Happy New Year!!

Another year has just about gone and where am I?

I've lost some weight, I'm in more pain, can't walk as far with my stick as I could last year, discovered I was really anemic, haven't been able to control my blood sugars, and became a Senior Community Host on the Prevention site. So it was a mixed bag.

The good news was a friend and her husband had a healthy baby boy. Yay Rio!!

My son got a job and seems to like it.

My parents seem to be in good health but my sister isn't.

We discovered this year that some of my paternal grandmother's step siblings died in concentration camps or in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II.

So what will 2008 have in store for me? Well, my 40th high school reunion. Am I that old? I haven't been to any of them and would love to go to this one. Sarah!! Send me an invite please.

I'm planning on visiting the states again in 2008, in the late Spring, early Summer. I hope to visit the Prevention office in New York City and meet some of the descartesbabes. Spend a night or 2 in NYC so other Babes can come up/over so we can finally meet.

I want to get my blood sugar down so I will feel better and keep my vision and feet. I want to lose weight too.

I signed up for 'Choose to Move' with the American Heart Association.

http://www.choosetomove.org/

12 Week Overview

Whether you're a busy mom, a career woman, or enjoying your golden years, Choose To Move can help you become more physically active. This step-by-step program takes you through simple exercises and offers great tips for increasing your physical activity and reaching your goals.

Over the next 12 weeks, you'll learn new strategies to improve your health. Each week, you'll focus on developing new skills that will help you accomplish your objectives. You also can download charts and worksheets to help you track your progress. It may be helpful to keep these documents in a special binder so you can refer to them throughout the program.

It's important not to skip ahead since Choose To Move uses a one-step-at-a-time approach.

Week 1: Choosing to move

Week 2: Creating a plan of action

Week 3: Strengthening your resolve

Week 4: Accentuating the positive

Week 5: Avoiding traps and trip-ups

Week 6: Reaching for more

Week 7: De-stressing the stressed out

Week 8: Finding community resources

Week 9: Lapsing and snapping back

Week 10: Staying motivated

Week 11: Planning for the future

Week 12: Keep moving, keep choosing


I'm going to download the charts tomorrow and really start in earnest with this.

I'll also be following The South Beach Diet, which is good for diabetics and vegetarians to use.

So I wish you all a happy and healthy new year.

Happy Xmas!!

Happy Xmas everyone!






No snow as usual. The weather person said today was either going to be foggy or soggy. Where I live turned out to be foggy.

Tomorrow is Boxing Day so most shops will be closed, buses and trains won't be running.

I hope that you and yours had a wonderful day together. Those traveling a safe journey.

My son finds the most unusual and funny sites. Have a look.

http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1780730337

Happy Hanukkah!!

Chag Sameach!!!


It's the second night of Hanukkah and I thought I would share some recipes.

Latke..serves 5-6

4 large potatoes (2 cups when grated)
2 beaten eggs
4 level tbsp self-raising flour or 4 level tbsp plain flour and 1 level tsp baking powder
1 level tsp salt
pinch of pepper

Grate potatoes so finely that they are almost a pulp.
Leave in a sieve to drain for 10 minutes.
Put in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients.
In a heavy frying pan put enough oil to come to a depth of 1/2 inch.
When it is hot, put in tablespoons of mixture, flattening each latke with the back of spoon.
Cook over steady moderate heat, 5 minutes on each side, until a rich brown.
Drain on paper towel and serve at once.

*After it is grated I put the pulp in a J cloth (sturdy paper cloth) and then squeeze the stuffing out of it. The drier the pulp the crisper the latke will be.


Matzoh Meal Pancakes (kremlach)

2 eggs
1 level tsp salt
1 level tsp superfine sugar
2/3 cup of warm water
6 level tbsp fine matzoh meal

Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons of the water until thick.
Gradually, add the meal and the sugar and enough additional water to make a thick batter that just drops from the spoon.
Fry in oil 1/4 inch thick or a mixture of 1/4 cup butter and 1 tbsp of oil until golden and puffy.
Turn and cook the other side.
Serve hot off the pan plain or with cinnamon sugar.

Serves 4

These 2 recipes came from an Evelyn Rose cookbook.


I made this today to go with tomorrow's latkes. It was easier and quicker than I thought it would be.


CHUNKY CINNAMON APPLESAUCE

2 pounds sweet or tart cooking apples
1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) butter
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 to 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, or to taste

Peel, halve and core apples. Cut them into thin wedges or slices. Heat butter in large, heavy, deep saute pan or flameproof casserole. Add
apples and saute over medium-high heat, turning pieces over from time to time, 2 minutes or until they are coated with butter. Add lemon juice.
Cover tightly and cook over low heat, stirring often, about 20 minutes or until apples are very tender.

Stir in cinnamon and 4 tablespoons sugar. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until mixture is thick and nearly all liquid in pan evaporates.
Taste and add more sugar if desired. Heat briefly to dissolve sugar.
Serve warm or cold.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

French Market in the rain

After going to a German Market in the town several months ago, the photos are here,I couldn't wait to go to the French one. Sadly, it was raining so the photos might not be that great.

I was hoping that there would be a great olive stall but there wasn't one. It shared tables with other bits and pieces but I did buy.











Tis the Fromage Man!!














A stall where you can learn your onions.










Biscuit (cookie) stall









Pain Stall














The Bonbon (candy) Stall










These continental markets appear to be very popular especially before X-mas. I just wish that there were more choices. There is supposedly a Gala Weekend in Hitchin this weekend so I might go and see what's going on. I am also on a quest for kosher vegetarian burgers.

Live from Germany: The Jewish Service Heard Around the World

My cousin sent me this.

With Hanukkah fast approaching I thought that this would be appropriate to post.

Hanukkah means 'Dedication' and we should never forget our past.

A Raptor Treat

I went into town this morning to get the papers when walking to the post box to post something I noticed a stall that was put up in front of hmv, the music store.

When I got to the stall I noticed some owls and other birds sitting on tree stumps.

The stall was put up by the Cambridgeshire Raptor Foundation which is a Bird of Prey Sanctuary and Hospital.

It is located in 30 acres and it is home to over 300 raptors and more than 44 species, many threatened or endangered. Among the birds are Owls, Hawks, Falcons,Buzzards, Vultures, and Eagles.

I took some photos with my mobile phone so apologises for any dark photos. I think for now on I will be carrying my camera with me.

I also got permission from 2 of the displayers after explaining what a blog was to publish this.


























The Raptor Foundation, Cambridgeshire:

*Provides rehabilitated birds to the wild.

*Provides sanctuary for unreleasable raptors.

*Provides research into environmental problems and conservation matters.

*Breeds from injured raptors so that the offspring may take their place in the wild.

*Provides visitors an opportunity to meet and learn about birds of prey.

At the Centre is a Tea Room, Gift Shop, Bed & Breakfast, Raptor Kraft Shop, Exhibition Room, Camp Site and Guided Tours.

Contact the Centre for admission charges or look at their website.

All proceeds contribute to the care and rehabilitation of injured birds of prey.

Membership, adoption, hunting days (of the birds) and meet the bird days forms available on request.

Open 7 days a week, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Flying Displays, 12 noon, 2pm, and 4pm (weather permitting)

There is also Twilight Flying.

The Raptor Foundation
The Heath, St Ives Road
Woodhurst, Cambridgeshire, PE28 3BT
Tel: 01487 741140
Email: heleowl@aol.com
Website: http://www.raptorfoundation.org.uk

It's November so it must be Santa's Grotto time!!

The lights are up around the town center but they won't be turned on until the 22nd. I saw the huge tree that will be decorated.

Last Saturday in the little mall we have in the town center a Santa's Grotto was put up so I went to take some photos. I had to go early so I wouldn't take photos of the kidlets.


































































The tariff to see Santa, to have your photo taken with him and if you want a prezzie from him.


When I was standing there a young couple came up, looked at the price list and said that they couldn't afford it because they had 3 children.

Right now with the rate of exchange an English pound is 2 dollars. So the £4 is roughly $8.

November is America's Diabetes Month

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

There are 3 major types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.


Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.

Some diabetes symptoms include:

* Frequent urination
* Excessive thirst
* Extreme hunger
* Unusual weight loss
* Increased fatigue
* Irritability
* Blurry vision

If you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away.

So you've been diagnosed with diabetes, either type 1 or 2.

Take a deep breath.

Don't panic.

It is a scary disease and a worrisome one.

You can control your blood glucose and live a good life.

The way to do that is to learn all you can about your diabetes, how it affects you and how to make sure that your A1c and daily numbers are in the accepted range.

You will come across the letters..YMMV, it means that Your Mileage May Vary. What works for one person may not work for you. In my case, I can't eat oatmeal, but others can and enjoy it. (and I love oatmeal :()

The more you know about the disease and how it affects you and how you can control it will give you more confidence.

In the beginning (May 19,2004) I think that I joined more diabetes' forums and boards than you can shake a stick at. lol Now after 18 months I have only 3-4 of them to look at. I know what I can and can't eat and I do enjoy the occasionally 'forbidden' thing.

You don't really have to deprive yourself of everything you love. An occasional treat won't make you blind or make your toes fall off.

Make sure you get your eyes tested every year, see your foot doctor, see the dietican, and go to diabetes classes.

Oh, another thing. Test yourself as much as possible. Living in England I am lucky to get all the testing strips I want/need, while I have heard in the states it depends on your medical carrier and how much you can afford.

Testing: first thing in the morning, before and after meals, and before bed. Now some people say to test 1 hour, 90 minutes, or 2 hours after a meal. I'll leave that up to you. When approaching a new food, make sure you test yourself before and after. That way you'll know if it can be added to your future menus.




One other thing. You might have heard of the 5 Steps of Grieving. It happens when someone close to you dies or you suffer a great loss. This might happen to you. A part of you is gone forever but in a way, losing that part might just make you healthier in the long run.

Developing diabetes makes you stop and reassess you life.

You will be eating healthier and despite the diabetes you can live that long life.

5 Steps of Grieving

DENIAL --- "No, this can't be right. There's no diabetes in the family. I watch what I eat. Okay, I'm a little overweight. I can't be a diabetic."

ANGER --- "What?? I can't be! I'm not fat, I exercise and I eat well'. 'Redo the test!"

BARGAINING -- "Please G-d, if I am good I won't be diabetic any more."

DEPRESSION --- "Oh G-d, what am I going to do. I can't eat my favorite foods any more. I feel like a pin cushion. I have to watch everything that goes in my mouth for the rest of my life. My meds don't seem to work. I don't want to go onto insulin. I wish I was dead."

ACCEPTANCE --- "Ok. I have diabetes.I'll read all I can and live a good longlife."


Book suggestions, please feel free to add your own favorites, the more educated we are, the better control we will have.

****Gretchen Becker, The First Year—Type Two Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. (The best book for newbies)

Richard K. Bernstein, Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution.(a big book, full of information)

Alan L. Rubin, Diabetes for Dummies.

Jennie Brand-Miller et al., The New Glucose Revolution: The Authoritative Guide to the Glycemic Index—The Dietary Solution for Lifelong Health.

Web sites:

I love this guy. He has created, I feel, the best diabetes web site.

http://www.mendosa.com/diabetes.htm

Joslin Diabetes Center (a lot of good information)

http://www.joslin.org/main.shtml

American Diabetes Association

http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

For those in the UK

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/

For those in Australia:

http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/home/index.htm

Children with diabetes:

http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/index_cwd.htm

Other diabetes sites that might be of interest:

http://www.diabetesnet.com/

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/

For those with One Touch meters

http://www.lifescan.com/care/

For those with Accu chek meters

http://www.accu-chek.co.uk/gb/


I'm adding this link to help ease any confusion between mmol/L used in Europe and mg/dl used in the states.

http://www.diabetestoolbox.com/convertingbloodsugar.asp

So a 7.0 in England is 126 in the U.S.

Converting glucose readings to A1c:


http://www.geocities.com/diabeteschart/bloodsugarchart.html

Here's another for those who use mmol/l

http://www.rajeun.net/HbA1c_glucose.html

Ignore his comments, they are his own opinions and as you can see not quite what the ADA nor diabetes-uk would agree with.

I found a great chart to convert US and International Lipids Measures for Cholesterol, LDL, HDL .

I find that I need this to explain to Americans what my total cholesterol number is so they can understand it. People who speak a common language still have problems.

http://heart.kumu.org/cholcomp.html


You can live many years if you keep your blood sugar at the recommended levels.

My motto is: "I want to die with my feet on".

I love my Gorilla

A friend on a message board posted a link to a site that talked about a Gorilla Sandwich. My friend, Elaine, eats only raw foods and the thought of this sandwich really appealed to her.

So I tried making one after reading about it on the site.

http://gorillasandwich.com/

You get a cucumber, I got a half just to try it out, and then hollow it out. It was a Spanish cucumber which seemed to have a thicker skin. After the innards are out and all the liquid, you can start layering the good stuff in.

I got an avocado and shmushed it up with some spring onions (scallions) I then put a layer of it in the cucumber. Then a layer of small diced tomatoes and then some sliced black olives and then another layer of the avocado. That's all I had room for.

Discussing it with friends we thought that tuna or chicken salad could be added if you eat meat. Any type of food that you like would do. Fresh fruit would be good too.

It would be a perfect cool snack in the summer.

Hitchin, an old market town

In 1978 I moved to Hitchin with my then husband. In 1979 I gave birth to our first child, a lovely daughter. We lived in a flat that was in Garrison Court, virtually across the street from the market square.

Although now best known for it's weekly market Hitchin's history stretches far back in time.

The earliest part of Hitchin's history begin with King Offa of Mercia, who founded a religious house in AD792 on land occupied by the Hicce tribe. This was the beginning of Hitchin's parish church, second only in size to St Albans Abbey in the county.

In the Domesday Book of 1086 Hitchin is recorded as a Royal Manor and by medieval times it was a thriving town on the banks of the River Hiz. Today it still gives an air of peace and prosperity.

The present church dates from the 13th century and was built with money from the wool trade. The surrounding lands favored the breeding of sheep on the hillsides, while the flat land grew excellent crops of wheat, barley and lavender, and trade grew rapidly.

St Mary's Church taken across the River Hiz















After the 17th century, Hitchin became a frequent staging post for London coaches and many of the inns from that time, with their picturesque courtyards, can still be seen in Hitchin's narrow streets.


One of the old coaching inns that still exists. It is now a pub and a B&B. In fact my parents stayed in The Cock once when they visited us.









By the middle of the 19th century the railway had arrived, and with it a new way of life for Hitchin. The Corn Exchange was built in the Market Place and within a short time Hitchin established itself as a major center for grain trading.

The latter half of the 20th century has also brought great changes in communication to Hitchin. Motorways have shortened the journey time and brought Luton, a few miles away on the Ml, and the Al(M) even closer.


Some photos of the town.























I'll be taking more photos of Hitchin and will add them here.

In 1981 we moved to Stevenage. We had another child, a son.

I'm still in Stevenage

The Baby Loss Awareness Campaign

Today in Hitchin's Market Square there were several charity stalls and activities for the kiddies.





























One of them was North Hertfordshire's SANDS. SANDS stands for Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society

.




SANDS supports anyone affected by the death of a baby and promoting research to reduce the loss of babies' lives.

I went today because they were having a balloon release in memory of babies who have died during pregnancy or at/soon after birth. I wanted to release a balloon for a baby that touched my heart even though we had never met.

I became friends with Hayley through a message board. She became pregnant and I was honored and privileged to be included in the updates of her bump.

Phoebe Jean came early and sadly Hayley and her husband were told that they wouldn't have Phoebe for long. Six weeks after Phoebe was born she passed peacefully in her parents' arms.

So I got a pink balloon, wrote Phoebe's name on it and let it go to the heavens so she could play with it.


On Monday October 15th at 7pm where ever you are in the world, please light a candle that will burn for at least 1 hour.






You will then be taking part in the global 'Wave of Light' in memory of all the babies who lit up our lives for such a short time.

Did you know that 17 babies are stillborn or die within the first 4 weeks of their young lives - that's over 6,2000 babies in the UK!

SANDS offers support to anyone affected by the death of a baby and works with health professionals to improve the quality of services provided. It also promotes research into the causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths and changes in practice that could reduce the loss of babies' lives.


For more information in the UK go to: http://www.uk-sands.org

In the USA go to: http://www.babyloss-awareness.org/

And ibs wins again. :(

Sad to say I had to give up the cabbage soup diet due to a bout of irritable bowel syndrome. So I decided then to go back to the South Beach Diet, which is tried and true and good for diabetics. All went well with that until the pistachios decided to do a tap dance on the above said bowels. What have I ever done to pistachios that they would hate me so?

So I am doing what I did before and did lose weight. Please don't tell any of my SBD friends. lol

Oh, what am I doing? I have a small bag of crisps, salt and vinegar as a snack. It's 25 grams,131 calories,the carbs are only 12.5 grams but with the fiber of 1.0g, it lowers the carbs to 11.5. The fat content is 8.3 grams. More importantly it satisfies a mouth hunger and a tummy rumble.




For my main meal I have something vegetarian, natch, around 1:30pm, so you can say I just have 1 meal a day. I might snack with the crisps or have an avocado, or something that might have take my fancy in a supermarket. It works for me. Before the diabetes decided to reside in me I would only have 1 meal a day, so this way of eating makes me happy.