Virus or bacterial infection?

Virus or bacterial infection?

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 thousands of cases per day still with many deaths still being reported from the virus.

Read more here about the virus 

Omicron infections are considered to be 91 percent less fatal than the Delta variant, with 51 percent less risk of hospitalisation. Read more here

But how do you tell the difference between a virus and bacteria?

Bacteria and viruses are everywhere. There are on the escalator hand rail as you go upstairs in the shopping mall, or on the petrol pump handle as you re-fuel your car.

They may not be visible with the human eye, but they are everywhere in enormous numbers.

Micro organisms live harmlessly on, and in our bodies, they out number human cells by ten to one.

They are known to play a vital role in human health.

Both bacteria and viruses are invisible to the naked eye and can cause a runny nose, fever or cough, so how can we tell the difference?

With bacteria rapidly developing resistance to antibiotics, it is increasingly important that we know the distinction, because viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics, nor bacteria with anti-virals.

Quick effective testing is important, so we can successfully treat the offending micro organism.

Read more here

COVID-19 is still teaching us the hard way. We have no treatment for a new virus until we have anti-viral drugs and vaccines that specifically target against the virus.

Viruses have gained the ability to move between cells. They may be descendants of previously free-living organisms that adapted a parasitic replication strategy.

Perhaps viruses existed before, and led to the evolution of cellular life.

Is a common cold a virus or bacteria?

The common cold is considered a viral infection of your nose and throat or your upper respiratory tract.

Most healthy adults can expect to have two or three colds each year.

Cold’s are usually harmless, although it might not feel that way. There are also many types of viruses that can cause a common cold.

Bacterial and viral infections have many things in common.

Both types of infections are caused by microbes – bacteria and viruses, respectively and can spread easily.

Harmful microbes account for less than 1% of bacteria,– read more here

How they spread

  Through coughing and sneezing.

• By having contact with infected people, especially close contact.

In touching contaminated surfaces, food, and water.

By having contact with infected animals, including pets, livestock, and insects such as fleas and ticks.

The Microbes can also cause acute infections, which are usually short-lived.

But they can also cause chronic infections, which can last for many months or even a lifetime.

They could be “latent” infections, which may not cause symptoms at first, but can reactivate over a period of months and years.

Most importantly, bacterial and viral infections, can cause mild, moderate, and severe diseases. Read more here

Norovirus- the vomiting bug

Norovirus is another nasty virus that can spread quickly.

It is often known as the “winter vomiting bug!”

A sore tummy and chills, and headache are often felt for days.

You might have touched an infected object like a handrail, or it might have been left in your immediate air space after somebody sneezed.

I guess the main thing we can all do is to not “overthink” everything.

Doctor Google is the “go to” for many of us at the moment with our health systems being overloaded.

It is very important to be aware of good health routines like washing our hands and mask wearing during the Pandemic when we are out and about especially in crowded places.

We need to also be proactive if we feel unwell, or have a high temperature, and seek the right help.

Vaccines are important too as they are a substance that is introduced into the body to stimulate the body’s immune response. They are given to prevent an infectious disease from developing and the person becoming ill.

Read more about vaccination here

“It is health that is real wealth and not gold or silver”

©2022 gentlelifehacks.com|Author| KC

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Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing

Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing

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 salespeople are required to supply a market appraisal that reflects current market conditions and it should always be realistic.

So no matter how much you love your home, there is no guarantee that when you come to sell it your buyers will admire it as much as you did, or find it as good a value, if you did, when you first bought it.

When it comes to selling them, you should always put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and look at things from a buyer’s perspective.

Buyers buy by comparison

We need to research the competition, and know what we are up against as buyers will mostly buy “by comparison”.

By being prepared and knowing what other similar properties are selling at before you go to market is always sensible.

It is crucial to choose the salesperson who is experienced enough to know that by telling you what you want to hear in order to win the listing is not the right way to go.

Buyers will buy at “fair market price” and not pay you extra because you think that your house is worth more.

The consequences of overpricing at the beginning can often cause you to sell for much less in the end.

9 reasons why you should price your property correctly at the start of the sales process:

  • An overpriced property discourages prospective buyers from making offers since the difference between the asking price and the market price become substantial.
  • You will only help others sell their properties when buyers compare them to yours on the internet.
  • Salespeople loose interest in overpriced properties and will concentrate on the ones that are priced correctly and fairly in the current market.
  • There will be a decline in viewings as salespeople will avoid showing the property in order not to lose credibility with their buyers, or they could show it and sell another home because it is priced correctly in the current market when compared to yours.
  • Potential buyers could get turned off by the price and fail to make any further enquiries.
  • Purchasers who require financing often require a registered valuation by the Bank’s Valuer which will be based on market related sales data  – if a lower value based on those statistics is found, then the finance will fail, and the sale will fall over.
  • You waste advertising dollars with an overpriced property, as it will not get the normal advertising response and often an extended campaign will be required, therefore more money will need to be spent on advertising.
  • Eventually market interest will decline on an overpriced property and when this happens sellers often become desperate and some will sell for much less than fair market value.
  • In the meantime a seller’s maintenance, holding, and advertising costs have increased, and they will get much less in the hand than they would have if they had priced correctly in the first place.

Selling a property is almost always a stressful process as there is a lot of emotion involved with the decisions involved around moving house. It makes sense then to ensure that you do not prolong the time on the market by out-pricing your home in comparison to others.

© 2022 e-propertymatters.com| women-in-realestate.com|gentlelifehacks.com | Author| Kathryn

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When is the right time to sell?

When is the right time to sell?

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 have the virus under control.

A seller’s market or a buyer’s market?

In a “seller’s market” our sellers have been rewarded with many buyers. These buyers compete against each other in a tight market with an “undersupply” of property. This has pushed prices up.

Salespeople who have worked in many markets, know by experience that the changing markets create different opportunities- one could say for a salesperson, it could be a “feast or a famine”.

The market that I began my career in was a “buyers market”.

I enjoyed getting a buyer in my car, after qualifying them, and showing them at least 6 properties on one appointment. I would do this several times a day with several buyers.

Working buyers meant that you would have to know the company housing stock very well, and be able to quote and show the features and benefits of each house.

We would have hundreds of listings on our Company’s books and show buyers a good selection in the same price range of the advertisement that they had responded to.

It was hard work, but very rewarding.

The experience meant that your buyers eventually became your sellers, that is, if you had done your job right, and you had used the time to build a relationship with them, while finding them a home.

Some salespeople prefer doing open homes to single appointments, which are time consuming in a busy market.

Personally, I have always liked the “one on one” appointment approach, as after all, it is a big buying decision for anybody and it should be treated with respect.

Buyer’s markets are more time consuming for a salesperson.

Buyer’s are able to be fussy, so by being able to establish a rapport and understand their buying decision, a salesperson is able to provide better service to both buyer and inevitably to the seller as well, in not wasting anybody’s time.

If you are able to qualify your buyer and understand their likes and dislikes, you will be able to provide a better service to them and give better feedback to the seller.

This is very important so that the seller can “meet the market that they are selling in”  which often reduces their time on the market, and the risk of selling for less after many months of disappointment.

Buyers who spend a huge amount of money are being asked to spend very little time inspecting a property at an open home with dozens of others, giving them very little time to make an informed decision.

The seller’s market

Sadly, buyers do miss out in a seller’s market as the supply and demand factor becomes very relevant. Properties will turn over quickly to those who are fortunate enough to be cashed up.

Those who need to sell before buying often miss out unless they take bridging finance which can be expensive.

Now in a buyer’s market, things become very different. Buyers will be the ones who will be nurtured by salespeople.

Post Covid

For now though, it could be a matter of months before the real effect on the market will be felt after Covid-19 in many countries.

We know that prices have increased dramatically in some countries since 2020, which economists could not predict. Could prices fall as fast?

recent report estimates approximately 60 per cent of home loans will need to be refinanced in the next year and for many borrowers, that will mean their interest rates doubling, according to Core logic

Governments will need to come to terms with the fact that many businesses will fail having been in lock down for extended times.

Or it could cause the FOMO affect again– “Fear of missing out” and buyers could be bidding against each other with limited supply, driving the prices up further.

Many people with home loans will have secured a repayment holiday, and that effect will not show through for a few months. It will be a “wait and see” for most I suspect.

But perhaps moving forward “viewing by appointment” and not mass inspections through open homes might become the new norm. It would not be a bad thing would it?

Buyers would be treated with respect and sellers would benefit from the feedback of the true value of their property in the market that they are buying and selling in.

 

©2022 gentlelifehacks.com|e-propertymatters.com| Author| Kathryn

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Mindfulness – when the going gets tough

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....

The lonely bee hotel

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...

Fighting inflammation with Turmeric

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...

Why children love and need pets

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...

Waste not…want not!

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...

Lock down fatigue

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...

Mask up and make a difference

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...

The dark side of chocolate

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...

Is stress making you gain weight?

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...

Can you cure Hypothyroidism?

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...

So what’s your horoscope say today?

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...

Get on your bike!

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...

Can Pets improve our mental health?

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...

The less you own, the less owns you

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?...

Try something different

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...

Is Red wine good for you?

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...

Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?

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...

Good, bad or ugly?

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....

Stressed & Angry?

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...

Is coffee good for us?

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...

Kill unkindness with kindness

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...

Zoomers and creative writing

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...

Feeling like a sad bear?

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Greens are good says Maddie

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....

Oranges to stay healthy

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...

Auto immune diseases

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...

Baby Baby good for you?

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,...

Maddie’s raw egg shake

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...

Home and income… really ?

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...

Befriend the little birds

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...

Mokopuna

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

Spirulina for smoothies

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...

Cancer and Bicarb of soda

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...

Do you miss the world?

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...

Lemons

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...

Buyer’s remorse

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...

Smart gadgets

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...

Messy house or hoarder?

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...

Houses built from hemp

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...

10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

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...

A wise old donkey

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...

Are you a hoarder?

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...

Do you miss the world?

Do you miss the world?

When will it end?

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 disease makes that a logical decision.

At first I was hopeful that I could get vaccinated last month as we were originally told.

But now, it seems that my hopes of being vaccinated are probably not going to happen until later this year and even then, travelling might still be a while away.

Many of us are not getting any younger and are dreaming of travelling again, whether it is to see family or simply to tick something off a bucket list, or sadly for some, to get medical treatment that is not available in their own country.

Is the Covid delta variant about to strike again?

Whatever the reason, it is frustrating when you see people totally ignore the safety of others and knowingly travelling abroad for a weekend of fun, when they surely knew that they were putting others at risk by travelling from a covid hotspot.

It was reported recently, that one traveller came from a “known international covid hot-spot” and when he arrived in Wellington, NZ, spent many hours going from place to place at all hours of the day and night around the city seeking fun and entertainment.

Spending hours in a city pharmacy? Come on now- are we meant to believe that the long visit was just to chat to the pharmacist about the weather?

Are you also wondering how this couple got around the city. Did they go by taxi or Uber, or simply pass hundreds of people in the streets and put them all at risk too?

And now we are told that his partner who at first tested negative, has after several days, now tested positive as well for the dreaded “delta ” variant

So after visiting many crowded public venues, they finished their international weekend away by hopping on a plane to go home and infect more people on the plane getting there.

Read more here

Getting vaccinated sooner rather than later

NZ is reported to have only approximately 7 % of the population vaccinated to date, so many of us are wondering why the powers that be opened the borders to a covid hotspot and allowed this to happen.

The question is also being asked by many of us  – “Is enough being done to prevent things like this from happening over and over again?”

Many of us understand the necessity to get back to normal as soon as possible, but surely we could all do the right thing simply by thinking of others, before embarking on any trip overseas?

If you are living in a covid hotspot, or have been in contact with somebody who has been, then why selfishly, put others at risk?

The longer people ignore simple things like using the Covid app to scan in and record their whereabouts, or by failing to wear masks on public transport, or simply don’t wash their hands, the longer this virus is going to stay around.

It is always a case of a few doing the right thing and the majority doing whatever they like.

Perhaps if they had a child or a family member who was seriously ill and really urgently needed treatment, they might understand the consequences of taking up all the hospital beds by letting a “super spreading covid delta strain” loose in the community.

It would put the whole country into lock down again and would not only shorten the lives of those who are already at risk, but also cause financial hardship on many who depend on being able to work to support their families.

NZ  and Australia are waiting with hope and a prayer that this couple’s lovely weekend away has not inadvertently helped the dreaded delta strain spread to more of the unvaccinated world.

It does pay to always think carefully and do the right thing first, not last, no matter how tempting it is to ignore the plight of strangers who share the world with you.

© 2021 gentlelifehacks.com

Understanding Dementia

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...

Bad sugar

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More rainbows please

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Create a “laugh alot” garden for kids

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Virus or bacterial infection?

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Mangoes are the fruit of eternal love

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Is Hashimotos Thyroiditis incurable?

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Bounce back from illness

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Herbs and health benefits

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Be positive and hold on tight!

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Are we teens addicted to gaming?

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Eating right as a teenager

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...

Teenagers who are stressed and anxious

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...

Avoiding acne as a teen

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Business Lingo- Cars NOT Cows!

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Asbestos hazard

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Fighting to stay healthy

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Who’s your perfect match then?

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Make your home a “healthy home”?

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House too small now?

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The things kids say!

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Unusual visitors

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Turn bad news into good news

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The Bad Landlord

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Air fryer health benefits

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Crazy world house prices

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Music soothes the soul

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Tips for a healthier home

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Healing with food

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...

Mindfulness – when the going gets tough

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....

The lonely bee hotel

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...

Fighting inflammation with Turmeric

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...

Why children love and need pets

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Waste not…want not!

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...

Lock down fatigue

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...

Mask up and make a difference

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...

The dark side of chocolate

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...

Is stress making you gain weight?

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...

Can you cure Hypothyroidism?

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...

So what’s your horoscope say today?

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...

Get on your bike!

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Can Pets improve our mental health?

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...

The less you own, the less owns you

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?...

Try something different

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...

Is Red wine good for you?

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...

Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?

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...

Good, bad or ugly?

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....

Stressed & Angry?

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...

7 Cancer Myths

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...

Is coffee good for us?

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...

Kill unkindness with kindness

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...

Zoomers and creative writing

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...

Feeling like a sad bear?

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...

Greens are good says Maddie

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....

Oranges to stay healthy

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...

“Health-full” honey bees

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...

Auto immune diseases

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...

Baby Baby good for you?

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,...

Maddie’s raw egg shake

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...

Home and income… really ?

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...

Befriend the little birds

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...

Mokopuna

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

Apple Cider Vinegar’s Mum

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...

Spirulina for smoothies

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...

Cancer and Bicarb of soda

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...

Do you miss the world?

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...

Lemons

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...

Buyer’s remorse

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...

Smart gadgets

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...

Messy house or hoarder?

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...

Houses built from hemp

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...

A dog in sheep’s clothing

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...

Love my Bulldog!

Maddie has sent me a blog about bulldogs- Recently her family have welcomed two British Bulldogs into their family. They were delightfully cute and cuddly, friendly little puppies who are now growing into bigger friendlier dogs. Here are some observations from Maddie....