Many people, many cultures, many religions, one heart, one world!
Wide variety of personalities, interests, backgrounds, and ages ... a group of friends that spans the decades - from the youth to great - great - grandparents and everything in between."
Online Newsletter
How are you?
Everything all right?
Like to hear from you.
Love to see you soon.
Obviously I miss you.
Hello again, and welcome to this weeks Edition of the Global Express
We have lots of interesting news, information, sad stories, funnie stories and of course the best, the inspirational ones.
Another of Sharon's adventures, and wonderful pics form Pat (aka Daisy) & Darryl Broatch on their day out to Warwick Castle.
As this is also the beginning of September, (good grief where does the time go?) the September Trivia Pages are ready. which you can find in the drop down menu immediately following this message.
Since I've taken over the newsletter, I see no need for duplicate information. And until such a time as Sharon decides to take it back, BigSisPat's Report Page is on hiatus. lol
Now here is is an announcement that I feel very weird about. Base on the number of nominations received, the winner for the member of the Month of September is yours truly, Pat MacMicken. The only other nominee was Charla Simmons for all her hard work with the Prayer Requests.
Thanks to all those who took the time to send in a nomination, and of course a sincere thanks from me to those who nominated me.
Next week, I'll post the nomination site again and we can nominate for the October Member of the Month.
Thanks to all the contributers, enjoy.
See you next week.
If any one would like to contribute to any to next week's edition feel free to email
me Bigsis Pat
When you need to contact us for help or information, WWWCOF offers you the following options to assit you in choosing the best person to answer your question. We are all here to help.
Remember this is all done in the spirit of having fun, there is nothing "official" connected with any of the titles given to any of the members. We are everyday people doing extraordinary things on an International Scale on the web! We have different life experiences, different cultures, different ideas and some of us even speak different languages and we care and love to share!
Jami from Maryland, USA does a great job of reminding us who is celebrating what and when on google so be sure to check in for the cake cutting ceremonies!
Haley and I just got home from our two weeks in Indiana. Thank you for your prayers for our safety in travel. I have a prayer request please. My Mother, Margie Linders, cancer has now spread to her brain. She is losing weight fast and going down hill. Please pray for her comfort and not to have pain. She looks so tired and just worn to a frazzle. She can't use her left side very well now. I pray God will call her home soon and I have made peace with this. I have no doubt she will be walking the streets of gold and no one deserves it more than her. Although being "Human," I am not wanting her to leave. I know this will be the best. I need strength and much prayer. Thank you and May God Bless.
I received this from our Christine:
Prayer Request....My oldest daughter Ruth...her husband had the granddaddy of all
heart attacks today. The doctor said that 90% of ALL his arteries are blocked. Had triple
bypass in 91 and now it all has to be repaired. He was really bloated. The doctor said the
artery that is blocked the most is called the "widow maker." He lost a kidney to cancer several years ago, has diabetes and this is about the 8th heart attack he has had.
Also a young fellow (20) in our church died this week. His truck was found in a ravine. They
are doing an autopsy to find out why. Please pray for this family.
Our FlMarie: She and her daughter Karen will be traveling this weekend to North Carolina to visit Jamie which will be leaving soon for Bagdad, instead of Afganastan. Please pray for their traveling safety and for Jamies protective Angels to surround her while she is there for our country. Her brother Geoffery will also be going to Afganistan soon.This family needs much prayer for faith, strength,safety and God's grace. Geoffery will be missing his sons birth while he is there. May God hold him and his family in the Palm of His hand.
Ruby, our travelling mascot, who has spent the last six weeks or so with Maxine (Ontario Canada)helping her with the crisis of her delicate great nephew twins, Is on her way to Maryland to spend a long awaited stay with Jami in Maryland, and is scheduled to help her out with her work there.
I take this opportunity to point out, that Ruby's job is to travel around and visit all the Circle members she can, with those who have not yet met her or had her to visit having priority. Once we have completed those on the first timer's list, then we will consider starting up a second time round list. So please be patient everyone, meanwhile visit her site, read up on her adventures so far.
Check out what is happening in Ruby's life here at her site. You can leave messages for Ruby and /or get on her visiting list on her site Daphne has also put in a translator in the pages in both Spanish and Portuguese.
Ruby has her own games section where you can play countries and capitals hangman, tic tac toe, a variety of Ruby's own jigsaw puzzles among others, and Ruby would love you to stop by for what she calls her "chocolate milkshake break time".
Have fun!
If you haven't had the chance, please visit (and join )our incredible main message group WWWCOF
Do be sure to check out the incredible Book Review Club Book Review Club being run by our wonderful Barbara from Rockford, Illinois.
Dynamite example of what a great group the WWWCOF really is and proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that there is no I in TEAM!
I hope you have been taking the time to keep in touch with Pami from New York ... our Queen of Free. She needs our love and support.
I've been busy trying to find out about some freebees, etc. to share with you and I have come across some contests and special offers through Homebasics that you might like to check out. I think they might only be available for our Canadian members but hey its a start. Do you have anything to add to this section of our newsletter?
As the Keeping in Touch Journal makes it way around the world, I'd like for folks to let us know when it arrives, your feelings when reading others thoughts; and when you send it on to it's next destination.
The Keeping in Touch Journal is on it's way to Graca, who will give it to her daughter. Then it will be sent to daphne who will translate their letters for the rest of us.
Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean and cease to sleep longer than is needful.
1. Establish a physical fitness program, tailored to your needs, to help you reach a higher level of health. Complete physical fitness activities regularly.
2. Establish a goal of improvement, particularly in terms of eating and sleeping habits.
3. ...
4. ...
5. ...
EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL CHALLENGES
1. Bring your weight to an appropriate level.
2. Acquire greater proficiency in a specific athletic or recreational skill, such as swimming, diving, golf, tennis, basketball, bowling, skiing, skating, cricket, football, or other activities of your culture.
3. Acquire greater proficiency in a occupational or homemaking skill, such as carpentry, antiquing, knitting or typing.
4. Significantly improve your personal attractiveness through bodily health and vigor, an optimistic attitude, personal charm and friendliness, good grooming, and modesty of dress. (Consider posture, voice, and disposition.)
5. Participate regularly in an organized athletic or recreational sports activity.
6. Participate in an individual or a group activity that is new to you, such as cycling, back-packing, camping, hiking, culling, or some other physical activity appropriate in your culture.
7. Participate in groups organized for recreational activities. Emphasize improvement of physical proficiency through group interest and effort.
Note:
Medical consultation is recommended when a significant change in physical exertion is contemplated.
Handicapped persons may participate by selecting other goals within their physical capacity.
With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. ~ Thomas Foxwell Buxton
Amazingly, even the smallest amount of increased involvement--in almost anything--can result in calorie loss. And when it comes to losing weight and becoming more fit, every little bit helps!
Calories burned in 30 minutes
Sleeping - 39 calories
Watching TV (lying down) - 39 calories
Reading a book (sitting up) - 43 calories
Making a bed - 86 calories
Ironing - 99 calories
Playing the piano - 107 calories
Taking a walk while pushing a stroller - 107 calories
Vacuuming - 107 calories
Jumping on a trampoline - 150 calories
Shooting hoops - 193 calories
Mowing the lawn - 193 calories
Mopping - 193 calories
Grocery shopping - 214 calories
Just trying to be helpful, lol!
Sharon
And here's some more advice from sharon.
Create a Sense of Serenity...be sure to keep this with your WWWCOF Pursuit of Excellence material!
There's enough chaos in the world, but you can instead create serenity in your personal world. Here are 7 easy ideas:
1. Get rid of one thing. If the prospect of ridding your entire house of clutter seems to be am impossible feat, make it your goal to get rid of just one thing you don't need each day.
2. Clear the clutter out of your vehicle. Get rid of candy wrappers, soda cans, old papers, magazines and other trash on a daily basis.
3. Eliminate the chaos from your desk. The surface of your desk should be free of all papers and other debris to set the stage for productivity and creative thinking.
4. Wake up earlier. Stop rushing around each day. Wake up earlier so you have enough time to relax with a cup of coffee, to step outside and breathe in the fresh air or to read a chapter in your favorite inspirational book.
5. Dedicate 30 minutes to You. Schedule no less than 30 minutes each day to do something you love. Keep that appointment, just as you would any other important one.
6. Make your bedroom a restful haven. Every morning, make your bed right after you get up. Remove the piles of paper. Clear off the dresser tops. Put any dirty clothes in the laundry room. Remove the dusty stuff stored under the bed and get rid of anything you no longer need. When you're ready to go to bed at night, you should be able to do so in a peaceful, uncluttered place.
7. Sprinkle in some rewards. Many people agonize just trying to get through their To Do lists. To make your day more fulfilling, while still getting things done, sprinkle rewards throughout your day. For example, take 10 minutes to do something you enjoy after every single task you complete.
PEN PAL CLUB
How are things going with you and your penpal. Are you getting to know them a whole lot better? Is there anything you would like to share with us about them?
We have a request fro a Pen Pal from Kin-Z who lives in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"ANY MEMBERS AGES 11-14 WHO NEED A PEN PAL?"
I know we don't have hardly any young folks who are members, but there might be children or grandchildren in this age range who might be interested.
We also have this very lovely poem that Kin herself, wrote.
loved ones r soon parted
The tears we cried,
The laughter we shared,
Will soon be parted,
For soon one of us will have to go under,
Don't know why and when,
But by your side ...
I will stay,till the end of the day,
Till death do us part.
Send us a picture and a brief story of things your family has been celebrating to share here with all the members!
Looking for more pictures of other members and their families?? Take a moment to visit the WWWCOF Photo Albums and enjoy! Would you like pictures of your family published in our albums ... email it to Bigsis Pat our Department of Vital Statistics Director and she will be happy to incude it.
Messages from Members
Do be sure to take a moment to email them and say hello from your corner of the globe!
Last week when I had the "Name the Face" contest, I recieved an email from our dear friend David in England. I'm including her the series of excahnges we had:
"Saw them both so I reckon,Veronica Lake.
David Boland-Thoms"
"David,
So nice to hear from you. How have you been? Still kicking I hope! Anyway,
Congratulations! How do you figure it out.?
Now I have an even bigger surprise. It's not even Veronica Lake.
I have this book called "Face forward", it's by Kevyn Aucoin, a world famous make-up artist. He takes famous people and makes them up to look like other people.
So, Veronica Lake is really Martha Stewart!!
How cool is that?
Pat"
Yes, still hanging in there, Pat, though sometimes it's only by the skin of my teeth.
Could have sworn that was Veronica Lake. I remember the films well. Must have been 1945 or '46. Those were the days. Hard to believe, but I only paid ninepence for my seat in the cinema too! The buildings on either side had been bombed. Luckily the cinema never got hit otherwise I'd have missed out on my Friday night's entertainment.
Green garden grass snakes can be dangerous. Yes, grass
snakes, not rattlesnakes.
A couple in Sweetwater, Texas, had a lot of potted plants,
and during a cold snap, the wife was bringing a lot of them
indoors to protect them from a possible freeze. It turned
out that a little green garden grass snake was hidden in one
of the plants, and when it warmed up, it slithered out and
the wife saw it go under the sofa. She let out a very loud
scream. Her husband, who getting dressed after a shower, ran
out into the living room in his boxer shorts to see what the
problem was. She told him there was a snake under the sofa.
He got down on the floor on his hands and knees to look for
it. About that time the family dog came and cold-nosed him
on the leg. He thought the snake had bitten him and he
fainted. His wife thought he had a heart attack, so she
called an ambulance.
The attendants rushed in and loaded him on a stretcher and
started carrying him out. About that time, the snake came
out from under the sofa. The emergency medical technician
saw it and dropped his end of the stretcher. That's when the
man broke his leg and why he wound up in the hospital. The
wife still had the problem of the snake in the house, so she
called on a neighbor man. He volunteered to capture the
snake. He armed himself with a rolled-up newspaper and began
poking around under the sofa. Soon he decided it was gone
and told the woman, who sat down on the sofa in relief. But
in relaxing, her hand dangled in between the cushions, where
she felt the snake wriggling around. She screamed and
fainted, the snake rushed back under the sofa, and the
neighbor man, seeing her lying there passed out, tried to
use CPR to revive her.
The neighbor's wife, who had just returned from shopping at
the grocery store, saw her husband's mouth on the woman's
mouth and slammed her husband in the back of the head with a
bag of canned goods, knocking him out and cutting his scalp
to a point where it needed stitches. An ambulance was again
called, and it was determined that the injury required
hospitalization. The noise woke the woman from her dead
faint and she saw her neighbor lying on the floor with his
wife bending over him, so she assumed he had been bitten by
the snake. She went into the kitchen, brought back a small
bottle of whiskey, and began pouring it down the man's
throat. By now the police had arrived. They saw the
unconscious man, smelled the whiskey, and assumed that a
drunken brawl had occurred. They were about to arrest them
all, when the two women tried to explain how it all happened
over a little green snake. They called an ambulance, which
took away the neighbor and his sobbing wife.
Just then the snake crawled out from under the sofa. One of
the policemen drew his revolver and fired at it. He missed
the snake and hit the leg of an end table that was on one
side of the sofa. The table fell over and the lamp on it
shattered, and as the bulb broke, it started a fire in the
drapes. The other policeman tried to beat out the flames and
fell through the window into the yard on top of the family
dog, who, startled, jumped up and raced out into the street,
where an oncoming car swerved to avoid hitting the dog and
smashed into the parked police car, setting it on fire.
Meanwhile, the burning drapes had spread to the walls and
the entire house was ablaze.
Neighbors had called the fire department, and the arriving
fire truck had started raising its ladder as they were
halfway down the street. The rising ladder tore out the
overhead wires and caused the electricity to go out, and
also disconnected the telephones in a ten-square city block
area. Time passed... Both men were discharged from the
hospital, the house was rebuilt, the police acquired a new
police car, and all was right with the world once again.
About a year later, the couple was watching TV and the
weatherman announced a cold snap for that night. The husband
asked his wife if she thought they should bring in their
plants for the night.
Thought you would like to know that Lois is moving to Va Beach to
live with her daughter Lisa. She will be in her own separate
apartment that has been built onto their home especially for her.
How special is that!
Wouldn't it be ever so nice if we emailed Lois or
dropped her a card in the mail or both, lol. If you need her
address please email me.
PS - Lois is one of the first three people I ever chatted with online.
The first was Dottie, the second Taz and Lois was third ...... many years ago now.
Thanks!
Love,
Sharon
Hi Pat
I came accross this quote I think might be nice for the Global newsletter it says:
There are big ships, and small ships , but the best
ship of all is friendships
Friendship isn't just about two people who find a special bond
it's about the mutual respect and dedication
that makes a friendship strong.....
It's what's at the heart of every friendship that matters;
such as admiration, loyalty, love and laughter....
We exhibit all those things
and we'll always be friends, you and me.
Love,
Sharon
Hi Guys, thought you might like to see the pictures we took on our day out to Warwick Castle. It is about an hours drive from where I live, we had a wonderful day, it was sunny, but it did have showers 2 times also.
We went on a bank holiday here so it was very crowded. As you can see from the photos with me on them, I have my arm in a sling, this is because I had a cortisone injection in my shoulder on the friday. My tendon is catching on my bone so hoping this works, otherwise I will have to have surgery.
Anyway the town of Warwick is situated near the centre of England, 8 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon. Warwick Castle is the finest mediaeval castle in England, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom.
I thought I had best put pen to paper and let you know about our trip
to Seattle to pick up our puppy who was flying in from Tennessee. The
day started off with that sweet sound of the alarm blasting into the
stillness of the early morning -- 4 a.m. to be exact. By 4:30 a.m. the
girls and I were in my little Toyota truck heading off for the Duke
Point Ferry terminal. No problems there ... no great amount of
travellers at this time of the morning on a Thursday and we boarded
without incident. We went to the cafeteria on board for breakfast ....
you think we would know better -- after all we are not new to journeys
aboard the BC Ferries but I guess it was just wishful thinking that
maybe just maybe the food would be palatable that morning. In keeping
with their reputation unfortunately it was anything but agreeable or
pleasant to the sense of taste. Anyone reading this, from my vintage,
may fondly remember the ferries of old with their fancy dining rooms,
complete with waiters, and appetizing, savory, tasty food. Everyone
from the Lower Mainland or the Island will tell you that the ferries in
the good ol' days made the best claim chowder in the Province too.
A couple of hours after boarding the boat
we docked on the lower mainland, in the extreme southwestern corner of
British Columbia, at Tsawwassen, in the sunny municipality of Delta, at
around 7:15 a.m. and headed off for the main border crossing to the
United States of America (the Peace Arch/Blaine crossing). The Peace
Arch is such a beautiful crossing, the most popular of the four local
crossings located in the lower mainland and it is open 24 hours.
Now this is where the trip got a little more expensive that
anticipated. The girls and I were pretty excited and we were laughing,
talking and carrying on when at 8:03 a.m. on Highway 99 & 8th Avenue I
was pulled over for "Excessive Speed". This was incredible. Me???? I
could not believe it .... I never speed or thought I never do as a
matter of fact my children tell me that even people in wheelchairs pass
me as I drive along the highways and biways. Anyway the very nice
young Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman said I was driving 102 kms and I
thought to myself okay as last I checked the speed limit signs said the
speed was 100 kms. I also thought it was odd that he would pull me
over for a mere 2 kms over the limit. Then he went on to say that I
was a nice lady (but then he does not know me, does he???, lol) and he
said he felt bad but he would have to give me a ticket. He then went
on to say that he would not give me a ticket for "Excessive Speed" --
just a regular speeding ticket. Excessive speeding !!!! Again my mind
was saying how can 2 kms over be excessive speed only to discover that
the speed limit had dropped to 60 as we were just around the corner
from the border. Guess I deserved that one. My RCMP chap could not of
been nicer though and was so apologetic for giving me the ticket -- my
license up to this point was perfect -- not even a parking ticket -- my
perfect almost 40 year driving record has now been blemised -- oh no!!!
Anyway the ticket was for $138 instead of $438 and if you pay it
within 30 days you can deduct $25 -- I sent off my cheque on Friday
morning but I have held on to the original ticket for proof of my crime
as I know that no one would believe this story! I kind of felt like a
rebel and instead of this upsetting me it seemed to enhance our
adventure of the day -- yes I know -- slightly strange I am!!!
Within minutes we arrived at the border and the American crossing
official was friendly and we proceeded without any delay or problems.
Once one US soil we travelled the I-5 Highway which is a cross-country
highway, traveling across the country in a north-south direction, from
the Canada/USA border at the north, to the Mexico/USA border at the
south. The entire length of the I-5 Highway is approximately 1,382
miles long, with an estimated driving time of approx. 20 hrs. & 13
minutes at unheard of speeds for us country bumpkins of 70 miles per
hour (that is 120 kms!!). I didn't think I could drive that fast but
flashbacks to my Excessive Speeding Ticket gave me the confidence.
There is always a silver lining to every cloud, lol.
I did have some concerns about going past Seattle on the I-5 as I have
been a passenger in a vehicle before and was aware of the Seattle
congestion -- it is hard to put into words -- it is a confusing
intricate and elaborate network of traffic which could easily leave one
in a total state of bewilderment. My boss advised me to always stay in
the middle lane of traffic as this is the straight through lane. Now
you have to be on your toes because as you are merrily flying down the
highway in the centre of three lanes; all of a sudden two lanes have
been added on the right or the left or both and you have to navigate
your vehicle back to that magical center lane as these additional lanes
at various exit points along the route disappear. There is nothing I
don't think that could surpass those miles of road when you find
yourself in a maze -- there is traffic above you, below you, alongside
you -- told you that you could easily find yourself bewildered!
Now I am a person who prefers to not even drive in Vancouver BC which
is so tame compared to Seattle but I DID IT! I drove the I-5 to Seatac
Airport on the south end of Seattle and I am "stoked" about that. I
actually can not believe it! As for the famous Seattle congestion --
we missed it on the way south (all the congestion was heading north)
and the reverse on the way north back home to Canada (traffic was at a
standstill heading south). Perfect timing would you not agree!
The Interstate 5 Highway is the busiest, most well known, and arguably
most important highway on the west coast of the USA.
Sometimes referred to as "the I-5", "the I5 Corridor, or "the Big
Road"... millions of people each day travel the I-5 Highway as part of
their transportation route, as this important transportation
infrastructure connects most the population along the entire west coast
to 1 common route, or corridor and I was one of those millions of
people and I can not believe it. Goes to show that you should always
do the best you can do and when you achieve that raise the bar just as
little and go above and beyond what you think your capablities are.
The feeling you get from the sense of achievement is well worth the
effort.
We arrived at Sea-Tac airport without incident. I must compliment
whomever is responsible for signage in the United States which I think
is second to none. The exits are so clearly marked that even I did
could not find a way to get lost; well getting there anyway, trying to
find our way back to the I-5 was a different story. Parking was easy
and people were friendly. Puppy was flying in on Northwest Airlines.
Slight change in plans at this point. The Sea-Tac airport was not
where we were to be ... we had to pick up puppy from the freight
building but no worries; after a few circular trips around the airport
we finally got on the right road and arrived just in time to pick up
our newest addition to the family.
Met a couple of wonderful ladies from Blaine, Olga and her friend who
came to Seattle for lunch and while there picked up their puppy,
Tempest, who just happens to be Damien's sister. They flew to the
West Coast together .... Wasn't that nice; at least they had each
other for company. We visited for quite a while and the puppies played
but alas we had to head north - we had a ferry to catch.
Now you would think the trip home would be easy NOT. We could not seem
to find our way back to the I-5 and when we did it was for exits South.
Not that I would of minded heading down to California, etc. but I have
to work to exist and had to be back at work on the Friday. After
circling the same part of Seattle about three times we finally stopped
at a convenience store and asked for directions that got us to an North
exit bound for Canada. We wanted to get as far out of Seattle as
quickly as possible before the traffic really got heavy but my fuel
gauge dictated that we did have to stop and we did in a small place
called Arlington. Kendra wanted to eat at a Jack in The Box - we do
not have those here on Paradise Island so we went in search of one. We
had past several throughout the day but you know what it is like when
you are looking for something you can never find it. We had just about
given up hope when luckily we found one and I am so glad as I think we
dined on the finest fast food hamburgers on this planet. Of course by
the time we had found one we were famished and that, of course, helped
the food taste so wonderful but honestly it was delicious! We would of
eaten somewhere enroute if we had not found a Jack in the Box because
we did not want to subject ourselves twice in one day to what is
loosely referred to as "food" on the BC Ferries.
We ate in the car and in no time we arrived at the border. The customs
officer was so nice. He could not believe that three females had spent
the day in Seattle and did not buy anything but he wished us a safe
journey home and waved us on our way. There was absolutely no wait at
the border ... I think Thursday is a good day to head south, must keep
that thought tucked away; Wednesdays probably are even better if that
is possible.
We proceeded straight to the ferry and upon our arrival we were advised
that there was only a 50/50 chance that we would board. The lot was
absolutely packed! The boat arrived and loading started and when it
was our turn to drive on the attendant stopped us. Try to imagine what
a horrible feeling it is to be behind the last car that got on the
ferry knowing that you will have to wait for two hours until the next
one arrives. We got very lucky that day because at the last minute
they loaded ten more vehicles ..... we were the first of those ten that
got "crammed" into the back of the boat. ZIPPEDY DOH DAH!
On the vessel we came across a neighbour and friend of mine, Mary
Foley, who was returning from the Okanagan with her sister. Both
ladies had taken their grandsons on a vacation. Isn't that so
special? Mary's sister's grandson was just a baby --- only a
couple of months old .... Pretty brave.
Finally home sweet home, safe and sound. Perfect road trip, excellent
weather. Each of us were a little tired but proud of yet one more
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
And of course just had to take this opportunity to share with you a picture of our new puppy, Damien.
Sharon
Please take a moment to welcome two new members. First a friend of Jami's to our wonderful WWWCOF ...Emma MurrayEmma Murray
and to Coral from Ladysmith, BC Canada. Coral would love to hear from you so please email her at Coral McLean
She is very interested in finding penpals so let her know if you would like to be her penpal and she is also very interested in swaps.
Have a wonderful rest of your week everyone.
Love,
Sharon
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
"The purpose of life is ... to know oneself. We cannot do so unless we learn to identify ourselves with all that lives." -- Mohandas K. Gandhi.
If you would like more information on any of our ongoing clubs please visit the sites in the following directory and email the gals in charge who will be more that happy to help you.
If English was anything of a logical language, spelling would be something like this. But even the very fact that each verse is pronounced differently anyway, proves that it isn?t.
Spellbound. ( Sounds okay to me)
The wind was rough
And cold and blough
She kept her hands inside her mough.
It chilled her through,
Her nose turned blough,
And still the squall the faster flough.
And yet although
There was some snough
The weather was a cruel fough
It made her cough
( Please do no scough!)
She coughed until her hat blew ough.
A fragile bough
The wind took nough
It left the tree and killed a cough.
(Hint: The last word of each line rhymes with the last word in the first line of each verse)
This demonstrates the idiocy of the English language beautifully, don?t you think? Author Unknown
This is just one of the little snippets I have collected up and compiled into a little book, that I give to my regular students of English once they have successfully reached a high level in English.
Choosing the Right Exercise for You
Is there any such thing as the 'right' exercise?
When you break down all the benefits and motivations for exercise, it comes back to creating balance to an otherwise one-sided lifestyle. For some, exercise is an obsession, for others, it's a nightmare of avoidance, guilt and low self esteem. And then there are those who define and measure themselves by their own and others' image of fitness and perfection. Choosing the 'right' exercise can be a physical, emotional and financial minefield.
There are some basic guidelines, which can help you to assess what you might be suited to in terms of exercise. However, you need to remember that as your condition and energy capacity will change daily, so should your selection of exercise.
1. Is my life predominantly sedentary or active?
Choose the opposite to exercise, eg - if you are quite active, choose a low-key exercise to relax, and vice versa.
2. What season are we in?
Respect the season and the energy requirements, eg. Winter - retain internal warmth to nourish & revitalise internal organs;
Spring - begin to shift stagnation and bring internal energy out to the surface;
Summer - release internal heat and encourage sweating;
Autumn - begin to minimize overly heating and exhausting activities.
3. Am I feeling hot and dry or cold and sluggish?
If hot and dry, overly heating /active exercise will deplete internal fluids even more. If cold and sluggish, heating /active exercise will assist to move the stagnation and warm the internal organs. 3
4. Do I need to move Qi to clear the fog, or sedate Qi to quieten and settle?
If bogged down by a foggy head, then cardiovascular exercise will help. If stressed out with excessive mental activity, then cardiovascular exercise will increase the mental stress, whereas quiet breathing & stretching will invigorate.
5. What type of exercise do I habitually engage in?
We habitually choose exercise that aggravates our individual conditions, choosing a variety of exercise based on your moment to moment condition will assist in regaining balance.
6. Am I exercising to punish or nourish?
Ask yourself this question honestly. Is what you are about to do (or avoid) going to nourish you? What are your motivations for partaking in or avoiding exercise?
7. How is my health today? How has it been in the last week?
If you have been affected by any sort of external virus then you do not want to partake in exercise that will induce sweating. If you have been affected by a cold or flu, then only partake in exercise that will induce a very mild sweat.
Each type of exercise has a different energetic effect. Consider the following:
Cardiovascular - tonifies the respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems. Increases qi and yang, moves stagnation but can deplete yin and vital bodily fluids.
Tai Chi /Qi Gong - Tonifies qi and yang. Can be too stimulating for those with heart or emotional imbalances.
Chanting - tonifies lungs and spleen. Restores the vital link between the lungs and kidneys - therefore excellent for any type of respiratory or reproductive condition.
In Oriental Medicine, exercise is sometimes described as an activity of cleansing the spirit. Mix it up, consider the above checklist and most of all, choose an exercise that makes your eyes shine, your complexion glow and turns your lips to a nice pink hue. Then you will know that you have nourished your spirit, relaxed your liver, invigorated your heart and tonified your digestion. Now that's what I call a good workout!
Kimberley Norton is a Oriental Dietary Consultant, a practitioner of Oriental Health Sciences and a Pilates and Movement Therapist who practices in Annandale, NSW. For appointments and enquiries telephone Kimberley direct on 0414 600 930 or email to kim.norton@telstra.com.
A Banana A Day Keeps the Doctor Away!" By Lula Vecchi
If you want a quick fix for flagging energy levels there's no better snack than a banana.
Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber; a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proved that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions making it a must to add to your daily diet.
Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect food for helping to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain trypotophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heart-burn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart-burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods such as bananas every two hours to keep levels steady.
PMS:
Forget the pills eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature Control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, trypotophan.
Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking, as the high levels of Vitamin C, A1, B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water-balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, there by reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes:
According to research in 'The New England Journal of Medicine' eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that, if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So you see, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. In fact, bananas have an exciting nutritional story. They are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. One banana has 16% of the fiber, 15% of the vitamin C, and 11% of the potassium we need every day for good health! When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.
Here it is, different ways to eat your Banana:
Breakfast:
Add sliced bananas to cold cereal; make banana pancakes or banana muffins; make a banana and yogurt shake; add bananas to a bowl of mixed fruit; mix with low fat yogurt.
Lunch:
Eat a banana with your lunch; add sliced bananas to a fruit salad; make a banana and peanut butter sandwich.
Snack:
Eat a banana! Make a smoothie.
Dessert:
Top low fat yogurt or low fat ice cream with sliced bananas; make a low fat banana milk shake.
Now you can say, "A Banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
Daphne, our Cookbook Queen chooses a recipe every week for us to try from our Circle's very own collection.
This week's Recipe of The Week comes from Australia, and was shared with us by Jeanette, and is found in our Circle"s marvellous COOKBOOK, which has its own search engine where you can find recipes with specific ingredients, or origin etc
Baked Meatloaf, Banana & Bacon With A Delicious Gravy/Sauce.
WWWCOF COOKBOOK
500 grams minced topside
? Cup breadcrumbs fresh
1 egg
1 small onion chopped finely
1 Clove garlic - finely chopped
SALT to taste
black pepper, freshly ground
olive oil
4 large potatoes
4 rashers bacon rind removed
4 bananas - peeled
SAUCE:
1 Tbl flour
1 Tbl tomato paste
? Cup dry white wine
1 ? Cup of vegetable cooking water or stock
Salt to taste
freshly grounded black pepper
2 Tbl freshly chopped parsley
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees - if you have a microwave - convection oven use high/mixed
(I use this method.)
Make meatloaf by mixing all the ingredients together that is the meat, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper - when mixed together form into a fat sausage or place this mixture into a loaf tin or something that you like to make a meat loaf in.
Place potato directly on the oven rack - I lightly brush these with oil, just cut them in half.
Bake for 45 minutes in the oven - if using the high/mix method - cook for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven, then place the bananas around the meatloaf and drape the bacon over the top - return to the oven and cook for a further 30 minutes.
Transfer the meatloaf, bacon and bananas to a warm serving plate and tip any excess fat from the baking dish, being careful to retain juices.
To make the gravy/sauce place the oil from the dish into a saucepan - or you can place the baking dish over the heat and add the flour - stir scrape and cook the flour for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and wine. Stir again, then add vegetable water gradually, stirring until you have a smooth gravy. Bring to the boil. If too thick add more water. Check seasoning. Strain into a serving jug and stir in parsley.
You can make this ahead of time by using a small amount of oil in the saucepan and stir the flour etc into that and follow instructions above - this is a quick method.
Serve by placing meatloaf on the plate with banana on the top - spoon some sauce over the banana - if your guest does not like banana just spoon over the sauce and then put the bacon on top of the meatloaf - Serve with potato, salad, or other vegetables.
This Recipe contains GARLIC, read all about this wonderful plant in our cookbook tips page.
Tips Pages
Please email Daphne with your personal "critique" of this recipe for publication in next week's newsletter.
P.S. We continue to accept favourite recipes and/or cookery tips to add to our cookbook so email your favourites to Daphne today!
The WWWCOF Cookbook consists of the following sections:
Main recipes from our Recipe Circus and members
About 200 of those and others put into Spanish
Members special favourites, Seasonal or Regional recipes (dedicated to Claudia)
The kitchen help and tips section
I would like to remind members that our Circle has its very own COMPUTER HELP SECTION which has recently been updated with fresh articles and tips sent in by the members. You can find anything in there from Abbreviations used in the chat room to what Website names mean and tough use of the computer and communications via computer. There is also a huge computer humour section with enough stuff in there for most of us to relate to!!
So if anyone has their own pet shortcuts or tips on how to make the most of your computer, don?t hesitate to let us know.
Here is the newest update in our Planet awareness site in the Animals in danger section:
Animals
This is just one of the many aspects of our planet being in crisis, contained in our Circle's own site on planet awareness
Planet Kryzys I am sure many others have something to say about what is happening locally, regionally or nationally where they live, so please don't hesitate to let us know.
As the saying goes " look after our planet.......... its the only one with CHOCOLATE!!"
Birds in danger.
Our British correspondent, Sylvia, has been sending me a lot of stuff on how climate change is affecting so many aspects of life.
The main human induced cause of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels. Birds are a powerful indicator of environmental change, for example as the North Sea becomes warmer the food chain is disrupted and sea birds can no longer find food, and hundreds of thousands of seabirds failed to raise any young in the last couple of years.
Drought in Southern England, affecting the habitat of many species has caused drops of up to 80% in the breeding. It has also been noticed that the migration of certain swans and geese is also affected by warmer areas.
More information can be found at Bird Protection , which in turn is a member of Stop Climate Chaos
Sylvia has also brought attention to the fact that lately great White sharks have been spotted of the south west coast of England. These creatures are usually temperate water beings.
She recommends World Wildlife Fund for information on wildlife the world over.
In an indirect way, our west Canadian correspondent, Sharon, has been letting us know what is happening environmentally in B.C.
In a recent magazine there is an article on the spotted owl. In the past there were between 300 and 500 pairs of spotted owls living in B.C: Today only 22 are known to exist. The female one or two young every two years, but last year none were known to survive. The cause is put on the clearing of forests which means the animals the owls live on are leaving the area. More information can be found at: for Species at Risk.
Remember Jeanette from the Land Down Under has set up a trivia challenge on FunTrivia.com for us so please join in on the fun.
New questions will appear each day, and everyone can compare scores at the
link above throughout the day. Try to answer questions quickly, because the
quizzes are timed. The best cumulative scores at the end of the month go
into the hall of fame. See you there!
DADDY'S EMPTY CHAIR
A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her
father.
When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head
propped up on two pillows.
An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old
fellow had been informed of his visit.
"I guess you were expecting me, he said.
'No, who are you?" said the father.
The minister told him his name and then remarked,
"I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up,"
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man.
"Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man.
"But all of my life I have never known how to pray.
At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right
over my head.
I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued,
"until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me,
"Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with
Jesus.
Here is what I suggest."
"Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith
see Jesus on the chair.
It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'.
"Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now."
"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours
every day.
I'm careful though If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair,
she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."
The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to
continue on the journey.
Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the
church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy
had died that afternoon.
Did he die in peace?" he asked.
Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his
bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek.
When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead.
But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before
Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the
bed.
What do you make of that?"
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go
like that."
I asked God for water,
He gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower,
He gave me a garden.
I asked God for a friend,
He gave me all of YOU...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering
that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand.
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.As
the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.
"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God
doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick
people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would
be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would
allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he
didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the
customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man
in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He
looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said
to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here,! and I
am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did,
there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards,
like that man outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is that people do not come to
me."
"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES
exist! What happens is that people don't go to Him and do not look for
Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
If you think God exists, send this to other people---If you think God
does not exist, delete it!
BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING
Around the corner
Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like himjust as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy,tired men.
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away
"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died oday."
And that's what we get and deserve n the end. Around the corner, a vanished friend. Remember to always say what you mean. If you love someone, tell them. Don't be afraid to express yourself.
Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you. Because when you decidet that it is the right time it might be too late.
Seize the day. Never have regrets.
And most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today.
Hope you have enjoyed this week's issue.Do take the time to think of the members and make their day by emailing them to say hello from your corner of the globe! It is always nice to know that someone is thinking about us!
Start thinking about what you would like to appear in next week's Global Express and email it to Sharonor Bigsis Pat today. Thank you everyone for your love and support.
Everyone is so great and so helpful in this group ... that is what makes it great. Thank you so much!
ORLD
IRCLE
OF 
RIENDS
elcome
to 
lobal 
xpress
Dear Friends and Family,
gold and no one deserves it more than her. Although being "Human," I am not wanting her to leave. I know this will be the best. I need strength and much prayer. Thank you and May God Bless.
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