
Treacherous times ahead
Rumours of nasty things said.
Out spoken thoughts well hidden
Ups and downs of life unbidden.
Bound by secret ties
Lost forever under stormy skies.
Ever hopeless ever lost storm clouds rolling in .

Treacherous times ahead
Rumours of nasty things said.
Out spoken thoughts well hidden
Ups and downs of life unbidden.
Bound by secret ties
Lost forever under stormy skies.
Ever hopeless ever lost storm clouds rolling in .

Hot sun upon my skin , gentle breeze lifts my hair and cools me
I am relaxed my mind is spinning free, here upon the shore listening to the sea.
I am alone, I am at peace , I love to be here on the shore
Silver reflections dancing on the water, I wish this peace could last forevermore.
The birds wheel and swoop I hear their cries
My heart calls out to them, as do my arms as away they fly.
Alone and solitary but feeling free the sand between my toes
I may be miles away and sad but to my favourite beach my mind flows.

It hurts it, hurts deep in the pit of my stomach eating away at my soul.
Dragging at me clawing, clawing ripping at me devouring me whole.
OH it hurts so much I am feeling sick it is pushing me over the edge.
Why does it happen, why again and again piecing my heart with a wedge.

Pity, pity for God’s sake take pity on me
Give me a break loosen your hold, and set me free.
Stop dragging me through the fire’s hottest part
Cease pulling at my scabs and feeding the dogs my heart
Leave me alone let this pain cease.
Go, take your hate with you and leave me in peace.
I am done with your torture given with a smile.
I refuse to go meekly to your lovingly prepared funeral pyre.
IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would say hello and how are you this week , then we could smile at the fact that we can have two get together’s because we have all had coffee with Paul and I really enjoyed that!
Now this week, though I am hosting we are going over to the The Blue Madame to have tea at her place! I am really looking forward to this as I have heard so many little snippets about what she would like to do. In fact , I think it was last year, she had a lovely Tea Afternoon with all her local friends and her sister. She has lots of lovely china which she was delighted to get to use! … I hope we get the best china and as long as there are no marauding Raccoon’s hiding in the bushes I shall be sure not to drop any cups or saucers.
IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would have say isn’t it lovely here. Look we can either sit in the garden ( yard if you are American) or inside ! Look here is Deana the cat coming to welcome us , oh! hello sweety you are so pretty, it is so nice to meet you at last. Look there is the husband he is keeping in the background… I think that, that apron really suits him.
Aha! here is our delectable and generous hostess Hi there Madame or shall we call you Blue. It is so lovely to see at last we have chatted or wordpress and the occasional email it is so lovely to be here with you to relax over tea and have a chat.
Now as we are here on a visit why don’t you tell us some more about your job you always have me in stitches when you describe some of your more precise clients ( code for winging moaners ) it always reminds me of some of the awkward souls I had to deal with in my customer service days!
Is that your sister, I can see the likeness, look she is coming over, hi there how are you today.
IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would tell you how busy a week I have had , it just has not stopped. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I was up at 6pm and off to the gym. I have been told by the doctors if I don’t exercise regularly my back would slip again apparently not where they fixed the breaks but above or below. Luckily my two classes were not on this week because I don’t think I could of fitted them in!

Monday was gym, shopping housework washing ironing, Tuesday much the same , Wednesday I visited a local beauty spot with a friend and we walked around it twice! We are in the middle of a spell of wonderful weather here in the UK at the moment so with the view the weather and a couple of stops for coffee and icecream we had a perfect day!
Thursday the gym housework then in the afternoon I met some of the girls I used to work with before I retired …only one is still working . Then in the evening we were out with friends for an Indian meal which was yum!
Friday we were up early and , my hubby and I caught a bus ( new route which actually passes our front door ) to our nearest large town . We did some shopping , had a coffee and a chat then we walked along the river, we saw lots of water birds. The stars of which was this Swan family. Dad spent a lot of time chasing the Canada Geese away… we have a lot of Canadian Geese we also have some English ones too!
Views from that walk and the Swan family
IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would mention that we went over to see the Newbie who is growing so fast I can’t keep up !! Hubby and son did some gardening , daughter in law and I helped a little then we played with Newbie and we all had a cup of coffee.
IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I will have to say I must dash no as there is a lot to be done this afternoon! I would love to stay but I have to go but you are all more than welcome to stay…OH! Hang on Blue is it alright if everyone stays a while.
Thank you so much Madame for putting up with me and being so gracious to all our visitors!!
If we were having coffee I’d ask you : would you like another cuppa, or a biscuit . I’d tell you I have really come to enjoy these chats and I’d love to here what you would tell me , If we were having Coffee Original idea from http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/
If we were having coffee – July 27/2014
Of butterflies – of happiness – of aircons –and raccoons
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Hi there, my name is Paul. Willow has graciously asked me to serve up tea and coffee here today– and that’s new to me, so I’m a bit nervous. I’m hoping that you, her readers, will drop by to chat and have a cuppa while we share stories.
Welcome and come on through to the garden – we’re having our coffee and tea back there where we can enjoy the flowers, watch the butterflies and have a biscuit while we chat. What is your favorite kind of tea or coffee? We have quite a selection, so just name your brand and I’ll prepare it. The cream, sugar and honey are on the table.
Beautiful day isn’t it? Where I’m from – Ottawa – we’ve had some hot days this week, over 30 Celsius, but it’s cooled down now and is quite enjoyable. That is significant to me because you see I’m pretty clumsy and when I tried to install my window air- conditioner recently, I accidentally dropped it out the window down two stories. No casualties except the air con but I think I can fix it. I’m sure it would have been amusing had anyone been watching.
Well, what has been happening in your world this week? No topic is off limits. Me? Well, quiet for now (except for the crashing of an air conditioner) – the way I like it for the time being. Are you ready for another cuppa?
I’m often taken aback at where I get good life advice when I’m open and listening. Does that happen to you sometimes too? Just Wednesday this week I was resting for a moment on a concrete bench outside the hospital before I went in for dialysis and a young woman of about 16 years asked if she could sit beside me. I moved over to give her room and she sat down. She had a round and cheerful face and was dressed in a pink hoodie with matching sweat pants and sneakers. She told me that she was 17 days sober today and I congratulated her. There is an addiction inpatient program there as well as a mental health inpatient facility. Most are allowed out around the grounds when they are deemed
safe (for others and as a flight risk). She introduced herself as Karen (name changed) and then asked if people as old as her could learn to speak French.

It is Canada’s other official language and around the capital here much is bilingual and some is uni lingual French or English.
Karen told me that she had been accepted into a rehab facility but it was French. She also told me that she had a learning disability. From her logic and conversation I had suspected she might be challenged. I assured her that she could learn French a long as she practiced it – and that she could learn a new language with practice no matter how old she was. She then turned to me and said; “You know it really doesn’t take much to be happy does it? I’m happy with a safe place to live, people who will help me, enough food to eat, and some sunshine.” I agreed with her and then had to say Good-bye and go in for my treatment. Life really is that simple isn’t it? What do you think? What makes you happy?

Can I refill your cuppa? Another biscuit perhaps? You know one of my English friends described meeting a hedgehog recently. I’ve never seen one – they don’t live here in Canada. We do have a small woodland creature though that causes some havoc and survives well in urban areas – the raccoon. I understand that they have packed their little suitcases and emigrated to the European mainland but haven’t gotten to England yet. I suspect they’d enjoy the British countryside. They are very cute read about them here. but terribly curious. They are quite smart, can get into any containers, and are a pest. One of our major retailers –Sears – has produced
a commercial using a raccoon to sell their glasses. It is hilarious (and only 33 seconds)
The moral is: Don’t forget your glasses. Raccoons generally don’t get that aggressive but if they are used to humans they can. When my ex and I were still together, we had a raccoon family of four arrive on our back step one evening. They discovered a tub of jujubes that the kids had left there and were busy chomping and slurping the candies. We tried to shoo them away but they were not going until the jujubes were finished. It was too funny watching them get the chewy candies stuck between their teeth.
Well, it’s been great having coffee and tea with you today. I enjoyed our chat and hope you’ll come back again. Any comments or suggestions or just a “Hi!” are greatly appreciated. I will respond to them all. And a special thanks to Willow for providing the forum.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘”The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:…”’ – The Walrus and The Carpenter, Lewis Carroll

If we were having coffee I’d ask you : would you like another cuppa, or a biscuit . I’d tell you I have really come to enjoy these chats and I’d love to here what you would tell me , If we were having Coffee Original idea from http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

Lest we forget? a war to end all wars
Yet everywhere you look there are more and more!
We preach peace, we say no more
Still somewhere, on every continent, someone is at war!
Neighbour against neighbour brothers and sisters too
Always it is the innocents who do the suffering. What are we to do?
They are erecting giant Poppies to commemorate the start of the first world war.
It started in a foreign land, a duke was shot the result we know and more.
The first world war started in 1914 on the 28th of July
Sadly looking round the world , we have learned nothing . Can you tell me why?
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This is my entry for this week for SoCs on Lindaghill .
Here are the rules:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” or “Begin with the word ‘The’.”
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people will come and read your post! The way to ping back, is to just copy and paste the URL of my post somewhere on your post. Then your URL will show up in my comments, for everyone to see. For example, in your post you can copy and paste the following: This post is part of SoCS: http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-2514/ The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. Have fun!
Hi to one and all today has been very busy and tomorrow looks to be busy too as we are off to visit the Newbie! I have been so rushed since Wednesday that I have not managed to publish so tonight I am going to publish a Haiku with an explanation and hope that will suffice.
In my defense I have been editing us all a treat for Sunday, Wink and Bow to Paul
~~~~~

Crown of thorns, nails, cross of wood
He died for man’s good.
Flower tells his tale of passion.
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A piece of exquisite yet passing beauty, it comes from a bell-shaped bud to open and live for only one day and then succumb to its fading death in the same bell-shaped form. The tropical vine it grows on is lavished with multiple flowers and draws one’s attention immediately by the flower’s perfect shape and hidden mystery. The colors vary from deep purple (the color of Orthodox priests’ vestments during the Great Lent) to scarlet red, yet the numerical constituents remain the same: 10 petals (5 petals and 5 sepals identical in shape and color), 1 column, 72 corona filaments, 5 anthers, 3 stigmas.
Let’s decipher the numbers above according to Biblical story of Passions:
10 – Biblical account of Christ’s suffering tells us about St. Peter who distanced himself from Christ during His last hours, neither was Judas; whereas, 10 is the number of remaining Disciples of Christ at the time of crucifixion;
1 – Column of flagellation;
72 – Traditional number of thorns on a crown of thorns set upon Christ’s head;
5 – Total number of wounds inflicted to Christ at time of crucifixion;
3 – Nails.
Additionally, the vine’s leaves are shaped like a spear used to pierce Christ’s side. Some even find representation to Judas’ 30 pieces of silver (dark round spots on the underside of some species). Ominous may it seem to some or not, this flower graciously and quietly speaks of the most inspiring, life-changing and soul-bending story ever told to mankind.
I got my information from here , I just could not explain as well as the article. The photos were taken by me though.

Hello everyone! Now this is a new departure for me so fingers crossed that all goes well . Pause for sharp intake of breath and nervous shuffle from those among you with more delicate dispositions!
What , I hear you all asking , is she up to now?

I have stared a new weekly challenge called If we were having coffee which is meant to go out every Sunday ( sometimes and I am late and it goes out on Monday!) . The original idea came from Diana AKA part time monster .
Okay now you know what I am talking about. I want to introduced to you Paul If you have , and I hope you have, followed the link on Paul’s name you will find out that Paul has a Gavatar but not blog!
Through no fault of his own Paul ‘s laptop will not play at blogs nicely. This means he cannot contribute any posts but he does read our work and comment !
Well, Paul left a comment on my blog on 20th July which was worthy of a blog , as I have noticed many of his comments are. So Paul and I have agreed that he will email me an “If we were having coffee” in time for me to post it on Sunday,
So welcome to Paul. Pause for applause!
Today is Tuesday, well it is here, but so as not to beat about the bush anymore here is Paul‘s comment promoted to
GUEST BLOG.
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If we were having coffee I would tell you that:
Your new Grandbaby is amazing Willow. I thought that smiling and sleeping through the night were behaviours that occurred later on. He sure is awesome.
I’ll have that cuppa now, if you don’t mind. This week was relatively good for me. No bad news. I managed to get my medications (vitamins and such) and I feel much better. Dialysis went well this week – little pain and good runs with few interruptions. I picked up some bread and have enough to get me through to my next disability cheque.
The ceiling is still leaking bad when it rains hard but the manager has promised to get it fixed. He has also promised to replace the wallboard and ceiling where it is molding from all the water. Here’s hoping he keeps his word.
No luck on the job front, but it’s been over 2 years of trying now and with my age and health issues, I doubt anyone will want to hire me. Like I said, no more bad news this week, and that is good.
I’ll have another cuppa if you will – thirsty today. Ha! I popped over to Grandmalin to wish her my best – from one cancer survivor to another. She seems in a good mood today, but as she noted, some days are better than others. I guess we have to appreciate what we have and be grateful. It seems to be a part of the answer.
I’m sad that your in-laws are upsetting you. I don’t know what to say. At least your hubby will be better shortly – bad luck getting food poisoning. I’ve had it before when travelling and it is terrible – please give him my best. When he is better perhaps it will take some of the in-law pressure off of you. Meanwhile you have your new Grandbaby to coo over (at least in photos). I never did have any children so it is a pleasure I’ll never have. Enjoy.
And how is your garden coming? Do you get many butterflys visiting? It must be very relaxing to have your coffee in the garden surrounded by all that beauty.
Well, I’ve had my two cups of coffee and have to go now, it is a long way home. 😀 I really enjoyed our chat and I hope we get to do it again sometime. You should make this coffee time a regular feature – just to keep in touch. Take Care and I’ll see you next time Willow.

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