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.

Lovely to see you again Donki.

I have just spent the morning in a school and think I need to go and lie down on the distressed silken sofa.

Nice to see you, Donki. (Any phone call yet?)

Had a very good swimming "lesson" with BabyScout this morning. Each week he seems to enjoy it more and more and the get-out process (read: getting dried & dressed) is less and less hastle/fight. I'm a "non-confident" swimmer (not a complete non-swimmer but no where near the level of competence I wish I had) so I like going in every week and playing with BabyScout and helping him get comfortable in the water/pool so that when he's a tot he can start swimming lessons and not be scared.

I could so use a nap. Or some caffeine. Or both.

Afternoon ladies - I need to go and hide in the priesthole or somewhere where I can have my chakras re-aligned and my chi re-settled - I have just watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy Series 6 and am traumatised, far more than I should be given that it's a tv show and I know that. But it has triggered something in my psyche that I wasn't even aware of and am now in A State.

Please feel free to talk around me.

Hi Donki - fingers crossed....

Scout - I took mistlechick to swimbabies from 10mo - and he loves water... haven't been for a bit, but I think he'll probably suceed properly this summer when we get the chance to go a bit more.

CMot - I think that the birds issue is the biggest reason I don't want a cat... although the food is fairly revolting too... and litter trays ....(tearoom version)
mistledog is having to have soft food at the mo as she had a big tooth out last Thurs (it split - they had to stich her gum when they finally got all of it out...) - she has a vegetarian dog food which we're currently soaking with warm water (she normally has it dry) and adding 1/3 tin chopped tomatoes and some canned carrots.... she thinks she's in heaven!

COmpost - the plastic bins are very good - and with guinea pig litter would help get kitchen waste composted very quickly (we had chin litter and put it to similar use) - we've got a 4' square one though which is a more appropriate size for our garden. The front slides out - I have to recompost some of the edges and top - but the rest does very well, even though I'm a bit haphazard and don't cover it or anything - although it never gets one thick layer of anything - a grass mow is about 4" across the top but compacts and then gets covered with other stuff before the next grass mow...

Miniature shetlands sound cute - but why???!!!! A shetland isn't that big - but at least you can put a child on it - if you just want somethign to take for a walk, you may as well get a dog - at least you can housetrain those!

Oh dear, thumb, that doesn't sound positive. I stopped watching Grey's after the first season (which coincided with my move to the UK) so no idea what's going on. Feel free to blame the Americans for any trauma (lots of people do!) suffered. I will not take offense.

Fingers crossed Donki - do you sign ?

DS and I like going swimming, and have now found the perfect pool that has a wide beach entry so toddlers/preschoolers can run around/try and swim/generally mess about with less parental hands on interventions than is otherwise necessary.

Mistledogs food sounds quite nice actually

You can ride miniature shetlands if you are very small - theres one at the stables we go to, although he is too young to be ridden yet, and he is adorable

Just been out for a ride on my own for the first time - it was strangely scary to be in charge !

Oh no, it's not that, Scout! It has accessed some primal thingy inside me and left me aquiver. Funny because a similar sort of situation came up in Holby a couple of years ago and I don't remember being this traumatised by it. Less raw emotion flying around, I think.

Am starting to come down now, thank goodness

I like watching House - partly because House is so dark - but also because I get flash-backs of Bertie Wooster and I wonder what the Americans would think if they saw the two series side by side....

I like Jeeves and Wooster! So much so, that DH and I are giving my Mom, who loves the Brit-Coms on PBS, the complete set on DVD for her birthday this summer. We (Mom, DH and myself) are also House fans.

Sorry, thumb. But hey, you can still blame the Americans -- the wrote and acted the storyline!

We have a small (hilled) backyard with no plot marked out for a garden, so am trying to figure out what the best way to do a compost would be.

May I ask you all your opinion? Someone I know not quite a close friend but more than an acquaintance has offered us lots of things for BabyScout including a cot-turn-toddler-bed, highchair and oodles of camping equipment. Her DD, aged 5 1/2, has also gone through her toybox and found things she'd like to give BabyScout. I am going to offer her money for the items, but would like to give her something else (regardless of whether she takes offered money or not). Am thinking a homemade cake and some wine and maybe some cupcakes for the DD. Is that a bit OTT or a kind gesture? Am worried about offending as sometimes my idea of nice/kind is different to the Brits....

Scout - thank you for carte blanche to blame the Americans! I shall blame the story writers and producers.

House I love. ANd I have the full box set of Jeeves & Wooster, but they are also running it Thursday lunchtimes on ABC1, which is very cool cos miniThumb often sleeps then and I would never think to get the DVD out.

What a lovely acquaintance! I think the idea of offering her some money is a lovely one, she probably won't take it; but a back up idea of a gift is fine. I would only change your offering to the DD - at 5 1/2 her mum might not want her having lots of cake, and if you make them especially for her, it could get awkward. What to do instead... perhaps a gift voucher for a toyshop, or a book voucher? I know it's similar to money but not really the same and if you make it specifically for the DD but give it to her Mum then that should work ok. How thoughtful of you to want to repay the DD as well for her generosity.

Am an idiot. Blame the trauma.
" I think the idea of offering her some money is a lovely one,.."
I meant I think it is a good idea - I am really losing it tonight..

Thanks thumb. I thought the gift to the DD would be from BabyScout since she has said (to me) that she was going through her toys to see what BabyScout would like to play with. Good idea about the no cupcakes. I had originally thought about a book, or couple of books, but think the book voucher would be the smarter choice since I don't know what books she has and what she likes to read. I was very shocked when friend emailed to say she had all of these things and would we be interested and touched again when the DD told me last week, after Rainbows, about how she was finding toys to give BabyScout. Have emailed back to ask when could we chat or pop over, so figure when we chat I'll offer the money. Not sure what to offer? Thinking might just ask "Can we give you money for xyz?" (I find it difficult to discuss money with Brits for some reason... must be a cultural thing?)

We have all of the seasons of House on DVD. I really do enjoy it. Have you heard Hugh Laurie might stop doing House because the limp is causing him problems? Surely they can't have House without him?!

Hark! I think BabyScout wakes from his nap!

Scout - if it would make you feel better re the money you could have 'well could we make a donation to a charity for it - which would you like' which might make you feel better about it all too! Book token etc good idea... although mistlechick would probably prefer something that mummy wouldn't normally contemplate money being spent on being bought.... - a pair of wellies to grow into - a water pistol - a gardening set etc.

Hugh Laurie is amazing in that you can't believe its the same person playing House and Bertie Wooster... and you can see where Wooster came from in terms of the character acting and comedy - but House is completely the opposite!

Gah! It wouldn't be House without him - I think they should just find a miracle cure for his limp! Or perhaps make it so much worse that he goes in a wheelchair.

Your question is a good one and is always the one I use - "Can I give you some money for all this stuff?" Then it's up to them to put a price on it if they decide to take any.
IME most people say "no don't be silly" - but my best friend (bless her heart) did say to me that she was happy for me to keep xyz that she'd lent me but if I could find out how much they'd fetch on ebay and then give her that much money towards them, that would be lovely (She's a bit like that, I am very used to her so accept it's part of who she is - wouldn't take that from anyone else!)

I have the first series of House on DVD only. I never watch it though!

May I offer a contrary view and say don't offer money unless it was clear at the time that these things weren't being offered as a gift and unless you're sure your friend won't take offence? As you say, Brits can get very odd about this kind of thing.

Mistle's suggestion of a donation to charity sounds like a good compromise - presumably if your friend wanted cash she'd have taken these things to a boot sale or put them on Ebay. Make a scrumptious cake and get the generous little girl a book token, too.

Lemon tea and some Eton mess, anyone?

Oooh, yes please to tea!

You know BabyScout has had a good sleep when he wakes up as smiley and giggly as he has today. It's the last 30 minutes that makes up for all of the wailing and messy nappies in a day.

I've just had a reread of the original email. No mention of money, only a "...her cot/bed will be available if of any use to you" and then mention of where it was originally purchased from if we wanted to get a new mattress (though mattress offered as well). Then a list of other items which they have outgrown/no need of. I like the idea of wellies, however, they've offered us all of her baby wellies (gender-neutral colors, which is why they're offering) and as they're also a Guiding/Scouting family are well stocked on the wellie front.

I do hate the money discussions! I might ask a mutual friend of ours, who has known her longer than I have, if she thinks offence will be taken if offered money and take my cues from there. Will still make a yummy cake, get some wine for the parents and get a book voucher for DD.

Thank you all, for your words of wisdom!

Would like to admit the biggest crush on Hugh Laurie

ummmm, eton mess. unis looks up breifly from troughing in to mess and waves. iTs Eaten Mess now.

Book token for friends DD sound good idea. you can ask if they want something for teh bed in particular I recon, but don;t worry if they say no. afterall, giving it to you saves them having to get rid of it some other way. I'd always rather hand on than dump and don't like selling through small ads etc as you have to deal with people you don't know.

Just pass stuff on again if its in fit condition when your finished with it and karma is kept in balance.

Got a man turning up in a minute to examine my boundaries , allegedly from the dog rescue society and with a view to ensuring a bigger dog can't escape. Still sounds a bit personal.

Hi ladies!!

I am back from my trip to the UK. Like the new tea room, very tranquil (sp?).

Good to see you again Mindy, it's been ages.

I won't be able to read over the past week and a half of posts that I have missed, so I hop everyone is well and happy.

And thanks for all the tea!

For what it's worth, I would offer money. Just say "wow, that's really wonderful. do you want some money for these things?" - if you say it at the same time as giving hte cake and wine and stuff then she will not, I think, be offended.

I have been given tons of stuff from people, none have taken money I have asked all of them (especialy for the big stuff) if they want money and also wht they want done with the things when oxboy no longer needs them

Most have said use and pass on, a couple have said use and return none have taken money....

People have given us lots of things to use and pass on. I haven't had to buy much. However, it seems to dwindle rather between 3 and 4 .... I think keeping the flow going should improve one's karma. I would get something fun for the little girl as well as a book token - Wriggle would love the idea of a water pistol.

Donki, any news?