Tea Room the Tenth: Tea and cake and rock and roll

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

Welcome back to the tea room.

In the search for the perfect venue, we have now decamped to a rambling country estate. The once-decaying castle, now restored, is a boutique hotel, popular with rock and roll gentry and visiting bishops, and the tea room (which never closes) is located in a tastefully converted barn. The charming garden contains a duck pond and ends in a haha. We need the haha, of course, to stop the bison trampling the herbaceous borders. Mellors the gardener is, as ever, in charge of the grounds.

Please come and join us for a celebratory drink.

Oooh, UniS. I had forgotten that you don't have a TV. I'm intrigued. Is it because you don't want one (in which case I applaud you -I am too weak)? Or a pragmatic decision because there's no signal?

I've still got my jods on? That makes a change....

More Bolly anyone?

jods for a social event, sounds about situation normal for amber doesn't it. bet every one else was in flowery summer frocks. Sound s liek a very long day, you get you head down now nd ignore us.

We are TV less through choice AND through no signal, we chose not to get a digi box and teh anologue signal was turned off in our region back in May. Still have teh telly as a dvd and video monitor. boy is getting quite good at loading dvds now.

Wearing jods is how I met dh, at a party. You only think you're joking

Not to worry amber, Dh was on stilts ( and wearing red leggings!) when I met him.

Nice day for hack today, I'll wave you off if your going up to the moor. I'm having a lazy, backachey day.

Thank you for all your supportive messages. Reassuring to know that I am not being silly not wanting to change my hours. Headteacher is very easily influenced and not very intelligent. She is inclined to bully the weakest/most idealistic members of staff when overcome by an urge to exert her authority/show the governors that she is really in charge. About half the original staff have left over the last 3 years. And she genuinely cried when they left. Every time. The most recent very very highly trained counsellor/HTLA had a union who were begging her to allow them to make a case for constructive dismissal.

Anyway, Wriggle and I are off to stay with friends for two days and forget about everything until work on Wednesday. Will start to worry again when I get back.

Hope everyone had a fanstastic weeked in the sun - we went to Wilton House adventure playground in the trees which was wonderful and is now unaccountably closing for the winter. I am still pretending it is summer.

Polite (((hugs)) to Catita and Mamagata, if found acceptable. Am off now to watch the sun set slowly over the haha in the tea room garden. Nice that we have a haha again.

oh oh oh - I had a Watch set on that thread - I really wish I hadn't as I've just read the latest from smugmumofone (you know who I mean) and am seething over the snidey, patronising tone! Argh. Am not going back, have removed the Watch, don't feed the smugger, that's what I say.... ARGH!!

RS - glad you had a good weekend - stick to your guns re. the Head - force her to take alternative action by refusing pointblank to change hours. Dig your heels in - we'll join you in a virtual chorus

Weeeee shall not, we shall not be moooved, Weeeee shall not, we shall not be moooved...

Isn't it crazy that as a teacher you work with children and support their well-being and development. You would think that as an extension of this the profession would be child-friendly and supportive of parents.

If you can't find a balance in teaching, where can you find it?! The Head obviously doesn't practise what she preaches.

Hope it gets sorted.

Hi. I've just baked a date and walnut loaf in the trusty aga. Would anyone like a slice with a cup of tea?

Good morning everyone!
Would anyone like some plum crumble (before I eat it all myself)?

Thumb - I am torn between wanting to go back to that thread and letting fly but I think I'd just end up banging my head against the wall again so I will exert maximum willpower and just leave it alone (but the temptation is really severe!!).

plum crumble and walnut loaf - ladies, you are spoiling us! Yum!

JM, stay away, really, it's too painful.

yum please!

oooh Mary, how very fabulous! What's he going to be speaking about?

(are you ok now, did the Scotch do its job the other day?)

The scotch really hit the spot thanks! Still have to resolve the issues which meant the scotch was needed in the first place, however... .

He'll (++ABY to those in the know ) be talking on the future of the church.

I've definitely noticed the ticket, Mary. Very impressed, but hoping you'll leave the micro-mini cassock at home.

I have stayed away from that other thread, having said (more than) my bit.

Anyone else want some scotch? Or Bolly?

The micro-mini cassock is in for repair. I've eaten too much crumble and walnut loaf and split the seams!

I've heard its possible to get tipsy quicker if drinking through a straw, anyone know for sure? I CAN confirm the Bolly is nicely chilled...

sure is, Mary - it is possible to absorb alcohol in the buccal cavity (mouth), and the vacuum you create by sucking through a straw makes it easier for the alcohol to "go through" the membranes and thus be absorbed quicker. Or so I was told in my degree

In that case...

JM- Step away from teh thread, step away from teh thread and no one will get hurt. AND ... YOU won;t be teh thread killer either.

Have you guys seen the petittion to goverment re recipricol childcare arrangements? petitions.number10.gov.uk/reciprocalcc/ No? you might want to take a look. IMHO mums of onlys have a lot to lose if this kind of thing becomes frowned upon. That regular or not extra child in teh house is a good thing for our lil darlings and their learning to rub along with others.

LOL UniS. Smugmumofone can be the thread killer for all of me.

Had a busy day with my girlfriend who is expecting her second baby in Dec, we went around shopping for pushchair for two. Pheeewww!! I need some Bolly something alcoholic.

Catita, if I have the energy I will post your ginernuts tonight (our local post office closes at 8), but if not, tomorrow.

gingernuts, even!

JM - can I ask you a chiro-related qu? When do you think babies should start using a pillow? DS is nearly 22mo and has never had one yet; I'm thinking it becomes necessary as his body grows to catch up with his head?

Thanks JM. I'm sure they'll be here in time for Christmas But I don't care. They'll be delicious wheever they show up

Um. That's a good question. I can only give you my personal observation because Jackbaby is the only baby I've had opportunity to observe closely... but I suppose my personal opinion is somewhat influenced by my profession... anyway, enough waffling:

When Jackbaby sleeps with me, he occasionally uses me as a pillow, but he's not on my pillow, if you know what I mean. But when he's in his own bed, I've taken to folding up another blanket to make a flat pillow, because he's a side-sleeper and it just seems more comfortable. I've been meaning to see if I can find a flat toddler pillow... but I don't know if such a thing exists.

I suppose if a baby sleeps on his back or front he really wouldn't need a pillow. But side-sleepers do, I think - it just looks all wrong to me to have their heads crooked and sloping down.

Does that help at all?