Up an Atom!

Eat fresh food

2012-01-27T20:44:00.000+10:30

Savour the flavour

View more presentations from Sally Smith

It sis so important to buy fresh and local food. It means you have some control over how it is produced. One of the issues discussed in the comments section of this presentation is the use of pesticides. People are not easting and buying fresh for fer of damaging themselves with pesticides. This is counterproductive and needs to be dealt with in a serious way. If you buy local you have some chance of engaging with your producers and then getting FRESH food.

Kick back and relax

2012-01-27T20:39:00.001+10:30

Présentation1

View more presentations from arji vesela

This is so beautiful. So relaxing!

Get walking!

2012-01-19T09:40:00.000+10:30

Inspite of what I said yesterday about preferring to garden rather than walk I have had a lovely half hour walk this morning and was ready for a nice breakfast when I came back. My car is being serviced locally and it is within walking distance. Normally I take it to a place close to town but last time I was out all day until late waiting for my car. This way is much more convenient and has added a health bonus. They will have it ready by lunch time so that will be another half hour walk. I figure I just have to start rethinking a few things in my life to build in the purpose walking. I can't just go out and walk. I have to be walking somewhere for a reason. Adelaide has turned on a beautiful day so it was a lovely walk through the paddocks and down a leafy street. Plenty of others were out walking too so there were cheery hellos along the way. I think people are starting to realise that if we all get out on the street then it is much friendlier and safer. So I feel pretty good about myself today and will think about how to keep this up.

Get into the garden

2012-01-18T11:32:00.000+10:30

Now that the festive season has passed, time for me to get back into the garden and back into shape! True , it's our summer and can be very hot, but we had a wet winter so the plants are lush and overgrown! I am lucky I have my garden. It is not always convenient to be out walking. I have noticed a lot more people around here are out in the morning for their walks but a lot more people are out in their gardens too. That is all good news. I use my garden to keep fit. Nothing like sawing and the neighbour and I were laughing about just what a work out you get from sawing gum tree branches. Gum tree wood is hard and so you saw for ages before you get anywhere. It has been a bit of a problem with the winds because that can blow branches down. We just get out there and saw them. I have made a commitment to myself to be out there for half an hour a day but it has often turned into an hour or an hour and a half. By the time I start sorting , cutting, pruning, clearing, sawing, mowing, digging, edging - the time passes very happily and I feel so much better for it. The dog likes to play ball when I am out there or she'll come and help me. I have plenty of birds to hear and watch. I am reshaping my garden again. I am trying to give it more of a tropical look rather than the cottage look I had had. So far so good. It keeps me healthy but it lifts my spirits too.

Tips to raise consciousness

2012-01-13T18:50:00.003+10:30

30 Tips to raise more conscious

Being self aware and looking after yourself can be hard when you are busy and in the thick of things. This slide presentation is beautiful to look at but it is really helpful at keeping your head straight so that you are self aware and you do take care of yourself. Unfortunately the embed code is not working but this is well worth taking the extra click to view and even download so you can always see it.

Dress it up

2012-01-13T18:16:00.000+10:30

I was given a simple, but effective water fountain by Secret Santa this year. We are only allowed to spend 10 dollars for this Christmas spirit initiative. The fountain runs on a battery so there was no installation and it is the perfect ornament. I wanted it to look special , though, because someone had put some good thought into what they were offering me at Christmas time. I do a lot of craft, so I had plenty of glass beads. I picked the green ones out and put them on the plastic tray. Underneath the tray is the water which is recycled through the fountain. It's nice to watch and listen to. I have the purple and green trailing plant growing in a pot out he back so I picked off a bit. It grows quite well in water. Now I have a very easy on the eye and easy to manage fountain!

Happy New Year - Bonne année

2011-12-31T07:58:00.002+10:30

Wishing everyone a really Happy New Year . Je souhaite à vous et à vos proches une bonne année 2012.

Random resolutions

2011-12-28T19:57:00.001+10:30

Not sure what to decide for your New Year's resolutions? Try this random resolution generator. It actually has positive and kind resolutions: the sort you would want to keep! I found it quite enjoyable running through the resolutions on offer and it made me realise that you can resolve to do simple acts which will improve your own life and the life of others' in a helpful, gentle way. Resolutions are often about deprivation rather than enhancement. These resolutions are about embellishing life so I think I might look at them all and pick my 5 favourites. I actually feel like I want to accomplish these resolutions!

New Year's Resolution Ideas has achievable resolutions too at the click of a button.

Christmas Craft

2011-12-27T12:25:00.000+10:30

I probably should have found Kaboose earlier because it gives you all the instructions so that your children can make this lovely advent calendar. There is a printable version of the picture. The site has numerous activities and ideas for Christmas and all the hard work and planning are done for you. I have bookmarked it for next year ! The site itself is very family oriented and has so many practical ideas for activities and food for parents and children. It is not just a Christmas site. It is a site designed to support you and your family life. Well worth a good look.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T07:24:00.002+10:30

Keep Moving

2011-10-17T19:10:00.001+10:30

This song illustrates something a friend at work taught me. She told me it was silly to get bogged down in things and worry about this and that. She said it was better to keep moving - go onto the next thing, take the opportunities thrown your way, put your hand up for a different job. She is a lady who has achieved some interesting heights. She doesn't brag or feel superior. She just keeps moving. She puts her ideas into action. She takes a positive view that she can change things and if there is a brick wall, she moves onto to something else. The Keep Moving has stayed with me ever since she said it. So rather than get bogged down or swamped I am learning to just keep moving. Looking for the opportunities and the positive paths to follow and shedding the negativity just like that. I found this song just by accident when I was looking for something else - but it has fallen right into place in my life! The very thing to sing along to!

Refurbishing fun!

2011-09-10T15:37:00.000+09:30

The spot by my door was looking a bit sad with the little table I had there. Just didn't look right. I have a number of pine furniture pieces and then some turn of last century stuff and I figured a better table wouldn't go astray. I went op shopping and then second hand shopping and turned up these drawers . The wood was dry and out of condition. They had black , plastic knobs (???) and plenty of candlewax and a couple of cigarette burns on the top. They are very solid , though, and the wood was perfect for matching with the other pieces. I sanded the top and used beeswax and some polish and brought it up and then conditioned the rest of the wood with olive oil and beeswax. I then went to Bunnings (my fairyland) and bought the lovely brass knobs. Everyone is quite impressed and taken with my new chest of drawers. So with a bit of thought and rummaging, I have made a good change to my home . Takes my mind off the rain and cold!!

Exercise winter away!

2011-08-20T08:58:00.001+09:30

Since I decided I would manage this winter one way or another, the rewards have all been positive. It has been great to come to this end of winter and see a clean house, a garden which is more or less in order and a me who is fit and healthy. Others have been trying it. One of my friends has gone down two dress sizes and feels so much better so she and her husband are off on a cruise shortly! Others have found ways and means of keeping fit so that we do not get to the nice spring weather feeling sluggish and all wrong. We are now very enthusiastic about the warmer weather and have the energy to make some good plans to make the most of it. Instead of spending spring getting into shape and getting our homes into shape, that is all done and we are ready to be creative! I am now fit and well enough to tackle the redecoration I want to do. As I have been exercising on my bike I have planned the Christmas menu, thought about how I want to redecorate my home and what it will take to do that. It has been as productive mentally as it has been physically and it has been far better than sitting being miserable because I can't do anything because it is cold. Its spin off effect to others has been great because they can see I feel and look better and it has encouraged them to find a good way to move through winter. One guy has been off to the gym for an hour every day and got himself such a good deal. The whole world is out there ready to help you if you want to make a move - so do it!

Cancer patients need to exercise

2011-08-08T16:59:00.004+09:30

"Cancer patients would be shocked if they knew just how much of a benefit physical activity could have on their recovery and long term health, in some cases reducing their chances of having to go through the gruelling ordeal of treatment all over again.

This article is extraordinary because i guess most of us who have known cancer patients have considered them to be fragile and in need of rest. The article spells out quite clearly how beneficial exercise can be to people who are undergoing treatment for cancer. it may be that the exercise helps the system process the treatments better. It may also be that the patients feel like they are doing something positive for themselves and the exercise reminds them they have a body they can look after. Exercise probably develops a more positive outlook. I guess some more studies need to be done until we have all the answers. It is a remarkable breakthrough and something which looks to be really helpful.

Exercise bikes

2011-08-07T15:26:00.002+09:30

Photo: Scott Curry pics4learning.com

Cycling at 15 kilometres per hour (9 miles per hour) burns nearly 12 kilojoules / 3 calories per kilo of body weight every half an hour. For a person weighing 100 kilos, that equates to 1200 kilojoules or 300 calories every 30 minutes.

Weightloss.com.au comes up with some very good reasons for using an exercise bike. As I said, I had got my one out of the shed, cleaned it up and have been using it every day. It's been over a fortnight now and people are starting to make comments. They say things like I look like I have lost weight and that I look relaxed. After nearly 3 weeks of daily cycling without overdoing it I can manage stairs and shopping better. I can lift and carry things better. I am breathing more freely. I have energy to do things. I am sleeping better and I am more toned. My skin and hair look better. I do not do heaps of cycling. 15 minutes. When that gets really easy I shall lift it to 20minutes. I am not pushing myself. I find this is better than a treadmill. You cannot fall off a bike. You cannot go any faster than you peddle. I feel like I am the one controlling this. I can sit comfortably even though mine is just a little bike. It does the job. I feel happier because I can see I am doing something for myself without having to push myself . It is something I can comfortably do and feel as though I have really helped myself so it has a good psychological impact too. So I am motivated now to keep it up because my clothes are fitting better and I am feeling and looking better. I think one of the things people do is they go too hard at things and then they create a failure model for themselves. I am doing what I can do and will move on when I know I can accomplish the next level of fitness.

Top 10 reasons for usng an exercise bike

Depression

2011-07-31T13:40:00.001+09:30

Tips for Recovering from Depression

View more presentations from Abhishek Shah

This slide share offers some hope and a very practical approach to dealing with depression. It is not an easy fix or THE answer but it offers some very practical help and ways of thinking.

Take that, winter!

2011-07-30T19:47:00.000+09:30

Finally! Finally I have a plan which can get me through winter. Already I can feel the days and nights starting to warm a bit and I have been in the best mood ever this winter. So part one of the plan was to shift the spring clean to a winter clean as I blogged in my previous post. My home looks so nice and others have noticed too. Part two of the plan has been to work on myself. I caught a horrible virus. I have not been that sick in years. I just had to tough it out, take the zinc, the anti bacterial lozenges, the Vit C and wait for the coughing and feeling horrid to subside. I was getting so tired. The zinc tablets made a difference and so I thought I should go through my nutrition. I eat pretty healthily but some tweaking here and there wouldn't go astray - so out came the health and wellbeing magazines and I have got some great new recipes I have been trying and am making sure I drink my water. I do yoga all the time but the virus had really messed up my resistance and stamina so I thought I could probably do with some resistance training and a bit of an extra work out to get me breathing properly again. I waited and waited. The virus took its time. At the first sign of sun I went into my garage and got my exercise bike out and brought it indoors. It's small and very convenient so takes up little room. I peddled for a while and could feel I was out of shape. So I sat down and with all the help and advice you can get from people who want to help you on the net and in magazines I have worked out a modest plan. I cycle a bit each day. I do some resisitance work on my arms and legs. I use an old woollen scarf which goes around the bottom of my feet to help me do sit ups. I have some small weights which I can use to vary things a bit and I still do my yoga. I walk when I can but it is not always convenient where I live so the exercise bike does the trick. Already, two weeks down the track I feel so much better and am able to do things more easily. I am not a slave to exercise but I can see the activity is having a good effect and honestly, this year, winter has just flown!!

Winter Clean

2011-06-18T09:05:00.005+09:30

It occurred to me this year that spring is not a good time for a clean. There are lots of allergens around then, the weather is beautiful and shouldn't be spent cleaning and winter is to be endured! I had a plan that this year I would get through winter in a more positive way and find things to help me cope with dull, grey, cold and miserable. Since I get stuck indoors a lot I thought it might be a time to do a clean! That way when spring came , my home would be in order and I could go out and play. So I am spending this winter sorting, fixing and doing all the things I have been meaning to do. It means I am moving so I am warmer and fitter. It means I am getting things done which make my living environment function and look better. It also means I am distracted from the cold and dull days which drive me bonkers. So I have scraped paint slops off windows and cleaned them, polished wood, cleaned bathroom tiles and regrouted where necessary. I have taken a drawer into the lounge by the fire and sorted the contents. I have been through my magazines and organised them and found some great projects and recipes! I have cleaned my fish tank throughly and restocked it. I have sorted through my music and my gadgets. I have redecorated my computers, stuffed flat cushions, purchased new pillows and cover slips. I have been on a mission . I have found by using this approach it has made me more alert to the things I want to do. I have sorted cables and leads and old make up. I can see the difference now and an hour passed this way is often a happy hour. I have something to show for it so it is a much more cheerful way to live in winter. I am lucky I have a dryer, courtesy of my sister, so I can wash and dry things indoors and not worry about the rain. Can't believe how nice my house looks nor how much I have been enjoying winter. It is in your attitude!

Zinc

2011-06-13T08:15:00.001+09:30

Image: mhschool.com

Never underestimate the usefulness of zinc in your system. I was reminded again when I had a nasty virus and I got some throat losenges with zinc in them. They not only shut my cough up, they made me feel better. After a couple of days I was feeling more like myself and then I notices my nails and hair had improved. You can overdo zinc , so don't take too much of it! Pumkin seeds, lentils, peanuts and almonds are good sources of zinc, but the site I have linked to gives you a nice list and if you like oysters, - eat them! Zinc helps to boost your immune system and your overall health improves.

Meditation

2011-05-14T08:13:00.001+09:30

I made this little video, partly as an experiment in learning technology and partly to express my frustration with how the world can interfere with my wishes when i want peace and quiet! If you live in a busy place you have to learn to let go and achieve what you want inspite of outside interference!

Exercise for seniors

2011-05-08T10:08:00.002+09:30

This little video shows just how confident seniors can become if they have been taught how to strengthen their muscles and how to become co ordinated. On Mothers' Day one of the things you can do for your older Mum is help her keep happy and well. She has given you the gift of life which you can never really repay - but you can give her the gift of a more confident old age. A lot of older people lose their sense of balance and feel frail. This is a very short video which teaches us a lot. Share it! Some of these exercises would be good for office workers too!

Look after a 16 year old

2011-05-06T20:10:00.000+09:30

I dare you not to cry when you watch this very powerful little video with a big and effective message.

Keep your heart healthy

2011-04-15T19:41:00.002+09:30

Healthy Heart

View more presentations from Abhishek Shah

Such easy to follow advice for keeping your heart healthy!

Decorate your home!

2011-04-08T21:53:00.001+09:30

I haven't changed my home in ages. A long time. So busy working and doing this and that . Now my life has changed I had the urge to change my home too. It has become a fantastic journey because as my home changes so do I and it has been really fun making the changes. I have decided not to make it a massive financial outlay but to simply revisit all my things and change what I am using where and how each room looks. I dared to saw my wooden bunk beds in half and put one bed in each bedroom. It has made for a great look and the impression is less invasive than my bunk beds. People were stunned I would cut bunk beds. Why not? They were made of lovely wood and were solid. I did not need new beds. It has been a great achievement and has given me a good sense of adventure. I have swapped tables around, dressers and sideboards and now I am up to painting! It has awakened my creativity and helped me to recreate myself with a fresh new look as I recreate my home. Everything is looking so much better including me!

Mobile Health Truck

2011-04-06T19:55:00.000+09:30

"Although the majority of our children come to Manly to access our health services... there are particular groups of children for whom this mobile service will be much more appropriate."

This is such an important breakthrough in treating people in rural and isolated areas. We live in a world where city folk are connected in all sorts of ways and can access services quite easily. The opposite is the case in outlying areas and it ought not be in a connected, mobile world. We have online connectivity like never before and we are all good at travelling. I heard one mother talking about how much money this would save her trying to get proper medical care for her daughter. She sounded elated and so relieved. it was going to make a significant difference in her family life to be able to easily access quality care for her daughter. Finally we have put something good together and we need to keep thinking along those lines. It costs enormous amounts in time and money for rural people to get medical care. We need to take it to them. Good quality internet access with video capabilities ought to help relieve some of the burden of caring for ill people in the country. We need to stop thinking industrial age and keep thinking technological age.

Relax!

2011-04-03T09:18:00.004+09:30

You Tube for me has now become the place I look for relaxing music or videos which will improve my mood and remind me the world is full of wonder. Osho provides some lovely videos to choose from and I hope one day they will be translated. For now I can read a bit of what is being said, love the music and then enjoy the images. Always good to take time out and relax.

Be kind

2011-03-17T16:32:00.000+10:30

LittleThings

View more presentations from Sally Smith

It doesn't take much to make a difference and the little things can make quite a difference.

Sister Cities

2011-03-12T18:25:00.001+10:30

Adelaide is the sister city of Christchurch. As a sister city we have been able to offer up to 200 places for Canterbury students to study with us while the earthquake disrupted city is trying to manage a whole myriad of tough calls. Part of the impact of an earthquake is that young people can find themselves in limbo when it comes to their future direction. At least now , those students who want to keep their studies going so they can return home and pick up the rest of their studies in NZ when their university and city are safe and ready, have a chance to do so. Sister cities have a good role to play in helping smooth the path to the future for their sister city counterparts. It also means these young people have a chance to recuperate a bit from the trauma. Their city is still suffering aftershocks. They had a quake in September and then the bad one recently and there is only hope at the moment that this will all settle down. As a sister city we can help put some stability back into people's lives. They cannot keep living in trauma and it is a nice way we can help out.

Working part time

2011-03-05T08:36:00.001+10:30

I love my job. I have always found it interesting and challenging . It had come to the state where I was always feeling tired and couldn't be bothered with a lot of things. All I was doing was my job and even though I did other things I was just getting worn out. I have always worked full time and have never thought of being part time but my health was deteriorating and my life was not very satisfying because I was tired all the time. So, I made a big decision to remedy this, took to my pen and paper and worked out how to live on a part time wage. It has been two months now . I have to think about what I can buy and whether I need it. I cannot just buy what I want. I have freed up time within the system so someone else can have a job. I sleep properly at night and I have started to be enthusiastic about what I do. I was talking to two other people who had arrived at the same conclusion as I did. We were all saying how we do our job better and with more thought and consideration because we are not strained or pushed to our limit. We are all competent and always have been. So the three of us have freed up enough time for more than one other person to get a full time job. We are all looking well and relaxed. My skin is better, I breathe better, I have more energy and I have plans! I have a good balance between interface and face time and I can get outside during the day. Being in the fresh air during the day has been a gift in my life. I can get things done. I don't have to try and squash in repair people or shopping on top of an already chock full day. Going through winter will be the real test for me because I find winter hard. I cannot see myself going back full time because I have been feeling so well. My head works, I can exercise and I can see people during the week. Really see people. Have some great conversations. It is not always easy to make a big change, but I planned this one carefully.It was worth it.

Do what you want

2011-02-26T13:57:00.000+10:30

The world is full of people who want to hjack your life for their own purposes or make you feel inadequate because you are not meeting their needs and doing what they want. Had to laugh when I saw on the Net somewhere that you shouldn't run a blog if you are not going to post regularly. I run 4 blogs and have run two others. Some blogs you do post to regularly and then there is a blog like this where I post to frequently but there will be a lull and even a gap in my posting. This blog is about wellbeing and I find my personal changes come in waves as does new information. I don't really feel the need to go over old ground and I don't want to force the posts. I like this blog. It has kept me very aware of health and wellbeing issues and trends. I keep it for my own information but there are times when my posts serve others too and I am pleased about that. So the world is always going to be full of critics. Somehow you just have to adopt the pigeon approach and peck on regardless of what is going on around you. Determine your own destiny and validate your own decisions! As long as you are not harming or hurting others then I think being a beacon in your own life is the best way to be.

New Blood Pressure Monitor

2011-02-21T18:13:00.003+10:30

"The beauty of all of this is that it is difficult to argue against the proposition that the pressure near to your heart and brain is likely to be more relevant to your risk of stroke and heart disease than the pressure in your arm," he said.

This newly developed blood pressure monitor can gather the information from close to the heart in the aorta and send that information to a computer. The theory is your arm really isn't the place to monitor blood pressure, especially if you are at risk. It will make it easier for blood pressure readings and make the whole approach simpler and hopefully far more accurate. General monitoring is one thing and can be helpful but for some people the accuracy will make all the difference in terms of providing good medical care and treatment. I hope we see them on the market soon!

Bonne Saint Valentin

2011-02-13T21:06:00.000+10:30

Cartes virtuelles Saint Valentin

Overweight teenagers

2011-02-09T20:22:00.001+10:30

The Cancer Council and Heart Foundation survey of 12,000 found students fail to take part in enough physical activity, do not eat enough fruit and vegetables and half make food and drink choices based on advertising.

The remedy which appears to be suggested, especially in the comments, is that schools should increase physical activity. That may provide some help but students have to be at school and chronic absenteeism is a problem all of its own. Phys ed lessons at school would provide some activity but not solve the eating choices nor what is available to eat. School canteens by and large subscribe to the healthy eating plan which was introduced. Obesity is now a global problem and particularly in the "developed" countries. We have all seen enough Jamie Oliver to know we have to tackle this as a society. We have to look at the food which is being sold, the food provided at home and then what is offered in schools. For as long as we put profit above people then we shall never get the better of this. For as long as we keep allowing non foods and poorly designed foods to be available , then we shall never beat this problem. We talk about it but are reluctant to take action and we have to question why we would allow ourselves and our children to ingest things which simply do not provide nutrition and which are not real, fresh food. I have a friend who was a baker who used to cook with natural ingredients. He had to leave the job when they started adding things to preserve the shelf life of bread. He and his colleagues were getting rashes from the dough. That is going into our stomachs.It is going into our children's stomachs and we keep saying it is okay for people and using the catch cry of people know what they are choosing. Why would you offer your nation rubbish to eat? Climate change is only compounding he problem by wiping out local food crops, so sourcing fresh food is difficult at times. We need to completely rethink what we offer to our nation, where and how we source it and then our agricultural practices so we can supply bountiful fresh food no matter what. And then yes, back off from the screens and settee and move that body.

Heart Attacks in Women

2011-02-06T16:14:00.000+10:30

Research finds higher resting heart rate can point to increased likelihood of heart disease in women too.

If you go to the Health Minutes site you can watch a little video which will explain why a low resting pulse rate is important, especially for women. They now have evidence to suggest that a higher pulse rate in women could lead to a heart attack and that the resting pulse rate is a good indicator of such an event. More and more we are isolating exactly what it is that contributes to heart health or lack thereof. Well worth taking a look.

First Aid

2011-01-31T19:58:00.000+10:30

Every time I go through my basic casualty care, BELLS, refresher and update I always reaffirm that I am glad I have done it and I believe everyone should. I know some people don't feel comfortable giving first aid to people in dire situations. I know they feel fearful of getting it wrong and today's litigation lunacy doesn't help. It is now part of the course that you ask permission to give first aid if the person is conscious. I didn't feel confident and so a few years ago I did a senior first aid certificate and that was taught so thoroughly that more of it stuck. What occurred to me today is that a lot of things have changed, a lot of things are different but the basic principle of your being the one who knows enough just to help enough before the expert arrive could make quite a difference. I have always been grateful I have kept up my first aid skills because they have helped me help others. If nothing else it gives you some things to do when things are going wrong and it is better than being there and doing nothing. If you get a chance, do it. The courses are extremely well run.

Don Ritchie

2011-01-26T11:33:00.001+10:30

"To my fellow Australians, never be afraid to speak to those who you feel are in need. Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word."

Photo and quote: ABC News

Were it not for Don Ritchie 160 Australians would not be here. He lives opposite The Gap , a notorious place in Sydney for committing suicide. Most people don't like to talk about it. Don has kept watch and saved so many lives. He deserves his Australia Day award because he has shown us that suicide attempts are something we CAN deal with . We CAN make a difference. We are not powerless. He has done so much more than that and the article outlines it, but given we have some very difficult times to manage with the widespread flooding in Australia , Don has shown us we can manage even the unimaginable and make a difference.

Rogue Cancer Gene Discover

2011-01-26T10:05:00.000+10:30

They have found that by blocking this gene, a naturally occurring protein in the body that prevents the spread of cancer cells is boosted and the cancer cells remain dormant.

The British researchers have discovered there is a gene which helps to spread cancer. By isolating it we now have yet another method of creating less invasive therapies for the treatment of cancer. The more we discover the faster we shall rid ourselves of this scourge. At this stage the researchers are looking at something which will actually destroy that gene so it cannot spread cancer. Here's hoping.

Do what you do do well

2011-01-20T11:12:00.000+10:30

The picture left is just one of the exhibits at Legoland in Denmark. It is hard to imagine this is built of Lego blocks, but here are hundreds of beautiful things at Legoland and they are all impressive and very creative. I dare say you and your children or grandchildren have also made some impressive Lego exhibits of your own. One block, one tiny piece at a time and you can create something quite extraordinary and astounding. It's a matter of setting your goals, focussing on what the next step is and then allowing your creative imagination and problem solving capacities free rein. When you look at this picture you can see the enormous amount of work and patience. Along the way there would have been designs, trouble shooting, and, at times ,there might have been moments or even days of despair. The optimistic overview, though, allowed this statue to be built and it is impressive , the more so because it was all done in one colour. It meant thinking all the edges and shapes would have been quite hard. It was probably a team effort and there may have been short term expertise and advice needed. Don't see your own life as any different. Decide what you want to do and just go for it - one Lego block at a time. Do what you do do well!

Life is Change

2011-01-19T10:26:00.000+10:30

There ought be no surprises in the fact life is change. People get used to one thing and then life can change dramatically. Sometimes we refuse to accept it and that only makes it harder. Life does not compromise when it insists change is what it is about. We have to get really good at holding onto our memories of the good times because they sustain us. We have to have a plan of action for dealing with change.Fighting it does not work. you have to go with it. You have to do the next thing which has to be done. Take the next step, not think ahead. One step at a time, one thing at a time, no looking backward. being with people is important. people help you manage change simply because they are there leading their life and they draw you along. Their conversations become your new ones. It isn't always easy to change but as you change you find new things and new people and new facets of yourself and that is probably why life makes you change all the time. before you know it , you can look back and wonder how you got where you did and how you are now achieving what you are. If you accept that change is something you need a plan to manage when it comes along, you will value putting in a plan which suits you. For me it has always been the one step and the one thing and don't think ahead.

Health Quiz

2011-01-16T08:49:00.001+10:30

I got 8 out of 10 for the health quiz and I thought I knew my health facts pretty well because of this blog. There are some myths challenged here. See how well you do! It is important we stick with the facts and do not get up in popular belief when it comes to our own health and wellbeing and this quiz highlights that aspect of health knowledge really well.

Choose happiness

2011-01-09T12:32:00.000+10:30

How to choose happiness

View more presentations from George Sciberras Wouldn’t it be nice if all followers commented on member’s show. It shows a sign of friendship and appreciation. .

This slideshow is a great remidner to treat ourselves as well as we treat others. It reminds us that we are important and that our own wellbeing is central to our own success.

Recognising low potassium

2011-01-08T20:20:00.001+10:30

In this short video Nancy Dell explains extremely well how to get potassium into your diet. Low levels can make you feel very tired and unwell. It is important if you are on medications like diuretics that you pay attention to keeping your levels of potassium up. This is an excellent example of a very easy to understand , well thought out, informative video.

Queensland Floods 2011

2011-01-07T15:43:00.000+10:30

The After the Deluge page is a great addition to the ABC news site. It is being written by people involved in the floods. As an exercise in wellbeing, it is inspired. Firstly, the locals are able to get some of their thoughts off their chest in a disciplined environment and know that this will at least be read by their country. Secondly, it allows their country to understand what they are going through and the sorts of things they are having to confront. Hadn't occurred to me they might not be consulted as part of the rebuilding process. Maybe it's true and maybe it is how they feel. They need to be consulted because they live there and it is their home. I understand that the rebuilding process has to be orchestrated and managed in a particular way to ensure sound deployment of personnel , materials funds, and supplies and then deal with safety and hygiene. Using online forums to involve these flood affected people is giving them a positive way of dealing with all their issues. One group has built a website Theodore Rebuilds and that is very organised and a good way of managing what has to be managed. I also befriended a lady from St. George on Twitter who had come on because she was about to get flooded. Online avenues are a great way of getting information out but they are also a fantastic way of offering support to anyone who is feeling like their back is up against the wall. Technology is a wonderful way of keeping in touch and networking. It helps get your needs met and it helps keep you informed and participating.

10 thinking secrets by Bill Gates

2011-01-05T16:09:00.000+10:30

10 Thinking Secrets By Bill Gates

View more presentations from Sompong Yus.

There are times when Bill Gates is not the most popular man on the planet. Put those prejudices aside, if you have them, and read this presentation by Sompong Yus . There is some really solid and thought provoking advice here to help you manage whatever it is you are trying to manage. The approaches are very sound.

2010

2010-12-31T07:50:00.001+10:30

2010

View more webinars from Sally Smith.

Chickpeas

2010-12-29T18:53:00.000+10:30

The surprise of the Christmas Eve menu was my chickpea and cashew curry. I had just wanted to try it but no one was really relishing it. As it turned out , it was the hit of the evening. I had used ginger, cumin seeds, red thai curry paste, a dollop of yoghurt and some garlic as my main curry ingredients. I added snow peas and a bit of red capsicum and it just looked lovely and tasted brilliant. The chick peas were a very healthy alternative to other things and so it was good to see them disappear fast. You can soak dried chickpeas overnight and then boil them for one hour the next day. You can also take the easy way out and use canned chick peas. They are packed full of protein ,some good minerals, vitamins and folic acid. They have no tryptophans which is important for anyone who suffers from psoriasis. You have to keep tryptophans out of their diet. Both of these sites give you a lot of information and ideas about chickpeas.

Self Nutrition Data

Suite101

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T20:44:00.002+10:30

Christmas

View more webinars from Sally Smith.

Merry Christmas to everyone and thank you for visiting my blog. Je vous souhaite à tous et à toutes de merveilleuses fêtes de fin d'année et merci pour le soutien.

Foot Pain

2010-12-19T08:36:00.003+10:30

Shoes can be the biggest contributor to pain in your feet.It is important to get properly fitting shoes if not for now, but for later on down the track when you are older. Taking care of your feet is a lifetime commitment. Feet are used a lot so some TLC never goes astray! This foot pain site has a diagram which helps to identify the usual spots for foot pain.It is not the answer but it is a helpful guide. You need to see a doctor or podiatrist if you have foot pain but the picture at least helps you identify the place of the pain. My friend had an attack of gout the other week, something he had not had in years. Now, searching on the internet got some good information on diet and how to help his gout, but the visit to the doctor isolated one food source as the contributor to the gout and then he had access to some treatment to relieve the pain straight away. This was important because it was really getting him down and he thought he had solved the gout problem, so it was upsetting him it had all come back. Look after your feet, but get proper help when they are sore. You can also go to ePodiatry.com to try and clarify where your foot pain is before you make your doctor's visit.

Avoiding asthma over Christmas

2010-12-14T19:06:00.001+10:30

The National Asthma Council spokeswoman Kristine Whorlow says many people don't know that the humble Christmas tree can also be an asthma trigger.

Yes, Christmas decorations can contribute to asthma symptoms and feeling of discomfort in those who suffer from asthma and I guess the stress would be a contributing factor two if your Christmas is created in a stressful atmosphere. Trees can harbour dust, they can give off odours if they are fresh and then there are the perfumed candles and incense which people have for atmosphere. I learned two years ago that even just having the candles in the room without lighting them can cause attacks. I am now more mindful about what I have in my main gathering area. I also make sure people know they can tell me if some perfume or smell is affecting them. It is important just to make it a conversational approach so that no one feels they have to put up with things.

Christmas Spirit

2010-12-05T16:55:00.001+10:30

People are everything. Christmas is my time of the year to thank people I value in my life. Those people who give to me daily and , sometimes, year in year out. I love thinking about them and making an effort to thank them in some kind of personal way. It is not always about presents and it is not always about grand words. I have just finished decorating my home and there is a nice feel in the air this Christmas. Everyone has been very friendly and helpful at the shops but even other customers are just chatting away in a pleasant manner. I am looking forward to preparing the food and have been scouring magazines and recipe books to get ideas. I love that part. In the end I may not make everything I have book marked...but looking for the ideas is part of the journey in terms of preparing a lovely meal. Cannot wait!@

Unhappy managers

2010-11-30T06:56:00.002+10:30

About one-fifth said they were either unmotivated, disengaged, bored or sad about their working conditions.

Tends to suggest they are feeling swamped rather than under appreciated. If you feel you can do the job and you like the job , the appreciation is nice but you can still do what you are employed to do because a competent leader ought to be able to motivate themselves independently. If you feel blocked and unable to see a way forward, you then stop and tend to block yourself and your creativity. Given managers play a key leadership role then it is important to establish the reasons for managers feeling switched off and sad. If you cannot motivate yourself it means you don't think it is worth it. It tends to suggest the working conditions and the parameters of the job aren't right. Also suggests what they are managing isn't manageable! The article suggests work place culture. That could be anything but I dare say it is about having job conditions where you cannot grow and thrive. In other words, a job where you are not able to do what has been asked of you and there is too much expected and too little capacity for a manager to do things in a way they they as individuals can contribute to an organisation.I can also imagine the managers have people employed who cannot actually do the job they are responsible for and so it constantly falls on the manager to come up with the goods and make good the losses and oversights of the irresponsible. Accountability of employees is a crucial factor in enabling managers .

Oral hygienists rock!!

2010-11-28T08:08:00.002+10:30

Finally!! Finally!! I got the cleanest mouth of the day award and a bag of dental goodies on Thursday. I walked away so pleased with myself, pleased they had cared and pleased that finally dentists and dental workers could see and understand the value of a helpful, friendly , educative approach to mouths and teeth!! Win-win. I thought it was nice they gave me a bag of goodies! My previous oral hygienist had led the way. She was totally committed to getting me to learn the things which would help me and my mouth. She explained why I needed to changed tooth brushes, why a spot of bicarb in a bottle of water would help. She showed me the tooth mousse and encouraged me to try it. She discussed the food I was eating and the drinks I was drinking and explained what they were all capable of in terms of damaging my mouth. She came up with the work arounds. The new oral hygienist has been friendly and supportive of all my work and has been such a thorough and patient worker on my mouth I have leaned not just to rush and brush, I have learned to slow down and make an effort with cleaning, flossing, checking. It takes little time but the approach has been far better.So now the dentist is delighted and my mouth is the cleanest!! It means I am saving my teeth and I am not having the long and horrible treatments I had before. Teaching people works and oral hygienists are in a prime position to deliver that education . What they lose in tooth repairs they gain in products. The tooth brushes work. The tooth mousse is brilliant. I no longer avoid the dentist...so no cancelled visits from me and I can now advocate them with a big smile.

Hope for Coeliac disease

2010-11-20T08:39:00.000+10:30

They have identified the specific gluten triggers which cause coeliac disease in people and are now working on a vaccine to help people tolerate gluten better. This is important because more people seem to be suffering form coeliac disease and more people are then damaging their intestines and bowels. Quite apart from that, it is a very uncomfortable and hard to manage disease. It is interesting that it has increased and that must surely have something to do with our food preparation? Fortunately there are more gluten free products available of better quality than ever before and with the hope of a vaccine in site then perhaps we will now have a way of helping those who are gluten intolerant.

Yellow Toenails

2010-11-16T20:47:00.000+10:30

It's been freezing cold and wet. It has been like this longer than usual so we have been more rugged up than usual and kept socks and shoes on for too long. Is it any wonder our toenails are starting to yellow. We may be building up fungal infections or just preventing our poor feet from getting light and fresh air as we normally do.Here are a few tips to get you and your feet back on track! The beauty of this site is that it gives you things to do so you do not feel so useless!

Work-Life Balance

2010-11-14T16:39:00.002+10:30

The Mask

View more presentations from Sally Smith.

FoodPress

2010-11-11T20:42:00.001+10:30

How lucky are we? WordPress has gathered all its food blogs together into one blog portal called FoodPress. I cannot think of anything better than that since there are a lot of very good food blogs out on the Net and we are always looking for inspiration and ideas for our own culinary adventures. This way foodie blogs get better airplay and we get more choices.No more excuses when it comes to dinner or making something for that special occasion!

Breathe and relax

2010-11-07T08:04:00.000+10:30

There are all sorts of reason for people to be stressing these days - weather changes, disasters, family crises, hayfever, work place demands. Breathing properly is central to staying relaxed and we often forget to breathe properly. As busy people we then just neglect it and compound our problems. So you need to know you can just search for breathing technique videos these days and watch and copy. This way you are focussing on the video and learning how to control your breathing. 5 minutes of this and you will start to feel better. 10 minutes and you will feel better still. It is really important to get the help you need when you need it.

Pick up a good book

2010-11-03T21:01:00.000+10:30

Can't replace a good book and I was thinking myself I haven't done much reading in terms of novel reading even though I have a couple of books sitting by my chair. You cannot replace the sheer pleasure of getting lost in a book. I have actually encouraged others to get reading but haven't got myself back into it. So this article was a timely find. Books can get you lost in a world where you feel relaxed and tuned out form daily cares. They absorb you and help you to relax in no uncertain manner. Whether e-books have that same capacity I don't know because I can't seem to read in electronic format. Not for pleasure and at length. I never relax with an e-book. I end up going onto web sites to read. We are lucky here in that we are a state which has a tradition and culture of reading so you don't have to go far before you find someone who will lend you a really good book to read or suggest a number of titles. Note to self : Get back into your reading! Last book I read a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it was Seth Godin's Linchpin.

Hayfever

2010-11-02T19:32:00.000+10:30

The sun comes out, the wind picks up and all of a sudden it's not winter anymore and you are stuck with hayfever. For some people it makes them feel quite uncomfortable and even grumpy. Some refuse to accept they have hayfever and some just struggle on. Finding the right remedies and the right ways of managing it can make quite a difference. Not everyone can take anti histamine tablets because of other medication or conditions so this site has some natural remedies to look at. They puffy, itchy eyes are what get me. I hate them. They can be soothed. With something as annoying and debilitating as hayfever it is important to arm yourself with as many ways to cope as you can. It makes you feel better psychologically and physically it can make quite a difference once you find the things for you.

Top Health Tips

2010-10-30T21:15:00.001+10:30

The good thing about health tips is you can get information around quickly which will help to keep everyone more alert to what they are doing and how they are doing it. Top tips tend to become common knowledge and so it is a very effective way of educating people into better health habits. This site has 30 of them and I found 2 I wasn't familiar with that I can quickly add to my daily routine and then the others were good reminders to keep me on the ball. I shall remember to increase selenium intake and I shall start humming!!

Bowel Cancer

2010-10-29T20:44:00.000+10:30

While we are on the subject of cancer we might as well look at another preventable one and this is bowel cancer. The incidence increases as you pass 50 and so it is one of the cancers which perhaps you need to consider being screened for. Early intervention works. In Australia older people are eligible for the free tests and this site provides some very useful and easily understood explanations as to why it is worth participating. Not something we particularly want to think about but something which is worthy of serious consideration.

Skin Cancer

2010-10-27T20:29:00.000+10:30

Remind yourself now that it's worth it. Get back into the slip, slop ,slap because have had a long, cold wet winter and the sun is so glorious when we see it. We need suntan cream. We need hats. We need to cover up. We need to think about how to protect our arms and faces while we are driving. We can prevent skin cancer so we have to remind ourselves and each other that it is worth it. We should not be apathetic but as big ,bright, bold and yellow as Cancer Council Australia.

Manage your health

2010-10-26T18:55:00.001+10:30

Prevention is a very good site for helping you in taking control of your health. If you search for the Health tracker you can log into the site and create an online profile and action plan. The site is very informative and current. it keeps a lot of information to help you keep well and be in control of your health. There is a seemingly endless supply of information about health, diet and nutrition. It includes recipes and exercise ideas. it could be overwhelming but it isn't because it is written in a friendly, positive fashion which puts your in a good frame of mind for taking action.

Spring has sprung

2010-10-25T18:17:00.000+10:30

Time to get healthy! No more sitting indoors being rugged up and immobile. The sun is out, it's warmer and you could probably do with a bit of livening up. Free Online Health has a lot of free resources to motivate and inform you. It gives a good run down on diet, health and exercise. it's a great place to start so that you can get yourself back into a better state of health for summer.It has plenty of information on nutrition and fitness so there is no excuse not to get started. Ease into your new , healthy self and enjoy the freedom of feeling happy and well again.

Face to face or Interface?

2010-10-24T19:58:00.000+10:30

Most people will do whatever they want or is the trend no matter what the research or information. There have been a lot of people looking at the impact of technology on lives and lots of different studies are starting to come out now. So is it face to face or interface for you? There is a tendency at work these days to be buried under data and emails. Some people just cannot manage it or they are spending more time shifting files around rather than doing what they consider to be their job. So many jobs and positions now are about file shifting . Then you come home and there are emails to catch up with, social networks, games, shopping online, blogging! It wouldn't surprise me if people are on their laptops more than they are watching television these days. The benefits for people who would normally be isolated are great. They are no longer stuck inside , isolated and alone. They can go online and change the world if they want to. They can have online friends and talk to them in real time on Skype or similar. So how much of your time is with real people? It is important to stay in the real world and in real time. Real life and blood people cannot be replaced. Online friends can enhance real life activities and people but I am wondering where today's balance is? It is possible to develop a really strong online ID and that may not exist in the real world, so people who feel overlooked in real time may value their online activities more and that is understandable. For me it is always about balance. Ensuring I have both face to face and interface time but in roughly equal amounts and I like both worlds a lot and they can compliment each other. I find it odd though now that some people have no online ID. Will they be happier and healthier or does an online ID help to promote your sense of self?

How to get what you want

2010-10-21T18:43:00.000+10:30

1. Decide

2. Focus

3. Believe

It doesn't always seem that simple but it always boils down to that. Once you are clear about what you want, once you have given up the doubts and the confuse you can actually just go for it and get what you want. You channel yourself and your energies to getting what you believe you need or want. you give up the excuses, you abandon the unworthiness, you realise you are as entitled as anyone, you accept that if you have good skills and talents you can get there and you work out if you muster your resources and get the information you can make a good decision and stick with it until you achieve your aim. The first step of clarity is the most important. Work out what is the absolute best for you and what will make you happy and make the best use of who you are and contribute most greatly to your life. It is important to believe in yourself and let other people work out what they want for themselves. you are not responsible for them. You are responsible for yourself. So take aim and go for it!

Privacy online

2010-10-20T14:41:00.001+10:30

It is becoming more and more evident that different sites and social networks are broadcasting information which you may not want broadcast. it is important if you use online sights to check the setting and the privacy protocol for the site so you are not putting out your name, age, location and email address if you don't want to be.I can see it is all part and parcel of giving up those amazing net names and email addresses and turning into real people on the Net, so that we are an online global community, but there is a dark side to it as well and until the powers that be can offer better protection to minors and the vulnerable then it is wise to always check settings and do that on a regular basis.There is a good side to it because I was searched and found on Facebook last week because I was a logical person for someone to look for in a chain of searches trying to connect another person to a family member overseas.I had known the person so I helped. Had I not known the person it would have been bad luck. It is too hard to check online bona fide credentials at this point in our technology push. I therefore accept some of the drive to get us to be real people makes sense...but it also makes for a very invasive world and it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of people leave the Net if this persists. Hard one to manage , really.

Meaning to do day

2010-10-16T08:53:00.000+10:30

This year I have had my meaning to do days - a day I decide in advance that I am going to knock off a number of things I have been meaning to do. I have my todo list on my computer which is an Office template I found and it works really well for me. I can type things in as I remember so it is always current and it has helped me get things done without being a bugbear. My meaning to do list is the same but it is the things I have been meaning to do like phone the bank about rates or buy tissues, fix the button on my trousers, get some fertiliser for the lawn. Whatever I have been meaning to do. I find if I put them on this list which is divided into sections I don't feel swamped and I quite enjoy deleting them off the list as I get them done. I haven't found either that I have more things to do than I achieve. The list stays pretty stable whether I have a meaning to do day once a month or once every 3 months. It has more or less worked out at the change of seasons because that is often when you do really have to get things like gutters repaired or air conditioners looked at.

Shoes for Haiti

2010-10-10T08:12:00.000+10:30

Haiti's earthquake victims will soon receive 50,000 pairs of shoes collected by New South Wales TAFE students to help the impoverished nation recover from the January disaster.

This is a classic example of where , if you keep things very simple, people can achieve a great deal and help others at the same time. TAFE students in NSW have collected 50 000 pairs of shoes to help the people in Haiti recover from the disaster earlier this year. In Adelaide last year or the year before one of our radio stations had and Socks and Jocks day so people could donate new socks and underwear for homeless people. The response was massive because the radio station made it an easy thing to do. That is the secret. I have also been involved in shoebox campaigns where we have been given a list of what to put in a shoebox - usually toiletries - and then a simple way of delivering the shoeboxes to a venue. All these things are easy to achieve and they bring about a good sense of community. People hate knowing others are going without. We get swamped with it all , though, so we just need something simple to do - like shoes, or socks or toothbrushes.

VibroAcoustic Disease

2010-10-08T16:36:00.001+10:30

The effects are grim: cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, and renal pathology and symptoms, which they call vibroacoustic disease (VAD).

*VAD is well established in the clinical literature. It has been amply documented and is readily detected by a variety of diagnostic tests.

I had no idea VAD existed and I am surprised we haven't had more information about this since we are living in noisy environments and turbine and electrical noise is as much noise pollution as mechanical noise. I have always thought wind farms were a good thing because they are a renewable energy source but I need to extend my thinking here and understand that they need to be right always from homes and dwellings or they can be a source of VAD. Fortunately there have been doctors and researchers who have been alert to this and now proper studies are being conducted so that we can make better decisions about the placement of wind farms. No sense in saving the climate if we are not saving ourselves.

Delhi 2010

2010-10-07T07:47:00.004+10:30

There has been a lot to learn from the Delhi Games in terms of rising above negativity and fighting adversity. Little attention has been paid to people like those on the left. Most of the media attention has gone to the mess created by the administrators and the fall out from that is the people in India who are working hard now, have worked hard before and who will continue to work hard to ensure they have done their bit to ensure the success of the games are largely being overlooked. So I'd like to take a moment on my blog to thank these people. I can see they take their work seriously. I can see they want it all to be right. I can see they care about standards and the happiness of the athletes. It may only be me but I want them to know we have noticed and we appreciate the fact they are working hard and continuing to uphold the honour of the games in such a competent fashion. We all have to work for difficult leaders at times who cannot get things right, but there are more of us and we can stick to the right principles and ensure success. Hundreds of people in India are getting it right and they deserve to be acknowledged for that.

Clean restaurants

2010-10-05T08:55:00.000+10:30

MORE than 700 Adelaide restaurants have been warned or fined over health breaches in the past year but none has been placed on the State Government's name-and-shame register.

No one wants to eat where the cooking and preparation areas are not up to par and we do not know the nature of the health breaches. Most people would accept there's be an outbreak of pests from time to time because food attracts the unwelcome visitors. We need to know the nature of the health breaches and whether they are efficiently dealt with or not. Our stomachs. Our health . No one wants to pay for the privilege of being at risk. I tend to eat at places where I can see he kitchen. I actually like that approach in a cafe or restaurant. It is fascinating to see the chefs at work but you also can see the kitchen equipment. It is not something I have deliberately done but I shall make it a rule now if we are not going to be told. We are not unreasonable. We just need the information so we know and it is true, restaurants and cafes which cannot keep up standards of health and hygiene would fast become unpopular. My daughter works in the food industry and since she has done all the training and it is her way of life I have learned a lot from her about keeping things up to scratch at home. Most of it is common sense but there are simple things you can do to keep things healthy and safe with food preparation, not the least of which is actually looking at the food you are preparing and noticing and then cleaning all surfaces properly. We can do better and so can our eateries.

Victoria more popular than Queensland

2010-10-04T09:48:00.001+10:30

”The offer of big events, cultural events, retail, food and wine is considered more attractive than stuff like theme parks, Big Pineapples and gee-whizzy type of stuff,” Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief Anthony McIntosh says.

If we are going away in Australia we seem to be choosing Victoria more than Queensland. The article suggests we are over the theme park approach to life. We should probably look into it a bit more.

The Gold Coast is generally considered over developed and over stated these days. Northern New South Wales and over the boarder into Queensland are the popular parts to visit in that neck of the woods. people seem to want the countryside, the trees, hills, the Byron Bay experiences and the relaxed atmosphere. The tourist areas of Queensland are no longer relaxed because they are overdone. So people are happy to rent a holiday home and travel around a bit to see something authentic. Then there have been the articles and news of skin cancer and I daresay that would have an influence on sunny holidays. Victoria is well placed and well located. In the back of our minds would be the bush fires and how those people need our support. We lend support by just being there in Australia. We say nothing. The floods in Queensland have been awful too but that has scared us off a bit , I think. We don't want to be caught in floods. So yes, the theme parks represent an unreal life and our life has been very real lately. That's what we want . Something grounding. Victoria does that well because it has a lot of style and it's less is more approach is calming and inviting. The Victorians are very welcoming and the city of Melbourne is just a great place to be. Victoria is now very much arts orientated and so lots of us go there for the exhibitions and then the shopping along the way. For me, in Adelaide, it is cheaper and quicker to get to Victoria than the haul up to Queensland and the factor in that is we have had problems with our domestic planes which we have never had, so it does put you off long haul flights. In the end, you need to look at what really has changed for us - we have grown older. Theme parks are for the young!

Janis Ollson

2010-10-01T21:20:00.002+09:30

"I have no problem getting around. If I need to, I'll crawl (up stairs) or scooch like a kid," she said. "I don't want people to think 'we can't invite the Ollsons because they can't get in here with a wheelchair.' I want to live life to its fullest," she said.

What an inspiration Janis Ollson is. She has had her body cut in half to remove a tumour they originally didn't notice because she was pregnant. The surgery is ground breaking but this lady has such a great attitude and we could all learn form her. I have a family member who had radical surgery for a type of bowel cancer. She approached it with her cold , hard headed manner and got all the facts and information and then decided drastic surgery was her best bet. That was 10 years ago. Like Janis she has lived and lived well because she refused to give into her "fate". Positive , optimistic, realistic people encourage doctors and researchers to get even better at what they are doing. Janis is already working out how to manage her new life and new condition and is just doing it in a very optimistic, well balanced, practical manner. It is people like that that show us all we can make a good life for ourselves no matter what. Our body is just the housing for our spirit!

Relaxation

2010-09-30T08:13:00.001+09:30

The BBC Health site is always very practical in its approach to health. Our world is busy and our work life can be overwhelming at times because there has been an erosion of the notion of a working day, working week and working year. The rest breaks are no longer built in and so we have to look to ourselves to manage the work load. Luckily the internet is full of people and sites who are willing to help us. This page on relaxation is a good example of how to get help. It is easy to follow, straight forward and a good reminder of how to relax. We cannot keep going so we have to know how to stop and slow down. The advice at the top of the page of looking at animals to help learn how to stop and shut down is a good reminder.

Emergency phone contact

2010-09-29T08:18:00.000+09:30

I have just been through an episode with a friend and pass this on for you to consider. He has a condition where he might need emergency services at any given moment. There has already been one serious episode this year. The other day his phone was out for hours because of a power outage. He has a cordless phone. He didn't feel at all secure just relying on his mobile in case he couldn't make calls on that. He has Internet access but typing a message might not be possible and until we all have a Skype equivalent then that is not a reliable back up. So he rang the phone company and they were very understanding and offered to exchange his phone at no extra cost to a fixed landline with attached handset. I have that and cordless plus my mobile. I cover all my bases! So he went to the shop and there was no phone for him and the staff were aghast but his new phone will be delivered by courier today. The company didn't get it quite right but they have more than compensated for that and used their network to meet their promises. It means my friend now doesn't have to worry if there is a power outage and that kind of peace of mind is important if you are tackling a tough medical condition. I was wondering how many others might be affected like that, hence this post.

Flexibility

2010-09-27T09:15:00.000+09:30

You don't have to be a runner or an athlete to work on your mobility and flexibility. It is important to work on these aspects of your physical fitness on a regular basis as you grow older. It helps you to keep your balance, to strengthen your body and to allow you more freedom of movement. It also gives you something to do when you feel your body is getting too stiff. This site is good because it has pictures. people can see from pictures and videos what to do and that is a huge plus of the internet. Maybe you can't do all these exercises. Maybe you can do only one. Do that one and then pick another one. Pick three and work on those. Sometimes it takes a few days to get your body to co operate. Never push it or force it, just work with it.

Lifelong Learning

2010-09-26T08:36:00.001+09:30

My sister and I were talking yesterday about how some older people just don't change, they do and think the same things and then they wonder why life holds nothing for them. We have found we are always learning about something and we worked out it is because we think we have a lot to learn and so we just keep learning. Every year we can list a host of things which we have learned and we can do things we couldn't do last year. We join groups online or offline, we go to exhibitions, we read, we look around on the internet, we grasp opportunities and we go away when we can because it gives you fresh eyes. I have my blogs, my work, my writing and slide presentations. I learn through all of those things and they all keep me thinking. Here are some other ideas to get you going on the Life Hack site.

Creating Success

2010-09-25T08:02:00.000+09:30

The Creating Success site offers numersous podcasts of influencial and successful people who discuss how they have created success. The beauty of podcasts is you can just simply listen and you have an opportunity to feel inspired by hearing someone talk about what they do well. Reading about it doesn't always effect change, but when you hear a voice, you feel more engaged and this site is a good way of just getting yourself in a good frame of mind to think more positively about your own achievements.

Inspirational Wallpapers

2010-09-20T06:56:00.000+09:30

There are some lovely, inspirational wallpapers here at this site, Ryse Up. I actually downloaded one on Nature but this one appealed to me to. Often we are caught up in the can't block and we keep thinking we cannot change and we cannot change anything. We can. It's a frame of mind. So, if you need to have something to remind you to be more flexible in your thinking and to allow you to grow through the block, this site is for you!

Breathing Exercises

2010-09-11T17:24:00.000+09:30

You don't have to be a practioner of yoga or meditation to get on top of your breathing. Most peole forget to breathe properly because we keep rushing sround and have lots to do. Even children are not breathing properly. So you need to learn some breathing exercises and yoga and meditation sites give you the techniques and ideas. Andrew Weil will get you started with 3 breathing techniques you can easily master, so that when you become conscious of the fact you are not breathing properly you have a set of things to do to remedy that. Breathe!! The number of people who laugh when I say that to them tells me we are all in need of a bit of breathing training AND reminders!

Benefits of onions

2010-09-09T20:28:00.001+09:30

Onions are pretty popular in casseroles, soups and salads and most people seem to like them. Just as well, they are good for you. I knew they were good for the system but I confess I wasn't sure why other than a vague notion they were good for warding off colds. They have iron, vitamins and that ever popular folic acid. It is important people eat their vegetables and fruit, but it is also important to know what is in them and how it helps your health. The site 3fatchicks may not have a flattering name but it has a wealth of really useful nutritional information.

Clean up!

2010-09-05T15:40:00.001+09:30

The weather has been horrible. We are in spring but there are storms and heavy rains and it is cold and miserable. Some areas are flooded and storm damaged, some have had power outages...so it's not going out weather really. We have tried to get out a bit because day after day of indoors is depressing. We have used our indoor time wisely.Some have caught up on their reading. Some have been cleaning out the fridge and making casseroles, soups and stir fries. Others have been repairing the indoor things which have long been in need of repair. I decided now was a good time to literally clean my computers and then get onto the operating systems and clean up files, folders and desktops. My laptop looks brilliant! It's all shiny now and I completely redid the desk top and have been through the folders so they are rid of their muddly mess and look totally , impressively and awesomely tidy. So go for it...use your indoor time to good effect!

Laughter is the best medicine

2010-09-04T19:23:00.002+09:30

Laughter is the best medicine

View more presentations from Sally Smith.

Using your time productively

2010-09-02T19:51:00.000+09:30

This is the sort of site I bookmark for the days I feel so swamped I do not know where to start. Often you need a push or prod in the right direction and you can re establish your balance. it often needs to start with easy, quickly achievable and manageable things. Somehow the performing of easy, straight forward takes enables us to start thinking more positively and regain control. So this list of 20 things to do is helpful and worth keeping handy!

Which superhero are you

2010-09-01T20:04:00.002+09:30

Your results:
You are Supergirl

Supergirl		90%
Superman		80%
Spider-Man		80%
Green Lantern		80%
Wonder Woman		60%
Iron Man		50%
Robin		40%
Hulk		40%
Batman		20%
The Flash		20%
Catwoman		20%

Lean, muscular and feminine.
Honest and a defender of the innocent.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Fruits of Eden Tea

2010-08-29T18:49:00.000+09:30

I was in town yesterday and stopped for lunch at a popular restaurant which also doubles as a cafe on North Terrace. Nice atmosphere and nice view. I didn't want wine with my lunch and I had had enough coffee so I say the Fruits of eden tea on the menu...they actually had tisanes. The girl who served me didn't knwo where they got it, but it is just beautiful. It has a lovely rich fruity taste, is refreshing and calming and has a beautiful deep pinky purply colour which is so unitque. It was just magnififcnet and so I am determined to buy some for at home. Here is teadrop where you can get it online.

Online Yoga

2010-08-28T19:37:00.000+09:30

Yoga-tv. net is a great online site to get some good ideas and routines to add to your yoga practice. Some people go to classes for that. I don't. I prefer to practise at home and I have made it a habit to do it every day. I wasn't always that reliable but yoga has been with me all my lie and it has benefited me a lot. When I haven't practised it I have never felt right or properly well. What I do every do often is learn so new routines or exercises and use those to strengthen a different area of my body, so this online site with videos is just perfect for seeing what I have to do and then practising it until I get tit right.

Earth Hour Song

2010-08-27T20:02:00.004+09:30

Body Art

2010-08-23T17:03:00.001+09:30

FANTASY bodies go on display in Queensland as the annual Body Art Carnivale brings human canvases to life.

Sometimes people just amaze you with their talent and inspiration. The Australian Body Art Festival is not something I would think I'd be interested in but now I have looked at the pictures in the gallery, then I am just amazed at how clever some people are. Sometimes it's worth doing something you don't think will appeal because it opens your eyes to the talents of others. Face painting has been popular here for a long time and there are some exceptional face painting artists. These body artists are also exceptional in their level of skills and technique. Well worth a look.

Salmonella can kill cancer

2010-08-22T20:47:00.000+09:30

This is an astounding discovery and one which puts me in awe again of researchers. They think very inventively and because they do, they come up with some really surprising results.The researchers in Milan have discovered if you inject mouse tumours with salmonella , it destroys the cancer cells. Who would have thought? With this discovery, the chances of now being able to find something which will cure human tumours is so much higher.. Great news.

Women in Parliament

2010-08-21T18:54:00.000+09:30

We have an an election going on and Julia Gillard is the first woman Prime Minister we have ever had. Tonight she is waiting to see whether Australia will actually vote for a woman. It is of concern that western democracies find it very hard to vote women into the top positions in a country. Most countries find it very hard. It makes you think really hard when we are in 2010 and women have been in the work force for so long. We have heard what people say about a woman in a top position, what they say to her, what they day about her and what they think is appropriate to say about a woman. It has been a really big wake up call because it has been clear that a woman has to put up with so much trash as she aspires to lead effectively. In no way have we developed emotionally so that we can accept a woman in the role of Prime Minister. Or have we? So what kind of message are we constantly sending to girls as we look around the world? Women are okay but not that okay? If you want to be in the top position you had better be a man? The number of men and boys who look at the top positions around the world remains constant. What is it about women? Why can't we bring ourselves to just accept them as competent and effective leaders at the highest levels? It's not right.

Positive self talk

2010-08-19T20:04:00.002+09:30

What i can say when i talk to myself

View more presentations from George Sciberras Wouldn’t it be nice if all followers commented on member’s show. It shows a sign of friendship and appreciation. .

Tips for happiness

2010-08-17T20:44:00.000+09:30

30 Tips for Happiness (PDF)

View more presentations from Nubia (i am a bit busy these days - sorry by advance if i cannot find material time to watch and comment your show).

Toxic People

2010-08-16T19:51:00.000+09:30

Realize that toxic people can drain your health, energy, well being and sanity. It helps to move away from toxic people and move towards people who are positive and uplifting. Positive people are a blessing.

Page, Brian. 06040022jellyfish.jpg. April 2006. Pics4Learning. 16 Aug 2010

I had never heard of the expression "toxic" person before, but I saw it on the Net and explored further and it makes sense to me to call some people that. They make you feel toxic like foods which are bad for you or chemicals which you inhale. They put your system on overload, make you fell ill and all wrong and have a bad impact. This particular article sums it up really well, explains it well and offers suggestions of how to deal with people like that. it is much harder in the work place to avoid people who are toxic because you and they are often confined or forced to work together. It is really tricky. The tendency is always to blame yourself and even when you do realise someone is having a bad impact on you, extricating yourself from that is mighty difficult. It's the nature of the beast. The mental detachment suggested in the article is hard to come by but it is what works. You have to keep working on it and staying level headed and light spirited until you dispel the toxicity and create a barrier of light. It's the detachment I find really hard. I need more ideas as to how to achieve that. I have improved but I still get swamped sometimes.

Women Role Models

2010-08-15T16:19:00.000+09:30

Fresh-faced with the innocence of youth, shorter in stature and curvier of figure, the models of the late 1960s to early '80s were a far cry from the ideals of the industry today.

It is good to read that some of our fashion leaders in the 60s 70s and 80s in Adelaide are going to have a reunion in October . They will be talking about their day, for sure, but they will be looking at the modelling industry now. These older women now have a lot of experience behind them and could well come up with something which will help our current girls and women in modelling lead a happier and healthier lifestyle. That many older people together with the connections they have will be a force to be reckoned with!

Implanted Prosthetic Leg

2010-08-13T20:38:00.000+09:30

"We are the only team in Australia who could do it, and it is not something that has come in the last year. It is something we have worked towards for the past 10 years," Mr Leung said.

The Alfred Hospital has taken a long time working on prosthetic limbs and after seven years of not being able to walk because he have a normal prosthetic leg, Bill Langenhorst can now walk again. Swedish surgeon Rickard Branemark pioneered the operation which made it possible to have an implanted prosthetic limb and he was actually flown here to work with the team at The Alfred Hospital to give Bill Langenhorst his life back. This is a great story. It's great because our medical people are obviously constantly working on procedures which can restore us to health and well being. it is great because we are doing 2010 and collaborating across the planet to pool our expertise and it's great because people are prepared to fly long distances in order to benefit someone who could use their help. That is truly caring.Bill Langenhorst now has mobility, independence and his own life back and he has had to wait a long time but I daresay those 7 years have made it possible for him to get all his priorities straight so he can just be the person he wants to be.

Winter Food

2010-08-09T20:06:00.000+09:30

One of the good things about winter is that you can really get into the cooking and if you chose the right recipes your home is filled with wonderful aromas which help beat the chill.Our winter has been particularly cold and wet and given we had a very hot summer , we are feeling a bit sorry for ourselves. At work we have kept each other cheered up by exchanging recipes and ideas so that we can eat our way through winter with warming meals. It has also taken the strain off worrying about what to cook each night so in that way we have done a lot to keep the strain off each other. One of my current favourites is chicken tikka. It is so good on a cold night. I have also perfected fruit cake and a low fat chocolate cake which has been incredibly popular. My other favourite is ratatouille. Can't get enough of it. This article has some good ideas and two lovely winter recipes.

Health Hub

2010-08-08T18:36:00.001+09:30

The plan, released last week by Playford Council, would see new medical suites, shops and recreation centres built around the hospital’s Elizabeth Vale site, as well as accommodation for students and patients’ families.

This article highlights how they would redevelop the Lyell McEwen hospital in Elizabeth, north of the city of Adelaide, into a health hub. It's an obvious place to develop one and it's possible to create a dynamic area for health and well-being. The northern suburbs like the southern ones are booming with residents and so health care is of primary importance. The Lyell McEwan is stretched to the limit. A hub approach is a sound one since any hospital is its own microcosm of society and there are plenty of people who need facilities apart from the patients. The hospital staff and visitors are deserving of food places and shops. Sometimes, as a visitor you are stuck in a hospital for hours and you need sane places to withdraw to. Any hospital can develop a village around it. We all need food, shops, rest areas. We need internet access and maybe even somewhere clean and safe to stay overnight. We need to carry on our life while we are managing patients, friends and relatives. Children need somewhere to play. If a hospital is further developed into a training hospital, then there is even more need for facilities and accommodation. It would then be possible to branch out that idea of hospital care into general practice, physios, spas, health centres, fitness centres, naturopathy and community fitness and walking groups. It means we would know that where there is a hospital , we also have an opportunity to improve ourselves and our lifestyle. So, I hope the Lyell McKewin will think big and just get on with it. Building a village can be done in small steps and then the major changes will take care of themselves because they will be obviously needed...like parking.

The Email Swamp

2010-08-07T19:04:00.000+09:30

I was reading on Facebook how someone had deleted 2000 emails and felt well pleased with themselves. It is getting out of hand and email is starting to swamp all of us. Some of us have moved to the social media sites which make communicating far simpler and more effective. We get emails from work, family , friends, subscriptions, stores, accounts. Spam is being dealt with effectively but now we are spammed by lifestyle. Everyone wants your email and then when you get all those emails you can spend a big chunk of time trying to get around to all the emails. Most people run different email accounts for different purposes and then they get muddled because you can't always streamline it that easily and then people get cranky because you didn't reply because it was just an email. Email used to be easy. Not any more. I have separate email accounts - two for work, one for my blogs and online things and a private one. It's taking too much time and it is just a horrible chore now. I have signed up for news letters I want but they get buried in other things which are buried in newsletters. I don't like it any more and if we are deleting hundreds of unread emails, I'd say we have a problem we need to change. Social media is direct and that sort of communication is limited and easier to manage. Facebook gives you the option of writing more if you want to. We are going to have to do something.