Well a new bike was definitely an improvement on the old and the open road has become a major attraction these days. We are starting to explore further afield and now take the bikes on a carrier to the likes of Cambridge - excellent cycling territory. Loads of cycle paths, loads of pubs and loads of other cyclists (who will, given the chance, mow you down!). It seems there is the same hierarchy on the cycling tracks as there is on the main roads. Worse there is no 'stay on the left' rule such as on our main roads! But in the main it is still great fun and excellent exercise.
The down side has been the dreadful British summer! Cycling in the rain is definitely not fun, and can be positively dangerous in heavy downpours. That 'drowned rat' feeling has hit me more than once lately.
We now have two friends encouraging us to train up to try out the London to Cambridge cycle run - mmmm. I'll sleep on that thank you.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Cycling anyone?
When in my early teens I used to cycle a lot - didn't we all? Well it was a cheap mode of transport and in Singapore - where I lived at the time - the weather was more suited to two wheels. When I married I moved to Devon - well that put paid to cycling - Devon hills are not something I am equipped to deal with, so the cycling went on hold - for a while - until my son reached the age of wanting to cycle. Then it was going to be a family thing, mountain bikes had just become really popular and more and more cycle routes were being created in Devon at least. My husband was the first to cave in and decide that we couldn't have a dog and do cycling. Not sure why they were mutally exclusive, but there you go. My son kept it up and I did my best to follow - occasionally! But I was no match for a 14 year old, so eventually the bike was sold, and that was that until I moved to Hertfordshire on the borders of Cambridgeshire. Flat roads! Wonderful. So when my partner suggested we give it go, apart from some reservations about my dodgey knees, I thought why not.
Now we have had the best early May for years they say, so it was a great time to try out the knees and see what future there was in cycling for a pastime. What fun - the knees were not as bad as I had feared and indeed I think this may be the saving of them, as the exercise is strengthening the muscles around the knees and actually makes them less painful. There was a pain barrier to go through first! But now I seem to be past the worst and have rediscovered a pleasurable form of exercise that doesn't involve expensive gyms and could be the answer to drink driving! There's a thought!
So having decided that this form of exercise is likely to be here to stay, the next step was to buy a better bike - hand me downs were all very well while I sorted out whether this would be a permanent thing, but since this particular hand me down is about 15 years old, rusty and rattlely as well as only having 5 gears, I have decided I deserve something better. Even the relatives are showing sympathy for the ancient lump of metal that should be put down. The brakes announce themselves to the world every time I use them and the whole bike shakes itself to bits every time I go over a bump - of which there seem to be quite a few!
A new bike is on order from the local cycle shop and will be here by the weekend - what fun. Front suspension, 24 gears (I'm not sure they will necessarily be an advantage!) and quiet brakes! I am assured it will be considerably lighter than the present heap. Still mustn't complain - it allowed me to try out the knees and decide that this was something I could do. And my partner has landed himself a real bargain on eBay. I'm not sure whether he quite expected to win his first ever auction, such is the power of eBay! But his new bike arrives next week - then there really will be no stopping us. Watch this space . . .
Now we have had the best early May for years they say, so it was a great time to try out the knees and see what future there was in cycling for a pastime. What fun - the knees were not as bad as I had feared and indeed I think this may be the saving of them, as the exercise is strengthening the muscles around the knees and actually makes them less painful. There was a pain barrier to go through first! But now I seem to be past the worst and have rediscovered a pleasurable form of exercise that doesn't involve expensive gyms and could be the answer to drink driving! There's a thought!
So having decided that this form of exercise is likely to be here to stay, the next step was to buy a better bike - hand me downs were all very well while I sorted out whether this would be a permanent thing, but since this particular hand me down is about 15 years old, rusty and rattlely as well as only having 5 gears, I have decided I deserve something better. Even the relatives are showing sympathy for the ancient lump of metal that should be put down. The brakes announce themselves to the world every time I use them and the whole bike shakes itself to bits every time I go over a bump - of which there seem to be quite a few!
A new bike is on order from the local cycle shop and will be here by the weekend - what fun. Front suspension, 24 gears (I'm not sure they will necessarily be an advantage!) and quiet brakes! I am assured it will be considerably lighter than the present heap. Still mustn't complain - it allowed me to try out the knees and decide that this was something I could do. And my partner has landed himself a real bargain on eBay. I'm not sure whether he quite expected to win his first ever auction, such is the power of eBay! But his new bike arrives next week - then there really will be no stopping us. Watch this space . . .
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Quiet life
Quiet life . . . what was one of those I wonder? They say life builds up speed as you get older, though I'm sure the ubiquitous 'they' are referring to the speed at which you head towards old age! However, I also think it is because as you get older you become more aware of time slipping away from you and therefore try to cram more and more in! Where once upon a time one weekend out of four would be busy, now we have to plan a quiet weekend.
Since splitting up with my husband of 30 plus years, meeting my new partner and moving in with him, my life has gone from the slow steady tick over of a Ferguson tractor to the full blown roar of an Aston Martin - something I plan to drive one day! Making up for lost time with a vengeance. But we live life!
We went to a dinner dance recently, a full blown black tie affair . I only mention it because it is not something I had ever been to before. The sheer indulgence of getting dressed up in a glamorous dress, and stepping out with a handsome man in full dinner suit was amazing. Nine of us went, had a smashing time - it was a Bond Theme night (Casino Royal to be precise) - and plan to do it again . . . because we can!
On the same day we had been to the NEC for a Hobbycrafts Exhibition - well the night before, met up with some friends for dinner and then the NEC the next day. You see what I mean about cramming things in!
More later . . . .
Since splitting up with my husband of 30 plus years, meeting my new partner and moving in with him, my life has gone from the slow steady tick over of a Ferguson tractor to the full blown roar of an Aston Martin - something I plan to drive one day! Making up for lost time with a vengeance. But we live life!
We went to a dinner dance recently, a full blown black tie affair . I only mention it because it is not something I had ever been to before. The sheer indulgence of getting dressed up in a glamorous dress, and stepping out with a handsome man in full dinner suit was amazing. Nine of us went, had a smashing time - it was a Bond Theme night (Casino Royal to be precise) - and plan to do it again . . . because we can!
On the same day we had been to the NEC for a Hobbycrafts Exhibition - well the night before, met up with some friends for dinner and then the NEC the next day. You see what I mean about cramming things in!
More later . . . .
Monday, March 3, 2008
One Possible Route to Successful Dieting!!
Or, what not to do when you go on a diet. Or, how to decide which sort of diet to go on. Or, should you go on a diet at all? It’s a subject that is constantly around once middle age hits. As well as being constantly around your middle.
Yeah, yeah I hear you say, heard it all before, done it so many times and forgotten more than I could ever write about dieting. Very likely, but you know what, I’m going to talk about it anyway. Because this is the time of year, when most people lose heart over their post Christmas diets. It’s still winter and our bodies are insisting on hanging on to the fat to keep us warm – that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. And just because the daffodils and crocuses are confused and poking their heads up early, don’t think it won’t come cold again just as you leave off your winter vest!
I have to own up here and say that I don’t have much of a weight problem. I don’t have a huge appetite and rarely gain more than I can easily lose, so have escaped the yo-yo effect of dieting that besets many people. But I have bought and read quite a few diet books over the years as such things interest me. One person who has recently stood out is Paul McKenna. He seemed to be on our screens more than he was off them for a couple of years and successfully tours doing shows and lectures, as well as writing books. In his book ‘I Will Make you Thin’, Paul McKenna states four main rules for dieting:
1. Eat when you want
2. Eat what you want
3. Chew every mouthful thoroughly – eat slowly
4. Stop eating before you are full
He’s not alone with this concept. It is accepted that our body stores food when it thinks it is not going to get any more. So if you stop eating you achieve the opposite to what you are trying to achieve. It actually works better if you eat more often, BUT eat less. Become a grazer! Fine, but what do you graze on? Well again, Paul McKenna says, ‘eat what you want’ – he should add the proviso ‘but in moderation’. After all if you ate all you wanted whenever you wanted there wouldn’t be much point to the diet. The trick is to fool your stomach and digestive system into reducing its needs. So if you are used to eating a three course meal, cut back to two courses, or spread the three courses out over a longer period of time. Reduce quantities – a little at a time and you will hardly notice the difference.
So here’s one possible route to success . . .
Around mid February my partner decided that he was going on a soup diet. The extra stone he has been carrying around was outliving its welcome and he had made up his mind it had to go. This was announced one weekend having spent the Sunday entertaining most of the family and a few friends – plenty of food and alcohol around as you can imagine. Well we are a sociable family!
So the request was for lots of home made soup which were nourishing and wholesome without being fattening. OK, I figured that should be pretty easy. I quite like that sort of cooking – you know, chop it all up, throw it in a saucepan and leave it to do its stuff. Then go back and emaciate it in a food processor. Lovely! Not so simple in reality.
We started off with the obvious – vegetable soup. What was left over from the Sunday lunch became the first port of call – sadly this actually doesn’t work that well, depending on what you had for Sunday lunch and the palate of the person you are cooking for. I discovered quite quickly that I could not just throw any old leftover into a soup and expect it to work. Too much spinach in one vegetable mix was a disaster, though fortunately my partner’s son loved it! Phew! I clearly had to become much more discerning about the recipes I chose.
All the cookery books were delved into and a selection of soups chosen to work my way through, with a series of stars to decide which ones to repeat. After all if soup and fruit were the only things the poor man was going to have to eat every week day, then he should at least enjoy it, right? Now we are talking about a curry connoisseur here – a male with a decided penchant for spicy food. So all soups with lots of pepper or curry powder were a magnet for him. Mulligatawny is a favourite so far. His theory is that spice decreases hunger pangs. Anyone else agree? Soups that were full of meat and vegetables unprocessed did not work so well as he can’t pour them out of a flask very easily.
At this point I can well imagine all the cooks in the house thinking, well that’s all very well, but it’s a lot of work when you can pick up a can in the supermarket. Absolutely – I agree wholeheartedly! However, most cans/packets are laden with preservatives and salts and the flavour compared to home made is definitely lacking. Neither is it expensive to make soups. The best soups you can buy are the fresh ones in the cartons, and they range from around £1.35 - £2.00 depending on flavour and supermarket. (At one carton a day, that’s up to £10 a week). Whether that is acceptable to your budget is of course for you to decide.
But my main criteria for making the soup myself was I could control exactly what went into them. I could substitute any fattening substance for one that was less so – low fat yoghurt for cream for example, without detracting from the flavours. I can add roughage from fresh vegetables, include ones that neither of us like particularly (celery especially!) and not even notice they are there. And mostly I can just chop it all up (or use the dicer on the food processor), add it to the saucepan, go away and leave it all to simmer for a while and then come back and whirl it through the food processor once more before adding the final seasoning and measuring and freezing. Oh and I get to try them out as well.
Has he lost any weight? Well yes, he has. About 9 pounds so far. Slow but sure – although he is starting to introduce some exercise as well, treadmill and some light weights. Sorry guys, but you do actually have to work a little as well to burn off those calories. He has cut out all bread – at least the lunchtime sandwich variety – and only has the odd slice when we entertain or go out.
I can think of worse ways to lose weight, can’t you?
If you’re interested in soups – for a diet or otherwise – email me at the blog email address and I will send you my collection of tried and trusted soup recipes.
Yeah, yeah I hear you say, heard it all before, done it so many times and forgotten more than I could ever write about dieting. Very likely, but you know what, I’m going to talk about it anyway. Because this is the time of year, when most people lose heart over their post Christmas diets. It’s still winter and our bodies are insisting on hanging on to the fat to keep us warm – that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. And just because the daffodils and crocuses are confused and poking their heads up early, don’t think it won’t come cold again just as you leave off your winter vest!
I have to own up here and say that I don’t have much of a weight problem. I don’t have a huge appetite and rarely gain more than I can easily lose, so have escaped the yo-yo effect of dieting that besets many people. But I have bought and read quite a few diet books over the years as such things interest me. One person who has recently stood out is Paul McKenna. He seemed to be on our screens more than he was off them for a couple of years and successfully tours doing shows and lectures, as well as writing books. In his book ‘I Will Make you Thin’, Paul McKenna states four main rules for dieting:
1. Eat when you want
2. Eat what you want
3. Chew every mouthful thoroughly – eat slowly
4. Stop eating before you are full
He’s not alone with this concept. It is accepted that our body stores food when it thinks it is not going to get any more. So if you stop eating you achieve the opposite to what you are trying to achieve. It actually works better if you eat more often, BUT eat less. Become a grazer! Fine, but what do you graze on? Well again, Paul McKenna says, ‘eat what you want’ – he should add the proviso ‘but in moderation’. After all if you ate all you wanted whenever you wanted there wouldn’t be much point to the diet. The trick is to fool your stomach and digestive system into reducing its needs. So if you are used to eating a three course meal, cut back to two courses, or spread the three courses out over a longer period of time. Reduce quantities – a little at a time and you will hardly notice the difference.
So here’s one possible route to success . . .
Around mid February my partner decided that he was going on a soup diet. The extra stone he has been carrying around was outliving its welcome and he had made up his mind it had to go. This was announced one weekend having spent the Sunday entertaining most of the family and a few friends – plenty of food and alcohol around as you can imagine. Well we are a sociable family!
So the request was for lots of home made soup which were nourishing and wholesome without being fattening. OK, I figured that should be pretty easy. I quite like that sort of cooking – you know, chop it all up, throw it in a saucepan and leave it to do its stuff. Then go back and emaciate it in a food processor. Lovely! Not so simple in reality.
We started off with the obvious – vegetable soup. What was left over from the Sunday lunch became the first port of call – sadly this actually doesn’t work that well, depending on what you had for Sunday lunch and the palate of the person you are cooking for. I discovered quite quickly that I could not just throw any old leftover into a soup and expect it to work. Too much spinach in one vegetable mix was a disaster, though fortunately my partner’s son loved it! Phew! I clearly had to become much more discerning about the recipes I chose.
All the cookery books were delved into and a selection of soups chosen to work my way through, with a series of stars to decide which ones to repeat. After all if soup and fruit were the only things the poor man was going to have to eat every week day, then he should at least enjoy it, right? Now we are talking about a curry connoisseur here – a male with a decided penchant for spicy food. So all soups with lots of pepper or curry powder were a magnet for him. Mulligatawny is a favourite so far. His theory is that spice decreases hunger pangs. Anyone else agree? Soups that were full of meat and vegetables unprocessed did not work so well as he can’t pour them out of a flask very easily.
At this point I can well imagine all the cooks in the house thinking, well that’s all very well, but it’s a lot of work when you can pick up a can in the supermarket. Absolutely – I agree wholeheartedly! However, most cans/packets are laden with preservatives and salts and the flavour compared to home made is definitely lacking. Neither is it expensive to make soups. The best soups you can buy are the fresh ones in the cartons, and they range from around £1.35 - £2.00 depending on flavour and supermarket. (At one carton a day, that’s up to £10 a week). Whether that is acceptable to your budget is of course for you to decide.
But my main criteria for making the soup myself was I could control exactly what went into them. I could substitute any fattening substance for one that was less so – low fat yoghurt for cream for example, without detracting from the flavours. I can add roughage from fresh vegetables, include ones that neither of us like particularly (celery especially!) and not even notice they are there. And mostly I can just chop it all up (or use the dicer on the food processor), add it to the saucepan, go away and leave it all to simmer for a while and then come back and whirl it through the food processor once more before adding the final seasoning and measuring and freezing. Oh and I get to try them out as well.
Has he lost any weight? Well yes, he has. About 9 pounds so far. Slow but sure – although he is starting to introduce some exercise as well, treadmill and some light weights. Sorry guys, but you do actually have to work a little as well to burn off those calories. He has cut out all bread – at least the lunchtime sandwich variety – and only has the odd slice when we entertain or go out.
I can think of worse ways to lose weight, can’t you?
If you’re interested in soups – for a diet or otherwise – email me at the blog email address and I will send you my collection of tried and trusted soup recipes.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Gap year late
Some friends of mine are taking a gap year this year, travelling the world - literally - over some ten months and keeping an online record of their travels and experiences as they go. The usual time to do this is after leaving University or maybe before, sometimes taking a year out during Uni to travel and do some work experience at the same time. Penny and Stuart (or StuPendus, as their blog is called!) are doing it late, in their fifties. Stuart has retired early - lucky man - Penny was able to take time out from work, both children had left home and so they grabbed their chance, proving that it is never too late to do such things. You can dip into their blog at http://realtravel.com/the_world-trips-i5281378.html if you are interested in life on the road in your fifties. They are currently in India.
I think such people are an inspiration and prove that you can do anything you want, whenever you want if you really want it enough. We can't all afford to travel the world for a year, but we can certainly go to different places and experience more of life if we choose to.
I think such people are an inspiration and prove that you can do anything you want, whenever you want if you really want it enough. We can't all afford to travel the world for a year, but we can certainly go to different places and experience more of life if we choose to.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Britain needs leaders like this!
I am not much of a political animal, but little things get under your skin from time to time don't they? I was born and bred in this country, but spent my childhood years growing up in Singapore which taught me a greater tolerance for other cultures and races than I might otherwise have had. It also taught me that when you are in another country you respect the laws and customs of that country. Hence the following which arrived in an email this morning really struck a chord. See what you think . . .
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.' 'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom' 'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!' 'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.' 'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.' 'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.' 'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American /Englishcitizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths. If you agree, please copy and past this and SEND IT ON.
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.' 'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom' 'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!' 'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.' 'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.' 'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.' 'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American /Englishcitizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths. If you agree, please copy and past this and SEND IT ON.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Intro & the Menopause
'A what? A Blog? Why does anyone want to set up a blog?' The main question posed when I suggested doing such a thing. Why indeed? Well I could keep a diary I suppose, or I could write long boring letters to my friends - who would probably think I was off my trolley and what the heck was I talking about anyway . . . or I could set up a blog. Much more fun I thought. A mini adventure into the cyber world. Throw my thoughts out and see what they might catch. A bit like cosmic fishing. I have a real fascination with the possibilities of cosmic consciousness and energy. But more about that another time . . .
So here we are, a blog of my own, for all and sundry to peruse. In the Billy Connelly style of counselling, that is venting to anyone who will listen (or in this case read) about the things I observe - mind you if you are under 50 you really shouldn't be here, you should be tucked up in bed with a bedtime story, or possibly on MySpace - grownups only here please.
Have you noticed as you reach this stage in life that you make more noise as you go through your day. I don't mean like kids, shouting and shrieking when they are playing, I mean involuntary groans as you get out of a chair or bend down to pick things up, creaky knees as you climb the stairs, cracking joints and the like - I'm sure you have - not to mention wind in it's various forms. A friend of mine kindly pointed out that this only gets worse with age - great I thought, (he is such a comfort to me) nothing like announcing your arrival in a room with a small trumpet fanfare! So you develop little strategies to deal with such things. Talking loudly as you enter said room, or clattering things which may be to hand. After all you don't always have control over such actions do you . . . ? The wind I mean.
Alongside this is the dreaded menopause - men can switch the football on now - I always swore I would not bore for England on the subject and couldn't understand why my sister made such a fuss about little things like hot flashes (sorry 'mini tropical vacations'!). I have since had to apologise to her and eat my words. She, poor soul, is still having symptons after 12 years! Not an encouraging sign. Who'd be a woman at this stage and various others in our lives? For some three plus years now I have tried just about every product recommended or listed for dealing with this 'side-effect' and would be grateful to hear from anyone who has found something that actually works! My partner tells me he doesn't need an electric blanket anymore, he just lies next to me and soaks up the heat! Trouble is the extremes are so volatile and he cannot understand how I can be boiling one minute and freezing the next! Just this last weekend we had a BBQ (yes the weather was good enough!) for family and a few friends and I was a constant source of amusement as my jumper came off, went on, came off, went on . . .
A female friend of mine who is also suffering somewhat from menopausal symptons tells me she could easily commit murder for no accountable reason - her husband has yet to learn when to duck and sets himself up for a number of falls over the course of the weekend when she is home. As she says 'fortunately with my job I am away all week otherwise I would have been locked up by now!'
Still other friends breeze through this time with almost no symptons at all - lucky, lucky people! They too, cannot understand why I am full of energy one minute and fast asleep the next. It 'never happened' to them. So I am currently researching like mad to find yet more solutions to the dreaded 'hot flashes'. I'll keep you posted.
So here we are, a blog of my own, for all and sundry to peruse. In the Billy Connelly style of counselling, that is venting to anyone who will listen (or in this case read) about the things I observe - mind you if you are under 50 you really shouldn't be here, you should be tucked up in bed with a bedtime story, or possibly on MySpace - grownups only here please.
Have you noticed as you reach this stage in life that you make more noise as you go through your day. I don't mean like kids, shouting and shrieking when they are playing, I mean involuntary groans as you get out of a chair or bend down to pick things up, creaky knees as you climb the stairs, cracking joints and the like - I'm sure you have - not to mention wind in it's various forms. A friend of mine kindly pointed out that this only gets worse with age - great I thought, (he is such a comfort to me) nothing like announcing your arrival in a room with a small trumpet fanfare! So you develop little strategies to deal with such things. Talking loudly as you enter said room, or clattering things which may be to hand. After all you don't always have control over such actions do you . . . ? The wind I mean.
Alongside this is the dreaded menopause - men can switch the football on now - I always swore I would not bore for England on the subject and couldn't understand why my sister made such a fuss about little things like hot flashes (sorry 'mini tropical vacations'!). I have since had to apologise to her and eat my words. She, poor soul, is still having symptons after 12 years! Not an encouraging sign. Who'd be a woman at this stage and various others in our lives? For some three plus years now I have tried just about every product recommended or listed for dealing with this 'side-effect' and would be grateful to hear from anyone who has found something that actually works! My partner tells me he doesn't need an electric blanket anymore, he just lies next to me and soaks up the heat! Trouble is the extremes are so volatile and he cannot understand how I can be boiling one minute and freezing the next! Just this last weekend we had a BBQ (yes the weather was good enough!) for family and a few friends and I was a constant source of amusement as my jumper came off, went on, came off, went on . . .
A female friend of mine who is also suffering somewhat from menopausal symptons tells me she could easily commit murder for no accountable reason - her husband has yet to learn when to duck and sets himself up for a number of falls over the course of the weekend when she is home. As she says 'fortunately with my job I am away all week otherwise I would have been locked up by now!'
Still other friends breeze through this time with almost no symptons at all - lucky, lucky people! They too, cannot understand why I am full of energy one minute and fast asleep the next. It 'never happened' to them. So I am currently researching like mad to find yet more solutions to the dreaded 'hot flashes'. I'll keep you posted.
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