Tea Room the Thirteenth

[amberlight]

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!...

I read the Kite Runner - it traumatised me quite severely. Enough to not want to see the film or read A thousand splendid suns or ever read the Kite Runner again.

I think I'll just stick to the literary equivalent of chocolate - Terry Pratchett (over and over), Georgette Heyer (ditto) and other gentle chicklit. But not anything else by that idiotic Kinsella woman - I read 2 of those shopaholic books and wanted to slap the "heroine" throughout both of them (not entirely sure why I read the second one, tbh). I get too absorbed into books and really feel the pain of what's happening - another book I'll never read again is The Sett by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. What made that one worse is that it's actually quite hard to tell whether it's based on real life or a novel...

Oh dear, what a bleak post! I'll try harder...

Tomorrow we have play group - hopefully a few more people will turn up but never mind if they don't; we have started going to one at the local Baptist Church, a mere 5 minute walk from us on Thursdays as well. Lots more people there and the church ladies are helpers who go around, talk to you, make sure you are introduced to other mums and know what is going on. I think I've already blotted my copybook though - I'd only been there an hour when one of the helpers tried to give me a leaflet for a talk on "improving your marriage" and I had to say that MrThumb was such a severely lapsed Catholic that he came out in hives at the mere thought of entering a church building (ok, I was exaggerating slightly!). Well, I didn't have to say it but there was no way we were going to go to the talk!

TW - you need the 'Oh thank you, yes we'll see if we're free', smile and nod and file in your handbag a bit more to pat....

Hope playgroup goes well.

I'm also rereading TP (again) (in order) - just got to Reaper Man...

The Road - bleak, horrid scenario... A real page turner though. Lots of discussion at our group on whether people would actually be that awful in this situation - and also whether the end was hopeful or not.

Wolf Hall - I hope its not boring. Although, as long as I can get into a book and read it relatively quickly, don't normally have a problem.... Read Bleak House when I was 11 in 3 days - although my mother had suggested that it might not be the best book to introduce Dickens!!! I love the J Austen books - always something else that you see when you reread.

I re-read P&P about every 3 years, I think. I love it. I am also back on the TPs but not in order for a change - very unlike me but all to do with taking my 3 favourites to the UK with me, which aren't in any kind of order. Am now reading Equal Rites again.

I am finding that I have a real touch of Weltschmerz going on at the moment (ooh must go and add that one to the Ennui and Chutzpah thread) and anything remotely depressing or awful sets it off. This whole business of JV being back in prison triggered it - I can't read anything to do with it now because of the rehashing which then brings more recent things back to me, plus there are daily hideosities reported on the news here that make me want to cry - hence the need for fluffy and fantasy books only. Serious, horrible, real life and sad - you can keep 'em.

You want to get some Jasper Fforde books Thumb - they are fantastic, and quite fluffy in their own way.

I haven't read The Road. Don't really like disaster scenarios.

I don't go to the cinema much at all - cost of a babysitter means that the film would have to be pretty good to make it worth it. Am thinking about going to see Dinnerladies the stage show next week - theres a matinee so could have an afternoon off.

Have to take DH to the eye emergency clinic this afternoon - he got an infection round his eye on Friday, had antibs, swelling down, but now has corneal ulcers... Feeling v sorry for himself, esp as still coughing

I have two Jasper Fforde's CMOTD - THe Well of Lost Plots and First Among Sequels. I got them in secondhand book shops, hence why I don't have more, just bought them as I saw them. I think he's brilliant! I love Pickwick...

your poor DH - how did he manage that? Did he get some sample in his eye or something?

Hurrah for all the international women in the tea room!

Eek about CMOTspouse's ulcerated eye. Hope it's easily treatable. And commiserations to Mistle over Mistlechick's episode. And at Beer's confidence that he is nature's gift to all women.

I read The Road and didn't find it uplifting at all, just relentlessly grim and depressing. Can tell that Thumb went to a Good School, as she has introduced Weltschmerz into the discussion. The Road has plenty of it. I gave TrowelBloke Wolf Hall for Christmas and he thought it was fab. I've only read two of Hilary Mantel's books - Beyond Black and A Change of Climate (?) - and didn't find them very interesting, but will try to read Wolf Hall at some point.

We almost never go to the cinema, except with TrowelGirl in tow, but have been to see Avatar. I don't want to see the Hurt Locker though, as war films bring me out in a very bad case of Weltschmerz. Probably not the film of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, either - as then all the SS&D would be up there on the screen in glorious technicolor. I'd like to see An Education.

There's some soup bubbling away on the aga - watercress soup and crusty poppy seed bread, anyone?

Yes please for the watercress soup and a cuppa.

Eeek re his eye, CMOT...prayers for a quick recovery!

So, the consultant says no ulcers (just increased stain uptake in places), but the infection is in the wall of his eye, so giving the pain. Lots of blood tests to do, and eye drops. I shall be pinning him down for those as he hates anything in his eye.

Think I'll get Wolf Hall to read next - it was on my christmas list, but no one bought it. And the Book People seem to have it at their usual huge discount - hurrah !

Happy Birthday to Beer! Since two parcels of books appear not to have arrived, Tea, I think I shall sadly have to give up on our exchange idea. I really liked the idea. I will, of course, reimburse you for your Christmas book which did get through, although I'm not too sure how to get anything to you, since it is the postal system which is letting us down ...

to MrCMOT's eye.

I remember a similar vomit-in-doorpocket incident, Mistle, but can't remember how I emptied it. Probably suppressed the memory.

Wriggle nagged until we sneaked back to see the lambs again, without the public, in the most freezing wind. We saw a newborn lamb, still covered in yellow slime, and a lamb being born, although I'm not sure if Wriggle took it in.

Racing - arhhhh about the lambs. Thats something for circle time discussion at preschool. " I saw a lamb being borned , it was slimey"
Actullky, that may not raise any eyebrows if you live somewhere like here.

HAPPY INterNational Womens Day folk. And I'm not working on a poor quality "wimins cabaret/ comedy/ dance night" this year, Hurrah, so I'm s celebrating. Used to bug me that it was one night I was pretty sure to be offered work and it was always a rather tedious box tickers show.

Instead I've walked down to next village for a 30 min AGM, avoided joining a committee and walked back up the hill. LOTS of stars.

Mines a large hot choc at this time of night I think, and may I pass round the choc box of requirement to aid your reading.
Bags I a coffee cream.

Books on the go at present =
Around the world in 80 treasures - Dan Chriukshank ( non fic, library copy)
The Camel Bookmobile - Masha Hamilton. ( fiction- mobile library copy)

Just finished a Charlaine Harris "Harper Connelly " book, and have another waiting for me on the shelf.

WOW at the lamb RS!!!

I think you are right re the book scheme... but please please please let's carry on e-mailing - this time just doing recommending instead!

DO NOT send ANY money for the first books you received - we really are equal "Snow is my favourite and my best" is constantly on the cd player and in Milk's hand... and we live in hope that one day the other's will arrive.

I will e-mail you the nales of a pile of books Milk's little friend gave her lately. They are simply lovely and I suspect, due to the number we were presented with, not too dear at all!

I am currently reading Andrea Levy's Fruit of the lemon... a friend of mine adores Andrea Levy and gave it to me for my Christmas present. I find her style very sweet and soothing - hense reading it over the holidays. I am also re-reading Margaret MacMillian's "The Nursery School" - it is an inspiration to me that I often dip into. Another book I often simply dip into is this - www.amazon.co.uk/Grand-Central-Station-Down-Wept/dp/0586090398/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=126808 4064&sr=8-1-spell. I am looking forward to re-reading this as I can't get enough of it - www.amazon.co.uk/Letter-D-Andre-Gorz/dp/0745646778/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268084127&sr=1-1!!! other big re-reads of mine are anything written by a Bronte sister or dear E M Forster...

On another subject Milk is massively scared of the characters in Tim Burton's new film... and it is being heavily advertised all around Paris and seems to be on TV far too much for her nervous disposition... grrrrrrrr!!!

Good night xxx

Get well soon CMOTouchyeye!!!

Hi, can I still show my face around here? I've managed to miss most of Tearoom the 13th. RL has been BUSY!!!! My parents were with us for two weeks while the Olympics were on and I took some days off work so we could go see some of the Olympics venues and watch lots on the telly, Jackbaby had his second birthday with a fun party at a local play centre, then my parents went home and I was inundated at work... and pouf, it's March!! How did that happen??

I think I say this every time - apologies because I have not read back and I hope everyone's doing well - boo-hiss re Mr. CMOT's eye, I think I caught that someone had a birthday so happy birthday to anyone celebrating and x's and o's all around...

Night tea - I know what you mean about the Alice ads, HBC is quite scary looking as the Queen of Hearts, isn't she!

I do want to go and see Alice, but not with boy in tow. Just DH and I and not a matinee as I don't like a cinema full of other people children.

Now to just find a free evening AND sort a baby sitter. I donno, we move to the sticks and we are busier than ever before. Theres so much going on round here.

Alice in Wonderland looks scary to me - saw the previews and thought, "eeek" .

alICE SHOULD BE WERID, THAT WILL BE TEH MARK OF A GOOD aLICE. iF IT ALL MAKES SENCE ITS NOT A GREAT aLICE.

erm, sorry, I think I hit caps lock. grovel grovel. I'm not shouting honest. just rubbish at typing.

LOL

Has anyone figured out this MN Status thing???

'Lo all
sorry to be strangely absent but hanging on the coat tails of JM's even greater absenteeism I might snuck in without anyone noticing!

Poor CMOT eye. I have lamb envy, not insect envy. DaisyBoy choose to watch a boring worthy programme on The Lakes tonight instead of some jolly Pokoyo fun or whatever. SO we saw televisual lambs

Love Hilary Mantel - Wolf Hall great. Place of Greater Safety is next best I think. She's being serialised on Radio 4 ATM too

Hated The Road. So bloody grim. As too with Margaret Atwood's Oryx & Crake. Which still haunts me.

Traumatised by Kite Runner. The brutality and the infertility. Gah. Wouldn't go to see film.

Have recently read An Education - Lyn Barber (not I hasten to add as secret MN book clubee just coincidence)

Before that read Any Human Heart by William Boyd which I loved.

LOL at "full" bookclub A&O - even better a friend of mine got sacked from her book club. Not sure of her offence I was laughing too hard to listen

that's hysterical - how can one get sacked from a book club? You owe it to us to find out, Daisy!

(not wishing to spook you at all but I spoke to our BA pilot on Skype the other day - she was very gratified to think that an Unknown Other from our school was proud of her too!)

nice to see you again too - isn't the year zipping past?

Hi all, regulars and occasionals alike

New lambs are wonderful! Been watching the lambing program on the tele.

Sacked from a book club? That sounds like the sort of thing that would happen to me

What MN status thing??

TW, hope the BA Pilot wasn't flying at the time?!?

Teas or coffees, anyone? Not you, Mellors - not till you go fetch the morning newspapers. Torygraph and Daily Wail for the NMBs (I don't like to ask) and the Guardian, Sun and News of the World for the Bishops, please.

Argh. Lousy night's sleep, fretting.

Anything in particular Mary ? Or just general angst ?

Think I'd get sacked from bookclub - possibly for reading too fast as it worries people.

Oryx and Crake did upset me too - but I find that a general problem with Margaret Attwood. Amazing books, but very disturbing.

Coffee please Amber.

Dilemma of the week - I have too much work to do, but Dinnerladies on stage is on this week at local theatre, and theres a matinee on Thursday. Really want to go, but arrgh...

MN status??? do we have any?

now MN statues, we have a few of those out in the garden. Today I think the kids are climbing on a henry moore.

Got to try and get on with some jobs, not spend all morning on here.
toodle pip.

CMOT, its everything piling up on me again. If one more thing goes wrong...