Tea room 16 welcome to Shangri-la

[UniS]

Shangri-la = a hidden valley with beautiful views and crystal streams of course, and some inter-far eastern type of chalet things set around a Serene Courtyard with ever-blooming Japanese cherry trees, lots of refreshing fragrant teas, silk cushions, tinkling tiny waterfalls and bonsai trees, Gardens of Tranquillity etc.

Home to teh 16th Tea room, a haven for those with one or more or less children who like cake, tea, talking nonsense and oggling Mellors ( our handyman/ butler). If its your first vist, pull up a cushion .Mind out for the guinea pigs and other pets and do take care not to squash the teeny tiny naked mowhawk babies ( nmbs
, no longer naked and now toilet trained you will glad to hear)as they go about their duties helping Mellors.

Confused... come on, jump in and have a hot chocolate.

Oxeye - You're only just coming home from work now? Have you had a healthy and nutritious dinner (and no, twiglet surprise does not, on this occasion, count)?

Oxeye... Oh yes - she really liked it! We have decided that Milk is going to be allowed 20centimes per week to put in her money box and that she can save them up to spend on books... on condition that she does a very important job in the home... but what job can a four year old do with true autonomy?

Tea ladies... Ideas peeerlease!!!

I am soooooooooo of the pancake party. It sounds heavenly and I am so not about finishing work too too late!

Ah. Small, don't throw too many shapes my dear or you'll upset that hip of yours

Jobs for a 4 year old? What about watering plants (remember to water them so remind you and do it together) or clear up your books/ toys when played with/ fetch things/ carry things/ I got Oxboy to bring me a drink and snack in bed the other morning [cruel slave driving mother emoticon]

Right, hope Mr Scout made it, I've almost finished work and had a lovely nutritious supper of 2 pieces of toast

Mr Scout got home sometime between 11:30 and midnight. I knew he was going to "work late" but that usually means home about 9-9:30. I was more because I was worried for his safety -- he leaves between 6-6:30 a.m., drives almost two hours, works more than his full day (that's even on days when he leaves work "on time") and then drives the almost two hours home. He also has a condition which, while they don't know the triggers, know it can be triggered by stress and fortunately he hasn't had one in almost five years. But I see things like yesterday, plus the stresses/strains of family life, plus not eating properly, triggering a seizure and I can't handle HubbyScout carless for another year.

(And breathe -- rant over!)

oxeye -- What did you have on your pieces of toast? It could have been a sandwich! Still not a filling dinner, but still something, I guess!

tea I agree with oxeye's suggestions about clearing up. When I was teaching three's I also had them fold and put away all of their bedding from rest/nap time, so how about making the bed? They were also responsible for feeding and watering the class hermit crabs, so how about feeding any animals? Or helping to set the table I used to be handed the plates/glasses/cutlery to put out. Required a bit of help (I couldn't get them out of the cupboard) but I felt like a big girl, being trusted with breakable things.

Hi guys,

Sorry I'm absent alot lately. My mom is visiting.

Happy belated birthday to Wriggle!! How old did you say she is? 4? Four seems to be a popular age in the tea room offspring. LittleO will be 4 in October.

Oxeye - How can you work so hard?! I just couldn't!

Oh, I'm tempted to start emailing people now just to find out their real names!! The FB group is a good idea though.

I'm still in a major stress here, trying to rent out house, finish work project, LittleO really pushing it lately, money shortage all add up to crazy stress levels! LittleOs behaviour is reaching new lows at the mo. I think I might start a thread on it later when I have the time. None of our tactics seem to be working and it is now getting out of hand.

Hi aando and aando's Mum - I hope you are having a nice time together!

Milk has just organised Eccles' water and food. She seemed to quite like doing it but has just explained that she thinks she will easily earn enough money to... buy books and a... real car...?

When I explained that cars really are very expensive she went to her mini house and got her collection of foreign copper coins then began to count them up with a determined look on her face.

I like the idea of making her encouraging Milk to do the clearing up of her stuff idea too... but think she should do it naturally rather than being paid to do it.

Setting the table is a good idea too... I will keep that in my ideas pocket for when she asks for a payrise!

Watering plants... I suddenly realised we don't actually have any!!!

Financially things are tighter this year so I haven't re-done the little "garden" I made last summer downstairs in the yard and admit that I am missing it a bit...

AandO -- Didn't you know, my real name is Scout?

But yes, a FB group would be fun and is easy to set up/control. I have one for my Seniors -- very tight controls on it, and they get pictures posted on it as well as reminders, and they write each other Guiding notes/reminders that they won't want to post on their individual walls. I'm sure you all know this already anyway.

Took BabyScout to his first TotRock at the library today. Boy songs and finger plays are different over here! I don't think I knew a single one (except the one we sing at AquaBabies, which was new to me at the start of the term).

Paninies for lunch anyone?

Ohh, my eyes are aching .

Yes, a panini would be lovely thanks Scout.

Cream tea for tea, anyone?

Hello ladies
Just popping in to see you before I head off on my weekend away - I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep my temper under control and not get into rows with MrThumb the whole time . I'm not sure if I'm completely to blame (oviously I should be able to control my temper but he provokes me!) but it will make for a miserable weekend if I am in a grump, so must try and contain it.

MiniThumb likes "helping" so I gave him some of Daddy's washed clothes to take to Daddy in his bedroom this evening - and then found them later on the living room furniture. Not entirely sure who to blame for that, as there appeared to be some kind of verbal exchange between the two of them about the clothes - but still, they're not where they should be. I love that he trots off with them though, so proud to be "helpin" - it's a start!

Has Mary come out of the priesthole yet? I seem to remember she went down there a while back and am not sure she emerged...

Hello all, from a v v hot and humid Philly. Back at the hotel for a bit between a quick meeting with some colleagues (handily all females, so we combined this with a mani/pedi, so v glam), and beating computers into submission.

Scout - we are off to an opera restaurant this evening which may be interesting.

Happy Birthday Wriggle !

A&O - you can CAT me, or email [email protected]

DH seems very in charge at home - he's got playdates lined up for the weekend, and a cleaning plan. It may be destressing after trying to sort out his new bit of work which is driving him up the wall already

Waves at thumbwitch - must have got lost again, those priests holes have more than one exit

thumb -- Enjoy your birthday weekend away!! I'm sure it will be lovely and your temper will be right where you want it to be.

CMOT Glad you made it in one piece and hope you're not melting. Mom keeps me up to date on the weather and it doesn't sound very nice (but does sound very typical)! An opera restaurant sounds very interesting indeed! Let me know how it goes maybe I'll try it at Thanksgiving!

Just curious -- when your DCs were BabyScout's age (8 1/2 months), how much were they sleeping during the day?

Thanks Scout! Fingers crossed, hey! In answer to your question I can't remember. MiniThumb was a shocking napper when he was younger, maybe 2x 1/2 hr naps in the day (much to MrThumb's ) but they got longer as he got older. Definitely on 2 naps a day by then but I couldn't tell you how long for.

Mary, glad to see you found your way back

CMOTD - an opera restaurant sounds interesting - not quite as much fun as the Rocky Horror Restaurant I went to back in May, maybe (well not for me anyway) but I hope it's really good! A bit of Figaro with your starter, madam?

Hi all! At home already and oxboy in bed so break out the bolly!! Happy birthday all. Oxboy was 4 this week too
have kovy weekend Thumb. Do you think you might be cross the mr thumb because it's sort of predictable what he will do and that's irritTating? I know i am my own hardest critic and second hardest to oxbloke iyswim?
Right
bolly open
at 8 1/2 months oxboy had 2 sleeps a day. One in morning around coffee time and one after lunch. But he has always slept a lot. Has only in last two months dripped regular afternoon map and will still pop in a couple a week given the chance

Yay for Bolly! Was just looking for the disco ball to celebrate Friday!!!

jobs for 4 yr olds. Boys "job" is laying cutlery for breakfast and dinner. He does need a LOT of reminders and whines frequently that he doesn't WANT to . His pocket money doesn't depend on it, but his plate arriving on the table does. non appearance of his dinner tends to concentrate his mind.

evening all. any one for pimms and twiglet suprise??

jobs for 4 yr olds. Boys "job" is laying cutlery for breakfast and dinner. He does need a LOT of reminders and whines frequently that he doesn't WANT to . His pocket money doesn't depend on it, but his plate arriving on the table does. non appearance of his dinner tends to concentrate his mind.

evening all. any one for pimms and twiglet suprise??

Might be early for pimms and twiglet suprise here, but given that the booth crew are still totally unready for us, I'll partake of both. At this rate, I could have flown in today

DS had at least two sleeps a day at 8 1/2 months - like Oxboy, he still will have a good nap now given half a chance

Am at the thought of a Rocky Horror restaurant with colleagues. Some of them would enjoy it Far Too Much. Am not entirely sure about this opera restaurant as the person who has organised it likes zany places, and I just want to eat and chat.

really can;t remember about sleep and boy at that age. I know for ages he only had one 45 min nap a day plus 12 hours at night. Then changed completely at 3 and needed to sleep 16 or 17 hours out of 24.

I asked because it seems like BabyScout's schedule/routine is changing and he's asleep more than he's awake. Still seems well/well in himself. But have done a bit of reading and what I've found says that even if baby isn't mobile, he's trying and it's wearing him out. Also, if he's teething his sleeping may not be as deep/uninterrupted so he's sleeping longer to make up for it. I'm not worried, was really just wondering -- he's been having three naps a day when he used to have two.

Thank you for birthday wishes. Had been going to name Wriggle after the saint on whose day she wa born (very tired of everyone asking me what we had chosen when we hadn't) .. but then she was born on St Swithens' Day. What saint would Oxboy have been?

Scout please do not talk about Christmas. I upsets me in December.