Month: December 2024

Week 49 of 2024

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Another good night, when I woke at 5am and had a shower, I am zoning out a bit this morning, don’t know why my BGL is ok at 5.30 it was 5.1 and it was 22 degrees, it is supposed to be another hot day.

Tim and I went over to Lake Fair so Tim could get new work pants and shorts. I also went to the Reject shop and got a few things. After that we went and picked up the new air con.

It got hot a top temp of 32 degrees.

Sue made a chocolate cake and divided it between herself, Sandy and me, Tim tried it and really liked it, and Tim doesn’t as a rule eat cake. However, he does eat lamingtons which is cake.

Steps: 8,523

Another pretty good night, we are in for another stinking hot day with a temp of around 32 degrees. At the moment it is 19 degrees, I forgot to test my blood before eating so don’t know what that was.

I am feeling with it this morning and I am getting things done, little things around the house like vacuuming and hanging a few more Christmas decorations, cleaning the kitchen bench off and going online and modifying my grocery order for tomorrow. All in all, I am feeling good this morning.

I started to feel drained and worn out by lunch time, maybe I should have tried to have nap, but I didn’t.

When I went to meet Sam at 2pm it was 33 degrees.

I turned the air con off at 5.30pm but left the fans going as it wasn’t as hot.

Steps:10,122

Had a so-so night, took me a while to settle but once I did, I slept well, till the alarm went off. At the moment it is nice with the temp of 22 degrees my BGL was 5.1

By lunch time it was 31 degrees.

When I went to meet Sam, I saw Denni & Landon walking home from the high school, it was their orientation day. It was great seeing them.

While I was waiting it wasn’t that hot, it was very warm but not hot.

I was able to turn the air con off at 5.30 and open the doors and turn the ceiling fan on instead.

Steps: 4,696

Had a good night slept straight through, however, I woke with a headache which isn’t good.

It is a pleasant 22 degrees this morning my BGL was 5.5.

When I went up to the top of the driveway with Sam it was really windy, and the wind was on the cold side.

I turned the air con on at 12.30 only needed it on till 3pm.

It is 10.40pm and I woke up after about an hour or so sleep very restless, so I am using the powerfit before returning to bed.

Steps:7,782

After using the powerfit and returning to bed I slept well.

When I tried to ring Sam there was no answer, so I ended up ringing Jess who said that Sam wasn’t going to school as there was either the swimming carnival or sports carnival. I then sent Joel a text to make sure he knew Sam wasn’t going to school.

Sue drove me to the doctors and went to the post office for me and I went and got fresh bread.

Seems Sue told Tasha about a lady at Baker’s Delight that she felt had an issue with serving me, Sue said she gave me a dirty look and seemed annoyed that it took me so long to find the money for my purchase. I might add I didn’t notice anything, but I was focused on what I was doing and not falling over.

So, Tasha rang Baker’s Delight and lodged a complaint about the woman, as way of saying sorry I get a free loaf of bread and a Danish on my next visit. I don’t know how I feel about it all. 

Steps:6,045

After another good night, I woke only when the alarm went off, Tim gets to sleep in as he doesn’t have to be up till 7am.

It is a lovely 21 degrees and my BGL is 4.8

I went with Sue so she could adopt a kitten, an 8-week-old male called Arti, she adopted it from a shelter in Maitland it was a 45-minute drive. There was a lot of paperwork to fill out, in fact she had to write her name, address, phone number and email address 8 times.

It has been a stinking hot with a top temp of 33 degrees.

Steps:2,000 (steps are low due to unstable knee and the heat)

I was unsettled last night till around midnight, so when the alarm went off, I got up and took my tablets and went back to bed. I hoped to stay there till around 6am, as Tim said he would drive me down to have blood taken at 7am and as it is a fasting test I can’t have anything to eat till after it is done.

Went and had blood taken there was 7 people in front of me, but it didn’t take to long.

Another sticky, muggy day, need the air con on early to suck the moisture out of the air.

Tim took Jess’s car for rego check which it passed, so she is happy about that.

Steps: 3,604

Australia’s Anthem

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This is the first post about a country’s national anthem and of course the country is Australia, our national anthem is Advance Australia Fair it was written and composed by Peter Dodds McCormick in 1878.

It has been our national anthem since 19 April 1984.

Before then it was God Save the Queen.

Advance Australia Fair” was chosen as Australia’s national anthem after a series of polls and a plebiscite:

In 1974, The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted a poll of 60,000 people, with 51.4% of respondents choosing “Advance Australia Fair” as their preferred anthem. So, it was adopted as the Australian National Anthem, but in 1976 ‘God Save The Queen’ was reinstated.

Then in 1977, The Australian Electoral Office conducted a poll as part of a referendum on various issues. Over 7 million people voted, with 43.29% choosing “Advance Australia Fair”, over three other contenders, including “Waltzing Matilda.”

In 1984 The Governor-General proclaimed “Advance Australia Fair” as the national anthem, along with the verses written by the National Australia Day Council.

Some of the original words, however, have been altered for the official version—including the first line, changed from “Australia’s sons, let us rejoice”, to “Australians all let us rejoice.”

In 2021 the second line was changed from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free” to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their history.

The song is about Australia’s strength and beauty and references the migration of European settlers. The word “fair” has been the subject of controversy, with some arguing it means beautiful, while others suggest it has links to being white.

The song originally had four verses but only the first two are used in the anthem.

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are one and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea.
Our land abounds in Nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
“Advance Australia Fair.”


Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
“Advance Australia Fair.”

A bit about diabetes

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

This week we are looking at diabetes, I thought I had written about it before but couldn’t find one, so here is one.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly, resulting in high blood sugar levels.

There are two main types of diabetes type one and type two but there is also Gestational diabetes which is diagnosed during pregnancy with a blood sugar test, however after giving birth this type often goes away. However, having it increases your chances of developing type two later on.

Type one is often diagnosed in childhood, but it can develop at any age. It’s less common than type 2 diabetes, affecting about 5–10% of people with diabetes. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. No, you are not born with it as I have heard some people say.

Then there is type two with this one there isn’t a clear pattern of inheritance, but the risk increases with the number of affected family members. This is likely due to shared genetic factors and lifestyle influences, such as diet and exercise habits. Other risk factors include being overweight, having high blood pressure, and being older. 

In both types of diabetes, sugar builds up in the bloodstream because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. 

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:

  • Urination: Frequent urination, including bedwetting in children
  • Thirst: Excessive thirst
  • Weight loss: Unintentional weight loss
  • Hunger: Excessive hunger
  • Vision: Blurred vision
  • Fatigue: Feeling very tired
  • Skin: Very dry skin
  • Healing: Sores that heal slowly
  • Infections: More infections than usual
  • Nausea: Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains
  • Mood: Feeling irritable or having other mood changes 

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop over a few weeks or months and can be severe. They typically start mild and get progressively worse. 

Type 1 diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes, blood glucose monitoring, and medications, such as insulin. 

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

  • Thirst: Feeling very thirsty 
  • Urination: Urinating more often than usual, particularly at night 
  • Vision: Blurred vision 
  • Fatigue: Feeling tired and lethargic 
  • Weight: Unintentional weight loss or loss of muscle bulk 
  • Healing: Slow-healing cuts, ulcers, sores, or other infections 
  • Hunger: Increased hunger

Symptoms can be mild and may take many years to be noticed. Some people with type 2 diabetes may not have any symptoms at first.

As I don’t like doing really long posts I will split into two or three parts, so will end this here.

SS Allara Part 2

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Time for part two of the torpedoing of the SS Allara.

Straight after the attack the wireless operator sent out 40 distress calls, but the ships aerials had been blown away. After the crew reboarded the ship, the wireless operator rigged a replacement and sent an SOS.

                    Surviving crew of SS Allara

The crew worked the pumps full-time to keep the vessel afloat while two navy tugs made their way to rescue the crew, they arrived alongside at 9.45am.

Later that day the tug Heroic from Newcastle took over the tow, when they arrived at the port people were shocked at how badly damaged the stern was and that it was still afloat.

The seaman lined the rails while the dead were carried ashore, then the walking wounded including a seaman named Paddy who hobbled down the gangway with an injured foot and permanent grin to his crewmates yelling “we’ll be seeing you” with Paddy replying that he would be back.

In the waterfront hotel the men were drinking rum and milk, 16yr old Frank Grant a deckhand was blushing not because he was drinking lemonade but because his shipmates were making a big deal of how he had been blown right out of his bunk then jumped to his feet and dragged a wounded mate up on deck.

The Allara was towed to Sydney for repairs and was back in service by April 1943. The ship remained in service till the 1950’s.

                    The Japanese Submarine I-75

The Japanese vessel I-75 continued on its destructive path sinking two merchant ships and damaging two more before leaving Australian waters. In 1943 it was sunk by an American aircraft carrier the USS Liscome Bay which later that same year was itself lost with all hands.

New Guinea Singing Dog

~ joannerambling ~ 10 Comments

This week are looking at the New Guinea Singing Dog, not an animal I have heard of before, how about of you?

The New Guinea singing dog or New Guinea Highland dog is an ancient lineage of dog found in the New Guinea Highlands, on the island of New Guinea. Once considered to be a separate species in its own right, under the name Canis hallstromi, it is closely related to the Australian dingo.

They are thought to be one of the oldest breeds of canine, with some evidence suggesting that they may have been present on the island of New Guinea for over 5,000 years. It was thought that they went extinct in the wild in the 1970s, but in 2018, DNA evidence confirmed the presence of a wild group in New Guinea.

Does it really sing? Well, when it comes to sounds, they really have their own voice! Most of the singing dog’s vocalizations are like that of the wolf, dingo, and domestic dog, but their howl is incredibly unique. By using Sonograms, it is believed that their howl is like the song of the humpback whale.

They are a small to medium size dog species. They have a wedge-shaped head and triangular, upright ears. These dogs have a soft, thick coat and a bushy tail. The eyes of the singing dog are reflective and glow bright green in low light conditions.

They have a distinctive appearance, which includes a dense, long coat that ranges in colour from red to black and brown. These dogs have a small, compact body and a wedge-shaped head with pointed ears. They have a high metabolism and require a diet rich in protein to maintain their energy levels. Their legs, joints, and spine are highly flexible making them skilled climbers.

They are known to live up to 15 years in captivity, but it is unknown how long they live in the wild.

They prey on small mammals, small reptiles, and birds; they even try to hunt 3.5-foot-tall (1-meter-tall) dwarf cassowaries! New Guinea singing dogs have a strong hunting drive and fearless nature, and they are highly curious.

They are not pack animals but are solitary animals but may forage in pairs. They are known to be shy and elusive and live in mountains and thick forests of New Guinea and Indonesia. They are also excellent climbers and can jump high like cats.

You can have a New Guinea Singing Dog as a pet, but they can be challenging to fully domesticate and may not be the best fit for most families.

They are intelligent, lively, and affectionate, but they can be difficult to housetrain and are not very socially active. They can also be fearful and unreliable off-leash. They do best with experienced pet parents who are familiar with the breed. 

It is estimated that only 200-300 of these animals are in existence today. 

Burundi

~ joannerambling ~ 5 Comments

Ok let’s move onto central and southern Africa and area that includes Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic, South Africa, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Let’s start with Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, it is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the junction between the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa, with population of over 14 million people.

It is considered by some to be the poorest country in the world and is one of the least developed countries. Over 1 million of its people are facing crisis levels of hunger today. This is due to poverty, climate shocks, soaring inflation and fuel shortages.

The town of Gitega, located in the central part of Burundi as the Political Capital, while Bujumbura, which is in the southwestern of the country, adjacent to the Lake Tanganyika is the Economic Capital.

Prior to 2019 Bujumbura served as Burundi’s national capital, but legislation passed that year designated Gitega as the country’s political capital and Bujumbura as the economic capital. The transfer of government functions to Gitega proceeded in the following years.

The original flag was adopted after the country’s independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962. It went through several revisions and now consists of a white saltire which divides the field into alternating red and green areas. The centre of the saltire merges into a white disk, on which there are three red solid six-pointed stars outlined in green. The current ratio is 3:5, which was changed from 2:3 on 27 September 1982.

The franc is the currency of Burundi. It is nominally subdivided into 100 centimes, although coins have never been issued in centimes since Burundi began issuing its own currency.

Burundi’s political system is that of a presidential representative democratic republic based upon a multi-party state. The president of Burundi is the head of state and head of government. The president is elected by absolute majority vote through a two round system. The supreme court is the highest court of the land. Judges are nominated by the judicial service commission and then appointed by the president with the approval of the senate.

Burundi has a diverse religious population, with the majority identifying as Christian and a minority identifying as Muslim: 

Christianity is the most common religion in Burundi, with about three-fifths of the population identifying as Roman Catholic and more than one-eighth identifying as Protestant. 

Islam is a minority religion in Burundi, with Muslims making up less than one-twentieth of the population. The majority of Muslims in Burundi are Sunni, but there are also Shia and Ismaili communities. 

A large minority of the population, including some Roman Catholics, practice traditional religions. 

The government of Burundi has granted tax waivers to religious groups for the purchase of materials for development projects and for imported religious items. The government has also provided opportunities for religious leaders to preach about scriptures and moral issues. 

This is another country that is not considered a safe destination for tourists due to a number of risks, such as a threat of terrorism, political violence, violent crime, including mugging, purse snatching, pickpocketing, assault, carjacking, home invasion, grenade attacks, and armed robbery and there is a risk of kidnapping for ransom, and criminals have targeted foreigners in the past.

Not somewhere I would go.

Week 48 of 2024

~ joannerambling ~ 5 Comments

 I had a great night, slept straight through, got up and had my shower and got dressed for the day.

Another hot day here had to turn the air con on around 2pm.

Kathy came over for a visit she was on her own, I asked her to change the sheets on my bed before she left which was much quicker than if I did it on my own.

I am not in a very happy mood today, don’t know why.

It is 11.20pm, I went to bed at 8.30 pretty much straight to sleep for an hour, when I had to pee, back to bed a back to sleep till 10.25 when I had to pee again had trouble get back to sleep then at 11.10, I had to pee again when I went back to bed the uncontrollable moving start so after 10 minutes I got up to use the powerfit and will sit up for half an hour before returning to bed and hopefully to sleep.

Steps: 10,209

I had a not so good night; I am starting this at 12.10am.

After returning to bed, I settled down and slept for 2hrs before needing to pee again, then back to sleep for another 1.5hrs till the alarm went off.

It is 18 degrees and my BGL is 5.0

I turned the air con on at 11.15am, when the temp reached 27 degrees.

I am so exhausted this afternoon; I am also drenched in sweat.

Steps: 8,488

A good night sleep went to bed at 8.30 and slept through till the alarm went off.

It is 18 degrees and my BGL is 5.0

Another very hot day with a top temp of 32 degrees.

Tasha was supposed to go to the shops for me but she didn’t so I asked Sue if she could take me down the road tomorrow, she said she would.

Tim is stressing out over how his diabetes is going to affect his driving authority. I told him worrying about it will not achieve anything and may make things worse.

Steps: 8,254

I slept well, Tim was already up when I got up, he said he had been up since unable to sleep.

Around 6am we had no water, it returned around 7.30am. it was 21 degrees at 6am and my BGL was 5.1.

Sue arrived just after 8am to take me to the shops, she said that Tasha rang her at 6.30 asking if she could go to Sue’s place for a shower before Sue drove4 her into the Tafe. Sue said she could.

By the time we had finished shopping and went back to the car it was stinking hot, we had been at the shops about an hour. I realised after I got home that I forgot to go to the post office, oh well I will do it later.

My walker isn’t the best with one wonky wheel that makes me worry it will come off and I will end up either falling over or becoming stuck while walking to and from the post box to post my letters off. So Tim suggested I swap to the old one that is out the back after some thought I agreed so Tim went and got it and it needed hosing off and there was a red back spider in the compartment under the seat. I suggested we swap the seat and the compartment under it around which is what we did. So, I will see how things go.

Steps: 7,156

Slept straight through the night again, woke up feeling heavy headed but that will pass, it is currently 22degrees and my BGL was 4.9

It was raining when I went up with Sam to meet the transport, but I had my red rain poncho on so all ok. It is very humid, and I had to turn the air con on as I was dripping in sweat while hanging the washing on the clothes hoists to dry. It is now 9.30am and 27 degrees.

By around 10.30 I was able to turn the air con off, but I left the doors closed and curtain drawn which kept the house cool enough.

This afternoon I was cleaning the sliding glass doors so I can put my Christmas decorations on them and slipped my thongs on to walk outside. However, as I have a habit of not always picking my feet up when I walk, I stumbled twice in them and once due to my feet being so sweaty so three times in all. So, when I went to meet Sam, I put on some thin stocking socks and walked up shoeless, thus being much more stable.

Steps: 6,761

Slept straight through the night again, woke up feeling heavy headed but that will pass, it is currently 22degrees and my BGL was 4.9

It is a lovely cool morning, I, slept all, I got up once to pee but straight back to sleep.

At 5.30am it was 20 degrees and my BGL was 4.8.

The top temp was only 24 degrees, but it has been a very humid day.

I had just ironed Tim’s work shirts and was just sitting at the computer when I started to feel off, I tested my blood it was 3.2. So, I got up and walked into the kitchen for food, I hadn’t had lunch yet. I quickly realised I was not right; I don’t know how long I stood in the kitchen just not with it. I walked back into the lounge room and picked up the phone and just looked at it for a bit before I rang Tasha. She came straight down and dished up my fruit I was having for lunch, topped up my drink watched me eat a bit. When I started to look better, she left. I was fine after I ate.

I even managed to put Christmas decorations on the sliding

doors.

Steps:8,246