Fraser Island

Wow, it has been quite a while since my last post, I am terribly slack! I have a few different ideas for my next post but guess I will go with the newest freshest idea.

Fraser Island. I have spent a lot of time there over the years. I think my first visit was a week long camping trip to the island when I was about 9 years old. A couple of nights ago I was watching the series 'Coast' on the BBC which is all about Australia's coasts at the moment. Featured on this episode was my stomping ground between Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast (about 80km south of Brisbane) up to Fraser Island. All this area is where I lived or vacationed up until I was 33 and moved over here to Europe. Fraser Island has always held a really special place in my heart. Watching the show the other night, it did start making me very homesick.

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world and it is World Heritage listed. In total, the island is 122km long and covers an area of almost 182,000 hectares. Fraser Island is a nature lover's paradise. There is an array of mammals that live on the island such as dingoes, swamp wallabies, echidnas, possums, gliders, potoroos, bandicoots, and over 19 species of bats. Apart from the mammals, there are 74 species of reptiles plus marine life such dugongs, turtles, humpback whales, dolphins, sharks, and much more. There are over 350 species of birds on Fraser Island. Some of the common species include peregrine falcon, sea eagles, pelicans, kookaburras, kingfishers, owls, gulls, honeyeaters, ducks, terns, thornbills, and a variety of parrots such as cockatoos. Fraser Island is most known for its dingo colonies which are among the purest strains in Australia. There have been a number of dingo attacks on tourists and people are discouraged from feeding them and to dispose of their waste thoughtfully in order to prevent the dingoes from becoming too familiar with humans.

While Fraser Island contains a wide range of animal species, it is the flora that is most unique and special. It is the only place in the entire world, where a tall rainforest grows in sand. These rainforests are a specialised ecosystem and contains plants such as ferns, cyprus pine trees, hoop pine, strangler figs, and piccabeen palms. The king ferns here date back to the days of the dinosaurs. Also on Fraser Island, you will find 1000 year old satinays. There is more than 865 species of plants on Fraser Island that thrive in the sand. A rare species of fern that has the largest fronds in the world, also thrives on Fraser Island. The island has mangrove swamps, rainforests, eucalyptus woodlands, peat swamps, coastal heaths, and sand dunes. 

But it is the sand that is most amazing on Fraser Island. It has been building up for approximately 750,000 years on volcanic bedrock. The island is home to 40 pure, crystal clear, freshwater lakes which make up half of all the world's perched freshwater dune lakes. Boomanjin Lake on Fraser Island is the world's largest perched lake. The world's highest perched lake is also found on the island, Boomerang Lake. The water in these lakes if of a special quality. They are some of the chemically freshest water to occur in any natural water body in the world. However, some of the lakes become stained due to decaying plant matter in the water. Other lakes on the island are window lakes which occur when the water table rises higher than the surrounding land. Pictured here is Lake McKenzie, one of the perched lakes on the island and a popular tourist destination. The sand around Lake McKenzie is almost pure silica.

All along the coast, crystal clear, freshwater creeks and streams flow into the ocean. One of the most well-known is Eli Creek. Every day, 80 million liters of pure, freshwater, flows through Eli Creek and into the ocean.

All the hills on Fraser Island have been created by sandblowing. These dunes move across the island via the wind and are devoid of vegetation. They move at a rate of around 2 meters per year. There is an estimated 36 sandblows on the island.

There is much more to see on Fraser Island than the nature, lakes, creeks, dunes, and rainforest. The champagne pools with their foaming water that comes from the ocean crashing over the rocks, is a popular swimming hole. Indian Head is the most easterly point of the island and was named by Captain Cook when he sailed past in 1770. At Rainbow Gorge, the Pinnacles, the Cathedrals, and Red Canyon, you will find the coloured sands of Fraser Island. Another major landmark is the shipwreck of the Maheno. On her way to Japan to be turned into scrap in 1935, she was caught in a cyclone and was beached on Fraser Island.

There are a couple of resort areas on the island. Kingfisher Bay Resort was voted Australia's best beach resort by the Discovery Travel channel and has won several Australian tourism awards. Eurong Beach Resort offers a wonderful beachfront position. Fraser Island Retreat in the small township of Happy Valley offers cabin accommodation. Yidney Rocks has beachfront unit accommodation with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. There is also beach house rental and camping. Central Station is the remnants of when logging was allowed on the island. Here you will find a camping ground, picnic facilities, and toilet facilities. Although there is such a variety of places to stay on the island, the resident human population is only 360 (as of 2006).

All visitors planning on camping or taking their vehicle to the island MUST have a special permit before travelling to the island. There are three places that provide vehicle access to the island. You can only reach it via Rainbow Beach, Hervey Bay, or River Heads (just outside Hervey Bay). 4WD is the only method by which you can travel around the island. There is no sealed roads on Fraser Island and the tracks are comprised of soft sand. The main road of the island is the beach, which is also used as the runway for small planes. It is advised to only travel during low tides as, during heavy rains or high tides, there are many hazards. Such as washouts and dangerous rocks. The beach may be the road but there is still rules to observe including speed limits, keeping to the left of oncoming vehicles, and using indicators. And it is advised to always wear your seatbelt. Alternatively, there are many tours available where you don't need your own vehicle.

If you want a truly memorable vacation, in tune with nature, then Fraser Island is definitely the place to visit. You will never forget it!!!!!!

Epilepsy and Driving

Very few people know this about me, very few indeed, but I am an epileptic. I have not had any symptoms or been on medication since I was 10 years old, but until then, I suffered from Petit Mal (also known as absence seizures). Absence seizures are the loss of consciousness. If a person is speaking, as it was with me, I would stop abruptly mid sentence or mid word, for a number of seconds, and then resume where I left off after the seizure. I would have a blank stare and hear nothing at all during these attacks. They usually last up to 30 seconds. It is known that people eating at the time of an attack, will suddenly stop with the food halfway to their mouth and remain transfixed until it is over. There is no violent seizure as you commonly associate with Grand Mal Epilepsy and there is no lethargy after a petit mal seizure. It is just like nobody is home, staring into space, there is nobody in there. I had it as a baby and was medicated for it. Then when I was about 7 years old, I was lying in front of the television and mum came up to talk to me. I cant remember if I was talking or anything but after a bit I realized mum was talking to me and asking me what happened and what I remember, etc. And again, it was petit mal seizures. I was on medication and had regular testing until age 10. Since then, there has been no signs of a return. This is common with early childhood epilepsy. I don't think that many people realize that Epilepsy comes in many different forms and it is not just the convulsive seizures that most people think. Non-convulsive seizures account for 40% of epileptic seizures.

As is the case with many cases of age dependent epilepsy, the disease is considered resolved once you pass a certain age or you have remained seizure free for 10 years with no medication for the last 5 years. Such as in my case. However, there is absolutely NO GUARANTEE that it will not return later in life, or return as grand mal seizures. You can outgrow it, but there is always that possibility for the rest of your life. That is why, about 10-15 years after, when I was going for my driving licence, I asked for an EEG test to check that it was gone. I did not like the results. They did see signs of the disease and although it is no longer present, they said there is a definitely possibility that it may not remain resolved. Even after all that time had passed.

A couple of months ago, I read in the Belgian newspaper that they were considering a law forbidding people with epilepsy from having a drivers licence. This came after a woman had a fatal crash while suffering from a seizure when driving. This happens all to often. I knew somebody in Australia that was killed in a rally when the driver suffered an epileptic attack while driving. And last year, just around the corner from us, a young man was killed when his car hit a tree because of a seizure while driving. This is all too common an occurrence. I am thinking that forbidding epileptics from having a drivers licence is maybe the best option. They are not only endangering their own lives, but others as well. And in that case, where would I stand? I have not had symptoms or medication for 37 years now but there is always that looming possibility. And it terrifies me!!!!! Especially when driving in the late afternoon and the sun is shining through rows of trees so that the light is flashing. I am very bothered by this (forget about flashing lights or strobe lights). And because it bothers me so immensely, I cannot, for the life of me, understand how somebody who currently suffers from epileptic seizures, is willing to get into a car and take that risk on a daily basis. Are they insane???? Why would you do that if there was a strong chance of a seizure at any time? I am at the stage where I think I should ask for another EEG just to put my mind at ease a little. Even though I have no symptoms and no sign of its return, I do stress about it and I do feel strange when there is flashing lights.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder. It cannot be cured but 70% can control it with medication. And as mentioned already, many others like myself, can outgrow it. 1% of the worlds population suffers from epilepsy. The most common test used to diagnose epilepsy is an EEG (electroencephalogram). The electrodes attached during this test, record the electrical activity in you brain. For epileptics, it is common to have changes in the normal brain waves, so a seizure during the test is not needed to see if you suffer.

It is never far from my thoughts, especially when driving in late afternoon and the sun is flashing between the trees, or when holding my breath while swimming, or if there is fast flashing lights. Watching my poor furbaby Hardy, suffer from his attacks, brought it all back way too close to home for comfort. It has also impacted on my life at times. I applied for an apprenticeship in the army when I was 16 and was turned down when I was honest about my history with it. I was also forbidden from taking school scuba diving lessons in high school because of it. The threat is always hanging over me, even though it has not shown itself for so many years and it very well, may never show itself again. But there is still that chance. If I decide to have another check in the near future, I will keep you posted on the results. But I do feel it is my responsibility to keep an eye on this, even after all these years.

21 things every Irish person in Australia should know

I just read this online. It comes from the Irish Times website. I just had to share it here for a laugh!!!!
http://www.irishtimes.com
Wed, April 23, 2014

21 things every Irish person in Australia should know

Every year, more than 15,000 Irish people board flights for a new life in Australia, content in the knowledge that they are going somewhere just like Ireland, only with better beaches and more sunshine. 

But sharing a laid-back attitude and a bloodline with 10-30 per cent of Australians is not much practical help when you are called on to converse knowledgeably about thongs, bogans and rorting, or left to dismantle a UV tent in gale-force winds. You don’t have to prove you can do any of these things to qualify for an Australian visa, of course – but it would definitely help.

And so, in honour of Australia’s national holiday, Anzac Day, on Friday, here are 21 things every Irish person in Australia should know. 

1 You’ll never forget your first huntsman spider. But you’ll probably forget your second, fifth and 228th. After the first, only the memorable ones stay in your mind – such as the audacious little fella who scurried across the car dashboard in rush-hour traffic and jumped into your lap.
2 No self-respecting Australian will be impressed by your story of how you managed to get the car to safety before beating the huntsman to death with a rolled-up Harvey Norman catalogue.
3 No self-respecting Australian is frightened of sharks, funnel web spiders or snakes either. They are nervous of the sun though. Wusses.
4 Other things genuine Australians will not admit to: watchingHome and Away ; wearing Ugg boots or using the phrases “fair dinkum” or “bleedin’ galah”.
5 Vegemite, made from leftover brewer’s yeast, is part of the national diet. There’s no point feigning an appreciation of it – unless you have 100 per cent Australian blood, you will only be able to taste crushed multivitamins dipped in salt.
6 Morning tea and afternoon tea are daily events. Disappointingly, neither involves cucumber sandwiches served on silver platters by a chap named Carson. Or even tea.
7 Domestic television is approximately 90 per cent people crying over cooking and home renovations, 10 per cent news programmes about bizarre medical conditions.
8 The streets are busy by 7am on a Sunday morning – and not with people coming home from the night before.
9 Running is a combat sport, especially at lunchtime on weekdays in the city.
10 In many words, the later syllables are considered superfluous. “Kindergarten” (junior infants) is “kindy”. A car registration is a “rego”.
11 The world of confectionery is fraught with opportunities for cross-cultural confusion. “Lollies” are sweets. What we call lollies are lollipops. Ask for an “icy pole” if it’s a Choc Ice you’re after. (Choc Ices don’t exist, but Golden Gaytimes are a glorious alternative.)
12 “Bogans” are uncouth, frequently tattooed types; “snags” are sausages; “rorting” is Australian for the art of stroke-pulling.
13 It does rain here. In fact, Melbourne has 150 rainy days a year – just like Dublin.
14 Sydney’s relationship to Melbourne is like the one between Dublin and Cork. In fact, Canberra was only made the capital because the other two couldn’t stop fighting about it.
15 Property is a national obsession. If you miss Ireland in 2006, you’ll probably feel right at home.
16 You can face six months in jail if you kill, trap or politely ask a possum to move on – worth bearing in mind when you’re woken at 3am by the sound of them partying on your roof.
17 Australians bring a military precision to beach outings. Owning at least three of the following is a sign you’ve gone native: a baby Weber portable barbecue/an “Esky” cooler box/a family-sized UV tent/a “rashie” rash vest/a giant inflatable thong (it’s a flip-flop, but if you have to ask, you clearly haven’t gone native).
18 There are only a few occasions on which Lycra is not an acceptable choice of outerwear.
19 It is illegal to wear hot pink pants on a Sunday afternoon in Victoria. No, really.
20 Anzac day is so called in honour of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, who landed at Gallipoli on April 25th, 1915, during the first World War.
21 More Irish men than New Zealanders died at Gallipoli. Feel free to mention this to your colleagues on Friday.

Koningsdag 2014

Today, April 26th, was Koningsdag (Kings Day) here in the Netherlands. Even though I am living in Belgium, Hans is Dutch and I lived in the Netherlands the first few years I was here in Europe. So the Netherlands is also close to my heart.

Up until last year, Koninginnedag (Queens Day) was celebrated on April 30th each year, in honour of Queen Beatrix. In 2013, Queen Beatrix abdicated the throne. Her son, Willem-Alexander, is now king of the Netherlands. His birthday falls on April 27th which is officially Koningsdag. However, if the 27th falls on a Sunday, as with this year, then the holiday is celebrated on April 26th. Koningsdag is also celebrated in Aruba, Caracao, and Sint Maarten, constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Among the festivities is the nationwide flea market. Koningsdag is the only day of the year that people are permitted by the Dutch Government, to sell their things on the streets without a permit and without paying extra taxes. There is also numerous celebrations, concerts, parties, and special events. The Dutch dress in orange and even paint their hair orange. Orange is the colour of the day, no matter which way you turn.

We did not go out and celebrate. But maybe you went orange today?

 

ANZAC Day 2014

Today is ANZAC Day for those in Australia and New Zealand. For those of you who are not an Aussie or Kiwi, I will first give a little background information on ANZAC Day!

The initials, ANZAC, stand for 'Australian and New Zealand Army Corps' and ANZAC day is the day of remembrance for Australia and New Zealand. The day to remember all those who have served and died in war. Originally it was celebrated on April 25 as a day of remembrance for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought at Gallipoli during the first world war (1914-1918) but it now commemorates all those from all the wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. Why April 25th? That is the day, in 1915, that the ANZAC forces landed at Gallipoli, which was the first campaign that led to major casualties in World War I. Although the Gallipoli campaign failed miserably with extremely high casualties, it led to the creation of the ANZAC legend which became very important in both Australia and New Zealand. The day was officially named ANZAC day on April 25th 1916, just one year after the landing at Gallipoli.

I had the privilege of spending ANZAC day in Ieper, Flanders Fields, Belgium, in 2005. We went with my mum and stepdad. It was one of the most emotional experiences of my life. I didn't expect to feel all those emotions that I did while standing under the Menin Gate during the service. The Menin Gate in Ieper is a war memorial dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers killed (missing) during the first world war. It is a triumphal arch over one of the main roads that the soldiers took from the town to the front lines. It was unveiled on 24 July 1927. As a tribute to those who gave their lives for Belgium's freedom, every evening at 20.00 since 2 July 1928, buglers from the local fire brigade close the road and sound the last post under the gate. This has been done every evening for the last 86 years, interrupted only by the German occupation in the second world war. Ieper and the Menin Gate, along with the daily last post ceremony, will definitely stir your emotions.

During our visit there, we rented a house in the countryside, surrounded by farm land. And I felt so uneasy the whole time. I know it was just in my head, but the thought of all those young men who lost their lives in those fields, and many probably still buried out there, gave me the constant feeling of being watched by their ghosts. It definitely puts life into perspective. And visiting the numerous museums and countless war cemeteries in the area can be quite overwhelming. One of those war cemeteries is Tyne Cot. Tyne Cot is a Commonwealth War Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing of the first world war. Burials for Tyne Cot are as follows:

UK: 8,907

Australia: 1,353

Canada: 966

New Zealand: 519

South Africa: 90

Newfoundland: 14

British West Indies: 2

France: 1

With 4 German burials.

After our stay in Flanders Fields, we traveled down through the Somme in France. Visiting many more memorials in the area of the Western Front. Including the site where the Red Baron was shot down by Australians. And then traveled further down, visiting Normandy and the sites from D-Day in the Second World War. It was a very emotional and enlightening trip. One that I would repeat in a heartbeat. I will leave you with some of my own photos from Flanders Fields and the Somme.

Pet Funerals

Well I have been very quiet since losing my Hardy. That was a difficult week. He had 2 massive seizures within 5 hours and I agreed with the vet that it was his time. I could not let him suffer any longer. My furbabies are my children and it was so hard to say goodbye. And what happens after you must say goodbye?

I had two choices. I could bury him here at home or have him cremated. Funds are limited so a pet cemetery or something fancy was not an option. And I have so many other furbabies that will one day follow. I did not want to think of him rotting in the always cold and wet ground here, even though I would have loved to have him close. It seems the most common practice here in Belgium and Holland, is cremation. However, I had the on call vet and not my vet, take him on the night and the on call vet goes through a public company which does bulk cremations of all animals including livestock and everything. That just did NOT sit right with me. I wanted more for my baby, not to be just tossed in with anything and everything. And have absolutely no respect.

So I spoke to my vet about it all and she does something very different. She goes through a special, private pet crematorium in the Netherlands. My vet said that when she lost her dog, she was also not comfortable with the "Mass Destruction" idea and found this wonderful crematorium in Roermond, the Netherlands, that treat you and your pet with the utmost respect. And my vet kindly retrieved my Hardy from the on call vet and arranged things with the crematorium for me. I was so relieved to know that he was safely with my vet who loved him almost as much as I did. And that she would take care of him.

So the company name, you ask? SHCN Dierenuitvaart!

I had said goodbye to my boy. He went to sleep in my arms. But the pet crematorium offers a package for everyone and for all budgets. From a simple group cremation for as little as 20 euro for a pet less than 1kg. For Hardy, between 4 and 7kg, it is 60 euro. Depending on your budget or what you desire, you can also choose for an individual cremation and the ashes returned or a small group cremation and the ashes spread over the North Sea. If you wish, it is possible to have a private farewell and a small service. And it is all done with the utmost respect. I feel better having chosen this option out of respect for my beloved furbaby.

Hardy will always be in my heart and I miss him terribly. But I know he is no longer suffering and he is much happier now. Goodbye my sweet boy!

Rest in Peace Hardy

Favourite Relish and Jam Recipes

I was just going through my recipe book for my last post and thought that seeing as I didn't do a post yesterday, I would also post my few favourite relish and jam recipes. I went through a phase for a long while, where I would make an awful lot of relish and jam recipes. Of course, too much for me so would give a lot of it away. These were the three I made most.

Corn Relish

1 cucumber
2 onions
2 large tomatoes
2 green capsicum (paprika/bell pepper)
2 cups whole kernel corn
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup vinegar
¼ teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon dry mustard

Peel cucumber, onions, and tomatoes, remove seeds from capsicum (paprika/ bell pepper), cut corn from cobs.
Place corn in saucepan and chop other vegetables finely. Place with all other ingredients in saucepan and heat, stirring well.
Cook slowly for 45 minutes or until tender. Stir frequently.
Pour into hot dry jars and seal. Store for a few weeks before using.
Makes 1 kilogram.

Chili Tomato Relish

1 kilogram tomatoes
1 large onion
1 tablespoon salt
4 gherkins (pickled cucumber in America?)
3/4 cup brown vinegar
3/4 cup white vinegar
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons curry powder
½ teaspoon chili powder
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
½ cup white vinegar, extra

Finely chop gherkins, peel and chop tomatoes, peel and finely chop onions.
Place the 3 vegetables in a bowl and sprinkle with salt, stand for 1 hour.
Drain, rinse under cold tap, drain.
Place in saucepan with sugar and vinegars, stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer 5 minutes.
Mix curry, chili, flour, paprika, and mustard seeds to smooth paste with the extra vinegar.
Add to tomato mixture. Stir until it boils and thickens.
Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 30 minutes.
Spoon into hot, sterilized jars, seal.
Makes 1.5 liters.

Strawberry Jam

1 kilogram strawberries
6 cups sugar
1 ½ teaspoons tartaric acid
1 tablespoon butter

Use ripe but firm strawberries. Don't use over ripe or damaged fruit.
Hull strawberries and cut in half (or lightly crush) and put into large saucepan.
Stir in sugar and bring to full rolling boil. Boil 5 minutes.
Add tartaric acid and butter and return to brisk boil. Boil 6 minutes, being sure to begin timing when the jam comes to the boil.
Immediately pour into clean, hot, dry jars. Seal when cold and store in a dry place.
Makes about 1.25 - 2 kilograms.

Favourite Recipes 1

I didn't get to post yesterday and today is getting late, so I am just going to share some of my favourite recipes with you. I am afraid I don't have photos to go with these recipes as they come from my private collection. This first recipe I got from a recipe book about 20 years ago and couldn't tell you which one. But it fast became a favourite dish to make when I had guests to dinner. I have not made it much since moving to Belgium because lamb is quite expensive and not so common over here, not like in Australia.

Lamb and Mushroom Casserole

4 large lamb chops

1 tablespoon oil

440g can cream of mushroom soup

1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce

250g halved button mushrooms

3/4 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup dry sherry

2 teaspoons extra oil

2 large onions sliced

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Trim fat and sinew off chops. Heat oil in heavy-based pan. Cook chops for 1 minute each side or until well browned. Drain on absorbent paper.

2. Place chops in an 8-cup capacity casserole dish. Mix together soup, worcestershire sauce, stock, and sherry. Pour over chops. Cover and bake 1½ hours.

3. Heat extra oil in pan and cook button mushrooms for 3 minutes or until brown. Set aside. Add onions to the pan and cook 4 minutes or until soft and golden.

4. Stir mushrooms through casserole. Sprinkle onion slices over casserole. Return uncovered to oven for 20 minutes or until onions are crisp and lamb is tender.

Serve with steamed vegetables.

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This next recipe was handed down to me from my former mother-in-law. It was a huge family favourite! It is very simple and quick but oh so yummy!

Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

1 cup Self Raising Flour

1/8 cup white sugar

½ teaspoon salt

2 dessertspoons cocoa

½ cup milk 

2 tablespoons melted butter

Mix all dry ingredients with butter and milk. Put in a greased pyrex dish. 

Topping:

½ cup brown sugar

2 dessertspoons cocoa

1 ½ cup hot water

Mix sugar and cocoa and sprinkle over pudding mix in the pyrex dish. Then pour the hot water over.

Bake in a moderate oven 30 minutes.

Serve with vanilla ice-cream or cream.

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When I lived in Hervey Bay in Australia, we had about 6 or 7 mango trees in the backyard. Each summer we would have such an over supply of mangoes and couldn't get rid of them fast enough. This is one of the recipes I used to get rid of some of the mangoes and it is so delicious. It is an ice-cream made WITHOUT an ice-cream maker.

Mango Ice-cream

4 large ripe mangoes

150g caster sugar

1 egg

465ml. cream

¼ cup milk

1 tablespoon vanilla essence

1. Peel, seed and sieve mangoes to remove fibers.

2, Place mango puree and 75g of the sugar in double boiler (saucepans will do and that is what I used). Simmer gently 15 minutes. Chill mango mixture in fridge for 30 minutes before use.

3. Place egg, remaining sugar, 65ml cream, milk, and vanilla essence in blender and process for 30 seconds.

4. Add chilled mango puree and blend 15 seconds. Continue blending for about 30 seconds while adding the remaining cream.

5. Place mixture in an ice-cream container and freeze.

6. Stir occasionally while freezing.

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The last recipe for today. I couldn't find the recipe for the dish I wanted to share so instead I am going to give you one of my yummiest recipes for a party dip. I so love this dip and could eat it all day. And it is very simple to make.

Smoky Capsicum Dip

4 finely chopped bacon rashers

1 finely chopped red capsicum (paprika/bell pepper)

1 finely chopped onion

250g chopped cream cheese (plain Philadelphia Cream Cheese is good)

In a large pan, cook bacon, onion, capsicum (paprika/bell pepper) until soft and beginning to brown. Place mixture in a food processor with the cream cheese and process until smooth.

This is one scrumptious and popular dip.

Monschau

Tomorrow is the weekend and I want to share one of my favourite places to visit. Not visiting it this weekend but have been there quite a number of times and I never tire of visiting. That place is Monschau, a delightful small town located in the Eiffel region of Germany. I have compiled some photos below. Most of these photos are my own, apart from the 2 views of the whole town at the beginning and the beautiful Christmas photos at the end. I have been there at Christmas, with a light snow fall and the Christmas markets, and it was so incredibly magical!!!

The village winds its way along the river, down in the valley. There is a special Traffic and Parking Guidance System to reduce traffic in the historic center of the village. The historic medieval center can only handle limited traffic so it is recommended to park in one of the four large parking lots and explore the city on foot. And the city has a lot to offer from its narrow winding alleys and half timbered houses to its wide variety of museums.  The half timbered houses have remained unchanged for 300 years which alone make Monschau a popular tourist destination. Parts hang out over the flowing river and are an experience in themselves. The museums that can be found in Monschau include the historic brewery museum, museum of photography and film, and the museum of local history and culture. Other sights of the town include the historical sawmill, Monschau Castle, the Red House and so much more. Or just walk along the narrow streets and explore the shops which include a lot of art and craft stores and gift stores.

Historically, Monschau was first mentioned in 1198 and its Castle, which sits up on the hill overlooking the town, dates back to the 13th century. Historically, the main industry of Monschau was cloth-mills. The Red House was the home of one of the major cloth making families of Monschau and was built in 1760. These days the Red House is a museum that takes you back in time to the 18th century and the cloth making industry of that time.

Monschau is a true delight to visit and I love to just wander her streets and take in the scenery and historic atmosphere. I hope you enjoy these photos of Monschau.

Health benefits to us from cats

Sticking with the theme of pets for today, there is a subject which I find absolutely fascinating. It is a well established fact that having pets is beneficial to your health. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges it. Therapy dogs are used in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, retirement homes, hospices, and disaster areas. According to research, interaction increases the levels of dopamine and oxytocin in the brain while decreasing levels of cortisol. This helps reduce stress and depression. Therapy cats are also trained to help the sick and elderly. Using therapy cats in nursing homes has shown that patients are more alert and smile more. But the benefits do not stop there.

A cat's purr can actually help you physically heal. The vibrations from a cat's purr are within the range of 20-140Hz which is known to be therapeutic for many illnesses. Frequencies of  25 and 50Hz are ideal for healing bones. There is an old veterinarian adage that is still taught in veterinary schools today, "Put a cat in a room with a bunch of broken bones and the bones will heal". Is it just a coincidence that, compared to other animals such as dogs, cats rarely or never get bone diseases or muscle and tendon injuries? It is believed the purr of a cat can help heal bones. It is also believed that it can help in the healing of soft tissue such as muscles, tendons, and ligament injuries. And it is also suggested that purring aids in the healing of swelling and infections.

Along the lines of lower stress and reduced depression, a purring cat has been shown to reduce blood pressure. Studies have also shown that cat owners are 40% less likely to have a heart attack that non cat owners. And according to the Animal Planet website, there is scientific research that suggests pet owners live longer than those without pets.

One problem that can be overcome in both humans and cats as a result of a cat purr is dyspnea (difficulty with breathing). There was one Siamese cat that was in such respiratory distress that euthanasia was considered. However, when it was lifted and held, it started to purr and the respiratory distress eased. With regular attention and purring, it was well on the road to recovery within 24 hours. It is believed that this purring can also assist humans with dyspnea.

While it is a long time fact that pets, including cats, help with stress, depression, and blood pressure, I find the fact that the vibrations from their purrs can help heal other physical ailments, a totally fascinating subject. I believe a lot more research needs to be done in this area. In the meantime, hug your cat. Or if you don't yet have one, make your way to the nearest animal shelter, pick out that forlorn cat in the corner, and spend a very happy and healthy life together.

My boy is 14

My baby boy is 14 today. I so hope he makes 15 but he has diabetes and kidney problems.

Happy Birthday Hardy Boy.

Osteoarthritis

Today I am asking for help. I suffer from osteoarthritis. There are so many recommendations, medicines, home remedies, etc out there and so many people have so much advice. But I have yet to find anything that truly helps. So I am asking if anybody out there has actually found something that really does help?

My osteoarthritis is in the knees. It has become so bad that I am in pain 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I never have any peace from the pain. I prefer not to take painkillers all the time, only if I have to go out all day and use the knee an extreme amount. But I may have to consider living on pain killers soon as the pain is becoming unbearable. Sitting is the worst, bending the knee is becoming an increasing problem. At my desk is not toooooo bad as I have a stool underneath my desk that I can stretch my leg out on. But sitting in class or even just sitting at a cafe drinking coffee, after as little as 10 minutes I just want to jump up and scream because it is becoming so bad. I have trouble getting to sleep at night and the pain will often wake me up. I am finding that I also cannot completely straighten my leg as much as I could before anymore. Even driving is becoming more and more of a problem. It is affecting every part of my life. But I am still too young for a knee replacement. My doctor says I am a definite candidate but there is a limit on how many you can have in your lifetime and how long they last. It varies between countries but here in Belgium you can have a maximum of 2 and they last up to 10 years each. I need to wait longer.

When I was younger, I didn't truly understand what osteoarthritis was or what it did. How bad the pain could be or how it affected a person. I thought only really old people suffered and it would not be something I need to worry about anytime in the near future. How wrong I was. So what exactly is osteoarthritis...

There are over 100 different types of arthritis but osteoarthritis is the most common form. It is also called 'wear and tear' arthritis. It is most commonly found in the knees, spine, hips, hands, and fingers. It occurs when, over time, the cartilage in the joints breaks down, eventually leading to the two opposing bones to rub into each other. It comes on slow at first, as it did with me. Eventually the symptoms are constant pain in the joints, stiffness, swelling and tenderness, a grating, cracking or crunching feeling or sound in the joint, and muscle wasting due to less activity. Sometimes the knee will 'give way' underneath you which is a problem I have every time I try to go for a walk for exercise. It will start about 10 or 15 minutes into the walk. This is not my x-ray but looks identical to the one I had done. My cartilage is completely missing on the side of my right knee.

There are several versions of knee injection therapies out there that I have heard really good things about. While they don't help 100% and it is only a temporary fix that needs to be redone every so often, it can help immensely. This link takes you to a video that demonstrates one of the injections being given to a patient. The video also talks about the side affects, who is able to have the injections, and what the process involves. 

http://bcove.me/yljfqm7z

While I am definitely considering having these injections but they are not covered by health insurance here in Belgium. And I would like to be sure that I have explored all the other avenues first. So if anybody out there has discovered something that has really helped them, I would definitely appreciate hearing from you.

For those of you that have not had the unpleasant onset of knee osteoarthritis, then there are a few things that can help prevent it. There is no way of preventing it altogether, however, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping muscles around the knee strong through regular exercise (strong muscles help support the joints), avoiding putting stress on your joints, and maintaining good posture can all help to minimize the risk. In America alone, there are 27 million people living with osteoarthritis and the lifetime risk of developing it in the knee is about 46%. So it is never too early to start trying to prevent the onset. I did not think of this when younger and am now seeing my error. 

Easter Crafts for Kids

I am very late with today's post. And I have been thinking about how close to Easter it is. And how kids everywhere are now on vacation or will be soon. So I was looking up some sites that had Easter Crafts for Kids and thought I would share some of the best ones I found. To keep the kids entertained this vacation......

This first site is wonderful. There is egg dying, hand puppets, decoupage eggs, chair covers, shoelace bunnies, and so much more. You will find 189 Kids' Easter Crafts at Spoonful.com

 Another wonderful site is Activity Village with Easter Basket ideas, Easter Bonnet ideas and so much more. 

Martha Stewart is always somebody you can count on to have wonderful ideas. And she has 33 fabulous ideas for kids Easter crafts. At Martha Stewart.com you will find bunny bookmarks, bunny ears, paper flowers, and paper Easter baskets. There is a wonderful selection of crafts and activities.

And lastly, there is a whole load of fun to be had at kidspot.com.au with Easter Parade Bonnets, chocolate making, fun Easter cutlery or placemats, Easter egg pinata, toilet roll puppets, and stained glass decorations.

Have fun with the kids this Easter vacation. I hope there is something on these sites for everyone.

Crime and Fear

Well I got a phone call last night from the political party I belong to. They wanted to know if I was happy with how things are going in our town and how I felt about the things I wanted to see changed before the election. So today's post is going to be about something that I am terribly embarrassed about but I guess I should voice. I am afraid of being a victim again. That is my biggest fear. One of my biggest concerns before the election was security.

When I was a teenager, our house was robbed during the day when nobody was home. It is the most horrible feeling to come home and find everything so messed up and to have the thought of somebody going through and helping themselves to your most private possessions. Nothing of real value was taken, I think it had been kids, but that feeling remains. As time went by I got over that feeling but I still think about it from time to time. Several years later, my mum was the victim of an armed robbery when she was a teller in a bank. That was a huge scare but mum was fine and again, we moved on.

A few years ago, here in Belgium, we had our car stolen from our own driveway, down beside the house. I was hanging out some wash on a rack right next to the window where the car was on the other side. I heard a car start and drive off around 4.30 or 5.00am but thought it was our neighbour going to work or something until we discovered the car was gone when Hans went to go to work. It was a struggle for quite a while, until we had saved enough for another car. We relied on friends a bit and sometimes borrowed my father-in-laws car. The public transport around here is not good. So for a while, it was hard. But I was not in danger and there was no direct threat to me, and it was just the car stolen, and that is why I am embarrassed to say that I still have such fear. I feel so foolish and keep telling myself that it was nothing but I can't help living in fear.

Now we park the car in the driveway on the other side of the house, right outside the bedroom and kitchen. I will not turn off the kitchen light until morning. I keep it burning the entire night until either it is daylight or our neighbours have arrived to open the shop. I check out the window about 20 times a night, every single night, just to make sure the car is still there. The slightest sound outside freezes me to the spot. The baker delivers to the store next door around 4am and I will stand at the door when he is there or if somebody else has pulled up in front of the shop. I watch and listen until they are gone. Often on weekends, drunk kids stop and chat in front of our house, I don't know why they choose our house. I will be there watching the car or trying to peek out the window or listen to what is happening but am too scared to go outside. I am a bundle of nerves until they move on. I went into such a panic at the supermarket the other day when I couldn't see our car but then I had just parked a few spaces further than I thought.

I know it is so darn foolish to be so nervous. Nothing happened to me and it was just a car. But for some reason, this time I just can't shake the fear, no matter how much I try. I tell myself there are so many people that have been victims of much bigger crimes or have so much more horrible or terrible problems to worry about, but I still have this fear. Will it ever go away this time? Maybe voicing it here will help?

Anyway, back to the phone call. Some people have been trying to get neighbourhood watch programs started. But it is being blocked by the other party who say it will just be vigilantism and they don't want that. Can you believe that? Afraid of a neighbourhood watch program? You have got to be kidding me!

I am all for a neighbourhood watch. I think it will help a lot. And it might not only help me feel better than I do now. We also have problems with a neighbour who has made it their mission in life to take their frustrations out on us. Just little things like tipping our rubbish out on our doorstep, or letting down the electric fence so that Pico can get out. We know who it is because I opened the front door while they were right in the middle of tipping the rubbish out on our doorstep and so drunk they could hardly stand. So I would really like a neighbourhood watch for this reason too. But most of all, I am hoping that it would relieve some of my fear and help me to relax a bit.

Well now you know my biggest secret. I know it is so silly to have so much fear over something so small. But I do. And I just cant believe that people would be opposed to a neighbourhood watch. I can't understand that at all. What are they really afraid of?

Diabetes

Today my thoughts have turned to much more serious matters. There are few that concern me and the first one is diabetes. I seem to be faced with it every which way I turn. I myself had type 2 diabetes until my bypass surgery and have now been off medication since 2 days after the surgery, yes, it really does happen that fast. And although it may be gone at the moment, I have been told that there is always a risk of it returning, that it is never truly gone once you have had it. My mum has also had type 2 the last several years. And I have several other family and close friends with it. Even my cat, Hardy, has it. It seems nobody or nothing is safe and can hide from this disease.

So isn't it time that we ALL should be asking ourselves some simple questions? Why has diabetes become such a HUGE problem? Why is it happening to people in all walks of life and also all ages? What can be done to stem the problem? How can we help ourselves and our loved ones to avoid becoming diabetic? Could I already suffer from diabetes and not know it?

90% of diabetes sufferers worldwide suffer from type 2. Basically it is a resistance in the body to insulin or the body does not produce enough insulin to function properly. While those that are overweight or obese have a much higher risking of developing type 2 diabetes, it is actually not limited to them. Studies in the UK have shown that drinking just one can of soda a day can increase our chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 22%. The risk also increases as we get older. If you have a close family member with type 2 diabetes, you also stand a higher chance of developing it. As do people of African, South Asian, and Middle Eastern descent. And studies show there is also a link with men who have low testosterone.

So is it just our lifestyle these days, that is causing so many people worldwide to become diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? Is it our love of soda's, fast food, and lack of exercise? Many people will say yes. And I do agree with them that this plays a MAJOR role. However, I do think that there are other factors also at play. And that this may not be the cause for a lot of people who have been diagnosed or will be diagnosed. If you think that type 2 diabetes is only limited to overweight or obese people, then you would be dreadfully wrong!!!! Here is a list of famous type 2 diabetics: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Randy Jackson, Delta Burke, Dick Clark, Billie Jean King, Larry King, and George Lucas. Many of these were diagnosed on their ethnicity or having family members with the disease.

It is not only us and our loved ones that are suffering. Our pets are also suffering. My Hardy is now 14 and he was diagnosed about 5½ years ago. He was diagnosed when he suddenly and drastically, lost a load of weight. His liver was having problems. Thankfully, once he was diagnosed and was on his insulin injections twice a day, he had no more problems with his liver. But the last few months, he has been declining in health. His kidneys are now having problems and he is on pills daily for them now as well. He is also on daily pain medication for his teeth. And he has ended up in the hospital twice the last few months from having an epileptic fit and being almost comatose from an acute hypoglycemic attack (too low sugar). It is a constant worry for me. He is fine most of the time but now I am worrying 24 hours a day. I don't like to leave him alone for long and I am checking on him constantly to make sure he is still alive. I wake up during the night and check on him and put more food down to make sure he is eating enough. But what else can I do?

Diabetes affects around 1 in 400 cats and it seems to mostly affect male neutered cats that are over 8 and overweight. But it is not limited to just cats. Dogs suffer from type 1 diabetes and no type 2 diabetes has been found in dogs. But these days it does affect as many as 1 in 160 dogs. And yes, horses also suffer from diabetes. However, in horses, it is often referred to as equine metabolic syndrome or pre-Cushings disease. Diabetes in horses and ponies is quite common and can definitely affect horses that are overweight. The rate of diabetes in pets has tripled in America since 1970. Are we to blame? Is the way we care for our pets, resulting in the increase of this terrible disease?

Common symptoms of diabetes is frequent urination, blurred vision, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, skin problems, slow healing, yeast infections, fatigue, weight loss, or tingling and numbness. If you have any of these symptoms, I strongly recommend a blood test to determine if you are diabetic or if you have prediabetes. Most patients who suffer from type 2 diabetes first had prediabetes, where your sugar levels are abnormally high but not high enough to be called diabetes. However, damage to the heart and circulatory system can already occur in prediabetes.

So what can you do to help if you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or wish to prevent being diagnosed with the disease? Firstly, carbohydrates have a direct influence on blood sugar levels. You need to ensure you are eating the right kind. Foods such as potato, pasta, pastry, etc, can cause a major rapid rise in your blood sugar. Yet at the same time, foods rich in fiber cause blood sugar to rise more slowly. So you need to research this and find the foods that are best and the ones that are not so good. Whole grains are very good for maintaining blood sugar levels, as is physical activity. So if you are concerned or have been diagnosed, speak to a dietician or research what changes can be made to your lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic and it is time that we all asked some very serious questions and took it seriously.

Keukenhof

Since I am on the topic of Spring today, I thought I might recommend a truly beautiful and wonderful place to visit. That is Keukenhof in the Netherlands. I have been there twice and it is just breathtaking. Spring is the best time to visit but it is also open in the Summer with a very different garden. But nothing can surmount the beauty of its tulips in Spring. It is definitely a must see place to visit.

Keukenhof is the world's largest flower garden. Situated not far from Amsterdam, it covers an area of 32 hectares and each year, around 7 million flower bulbs are planted. There is a variety of different garden styles with something for everybody.

Keukenhof has a rich history and for centuries the area was part of Teylingen Castle. The name Keukenhof means 'kitchen courtyard' in Dutch. The garden itself was established in 1949. And surrounding Keukenhof, Spring is the time for the flower fields.

I have put together some photos into a gif below. Sadly, I didn't have much of our photos on the computer as they were not taken with a digital camera. But I hope you love all the photos that I gathered together. Enjoy!

Note: Unfortunately, I do not know who took most of these photos but if you see one of yours, please let me know so that I can give you due credit.

Springtime

Spring has well and truly arrived. At least in this part of the world. The grass is growing, birds are singing, squirrels are playing, and of a night I hear frogs and other creatures coming out. Today the sun is shining again and it is a beautiful 18°C. Baby animals are everywhere you turn, little lambs cropping up in the fields. Daffodils and tulips are popping up everywhere. Daffodils are my favourite flower and I just love seeing them all over, covering roundabouts, on traffic islands as you drive down the road, and in everyone's gardens. Their bright yellow sunshiny colour just fills you with joy and peace. Is there anything more beautiful than Spring?

I do have to admit that I also have a soft spot for the crisp white and freshness of Winter. And also for the rich colours of Autumn. But Spring is just pure joy! Full of colour, the miracle of birth, and life in general. And with the April showers that make everything fresh and give life to the new flowers, what better time is there to be alive?

Spring is also the season of love. Scientifically, it is the dopamine that is released in the brain that turns your thoughts to love. All those new colours, new smells, new sounds, and all that chemical being released, gives you such a feeling of euphoria, it is time for love. But for most of us, we just feel the love.

So go forth, and enjoy this extremely beautiful season. I am going to leave you with a wonderful poem. It is by the famous Elizabethan English poet Thomas Nashe (1567-1601). I think it just sums up Spring for me.

Inspiration for a title

Time for my first REAL blog post. And I thought a good place to start would be my inspiration for the title, 'Such is Life'. Many of you may have never heard of the Australian Bushranger, Ned Kelly. But I have a been a huge fan since before I can remember. We took a family vacation to Melbourne when I was only 7 years old and one of the few things I can remember was visiting Old Melbourne Gaol and looking into the cell that had held Ned Kelly. I was 13 and in my first year of high school on the 100th anniversary of his hanging and I privately gave him one minute silence. 

Edward (Ned) Kelly was born in June 1855 at Beveridge, Victoria. He was hung in Old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November, 1880.  The son of an Irish convict who had been transported to Australia for stealing 2 pigs, Ned often clashed with the police in his younger days. Ned had 5 sisters, 2 half-sisters, 2 brothers, and 1 half-brother. Before Ned was declared an outlaw, there were 18 charges brought against his immediate family but only half of them resulted in guilty verdicts. This led many to believe that the Kelly family were unfairly targeted.

Following an extremely controversial incident at the Kelly home on 15 April, 1878, Ned became a fugitive. The incident involved Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick who violated police policy and went alone to the house to arrest Ned's brother, Dan Kelly. After an incident, Constable Fitzpatrick rode to Benalla where he claimed that he was attacked by the Kelly family and shot by Ned. However, Ned is reported to have been 200 miles away at the time. The incident led to the conviction of his mother, brother-in-law, and a family associate. A reward of £100 was offered for Ned's arrest. After the trial, a doctor had told Fitzpatrick that his wounds were not caused by a bullet and Fitzpatrick was later dismissed from the police force for drunkenness and perjury. In the meantime, Ned and Dan feared that their story would not be believed and they went into hiding with friends, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart. And the notorious Kelly Gang is born!

In October of that same year, there was a shoot-out between a police party and the Kelly Gang which led to the death of 3 police officers at Stringybark Creek. The reward was raised to £500. The gang then committed two major robberies which included taking hostages and robbing bank safes. After the first robbery, the government round up and arrested all known friends and supporters of the Kelly's. This led to major condemnation of the government for abusing their power, including in the media. The Jerilderie Letter is a famous piece of Australian literature. It is a letter of over 7000 words that was written by Ned, describing his views and the treatment of his family. Excerpts of the letter were published but then it was hidden until 1930.

Ned was finally captured in Glenrowan in June 1880. The gang had been equipped with metal armour that could withstand bullets. Each set of armour weighed 44kg (97lb) and it was worn under long grey coats. They had the train tracks disabled so that extra police would not be able to get through and then took over the town of Glenrowan. Their plans failed when they released the local school teacher who went to warn the police of the disabled train track. The Kelly gang were held up in the local hotel and a siege ensued. Joe Byrne was shot and his body was later strung up in the town of Benalla as a curiousity. The bodies of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart were later found in the burnt out hotel and while the circumstances of their deaths are not known, it is believed that they may have committed suicide. Ned had attacked the police from behind. He was shot a total of 28 times but not one of the bullets had pierced his armour. He had been shot in the left foot, left leg, left arm, right hand and in the groin. He survived to stand trial on 19 October 1880. 

Ned Kelly has been immortalized as an Australian icon. He was the subject of the first Australian feature film in 1906. Mick Jagger played Ned in the 1970 film while Heath Ledger had the starring role in 2003. That first film, The Story of the Kelly Gang,  was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register for being the world's first full-length feature film. Today, his memory lives on. For some, Ned was just a cold-blooded killer. To others, he is a folk hero, not unlike Robin Hood. I belong to the latter group.

An introduction

Sheesh, well it is much harder to write a first post than I thought it would be! I really have absolutely NO idea where to begin. So maybe I should start with just a bit about me and what I hope to include in this blog as time goes on....

First, I love animals and nature. All animals, great and small. My pets mean the world to me, I have 3 cats (Hardy, George, and Dennis), a Shetland Pony called Pico, and a few chickens roaming the yard. Hardy is diabetic for the last 5 1/2 years and is now having some serious problems, including kidney problems. George was inbred and has always had problems and now has a heart murmur. While Dennis (the Menace) is definitely a character in himself. I also feed the stray cats that live in our yard and roof. But all animals mean the world to me and I hate to see any animal suffer. I would like to include in this blog, posts on pet health and care and other musings.

I am an Australian living in Europe and fascinated with history. I would also like to share with you, some of the amazing places I visit or have seen in this part of the world. There is so much rich history, beauty, and incredible sites to see! Something that meant a lot to me, was attending the ANZAC day ceremony in Ieper (Flanders Fields). It was a very emotional day and I would like to repeat that experience.

Two years ago, I had a gastric bypass operation. There are so many things you need to know when considering this option for weight loss. It has changed my life and I would like to share some of what I have discovered along the way with others that are thinking about it. Possibly share some bypass friendly recipes.

And then there will be bits and pieces of other topics. Sometimes I may stand on my soap box if there is something that I feel strongly about. Other times, I may share feelings and thoughts. Maybe nobody will be interested, maybe some will. Either way, this blog will basically be me. If anything above is something that might interest you, then stay tuned!