Braille writing machines

 

I’m wrapping up my posts about eyes with a little about how braille works.

Braille can be written using slates & styluses, mechanical braillewriters, electronic braille keyboards, braille notetakers, refreshable braille displays, and braille embossers. Here is a bit about each method.

Slate and Stylus

This is a simple, portable tool used to punch braille dots into paper, works like “paper and pencil” for braille. However, it requires writing backwards so the dots read correctly when the paper is flipped.

Mechanical Braillewriter aka a Brailler

This works like a typewriter with six keys (one for each braille dot), plus space, backspace, and carriage return. The most famous model is the Perkins Brailler.

Then there are High‑tech braille writing machines these are Electronic Braille Keyboards.

These devices have keys arranged to type braille directly such as the Orbit Writer or the Hable. They can be used with smartphones, tablets, or computers.

Electronic Braille Notetakers

These are all‑in‑one devices combining a braille keyboard, refreshable braille display, and speech output. They are used for word processing, email, web browsing, and classroom note‑taking.

Refreshable Braille Displays

This is not for embossing paper, but for writing digitally in braille. It has pins that rise and fall to show braille characters from a computer or phone.

There are also Machines that print braille

Braille Embossers (Braille Printers)

This converts digital text into raised braille dots on thick paper. It can be used in schools, libraries, and transcription centres.

There is also Braille Translation Software which is used with embossers, and converts print text into braille before printing.

 

Giant Huntsman Spider

 

This week I am writing about another spider this time we are looking at the giant huntsman spider this is a very large species of huntsman spider.

It’s famous because it has the largest leg span of any known spider, reaching about 25–30 cm — roughly the size of a dinner plate. Its body is much smaller, around 4.6 cm long.

This spider can be found mainly in Laos, especially in caves and cave-like habitats. It was formally described in 2001 by German arachnologist Peter Jäger after being found in a cave. It is not found in Australia even though Australia does have large huntsman spiders.

It’s yellowish-brown with long, sideways-facing legs, giving it a crab-like stance. Huntsman spiders are built for speed rather than web-building.

When it comes to their food it eats insects and may also take small vertebrates such as small reptiles or rodents, which is why they actively chases prey which is different to normal web-spinning spiders.

Despite its size, it is not considered dangerous to humans. A bite would usually be defensive and is generally described as causing mild symptoms rather than serious harm.

So even though it looks terrifying because of its huge legs and speed, because it’s a reclusive cave-dwelling predator not found in a lot of places it isn’t regarded as a serious threat to people.

 

Week 27 of 2026

 

I had a good night sleep around 9hrs, and I was up at 4.30am, at that time it was 10c or 50f.

I went for a walk at 6.45am it was a longer walk as I got home at 7.30am.

By 9am it is 12c or 53.6f, around 10.30am I had to turn the heater on for a bit as the cold room was giving me a headache.

Steps: 8,137 = 4k’s or 2.5miles

I had a decent night sleep was awake and up at 4.30am, it is 11c or 52f at 5am.

Sue and I had Dr appointments, after which we went to Big W looking for long sleeve tops and leggings, I bought two tops and one pair of leggings, Sue bought two tops and two pair of leggings.

Tim is off today and said he is catching the bus into the courthouse he wants to try and get out of jury duty.

He was successful in getting out of jury duty, so he is happier.

This afternoon he has been working on ramps for the trailer, one is done the other will have to wait till his next day off.

Steps: 5,710 = 2.8k’s or 1.7miles

I slept well managed around 7.5hrs of sleep, I was up at 4.20am, Tim is working all day.

It is 11c or 52f at 5am.

I only walked around the driveway today as I was waiting for Woolies grocery delivery.

The day has warmed up.

I washed the ramp out the front and got the bottom of my pants got wet.

I was surprised when Tasha arrived at 6.30pm to help me get ready for bed, I was already in my nightie but had her moisturise my feet and put socks on me.

Steps: 8,613 = 4.3k’s or 2.6 miles

I slept well managed around 7.5hrs of sleep, I was up at 4.20am, it is 11c or 52f at 5am.

Tim got up at 6.30am and will be working most of the day.

I did the usual housework and went for my walk and even though I was exhausted when I got home, I felt good.

It warmed up during the middle of the day. Reaching around 19c or 66f.

Steps: 7,236 = 3.6k’s or 2.1miles 

I slept well managed around 8hrs of sleep, I was up at 4.20am, it is 11c or 52f at 5am.

After my shower I had to do another load of washing as during the cold months Tim wears 3 shirts under his work shirt.

I didn’t go for a walk due to it being cold and wet outside and after I had hung the washing up to dry, I just didn’t feel like going for a walk.

I did manage to answer 3 letters and sweep out the front and vacuum twice.

Steps: 5,643 = 2.8k’s or 1.7 miles

I slept well managed around 8hrs of sleep, yet again. I was up at 4.20am, it is 11c or 52f at 5am.

I went for a walk and did the usual housework after which I was exhausted

Sue and I had planned to visit Dave, but he texted Sue saying he was going out.

Tim worked this morning but has; nothing else for the rest of the day.

So, he was outside working on ramps for his trailer for the rest of the day.

It turned out to be a warm day more like spring then winter.

Steps: 8,337 = 4.2k’s or 2.6miles

I slept for around 10hrs and within an hour of getting up I felt tired again. heI found Tim asleep on the lounge, he said he felt too tired to go to bed, so he just slept where he was.

It was 10c or 50f at 5am

I went for my walk but had to cut it short due to finding it hard to keep my eyes open. After getting home I put my feet up and closed my eyes for 20 minutes.

At 8am it was still 10c.

Tim has gone to Jessica’s to help her with some minor repairs to her house.

The day warmed up to 20c or 68f

He arrived home around 2.30pm and went outside to repair something on the trailer that broke on his way to Jess’s.

Around 5pm I started to cough a lot and felt tight chested, so I applied some chest rub around 6pm to see if it helps. It is helping.

Steps:7,978 = 4.3k’s or 2.6miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday America

 

Hello everyone, he is Australia it is the 4th of July and that it is Independence Day in the USA. So, todays post is some random facts about the date.

The independence vote happened on the 2 July, not the 4^th. The Continental Congress voted for independence on 2 July 1776, but the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on 4 July, which became the famous date.

John Adams thought Americans were celebrating on the wrong day. He believed the 2 July should be the big national holiday and reportedly refused some 4 July celebrations because of it.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration’s adoption.

The Liberty Bell is tapped, not rung, every 4 July it is tapped 13 times in honour of the original 13 colonies.

Only 1 president was born on the 4 July that was Calvin Coolidge, he was born on 4 July 1872, making his birthday unusually patriotic.

Abraham Lincoln is generally considered the country’s greatest president.

James Buchanan is generally considered the country’s worst president.

Donald Trump is the only president to have a criminal record

July Awareness

 

This morning I was visiting Melinda who had a post about July awareness she can be found here:https://lookingforthelight.blog/2026/07/02/july-2026-awareness-months-you-need-to-know/

So, I decided to do a similar post, so in Australia the big thing is Dry July which is A national campaign encouraging Australians to give up alcohol for the month to support adults living with cancer.

We also have JulEYE this is run by RANZCO’s Eye Foundation, promoting eye health and encouraging Australians to get their eyes tested.

July also has several awareness weeks they are listed here:

Kidney Action Week (1–7 July) — Raises awareness of kidney disease and encourages people to take a 2‑minute risk test.

National Diabetes Week (12–18 July) — Focuses on early detection and treatment of diabetes.

Birth Trauma Awareness Week (13–19 July) — Supports people affected by birth‑related trauma.

National Pain Week (26–31 July) — Highlights the needs of Australians living with chronic pain.

DonateLife Week (26 July – 2 August) — Promotes organ and tissue donation. 

Time for some links

 

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

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/07/sharing-my-world.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-happy-hodgepodge.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/sharing-my-world_01900738764.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/sunday-stealing.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/friday-fill-in-on-sunday.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/07/tuesday-4.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Happiness

 

There is a quiet kind of happiness found in time spent with family. It lives in the familiar voices around the table, the shared laughter over small memories, and the comfort of being with people who know your story. Family time does not always need to be grand or carefully planned; often, its greatest joy comes from simple moments—cooking together, walking side by side, watching a favourite movie, or sitting in easy conversation at the end of a long day.

These moments remind us that love is built through presence. In a busy world, choosing to pause and be together becomes a gift. Family gives ordinary time a sense of belonging, turning everyday experiences into memories that stay with us. Whether the room is full of noise or wrapped in calm, being with family can make life feel warmer, steadier, and more meaningful.

 

World's Largest Spider

 

Today I thought I would share what is the largest spider in the world, it is the Goliath Birdeater which is a tarantula native to northern South America.  It has a leg span up to about 30cm and weight is up to about 179gm.

Despite the name, it rarely eats birds; it mostly eats insects, worms, frogs, and small animals.

It is not considered deadly to humans, but its bite can be painful—often compared to a wasp sting and may cause swelling, redness, and discomfort, but its venom is generally mild for people.

Its main defence is actually flicking tiny irritating hairs from its abdomen, which can cause itching, skin irritation, or eye irritation if they get into your eyes.

So, it is dangerous if handled carelessly, but it is not usually life-threatening to humans.

It lives mainly in the humid tropical rainforests of northern South America, especially in places such as Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil.

Preferring warm, damp forest-floor habitats where there is plenty of leaf litter, soft soil, and cover. Rather than building webs to catch prey, it usually lives in burrows, often ones it digs itself or takes over from other animals. These burrows help it stay hidden from predators, keep moist, and avoid extreme temperatures.

It is mostly nocturnal, meaning it comes out at night to hunt insects, worms, frogs, and other small animals near the forest floor

Its lifespan depends strongly on sex as females can live a very long time for a spider — often 15 to 25 years in captivity, sometimes reported around 20+ years.

Males live much shorter lives, usually about 3 to 6 years, and often die not long after reaching maturity.

Here are a few other facts:

It makes a hissing sound: When threatened, it can rub bristles on its legs together to create a warning sound called stridulation.

It flicks irritating hairs: Instead of relying mainly on venom, it kicks tiny barbed hairs from its abdomen toward predators.

It lives in burrows: It spends much of its time hidden underground and often lines its burrow with silk.

It hunts by ambush: It does not spin a web to trap prey; it waits, then quickly grabs prey with its fangs.

Females guard egg sacs: Female Goliath birdeaters protect their egg sacs, which can contain many spiderlings.

It moults as it grows: Like other tarantulas, it sheds its outer skeleton, a vulnerable process during which it hides and avoids feeding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If measuring by leg span only, the giant huntsman spider can sometimes rival or exceed it, but the Goliath birdeater is generally considered the largest overall.

 

 

 

Week 26 of 2026

 

I had a good 8hrs of sleep waking up at 4.30am, it is only 8c or 46f, I found Tim already up, he was restless and unable to sleep.

Tim spent some time trying out his new welder and was happy with the results. He also made us a baked lunch and stated a few times how long it takes to do everything, he said it made him think of my nan and how long it must have taken her to prepare Christmas lunch for everyone. He also remarked about what a wonderful cook she was.

After lunch Tim finally hung the photos, I wanted but said he didn’t want to hang anymore up that high as he didn’t feel safe using the step ladder, he felt that he was going to fall. I said that’s ok if I ever want anything hung that high again, I will ask Sandy to do it.

Steps:5,876 = 3k’s or 1.7 miles

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I had around 8hrs of sleep last night my watch didn’t record it for some reason. It was only 10c or 50f at 5am but by 6.30am it had dropped to 7c or 44f. I had to sweep out before I unpacked the dishwasher and decided to sit listen to a book and check Emails.

I went for my walk but had to cut it short due to not feeling really with it and finding hard to pick my feet up.

Sue and I went to see Dave and he looked good, Sue took a photo of me and Dave.

Received a text from Dave saying how good it was to see me and Sue.

Steps: 9.819 = 5k’s or 3 miles

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I had around 9hrs of sleep last night my watch didn’t record it for some reason, yet again. It is 9c or 48f this morning, I turned the heater on in the bathroom when I got up so the room isn’t cold when I go and have my shower and Tim turned it off, thankfully I noticed and turned it back on.

Went for my walk did half an hour and felt exhausted by the time I got home, also moped the kitchen and bathroom floors.

Sue has decided to do her shopping tomorrow instead of Thursday as she has her car booked in at the mechanics to find out why it is so hard to start.

I am not good this afternoon, I have a headache and feel very tired.

Steps: 7,038 = 3.5k’s or 2.1 miles

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Had a good night sleep got around 9.5hr’s and it is 7c or 44.6f.

No walk this morning as Sue and I are going shopping and I have tossed a load of washing on and have to hang that up to dry and if I go for a walk, I will feel rushed.

It has been a warmish day, around 5pm the tiredness started but now at 6.30pm I am doing ok.

I managed to stay up till 8pm before heading off to bed.

Steps: 9,477 = 4.8k’s or 2.8miles

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Slept well had around 8hrs of sleep, woke to a wet morning the temp is 12c or 53.6f.

No walk this morning due to the rain, it has rained on and off all day.

I didn’t do much today, swept and vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen and wrote 3 letters and of coursed read some blog posts.

Steps: 4,545 =2.3k’s or 1.2miles

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Slept well had around 8hrs of sleep, woke to a wet morning the temp is 10c or 50f.

It stopped raining and I was able to go for a walk and post some letters.

I am so cold this morning around 10am I had to turn the heater on.

Around 9pm I was sitting here when I thought I heard knocking on the front door but wasn’t sure then I heard louder knocking at the back sliding door, I woke Tim up who was asleep in his armchair. It turned out to be Jessica, she came down to get some small bottles of Coke as she is at Tasha’s for the next couple of days.

Steps: 7,489 = 3k’s or 2.2miles

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Not the best night’s sleep I was restless a fair bit, but I did manage to get around 7hrs of sleep.

It is 10c or 50f this morning.

I had a walk and it felt good, I also was able to sweep out the front as the ground was dry.

Tim is working today and won’t be home till around 1am tomorrow.

By 5pm I was starting to feel tired and now it is only 6.45pm and I am off to bed.

Steps: 5,453 = 2.8k’s

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Sue and Me with a Dirty Banana

 

This photo of me and Sue was taken on the cruise the drink is a Dirty Banana. Even though it usually has coffee liqueur both of us had it made without that, as I don’t like anything coffee.

Sue drank a small amount of hers then had to rush to the loo as she is lactose intolerant, so I drank hers as well as mine.

A Dirty Banana is typically a sweet, creamy tropical cocktail made with banana, coffee liqueur, rum, and often cream or milk, usually blended with ice.

A common version includes:

• Banana
• White or dark rum
• Coffee liqueur, such as Kahlúa
• Cream, milk, or Irish cream
• Ice

It tastes like a banana-coffee milkshake with alcohol.

 

Louis Braille

 

Since last we looked at blindness, I thought this week I will write a little about Louis Braille.

He was born on 4 January 1809 in the village of Coupvray, near Paris, France. He was an educator and inventor who created the Braille writing system, a tactile code that enables blind and low-vision people to read and write by touch.

He lost his sight as a child after an accident in his father’s workshop. As a student at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, he became interested in improving the limited reading methods available to blind students. Inspired by a military “night writing” system made of raised dots, Braille developed a simpler and more flexible six-dot cell system when he was still a teenager.

Braille’s system could represent letters, numbers, punctuation, music notation, and later many specialised symbols. Although it was not widely adopted during his lifetime, it eventually became the standard reading and writing system for blind people around the world.

His achievement is important because Braille gave blind people much greater access to education, literacy, independence, and employment. Today, his name is remembered not only as an inventor but as someone who transformed accessibility and communication.

He never married and his life involved a demanding teaching schedule at the Royal Institute for the blind. As well as developing and promoting the braille system. He also suffered from tuberculosis from his mid 20’s.

By his 30s, his health had declined significantly, and he spent long periods unable to teach. He died at just 43, on 6 January 1852 in Paris, France.

 

 

 

This week's links

 

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

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/friday-fill-in-on-sunday.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/sharing-my-world_01900738764.html

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

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/sunday-stealing.html

https://jo-annemotherandnanna.blogspot.com/2026/06/caturday-with-luca_0684926719.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Funnel Web Spider

 

Here in Australia, we are home to some of the world's most deadly spiders here is some information about three of them which I will share over the next three weeks starting with the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider.

The Sydney funnel‑web isn’t just dangerous because of its venom but because of the combination of venom, behaviour, and anatomy.

Its venom is uniquely potent to humans as it targets the nervous system, causing nerves to fire uncontrollably. However, dogs, cats, and most mammals are barely affected.

They deliver a lot of venom, this may have something to do with the fact that they bit repeatedly injecting large amounts of venom while they hang on.

They have huge fangs up to 6 mm long and strong enough to pierce fingernails, leather shoes, and thick clothing.

They’re aggressive when threatened, they will rear up, show their fangs, and will lunge if provoked. This is defensive, not “attacking,” but it makes encounters more dangerous.

They love humidity and after rain males wander looking for mates. They can be found in pools, shoes, garages and laundries, they also enter houses often.

Most bites happen in summer after rain, especially between January and March.

Symptoms can begin within 10 minutes, they include the following:

• Tingling around the mouth
• Sweating (especially on the face)
• Drooling
• Muscle twitching
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid heart rate
• Confusion or agitation

Without antivenom, severe cases can progress to respiratory failure.

In 1981 the antivenom was created by the legendary Australian venom researcher Struan Sutherland and changed everything as since then there have been zero deaths as the antivenom is extremely effective with most patients recover fully within 24–48 hours.

Now where do they live they can found in:

• Sydney
• Central Coast
• Newcastle
• Lake Macquarie
• Hunter Valley
• Blue Mountains

They prefer to hang out in the following conditions

• moist soil
• leaf litter
• rock walls
• garden beds
• under logs
• swimming pool filters

The male is far more dangerous they wander at night looking for females.

Females stay in burrows and rarely bite humans.

Their burrows are a silk‑lined tunnel, with “trip lines” radiating out like spokes and are in moist, dark areas such as under rocks or logs.

They don’t make the classic “funnel” shape people imagine — it’s more like a silk‑reinforced hole.

 

Week 25 of 2026

 

I had a good night slept till the alarm went off at 5am, thankfully it was a nice dry day, and I was able to go for my walk and sweep up out the front.

It is 15c or 59f this morning, I slept for 6&1/2 hours and woke feeling good and with it.

Tim got up at 8am he will be spending most of the day working on the trailer.

I didn’t do much today, just couldn’t get motivated.

Steps: 9,063 = 4.5k’s

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Had a good night woke at 4am and got up at 4.20am, washed and dressed for the day and of course I have swept out the kitchen, hall and lounge-room.

The temp this morning is 15c or 59f and I had around 5hr’s of sleep.

Sue picked me up at 9.15am as she had a doctor’s appointment after that we called in at Warner’s Bay Plaza so I could pick up my scrips.

It was lightly raining when I left home but didn’t last long and it has been fined the rest of the day.

Steps: 7,764 = 3.9k’s or 2.4miles

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Had a really good night, slept for around 9hrs and woke with the alarm this morning, it is currently 5.40am and the temp is 10c or 50f and Tim left the heater going when he left for work.

I went for my morning walk, walking down to post a couple of letters.

I went with Sue to have her hearing aids checked, that is all I did today.

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I slept through again, waking only when the alarm went off, it is only 11c or 52f this morning. I had just over 8hrs of sleep.

I just remembered that I woke up when Tim was getting ready for work, he was in state. It was 3.40am and he had confused his sign on time with his pick up time. He was thinking he signed on at 4.50 but no that was his pick-up time he had to sign on at 4.15am. It will be a long day for him.

I went for a walk, but I wasn’t all with it, I felt tired and not right after a bit I realised I should eat something, so I came home and had 2 scones with jam and cream and after that I was ok.

I keep forgetting what day it is.

Steps: 7,342 = 3.7k’s or 2.2miles

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I slept pretty well woke up twice during the night to pee and ended up getting up for the day at 4.50am

It is 11c or 52f this morning. I had just under 8hrs of sleep.

Jess & Sam arrived so Sam could see me and give me a nice hug, it was wonderful seeing her.

I was sitting in my chair when Sue arrived, she was going to pick up her new glasses and wanted to make sure I didn’t need anything at the shops.

Steps:7,663=3.9k’s or 2.2 miles

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I slept ok till 3am after which I only dosed on and off till I got up at 4.30am. I also woke up with not just a headache but a face ache meaning my whole face aches. It was like that last night just before I went to bed. I have already cleaned the kitchen and swept the kitchen and loungeroom’s floors.

It is 15c or 59f at 5am.

I decided to clean out the laundry cupboard took me two hours, and it isn’t finished, I was so worn out and exhausted and in pain, so I decided to finish it off tomorrow.

Steps:5,827 = 3k’s or 1.7 miles

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I had a good 10hrs of sleep waking 5 minutes before the alarm was due to go off, it is 11c or 52f this morning.

At 5.15am Tim got up as he woke to pee and couldn’t settle again so decided to just get up.

I am still working on the kitchen and laundry, it is exhausting and it is causing me a lot of lower back pain.

Tim did the platform extension out the front and he also finished the work he was doing on the trailer.

This afternoon he started a fire in his fire pit out the back so he could burn some old paperwork.

I still have a little more work to do in the kitchen and laundry cupboards hopefully that will be done tomorrow.

Steps: 9,609 = 4.9k’s or 3 miles

 

 

Caturday with Luca

Here I am tasting the dogs food

Photo Friday

 Just some photos of me today

                                                                      ME 2023

ME 2023

ME 2024

SANDY, ME & SUE XMASS 2024

SANDT, DAVE & ME XMASS 2024

ME AND SANDY XMASS 2024

This weeks links

 

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

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/getting-to-know-me.html

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

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/06/sharing-my-world_01682808918.html

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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