Thursday 05/07/18

I regret to announce that I must take a break from writing my monthly blog. I have had to make several changes in my life which will give me more time to devote to writing books. I want to thank everyone for the support and encouragement they have given me over the last four years.

Please be sure to check my NEWS PAGE for updates about my books and other projects.

Thursday 07/06/18

Food allergies are becoming more common. If you don’t have an allergy, it is likely one of your friends or a family member does. If not, you are indeed fortunate; but that doesn’t excuse you from tonight’s discussion.

Knowing about the allergy isn’t enough, you need to know how to help them if something goes wrong. You can take all the necessary precautions concerning their food, but takeaway food joints and restaurants can make mistakes where food allergies are concerned.

If someone begins to exhibit symptoms of an allergic reaction, seconds count! Common symptoms include: tingling of the tongue, lips, or the inside of their mouth; swelling lips, face, or eyes; hives, welts, or red skin on the face, throat, or neck.

If they have a severe allergy, they should have an EpiPen with them at all times. If they need help and they hand the EpiPen to you, don’t hesitate, USE IT! Don’t be afraid of it, or of hurting them. Use the EpiPen then immediately call for an ambulance on 000 (if you live in Australia).

They need your help; please don’t let them down.

 

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This is how I remember what to do:
1. Blue to the sky
2. Orange to the thigh
3. Hammer fist
4. Flip the clip (.....the blue cap)
5. Punch the leg

For more information anaphylaxis, and information sheets like the one above, please visit https://www.allergy.org.au

 

Thursday 03/05/18

If you take a backpack (or any other type of bag) with you when you leave the house for the day, I recommend adding a deck of cards to your Every Day Carry. The deck won’t take up much room in your pack, weighs virtually nothing, and can provide you with many hours of entertainment for a couple of dollars.

Why cards instead of a book? A book can only entertain one person at a time, cards can comfortably entertain a group of four if you’re playing Twenty-One, Poker, or Euchre. If you’re stuck in a situation where you have time-to-kill (such as waiting for the “all clear” to proceed after a flood or bushfire), cards are an excellent way to do this. But make sure you don’t allow any gambling to take place, because this can lead to trouble if someone is a poor loser of feels they’ve been cheated. Bad blood and confined spaces are a bad combination.

Conversely; if you’re on your own or just don’t want to interact with the people around you, playing Patience or building a house of cards is an excellent way to pass the time.

I started carrying cards when I was in high school. I wasn’t much of a card player back then, and not much has changed. School rules prohibited playing card games, but most teachers turned a blind-eye when they saw we weren’t gambling (mostly because we were being quiet and weren’t causing trouble). One or two teachers took exception to our games, but the headmaster knew we weren’t gambling, so quickly dismissed their complaints.

You don’t have to buy fancy or expensive playing, cheap cards from a supermarket are ideal. Also, if you’re desperate for tinder, you have fifty-two pieces of cardboard in a small box in your backpack.

As always; if you found the information in tonight’s blog useful, please share it with your friends and family on social media.