Updated 22 November 2008

Updated 22 November 2008 - Zara

Read the rest of this entry »

It has been a while since I have looked for any new information on the particular form of arthritis that I suffer from. This is mostly because the symptoms have been quite good for the last 12-18 months so I have been off the drugs. However this past winter has seen a return of some of the symptoms. Fortunately I have managed to deal with it for the most part by going on the meds again.

Recently, I came across some new(ish) research into low-starch diets in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. There is plenty of information if you can be bothered reading the Google results, but it involves a particular bacteria which feeds on undigested starches and is found in high-levels in people with AS. The hypothesis is that cutting down on starches in the diet will help to prevent this bacteria from multiplying and as a result preventing the autoimmune reactions which is what causes the symptoms of AS.

It’s going to be tricky going on a low-starch diet as a cyclist though.

You see all sorts of litter on the street in my area. There are the usual things like newspapers, plastic wrappers, cigarette butts and broken beer bottles. Then there is also stuff like syringes which I’ve come across several times.

This was a new one for me this morning. I had just had a haircut on Smith St, then headed down to Victoria St to grab some lunch. Locked my bike up and was walking along when I saw this in the gutter.

On the weekend, I did a bit my usual groceries down at Victoria Street. I grabbed some extra snacks in preparation for some late nights watching the Tour de France. There’s a great range of stuff to try in an Asian supermarket so you never really know what you’re going to find.

I came across the wasabi green peas and spent a good couple of minutes having look at all of the options. The last lot I bought were not too bad, but more sweet than hot. In the end, I settled on these Khao Shong wasabi-coated green peas from Thailand. They have just the right mix of up-your-nose wasabi and salty flavour. Great stuff - this large 280g can isn’t going to last more than a week. They also had wasabi-coated broad beans but these only came in the smaller can - will have to see if I can find these in the larger can. At least these peas are only 10% fat compared to 30% in your usual potato chips.

Another interesting snack I bought was some mixed dried fruit chips. I didn’t really like the taro, but everything else in the mix is quite good, especially the jackfruit.

Throw me your recommendations for other snacks to try.

Time for you to get married.

he is currently 32 hours old, as i’m posting this.

3.56kg. rather hairy.

Traffic jam daily grind

“I have to leave at 8.15am to drive my daughter to school 1km away to be there by 9am and she is still late.”

An early TGIF because it’s the last day of the working week for us in Australia - it’s Anzac Day tomorrow. Some people would have us believe it’s a day of celebration and glorification of armed conflict and we should do away with it. Whether or not a modern civilised nation should be entering into a war is a debate for another day. Anzac Day is a day for the commemoration of the fallen.

Lest we forget.

Guys, the boss and I will be home for three weeks during the Xmas break. Who’s down for some Yum Cha on Boxing Day??

Let me know and I’ll try to suss something outm thanks.