tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183846942024-03-08T12:08:00.412+13:00eMpTy pageLiving an artful lifeMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-76398720946352434282013-02-11T17:27:00.000+13:002013-02-11T17:27:03.613+13:00To blog or not to blog...So... to blog or not to blog? That is the question.<br />
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I've posted dozens, possibly hundreds, of 'stories', comments, musings over quite a few years. But nothing since April last year.<br />
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Did it become a chore? Was it a bit self indulgent? A bit up myself? <br />
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"I blog." So I must have something to day. Right? Not sure I did really. I took a break when I figured I didn't have anything new to say<br />
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I'm on Facebook. And there friends and family see little glimpses into what I do. And photos of the happy stuff. And that's probably enough. For now.<br />
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Nice knowing you, blogosphere. <br />
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But I might be back. <br />
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Never say never.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-73582641607405865822012-04-19T13:49:00.004+12:002012-04-19T15:59:25.554+12:00RapidCalcFor the Type 1 diabetes community who read my posts here's a review of RapidCalc an iPhone ap for people with Type 1 diabetes.<br /><br />Mr 12 is on a MDI regime and has recently changed to Lantus and Novorapid. So now he is learning to carb count – something most Type 1 diabetics eventually have to do. While looking for a simple way to calculate and record his insulin requirements we came across an iPhone ap that has been really useful.<br /><br />The ap is called RapidCalc and costs $10.99 (NZ).<br /><br />You have to take a few minutes to set up measurement units, correction units, BGL targets, basal and bolus info (like you would have to do for a pump) and then you are ready to go.<br /><br />To use it you simply:<br />A) do a blood test and enter the result and<br />B) enter your planned carb intake (and you have options<br />about how this is calculated)<br /><br />RapidCalc then immediately tells you how much shortacting insulin (Novorapid) you should be taking.<br /><br />You then enter what dosage of insulin you took so that your records can be stored. And for those who may wonder if it’s accurate I manually calculated everything for 3 days just to compare it and RapidCalc was spot on every time.<br /><br />A really good feature is that at any time you can tell the device to email your results (your entire history or just results since the last email) to your pre-designated email address at the tap of a button. It also creates charts showing actual/target levels.<br /><br /><br />Rapidcalc can be run on an iPod touch, an iPad or and iPhone.<br /><br />For kids/adults who like technology it is a fun (and accurate) way to work out and record the important stuff. ( I’m personally not a big ap user but found it really easy to use.)<br /><br />Now I just have to convince Mr 12's school that he can use his iPod touch during the day at school because it is a medical device!Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-75850296072985872712012-02-01T13:44:00.002+13:002012-02-01T13:54:17.937+13:00Scary at all agesMy friend, L, and her family have moved to a new home 100 kms from where they used to live. It's paradise but it's still scary. L writes:<br /><br />"... tomorrow our real life here will start. To be honest I’m a bit scared.<br />What if the kids don’t like their new schools?<br />What if they don’t make any friends?<br />What if I don’t make any friends?"<br /><br />I have a solution. It comes from Miss 16. Yesterday she started school in Chicago. 13,000 kms away. Over 4000 kids at her school. She tells me day 1 was scary. People were nice but at lunch time it was just too hard to go into the cafeteria and strike up a conversation with total strangers. How do you break into a group? There were hundreds of people. Who would want to talk to her?<br /><br />Day 2 she talks to a few kids during class. Someone offers to meet her at lunch time. She gets introduced to a group of kids for lunch. They're all nice. They ask her to join one of their clubs. The Irish club. (She's not even Irish - but she does have red hair maybe that counts?) After school she gets invited downtown with a small group. They have dinner together.<br /><br />Day 3 tomorrow. It's still scary. But she has friends.<br /><br />The solution? It's a cliche but... just do it.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-24225465155891067312011-12-24T17:56:00.003+13:002011-12-25T21:29:48.672+13:00The Big Apple<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjLqsjjKQhHy5X427L-Cg09uAJR1jF7YXa3vqIBCAMcVySJdbB0T5uzphf8OkF6yV53AqOi87MPnnpyv5Ivr4Lf2H17ow6j2JmIECFJkf3cfGyXP9O-hZ0a3cq2T9svhwq_KfUQ/s1600/2011+New+York+006.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689977621034245922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjLqsjjKQhHy5X427L-Cg09uAJR1jF7YXa3vqIBCAMcVySJdbB0T5uzphf8OkF6yV53AqOi87MPnnpyv5Ivr4Lf2H17ow6j2JmIECFJkf3cfGyXP9O-hZ0a3cq2T9svhwq_KfUQ/s320/2011+New+York+006.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><br />I am back from a whirlwind week in New York accompanying little sister on a business trip. I absolutely loved it. Heaps of sightseeing, shopping, eating and walking.<br /><br />Transport consisted of walking, the subway (yes, I braved it), the odd crazy New York taxi (tooting is their first language) and a horse and carriage ride in Central Park.<br /><br />One morning K and I found ourselves walking in the Garment District. Lots of 'wholesale only' stores selling copious amounts of clothes (I assume to retail stores) and some amazing huge retail/wholesale outlets selling nothing but trims or ribbons or buttons. It was jaw-dropping and made me wish I could sew!<br /><br />On my first morning I went with my penfriend from Chicago (who is going to be Miss 16's host family when she moves there in January) to a traditional New York diner. We each ordered an omelette that I could swear would feed 4 people. It must have contained 6 eggs and was stuffed with mushrooms, cheese and spinach and would have been at least 6 inches high. It was accompanied with a mound of refried potatoes. I almost felt sick upon seeing the huge portion but it was delicious and after eating about 1/4 of it I admitted defeat. Including coffee or juice<br />it came to the princely sum of $5.95.</div><div><br />From that day on we ate breakfast on 7th Avenue (just by Madison Square Garden) at a very cool and busy New York bagel deli called "Bagel Maven Cafe". To die for bagels and a standard size!<br /><br />I was really impressed with the food - did not have huge expectations before I left. We ate in either funky neon-lit cocktail bars/restaurants or small candle-lit family owned restaurants (no more than 30 seaters). Prices were fantastic - no more than $15-17 for a main course which might be a huge bowl of linguini with huge scallops, prawns and mussels and a fresh salad on<br />the side. The thin crusted New York pizza was lovely - very simple - often just prosciutto and basil and again, $15 for enough to feed 2. I was surprised to see a lot of seafood - grilled calamari featured everywhere. I gave in one night only and had New York cheesecake (had to really!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59X3NmLMkmUuk24Cl8nQDBFgTPrHGpCSw2BgCD3PA2RV4Vm-qT2kAKLkZPcpoE03Og9VA-vgO-W39Wcjzn1oQ6mMtEZ8zx3WgL7LqBFRqLf9Aw52rg6Fxj-59jSfLcDkOVnwZWw/s1600/2011+New+York+110.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689979967491977602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59X3NmLMkmUuk24Cl8nQDBFgTPrHGpCSw2BgCD3PA2RV4Vm-qT2kAKLkZPcpoE03Og9VA-vgO-W39Wcjzn1oQ6mMtEZ8zx3WgL7LqBFRqLf9Aw52rg6Fxj-59jSfLcDkOVnwZWw/s320/2011+New+York+110.JPG" /></a><br />Shopping was amazing - Saks 5th Avenue was lovely and Macy's was hit hard. Christmas decorations outside buildings were fantastic -especially on 5th Avenue. Took lots of photos. Credit card saw a bit of damage (I blame Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein for making clothes in my size!). Huge floors containing warm winter coats - everything from furs to fleece. Sales<br />everywhere - possible to get a full length down coat with fur trim on sale for $200. Not that I need one in Wellington. (And I wouldn't buy fur!) Makeup and cosmetics were ridiculously cheap - the Bobbi Brown foundation I splurge on at $90 a bottle at home was US$45 - even with the exchange rate it was cheap. Suffice it to say I had to buy an extra suitcase to lug home all my purchases.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliPPrKN5-k_3IWHjpIZT0sD2qYowgmwcNDmEd-os8p-BH7Rbn-GhaD7RWZ39YySpPmU1O2EO9OAxAaTh1wQtivDVSI2geKBhArv-JL78pa6nMzqSMlPI7xs-6E0o3rgem34CCGQ/s1600/2011+New+York+030.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689978864235470866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliPPrKN5-k_3IWHjpIZT0sD2qYowgmwcNDmEd-os8p-BH7Rbn-GhaD7RWZ39YySpPmU1O2EO9OAxAaTh1wQtivDVSI2geKBhArv-JL78pa6nMzqSMlPI7xs-6E0o3rgem34CCGQ/s320/2011+New+York+030.JPG" /></a><br />I did lots of touristy things including going to the top of the Empire State Building for the amazing views; Times Square was buzzy and neon (even the police station had a neon sign); the Ground Zero memorial was worth queuing for - a very sad place - and very calm and quiet amidst the bustle of the city; the Rockefeller Centre with its famous Christmas tree and<br />avenue of angels and iceskating; St Patrick's Cathedral to light a candle for dad. I had a day and a<br />half by myself (my penfriend had left and K was working) so I walked to Greenwich<br />and Soho which was a great afternoon. We went to a Broadway show one night - The<br />Book of Mormon - which I confess I had never heard of but which had just won 9 Tony Awards and consequently was practically booked out until 2013. We had to pay $299 for tickets (oops that's over $400 once converted!) but worth every cent - the funniest thing I've ever<br />seen. It got a standing ovation. Next time I will go to way more shows - there<br />was so much on it was amazing.<br /><br />We spent a morning at MOMA (the Museum of Modern Art) - a bit of a quick visit but enough to get a sense of the vast range of work they cover - the collection area (painting and sculpture) held lots of works by people like Picasso, Monet, Warhol (the Campbell soup cans!), Kahlo, Matisse,<br />Cezanne etc ; there was a great architecture section featuring an exhibition on the architects who were invited to design a replacement for the Twin Towers; the photography section had a new exhibition of 6 American photographers with works from the 50s to 70s. My favourite, interestingly, was a display on typography which I found fascinating. Felloow scrpapers would have apreciated it, I think. I felt like we really just ran around it all to get a quick glimpse of what was there. Could have spent a day or two there. And I didn't get to the Guggenheim or the Met but there's always next time.<br /><br />I had expected the people to be hard and brash but found the opposite. Occasionally they were indifferent but never rude but mostly they were very friendly and chatty. The streets were packed and frequently you'd get bumped just crossing the street but without fail people took a second to say "Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me, Pardon me" And "Ma'am" was heard hundreds of times a day. Most people knew where New Zealand was and I only had one person ask if it was "near New England?".<br /><br />Anyway just a wee snip of my 6 days in NYC -hadn't expected to love it so much. Would I go back? In a heart beat.</div><div> </div><div>(Blogger is doing silly things and I can't seem to load more photos) </div></div></div></div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-45308425017360667092011-11-10T22:15:00.004+13:002011-11-10T22:24:34.278+13:00Lane Tech<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ShCoIsa5BQki5BTCY1lPKk8_rm6527LJpG3m2fGEI7lbcP0y15zY8vEIdE7wdjISgnH_V7dNYixIUiv-drecp0QID_GDMVksLsUFx_6ubHCbqnIZm8D5qyD9qNMQf7W-ouo3KQ/s1600/Lane+Tech.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673293419568793282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ShCoIsa5BQki5BTCY1lPKk8_rm6527LJpG3m2fGEI7lbcP0y15zY8vEIdE7wdjISgnH_V7dNYixIUiv-drecp0QID_GDMVksLsUFx_6ubHCbqnIZm8D5qyD9qNMQf7W-ouo3KQ/s320/Lane+Tech.jpg" /></a></div><div>Albert G Lane<br />Technical College Preparatory High School,</div><div>Chicago, Illinois - this is where Miss 16 will be spending her school days in 2012. </div><div> </div><div>More than 11,000 students apply for just over 1000 places at this school each year. The school has over 4000 students - that's 1000 kids in your year.</div><div> </div><div>The school day starts at 7.40am. I think, that for Miss 16, that's going to be a culture-shock all by itself!</div><div> </div><div> </div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-10274432883003768352011-08-16T22:26:00.007+12:002011-08-16T22:39:17.355+12:00Winter Wonderland<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCkA3zm-g-qvuCGWo2T2T4lZ9Q6X8OgzlSw5KXKnKdD8LlNVV-fK8yTfHtlZErUCreq8QUc0yDRVGcLnJDdPax5CCqdTZY7KuNIHHcJmxvtiTs1zAApFgD_fOSSJVQJWHKbp9ww/s1600/Snow+High+St.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 87px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCkA3zm-g-qvuCGWo2T2T4lZ9Q6X8OgzlSw5KXKnKdD8LlNVV-fK8yTfHtlZErUCreq8QUc0yDRVGcLnJDdPax5CCqdTZY7KuNIHHcJmxvtiTs1zAApFgD_fOSSJVQJWHKbp9ww/s320/Snow+High+St.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641401003715388146" /></a>
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<br />I've lived in the Hutt Valley for almost all of my 40-something years and we have never experienced snow like we've had this week. We see it in the hills around the valley quite often but in my memory I have never seen it in our back yard. Inches deep.
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<br />So this week's weather has been the source of much amusement, discussion and concern.
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<br />Miss Indie (our 3 year old choclate labrador - didn't know what to make of it and ran around and around the yard like a total nutter. Tomorrow school is closed for Miss 16 and Mr 11 is praying his school makes the same decision.
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<br />This is what we came home to find after work today...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F0zgWB_PrXCpQ41sHS_RABtJAwQ35RaLaYazLnmIq_p0Xok_7wzJBQ0mu1BsSNkH_564W54A8bTa0ntZ7Eq8BgwKhM6JlQ4dvRtdKwpckGNBxPzYN-KlEROw0Yl4v3gSU3WnCQ/s1600/Snow+-+yard.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 87px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F0zgWB_PrXCpQ41sHS_RABtJAwQ35RaLaYazLnmIq_p0Xok_7wzJBQ0mu1BsSNkH_564W54A8bTa0ntZ7Eq8BgwKhM6JlQ4dvRtdKwpckGNBxPzYN-KlEROw0Yl4v3gSU3WnCQ/s320/Snow+-+yard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641400370702746658" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3z0YgCDnbBV9v-TeCyw0Zrzvqiod1l7VmTUrNxZGMagsIRRnVkfuIXUueobZhookJD03k8CgcBAHRYDWfJEhBL8PzVLcF6Kmbdx75DM7oxz2UOPgr0vO0W1qwPRm31O3CCuh8A/s1600/Tree.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 87px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3z0YgCDnbBV9v-TeCyw0Zrzvqiod1l7VmTUrNxZGMagsIRRnVkfuIXUueobZhookJD03k8CgcBAHRYDWfJEhBL8PzVLcF6Kmbdx75DM7oxz2UOPgr0vO0W1qwPRm31O3CCuh8A/s320/Tree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641400521479619954" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAxcgqRCzDyYgWtdMd7ea_EYADWviuOFi3cXxerE0mqR3q3ieN3vfUppVQPo_kh_lUidQW-nfndAHh-bwtjk4aD0zm2nUVCBH7dEg9MIyQqNyQxRZ2f1ch7hN-yC-UEUzfFtjmQ/s1600/Snow+High+St.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 87px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAxcgqRCzDyYgWtdMd7ea_EYADWviuOFi3cXxerE0mqR3q3ieN3vfUppVQPo_kh_lUidQW-nfndAHh-bwtjk4aD0zm2nUVCBH7dEg9MIyQqNyQxRZ2f1ch7hN-yC-UEUzfFtjmQ/s320/Snow+High+St.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641400438427680994
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<br />Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-53331670288305978112011-07-05T14:10:00.004+12:002011-07-05T14:28:01.307+12:00Science Fair<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMnAFqxUgQ_DffylxUR4qEXc4Z7jtKf9l_-6crvrpqG5KNvzfWNA84hHSi7gO_cc0R0FKugGeNPKlBneWGJncYDVGP9fTS6Ji8ONaL7sU6Ja7AQT1EgpkFYR_G3RIhCSdfQO9Jg/s1600/Science+Fair+015.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMnAFqxUgQ_DffylxUR4qEXc4Z7jtKf9l_-6crvrpqG5KNvzfWNA84hHSi7gO_cc0R0FKugGeNPKlBneWGJncYDVGP9fTS6Ji8ONaL7sU6Ja7AQT1EgpkFYR_G3RIhCSdfQO9Jg/s320/Science+Fair+015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625682536313803314" /></a><br />I have one kid who's good at the school stuff and another who hates it. So when Mr 11(the school work hater) runs to me after school with a big beam on his face I know it's good news.<br /><br />Mother: "How was school?"<br /><br />Mr 11: "It was cool. In science we dissected a cow's eye. It was really cool. Some kids thought it was gross but I didn't."<br /><br />Mother: "Fantastic. I thought you were happy."<br /><br />Mr 11:" Oh yeah, there's another thing. At the end of science we got to go and see all the science fair projects. And I couldn't find mine. And then R told me he knew where it was. And I came first in my class! And, even better, I came 3rd out of all the year 7 and 8 kids <em>(130 kids)</em> and, even better, P won the whole thing out of the whole school and he's only a year 7 like me. And we're both going to the regionals."<br /><br />Mr 11's project looked at whether doing a blood test on clean or dirty fingers made any difference to blood glucose levels. (It did!) A totally relevant project for a type one diabetic. <br /><br />But I want to know - do any kids actually do their science fair projects TOTALLY by themselves. Mr 11 did the research, the testing, the writeup - but I did most of the sticking to the display board. And helped him refine his topic. Come on parents - 'fess up!Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-40224897348458302632011-06-27T20:58:00.002+12:002011-07-02T20:33:14.592+12:00AgeI was talking to a 20-something colleague last week and remarked that I needed to find a birthday present for my mother who was turning 70. She suggested a possum fur gloves and scarf "Gifts like that are always great for the elderly!". <br /><br />I nearly choked. "Elderly?" Amongst other things my mother still runs around after us, picks up Mr 11 three days a week after school, is the secretary on a committee,has coffee and lunch dates with 'the girls' several times a week, does the accounts for her church and still gets blonde streaks in her hair. <br /><br />And then it occurred to me. To my 20-something year old colleague I am probably old enough to be her mother. So my mother must be really, well, elderly.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-80877425221262581382011-05-04T12:36:00.009+12:002011-05-04T12:48:02.137+12:00This is what 16 looks like<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbrLNQnDsT0jj6EOwQTkRIeja0Wfq7Bmlsw3zw9Fu3SRe7lmkOF7H9KRx8F1q71QkmNvvBWbaILwPJyRxuOchstHWt4lG3T8yGpaYpsJU1do4laCEaAP__wt7H3H-BsffUH2EIA/s1600/Cait+and+E%2527s+homework+005.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbrLNQnDsT0jj6EOwQTkRIeja0Wfq7Bmlsw3zw9Fu3SRe7lmkOF7H9KRx8F1q71QkmNvvBWbaILwPJyRxuOchstHWt4lG3T8yGpaYpsJU1do4laCEaAP__wt7H3H-BsffUH2EIA/s320/Cait+and+E%2527s+homework+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602653838007532434" /></a><br />Blinked and I missed it. On 27 April Miss 16 turned, well, 16. Her party theme was "A 6 year olds party". Tiaras and pink stuff galore. <br />'<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEaMI2zzUdyWjzXNMGlpNbhkVvK1diVZgsvJ1KjXRTzrwXf0mz_tBJTZLf3G-sSaRHeDcw9wwWdnqPiz5VMiA3fVdwXIqoW1jQHaX6gfAh0T-MqurCCr-2e0daY_9rspx8fuIxw/s1600/Cait%2527s+party+and+Stewie+042.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEaMI2zzUdyWjzXNMGlpNbhkVvK1diVZgsvJ1KjXRTzrwXf0mz_tBJTZLf3G-sSaRHeDcw9wwWdnqPiz5VMiA3fVdwXIqoW1jQHaX6gfAh0T-MqurCCr-2e0daY_9rspx8fuIxw/s320/Cait%2527s+party+and+Stewie+042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602654173916584018" /></a><br /><br />Check out the latest 'must have' daywear. The purple and black cargdigan I knitted for her father about 15 years ago (and which has probably been hidden in a closet for 14 years!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LMX-8yUWviRIuph_70elGF6GO9UmnF8eyO_Iq1bMLDjrmg4iLa6rpVORBh5wgFNBHw8yYNX2TPUj8vM34PZuDj0aZdz3eiO5I53tIS6ecK9sVxgNT1iCWU_y0UjXaC-2GT1kCQ/s1600/Cait%2527s+party+and+Stewie+010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LMX-8yUWviRIuph_70elGF6GO9UmnF8eyO_Iq1bMLDjrmg4iLa6rpVORBh5wgFNBHw8yYNX2TPUj8vM34PZuDj0aZdz3eiO5I53tIS6ecK9sVxgNT1iCWU_y0UjXaC-2GT1kCQ/s320/Cait%2527s+party+and+Stewie+010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602654490001588498" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRGWYcFgTWihYBnQ1_nZJLclTiO_WOeNsXRnhhoqJvy0dMbhQxkqM_luTuMGY1OiVmwdMEE9ptMrrc17LhzsrnTiN505NNQtaZv1uWPORPNdOB1QulZXWZ1-oJhuGth1jGKdzTw/s1600/Cait%2527s+party+and+Stewie+046.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRGWYcFgTWihYBnQ1_nZJLclTiO_WOeNsXRnhhoqJvy0dMbhQxkqM_luTuMGY1OiVmwdMEE9ptMrrc17LhzsrnTiN505NNQtaZv1uWPORPNdOB1QulZXWZ1-oJhuGth1jGKdzTw/s320/Cait%2527s+party+and+Stewie+046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602655820556671250" /></a><br /><br />And, incidentally, this is what 3 looked like (courtesy of a scrapbooking page by Granny who came to the rescue and decorated the house and made a birthday cake while we were delayed in Nelson. We got home 2 hours before the party!)Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-4116458813451440582011-04-13T11:31:00.004+12:002011-04-13T11:51:15.477+12:00COME ON DOWN, MR 11<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFXmUaO9m4dIm67K5_U5tJpGxPg6A-knZPBZWBxlMwuYDn4ZkEFT7XmWMqZtql6FyBl_7_JUIvdO12mjOpdKnCRItMz64_C3QBX0KHfRxIs-eEx_3X3SX6EGXZOpwzxPW9SWpYQ/s1600/Elliot%2527s+11th+birthday+012.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFXmUaO9m4dIm67K5_U5tJpGxPg6A-knZPBZWBxlMwuYDn4ZkEFT7XmWMqZtql6FyBl_7_JUIvdO12mjOpdKnCRItMz64_C3QBX0KHfRxIs-eEx_3X3SX6EGXZOpwzxPW9SWpYQ/s320/Elliot%2527s+11th+birthday+012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594848439076295522" /></a><br />Move over Mr 10. There's a new bloke in the house.<br /><br />Mr 11 emerges this morning. An inch or so taller. Hair definitely shorter. Attitude? The same. Still obsessed with Minecraft. Still a foodie (he chooses Ichiban Teppanyaki for his birthday dinner). Still likes Up 'n' Go and a muffin split for breakfast (every day!). There's a new iPod touch to play with (and make movies with). And a paintball party to look forward to next week. He might be 11 but he's still sweet.<br /><br />Happy birthday, Mr 11.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-5533198314881886422011-03-29T12:21:00.002+13:002011-03-29T12:29:03.320+13:00DORK OF THE WEEKDork of the week goes to the person who said to me. "You are lucky E is so good with his diabetes. I'd never be able to get P to inject. Her tummy is so little. And she doesn't like needles."<br /><br />Excuse me?<br />Lucky?<br />Little tummy?<br />Like needles?<br />You ****wit!<br /><br />If you don't inject you die. <br /><br />Excuse me while I puke.<br /><br /><br /><em>PS "Dork' doesn't know I blog!</em>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-78497798662829453052011-03-29T09:09:00.003+13:002011-03-29T09:39:56.870+13:00WHY I BLOGJulie from <a href="http://bittersweetdiabetes.blogspot.com/">Bittersweet Diabetes </a> has invited me to blog about blogging! Specifically why I blog. It's a bit of a project really, because she was invited by Christy from My 2 Sweet Babies who was asked by Dawn from Sugar Free CandyLand who in turn was invited to participate by DawnMarie from Words from DUG (hope I got all that right.) <br /><br />So 5 good reasons? Not sure if they're good but here goes...<br /><br />1. I blog because I like writing. I blame my mother, who was a journalist in the days before women did that sort of job.<br /><br />2. I originally blogged as a way to keep in touch with a wide network of scrapbookers around the world. Through my conversations with these scrapbookers many of us discovered other shared interests and blogging became a way to connect with like minded people who shared interests in books (a book club formed), writing, art, baking, cooking, parenting, green household products, gardening. Many of my current blogging friends are people I have never met in real life. <br /><br />3. Over the years my blog has morphed into a bit of a family diary/snapshot. It gives extended family and friends a wee glimpse into how life is for us. Better than keeping a diary and easier than scrapbooking.<br /><br />4. When Mr 10 was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year I found there was a whole new community out there in cyberspace: bloggers who share the Type 1 journey. Our stories are remarkably similar. It has been an amazing relief to find out that we are not alone. I have received some great advice and information from what my family call my 'pretend friends'. I like to think that maybe I have helped other parents of Type 1 diabetics in some small way. <br /><br />5. One of my biggest disappointments when Mr 10 was diagnosed with Type 1 (well apart from him having a life threatening condition and having to learn to inject himself and having to do zillions of blood tests and never being able to eat anything ever again in his entire life without considering the blood glucose implications) apart from all that, my biggest disappointment was that there was so much ignorance and judgement about Type 1. The number of people who insinuated that we somehow caused it or that it had something to do with what we fed him or how much exercise he did or didn't do really bothered me. I love being able to use my blog to educate people about Type 1 diabetes. Just a little. (Though I'll bet the people who were the worst offenders never read this!)<br /><br />The world just seems a bit smaller when I blog.<br /><br />I don't like tagging people but if you feel inspired to write about why you blog why don't you do it? I'd love to hear your story.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-2887873239161200192011-03-01T14:07:00.005+13:002011-03-01T15:03:24.577+13:00REMEMBERING CANTERBURY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvWcXMVunkSGQS8Pnrf13GGdHlM5BOt4XR82gzqxcRqnoYKQtobT8B3QfAY195lgodqMmS_9bYFlYSD6CAYGADD2Iz8E6BADJjZfS39263fz7V1jLEl0Gw6acHZhwDbynWFDeKw/s1600/earthquake.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvWcXMVunkSGQS8Pnrf13GGdHlM5BOt4XR82gzqxcRqnoYKQtobT8B3QfAY195lgodqMmS_9bYFlYSD6CAYGADD2Iz8E6BADJjZfS39263fz7V1jLEl0Gw6acHZhwDbynWFDeKw/s320/earthquake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578913578503477090" /></a><br />Today I went to a birthday lunch with some friends at the bustling Cafe Reka at The Dowse.<br /><br />At 12.45pm we observed that there was a huge downpour. The heavens just opened.<br /><br />At 12.51pm the manager banged a water jug with a spoon. All she said was "We would like to observe 2 minutes silence." Interestingly, she didn't say what it was for. She didn't need to. Everyone knew.<br /><br />Some people stood. <br />Others sat. <br />You could hear a pin drop. <br /><br />Some people cried. <br /><br />And then the rain stopped.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-41123919016931363732011-02-25T13:34:00.003+13:002011-02-25T13:37:07.588+13:00That helpsParent note to teacher:<br />"Re homework - Mr 10 is not sure whether he needs to cut out ingredients lists from the backs of packets or does he need to provide an actual recipe?"<br /><br />Teacher note to parent:<br />"Yes."Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-28036363677341020532011-02-24T12:20:00.004+13:002011-02-24T12:24:43.306+13:00WELCOME TO HOLLAND<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWplGZwQD6fteUYxORZ_N3yw_oqYb0Qe9HUBzDERcNjyTgCi471iB9cKqqXx1P92SzU0wP1lDHe0SwAiLyUEV8Qs-v7P72b5LIQlHs5ZQgki6LqIMbkbHl6e0NBFXXYNeiqbQlIQ/s1600/tulip.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWplGZwQD6fteUYxORZ_N3yw_oqYb0Qe9HUBzDERcNjyTgCi471iB9cKqqXx1P92SzU0wP1lDHe0SwAiLyUEV8Qs-v7P72b5LIQlHs5ZQgki6LqIMbkbHl6e0NBFXXYNeiqbQlIQ/s320/tulip.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577029930416833042" /></a><br /><br />I found this on the internet somewhere - can't remember where. I hope it's OK to reproduce it. I love this...<br /><br /><br />"WELCOME TO HOLLAND<br />by Emily Perl Kingsley <br /><br />I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability- to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this... <br /><br />When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip -to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. <br /><br />After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."<br /><br />" Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." <br /><br />But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. <br /><br />The important thing is they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.<br /><br />So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.<br /><br />It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills... and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts. <br /><br />But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."<br /><br />And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.<br /><br />But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ...about Holland.<br /><br />1987 copyright by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved."Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-46059739021560456172011-02-14T09:48:00.008+13:002011-02-14T10:13:50.081+13:00ANSWERS TO LEARNRecently I've been reading blogs of parents who have children with Type 1 diabetes. One I've just come across is <a href="http://betabuddies.blogspot.com/">Beta Buddies </a>. In an earlier post she makes a list of the things that parents have to very quickly get to grips with when their kids are first diagnosed. Here's my list:<br /><br />1: What is type one diabetes?<br />2: What does the pancreas do?<br />3: What is a glucometer?<br />2: What is a test strip?<br />4: How do you calibrate the glucometer?<br />5: How to test your child's blood sugar?<br />6: How do you operate a lancing device?<br />7: How do you change the needle of the lancing device?<br />8: What is a normal blood sugar level?<br />9: How do you treat a low blood sugar?<br />10: What is a high blood sugar?<br />11: How do you treat that?<br />13: What is a fast acting carbohydrate?<br />14: What is Glucagon?<br />15: What is Insulin?<br />16: How do I give an insulin shot?<br />17: How do I give a glucagon shot (it's different)?<br />18: What is a pen needle?<br />19: How do I change the needle on a pen?<br />20: How to carb count?<br />21: What are ketones?<br /><br />All of this stuff the superhero paediatric diabetes team taught me. But I had to teach myself the worst bit - how to convince your crying child that he will have to have these tests and injections day after day after day forever. And that he will never ever be able to eat without considering about what insulin he may or may not need.<br /><br />No wonder I took my eye off my own weight loss needs last year. When there was all this to learn. when the food rules changed. Ah well, I know all this stuff now. Roll on 2011.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-59288314815498382062011-02-06T20:42:00.005+13:002011-02-06T20:46:22.138+13:00HEROES<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsXK53149gI_aLBXTbZKoDYYI01dwGjLT78cU2OCAe1tfQD_37qCIroMe2L58TUWcz5YGCySYImYwsuCKesONMzcGKFmucs_kSpl29cBT7ANoNxp6OqLhWgrMEt7OIWnm0mQ6yw/s1600/Elli+and+Richie.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsXK53149gI_aLBXTbZKoDYYI01dwGjLT78cU2OCAe1tfQD_37qCIroMe2L58TUWcz5YGCySYImYwsuCKesONMzcGKFmucs_kSpl29cBT7ANoNxp6OqLhWgrMEt7OIWnm0mQ6yw/s320/Elli+and+Richie.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570479323897140530" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWA9WIvw4_XpBvsn1BxHUNn6-R2Wu3uOcCmsdQQf0gjNusWKbB6T8PkRVe7IvCp0OL9KWofqi5XIdpt17qLXtr1xDYAueuvQPga83N5OKIhQpqF0CdNsRkDYJ15yJHE7tGOXN5Q/s1600/Air+NZ+A320.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWA9WIvw4_XpBvsn1BxHUNn6-R2Wu3uOcCmsdQQf0gjNusWKbB6T8PkRVe7IvCp0OL9KWofqi5XIdpt17qLXtr1xDYAueuvQPga83N5OKIhQpqF0CdNsRkDYJ15yJHE7tGOXN5Q/s320/Air+NZ+A320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570479510306244418" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXBi6qPuXzZdW56xQ_OIuh2aq1G3QU8od7lALgr6NCwgsogCzRsKGlrqHW6Kk0svl2bFbapUhWs7_37arjhO8___mIRfMph4XcFBlbH0yYw_dsUFRD5vegD0j9CoDCYGx4Qb5CQ/s1600/elli+and+Kieran+Reid.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXBi6qPuXzZdW56xQ_OIuh2aq1G3QU8od7lALgr6NCwgsogCzRsKGlrqHW6Kk0svl2bFbapUhWs7_37arjhO8___mIRfMph4XcFBlbH0yYw_dsUFRD5vegD0j9CoDCYGx4Qb5CQ/s320/elli+and+Kieran+Reid.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570479416836419138" /></a><br />Waitangi Day 2011Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-3381647835698768312011-02-05T09:12:00.003+13:002011-02-05T09:16:20.706+13:00A WINNER"I'd like to nominate my husband and my sonto win the VIP tour of the new A320. <br /><br />E is 10 years old and 9 months ago he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It has been a huge learning curve for E and our family. He has learned to inject himself in the stomach with insulin and prick his finger numerous times a day to do blood tests. He is my hero. But heroes sometimes struggle and E hates that Type 1 diabetes makes him different to other kids. Maybe if he won this prize he could learn that being different is sometimes a good thing!"<br /><br />We won. Well rather they did. Tomorrow morning DH and Mr 10 have an appointment to be on the tarmac at Wellington airport to greet the new Air New Zealand A320. And stepping off the plane to meet them and 9 other lucky kids will be All Black captain Ritchie McCaw and a few of his mates. <br /><br />Was I bad to play the Type 1 Diabetes card? Maybe. But it paid off.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-9883563006865237592011-02-02T07:24:00.005+13:002011-02-02T09:25:17.679+13:00SIZE MATTERSIn the 90s people with Type 1 diabetes had to inject themselves several times a day with a needle precisely 12.7mm long. The needle has to go all the way in. Get out your ruler and take a look. That's a lot of needle.<br /><br />Although the daily injection regime continues thank goodness when Mr 10 was diagnosed the needle size on a pen injection (one of his insulin devises - he also uses a syringe but that's another story) was down to 8mm. It's still quite long. Nearly a centimetre to be squeezed into your tummy a couple of times a day (or more). <br /><br />So imagine how excited we were to find out that in November a 4mm needle has been added to the Pharmeceutical Schedule - meaning it's available, subsidised, on prescription.<br /><br />When we visited the hospital last week we were able to take samples home to try. No more squeezing. It still hurts a bit but it's less daunting.<br /><br />Roll on more medicsal advances. Because when it somes to needles - size does matter.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-85896357195119425742010-12-02T14:34:00.005+13:002010-12-02T14:46:00.555+13:00OTHER HEROESI've read a few blogs lately. A few Christmas newsletters. Seen a few Facebook posts. Heard a few stories. Proud parents sharing the happy news of kid successes. Top of the class. The sports award. The excellence results. <br /><br />Is your kid one of these? A high achiever? <br /><br />Be proud. Congratulate them. Urge them to do it again next year. <br /><br />And while you're there would you mind taking a moment to get them to think. About the other kids. The rest of the class. <br /><br />For every kid who wins there are 2 or 3 dozen others who don't. These dozens will never be top of the class. Or play in a representative sports team. They struggle to make an achieve grade. <br /><br />These kids, through their own lesser ability, allow your child to shine.<br /><br />These kids learn early about disappointment. They learn not to get their hopes up. They know they will never be feted or lauded. They know what second place or last is like.<br /><br />Spare a thought for them.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-51415642286184100392010-11-20T11:00:00.002+13:002010-11-20T11:02:52.882+13:00TRUE STORYMiss 15 makes a very quick phone call to DH's mobile. <br /><br />She finishes: 'I can't talk. I've got no credit left."<br /><br />She hangs up.<br /><br />DH hangs up and looks at the caller ID.<br /><br />She was calling from our home phone!Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-34954518669603261842010-11-02T10:20:00.004+13:002010-11-02T19:46:39.360+13:00How God Selects the Mother of a Child with Type 1 DiabetesHow God Selects the Mother of a Child with Type 1 Diabetes<br /><br />by Erma Bombeck<br /> <br /><br />Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with diabetes are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.<br /> <br /><br />"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint Matthew."<br /><br />"Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, Patron Saint Cecilia."<br /><br />"Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint Gerard. He's used to profanity."<br /><br /><br />Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a child with diabetes." The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."<br /><br /><br />"Exactly", smiles God. "Could I give child with diabetes to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."<br /><br />"But has she the patience?" asks the angel.<br /><br />"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I am going to give her has its own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."<br /><br /> <br />"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in You."<br /><br />God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."<br /><br />The angel gasps. "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"<br /><br />God nods. "If she cannot separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with less than perfect."<br /><br />"She does not realize it yet, but she is to be envied. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see .... ignorance, cruelty, prejudice ... and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as if she is here by my side."<br /><br />"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel,his pen poised in mid air. <br /><br />God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-17394980374414254532010-10-12T17:55:00.003+13:002010-10-12T18:08:03.742+13:00WOO HOO WOJOHow exciting to see my friend, Bernadette Casey, in the Dompost and also on the TVNZ news tonight.<br /><br />Bernadette and Sally Shanks own The Formary. I describe them as designers who are saving the earth.<br /><br />This from their website:<br /><br /><em>We decided to do it another way…<br /><br />Moving from designing and producing home wares and furniture to using our specialised knowledge and decades of expertise to meet the demand for workable solutions for the vast amounts of commercial waste generated each year.<br /><br />Our team of designers, from textile to industrial, in collaboration with our materials engineer now work with industries world wide, providing assistance through de-production processes and extending the useable life of waste products through clever and thoughtful redesign.</em><br /><br />Today's big news from their website is this:<br /><em>Starbucks store interiors are being further enhanced by a revolutionary new textile made from natural and renewable raw materials. Created by The Formary, a New Zealand based design company, using a unique, upcycling process, Starbucks coffee sacks are combined with wool resulting in a new sustainable textile called “WoJo”.</em> <br /><br />Wojo will be used to upholster seating in Starbucks all around the world. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdfajoggL2kxaTTYNLyawZ7SfEnH9HZvLYo8TnfQDyjFCyv7iUCpVPBMVBMb_fTFN44JtTQHlCqi3KmX3HvNDS48vAjigQA1MPPZt5RJGcC14DHo9lStyaeX5NIaM99sLrDs5rA/s1600/wojo-sbux.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdfajoggL2kxaTTYNLyawZ7SfEnH9HZvLYo8TnfQDyjFCyv7iUCpVPBMVBMb_fTFN44JtTQHlCqi3KmX3HvNDS48vAjigQA1MPPZt5RJGcC14DHo9lStyaeX5NIaM99sLrDs5rA/s320/wojo-sbux.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527021593049358194" /></a><br /><em>(photo by Starbucks)</em><br /><br />Don't you love that?Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-6560086849742646862010-09-30T21:31:00.001+13:002010-09-30T21:33:01.094+13:00BLOGOSPHERE BOOK CIRCLE -SeptemberSeptember Book: The Lacuna<br />Author: Barbara Kingsolver<br /><br />Didn't read it. Got it from the library. No time. Didn't perservere with it. Took it back.Story of my life this year.<br /><br />Epic fail.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18384694.post-24924355174021468722010-09-16T14:34:00.003+12:002010-09-16T14:43:46.190+12:00A HONEY!Today I received an unexpected courier package. A big basket of beautiful products from Aratiki Honey.<br /><br />A recipe I entered in an Aratiki promotion was a winner. <br /><br />Here it is below...<br /><br />SPICY HONEY NUTS<br /><br />Ingredients<br />• 2 1/2 cups mixed raw nuts - almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, peanuts (anything you have)<br />• 1/2 cup mixed seeds - sunflowers, pumpkin <br />• 1 egg white<br /> 1/4 cup honey<br />• 1 Tbsp Chinese five spice powder<br />• 1 tsp cayenne pepper<br />• salt<br /><br />Method:<br />Beat an egg white in a large bowl. Add to thenuts and seeds and mix til nuts are coated.<br /><br />Heat the honey in the microwave (or in a small pot on the stove) until warm and runny.Add the spices and mix.<br /><br />Pour the honey and spice mixture over the nuts and seeds, stir well, then place in a roasting tray which has been lined with baking paper. <br /><br />Bake in the oven (180°C)for 15 minutes. Stir then bake for 5 more minutes until golden and crisp. <br /><br />Cool. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.<br /> <br />Maybe I truly am a domestic goddess?Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723676399174642324noreply@blogger.com4