Dec 2014 – willowdot21

2014 in review

Well why not join in! 😀

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 20,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 7 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

2015

Hello everyone I have missed you all and I am not really back yet! But I really want to wish you all the very very best for the New Year!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

I miss you all and I will be back soon!!

And now we stand on the brink of the New Year.

Exposed,open hearted, eyes wide hiding our fear.

Take that first step into no man’s land

Be brave and strong I am here at hand.

Who knows where tomorrow will take us.

Will it be joy or sorrow or will the monotony take us?

The leap of fate can for no one wait

So come lets fly before it is too late.

Happy New Year | Shah Rukh Khan | Arijit Singh | Shreya Ghoshal

ABBA

Rob Stewart

Christmas love to you all.

Dear all

I shall not be on line until the 30th/31st December. I shall be sorry to miss all your lovely posts and comments. I shall also be sorry not to be able to comment on your posts either.

I have not come to this decision easily but it is for the best so I am going to rest recoup and hopeful some family matters can be sorted out.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends. Remember I love you all .

I did hope to organize a “If we were having coffee” For this Sunday but I have run out of time, so I will not be here to host you all on 28th. Have no fear though Paul will be doing his Sunday “If we were having coffee” Thankfully Mark over at http://markbialczak.com/ has been kind enough to host Paul’s Sunday coffee morning! So do please visit there for Paul’s post and to look around Mark’s fantastic blog!

With love willow ❤

Here are some of my favourite Christmas Carols and songs for you to enjoy.

If we were having Coffee: Christmas, plenty and dearth

Hi everyone I am publishing if we were having coffee early this week because I need to take a break! I will not be on wordpress 23rd December until the 30thDec. I know I have been sad and it has been showing in my blog. I do hope I have not frightened you all away! Now don’t panic Paul’s wonderful blog will be over at Mark Bialczak blog on Sunday 28th! Mine should appear here if I can sort it out before the 23rd! Please don’t forget to visit there for coffee! After that I hope to be less weird and we will have our normal Sunday slot back! I hope I shall be less weird by then too! I am sorry that I shall miss all your posts but I shall do my best to catch up when I get back on line! I love you all have a Happy Christmas!!

If we were having Coffee: I would tell you what a busy and difficult week it has been here! I have been busy looking after the hubby who is taking a lot longer to recover from an operation he had nine days ago! He is complaining about the standard of nursing that I am providing!! 🙂 mind you he is saying this tongue in cheek!…. well I hope he is!

Oxford Street London

If we were having Coffee: I think I have finally managed to finish our Christmas shopping for family and friends. The hubby and I certainly did not need anything for Christmas so we have decided to to donate to Crisis at Christmas learn more here

Homeless At Christmas

I hope it won’t snow this Christmas it’s one of my biggest fears.

It was so bitter last year even thinking of it makes me shudder and shed tears.

They won’t be eating Turkey with all the trim

Unless they find a charity shelter and they can get in.

The people at the shelters are angels from up above

They give their time and more importantly, plenty love.

They really are saviours they really do so much good.

They give warmth and comfort and Christmas dinner and even Christmas pud.

OH! why are they out here I hear you say

There are lots of reasons, have you got all day?

Dave got made redundant the bills he couldn’t pay

So the bank stepped in and took his home away.

His wife could not stand the B&B that the social offered them

So she took the children off to live with her mum so Dave won’t see them again.

Homeless young

Jen, she was cheeky girl always having fun

Staying out late and playing up in the end it got too much for her mum!

After a big row one night in the summer she asked Jen to go,

So she is struggling along out here now,

When you are homeless it is amazing how fast your friends all go.

Rob, well his story is very sad,

It all started with his drinking then he discovered drugs

He became violent and everything turned bad.

He fell out with his mother’s boyfriend who told him he had to go

And then threw him out into the January snow.

The reasons are legion you can take your pick,

People who loose their jobs because they became sick

From parents who can’t cope

To addictions that make you loose all hope,

Parents or family who beat you, family who will not stop at a touch

They want, you to give them, it all gets way too much.

No home at Christmas, no hope.

This may all seem morbid this may all seem too sad

I hate to tell you all, things can be so very, very bad.

People young and old see their hopes and dreams unfold and vanish in clouds of smoke

As they end up on the streets lost and without any hope.

So enjoy your Christmas parties, your families and your Yule tide fare

But as you raise a toast remember the homeless ones out there .

Homeless Man

So please spare them a thought!

If we were having coffee: I would say I feel so sorry for the the people of Pakistan where at least 141 killed in a school in Peshawar, read more here. Why would you slaughter the young of your country??

Also the tragic discovery of eight children found dead at a house in Cairns in northern Queensland Australia.

Police said a 34-year-old woman who was the mother of at least seven of the children had been taken to hospital with stab wounds but was stable.

Police have not confirmed Australian reports that the children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, were stabbed.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement it was an “unspeakable crime”.

He said all parents would feel “gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened”.

A candlelit vigil and church service were held in Cairns on Friday night. read more here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strong Liquor

If we were having Coffee : I would say okay enough bad news lets have another coffee and some cake , maybe some thing stronger ?

Cakes

We must not despair the world has some truly awful and evil goings on but there is still a lot of good out there . All we need to do is look for it!

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would say lets go and see what Paul’s guest are up to lets all mix and have fun. 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/

Warm and Cosy

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: GUEST POST ,THE POWER.

Hi everyone I am publishing if we were having coffee early this week because I need to take a break! I will not have internet access from 23rd December until the 30thDec. Now don’t panic Paul’s wonderful blog will be over at Mark Bialczak blog on Sunday 28th! Please don’t forget to visit there for coffee! After that I hope to be less weird and we will have our normal Sunday slot back!

The Power

Christmas Afternoon Champagne Tea at Claridges in London

Welcome to Willow’s weekly coffee and tea garden. My name is Paul and I’m happy to be here once again inside Willow’s home where it is nice and toasty, tending to your needs for a cuppa, and sweets. We’ve moved inside to beat the winter cold in the garden. Willow has fluffed the cushions and stared a blaze in the fireplace to make a cozy place to sit. I’d be pleased 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 electronic sweets while we discuss the affairs of the week both personal and/or worldwide. How has your week been?

In case you will be travelling to London over Christmas, you can indulge yourself in Afternoon Champagne Tea at Claridges – as pictured above. You can find a picture of a few of the sweets available at the bottom of this post. Oh, just a heads up: the pictures come with some fine print at the bottom: “discretionary service charge will be added to your bill”, so behave yourself.

My week’s been not bad. A few little bumps in the road that caused me to miss my dialysis treatment on Monday – they rescheduled me to another hospital and were unable to change my normal transport so as a result I had a scheduled treatment at one hospital and transport to another. I gotta tell you, having done logistics most of my life, I have to bite my tongue and roll my eyes when I see them dabbling in logistics – the medical care is second to none; getting the patients, doctors and equipment all in one place at one time often seems beyond them. It is funny in retrospect and if I had deemed it to be life threatening, they would have moved mountains and made it right, no matter the cost. Either way it was going to likely result in my finishing dialysis at about 2 am and then having to wait until 7 am for a ride home. My health was better served by sleeping in my own bed (sleep can sometimes be an issue for dialysis patients and missing too much will cause problems in itself). But by Wednesday, everything was back to normal and they apologize profusely and promised to never do it again.

So, how was your week? Anything interesting going on? Perhaps plans for visitors next week, perhaps travel plans? Have another cuppa and a sweet, settle in and do tell.

1981 Chevette – Vroom, Vroom!

I thought perhaps we’d take a short break this week from discussing Christmas and do something else instead. I enjoy our weekly Sunday teas and Willow has encouraged me to discuss any topic that I please. She is very creative, often writing poetry and verse to express her feelings, a talent that I admire and am sadly lacking. However, upon occasion, for reasons I am unable to ferret out, when I am stressed, I will write verse.

Twenty three years ago on Dec 31, 1991, I packed up my little 10 year old Chevette (for our non- North American readers, that was a compact car sold here for many years and it was tiny) and set out from the Maritimes to drive to my girl friend’s in Ottawa – about 700 miles away- where she and I were planning to live. I had no job lined up, an old car, just enough money for gas to get there and even a portable radio taped to the dash for music.

The Power

Being a pensive sort, I used the driving time to think and when I arrived on January 1, 1992, I wrote the following verse:

The Power

Dear God please grant me The Power.

The Power to believe in You and in myself –

To the point where I could easily work for someone else

If it was required or equally to have

People work for me and treat them

Fairly as human beings.

The Power to discard what I believed

Was wrong and not long for it back.

The Power to pursue Truth and Love

Without getting caught up in personal gain and sex.

The Power to live without fearing death and,

The Power to die without clinging to life.

The Power of having without needing to possess.

The Power to give without expecting to receive.

The Power to believe in Good without seeing it and

The Power to understand Evil without becoming it.

The Power to Live and make a difference in this physical world Without being dragged down to its level.

Stress Brings Out The Poet

Have another cuppa and a sweet – we have Beaver tails available now too and stiffer drink for anyone who pleases. Well, I wrote The Power and left it in passing on my bedside table, not sure what to do with it. I didn’t keep a diary or any form of written logs, and I didn’t have anything to join the verse in a file. It was just one of a kind, sitting there on a piece of paper and eyed occasionally somewhat leerily by me. My girlfriend found it homeless and so enjoyed it that, unbeknownst to me, she had it printed on fancy paper, mounted in a frame and gave it to me as a gift. It has accompanied me wherever I have moved for the last 23 years. Looking back I can see that it well expressed my emotions at the time: jobless, new home in a new city, broke, new relationship (that came with 2 kids – also new), and every other stressor available to mankind. Ha! Still had my radio taped to the dash – that was some comfort. Do you have any stories about big life changes over the years and how they affected you?

So, that’s the story of The Power, and it has never been published or even seen by anyone other than my Ex until today. I hope you enjoyed it. So it’s time to settle in front of the fireplace with another cuppa. Sweets anyone? Willow and I are honored that you dropped by 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 for tea (or the beverage of your choice) again next week.

A Sampling of Sweets at Claridges Christmas Champagne Tea

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/

NO MORE!

These last few weeks have been so hard to cope with

Days so dark I have not wanted to wake up or even live.

Ties so deep that they should never be tested

Pulled so taught while they argued and each other bested!

So much illness too in the family I am finding so hard to bare

There is no way I can close my eyes and ears to it, truth is I really care.

Christmas presses closer like an evil leach. Dragging me down to hell

It sucks my heart out and shreds my soul, stress that I can’t quell.

Well I can take no more of this.

I shall retreat in to my music, headphones bliss.

Run I shall run, dance I shall dance in my head

I shall float away before it all explodes in y head!

Willowdot21 2014

Who better to help me than Immie . She is amazing she tells my life as it is!

Sparks might fly, in no time.
It’s a delayed reaction of the third kind. (ooh)
I’m so ready for this.
Shrink-wrapped tones, I can face the music.
Stop matters bonding us way beyond
Our best by-days.

You know we’ve had it good, we’ve had it bad, so no hard feelings.
We’ve done all we could and all again. I’m done pretending.
Let’s quit while we’re still friends.

Making up stories that grew to be too tall,
My fortress to forget couldn’t take anymore.
You nearly watched me ruin everything, everything!
There’s a number one rule of don’t-do’s.
Well we knew it all too well.
You were supposed to be looking out for me!
Have you any idea how difficult it’s been?

You know we’ve had it good, we’ve had it bad, so no hard feelings.
We’ve done all we could, and all again. Let’s save ourselves a sorry ending.
You know we’ve had it good, we’ve had it bad, but this is as far as we can stretch.
Let’s stop pretending, stop pretending.
And quit while we’re still friends
[x2]

Well I was so young, misguided maybe.
But still this hands over my every pen to paper.
And this all started with a song.
Let this be our last one.
Drop, drop. Bridge, bridge!

We’ve had it good, we’ve had it bad, but this is as far as we can stretch.
Stop pretending!
And quit while we’re still friends.

I wish you well.
I wish you well… (I wish you well, wish you well, wish you well)

Wish you well, I wish you well, I won’t tell if you won’t tell.
I won’t hold it against you if you bow out gracefully. (gracefully)
Can we just not drag this out, please?
I wish you well, I wish you well, I won’t tell if you won’t tell.
I won’t hold it against you if you bow out gracefully, (do it gracefully!)
Can we just not drag this out?

Imogen Heap 2014

Fallen angel’s Plight

I need to run I need to hide,

My wings are clipped my feet are tied.

I need to scream, but I can not cry.

Afraid to stay , too tired to fly

Alone under a moon lit sky.

Can I run, can I hide,

Can I beat this pain inside

Will it end, will I be no more

Will I find the key to the locked door.

Broken angel that is me

No longer blessed no longer free.

Shackled so harshly tied down

Lost to all now bound to the ground.

If We Were Having Coffee – Dec.14/2014 GUEST POST

HOLIDAY CHEER

Welcome to Willow’s weekly coffee and tea garden. My name is Paul and I’m happy to be here once again inside Willow’s home where it is nice and toasty, tending to your needs for a cuppa, and sweets. We’ve moved inside to beat the winter cold in the garden.Willow has fluffed the cushions and stared a blaze in the fireplace to make a cozy place to sit. I’d be pleased 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 electronic sweets while we discuss the affairs of the week both personal and/or worldwide. How has your week been?

In the spirit of the season, I found the following video over at LifeBuzz it is Titled, He Asked 13 Homeless People What They Wanted For Christmas. Their Answers Made Me Feel Shallow. Gifts for the Homeless

This little video follows a gentleman as he asks many homeless people what they would like for Christmas and then provides it for them. It really speaks to the joy of giving and the meaning of Christmas. The looks on the faces of those to whom nothing has ever been given, is priceless. It did my heart good to watch.

Let me pour you a cuppa of your favourite beverage and have a sweet while you enjoy it as well. So the temperatures have been dropping over the last week or so and it has snowed twice and the snow has stayed down. All this gets me to thinking about skating at the canal and eating those delicious Beaver Tails. Speaking of sweets, here’s some that I bet you haven’t seen before, Beaver Tails:

Beaver Tails with various Chocolate Fillings

These delicious hot pastries are fried dough covered with powdered sugar and filled with the topping of your choice – jam, chocolate, fruit, etc. (For scale – each Beaver Tail pictured above is about twice as long as your hand and about 1 1⁄2 times as wide).They are sold through out the winter at kiosks in and around Ottawa. Primarily Beaver Tails are sold on the Rideau Canal Skating rink. This is actually the largest maintained skating rink in the world, comprising over 4.5 miles (7 kms) of canal skating in the city of Ottawa from Downtown to Dow’s Lake. The canal is open for skating usually by January and stays open until early March. The length of the season depends on the temperature and can run anywhere from 45 days to 90 days. It is free and has changing/warm up rooms, food kiosks, washrooms, etc – all on the ice. You can see the little cluster of buildings with services under the bridge in the picture. There are a number of these clusters all along the Canal.

The night time skating is amazing and a real feast for the eyes.

That’s about all we have room for this week, so it’s time to settle in front of the fireplace with another cuppa. Sweets anyone? – we can even have the kitchen make you some Beaver Tails if you wish. Willow and I are honored that you dropped by 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 for tea 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/

If we were having Coffee. Operations,Stress,

Welcome, come on in it is lovely to see you! If we were having Coffee . Come on in the fires are lit the cushions are plumped up and we have the coffee and tea and the cakes and sweets are set out. Paul and his guests are all here and they are enjoying the warmth and food and drinks. We have tea and coffee from all over the world not to mention all our cakes and muffins and as Paul calls them sweets! Every single one is calorie free! Plus of course we now have spirits and liquors to warm the coldest of you .

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE : I would say not a lot has been happening this week. I have been looking after hubby after he has been in hospital for an operation. Well two operations actually . How did this happen well he went in for one and when the surgeon came to speak to him he informed him he was going to perform a second procedure too!

I think the husband was quite taken aback, luckily it was too late to do anything but have the second operation but consent! 🙂 .

I was surprised too but not by the double operation. No I was taken aback the amazingly quick turnaround time of the hospital. In at 7am open surgery home by 2pm same day? Well honestly I know you are safer from MRSA CDiffC at home than in hospital but hey six and a half hours seems rather hurried! …. But hey I can be a good nurse and I have worked hard to look after and cope with all of hubbies’ concerns!!

What else can I tell you, IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: well my eldest sister hurt her knee while she was at the library, she has to now wait to go for a scan to see what the damage is! All she needs just right now! Sister number two is also not doing so well, having trouble with he heart! Sister number three well she is still struggling with her shoulder after her shoulder operation. I go round each week to wash her hair! She is struggling now because she has three unexpected visitors for Christmas, her mother in law and her two sister in laws!

Eldest brother … well he was supposed to be having an operation to sort out a leg problem that has been troubling him for at least 18months! Unfortunately he has ha a problem with an ingrowing toenail. Sadly for him because of the toenail problem his long awaited operation has been postponed until the new year! …. Brother number two , well he seems healthy enough so fingers crossed for him!!

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would say that it has been great fun over at Jean’s Social Bridge where she is hosting a party , come on over and join in here. Jean has a wonderful blog well worth taking a look at!

OH! were are my manners would you like another cuppa and maybe some cake?

These teddies look good don’t they! Mind you I have eaten way too much today!It has been one of those days when you just pick, pick and pick some more.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would say that we have had some really harsh weather this week here in the UK. We here in the South have been very much luckier than those in the North and West! Read more here!

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I will have to admit that although I have been really really busy this week not much of real interest has happened. I have told you all my news so maybe now you would like to tell me some of your news, personal or international.

But for now let us join Paul and his guests , it is so cold we could break out the liquors!