Of Blurbs, And Other Things

Lookie, lookie Ritu has a publishing date and we can all pre oder !

Read at source

Mary and Jo part 6

To day is the sixth day of Advent, leading up to Christmas. I would like to re-run my take on the Nativity story. I first wrote this in 2011, in the style of prosetry.

Image from Pixabay

Mares finished her bath, she wrapped herself in the fluffy warm towel she looked at her bump remembering the angels words and she felt trapped.

Sitting down she started to cry wiping her eyes and thinking of those words it was really no surprise. It was rather scary to have your life mapped out. Feeling a sudden shiver, for Jo, shecalled out.
Rushing in and seeing Mares sitting on the floor he throws his arms around her and says “come on my love never worry we have each other and that is for sure.”
Out on the hills surrounding the town some shepherds were out in their four by fours doing the rounds, shepherds busy counting their sheep.
Suddenly shocked by a blinding light and huge blast of sound. None of them really knew what to do they were scared out of their wits when a beautiful woman floated into view!
She was a beauty, a stunner it’s true and she had a fabulous smile as she announced “I have a message for you.” They all of them knelt on the cold grass and marvelled as she hovered above them, each wondering how it all came to pass. A heavenly light filled the night a couple took photos, well it was an extraordinary sight. The beautiful angel asked if they has spotted the star that shone up in the sky over hotel Delph in the town near by.

the star

The angel looked down at shepherds and saw only fear so she descended and asked them, gently, to come near. She told them that she had a message for them. The son of God was to be born in Bethlehem. It was to be a virgin birth and the child would save all of them. Not only them but all mankind too, they were all very excited but still at a lost as what to do.Be at peace gentle men you will be welcome to go and see the virgin and baby who will ultimately set you all free. This little child has left heaven and all it’s favour to come down to harsh evil world by way of a poor woman’s labour.
Once she was happy the shepherds had understood she blessed them and then to their despair she disappeared and left them for good. They all sat around discussing the sights of the night in fact they were still there at fist light.
Shall we go and see then, one of them enquired. Yes said the others it sounds like a visit and present is what’s required.
Back at the hotel Jo made sure Mares had cheered up and he had bought her favourite hot chocolate in a cup. Magi.com were still on their plane happy that they had given Herod.com the slip again.

Ruby’s Washing Machine.

Ruby sleeping happily

She has a pressie from us you see.

It’s a new washing machine

Too keep her towels and blankets clean.

A funny gift for a beloved dog?

Strange subject for my blog?

I can’t put her things in our machine

Our clothes would no longer be clean.

They would all be covered by blond hair

On my best dress, no that’s not fair.

Her old machine finally broke

So she has a new one, bespoke.

So now Ruby will smell rosey

And sleep on clean bed, with blankets and towels clean and cosy.

We have always had a separate washing machine for Ruby as she moults so much our machine in the kitchen would not last long.

Last week the old machine we keep in the garage for her stuff gave up the ghost. Now Ruby has a newer washing machine than us? How does that work. 💜 Greater love .

Meet Marian.

Hi Guys has anyone noticed that Marian Wood had a new authors site give her a visit Here

There is also her blog at justmuddlingthroughlife Marian writes short stories, poems and everyday family things.

Currently Marian is writing two books.

I not saying anymore pop across now and visit her.

If we were having coffee:Deaths, classes visits

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.

If we  were having  coffee : I would  have  to  say  what  a sad  week  this has been  in the  music  and  entertaining  world . Both David Bowie  and Alan Rickman  dying  of cancer  at  the  age of  69yrs with  just a  few  days between  them.

David Bowie  was a huge influence  and icon  to  me in my  youth  and  still was up until his death. His music, clothes, lyrics are  what have coloured  many  decades of  my life. Enough  has been  said  about  him  to  fill several books  so I  shall let his  music  speak  for him!

 

 

He was my hero.

Alan Rickman  a  wonderful   actor  who  went  from  stage  to  screen, Shakespeare to  the  silver screen with ease. Truly,deeply, madly, Die Hard, Harry Potter, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves  to name but  a few!

Truly  he  was  a lovely  man.

If we  were  having  coffee :   I would  offer  you  another  cuppa  or  a  treat  of  some kind  would  you  like  something  stronger  maybe  it  is  very  cold here  today we  even  woke up  to  snow and  the  temperature  is   a very  chilly  2c/ 36 F so  come on  lets  get  nearer  the fire.

What  have  you  been up  to  this  week .  I have  been very  busy  shopping and housework. I have been  to  the new  class of  Pilates  again  and  this  week  my  friend  L  came  with  me  she  found it  very  hard  but  also  excellent   so we  shall both  be  doing  the  course  together. As for  my  core  class on Saturday  …my  that  is  so hard . I think  the two months  plus I was  away  from the gym is taking it’s toll. I am hoping  for improvement  soon!

Warm up by  the  fire

 

If we were having coffee: Sadly  I  still have  not  got  to see Star Wars yet! I don’t  think  there is  much  chance  of  me seeing it  this week either. Monday  the  men are coming  to  refit one of  our kitchen worktops (  they have  made  a  holy  mess of  the  long run under  the window  and  put  an abysmal joint  by  the sink! Right in  eye line as  you  enter  the kitchen). Also  I have  a scan  at  11am and  so  the  hubby  will have  to  stay home  and  make  sure  all goes  well in  the kitchen. In the  afternoon  hubby  has  to take his  mother  for  a hospital  appointment so I  shall be on  workman supervision  if they  have not finished  the task!  Tuesday is  a possible  but  Wednesday  is Pilates  in  the morning  and  we have  a funeral  to  attend  in the  afternoon. Thursday  we have  an upholsterer   coming  to fix  one  of our  sofas.  I am annoyed  about  this  as we have not had  these  a year  yet  and  the stitching  is  coming apart  on a part of  the sofa  we hardly  ever sit on!! Friday  though I  am looking forward  to as  hubby  and I  are  going  for a  tour of  Parliament  !! WOOHOO ! a  day  in London.

So Star Wars   has  to wait and  goodness only  knows when I  shall get  to  see  The  Danish Woman!

If we were having  coffee:   I would  ask  you  how  your  blogging has been  this  week I  have  been very  busy  as it  is  still January and January means  Just Jot It January. This is  run  by  LindaGHill  it  is  hard  but I  do  enjoy  a challenge!

Never too late  to join in  here 

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

 

Bye bye  for  now 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If we were having Coffee : Gardens, News, families

welcome one welcome all!

Hello  everyone  welcome  to  the garden  we have a marquee  and  heaters, all the garden  furniture  has  been washed  and  I have put out cushions for your  comfort.

Well what  do  you  think  shall  we  chance  it . Now  as  always  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 ask  you what  has been going on in your world this week, has  anything  deeply affected  you, have  you need a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry  on or  just  needed someone  to make  you laugh! If  yes  feel free to talk it out  here  with us. We will all help if  we can.

Lets  join  everyone  here  and  all the  other  “IF  WE  WERE  HAVING  COFFEES”

Join in !

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  

If we were having  coffee: I would  tell  you  just  how  much I  would like  to  pretend  that I have  all  the  time in  world  this  week  but  sadly  my  time is  very  clipped  today. We have  the  mother in  law  over  most  Sundays…. for  some  reason  neither  of  the husbands two  siblings seem  to  see fit  to  have  her  over, so  most  Sundays, outings  and Holidays  (  as our  American  friends  say, to  me  Christmas,Easter  and bank holidays  fall to us. ) Now  we  don’t  mind  but it  does  get  a  little  stressful  when  there are  other things  on  the cards  that  need  to be organized!….. Enough  I  am not  moaning   just  stating  facts!

If we were having  coffee:  I  would  tell  you  it has been a  strange  week  as I  have been under  the  weather and  spent  two  days in  bed  with stomach  ache. So it has  not been a normal  week  as I was unable  to get out and  do  most of  the usual  things  that  make  my  week  normal. I like  normal  it  makes  me  feel  safe  anything  else tends  to  upset  my  equilibrium!

Now  I  have  found  a very interesting   new  blog, on  first sight  it  appears  to be  a  cookery  blog  but  as  the posts  started  coming  to my  email I discovered  that  it is  also about  a  very  brave  and  courageous mother of  nine children’s account  of her  life  as a  foreigner living  and  married  to a  man in Saudi, she  has amazed  and inspired  me, also  I love  her  recipes. Do  pop  over  and  check out  at  Lynz real cooking. here  is  one of  her  triumphs  …go on  let’s  all have  a piece!

Mocha Cookie mousse

  If we  were having  coffee : I would  ask  what  are  the  big  things  that  affected  you  in the  news  this  week. As I said  I have been  out of  it  most of  the week  but  what  has seeped  through  to me is  that  the Number  of  Muslim  women  who  are taking off  for  Syria  to join isis  from this  country,the  UK , is  growing . Well okay  if  these women  feel  they  need  to  dessert  the life  they have  grown up  with over here and  want  to give up  every last  vestige  of  freedom then fine  they make  their own beds  let  them lie in them. But   they are  taking  children  with  them, some very young  children  too. Apparently  these  women are  doing  this  mad  exodus  without  their husbands  or  families knowing ?

It  started  with  young  men  being  radicalized by youtube  and  social media, then it  was young  girls  and  now  women  with  children  are  up  and  fleeing  into  what I can  only  see  as the unknown. Well if  young  men , girls  and  women  want  to leave  here  and  head out  to  join isis  so be it. Now  to my mind  their  actions  do not  come  without  consequences  if  they  go  they  can never return.   Let us  face it  how  could  they  ever  be trusted  not to turn against us? That  said  it is not  fair of  them to take  their children  with them, what  mother  can willing  take  their  children into a war  zone,  a place  where  women  are  treated  a cheap chattels  and  worth less  than  cattle. It pains  me  to say  this   but it  is  wrong . Read  here

Right  If  we were having coffee : Can I  get  you  a top up or  perhaps  you would like  something  stronger.

Liqueurs and coffee

Now  the moment  you all adore….. Garden  time!!

Tomato crop coming on

and big

Autumn colours

Tidied up

White rose rising

Last splash of Summer

If  we were having coffee : I would  ask  if  I  can fill up  your  cup, or  glass  or  get  you anything  else  to  eat  it is  all  calorie  free!

Let us  go  and Join Paul and the  gang  they  are  all over  at  Mark Bialczak  this  week and  see  what  they are  all discussing  ! It has  been lovely  as always  to have  you all here  and  I  hope,  as does  Paul  that  you will all join us here again  next  week.

exploding dog

 If we were having Coffee Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

And of course  the

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE:  WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE

over at Part Time  Monster  and Gene’O’s

exploding dog

If We Were Having Coffee – August 16/2015: Guest Post

The  New  Patient

Visitors For Afternoon Tea

Paul your Barista

Welcome to Willow’s weekly coffee and tea garden. My name is Paul; I’ll be your barista today. I’m happy to see you have come for a cuppa and a chat. Please come into the garden and make yourself comfortable. Willow fluffed the cushions on the chairs and set the tables in the garden so we can have a cuppa and chat as we soak up the sun and enjoy the beautiful plants. 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 amongst the flowers while we discuss the affairs of the week both personal and/or worldwide. How has your week been?

Raw home video of Tianjin Explosions (two explosions)

Things here have been relatively normal this week. The newspaper headlines are about political corruption, housing figures, Islamaphobia, oil prices, all topics that are ongoing and talked to death. Oh, there was the terrible explosion and fire in Tianjin, an industrial port city close to Beijing. So far 85 have been reported dead and hundreds injured. As terrible as it was, it seems from the reports that it was a simple case of illegally storing hazardous chemicals and poor communication that combined to turn a small incident into a disaster. Firefighters reported to a small blaze in a chemical storage facility and sprayed water on chemicals that explode in the presence of water. Things got progressively worse from there. Combine that with the fact the chemicals were stored close to homes – which is illegal in China, they are required by law to be no closer than 1 kilometer to residences – and you have a disaster. Like the other concerns of the week that I listed above, it was a matter of a few individuals trying to benefit personally at the expense others, an age old human behaviour. Nothing really worth discussing there.

Would you like a refill of your cuppa? Perhaps a sweet? So, I ran into a another new dialysis patient this week – Jackie. She is about my age and her husband passed away a few years ago. Para-Transpo has put together recently for our ride back home as she lives in a residence on the way back to my place. Jackie has diabetes as well as kidney failure – not an uncommon combination. She was pretty depressed the other day when I met her and had skipped a few dialysis treatments. As much as one gets upset and sometimes can’t face dialysis (and I have done the same) there is a price to pay. Too much fluid aboard and an overburden of blood waste products as well as an electrolyte imbalance, all add up to a miserable (if not dangerous) existence. That in turn makes you more depressed and less likely to do further treatments. Anyway she was dealing with an infection as well and was on pain killers. She had asked the doctor on call to up her pain prescription (dialysis often aggravates nerve pain) and he had refused. She didn’t elaborate – there could have been very good reasons for his refusal – but she was still upset by that as well.

Operating Room

When I saw her Wednesday night she was particularly down and had an operation scheduled for 6:30 am, the next morning to install a fistula in her arm for dialysis. She said she was too depressed to go. I convinced her that she should go anyway, that it was her depression talking. The anger and dollars it would cost if she didn’t show up when an operating room, a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, nurses, technicians, equipment, etc were all ready and waiting would cause serious repercussions. When I told her that the system cost would likely be greater than $10,000, she was taken aback – we never see cost for health care. Besides which the doctors would be angry and take her less seriously. They are professional and her care would be fine but they would not be as attentive and special requests like getting forms signed and such would be more difficult. She agreed to go. While we were talking outside emergency, the pick-up point, a Para Transpo bus came and the driver – Guy – and I greeted each other by name. Guy said that he wasn’t here for us and went inside to find his customer. Jackie and I both had 11:30 pm pick-up times and it was early – only about 10:50 pm. A few minutes later, as we were talking another Para bus pulled up. This one was driven by Caesar – a Hawaiian from Oahu – who is very outgoing. He walked over and shook hands and told us he was supposed to pick up two others and then come back for us at 11:30. I asked if we could go with him now and save him a trip back and he was fine with that. He loaded his other two customers – one was a wheel chair – as Jackie and I climbed aboard. I greeted the other two – Norm in the wheel chair and Cynthia on foot. I’ve been in dialysis for about 9 years and I’ve known, who is a bit younger than I am, since the beginning. He has gotten progressively worse since I’ve known him going from ambulatory to a walker to a wheel chair and then with one leg amputated and then before he could learn to walk on a prosthetic, the other leg amputated. He is sad these days and doesn’t speak much. He still lives on his own in an apartment that has been modified for his wheel chair.

Para Bus

Jackie was quite taken aback that I knew the drivers and the other patients and she asked if I knew everyone. Ha! I told her that 9 years of dialysis does that. We dropped off Norm and Cynthia while Jackie and I talked. She lives in a privately owned assisted living residence that has 4 persons per room and provides meals. The state pays the owners $1,600 per month for each resident. This is considerably more than I get on disability to live on my own.The residence is 3 stories high and has about 75 people living there. According to her the owner drives an expensive sports car and comes to visit occasionally. I would imagine that this is a profitable enterprise for the owners. As the population ages there are more and more demand for such assisted living facilities and they are being provided by private enterprise. I guess I can’t fault them for making a profit and yet they are charging about 25% more than I get to live on my own – and the tenants live 4 to a room. Jackie got off at her residence at 11:30 – early because we had travelled with the 11 pm customers. A few minutes later I was home and making a coffee while my computer started up.

Presland Residence

On that note, that’s about all we have room for this week, so it’s time to settle in with another cuppa and enjoy the garden. 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.

 If we were having Coffee Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

And of course  the

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE:  WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE

over at Part Time  Monster  and Gene’O’s

Fancy Coffee At your request

If we were having Coffee: Mothering Sunday.

Coffee and Ted

It is If we were having  Coffee  time  again how  are  you all  and  what  have  you been up  to this  week!

So  come in it is lovely  to see you all here again. The fires are lit  the cushions are plumped up and  we have  the coffee and tea on  the go  and the cakes and sweets are all set out.  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 ask  you what  has been going on in your world this week, has  anything  deeply affected  you, have  you need a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry  on or  just  needed someone  to make  you laugh! If  yes  feel free to talk it out  here  with us. We will all help if  we can.

Join in !

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  

If  we were having Coffee: I  would say I  am not  sure  where  to start this week! Today Sunday 15th March is Mothering Sunday. So we are having  a family  gathering , two of our lads  are joining us  and  the mother in law (95yrs old  and bright  as  a button) for  a meal  at  a local  pub. Our  middle  lad is  working   so  he cannot  make  the  meal. Our  youngest is joining us  though  his  wife  and  the Newbie  will not  be, they  will be  joining her mother and family. Still I  shall get  to  see  my son if not  the Newbie. ………….

So Happy Mothering Sunday  out  there to  all who  celebrate it  at  this time of  year.

To all Mums

If  we were having Coffee : I would  have to tell  you  that  the husband  has been very unwell this  week  with  either  food poisoning or  a nasty  bug. It  all started Tuesday  evening  when he  started  to be  sick  every hour on the hour and that  carried on until  Wednesday, after  that  he has been left  very queasy, tired  and extremely weak . Not at  all his busy  bustling  self. I have  donned  my  nurses uniform again  and made him lots of  soup as  he has not  felt like  eating  much  food…. another unusual  thing  for him!. Will the aliens  who  have  stolen  my  husband  please  return him!

If  we were having Coffee : I had  my  hair  coloured   this  week, went  from  black  to  red!

ewe new hair

I am always  keeping the family  guessing  and  changing  my  hair colour.

If we were having  Coffee : I tell  you that  the living room  is  nearly  finished  we now  have  the furniture! We have  waited  nine  weeks  for it to  arrive  and  as  we knew  of  a someone  who’s  house  had  been  flooded  out  and  they  need  furniture  and  soft  furnishings  so  we give  them our  old  suite  and  some  lamp shades  and  curtains.

We used our  conservatory furniture  which  looks  lovely   but  is  not  quite  as  comfy  as a proper suite! Any  way  our  new  furniture  is  here  and  we  love it!

New furniture

The twin recliner

view from the back

 Three years  ago  we  bought  a  reclining chair for  my  back, we  felt  we should  return  the chair  the  hospital   loaned to us .  Now  to our delight  we find it  is an extremely good match  for the new  furniture. The  chair is not  shown here  but it is  looking  good.

We are  delighted  with  the furniture  and our  decorations  all done   by the hubby  and  also  done  while  he was under par  from his operation  back in December!       OOPs! I  am going on a bit  sorry!

Another cup

Would  you like  some  more  coffee or perhaps a cake ? If  we were having Coffee: I ‘d say  looking  at  the bigger  picture  our papers  and TV news  has been  full of  the story  of  the  four  15 to 16yrs teenage  girls  who  managed  to leave  the country  and  go out  to Syria  to join Isis.  The  first  girl  left in December  Sarmeena Bagum  read about  her  here . The  other  three  girls  traveled out  to join  Sarmeena Bagum last month  read  here.

It does  concern  me  that  the parents  did  not  question  these  girls  as  to where  they  were going. They  apparently  told  their  parents  that  they were  going to a  wedding. Well I would  of  wanted  to know  more if my  child  was  packing  a suitcase  and going off to a wedding  at  the age of 15. These  girls  were only  15yrs old  one  I know is  sixteen  even so I would of  made  inquiries. They  got  through  airport  security, they  traveled  to Turkey  and  were helped over the boarder  to Syria .Read about it here.

The  four girls  all went  to the same  school and yet no one  thought  to question  why these  three girls  went off together. Apparently  the girls  were  all friends. They all seemed  to love  their teenage  western  life, shopping  music, dancing . I am afraid  there will be none of that out in Syria  with Isis , I fear  they  have a rude  awakening  awaiting them.

If  we  were having Coffee: I’d  say lets talk of  happier  things

He he he

My gym buddy  is  away in the Caribbean enjoying  a holiday  with her  husband  so I have  been going to the gym on my own. It is  much harder  going on your  own no one to egg you on. She has been sending  me  beautiful pictures  of  where she is  staying  … am I jealous  ….. NO!  well Yes  well No.

Well I  think I have gone on  enough  .

If  we were having Coffee:  I would  say lets  go and see  how  Paul  and his crowd  are doing . I am sure  that  they will have lots to tell us !

 If we were having Coffee  Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

And of course  the

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE:  WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE

over at Part Time  Monster  and Gene’O’s

If we were having Coffee

 

If we were having Coffee: DAY OUT, TEDDYS, LAMBS AND WINDSOR

Coffee with friends

Hello  and  welcome  come in it is lovely  to see you all here again. The fires are lit  the cushions are plumped up and  we have  the coffee and tea on  the go  and the cakes and sweets are all set out.  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 ask  you what  has been going on in your world this week, has  anything  deeply affected  you, have  you need a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry  on or  just  needed someone  to make  you laugh! If  yes  feel free to talk it out  here  with us. We will all help if  we can.

Join in !

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   and it is growing like Topsie!

If we were having coffee : I would  tell that I had  another   day out  with  my  friend  L. We went  to Windsor, yes  where  the Queen  lives part of  the time. We did  not  visit  the Castle  as  we have  both  done  that  before over  the  years. No we  we had a look around  the shops  and walked up  and down Castle  Hill  before  going in to what  was  the old Railway  Station, a used by Queen Victoria.

The Old Station Windsor

It is  completely revamped  full of  shops  and  cafes and of  course  people . We saw a party  of  French  students enjoying  the  undercover market  stalls  and  admiring  the steam train.

Shops and restaurants

Windsor & Eton Central station is one of two terminal stations serving the town of Windsor, Berkshire, England. Although a small part is still a railway station, most of the station building has been converted into a tourist-oriented shopping centre, called Windsor Royal Shopping.^[1] It is situated on the High Street, almost immediately opposite Castle Hill, the main public entrance to Windsor Castle.

Originally named simply Windsor, the station was renamed twice: first to Windsor & Eton on 1 June 1904; and then, followingnationalisation of the railways, to Windsor & Eton Central on 26 September 1949.^[2]

The station is the terminus of the Slough to Windsor & Eton line and is served by a shuttle service of trains from Slough operated byFirst Great Western. Windsor’s other station, Windsor and Eton Riverside, is the terminus for the South West Trains service fromLondon Waterloo.   Read  more  here.

Busy and fun

L  and  arrived  around  11am  to find  the town itself  quiet, we had  had  snow  first  thing  so we  assumed  the weather had  scared  most people off.  We were probably  right  because  as  the morning  went on  the  place  filled up! We  had  fun in  and  out of  the stalls  in the  station  and  stopped off  for  coffee  and scones  well  we were in Windsor.

We  found  a lovely  stall selling  Rare Teddy Bears  which  were all really  beautiful. The  temptation  was too much  and  we both  bough a  beautiful  Grund, Peekaboo Teddy , L  bought  one  for  an imminent

Lena Lamb

Peekaboo Bear

Newbie  (  she already  has four  grandchildren) and I  bought  one  for  my  only Newbie. L also bought  a  lamb  that  sings  Nursary Rhyme!!  We were delighted with our  buys here are  some  photos.

If we were having Coffee:  I would  tell  you  that  the  husband is  improving  slowly  and  much against  my  advice  has  been plodding  along slowly  but  surly  revamping  our livingroom. The  walls  and paintwork  are  mostly  done  and  we have  fitted  ( with the help  of  a friend, as  the husband  cannot  do  any heavy  lifting  still. ) A new  fireplace  and  put  the  TV  up  on  the  wall. Next week  we are having  new  radiators  and  in March our  new  furniture  will arrive! I am getting  impatient  but  thre is  no  point  as it it is  being  made  and  we cannot  rush  things!

If we were having Coffee : I would offer  you some  cakes and biscuits , all calorie  free of course  !

In world  news I would  offer  my condolences  to  the  familes  and  friends  of  those  lost  in  the Trans Asia  Airways  Plane  crash in Taipei. Read  more here.

I must  close  now  as it is  getting late  and  the husband is  wanting  to get to sleep  and I  think my  tapping away is annoying  him! so  before I  go  here is a photo of  the fireplace  and TV .

Fireplace and TV

If we were having  Coffee:  would like to remind  you  about

A Thousand Voices Speak For Compassion

I heard about it first  on TanGental’s page here   and also on Gene’Os page  here . The idea  is to get 1000 bloggers on the same day to write posts about compassion, kindness, support, caring for others, non-judgement etc.? (Date to be decided.(it’s suggested 20th February 2015) We could call it 1000 Voices For Compassion.Who’s in? I really  would  like to be  but I need to think really  hard  about  what  to write about  but I am  going to think about it  and I am going to take part … If  anyone  has any  suggestions I would  be very grateful to hear them!

1000 Voices Speak For Compassion

 If we were having Coffee  Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

And of course  the

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE:  WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE

over at Part Time  Monster  and Gene’O’s

Hellooooooooooo!

 

 

 

Just Jot It January: If We Were Having Coffee. Chit Chat.

Welcome

Hello  and  welcome  come in it is lovely  to see you all here again. The fires are lit  the cushions are plumped up and  we have  the coffee and tea on  the go  and the cakes and sweets are all set out.  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 ask  you what  has been going on in your world this week, has  anything  deeply affected  you, have  you need a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry  on or  just  needed someone  to make  you laugh! If  yes  feel free to talk it out  here  with us. We will all help if  we can.

Join in !

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   and it is growing like Topsie!This  week Diana  was talking  about  Circus, animals  and  clowns  all of  which  leave  me  cold  especially  clowns. I have always  found  them  very  frightening  and I really  don’t  know  why. Do  you have any unexplained  fears.

If we were having  Coffee:  Well  what  have  you  been up  to this  week have  you been happy  sad ,  mad  bad  or just plain busy! Or  have  you been  through  the whole  gambit of  these  emotions ? I have to admit  I have,   life  seems  to be a real roller coaster  at  the moment.

The  husband is  still unwell  and is  plagued  with  pains  in his  side  and  back. He is  due to have two  ultra sound  scans  this  coming  Friday, they  will be  checking  his liver, kidneys  and lower  abdomen. He is  supposed  to be resting  but  like  many a man  when there is  something  to  be careful  of  the  shutters  come down! Instead  of  resting  as he  has been advised  he  is decorating! Yes  I did say  decorating ! I  admit  he  is going  very  slow  and steadily  for  him  and  after  a couple of  hours  he has to stop  and rest. I can see  he is in  pain  and he  has  even given in  and taken  some  pain killers .  I am bcoming  a nag   and I think  he is  fed up of  me telling  him  to take  it easy  but it is only  because I care. ….. HUMMM! Men  if  they  have a cold  they  are at  death’s  door …. anything  bigger  or scarier  and  they  become  all macho!  Bless  him. What  are  your  orther  halves like , male or female?

If we were having  Coffee: I would  offer  you  another coffee or  tea   and  ask if  I could  tempt  you  to a cake  or  sweet!

Go on, you know you want to!

It  has  been  a busy week  I have  been to  the gym  most  days.  It  is   better now I have  a friend  to meet  at  the gym  she is a similar  age to me  and  we have lots in comon . We meet  up  early  morning  Monday  through to Wednesday  and exercise , on the Wednesday  we have a lesson  with our  trainer  and  he makes us work really  hard  which is good. Friday  I have Pilates, Saturday  I have core  class and blissfully  I have Thursday  and Sunday off! Now  I am not obcessed with the gym  I just  get  so  stiff  and so much  pain  if  I do  not  exercise, in fact I was told  after  my  last operation  that  if  I did not exercise  and keep  myself  fit  my  back  could  just let  me down  and I could  end up in a wheel chair… No  thank  you !

If we were having  Coffee: I would tell you  that  my  friend  and I  went into  our  nearest  town  for a girly day, we had  coffee  and cake (naughty  but  oh! so  nice)  then we both  bought  some  clothes in the sale …. we  did not  have any intentions  of  doing  so  but  these skirts  just  grabbed us as we went past ! Well it would of  been rude  not  to to buy them!

It  has  been a funny  week  with something  happening  every  day, plus  trying to  keep an eye on the hubby  it has  been a real  rush!  But  I suppose  I could  say  I was not bored!

If we were having  Coffee: I would  ask what  do  you think  of  the world  news, I have to admit  I have not taken  a lot  of  interest  lately   as it  all seems  so  depressing   and right  now  I do nt not  want  to think  of  all the sad and  bad  things  going on in the world. Mind  you it  is good  to hear  that Scottish  Nurse  Pauline  Cafferkey has recovered  from Ebola  after  becoming  ill  after  returning  here  from West Africa  Read  about it here.  She  was taken ill on her  return to Heathrow … I can’t  help  wandering  if when health workers decide  to go off to West  Africa   to  deal  with Ebola, and  all good credit  it to them, I think  they should  agree  to  have a three week quarentine  before  they return . Maybe  that way  there would  be less chance of  the fearful Ebola  crossing continents.

Other  news  not  so  good  there  has  been another Isis execution  this  time of  a Japanese hostage   Harman Yukawa and they are holding  another  man  a reporter  Kenji Goto. More info here.

If we were having  Coffee: I ‘d  tell  you  that  the Newbie  vsited  yesterday  and it  was so  lovely  to see him and his  dad! (my  youngest son) We were so lucky  yesterday  we got to see all three of  our  sons  and  our grandson, unfortunately  our  middle son had  to leave  before  the newbie  and his dad  arrived   but  at least  we saw  them all. … for those  who know  there  has been a slight  melt   but  still no  sign  of a  thaw.

Time to relax

 

If we were having  Coffee:  would like to remind  you  about

A Thousand Voices Speak For Compassion

I heard about it first  on TanGental’s page here   and also on Gene’Os page  here . The idea  is to get 1000 bloggers on the same day to write posts about compassion, kindness, support, caring for others, non-judgement etc.? (Date to be decided.(it’s suggested 20th February 2015) We could call it 1000 Voices For Compassion.Who’s in? I really  would  like to be  but I need to think really  hard  about  what  to write about  but I am  going to think about it  and I am going to take part … If  anyone  has any  suggestions I would  be very grateful to hear them!

1000 Voices Speak For Compassion

 If we were having Coffee  Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

And of course  the

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE:  WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE

over at Part Time  Monster  and Gene’O’s

This post is part of Just Jot It January hosted by Linda G Hill.

Thanks for tuning in and if you want to join, feel free to click on the link and start jotting!

All that is left  for  me to say  is  stay  here  and be warm  and comfy  and  relax  and enjoy  the compay . Paul  has  been a little delayed  but he will be here asap!  So  until  next week   be  safe  and  well and don’t  forget to check out ‘The  if  we were having  Coffee, weekend share’over at   Part Time  Monster  and Gene’O’s.