Tea Room the Twelfth

[RacingSnake]

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!

... and they are all wearing false beards, bless them!

Look, here come the NMBs with teeny tiny spangles, stars, fake beards and headresses

GREAT

Thanks for lewd rolls, soup and cupcakes

The sight of bishops shimmying through snow in cassocks and false beards is one that will stay with me for a long time. Unfortunately.

It is freezing here. Perhaps Mellors can be persuaded to get hot and sweaty in the tango chopping some more logs for the fire?

I would like Mellors to prepare a hot mustard bath for my icy feet, please.

Ritual humiliation went as well as could be expected and, sadly, I really enjoyed the PTA panto. I realised, as I sat there being as excited, if not rather more so, than the children around me, that I can't remember the last time I was out at night. It was very good - I don't think it will ever be possible to think as before about the two dads who played the Ugly Sisters, or the mum who, it turns out, can tap dance. Not to mention the one who was a professional dancer and singer - the difference really showed.

I am actually looking forward to being in the PTA at Wriggle's school one day!

I have just noticed that Mellors seems to be arranging an audition for bishops over by the Kachelofen .... surely he can't be thinking of Ugly Sisters?

I think he may be planning to just adapt their cassocks by the look of things..

I survived!!!!

Turned up feeling rotten Monday evening - took an hour to get roomservice (rang up after 50mins and asked for an eta as it had been promised in 20mins). Got woken up twice, the second at 2.20am by people saying goodnight, at full volume, outside my door. Changed rooms the following day!

Felt slightly less awful on Tuesday - all morning was lost becuase the opposition decided to bring more information, but forgot to bring more than one copy - so took until coffee to get the copies sorted, then had to give everyone the rest of the morning to actually read the stuff.

I didn't get to 'do' my bit until this morning - managed to get by without too much coughing!

Dh has told me to go back to the Dr tomorrow though.

Oh - and mistlechick can join the widdlers... He often stands up now, and can get a bit distracted. The otherday I went in after he'd run out (demonstrating his wet hands to demonstrate that he'd washed them!!) and I saw that he'd rather overshot the mark to the front right - so started sorting it out... only to discover that he'd also missed middle left - and overshot and hit the carpet (yse, I know, that's on the list as soon as dh has a job - some sort of non-carpet floorcovering!!) - started on the carpet, noticed the skirting board - then the wall......

We have authentic snow here, too. I wonder whether we'll be snowed in tomorrow? And I wonder where Mellors stowed the brandy after we moved?

I'm sure we'll end up with yellow snow.... {fhmm]

We'll have to send Mellors out to supervise. And I thought the only problem was going to be the bishops and their naked snow angels!

Here my dears! I have found whisky. Single malt. A fluffy slippers and cosy rugs. Let's huddle

I have just realised, we were going to have our craft fair 2 days ago I guess my knitted gin bottles can wait another day

Well, I have been reading some of the "why we love MN" threads which are most interesting and touching. I just wanted to say to you all that you're what I love most about MN. My life is richer for my friendship with you all

Another maudlin saddo here.

Crikey. The craft fair. I forgot all about it. Let's start it now. An all-night craft fair. I bet that's never been done before.

There's a hilarious thread going on about how any woman should be capable of blowing her own glass baubles. The MadBads are going this weekend to blow their own baubles.

Back in a moment.

Blowing own glass baubles? What? I shall have to find it

Then runs to find the bauble thread

The craft fair is indeed open. Do come and buy all your Christmas gifts!

The blow your own baubles thread is here. I think, Daisy, that you might enjoy some of the Finbarr Saunders double entendres.

I'm off to bed while the roof is still on the house. We have a blizzard here and I rather wish I'd acted on Daisy's tips for thermal underwear shopping!

Hope MadBad still has roof. Am tucked up on RL sofa feeling increasingly chilly, listening to the wind howl down the chimney.

Wriggle has just been sick over bed after The Day Of The Three Christmas Parties turned into The Day When Wriggle Behaved Appallingly At First Nursery Party Then Cried All Afternoon Until Dosed With Calpol And Retired From Party Circuit, Leaving Mummy Looking Wistfully At Unused Angel Costume Having Let Down Almost All RL Friends In One Go.

Glad Mistle is recovering but feel that DH's advice re doctor should be followed.

Daisy, I agree (in an only slightly maudlin manner) that friendship with the tea room habituees has been a source of inspiration, advice, entertainment and support, albeit in a slightly surreal manner at times.

Off to bauble thread now to get more ideas for craft stall.

Morning all. Wintery scenes aplenty here. Back from the midlands where we've been enjoying a right old knees up very civilised conference in keeping with the quiet Quaker work ethic.

Agree re friendship of MNetters - so many lovely people here

Who's for a hot cup of something?

Have to dash off to birthday party with Wriggle - I think that maybe Mellors should put the cup of something hot in the little flask and send out the troika rescue team to look for MadBad, Daisy and other Londoners.

Ooh, yes please. I am feeling a little after porridge with too much maple syrup, following an unfortunate lid-falling-off-the-jug incident.

Amber - Are you a Quaker? I think I would like to be a Quaker but probably don't know enough about it.

Am I a Quaker? That would be a shock for the Bishops, that's for sure . In reality I am exploring it, yes, but I just happen to do work for the Quakers and send son to a Quaker school and have many Quaker friends. They are just such peaceful and friendly people, so helpful and inclusive and supportive. Well, probably not every single one of them, but all the ones I've met so far. It's Christian, but very inclusive, non-violent, teaches moderation in all things and care of the environment, and has services where you sit and pray rather than talk and sing. Well, you can talk, but only if you feel you have something useful to say.

DS has lost Mr B the small dog in the snow. He's got to be in there somewhere.. probably just the tip of his tail showing as he makes progress towards the end of the drifts, lol!

Well, that's exactly why I was confused, Amber! You seem to move in overlapping spiritual circles of bishops and Quakers.

Er, I do actually work with the Jewish faith as well

Very few faith groups don't have the considerable horror/delight/surprise/dismay of finding my work somewhere. I'd recommend counselling for them, poor things...

Have a choccy chip cookie. And do feel free to order your soup flavour of choice for lunchtime...

I shall add Christmas tree shortbread biccies with chocolate chips (made with spelt and rice flour) to the Craft Stall; plus some hand-crafted angels with glittery wings. Am working on small multicoloured dough shapes tomorrow with miniThumb (assuming he gets enough sleep now, he is pretty restless)

RS, sorry to hear of Wriggle's unwellness - do you think the sickness was the cause of the bad behaviour or a result of histrionics?

Amber, am always fascinated by your interactions with various faith groups as well - must be interesting, to say the least!

Was presented with an interesting crossover of ideas today - a snow globe with Mary, Joseph and The Baby Jesus in. I did buy it in the end because it was unusual and I want miniThumb to know the real story of Christmas, not just the commercial side. So also bought a littlet set of figures for a Nativitiy scene - but it didn't include any shepherds! So now have to find some of those somewere else. Ah well.

MrThumb got a job today - he starts mid-january and will be doing a similar job to CMOTD in a different field entirely (mining industry). We are all Very Pleased. And Very Relieved.

Yay for MrThumb's employment! Here's some festive bunting and a celebratory glass of non-intoxicating champagne!

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Racing - Is Wriggle any better?

Arrgh - it's eaten my post!

Hooray re MrThumb!!

Yes indeed re me and the various faiths, especially when we're all in the same meeting together and someone suggests we have a sandwich or a drink