Wuff, that's how it should be...unfortuntely things are hardly ever as they should be and mny people these days haven't a clue about ettiquette....that applies to some adults in particular. I agree that fine dining restaurants are not suitable for children...unless of course, as you describe, the children hav been schooled in proper behaviour. One restaurants I've been taken to on specil occasions actually has a policy of "no children"..but in order not to breach discrimination ettiquette they have a special chidren's dining room with waiters dressed in colorful uniforms. There's also a fine dining children's menu. The children are called 'maam' and 'sir' and have their chairs pulled out for them....they have their non alcoholic drinks served in lovly glases as if it were champagne or wine....it really delightful. They also have themed evenings. There's a dining etiquette that the children are expected to observe..and how to hold and use the cutlery. Parents are given a little booklet about it.. I thought it a good way to instruct the adults under the guise of instructing the children. It works well and the restaurant owners are to be commended for such a novel approach to...well, it "manners" isn't it? And not many know the mening ot the word these days. The children come away from such an experience feeling important..and I think some parents learn a few things too. There's nothing worse that not being able to go out for a dignified meal because other people don't realise that some places are just not for children..especilly their chidren. Its one thing being well-to-do and completely another having manners. My dear old Mum was the eldest of 12 children...their Dad was an Engine Driver, but he insisted that each and every one of the children learn manners.. As disadvantaged as they were, they "dressed" for dinner in their best always clean, pressed, starched clothes,,, darns, mends and all, and he'd inspect them all before they were allowed to be seated. Mum's Aunt Laura taught her to..."be a lady" and educated her about the arts, taught her how to dance, how to set a table for a three course meal, how to dress, how to be polite, and..how to cook and manage a home...so she would be able to "mix it with the best" and not be thought out of place. How things have changed...its all more relaxed. Manners and respect for others seem to have..."Gone With The Wind"..regarded as outmoded and old fashioned. Pity! Wonder how we can get a gracious, respecful society back?

I pray I get sick so they don't want to come. (The thought of being around them usually makes me feel ill, and oddly enough I am almost always sick the rare times they want to visit us, lol). Or else I pray there is a conflict in schedules so I/we/they can't be 2 places at once. I don't have a MIL or a FIL, but the other in-laws? They are the reason I screen all phone calls and keep all the doors locked. If I don't? They are prone to just walk into the house!! Case in point--5 minutes ago one of them tried the lock!! They never learn. Despite being educated/told, they try and do what they want. They drive me craaaaazzzzzzyyyy! I don't invite them to anything. I tolerate the rare times I'm stuck with them. I would never pick these people to be my friends. We had another in-law visiting the other day from a distance. I had to sit through a dinner out. Not once did he stop talking long enough to consider the 3 other people at the table!! And nor did he apparently realize I was so bored that I was cleaning out my purse at the booth! Lol. I had already listened to him remark a couple of times that "He's been told a few times that he's arrogant and talks a lot." Hmmmm....and I never said a word, lol. In-laws begone, lol. I won't even go into all the havoc they created before we married and then on the day of our wedding itself!! One of them even created a scene outside the church steps! Crazy nutbars...not much has changed on their end either. On my end? I stopped making any efforts long ago. I don't send Christmas cards or gifts anymore, or birthday stuff, I don't call them on the phone, and I don't initiate anything. I stay out of their way as much as possible. And I've long thought how my spouse is normal and not adopted, lol.

Hi quokkaz,,, how the devil are you,, no not done anything to the bridge yet, we have had some major rain over the winter and large amounts of water have washed away one of my waterfall as well as damaging a second just under the bridge, so I need to repair these before I finish the bridge, we had some good weather last week so got around the garden and mowed the grass for the first time, now its turned very cold with a north wind with snow forecast in places, so will look at the waterfalls and bridge when i have tidied up the garden after winter

Is the door solid core? If not, a solid door would help somewhat, but would have to check the track can withstand extra weight. We have a couple of very heavy solid hardwood doors in steel frames which run on steel tracks. The bignheavy doors do dampen noise but certainly doesn't eliminate it entirely. Heavy drapery, rugs, soft furnishings, tapestries and large textile wall hangings will help to absorb sound from within the room, but still won't entirely eliminate it. If you don't already have carpet runners or rugs in your kitchen, adding some will also will help. Same goes for any other rooms which adjoin the music room/library. I knew a couple who soundproofed their small music room when they built their house. Their son played drums. As I recall, they used a special acoustic plasterboard for the walls, and the floor was carpeted. I think it helped considerably. there are also acoustic panels/tiles that can be installed on the ceiling, but this may be more trouble than it's worth. I'm not sure but the installation might be something like a suspended ceiling.