Changing My Diet

Being overweight with hypertension is not a good combination.  With the help of my doctor and family, I am aiming to reduce them both by increasing my health.

Lots of fruit and vegetables appear in all the "sensible" diets I've looked at, so that is what made up the bulk of my grocery shop today.

Instead of my usual lunchtime sandwiches, I made a salad with lettuce, an orange, fresh dates, cucumber, garden mint, smoked gouda cheese, and homemade mayonnaise. 

I had some steamed kumara (sweet potato) with it.  It made a delicious meal.

I've struggled previously with changing what I normally eat - habits are strong things - but I am hopeful of achieving my goals this time.

Margaret xx 

Bone Density Scan

The big event in my day today was a scheduled appointment for a bone density scan.

I have a compression fracture on one vertebra, probably caused by arthritis,  and my doctor wanted to check out whether I also has osteoporosis. 

This is the DEXA scanner that was used by the friendly nurse who did the scanning. 

The procedure did not take very long, and I was given the results immediately - the bone density of my hips and spine is completely normal. 

That was welcome news!

Also welcome, was seeing some sunshine after four days of fog (yesterday we never once saw the sun and the day before wasn't much better).

The Lake had some great reflections, but everywhere was so busy (it's school holidays).

I was watching this lone Canada Goose swim by when I was accosted by a man wanting me to give him "a spare 20 cents."

That was enough for me (I said no), and I headed home again.

I'll go back when things are quieter.

Margaret xx 

Morning Tea For One

 

Crackers with cheese and some kind of relish.  This has become my standard mid-morning snack (sometimes I add a piece of fresh fruit as well) and seems to be doing the trick.

My doctor wanted me to eat smaller meals more frequently and so that is what I have been trying to do.  It isn’t easy!

Old habits die hard, and I have found it difficult to eat less for my main meals and increase my daytime snacks.  But the results are showing the effort is worthwhile, and my digestive system is coping much better.

Not that you want to hear too much about my digestive system!!

Our weather continues to be typical springtime.  From gale force winds and rain overnight, today it is much calmer and the sun is even shining at times.  Tomorrow morning, they are forecasting near-frost temperatures for us.

Nature takes it all in her stride.  The birds continue nesting (the sparrows have fledged now) and the plants and lawn are growing apace.

Keep smiling 😊

Margaret.

 

Searching For Health

 

My life has not always been a healthy one.  I almost died from meningitis as a toddler, have experienced cancer twice as an adult, and had various other health issues that have generally been more persistently annoying than life threatening.

Over recent years I have struggled with arthritis, high blood pressure, being overweight, several digestive issues (why are they all given different names as they all deal with one body system?), adverse side effects from medications, and lately a viral infection of the liver. 

Carrot and Celery Juice has become a staple in my diet now

I am soon to enter my seventieth decade and the thought that I may live another twenty years (as many of my ancestors have done), with less than good health, is a thought that fills me with an odd kind of dread.

I believe in a Creator God who made our bodies so incredibly perfect that medical science is still trying to figure it all out.  I also believe that, given half a chance, the body has an amazing ability to heal itself from almost any ailment. 

Sometimes it needs help to get started on this journey, and this is what I am attempting to do now by transitioning from a typical “Western Diet” to a more natural one.

I am not interested in following any set “diet” plan, or sticking rigidly to an exercise programme.  These things may be useful to some, but I prefer to listen to my own body and make my own choices. 

After all, we are all different – we all have different needs, different beliefs – we are all individuals who can make our own choices in what we do.

God may control the quantity of our life, but He has given us control over the quality of life we have.

Let’s enjoy Life every day, as long as we can 😊

Margaret.

 

CT Scan Done

 

I went for my CT scan yesterday.  It was an experience! 

I’ve never had one before and this one came with an IV injection of contrast (dye) to show up the heart and blood vessels more.

I was warned what to expect – feelings of heat, and a metallic taste in the mouth.  Also a feeling like you want to have a pee, only I felt like I already had!  I hadn’t, of course, and the feeling only lasted mere seconds but it was certainly strange.

In the peaceful Garden of Retreat in Flowing Happiness (Hamilton Gardens)

The scanning machine got cranked up, sounding like some sci-fi thing out of Star Wars or something, and the lights started whirring around on the inside of the tunnel.  I can see why some people feel nauseous – I had to shut my eyes!

And then it was all over and I was back out in the other room, until the IV tube could be removed and I was allowed to head home again.

Now we wait a few weeks for the results to come through 😊

Margaret.

 

Lots Going On

 

It has been a busy two days.  Yesterday I went to the supermarket and then visited an old friend that I had not seen for many years.

She is 89 years old and still as bright as a button.  It was a joy to spend a couple of hours with her, discussing all that had passed in our lives since we last met fifteen years ago.

And then today I spent most of the day visiting one of my sisters-in-law.  I am finding that being a bit more social is so much nicer than just sitting at home all day!

I also had a doctor’s appointment this morning.  We had to meet to discuss the hospital informing him that they were turning down my cardiac referral because there is still a six month’s waiting list – I’ve already been on the list for four months.

But there is a matter of mis-communication somewhere, because I actually have an appointment next week for a CT Scan, authorised by the hospital cardiac department.

My doctor was so nice about it all – so nice in fact, that he refused to charge me any fee for our consultation.  He has endorsed my desire to lose weight, and accepted without question my concerns that all of my current health issues have only arisen since I had the covid-19 vaccines.  Who knows?

So sad to hear the Chateau Tongariro is closing its doors
And so happy that I got to stay there last December

We have had unsettled weather here today, with rain, wind, sunshine, and a little thunder.  A lady in the doctor’s waiting room was telling me her family in Auckland had just received notice that their house has been red-stickered (uninhabitable) and were coming to stay with her.

I have been able to catch up with most of the family and friends I know who have been affected by this weather.  They are all okay, but a couple of them are living in towns that are still cut off from the rest of the country.  One said they would be good as long as food deliveries were still able to be made to their local town, which at the moment isn’t possible.

This storm really has been unprecedented in its severity and the number of people it has impacted.  The obvious cause is Climate Change, but the Tongan volcano sending 10% of the earth’s moisture into the atmosphere must also be having an impact.

What goes up, must come down!

Margaret 😊

 

My apologies.  I got my information slightly wrong - the Tongan volcano increased atmospheric moisture by 10% 

FEBRUARY HEADER PHOTO

This picture is one of rural countryside half-way between Te Awamutu and Waitomo.  The photo was taken in 2008 but I doubt the scene has changed much since then.

 

Do I Have A Choice?

 

Sometimes governments can be incredibly sneaky.

It has come to my notice that our parliament very quietly, near the end of last year, introduced a huge bill that has the potential to impact the lives of every single New Zealander.

It is called the Therapeutics Products Bill, and, if passed in its present form, it will set up one person (called a Regulator) who will have god-like control over every single medical drug, medical device, active pharmaceutical ingredient, and natural health product in New Zealand.

Martinborough Hotel, Waiarapa

It will especially impact any medical therapy that is outside the conventional Western drugs medicine system.  This includes herbalism, ayurveda, homeopathy, aromatherapy, rongoa Maori, traditional Chinese medicine, as well as lesser-known areas like reiki, and generally accepted practices like osteopathy and massage.

Going to a chemist or supermarket and buying vitamin and/or mineral supplements may become a thing of the past.

Potentially, the Bill even has the capability of preventing anyone cooking with aubergines or using cinnamon or turmeric!

Kaeo Hotel, Northland

My understanding is practitioners of non-conventional therapies will still be able to practise. 

They cannot claim any benefits for their work without being liable to a fine of $200,000 or a five-year prison sentence (but doctors are allowed to say a certain drug “works”!).

Anything prescribed will have to be manufactured by the practitioner and sold to the client only after a consultation (imagine if a doctor had to make up the drug he was giving you?).

Glenorchy Hotel, Queenstown

All of the above sounds absurd, but shows how little the proposed legislation has been thought through.  Yet it is being rushed through the legal process, with nary a Select Committee to consider its implications or consultation with the health industry, and the public have been given only until 15 February to object.

Once again, I shake my head in disbelief at the way governments can use their power to rob people of their free choice.

Just as well I am still smiling 😊

Margaret.

 

(If you want to object, head off to https://www,parliament.nz/.../therapeutic-products-bill to state your opinion).

Slainte Mhath

 

Slainte mhath!

I recently finished reading “Glenshee: Glen of the Fairies” by Antony Mackenzie Smith, and he finished the book with the words “Slainte Mhath.”  

It is Gaelic for Good Health and used when taking a drink, similar to saying Cheers or Bottoms Up or some such other term.

Naturally, with my Gaelic ancestry, I had to look up Google and see how to pronounce it – it sounds like slarn-jar-var.

I’ve also recently discovered that it was a Scottish custom to have a small drink of whiskey or brandy before dinner, as it was believed it would contribute to a long healthy life.

Sometimes I will have a small pre-dinner cocktail or a glass of wine with dinner, but having a “wee dram” of brandy (or similar spirit) before the day’s main meal sounds like a great way to relax and unwind before eating.

I think it may be a habit I would like to begin!

The Scots also believed that drinking too much alcohol would shorten life, so how much was this ‘dram’ that they drank?  After much searching, it appears it basically meant “one mouthful” or about 30 mls.

My small liqueur glasses hold 15ml each and I am finding that a perfect amount to have after pronouncing the customary SLAINTE MHATH!

May your life be long, happy, and healthy 😊

Margaret.

 

Heart Tonic Recipe

 

About six weeks ago I began making myself a Hawthorn Heart Tonic syrup (see Post HERE), but things happen and I soaked my berries longer than the required four weeks.  Apparently, that makes little difference to the potency of the tonic.

Today I finally bestirred myself and finished making the Tonic.

The full recipe, as I have made it, is as follows:

Place 150g dried hawthorn berries into a glass jar and cover with 2 cups brandy (I used 43% alcohol brandy).  Place lid on the jar, and leave the berries to soak for four weeks.  Check the brandy level after a couple of days of soaking, and if the berries are no longer covered add a little more brandy so that they are.  Give the jar a gentle shake each day – and be careful if your lid is not waterproof as the liquor stains fabric (as I discovered!).  

Strain the berries through a sieve, retaining the brandy liquor.  Place the berries into a large stainless steel saucepan and add 5 cups cold water.  Bring to the boil (uncovered), and then simmer for one hour.

Strain the berries through a jelly bag – I no longer own a jelly bag, so I left them to drain in the sieve until they were no longer dripping.  Do not use a blender or crush the seeds in any way as they contain a potential poison, Amygdalin (also found in the seeds of apricots, apples, peaches, cherries and plums).

Measure out the juice and return it to the saucepan.  I’m not entirely sure what I did (perhaps I simmered it too fast?) but there wasn’t much liquid, so I added boiling water to make the quantity up to one cup.

Bring to the boil and stir in the equivalent amount of white sugar (that is, one cup of sugar for each cup of juice).  Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, then remove from the heat and leave it to cool down.

Add ¼ cup of the brandy liquor (which is now actually a “tincture”) to the syrup, and pour into a glass bottle.

Pour the remaining tincture into a different glass bottle (I carefully avoided using the ‘dregs’ and I presume it could be filtered through a coffee paper or similar if you wanted to).

Label both bottles.  The Hawthorn Tincture can be stored in a cool dry place (not the fridge) out of the light, and will keep indefinitely (it can also be used when soaking berries to make another batch of syrup).  Hawthorn Syrup will keep for around three months in the fridge, or longer if the bottle top has been sealed with wax.

USEAGE:

Of course, it goes without saying that I recommend anyone contemplating making this herbal remedy to obtain medical advice from a trusted health professional before using it.  Hawthorn has been acknowledged as a cardiac tonic for centuries and is generally regarded as a food more than a medicine as it does not build up in the body and cause toxicity issues, but it is always prudent to check things out first.

Like most herbal remedies, Hawthorn does take time to work.  It generally needs to be taken daily for 6-8 weeks before any noticeable difference occurs in blood pressure or cholesterol levels.

The dosage that I intend taking is one teaspoon of syrup in the morning and one teaspoon of tincture in the evening, but I have read that you can take up to half to one teaspoon of syrup three times a day, or half a teaspoon (2.5ml) of tincture three times a day.

Let’s hope it works!

A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing (Proverbs 17:22)

Margaret 😊

 

Farewell Mello

 

Yesterday we sadly said farewell to our gentle vegetarian rat, Mello.  He had a good life, short though the life of rats is, but it was time to end his suffering.

What really broke me up was seeing Rattle, one of the new younger rats, nudging him, licking him, and finally lying over top of him in mourning. 

It is so easy to believe that animals do not have feelings, but many of them (if not all of them) definitely do.

I took this photo of a punga tree fern while walking in Hamilton Gardens yesterday.  I was so happy to be able to walk for 30 minutes without stopping – my legs were wobbly, but that is to be expected after so many months unable to do anything.

It seems that a lot of my exertional breathlessness and utter exhaustion has actually been a side-effect of one of the medical drugs I was taking.  Now I have stopped taking it, things have started to dramatically improve.  I hope it continues!

The first signs of spring are appearing.  The grape buds have burst and the distant trees are getting a slight haze of green about them.  Summer is on its way!

Have a great day 😊

Margaret.

 

Heart Tonic

 

After all these weeks (it feels like months) I am beginning to feel more “normal” again.  It appears I may have been fighting some kind of virus (not covid), as it certainly knocked me back.

There still appears to be some irregularity with my heart (a different issue) and I have completed my hospital tests and am now waiting for the cardiologist to make his report.

Progress on the new bridge crossing the Waikato River near us

I drove myself yesterday, for the first time in ages, and went to the herbal shop and liquor store.  The two places sound a bit incongruous when placed together, but I did have an ulterior motive.

Hawthorn berries are a well-known heart tonic, so I thought I would make up a syrup that I could take.  The recipe I have is completed in stages, one using alcohol to create a tincture-like tonic, and the next to create the actual syrup.  (I will post the full recipe if and when it turns out successfully)

Having bought 150g of dried berries at the herbal shop, I went to the liquor store and purchased some “43% alcohol” brandy.  Two cups were added to the berries and they are now soaking together for four weeks, with instructions to shake the jar each day.

Who knew brandy was so good for your health?  Taken in moderation, it almost appears to be an Elixir of Life!  (Have a look on Google and see for yourself).

Have a happy day 😊

Margaret.

 

HEADER FOR AUGUST 2022

This was the road we travelled on the way out to Cape Palliser Lighthouse and the most southerly point of the North Island, a place I visited in October 2020 while doing a road trip around the Wairarapa.

A Cat In The Garden

 

Mittens is my constant companion these days.  She loves to come and sit in the garden with me when I go there to soak up some of our winter sunshine.

I have an appointment up at the hospital next week, so hopefully they can figure out what is wrong with me.  It is not much fun not being able to do anything – I feel like I’ve become a living vegetable!

Hugz to all my friends,

Margaret 😊

 

Not So Healthy

 

It has been rather a strange day today, and I am feeling exhausted. 

Lately I have been having a lot of shortness-of-breath issues whenever I do anything (I soon recover when I sit down), so I went along to the doctor this morning for a check-up.

After several conversations, blood pressure readings, stethoscope listenings, blood tests, and an ECG, it looks like I may have angina.  The doctor has referred me to the cardiac specialists at our local hospital and said, until we know exactly what is happening, that he wants me to avoid stress, not drive anywhere, and not to go out unless I have someone with me.

Looks like I am now on holiday at home!

It rained all day yesterday but today has been cloudy with some sunshine.  I sat in the garden for a while and admired the beautiful silverbeet.  It is growing so well at the moment.

Until next time,

Margaret 😊

 

An Uncomfortable Arm

 

I had an appointment with a Nurse this morning to receive my 2022 winter season influenza vaccination, which went according to plan.

According to my records, I was also overdue for a tetanus booster shot so had that as well.  It is coupled with diphtheria and whooping cough, so I’ve been boosted for them too!

There was the regulation 15 minute wait before I could leave the surgery (in case there were any adverse reactions) and I was told to rest and drink plenty of water.

So far I feel fine, and it is just my arm that is feeling hot and rather uncomfortable.  That’ll pass though, so I am not really complaining.

We have four places around our home where we can store firewood and son is slowly getting them semi-enclosed so they are more sheltered from the rain.

He has just finished building this one, between the garage and the garden shed.

Although part of me is dreading the onset of winter, I admit that I am actually looking forward to having a fire again. 

There is something very cozy about a wood fire 😊

Margaret.

 

Tis the Season for Flu Jabs

 

With winter approaching, the season for having a Flu Jab has come around again.  I had mine last evening, for protection against the three main influenza strains that are currently circulating.

I never even left my car!  All I had to do was turn up at my appointment time, check in with the attendant at the entrance, drive up to the nurses’ station (set up in the carpark) and hey presto, all done.  Park up and wait for twenty minutes, then head home.  All very straight forward.

We had an incredible thunderstorm early afternoon yesterday.  There was a lot more lightning than we usually get and the thunder was almost continuous.  I like to count between the flash and the sound to estimate how far away it is (a remnant of my childhood, no idea if it works or not!), but it was too much on top of us to do that. 

We had a short very heavy shower of rain with the storm but that was all – not nearly as much rain as I expected.

Our cats are usually fine with storms but this time they both were upset.  Millie hid in a dark corner, and Mittens raced around trying to find a way to escape.  It must be difficult for animals, not understanding the cause of frighteningly loud noises and flashes of light.  Humans have the logic process to help us deal with them.

A different thunderstorm, but you get the idea

Wishing everyone an enjoyable day 😊

Margaret.

Starting The Day With Oxymel

 

Oxymel is an ancient mixture made of honey and an acid such as apple cider vinegar.  Hippocrates wrote about it for its ability to produce expectoration and promote “freedom of breathing.” 

It used to appear in ancient herbals for use as an immune system booster, often infused with various herbs and/or spices.

Traditionally the mix was made of five parts honey to one of vinegar, but modern taste often dictates a one to one ratio.  A teaspoon of the mixture is stirred into a cup of hot (not boiling) water and drunk on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

My Nana often began her day with a teaspoon of commercial honey/apple cider vinegar mix stirred into a glass of cold water.  She claimed it helped her arthritis, but it never helped mine! 

I dislike the harsh taste of vinegar but I do love honey.

My good friend J is Maori, and his grandmother told them to drink a teaspoon of manuka honey in a glass of hot water first thing every morning.  She said it was good for the heart and cleansed the kidneys, and gave one strength to face the coming day.

Pure manuka honey is expensive so I buy a honey mix that contains manuka.  I stir one teaspoon into my hot water and drink this first thing on most mornings (sometimes it is in the wee hours when I am having trouble sleeping).  

It is a nourishing, gentle way for me to break the night’s time of fasting.  My husband used to love starting his day with a serve of chilled juicy fresh fruit. 

Do you have a favourite thing you like to start your day with?

Margaret 😊

P.S. I love today’s date – 10/10/2020 !

Sometimes Things Happen

 

When you are missing your top teeth, it can be hilarious to watch people’s reactions when they have been chatting away to you and then suddenly realize you are toothless!  But it can also be a bit embarrassing.

Last night a tooth parted company with my denture and I dropped them off early to be repaired, calling at the supermarket on my way home.  I was really happy to wear my mask!!

Sometimes things happen in our lives that we have little or no control over. 

A bit like shingles, which have made an appearance on my body for the third time in my life.  Thankfully, last year I had the vaccine and this bout is so mild that I hardly notice them.  The accompanying fatigue and headache are probably worse than the itch.

On a happier note, our weather is getting warmer and today has been a lovely spring day.  I dropped grand-daughter off at a friend’s home before lunch (it is school holidays at the moment), and will pick her up again some time later today.  The house was in a part of Hamilton that I was unfamiliar with, so I enjoyed driving around some of the streets afterwards and getting a feel for the place.  I even found a charity shop that I didn’t know existed!

Stay happy 😊

Margaret.

 

 The above photos were all taken during springtime in previous years.

A Bit Under The Weather

The last couple of days I have been feeling a bit “under the weather” and not wanting to do much, but am thankfully feeling much better today.

Sometimes I think we just need a day or two to blob out and do next to nothing.  It is like the body needs to take a break every now and then, to relax and rest.

A kind of recharging of the batteries, perhaps to stop us from becoming seriously ill.

This morning has been good.  Son and I got the washing machine connected properly to the hot water and so I was able to do a hot wash of towels (cold water is okay, but sometimes I prefer to use hot water).

When they were hung out I decided to give the washing machine a thorough clean.  That didn’t take long as it wasn’t too dirty.

But the tub beside it!!  When we moved into this place it was obvious a previous inhabitant had used the tub to wash paint brushes as the tub was badly stained and had paint spots all over it.

I thought that we would eventually have to replace the tub (it looked dreadful) but then I read that it could be cleaned with steel wool.

I always thought steel wool would scratch, but nothing ventured nothing gained, and there wasn’t much to lose if it didn’t work.

Half an hour of hard scrubbing with a soapy steel wool pad and the tub looks much more respectable.  It still has more to scrub off, but I am very happy with the results I am getting.

After a week of frosts and sunshine we are now heading into a week of wet weather.  A lot of places are still needing rain, so it will be welcome.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend J

Margaret.

The Dreaded Sniffles

Oh no!  How did that happen?  How does one get The Sniffles in lock-down?

It began with A Sneeze and quickly turned to successive sneezes, bunged nose, gritty weepy eyes, a cough and headache, and a bit of chest discomfit.

A perfectly Normal Cold to go with the change of seasons and usually I wouldn’t think very much of it.  But it has been five weeks since I last set foot off our property.  I’ve not even been for a walk down the street, and both son and grand-daughter are healthy.

  

So how did I “catch” this thing?

Not that it matters, really.  Having a cold is quite common, yet somehow it now makes me feel slightly guilty, like I have been doing something dreadfully wrong.

I know that if I was out in the community people would be looking askance at me – probably cross the road even! – whereas before nobody would have taken any notice.

How times change.

Today my Sniffles are much improved and I went for a short wander around the garden and photographed these flowers.  Colour cheers up even the dullest of days.

Be happy J

Margaret.

Raindrops On Roses

It is so easy to get down and depressed about Covid-19, to worry about ourselves and our loved ones and to wonder what life will be like when all this is over.  If you or a loved one have tested positive then this burden is even greater.

It is quite natural and perfectly normal to be concerned over events in our life that we have little or no control over.  But is there a way we can combat our fears and put our minds back on to happier lines?

Do you remember the song that Julie Andrews sang to the children in the movie, The Sound of Music?  The children had been frightened of a thunderstorm and these words were part of the song she sang to comfort them:

RAINDROPS ON ROSES AND WHISKERS ON KITTENS

BRIGHT COPPER KETTLES AND WARM WOOLEN MITTENS

BROWN PAPER PACKAGES TIED UP WITH STRINGS

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS

WHEN THE DOG BITES, WHEN THE BEE STINGS

WHEN I’M FEELING SAD

I SIMPLY REMEMBER MY FAVOURITE THINGS

AND THEN I DON’T FEEL SO BAD

What favourite things do you have that give you warm fuzzies and happy feelings when you encounter them?  They might be photos, music, hearing birds singing, sitting in the sunshine, or one hundred and one other things. 

Thinking about things we love takes our mind off our fears.  It is good, therefore, to take some time out, to slow down, to ponder on things we love and to remember happy times.

On my Facebook page I have begun posting a “happy” picture every day.  I got this idea from one of my sisters-in-law who posted a picture of a beach and suggested we all did the same, so that we could combat some of the negative things being said.

I am posting some pictures today that I intend to share on Facebook over the coming few days.  I hope they will remind you of joyful times in your own life and help to put more smiles on your face.

Remember to tell your family how much you love and appreciate them.  

Spread the happiness J

Margaret.