Fruit snack time!

Lance's lunch box

Hot summer's day fare - boerewors roll, fruit and an icy Savannah Dry

Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2011

Mighty fine day for a spot of tennis I'd say!

Even cheese & tomato on granary bread gets the Wimbledon treatment!

My (dream) studio

Maybe I should just call it my office?

Nope, it's a studio.

A place of reflection, of creativity... a space just for me.

If at all possible, I think it's a good thing, a sound thing, to have a space of your own in your home. A place to chill. A refuge.

So, what goes in it then?

Hmmm.

My long folding table I bought at the auction house years ago in Wynberg (Cape Town, South Africa). I went there for the auction, but preferred what the auctioned pieces were sitting on!

A comfy chair - preferably with wheels, as I dynamically go about my multi-tasking (as per usual haha).

A bookcase - for all my art and crafty books, and all those Katie Fford and murder mystery novels that I probably will never read again, but don't feel like taking them down to the charity shop just yet. Oh, and lots of photo frames of beloved family members of course.

Gosh, this is going to be one large bookcase! Floor to ceiling I think.








Or just install a deadbolt. The basics first, of course. Desk, office chair, computer, printer, files. Ample stock of paper clips and Pentel Rolling Writer pens, black, medium. Then, the rest. I’ve thought a lot about how I would want it to look, and what I’d want in the room, from simple things to never-gonna-happen. It can’t hurt to aim high and then figure out how to do it on a budget, right? I figure there’s a lot of HGTV and DIY Network in my future. All that said, here’s my wish list: For soul: many, many bookshelves For wall colors: deep red and turquoise For texture: leather, wood, silver, some mercury glass For comfort: a window seat and a comfortable chair (Love this leather chaise…have no idea how to buy it or a price. It’s a dream piece, for sure) To sip: coffee or Penfold’s Shiraz Cabernet For mood: music, windows with a nice view Little things that make me happy: a cup full of sharpened pencils, and an endless supply of fireballs If I could add a one more thing to this list, it would be a fireplace, but my room is on the top floor, and that’s probably not an option, at least not anytime soon. But a deadbolt? So is.

Tuna!

In Christ Alone

Thinking of Robyn... with her funeral being tomorrow...

This hymn by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty is a firm favourite of mine, I well up every time I sing it. 'For I am His and He is mine, Bought with the precious blood of Christ.'

~

'In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.'

~

HOOoOOooooowwlLLl!!!!

For those who have cloudy skies, so cannot see the lunar eclipse... this is for you: http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?hl=en

At long last... :) Thanks Lizzy!

Fatal Asthma: Am I at Risk for a Fatal Asthma Attack?

Never Ignore the Severity of an Asthma Exacerbation

Determining your risk for a fatal asthma attack is important. Only 33% of asthma deaths occur in the hospital -- which means many asthma patients who die are either not seeking care or are not being hospitalized with their worsening asthma. Asthma exacerbations can be life threatening and can occur in anyone with mild to severe asthma.

Patients at high risk of asthma related death require intensive education and special care. Make sure you know if you are in one of the increased risk groups discussed below.

Importantly, 80 to 85% who die from asthma develop progressive symptoms anywhere from 12 hours to several weeks before death. Only 15 to 20% die in less than 6 hours after developing symptoms. Thus, the vast majority of patients dying from asthma developed symptoms in a time frame that would have allowed them to seek appropriate medical care.

Risk Factors for Asthma Related Death

All of the following are risk factors for asthma related death:

• Previous history of a near-fatal asthma event
• Recent poorly controlled asthma with increased shortness of breath, nocturnal awakenings, and rescue inhaler use
• Prior severe asthma exacerbation where you were intubated or admitted to an intensive care unit.
• Two or more asthma-related hospital admissions or three or more visits to the emergency room for asthma
• Using 2 or more canisters of your short acting bronchodilator like albuterol in a month
• If you have trouble identifying when your asthma symptoms are worsening or you are having an asthma attack
• Being poor and from the inner city
• Substance abuse
• Significant psychiatric disease
• Other significant medical problems like a heart attack and other lung diseases

What Do I Do if I am at Increased Risk?

All of the following may help you reduce your risk of an asthma related death:

• Know that you are at risk
• Know your asthma action plan
• Make sure you understand your asthma action plan
• Use your asthma action plan
• Use your peak flow meter regularly
• Do not delay seeking emergency care if your symptoms worsen
• Tell your asthma care provider that you are at increased risk of an asthma related death
• Make sure you can effectively communicate with an asthma care provider

Terrible news

My cousin Robyn (23 years old) died on Saturday night, from an asthma attack. 

I am in tears.... cannot begin to describe the terror one feels when having a severe attack, and to know what this dear girl went through the last minutes of her life. We've been in more contact than usual this last year thankfully, as she was looking to become an actress, and was keen to visit London. Was so in love - had met her 'soul mate' too. 

Such a bright little star, snatched away so easily.

Asthma is not taken seriously enough by so many people. People do not realise how many people die from it. I wish I could just get on a plane right now to Joburg. Not sure how I'll get through this day. Too raw. 

Collecting and counting leaves

Spot the false one!

Tuna the cat

Strawberries

Oooooooh... Yummy strawberries! :)

Prank for Lance...

When he got home from work:
'Lance, there's a big leak in the loo'
Poor lad, the last thing he feels like is fixing the loo...