If We Were Having Coffee – Sept.21/2014
Scotland Renewed and Little Happy Moments
A small part of the coffee selection available – all fair trade products.
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 and Willow has put me to work helping her to arrange some comfy chairs and sofas under the marquee where we will be warm whilst we sip our cuppa.
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 (as you can see above) to satisfy our world-wide readership. Willow has been busy sniffing some of these unfamiliar beverages and has declared that some are “smelly”. I think that’s a technical term for “tasty for non-Willows”. 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 week been?

A difficult outcome to guess
Well, on the world scene, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the Scottish referendum. As everyone now knows, Scotland voted to remain with England in the UK. Watching this from over here in Canada this week, I was reminded of our Quebec referendum some years ago, which turned out the same way. There is a lot of stress and worry and very strong opinions around a separation referendum.
It will take some years for the rifts to heal, but heal they will. And with the healing will come a new awareness of the feelings and expectations around the relationship between Scotland and England. This turned out to be a good thing in Canada re: Quebec. Just like any relationship, putting the concerns on the table usually helps to strengthen the bond in the future. I wish well to all the various sides and factions that they may heal their wounds. I know it’s a sensitive topic but if you have any comments we’d love to hear them.
How about another cuppa? (You can try one of Willow’s “ smelly” concoctions if you wish.) There are lots of sweets: cakes, scones, biscuits (cookies for our North American visitors), flans, etc. And all are calorie free here in the garden. But only here.

“When medication is right and on time and covered, it is happy medication”
As a short funny that happened to me this week, regular readers will remember that I spoke in earlier posts about the difficulty in getting prescription drug coverage here in Canada if it is not employer provided. Anyway, after much moaning and groaning and paperwork and meetings, I did successfully attain coverage and all went well. It came time for me to renew my prescriptions this week and it went smooth = no problems –except there was one medication that the drug store did not have and they offered to drop it off to my home the next day, free of charge. You can’t ask any more than that.
Meanwhile, at dialysis on Monday the doctor wanted to change one prescription. I agreed and didn’t think anything of it. The next morning, bright and early (just a minute until I get out of bed, early) the delivery of the missing prescription showed up and I just set the bag on my desk and went back to bed. Later in the day I figured I’d better chase down the new prescription and called the pharmacy. The pharmacist checked her records and asked if I had received a delivery this morning. I replied in the affirmative and she told me to look in the bag. Sure enough, there was the new prescription along with the missing prescription. It’s hard to believe that the system, once in place, works so well that drugs are delivered to me before I have a chance to ask for them. Apparently the doctor had my drug store on file, faxed the new prescription which was then waiting when they came to work. Someone noticed there was a delivery and added the prescription. Amazing. I hope it keeps working this well.
Did you have any small happy occurrences this week? Perhaps a little surprise that made you smile? It’s the small things in life that make our days happier.

“Inspirational thoughts”
Speaking of which, there seems to be a fun activity going around in my neighborhood. Being close to a university, our telephone poles have become billboards – not unusual. Well, yesterday I was walking back from the store and I noticed a small pre-printed post it note stuck on a pole a few feet from the bottom. In fine red script it read: “You are special and unique in this world.” And that was it. It wasn’t selling anything, held no expectations, and demanded nothing. It was refreshing and made my day. Again, it seems to be the small things that matter. Have you noticed any small happy moments or occurrences lately? Some small thing that made your day? Or perhaps even a big thing?
Would you like another cuppa? 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.
Flowering and Blooming Teas (They smell good Willow!
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 . If we were having Coffee Original idea from http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/
Photo credits : http://adamsfarms.com/departments/coffee/. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-independence-on-a-knife-edge-as-yes-vote-narrows-gap-ahead-of-referendum-9729506.html and http://cdn.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/things-we-forget-post-it-notes-10.jpg and http://cdn.teavivre.com/media/gallery/images/m/i/mixed_flower_teapot_1_1.jpg