IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: Worktops, hospitals, Parliament,and Newbie

If we were having Coffee: I would remind you that there are lots of other coffee mornings all shared and organized By Diana and Gene’O over at,Part time monster

Do join in

Come on in it is nice to sit and have a chat after all the hustle and bustle of the past few days. I can still entertain you all with 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.

dormy-house-81 — Coffee and cakes by the fire

If we were having coffee: I would have to say what a busy week this has been, Monday we had our new worktop along under the kitchen window by the sink replaced. Either hubby I had to be there while the workmen were as we wanted to make sure that the work was done properly! As it certainly was not the first time. It was an unadulterated mess! So Monday we took no chance.

I had a scan at 11am so hubby stayed with the workmen and son number two took me for my scan. When we got back hubby had to go and take his mother to another hospital for an afternoon appointment so I was on workman watch!

Well the worktop is done now and I would say it is a near perfect as it can get!

If we were having coffee: Tuesday was busy too the gym shopping and housework all go ! Wednesday was the new Pilates with my friend L . We are finding this lesson very hard but excellent too as the teacher is very very good. In the afternoon hubby and I attended the funeral of the wife of our next door neighbour . She was a lovely lady and she will be missed.

Would anyone like another coffee or some cake or even something stronger.

If we were having coffee: I would say that Thursday I had to go to see the Dr about my scan results. No hard or fast news apart from the fact there is a problem with the gallbladder which may necessitate an operation and a possible abnormality with my kidneys…. the Dr is arranging for me to see a specialist about both. ..OH! yes she is also sending me for physio for my kne which I seem to have damaged. OMG I am falling to pieces

If we were having Coffee : I would tell Friday we went to London for a visit to the Houses of Parliament ….

We left home at 13.20pm we walked to the station in what I can only describe as wet rain! We refused to let this dampen our spirits though because we were both very excited about the visit ! Hubby should of gone to the houses of Parliament when he was a young lad at school but for whatever reason he missed the visit …. Then we had an appointment to go in October last year but my sister was on the danger list and so we missed our visit. My sister sadly died.

So we were determined that hubby would make it third time around! We arrived at Waterloo and took the short walk to Westminster where we met by security and and armed policemen ( I still cannot get used to armed policemen though by now I should be used to them.)

IMG_20160122_151626446 — Palace of Westminster late afternoon

The above photo is of the Houses of Parliament, late afternoon from the far side of Westminster Bridge. Why have I called it Palace of Westminster , because that is what it is read here.

We were early as our tour was at 16.35 pm so we went to the cafe and had a coffee! Then we went into Westminster Hall and soaked up the atmosphere and buzz.

Our tour guide was called Anna and she was excellent, we went through the central lobby, and along the voting corridors… read here . Then we went to see the royal robing rooms that the Queen uses to dress for occasions of state .

Then we saw the Lobbies and then finally both Houses of Parliament , the Commons and the Lords. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take any photos of these .

It was an amazing tour and we learned so much about our Parliament and the buildings which had been a Royal place. The tour lasted about an hour and a half. Then we walked along the river back towards Waterloo and the Festival Hall. We had dinner at Pizza Express then walked back to Waterloo Station to catch our train home. We had had a great day out!

IMG_20160122_155427742 — The Hammer Beam roof of Westminster Hall

IMG_20160122_155436156_HDR — The front entrance, the window is for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

IMG_20160122_160456087 IMG_20160122_160959693 IMG_20160122_161109459

IMG_20160122_180900481 — Next four photos are taken in St Georges Hall.

IMG_20160122_180911238 IMG_20160122_180920578 IMG_20160122_180950558

IMG_20160122_182629817 — We walked along the River to have dinner and saw the London Eye

IMG_20160122_191946087_HDR — All that was left of Dinner

IMG_20160122_195528049 — Waterloo Station

IMG_20160122_155412256 — One last look at the Westminster Hall

If we were having coffee : I would tell you that Saturday Core Class was still as hard as last weeks! When I got back from class I visited our new neighbours to meet their new Puppy Inca who is an adorable female Labrador Puppy. My friend Stan ( Jean’s beautiful dog ) will love her! Visit Jean’s and dare I say Stan’s blog at Socialbridge

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Meet Inca.

Then we had a visit from our eldest son.

Would you like another cuppa or something to eat! 5030603-moravian-poppyseed-curd-and-jam-cakes-and-a-cup-of-coffee-stock-photo

If we were having Coffee : I would tell you that today Sunday we are meeting up with the our youngest son and his wife and the Newbie to celebrate our son’s birthday. We are taking the hubby’s Mum. Unfortunately our middle son has to work and our eldest has a prior arrangement that he cannot get out of. It will be lovely for the rest of us to be together though. We are really looking forward to Lunch out….. and the Newbie of course!

If we were having coffee : I am amazed to say that we are almost into the last week of Just Jot it January , organised by LindaGHill it has been amazing and I have met some really great bloggers.

If we were having Coffee: I would have to say we are all sill waiting patiently for our dear Paul Curran to rejoin us here at the coffee share but until he is well enough and up and running again we shall have to bide our time!

For now everyone Be well and happy!

If we were having Coffee Original idea from parttimemonster.

And of course the

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE

over at Part Time Monster and Gene’O’s
Love to you all

db19f4c50abe0dde638e8e3e2442c287 — I love you all

Author: willowdot21

Female, wife, full time mother and Grandmother. I am not as happy go lucky as I used to be but I am still bubbling along on simmer! I have three handsome sons all grown and flown.The youngest married with a beautiful wife and two sons of his own. Eleven years ago I was working, running a home, driving and socializing then bang in a split second all that was gone. I had an accident at home. I broke my back, not for the first time, I had broken it 10 years previously as well. Unfortunately this time I had broken it really badly and it was truly messed up so I had to have two operations. I was told before each operation that the outcome could mean I spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Still as some guy once wrote "I am still standing " yes "better than I ever was " not quite but with the help of a walking stick and as long as I do not stand or sit in one position for too long, I am still standing! Update I no longer use the walking stick . I had lots of friends before the accident but when things like this happen, you loose most of them. Their lives move on and mine stood still and so they left me behind ...I know that is just the way life is but it hurt and always will. Then I looked around and saw those who were still there for me, these friends are the roses in my garden they need to be tended well. They are the diamonds in the dust, I will of been married 50yrs plus this year . Pain and boredom are my enemies now, I have to find different ways to approach life, use my pain befriend it almost...yer right , well that is what they tell me at the pain clinic ROFLMAO ...... if only I could! I have found an outlet for my fears, frustrations and night terrors . I have started writing poetry if that name can be applied to my writing. I hope I do not come over as a moaning winger. I hope I am past all that. I also hope that you might see how the poetry is moving from very dark through the grey and hopefully in to light ?? I need to update this a little here. I have worked very hard over the years since my accident, I go to the gym regularly, I have a Pilates class and a core class once a week . The guys at the gym and my Pilates teacher cajoled, teased, bullied and encouraged me to abandon my walking stick! :) My back is no longer straight it is C shaped because of the injury and I have lost two and a half inches in height but my Pilates and Core teachers have helped me to stand up as straight and as strongly as possible. Pain and depression are still hanging on my arm but I have weapons to use against them and if I say so myself I cope well. I have made lots of new friends, real diamonds. I am also very grateful for all the support and help I have encountered here on Wordpress. Hugs and welcome to everyone who visits. View all posts by willowdot21

4 thoughts on “IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: Worktops, hospitals, Parliament,and Newbie”

1EarthUnited says:

Jan 27, 2016 at 4:48 am

countertop looks much better, i can barely see the seam. Westminster Hall looks fab, thx for sharing your day. 🙂

1. willowdot21 says:
  
  Jan 27, 2016 at 4:18 pm
  
  Yes Finally the worktops are brill! As for the day at the Palace of Westminster I was glad to share!! 🙂 xxxxx
  
  1. 1EarthUnited says:
    
    Jan 27, 2016 at 4:25 pm
    
    Awesome! Have a lovely week Willow. 🙂
  2. willowdot21 says:
    
    Jan 27, 2016 at 4:27 pm
    
    You too hun it’s not a very good one yet but improving!