Jo-Anne's Ramblings

Thursday, 26 March 2026

Cataracts

Hello everyone today we are looking at cataracts how many of us know what that is.

Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which normally sits just behind the iris and focuses light. As the lens becomes cloudy, vision gradually becomes blurry, hazy, or dim, much like looking through a fogged‑up window. Cataracts are extremely common with age and are one of the leading cases of vision impairment worldwide.

How does having cataracts feel, well from what I could find out this, blurred or foggy vision, glare or halos around lights usually at night. There is a sensitivity to bright lights and the need for brighter light when doing stuff and reading. There can be Double vision in one eye.

These symptoms usually develop slowly, and early cataracts may cause no noticeable problems.

Why do cataracts happen well over time, the proteins that make up the lens break down and clump together, forming cloudy patches. The most common causes are ageing, UV exposure from sunlight, family history of cataracts, diabetes, long‑term steroid use, smoking or previous eye injury or surgery

In rare cases, babies can be born with cataracts (congenital cataracts).

Often an optometrist will diagnose cataracts during a comprehensive eye exam. This is why regular eye exams are recommended from age 40 onward, even without symptoms.

There is no medication, diet, or eye drop that can reverse cataracts. Treatment depends on how much they affect daily life.

In the early stage’s things like stronger lighting, updated glasses, and anti‑glare sunglasses may help.

However, when vision is significantly affected cataract surgery is the only effective treatment. This involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens (an intraocular lens, or IOL)

The procedure is quick (about 30 minutes), usually done under local anaesthetic, and has a very high success rate. Most people notice clearer vision within days.

You can’t completely prevent them, but you can reduce risk or slow progression by wear UV‑blocking sunglasses and a hat outdoors, quit smoking, make sure your diabetes is under control and have regular eye exams.

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

Links to other posts

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

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/friendly-fill-ins.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/sunday-poser.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/tuesday-4_0809460484.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/sunday-stealing_23.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/sharing-my-world.html

Domestic Dogs

Ok this was suppose to be yesterdays post but I forgot to post it, silly me

I have written in the past about domestic cats but couldn’t find a post about domestic dogs, so here is one.

What are domestic dogs well they are a subspecies of the gray wolf, belonging to the family Canidae. They are one of the two most widespread domestic animals on Earth the other is the cat.

Dogs were the first species ever domesticated, long before livestock or crops but maybe not cats.

Domestication is thought to have begun 20,000–40,000 years ago, archaeological remains of clearly domestic dogs appear 14,000–17,500 years ago.

It is thought that early wolves likely were self‑domesticated by scavenging near human camps, and that humans favoured wolves that were less fearful, more tolerant, and better at reading human cues.

Dogs evolved a powerful ability to digest starch-rich foods thanks to extra copies of the AMY2B amylase gene — often 7× more than wolves, with some dogs having up to 30 copies. This allows them to break down carbohydrates from human food scraps.

Selective breeding created the widest range of any land mammal think Chihuahua to Great Dane, also coat types, head shapes, e

Dogs are hyper-social animals shaped to live alongside humans. They communicate by barking to signal territory, threat, boredom, or desire for attention.

We all know that they sniff other dogs’ rear ends to gather chemical information about identity, reproductive status, diet, and emotional state.

Dogs excel at interpreting human gestures, tone, and facial expressions, a skill far more developed than in wolves.

The idea that 1 human year = 7 dog years is an oversimplification as small dogs age more slowly and the really large breeds age faster. Also breed differences play a part in their aging beagles age differently from similarly sized breeds.

Puppies begin vaccinations at 6 weeks, with boosters at intervals and later every three years for core vaccines. s

Dogs evolved to do the following, seek human attention, understand human cues, form strong emotional attachments.

In think we all know that the Great Dane is the tallest dog regularly reach 71–86cm tall at the shoulder, with some individuals standing over 7 feet tall on hind legs.

The heaviest Dog Breed is the English Mastiff which typically weigh 54–104kg or 120–230lbs. Other giant breeds include Saint Bernard, Newfoundland and the Irish Wolfhound.]

The smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua weighing between 0.9 -2.7kg or 2-6lb, there are other tiny breeds such as Russian Toy, Toy Poodle and Pomeranian.

I may write more about some of the breeds.

Monday, 23 March 2026

History of Chocolate in Australia

Well, here we are at another Monday and today we are looking at the history of chocolate in Australia.

Chocolate arrival in Australia sometime between late 1700s to Early 1800s, it came with European colonists, but it was rare and expensive. Which is why it was considered a luxury item for the wealthy, imported in small quantities.

By the mid–late 1800s with improved shipping, trade routes, and advances in manufacturing made chocolate more widely available. Confectionery shops began appearing in major cities, such as Sydney and Melbourne.

Australia’s own chocolate industry began to take shape in the early 20th century, with several brands that still exist today. Those companies establish our chocolate identity by blending European techniques with local tastes.

The turning point came in the 1920’s with the establishment of a major Cadbury factory in Claremont, Tasmania in 1922.

This dramatically increased local production and made chocolate affordable nationwide. Cadburys has shaped Australian chocolate culture. It is the go-to chocolate brand in most if not all of the country.

By the 1950s through to the 1980s, chocolate was to become deeply woven into Australian life. At Easter there was mass‑produced eggs became a national tradition. Cadbury began making Easter eggs in 1875, producing their very first chocolate egg from dark chocolate with a smooth, plain surface. Helping to transform Easter into the chocolate‑filled celebration we know today.

At Christmas boxed chocolates and novelty treats became common gifts.

Local flavours emerged, such as honeycomb, mint, and fruit and nut combinations.

In the 1970s and onward, boutique chocolatiers began experimenting with native ingredients such as wattleseed, lemon myrtle and macadamia.

Around this time Artisan producers focused on premium ingredients and craftsmanship, mirroring global trends.

Nowadays there is a thriving, diverse chocolate scene consisting of global giants Cadbury, Nestlé and Lindt. As well as historic local brands Haigh’s, Darrell Lea and Ernest Hillier.

Australia’s chocolate industry is now vibrant, competitive, and culturally significant, with strong consumer interest in sustainability, ethical sourcing, and premium quality.

Sunday, 22 March 2026

Week 12 of 2026

Good morning, all, I had a great night sleep getting 8hrs & 30mins and my BGL was 6.5, the temp is 15c or 59f although it is supposed to warm up.

My 11am it was nice and warm with the temp being 25c or 77f.

I had a good day felt like I got some things done like cleaning off my dressing table and the top of the chest of drawers and dusting and rearranging them.

Steps: 5,252= 2.6k’s or 1.6miles

Had a productive morning but a lazy afternoon, but that happens a lot.

Hello Monday, I had a good night, getting around 9hrs sleep been up since 4.30am it is 17c or 62f my BGL was 6.5 and it is going to be another hot day.

I have done the usual housework and yeah it left me exhausted.

I have had a good day; it has been a warm day but not hot.

Steps: 3,596 = 1.8k’s or 1.1miles.

Up early again 4.35am I was awake after 8hrs of sleep, so I got up it is 16c or 62f my BGL was 6.9

It is a nice warm day, when I was having my nap but after 50 minutes in was woken by the doorbell and then my phone going off. I found a parcel at the front door and the text was Tim asking who was at the door.

I have done a lot of little things today.

Steps: 7,882 = 4k’s or 2.6 miles

Another good night, no change that it was a great night, and I have woken up feeling awesome.

I have done the housework and I’m now waiting for Sue we are going shopping.

By the time I got home I was exhausted as per usual.

I spent some time sorting out the granddaughter’s money boxes, I bought new much larger tins for Sydney & Summer. Tim said it would take years to fill them, I said that’s fine not planning to give them to the girls for another 4 or 5 years.

Steps: 5,545 = 2.3k’s or 1.4 miles

I slept well but was awake at 3.30am, got up at 4am, I had 7hrs & 40mins od sleep, I had a shower after Tim left at 5.30am.

At 4.30am it was 19c or 66f, my BGL was 6.0

It is a nice day, I feel good but around 11am I started to not feel good, so I went and had an hour-long nap.

Around 5.30pm I went downhill fast couldn’t concentrate and felt very tired I will be in bed by 7pm.

Steps: 4,692= 2.3k’s or 1.4miles

I slept through the night waking at 4.15am feeling awake so got up, it is 19c or 66f, I had 9hrs of sleep.

Tim left around 12.30pm for work and I went for a nap at 1pm.

It has been a warm day with the temp around 25c or 77f.

Saw Blain he came just to check on me and later in the day I saw Sam and Bailey.

Steps: 8,086=k’s or 2.5miles