IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

If we were having coffee - my round up post for March 2018

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE

It's time to celebrate the end of March (and my last post before I tackle the AtoZ Challenge in April.) Why not share another virtual cup of coffee with me while I update you on what's been going on in my life lately. I love a good 'Taking Stock' blog post, so I hope you'll humour me and sit a while with me in a lovely little cafe I love to visit while I share my news.

Stirling Cottage in Harvey - a lovely little spot for a coffee date or lunch
My favourite coffee place - Stirling Cottage and its Gardens in Harvey, Western Australia
Here we are, back again at Stirling Cottage in Harvey, Western Australia, surrounded by absolutely beautiful gardens and a river walk. It's Autumn in Australia but the weather is still beautiful - although you might need a light cardigan if we sit outside for too long. So....these are a few of the things I would tell you I've been doing over the month.

BLOGGING

I've been using any spare blogging time this month preparing for the April AtoZ Challenge. I did my first AtoZ Challenge in 2016 - it was full on! and I swore I'd never do it again. Then it came around again in 2017 and somehow I managed to sign up for it in a mad moment. Once again I said "never again!" And......once again I've signed up to tackle it for the whole of April - 26 posts, Monday to Saturday, non-stop and a bit crazy but I think I may be addicted!

I hope you'll jump on board with me starting on April 1st and have a read, leave a comment, cheer me on - it's going to be a doozy of a month!

FADING AND RALLYING

The last few months have been a bit onerous for me health-wise. One of those "women's things" that nobody discusses. I've had three visits to the GP, a blood test, an ultrasound, two visits to the specialist, and two operations all in the last month! For someone who sees the inside of a doctor's office once every year or two, it's been a pretty big deal. I think I'm now on the up and up and it's nice to be feeling more like my usual self - less tired and less "old". Being a woman sucks sometimes!

nothing like a visit or two to hospital to remind me that I'm not superwoman!

VISITING

March has brought with it a boost in visitors - we had an old friend come to stay with us for a couple of nights (right in the middle of my operations - he learned a lot about women's health - poor guy!) As well as that, my Mum has been down for a few days in the country and our daughter and son-in-law made the trip down for the first time since Easter last year and it was lovely to share a meal with them in our home. 

Of course we also have our son and daughter-in-law and delightful grandbaby Sophia for a couple of days over Easter - and that brings all the joy of a little one running around, climbing the stairs, and trying to pat our cats.

Easter visits
How gorgeous is this child?

WORKING

I can't even begin to say how much I've enjoyed another month of only working two days a week. With my health being a bit dodgy I would never have managed to pull off a full-time working week. Instead, things worked out beautifully with all my doctors' visits and hospital stays fitting into my days off. I didn't miss any work at all (much to the relief of my co-worker who would have needed to work the extra days if I'd been out of action.)

I think I finally have my work/life balance down to a fine art. I'm so grateful that we have managed our finances frugally over the years and are debt free. It takes the pressure off having to work extra hours to make ends meet. We're now just cruising and I have to say that I just love it!


EATING

Too much chocolate and too many hot cross buns - but it's Easter and I guess I can cut myself some slack. I've managed to stay on the 16/8 eating plan and I'm still doing my best to reach 8-9,000 steps each day, so hopefully the Easter treats won't impact me too much.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW

I hope you enjoyed our catch-up and maybe we can do it again at the end of April - if I survive the daily posting for the AtoZ Challenge. Hopefully there will be interesting things to talk about and pictures to share. Is there anything interesting happening in your world? 




If we were having coffee - my round up post for March 2018

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30 comments

  1. First of all I have to say that I LOVE your favourite coffee place and would love to be sitting there with you chatting over a coffee and then to walk around those beautiful gardens and did you say there's a river walk? I'm sorry to hear you've had some health issues lately. I can relate somewhat as 'womens issues' is sadly my forte! Hope you're on the up and up now. Good that your work/life balance is going well these days too. Yes that child is gorgeous! I hope that I don't have to wait tooooo long till I get a grandchild. I so want a new baby to love. I really enjoyed this post Leanne - thank you! #TeamLovinLife

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    1. We're very excitedly expecting a second grandbaby at the end of August Min - they are the biggest blessing - it makes all that hard slog of parenting your children worthwhile (especially when they do a great job of parenting in their own right). I'm slowly getting over the ops but I don't think I'm fixed - more to come I'm thinking :(

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  2. Well, I'm doing the A-Z with you - will hopefully get all the posts written before I go on holidays. Look after yourself re those health issues & look forward to next month's virtual cuppa.

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    1. There are several bloggers I love who are doing the AtoZ this year Jo so I'm excited to get going with it. I've done my posts and feel on top of things and ready to do the rounds to see what others are writing about all April. Enjoy your time away while your posts do the work for you x

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  3. Lovely reading what's going on in your world right now,Leanne. Hope you're on the mend health wise.

    SSG xxx

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    1. Thanks SSG - I'm feeling a lot better than I was - still a little way to go and then hopefully things will sort themselves out.

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  4. I thoroughly enjoyed my cuppa with you today Leanne! I do hope you're taking it easy and recovering from your health issues. I wish you well for your A-Z madness coming up :)

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    1. It was lovely to share our virtual cuppa Debbie (especially now you're going to be a fellow Nan) and I think you're going to see A to Z posts popping up all over the place in April - so brace yourself!

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  5. Oh Leanne, I hope you feel better. Health issues are scary and challenging, but you'll pull through. Can't wait to read your A to Z posts in April! Best to you...

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    1. Thanks Laurie - I think I'm almost at the end of my health stuff - still a little bit to sort out though.....and Yes! I'd love you to check out my AtoZ stuff - I'll need all the cheering I can get :)

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  6. Hmmm . . . I blog every day anyway. Maybe I should tackle this!
    So lovely to hear the recap of major events. And in such a lovely place! So happy you got to visit with grandbaby and children. Sorry about your troubles, though and hope they are well behind you!

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    1. Anyone mad/noble enough to write a post every day should be signed up for the Challenge Diane - you'd be great and you could include some of your lovely poems as well.

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  7. Thanks for the lovely coffee catch up Leanne. Hope your health continues to improve. And yes, your granddaughter is delightful! :) x #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Thanks Lyndall - I enjoyed our coffee date too - and having the gorgeous grandbaby in there as well was an added bonus!

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  8. Another lovely coffee catch up Leanne and Sophia is a cutie! Looking forward to doing the A to Z challenge with you. Hope your health issues improve and good work with the daily steps. Xx

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    1. I can't believe that the Challenge starts tomorrow Sue! It was way off in the distance, and now it's here and we're about to plunge into the madness. I'm so glad you'll be doing it with me - and also the other bloggers we know because that will make it all the more interesting.

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  9. Thanks for the wonderful catch-up, Leanne. I am glad to hear that you are feeling better and your health is good. You have frightened me a bit about the 'A to Z Challenge'. But here I am, buckled up, at the top of the roller coaster waiting for the ride! See you there!

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    1. It will be a ride and a half for the Challenge Donna - hopefully you are running a few posts ahead of yourself (I'm finished all of mine - it makes me feel more in control of things!) We're going to have a blast doing it together + Sue and the other bloggers we know - I can't wait for it to start tomorrow!

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  10. I love these catch-ups. Sorry to hear of your health problems but it's good you're starting to feel better. I'm in the midst of the menopausal thing I guess. My GP is very disinterested in it all though I've mentioned it to her a few times in the last years. I suspect it's just a matter of managing the symptoms. This is the longest break without a period for me (have gone 3mths a few times in the last few years, but I'm up to 4+mths this time).

    I did the A-Z challenge a few years ago and loved it. It got me into the habit of writing and put less importance on the individual posts... they didn't have to be masterpieces, just something.... each day.

    xx

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    1. I was up and down all last year with periods stopping and starting Deb - then a major onslaught Dec/Jan that resulted in all the hospital procedures. I'm finding it really hard to get answers and to have a voice through the process and that is what is so frustrating about the whole thing.
      You're right about the AtoZ - I have a lot of mine done already because it's not earth shattering stuff (not that anything I normally write is either) but it's been shorter and easier to finish and tie each one with a bow.

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  11. Thanks for the wonderful virtual coffee chat, Leanne! I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. Despite the health issues, you're so organized with your prep for the A to Z Challenge. I'll be reading, commenting, and cheering you on.

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    1. I'm so glad you'll be along for the ride with the AtoZ Natalie - I'm really pleased that I know several others doing it, and the ones who aren't are offering to cheer me on - what more could I ask for?

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  12. I wouldn't mind sitting there and having coffee with you! I hope your health continues to be on the upswing. Enjoy your time with your family and especially that adorable granddaughter.

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    1. Thanks Michele - we've just had a 3 day pre-Easter visit with her and her parents - absolute joy - if you could bottle grandchildren you could make a fortune!

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  13. Glad to hear your health is on the mend. I didn't know you follow the 16/8 eating plan, so do I. I have been following it for about 6 months and if I keep my face out the Reese cup bag I do quite well. Happy Easter.

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    1. I started the 16/8 at the beginning of January Victoria - I'm not sure it's making a huge difference, but it curbs my eating a little and every calorie that doesn't pass my lips is one calorie less finding its way to my hips!

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  14. I hope you're on the mend Leanne. It's Easter so why not enjoy some chocolate and Easter Buns! Happy Easter #TeamLovinLife

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    1. I just ate my first easter egg Kathy - and I've lost count of the hot cross buns I've eaten since they turned up on the Supermarket shelves in late December!

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  15. I agree - that child is gorgeous!!
    Cheers to good health Leanne
    #teamlovinlife

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  16. I'm so sorry to hear about the health issues you have been dealing with. I hope all is well now! Thank you for sharing your month with us at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty! I enjoy catching up at Stirling Cottage!

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.