Tea Room the Eleventh

[amberlight]

Goodness, we seem to have run out of space on the other one!
I shall assume that we are still in the same premises as for Tea Room Ten for the moment until wiser people tell me otherwise!!

You first Amber, you need the chocolate...

ooh ta amber, luvverly chocolate btw.

Sorry to hear you are also having a V. Bad Day and hope it improves very soon.

Confusingly, the book chocolat doesn't taste of chocolate either.

I once was given a bar of soap that looked/smelt like white chocolate. That didn't taste like chocolate either.

and white choc makes not chocolate tasting cakes.

My day has been TOOO long, boy knackered and grumpy and me tired does not make for a good day. So we abandoned going to toddlers, puttered at home then short visit to park, cuppa and off to ballet, home, cook pizza, read story, bath and boy into bed by 6.15. Now I just hope he goes to sleep soon.

Thumb, Is your MiL any use at taking Mini thumb off to the park etc? Can you waylay her DIY plans by sending mini thumb and her off to spend time together.
I too have MiL who "won;t be told"and who thinks I have no usefull input on any thing. and gets a bit shirty when I inform them that certain lamps in their house are not safe to use and I fit new plugs . I did query the safety of teh socket they had installed in the bathroom! but was told that uncle john did it and so it must be safe! uncle john is a rat catch/ pest controller FHS , I on teh other hand AM an electrician...
Thumb are you getting out on your own at all? to run, yoga, sing in choir or whatever? anything to meet and chat with a few locals who are not mr Thumbs family.
I'm of fto reserch NHB certificates and new build houses. Oh joy.

Thumb ok, I think you do need to deal with the MiL situation, and I am sorry you feel so down. I think in every relationship there is a point at which people have to shift their loyalty - from their previous relationships to the new one

So in your relationship there is a point at which you and Mr Thumb have to make the step and become each others first point of call, first reference point, lodestone etc. The problem is, it usually happens much earlier in a relationship but because he moved to the UK you and he have developed your life wtihout his MiL having to realise/ confront/ manage the shift

I thikn you and he need to talk about this, not in terms of undermining his MiL but in terms of her having to realise the "unit" is you and Mr Thumb and Mini Thumb of which she is a treasured adjunct but not the fulcrum...

that was a bit not tea roomy, and sorry if inappropriate

HEre, have some chocolate and a bit more back massage

Amber here is an Oragami Stork kit I thought you might like

Mary great off the wall post. THanks. I never nibble soap if I can help it

Sorry guys, I am almost delusional with tiredness. Poor nanny is ill so I hvae been looking after her and looking after DaisyBoy and then doing my work but at night. What has given way? Oh yes, sleep .....

Much sympathy to all suffering a bad day

I think Daisy's advice is spot on, Thumb. You need to talk to Mr. Thumb about this before it gets to a stage that you can't talk about it without becoming angry (and thus undermining yourself in any conversation about it). Esaier said than done, but it sounds like a necessary thhing to tackle for you mental health's sake.

Plus, it is quite natural to be feeling homesick and wanting to go home. Moving half way across the world is traumatic. It's going to take more than a couple of months for you to feel at home.

In the meantime, have some chocolate brownies (no wheat at all!) and tipple of your choice.

Oh Thumb, I am so sorry to hear that you feel like that. I'm sure relations with MIL ARE difficult - it will be hard for her to step back and she is probably terribly happy to have MrThumb back; think how you feel about MiniThumb...
I do, though, think that it sounds like you have also got attack of Emigree Blues. It happens when all the new exciting scarey strange interesting stuff gets too much and you just want to Go Home. My mother always said it happens after about 6 weeks; I think in my experience it more like a few months. I think one does get through it, eventually, and Abroad becomes more like home. I would prescibe several episodes of the Darling Buds of May, a cream tea and frequent visits to the tea room.

Now, let me rant about my hateful child day. All day yesterday and today Wriggle has been as provacative as she knows how. She is holding out for eating nothing but sweets and crisps, which means that she has basically eaten nothing. She throws all my things on the floor, stamps on books and toys, climbs on me when I am trying to eat and demands my food then wastes it, begs to hve her toenails painted then rushes off and scrubs it off .... I have ended up shouting at her so often Then she cries and is inconsolable - until she starts again ...

The house appears to be jinxed, with things falling apart and vanishing into the Void between worlds which hovvers always at my side, sucking in objects. I didn't close the car door properly and it blew open in the Great Storm and the car seats and carpets are SOAKED. We don't have a garage and every time I leave the doors open to try and dry out the car it rains again.

The sawdust for cleaning out the animals was wet which I didn't notice until I had removed all the old bedding so they all had to spend the night in the house...

And did you all know that guinea pig pee dyes plastic bathroom floors TURQUOISE?????

Really sorry you are feeling down Thumb.

I can't imagine how hard it is to move across the world, and then insert yourself into a family with whom you have only had contact with on your own territory.

Daisy - you need some sleep. Is MrDaisy off gallivanting again ?

Amber, I've saved you the copy of The Art of Electronics which surfaced in my office during a tidy up. As I am bad at electronics, I thought you'd enjoy it more than me.

After 15 years, FIL has just admitted that I might know more about computers than BIL. It still takes him an effort to ask me though

Been thinking about DaisyBoy's name - had strangely never thought of him being called anything other than DaisyBoy . It must be one of the following:
Acel
Adrien
Advent
Agrican
Alain
Albaric
Aldrich
Aldrick
Aleron
Alexandre
Algernon
Algr enon
Aloin
Aluin
Amaud
Amaury
Ames
Amo
Amou
Amoux
Anatole
Ancil
Andre
Andy
Ansel
Ansel l
Antoine
Aramis
Arber
Archaimbaud
Archambault
Archard
Archenhaud
Archer
Aribert
Armand
A rmande
Arnaud
Aron
Artus
Aubin
Aubrey
Aubry
Audric
Augustin
Auhert
Aurélien
Auriville
Au sten
Austin
Austyn
Avenall
Aveneil
Avenelle
Avent
Avery
My money is on Archaimbaud or Archambault, although my favourite is Aurélien.

So we are all having a bad day with revolting children pets and other family animals/ members.

Right, the hot choc is in that jug, teh mulled wine in in that pot, tehgalsses are right alongside. The choc box of requiremenrts is fully stocked with our favouirtes and there is weepy movie on teh big screen and a box of tissues each. lets get on with a misery fest and hope we all feel better in teh morning.

Darlings all

Thumb I like the sound of Racing's prescription and realise there are others (particularly Tea, Racing and Catita) who might actually know how you feel, which may be a comfort

Racing apart from a small (and very sympathetic chuckle at the bathroom tiles) I feel for you. Bugger car door. That is the final straw. Can you and Wriggle do something to diffuse the tension - make 2 a 3? Go swimming or something active that doesn't rely on you? Is her behaviour related to Papa again or is Mr Racing still on the up?

Catita you sound amazingly together and with it - and I do believe you were typing with two hands! Hope Gatita is continuing to thrive and Kittenito enjoying being a brother

CMOT great break through with FiL - did he admit it or just ask for help?

UniS I laughed at your story - of course you won't know more about electrics than John

Right, here be mulled wine with lots of cinnamon

Oops, realised I cross posted with Racing. B*gger the car door. Do you think Wriggle might be ailing ? DS gets totally unreasonable when illish and a right PITA.

I love Archambault - although this may be as I am acquainted with a v hunky man whose surname is this. And whose Quebecois accent is to die for

Have just booked a christmassy weekend away in the smoke to see the Olympia horse show (wimped out on MN party), courtesy of hotel points. Am rather excited about it ! So, any hints for christmassy things to do whilst we are there ? No FC things required though. I rather fancy ice skating at Somerset house, but DH doesn't do skating - or rather his v knackered knees don't

not particalar christmassy , but if you havn;t done london eye recently I'd put it on teh list. No strain on knees needed.
Covent garden at dusk.
The lights from the top of a bus.

I'm off to wallow in a new book.

and the biscuit tin

thank you lovely ladies for comfort and help - have already had The Chat at least 3 times with MrThumb but it seems to have no lasting impact.

Thing is, MIL is lovely person and is doing so much because she wants to make things easy for us so that we stay - but it is suffocating. Being killed by kindness. (ok, slight overstatement )

Last night I started looking through various bits of paper for toddler groups miniThumb and I could go to. I must also start looking for some singing thing to go to by myself.

I am sure part of it is emigrée blues - it comes and goes in waves - will ride it out and see what happens.

RS - sorry to hear about Wriggle being so confrontational - I can't offer any help as I haven't got there yet but much sympathy. And chocolate and blueberry muffins that DO taste of chocolate.

Like the sound of Christmassy breaks etc. - it so doesn't feel like Christmas is but a few weeks away because of the weather - no doubt will get used to that in time as well.

Thinking about what you said, no, don't think Wriggle is ill; it is the dreaded Nursery. She has not taken to it, is very unhappy, although stoical now, and today was extra stressful as they Went For A Walk.

Thank you for good wishes, which I send on to others in adversity. I am now Going To Bed.

wiggle is having a good does of teh terrible threes by sound of it. An RL friend and I have just a mutal moan on the phone about our terrible threes. both very tired and stoppy.

Oh, I cross posted with the list of names - how very dare you work out DaisyBoy is Archaimbaud

There are more names in that list Racing than we thought about at all, clearly we didn't put much effort into this name thingy, although we took about 2 days to decide and are very pleased with the result!

CMOT Christmas things - the lights! Wander round Covent Garden and Regent's Street and look in the windows and say thank you to the Norwegians in Trafalgar Square

Go to the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, we love it - are you avec boy or just you and Mr Dibbler?

Somerset House is lovely but if totally no skating (you can just watch) might like outside Natural History Muesum - small rink and more stuff

The Christmas Fair at Southbank

that's all outside, what else do you fancy and when are you coming [excited emoticon]

All of us - no chance of a weekend without Cmotiddler. We are coming on the 18th, seeing the show that afternoon, then staying at County Hall that night with all day Say free. So have from 5.30 on Fri to do the lights.

If the WW is good, then might do that.

I wasn't sure if DS would be OK for the London Eye - it's a long time if he doesn't like it !

CMOT, we're going to London on Saturday for my Birthday Day Out (which is the following week). We are going to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park to see the German market (that bit's free) and then to the circus and wheel (about £40 for three of us). Then we're going to wander the streets looking at thelights and going for tea in belgo. Mmmm.

Ooh, sounds lovely Gym. Esp tea in Belgo. Happy Birthday for next week !

fireshow pic here from my little lighting design the other week. all that set gets burnt, there is another gallery with fireworks and burn pics.

Ladies, there has never been a day when my services were needed more. I am offering back, neck and shoulder massages, foot rubs and Indian head massages. As an innovation, I am also doing massage with hot stones. I have magical hands, as the satisfied groaning from Thumbwitch will testify. Please form a queue.