Sweden

Here we are at Monday and this week we a looking at Sweden at the suggestion of Rita again who can be found here: https://soulcomfort.blogspot.com/

Sweden is a highly successful and peaceful northern European country with high levels of literacy and employment. It is the third largest country in the European Union by landmass with around 85 percent of the people residing in urban areas. The landscape is mostly low and flat.

It is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains.

The capital is Stockholm which is built of 14 islands and has more than 50 bridges, the cobblestone streets and ochre-coloured buildings of Gamla Stan are home to the 13 century Storkyrkan Cathedral, the Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum, which focuses on the Nobel Prize. Ferries and sightseeing boats shuttle passengers between the islands.

It has a population of over 10 million, the language is Swedish, and the currency is the Krona.  Although Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1995, it has never adopted the Euro and has no plans to do so. It is not possible to pay with Euros in Sweden. 

The national flag of Sweden consists of a yellow or gold Nordic cross on a field of light blue. The Nordic cross design traditionally represents Christianity. The colours on the flag probably stem from the shield that features on the national coat of arms (three golden crowns on a blue background) and the golden cross on the “Great National Coat of Arms”.

The country is famous for its innovative design, picturesque landscapes and rich history. The country has the highest number of non-religious population. It has clean streets and a successful welfare program. Sweden is recognised for having an abundance of clean air, given its high tree cover percentage.

In Sweden they play a sport like ice hockey called bandy it is played with a ball instead of a puck. It is the national sport of Sweden and is popular in the northern parts of the country.

Skiing is a popular winter sport in Sweden, with many ski resorts located throughout the country.

Health care, as well as a college education, are free, and its people boast one of the longest life expectancies in the world. Almost all of Sweden's trash is recycled. Swedes are some of the world's most generous people, donating about 1 percent of gross national product to humanitarian aid programs each year.

Week 32 of 2024

 

I slept well, went to bed at 8.40om at 9pm I took my last tablet for the day and went straight off to sleep not waking till the alarm went off.

The temp is 3 degrees and my BGL 5.1 

Feeling better than yesterday, Sue came over to check on me before going to see Sandy.

It has been a cold day and around 4pm I started to feel like shit again due to the night air I suspect.

Steps 4,088       

I slept well, after a rough start, but when I settled, I was fine for the rest of the night only waking with the alarm at 5am.

It is another cold morning with a temp of 5 degrees, my BGL was 5.2.

I asked Sam if they had eggs, they did so I was able to get two eggs and make myself a bacon & egg roll for lunch.

Tim came home around 9.30am for a few hours, he left again at around 1pm. Split shift.

He rang at 4.45 to let me know the traffic was shocking and he would be later home than normal. It was closer to 6.30pm when he got home, he is usually home by 5.30pm

It has been a cold day and now it is cold and wet.

Steps: 3,389

I slept well, went to bed and fell asleep, waking with the alarm at 5am and I am not even cold this morning, even though it is only 9 degrees, my BGL was 6.4

I had to ring the chemist to find out how much the scripts were as they added Sam’s to mine. So, I had to transfer money into the script account. I then had to find someone to pick up the stuff at the chemist. Tasha was busy and Jess was asleep so asked Sandy and she said she would.

At around 11.30am Sue arrived with the chemist stuff as she was talking to Sandy, and she offered to go to the chemist for me.

It is nearly midnight, and I am having those jerky movements I cannot control, so I got up and used the powerfit and then I sat at my desk and wrote this.

Steps:4,372

I slept well, after using the powerfit late last night, waking with the alarm at 5am.

It is a somewhat cold morning with a temp of only 3 degrees, my BGL was 4.8

I have felt awful most of the day. When the day started to warm up, I started to feel better, but I expect when it gets colder again, I will not feel so good.

I was right, I feel awful again.

Steps:5,113

I slept well, don’t recall waking at all during the night. It is another cold morning temp is 5 degrees and my BGL is 4.6

This morning Sam had to run up the front with the bin as she forgot to take it out last night.

It has warmed up and I had to take a layer of clothes off as I was feeling warm.

I am wearing both pedometers. The new one is counting twice as many steps as the other one, what the hell is with that.

Tim was late home, he had to take a bus somewhere after he finished his school run, he rang and told me he would be late. Tim arrived home at 8pm.

Steps: 3,808

I slept well, woke only once due to coughing a lot and I am still coughing. It is 5 degrees, my BGL was 6.4

I am feeling awful again, after Sam leaves this morning, I am going to have a nap.

After my nap I slept for an hour, I started to feel better, and as the day warmed up, I improved more, let’s see how I am when the temp drops this evening. I think the cold is affecting how I feel.

By the middle of the day, it was a nice 21 degrees warm enough to have the doors opened. I also had to remove a layer of clothes again today due to how warm it is.

Tasha is missing a cat; it went missing sometime yesterday and she has searched the house but can’t find her. Tasha is annoyed her security camera wasn’t working so she doesn’t know if anyone opened her front door and the cat got out.

I am somewhat restless, so I go up to use the powerfit.

Steps:6,223

I slept well, but after a rough start, I ended up using the powerfit for 10-minutes.

Thought about going back to bed after taking my morning med but I didn’t.

It is 5 degrees and my BGL is 5.1 

Kathy rang at 9.30am and woke me. I was snoozing in my armchair. We talked for about half an hour, I also got to see and talk to Sydney.

Then Tim and I went to the shops before going out for lunch at all you can eat place Tim likes. I didn’t eat much, and Tim noticed and wondered if I was ok, I said I was.

As the temp dropped started feeling awful again

Steps:6,631.                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A cold and Parkinson's Disease

 

Good morning, all, yesterday I was feeling pretty normal doing stuff and functioning ok this morning I again feel like shit, I ache all over and have a rotten headache and I am so damn tired. Yes, I still have a cold.

I am coughing so much as well; in fact the coughing woke me during the night.

I knew cold temperatures cam make the symptoms of Parkinson’s worse and it can increase our risk of falling but I was coping ok with the cold.

However, I didn’t realise how much having a cold could make me feel worse. I have more muscle and joint pain and I am a bit more restless and oh so tired today.

I am getting more cramps in my calves and the toes on my left foot keep curly making it difficult to walk.

Now some of you may be thinking of getting some cold medication but I do know that some cold medications doing go well with PD so not sure about what I could take.

Well this all I can manage today.

Characteristics of ASD

Hi everyone, would like to say I am feeling better but I’m not, ok I am slightly better enough to do this post this morning, yesterday if the post hadn’t already been written I wouldn’t have posted anything I felt that awful.

Well, it’s Thursday and time for me to tell you a little bit more about autism spectrum disorder or ASD like there are many characteristics of ASD and they fall into two broad areas.

Those being difficulty with social interactions and communication and restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests.

Both I have seen in my grandchild (Sam) since a very young age. Below is a list of the common signs and traits of ASD in children some of which apply to Sam many do not.

Sam has several friends who he not only hangs out with at school but during the school holidays as well.

The common signs and traits of ASD in children include the following:

lack of social or emotional exchanges like pointing, smiling, showing you things

lack of non-verbal communication such as nodding and shaking head, using hand gestures

difficulty developing and maintaining relationships appropriate to their age, such as peer play, lack of close friends

delayed expressed speech and understanding of speech

lack of eye contact when speaking

loss of language skills at any age

excessively following routines, patterns or behaviour, and becoming distressed at changes

stereotyped or repetitive speech

using objects in unusual ways, such as rolling wheels before eyes

movements, such as flapping hands, toe walking

strongly reacting to sensory input such as sound, pain or textures

restricted or fixated interests. This might be only playing with certain toys or talking about certain topics

having difficulty managing emotions, such as frequent and long tantrums

Adults with ASD may struggle with time management, they often feel isolated and have difficulty paying attention are anxious in social settings feel overwhelmed easily. They may also have trouble with relationships and may pay to much attention to details overlooking the bigger picture.

Well that will do it for this post more to come next week.

 

More about Kokoda

Time for a bit more about the Kokoda Track, the track covered seemingly impossible terrain with its nearly impenetrable rainforest with muddy ground, to agonizingly steep ascents and descents.

While the bare footed indigenous people had little trouble with the track, it was not so for the soldiers marching in boots. Many thought that it would be too difficult for the Japanese to traverse.

On the 21 July 1,800 Japanese landed between Buna and Gona, they planned to build a road to cross the Owen Stanleys to take Port Moresby.

Initially they proved better jungle fighters than the Australians and even though they were attacked by Allied aircraft they advanced rapidly up the track.

The Papuan Infantry and part of the 39^th Australian Battalion, which was still strung out along the track, were driven back to Wairopi on the 24 July.

By early August the situation was desperate as their supplies were running out, they continued to withdraw till they reached Isurava south of Kokoda. By the 10 August the Japanese had dug in preparing for an onslaught on Port Moresby, the Australians in turn dug in at Isurava.

I feel too sick to write more sorry

Big Cats Attacking

Time for some more information about big cats, this week we are looking at things concerning how they attack.

Their body is perfectly built for hunting and killing, it has strong grasping limbs, sharp claws, and knife-like canine teeth.

Most cats hunt at dawn or dusk and have excellent senses of vision and hearing.

When the cat senses the right moment, it moves its bodyweight to its rear legs and lunges towards its prey. If it is close enough it will take its prey down to the ground and suffocate it. If not close enough it will chase its prey.

These big cats also stalk and ambush their prey, they can move very quickly and quietly when they want to, and they are good at hiding from their prey. They will remain in hiding waiting for an unsuspecting animal to come withing striking distance, they will then lunge and attack the unprepared victim.

Not all cats kill in the same way, small cats kill their prey by a bite to the back of the neck. Bigger cats suffocate their prey either with a stronghold on the neck or by covering the prey’s snout with their jaws.

The cheetah is the best hunter amongst the wild cats, it catches up to 70 per cent of the prey it sets it sights on. The lion, however, has the lowest success rate at less than 30 per cent.

Some cats like the caracul use their paws to catch birds, when they see a bird about to take flight it raises up on its hind legs and jumps up to catch the bird.

The snow leopard has a lot of power in its rear legs, making it able to leap 12 meters or 40 feet along the ground.

The cheetah special bone structure and muscles allow it to run up to 112km/h or 70 mph so it can out chase any other animal.

 

 

The Netherlands

 

Good morning all this week we are looking at The Netherlands as suggested by Rita who can be found here: https://soulcomfort.blogspot.com/

The Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe, the capital is Amsterdam which is in the province of North Holland there is 12 provinces.  

Netherlands literally means "lower countries" in reference to its low elevation and flat topography, with 26% situated below sea level.

The official language is Dutch the population is 17 million.

The country is called The Netherlands not Holland as some people mistakenly think.

It has a flat landscape with canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. It is also known for its scenic beauty, cheese, beer, rich historical past, vibrant and lively cities and serene countryside.

It is home to the Rijksmuseum; Van Gogh Museum and the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII.

The national flag of the Netherlands is a horizontal tricolour of red, white, and blue. The red stripe symbolizes courage, bravery, and strength, while the white stripe represents peace, purity, and honesty. The blue stripe represents loyalty, justice, and truth.

The currency in the Netherlands is the euro. Each euro is divided into 100 cents. When you're buying currency for the Netherlands, look out for the currency code EUR.