Healing with food

Healing with food

by | Oct 19, 2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle

Living with an Auto immune disease is challenging

I know this first hand, as even now, some days I feel like I have been run over and can barely lift my head off the pillow, then other days I am bouncing off the wall.

I also suffer at times from waves of anxiety and depression for no apparent reason.

Before I was diagnosed I was tested for all sorts of things. I had to have an Angiogram to test my heart, as the results were always “false positive”.

I was told that I could have Ross River Fever…there were so many things that seemed so wrong.

Feeling tired by 3 pm?

By 3 pm each day I was ready to sleep, and if I was stuck in traffic driving home, I have been known to pull off to the side of the road and have a nap. Those were difficult days.

I felt as if the medical professionals and my family thought I was imagining things.

Read more here about auto immune diseases

Unexplained weight gain

I was determined to get better and so I thought I would exercise as much as I could by walking up steep hills after work each day.

One day, I was chatting away as I was walked up a steep hill with a friend, when I just dropped to the ground. I had fainted.

At first it was thought it was the extreme heat of the day that caused me to faint, but deep down, I knew that something was wrong.

So it was a relief when I was diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis.

I was told that I could manage the disease and take medication, and I have been on that journey ever since.

Read more here

It is still a careful juggle getting it right, and having my blood tested frequently will show when I need my medication adjusted.

I have also found that the correct diet is an important factor to feeling well again.

Diet can help

 Healing Chicken Broth

This bone broth offers amazing healing properties for both your gut and your immune system.

People who consume it regularly report benefits like less joint pain, shiny hair, clearer skin and more.

Recipe

  • 4 chicken legs
  • 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar ( with the mother*)
  • 2 stalks of celery
  • 6 carrots
  • Filtered water (or previously boiled water)
  • Season with sea salt or Himalayan pink salt or a pinch of Black pepper to taste
  • Cook in a slow cooker for 8 hours, making sure that you cover all the ingredients with the water to about one inch from the top
  • Once cooked you can strain and put in the fridge till you want to consume.

I was gifted a book by a loved one written by Izabella Wentz –

So if you want to help a loved one with the challenges of having a thyroid auto immune disease – read more here

Mahatma Gandhi  once said ” It is health that is real wealth not pieces of gold and silver”

©2021 gentlelifehacks.com|e-propertymatters.com| Author| Kathryn

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by | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

So often when we purchase something we have a feeling of remorse soon after. This is no different when you purchase a house, in fact, the remorse and be much worse. Experienced real estate negotiators are keen to get the deal done that day for this reason. They will...
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Smart gadgets

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...
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Messy house or hoarder?

by | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...
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Houses built from hemp

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...
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10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...
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10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...
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A wise old donkey

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...
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Are you a hoarder?

by | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...
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The lonely bee hotel

The lonely bee hotel

by | Oct 17, 2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner

Help our environment with a Bee Hotel

During lockdown, Maddie (11) told me that she thought that a good project would be to make a Bee Hotel for the garden.

At the time, she was busy re-cycling old glass coffee jars into food storage containers, and we were discussing ways to not only save money but to help the environment at the same time.

The lonely bee

Solitary bees, unlike honeybees and bumble bees live alone and usually build their nests in hollow stems and beetle holes.

Bees are such hard workers and are essential to the planet.

If you like gardening, then you should plant a garden full of “bee friendly” plants that will provide the necessary nectar and pollen for these busy little workers.

Plants like rosemary, lavender, sage and thyme and flowering annuals and perennials such as alyssum, catmint, cosmos, marigold and phlox.

Bees are such important little creatures and work so hard to make a teaspoon of honey during their short little lives – read more here

The busy bee

Bees go from one plant to another and pollinate them, which in turn helps the plants reproduce. Bees even help plants survive by preventing inbreeding.

Difference between native bees and honey bees

In Australia the native bees don’t store nectar, and therefore they generally don’t produce honey, at least not in ample amounts. European honey bees were introduced into Australia about 200 years ago for that exact reason – to produce honey.

If native bees don’t produce honey, do we even need them?

Native bees pollinate native plants, many of which can’t be pollinated by introduced bees. Some flowers need vibration to release pollen, which many of our native bees can do. This is called ‘buzz pollination’.

Read more here

How to build a Bee Hotel

You will need:

• An untreated wooden plank, at least 10 cm wide.

• Plenty of hollow stems of different diameters (suggest bamboo or sticks).

• Saw, drill, screws and secateurs.

• A mirror fixing to hang the finished nest up.

(Optional) if you want to make it a little more fun and festive you could paint it, or glue some glitter onto it )

Read more here or for a bee hotel from old pallets click here 

Apparently bees experience happy emotions, but can also become sad, so let’s keep them happy, so that our children and granchildren enjoy a healthy environment.

Surprising fact:  They are also known to have flatulence issues and fart – the amount of poop that they produce is a sign that the beehive is healthy! Read more here 

The worker bees will also run around after the Queen bee and clean up her mess!

“No bees – no honey, no work – no money!”

©2021 gentlelifehacks.com|e-propertymatters.com| Author| Kathryn

“Health-full” honey bees

by | 13/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Is honey good for us? Raw honey has been enjoyed thoughout history and has always been known for its health benefits and medical uses. It has a source of antioxidants with compounds known as polyphenols which may play a role in preventing heart disease. Phytonutrients...
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7 Cancer Myths

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Cancer and common myths Cancer is something we are programmed to fear. Cancer statistics in the United States alone make quite alarming reading Yet the World Health Organisation reported that in 2019 the top 10 causes of death accounted for 55% of the 55.4 million...
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A dog in sheep’s clothing

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Thinking of selling? Don't be a dog in sheep's clothing. Do it the right way. You would not be the first sellers who have questioned what their own obligations are as to what they should disclose to potential buyers. There are some out there who will blatantly hide a...
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Air fryer health benefits

by | 28/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When we we were renovating, I purchased my first air fryer. We had limited space so it was ideal until my brand new kitchen was installed. I have since bought my 2nd air fryer (  the same brand -deLonghi "ideal fry"), so we can take one away with us in the motorhome,...
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by | 30/06/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When fighting illness, it is common to search for products that promote healing. One thing I searched for was a way of maintaining an alkaline body. We were told that cancer does not like an alkaline environment. Cancer cells apparently thrive in acidity (low pH), but...
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Are we teens addicted to gaming?

by | 17/08/2023 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Are you spending too much time gaming or on your mobile phone? A huge percentage of children play video games and studies show an unhealthy percentage can get addicted to them. Did you also know that the World Health Organisation have recognised gaming addiction as a...
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Can you hear me?

by | 18/09/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Good values, Healthy living | 0 Comments

Everyone has bad days. Some days are just worse than others! When we communicate with others it is important to feel that you are heard. How often do you feel that people talk over you? It happens in shops, especially as you get older, or with people who are too busy...
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Understanding Dementia

by | 19/02/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Wendy was only 58 when she was diagnosed with dementia. This brave lady has written a book about her disease. I was listening to Radio NZ this morning and heard an interview with Wendy who spoke of her life now. She seemed to normalise the disease. A disease that has...
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Bad sugar

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There has been plenty of research done that tells us that a diet high in sugar is bad for our health. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation are just a few health risks associated with consuming too much sugar. Not...
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More rainbows please

by | 16/02/2024 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Symbols of hope They say a rainbow is a symbol of hope. Rainbows are supposed to be a positive sign. They can bring a smile to the saddest person and lighten most people's moods. After my husband died I used to look out for them as I wondered about the belief in...
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Create a “laugh alot” garden for kids

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Remember those days of 'Lock down' which must have been incredibly hard on many people, but especially so if you were cooped up indoors with no space to play. Easy projects to keep the kids busy don’t always come to mind, but there are some that are clear winners....
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by | 02/02/2024 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

With the spread of Omnicron, one of the variants of Covid-19, it is hard not to put every sniffle or tummy ache down to having the virus. This is essentially because, even though most of us who have been able to be vaccinated, have done so, most countries are having...
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Mangoes are the fruit of eternal love

by | 02/11/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Who doesn't love a mango? I remember as a child eating mangoes in Africa - we would clean the stone and draw faces on it making it look like a hairy face! Later in Australia, we loved eating them and would include them in salads and puddings. The Mango is the...
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Is Hashimotos Thyroiditis incurable?

by | 29/09/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

 So you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? I was also diagnosed after many years of feeling unwell. At first, in Australia, I was tested for Ross River disease, and then the doctor sent me off to a Heart Surgeon who organised an angiogram for my heart, after I failed some...
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Bounce back from illness

by | 25/09/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Ask anybody who has been ill and I am sure that they will agree, it can sometimes be hard to bounce back from illness, without following some simple rules. Stay hydrated Eat well Rest often Keep pain under control Keep moving Have a positive attitude Be kind to...
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Herbs and health benefits

by | 18/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Herbs provide a lot of goodness to our diets  and this is often ignored by many of us in this busy world of ours. If we can improve our lifestyle by growing a little herb garden, then isn't it something worth considering ? You don't need a lot of space to create your...
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Be positive and hold on tight!

by | 17/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Trying to stay positive is not always easy. Most of us know at least one person who seems to always see the bright side of life. And it is also true to say that we all know someone who leaves us feeling drained or sad. After undergoing some worrying health issues, I...
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Eating right as a teenager

by | 17/08/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager it is very important to eat a healthy diet. This will help you with skin infections like acne and help you develop strong healthy bones. Of course you can have a little treat every now and then, but too much could cause serious problems for you...
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Teenagers who are stressed and anxious

by | 13/08/2023 | Coping skills, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager, there are many things that can cause stress. Most teens don't really like to talk about it so will mostly struggle with their anxiety on their own. Teenagers are known for getting far less sleep than the recommended amount of sleep we require...
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by | 12/04/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Ask any teenager- acne is no fun! If you understand what causes acne then you can try and manage it with ease. When your skin follicles become blocked with oil or dead skin cells, then acne appears. It can be common for teens, but older people in their fifties can...
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Business Lingo- Cars NOT Cows!

by | 04/01/2023 | Life Stories, Real Estate | 0 Comments

The Big Move- 1995 Emigrating to a land at the bottom of the world was exciting if not different. There were many things other than acclimatising to the cold to get used to, but also trying to understand the quick speech and odd sayings of my new country was a...
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Asbestos hazard

by | 04/01/2023 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When buying a house it is always advisable to employ a licensed building inspector to provide information on the building condition. Knowing what to budget for in respect of any repairs required in the coming years makes a lot of sense! Finding Asbestos in a home can...
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Fighting to stay healthy

by | 29/11/2022 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Shock medical diagnosis Hearing a shocking medical diagnosis is always going to be stressful. I know how I felt when we were told that my husband had only two months to live. Our world collapsed.  Shock made it difficult to breathe. What were we to do? How would we...
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Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing

by | 26/07/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying and selling real estate is not an exact science. Real Estate salespeople are required to comply with the current legislation, and in New Zealand, for instance they need to abide by their professional client and conduct rules. Rule 10 is very important as...
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Who’s your perfect match then?

by | 08/04/2022 | Lifestyle, uncategorised, Zodiac signs and more | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered who the right partner is for you? If you are single and unattached how interesting would it be if you could find the perfect match for you? Many people who have been in a relationship for a while are often shocked at how many connecting things...
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When the real estate market changes

by | 25/03/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a "sellers market". Post "Covid-19", what will the Real Estate market look like? There are many thoughts on this. Obviously it will be changed. There could be job losses, and more...
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Make your home a “healthy home”?

by | 18/03/2022 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Staying healthy requires not only eating the correct food and exercising the right amount, but also by making sure that we live in a healthy home environment. Everybody wants to live in a healthy home, but sometimes sadly, it is not possible for many people. However,...
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House too small now?

by | 02/02/2022 | Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When is the right time to upsize? Wondering if you need to upsize as your toddlers suddenly become"tweens"? Or perhaps it is when they start to bring their friends home as teenagers? It is good knowing where they are and if they feel that they can entertain friends at...
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by | 26/01/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a “sellers market”. Post “Covid-19”, what will the Real Estate market look like? There have been many thoughts on this. One thing is for sure though- it will be a different world once we...
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The things kids say!

by | 20/01/2022 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

1940's -As an "Evacuee" duirng the 2nd World War I had learned two new words that day. I was an inquisitive six year old evacuee in Wales, and in the care of my foster Aunt Florrie. “What does ‘severe’ mean Aunty?” I queried. “It means ‘harsh’ or ‘really bad’ she...
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Elephants of Etosha

by | 09/12/2021 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

An occasional grunt or yap of a foraging jackal punctured the surrounding silence. It was early evening and the air was oppressive as we sat mesmerised, taut with the expectation of what we would see of this promised show.  Two floodlights directed from our camp lit...
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Unusual visitors

by | 09/12/2021 | Healthy living, Life Stories, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

The red salt- packed road ran in a straight line up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. We had left behind the seal colony at Cape Cross a hundred miles back, where the stench of ammonia was so strong, that it brought tears to our eyes, and cleared the sinuses instantly....
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When will Covid end?

by | 07/12/2021 | Coping skills, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Worrying about things outside of our control is not helpful It is only with acceptance that there can be an absence of worry. This applies to most things in life. A virus has turned the world upside down. We cannot escape the media and understandably are feeling a...
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Turn bad news into good news

by | 12/11/2021 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When it seems like the bad news keeps on coming Yesterday I had a much dreaded follow up appointment with the specialist. I was feeling slightly nervous, mainly because of recent experiences, and was certainly not jumping for joy, while I remembered the pain of my...
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The Bad Landlord

by | 12/11/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

What price should we put on good health? Am I right in thinking that if you are renting a property, and paying good money each week for the privilege one would expect to live in a healthy home? Landlords have been put on notice after the landlords of a damp, mould...
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Crazy world house prices

by | 28/10/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying a home is not for the faint hearted in today's market During the Covid-19 pandemic there has been much said about the shocking increase in property prices around the world. Take Brisbane, Australia for instance- the median house price in September 21 has hit a...
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Music soothes the soul

by | 27/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

The importance of music Maddie ( aged 11) wrote.... "Music can make a huge difference in peoples lives. I find that music calms me down when I'm mad or when I'm sad. We all need music in our lives as it is important that we think about ourselves every once in awhile....
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Tips for a healthier home

by | 20/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Keeping your home healthy is an ongoing process Sometimes we ignore the smaller issues that then become the bigger issues that cause us pain when we get sick or have to pay for extensive remedial work to alleviate further issues. Climate Change is a very real problem...
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Healing with food

by | 19/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Living with an Auto immune disease is challenging I know this first hand, as even now, some days I feel like I have been run over and can barely lift my head off the pillow, then other days I am bouncing off the wall. I also suffer at times from waves of anxiety and...
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Mindfulness – when the going gets tough

by | 18/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When times are tough When things get tough we often feel anxious and perhaps we might even have issues with sleeping at night. Every time we get stressed, a little part of our brain called the amygdala takes control. The amygdalae defines and regulates our emotions....
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The lonely bee hotel

by | 17/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner | 0 Comments

Help our environment with a Bee Hotel During lockdown, Maddie (11) told me that she thought that a good project would be to make a Bee Hotel for the garden. At the time, she was busy re-cycling old glass coffee jars into food storage containers, and we were discussing...
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Fighting inflammation with Turmeric

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Most people love a curry, but did you know that turmeric is one of the herbs that is known for it's beneficial cancer reducing properties, as well as also having many other health benefits. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a substance with powerful...
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Why children love and need pets

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner | 2 Comments

Maddie (11 years) and Lexie (8 years) are cousins in different countries, but since the rolling lockdowns,they talk daily over the internet. They can spend hours showing each other what they are doing every day, whether it is singing, dancing or aerobics, or playing...
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Waste not…want not!

by | 04/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When we throw away our unused old clothing, we are creating greenhouse gases which in turn contributes to climate change. Clothing that ends up in landfills around the world is increasing at alarming levels. It is a very important factor in the lives of our children...
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Lock down fatigue

by | 30/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! But since the beginning of the Covid outbreak and the many" lock down's" around the world, it just became harder. You would think that one would have plenty of time in lock down to do all of...
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Mask up and make a difference

by | 14/09/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Wear a mask .... save a life If somebody who was unknowingly infected with Covid-19 or the recent highly infectious Delta variant, and they sneezed within close proximity to you, the chances are you might get the virus, even if you are vaccinated. What are the chances...
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The dark side of chocolate

by | 13/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

I was talking to eleven year old Maddie who was eating chocolate over FaceTime the other day. Many countries are still in lockdown due to the Delta variant causing so much havoc. She sent me her research this morning for a blog she wanted to write, as obviously she...
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Is stress making you gain weight?

by | 10/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered why stress causes you to eat more? Stress can cause many unwanted things and we might not notice them all at first. Stress and your emotional, mental  and physical health If you are feeling irritated, or overwhelmed, and have a headache, with a...
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Can you cure Hypothyroidism?

by | 08/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Hypothyroidism doesn’t have to be permanent Sometimes finding out that you have an auto immune disease can not only be scary, but a relief to eventually find out why you feel so tired, and why you are putting on weight when you are actually eating less. Auto immune...
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So what’s your horoscope say today?

by | 07/09/2021 | Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you check out your daily horoscope? I wonder if there are others like me who will check out their horoscope every now and then, and if they don't like what they read, will find one that they like better? Are you also amazed that when you are reading all about your...
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Get on your bike!

by | 30/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Riding a bike through retirement Who would have thought I would ever ride a bike again at my age? Not me that's for sure! My first bicycle was a second-hand Raleigh. Life in then "war torn" Rhodesia, with Sanctions, meant that we could not buy new things, so when I...
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Can Pets improve our mental health?

by | 30/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A loyal friend Basil Brush was my beloved friend. He was a hairy, stocky, short little dog with bucked teeth, an underbite, and a tummy that scraped the steps if he could manage them. He had a deep bark for such a little dog and a very weak bladder, which...
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The less you own, the less owns you

by | 25/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you ever feel like you are running from one task to another? Are you multi-tasking to get things done and constantly in catch-up mode, mobile phone in hand, and answering email after email, and then suddenly it is time to feed the family and catch up on laundry?...
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Try something different

by | 16/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Simplicity is the highest form of complexity When we first went into lockdown, we decided to try ordering ready-made fresh food online. Our Millenial children had already tried My Food Bag and still love it, so we decided to give it a go too! Our findings From the...
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Is Red wine good for you?

by | 13/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

To have or to have not After a tough day, I often look forward to a relaxing glass of Pinot Noir. Recently though, after a health scare, my partner gave up alcohol almost entirely, apart from the odd glass of wine. So it made me think whether I was now tasked with the...
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Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?

by | 09/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Which is better? Goats cheese or cows cheese? I have always been wary of goats, mainly because I was attacked by one many years ago. The kind owner of the mean goat told me that "Pearl" was not attacking me but merely being friendly. I learnt how to jump a fence that...
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Good, bad or ugly?

by | 08/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered about which indoor plants are good and which are bad according to Feng Shui ? A friend of mine once remarked that her son’s new girlfriend had left an obnoxious plant by her front door called “mother- in-laws tongue” as a belated Christmas gift....
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Stressed & Angry?

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90 % of how you cope with it. A sense of humour can be an amazing asset when it comes to dealing with stressful situations. It will improve your overall emotional and physical health and will help you to look at things in a...
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Is coffee good for us?

by | 02/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There is nothing like the smell of freshly brewed coffee is there? So often we are told that coffee is not good for us, but we continue to drink it and enjoy the different varieties that are offered today. The choice is mind boggling! In fact, it is estimated that...
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Kill unkindness with kindness

by | 23/07/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

It doesn't cost anything to be kind By being "the rainbow" in somebody's stormy day is such a lovely way to think about being kind to others. Even a simple smile can go a long way. How often does a good mood do a U turn when your happy greeting is barely acknowledged...
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Zoomers and creative writing

by | 23/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Children and creative writing Maddie (aged 11) loves creative writing and has sent me her reasoning as to why it is so good for children. Maddie is from a generation now referred to as "a Zoomer" - Generation Z I love that she is busy in the school holidays being so...
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Feeling like a sad bear?

by | 19/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Seasonal affective disorder Sometimes when the days seem dull and the sun forgets to shine for days on end, we can suffer from something called SAD (Seasonal affective disorder). This depressive disorder is linked to the seasons of the year and is more common in...
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Greens are good says Maddie

by | 18/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 1 Comment

Spinach and Kale are 2 vegetables that are nutrient rich with loads of antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, iron and more. Maddie ( my eleven year old granddaughter) is on school holidays at the moment and has sent me a recipe that she has found for a healthy lifestyle....
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Oranges to stay healthy

by | 17/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

School holidays have arrived again and there are kids still in lock down in some countries. Maddie, my 11 year old granddaughter has sent me a good healthy recipe for a tasty orange drink. Maddie's healthy Vitamin C drink Recipe Get 6 -8 oranges ( or however many you...
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Auto immune diseases

by | 11/07/2021 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Finding out that you have an auto immune disease can be a quite scary, but by the time I found out, I was actually relieved to at last find out why I was feeling so ill most of the time. Auto immune diseases occur when the immune system, which is the body's defence...
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Baby Baby good for you?

by | 09/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

Here is a great little tip from Sandy, in Christchurch, NZ, who was advised by her surgeon to use baby shampoo as a make up remover on her eyelids after having surgery. Unlike many expensive products these days that are sold to remove makeup, like Clinque or Lancome,...
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Maddie’s raw egg shake

by | 06/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Eleven year old Maddie sent me this quick and easy recipe. She called it a "high in protein" tasty drink. It is refreshing to see somebody so young taking an interest in healing foods. Maddie's simple recipe Use a Blender or Quick shaker Take a cup of milk One banana...
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Home and income… really ?

by | 06/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Home and Income Many people these days are looking for ways to reduce their mortgage. What better way than to have a property that can be split into two seperate dwellings. Of course, they have to comply with the building regulations and various council rules and...
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Befriend the little birds

by | 01/07/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A simple life hack from Pat... Here is a life hack or handy tip from my childhood friend, Pat Barber who lives in Maryland, USA. How to keep ants from invading Hummingbird feeders. Hang the feeder on a pole and apply a 3/4 inch collar of Vaseline near the bottom of...
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Mokopuna

by | 30/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

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Spirulina for smoothies

by | 29/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When my husband was undergoing chemotherapy, one of the super foods that he was recommended to use daily was Spirulina. During his cancer journey, our favourite shops soon became the pharmacies and the many health food shops, while we searched for ways of limiting the...
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Cancer and Bicarb of soda

by | 27/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 1 Comment

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer we were told that bicarbonate of soda was something we should investigate and get into the habit of using daily. We wanted to try every possible avenue in order to keep him healthy while he underwent the invasive chemotherapy...
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Do you miss the world?

by | 27/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Covid-19 has made it a long 16 months so far. Just when it seems things are getting better, there is another outbreak. Like many people, I have decided to wait and get vaccinated before travelling overseas, even though I miss my family so much. Having an auto immune...
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Lemons

by | 22/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When my husband was battling cancer, lemons were one fruit that really helped. We used lemon zest in our salads, lemon juice in his smoothies and teas. Lemons are known to have an alkalising effect in the body. While they are acidic, to begin with, they also are...
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Buyer’s remorse

by | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

So often when we purchase something we have a feeling of remorse soon after. This is no different when you purchase a house, in fact, the remorse and be much worse. Experienced real estate negotiators are keen to get the deal done that day for this reason. They will...
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Smart gadgets

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...
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Messy house or hoarder?

by | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...
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Houses built from hemp

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...
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10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...
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10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...
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A wise old donkey

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...
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Are you a hoarder?

by | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...
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Waste not…want not!

Waste not…want not!

by | Oct 4, 2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised

When we throw away our unused old clothing, we are creating greenhouse gases which in turn contributes to climate change.

Clothing that ends up in landfills around the world is increasing at alarming levels. It is a very important factor in the lives of our children so we should all make an effort.

Eleven year old Maddie has sent me another blog.

Recycling unwanted clothing

Even at her age she recognises the importance of recycling unwanted clothing.

Maddie said…

“I would like to share a story from when I was younger.

My Nanna came over to my house and sewed a bunch of my old clothes that didn’t fit me anymore.

She made them into dresses and clothes for my dolls so that is a great example of what you can do to reuse old clothes.

Once every few months, you should go through your clothes to see which ones still fit, and which ones you can’t fix.

When you have gone through all your clothes, you probably will have a pile of them that don’t fit anymore, so you are going to have to decide what you want to do with all those clothes.

Let me tell you something that we do.

Every now and then we go down to the clothing bin and put our old clothes in them. Some charities will recycle these clothes for the children and people who don’t have the money to buy clothes, so that is a great way to recycle your clothing that does not fit you any more.

Some clothing bins recycle the clothes into rags and things for factories and some send them overseas.

Another thing you can do is take all your old clothes and turn them into a blanket, or into rags or use them for making doll’s clothes.

By doing these things you are helping yourself, and the planet and helping those in need.”

Thanks Maddie!

Nike reuse -a- shoe program

Did you know that Nike has a “reuse-a shoe” program, where they take worn out athletic shoes and grind them up and use them to create playgrounds, courts and more?

Cotton for composting

Not all clothing can be composted, but cotton that is 100% can be added to the compost heap. You can also use an old cotton t-shirt for weedmat.

That is another good way of recycling – but first remove any buttons or attachments before shredding finely. Your compost pile will be better for it.

Read more here 

“Waste not want not” is  a saying that is very familiar to older generations who still recycle as part of every day life.

I can remember taking glass bottles into the store for a refund, or saving money by renovating older furniture, bicycles and wearing hand me downs.

One of my favourite dresses as a teenager was one that my mother cut down and re-made to suit me.

It was one of my mother’s, mother’s dresses – (my Nanna’s dress ) before I got to enjoy it.

By reusing the fabric in old clothes means that less resources, both monetary and environmental are wasted in growing the fibre that is necessary to make new items of clothing.

“Re-use the past, recycle the present and save the future!”

©2021 gentlelifehacks.com|e-propertymatters.com| Author| Kathryn in conjunction with Maddie (aged 11)

“Health-full” honey bees

by | 13/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Is honey good for us? Raw honey has been enjoyed thoughout history and has always been known for its health benefits and medical uses. It has a source of antioxidants with compounds known as polyphenols which may play a role in preventing heart disease. Phytonutrients...
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7 Cancer Myths

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Cancer and common myths Cancer is something we are programmed to fear. Cancer statistics in the United States alone make quite alarming reading Yet the World Health Organisation reported that in 2019 the top 10 causes of death accounted for 55% of the 55.4 million...
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A dog in sheep’s clothing

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Thinking of selling? Don't be a dog in sheep's clothing. Do it the right way. You would not be the first sellers who have questioned what their own obligations are as to what they should disclose to potential buyers. There are some out there who will blatantly hide a...
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Air fryer health benefits

by | 28/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When we we were renovating, I purchased my first air fryer. We had limited space so it was ideal until my brand new kitchen was installed. I have since bought my 2nd air fryer (  the same brand -deLonghi "ideal fry"), so we can take one away with us in the motorhome,...
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Apple Cider Vinegar’s Mum

by | 30/06/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When fighting illness, it is common to search for products that promote healing. One thing I searched for was a way of maintaining an alkaline body. We were told that cancer does not like an alkaline environment. Cancer cells apparently thrive in acidity (low pH), but...
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Are we teens addicted to gaming?

by | 17/08/2023 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Are you spending too much time gaming or on your mobile phone? A huge percentage of children play video games and studies show an unhealthy percentage can get addicted to them. Did you also know that the World Health Organisation have recognised gaming addiction as a...
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Can you hear me?

by | 18/09/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Good values, Healthy living | 0 Comments

Everyone has bad days. Some days are just worse than others! When we communicate with others it is important to feel that you are heard. How often do you feel that people talk over you? It happens in shops, especially as you get older, or with people who are too busy...
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Understanding Dementia

by | 19/02/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Wendy was only 58 when she was diagnosed with dementia. This brave lady has written a book about her disease. I was listening to Radio NZ this morning and heard an interview with Wendy who spoke of her life now. She seemed to normalise the disease. A disease that has...
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Bad sugar

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There has been plenty of research done that tells us that a diet high in sugar is bad for our health. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation are just a few health risks associated with consuming too much sugar. Not...
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More rainbows please

by | 16/02/2024 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Symbols of hope They say a rainbow is a symbol of hope. Rainbows are supposed to be a positive sign. They can bring a smile to the saddest person and lighten most people's moods. After my husband died I used to look out for them as I wondered about the belief in...
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Create a “laugh alot” garden for kids

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Remember those days of 'Lock down' which must have been incredibly hard on many people, but especially so if you were cooped up indoors with no space to play. Easy projects to keep the kids busy don’t always come to mind, but there are some that are clear winners....
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Virus or bacterial infection?

by | 02/02/2024 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

With the spread of Omnicron, one of the variants of Covid-19, it is hard not to put every sniffle or tummy ache down to having the virus. This is essentially because, even though most of us who have been able to be vaccinated, have done so, most countries are having...
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Mangoes are the fruit of eternal love

by | 02/11/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Who doesn't love a mango? I remember as a child eating mangoes in Africa - we would clean the stone and draw faces on it making it look like a hairy face! Later in Australia, we loved eating them and would include them in salads and puddings. The Mango is the...
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Is Hashimotos Thyroiditis incurable?

by | 29/09/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

 So you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? I was also diagnosed after many years of feeling unwell. At first, in Australia, I was tested for Ross River disease, and then the doctor sent me off to a Heart Surgeon who organised an angiogram for my heart, after I failed some...
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Bounce back from illness

by | 25/09/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Ask anybody who has been ill and I am sure that they will agree, it can sometimes be hard to bounce back from illness, without following some simple rules. Stay hydrated Eat well Rest often Keep pain under control Keep moving Have a positive attitude Be kind to...
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Herbs and health benefits

by | 18/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Herbs provide a lot of goodness to our diets  and this is often ignored by many of us in this busy world of ours. If we can improve our lifestyle by growing a little herb garden, then isn't it something worth considering ? You don't need a lot of space to create your...
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Be positive and hold on tight!

by | 17/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Trying to stay positive is not always easy. Most of us know at least one person who seems to always see the bright side of life. And it is also true to say that we all know someone who leaves us feeling drained or sad. After undergoing some worrying health issues, I...
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Eating right as a teenager

by | 17/08/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager it is very important to eat a healthy diet. This will help you with skin infections like acne and help you develop strong healthy bones. Of course you can have a little treat every now and then, but too much could cause serious problems for you...
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Teenagers who are stressed and anxious

by | 13/08/2023 | Coping skills, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager, there are many things that can cause stress. Most teens don't really like to talk about it so will mostly struggle with their anxiety on their own. Teenagers are known for getting far less sleep than the recommended amount of sleep we require...
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Avoiding acne as a teen

by | 12/04/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Ask any teenager- acne is no fun! If you understand what causes acne then you can try and manage it with ease. When your skin follicles become blocked with oil or dead skin cells, then acne appears. It can be common for teens, but older people in their fifties can...
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Business Lingo- Cars NOT Cows!

by | 04/01/2023 | Life Stories, Real Estate | 0 Comments

The Big Move- 1995 Emigrating to a land at the bottom of the world was exciting if not different. There were many things other than acclimatising to the cold to get used to, but also trying to understand the quick speech and odd sayings of my new country was a...
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Asbestos hazard

by | 04/01/2023 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When buying a house it is always advisable to employ a licensed building inspector to provide information on the building condition. Knowing what to budget for in respect of any repairs required in the coming years makes a lot of sense! Finding Asbestos in a home can...
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Fighting to stay healthy

by | 29/11/2022 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Shock medical diagnosis Hearing a shocking medical diagnosis is always going to be stressful. I know how I felt when we were told that my husband had only two months to live. Our world collapsed.  Shock made it difficult to breathe. What were we to do? How would we...
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Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing

by | 26/07/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying and selling real estate is not an exact science. Real Estate salespeople are required to comply with the current legislation, and in New Zealand, for instance they need to abide by their professional client and conduct rules. Rule 10 is very important as...
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Who’s your perfect match then?

by | 08/04/2022 | Lifestyle, uncategorised, Zodiac signs and more | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered who the right partner is for you? If you are single and unattached how interesting would it be if you could find the perfect match for you? Many people who have been in a relationship for a while are often shocked at how many connecting things...
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When the real estate market changes

by | 25/03/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a "sellers market". Post "Covid-19", what will the Real Estate market look like? There are many thoughts on this. Obviously it will be changed. There could be job losses, and more...
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Make your home a “healthy home”?

by | 18/03/2022 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Staying healthy requires not only eating the correct food and exercising the right amount, but also by making sure that we live in a healthy home environment. Everybody wants to live in a healthy home, but sometimes sadly, it is not possible for many people. However,...
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House too small now?

by | 02/02/2022 | Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When is the right time to upsize? Wondering if you need to upsize as your toddlers suddenly become"tweens"? Or perhaps it is when they start to bring their friends home as teenagers? It is good knowing where they are and if they feel that they can entertain friends at...
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When is the right time to sell?

by | 26/01/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a “sellers market”. Post “Covid-19”, what will the Real Estate market look like? There have been many thoughts on this. One thing is for sure though- it will be a different world once we...
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The things kids say!

by | 20/01/2022 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

1940's -As an "Evacuee" duirng the 2nd World War I had learned two new words that day. I was an inquisitive six year old evacuee in Wales, and in the care of my foster Aunt Florrie. “What does ‘severe’ mean Aunty?” I queried. “It means ‘harsh’ or ‘really bad’ she...
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Elephants of Etosha

by | 09/12/2021 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

An occasional grunt or yap of a foraging jackal punctured the surrounding silence. It was early evening and the air was oppressive as we sat mesmerised, taut with the expectation of what we would see of this promised show.  Two floodlights directed from our camp lit...
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Unusual visitors

by | 09/12/2021 | Healthy living, Life Stories, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

The red salt- packed road ran in a straight line up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. We had left behind the seal colony at Cape Cross a hundred miles back, where the stench of ammonia was so strong, that it brought tears to our eyes, and cleared the sinuses instantly....
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When will Covid end?

by | 07/12/2021 | Coping skills, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Worrying about things outside of our control is not helpful It is only with acceptance that there can be an absence of worry. This applies to most things in life. A virus has turned the world upside down. We cannot escape the media and understandably are feeling a...
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Turn bad news into good news

by | 12/11/2021 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When it seems like the bad news keeps on coming Yesterday I had a much dreaded follow up appointment with the specialist. I was feeling slightly nervous, mainly because of recent experiences, and was certainly not jumping for joy, while I remembered the pain of my...
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The Bad Landlord

by | 12/11/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

What price should we put on good health? Am I right in thinking that if you are renting a property, and paying good money each week for the privilege one would expect to live in a healthy home? Landlords have been put on notice after the landlords of a damp, mould...
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Crazy world house prices

by | 28/10/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying a home is not for the faint hearted in today's market During the Covid-19 pandemic there has been much said about the shocking increase in property prices around the world. Take Brisbane, Australia for instance- the median house price in September 21 has hit a...
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Music soothes the soul

by | 27/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

The importance of music Maddie ( aged 11) wrote.... "Music can make a huge difference in peoples lives. I find that music calms me down when I'm mad or when I'm sad. We all need music in our lives as it is important that we think about ourselves every once in awhile....
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Tips for a healthier home

by | 20/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Keeping your home healthy is an ongoing process Sometimes we ignore the smaller issues that then become the bigger issues that cause us pain when we get sick or have to pay for extensive remedial work to alleviate further issues. Climate Change is a very real problem...
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Healing with food

by | 19/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Living with an Auto immune disease is challenging I know this first hand, as even now, some days I feel like I have been run over and can barely lift my head off the pillow, then other days I am bouncing off the wall. I also suffer at times from waves of anxiety and...
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Mindfulness – when the going gets tough

by | 18/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When times are tough When things get tough we often feel anxious and perhaps we might even have issues with sleeping at night. Every time we get stressed, a little part of our brain called the amygdala takes control. The amygdalae defines and regulates our emotions....
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The lonely bee hotel

by | 17/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner | 0 Comments

Help our environment with a Bee Hotel During lockdown, Maddie (11) told me that she thought that a good project would be to make a Bee Hotel for the garden. At the time, she was busy re-cycling old glass coffee jars into food storage containers, and we were discussing...
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Fighting inflammation with Turmeric

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Most people love a curry, but did you know that turmeric is one of the herbs that is known for it's beneficial cancer reducing properties, as well as also having many other health benefits. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a substance with powerful...
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Why children love and need pets

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner | 2 Comments

Maddie (11 years) and Lexie (8 years) are cousins in different countries, but since the rolling lockdowns,they talk daily over the internet. They can spend hours showing each other what they are doing every day, whether it is singing, dancing or aerobics, or playing...
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Waste not…want not!

by | 04/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When we throw away our unused old clothing, we are creating greenhouse gases which in turn contributes to climate change. Clothing that ends up in landfills around the world is increasing at alarming levels. It is a very important factor in the lives of our children...
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Lock down fatigue

by | 30/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! But since the beginning of the Covid outbreak and the many" lock down's" around the world, it just became harder. You would think that one would have plenty of time in lock down to do all of...
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Mask up and make a difference

by | 14/09/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Wear a mask .... save a life If somebody who was unknowingly infected with Covid-19 or the recent highly infectious Delta variant, and they sneezed within close proximity to you, the chances are you might get the virus, even if you are vaccinated. What are the chances...
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The dark side of chocolate

by | 13/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

I was talking to eleven year old Maddie who was eating chocolate over FaceTime the other day. Many countries are still in lockdown due to the Delta variant causing so much havoc. She sent me her research this morning for a blog she wanted to write, as obviously she...
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Is stress making you gain weight?

by | 10/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered why stress causes you to eat more? Stress can cause many unwanted things and we might not notice them all at first. Stress and your emotional, mental  and physical health If you are feeling irritated, or overwhelmed, and have a headache, with a...
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Can you cure Hypothyroidism?

by | 08/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Hypothyroidism doesn’t have to be permanent Sometimes finding out that you have an auto immune disease can not only be scary, but a relief to eventually find out why you feel so tired, and why you are putting on weight when you are actually eating less. Auto immune...
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So what’s your horoscope say today?

by | 07/09/2021 | Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you check out your daily horoscope? I wonder if there are others like me who will check out their horoscope every now and then, and if they don't like what they read, will find one that they like better? Are you also amazed that when you are reading all about your...
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Get on your bike!

by | 30/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Riding a bike through retirement Who would have thought I would ever ride a bike again at my age? Not me that's for sure! My first bicycle was a second-hand Raleigh. Life in then "war torn" Rhodesia, with Sanctions, meant that we could not buy new things, so when I...
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Can Pets improve our mental health?

by | 30/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A loyal friend Basil Brush was my beloved friend. He was a hairy, stocky, short little dog with bucked teeth, an underbite, and a tummy that scraped the steps if he could manage them. He had a deep bark for such a little dog and a very weak bladder, which...
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The less you own, the less owns you

by | 25/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you ever feel like you are running from one task to another? Are you multi-tasking to get things done and constantly in catch-up mode, mobile phone in hand, and answering email after email, and then suddenly it is time to feed the family and catch up on laundry?...
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Try something different

by | 16/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Simplicity is the highest form of complexity When we first went into lockdown, we decided to try ordering ready-made fresh food online. Our Millenial children had already tried My Food Bag and still love it, so we decided to give it a go too! Our findings From the...
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Is Red wine good for you?

by | 13/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

To have or to have not After a tough day, I often look forward to a relaxing glass of Pinot Noir. Recently though, after a health scare, my partner gave up alcohol almost entirely, apart from the odd glass of wine. So it made me think whether I was now tasked with the...
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Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?

by | 09/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Which is better? Goats cheese or cows cheese? I have always been wary of goats, mainly because I was attacked by one many years ago. The kind owner of the mean goat told me that "Pearl" was not attacking me but merely being friendly. I learnt how to jump a fence that...
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Good, bad or ugly?

by | 08/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered about which indoor plants are good and which are bad according to Feng Shui ? A friend of mine once remarked that her son’s new girlfriend had left an obnoxious plant by her front door called “mother- in-laws tongue” as a belated Christmas gift....
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Stressed & Angry?

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90 % of how you cope with it. A sense of humour can be an amazing asset when it comes to dealing with stressful situations. It will improve your overall emotional and physical health and will help you to look at things in a...
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Is coffee good for us?

by | 02/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There is nothing like the smell of freshly brewed coffee is there? So often we are told that coffee is not good for us, but we continue to drink it and enjoy the different varieties that are offered today. The choice is mind boggling! In fact, it is estimated that...
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Kill unkindness with kindness

by | 23/07/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

It doesn't cost anything to be kind By being "the rainbow" in somebody's stormy day is such a lovely way to think about being kind to others. Even a simple smile can go a long way. How often does a good mood do a U turn when your happy greeting is barely acknowledged...
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Zoomers and creative writing

by | 23/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Children and creative writing Maddie (aged 11) loves creative writing and has sent me her reasoning as to why it is so good for children. Maddie is from a generation now referred to as "a Zoomer" - Generation Z I love that she is busy in the school holidays being so...
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Feeling like a sad bear?

by | 19/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Seasonal affective disorder Sometimes when the days seem dull and the sun forgets to shine for days on end, we can suffer from something called SAD (Seasonal affective disorder). This depressive disorder is linked to the seasons of the year and is more common in...
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Greens are good says Maddie

by | 18/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 1 Comment

Spinach and Kale are 2 vegetables that are nutrient rich with loads of antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, iron and more. Maddie ( my eleven year old granddaughter) is on school holidays at the moment and has sent me a recipe that she has found for a healthy lifestyle....
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Oranges to stay healthy

by | 17/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

School holidays have arrived again and there are kids still in lock down in some countries. Maddie, my 11 year old granddaughter has sent me a good healthy recipe for a tasty orange drink. Maddie's healthy Vitamin C drink Recipe Get 6 -8 oranges ( or however many you...
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Auto immune diseases

by | 11/07/2021 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Finding out that you have an auto immune disease can be a quite scary, but by the time I found out, I was actually relieved to at last find out why I was feeling so ill most of the time. Auto immune diseases occur when the immune system, which is the body's defence...
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Baby Baby good for you?

by | 09/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

Here is a great little tip from Sandy, in Christchurch, NZ, who was advised by her surgeon to use baby shampoo as a make up remover on her eyelids after having surgery. Unlike many expensive products these days that are sold to remove makeup, like Clinque or Lancome,...
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Maddie’s raw egg shake

by | 06/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Eleven year old Maddie sent me this quick and easy recipe. She called it a "high in protein" tasty drink. It is refreshing to see somebody so young taking an interest in healing foods. Maddie's simple recipe Use a Blender or Quick shaker Take a cup of milk One banana...
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Home and income… really ?

by | 06/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Home and Income Many people these days are looking for ways to reduce their mortgage. What better way than to have a property that can be split into two seperate dwellings. Of course, they have to comply with the building regulations and various council rules and...
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Befriend the little birds

by | 01/07/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A simple life hack from Pat... Here is a life hack or handy tip from my childhood friend, Pat Barber who lives in Maryland, USA. How to keep ants from invading Hummingbird feeders. Hang the feeder on a pole and apply a 3/4 inch collar of Vaseline near the bottom of...
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Mokopuna

by | 30/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

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Spirulina for smoothies

by | 29/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When my husband was undergoing chemotherapy, one of the super foods that he was recommended to use daily was Spirulina. During his cancer journey, our favourite shops soon became the pharmacies and the many health food shops, while we searched for ways of limiting the...
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Cancer and Bicarb of soda

by | 27/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 1 Comment

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer we were told that bicarbonate of soda was something we should investigate and get into the habit of using daily. We wanted to try every possible avenue in order to keep him healthy while he underwent the invasive chemotherapy...
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Do you miss the world?

by | 27/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Covid-19 has made it a long 16 months so far. Just when it seems things are getting better, there is another outbreak. Like many people, I have decided to wait and get vaccinated before travelling overseas, even though I miss my family so much. Having an auto immune...
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Lemons

by | 22/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When my husband was battling cancer, lemons were one fruit that really helped. We used lemon zest in our salads, lemon juice in his smoothies and teas. Lemons are known to have an alkalising effect in the body. While they are acidic, to begin with, they also are...
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Buyer’s remorse

by | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

So often when we purchase something we have a feeling of remorse soon after. This is no different when you purchase a house, in fact, the remorse and be much worse. Experienced real estate negotiators are keen to get the deal done that day for this reason. They will...
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Smart gadgets

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...
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Messy house or hoarder?

by | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...
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Houses built from hemp

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...
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10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...
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10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...
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A wise old donkey

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...
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Are you a hoarder?

by | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...
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Lock down fatigue

Lock down fatigue

by | Sep 30, 2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted

Take it from one who knows!

But since the beginning of the Covid outbreak and the many” lock down’s” around the world, it just became harder.

You would think that one would have plenty of time in lock down to do all of those put off easy renovations, but the truth of the matter is that it is more difficult.

This is simply because it is harder to source materials and the cost of building has risen substantially since the onset of the virus.

New Zealand has had it pretty good compared to a lot of countries around the world though.

We are in another lock down with many cases in the community as I write this, but we have been lucky in some respects.

Lock down fatigue

When I look at the events of the last few weeks, I see that we had a moderate earthquake, some pretty awful floods, and now a terrorist attack, all while we are in lock down again.

It seems that New Zealanders are used to disasters and I think on the whole cope extremely well.

When I look at how my family in Australia are coping, I am also amazed.

They are home schooling, working from home and are renovating at the same time. What a combination of stress.

Yesterday though, as I laughed with my 2 granddaughters – one in Sydney and one in NZ during a combined”kids messenger” call where they pranked me, I realised how resilient children are.

It is heartwarming to see my grandchildren coping so incredibly well, but it must be difficult for many families who are living in challenging environments.

Home schooling help is available on line in both New Zealand and Australia

Dealing with lock down fatigue

Recognising that you are not coping is often quite difficult for most of us. Missing family and friends, or worrying about a family member who is not well can be challenging.

Just waiting for the Covid daily updates and information overload can cause stress too.

So managing our lockdown fatigue is really important. Read more here

Things to look forward to in the hopefully not too distant future

Perhaps one way to deal with lockdown fatigue is to make a list of some of things that we could look forward to.

  • Connecting with others again
  • Planning a BBQ or a picnic
  • Movies or Shows
  • Sport or Gym
  • Travel overseas
  • Going on holiday
  • Reuniting with overseas family again

“Gratitude is the best medicine – it heals your mind, your body and your spirit and attracts more things to be grateful for!”

©2021 gentlelifehacks.com|e-propertymatters.com| Author| Kathryn

“Health-full” honey bees

by | 13/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Is honey good for us? Raw honey has been enjoyed thoughout history and has always been known for its health benefits and medical uses. It has a source of antioxidants with compounds known as polyphenols which may play a role in preventing heart disease. Phytonutrients...
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7 Cancer Myths

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Cancer and common myths Cancer is something we are programmed to fear. Cancer statistics in the United States alone make quite alarming reading Yet the World Health Organisation reported that in 2019 the top 10 causes of death accounted for 55% of the 55.4 million...
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A dog in sheep’s clothing

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Thinking of selling? Don't be a dog in sheep's clothing. Do it the right way. You would not be the first sellers who have questioned what their own obligations are as to what they should disclose to potential buyers. There are some out there who will blatantly hide a...
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Air fryer health benefits

by | 28/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When we we were renovating, I purchased my first air fryer. We had limited space so it was ideal until my brand new kitchen was installed. I have since bought my 2nd air fryer (  the same brand -deLonghi "ideal fry"), so we can take one away with us in the motorhome,...
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Apple Cider Vinegar’s Mum

by | 30/06/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When fighting illness, it is common to search for products that promote healing. One thing I searched for was a way of maintaining an alkaline body. We were told that cancer does not like an alkaline environment. Cancer cells apparently thrive in acidity (low pH), but...
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Are we teens addicted to gaming?

by | 17/08/2023 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Are you spending too much time gaming or on your mobile phone? A huge percentage of children play video games and studies show an unhealthy percentage can get addicted to them. Did you also know that the World Health Organisation have recognised gaming addiction as a...
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Can you hear me?

by | 18/09/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Good values, Healthy living | 0 Comments

Everyone has bad days. Some days are just worse than others! When we communicate with others it is important to feel that you are heard. How often do you feel that people talk over you? It happens in shops, especially as you get older, or with people who are too busy...
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Understanding Dementia

by | 19/02/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Wendy was only 58 when she was diagnosed with dementia. This brave lady has written a book about her disease. I was listening to Radio NZ this morning and heard an interview with Wendy who spoke of her life now. She seemed to normalise the disease. A disease that has...
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Bad sugar

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There has been plenty of research done that tells us that a diet high in sugar is bad for our health. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation are just a few health risks associated with consuming too much sugar. Not...
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More rainbows please

by | 16/02/2024 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Symbols of hope They say a rainbow is a symbol of hope. Rainbows are supposed to be a positive sign. They can bring a smile to the saddest person and lighten most people's moods. After my husband died I used to look out for them as I wondered about the belief in...
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Create a “laugh alot” garden for kids

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Remember those days of 'Lock down' which must have been incredibly hard on many people, but especially so if you were cooped up indoors with no space to play. Easy projects to keep the kids busy don’t always come to mind, but there are some that are clear winners....
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Virus or bacterial infection?

by | 02/02/2024 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

With the spread of Omnicron, one of the variants of Covid-19, it is hard not to put every sniffle or tummy ache down to having the virus. This is essentially because, even though most of us who have been able to be vaccinated, have done so, most countries are having...
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Mangoes are the fruit of eternal love

by | 02/11/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Who doesn't love a mango? I remember as a child eating mangoes in Africa - we would clean the stone and draw faces on it making it look like a hairy face! Later in Australia, we loved eating them and would include them in salads and puddings. The Mango is the...
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Is Hashimotos Thyroiditis incurable?

by | 29/09/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

 So you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? I was also diagnosed after many years of feeling unwell. At first, in Australia, I was tested for Ross River disease, and then the doctor sent me off to a Heart Surgeon who organised an angiogram for my heart, after I failed some...
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Bounce back from illness

by | 25/09/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Ask anybody who has been ill and I am sure that they will agree, it can sometimes be hard to bounce back from illness, without following some simple rules. Stay hydrated Eat well Rest often Keep pain under control Keep moving Have a positive attitude Be kind to...
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Herbs and health benefits

by | 18/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Herbs provide a lot of goodness to our diets  and this is often ignored by many of us in this busy world of ours. If we can improve our lifestyle by growing a little herb garden, then isn't it something worth considering ? You don't need a lot of space to create your...
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Be positive and hold on tight!

by | 17/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Trying to stay positive is not always easy. Most of us know at least one person who seems to always see the bright side of life. And it is also true to say that we all know someone who leaves us feeling drained or sad. After undergoing some worrying health issues, I...
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Eating right as a teenager

by | 17/08/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager it is very important to eat a healthy diet. This will help you with skin infections like acne and help you develop strong healthy bones. Of course you can have a little treat every now and then, but too much could cause serious problems for you...
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Teenagers who are stressed and anxious

by | 13/08/2023 | Coping skills, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager, there are many things that can cause stress. Most teens don't really like to talk about it so will mostly struggle with their anxiety on their own. Teenagers are known for getting far less sleep than the recommended amount of sleep we require...
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Avoiding acne as a teen

by | 12/04/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Ask any teenager- acne is no fun! If you understand what causes acne then you can try and manage it with ease. When your skin follicles become blocked with oil or dead skin cells, then acne appears. It can be common for teens, but older people in their fifties can...
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Business Lingo- Cars NOT Cows!

by | 04/01/2023 | Life Stories, Real Estate | 0 Comments

The Big Move- 1995 Emigrating to a land at the bottom of the world was exciting if not different. There were many things other than acclimatising to the cold to get used to, but also trying to understand the quick speech and odd sayings of my new country was a...
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Asbestos hazard

by | 04/01/2023 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When buying a house it is always advisable to employ a licensed building inspector to provide information on the building condition. Knowing what to budget for in respect of any repairs required in the coming years makes a lot of sense! Finding Asbestos in a home can...
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Fighting to stay healthy

by | 29/11/2022 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Shock medical diagnosis Hearing a shocking medical diagnosis is always going to be stressful. I know how I felt when we were told that my husband had only two months to live. Our world collapsed.  Shock made it difficult to breathe. What were we to do? How would we...
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Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing

by | 26/07/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying and selling real estate is not an exact science. Real Estate salespeople are required to comply with the current legislation, and in New Zealand, for instance they need to abide by their professional client and conduct rules. Rule 10 is very important as...
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Who’s your perfect match then?

by | 08/04/2022 | Lifestyle, uncategorised, Zodiac signs and more | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered who the right partner is for you? If you are single and unattached how interesting would it be if you could find the perfect match for you? Many people who have been in a relationship for a while are often shocked at how many connecting things...
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When the real estate market changes

by | 25/03/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a "sellers market". Post "Covid-19", what will the Real Estate market look like? There are many thoughts on this. Obviously it will be changed. There could be job losses, and more...
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Make your home a “healthy home”?

by | 18/03/2022 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Staying healthy requires not only eating the correct food and exercising the right amount, but also by making sure that we live in a healthy home environment. Everybody wants to live in a healthy home, but sometimes sadly, it is not possible for many people. However,...
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House too small now?

by | 02/02/2022 | Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When is the right time to upsize? Wondering if you need to upsize as your toddlers suddenly become"tweens"? Or perhaps it is when they start to bring their friends home as teenagers? It is good knowing where they are and if they feel that they can entertain friends at...
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When is the right time to sell?

by | 26/01/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a “sellers market”. Post “Covid-19”, what will the Real Estate market look like? There have been many thoughts on this. One thing is for sure though- it will be a different world once we...
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The things kids say!

by | 20/01/2022 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

1940's -As an "Evacuee" duirng the 2nd World War I had learned two new words that day. I was an inquisitive six year old evacuee in Wales, and in the care of my foster Aunt Florrie. “What does ‘severe’ mean Aunty?” I queried. “It means ‘harsh’ or ‘really bad’ she...
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Elephants of Etosha

by | 09/12/2021 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

An occasional grunt or yap of a foraging jackal punctured the surrounding silence. It was early evening and the air was oppressive as we sat mesmerised, taut with the expectation of what we would see of this promised show.  Two floodlights directed from our camp lit...
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Unusual visitors

by | 09/12/2021 | Healthy living, Life Stories, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

The red salt- packed road ran in a straight line up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. We had left behind the seal colony at Cape Cross a hundred miles back, where the stench of ammonia was so strong, that it brought tears to our eyes, and cleared the sinuses instantly....
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When will Covid end?

by | 07/12/2021 | Coping skills, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Worrying about things outside of our control is not helpful It is only with acceptance that there can be an absence of worry. This applies to most things in life. A virus has turned the world upside down. We cannot escape the media and understandably are feeling a...
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Turn bad news into good news

by | 12/11/2021 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When it seems like the bad news keeps on coming Yesterday I had a much dreaded follow up appointment with the specialist. I was feeling slightly nervous, mainly because of recent experiences, and was certainly not jumping for joy, while I remembered the pain of my...
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The Bad Landlord

by | 12/11/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

What price should we put on good health? Am I right in thinking that if you are renting a property, and paying good money each week for the privilege one would expect to live in a healthy home? Landlords have been put on notice after the landlords of a damp, mould...
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Crazy world house prices

by | 28/10/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying a home is not for the faint hearted in today's market During the Covid-19 pandemic there has been much said about the shocking increase in property prices around the world. Take Brisbane, Australia for instance- the median house price in September 21 has hit a...
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Music soothes the soul

by | 27/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

The importance of music Maddie ( aged 11) wrote.... "Music can make a huge difference in peoples lives. I find that music calms me down when I'm mad or when I'm sad. We all need music in our lives as it is important that we think about ourselves every once in awhile....
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Tips for a healthier home

by | 20/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Keeping your home healthy is an ongoing process Sometimes we ignore the smaller issues that then become the bigger issues that cause us pain when we get sick or have to pay for extensive remedial work to alleviate further issues. Climate Change is a very real problem...
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Healing with food

by | 19/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Living with an Auto immune disease is challenging I know this first hand, as even now, some days I feel like I have been run over and can barely lift my head off the pillow, then other days I am bouncing off the wall. I also suffer at times from waves of anxiety and...
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Mindfulness – when the going gets tough

by | 18/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When times are tough When things get tough we often feel anxious and perhaps we might even have issues with sleeping at night. Every time we get stressed, a little part of our brain called the amygdala takes control. The amygdalae defines and regulates our emotions....
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The lonely bee hotel

by | 17/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner | 0 Comments

Help our environment with a Bee Hotel During lockdown, Maddie (11) told me that she thought that a good project would be to make a Bee Hotel for the garden. At the time, she was busy re-cycling old glass coffee jars into food storage containers, and we were discussing...
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Fighting inflammation with Turmeric

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Most people love a curry, but did you know that turmeric is one of the herbs that is known for it's beneficial cancer reducing properties, as well as also having many other health benefits. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a substance with powerful...
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Why children love and need pets

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner | 2 Comments

Maddie (11 years) and Lexie (8 years) are cousins in different countries, but since the rolling lockdowns,they talk daily over the internet. They can spend hours showing each other what they are doing every day, whether it is singing, dancing or aerobics, or playing...
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Waste not…want not!

by | 04/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When we throw away our unused old clothing, we are creating greenhouse gases which in turn contributes to climate change. Clothing that ends up in landfills around the world is increasing at alarming levels. It is a very important factor in the lives of our children...
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Lock down fatigue

by | 30/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! But since the beginning of the Covid outbreak and the many" lock down's" around the world, it just became harder. You would think that one would have plenty of time in lock down to do all of...
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Mask up and make a difference

by | 14/09/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Wear a mask .... save a life If somebody who was unknowingly infected with Covid-19 or the recent highly infectious Delta variant, and they sneezed within close proximity to you, the chances are you might get the virus, even if you are vaccinated. What are the chances...
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The dark side of chocolate

by | 13/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

I was talking to eleven year old Maddie who was eating chocolate over FaceTime the other day. Many countries are still in lockdown due to the Delta variant causing so much havoc. She sent me her research this morning for a blog she wanted to write, as obviously she...
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Is stress making you gain weight?

by | 10/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered why stress causes you to eat more? Stress can cause many unwanted things and we might not notice them all at first. Stress and your emotional, mental  and physical health If you are feeling irritated, or overwhelmed, and have a headache, with a...
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Can you cure Hypothyroidism?

by | 08/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Hypothyroidism doesn’t have to be permanent Sometimes finding out that you have an auto immune disease can not only be scary, but a relief to eventually find out why you feel so tired, and why you are putting on weight when you are actually eating less. Auto immune...
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So what’s your horoscope say today?

by | 07/09/2021 | Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you check out your daily horoscope? I wonder if there are others like me who will check out their horoscope every now and then, and if they don't like what they read, will find one that they like better? Are you also amazed that when you are reading all about your...
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Get on your bike!

by | 30/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Riding a bike through retirement Who would have thought I would ever ride a bike again at my age? Not me that's for sure! My first bicycle was a second-hand Raleigh. Life in then "war torn" Rhodesia, with Sanctions, meant that we could not buy new things, so when I...
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Can Pets improve our mental health?

by | 30/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A loyal friend Basil Brush was my beloved friend. He was a hairy, stocky, short little dog with bucked teeth, an underbite, and a tummy that scraped the steps if he could manage them. He had a deep bark for such a little dog and a very weak bladder, which...
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The less you own, the less owns you

by | 25/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you ever feel like you are running from one task to another? Are you multi-tasking to get things done and constantly in catch-up mode, mobile phone in hand, and answering email after email, and then suddenly it is time to feed the family and catch up on laundry?...
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Try something different

by | 16/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Simplicity is the highest form of complexity When we first went into lockdown, we decided to try ordering ready-made fresh food online. Our Millenial children had already tried My Food Bag and still love it, so we decided to give it a go too! Our findings From the...
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Is Red wine good for you?

by | 13/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

To have or to have not After a tough day, I often look forward to a relaxing glass of Pinot Noir. Recently though, after a health scare, my partner gave up alcohol almost entirely, apart from the odd glass of wine. So it made me think whether I was now tasked with the...
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Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?

by | 09/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Which is better? Goats cheese or cows cheese? I have always been wary of goats, mainly because I was attacked by one many years ago. The kind owner of the mean goat told me that "Pearl" was not attacking me but merely being friendly. I learnt how to jump a fence that...
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Good, bad or ugly?

by | 08/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered about which indoor plants are good and which are bad according to Feng Shui ? A friend of mine once remarked that her son’s new girlfriend had left an obnoxious plant by her front door called “mother- in-laws tongue” as a belated Christmas gift....
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Stressed & Angry?

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90 % of how you cope with it. A sense of humour can be an amazing asset when it comes to dealing with stressful situations. It will improve your overall emotional and physical health and will help you to look at things in a...
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Is coffee good for us?

by | 02/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There is nothing like the smell of freshly brewed coffee is there? So often we are told that coffee is not good for us, but we continue to drink it and enjoy the different varieties that are offered today. The choice is mind boggling! In fact, it is estimated that...
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Kill unkindness with kindness

by | 23/07/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

It doesn't cost anything to be kind By being "the rainbow" in somebody's stormy day is such a lovely way to think about being kind to others. Even a simple smile can go a long way. How often does a good mood do a U turn when your happy greeting is barely acknowledged...
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Zoomers and creative writing

by | 23/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Children and creative writing Maddie (aged 11) loves creative writing and has sent me her reasoning as to why it is so good for children. Maddie is from a generation now referred to as "a Zoomer" - Generation Z I love that she is busy in the school holidays being so...
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Feeling like a sad bear?

by | 19/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Seasonal affective disorder Sometimes when the days seem dull and the sun forgets to shine for days on end, we can suffer from something called SAD (Seasonal affective disorder). This depressive disorder is linked to the seasons of the year and is more common in...
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Greens are good says Maddie

by | 18/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 1 Comment

Spinach and Kale are 2 vegetables that are nutrient rich with loads of antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, iron and more. Maddie ( my eleven year old granddaughter) is on school holidays at the moment and has sent me a recipe that she has found for a healthy lifestyle....
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Oranges to stay healthy

by | 17/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

School holidays have arrived again and there are kids still in lock down in some countries. Maddie, my 11 year old granddaughter has sent me a good healthy recipe for a tasty orange drink. Maddie's healthy Vitamin C drink Recipe Get 6 -8 oranges ( or however many you...
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Auto immune diseases

by | 11/07/2021 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Finding out that you have an auto immune disease can be a quite scary, but by the time I found out, I was actually relieved to at last find out why I was feeling so ill most of the time. Auto immune diseases occur when the immune system, which is the body's defence...
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Baby Baby good for you?

by | 09/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

Here is a great little tip from Sandy, in Christchurch, NZ, who was advised by her surgeon to use baby shampoo as a make up remover on her eyelids after having surgery. Unlike many expensive products these days that are sold to remove makeup, like Clinque or Lancome,...
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Maddie’s raw egg shake

by | 06/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Eleven year old Maddie sent me this quick and easy recipe. She called it a "high in protein" tasty drink. It is refreshing to see somebody so young taking an interest in healing foods. Maddie's simple recipe Use a Blender or Quick shaker Take a cup of milk One banana...
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Home and income… really ?

by | 06/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Home and Income Many people these days are looking for ways to reduce their mortgage. What better way than to have a property that can be split into two seperate dwellings. Of course, they have to comply with the building regulations and various council rules and...
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Befriend the little birds

by | 01/07/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A simple life hack from Pat... Here is a life hack or handy tip from my childhood friend, Pat Barber who lives in Maryland, USA. How to keep ants from invading Hummingbird feeders. Hang the feeder on a pole and apply a 3/4 inch collar of Vaseline near the bottom of...
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Mokopuna

by | 30/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)
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Spirulina for smoothies

by | 29/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When my husband was undergoing chemotherapy, one of the super foods that he was recommended to use daily was Spirulina. During his cancer journey, our favourite shops soon became the pharmacies and the many health food shops, while we searched for ways of limiting the...
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Cancer and Bicarb of soda

by | 27/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 1 Comment

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer we were told that bicarbonate of soda was something we should investigate and get into the habit of using daily. We wanted to try every possible avenue in order to keep him healthy while he underwent the invasive chemotherapy...
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Do you miss the world?

by | 27/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Covid-19 has made it a long 16 months so far. Just when it seems things are getting better, there is another outbreak. Like many people, I have decided to wait and get vaccinated before travelling overseas, even though I miss my family so much. Having an auto immune...
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Lemons

by | 22/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When my husband was battling cancer, lemons were one fruit that really helped. We used lemon zest in our salads, lemon juice in his smoothies and teas. Lemons are known to have an alkalising effect in the body. While they are acidic, to begin with, they also are...
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Buyer’s remorse

by | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

So often when we purchase something we have a feeling of remorse soon after. This is no different when you purchase a house, in fact, the remorse and be much worse. Experienced real estate negotiators are keen to get the deal done that day for this reason. They will...
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Smart gadgets

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...
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Messy house or hoarder?

by | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...
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Houses built from hemp

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...
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10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...
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10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...
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A wise old donkey

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...
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Are you a hoarder?

by | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...
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Get on your bike!

Get on your bike!

by | Aug 30, 2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle

Riding a bike through retirement

Who would have thought I would ever ride a bike again at my age?

Not me that’s for sure!

My first bicycle was a second-hand Raleigh.

Life in then “war torn” Rhodesia, with Sanctions, meant that we could not buy new things, so when I got my first bike for Christmas one year, I loved it no end!

Now nearing retirement, and I own my 3rd bike ever in my whole life.

At first I felt nervous about getting back in the saddle after so many years of avoiding bikes at all costs.

But now, surprisingly, I look forward to a 20 km cycle, along gravel paths along a river with hills and countryside to admire along the way!

The changing world we live in

We are in lockdown again with Covid-19 and more recently the Delta variant causing havoc everywhere, so going for a short ride is pure joy.

At first, after a long ride on my bike,  I felt like I was walking bow legged, and was horrified at the thought that the muscles I was building might somehow give me “thunder thighs”.

After some of our longer rides, I could also hardly move my arms, but now it feels good.

Only today, my 67 year old partner decided that I needed practice “standing up on my bike” to navigate through the tiny turnstiles and narrow entrances, so he took me down to the local school to practice.

Like a kid, I did what I was told. As an Engineer, he sees things differently it seems.

Later, when we headed down a narrow path with low overhanging trees at great speed, and although the branch that whacked me in the head slowed me somewhat, and made me slightly hesitant, I quickly re-gained my confidence, so I guess it is a journey of trial and error, but an enjoyable one.

I hardly notice the bruises and cuts now from falling off my bike, like I did in the beginning!

Ten benefits of cycling

  1. Improves balance and co-ordination
  2. Helps manage many health issues by avoiding a sedentary lifestyle
  3. Boosts energy and metabolism
  4. Boosts mental health
  5. Strengthens your leg, back and abdominal muscles
  6. Promotes healthy weight management
  7. Good for the knees
  8. Releases happy endorphins
  9. Puts less stress on your joints
  10. Lowers stress levels

If you are trying to loose or maintain weight then I found a great app to use. It is called “myfitnesspal” – Read more here

You can burn upwards of 350 kilojoules in half an hour of cycling too, so what’s not to like!

“A bicycle ride around the world begins with a single pedal stroke”

©2021 gentlelifehacks.com|e-propertymatters.com| Author| Kathryn

“Health-full” honey bees

by | 13/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Is honey good for us? Raw honey has been enjoyed thoughout history and has always been known for its health benefits and medical uses. It has a source of antioxidants with compounds known as polyphenols which may play a role in preventing heart disease. Phytonutrients...
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7 Cancer Myths

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Cancer and common myths Cancer is something we are programmed to fear. Cancer statistics in the United States alone make quite alarming reading Yet the World Health Organisation reported that in 2019 the top 10 causes of death accounted for 55% of the 55.4 million...
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A dog in sheep’s clothing

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Thinking of selling? Don't be a dog in sheep's clothing. Do it the right way. You would not be the first sellers who have questioned what their own obligations are as to what they should disclose to potential buyers. There are some out there who will blatantly hide a...
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Air fryer health benefits

by | 28/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When we we were renovating, I purchased my first air fryer. We had limited space so it was ideal until my brand new kitchen was installed. I have since bought my 2nd air fryer (  the same brand -deLonghi "ideal fry"), so we can take one away with us in the motorhome,...
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Apple Cider Vinegar’s Mum

by | 30/06/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When fighting illness, it is common to search for products that promote healing. One thing I searched for was a way of maintaining an alkaline body. We were told that cancer does not like an alkaline environment. Cancer cells apparently thrive in acidity (low pH), but...
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Are we teens addicted to gaming?

by | 17/08/2023 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Are you spending too much time gaming or on your mobile phone? A huge percentage of children play video games and studies show an unhealthy percentage can get addicted to them. Did you also know that the World Health Organisation have recognised gaming addiction as a...
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Can you hear me?

by | 18/09/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Good values, Healthy living | 0 Comments

Everyone has bad days. Some days are just worse than others! When we communicate with others it is important to feel that you are heard. How often do you feel that people talk over you? It happens in shops, especially as you get older, or with people who are too busy...
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Understanding Dementia

by | 19/02/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Wendy was only 58 when she was diagnosed with dementia. This brave lady has written a book about her disease. I was listening to Radio NZ this morning and heard an interview with Wendy who spoke of her life now. She seemed to normalise the disease. A disease that has...
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Bad sugar

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There has been plenty of research done that tells us that a diet high in sugar is bad for our health. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation are just a few health risks associated with consuming too much sugar. Not...
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More rainbows please

by | 16/02/2024 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Symbols of hope They say a rainbow is a symbol of hope. Rainbows are supposed to be a positive sign. They can bring a smile to the saddest person and lighten most people's moods. After my husband died I used to look out for them as I wondered about the belief in...
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Create a “laugh alot” garden for kids

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Remember those days of 'Lock down' which must have been incredibly hard on many people, but especially so if you were cooped up indoors with no space to play. Easy projects to keep the kids busy don’t always come to mind, but there are some that are clear winners....
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Virus or bacterial infection?

by | 02/02/2024 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

With the spread of Omnicron, one of the variants of Covid-19, it is hard not to put every sniffle or tummy ache down to having the virus. This is essentially because, even though most of us who have been able to be vaccinated, have done so, most countries are having...
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Mangoes are the fruit of eternal love

by | 02/11/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Who doesn't love a mango? I remember as a child eating mangoes in Africa - we would clean the stone and draw faces on it making it look like a hairy face! Later in Australia, we loved eating them and would include them in salads and puddings. The Mango is the...
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Is Hashimotos Thyroiditis incurable?

by | 29/09/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

 So you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? I was also diagnosed after many years of feeling unwell. At first, in Australia, I was tested for Ross River disease, and then the doctor sent me off to a Heart Surgeon who organised an angiogram for my heart, after I failed some...
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Bounce back from illness

by | 25/09/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Ask anybody who has been ill and I am sure that they will agree, it can sometimes be hard to bounce back from illness, without following some simple rules. Stay hydrated Eat well Rest often Keep pain under control Keep moving Have a positive attitude Be kind to...
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Herbs and health benefits

by | 18/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Herbs provide a lot of goodness to our diets  and this is often ignored by many of us in this busy world of ours. If we can improve our lifestyle by growing a little herb garden, then isn't it something worth considering ? You don't need a lot of space to create your...
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Be positive and hold on tight!

by | 17/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Trying to stay positive is not always easy. Most of us know at least one person who seems to always see the bright side of life. And it is also true to say that we all know someone who leaves us feeling drained or sad. After undergoing some worrying health issues, I...
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Eating right as a teenager

by | 17/08/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager it is very important to eat a healthy diet. This will help you with skin infections like acne and help you develop strong healthy bones. Of course you can have a little treat every now and then, but too much could cause serious problems for you...
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Teenagers who are stressed and anxious

by | 13/08/2023 | Coping skills, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager, there are many things that can cause stress. Most teens don't really like to talk about it so will mostly struggle with their anxiety on their own. Teenagers are known for getting far less sleep than the recommended amount of sleep we require...
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Avoiding acne as a teen

by | 12/04/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Ask any teenager- acne is no fun! If you understand what causes acne then you can try and manage it with ease. When your skin follicles become blocked with oil or dead skin cells, then acne appears. It can be common for teens, but older people in their fifties can...
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Business Lingo- Cars NOT Cows!

by | 04/01/2023 | Life Stories, Real Estate | 0 Comments

The Big Move- 1995 Emigrating to a land at the bottom of the world was exciting if not different. There were many things other than acclimatising to the cold to get used to, but also trying to understand the quick speech and odd sayings of my new country was a...
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Asbestos hazard

by | 04/01/2023 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When buying a house it is always advisable to employ a licensed building inspector to provide information on the building condition. Knowing what to budget for in respect of any repairs required in the coming years makes a lot of sense! Finding Asbestos in a home can...
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Fighting to stay healthy

by | 29/11/2022 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Shock medical diagnosis Hearing a shocking medical diagnosis is always going to be stressful. I know how I felt when we were told that my husband had only two months to live. Our world collapsed.  Shock made it difficult to breathe. What were we to do? How would we...
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Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing

by | 26/07/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying and selling real estate is not an exact science. Real Estate salespeople are required to comply with the current legislation, and in New Zealand, for instance they need to abide by their professional client and conduct rules. Rule 10 is very important as...
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Who’s your perfect match then?

by | 08/04/2022 | Lifestyle, uncategorised, Zodiac signs and more | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered who the right partner is for you? If you are single and unattached how interesting would it be if you could find the perfect match for you? Many people who have been in a relationship for a while are often shocked at how many connecting things...
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When the real estate market changes

by | 25/03/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a "sellers market". Post "Covid-19", what will the Real Estate market look like? There are many thoughts on this. Obviously it will be changed. There could be job losses, and more...
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Make your home a “healthy home”?

by | 18/03/2022 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Staying healthy requires not only eating the correct food and exercising the right amount, but also by making sure that we live in a healthy home environment. Everybody wants to live in a healthy home, but sometimes sadly, it is not possible for many people. However,...
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House too small now?

by | 02/02/2022 | Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When is the right time to upsize? Wondering if you need to upsize as your toddlers suddenly become"tweens"? Or perhaps it is when they start to bring their friends home as teenagers? It is good knowing where they are and if they feel that they can entertain friends at...
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When is the right time to sell?

by | 26/01/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a “sellers market”. Post “Covid-19”, what will the Real Estate market look like? There have been many thoughts on this. One thing is for sure though- it will be a different world once we...
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The things kids say!

by | 20/01/2022 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

1940's -As an "Evacuee" duirng the 2nd World War I had learned two new words that day. I was an inquisitive six year old evacuee in Wales, and in the care of my foster Aunt Florrie. “What does ‘severe’ mean Aunty?” I queried. “It means ‘harsh’ or ‘really bad’ she...
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Elephants of Etosha

by | 09/12/2021 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

An occasional grunt or yap of a foraging jackal punctured the surrounding silence. It was early evening and the air was oppressive as we sat mesmerised, taut with the expectation of what we would see of this promised show.  Two floodlights directed from our camp lit...
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Unusual visitors

by | 09/12/2021 | Healthy living, Life Stories, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

The red salt- packed road ran in a straight line up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. We had left behind the seal colony at Cape Cross a hundred miles back, where the stench of ammonia was so strong, that it brought tears to our eyes, and cleared the sinuses instantly....
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When will Covid end?

by | 07/12/2021 | Coping skills, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Worrying about things outside of our control is not helpful It is only with acceptance that there can be an absence of worry. This applies to most things in life. A virus has turned the world upside down. We cannot escape the media and understandably are feeling a...
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Turn bad news into good news

by | 12/11/2021 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When it seems like the bad news keeps on coming Yesterday I had a much dreaded follow up appointment with the specialist. I was feeling slightly nervous, mainly because of recent experiences, and was certainly not jumping for joy, while I remembered the pain of my...
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The Bad Landlord

by | 12/11/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

What price should we put on good health? Am I right in thinking that if you are renting a property, and paying good money each week for the privilege one would expect to live in a healthy home? Landlords have been put on notice after the landlords of a damp, mould...
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Crazy world house prices

by | 28/10/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying a home is not for the faint hearted in today's market During the Covid-19 pandemic there has been much said about the shocking increase in property prices around the world. Take Brisbane, Australia for instance- the median house price in September 21 has hit a...
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Music soothes the soul

by | 27/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

The importance of music Maddie ( aged 11) wrote.... "Music can make a huge difference in peoples lives. I find that music calms me down when I'm mad or when I'm sad. We all need music in our lives as it is important that we think about ourselves every once in awhile....
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Tips for a healthier home

by | 20/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Keeping your home healthy is an ongoing process Sometimes we ignore the smaller issues that then become the bigger issues that cause us pain when we get sick or have to pay for extensive remedial work to alleviate further issues. Climate Change is a very real problem...
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Healing with food

by | 19/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Living with an Auto immune disease is challenging I know this first hand, as even now, some days I feel like I have been run over and can barely lift my head off the pillow, then other days I am bouncing off the wall. I also suffer at times from waves of anxiety and...
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Mindfulness – when the going gets tough

by | 18/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When times are tough When things get tough we often feel anxious and perhaps we might even have issues with sleeping at night. Every time we get stressed, a little part of our brain called the amygdala takes control. The amygdalae defines and regulates our emotions....
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The lonely bee hotel

by | 17/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner | 0 Comments

Help our environment with a Bee Hotel During lockdown, Maddie (11) told me that she thought that a good project would be to make a Bee Hotel for the garden. At the time, she was busy re-cycling old glass coffee jars into food storage containers, and we were discussing...
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Fighting inflammation with Turmeric

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Most people love a curry, but did you know that turmeric is one of the herbs that is known for it's beneficial cancer reducing properties, as well as also having many other health benefits. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a substance with powerful...
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Why children love and need pets

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner | 2 Comments

Maddie (11 years) and Lexie (8 years) are cousins in different countries, but since the rolling lockdowns,they talk daily over the internet. They can spend hours showing each other what they are doing every day, whether it is singing, dancing or aerobics, or playing...
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Waste not…want not!

by | 04/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When we throw away our unused old clothing, we are creating greenhouse gases which in turn contributes to climate change. Clothing that ends up in landfills around the world is increasing at alarming levels. It is a very important factor in the lives of our children...
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Lock down fatigue

by | 30/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! But since the beginning of the Covid outbreak and the many" lock down's" around the world, it just became harder. You would think that one would have plenty of time in lock down to do all of...
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Mask up and make a difference

by | 14/09/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Wear a mask .... save a life If somebody who was unknowingly infected with Covid-19 or the recent highly infectious Delta variant, and they sneezed within close proximity to you, the chances are you might get the virus, even if you are vaccinated. What are the chances...
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The dark side of chocolate

by | 13/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

I was talking to eleven year old Maddie who was eating chocolate over FaceTime the other day. Many countries are still in lockdown due to the Delta variant causing so much havoc. She sent me her research this morning for a blog she wanted to write, as obviously she...
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Is stress making you gain weight?

by | 10/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered why stress causes you to eat more? Stress can cause many unwanted things and we might not notice them all at first. Stress and your emotional, mental  and physical health If you are feeling irritated, or overwhelmed, and have a headache, with a...
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Can you cure Hypothyroidism?

by | 08/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Hypothyroidism doesn’t have to be permanent Sometimes finding out that you have an auto immune disease can not only be scary, but a relief to eventually find out why you feel so tired, and why you are putting on weight when you are actually eating less. Auto immune...
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So what’s your horoscope say today?

by | 07/09/2021 | Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you check out your daily horoscope? I wonder if there are others like me who will check out their horoscope every now and then, and if they don't like what they read, will find one that they like better? Are you also amazed that when you are reading all about your...
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Get on your bike!

by | 30/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Riding a bike through retirement Who would have thought I would ever ride a bike again at my age? Not me that's for sure! My first bicycle was a second-hand Raleigh. Life in then "war torn" Rhodesia, with Sanctions, meant that we could not buy new things, so when I...
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Can Pets improve our mental health?

by | 30/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A loyal friend Basil Brush was my beloved friend. He was a hairy, stocky, short little dog with bucked teeth, an underbite, and a tummy that scraped the steps if he could manage them. He had a deep bark for such a little dog and a very weak bladder, which...
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The less you own, the less owns you

by | 25/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you ever feel like you are running from one task to another? Are you multi-tasking to get things done and constantly in catch-up mode, mobile phone in hand, and answering email after email, and then suddenly it is time to feed the family and catch up on laundry?...
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Try something different

by | 16/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Simplicity is the highest form of complexity When we first went into lockdown, we decided to try ordering ready-made fresh food online. Our Millenial children had already tried My Food Bag and still love it, so we decided to give it a go too! Our findings From the...
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Is Red wine good for you?

by | 13/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

To have or to have not After a tough day, I often look forward to a relaxing glass of Pinot Noir. Recently though, after a health scare, my partner gave up alcohol almost entirely, apart from the odd glass of wine. So it made me think whether I was now tasked with the...
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Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?

by | 09/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Which is better? Goats cheese or cows cheese? I have always been wary of goats, mainly because I was attacked by one many years ago. The kind owner of the mean goat told me that "Pearl" was not attacking me but merely being friendly. I learnt how to jump a fence that...
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Good, bad or ugly?

by | 08/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered about which indoor plants are good and which are bad according to Feng Shui ? A friend of mine once remarked that her son’s new girlfriend had left an obnoxious plant by her front door called “mother- in-laws tongue” as a belated Christmas gift....
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Stressed & Angry?

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90 % of how you cope with it. A sense of humour can be an amazing asset when it comes to dealing with stressful situations. It will improve your overall emotional and physical health and will help you to look at things in a...
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Is coffee good for us?

by | 02/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There is nothing like the smell of freshly brewed coffee is there? So often we are told that coffee is not good for us, but we continue to drink it and enjoy the different varieties that are offered today. The choice is mind boggling! In fact, it is estimated that...
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Kill unkindness with kindness

by | 23/07/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

It doesn't cost anything to be kind By being "the rainbow" in somebody's stormy day is such a lovely way to think about being kind to others. Even a simple smile can go a long way. How often does a good mood do a U turn when your happy greeting is barely acknowledged...
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Zoomers and creative writing

by | 23/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Children and creative writing Maddie (aged 11) loves creative writing and has sent me her reasoning as to why it is so good for children. Maddie is from a generation now referred to as "a Zoomer" - Generation Z I love that she is busy in the school holidays being so...
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Feeling like a sad bear?

by | 19/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Seasonal affective disorder Sometimes when the days seem dull and the sun forgets to shine for days on end, we can suffer from something called SAD (Seasonal affective disorder). This depressive disorder is linked to the seasons of the year and is more common in...
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Greens are good says Maddie

by | 18/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 1 Comment

Spinach and Kale are 2 vegetables that are nutrient rich with loads of antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, iron and more. Maddie ( my eleven year old granddaughter) is on school holidays at the moment and has sent me a recipe that she has found for a healthy lifestyle....
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Oranges to stay healthy

by | 17/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

School holidays have arrived again and there are kids still in lock down in some countries. Maddie, my 11 year old granddaughter has sent me a good healthy recipe for a tasty orange drink. Maddie's healthy Vitamin C drink Recipe Get 6 -8 oranges ( or however many you...
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Auto immune diseases

by | 11/07/2021 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Finding out that you have an auto immune disease can be a quite scary, but by the time I found out, I was actually relieved to at last find out why I was feeling so ill most of the time. Auto immune diseases occur when the immune system, which is the body's defence...
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Baby Baby good for you?

by | 09/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

Here is a great little tip from Sandy, in Christchurch, NZ, who was advised by her surgeon to use baby shampoo as a make up remover on her eyelids after having surgery. Unlike many expensive products these days that are sold to remove makeup, like Clinque or Lancome,...
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Maddie’s raw egg shake

by | 06/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Eleven year old Maddie sent me this quick and easy recipe. She called it a "high in protein" tasty drink. It is refreshing to see somebody so young taking an interest in healing foods. Maddie's simple recipe Use a Blender or Quick shaker Take a cup of milk One banana...
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Home and income… really ?

by | 06/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Home and Income Many people these days are looking for ways to reduce their mortgage. What better way than to have a property that can be split into two seperate dwellings. Of course, they have to comply with the building regulations and various council rules and...
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Befriend the little birds

by | 01/07/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A simple life hack from Pat... Here is a life hack or handy tip from my childhood friend, Pat Barber who lives in Maryland, USA. How to keep ants from invading Hummingbird feeders. Hang the feeder on a pole and apply a 3/4 inch collar of Vaseline near the bottom of...
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Mokopuna

by | 30/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

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Spirulina for smoothies

by | 29/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When my husband was undergoing chemotherapy, one of the super foods that he was recommended to use daily was Spirulina. During his cancer journey, our favourite shops soon became the pharmacies and the many health food shops, while we searched for ways of limiting the...
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Cancer and Bicarb of soda

by | 27/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 1 Comment

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer we were told that bicarbonate of soda was something we should investigate and get into the habit of using daily. We wanted to try every possible avenue in order to keep him healthy while he underwent the invasive chemotherapy...
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Do you miss the world?

by | 27/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Covid-19 has made it a long 16 months so far. Just when it seems things are getting better, there is another outbreak. Like many people, I have decided to wait and get vaccinated before travelling overseas, even though I miss my family so much. Having an auto immune...
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Lemons

by | 22/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When my husband was battling cancer, lemons were one fruit that really helped. We used lemon zest in our salads, lemon juice in his smoothies and teas. Lemons are known to have an alkalising effect in the body. While they are acidic, to begin with, they also are...
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Buyer’s remorse

by | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

So often when we purchase something we have a feeling of remorse soon after. This is no different when you purchase a house, in fact, the remorse and be much worse. Experienced real estate negotiators are keen to get the deal done that day for this reason. They will...
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Smart gadgets

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...
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Messy house or hoarder?

by | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...
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Houses built from hemp

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...
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10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...
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10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...
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A wise old donkey

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...
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Are you a hoarder?

by | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...
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Can Pets improve our mental health?

Can Pets improve our mental health?

by | Aug 30, 2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised

A loyal friend

Basil Brush was my beloved friend.

He was a hairy, stocky, short little dog with bucked teeth, an underbite, and a tummy that scraped the steps if he could manage them.

He had a deep bark for such a little dog and a very weak bladder, which unfortunately only appeared if he noticed that a visitor did not enjoy his welcome wag over their feet.

He lived unitl he was nearly 17 years old, and it broke my heart when he died.

Although I know that I will never be able to replace what he meant to me, I often search online for a puppy, as I hope to get another dog one day soon.

Looking at all of the puppies actually has a calming effect on me too.

The difference a pet can make

Pets are important and can make a huge difference to a person’s life.

It is well known that they provide a great source of comfort and support.

Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to such a loyal companion.

Pets often offer such unconditional love and will keep you company , so that any loneliness is minimised, and can boost your mood while decreasing levels of cortisol which is a stress related hormone.

So for decreasing stress levels, lowering blood pressure and improving our heart health, we are encouraged to take them for walks.

They also help children with their emotional and social skills and give them a sense of personal responsibility when caring for a pet.

There are many other benefits to owning a pet – Read more here

Not everybody should own a pet

Of course, sadly, not everyone should own a pet, as there will be many that are given up because their humans cannot care for them.

So before you rush out and buy a pet, why not consider re-homing one in need of a good home. Read more here

Often, when I think about Basil Brush, I think about how supportive that dear little dog was during some of our darkest days, when my late husband was fighting cancer.

Basil was always there. Ready to snuggle on my lap ( all 12 kg of him!)

In fact, I often chuckle at some of my precious memories of his spirited character.

The images of him racing down the beach with ears flapping, or sitting looking up at me, with his overbite and hair in his eyes, or of him just giving me a gentle nudge, while sitting expectantly under the dinner table, to remind me to offer him a tasty morsel or too!

“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, and filling an emptiness we didn’t even know we had.”

In Memory of Basil Brush (X Shih Tzu /Dachshund )

©2021 gentlelifehacks.com|e-propertymatters.com| Author| Kathryn

“Health-full” honey bees

by | 13/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Is honey good for us? Raw honey has been enjoyed thoughout history and has always been known for its health benefits and medical uses. It has a source of antioxidants with compounds known as polyphenols which may play a role in preventing heart disease. Phytonutrients...
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7 Cancer Myths

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Cancer and common myths Cancer is something we are programmed to fear. Cancer statistics in the United States alone make quite alarming reading Yet the World Health Organisation reported that in 2019 the top 10 causes of death accounted for 55% of the 55.4 million...
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A dog in sheep’s clothing

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Thinking of selling? Don't be a dog in sheep's clothing. Do it the right way. You would not be the first sellers who have questioned what their own obligations are as to what they should disclose to potential buyers. There are some out there who will blatantly hide a...
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Air fryer health benefits

by | 28/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When we we were renovating, I purchased my first air fryer. We had limited space so it was ideal until my brand new kitchen was installed. I have since bought my 2nd air fryer (  the same brand -deLonghi "ideal fry"), so we can take one away with us in the motorhome,...
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Apple Cider Vinegar’s Mum

by | 30/06/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When fighting illness, it is common to search for products that promote healing. One thing I searched for was a way of maintaining an alkaline body. We were told that cancer does not like an alkaline environment. Cancer cells apparently thrive in acidity (low pH), but...
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Are we teens addicted to gaming?

by | 17/08/2023 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Are you spending too much time gaming or on your mobile phone? A huge percentage of children play video games and studies show an unhealthy percentage can get addicted to them. Did you also know that the World Health Organisation have recognised gaming addiction as a...
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Can you hear me?

by | 18/09/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Good values, Healthy living | 0 Comments

Everyone has bad days. Some days are just worse than others! When we communicate with others it is important to feel that you are heard. How often do you feel that people talk over you? It happens in shops, especially as you get older, or with people who are too busy...
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Understanding Dementia

by | 19/02/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Wendy was only 58 when she was diagnosed with dementia. This brave lady has written a book about her disease. I was listening to Radio NZ this morning and heard an interview with Wendy who spoke of her life now. She seemed to normalise the disease. A disease that has...
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Bad sugar

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There has been plenty of research done that tells us that a diet high in sugar is bad for our health. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation are just a few health risks associated with consuming too much sugar. Not...
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More rainbows please

by | 16/02/2024 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Symbols of hope They say a rainbow is a symbol of hope. Rainbows are supposed to be a positive sign. They can bring a smile to the saddest person and lighten most people's moods. After my husband died I used to look out for them as I wondered about the belief in...
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Create a “laugh alot” garden for kids

by | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Remember those days of 'Lock down' which must have been incredibly hard on many people, but especially so if you were cooped up indoors with no space to play. Easy projects to keep the kids busy don’t always come to mind, but there are some that are clear winners....
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Virus or bacterial infection?

by | 02/02/2024 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

With the spread of Omnicron, one of the variants of Covid-19, it is hard not to put every sniffle or tummy ache down to having the virus. This is essentially because, even though most of us who have been able to be vaccinated, have done so, most countries are having...
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Mangoes are the fruit of eternal love

by | 02/11/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Who doesn't love a mango? I remember as a child eating mangoes in Africa - we would clean the stone and draw faces on it making it look like a hairy face! Later in Australia, we loved eating them and would include them in salads and puddings. The Mango is the...
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Is Hashimotos Thyroiditis incurable?

by | 29/09/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

 So you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? I was also diagnosed after many years of feeling unwell. At first, in Australia, I was tested for Ross River disease, and then the doctor sent me off to a Heart Surgeon who organised an angiogram for my heart, after I failed some...
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Bounce back from illness

by | 25/09/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Ask anybody who has been ill and I am sure that they will agree, it can sometimes be hard to bounce back from illness, without following some simple rules. Stay hydrated Eat well Rest often Keep pain under control Keep moving Have a positive attitude Be kind to...
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Herbs and health benefits

by | 18/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Herbs provide a lot of goodness to our diets  and this is often ignored by many of us in this busy world of ours. If we can improve our lifestyle by growing a little herb garden, then isn't it something worth considering ? You don't need a lot of space to create your...
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Be positive and hold on tight!

by | 17/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Trying to stay positive is not always easy. Most of us know at least one person who seems to always see the bright side of life. And it is also true to say that we all know someone who leaves us feeling drained or sad. After undergoing some worrying health issues, I...
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Eating right as a teenager

by | 17/08/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager it is very important to eat a healthy diet. This will help you with skin infections like acne and help you develop strong healthy bones. Of course you can have a little treat every now and then, but too much could cause serious problems for you...
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Teenagers who are stressed and anxious

by | 13/08/2023 | Coping skills, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager, there are many things that can cause stress. Most teens don't really like to talk about it so will mostly struggle with their anxiety on their own. Teenagers are known for getting far less sleep than the recommended amount of sleep we require...
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Avoiding acne as a teen

by | 12/04/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Ask any teenager- acne is no fun! If you understand what causes acne then you can try and manage it with ease. When your skin follicles become blocked with oil or dead skin cells, then acne appears. It can be common for teens, but older people in their fifties can...
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Business Lingo- Cars NOT Cows!

by | 04/01/2023 | Life Stories, Real Estate | 0 Comments

The Big Move- 1995 Emigrating to a land at the bottom of the world was exciting if not different. There were many things other than acclimatising to the cold to get used to, but also trying to understand the quick speech and odd sayings of my new country was a...
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Asbestos hazard

by | 04/01/2023 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When buying a house it is always advisable to employ a licensed building inspector to provide information on the building condition. Knowing what to budget for in respect of any repairs required in the coming years makes a lot of sense! Finding Asbestos in a home can...
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Fighting to stay healthy

by | 29/11/2022 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Shock medical diagnosis Hearing a shocking medical diagnosis is always going to be stressful. I know how I felt when we were told that my husband had only two months to live. Our world collapsed.  Shock made it difficult to breathe. What were we to do? How would we...
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Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing

by | 26/07/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying and selling real estate is not an exact science. Real Estate salespeople are required to comply with the current legislation, and in New Zealand, for instance they need to abide by their professional client and conduct rules. Rule 10 is very important as...
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Who’s your perfect match then?

by | 08/04/2022 | Lifestyle, uncategorised, Zodiac signs and more | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered who the right partner is for you? If you are single and unattached how interesting would it be if you could find the perfect match for you? Many people who have been in a relationship for a while are often shocked at how many connecting things...
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When the real estate market changes

by | 25/03/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a "sellers market". Post "Covid-19", what will the Real Estate market look like? There are many thoughts on this. Obviously it will be changed. There could be job losses, and more...
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Make your home a “healthy home”?

by | 18/03/2022 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Staying healthy requires not only eating the correct food and exercising the right amount, but also by making sure that we live in a healthy home environment. Everybody wants to live in a healthy home, but sometimes sadly, it is not possible for many people. However,...
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House too small now?

by | 02/02/2022 | Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When is the right time to upsize? Wondering if you need to upsize as your toddlers suddenly become"tweens"? Or perhaps it is when they start to bring their friends home as teenagers? It is good knowing where they are and if they feel that they can entertain friends at...
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When is the right time to sell?

by | 26/01/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a “sellers market”. Post “Covid-19”, what will the Real Estate market look like? There have been many thoughts on this. One thing is for sure though- it will be a different world once we...
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The things kids say!

by | 20/01/2022 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

1940's -As an "Evacuee" duirng the 2nd World War I had learned two new words that day. I was an inquisitive six year old evacuee in Wales, and in the care of my foster Aunt Florrie. “What does ‘severe’ mean Aunty?” I queried. “It means ‘harsh’ or ‘really bad’ she...
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Elephants of Etosha

by | 09/12/2021 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

An occasional grunt or yap of a foraging jackal punctured the surrounding silence. It was early evening and the air was oppressive as we sat mesmerised, taut with the expectation of what we would see of this promised show.  Two floodlights directed from our camp lit...
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Unusual visitors

by | 09/12/2021 | Healthy living, Life Stories, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

The red salt- packed road ran in a straight line up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. We had left behind the seal colony at Cape Cross a hundred miles back, where the stench of ammonia was so strong, that it brought tears to our eyes, and cleared the sinuses instantly....
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When will Covid end?

by | 07/12/2021 | Coping skills, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Worrying about things outside of our control is not helpful It is only with acceptance that there can be an absence of worry. This applies to most things in life. A virus has turned the world upside down. We cannot escape the media and understandably are feeling a...
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Turn bad news into good news

by | 12/11/2021 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When it seems like the bad news keeps on coming Yesterday I had a much dreaded follow up appointment with the specialist. I was feeling slightly nervous, mainly because of recent experiences, and was certainly not jumping for joy, while I remembered the pain of my...
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The Bad Landlord

by | 12/11/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

What price should we put on good health? Am I right in thinking that if you are renting a property, and paying good money each week for the privilege one would expect to live in a healthy home? Landlords have been put on notice after the landlords of a damp, mould...
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Crazy world house prices

by | 28/10/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying a home is not for the faint hearted in today's market During the Covid-19 pandemic there has been much said about the shocking increase in property prices around the world. Take Brisbane, Australia for instance- the median house price in September 21 has hit a...
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Music soothes the soul

by | 27/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

The importance of music Maddie ( aged 11) wrote.... "Music can make a huge difference in peoples lives. I find that music calms me down when I'm mad or when I'm sad. We all need music in our lives as it is important that we think about ourselves every once in awhile....
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Tips for a healthier home

by | 20/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Keeping your home healthy is an ongoing process Sometimes we ignore the smaller issues that then become the bigger issues that cause us pain when we get sick or have to pay for extensive remedial work to alleviate further issues. Climate Change is a very real problem...
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Healing with food

by | 19/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Living with an Auto immune disease is challenging I know this first hand, as even now, some days I feel like I have been run over and can barely lift my head off the pillow, then other days I am bouncing off the wall. I also suffer at times from waves of anxiety and...
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Mindfulness – when the going gets tough

by | 18/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When times are tough When things get tough we often feel anxious and perhaps we might even have issues with sleeping at night. Every time we get stressed, a little part of our brain called the amygdala takes control. The amygdalae defines and regulates our emotions....
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The lonely bee hotel

by | 17/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner | 0 Comments

Help our environment with a Bee Hotel During lockdown, Maddie (11) told me that she thought that a good project would be to make a Bee Hotel for the garden. At the time, she was busy re-cycling old glass coffee jars into food storage containers, and we were discussing...
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Fighting inflammation with Turmeric

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Most people love a curry, but did you know that turmeric is one of the herbs that is known for it's beneficial cancer reducing properties, as well as also having many other health benefits. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a substance with powerful...
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Why children love and need pets

by | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner | 2 Comments

Maddie (11 years) and Lexie (8 years) are cousins in different countries, but since the rolling lockdowns,they talk daily over the internet. They can spend hours showing each other what they are doing every day, whether it is singing, dancing or aerobics, or playing...
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Waste not…want not!

by | 04/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When we throw away our unused old clothing, we are creating greenhouse gases which in turn contributes to climate change. Clothing that ends up in landfills around the world is increasing at alarming levels. It is a very important factor in the lives of our children...
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Lock down fatigue

by | 30/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! But since the beginning of the Covid outbreak and the many" lock down's" around the world, it just became harder. You would think that one would have plenty of time in lock down to do all of...
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Mask up and make a difference

by | 14/09/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Wear a mask .... save a life If somebody who was unknowingly infected with Covid-19 or the recent highly infectious Delta variant, and they sneezed within close proximity to you, the chances are you might get the virus, even if you are vaccinated. What are the chances...
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The dark side of chocolate

by | 13/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

I was talking to eleven year old Maddie who was eating chocolate over FaceTime the other day. Many countries are still in lockdown due to the Delta variant causing so much havoc. She sent me her research this morning for a blog she wanted to write, as obviously she...
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Is stress making you gain weight?

by | 10/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered why stress causes you to eat more? Stress can cause many unwanted things and we might not notice them all at first. Stress and your emotional, mental  and physical health If you are feeling irritated, or overwhelmed, and have a headache, with a...
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Can you cure Hypothyroidism?

by | 08/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Hypothyroidism doesn’t have to be permanent Sometimes finding out that you have an auto immune disease can not only be scary, but a relief to eventually find out why you feel so tired, and why you are putting on weight when you are actually eating less. Auto immune...
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So what’s your horoscope say today?

by | 07/09/2021 | Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you check out your daily horoscope? I wonder if there are others like me who will check out their horoscope every now and then, and if they don't like what they read, will find one that they like better? Are you also amazed that when you are reading all about your...
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Get on your bike!

by | 30/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Riding a bike through retirement Who would have thought I would ever ride a bike again at my age? Not me that's for sure! My first bicycle was a second-hand Raleigh. Life in then "war torn" Rhodesia, with Sanctions, meant that we could not buy new things, so when I...
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Can Pets improve our mental health?

by | 30/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A loyal friend Basil Brush was my beloved friend. He was a hairy, stocky, short little dog with bucked teeth, an underbite, and a tummy that scraped the steps if he could manage them. He had a deep bark for such a little dog and a very weak bladder, which...
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The less you own, the less owns you

by | 25/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you ever feel like you are running from one task to another? Are you multi-tasking to get things done and constantly in catch-up mode, mobile phone in hand, and answering email after email, and then suddenly it is time to feed the family and catch up on laundry?...
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Try something different

by | 16/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Simplicity is the highest form of complexity When we first went into lockdown, we decided to try ordering ready-made fresh food online. Our Millenial children had already tried My Food Bag and still love it, so we decided to give it a go too! Our findings From the...
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Is Red wine good for you?

by | 13/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

To have or to have not After a tough day, I often look forward to a relaxing glass of Pinot Noir. Recently though, after a health scare, my partner gave up alcohol almost entirely, apart from the odd glass of wine. So it made me think whether I was now tasked with the...
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Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?

by | 09/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Which is better? Goats cheese or cows cheese? I have always been wary of goats, mainly because I was attacked by one many years ago. The kind owner of the mean goat told me that "Pearl" was not attacking me but merely being friendly. I learnt how to jump a fence that...
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Good, bad or ugly?

by | 08/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered about which indoor plants are good and which are bad according to Feng Shui ? A friend of mine once remarked that her son’s new girlfriend had left an obnoxious plant by her front door called “mother- in-laws tongue” as a belated Christmas gift....
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Stressed & Angry?

by | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90 % of how you cope with it. A sense of humour can be an amazing asset when it comes to dealing with stressful situations. It will improve your overall emotional and physical health and will help you to look at things in a...
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Is coffee good for us?

by | 02/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There is nothing like the smell of freshly brewed coffee is there? So often we are told that coffee is not good for us, but we continue to drink it and enjoy the different varieties that are offered today. The choice is mind boggling! In fact, it is estimated that...
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Kill unkindness with kindness

by | 23/07/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

It doesn't cost anything to be kind By being "the rainbow" in somebody's stormy day is such a lovely way to think about being kind to others. Even a simple smile can go a long way. How often does a good mood do a U turn when your happy greeting is barely acknowledged...
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Zoomers and creative writing

by | 23/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Children and creative writing Maddie (aged 11) loves creative writing and has sent me her reasoning as to why it is so good for children. Maddie is from a generation now referred to as "a Zoomer" - Generation Z I love that she is busy in the school holidays being so...
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Feeling like a sad bear?

by | 19/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Seasonal affective disorder Sometimes when the days seem dull and the sun forgets to shine for days on end, we can suffer from something called SAD (Seasonal affective disorder). This depressive disorder is linked to the seasons of the year and is more common in...
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Greens are good says Maddie

by | 18/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 1 Comment

Spinach and Kale are 2 vegetables that are nutrient rich with loads of antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, iron and more. Maddie ( my eleven year old granddaughter) is on school holidays at the moment and has sent me a recipe that she has found for a healthy lifestyle....
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Oranges to stay healthy

by | 17/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

School holidays have arrived again and there are kids still in lock down in some countries. Maddie, my 11 year old granddaughter has sent me a good healthy recipe for a tasty orange drink. Maddie's healthy Vitamin C drink Recipe Get 6 -8 oranges ( or however many you...
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Auto immune diseases

by | 11/07/2021 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Finding out that you have an auto immune disease can be a quite scary, but by the time I found out, I was actually relieved to at last find out why I was feeling so ill most of the time. Auto immune diseases occur when the immune system, which is the body's defence...
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Baby Baby good for you?

by | 09/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

Here is a great little tip from Sandy, in Christchurch, NZ, who was advised by her surgeon to use baby shampoo as a make up remover on her eyelids after having surgery. Unlike many expensive products these days that are sold to remove makeup, like Clinque or Lancome,...
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Maddie’s raw egg shake

by | 06/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Eleven year old Maddie sent me this quick and easy recipe. She called it a "high in protein" tasty drink. It is refreshing to see somebody so young taking an interest in healing foods. Maddie's simple recipe Use a Blender or Quick shaker Take a cup of milk One banana...
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Home and income… really ?

by | 06/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Home and Income Many people these days are looking for ways to reduce their mortgage. What better way than to have a property that can be split into two seperate dwellings. Of course, they have to comply with the building regulations and various council rules and...
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Befriend the little birds

by | 01/07/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A simple life hack from Pat... Here is a life hack or handy tip from my childhood friend, Pat Barber who lives in Maryland, USA. How to keep ants from invading Hummingbird feeders. Hang the feeder on a pole and apply a 3/4 inch collar of Vaseline near the bottom of...
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Mokopuna

by | 30/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

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Spirulina for smoothies

by | 29/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When my husband was undergoing chemotherapy, one of the super foods that he was recommended to use daily was Spirulina. During his cancer journey, our favourite shops soon became the pharmacies and the many health food shops, while we searched for ways of limiting the...
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Cancer and Bicarb of soda

by | 27/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 1 Comment

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer we were told that bicarbonate of soda was something we should investigate and get into the habit of using daily. We wanted to try every possible avenue in order to keep him healthy while he underwent the invasive chemotherapy...
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Do you miss the world?

by | 27/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Covid-19 has made it a long 16 months so far. Just when it seems things are getting better, there is another outbreak. Like many people, I have decided to wait and get vaccinated before travelling overseas, even though I miss my family so much. Having an auto immune...
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Lemons

by | 22/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When my husband was battling cancer, lemons were one fruit that really helped. We used lemon zest in our salads, lemon juice in his smoothies and teas. Lemons are known to have an alkalising effect in the body. While they are acidic, to begin with, they also are...
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Buyer’s remorse

by | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

So often when we purchase something we have a feeling of remorse soon after. This is no different when you purchase a house, in fact, the remorse and be much worse. Experienced real estate negotiators are keen to get the deal done that day for this reason. They will...
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Smart gadgets

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...
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Messy house or hoarder?

by | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...
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Houses built from hemp

by | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...
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10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...
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10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...
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A wise old donkey

by | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...
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Are you a hoarder?

by | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...
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