Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

One-child families

Got questions about only having one child? Find the answers here.

Tea Room the Twelfth

993 replies

RacingSnake · 06/12/2009 22:22

Come in, come in, to Tea Room the Twelfth! We now inhabit a rambling log cabin, surrounded by mysterious pine forests and mist-covered mountains (but also, strangely) easily accessible by regulars, new-comers and passing bishops, ferried in by Mellors driving the troika. All the usual rules apply and all are welcome!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
RacingSnake · 26/12/2009 21:27

Smug describes me, too. But how I am learning now. Wriggle will probably have scurvy and does have constipation, having ruthlessly eliminated all vegetables from her diet. Must make soup tomorrow or one of those delicious vegetable purees the French eat.

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 26/12/2009 21:45

Does Mellors have the hot stones out again tonight ?

We were with the assorted inlaws today. Much nicer without soon to be ex SIL, but with 5 teenagers from 18-13, lots of huffing.

Nephew 2 has not let a fruit or vegetable pass his lips for 14 years, and prefers a beige diet. He's still alive at least.

DontCallMeSantaBaby · 26/12/2009 22:05

Hello all, and a belated happy Christmas!

DD has had the best time EVER, apparently, aided only by elderly parents, even more elderly grandparents and prodigal uncle. And two loopy kittens, a small mountain of presents and a giant stripey lollipop which she was allowed to graze on all day. There is hope for the poor deprived sibling- and cousin-less child yet.

Thumb, DD decided two years ago, after nursery Christmas dinner, that she LOVED sprouts, they were 'so juicy'. Come Christmas day, with a sprout (just the one, I'm not mad) on her plate - 'not these sprouts'. I swear nursery were serving up something completely different in order to f* with parents' minds. This year, after a number of 'next year she'll eat a proper Christmas dinner's, she did pretty well, despite spurning stuffing and insisting that her carrots are served raw. She is generally a pain though - her sigh of 'and I used to eat so well, didn't I mummy?' was rebuffed with a resounding 'NO' the other day.

She gave me, with assistance from DH, a 'can't decide what to cook' cartridge for my DS (you know, Nintendo thing, not hitherto undeclared second child) - DH thought this was a great idea, but I pointed out what I actually need is some sort of method of hypnotising DD, I would have plenty of ideas if anything other than fish fingers or tuna pasta bake weren't greeted with Oscar-worthy performances of utter tragedy and disappointment.

Anyway, I am sitting her accompanied by a G&T and a rather strange kitten. He has appeared with an empty thyroxine box in his mouth, which he has tried, unsuccessfully, to post through the 'try me' whole in the packaging of one of DD's presents (a mostly plastic fronted box which he has spent most of the day inside, voluntarily, looking like a particularly lifelike animatronic toy). I've posted it for him, and he seems quite satisfied. I don't have anything to compare him with, having not had cats before, well, except his brother, but he does seem a little mad. Very sweet though.

ThumbleBells · 26/12/2009 22:09

thanks for the warnings, shall not be smug about sprouts!

miniThumb's favourite lunch is "cackers??!!" - rice crackers with a salmon and avocado dip thing spread on them. The salt content is way too high so I have to limit him to having that no more than twice a week, and he has to have fruit afterwards. But almost every day he will ask for it for lunch.

MadBad - I think that a nice combo of Rose, Mandarin and Roman Chamomile would suit you. Calming, uplifting, de-stressing and a bit special.

MadBadandCoveredinTinsel · 26/12/2009 22:11

I think Mellors is offering whatever form of massage we want, Cmot. I feel invigorated by his healing hands.

We had lots of teenage huffing yesterday, too. Trouble is, none of them are teenagers yet.

Will Wriggle eat fruit, Racing?

How about a strawberry daquiri as part of our five a day?

MadBadandCoveredinTinsel · 26/12/2009 22:19

Lovely to see you again, DCMB. And thank you for the aromatherapy tips, Thumb. Was just thinking of you as I watched Strictly Ballroom.

Am I the only taker for the strawberry daquiri, then?

ThumbleBells · 26/12/2009 22:30

DCMSB! How nice to see you again! Are you familiar with Calvin & HObbes? Calvin's expressions when faced with food were hysterical when I was a non-parent - no doubt they will be more ironic to me when miniThumb reaches that age...

Strawberry Daiquiri, you say? Hmm, a tad early in the day for me but why not? Yum...

DontCallMeSantaBaby · 26/12/2009 22:39

I do enjoy being clasped to MadBad's bosom, it's like some sort of norkish Clash of the Titans.

I will have a strawberry daquiri thank you, I'm not at all sure it will go well with these rather nice Hotel Chocolat dainties (at last, the in-laws bought me something I like!) but what the hell ... ?!

Calvin and anthropomorphic pizza. Heh. DD's trick is to piss about until it's so cold and unappealing I can hardly bear to insist she eats it (congealing tagliatelle carbonara today, blech).

MadBadandCoveredinTinsel · 26/12/2009 22:57

at the clash of the titan norks.

Hotel Chocolat dainties? How delish. I've just been scarfing Quality Street. Which is hardly the same.

Two strawberry daiquiris coming right up.

JacksmamaInAPearTree · 27/12/2009 03:35

Hello all - I hope everyone had a nice Christmas; it certainly sounds like it . Ours was lovely, too, even without my parents here . I missed them a lot but we did manage to talk via iChat, and so got to see each other open our presents. Which was the next best thing to them being here. They'll be coming here in the last week of January and staying for 10 - 12 days, wisely planning to depart before Olympic madness hits Vancouver. Did I mention DH got tickets for the closing ceremonies? [very excited emoticon].

Hello DCMB, how nice to "see" you! I'd offer to hug you but I don't have any excess cushioning for you to bounce off .

DS is completely overexcited by all the Christmas presents - a starter train set, a tent with a crawling tube attached, a police car and fire engine (just brought today by a girl friend) which make a lot of noise... tonight he HAS to be in bed by 8:30 pm, last night it was A LOT later than that and it was Not Good.

JacksmamaInAPearTree · 27/12/2009 03:36

Hello all - I hope everyone had a nice Christmas; it certainly sounds like it . Ours was lovely, too, even without my parents here . I missed them a lot but we did manage to talk via iChat, and so got to see each other open our presents. Which was the next best thing to them being here. They'll be coming here in the last week of January and staying for 10 - 12 days, wisely planning to depart before Olympic madness hits Vancouver. Did I mention DH got tickets for the closing ceremonies? [very excited emoticon].

Hello DCMB, how nice to "see" you! I'd offer to hug you but I don't have any excess cushioning for you to bounce off .

DS is completely overexcited by all the Christmas presents - a starter train set, a tent with a crawling tube attached, a police car and fire engine (just brought today by a girl friend) which make a lot of noise... tonight he HAS to be in bed by 8:30 pm, last night it was A LOT later than that and it was Not Good.

amberlight · 27/12/2009 08:48

Tickets for the closing ceremonies? Brilliant! DCMB, hello!!!!!

Here, we have huffing in a teenagery way morning noon and night, from ds and his mates. And we're off to the rugby with him and his whole rugby team of huffing teenagers, so that'll be entertaining

DontCallMeSantaBaby · 27/12/2009 08:52

More than enough padding for two.

The Hotel Choc goodies are a Chocolatier's Table box, which must have been reduced ... DH is huge chocoholic, but more in the Quality Street vein, so he's not interested. DD is not supposed to be, but helped out with several chocs yesterday, including v high cocoa dark micro slab, with no complaint.

CMOTdibbler · 27/12/2009 19:52

I've done stolly bolly tonight. After being with my mad parents today, I need it

Fab on the tickets for closing ceremony JM. How is your stepdad doing ?

UniS · 27/12/2009 20:50

Happy Christmas all.

We had a whitish Christmas! much snow on the ground and as SiLs flat overlooks a park it was very pretty. Took kids sledging on boxing day, boy had a couple of runs down then left his cousins to it and got on with sliding and rolling down a tiny pile of snow.

Ridiculas amounts of left overs as MiL had bullied SiL into buying a 2nd turkey! We are home now and DH is making a turkey soup with some of the left over meat. OUr share of left over ham is FAR too good to soup being as it was boiled in guiness and then baked. VERY tasty.

Didn't get stuck on roads, found our way to Leeds OK. Boys special cuddly went home a day early to wrong house with smallest cousin,oopppps, so we had to detour on our way home to collect it. Best present for boy was a toy telehandler, from which he is now inseparable. My bro came up trumps and gave us a very cool unicycling DVD we don;t already have.

I hope you all had a lovely/ acceptable/ not too awful ( delete as applicable) time of it with your respective mobs/ families .

UniS · 27/12/2009 21:11

lots of huffing on Christmas day wit us too. No teenagers, it was MiL. who sulked and stropped at EVERY* game we played if she didn;t instantly WIN, but as she doesn't bother to listen when rules are explained....

  • with most of teh kids being given new games... there were a lot of games being played, along with some old favourites - Dutch Blitz- any on else played that one?

I managed to escape for half hour before christmas dinner to Radio 4 in teh upstairs ( student rooms) kitchen while I cooked bread sauce and microwaved Christmas puddings.

MadBadandCoveredinTinsel · 27/12/2009 22:14

Stolly Bolly? How Absolutely Fabulous!

I am sitting here wearing my Christmas jumper and Christmas necklace. Who else got something especially lovely/delicious/inexplicable/bizarre for Christmas?

MBBaby's favourite present - today, at least - is a Beano book which makes farting noises. I think I may take her off the waiting list for Cheltenham Ladies' College.

amberlight · 28/12/2009 10:48

Lovely: bracelet with pearls and silver on it.
Delicious: Belgian chocs
Bizarre: where do we start? We could ponder the Transformers DVD, for example, or perhaps contemplate the Star Trek collection, or the nice set of maps...but they're only bizarre to other people

MadBad, yes, I think Cheltenham would require slightly fewer rude noises

UniS, your MiL wanted to win every game?! It's a miracle if I win any games at all. I never know what's going on, but long ago took the attitude that it was just fun having a go anyway.

MadBadandCoveredinTinsel · 28/12/2009 12:55

Your bracelet sounds gorgeous, Amber. I love pearls. I think it's due to that line in Wham Rap about "boys in leather kiss girls in pearls" ( as I'm showing my age)! Those other presents don't sound bizarre at all. By bizarre, I mean those things that you unwrap and have to compose your face while you think "why on earth?"

Disappointing news about Cheltenham, though. I was hoping that they might welcome it as a sign of an independent spirit.

Turkey curry for lunch, with an assortment of salads and lewd rolls, anyone?

amberlight · 28/12/2009 13:39

Ooo yes please for the salad and lewd rolls, but had turkey curry last night so may forego the pleasure of it today

Hmm, any presents I opened and thought "why on earth..."? Nope. I love all presents no matter how mystifying

MadBadandCoveredinTinsel · 28/12/2009 14:08

Ok, so no turkey curry for you, then, Amber. Also on the menu we have

turkey fritters
turkey and gammon pie
turkey rissoles
turkey, stuffing and cranberry sandwiches
coronation turkey and
turkey thermidor

ThumbleBells · 28/12/2009 14:15

I'll take your bizarre challenge, MadBad - am totally of silver and pearl bracelet, as the only present I got was a water pump.

I had no idea it was in the offing; I know we have a water feature in the garden that I wanted to get working, but I didn't realise the pump was non-functional/non-existent; and I certainly didn't expect a new one to be my present.

I did get a Christmas stocking, but only because I told MrThumb a couple of days before Christmas that I had got him one; however, I had to buy the stocking and all the contents myself, or I still wouldn't have had one. Am somewhat put out - he normally makes more of an effort than this - he didn't even do me a card from miniThumb this year, although he did last year. I have warned him that he is not to revert to standard Aussie MCP or there Will Be Trouble.

I quite fancy some turkey - our goose has all gone - anyone got any turkey with bubble'n'squeak going?[hopeful emoticon]

MadBadandCoveredinTinsel · 28/12/2009 14:27

Ah yes, I forgot about the turkey with bubble and squeak option, Thumb! Here is a platter of turkey, bubble and squeak, salads and a lewd roll.

I'm sorry that your Christmas present was so, ahem, disappointing unusual. Perhaps recent sad events had taken MrThumb's eye off the festive ball and he'll step up to the plate (to continue the sporting metaphor) next year? What was in your stocking? At least buying it yourself is a guarantee against the weird and useless (I know this makes me sound very greedy and ungrateful but, really, what bothers me is the waste of people spending their hard-earned on things that will sit in a cupboard for a year before going to a charity shop).

ThumbleBells · 28/12/2009 15:01

MadBad, there was in my stocking:
a bar of choc
a bag of choc money (MrT had one too, miniT had a bag of choc balls & mini-Santas)
a chicklit book (cheap)
a little green gecko windchime for the garden - originally I justified its purchase for miniThumb but then realised I wouldn't have control over where it was going, plus I needed something else for my stocking!
a bag of cherry liqueurs

note the preponderance of chocolate there! None of that getting left on a shelf, I can assure you. Although I am doing well with rationing it out...

MMnomnomyumyum

amberlight · 28/12/2009 17:20

A water pump?! Brilliant!

Swipe left for the next trending thread