures next week and then I'm going to scan them and put them on my profile - they are terrific.

Mm-mmf-mm-mnf!!

Oops, witty bon mots drowned in cinnamon roll.

Cat, I bet DS has had a lovely time. I once witnessed a little girl (DD's ballet friend, come to think of it, she was teeny then) go from hysterical to happy in about 8 seconds after her dad left the nursery, it was really striking.

I hope you are right DCMB. When I picked him up yesterday he showed signs of having been crying for a while (chest puffing? If that how you describe it), he wouldn't eat anything with them and refused to have a nap. (He was there for the induction for a whole 4 hours of which I was there for one). It's 5 hours today.. we'll see.

He did say to me yesterday afternoon "kool" "nenes" (meaning school and children-he speaks a sort of Spanglish at the mo), which I interpreted as him telling me that he had been at nursery with other children. I had explained to him previously that he would be going to school like his childminder's grandchildren. That is probably a sign that he did have some kind of fun between the tears.

At least I hope so....

Aw, poor little chap. It's so different at different ages - DD started nursery at six months, so we had quite a different experience of it. She had a hard time settling into a new room at 3 though, and that knocked all the confidence out of me, felt awful for a while. Now she insists on going back to visit from time to time.

I'm afraid ds breezed through all room changes etc - he's always been ready to move on - not that he didn't like his carers in the room he was - but he likes new things and new challenges. He met his teacher for next year yesterday - I thought he would be really upset about moving - but they've clearly been doing some background work and he said that his current teacher would be helping 'the little ones' and he would be a big boy in the larger part of the school!!!

hello fromte in laws. justa wave. off on teh road again tomorrow morning. going north to County Durham to meet up with old friends. have adinner date for DH and I with one old friend who can;t make a day time meet up. That willmake 2 nights out with babay sitting from our hosts in one week!!!!!

Went to bibury trout farm today- lovely cheap day out, boy had a ball.

Love you, see you later. Unis

Oooh! Look what I've found in the cupboard by the sink. It's a small bottle with a label on it saying 'Echinacea - to be taken 3 times a day in case of colds'

I hope it helps DCMB.

Catita, I hope your little one has had a better day of it today.

How was he today Catita ?

MT - I have promised to get down to Oz next year (haven't been for 4 years with one thing and another), so will look out for the kangaroos

Blimey. I'm not sure if I feel better. I certainly feel ... unusual.

UNiS! We went to Bibury trout farm back in April - it's lovely, isn't it? Particularly liked feeding the really big ones and watching the feeding frenzy!

for all those feeling under the weather.

I have yet to leave DS at any kind of nursery/school type thing - am nervous about doing it. He has had babysitters at home and been fine, even when I have been gone a few hours, but not been anywhere without me or DH outside the home. Doubtless this was very wrong of me and he will be socially scarred for ages as a result - but we shall see. When we get to Aus I might investigate the local nursery places - but then again after the news tonight I might not!

Did anyone see that really quite poignantly amusing new series tonight, May Contain Nuts? Excellent casting - am looking forward to the rest of it!

(Donk, if we leave a bag of ponykangaroo nuts out as well as a bag of kangaroo-specific carrots, yours will be safe, no worries.)

CMOT you are our official Tea Room ambassador! Meeting JM this year and Thumb next!

Catita, so sorry to hear of your DS, I sympathise, DasiyBoy had a bit of a struggle when he started nursery in Jan. Can they text you when he settles, or phone or osmehting? Made me laught, leaving DaisyBoy howling and before I had even got round the corner I had a call saying he was fine and making play doh etc.

It's hard, but tonight I had DAisyBoy howling just as hard over wanting to eat grapes, but when it is you, boy and an issue it's not tough. When it is you and boy wailing "don't leave me mummmeeeeeee" it is totally horrendous!

Hello all:

I think DS had a better day today. He was crying again when he was handed over, but not like yesterday and they told me that he had eaten well (but no sleep). According to the carer he had been playing happily until told his mami was here. His description of today was like yesterday's, but with the more positive aspect that the word "nenes" (trans. children for those who have forgotten)was followed by giggles.

Thumb Ds had been the same up until now. He's only ever been left with people he has all his wee life (basically DH and childminder). Hence the trauma. He felt like he had been abandoned. We had to go to see the gynacologist in the afternoon and no sooner did we walk in the door when he screamed "no no" and tried to get out in the street. I think he thought he was going to be left again.

The news? Is this a Mexican story or have horrible things also happenned in a nursery in the UK. (Note: Last Friday a nursery in Sonora caught fire. The nurses couldn't get all the children out quick enough and 41 died .)

Daisy no such personal attention I'm afraid. They only phone if Something is Wrong apparently.

That sounds promising Cat. They're funny when they've obviously forgotten you for a while - DD went through a phase when under 1 of bursting into tears when I arrived to collect her, apparently very common in that age as they forget you exist, forget they've been 'abandoned', then when you return, all hell breaks loose.

Ah, the news - a nursery worker has been charged with child porn/abuse offences, with some photographs believed to have been taken in the nursery where she works. Like the Mexican story (which I'd not quite connected with where you are) you immediately see the faults when it happens ... only one way in/out in a nursery (Mexico)? Carer left alone and out of sight with children for long enough to abuse and photograph them (Plymouth)?

Milk also had a wobbly few weeks at nursery. Now she runs there and usually forgets to say "Bye Mummy" because she is so up for all the fun to be had! Catita this will be happening to you soon I am sure!

Yesterday Milk left nursery with an enormous orange balloon (it is about the same size as her) - I was giggling all the way home. She looked exactly like a cartoon character.

On the peak time Metro she was offered two seats to make room for her and her balloon and when we changed trains her balloon managed to block the fast side of the esculators .

I was snorting at the daftness of it all but she thought it was completely normal!

We co-sleep and last night DH moaned because with this over-sized balloon in the bed there was no space for him!

This morning DS shoved me out of the door at nursery. Apparently he had things to do, and people to play with. And a very important appointment with planting runner beans.

Before that, I was a sperm whale, and he was an adelie penguin...

Dh is faffing around getting all his stuff for a festival weekend camping. His all time favourite band have reformed, and are playing

CMot - have you got that lovely book about Pip the penguin then?

DS is VERY tired - so have had a v. difficult morning. Starting with 'yuk' at breakfast, followed by spending 20mins on the loo without trying to finish very quickly when we were getting ready to go to school. Tears (sorry, full scale wailing) that we couldn't go through the vehicular 'deliveries' gate that gets locked at school etc. Then I found out that he had drawn on his friend with a paint pen on purpose yesterday and got bolshy with the teacher. She is having none of it - neither am I!

That's the one - it's gorgeous isn't it.

Sympathies for the difficult morning. Can I proffer a danish pastry ?

DH has gone now - so it's just me and DS till Monday. Luvvverly

Sounds good CMot, particularly as on diet in RL...

How about some strawberries with that - and a nice cafetierre of coffee - Oh - and look, I've found some blueberries too.

Hmmmm
coffee, strawberries and danish pastry roll on!

CMOT sounds like you will have fun

Mistle sorry for your morning and Catita it will get better, about the Mexican nusrery I hadn't heard

Have I missed today's soup and lewd rolls?

Catita - It really does sound as if you're on an upward trend with the nursery. Here's hoping for more giggles today.

Mistle - Commiserations. Shall we start a countdown until Bolly o'clock?

Cmot - Sounds like an exciting weekend! What is your dh's favourite band?