Photo Friday

This week we have a photo of my sister Jeanie, it is her birthday on Monday

Parkinson's and the cold

As most of those who read my posts will know I have Parkinson’s Disease and since it is winter here, I am writing a bit about how the cold can affect people with Parkinson’s Disease

On thing I find is how hard it is for me to warm up once I become cold, I also feel the cold more. This is because Parkinson’s affects movement and can also affect the nervous system, which helps control body temperature.

I feel the cold weather makes my tremors more noticeable. I also find I suffer from shivering more. I have read that is common for some people to feel more tired because their body is working harder to stay warm and move comfortably.

Another common effect of cold weather is increased stiffness. When muscles are cold, they can tighten and feel less flexible. For a person with Parkinson’s, this can make rigidity, slowness, and everyday movements worse. Tasks such as walking, getting dressed, using buttons, or holding objects may take more effort than usual.

Mobility and balance can also be affected. In cold, wet, or icy weather, people with Parkinson’s may move more slowly and have a higher risk of falling. Stiff muscles, slower reactions, slippery paths, and bulky winter clothing can all make walking less steady.

To reduce these problems, it can help to dress in warm layers, keep hands and feet covered, warm up indoors before going outside, wear shoes with good grip, and allow extra time when walking in cold conditions.

The cold weather has prevented me from going for a walk the last couple of mornings, due to me finding it difficult to walk as my legs and feet feel heavy. I don’t feel safe as it is harder to pick me feet up and I am shuffling about.

 

  

Respiratory System

 

This week we are starting to look at the human respiratory system I will be doing a few posts about this topic over the next few weeks.

We need a constant supply of oxygen to stay alive, our respiratory system is what allows us to obtain oxygen from the air and to get rid of carbon dioxide which is the waste it is a gas produced by cells.

Our respiratory is made up of the following parts.

Nose and nasal cavity: Filter, warm, and moisten incoming air.

Mouth: An alternate pathway for air, especially during exercise or congestion.

Pharynx: The throat area that carries air from the nose/mouth toward the larynx.

Larynx: Also called the voice box; helps produce sound and protects the airway.

Trachea: The windpipe, which carries air down into the chest.

Bronchi: Two main branches from the trachea, one going to each lung.

Bronchioles: Smaller branching airways inside the lungs.

Alveoli: Tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs.

Lungs: The main organs of breathing.

Diaphragm: A dome-shaped muscle under the lungs that drives breathing.

More next week.

Week 28 of 2026

 

I had a good night went to bed at 8pm and the next thing I knew it was 2.40am and I had to get up and pee, and thankfully I went straight back to sleep and the next thing it was 5am and time to get up.

It was 9c or 48f at 5am

I went for my walk and the lady from number 29 stopped me and asked me if I go for a walk every day and was I new to the street, I said yes, I am walking each day but no I have lived here since May 1988. She asked if I crochet my bag and I said no my daughter did. I can’t remember what she said but I mentioned that I had a transgender grandchild who I love and support. She said something about the demons infecting my grandchild and did I believe in God I said I did but I am as religious as my husband. She said she would like to talk to me more and I should go and have a cuppa with her I don’t remember what I said about that.

It has been cold all day our top temp was only 15c or 59f.

Steps:6,359 = 3.2k’s or 1.9miles

I had another good night slept for around 9hrs and today it is 10c or   50f and it is wet outside.

No walk this morning due to the rain, it is also really cold day. Top temp only 16c or 60f, had the heater on more than usual today.

I asked Tim to take up Tasha’s pants today, it is now 5.45pm and he is asleep in his chair, and they still are not done. He better do them before he goes to bed tonight.

Well at around 7.30pm he decided to do the hemming, and he was in a right mood as the scissors wouldn’t cut and he was throwing them around this pissed me off. He complained that Tasha wasn’t here to help and when asked what he wanted her to do he replied he didn’t know. I ended up going to bed at 8pm without telling him as I was done with his attitude.

Not many steps today as I didn’t leave the house.

Steps:3,533 = 1.7k’s or 1.5miles

I had another good night slept for around 9hrs and today it is 10c or   50f and it is wet outside.

No walk this morning due to the rain, it is also really cold day.

Tim left at 7.15am he will be home on Friday.

Tasha wasn’t happy with the job Tim did on taking up her pants and she managed to do it herself.

I hemmed a pair of my pants by hand.

It has rained on and off all day

Tasha rang and told me that she was able to undo and redo her pants and was disgusted at the job he had done. She said she will do my pants if I want her too.

Steps: 4098 = 2k’s or 1.2miles

I slept well didn’t wake at all during the night. It has been raining but it has stopped.

I went for a short walk just down to post my letters but found it hard to keep my eyes open and my legs felt heavy.

I am having a restless day.

It started raining again around 4pm

Steps: 5,988 = 3k’s or 1.8miles

I slept well again, woke only once at 3.30am to pee then I went straight back to sleep waking again when the alarm went off. It is wet outside but not that cold. The temp is 11c or 51f

Thankfully it hasn’t rained for most of the day.  No walk this morning as I have to get ready to go shopping.

Sue and I went shopping but I wasn’t good by the time I got home I was struggling then I remembered I hadn’t had breakie. So, I had something to eat I felt much better.

I did my morning housework after 11am when I was more with it

Steps:6,398 = 3.2k’s or 1.9miles

Not the best night was in bed early as I was feeling unwell and decided to go to bed early, I woke around 9.30pm and sat and talked to Tim for a while.

It is 8c or 46f, it was cold when I went for my walk I extended the distance a tad more.

It has been a cold day top temp of only 15c.

I have started moving the vibration board to in front of the computer chair much better place for me use it. I am getting used to it again after not having one for ages.

Tim has no work till Tuesday.

Steps: 6590=3.4k’s

Had a decent night sleep was up at 4.20am had a shower and did the usual housework and went for a walk as I usually do.

It is a cold morning with a temp of 9c or 48f.

I have tossed the towels into wash and then they will go into the dryer.

Sandy rang and asked if she could use my computer and I said yes, she will be here soonish. As it turned out Sandy didn’t come over, she had a phone call and had to put it off till maybe tomorrow.

Tim cooked lunch and then he decided to use the Gerni pronounced gurney to clean the ramp out the front

Blain came to see me and as usual it was good to see him.

Steps:7,010 = 3.5k’s or 2.1 miles

 

 

 

This weeks links

 

Here are this weeks links

 https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-fruity-hodgepodge.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/07/sharing-my-world_02048920768.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/07/getting-to-know-me_01053765882.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/07/getting-to-know-me.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Braille writing machines

 

I’m wrapping up my posts about eyes with a little about how braille works.

Braille can be written using slates & styluses, mechanical braillewriters, electronic braille keyboards, braille notetakers, refreshable braille displays, and braille embossers. Here is a bit about each method.

Slate and Stylus

This is a simple, portable tool used to punch braille dots into paper, works like “paper and pencil” for braille. However, it requires writing backwards so the dots read correctly when the paper is flipped.

Mechanical Braillewriter aka a Brailler

This works like a typewriter with six keys (one for each braille dot), plus space, backspace, and carriage return. The most famous model is the Perkins Brailler.

Then there are High‑tech braille writing machines these are Electronic Braille Keyboards.

These devices have keys arranged to type braille directly such as the Orbit Writer or the Hable. They can be used with smartphones, tablets, or computers.

Electronic Braille Notetakers

These are all‑in‑one devices combining a braille keyboard, refreshable braille display, and speech output. They are used for word processing, email, web browsing, and classroom note‑taking.

Refreshable Braille Displays

This is not for embossing paper, but for writing digitally in braille. It has pins that rise and fall to show braille characters from a computer or phone.

There are also Machines that print braille

Braille Embossers (Braille Printers)

This converts digital text into raised braille dots on thick paper. It can be used in schools, libraries, and transcription centres.

There is also Braille Translation Software which is used with embossers, and converts print text into braille before printing.

 

Giant Huntsman Spider

 

This week I am writing about another spider this time we are looking at the giant huntsman spider this is a very large species of huntsman spider.

It’s famous because it has the largest leg span of any known spider, reaching about 25–30 cm — roughly the size of a dinner plate. Its body is much smaller, around 4.6 cm long.

This spider can be found mainly in Laos, especially in caves and cave-like habitats. It was formally described in 2001 by German arachnologist Peter Jäger after being found in a cave. It is not found in Australia even though Australia does have large huntsman spiders.

It’s yellowish-brown with long, sideways-facing legs, giving it a crab-like stance. Huntsman spiders are built for speed rather than web-building.

When it comes to their food it eats insects and may also take small vertebrates such as small reptiles or rodents, which is why they actively chases prey which is different to normal web-spinning spiders.

Despite its size, it is not considered dangerous to humans. A bite would usually be defensive and is generally described as causing mild symptoms rather than serious harm.

So even though it looks terrifying because of its huge legs and speed, because it’s a reclusive cave-dwelling predator not found in a lot of places it isn’t regarded as a serious threat to people.