Week 35 of 2025

 

 

I had another good night woke at 1.30am to pee and found Tim home from work already. I slept for 8hrs 57Mins and was awake for only 8mins.

Tim said he will be home around 8.30pm.

I have decided to go back to have 5 Madopar tablets each day.

It has been a warmish day.

Tim rang just after 5pm to let me know he has no idea when he will be home due to a traffic accident, no he hasn’t been in one but one has cause traffic to pile up.

BGL: 7.0

Steps:9,522=4.86lklms or 3miles

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I had a so-so night not one of my better nights, I didn’t want to get up this morning I felt that tired, but I did get up the temp is 12C. It turns out that I had only 5hrs 57mins sleep and was awake for 18mins.

It has been a warm day I have light long pants on and a tee shirt.

I have had trouble all day with my concentration and motivation, it is only 5pm and my eyes are stinging, going to be an early night for me.

BGL:6.0

Steps:9,649 =4.95klms or 3.4miles

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I slept better last night but still not great, I kept waking on and off all night I wasn’t awake for long, but that type of sleep isn’t the best. My watch says I only had 4hrs and 54mins of sleep, but it must have been more.

A coldish start to the day, I had my long pyjama pants on till 11am when I changed into long light weight pants.

I am struggling with dyskinesia this afternoon and into the night it got worse when I went to bed so after an hour and a half, I got up to write this down. It started around 5pm.

BGL: 6.0

Steps: 9,593

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I slept ok after I went back to bed at 10.30pm, still took me a bit to settle, my watch says I had only 6hrs and 31mins of sleep with 1hr and 26mins being deep sleep, it says I was awake for 20 minutes. 

It has been warm today but not as warm as yesterday, when I went to meet Sam this arvo it started to rain, thankfully not heavy.

Awake till 8pm, I am now off to bed, and I hope I have a better night. 

Temp at 5.30am 15C

Temp at 11am 22C

Temp at 3.20pm 19

BGL: 6.1

Steps: 5553=2.83klm’s or 1.7miles

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I slept much better last night but I have woken with a headache and feeling tired didn’t want to get up but had to pee and take my meds, so I am up, waiting for Tim to leave to have a shower. I only got 6hr’s and 10 mins sleep

I stripped the bed and will ask Sue to help me remake it

It is a cool start to the day; Sue and I went down to the shops and the post office. Sue remade the bed for me she wouldn’t let me help.

I was waiting for Sam this arvo when she rang to make sure I knew she wasn’t coming home via transport but was going to Bailey’s for a while, I did not know and was glad she rang me.

I am so tired today

Temp at 5.30am 12C

Temp at 1pm 19C

Temp at 7pm 16C

BGL:5.7

Steps:5,828= 2.95klm’s or 1.8 miles

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I slept much better last night had 9hrs &27mins of sleep and was awake for only 8mins.

I felt really cold when I went up with Sam.

Sandy called in to use the toilet, she said that her having Landon and Sklyar has been finalised which means she has them till they are 18.

Temp at 5.30am 10C

Temp at 1pm 20C

Temp at 7pm 17C

BGL:5.7

Steps:7,688= 3.92klm’s or 2.4 miles

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I slept ok last night had to get up to pee twice, I had 6hrs & 52mins of sleep and was awake for 28mins.

This morning it is pretty cold.

Tim, me and Sue went over to the Eastern Tiger for lunch, it was a nice outing.

I have done bugga all today, haven’t even vacuumed just no motivation to do anything.

It has warmed up by midday.

Temp at 5.30am 9C

Temp at 1pm 17C

Temp at 7pm 16C

BGL:4.8

Steps: 5,675=2.87klms or 1.7miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting up after a fall

 

I have posted about the causes of falling today I want to share some information about getting up after a fall.

It is important for people who may have a fall know how to get up after falling, also it is good for other people to know the best way to help someone up after a fall.

If you have fallen, lie still for a couple of minutes and check that you are not seriously hurt, slowly work your way up your body, carefully checking for pain or bleeding and slowly moving your limbs, one at a time.

Take your time.  Roll onto your hands and knees and look for a stable piece of furniture, such as a chair or bed.

If possible, find something soft to kneel on to protect your knees. Hold on to the furniture with both hands and use the furniture to assist you in getting up.

Bend up one leg and plant your foot firmly on the ground. Use the chair or furniture to carefully push yourself up. Take your time.

Remain supported with your head forward until you are sure you have properly got your balance. Carefully push yourself up to a standing position.

Take time to recover and phone someone to tell them what has happened.

If you are hurt after falling the first thing you need to do is try to get someone’s attention if out in public do this by calling out for help. If you have a phone and you should have one on you if falling is serious risk, call someone to help.

If your injury is bad as in maybe a broken bone or you are bleeding a lot, you should properly call for an ambulance.

If you are in your own home while waiting for help, try to reach for a blanket or dressing gown to keep you warm. Wrap yourself up to insulate yourself from the ground, especially keep your legs and feet warm. Try to stay as calm as possible.

One way to help someone up after a fall is to find two sturdy chairs. Place one next to the head and the other down by their feet. Keep in mind that they must be capable of doing the physical work required to get up. Your role is to help guide them through these steps and keep them steady, not lift their weight. If they cannot do this, then call an ambulance.

Help the person to roll over onto their side and assist them in getting onto their hands and knees. If they suffer from sore knees, place a towel beneath them to make this step more comfortable.

Move the chair closest to their head directly in front of where they are so they can rise up to place their hands evenly on the seat and assume a kneeling position. Get them to lean forward on the seat as they bring their strongest leg forward, leading with the knee to place their foot flat on the floor.

Move the second chair directly behind them, then ask them to use both their arms and legs to push themselves up and sit back into this chair. You can use your hands to keep them steady but keep your back upright and make sure they are doing the physical work to lift themselves.

I remember when my youngest sister or my brother had to help our dad up after a fall, they would stand behind him with a chair in front of him have him get his balance with foot flat on the floor, they would place their hands under his armpits and have him place his hands on then chair and push himself up.  By having their hands under his arms, it was easy for them to assist him as he was pushing himself up.  

 

The post with links t other posts

 

Hello Thursday, it is a cold morning here in my part of the world since it is Thursday it is time for the post with links to  other posts.

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-last-hodgepodge-for-month-of-august.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/08/stealing-sunday-nope-today-is-thursday.html

 

Gorillia's

 

This week we are looking at gorillas, they are gentle giants and display many human-like behaviours and emotions, such as laughter and sadness. In fact, gorillas share 98.3% of their genetic code with humans, making them our closest cousins after chimpanzees and bonobos.

They are the largest of the great apes, they are stocky animals with broad chests and shoulders, large, human-like hands, and small eyes set into hairless faces. There are two gorilla species—the eastern and western gorilla—live in equatorial Africa, separated by about 560 miles of Congo Basin forest. Each has a lowland and upland subspecies.

They live in family groups of usually five to 10, but sometimes two to more than 50, led by a dominant adult male—or silverback—that can hold his position for years, if not decades. The bond between the silverback and his females forms the basis of gorilla social life.

Females become sexually mature around seven or eight years old but don’t begin to breed until a couple of years later. Males mature at an even greater age. Once a female begins to breed, she'll likely give birth to only one baby every four to six years and only three or four over her entire lifetime. This low rate of reproduction makes it difficult for gorillas to recover from population declines.\

The gestation period for gorillas is approximately 255 days. After birth, a newborn gorilla weighs about 2 kg and is completely dependent on its mother for the first three months of its life. The young gorilla will sleep in its mother’s nest at night and ride on her back during the day.

However, mountain gorillas, a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, are the exception and have been increasing over the last few decades, a true conservation success story.

This achievement is partially due to the ongoing efforts and collaboration of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), a unique coalition of three international conservation organizations, WWF, Conservation International, and Fauna & Flora, which continues to ensure the long-term survival of mountain gorillas.

Conservation efforts by WWF, other organizations, and governments are making a difference for gorillas. The population of mountain gorillas has continued to increase in recent years, leading to its downlisting from Critically Endangered to Endangered in November 2018.

The life expectancy of gorillas in the wild is approximately 35 years, but in captivity, they have been known to live into their 40s.

They are vegetarian, though the two species differ slightly in their preferences. Eastern gorillas consume leaves, stalks, and shoots, while western gorillas consume more fruit. They also wade into swampy clearings to eat aquatic plants. Overall, primates are typically omnivorous because their digestive systems can process both vegetation and animal matter. However, gorillas do not typically eat larger mammals. Gorillas spend much of their time foraging and resting, traveling only a few hundred meters between feedings.

                                                     

 

China

 

This week we are looking at China which is in East Asia and is the largest of all the Asian countries, making up nearly the entire East Asian landmass. It’s also nearly as large as Europe.

There are 33 administrative units under the central government, these consist of 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities and 2 special administrative regions.

It has a population of around 1,416,096,094 which is around 17.2% or the total world population, it is the second largest populated country.

The capital of China is Beijing and has been for around 8 centuries, it has a population of over 22 million.

The official language is Standard Mandarin which is mainly based on the Beijing dialect.

The flag is red with five golden stars, it has one large star and four smaller stars in a arc, it has been the national flag since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China on the 1 October 1949. It was designed by Zeng Liansong. The red represents the Communist Revolution, and the stars represent the unity of the four social classes of the Chinese people.

When we think of the Chinese currency, we think of the currency we think of the Yuan which is the basic unit however, the currency is the renminbi.

The People’s Bank of China has the exclusive authority to issue currency. Banknotes range in denomination from 1 fen to 100 renminbi. The obverse side of some banknotes contain images of communist leaders, such as Mao Zedong. The reverse side of most coins contains images of historic buildings and the country’s diverse landscape.

                    Buddhist Statues

China is a centre for world religious thought and practices. Although about half the population identifies as nonreligious or atheist, many belief systems have shaped Chinese society for centuries. The government officially recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Protestantism, Catholicism, and Islam, though it keeps these under tight control.

                       Confucianism Temple

Also popular is Confucianism which is a worldview, social ethic, political ideology, and way of life that entails ancestor reverence and profound human-centered religiousness. It emphasizes the duty of the individual in society and government.

There is also Daoism, which is a, indigenous religious-philosophical tradition, Daoism emphasizes mystical experience and the individual’s harmony with nature.

Buddhism came to China possibly as early as the 3rd century BCE. China became an incubator for many of the great present-day Buddhist sects, including Zen and Pure Land, and, by its extension into Tibet, the source of Tibetan Buddhism.

                   Folk Religion Temples

Many Chinese embrace aspects and rituals of indigenous folk religions, which comprise the largest group of those professing a belief. Deities of the popular pantheon are intimately involved in everyday life as givers of blessings or bringers of calamities.

Christians are a small but significant and growing minority, many of them converts to Evangelical Protestant denominations.

Islam Members of non-Han minorities constitute the bulk of those following Islam.

That will do for this post, more next week.

 

Week 34 of 2025

 Sorry I forgot to post this yesterday

 

I had another good night had 9hr6mins sleep was awake for 7mins. 5C this morning, so bloody cold.

Tim had to leave for work at 2am he should be home by 8am.

I am so damn cold this morning, I am struggling to get warm.  I have two pairs of socks and slippers, a long sleeve singlet, a tee shirt and a cardician, fingerless gloves and a rug over my legs and yes, the heater is also on.

It warmed up by 11am and I managed to do a few things around the house.

BGL:5.8

Steps:6,045=3.05klm

I had really good night got 10hr19mins sleep was awake for 7mins. Not as cold this morning it is 7C.

I mopped the kitchen, laundry and bathroom floors, vacuumed out twice. Cleaned the kitchen when I first got up other than that I did nothing much.

BGL:5.5

Steps: 8,150=4.13klm’s

I slept well got 8hr54mins sleep was awake for 8mins.

Sam’s new driver is named Frank.

Coles was delivered around 8.15am but got message from Woolies at 7.30am saying there was logistical breakdown, and my order would be late, received another message at midday saying the order would be 240mins late.

Sue took me to physio, while there Jess rang to say my shopping had been delivered. So much for being hours late.

Physio went well, the physio’s name is Noah, and he was nice, I have of course been given some exercises to do each day I go back on the 2^nd.

I set up the Cpap machine Tim bought for his use, it is actually an Apap machine, something I have never heard of, I didn’t have to set a pressure number. I hope it helps him. However, he does have issues with a blocked nose and that may make things difficult, but we will see.

BGL:5.5

Steps:10,388=5.28klm’s     

 

KIRSTY & VAUGHAN’S BIRTHDAY YES, THEY ARE TWINS.

I slept well even if my watch says I only had 6hr 56mins sleep was awake for 11mins. That doesn’t seem right I went to bed at 8.30pm work up at 5am.

Asked Tim how he slept he said he removed the Cpap mask during the night as his nose was blocked, and he couldn’t breathe.

Sue and I went to the podiatrist then home, it has rained on and off all day.

Sue sent me a video she shot around Charlestown of the police helicopter circling around and so many cops around the area. A man had been stabbed in a carpark and they were looking for the perpetrator. Part of what Sue was shown on the 6pm news

Of course, it was raining when I went to meet Sam this arvo.

BGL: 5.8

Steps: 9,516=4.83klm’s

I slept well even if my watch says I only had 6hr 48mins sleep and was awake for 19mins. That doesn’t seem right I went to bed at 7.30pm work up at 5am and I didn’t wake at all during the night to pee.

Sam let me know that I don’t have to meet her this arvo as she is going to Bailey’s for a bit.

Sue and I went shopping and saw Sandy and Denni which was great, Sandy told me I walk like our Nan did, and Sue said that on Tuesday when she looked at me, she thought I looked like Nan these comments I take as a compliment

BGL: 5.8

Steps: 7,555=3.83 Klm’s 

 

I slept well got 8hrs 26mins sleep and was awake for only 8mins.

It is another cold and wet day here temp this morning is 10C but after Sam goes to school, I have nothing to do and won’t be leaving the house.

This afternoon it is 14C and still raining.

BGL: 6.1

Steps: 6,300=3.23klm’s

 

I slept well got 10hrs 29mins sleep and was awake for only 9mins.

It is 10C this morning but warmed up a bit by 10 am and cooled down again by 5pm.

Tim is working this afternoon he is doing rail and won’t be home till around 2.30am tomorrow and he is working again tomorrow afternoon. He left at midday for work.

I received another parcel from Temu good, my error not Temu’s.

BGL:5.8

Steps: 7,652=3.90 klm’s or 2.4miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caturday with Archie

 Here we are at another Caturday, this week you all have a video clip of me Archie the handsome ginger kitty belonging to the amazing human Sue. In this clip I am hiding in our bed and mum came and found me.

Links

 

My post with links to other posts.

http://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/08/tuesday-4.html

http://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/08/another-hodgepodge.html

http://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/08/fridays-fave-five-on-sunday-night.html

http://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/08/a-womans-daybook.html

http://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/08/hodgepodge-on-cold-wet-day.html

 

Falling Over

 

Today we are looking at falling over, something that can happen to some people more as they age or if the develop a medical conditioned affecting someone’s balance and coordination. Falling is something I have done a few times in the last 4 years, thankfully I haven’t broken any bones but have had concussion a couple of times and have needed stitches after a couple of falls.

In fact, people fall for a variety of reasons, including environmental factors, physical and cognitive conditions, and even medication side effects. Common causes range from tripping hazards and poor lighting to muscle weakness, balance problems, and vision impairments. 

Medications, especially those causing dizziness or drowsiness, and certain health conditions like diabetes or Parkinson's disease can also contribute to falls. 

Environmental Factors are things like wet floors, icy patches, or uneven pavement can easily cause a slip or trip. 

Insufficient lighting can make it difficult to see hazards and navigate obstacles like furniture, cords, or other items safely.  

Lack of support can make it difficult to maintain balance, especially on stairs or in the bathroom. 

Physical and Cognitive Conditions include things like weak leg and core muscles can reduce stability and make it harder to recover from a stumble. Difficulty with balance, walking patterns, or coordination can increase the risk of falls. 

Then we have impaired vision, or hearing which, can make it harder to identify hazards and react appropriately. Then we have conditions like dementia can affect judgment and awareness of surroundings, increasing fall risk. 

Low blood pressure can be an issue especially when rising from a seated or lying position, low blood pressure can cause dizziness and falls. 

Conditions like arthritis, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and heart disease can all impact mobility and balance. 

Certain medications, especially those affecting the nervous system, can cause dizziness, drowsiness, or confusion. Taking multiple medications, particularly those with overlapping side effects, can increase fall risk. 

The fear of falling can lead to reduced activity, which can further weaken muscles and increase the risk of falls. 

 

 

Elephants

 

Today we are looking at elephants which are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.

African elephants are the largest land animals, with males reaching up to 13 feet tall and weighing up to 14,000 pounds. 

The trunk is a multi-functional organ, used for breathing, smelling, touching, drinking, and even as a tool for digging and grabbing.

They have tusks, which are actually elongated incisor teeth that grow throughout their lives. 

While their skin is thick, it's also sensitive and elephants often use mud and dust to protect themselves from the sun and insects. 

They are known to have an exceptional memory and are known to remember individuals and locations for years. 

They live in close-knit herds, primarily led by older females, and communicate through various vocalizations and body language. 

They communicate using a range of sounds, including trumpeting and infrasound, which can travel long distances.

African elephants are pregnant for an average of 22 months, whilst for Asian elephants it’s 18 to 22 months.¹ You might think such a long pregnancy is because of what huge creatures they are – but you’d only be partly correct. Baby elephants do develop slowly in the womb because of their physical size but also because of the size of their intellect.

Baby elephants can stand and walk within minutes of birth, and they stay close to their mothers for support and protection. 

Both African and Asian elephants are facing threats from habitat loss and poaching, leading to conservation efforts to protect them. 

They can live almost as long as humans, African elephants have a maximum lifespan of about 74 years, Asian elephants can live to about 80 and the oldest known elephant in the world is thought to be an Asian elephant who lived to be 89 in captivity. 

 

 

Asia

 

Time to move into another part of the world, we are now in Asia, which is the worlds largest and most diverse continent, it has both the highest and lowest points on Earth as well as the longest coastline of any continent.

It is subject overall to the world’s widest climatic extremes, and, consequently, produces the most varied forms of vegetation and animal life on Earth.

The name Asia is ancient, and its origin has been variously explained. The Greeks used it to designate the lands situated to the east of their homeland. It is believed that the name may be derived from the Assyrian word asu, meaning “east.” Another possible explanation is that it was originally a local name given to the plains of Ephesus.

Asia has the Arctic Ocean to its north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south.

Asia is separated from North America to the northeast by the Bering Strait and from Australia to the southeast by the seas and straits connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans. The Isthmus of Suez unites Asia with Africa.

Asia is the birthplace of all the world’s major religions—Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. Of those, only Christianity developed primarily outside of Asia and has little influence on the continent, though many Asian countries have Christian minorities. Buddhism has had a greater impact outside its birthplace in India and is prevalent in various forms in China, South Korea, Japan, the Southeast Asian countries, and Sri Lanka.

There are 48 countries in Asia, this number does not include dependent territories or areas of special sovereignty. 

Over 2,300 languages are thought to be spoken in Asia, sssthis linguistic diversity is due to the continent's vast size and diverse geography, which has allowed languages to develop in relative isolation. Asia is home to a wide array of language families, including Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan, Dravidian, and many others.

 

Week 33 of 2025

 

Had a better night last night slept 8hrs 19mins was awake for only 9mins. I got up at 4.40am because I read the time wrong thought it said 4.57 but it was 4.37 silly me. 

Tim cooked lunch both Tasha and Jess came, Sam came down but didn’t stay as Tim didn’t cook enough as he cooked crumbed lamb cutlets and I am not A fan of them, I only had a couple of bites and Tasha had the rest.

I am feeling a bit sad this afternoon, not sure well.

BGL:6.6

Steps:8,028=4.06Klm’s

Had a good night slept for 9hrs and 48mins and I was awake for 34mins.

Sue arrived at 7.20am to drive Sam to Tafe and it was 8am before they left as Sam was taking so long to get ready. After they left, I rang Centrelink about if I should apply for a disability support pension or some other payment I will start that tomorrow.

Jess asked is I could wash towels for her as she was already doing a load of clothes, so I did that washed them and tossed them in the dryer.

This afternoon Jess asked if I could do her a casserole in the slow cooker tomorrow so it will be ready when she gets home from work, I said I would. 

BGL:6.6

Steps:6,424=3.29klm’s

Had a good night slept for 9hrs and 28mins and I was awake for 39mins.

It is only 7C this morning. I had a moment around 10am when I was so cold thankfully it only lasted about an hour.

Blain came down to say Hi as he was spending the day with his mum, if fact it was the happiest, I have seen Tasha in a long time.

I did the casserole for Jess and was surprised that Tim had two servings of it when he got home from work before Jess took the slower cooker to her house. Jess sent me a text thanking me for making it and saying it was beautiful.

BGL:6.1

Steps:8,150=4.13klm’s

Another good night slept straight through the night didn’t wake at all got 7hrs 50mins of sleep.

Another cold morning only 6C when I got up.

I was watching tv this morning when I suddenly started to feel really cold and had to get up and turn the heater on for about half an hour.

I received two packages from Temu this morning a lot of stuff for me to sort through and label as a good part of it is Christmas or birthday gifts.

This arvo I am feeling very emotional and overwhelmed with life had a bit of a cry which gave me a headache. While waiting for Sam this arvo I started t feel stiff and had to stand and move around a bit also it was bloody cold.

I hope tomorrow I feel better than I do now.

BGL:6.1

Steps: 6,737=3.44klm’s

I had a wonderful sleep woke up feeling great more with it and with some motivation. I had 9hrs & 16mins sleep and didn’t wake at all.

It is 11C and wet outside, thankfully it wasn’t raining when I went with Sam to wait for transport to arrive.

After Sam went to school I got changed and went to the shops with my sister Sue.

Jess sent me a text letting me know that I didn’t need to meet Sam as she is staying at the school to see her boyfriend Bailey’s play and Bailey’s mum will bring her home, she should be home around 8pm tonight.

I rang Sam to see if she was on her way home, she said she would come over and see me when she got home. 

Tim got pissed about be referring to Sam as she, say he is a male not a female. I said nothing couldn’t see the point.

BGL:5.9

Steps:8,140=4.13 klm’s

I had a pretty damn good sleep, except for a dream about Tim not loving me anymore, I have these dreams from time to time. I know it is just a dream and have no doubt about how much Tim loves me.

I slept for 9hrs 32mins and was awake for 32mns

Anyway, it is a cold 11C but not too cold so that’s good.

I sorted out the boxes of photos in frames that came off the walls when the house was painted. So instead of having them spread over 4 storage containers they are in 1. I also found a few photos I want to rehang.

Sam said that she will have a new transport driver from Monday, if the new driver doesn’t contact Jess over the weekend, I will have to meet the driver on Monday and let them know that Sam doesn’t’’ require transport on Monday’s as she has Tafe on Monday’s. Jess should be contacted though.

This evening, I started the online0 application for the disability support pension. I will finish it over the weekend.

Tim home late at 8.15 and he is now working Sunday morning.

BGL: 6.1

Steps:5,967=3.10klms

I had another good night had 9hr25mins sleep was awake for 19mins. 10C this morning.

Jess bought me Macca’s for breakfast, but the muffin was so burnt I was unable to eat it.

Jess also said she would send her other work shirt over with Sam a bit latter, well I rang her at 2pm asking for the shirt so I could do the washing.

It has been cold on and off all day.

I fell over while putting the work shirts in the dryer, no damage done.

BGL:6.1

Steps:5,229=2.68klm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haiti's National Anthem

 

This Friday we are looking at the national anthem of Haiti which is called La Dessalinienne. It is also sometimes referred to as "The Song of Dessalines". The anthem was officially adopted in 1903, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, and is named in honour of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a leader of the revolution.

La Dessalinienne in English

For the Country, for the Ancestors, let us march united, let us march united. Let there be no traitors in our ranks! Let us be the only masters of the soil. Let us march united, let us march united For the Country, for the Ancestors, let us march, let us march, let us march united, For the Country, for the Ancestors...

For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland Let us toil joyous, let us toil joyous. When the field fructifies the soul fortifies Let us toil joyous, let us toil joyous For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland Let us toil, let us toil, let us toil joyous For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland.

For the Country and for our Fathers Let us train Sons, let us train Sons Free, strong and prosperous We shall always be brothers Let us train Sons, let us train Sons For the Country and for our Fathers Let us train, let us train, let us train Sons For the Country and for our Fathers.

For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland Oh God of the Valiant, Oh God of the Valiant! Under your infinite protection Take our rights, our life Oh God of the Valiant, Oh God of the Valiant! For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland Oh God, Oh God, Oh God of the Valiant for the Forefathers, for the Fatherland.

For the Flag, for the Fatherland To die is beautiful, to die is beautiful! Our past cries out to us: Have a hardened soul! To die is beautiful, to die is beautiful For the Flag, for the Fatherland To die, to die, to die is beautiful For the Flag, for the Fatherland.

 

 

I'm struggling but I am still here trying to do the best I can day after day

Hi, everyone, I guess you would have noticed that during the last few weeks my posting hasn’t been up to scratch but that should be changing as I am going to start setting apart one day a week to write up posts which is what I have done for years but recently I stopped doing that and was writing the post the day I was posting it.

Now for a bit of honesty as I am sure most are aware I have Parkinson’s Disease well the last couple of weeks I have felt overwhelmed and in so much pain day after day, in the evenings I often feel so tired it is an effort to focus and stay awake but when I say I am going to bed early Tim will say something that makes me feel that I shouldn’t be and I know he doesn’t mean to make me feel bad in any way but I do.

My day starts at 5am and yeah, I know some would say why get up so early, but I like the quiet of the morning and I am most productive first thing by 10am I am starting to feel worn out and need to put my feet up and rest for a while. I am thankfully able to do most of the housework there was a while there before I was medicated that I could do bugga all.

During these really cold days I have been getting a lot of headaches and body aches and having moments when everything seems too much to deal with.

I have daily pain and stiffness, at times I have insomnia (but thankfully I am sleeping well at the moment), weakness, and stiffness when standing and walking for a bit till my legs come good.  I have to stand and get my balance, and the first few steps can look odd but once things start to work, I am ok. I have had times when sitting is uncomfortable due to my body aching or me starting to feel stiff all over.

I often struggle to get words out the path between my brain and mouth is often blocked and can make things difficult. I will often jumble up what I am trying to say, and it is frustrating to me.  Tim often comments that I take too long to answer him but I’m doing the best I can.

Swallowing can be an issue at times and yeah, I know I should take smaller bites, and I do try to do so but there are times I don’t remember to do so, there have been many times when food gets stuck, and I am chocking and coughing trying to dislodge it.

I have gained weight again and this is very depressing for me, telling me to eat less doesn’t help reminding me how much weight others in the family have lost doesn’t help, it just depresses me more.

My body can get very cold during winter and very hot during summer and having someone comment oh you’re cold or oh you’re hot with that shocked tone is also depressing for me. I can’t change how I am all I can do is try and cope the best I can.

Life at the moment is a roller coaster that is moving slow, my emotions are all over the place some days and I feel that the cold wet days are affecting my moods, making it more difficult to deal with the depression.

I cannot thank my sister Sue enough for giving me back a sense of a normal life, I get to go shopping regularly, I have someone to take me to appointments and someone who I can laugh with, and we do laugh a lot when together.

I am blessed with a loving and supportive family and none of them say or do anything to intentionally upset me but there are times when I feel some do not want to take the time to read and understand how Parkinson’s having is affecting me.

Some may think I should take a break from blogging, but it is a big part of what keeps me going day after day, like having to ring Sam 4 or 5 times in the morning to make sure she is up and getting ready for school.

There are days when everything feels like such a struggle and way too much effort is needed to do anything and everything.

Anyway I am hoping that I will continue to improve and I will make sure each Sunday I will take the time to write up posts  for the following week.

National Things in Haiti

 

This week we are looking at some of the national things connected with Haiti the national animal of Haiti is also the national bird. It is the Hispaniolan trogon. It is a colourful bird with a rich assortment of bright feathers along its wings and breast, and a unique pattern on its tail. It’s found only on the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is becoming increasingly rare there due to ongoing habitat loss.

Their national flower is the Hibiscus. Specifically, the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, also known as the pink hibiscus or rose mallow, is the flower often associated with Haiti. In Haitian Creole, it's called "choublak" or "rose kayenn". 

The hibiscus is a vibrant and resilient flower that symbolizes the Haitian spirit. It is used in various ways, from traditional herbal teas to being a decorative element and a symbol for political parties, like the Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats. The national tree is the Royal Palm.

Haiti's national dish is soupe joumou (pumpkin soup). It's a tradition to eat this soup on New Year's Day to celebrate Haiti's independence. The soup is made with squash (joumou), beef, and vegetables, and is known for its symbolism of freedom and hope.

The national sport of Haiti is football (soccer) and huge crowds will come out to cheer at games. Children can be seen playing football all over Haiti's city streets and rural roads.

Haiti's national drink is Clairin, a rum made from pure sugar cane. It's produced by small, artisanal distilleries throughout the island. Clairin is known for its rustic, pure flavour, often expressing herbaceous, vegetal, earthy, and grassy notes. 

In Haiti, the age of consent for sexual activity is 18 years old. The legal age for marriage is also 18 for males and 15 for females but can be lower with parental or presidential authorization. 

 

The traditional dress for Haitian women is know as a karabela. The dress is made of blue cotton or linen with red lace to symbolize the colors of the Haitian flag. Orange, yellow, and green lace are also used to accent the dress. It is full-length, normally worn off the shoulders.