I’m Back

Welcome to Willow’s weekly coffee and tea garden. My name is Paul, I’ll be your barista today and I’m happy to be here once again. Please come in and make yourself comfortable. Willow has plumped the cushions and started a cozy fire so we can warm ourselves while we have a cuppa and chat. As usual, 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. Also available is a large selection of spirits for addition to your cuppa or in its place. We can relax while we discuss the affairs of the week both personal and/or worldwide. How has your week been?

I’m back after missing last week for medical reasons. I thank you my readers and Willow for your patience. Dialysis did not go well and I ended up with two hematomas when they tried to needle me; which meant I did not get dialysis and had to wait for the hematomas to heal before I could get dialysis again. This took a few days. It is possible to needle through the hematomas after a day or two but it is very painful and I’d had enough. So I missed a few sessions until I was healed and then went back. This lead to a number of temporary medical issues (now all cleared up), including the inability to mentally focus enough to write. So I apologize for missing last week – that’s my story.

Would you like another cuppa and a sweet? The weather here has been very warm – 50’s to 60’s F – and sunny. It is great for the spirit. How has the weather been where you are?

Coming Soon with Credit and Debit Capability

I see our banks here in Canada have formed a consortium to address “Apple Pay”. This hasn’t arrived here yet but apparently is flourishing in places in the US. It allows customers with iPads and Apple watches, to have their credit cards and debit cards stored on those devices and used directly through Apple. Apple charges the banks between 15 and 25 cents per $100 purchase for the use of their technology. Apparently our banks are not overly enamored of this idea as it puts a vendor (Apple) between the bank and their customers. There are also security concerns that are surfacing in the US that the Canadian banks want to address up front. It is a mark of our technology that we are finding more and more ways to store and use data. What is your opinion on this coming technology? How long will it be before we have a chip embedded under our skin with all our info and credit/debit info? Is this a good idea?

RMH, Shorncliffe

Would you like a refill of your drink? Perhaps a piece of cake or a sweet? They are all calorie free here you know. To our British readers, a piece of Canadian history in England will soon be sold by the British MOD. The military base at Stonecliffe in Folkestone was where Canadian forces were marshaled and trained in World War 1 before going on to the European front. This military base had its start back in 1794 when the crown began buying land in the area to establish a military presence in preparation for war with France. The base now only houses one of the British Army’s few remaining Nepalese Gurkha units. There is a trust fund that is trying to raise money to establish a museum and education center on the site. However the British government is making progress towards selling the land for use by a housing developer. Will you be sad to see this piece of military history fall to housing developers? What are your thoughts on this?

On that note, that’s about all we have room for this week, so it’s time to settle in with another cuppa and watch the fire. Sweets anyone? Please join me in thanking Willow for her invitation to tea. We are all honored that you dropped by today to visit. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and the conversation and please look around at Willow’s other posts while you’re here. Willow is over there serving her guests and chatting it up. Let’s go see how she is today. Have a great week. We look forward to seeing you back here for sweets and beverages of your choice again next week.

The Royal Horseguards Afternoon Tea