Asked to leave Chandelier (Lounged)

[Louisa]

Domitianus I am more than happy to partake in a bit of bigamy from time to time - especially with someone as fetching as yourself! Jump on board, there is plenty of room!

btw.. is it me or is someone else saying something? Knew I should have left the Jacobs Creek alone tonight ;-)

[Domitianus]

Only if I can snog you after we get pissed at the Reception. Louisa is bound to b****r off to the ladies at some stage of the evening.

[TillieTrotter]

LOL.

[Louisa]

Usually with something long and containing batteries hidden in my knickers (especially after a snog with a hunk like domitianus) ;-)

[TillieTrotter]

Ooer missus!

[SeanMacGabhann]

any chance of getting this back on topic lest it be lounged? (entertaining tho it is.. Sort of.... )

[Louisa]

John have you ever been asked to leave Chandelier for any reason?

[Domitianus]

I am equally confused, but this little story might confuse people even more.

On SUnday I had a lovely experience in a public place with a family with young children (stop it!!!) It was in a local hostelry that does smashing Sunday roasts. I was sitting at a table enjoying my lamb when a family of what appeared to be three generations sat at the table next to me (I say 'seemed' as the couple I took to be the grandparents were quite youthful still). In tow they had two kids, one little girl of about three and a baby of about one. I had a slight feeling of dread due to previous experiences in close proximity to ungoverned children but the whole affair was delightful. Why? Because the adults present paid attention to the children, involved them in conversation and on the only occasion when the three year old started to get a bit raucous, she was calmly but firmly admonished to behave - and she did. The whole group seemed to have a wonderful time as did I just sitting at the next table as my fears of ear-piercing and unchecked childlike screeches did not materialise.

My surprise was not that children can behave quite well in public whilst still enjoying themselves (I know this from experience with my own nephew and children of other friends) but that I was sitting next to a group of responsible adults in ED who seemed to have discovered the same thing and made it happen. My observations seem to suggest that it simply comes down to simple, basic, traditional child-rearing techniques of balancing the child's desire to explore and express itself with the need to set behavioural boundaries. It really shouldn't be rocket science but it is a skill that seems to have skipped a generation in much of ED. I dearly hope to see more examples of such balanced and responsible parenting and the delightful, well-adjusted children it seems to produce.

[SeanMacGabhann]

John?? Who is this "John" you speak of Louisa?

[Domitianus]

Why, 'tis John, of course. John of the Glen who has come down from the hills for market day!

[Louisa]

I have no idea Sean he has not responded yet, but whilst we wait on his response, how about I ask you the same question, any negative visits to Chandelier to report?

[SeanMacGabhann]

lol

umm - no. I have been twice and had a lovely time on both occasions. Going back to the original post I'm almost certain it was a misinterpretation by a new employee (similar to the water incident at G&B a while back)

Interesting post from Domitianus as well re: the Sunday roast and the kids.... I think that's what people should aspire to rather than the either/or scenarios some people favour.

[ednerd]

As one who has frequented my fair share of local cafes with my sprog in tow, I would personally support the Chandelier, even if it became overtly anti-enfant(But, I'm not sure their business will be remotely viable if they do).

Babies and kids can be annoying, for sure. There are plenty of places in ED where little 'uns are tolerated. It may be nice to have somewhere to go sans my or anyone else's noisy sprog and oversized buggy. However, I do agree that they need to make their position clear. In the meantime, it is certainly reasonable to suggest that anyone under 5 stays well away from those beautifully upholstered armchairs.

PS Domitianus, nice point, well made.

[Jasmina]

Ah, this was an interesting read!

I've been into Chandelier twice and was happy with the service on both occassions. There really is no need to rush relaxing in the afternoon with tea, cake and good coversation!

Even though I do like children it was completely refreshing to not have to navigate past over sized buggies and ensure that the toddlers running round didn't clonk thier head on the corner of my table. On one of my visits the place was full of mums to be and the second visit was full of couples without kids in tow! It seems that The Chandelier would survive without the mums of ED! There are plenty of places that are baby friendly in ED and it makes a pleasant change to have a quiet place to go to and just relax!

[bawdy-nan]

Dom - have you thought about approaching CH4 / 5 about your own child-rearing show. You could tour the nappy valley hotspots pointing out good and bad child management ....

Have to say the scene you describe sounds lovely .. children chatting instead of smearing food in their hair,/ fighting, grandparents keen to engage in conversation, relaxed parents ready with a Julie Andrews style firm but fair discipline - do you think they're available for lessons? I'd certainly be in the market for a bit of light happy family training!

[Domitianus]

bawdy-nan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Dom - have you thought about approaching CH4 / 5

> about your own child-rearing show. You could tour

> the nappy valley hotspots pointing out good and

> bad child management ....

>

> Have to say the scene you describe sounds lovely

> .. children chatting instead of smearing food in

> their hair,/ fighting, grandparents keen to engage

> in conversation, relaxed parents ready with a

> Julie Andrews style firm but fair discipline - do

> you think they're available for lessons? I'd

> certainly be in the market for a bit of light

> happy family training!

Since this was a comparatively rare incident I just don't know if there would be the material to stretch it out to a series. I have, however, considered a show featuring the flip side of the coin, along the lines of 'Police, Camera, Action' or 'The World's Wildest Police Videos' featuring snippets with accompanying commentary from CCTV, police response vehicles and camera phones, revealing to all the true horror of the under fives. I was thinking of 'Brat, Camera, Distraction'. Any other thoughts on possible titles?

[rifleman harris]

What is a "Yummy Mummy"? i was in the Bishop once and there were 5 women in there with babies and huge pushchairs and my companion said "Look yummy mummys". None of these mummys looked yummy in the slightest.

[snorky]

YM is a a term that has been embraced by its users.

They prefer it to MILF

you are right, most are indeed not "yummy " in the slightest, but let them have their fun.

*Mysogonistic Snorky has left the building*

[Administrator]

Lounged

[bald marauder]

-- moved topic --

[goosegreenite]

I am not surprised by this - I was with my (childless) friend and my 7 month old when we were relegated to the back of the cafe, my childless friend was somewhat peeved and so we brought it up with the manager who instead of saying "I'm so sorry - fire regs, not my fault" lectured us for 15 minutes on quite how special her cafe was, did we know there were a lot of expensive things in the cafe (you run a cafe lady, a teacup will get broken soon) - and did I know that candlewax had been splilt on her extremely expensive silk chairs (hardly likely to be a 7 month old baby partying in the small hours...) We left and I for one shant go there again. Hooray cheer the anti-buggy brigade but a shame for a mum who just wanted to go somewhere a bit special as a treat in a very tiring day and given we make up 90% of the day time traffic in East Dulwich, not exactly good business sense. And as for the lady who thinks children should be seen and not heard - well, never underestimate human resentment.

[Domme_Jay]

I am curious, when any of you were asked to leave did you pay?

Jay

[snorky]

I have an urge to vist le Chand and leave discreet childrens poos in the "expensive silk chairs ".

[Asset]

I wonder what she'd do if a perfectly respectable, childless person spilt tea on the chairs? Would she throw them out too? Anybody care to put it to the test?

[snorky]

Right, thats my weekend planned

*practices spilling tea on seat in preperation*