Eye Colour

 

Ok time to write a bit more about our eyes, this week we will start with eye colour. Our eye colour is determined by the amount of pigment which is also called melanin is present, most dark-skinned people have a lot of melanin thus they have darker eye colour. If someone has pale skin their eye colour can vary from a very pale grey to blue, green or brown.

Iris colour is controlled by a single pair of genes one we get from our mother the other from our father, the gene for brown eyes is the dominant one so if your mum has brown eyers and your dad blue you will have brown eyes. I have brown eyes like mum, dad had hazel eyes, like Tim he has hazel eyes and all our girls have brown eyes like me.

Can we change our eye colour, well first why would you want to anyway if you want to have different colour eyes you can wear coloured contact lenses which is the most common and reversible method. Also, eye colour can appear to shift subtly depending on lighting, makeup, or the colours you wear.

Babies are often born with blue or grey eyes that darken over time due to melanin development.

Some people experience subtle changes in eye colour as they age, though it’s usually not dramatic.

 

The post with links to other posts

 

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/11/tuesday-4-on-wednesday.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-thankful-hodgepodge_19.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/11/what-is-sister.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/11/new-tattoos.html

 

Kookaburra

 

This week’s bird is the kookaburra, which is a large, iconic bird native to Australia and famous for its loud laugh. It is part of the kingfisher family. It has a loud, cackling laugh often heard at dawn and dusk nicknamed the “bushman’s clock”

They are between 39-45cm’s in length and weigh between 370-450grm. Or 15-18 inches and 13-16 ounces.

What do they look like well they have a cream-white underparts, dark brown wings, reddish tail with black bars, and a prominent dark eye stripe.

They are native to eastern Australia; found in eucalyptus forests, woodlands, parks, and suburban gardens, their diet is carnivorous they feed on eats insects, small reptiles, rodents, and even snakes; uses a “wait-and-pounce” hunting method.

They are monogamous and territorial and make their nests in tree hollows or termite mounds and it isn’t uncommon for the young to stay with parents to help raise future chicks.

The kookaburra is deeply embedded in Australian culture, featured in children’s songs like “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree.”

Its call is often used in movies and TV to evoke jungle or wild settings — even in places where kookaburras don’t live!

They typically live 10–15 years in the wild but can reach 20–25 years or more in captivity. Despite their resilience, kookaburras are sensitive to environmental changes. Conservation efforts that protect forests and nesting sites help ensure their survival in the wild.

In the northern part of the country there is a blue-winged kookaburra, which I know nothing about.

 

Japan Pt 4

 

Time for another post about Japan this week I will share some facts like the population in 2025 is estimated to be approximately 123.1 million. It is the 12 most populous country in the world with a global rank of 12, the population density is 338 people per kilometre.

Japan’s population has been steadily declining since its peak around 2010 due to: low birth rates, high life expectancy and limited immigration. Over 28% of the population is aged over 65.

Now to Japan’s religious landscape is shaped by a unique blend of traditions, with Shinto and Buddhism as the two dominant faiths. Most Japanese people engage with both, often without exclusive affiliation.

Shinto means The Way of the Kami or the way of the Gods is Japan’s indigenous belief system, emphasizing harmony with nature, ancestor worship, and purification rituals. It lacks a founder, sacred texts, or rigid dogma.

Shinto shrines are common across Japan and serve as spiritual centres for festivals and life events.

Buddhism arrived in Japan from China and Korea in the 6th century. Multiple sects exist, including Zen, Pure Land, and Nichiren.

Surveys often show that 40–60% of Japanese identify as having “no religion”, but this typically reflects a lack of formal affiliation rather than disbelief. Many still participate in religious customs, festivals, and rituals for cultural or spiritual reasons.

Japan’s religious identity is fluid, ritual-cantered, and deeply intertwined with cultural life rather than doctrinal belief.

Now how about their flag, as I am sure most know it features a red circle on a white background, symbolizing the sun and most will know it reflects Japan’s identity as the Land of the Rising Sun.

The sun has been revered in Japan since ancient times, tied to the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, considered the mythical ancestor of the imperial family.

 

 

 

 

Week 46 of 2025

 

A good night’s sleep managed to get 8hrs & 56mins it is 17C this morning at 6.30am and my BGL was 7.1, it isn’t supposed to be as hot today.

By midday it was 25C so non need for the air con or fan just had the doors open. My BGL was 7.5 at midday before lunch.

I had to shut the front door at 2pm as the wind is now cold. At 4.30 my BGL wad 5.9.

It is now 7pm the temp is 16C and I am calling it a day; Tim is asleep on the lounge behind me.

Steps: 9,200 = 4.6klmns or 2.8miles

I slept for 10hrs, didn’t wake at all and I feel great this morning. My BGL at 5.30 was 6.5 and the temp was 14C or 57F

I spent 2.5hrs working on next year’s calendars but they are now done and ordered.

It hasn’t been that warm today top temp was 24C or 75F which is ok.

I have spent most of the day going around on autopilot especially this afternoon, but I did get stuff done other than the calendars I mopped the bathroom, laundry and kitchen floors. I vacuumed twice and swept the ramp out the front.

I also answered one letter still have a number to do.

Steps: 8,743 = 4.4klms or 2.7 miles

I slept for 9hrs & 20 Mins, didn’t wake at all and I am feeling good this crisp spring morning with a temp of 13C or 55.4F. I have physio this arvo which part of me doesn’t feel like attending but of course I will go.

I have been busy this morning with housework and exercising and reading and posting blogs, doing the laundry and running the dishwasher on a long wash to clean the machine as well as cleaning the dishes.

Tim finally went to the doctors to get his scrips and complain about his aching body; he now has to have more Xrays and CT scans done next Tuesday the 18th

By midday it is 25C or 77F, Sue and I went to my physio appointment, the new woman we saw was nice, she was young. I have been given new exercises to do, and I go back in January.

By the time we got back from the physio appointment it was 2.30 and 27C or 80.6F and my left arm is so sore.

Steps: 8,414 = 4.2klms or 2.6 miles              

I had another good night slept for 7hrs with waking only once to pee, my left arm is very sore this morning. It is only 12C or 53.6F this morning and thankfully it is not supposed to be hot with a top temp expected to be only 21C or 69F.

Sue took me to have the cortisone injection, it went well, we then went to pick up some photos I had printed. Then we went and got KFC for lunch.

Around 2pm I started to get a headache and remembered that I always get on when I have that injection.

By 5pm the headache was bad, and I was starting to feel sick, my BGL was 14.9 but that due to the injection, it should go down some overnight.

It is 6pm and I’m off to bed as I feel horrible.

Steps:9,832 = 4.9klms or 3 miles

I slept great had 10hrs ad 52 mins of sleep woke once at 4.10am to pee, then again when the alarm went off.

At 6am it is 10C or 50F, it is supposed to reach a top of 30C or 86F. My BGL is 9.4 due to cortisone.

I went shopping with Sue and all went well I was starting to feel exhausted by the time I got home.

I have decided to not walk on the cobblestones in the visitors parking area as it always makes me feel unstable.

At 1.30pm my BGL is 10.4 it is also 28C or 82.4F. I turned the air con on as the heat wasn’t helping my headache.

At 7pm my BGL had dropped to 7.9 which is normal.

Tonight is Sam’s formal; I hope to get a photo of her and Bailey.

Steps: 13,813 = 7klm’s or 4.3 miles

Had a good night sleep managed to get 7hrs & 20 mins, my BGL was 7.1 when I got up and the temp was around 10C or 50F, I was up at 4.30 due to the pain in my left side.

I had a nice shower after Tim left so after I get the tattoo I will not have to worry about a shower for another couple of days.

At 8am the temp was 19C or 66F

Sue picked me and Jess up at 9am and drove us to Hamilton but as we were early, we went and had a milkshake, and Jess had a bacon and egg wrap. The tattoo took I think 1hr and 50 minutes, but I may be wrong about that, I slept for a good part of it. I am happy with how it looks.

I also had the name Sam added to my right hand near the name Leo.

Steps: 4,263 = 2klm’s or 1 mile

Good morning world, I was up at 5am as per usual, cleaned the kitchen, swept outside, vacuumed out, tossed on a load of washing, mediated and now it’s about time to check my emails.

My BGL at 6am was 6.8 and I slept for 7hr & 54 mins last night.

It doesn’t feel like I have done much today, I did hang the washing out to dry and I vacuumed again. I then spent well over an hour sorting through my mail and starting one letter which I just must print.

Steps: 11,582 = 5.9klm’s or 3.6 miles

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 14 November

 

Hello everyone, today is Friday the 14 and I have had what feels like a long and busy week, Sue will be driving me and Jess into Hamilton so I can get at last the train tattoo in honour of my dad. I will post photos of it when it’s done.

I think the reason it feels like I have had a busy week is because I have gone out every day this week and I usually don’t do that.

Yesterday Tim bought me a small rechargeable desk fan which I have set up and will come in handy during the warm days.

I have done the usual housework this morning, vacuuming, unpacking the dishwasher, sweeping out the front as well as my usual exercises and of course I feed the birds this morning.

Ok it is now 12.45pm and I have just returned home from getting my tattoo done, it went well and I even managed to sleep for the first 75 minutes all up took around an hour and half.

Yes, I am happy with it. Thank you, Jess, for arranging it and thank you Sue for driving us there and home again.

Next week should be the usual stay at home and not go out type of week.

The post with links to other posts

 

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/11/tuesday-4-on-tuesday-dont-faint.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/11/stealing-sunday.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/11/just-some-more-hodgepodge.html