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 ...

Well done Mary and Cmot.

We saw some cricket this afternoon. MadBadBaby, with all the worldweariness of her advanced age, pronounced it 'utterly boring'.

Now we've just got in and have mislaid the TV doofer, so I am watching Eurovision because the telly's stuck on BBC1.

Champagne, anyone?

Great excuse, MadBad!

CMOTD - glad all went well

MaryBS - good news on the interview - I won't cross my fingers yet for you as I might get cramp by the time we get there but good luck!

Its a finance job in a school, so not Godbothery no!

Afternoon all!

Catita that is really good news, I think I shall definitely call you Bumpita now! I know what you mean re earrings. My mate married a chilean girl, first baby (girl) ears pierced on day 2, seems odd in England, fine in Chile, it's just one of those thigns but I really don't think all feminist principles will be lost if she is pierced

Make up I don't do. Mixture of lack of bother and, as racing says, would that it did not look hopeless when I do do it!

Cavalier KC I told you, Tea, don't do it! perhaps dachshund, good inside news from Curly, but not a bassett unless you want total stubbornosity on your doorstep the whole time!

Racing do the whole "compliment with a bit" email thing. The only way. Love Wriggle's photos

UniS look! Daisyboy has gone to play cricket too. He's very keen and about the same age

Hugs to everyone else - for Justa and JM did you see the sell out Polish (I think) book on sex and catholics? dubbed the karma sutra for catholics and a sell out already. Apparently God things we should do it loads, not just the missionary position

oh, well done MaryBS and CMOT RAcing I would love to be a SAHM too, but work just has to be done to get that food on teh table! IT can be such a pain, but I wouldn't want a banker, you get used to all hte money and then they get made redundant! I would like a reasonable amount of inherited wealth so it is all sorted and safe

Finally, MadBad Summer hols - we are going on hols to France and possibly Italy. We are driving and camping and calling in on friends and family (probably) it will be mostly inland and mountains, maybe a bit of sea. Not sure when, but Aug/ Sept for 4 -5 weeks I hope!

We're going to France for half-term - not long to go now!

at notion of inherited wealth.

I am deeply envious at the idea of a 4-5 week holiday.

Could we start a tea room junior cricket team? Mellors could do some coaching and we know there would be excellent teas!

Tea and cake, anyone?

Congrats to MaryBS and CMOT.

Sympathies to Unis on the cricket. My Dad is the world's biggest cricket fan. Radio 4's coverage was the backdrop to my childhood/adolescence. Also I know all the theme songs from the telly and can recognise most of the presenters.

My Mum, on the other hand, is into golf and snooker. So I am also familiar with top players/presenters.

Myself, I can't be bothered with any of it. I'm hoping DS will be more taken with football or swimming or something with a bit more ooph.

We're going to the UK in June. DH and Ds are coming alon for the ride.. I've been invited to speak at a conference and am getting my airfare paid (damn good job becasue the current going rate for Mex-Uk is about 1700 pounds and we can only just afford pay for DH).

All was organised pre-pregnancy (like the mammoth Christening trip) and, despite my hopes that the flu might bring about a cancelation. All seems to be going according to plan. I mean, I know I'll have a good time and so will DS, being spoilt by grandma and grandad. I just don't want to do the journey. It's so tiring, stressful etc etc. I hate doing it when not pg, but at the mo, and after the hell that was Easter, I am not looking forward to it at all.

I'm an idiot really. Basically I hate travelling full stop. But somehow managed to marry a bloke who lived thousands of miles from my family and his. Thus we are doomed to spend all available holidays travelling.

Sorry 1,200 pounds. But still involves us having to borrow money to be able to afford it.

And yes to tea and cake plesae Madbad.

Can I have some of your inherited wealth please?

Ps. Forgot. Yesterday evening it RAINED here. First time in 6 months. The river had dried up and all was looking horribly yellow and brown. Temp is 10 degrees lower and DS is actually wearing clothes today (as opposed to just his napppy). Lovely!

Catita poor you, but exciting to be talking - where when and on what if you can tell us in a non-outing sort of way

Mistle what has happened to you and the family plans for Featherbed/ featherdown or whatever it was called? After our debacle in Devon in December (nice alliteration at least!) I read about the Featherchaps and was very so have been thinking about you and going ever since!

Oh look! There is mellors, just skimming the waves on his ride on lawn mower which is now attached to a windsurf!! My, that man!!!

I need a small sweet sherry after that - care to join me anyone?

catita it seems unfair that travel is still expensive with all the swiney cancellations going on!

I am feeling better already

Hello Catita.

Would a cup of tea and slice of ginger cake soothe your concerns about the trip back to the UK?

Eeek! Multiple cross-posts!

So Mellors has fabricated some sort of jet ski out of the ride-on lawnmower and a wind-surfer? He is so rugged.

We have had a lovely day. MadBadBaby was at a ballet event, so MadBadBloke and I went to a stately home and were able to walk through the grounds holding hands (aah) without a small insistent person barging between us.

I wonder who else might be in tonight. We'd better tidy up.

Ooh ginger cake, I can see you've got my number Madbad. An extra big slice please.

Daisy: I could tell you, but it would be kind of like telling you exactly who I am, and I am not too keen on that, tbh (well I have no qualms about you, but after last week, I am conscious that people other than otherselves could be reading this!). In general terms its about politics, the army and coups really. I do political history and boy, does Mexico have a very eventful political history.

The crap thing about living in mexico is precisely the cost of flying back. To fly UK-Mexico-Uk is always at least 250 pounds if not 350 pounds cheaper. I call it the "third-world tax". It's probably because less people do the Mex-Uk-Mex journey, but it does feel lik discrimination.

I think if I had a dream bbout Daniel Craig i woud keep it to myself
And go over it multiple times in my head

Well..... only taken about 25mins to 'catch up' - I hope that I've got it all by heart!

Tea - I had suggested long-haired dachshunds. Don't even think about a basset - they are bigger than they look (having been in a tiny thatched cottage where the 2 that were allowed in took all the available floor area)

Plans - yes, we're going to Devon in the summer again and will almost certainly go to Pennywell Farm (particularly if its raining) as Dh and I liked it so much - and MJ is still talking about it too (!)

We've got a week in the Lakes booked for half term - both hols s/c cottages.

Then we have a 'music' week - lots of playing (the downside is have to share a cottage with FiL who can be a bit thoughtless and sometimes seems to get me worked up on purpose)(oh - and its quite a long journey too which doesn't help)

MadBad - I hope that I didn't suggest that you were smarmy - just that your suggested wording perfectly balanced smarmyness and veiled threats

Catita - earings - difficult decision to make. I know if I'd had a girl I wouldn't have got hers done, one of the reasons being that I'm allergic to most earings anyway - can only wear 24ct gold for any length of time so I have very few pairs of earings for everyday use!!!

I will drop by later after rehearsal for a drink, but I'd better not have one now as I've got to drive there....

no need for sympathy Cat, I actually quite like cricket. I'm a scorer and earn my tea. ANd I do like cricket tea... was just teh thought of playing it in teh living room ALL day was a bit much.
So, we went out to soft play this afternoon, boy and DH having spent all morning playing cricket in teh living room , and teh spare bedroom. Dhs game cancelled due to water logged pitch and torrential rain. but hes been offered a game for thursday ( already has one tues) so hes happy enough.

Is there a one child holiday thread, must go and look ...
NO. so, we are doing a road trip to vist friends and family and a cycle rally in June. probably pop up see my family and do some London ish stuff in July or August, then planning a self catering, maybe camping week North devon in sept.
All of which may or may not be hit by Dh suddenly not being able to walk away his project on teh dates he has booked as leave.... minor fume. HEs teh employed one, I'm the self employed one, but its always his projects that have dates moved about. maybe because my projects tend to last a week or two and his last a few years.

2nd ing teh idea of Tea room colts cricket team, it should keep them busy over the summer. Boys and girls.

OK, will go and start that holiday thread now!

We're all (maybe) going on a summer holiday

So, we now have both Daisy and Catita having to keep their identities a secret and MadBad with inherited wealth ... there is obviously Something Going On for which the tea room is a mere cover ....

Tea, let me add to the chorus urging you not to have a basset hound. I think I already shared our sad basset tail tale.

Lovely day but very tired now and off to bed. Bonne nuit!

who are the masked ladies in the corner, swooping to rescue one and all in peril on the seas.. is it rosemary the telephone operator, is it sarge flint , or is it Penry the mild mannered janitor...

Oh, MadBad, thanks for finding my Tea Towel!

Tea towel, Daisy? There seemed to be about twenty of them.

I'm feeling nostalgic for the time when our live wasn't so governed by the school calendar!

Now, who'd like a drink? Twiglet? Olive? Foot massage? I see Mellors has put the massage table out on the verandah.

OK, rehearsal finished - I've opened a bottle of wine - anyone else?

TW - sorry that you're now having problems too! Not quite caught up where/what for etc!!!

RS - I think I need to keep my head even lower than Catitas - so count me in for the false moustache and silly glasses/nose...

Mistledog is sulking - she's had a weekend away with her 'big' pack - ie us plus my parents (who she occasionally stays with so counts them as proper family) - and she's even had friends to go on walks with as we borrowed one on Sat and were asked to look after another on Sun - but we're back home with just us again now....

And as for the weather being too bad for outside - we'll have none of that!!! My mother suggested that we could go home after only a short time - but although Mistledog would have been OK with that, MJ wouldn't have been - he really needed a walk this morning!!! (otherwise I think my father would have had something extremely strong to say - let alone dh and me!)