This week we are looking at a pet rodent the guinea pig, these are the largest of all pet rodents and are considered to be a very good pet as they seldom bite or scratch even when stressed or disturbed.
They vary widely in colour and can either have a smooth coat or a ruff coat. When scared they will do what is often referred to as pop corning, this means they jump excitedly it is a form of war dance to scare away predators.
Why they are called guinea pigs isn’t really known as they are not pigs, the “guinea” part is a mystery, possibly a corruption of the region “Guyana” or referencing the price they may have cost long ago. Who knows, not me that’s for sure.
Their scientific name, Cavia porcellus, translates to “little pig” in Latin, which might be due to the pig-like squealing or grunting noises they make.
They were first domesticated as early as 5000 BCE in South America (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador) for food and religious ceremonies.
Just like humans, guinea pigs cannot synthesize their own Vitamin C. It must be supplemented daily in their diet (through fresh vegetables and special pellets) or they can develop scurvy.
They have four toes on their front feet and only three toes on their back feet, for a total of 14 toes.
Baby guinea pigs are called pups. They are born remarkably mature (a precocial species)—with fur, eyes open, and are able to run and eat solid food within a few hours of birth.
They produce two types of droppings. They eat one type, called cecotropes (soft, nutrient-rich pellets), directly from their anus. This necessary process allows them to fully absorb essential vitamins and nutrients.
They are very social and thrive on companionship. They should almost always be kept in pairs or small groups (often same-sex pairs or a neutered male with females). Keeping a single guinea pig is considered harmful to its welfare in some countries.
They are most active during dawn and dusk. They rarely sleep for long periods, instead taking many short naps throughout the day and night to stay alert.
They have a wide vocabulary of sounds, the most famous being the excited, high-pitched noise they often make when they hear their owner or sense food is coming. They also purr when content.
They have an average lifespan of 5 to 7 years, which is quite long for a small rodent
Hello everyone, this week we are looking at the country of Indonesia which is in Asia. It is a vast and fascinating country with a wealth of unique facts.
The current capital is Jakarta, located on the island of Java. However, the government is in the process of relocating the capital to a new city, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo (East Kalimantan), due to overcrowding and environmental issues in Jakarta.
It has a population of around 284.7 to 285.7 million people making it the world’s fourth most populous country. It has the largest Muslim population in the world, though the country is officially secular and recognizes six major religions.
Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic state, comprising over 17,000 islands (though the exact number is debated). Due to its numerous islands, it has the second-longest coastline in the world, after Canada.
It stretches over a distance equivalent to about one-eighth of Earth’s circumference and straddles the equator.
Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is one of the most volcanic countries in the world, home to 139 volcanoes, with many still active. It also has the world’s largest volcanic lake, that being Lake Toba, on Sumatra.
The national motto is “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity), there are more than 300 ethnic groups with over 700 languages and dialects spoken. The official national language is Bahasa Indonesia, which serves as a unifying force across the archipelago.
The island of Java is the most populous island in the world, home to more than half of Indonesia’s total population. It is where the capital is located.
The flag of Indonesia, known as Sang Saka Merah Putih (The Lofty Red and White), is a simple yet powerful design.
It is a horizontal bicolour of two equal bands, with red on top and white on the bottom. The red symbolises courage (keberanian), and the white symbolises purity (kesucian).
It was officially adopted on August 17, 1945, the day the nation proclaimed its independence.
However, the red and white colours and the bicolour design have a much longer history, tracing back to the Majapahit Empire in the 13th century. This flag was also used by Indonesian nationalist movements as early as 1928.
I had a rough night getting only 4hrs & 38 mins of sleep according to my watch, although I think it might have been more like 5hrs and 35mins. I also had to get up 4 or 5 times to pee.
I didn’t want to get up but decided I would and had a shower, got soap in my left eye and it is still bothering me. I am awake but not fully with it at the moment.
My BGL was 5.9
The temperature at 5.30am is 17C or 62F
By 10am it was 26C or 78F and by 1pm it was 29C or 84F
At 5pm it had dropped to 24C or 75F
It is now 8pm and I am off to bed.
Steps:9,038 = 4.5Klms or 2.9 miles
I had a better night don’t remember waking at all, had 8hrs and 5 mins of sleep.
Tim has work today he leaves around 10.15 and will be home at 3pm.
This afternoon had a message from Sonic Health, never heard of them but they are doing a disability medical assessment for my disability support pension claim. They then rang Tim and arranged for an appointment time to do this, it will be a telehealth appointment and thankfully it doesn’t cost me anything. It will be at 10.30 on Wednesday.
My BGL was 5.9
The temperature at 5.30am is 14C or 57F
By 10am it was 26C or 78F and by 1pm it was still 26C
At 5pm it had dropped to 21C or 69F
It is now 8pm and I am off to bed.
Steps:7,449 = 3.7klm’s or 1.9miles
I had a better night don’t remember waking at all, had 9hrs and 26 mins of sleep.
Tim has work today he leaves around 1.30pm I think and will be home around 11pm.
When I went to vacuum there was little suction and when I checked it was blocked and when Tim saw me cleaning it out, he stepped in and did it, which I was glad he did.
While getting the second butter container out of the cupboard, I knocked a jar and it feel a broke, thankfully Tasha was here, and she cleaned it up.
I washed the weighted blanket and had Tim hang it outside to dry. While I was standing at the washing machine I stood on a piece of glass. Tim cleaned it and applied so spray bandage as well as a band aid over the I injury.
My BGL was 5.9
The temperature at 5.30am is 12C or 53F
By 10am it was 24C or 75F
At 1pm it was 27C or 80F
At 5pm it had dropped to 23C or 73F
It is now 8pm and I am off to bed.
Steps: 7,490 =3.7 klms or 2 miles
I had a good night don’t remember waking at all, had 9hrs and 5 mins of sleep.
Tim has work today he leaves around 1.30pm I think and will be home around 11pm. Same as yesterday.
I did a load of washing and hung it out and took the clothes hoists outside as it will be another warm day.
Tonight around 7pm I was in the kitchen with Sam and turned around to find Blain standing behind me he came to get a copy of his resume.
My BGL was 6.0
The temperature at 5.30am is 18C or 64F
By 10am it was 24C or 75F
At 1pm it was 26C or 78F
At 5pm it had dropped to 23C or 73F
It is now 8pm and I am off to bed.
Steps: 9,216 =4.6 klms or 2.8 miles
I had a good night don’t remember waking at all, had 7hrs and 5 mins of sleep.
Tim has no work today
I went shopping with Sue and was exhausted by the time I got home but I do enjoy going shopping with Sue.
Tim bought himself a new printer today, as the one he was trying to connect to the laptop was 14 or 15yrs old. The printer is a Brother, I will have to connect it to the laptop tomorrow.
I went through my eyeshadows this afternoon and since I had a few pretty much the same colour/shade I decided to consolidate them.
The temperature at 5.30am is 11C or 58F
By 10am it was 24C or 75F
At 1pm it was 26C or 78F
At 5pm it had dropped to 18C or 64F
It is now 8pm and I am off to bed.
Steps: 8,492 = 4.2klms or 2.6 miles.
I had a good night don’t remember waking at all, had 7hrs and 15 mins of sleep.
Tim has no work today, he has an appointment for an ultrasound and a Xray, he also has an appointment with a podiatrist.
After hours of work and frustration I finally managed to get Tim’s new printer working.
The other day Tim went to use his sewing machine, and it wasn’t working so he tried dad’s old sewing machine and it’s not working either. So he rang to see how much it would cost to get someone to look at them starting cost $200 per machine, neither machine cost that much to start with so he isn’t doing that, so instead he bought a new machine.
The temperature at 5.30am is 11C or 58F
By 10am it was 21C or 69F
At 1pm it was 23C or 73F
At 5pm it had dropped to 18C or 64F
Steps: 10,659 = 5.4Klm’s or 3.3 miles
I had a good night don’t remember waking at all, had 6hrs and 15 mins of sleep.
I felt so tired this morning that I muted the TV put an eye mask on and had nap in my armchair for an hour. I felt more with it when I woke up.
Tim left around 1pm for work he will not be home till around 1am.
I did manage to iron the work shirts and while doing so dropped the iron twice went to sit it on the table and missed but no harm done, as I was using the small table in the lounge-room so fell onto carpet.
I have decided to do a few posts about our bodies, starting our eyes, why well I have a book belonging to Sam about our eyes. I think there will be a number of posts concerning our eyes, staring with this introduction.
Our eyes are the most tool we have for collecting information about the world around us. Without our sense of sight things can become much more difficult.
The bony hollow in which the eye sits is the socket or orbit, above they eye are our eyebrows which help to prevent dust and dirt getting into the eye. Our eyelashes do the same thing, and we produce tears to keep the eyes moist and clean.
The white part of the eye is the sclera, and the coloured ring is the iris, in the centre is the pupil which looks like a solid black dot.
However, the pupil is a hole and covered by a transparent layer known at the cornea. Light enters through the pupil.
The eye is held in place by delicate muscles and ligaments, which allow our eyes to move. The muscles of the two eyes usually work together, so our eyes move together.
Inside the eye there are two large spaces, called chambers, the front one is filled with a watery liquid called the aqueous humour.
Between the two chambers is a small disc of jelly called the lens, this bends the light as it enters the eye. The larger chamber behind the lens is filled with a soft jelly, called vitreous humour.
The curved inner surface of the eyeball is lined with a sensitive layer called the retina, which is linked to the optic nerve which sends signals to the brain.
Hello everyone, it is hot here and it is the type of day that I feel like doing stuff for an hour or so then I need to have a rest.
Anyway this week we are looking at rodents they are the largest order of mammals with hour many species there are. There are around 2,500 different species around the world.
Rodents are found everywhere except in Antarctica.
The character traits of rodents are incredibly diverse, as they are the largest order of mammals. However, they share several key physical and behavioural characteristics that define the group such as.
They have sharp incisor teeth which never stop growing and are kept short by gnawing.
They lack canine teeth and some premolars, leaving a distinct gap (diastema) between their incisors and their cheek teeth (molars/premolars).
While most are small (mice, hamsters), the order includes the largest living rodent, the capybara which weighs up to 70 kg.
They typically have robust bodies, short limbs, and a long tail although tails vary greatly—some are bushy like squirrels, others are nearly hairless like rats, and some are short or stubby.
They rely heavily on their long, sensitive whiskers to navigate and explore their environment, especially in the dark, as their vision is often less developed with many being colourblind or have poor eyesight.
Also they lack sweat glands and dissipate heat primarily through their tails and ears, making them susceptible to overheating.
They are one of the most successful mammalian groups, inhabiting nearly every environment on every continent except Antarctica. They are highly adaptable to new and human-disturbed environments.
The majority are herbivores, feeding on seeds, nuts, fruit, and plants, but many are omnivorous (like rats), and some are specialized predators (like grasshopper mice).
They are known for their high reproductive capacity, having large litters and short gestation periods, which helps compensate for high predation rates.
Here we are at another Monday, and I am going to share a bit more about Afghanistan, like the population is 43 million, the life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan show a range, but generally fall between 59 and 66 years.
The countries has two official languages:
Dari (also known as Afghan Persian or Farsi) and Pashto
While both are officially recognized, Dari is the more widely spoken language and functions as the lingua franca (common language) for inter-ethnic communication across the country. Pashto is the native language of the Pashtun people, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.
The flag of Afghanistan shall be made up of three equal parts, with black, red and green colours juxtaposed from left to right vertically. The width of every colour shall be half of its length, and at the centre of which the national insignia shall be located. The national insignia of Afghanistan shall be comprised of an emblem and a pulpit in white colour—at the two corners of which are two flags, inscribed in the top middle the holy phrase “There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his Prophet, and Allah is Great.” This shall be inscribed and superseded on rays of a rising sun, and in its lower part, the year 1919 in the solar calendar, and the word “Afghanistan” encircled on two sides by sheaves of wheat shall be inscribed. The law shall regulate the use of the flag and insignia
The Emblem of Afghanistan has the inscription of the Shahada in Arabic at the top. Below it is the image of a mosque with a mihrab and minbar, or pulpit, within. Attached to the mosque are two flags, taken to stand for flags of Afghanistan. Beneath the mosque is an inscription that , states the name of the nation. Around the mosque are sheaves of wheat, and underneath that, the Hijri year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar), the year Afghanistan gained independence from the British influence.
The national flower of Afghanistan is the Tulip, sometimes referred to by its Persian name, Laleh, although opium poppies are a prominent crop, the tulip is the chosen national flower, symbolizing hope and beauty.
Their national animal is the Snow Leopard it is a native resident of the high, rugged mountain ranges of the country, like the Hindu Kush. It is often seen as a symbol of the country’s strength, agility, and the wild beauty of its mountainous terrain.
Their national sport is something called Buzkashi (pronounced booz-kuh-shee). It is a rugged and ancient team sport played on horseback, where riders compete to seize and carry a headless goat or calf carcass and drop it into a designated scoring circle.
While sports like cricket and football have gained immense popularity it remains the traditional and culturally significant national sport, deeply connected to Afghan identity, particularly in the northern regions.
The capital is Kabul it is also the largest city, it is a city with a rich and complex history, but one that has also been affected by decades of conflict. It is located in the eastern part of Afghanistan, nestled high in a narrow valley in the Hindu Kush Mountain range. The Kabul River flows through the city. It was established as the capital of Afghanistan in the late 18th century.
Decades of war—including the Soviet invasion, the civil war in the 1990s, and the U.S.-led intervention—have caused massive damage, rapid population shifts, and strain on the city’s infrastructure.
The city returned to the control of the Taliban in August 2021, since then the city has experienced changes, with some reporting increased security but a simultaneous deep humanitarian and economic crisis marked by poverty, high unemployment, and restrictions on human rights, especially for women and girls.
I slept well don’t recall waking at all and had a good 9hrs & 17mins of sleep. Tim was up before me this morning and off to work by 5am as he has work this morning and should be home by 2pm.
Tim arrived home at 3.30pm but he rang me from Big W he went to exchange a pair of pants but didn’t have the receipt which was a problem as even though the woman could find the receipt on the computer the card number didn’t match, he wanted my rewards card number which also didn’t match. In the end she allowed the exchange.
My blood glucose level was 5.5 at 5.30am.
The temp at 5.30 was 10C or 50F
At 9am it was 14C or 57F
By midday it was 19C or 67F
At 4pm it was 18C or 68F
Steps 6,695=3.5klm’s or 2miles
Our wedding anniversary we have been married 41yrs.
Slept well didn’t wake at all and had a good 9hrs 14 mins.
Tim, me and Sue all went out for lunch as it’s our wedding anniversary, it was a nice lunch.
Tim won’t be home till 8pm.
My blood glucose level was 5.5 at 5.30am.
The temp at 5.30 was 9C or 49F
At 9am it was 14C or 57F
By midday it was 22C or 71F
At 4pm it was 25C or 77F
By 7pm the temp was 15C or 59F
Steps 10,014=5klm’s or 3 miles
Slept well did not wake at all and had a good 9hrs 12 mins.
I had a nice refreshing shower after Tim left for work.
The temperature at 5.30am is 10C or 50F, it is supposed to be much cooler today.
By 11am it was 15C or 58F and by 1pm it was 21C or 69F.
At 5pm it was still 15C.
After I meet Sam, I went and tried to download a program Tim wanted but was unable to do it. I did set up his antivirus program.
Sam came over around 8pm and asked if I could ask Sue if she would be able to drive her too Redhead tomorrow morning there is a school picnic that Sam is attending, she may get a lift with Bailey but isn’t sure and doesn’t want to try and find a way there tomorrow morning.
Steps: 10,696=5.4klm’s or 3.5miles
Slept well enough I got 6hrs and 58mins of sleep woke three times to pee.
The temperature at 5.30am is 10C or 50F, according to my phone or 15C according to my watch and the computer says it is only 5C are you confused I am.
I emptied the recycle boxes ready for when the bin gets emptied this morning.
By 11am it was 18C or 66F and by 1pm it was 20C or 68F.
I received a text message telling me I have a telehealth appointment with my neurologist at 1.20pm tomorrow. This was news to me as my next appointment should be in January.
The neighbour Tim doesn’t like is parked in the spot Tim likes to park in because there are pallets of roof tiles in front of her carport and as I said to Tim it isn’t our spot and she had as much right to park there as anyone. Of course Tim knows this, but he is petty and carrying on that I can’t remember what he was saying as I wasn’t paying attention.
At 5pm it was 24C or 75F
Steps: 11,643 = 5.9klm’s or 3.7 miles
Slept well enough I got 7hrs and 42mins of sleep woke three times to pee.
Today is Sam’s last full day at school, tomorrow there is something happening at the school that Sam may go to.
My BGL was 6.5
The temperature at 5.30am is 10C or 50F.
By 10am it was 20C or 68F and by 1pm it was 26C or 78F
At 5pm it was 22C or78F
Turned out the text from the neurologist wasn’t meant for me.
It has felt like a long ass day and by 5.30pm I was s struggling to stay awake.
It is now 7pm and I am off to bed.
Steps: 10,765= 5.5klm’s or 3.4miles
Slept well enough I got 7hrs and 27mins of sleep woke twice to pee.
My BGL was 6.1
The temperature at 5.30am is 17C or 62F.
By 10am it was 23C or 73F and by 1pm it was 26C or 78F.
Jessica came down to show me take photos of taken Sam’s graduation she had a couple of nice photos of Sam & Bailey.
Tim let me know he will be late home as he has to take a bus to Anna Bay anyway, he should be home by 7.30pm
At 5pm it was 24C or 75F
It is now 8pm and I am off to bed.
Steps: 9,454 = 4.8klm’s or 2.8 miles
Slept well enough I got 5hrs and 37mins of sleep woke twice to pee.
Tim, Kathy and I went to visit his sister Jenny, Kathy took the genealogy she compiled for Tim to show Jenny, who was very impressed with it and asked for a copy. Kathy gave her the folder Jen said she would have it copied and returned to her.
My BGL was 6.5
The temperature at 5.30am is 18C or 64.4F
By 10am it was 24C or 75F and by 1pm it was 28C or 82.4F
Good morning, everyone, it’s Luca here the stylish tuxedo who lives with his human Tasha two other cats and an annoying dog, last week there were photos of that orange cat Archie but today it is my turn so here are a few wonderful photos of me. Because it’s Caturday.
In these photos I am on top of the kitchen cupboards surveying my domain
Ok well since I wrote about Afghanistan on Monday I will post about their national anthem.
The country has had a number of different national anthems throughout its history as the country has changed governments numerous times mostly resulting from political instability.
In 2004, the new Afghan constitution stated that a new national anthem for the country, requested by the post-Taliban government to signal a new era for Afghanistan, must be written in Pashto and contain the phrase “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great), and mention the names of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The winning composition was created by two Afghans living outside the country due to the war.
There has been some criticism of the anthem due to the above stated conditions of composition, that the Pashto requirement places less importance on the other languages spoken in the country; that the phrase “Allahu Akbar” should not be used in the anthem, as it is a sacred phrase in Islam and should not be set to music; and the ethnic groups mentioned in the anthem still do not represent the entire spectrum of nationalities in the country.
On August 15, 2021, the Afghan government fell to the extremist Islamic forces of the Taliban, who effectively controlled the country following that date. The government and its supporters continue to use this anthem in exile.
Here is the English translation
1. This land is Afghanistan It is pride of every Afghan The land of peace, the land of sword Its sons are all braves
2. This is the country of every tribe Land of Baloochs, and Uzbeks Pashtoons, and Hazaras Turkman and Tajiks
3. With them, Arabs and Gojars Pamirian, Nooristanian Barahawi, and Qizilbash Also Aimaq, and Pashaye
4. This Land will shine for ever Like the sun in the blue sky In the chest of Asia It will remain as heart for ever
5. We will follow the one God We all say, Allah is great, we all say, Allah is great, we all say, Allah is great
Jo-AnneRamplings 