Australian Birds

 

Hi everyone today I am looking at Australian native bird species, most Australian ornithologists and conservation groups generally say there is somewhere around 830 to 900 species.

Most of them are in the north and the east of the country mostly in tropical Queensland as well as the top end and in the eastern coastal forests and wetlands. This pattern is strongly supported by species‑richness data from major bird‑recording hotspots.

In the central and arid part of the country there are fewer species, but it does have the Princess Parrot, Budgerigar and Grass wrens all considered unique.

Around the area I live we have lots of Rainbow Lorikeets, Magpies, Galahs, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Corellas, Butcherbirds, as well as some ducks. Oh, and we sometimes have a Kookaburra.

As many of you will know I feed local birds and often have a large number of them out the front.

My brother Dave

 

My brother Dave is 16yrs younger than me and is the youngest of 5 children, he is also the only boy with 4 older sisters. He was mum’s favourite from the time he was born. He was in fact mum & dad’s miracle child, as after mum had my youngest sister Sandy, she had her tubes tied but a year later Dave arrived.

Turned out that as she had an ectopic pregnancy when Sue was very young the doctor only cut and tired the one tube she had, however, the other tube had knitted itself back together and that’s how they ended up with Dave.

As a child he got away with a lot of shit, but he grew from and annoying little bugga into an amazing man and all his sisters are so proud to have him as a brother.

Even though he is the youngest he is now the head of the family, I may be considered the matriarch of the family, but he is the head of the family.

At the moment he is very sick with pneumonia, he was taken to hospital on Monday night but was discharged with strong antibiotics only because his wife is an RN and is able to take care of him. However, most of us feel that he should still be in hospital.

 

 

Beechband

 

Today I am writing about the Beechband, what is it you may wonder well it is a device to help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

The Beechband works by delivering steady, rhythmic vibration pulses on your wrist to help calm and regulate movement, speech, and anxiety symptoms—especially for people with Parkinson’s.

It’s essentially a wearable version of a therapeutic tapping technique that its creator originally used manually.

It produces rhythmic pulsing vibrations (around 85 beats per minute in many cases). These pulses mimic a metronome‑like tapping that can help the brain stabilise movement patterns and reduce anxiety.

For some people, the effect is immediate, while for others it builds gradually over several weeks.

It can help with the following symptoms anxiety and stress, dyskinesia, rigidity, freezing of gait and other walking problems, speech difficulties, sleep issues and tremor of course.

However not everyone experiences the same benefits—some feel a big change, others only subtle effects, and some none at all.

You wear it on your wrist (or try switching wrists or even the ankle if results vary). Turn, it on and ignore it—most people stop noticing the vibration after 15–30 minutes.

It is recommended to use it daily for at least 6 weeks to judge whether it helps. Friends or family often notice improvements before the wearer does.

The vibration can be loud for some people; the battery life is often short around 3–4 hours.

Some users report major improvements in gait and freezing; others report no change.

The Beechband is a non‑medical wearable that uses steady vibration cues to help regulate movement and reduce anxiety. It doesn’t treat Parkinson’s itself, but for some people it provides meaningful day‑to‑day relief.

I have this device and it works great for me it calms my body, stops the internal tremor and helps clear my mind allowing me to focus and connect.

Week 21 of 2026

 

I was up at 4.10am I had 7hrs of sleep and decided to have my shower then; after dressing I came out to the messy kitchen after cleaning that, I swept the kitchen floor and the lounge-room as well.

It is currently 13c or 55.4f and 5.30am.

I went for my walk did a little extra, today feels more like Monday not Sunday, it has warmed up to 22c or 71.6f.

Tim home at 4pm, he is so annoying at times when we are watching the news, and he gets angry with the pollies flapping their gums spouting nothing and yeah, I get how he feels but it does get on my nerves.

Steps: 8,763 = 4.4k’s or 2.6miles

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I was up at 4.25am after 7.5hrs of sleep, it is currently 16c or 60f I am dressed and starting my day, I hope all I know have a good day.

Around 11am I started to feel really cold so had to turn the heater on, but only for 15 minutes and then I was good.

It has rained on and off all day, no nap today got stuck in and sorted through my medical folder and shredded a lot of stuff, I then went looking and found Tim’s stuff he had two folders both with only a few things in them so combined that into one folder.

I also sorted out my drawers moving my shorts into the spare room and getting my winter Pj’s from the spare room and moving them to the bedroom.

Steps: 6,215 = 3k’s or 1.8 miles.

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I was up at 4.25am after 7.5hrs of sleep, it is currently 13c or 55.4f I am dressed and starting my day, I hope all I know have a good day.

I rang to arrange the MRI, but it’s not covered by Medicare, and the cost would be $300 so I said not to worry about it. I sent an email to the doctor’s surgery letting them know. I don’t really need the MRI it was just a suggestion.

I went for my walk and just after I got home it started to rain again. It has rained on and off all day.

Steps: 7,778

It’s Wednesday already, I have been up since 4.30am, the temp is 13c or 55.4f and it’s not raining. I slept for 9.5hrs and woke up feeling good.

I went for my walk after that I decided to mop the kitchen and bathroom floors. I took the clothes off the hoist, folded and put them away.

This afternoon I cleaned the glass sliding doors, they were very dirty, I also went for another walk just around the driveway after I checked the letter box.

Had a phone call from the Dr’s I know have an appointment tomorrow morning because I said I can’t afford to have the MRI done.

I had to put my watch on to charge, and it has been charging since 11am and it’s still not done.

Steps: 7,028 = 3.5k’s or 2.1 miles

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I am up bloody early it was 4.15am when I got up as I was awake and couldn’t get back to sleep so I got up. I did have a good 8hrs of sleep.

At 5am it was 13c or 55.4f and it is supposed to be around 19c.

I walked down to post a couple of letters.

Saw the Dr he wants me to have a CT scan instead of the MRI, for those who don’t know the CT scan will be bulked billed meaning I don’t have to pay for it.

It has rained all afternoon and it’s cold enough to have the heater on.

Steps: 7,023 = 3.5k’s or 2.1 miles

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Another early start got up at 4.15 after 8 and a half hours of sleep, had my shower and dressed. It is raining this morning; it should stop soon. It is 13c again with a top of only 19c.

Sue and I had an appointment with the podiatrist, all went well.

It has been raining on and off all day.

I am feeling so so, I tried to have a nap but wasn’t able to settle.

Tim and Tasha are fighting again, and I am caught in the middle again.

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I slept well, found Tim asleep in his armchair he is still in a foul mood, I got up at 4.10am he then went to bed.

It was fine when I got up but by 8am it was raining again, thankfully I went for my walk earlier.

It has rained on and off all day again, Tim’s mood has improved during the day.

Kathy rang at 3pm we talked for 30 minutes. Because of the improvement in Tim’s mood, I didn’t want to set him off again so asked that nothing be said that would do that.

However, Tasha posted something on the family chat that set him off again, I felt so stressed that I walked up the driveway and around it and back again. When I got back, I was gone maybe 5 minutes, Tim wasn’t here, he wouldn’t answer my phone call but did when I text asking where he was, he said he didn’t know. He then said he would either tonight or tomorrow. He got back about 7pm in another really foul mood, I went to bed.

I am so over it all.

Steps: 8,349 = 4k’s or 2.6 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Friday

 

SUE THE PRINCESS BEAR AND ME

Links

 

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

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/05/sunday-stealing.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/05/sharing-my-world_01128110680.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/05/hodgepodge.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Macular Degeneration

 

Hi all let’s go back to looking at eye diseases and disorders today the condition is macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration is an eye condition that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed central vision. It can make it harder to read, recognize faces, drive, or see fine detail.

This also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) it  is a chronic and painless disease of the macula. 

There are two main types, dry and wet.

Dry macular degeneration: more common, usually develops gradually.

Wet macular degeneration: less common but more serious; caused by abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina and can worsen vision quickly.

Common symptoms are

Blurry or fuzzy central vision

Straight lines looking wavy

Dark or empty spot in the centre of vision

Trouble reading or recognizing faces

Need for brighter light

Peripheral vision usually remains, so it does not usually cause total blindness.

The risk factors for this condition are

Older age

Family history

Smoking

High blood pressure

Obesity

Poor diet

So, if someone notices sudden distortion or rapid vision changes, they should see an eye doctor urgently, especially because wet macular degeneration needs prompt treatment.

Sadly, with the dry type there is no cure, but monitoring, lifestyle changes, and sometimes specific vitamin supplements may help slow progression.

With the wet type injections into the eye can help reduce damage and preserve vision.