say hi, everyone, to my new niece Holly Marie, 3 weeks and 5 days old yesterday. Isn't she adorable! She has a lovely colour from her dad's side of the family (her grandad was from Mauritius)
Sam and Katie were proper mother hens!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
the new baby
say hi, everyone, to my new niece Holly Marie, 3 weeks and 5 days old yesterday. Isn't she adorable! She has a lovely colour from her dad's side of the family (her grandad was from Mauritius)
Sam and Katie were proper mother hens!
Back to work
School starts again tomorrow. That means it's time to get back into the ol' routine of work and study and getting up at 6.30 (eek!) The latter is going to be the hardest bit of all 'cos I've been having 10-12 hours sleep a night lately. But it's gotta be done!
Yesterday we went and bought that tent (see blog 13th Feb) and 4 very warm sleeping bags (much to hub's disgust he has discovered that he could not join our 2 bags into one which I found quite funny, LOL!)
All we need now is a roof top box for our car as the boot isn't big enough for tent, cool box and sleeping bags plus clothes and cooking stuff, then we'll be ready for a new season of camping...real camping as opposed to the luxury of the campervan!
Yesterday we went and bought that tent (see blog 13th Feb) and 4 very warm sleeping bags (much to hub's disgust he has discovered that he could not join our 2 bags into one which I found quite funny, LOL!)
All we need now is a roof top box for our car as the boot isn't big enough for tent, cool box and sleeping bags plus clothes and cooking stuff, then we'll be ready for a new season of camping...real camping as opposed to the luxury of the campervan!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Fortune Cookie for today
| Your Fortune Is |
 |
I do like these, they are so funny.
Am meeting my second niece for the first time today. Mum is doing much better and is starting to venture out of the house after her caesarian and epidural which left her with bad headaches. Photos to follow!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Fortune Cookie
| Your Fortune Is |
|
's not funny ;o) okay, it is funny really, just couldn't resist :o)
Thursday, February 16, 2006
another one down...
another pound gone this week...but I'll hold fire with the ticker factory thingy in case another pound disappears overnight.
Funny, I never thought I'd crack comfort eating but my reltionship with food has completely changed in the last 7 weeks. I am, at last, able to eat just when I'm hungry (even with PMT!), and when I do eat, my portion sizes are less than half what they used to be, and what I choose to eat is so much better for me.
Strangely enough, I have also gone off meat. How did I ever enjoy chicken? It's so dry and tasteless!
I try to compensate with other protein sources like beans, chickpeas, dairy foods, and as of today, hummus (spelling?)
I think the flu bug started it...it meant I lost my appetite, and when I did start to eat again I was conscious of picking foods that were good for me and wouldn't give me swings of sugar (which I now think were partly responsible for the heart pounding and sudden need to sleep). I had a hot chocolate yesterday and couldn't finish it, half way through I experienced this sudden wave of 'terror', I reckon it was the rush of sugar to my bloodstream. What else could it have been? I wasn't stressed, I was watching my kids iceskate with a friend. It only lasted about a minute but it wasn't very pleasant.
If you're interested I've copied some stuff from healthymagazine.com which makes alot of sense and is very relevant to how I've sometimes felt....
The fear of fear can be crippling. That may sound like a bizarre statement, but often those experiencing fear cannot pinpoint a specific object. They do not have something concrete to be scared of, but are almost randomly fearful. This becomes terrifying because, having no concrete cause, the fear cannot be avoided and may strike at any time.
Heart pounding, mouth dry, vision wobbly, chest tight, breathlessness, hot and cold sweats, and a feeling of being dizzy or about to lose consciousness… When these fearful symptoms escalate into a panic attack, it is not unusual for the person to feel as though they may be dying.
Increasingly, the person who has experienced these symptoms becomes so scared of them that even a slight prickle of adrenalin brings on a rush of fear that precipitates another attack. The irrational and untargeted nature of the symptoms means that they feel out of control, unable to take positive action to avert the possibility of another bout of panic.
What they often do not realise, and are thrilled to learn, is that many of these symptoms are brought about by physical factors, such as diet and lifestyle choices, which can be changed to bring relief from everything from mild unease to intense fear.
That is, of course, except where there is a good reason for the fear: it is not a good idea to be totally chilled in the face of stampeding cattle or mad dogs… These dangerous situations are what adrenalin is designed to help us out of.
Adrenalin?
Yes, adrenalin – a chemical released from the adrenal glands in response to a threat to the person to whom those adrenal glands belong! Adrenalin activates a ‘Red Alert’ in the body, sending blood coursing to the heart and lungs to enable you to run or fight better; it opens up sweat glands so that you don’t overheat doing that running or fighting; it liberates stored sugar from the tissues to power the muscles; and it causes the heart to beat faster to pump oxygen around the body. For a moment there you could box with Rocky, but your body can’t keep this up and as adrenalin levels fall again, reaction sets in. Your muscles feel weak and shaky, your heart beats irregularly, you feel breathless, dizzy, damp and sweaty and unable to co-ordinate.
Now, this adrenalin business is great if faced with the aforementioned mad dog (or boss), as it will get you away from the danger or power your leap to a place of safety. It is, however, the release of adrenalin in response to non-threatening physical factors that causes the panic symptoms that ruin lives.
What factors?
Caffeine intake
Nicotine intake
Alcohol intake
Refined sugar intake
Low blood sugar
Dehydration
(to mention the most common)
Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine will stimulate the release of adrenalin. If they are taking a substantial place in your daily life (which is particularly likely with caffeine), the adrenal glands can become very sensitive and jumpy.
If you take vast quantities of sugar, the body tries to deal with it by tucking it all away quickly into the tissues. Thus the amount of sugar in the bloodstream falls, and adrenalin is released to push blood sugar levels up again. Not only will you feel panicky but also your energy levels will fluctuate madly. If lots of this sugar is accounted for in your large intake of coffee, prepare for the negative effect to be doubled…
Blood sugar levels can also drop if you haven’t eaten within the last few hours. Women are especially guilty of this, going for long periods of time without eating and then wondering why they feel so nervy, jumping at shadows and craving sugary foods.
Dehydration is possibly one of the most common factors. If you are dehydrated you will experience a dry mouth and palpitations, and think that you are fearful. Many patients tell me that they no longer wake up at night with palpitations once they are drinking the regulation 1.5 litres of still water daily, and cutting out the coffee (which has a dehydrating effect).
Nutrients
The nutrients that your nervous system needs to make it more resistant to panic are magnesium and vitamin B.
Another remedy to think about is Emergency Essence or Rescue Remedy, suitable to take at any time, and easy to administer because it comes in a dropper bottle – the drops can be taken under the tongue at the first sign of fear, and counteract the emotional build-up to an attack.
Take a deep breath, put down the coffee, pick up the herbs and forget the fear.
Tips:
Drink more water and less coffee and other caffeinated drinks
Cut down nicotine and alcohol intake
Eat regularly and try not to overdo the refined sugar (this is easier if you are eating every three to four hours, as your blood sugar levels don’t drop and thus you don’t get sugar cravings)
Practice breathing deeply and slowly, or take a yoga or relaxation class that teaches you to control your breathing more effectively
Instead of all those caffeinated drinks, turn to herbal teas such as chamomile, lemon balm and lemon verbena, which will calm your nerves whilst clearing your mind
Funny, I never thought I'd crack comfort eating but my reltionship with food has completely changed in the last 7 weeks. I am, at last, able to eat just when I'm hungry (even with PMT!), and when I do eat, my portion sizes are less than half what they used to be, and what I choose to eat is so much better for me.
Strangely enough, I have also gone off meat. How did I ever enjoy chicken? It's so dry and tasteless!
I try to compensate with other protein sources like beans, chickpeas, dairy foods, and as of today, hummus (spelling?)
I think the flu bug started it...it meant I lost my appetite, and when I did start to eat again I was conscious of picking foods that were good for me and wouldn't give me swings of sugar (which I now think were partly responsible for the heart pounding and sudden need to sleep). I had a hot chocolate yesterday and couldn't finish it, half way through I experienced this sudden wave of 'terror', I reckon it was the rush of sugar to my bloodstream. What else could it have been? I wasn't stressed, I was watching my kids iceskate with a friend. It only lasted about a minute but it wasn't very pleasant.
If you're interested I've copied some stuff from healthymagazine.com which makes alot of sense and is very relevant to how I've sometimes felt....
The fear of fear can be crippling. That may sound like a bizarre statement, but often those experiencing fear cannot pinpoint a specific object. They do not have something concrete to be scared of, but are almost randomly fearful. This becomes terrifying because, having no concrete cause, the fear cannot be avoided and may strike at any time.
Heart pounding, mouth dry, vision wobbly, chest tight, breathlessness, hot and cold sweats, and a feeling of being dizzy or about to lose consciousness… When these fearful symptoms escalate into a panic attack, it is not unusual for the person to feel as though they may be dying.
Increasingly, the person who has experienced these symptoms becomes so scared of them that even a slight prickle of adrenalin brings on a rush of fear that precipitates another attack. The irrational and untargeted nature of the symptoms means that they feel out of control, unable to take positive action to avert the possibility of another bout of panic.
What they often do not realise, and are thrilled to learn, is that many of these symptoms are brought about by physical factors, such as diet and lifestyle choices, which can be changed to bring relief from everything from mild unease to intense fear.
That is, of course, except where there is a good reason for the fear: it is not a good idea to be totally chilled in the face of stampeding cattle or mad dogs… These dangerous situations are what adrenalin is designed to help us out of.
Adrenalin?
Yes, adrenalin – a chemical released from the adrenal glands in response to a threat to the person to whom those adrenal glands belong! Adrenalin activates a ‘Red Alert’ in the body, sending blood coursing to the heart and lungs to enable you to run or fight better; it opens up sweat glands so that you don’t overheat doing that running or fighting; it liberates stored sugar from the tissues to power the muscles; and it causes the heart to beat faster to pump oxygen around the body. For a moment there you could box with Rocky, but your body can’t keep this up and as adrenalin levels fall again, reaction sets in. Your muscles feel weak and shaky, your heart beats irregularly, you feel breathless, dizzy, damp and sweaty and unable to co-ordinate.
Now, this adrenalin business is great if faced with the aforementioned mad dog (or boss), as it will get you away from the danger or power your leap to a place of safety. It is, however, the release of adrenalin in response to non-threatening physical factors that causes the panic symptoms that ruin lives.
What factors?
Caffeine intake
Nicotine intake
Alcohol intake
Refined sugar intake
Low blood sugar
Dehydration
(to mention the most common)
Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine will stimulate the release of adrenalin. If they are taking a substantial place in your daily life (which is particularly likely with caffeine), the adrenal glands can become very sensitive and jumpy.
If you take vast quantities of sugar, the body tries to deal with it by tucking it all away quickly into the tissues. Thus the amount of sugar in the bloodstream falls, and adrenalin is released to push blood sugar levels up again. Not only will you feel panicky but also your energy levels will fluctuate madly. If lots of this sugar is accounted for in your large intake of coffee, prepare for the negative effect to be doubled…
Blood sugar levels can also drop if you haven’t eaten within the last few hours. Women are especially guilty of this, going for long periods of time without eating and then wondering why they feel so nervy, jumping at shadows and craving sugary foods.
Dehydration is possibly one of the most common factors. If you are dehydrated you will experience a dry mouth and palpitations, and think that you are fearful. Many patients tell me that they no longer wake up at night with palpitations once they are drinking the regulation 1.5 litres of still water daily, and cutting out the coffee (which has a dehydrating effect).
Nutrients
The nutrients that your nervous system needs to make it more resistant to panic are magnesium and vitamin B.
Another remedy to think about is Emergency Essence or Rescue Remedy, suitable to take at any time, and easy to administer because it comes in a dropper bottle – the drops can be taken under the tongue at the first sign of fear, and counteract the emotional build-up to an attack.
Take a deep breath, put down the coffee, pick up the herbs and forget the fear.
Tips:
Drink more water and less coffee and other caffeinated drinks
Cut down nicotine and alcohol intake
Eat regularly and try not to overdo the refined sugar (this is easier if you are eating every three to four hours, as your blood sugar levels don’t drop and thus you don’t get sugar cravings)
Practice breathing deeply and slowly, or take a yoga or relaxation class that teaches you to control your breathing more effectively
Instead of all those caffeinated drinks, turn to herbal teas such as chamomile, lemon balm and lemon verbena, which will calm your nerves whilst clearing your mind
Today's fortune cookie
| Your Fortune Is |
|
LOL!!
My animal personality
| Your Animal Personality |
 Animal You Were in a Past Life: Whale You are active, a challenger, and optimistic.Hard-working, you are always working towards a set goal. |
yeah, I'd agree with that (well I would wouldn't I...it's flattering!)
Boredom's a dangerous thing :o)
I've come to the conclusion that my brain needs to be permanently challenged otherwise I sit and lose interest in everything, soooo....I went and late registered for a couple of courses, despite only 6 weeks ago thinking that I needed a rest. Well, I had the rest, now I'm bored :o)
So this year I am doing SD329 (Signals and Perceptions...very good reviews on this one) and S320 (Infectious Diseases..maybe I'll find out why my flu bug took so long to get over! And more about bird flu!) Only trouble is, the OU have run out of materials for S320, and if they don't arrive in the next week I'll be three weeks behind...yikes...never mind, nothing like a bit of pressure to keep you on your toes!
I've also registered for AT272 in May. I'm planning to do At308 which is the longer verison of AT272, so I may as well have a taster of the course this year.
This means that, if, no...when(!) I pass these 2 thirty pointers I'll have a BSc at last :O) All I need to do then is top it up to Honours in 2007 and do the level 3s to get my BA(Hons) with AT308 and AA309.
Then I'll be bored again and have to do some courses just for fun, LOL!
So this year I am doing SD329 (Signals and Perceptions...very good reviews on this one) and S320 (Infectious Diseases..maybe I'll find out why my flu bug took so long to get over! And more about bird flu!) Only trouble is, the OU have run out of materials for S320, and if they don't arrive in the next week I'll be three weeks behind...yikes...never mind, nothing like a bit of pressure to keep you on your toes!
I've also registered for AT272 in May. I'm planning to do At308 which is the longer verison of AT272, so I may as well have a taster of the course this year.
This means that, if, no...when(!) I pass these 2 thirty pointers I'll have a BSc at last :O) All I need to do then is top it up to Honours in 2007 and do the level 3s to get my BA(Hons) with AT308 and AA309.
Then I'll be bored again and have to do some courses just for fun, LOL!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Time for some fun!
Take a look at this blog, it's got some great games. I can feel an addiction to Makos coming on! You won't find my name on the high score board yet though! I'm in position 60!
Monday, February 13, 2006
My hair colour
| Your Hair Should Be Blue |
 Wild, brilliant, and out of control. You're a risk taker with an eye to the future. |
Knicked from ng2's Blog
I would never have called myself a risk taker...must have been the navel piercing, LOL!
The tent
here it is, so we can be "proper campers" :o) All we need are some warmer sleeping bags and a roof top box for the car and we'll be off!
sniff!
We sold our campervan today. Feels like I've lost a limb! The campervan was my key to fresh air and beautiful places, as well as being the only time I can get away with being lazy! Daughter has been refusing to speak to me and son says I'll regret it (he's probably right), but we have loads of happy memories and photos...
and there's always more holidays in Spain and we have our eye on a little tent for the odd weekend at Folkestone :o)
Sunday, February 05, 2006
another one bites the dust
another pound has vanished! Not bad considering this is happening with me acting as a couch potato :o)
Friday, February 03, 2006
Nav Bar on the move!
Oh bu***er, that'll teach me to mess around with html! I've managed to shift the Blogger Nav Bar to the left, over the title of my Blogger, and can't figure out how to get it back as it was, or even what I changed!
Anyone fancy a look at my coding to see where I've gone wrong?! Pwetty please?
Anyone fancy a look at my coding to see where I've gone wrong?! Pwetty please?
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