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Original poster

Tea Room the Thirteenth

984 replies

amberlight · 31/01/2010 15:49

Welcome to the newest instalment of the One Parent Families tea room. As it's heading for spring, we're now in a nice warm orangery surrounded by woodland filled with spring flowers. All are very welcome to join in with us parents of one (or indeed more!), the tea room gardener/handyman Mellors, various virtual Bishops (don't ask) and a variety of other characters from previous tea rooms. Grab a cuppa, relax!...

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MaryBS · 06/03/2010 13:46

, I'm talking about church social groups, which assume that women want to worship together in a certain way, or go out and socialise in a certain way - ie not down the pub with a pint in hand, but somewhere a little 'more refined'

thumbwitch · 06/03/2010 13:49

Happy Birthday to MrAmber!
Cake would be lovely ta - and a balloon as well! miniThumb's second favourite thing, after bubbles (actually probably 3rd now as lions seem to have superceded pretty much everything else)

at Mary not liking women-only groups!Although I do know what you mean in the flesh, as it were; they can get a bit cliquey and bitchy. Luckily we're all lovely in here.

Original poster
amberlight · 06/03/2010 16:50

Now that would be a way of worshipping, down the pub with a pint. I'm game. Though can it be a pint of Bolly? With a straw?

OP posts:
MaryBS · 06/03/2010 20:55

Pints of bolly down the pub can be a LITTLE expensive...

Alternatively, we HAVE been known to have a beer festival or two in our church...

CMOTdibbler · 06/03/2010 21:14

Thats my kind of worshiping Mary !

UniS · 06/03/2010 21:20

Do you have a church Ale? we do. every other year. I'm told tis splendid day out and many many puddings are consumed from the pudding stall. Pints are quaffed and maypole dancing may or may not happen.

MaryBS · 07/03/2010 08:57

I think the brewery which supplied the real ale DID produce a bottle last year, named after our church.

A pudding stall sounds fun!

thumbwitch · 07/03/2010 14:32

UniS, that sounds fab! especially the pudding stall. The church I used to go to wouldn't have anything near so much fun - it was a Methodist church (I, apparently, am a Wet Methodist )

On a slightly different note, tonight we have in the house a praeying mantis - just a baby one, about 2" long. Amazing creature and obviously more intelligent than the moths because as soon as miniThumb got near it, it flew up to the ceiling.

MiniThumb's last insect experience involved picking up a mating pair of these - they are pretty firmly wedged together and being transferred from miniThumb's finger to my finger to a plant leaf didn't disturb their positions at all! I am trying to discourage touching of insect life as it's important he doesn't touch any spiders, just in case. Doesn't help when MIL encourages him to pick up big white moths that are just lazing around . I'm sure grandmothers forget what it is like having a tiny child...

RacingSnake · 07/03/2010 20:35

I now have insect envy.

Spent the day at a spring lambing day at M.Snake's workplace. Wriggle stroked lambs for hours, filled a bucket with tadpoles, went on a tractor ride and spent the rest of the afternoon only apparently able to say 'baa' and eating mouthsful of grass.

UniS · 07/03/2010 20:39

well at least moths and butterfly's look nothing like spiders . even a tot can tell the difference I feel.

another day at work done. better than the venue we did this show in last year, but still a bit awkward and antique compared to some of the other venues around the county we use for the other regional showcases. still, tis probably as good as we will find in the eastern part of the county, there being no large towns there.

Has any body read " the Bell" by Iris Murdoch? would you recommend it. I'm intrigued by the description of it in the Guardian review.

CMOTdibbler · 07/03/2010 20:51

Sounds fab Racing - you are obviously slightly ahead of us in lambing as I only saw the first lambs out today, and the lambing events don't start till next week.

Agree that a general ban on spider and spider like touching is prob enough - although I discourage moth/butterfly touching as it is bad for them.

I have't read The Bell. Finished 'The girl who kicked the hornets nest' on Wednesday - a real page turner.

TrowelAndError · 07/03/2010 20:55

Hmmm. Insect envy. I think I'm immune.

I read The Bell a long time ago when I was an Hintellectual, and watched the BBC adaptation, but can remember nothing about it. One of my book groups is contemplating reading it this year. Is there a Murdoch revival going on? Perhaps it's the zeitgeist.

Had a good day today but, gosh, it's cold.

TrowelAndError · 07/03/2010 21:06

We've just been watching the lambing on the telly, although TrowelGirl has been more interested in her book.

Racing - The penny has belatedly dropped about where your dh (perhaps) works. If it is where I think it is, we had a very jolly day there when TrowelGirl was little, including a ride on a trailer.

Cmot - I managed The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo but am taking a break from Scandinavian sex and depravity. Currently reading about American dysfunctionality instead.

RacingSnake · 07/03/2010 21:21

Do you mean, Trowel, that you have visited Dorset??

"...am taking a break from Scandinavian sex and depravity" - not a phrase I have heard often...do we encourage that kind of thing in the tea room? Would it not upset the bishops?

MindySimmons · 07/03/2010 21:35

Scandinavian sex and depravity? Didn't realise that was on offer on the team room as well - is Mellors first name Torsten?

TrowelAndError · 07/03/2010 21:36

Yes, Racing, quite a few times over many years. There's rather a fetching photo somewhere of me aged 2 on Swanage beach. In fact, I had a chance to come down this weekend but circumstances conspired ...

The depravity and dysfunctionality are only within the pages of my reading, I hasten to add. My own life is blameless and above reproach, as I am sure the bishops realise.

CMOTdibbler · 07/03/2010 21:38

Quite odd reading it (apart from the sex and depravity) as I've been to lots of the places mentioned, especially the hospitals, but don't usually read about them iyswim.

What are you reading atm Trowel ? Having polished off The Kite Runner, I am now contemplating what to read next

TrowelAndError · 07/03/2010 21:40
UniS · 07/03/2010 21:45

Unis removes scandinavian sex and depravity from book shelf and has a peek... ohhhhhh.
unis replaces book. maybe I'll not start that one just yet.

TrowelAndError · 07/03/2010 21:47

At the moment, I am reading Back When We Were Grown Ups, by Anne Tyler.

Sorry, UniS.

Original poster
amberlight · 08/03/2010 09:02

Aha, that book of sex and depravity - yes indeed. I think the Bishops just might require their minions to read such thing for them to ensure that they both have an idea of the contents but without it sullying their minds.

Well I never! That's a bit much for a small aspie, that is...

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teafortwo · 08/03/2010 09:56

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!!!

We are celebrating it in the Tea household by singing "Happy Birthday" to Beer...

... who according to all sources him, due to being born on International Womens day, actually is hard proof that he really is God's gift to all women... me: his Mum: ...

Today is back to work and back to school for Milk and I. The sun is shining... I am taking it to be a good omen for a good half term ahead...

Original poster
amberlight · 08/03/2010 10:23

Supposing someone isn't an international woman, though ? I'm being too literal again, aren't I...

Happy Birthday to Beer! (but such cheekiness from him )

I should be working, but I'm at home trying not to feel dizzy.

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 08/03/2010 10:31

I've joined a book club with some mums from school - although I can't compete in terms of room size and general luxuriousness of surroundings when they get round to coming to our house - but it is making me read books I otherwise wouldn't have done - last one was The Road by Cormac McCarthy which is generally angst ridden.... Next one Wolf Hall I think although I can't remember the authoress.

Lovely and sunny here. Although the morning somewhat marred for me by getting near to school and then mistlechick throwing up - not in his bowl but all over himself. Unfortunately one of my work files had slipped onto the floor near him.... Most of the contents are not too badly affected, but it needs a new cover!

So U turn and back home - where I handed over distressed, wet boy to his father... as soon as he'd been showered down and put into dry clothes he was bouncing about like a mad thing (whilst I was left with the delightful job of shampooing the car, and emptying the door pocket (tearoom special version))

We have also had to pack him a sandwich to eat at snack time - because, of course, he effectively has had no breakfast now... (but I certainly wans't going to give him some before getting back to school...). School are fine with it - as I have at least been to the Dr about it, and we had 2 such episodes last year. They're really going to love taking him on school trips!!!!

AandO · 08/03/2010 11:31

Hello, tea anyone?

I just finished reading The Infinities by John Banville. I am now reading Pride and Prejudice. Before John Banville I read The Childrens Book by AS Byatt, I loved it!! Has anyone else read it? I love love love The Kite Runner CMOT. Didn't watch the film, did you see the film at all? I was worried it would be too traumatic. I didn't read The Road as I thought it might be too miserable, is it MT? I started Wolf Hall but it was too boring and I never finished it. I must go back to it though.

I wanted to join the local book club, formed by mommys from the local toddler group, but it was full . I never really managed to get in with the local mommys, I think it's because I work most of the week and so couldn't make all the play dates and groups once my maternity leave ended, and so never really took full part.

Hope everyone is well, haven't yet read through the weekend posts except for the ones on this page. Don't tend to switch on laptop over the weekend. My childminder has an appointment today so I'm picking LittleO up from preschool today and spending the afternoon with him .