INGREDIENTS
METHOD
Mash the avocados with a fork and mix with the lime juice, Worcester sauce, and Tabasco. Stir in the garlic and the tomato and season with salt. Serve with nachos.
For the first time since February, we were able to hold our monthly meeting at the Arts Centre. There was a good attendance, just reaching the maximum of twenty attendees allowed in the boardroom at the present time. Our judge Graham Martin travelled from Brisbane and gave us a critique on each photo and excellent suggestions on how to improve our photography. He also gave a short talk on photography tips.
The theme for the month was “Looking Down” and was won by Roger Bawden with his “Looking Down on Brisbane” a beautiful shot taken on high of the Albert Street Uniting Church. This photo also won “Image of the Month”. Roger was also the winner of the Mono Print category with his lovely “Amsterdam” image.
Mike Ktori won the Open Colour Print section with a magic shot of a bee titled “Bumble”.
John Cupper was the winner of the Projected Image Open Colour category with a fantastic shot of a Rainbow Beeeater with a captured Katydid in its bill titled “An Easy Catch but now to Swallow”.
Alain Chardon took out the PI Mono with his very clever “So many Books” which is one of many of his imaginative, composite arrangements. During the month Alain hosted a successful workshop on composite photography at his home. Our new trial “Creative” category which is a fun activity and not part of the competition has proved popular with several members taking part and many creative images being produced. Our next activity is a trip in August to Southbank for a City Lights shoot. Monthly meetings in the Boardroom at the Arts Centre, on Sunderland Drive, will continue at 7 pm on the fourth Monday of each month. Covid 19 restrictions will apply and limit attendees to a maximum of 20 persons. Members and guests MUST pre-register by email prior to each meeting at bribiephotographyclub@ gmail.com, MUST arrive by 7.10 pm and will be required to complete an attendance form with the correct details.
Hopefully, this is only a temporary arrangement. For enquiries please ring Gordon at 3408 2649 and Gail at 0419 638 865
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
I ‘VE NEVER BEEN ONE TO BEGRUDGE ANYONE A DRINK (AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, THAT IS) WHEN THEIR TASTE BUDS TELL THEM “IT’S TIME”.
I mean its pub opening time somewhere in the world at just about any time, isn’t it? And as far as a celebratory drink goes, there’s always a reason to celebrate something isn’t there??? ….even if it’s only another excuse for yet another public holiday!
I blame Paddy (who I never knew), my maternal grandfather, Henry Nixon (who migrated from Ireland in the 1890s) and my paternal greatgrandfather, Capt. Matthew Walker (renowned for his love of a pint or two) for my drinking habits….. family DNA, you could say. (Mind you, my old drinking habits and prowess (?) are as good as ancient history now……a case of “the process of ageing” and battered taste buds, maybe?). And who (or was) “Paddy”?
I was visiting an old cemetery in Toowong (Brisbane) when I came across a headstone which read “Here lies Paddy, he’s gone down the track; have a drink for our Paddy, he’s not coming back”. Now, being part Irish (and part English) by ancestry ….a typical hybrid Aussie, you might say that touched me! I thought of Grandfather Henry (who I never met) and had a drink, to honour Paddy and my Grandfather Henry.
Family folklore has it that Henry left Ireland in a hurry in the 1880/early ’90s…. possibly due to his suggested feisty disposition, robust clashes with authorities (and, it was rumoured) his close association with the I.R.A. “the Irish troubles” at that time. We never did find out.
Great grandfather Matthew Walker’s nature, and his liking for “a pint or two” (and a few rums) was much easier to track down and verify. Family history (not just folklore) tells us that he managed to get himself jailed, in Melbourne, for unruly behaviour, disturbing the peace and then later (in Queensland, where he finally settled) he managed to lose an interest in a gold mine, at Gympie( which later became a gold rush “cracker”) following drink-fuelled disputes with his partners. (Later still, he owned a pub in the Burrum district).
So it shouldn’t come as any great surprise to anyone that – in my younger days – I had a reputation for “enjoying a cold drink on a hot day”….or was it “a hot drink on a cold day”?
So what’s this all about…? Strangely enough, it’s about celebrating birthdays – and our national “birthday”, Australia Day, specifically.
Unlike people in other countries who DO observe their “national day” on the date of their nations actual birth DATE, we don’t! Our January 26 observance (or celebration) of Australia Day falls on the date on which our country(then an officially unnamed continent known only as “The Great Southern Continent”) was annexed by Capt. James Cook in the name of Britain(and it’s King George 3rd) as a colonial dumping ground for Britain’s excess criminals, rotting in its over-crowded prisons. (That was on January 26, 1770.)
The actual DATE of “birth” (DOB) of our Australian nation, when Britain’s collection of colonies merged, by the federation, to become the “Commonwealth of Australia”, was January 1, 1901…..just 119 years ago. That’s the historical fact – not just a personal view (or “spin”) on when we SHOULD be celebrating Australia’s actual “birthday”.
As indicated earlier, I’m up for celebrations (with a good feed and a drink or three) about just about anything… just about any time.
But I am also a firm believer that history is history … and facts are facts … and that neither should be ignored ( or tampered with), just for the sake of a good celebratory drink or convenience – or another public holiday even – whatever the occasion.
I believe that we are not giving due respect to either verified Australian history or facts associated with it, by observing our Australia Day on January 26 instead of the day we actually WERE born, as a nation….and that is/was January 1, 1901.
AND there are other dates and events associated with the birth of our nation and its systems of parliamentary democracy which are eminently more appropriate (than January 26) to mark and celebrate our “national day”, also
FOR EXAMPLE…..
1(Federation Day) or January 26 (the day we were annexed as a British colony in 1770) warranting a good celebration to mark our emergence as a nation, then May 9 would have to stand a good chance of “getting the nod”….justifiably. My advice (and desire) would be to see our Government put the issue to “the people”…..and let us decide the issue, once and for all.
THIS IS A TRUE STORY; IT’S OFFERED AS A COUNTER TO THE ONGOING MISERY BEING FORCED UPON US BY THE MASS MEDIA THAT SEEM NEVER TO OFFER AN ENCOURAGING STORY. BAD NEWS GETS THEM VIEWERS, NOT SO GOOD NEWS.
The best way to face adversity has always been to use humour – laughter being the best medicine – try this out! Friend Danny became a victim of forced detention and treatment when the Dreaded Lergie, now known by its modern name Covid19 extended its grasping tentacles during the early peak of the pandemic. I’ve known Danny for many years and will admit he can get himself into scrapes, but this one might be the best yet.
Danny could be described as an innocent abroad in this little saga. The drama begins in a club in NSW where our hero is an active director. One of his colleagues in the club works in a major local hospital where she assists a distinguished cardiologist. Now Danny happens to inform his lady friend that he has been suffering shortness of breath and some mild chest pains She offers to help by making a quick appointment for him to see the eminent physician. Now, this particular lady is not one to brook argument so Danny agrees.
Two days later Danny is driving when he receives a phone call from the friend. “Where are you? Turn around right now and go to the hospital – you could be having little heart attacks – get over here right now. I’ll be waiting” – See what I mean about her being forceful. Danny, a bit put out, phones his lady wife asking her to bring him some clothes. She has already had a call from the ‘organiser’ friend and has misunderstood – she thinks he’s having a heart attack. She’s on red alert!
Danny arrives at the hospital a bit worried by now; the place appears almost deserted. A receptionist asks what is he doing there. He tries to tell her that he’s come in about shortness of breath and chest pains. He wipes his nose on his hanky, as it turns out not the best action given the circumstances. The receptionist immediately gives him a facemask telling him “Don’t take that off”.
She takes him through big double doors, into a ward with beds down each side all occupied with sick looking people, masked up, tubes connected everywhere.
Now he’s getting freaked out. Danny tries to argue and tells the guide that he has to contact his organiser friend because he’s in the wrong place.
“You’re not going anywhere” is the reply.
In a panic, he starts back towards the doors. “They’re locked”, he’s told. “You won’t be going home tonight, put that mask on”.
“But I’m in the wrong room, I came in for heart tests,” says Danny.
“We’ll do tests for Covid AND your heart. Strip down to your jeans, sit on that bed – number 17 – there”. A large security guard is all the while watching the proceedings.
Danny thinks, Oh My God, I’m in a Hitchcock movie.
On the next bed is a weird-looking character not wired up as much as the others, but he’s real skinny, sallow complexion with ginger hair and a mullet. This guy is on something. He keeps nodding and muttering to himself.
“Only way out is through them doors and they’re locked”. says the spook. “You’ll have to wait ‘til somebody comes in and make a run for it”.
They put heart monitors on Danny and start trying to fit a catheter into his arm to take blood. After three or four attempts they finally succeed but leave a black bruise the size of a tennis ball as a souvenir. Then Danny hears the spook again. “You’re not going to enjoy this – you wait to find out – it ain’t over yet”.
He turns. Oh No, it’s not a Hitchcock movie; its One Flew over the Cuckoo’s nest and suddenly its Nurse Ratched – in a spacesuit. She’s carrying a long straw thing in each hand.
“Don’t spew all over me” she says and puts one of the things down his throat. I thought she was going to push the other thing through the top of my head he told me later.
Finally when this ordeal is over his phone rings. It’s his lady friend not very patiently asking where he is.
“What are you doing there?” she responds to his answer. He tells her. “I cannot help you in there,” she tells him. Later the heart doc phones and tells Danny he’s sorry, but he can’t help and Danny is just going to have to endure it. Danny told me that was the moment that broke his heart. He just surrendered to it all.
From walking into the chamber of horrors at 2 PM it’s not until 3 AM the following morning that he gets out. They had brought food but I didn’t touch anything he told me. At one point the weirdo tells him “I’m goin’ to get a drink. I’ll get you one Bro – you’ll feel better”. At that, he walks over to the sink, picks up two used cups, doesn’t bother to wash them, fills them and brings them back.
I thought for a minute when he got to the sink that it really was the Cuckoo movie and that he was going to rip the thing off the wall and throw it through the window, he told me. He didn’t. Danny doesn’t touch the cup or anything else whilst he’s in there.
Finally, at 3 AM they let him free telling him that all the tests have been sent away and that they’ll get a response in a week but in the meantime, he’s given dire warnings to quarantine when he gets home. His wife waiting at the entrance is the best sight he’s ever seen in his life.
Two weeks later he’s told, by his lady friend that he can see the Cardio but this time in the private hospital, which adjoins the main buildings. Danny arrives, sees the main hospital, takes a half a mile walking detour around the very outside of the car park. He’s not going within shouting distance of the place he fears.
The final outcome is that Danny neither has Covid19 nor a heart condition.
But he’s right off watching certain movies on Netflix now!
Hello to each of you again,
While out and about in Pumicestone since my last update, I have been asking the question of particular members of our community, “What affects you most now that you are retired?” The question was prompted with the advent of the upcoming ‘Seniors Week’ commencing Saturday 15 August and I would be very interested to hear your response to that same question. Because by asking that question, these are some of the concerns that get raised. For most, it was the frustration of not being able to do, what in the past was done without even having to think about it. When speaking to Brenda, the restrictions caused by health issues were her main source of frustration. As a result of a stroke, she now required the aid of a walker for her mobility, and something simple like getting up from a table and placing a used cup in a nearby rubbish bin, was now no longer a ‘simple task’, but one requiring an additional amount of effort to undertake.
She, and another gentleman I spoke to, Mervyn, also spoke of the impact of losing a life partner and the loneliness and isolation that can result when faced with the challenge of having to keep one’s self ‘occupied’ at different times of the day or week. This and other significant life events, also required at times, the moving of various family members so each could then be more readily available to support the other. Listening to these and other life experiences, I was so impressed with the resilience and practicality each person applied to their situation. And by listening to their experiences, I also picked up on other ‘more subtle’ aspects that impact on their daily lives.//One issue that was commonly raised, is how does one access the support services available if you either do not have access to a computer or do not know how to use a computer or mobile phone to find out what help is available? Yes, the Queensland Government web site https://www. qld.gov.au/seniors is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for information for seniors, provided you can access it. For those who don’t have a computer or access to one, may I suggest you consider joining a local U3A group as they at times have introductory computer courses on offer. The President of the Bribie Island group is Greg Sipthorpe on 34081450 or PO Box 440 Bribie Island 4507. The President of the Beachmere group is Mary Brown on 0456 685 736 or PO Box 103 Beachmere, 4510.
Because these organisations are run for seniors who ‘have a love of learning’, the volunteer tutors are keen to share their knowledge and experience in a learning environment that is both supportive and enjoyable. By being a member of the U3A, you are also able to meet others who have a similar interest to yourself as there are many other courses also available.
This also another positive that I heard when talking to other seniors, that is how friendly people are in our various communities. When chatting with Sandra and John who recently moved to the area from Sydney in NSW, they told me how different it was to now be walking along and to be greeted by locals who they did not know, as compared to where they previously lived where you were one of a couple of hundred thousand locals and each was an island to themselves. They admit it took a bit of getting used to, but now really enjoy being part of their community and are so thankful that they made the choice to move and join us.
When listening to the positives of what our Pumicestone area has to offer, this has reaffirmed my commitment to make sure that these ‘positives’ are supported and maintained, while also driving the changes needed to meet the needs of our collective future, while maintaining the liveability and beauty that makes Pumicestone the place of choice for people to live and visit. I value the wisdom of the elders and look forward to hearing from you, the issues you would like me to pursue on your behalf.
Till we next chat, stay safe, Ross
As you get older some things get looser. Things that used to be tight become loose. I’m thinking here about those muscles that keep your stomach flat – I believe they’re called abs? Is that really a thing? I’m pretty sure abs are a modern innovation. Well, when I was young we’d never heard of them.
Neither did we know about such things as probiotics, superfoods, ADHD, gluten intolerance, or narcissism. If someone said you were ‘on the spectrum’ (and just about everyone is these days) I would have imagined they were talking about their favourite colour. Perhaps whether they are an Autumn or a Spring. Remember in the ‘80s when you paid someone a ridiculous amount of money to tell you what colours look good on you?
Anyway, I digress. And this is exactly what I mean. As you get older things get a bit looser. You lose focus. And your car keys. I was thinking about this idea of looseness the other day, probably when I noticed the skin on my arms and the way it moves when I hold my arms up. Note to self. Wear long sleeves. Alternatively do not put your arms up.
Or I may have been thinking about the way I approach anything remotely related to work these days. Some things are definitely getting looser around here.
Society values tightness. We prefer things to be tight. Tight fiscal policy is good, right? Tight abs and pecs and those other fit sounding body parts – they’re good. If you sleep tight the bed bugs won’t bite. I wonder what seriously nasty things might befall me if start to sleep loose. I guess that would make me a loose woman and goodness knows, we all know where that leads.
The Bible says and I quote: ‘Do not go to meet a loose woman lest you fall into her snares.’ Hah! What about loose men? And where are they please?
I must admit that as I get older I’m getting looser all around. My shape is somewhat looser than it used to be. I’m more of a beanbag than a mid-century modern chair. And as for being a loose woman, well loose morals were always frowned upon back in the day. Yes, my morals are definitely starting to lose their tautness in a kind of ‘what the hell, time’s running out’ kinda fashion. And I’m pretty OK about it, in a loose kind of way.
These days I’m all for loose comfort rather than speed. For example, I hate tight clothes. Mind you, apparently tight clothes are sexy. Like that tight sheath, I used to fit into. Or those figure-hugging jeans that show your comely shape. I now think of these things as a form of voluntary bondage.
Forget tight shoes. Tight corners. Tight tights. Tight lips.
Let’s all loosen up and embrace our looseness.
Yes, even our loose lips. I intend to sink as many ships as I can.
YOU’VE WAITED AND WORKED AND SAVED YOUR WHOLE LIFE FOR RETIREMENT. NOW IT’S HERE AND IT’S YOUR TIME TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY. WHAT WILL YOU DO? FOR MANY, IT’S A TIME TO SEE THE WORLD. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE THE TIME TO GO WHERE YOU WANT. TO DO WHAT YOU WANT. HERE ARE SOME REASONS WHY TRAVELLING WHEN YOUR OLDER HAS ITS BENEFITS!
THERE’S LESS PRESSURE
Travellers in their 20s may have youth on their side, but being young also means there are certain pressures – to focus on a high-flying career, for example, or settle down and have kids. But a little later in life, you can afford to take a more carefree approach to exploring. Chances are, you’ve already got the career bit nailed, and any kids on the scene might even be big enough to take care of themselves at home.
YOU CAN TRAVEL WHEN YOU LIKE
Forget battling with the crowds on public holidays or paying twice as much for a trip away just because the kids are out of school. With all that behind you, you’re free to travel whenever and wherever you please.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
One of the best things about getting older is that you have a better idea of what you want from a trip away. Why waste your time on a guided tour when you know that your perfect holiday involves exploring alone? And why bother with five different museums when you’re perfectly happy to lose yourself in a good book on the beach? With experience you learn to focus on what you really want to get out of travelling, rather than trying to keep others happy.
YOU CAN REALLY LIVE THE DREAM
As you progress from backpacker budgets, you might gain access to top-end travel experiences that your pennypinching former-self might have once dreamed of. That’s not to say that all older travellers are rich, but having a couple of years (even decades) of work behind you means that ‘luxury’ travel is now within reach – buy the caravan of your dreams, motorhome or simply find accommodation to suit your needs.
IT CAN MAKE YOU HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER
Taking the plunge and heading out on a big adventure later in life could actually be beneficial for your health and happiness.
Travelling is one of those great pastimes that, if done properly, can keep mind and the body ticking along like clockwork. That isn’t just an opinion: studies have suggested that taking trips away may actually increase longevity.
With a little planning and foresight, senior travel can be an amazing experience. LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!
Aging is inescapable but it is also a glorious thing, you have done the work, you have learned many of life’s lessons, now you can sit back and enjoy life without all that youthful angst and uncertainty. Let’s have a look at a few simple things you can do to look and consequently feel great. So, why not age gracefully and beautifully and maybe get back that natural glow?
USE SUNSCREEN – While the sun nourishes us with vitamin D, it also has harmful ultraviolet rays which can potentially lead to skin cancer. Some dermatologists say that 90 percent of dark spots, wrinkles, and sagging are as a result of sun exposure. This is because as we get older the structural fibre of the skin known as collagen begins to degenerate. Exposure to the sun accelerates this degeneration.
Therefore, it is advisable on a hot day to make sure to apply sunscreen generously. When going out, wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your skin.
Regular moisturizing will do wonders for the smoothness and elasticity of your skin, leaving it protected against wrinkles and scarring, keeping it soft and touchable.
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER – ‘Water is life’ is a commonly used phrase which happens to be very accurate. Water is the way to look and feel youthful. Drinking plenty of water daily nourishes the skin by keeping it moist and your nails and hair looking healthy and soft. Other than drinking you can spray your hair with some water daily to keep it healthy and moisturized.
In addition, water also aids in smooth digestion. When combined with herbal teas it helps flush toxins out of the body leaving you feeling reenergized. When you do not take enough water, your skin becomes flaky and dry leading to early aging.
WATCH YOUR DIET – Diet plays a huge part in our appearance, health, and mood. It is important that we pay attention to this part of our lives. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and low in sugar is highly advisable. This is in contrast to a diet that is rich in fatty foods and processed sugars, which will leave you feeling lethargic and accelerates aging. Vegetables and fruits contain antioxidants that reverse the signs of aging.
Including good fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids found in such foods as walnuts, salmon, and tuna are great for protecting your skin and making you look younger.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP – In the high paced world that we live in, the value of sleep is overlooked. The need to sleep is numbed down by another cup of coffee. Sleeping poorly will not only show visible signs of aging on your face, but it will also make you perceive yourself as being less attractive. While you are asleep, your body will release a hormone that aids in growth which in turn restores collagen and elastin, which are the main constituents in the essential building blocks of young, glowing skin. If you don’t get enough sleep, your skin won’t renew itself and will start looking dull—especially as you age, when cell turnover is slowing down.” Skin temperature also rises when you sleep, allowing topical treatments to penetrate the skin more effectively than they do during the day.
EXERCISE REGULARLY AND PRACTICE GOOD POSTURE – The benefits of exercise are extensive. Among them are the feel-good hormones which are produced when we exercise: endorphins. These make us happier and improve our energy levels. Exercise is also a great way to build muscle. The older we get, the more muscle we lose; this is as a result of degeneration.
Staying active does not have to involve the gym. You can go for a walk or take the stairs instead of the elevator, play with your children or grandchildren, or even attend yoga sessions. These activities keep your heart rate up and keep you looking young and feeling healthy. Exercise is also great for the skin because it increases the blood flow to the cells including skin cells hence nourishing them. At the same time, the blood flow carries away the waste products from the cells. This process, therefore, cleanses the skin.
VISIT YOUR DENTIST – Over time our teeth discolour due to wine stains, coffee, tea or smoking. A visit to your dentist will have your teeth whiter and looking great in no time. Other than aesthetic reasons, other age-related issues such as the natural recession of the gums which causes teeth to look longer may occur.
For this reason, it is advisable to go for a dental check-up twice a year. It is also advisable to brush regularly and floss. Drinking milk and taking calcium supplements is also a good way to maintain your teeth.
Issue 119 OUT NOW. Get all your community news and information. Bribie Islands only community gloss magazine NOW EVERY TWO WEEKS! – Articles on boating, camping, fishing, life, drama, travel destinations, sports and what to see and do on Bribie Island. Covering charities, organisations, places, children’s activities, arts and crafts, tourist destinations, heritage parks, technology, science, music, gardening, and much more.
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TO INCREASE THE HOME’S SALE VALUE
Homes experience wear and tear over time. One such place that the impact is profoundly felt is the bathroom. The bathroom will look older than the rest of the house because of the hot water that causes moisture. Estate agents know this. One of the important factors that they check when they are valuing a home is the condition of the bathroom. A bathroom in good condition will raise the value of the house. Therefore, if you are contemplating selling your house and moving, it is a good idea that you remodel your bathroom to increase its sale value.
FOR SAFETY REASONS
Some things indicate that your bathroom is not safe. Some of the common ones have something to do with tiles. You probably have ignored them for a long time, but if you know your bathroom tiles are slippery or are broken, your bathroom is not safe. There may also be water leakages, which make the floor slippery and walls damp. It may also come in contact with electrical cables. If your bathroom has any of these signs, then you should consider remodelling it.
THE PLUMBING NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
The plumbing in the bathroom deteriorates with time. If you are experiencing constant problems in your bathroom that is plumbing related, then it is a sign that it needs to be redone to avoid them recurring. Mostly, you will be calling a plumber to fix something small, and then after a few days calling them to fix something else. This is annoying, inefficient and costly. You just need the bathroom to be fixed, and the best solution is for the bathroom to be redone.
EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY
A more efficient bathroom will save you money in the long run and reduce strain on the environment. Remodelling the bathroom gives you the chance to replace the old inefficient pipes and fixtures that save on the electricity bills and curb water usage.
MOULD AND MILDEW ARE INCREASING.
As the bathroom stays for long without being remodelled, mould and mildew keep on increasing. As a result, you will spend a lot of time cleaning the bathroom. If you are experiencing this, then your bathroom needs some attention. Mildew and mould make it hard to clean your bathroom.
Michele and I were lucky enough to be invited to a tour of the Bribie Island Gem and Fossicking Club on Wednesday the 15th of July and what a wonderful time we had. The time we spent with the members flew by as we were shown through the different sheds of cabochoning, silversmithing and faceting, learning just how much time, attention and detail goes into what these guys do.
I could spend hours writing about each and every stage but in all honesty, I wouldn’t be able to do the club justice. The passion and commitment, friendship and loyalty this club has in incredible and I sincerely believe that you need to do yourself a favour and attend the Gem Festival they are having on the 12th and 13th of September. They will be having live demonstrations and let me tell you, this is definitely worth checking out. It is incredible the skill level they have to take what looks like just an ugly piece of rock, cutting the rock and find the beauty inside of it, bring out the colours and the best of the stone or gem, then the amount of polishing it requires before it even reaches the jewellery setting stage is phenomenal.
I met quite a few of the gentleman in the sheds who were happy to explain the process to me and show me just how much work goes into it and I found the whole process fascinating and these guys could not have been more welcoming, knowledgeable and above all patient with me as I am sure I asked a lot of stupid questions!
We then went into the faceting shed, which is where they use a process of cutting planes into a stone in a predetermined pattern. Which they have an awful lot of diagrams they use to determine what cutting needs to be done. Gemstone faceting is a marvellous mixture and blend of engineering and art. Through a mechanical process of cutting surfaces on (for a better word, rock) beautiful gems are created. Then of course, polished. It seems like there is a vast amount of time spent polishing in every shed we visited.
The silversmithing shed was our next stop, this was a very interesting shed! The ladies there were an absolute riot, they had us in stitches of laughter and I could see myself becoming a member just to sit around and listen to their stories. In saying that, they blew us away with the skill and technique used to make the stunning jewellery they showed me. Intricate pieces that require a steady hand, patience and an artist’s eye. There are many steps required to complete these pieces and yet again, I strongly advise you to come and check it out for yourself at the Gem Festival. I promise you will not be disappointed. Keep an eye out in the magazine for more details about the upcoming festival, a lot is happening and will be a fantastic day out for all!!
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and thanks to the club for the invitation, time and lovely reception we received from you all. We will certainly be back again!!!
USE LUKEWARM WATER
Use lukewarm water to shower and wash your face. Hot showers dry your skin quickly, and if you do not moisturize it immediately, your skin can develop cracks and winter eczema. Once you have taken a lukewarm shower, apply a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides. This will keep the moisture barrier intact and prevent dryness.
STAY HYDRATED
Be it inside your home or outside, the air is drier in winter. And as a result, water evaporates from your body easily. Hence, you need to keep your skin hydrated. You can also install a humidifier to manage the moisture level in your home. This will certainly keep your skin happy.
CHOOSE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS WISELY
The key to healthy and glowing winter skin is using mild skincare products. Choose cleansers that contain moisturizers to avoid stripping your skin of its natural moisture barrier. If you have acne or breakouts, use products containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, hydration serums, and glycerine to help in repairing the moisture barrier of your skin. Avoid masks and peels, astringent lotions, and any product that contains alcohol as they make your skin dry during the winter.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN
The warm sun rays feel pleasant, but the UV rays can still damage your skin a lot. Choose a sunscreen that has titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
DO NOT EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN A LOT
Exfoliating the skin helps in getting rid of dead cells. You have to be careful during winters because your skin barrier is already compromised due to the dry and cold weather. Exfoliating your skin once a week is fine – this helps in boosting skin regeneration and better product absorption. Also, you should exfoliate depends on your skin type. If you have very dry skin, exfoliate your skin lightly. If you have combination and oily skin, once a week is fine.
DON’T DITCH THE SUNGLASS
The glare from the sun can harm the skin around your eyes and cause brown spots, fine lines, and other issues. So, whenever you step outside, make sure that you wear good quality UV protected sunglasses, preferably with wide arms.
FOLLOW A DAILY SKIN CARE ROUTINE
It doesn’t need to be elaborate. Here’s a very basic and simple skincare routine that anyone can follow to keep their skin happy during the winter. Cleanse your skin once or twice a day, preferably in the morning and before going to bed. After washing your face in the morning, apply a light daily moisturizer to lock the moisture in. And at night, use a heavy moisturizer or overnight cream. This should be done on damp skin because just-washed skin absorbs moisture better.