If We Were Having Coffee: Guest Post – Oct.05/2014

Prizzlies or Grolars?

We’re up under the marquee today.

Paul your Barista

 

Welcome to Willow’s weekly coffee and tea garden. My name is Paul and I’m happy to be here once again in the garden tending to your needs for a cuppa, and sweets. It has gotten quite damp here recently so Willow and I have arranged some comfy chairs and sofas under the marquee where we will be warm whilst we sip our cuppas. The addition of some heaters has made this little nest quite toasty. I’ll be happy to bring a pot of whatever beverage you prefer – we have a wide range of teas and coffees to satisfy our world-wide readership. We can relax with a cuppa and calorie free sweets while we discuss the affairs of the week both personal and/or worldwide. How has your weekbeen?

Polar Bears are changing as polar ice reduces

There has been a lot of talk this week in Canada – my home country – about the fate of one of our national favorites – the polar bear. Since the 1980’s the amount of ice cover in the polar region has reduced from 75% to 45%, a significant loss of territory for the bears who used to live on the ice. As a result the bears have reduced in average size by over 100 kg (220 lbs) and have found themselves rubbing shoulders with Grizzly bears, who are moving further north. Apparently they get along quite well and have been interbreeding – a situation that has never happened before due to the lack of territory overlap. The new bear crosses are called either Grolars or Prizzlies. Interesting names aren’t they? Which one would you pick for our new bears? What do you think of global warming and its effects? Have you seen any changes in your weather or animals?

Burying Nuts

Speaking of weather changes, our squirrels (which I mentioned last week) seem to have stepped up their nut burying. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them as busy as this year. I wonder if this has any significance to how long or cold our winter will be? Do any of our readers have any experience in this area?

Would you like another cuppa or a sweet? There is lots so don’t be shy.On a more personal front I got very upset at one of my doctors earlier this week. You would have been proud of me though, as I managed to bite my tongue and keep my mouth shut. Running my mouth would have accomplished nothing. As a dialysis outpatient, I have treatment 3 evenings a week at the hospital. There is a rotation of doctors who come and visit us each Monday evening to make sure all is well and to make any adjustments necessary in our treatment. Last month I had been having a serious side effect from the dialysis and the doctor had prescribed a new medication to help the problem. I had been taking another med for the same purpose but it was no longer working. The directions on that med had been to take one pill immediately prior to dialysis. So, I got a new prescription and the directions said the same. It didn’t seem to be working at all for the first hour or two, but I had put up with the issue for two weeks, thinking it would eventually be OK.

( Dialysis Treatment – she doesn’t come with the chair.)

 

Anyway, Monday, the doctor came to visit and I asked him about it. He seemed surprised and asked when I was taking the medication. I told him just before treatment as it said on the bottle. His response was that I had it wrong and was supposed to take it 2 hours before treatment not just before treatment. I was about to rip him a new asshole, when I realized that would accomplish nothing so I kept quiet. I tried it the new way Wednesday and Friday and it worked like a charm. Have you had any doctors gave you wrong information? And then tell you it was your fault? Arrrgh! That makes my blood boil just thinking about it.

Would you like another cuppa? I need one to calm down a bit. And I think I’ll have a sweet as well. Willow and I are honored that you dropped by the marquee in the garden today to visit. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and the conversation and please feel free to look around at Willow’s other posts while you’re here. Have a great week. We look forward to seeing you here in the garden again next week.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would ask you if you would  like another  cuppa, or  another cake . !   If we were having Coffee  Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

Sweet Anyone? In honor of our British Host Willow.

Links to  all photos in order in which  they appear.

https://willowdot21.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/64ab7-dsc04615.jpg

http://static.theglobeandmail.ca/3f7/incoming/article20904367.ece/ALTERNATES/w220/78743935.jpg

http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/images/graphics/caching_grey_squirrel.jpg

http://www.isiomakidneyfoundation.i8.com/renal%20remedies.htm

https://willowdot21.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/84394-jubilee_afternoonteafinal2.jpg

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: HOT GOSSIP

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/3468671232/h5B0BBBA8/

Welcome , welcome to  you  all, how  are you  and what  have you been up to this last  week. Things  are still not letting up  for  me as far  as being busy  is concerned ! I just do not  have a lot  of time to even turn round or  even smell the coffee.  🙂

Now  where are  my  manners  come on  in  and get comfortable  as  you can see Paul  has  done a great  job with  the place , we even have a fantastic  set of cushions  to match  the marquee  and rugs!

http://housetohome.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/00000dbb6/2beb_orh550w550/attic-living-room-country-Country-Homes–Interiors.jpg

This  is just one end  and we have different  themes  in different parts of  the marquee, we  shall be decorating  for Halloween, fireworks night, Thanks Giving  and Christmas  so if  anyone  wants  to suggest  an interior  or some  decorations  do please  send  me and Paul  a link  so we can incorporate  your  ideas in to our space . By our I mean yours, Paul’s and my  space!

IF WE WERE HAVING  COFFEE: I would  be so pleased to see you and very pleased  for the chance  to sit  down and have a cuppa  with you.

I do  try  not  to be  too controversial here  but I do think that  I should say  something  about  the latest murder of an innocent  man  by  Isil .  So far two Americans  James Foley and Steven Sotloff and two British men David Haines Alan Henning  have been beheaded  by  a nameless faceless shadow.  I am truly stunned  by  the barbarity and ugliness  of  the way  these men’s  lives  has been taken.  Not  only  were  they beheaded  but  also  videoed  and shown on youtube.  Apparently  another American  medic  has been named  as their  next victim. I pray  for him  but I ear  those who  hold him  and hide  their faces  appear to be without  mercy.

All this is very  sad well actually  sad  does  not quite  cover it, it is sad, dreadful  evil  even. I will not  say  any  more because I do not want  to politicize our  coffee space  but I would like to pray  for  all these killings  to end . Maybe whatever  your faith or creed  you could join me.

IF WE WERE HAVING  COFFEE: I would say  okay  that is all I wanted  to say on that  sad matter. Lets  move on . We  have had what is called an Indian Summer, this usually  means  beautiful  sunny  and hot  weather in late September  and early October. This

Still looks like summer

last week has been amazing  and so this  morning it was a disappointment  to awake  to a drop of 5 degrees  in temperature and pouring  rain!  But hey I am not  complaining  the gardens  really  do  need the rain !

Over  on  the left is  a photo I took on Wednesday  when the husband and I took an afternoon walk   by  the river it was so like the hight of summer, hot, sunny  and such a treat!

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE:  I would regale  you with the great day I had  on Thursday  my  friend and I  had a another day trip into London. I had as I always do  enjoyed  Tangental’s   blog  and I had been enamoured  by  his  post  My kinda town  part 2   I do urge  you to pop over  to Geoff’s  blog I can really recommend it!

Well, armed with  Geoff’s   blog on  my  phone  and  a map  and suggestions  from  the husband, who  also worked in  the Fleet Street and Inns of  Court  areas  for many  years, probably  overlapping   and passing  each other on occasion! Well we had  a wonderful  day full of sun, fun and barristers, lawyers, students and cats !

We had a wonderful time. We had lunch at  the Ye old Cheshire Cheese and walked  miles. We  had a very nice young man, a lawyer, maybe a barrister  take our photo, he told us  we looked  like Kate Moss  we told  him  he needed glasses! We saw barristers  running around  carrying  robes, wigs  and brief cases.

We even saw one young lady  dressed to the nines, slip off her comfy  shoes  and put on her killer heels  before she entered one of the chambers! We smiled  at her and said  time  for your  big girl’s job shoes! she laughed and nodded in agreement !

View of the Eye midday

Courtyard in Somerset House

Hodge, Samuel Johnson’s Cat

Hodge’s explanation

Huge flowers in one of the Garden’s in the Inns of Court

Plaque on Samuel Johnson’s House

Heraldic decorations

 The right gates

The left gate

The Entrance behind these gates

A Panda Scooter outside the Inns of Court

a dragon with a St George’s shield

Almost cute

Only can you see this in London!

Charging electric cars

fancy lamp post

early evening view Waterloo Bridge

glistening on the river, early evening

time to head back home.

We set off  for home after a lovely day  and in the evening we went out with our  husbands to celebrate  our  joint birthdays, a fortnight apart so we had chosen a date in between! Thanks Geoff for the post  that  gave us such a great day  and thanks hubby  for the extra  information

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would say  okay Saturday has been a total wash out, gym in the morning then shopping  in the afternoon, near row with hubby managed to avoid it by just ignoring him  until  he stopped moaning! Today Sunday  we are off out for a hog roast  with  really  good friends, so I am happy  about that.

So  come on  would  you like some  more cake, of  tea/ coffee, have you been over to  Paul’s amazing  part of  the Marquee he  certainly  is  worth a visit!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b290/lbriggs/CSG-1.gif

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would ask you if you would  like another  cuppa, or  another cake . I’d  tell you I have really  come to enjoy  these chats  and I’d  love  to hear  what you would  tell me. Please feel free to stay  as long  as  you like  and don’t  forget  to visit  Paul’s  post  now  while  you are  here!   If we were having Coffee  Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/