Blindness

 

Today’s topic is blindness, did you know that the main cause of blindness is cataracts, generally affecting older adults and those living in areas where surgery isn’t easily available.

Other important causes include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. The exact leading cause can vary by age and country, but globally cataract is the biggest single cause of blindness because it is common, strongly linked to ageing, and often left untreated where access to eye care is limited.

Worldwide, about 0.5% of the population is blind, which is something like 43 million people, based on major global estimates for distance-vision blindness this works out to be around one in 200 people.

Some people are born blind, but this is very rare with only between 0.03% to 0.05% of children born being blind, this is roughly 3 to 5 in every 10,000 births.

Blind people do not all see the same thing. Some see nothing at all, while many others still have some vision. They may be able to see light and dark, shapes or shadows, movement, blurred colours, or only small areas of vision. Very few blind people see complete blackness all the time. For many people, blindness means partial vision loss rather than total loss of sight, and what they can see depends on how much vision they have left and what caused the blindness.

Blindness is generally considered a disability because it can significantly affect everyday activities such as reading, recognising faces, travelling safely, and completing daily tasks, although the exact legal definition can vary depending on the country and the level of vision loss.

 

 

Honeybees

 

🐝 Today we are looking at another creature of the dangerous animal list, and it is the Honeybee, not really that dangerous but still they are on the list, so here is some information about them.

Surprisingly, bees send more Australians to hospital than any other venomous creature on average around 1,000 cases annually due to allergic reactions.  Thankfully on average only 3 people may die each year from a bee or wasp sting.

A common reaction to a bee sting is usually local, mild, and short‑lived. Most people experience only normal, non‑dangerous symptoms, even though they can be uncomfortable. If anything, ever feels severe, persistent, or unusual, it’s important to speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

Honeybees are not native to Australia they were introduced from Europe in the 1800’s, they live in large colonies and are honey producers.

Honeybees are one of the most fascinating and important insects on the planet and in Australia, they’re both incredibly useful and the most common cause of insect‑sting reactions.

They build hives in:

• wooden boxes (managed hives)
• tree hollows
• wall cavities
• roofs
• rock crevices

A strong hive can contain 20,000–60,000 bees.

They only sting to defend the hive and do not sting when foraging unless:

• they’re stepped on
• they’re trapped in clothing
• they feel threatened

This is why most stings happen on feet, hands, or arms.

In Australia there are mostly European honeybees, but we also have Asian honeybees which can be found in far north QLD. They are vital for agriculture but can compete with native bees for food. Of course, there are other types of bees such as the Native stingless bees, Native solitary bees (blue-banded bees, teddy bear bees, leafcutter bees, carpenter bees) and then we have wasps yeah, they are not bees but often confused with them.

Most native bees do not make honey and do not live in big hives.

 

WEEK 24 OF 2026 a Day Late

 

Had a good sleep, slept for a bit over 8hrs, had a nice shower when I got up, I don’t shower every day because I don’t go out a lot, nor do I get dirty or even hot and sweaty so don’t see the point in a daily shower. If I don’t shower, I do have a good wash first thing in the morning.

Tim got a phone call asking if he could work today, he started at 11.30am and will finish at midnight.

It is now 9pm and I have had 3hrs of sleep, around 5.30pm I started to feel not with it as in extremely tired and unwell. So, I had Tasha come and help me get ready for bed and while I was getting changed, I decided to just go to bed. I must have fallen asleep very fast as the next thing I knew I had to pee and realised it was 8.55pm. I will stay up for an hour or so before going back to bed.

Steps: 4,502 = 3k’s

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After I went back to bed I slept well till 4.40am when I got up and I feel good this morning. It is a cold 10c or 50f and I have the heater on but will turn it off soonish.

I have had a good morning, went for a walk and did the housework.

Tim didn’t get up till around 9am, thankfully it is a public holiday here so no work for Tim.

Dave has finally had his surgery so now he just needs to recover.

Steps: 4,962 = 2.5k’s

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I slept well and got up at 4.40am, I had around 7hrs of sleep, it is 10c or 50f at 5.30am.

I was late going for a walk so only walked around the driveway as I don’t like walking on the road after 8am due to the amount of traffic. I also don’t like using the walker on wet grass.

Dave has at long last had his surgery and all went well, Sue and I may go and see him on Friday.

I stripped the bed and remade it with warmer sheets. I managed it but it wasn’t easy and left me exhausted.

Steps: 7,697 = 3.9k’s or 2.5miles

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Had a good night, I was up at 4.20am and had a shower straight after getting up. The temp this morning was 14c according to my phone, or 13c according to my watch and the laptop said 10c, this is normal and when I write the temp each morning, I pick a number like today I would normally say 12c.

It is a warmish day, I had two naps during the day, I did the usual housework as well as mopping the kitchen floor.

After that I sat in a darkish room and closed my eyes for 25 minutes.

Dave is doing ok, but not up for visitors yet which I get I have long thought when someone is in hospital really unwell people coming to see them may feel draining, especially if all one wants to do is sleep.

After lunch I decided I needed another nap this time I slept for 55 minutes and felt good afterwards.

Steps: 8,258 = 4.1kgs or 2.5 miles.

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I had a so-so sleep got around 6 & ½ hours, woke at 4.20am and got up at 5am the temp is 14c or 57f, it is wet outside but not raining.

I had trouble trying to dress ready to go shopping, I couldn’t put my pants on and just sat on the side on the bed staring at nothing till I thought to put my Beechband on.

After I did that, my mind became focus enough to ring Tasha for help, she came and helped.

Sue and I went shopping, no issues but as we were leaving the centre my feet started to feel heavy and I was glad   to get home and take my shoes off.

Steps: 9,399 = 4.7k’s or 2.8 miles

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Had a decent night, up at 4.20am washed and dressed, the temp at 5am is 14c or 57f, I managed to get 6 & ½ hours of sleep.

Sue and I have Dr appointments for our care plan reviews this morning. All went well spoke to the doc about the popping sensation and pain on the left side of my neck at the base of the skull.

Dave is being discharged today.

By 4pm I was so tired I had to close my eyes for 30 minutes.

I told Tasha not bother coming down tonight as I am fine and it’s cold and wet outside.

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I slept well but was awake and up at 4am after having nearly 8hrs of sleep. It is 12c or 53f at 5am, one thing I like about getting up that early is having how quiet and still the morning feels.

Sue locked herself out of her flat this morning and had to ring Sandy who was still asleep and get her to take the spare key over and let Sue into the flat, it was 9.30am.

Sue and I went to Kmart so she could get a new lighter vacuum then we went to see Dave. He doesn’t look good, he was sleeping on the lounge, and I thought he looks old and sick. Both Sue and I thought the same thing.

Tim is at work today and won’t be home till around 1am.

Steps: 9,846 = 5k’s or 3 miles

 

 

Going home

 

DAVE & LEIGH

Received this message from my sister in-law Leigh about Dave.

His Coming Home later today! At first, we thought a tad early since the drains only came out yesterday but after talking with Respiratory Team just now and worked through our concerns, we are now confident with his Discharge today! Follow up with GP next Tuesday, Follow up bloods and Xray in 4 weeks, fast tracked if he was to represent back to ED with complications!

Sue and I will go and visit him tomorrow.

 

DAVE & SUE

Links to other posts

 

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

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/a-flowerily-hodgepodge.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/sharing-my-world.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/tuesdays-4_01301038481.html

Update on Dave

 

Hi all, I am posting this update about my brother, these are text messages sent by my sister in-law.

Sunday 7 June

We have some beautiful nurses today making regular calls to the Theatre team to see if his still to be done today, his still on the list for today so far and unfortunately just playing the waiting game again!

Cancelled for the 4th time, doing it all over again tomorrow!

I’m thinking they took him off the emergency list when his bloods improved so not so urgent but surely it would be making scare tissue and adhesions etc

Monday 8 June

They have collected him for surgery just now! Should be approx 1hr plus up to 2hrs recovery! Won’t know yet if he will go to ICU or a ward but they will call me when he hits recovery! all goes well and his recovery can start! Thank you so much for your love and support, will update again when his out!

And please sisters don’t panic if he does go to ICU they have a bed ready for him in icu just in case he needs it and it’s could just be a cautionary me to send him there because of his diabetes in her blood pressure

Tuesday 9 June

Hey all, his still in recovery, his asking to hold off visiting until he hits the ward as only 1 visitor at a time and his sleeping on and off still! His had a reasonable sleep overnight a little pain on coughing but has a pain button to press every 5 mins if needed! No details from the surgeon yet on how it went, didn’t have to open so just 2 chest drains for a few days and small wounds to heal!

At this stage he will get a bed F3 bed 12 but won’t be ready till 11ish but nurses talk will be 3pm lol.

I will add that on Monday Leigh told the hospital that if he didn’t have his surgery today, she wanted him transferred to Newcastle Private Hospital this is the hospital where they both work, Leigh as a nurse and Dave is in charge of the back-dock.

She filled in forms and lodged a complaint as Dave had been told he would have his surgery only to have it postpone 4 times and we all felt this was a joke

DAVE & LEIGH

 

Deadly or Dangerous Animals Down Under

 

Hello everyone I have decided to do some posts about some deadly creatures found here in Australia, starting with one that we don’t consider dangerous but has caused around 20 deaths each year.

Most deaths are from falls while riding, with most victims being over 45 years old.

Horses are responsible for around 31% of all animal related deaths.

Around 3,000 to 4,000 Australians are hospitalised each year due to horse‑related injuries. Horses consistently rank as one of the top causes of animal‑related hospital admissions in the country.

These include:

Falls while riding

Being thrown

Being crushed or kicked

Farm accidents

Trail riding accidents

The most common injuries are

Fractures (especially arms, ribs, spine)

Head injuries

Soft‑tissue trauma

Internal injuries from crushing

Those most likely to come a cropper are those over 45 and children aged between 10 and 14.