THE TRUTH ABOUT FAT PEOPLE

This was the heading on a small article I read in a magazine recently.  Talk about stating the obvious or perhaps not.

"Some people are biologically programmed to fatten up on few kilojoules and are less able to turn food into physical activity.  Exactly why this is so remains uncertain.  It may be genes or upbringing (or more likely both).  Whatever the reason the tendency to gain weight is not due to laziness or lack of willpower, nor can it be 'cured' with appetite suppressants, drugs, fasts or fad diets.

Fat-prone people can become and stay slim if they accept the fact that they can't eat the way they would like to, the way they used to, or the way they think others eat.  They must avoid 'empty' fats, sugars and refined starches, and design their menus from filling, not-fattening foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meat, poultry, seafood daily foods and grains."

I read this through a couple of times and thought to myself "Obviously fat people must design their meals the same way diabetics are told to design theirs.  In other words what would be considered a healthy way of eating for almost everybody.

Apparently I was about 10lbs at birth so maybe I wasn't intended to be small??  I have seen photographs of my birth mother and she certainly couldn't be said to have been sylph-like so genes obviously play a big part there.  Upbringing?  Yes we ate butter, Mum used lard in cooking, we kept the dripping from the roast etc. etc.  Of course we also exercised a whole lot then as many people didn't have cars when I was young so walking was a big part of our life.  Also I danced a lot and played tennis, things that many young people don't do these days.  At 35 I returned to the work force and a very sedentary job so the weight went up a little but I was still able to do lots of walking which was good.  Then the really bad arthritis set in later in life and I was unable to exercise as I once did (couldn't even go for a walk any more) and the weight went on and stayed on regardless of changing my type of diet or food intake.

OK I am a fat person now and have never been skinny; but just a normal weight for years.  So many articles one reads these days tell us that if we are fat we are doomed.  We have to try and live with that prediction and hope that as is often the case with predictions that this one just won't come true too soon.

SOME RECIPES...FROM ME!!!

As MOH and I are both diabetics we try to be as careful as we can with our food intake...both quality and quantity.  Many of the recipes in the magazines we receive from Diabetes Australia don't give nutrition information which I find hard to understand and often include ingredients that we feel we perhaps shouldn't include in our diet.  However, in the Spring 2010 edition I found 4 wonderful recipes taken from "Fighting Diabetes: hundreds of everyday tips to transform your health and live longer".  Apparently this is a book published by Reader's Digest.  Anyway here are 2 recipes that sound really good and which we intend to try shortly:

SEARED WHITE FISH IN ZESTY HERB AND TOATO SAUCE (Serves 2)

4 x 100g white fish fillets (sustainable types such as hoki or hake)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 chopped medium onion
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 cans (400g each) chopped tomatoes with Italian herbs
2 tablespoons tomato puree
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or dry red wine
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano

Sprinkle the fish fillets lightly with salt and pepper.  Heat the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat.  Add the fish and saute on both sides until lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes.  Remove the fish from the pan.  Add the onion and garlic.  Saute for 2 minutes.  Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato puree and bring to the boil.  Lower the heat and add the balsamic vinegar or red wine.  Simmer over a low heat for about 20 minutes.  Add the basil and oregano.  Simmer for 3 minutes.  Serve the fish topped with the tomato sauce.

Nutritional Information:  Each serve provides: Fat (g) 7; Saturated fat (g) 1; Protein (g) 15; Carbohydrate (g) 23, Fibre (g) 8; Sodium (mg) 375; LOW GI

LEMON RICE SALAD (Serves 6)

Goes well with any grilled seafood or poultry

INGREDIENTS & METHOD

Combine 320g of cooked Doongara rice with 4 diced and deseeded tomatoes, 150g thawed frozen green peas, 1 peeled and diced carrot, 2 chopped spring onions and a handful of finely chopped fresh parsley.

Whisk together 3 tablespoons of non-fat mayonnaise. 1 tablesppon of lemon juice, half a teaspoon of lemon zest and pepper to taste.  Add to the rice salad and toss well.

Nutritional Information:  Each serve provides:  Fat (g) 1; Saturated fat (g) 0.2; Protein (g) 6;  Carbohydrate (g) 50; Fibre (g) 3.8; Sodium (mg) 92, LOW GI.

THE RESOLUTION I MADE TODAY

I have dozens (perhaps hundreds) of photographs that got all muddled up when a cupboard fell over about 18 months ago and they have just been sitting in boxes waiting for someone (me of course) to get around to sorting them out.

Today I decided that task could wait no longer so the sorting has begun.  Now of course comes the big question. Which ones to keep? Which ones not to keep?   I have probably 100 or more photos that were taken when we were in New Zealand in 1982 which have just been sitting there!!  I showed MOH today and asked him to sort out those not to keep.   Why did I bother?  "I'd keep them all." was his response.  Oh well, why not.  One day somebody else will ask why we had bothered to keep them and they would probably ditch them as they'd mean nothing to anyone but us.   So much fun!!

Family photos as well are difficult to decide to keep or not to keep.  Sometimes one has photos that are not terribly good but they are of a particular event or person of which there are no other pics.  I think I will have to get back to Creative Memories and set about creating more albums.  They fortunately may be of some use to family in years to come.

Then of course there are photos sent by relatives of MOH who are of course in England.  I have to match the prints I've had made with those in my computer so I know who is who.  Wow~that is going to be a big task in itself.  Not even MOH knows who everyone is as he left the UK over 50 years ago so people born since then are strangers to him even though they are family members.

Another set of photos sent to me by a cousin in Canada are of family members whom I have never met.  They mean nothing to me and yet are blood relatives.  Should I keep them?  There are names on some photos that perhaps I can match up with names in my family tree, also in my computer.

It would seem there will be little chance of boredom if I keep to this resolution made today to get all these photographs in some semblance of order.  Should keep me out of mischief for months to come but then resolution are made to be broken aren't they?  That's why I never make any at New Year.

STRESS OUT!!

By this I mean get rid of stress.  We diabetics are always told that stress is extremely bad for us as it has a nasty effect on our glucose levels and our well being.  Many other people also have a need to try and reduce stress in their lives and the following is good advice for anyone and everyone.  First get into a comfortable position and give it a try.  It really does work wonders.

DEEP BREATHING AND VISUALISTION

1.  Begin by focusing on your breathing.

2.  Take a deep breath and imagine you have a balloon inside your stomach that you are trying to
     inflate.  As you breathe in your stomach will push out, not in.  Now slowly breathe out.  Keep
     breathing like this.

3.  Now close your eyes and picture a place that you find relaxing.  It could be the beach, a bubble
     bath, crisp mountain air a comfortable couch or just a relaxing favourite colour.

4.  Now the next time you breathe in, breathe in those feelings of relaxation and feel the fresh, clean
     air filling your body.

5.  As you breathe our picture cloudy, black and smoky air leaving your body.  This is your stress.
     Feel it leaving your body and as you breathe in being replaced by clean, fresh air.

6.  Repeat this at least ten times and see how relaxed it makes you feel.

I quoted this from the Autumn 2012 edition of Diabetes Matters published by Diabetes WA.  I was also told this method of relaxation by a psychologist I had sessions with several years ago.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING

As you know I don't get out and about as much as I'd like to but today I ventured out into our front garden just to see what's what.  The garden had that lovely late afternoon sun drenched look and I suddenly realised that spring IS just around the corner; in fact only 6 days to go before our winter ends. I know I should have used my stick or walking frame but decided I would 'go it alone'.  Not a good idea perhaps as after only about 10 minutes I had to go and sit down again.  Never mind, at least I got out there.  I took my little camera with me and captured a few snaps of pretty things that I will share with you.   

I noticed the duranta had new flowers as well as last season's berries and there was a little white daisy all on it's own gazing up at me.  I stole a glance next door and there was the wattle flowering profusely.
The lavender is in flower and although last season's petunias are finished new plants sprang up and now they are beginning to flower.  Over in the corner of the garden the bright blue sky looked so beautiful and the late afternoon sun lit up the leaves on various trees and shrubs.

Our garden suffers these days as I just cannot do all the work I once did (the front garden was always my responsibility) and MOH has to feel just right to mow lawns etc.  We are fortunate to have a very good gardener come in every couple of months to prune and weed but MOH and I both feel so sad that neither of us is capable to do all that should be done.

Incidentally a lady that was here back in 2001, one of those people that just knows everything, told us that the very pretty pale pink camellia (pic 7) was on it's way out and would be dead by the following year.  We think it is doing just fine for a plant that was 'doomed' all those years ago.  It may not be as vigorous as it was when it was a young plant but it still gives us lots of pleasure.  Long may it continue to bloom.  : )

REMEMBERING A LIFE-LONG FRIEND

Today my friend Judy would have been 82 but she is no longer with us.  She died on 17th February, 2009 after a battle with cancer.

I first met Judy when I began attending Perth College back in 1944.  We were in the same class together for one year before she left to go to another school.  I can't say we ever really clicked and in fact I didn't like her all that much as she was a bit of a devil and I tended to be a rather quiet child.

We met up again a few years later and became really close friends.  In fact I was her bridesmaid when she married in 1950.  This photo taken as we were leaving the Anglican church in Highgate.

Judy and I remained friends throughout the years, although there were times when she and I didn't always see eye to eye, but the important thing we had in common was that we both found it easy to laugh.  We found we were able to laugh at ourselves and at each other as well as many other things.  Actually I remember Judy and I having a good laugh about something probably quite ridiculous only a few days before she died which I think showed her strength of character.

Judy is often in my thoughts and I do miss her and in particular the wonderful laughs we had together.

(Her first husband Barry shown in this photo would have celebrated his birthday yesterday.  He died on Christmas Eve in 2010).  He was a pharmacist in Katanning for many years.  I remember him well.  He was a very nice gentleman.)

INEQUALITY AS IT WAS WAY BACK THENMum'

Just as I was about to put mum's book down just now I remembered her writing about discrepancies in pay between men and women back in about 1916, so I thought this may be interesting to us in the 21st century.  Once again I am quoting from mum's book.  She was at the time working for the Sugar Commission in London "which had been formed to safeguard the supply of sugar to industry, the community and the armed forces and was vital to the war effort."

"As the war continue my duties became extremely heavy and as I was still Confidential Secretary to the Manager, and often called upon to undertake confidential work for member of the Commission, I was frequently working until midnight and at weekends.

It was then decided to brig in a man to handle part of my work, and he was given that dealing with golden syrup and molasses.  I was most annoyed to learn that he was to receive 800 pounds a year (a large salary then) to do only part of my work, while I had been receiving 250 pounds a year for coping with the lot.  (sorry there are no pound signs on computer keyboards)

Special applications were made to the Treasury on my behalf, but I was refused an increase as I was being paid the maximum possible for a woman without a university degree.  My assistant, who also did not have a university degree, was eligible for the larger salary as he was a male.  There were many such anomalies in government service, but pressure for equal pay has now resulted in better conditions for women."

Mum also goes on to write:

"My service with the Commission was really the crowning point of my career in England as, by having achieved such a position at the age of 19, which covered confidential services to the governent, a department of my own, control of a pool of about 40 typists, as well as the opportunity to work directly with the members of the Commission and my close association with my immediate chief. there was little more to which I could aspire."

I am so proud of this lady who chose me to be her daughter and I know my family is proud of her too.

AIRSHIP OVER ENGLAND IN WORLD WAR ONE

Recently when looking back on stories my mum had told me I think I mentioned that airships were used to bomb London and other parts of England.  This is a story that mum told in her book "The Clock of Time" on that very subject.

"In the early days of the war we experienced raids by airships, and we could see them quite clearly.  When they came after we had gone to bed at night, we all got up and went out into the street in various stages of dress or undress to watch the airships, which were clearly visible in the sky and looked like large silver cigars.  When they started to come our way we all took cover.  Then came the weapon which put paid to these airships.  I was told it was invented by an Australian.  It was an inflammable bullet to be fired into an airship from above to ignite the gas and set it on fire.  There was some delay in using it because of the danger to a 'plane which would have to fly above the airship, fire the bullet, and endeavour to escape before being caught in the explosion.

Eventually a Royal Air Force pilot named Robinson volunteered to fly a 'plane and use the new bullet.  Many of us saw it happen.  The airship came over intending to drop its bombs and then we saw the little 'plane high above.  The next minute there was a terrific explosion and the airship was enveloped in flames.  Although they were the enemy, most of us felt sorry for the crew of this mighty airship, as they all died in the conflagration.

The wreckage dropped not too far from us in Cuffley, North London, and people tried to get near the place where it landed.  However, the heat was too intense and nobody could have escaped.

Needless to say, the pilot of the little 'plane was decorated for his bravery and became a hero over night.  His photograph was everywhere.  That bullet put paid to the airships."

I abhor war of any kind but the above is an event that took place in the early 20th century and is a very interesting part of our history.

SATURDAY 11 AUGUST, 2012

It's because I do so little that is interesting or go out much that I am always attempting to find something to blog about.

The above date was our son-in-law's xxth birthday so I spoke to our daughter about perhaps going out for a meal.  She said no that he (son-in-law) had invited us to their place and that he was going to cook the dinner.

I have said before that one couldn't ask for a better son-in-law but the above offer was one we just couldn't refuse and how wonderful of him to do this on his own birthday.

We watched as he worked to produce a delicious lasagne made with all good healthy ingredients and I must admit it was of the best meals I've had for many a long year and MOH agreed with me.  Thank you so much s-i-law for your kindness.

We had taken a lamington sponge as I felt there had to be some kind of cake on a birthday and this was the healthiest I could think of so we had coffee and cake later in the evening.

We spent a wonderful few hours together and it was so much nicer (perhaps especially for we oldies) to be in the comfort of their home and not in a noisy, perhaps overheated, restaurant.

Son-in-law at work in their lovely kitchen which they had renovated recently.  He has become a talented cook over the years and my daughter is so lucky to have him but not just for his cooking prowess......he is just such a fantastic bloke and we love him too.

THURSDAY 9.8.2012 AT ROCKINGHAM

Rockingham is a place we have always loved to go to but don't visit often enough.  We have decided to try and change that in the future especially now they have closed the hotel in Kwinana where we used to go for lunch.

On the Thursday in question we once again met our young friend, (well at 48 he is young to us) the youngest son of my friend Judy that died three and a half years ago.  He has since then lost his dad as well so we try to keep in touch with him and he has been wonderful in touching up and enlarging some really old black and white photos of mine.  Some of those photos are nearly 80 years old and he has done a fantastic job with them.

We decided this time not to go to the Rockingham Hotel but tried a place on the front at Rockingham which was The Merchant Tea & Coffee and their meals are quite different to those we usually eat but we really enjoyed them and then a really great cup of coffee afterwards with a piece of tasty fruit slice.

When we felt we had sat for long enough in the cafe we decided, as it was such a beautiful sunny day (although there was a brisk breeze blowing), we would go across the large grassed esplanade and find a seat to sit on.  I wasn't sure how well I would go walking but with my trusty walking stick and a couple of stops on the way we (I) made it OK.  We found a vacant seat and I got to work with my little camera and took these snaps of a very beautiful place.

This is looking back towards where the cafe is where we had lunch.  There have been major developments in Rockingham in past years and this is a recently built block of apartments.  One can only imagine the views the residents get from up there.

Looking out towards Garden Island where there has been a naval base for a number of years.

Looking northwards towards Perth.

MOH and our young friend having an animated discussion.  I am so pleased that they get on so well.   I just love R's hat.  He has another one he wears in summer which has lots of holes in it (gives him better ventilation he says).

There are numerous cafes and restaurants in Rockingham which I am sure we will try over coming months and we can always take a cut lunch with us when on our own and just enjoy sitting on the esplanade on a warm day to enjoy the peace and the lovely views.

I FEEL HAPPY, OH SO HAPPY!!

Yes this is me....I really am so happy.  Visited our endocrinologist today and like MOH I don't have to go back till February, 2013.  This will be the first time there has been a six month gap between visits which means....HE IS PLEASED WITH ME.

I can't stop smiling.  No, my HbA1c was not as good as I'd hoped but at 7.3% the professor seemed quite pleased so of course I am too.  He asked my age and when I told him I was now 80 he said for my age that reading was quite acceptable.  Big sigh of relief.

A copy of the blood test results are always sent to me at home so I am forewarned of what to expect when I see the specialist or doctor but this time the pathology people let me down so not knowing the result I was fearing the worst.  I did 'phone the pathology firm today and no, the results had not be sent to me but would be put into the mail today.  I like to have them as it gives me a continuum to go by for myself.

I also told him that my legs tended to swell up but he didn't seem concerned and mentioned gravity.  I guess with so many bits and pieces giving in to gravity as we age the fluid in the legs can be expected to be effected as well.  He did ask how the legs were when I got up in the morning and when I told him they were back to normal he said that's fine then.

After being in hospital on Sunday because of wild blood pressure readings he considered all aspects of the report and said he didn't think there was anything wrong with my heart and just to check my B/P at home occasionally.  He took my B/P and it was high because of course without thinking I let him test using my left arm.  When I dislocated my shoulder on that side last year I damaged my bicep muscle and the as the cuff tightened it hurt so darned much I knew the reading would high.

I have to try and do more exercises at home...weights etc...so I asked him to tell MOH that he has to do them with me and so the professor in an authorative tone told MOH that he is to do that.  I am hoping MOH will take heed as it is so boring doing exercises on one's lonesome.  I also read somewhere that exercises using elastic bands (resistance exercises) are good for diabetes so will try that too.

I really feel that after such a good result today I now feel more able to push on and perhaps get the readings even better by next year and I WILL EXERCISE MORE....that's a promise to me.

A QUICK "MUM" STORY

While visiting daughter's home on Saturday evening (it was her hubby's birthday and he cooked our dinner) I remembered something that happened to mum when I was about 11-12 years old

From when I was about 8 we went to Mandurah every year for 2 weeks holiday at Christmas and again over Easter.

Mandurah House was a lovely old guest house just across the road from the Mandurah Estuary and this particular year mum and dad had one of the front bedrooms with french doors that opened onto the upstairs verandah.

Mum was nearly 35 when I arrived on the scene and I can't ever remember her not having false teeth but perhaps she had her own teeth when I was quite young.  Anyway for as long as I could remember she always cleaned her teeth at night and then popped them into a glass of water till morning.

On the night in question she went through the same routine, off went the light and off they went to sleep.  Next morning they awoke and mum went to pop her teeth into her mouth but.....NO TEETH!
Only water in the glass but NO TEETH!  She said she and dad searched everywhere in the room to no avail when one of them decided to open the big drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe as it was their last resort.

In the drawer....THE TEETH!!  It had been a very warm night so they had decided to sleep with the french door partly open as no airconditioning in those days, not even an electric fan.  It was thought (maybe there were telltale traces) a water rat had come into the room after climbing onto the verandah and for some unknown reason taken the teeth from the glass of water and deposited them in the drawer.  Although the drawer closed at the front there was a gap at the back where a rat could easily have had access.

Needless to say mum was horrified but those teeth had to go back in her mouth that morning.  A hasty early trip down to the big kitchen and the teeth were popped into a saucepan of water which was brought to the boil and when they cooled down they were popped back into mum's mouth and she suffered no ill effects.

I think from then on mum either kept the teeth in her mouth while still in Mandurah or they were put in a safe place.  I know occasionally she would shudder when thinking of where those teeth had been.  The story was recounted to other guests who thought the whole thing hilarious but apparently mum wasn't convinced it was all that funny.

REMEMBERING THINGS MUM TOLD ME

I am now going back many years to when my (adopted) mum was a young person in London.  She told me the sad story of when, on her 15th birthday (12 April, 1912), she and her mother were in church when the minister was handed some important news which he shared with the congregation.

He had been told that the Titanic had hit an iceberg and had sunk.  Mum said she remembered everyone being absolutely devastated and that the congregation all sang "Abide with Me" while thinking of and praying for those poor souls who had lost their lives so horrifically and unexpectedly.

She would also speak of what it was like to be in London during WW1.  The Germans bombed London and other places but of course it was nothing like the devastating bombing that took place during WW2 but very frightening, and sometimes deadly, for those in the city at that time.  Mum said they would walk along the footpaths under the shelter of shop awnings and would hear the shrapnel bouncing off those very awnings.  I believe they became rather blase about it after a time and as mum said "One just had to get on with one's life."

Another WW1 story was when her brother-in-law Ted arrived home on leave.  Apparently he was covered with body lice which was commonplace for men in the trenches.  Mum said Ted was told to go immediately to the bathroom to have a hot bath and to throw his clothes out of the window into the garden so they could be fumigated.  It was said he really enjoyed that hot bath and fresh clothes.

Towards the end of WW1 Mum and dad were married in Woodberry Down Church in Edmonton on 22 December, 1917.  This date was chosen so she and dad could have a few days honeymoon during the Christmas holidays.  She said it was impossible to buy an iced cake nor even possibly to buy the ingredients.  Fortunately, after much 'phoning around mum managed to finally buy an uniced single deck  cake from a firm of well-known wedding cake specialists.  It cost her five pounds, a whole week's wage and her mother iced it for her.  Mum said it didn't look too bad when finished.

They were not allowed to have cars for the wedding owing to the petrol situation but dad knew someone with a car who was able to take them to and from the church and later to the station to leave on their honeymoon.  Being wartime no photographs could be taken but a friend did snap a few indoor shots which apparently were rather indistinct.  I never say them as they would have been destroyed in the fire that destroyed their home on the farm in Australia several years later.

More 'mum' stories coming up so watch this space.

I REALLY NEED TO HAVE A WHINGE TODAY

At times I do use this blog to have a whinge and I really need to do that today.

My back is having such a bad influence on my daily life.  I find I am sitting more and more because then there is far less pain.  That is not good for me...I need exercise but how do I get sufficient exercise is the problem.

Simple household tasks are almost becoming beyond me.  Today I washed and dried some dishes.  I must admit there were quite a number to do but after 10 minutes my back was hurting so badly that it sort of took over the rest of my body and my mind as well.  I think I am rather stoical at times but today I actually cried with the pain and the damned frustration of not being able to do a simple task like the dishes without the pain taking over.

My last two visits to my wonderful physiotherapist have had her working on my right knee which is also becoming a bigger problem than before and my right thumb.  Thumb?  Yes it is so full of osteo that  nowadays I can't spread my hand out properly as my thumb refuses to 'spread out' any more.  This is probably an aftermath of my being a typist for many years (right thumb used on space bar...on a manual typewriter for years), lots and lots of sewing through the years, lots of knitting and lots of crochet.     The sewing and knitting I've had to give but am still persevering with the crochet as I like to make rugs for charity (and family too when they ask).  Hate to have to stop doing that.

Tomorrow (after our exercise group) when I see Jenny I think half an hour is going to be spent on my back.  Just which bits I'm not sure but will leave it to her to decide as she seems to find the worse spots rather well.  Yes, it will be painful but something has to be done so I can feel human again and be able to do simple tasks like the dishes, making the bed etc.

I am sorry to have grizzled about this today but I just had to get it off my chest.  I feel the stress of the pain increases my blood glucose levels and probably doesn't help my blood pressure either.  It is a real Catch 22 situation for me.  I see my endocrinologist tomorrow and dread to even consider what my 3-monthly blood glucose reading will be.  I usually get my copy from the pathologist but so far it hasn't arrived. I like to know in advance so I am prepared when I see him.  Hopefully it will be in tomorrow's post....hopefully.

A FEW VERY SPECIAL ITEMS OF MINE

This is a section of the mantelpiece in our living room.  We no longer have open fires as the price of firewood is prohibitive and there is also the pollution that open fires can cause.  I must admit since we painted the ceiling years back it is nice that it IS still white so another reason for no open fires.

The reason I took the above picture is because there are some very special items on that section of mantelpiece.

The ceramic jug took my eye years ago....I really loved the elegant shape of it.  The flowers are

of course artificial but beautifully done.  My daughter has some and when I admired them she

decided mum should have some as well which was greatly appreciated.  She and I are lovers of frangipani but she and her hubby have more success at growing them than I do but I persevere.

She and her hubby gave me a plant a few years ago for Mother's Day and it flowers each year and I really am so glad it has survived.

 A pair of ceramic Siamese cats.  I saw them at a Woolworths store (before there were such stores as Big W or Woolworths Supermarkets.   The shop was in Napoleon Street in Cottesloe near the office

where I worked.   The little cats were on a table outside the store at the huge price of just $1/each.  I love cats so much and we had not long lost to a road accident our dear little Siamese "Charlie 

Brown".   That pair of cats has since sat on a mantelpiece in 3 different houses and they are 

to go to my #2 granddaughter who also has the love of cats I have. (I would have bought the cats

in about 1969).

One of those clocks that has the little balls that go backwards and forwards.  MOH bought it for our

Silver Wedding Anniversary as he knew I'd always wanted one.  Strangely enough he gave me a

gold clock and I gave him a gold watch.  The colour didn't really matter as it was the thoughts that

went into the gifts that were important.  We change the battery on our wedding anniversary each

September.

The vase that MOH bought me way back, probably in the 1970s.  He fell in love with the colour

and shape of it and sort of knew I'd love it as well which I did and still do.  That one (at her request)

has my daughter's name on it.  I have given her quite a few family bits and pieces over time but

for the present it stays on my mantelpiece as I still love to admire it.

Just thought I'd share these little possessions of mine and incidentally can you see the "face" in the wallpaper?  A friend pointed it out to us years back and it took me simply ages and ages to learn to

ignore that damned face.  I rarely notice it these days thank goodness.

THIS MAY BE USEFUL TO SOMEONE

I recently visited my dermatologist for my bi-annual check-up and mentioned to him that I quite often get an itchy scalp and there seem to be tiny lumps on my scalp as well.

He checked it out and suggested I buy T/Gel from either Woolworths or Coles, which I did.  I've only used it a couple of times so I can't as yet vouch for its effectiveness but thought someone who may have similar problems to me may benefit from this knowledge.

Incidentally it has quite a pleasant smell; not at all like tar.  MOH actually commented on how pleasant the smell was which is quite unlike him and now of course he said perhaps he may use it too although he doesn't need to.  I tell you, there's no show without Punch!!!

T/Gel is produced by Neutrogena and is a therapeutic shampoo which helps control:

Psoriasis
Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
Dandruff

Dr C didn't actually tell me which of the above I am suffering from but obviously feels that T/Gel is the right stuff for me so perhaps it may also be the right stuff for others suffering any of these conditions.