Hello everyone, this week we are having a look at the Kit Fox, anyone heard of this fox before, I haven’t till now.
The kit fox is a fox species that inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. These foxes are the smallest of the four species of Vulpes occurring in North America and are among the smallest of the vulpines worldwide.
It has a narrow nose and a small, slim body. The foot pads of kit foxes are small by comparison with other canids. They weigh only about three to six pounds, making them about the size of a full-grown jackrabbit, and the smallest fox in North America.
It is specially adapted for its desert habitat. Its large, close-set ears help dissipate heat, keeping it cool in the hot desert.
They closely resemble swift foxes found on the eastern plains of Colorado but have larger ears and a more angular appearance.
They live for up to seven years in the wild, while captive animals can live up to 12 years.
Their primary food is kangaroo rats, but it also actively hunts white-footed mice, pocket mice, ground squirrels, rabbits and ground-nesting birds. During certain times of the year, kit foxes will also eat insects. They are nocturnal animals finding shelter in dens to avoid the heat of the day and hunt at night.
They rarely drink water since they get all the water and electrolyte they need from their diet. They also have a digestive tract that is super-efficient at absorbing every last millilitre of water from the food they eat.
Coyotes are the biggest predatory threat to kit foxes. Some estimates suggest that three out of four kit fox deaths can be associated with coyote attacks.
In September and October, the female will prepare a natal den, where the male will meet the female. Pair bonds last at least one breeding season. After birth, parents bring food to the dens for the pups. The pups emerge from the dens when they are about five weeks old then forage alongside the parents once they reach four months, by seven months they are ready to leave their parents. They mate for life and have intricate family situations where kits from previous years often stay with the family and help with the new pups.
Hello Monday, this week we are having a look at the Republic of the Congo. The currency used is the Central African Franc and the country has a population of around 6 million. The official language is French.
The Republic of Congo, also called Congo-Brazzaville, is a central African nation with rainforest reserves that are habitats for gorillas.
The capital city is Brazzaville, it lies across the Congo River from Kinshasa, the capital of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Yes, Congo is split in two the Republic of Congo is much smaller the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both countries are named for the Congo River, the two countries share a lot of traditions, languages like Lingala and Kikongo, dishes and other things.
Brazzaville’s highlights include traditional craft markets and the mid-20th-century Basilique Sainte-Anne, with a green-tiled roof and spire. Just outside the city are the Congo Rapids. The cylindrical Nabemba Tower overlooks the river in the city centre. The marble Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Memorial contains the remains of the city’s founder.
The flag has a diagonal yellow stripe that separates a green triangle
on the left from a red triangle on the right. The flag’s colours and shapes have symbolic meanings, Green is for agriculture and forests, Yellow is for friendship and the nobility of the people, Red well that is unexplained.
The Republic of the Congo is a secular country with no official religion. The constitution protects freedom of religion and belief and prohibits the use of religion for political purposes.
The majority of the population in the Republic of the Congo is Christian, with Catholicism being the largest denomination.
Other religions in the country include Traditional African religions and Islam. The country also has independent African churches, including the Kimbanguist Church, the Matsouana Church, and the Bougist Church.
The Republic of Congo has had a multiparty political system since the early 1990’s. The voting age in the Republic of Congo is 18 years.
The Republic of Congo is a Presidential Republic whereby the President acts as both Head of State and Head of the Government. The new constitution (adopted by referendum in 2002), established a seven year presidential term and a bicameral national parliament.
I had another good night, sleeping straight through. It is a pleasant 18 degrees here although we are in for another pretty hot day.
Tim said he should be home by around 7pm, last night he thought he would be home by 10pm but it 11pm before he got home.
He arrived home at 6.15pm
Steps: 9,471
Took me a while to settle last night but once I did, I slept well. Although when I got up at 5am I still felt tired, so I went back to bed for half an hour.
It is a nice 18 degrees; it is supposed to get to 33 degrees. My BGL was 5.0
I booked in to have my hearing checked on the 28th at 9am.
I turned the air con on at 10am, it has been a hot day the temp got up to 35 degrees. 7,670
I had a good night, woke to rain and much cooler with the temp at 22 degrees, although I still had to turn the fan on. My BGL was 4.9.
Sue is taking Archi to be desexed, I did want to go with her, but Tim is working, and I have groceries coming sometime this morning.
Sue was annoyed that she had only been home 45-minutes when the vet rang, and she could pick him up in an hours’ time. So, she pretty much had to drive straight back as it is nearly an hours’ drive from her place to the vet. If they had told her that it, he would only need to be there 90-minutes she would have taken a book and went to Macca’s for a coffee and just waited.
It has been raining pretty much all day, it has also felt sticky unless I have the doors open.
Steps:4,935
SAM’S BIRTHDAY SHE IS 17 TODAY
I had a good night, woke when the alarm went off, I have both front and back doors open, however due to the wind I have the screen doors closed.
It is 20 degrees and my BGL was 5.1
It has been raining on and off all day and it is a cold day.
Sam came down and I gave her a birthday card with $20 in it, she had Bailey with her, that’s the new boyfriend.
Steps:8,264
I woke to the sound of rain again, and it is cold still. I had a hot shower. I am glad we still have the heater in the bathroom as I needed it this morning.
It is 18 degrees and raining, my BGL was 5.1
Tim has changed the position of the lounge at first, I wasn’t sure it gave us more room but after I moved a couple of things it does.
Not as cold as yesterday and it has stopped raining, I am hoping tomorrow it isn’t raining.
Steps:7,808
There was no sound of rain this morning the ground is mostly dry so that’s good and it’s not cold nor is it hot. Only supposed to reach 24 degrees today, at the moment it is 19 degrees and my BGL was 5.1.
Sue drove me the doctors, he wants me to have an Xray on my left elbow and a CT scan of my left knee.
After the doctors we went to Big W and the Reject shop I managed to get a few Chrissy things that have been put away till next Christmas.
Yet again this afternoon I am feeling sad, and I don’t know why.
Steps:6,962
Another good night and nice morning it’s 20 degrees, my BGL is 4.9 and my body will not stop moving.
Kathy and the girls came over around 1pm for a visit it was nice seeing them.
I asked Tim if he would go to Maccas for me, but he said he has been drinking so he can’t. So, I asked Tasha if she got my bread roll, she said she thought Tim would get it, but I didn’t ask him, so he didn’t.
This put me in a right foul mood for the rest of the day.
Since a couple of you asked about Murdering Gully and because I am also interested in how it got that name, I have none some research and this is what I found out. Nothing I could find stuff about a place call Murdering Gully in Victoria but the only site that information about Murdering Gully in my area was the Newcastle Herald site and they wanted me to sign up for a paid subscription which I did not want to do. So, I do not know why it was called that.
Moving on today is Friday and that means it is time for a national anthem and since I wrote about Angola on Monday, I will share their anthem today.
“Angola Avante” was composed by Ruy Mingas. The lyrics to the song were penned by Manuel Rui Alves Monteiro, an author who studied in Huambo and is affiliated with both the country’s Writer Union and Union of Artists and Composers.
The song was officially designated as the country’s national anthem in 1975, when the country gained independence on 11 November that year. It is enshrined under Article 164 of Angola’s constitution.
Its lyrics refer to several key events in the history of the MPLA. However, this has been rendered “obsolete” since the end of the one-party state in 1992. As a result, there have been efforts to modify the national anthem, along with other national symbols. However, none of these have come to fruition, and the anthem remains unchanged as of 2014.
Portuguese
O Pátria, nunca mais esqueceremos Os heróis do quatro de Fevereio. O Pátria, nós saudamos os teus filhos Tombados pela nossa Independência. Honramos o passado e a nossa História, Construindo no Trabalho o Homem novo, Honramos o passado e a nossa História, Construindo no Trabalho o Homem novo.
CHORUS: Angola, avante! Revolução, pelo Poder Popular! Pátria Unida, Liberdade, Um só povo, uma só Nação! Angola, avante! Revolução, pelo Poder Popular! Pátria Unida, Liberdade, Um só povo, uma só Nação!
Levantemos nossas vozes libertadas Para glóriados povos africanos. Marchemos, combatentes angolanos, Solidários com os povos oprimidos. Orgulhosos lutaremos Pela Paz Com as forças progressistas do mundo. Orgulhosos lutaremos Pela Paz Com as forças progressistas do mundo.
English Translation
O Fatherland, we shall never forget The heroes of the Fourth of February. O Fatherland, we salute your sons Who died for our Independence. We honour the past and our history As by our work we build the New Man. We honour the past and our history As by our work we build the New Man.
CHORUS: Forward, Angola! Revolution through the power of the People! A United Country, Freedom, One People, one Nation! Forward, Angola! Revolution through the power of the People! A United Country, Freedom, One People, one Nation!
2. Let us raise our liberated voices To the glory of the peoples of Africa. We shall march, Angolan fighters, In solidarity with oppressed peoples. We shall fight proudly for Peace Along with the progressive forces of the world. We shall fight proudly for Peace Along with the progressive forces of the world.
This week we are looking at the treatment for bipolar disorder. There are two major parts to managing bipolar disorder: acute management and long-term management.
Treatment needs to be ongoing and tailored for each person.
You also need to remember that treatment for bipolar disorder needs to factor in any conditions you have such as anxiety or substance use disorder. Other medical illnesses such as hypertension, obesity and thyroid problems sometimes occur together with bipolar disorder.
Mental health practitioners need to work out your treatment according to whether you’re experiencing hypomania, mania, depression or euthymia (absence of depression or mania). A highly qualified mental health practitioner needs to prescribe your treatment. Each person needs a treatment plan tailored for their individual needs, as everyone with bipolar disorder experiences it differently.
Do not try to self-medicate or develop your own treatment plan.
Acute management aims to stabilise someone currently experiencing mania or depression.
Medications like mood stabilisers and antipsychotics are the main focus of acute management of bipolar mania and depression. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be effective for treatment-resistant acute mood episodes, especially in people experiencing depression with psychotic features.
Long-term management involves maintenance and prevention of relapse, and optimised functional recovery socially and at work. Medications and psychological and lifestyle approaches are aimed at providing long-term prevention of relapse, building resilience, and improving quality of life.
There are specially trained mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists who can help you with bipolar disorder
You need a thorough check from a health professional before treatment is prescribed and specially prescribed medication is the most effective way to treat and manage bipolar disorder. However, psychological and lifestyle therapies can be helpful additions to your treatment.
Some may experience ‘rapid cycling’ can go between depression and mania a few times a week (some even cycle within the same day). While others might have mood changes less often and less severely.
There are also some who can have very severe episodes of mania with psychotic symptoms (hallucinating or delusions) and need hospitalisation.
Some people can experience normal moods in between their swings, though the majority of individuals experience some low-level symptoms between episodes.
Chichester Dam Well, it’s Wednesday so time again for a little about the history of Newcastle in New South Wales, which is where I live, kinda. I live in the council of Lake Macquarie not Newcastle.
Anyway this week we will have a brief look at Newcastle water.
Newcastle’s earliest of fresh water were wells and springs, as the population grew these soon became inadequate and a pipeline from the Walka waterworks at Maitland took over as the main supply in the 1880’s.
Chichester Dam Construction
In 1892 The Hunter District Water and Sewerage Board was established, taking over from local councils the job of building regional infrastructure.
It soon became apparent that the supply from the Hunter River wasn’t going to be adequate for the growing population and industry. So, they built Chichester Dam, near Dungog, with working starting during the first World War and was completed with water flowing into the city in 1923. It gravitated to big reservoirs mainly those at Waratah that fed the city’s steelworks and other related industries.
Hunter Water Board Pipeline Plan
So, for the first time in years Newcastle had a truly reliable water supply.
Just as important as water supply is sewerage, before the city had a proper sewerage system “nightsoil” had to be carted to depots. Otherwise, home burial of sewerage caused problems, contaminating water and spreading disease. Early council sewers emptied into the harbour.
If anyone is wondering what the term “nightsoil” means it is this, human excrement collected at night from buckets, cesspools, and privies.
The men who did the job of collecting the cans of human waste were called either “sanny men” or the “dunny man”. The dunny man would usually access clients’ outhouses via the back lane and would visit every night to ensure a clean outhouse for the next morning.
I couldn’t find when the use of this system finished but I do know that Tim can remember the “dunny man” coming and picking up the can from their dunny when he was very young. So I think it was sometime in the 1960’s.
An ocean outfall was seen as the answer with Bar Beach being the first choice by authorities, however political pressure shifted it to Merewether and plans were laid for a new treatment plant and outfall at Murdering Gully.
It’s hard to understand the sheer scale of the task of building the city’s sewers and the hidden pipelines which is in some cases a really big task to undertake.
The new outfall began working in 1936 it is around this time that the Water Board stop using the name Murdering Gully changing it to Burwood Beach.
This week we are looking at the Artic Fox, which is also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, is a small species of fox native to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and common throughout the Arctic tundra biome.
The Arctic tundra biome is a vast, dry, and rocky region that stretches from the Arctic Circle to the polar ice cap, and includes parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, and northern Europe.
It is well adapted to living in cold environments, and is best known for its thick, warm fur that is also used as camouflage. It has a large and very fluffy tail. Its body length ranges from 46 to 68 cm (18 to 27 in), with a generally rounded body shape to minimize the escape of body heat.
In the wild some do not live past their first year, but others live for 3 or 4 years in the wild and up to 14 years in captivity.
They prey on many small creatures such as lemmings, voles, ringed seal pups, fish, waterfowl, and seabirds. It also eats carrion, berries, seaweed, and insects and such.
They form monogamous pairs usually mate for life and during the breeding season and they stay together to raise their young in complex underground dens. Occasionally, other family members may assist in raising their young.
Their natural predators are golden eagles, artic wolves, polar bears, wolverines, red foxes and grizzly bears.
They must endure great temperature differences between the external environment and their internal core temperature. To prevent heat loss, they curl up tightly tucking its legs and head under its body and behind its furry tail. This position gives the fox the smallest surface area to volume ratio and protects the least insulated areas. Arctic foxes also stay warm by getting out of the wind and residing in their dens. Although the Arctic foxes are active year-round and do not hibernate, they attempt to preserve fat by reducing their locomotor activity. They build up their fat reserves in the autumn, sometimes increasing their body weight by more than 50%. This provides greater insulation during the winter and a source of energy when food is scarce.
The Arctic is home to more than 630,000 Arctic foxes and they are not currently at risk from extinction, but populations are declining. Arctic foxes are well adapted to winter temperatures of -34C. They are born with thick fur and their snout, ears and legs are short to conserve heat.
Well, it is time to return to my normal run of the mill posts, kicking off with the first country of the year and it is Angola.
The country is officially the Republic of Angola it is a country on the west-central coast of Southern Africa.
The country has a varied terrain which encompasses tropical Atlantic beaches, a labyrinthine system of rivers and Sub-Saharan desert that extends across the border into Namibia. The country’s colonial history is reflected in its Portuguese-influenced cuisine and its landmarks including Fortaleza de São Miguel, a fortress built by the Portuguese in 1576 to defend Luanda.
It is the second-largest Portuguese speaking country in both size and population, it has a population of 38.5 million, 10 million of which live in the capital of Luanda.
Which is a port city on the west coast of Southern Africa. A seafront promenade known as the Marginal runs alongside Luanda Bay. Nearby is the well-preserved 16th-century Fortress of São Miguel, which now contains the Museum of the Armed Forces. The fort has views of the harbor and the Ilha do Cabo, a long, thin peninsula in the bay that’s home to beaches, bars and restaurants.
It is the seventh largest country in Africa and is divided into 18 provinces.
Their flag came into use when the nation gained independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975. It is split horizontally into an upper red half and a lower black half with an emblem resting at the centre. It features a yellow half gear wheel crossed by a machete and crowned with a star.
As outlined in their constitution, the red half of the flag signifies bloodshed – during Angola’s colonial period, independence struggle, and in defence of the country. The black half symbolizes Africa. In the central emblem, the gear represents industrial workers and production, the machete represents peasantry, agricultural production and the armed struggle, and the red star, symbolizes international solidarity and progress. The yellow colour of the emblem symbolizes the country’s wealth.
The currency used is the kwanza there have been four different currencies using the name kwanza since 1977. The currency derives its name from the Kwanza River.
The prevalent religion is Christianity, followed by traditional faiths. Roman Catholics make up the largest portion of the population. There are other Christian denominations such as Protestants, such as the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the World, Seventh-day Adventists, Methodists, Baptists.
Indigenous beliefs are still very important in Angolan culture and are often practiced in addition to Christianity.
Muslims, Jews, Baha’is, and other religious groups make up about 9% of the population.
The government has become more tolerant of religious organizations since the formal abandonment of Marxism. However, the government still uses administrative control, co-optation, and restrictions to manage religious organizations. For example, in 2019, the police conducted a campaign against illicit traders and non-recognized churches, which some say called into question religious freedom in Angola.
Angola’s National Institute for Religious Affairs (INAR) is responsible for the registration of religious groups and the oversight of religious activities. The law requires religious groups to submit documents defining their organizational structure, location, and other information. Religious doctrine must also conform to the principles and rights outlined in the constitution.
The current political regime in Angola is presidentialism, in which the President of the Republic is also head of state and government; it is advised by a Council of Ministers, which together with the President form the national executive power.
Like other African nations it is not a safe place to visit.
I had a so-so good night, woke at 11.30pm to pee, couldn’t settle so got up and used the powerfit at 12.30am then went back to bed and settled straight away.
It is a cool morning with the temp being 20 degrees, my BGL is 5.0.
Tim and I went to Aldi and to the Plaza this morning.
This arvo we attempted to set up the new sound system and after trying and trying I got fed up. We will try again tomorrow.
Tim taking in Jess’s black work pants they are to lose around the waist.
Steps: 9,652
I had another good night, sleeping straight through the night, it is a nice 19 degrees this morning my BGL was 5.1.
By 10am it was 27 degrees, and I turned the air con on.
Tried again to get the sound bar to work, tomorrow I will check out instructions on YouTube.
I went to bed at around 9pm but wasn’t able go to sleep so I got up at 9.30pm and stayed up for an hour. At 10.20pm Blain walked in looking for butter and shredded cheese, I gave him the cheese and a tub of margarine as the only butter I had was in the fridge rock hard.
10,108
After I went back to bed at 10.30pm I went straight off to sleep, getting up once at 3.40am to pee then straight back to sleep till my alarm went off.
As I have breakie it is a lovely 20 degrees, my BGL was 5.2 and I have the front and back sliding doors open.
Tim is at work; he will be home around 9am.
I turned the air con on at midday, around 1pm I got a headache and started to feel tired.
I went to bed at 8.50 but I was unable to settle so I got up at 9.30 and used the powerfit and update the diary entry
Steps: 9,408
After I went back to bed at 10.30pm I went straight off to sleep, getting up when the alarm went off.
When I took my tablets this morning it felt like one got stuck somewhere in my chest causing discomfort, but I can still eat and drink and hopefully the feeling I have will go away.
It is 19 degrees and my BGL was 4.8
I had a hot flush come over me, so I wet and applied the cooling towel it makes a big difference.
I turned the air con on at 9am just as Tim was getting home, the way he said are you hot annoyed me, yeah, I’m hot, why because it is 27 degrees.
New Year’s Day
I had a good night, and this morning I am doing ok, had my shower and I am now dressed and fed and ready for my day.
It is 17 degrees and my BGL was 5.1
It has been a stinking hot day. The temp reached 35 degrees.
Tim hung the framed photos gave us for Christmas, I need to buy a few more photo frames.
At 7pm because A Current Affair wasn’t on Tim put a movie on without asking me if it was ok, when I asked why he did that he got really pissed. I explained we normally watch something we are both interested in between 7 & 8pm. He started going that he is always watching my shows, which is wrong he may tell me to pick but I always pick something I know he is interested in, when I said that he naturally got even more pissed. Tim is a sulker and won’t talk to me when in a mood, so that’s fine I will not talk to him either. By the time I went to bed at 8.15pm he was over it.
Steps:4,908
Another good night I don’t remember waking at all. It is a much cooler morning temp is 22 degrees, but the wind makes it feel colder. It is only expected to get to 23 degrees today. My BGL was 5.3
I am warm then cold and then warm again and now cold again, it is 3.45pm and I am feeling so tired and drained.
Tim said he could take me to my appointment tomorrow, but I told him I would rather Sue take me as she doesn’t make me feel like I am putting her out when I ask to go somewhere else while out. Tim said he doesn’t mean to make me feel like that which I know but still he does.
So, 7.30pm rolls around and I go to tell Tim thinking he was either out the back or in his office but couldn’t find him. So, I started watching some dashcam clips on YouTube and he walks in at 8.20, he was at the neighbour’s place. I knew he was going to check on Kevin, but I was sure I had seen him come back.
Steps:7,311
I had a reasonable night; I woke up two or three times but each time I went straight back to sleep.
It is a lovely morning the temp is 20 degrees, and I have both sliding doors opened. My BGL was 5.0
Sue came and took me to the podiatrist, and we also posted off all the mail I had ready to be sent and we also went Miller’s to get a couple of tarts, caramel for me and a custard for Sue, only to find them closed.
This afternoon Tim replaced the light bulbs in both the front and back outside lights these lights haven’t worked in around 20yrs and now they do.
Didn’t count my steps today
I had another good night, sleeping straight through. It is a pleasant 19 degrees here although we are in for another pretty hot day.
I walked up and checked the mail yesterday arvo and a neighbour was there who told me there was no mail. I thought just because you have no mail doesn’t mean I won’t. Anyway, I open my mailbox and there were 10 letters in it, 8 for me and 2 for Jess.
I am sitting here at the computer, and I am starting to feel cold, I look at the temp and it has dropped to 16 degrees, time to get up and shut the front door.
Around 2pm my nephew Dawson arrived, he left around 5pm, while he was here, he managed to get the sound bar working.
It has been another hot day with the temp reaching 29 degrees.
