Tea Room the Ninth: I love rock and roll, put another dime in the juke box baby

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

Welome to the ninth incarnation of the tea room. It's been a long and eventful road, from a tea room overlooking a cathedral garden to a beachside cafe, with a diversion via a yurt. Now - voila - we are in a music lounge. We cater for all tastes and, as this is a tea room of requirement, it manages simultaneously to be many things at once. For some, it is a 70s glam rock disco with a cool boho edge - glitter balls, smoke machine and much wearing of platform shoes and eyeliner. For others, a jazz bar where mellow music is played as cocktails are served. For still others, it's a concert performance of Spem In Allium. We still have a garden, with shady parasols for the summer, and a menagerie of pets. Our membership is international.

The tea room has few rules. Everyone is welcome. But anyone visiting with the sole intention of causing hurt or shouting abuse will be ejected by Mellors, the multi-talented gardener-handyman who (it turns out) is also a guitar wizard and rock god.

Please come in.

Hi DCMB!
It would appear that the tearoom has been almost deserted in favour of RL at the mo, Amber and the NMBs and Racingpig excepted. (and me, standing upside down in a corner in a different time zone of course.)

I might have to go back to work soon as well - I can't stand not having any money and there might be an opportunity to do some casual lab work at MIL's hospital.

Oh, RL - overrated if you ask me. And a bit stinky at the moment (kittens). DH has just checked for me that work are expecting me back on the Wednesday, and not the Monday, so that's something at least.

I'm glad the kittens can't see the NMBs, they have enough fun stalking the cursor, they'd have a field day with tiny persons on the screen.

It might be the DM effect still, or not. Can't tell.

I'm ready for a decent cuppa. Anyone else?

DCMB, good to see you again!
TW, it doesn't sound like you're thrilled by the prospect of the work in the hospital??

Hello all, and a special wave to our antipodean correspondent.

Have had a lovely (ha ha) drive up and down the M5/M6 today.

Anyone for Pimms ? It seems that sort of a day to me

Ooh, choices, choices - a decent cuppa first, then Pimms, I think.

Can't imagine what the DM would think of the tearoom, amber! Tis all very weird (the DM situation, not the tea room, although the tea room is a little weird).

Sympathies on the M5/M6 CMOTD, we were due to do that towards the end of the holidays, to see the in-laws, but acquired the kittens and now we can't go. Oops.

amber you are correct - it is many years now since I worked in a hospital lab and although I do miss the work at times, I prefer not working regular hours and staying at home with miniThumb. Still, this might only be a casual come-in-when-we-need-you sort of job, if they want me at all, so it might be ok. Must remember to actually ring the bloke in charge...

CMOTD - did I mention before the lovely services at Tebay on the M6? I love Tebay services, had never been there before July this year but would always aim to stop there if ever going up the M6 again! Fabulous services. Great views, lovely farm shop, local produce... could rhapsodise on forever about it but will wrap it up here before you all snore too loudly!

DCMB - how lucky unfortunate you have kittens who need you!

Tebay service are indeed the dogs, but had to go to Stoke, so not that far up.

A good thing about going into the lab is that you would get to meet loads of people, which would help in settling in ?

Good to hear from you, Thumb, and welcome back to the fold, DCMB.

MadBadBaby and I have just had a fantastic time in Bristol. The Explore centre was fabulous - I highly recommend it. Now, who would like a cup of tea and a carrot and orange muffin?

Yay!!! DS has nine, yes NINE, GCSEs!!!!!!!! Wheeeee!

amber, that's great news! Hurrah for Amberjunior!
Have a macaroon or other equally stickily indulgent cakey-type thing of your choice.

Way to go Amberjunior ! Woohoooh

Off to a beer festival with camping tomorrow - DS is staying the night with PIL. His first ever night with other people

Then I'm off to Maastricht on Saturday morning for a conference. Deep joy.

-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-

Bunting up for...

A....

Champagne

P
A
R
T
Y

In the tearoom...

In honour of....

AMBERBOY's academic success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!!!! But.... come to think of it.... how could he be anything but a completely mahooooosive success with such a fab Mum as Amber????!!!!!???? Hurrah and hurray and cheers and for he's a jolly good fellow and other funny and nice sayings like that!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! He is indeed a Fine Lad and obviously a hard worker to boot. Way-hay!

So, who's having a celebratory glass of champagne?

Count me in. Many many congratulations to Ambers Fine lad. 9 is a very respectable haul in anybodies book, and for a dyslexic tis even more impressive.
Here's to his future choices, may he make them wisely.

Bottoms up girls.

PS- there is some of my mums bananana and lemon cake on teh counter, also fresh scones with butter and plum jam ( wot I made at mums teh other night)
I think it goes OK with Champange?

oh yum yum - tha cake goes perfectly with champgne - good job UniS!!!

So

Marvellous! We haven't had dancing here for ages. I'll get the glitter balls spinning.

More champagne, anyone?

Yay, well done Amberboy, all the best people have nine GCSEs.

parties

What party this is turning out to be!!!

Wow, that was an event!

And has the Fine Lad surfaced yet? Or is he still having a lie-in?

Oh yes, he's been around for hours. He cycled merrily to my office and tapped on the window only a couple of hours ago, frightening the proverbial life out of me! Wanted to leave the bike here whilst he goes to the gym. Must...learn...to....recognise....own...son..

Hello ladies,

I wish I had some exciting reason to explain not being around, but sadly they begin with work and end with Kittenito, who on Sunday managed (don't ask me how, he was with Mr. Hatita at the time) to cut himself on the same testicle he was recently operated on.
I don't recomend A and E with an 19 month old at 8pm on a Sunday evening.

Also classes ressumed this week. I am slighty overwhelmed as I have to give my semester's worth of classes before Kittenita2 makes her appearence (end of Oct). I am supposed to go on maternity leave in 6 weeks, but that is impossible to do: 12 weeks of classes into 6 just doesn't go. And then the bastards wanted me to give an extra seminar (I fought that one off thank goodness).

If I'm lucky I should manage to get my 12 week leave (obligatory I might add) in before the winter semester starts in January. Last time I had to come back a fortnight early (grrr...), this time I am negotiating "working from home" (and yes, from my point of view it is an euphemism) in the hours that I don't teach. In June this was agreed but there is some backtracking going in at the mo.

Sorry, I'm too busy wallowing in my own troubles here.

Congratulations to Amber junior! That is very impressive.

Big hello to the upside down Thumb. I hope you are feeling more settled by now.

Congratulations to Amberboy, HELLO to thumb, and (((((HUGS))))) to Catita and Kittenito.

And cheerful waves and Prosecco to everyone else.

I appear to have missed a lot. Must read back and catch up.