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In Good Times And Bad

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

I admire those people for whom caring for the sick and broken comes instinctively. I can keep up the Florence Nightingale charade for about a week (slight exaggeration) but after that I need to have a Bex and a lie down. I find it especially stressful when the source of the problem is not immediately obvious or the patient cannot communicate how they are feeling. When my dog was indeterminately ill a couple of years ago, the vet suggested I could probably do with a Valium. I suspect his comment was his way of avoiding my endless questions and speculative scenarios. Why start at the start when you can jump to conclusions? I can be a real pain in the arse.

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More Tea? Another coffee?

It’s that time again — time for Su’s afternoon tea. Once a month, Su of Zimmerbitch hosts afternoon tea in the blogosphere and we are all invited. You can bring something to share or just go along for a chat. I’m just going to finish a load of washing (yes, exciting times here) and then I’m going to pop on over. Hope I see you there.

Today it is one of those perfect winter days in Canberra. It got down to 4oc overnight and is now a calm and sunny 13oc degrees. I’ve got my walking shoes on so I might try to fit in a walk as well before I head over to Su’s.

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Blue Goodbyes

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

It is important to stop that second wave of Covid-19 infections, ladies and gentlemen.  Apparently we have to continue to give each other space, practise good hygiene and work from home if we can.  I know that is easier said than done, especially for those that must work to survive.  Harder still for those that must stay at home to survive and also attend work to survive.  As for me, I am not going to relax my guard.  I can’t.  Lives still depend on it.

Here’s a clip of Wendy Matthews singing The Day You Went Away.  It is probably the way many people are feeling right now.

Thank you for being careful.  Together we can minimise the second wave.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

Ragtag Daily Prompt — The Blues

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/20/type-1-diabetics-type-2-coronavirus-nhs-study

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Waiting Or Anticipating?

A black hat perspective.  Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

After a buoyant few days, I’ve stopped to think.  It is necessary, albeit depressing, but it helps me get things weirdly acceptable in my head.  I still haven’t heard anything definitive about how much of the new corona virus, Australia, is prepared to live with.   Some apparently.  However, no-one in authority is yet prepared to be upfront about the costs of this suppression strategy.  It is one thing to be reassured that there will be a (net?) benefit, but without being specific about what is being traded off — who and what is to be sacrificed — how can the community have ownership of any virus-related actions and outcomes? Read more

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Things That Go Bump In the Night

I know I’m a little late to the party, but that’s the story of my life.  The party I mean is World Diabetes Day 2019 on 14 November.  The theme this year is Diabetes and Family.  I haven’t written anything to celebrate but I thought I would share this old post.  It is kind of horrifying, and I confess that I most worry about criticism from my fellow Type 1 diabetic peers because they seem to have their diabetes s..t together so much better than I do.  But that is just an assumption on my part.  Anyway, this is not about me.  My family deserve a medal for putting up with me.  They are the unsung heroes.  The second theme of this post is about not jumping to conclusions.  I’ve tried to make it funny as well.  It is okay to laugh.  So, here goes (again). Read more

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Election Priorities – Government Funding for Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Aussie Readers, given the escalating rate of new Government policy and funding announcements, it will come as no surprise to you that a Federal election is imminent and judging by the nature of the announcements to date, the result of the next election is expected to be a close one.  Am I the only Australian woman still menstruating that considers the recent announcement exempting sanitary products from the Goods and Service Tax a stunt?  Some estimates put the saving to each woman at less than $10 per year.  But I suppose the more you bleed, the more you save.  Let’s not forget that GST revenue goes to State Governments anyway, so it is not like they are giving anything away.  I am being facetious but you get my drift.  Never let it be said that the Coalition has a woman problem.

If I had my way, I would rather see the Government commit to further emission reductions.  I don’t think anyone outside of Government seriously believes Australia is going to meet its Paris emissions reduction target based on current policy settings.  If I can’t have that, and apparently I can’t, I would like to relieve some of the day to day stress of living with Type 1 diabetes. Read more

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Running Up That Hill

WordPress Daily Prompt  —  Guilty

This post is for Martha, who is currently recovering from hip surgery.  Her recovery is progressing satisfactorily but slowly.  Martha misses her dogs who are being boarded at the moment.  The trouble is when you are recovering from illness, you have a lot of time to think.  This can be good but it can also be a bit tedious, when activity is required to clear the head and ease the mind. Read more

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Coffee, Don’t Leave Me This Way

WordPress Daily Prompt  –  Conjure

The thing I most look forward to each year is not Christmas, birthdays, the football finals, or Mother’s Day; it’s the National Folk Festival (affectionately known as the Nash or the Folkie in our household).  The Folkie is about to roll around again and so we are dusting off our tie- dye and beanies in anticipation of four perfect days.  Every year is memorable but some are more memorable than others. Read more