BITS & PIECES
LETTERS
NOW HERE’S ONE TO WATCH
THE letter by Stan Cajdler (YT Sept) was a timely reminder that we are the throwaway society. I had never previously known that even eggshells, when properly sterilized and pulverized, can be reused. As he pointed out, the old environmental message of repurpose and reuse (together with reduce and rethink) has been lost on much of our modern, conspicuous consumption. Excessive packaging, especially in plastic, is a good example, resulting in litter in our public places, and plastic in our waterways and oceans. The recycling of plastics, in particular, is not keeping up with its use. In landfill, plastics could last for hundreds of years, and, in the sun, it breaks down into tiny pieces. The solution to recycling seems to be to offer a small refund, as currently happens with some bottles and aluminium cans. In the case of plastic packaging, refunds would have to be based on weight. Ken Moore FURTHER to Cheryl Lockwood’s column (YT Aug) about over 50s taking a fall, a fracture can mean the end of living alone. I have been a real world traveller and have never been a “faller” even in countries covered in ice. I could count on one hand the falls I have had, but last January, I fell in the garden and fractured my wrist, my first ever broken bone. I received wonderful treatment at the
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. I was seen within 20 minutes by a doctor aned xrayed within another 20, and this was on a busy Friday evening. I told the doctor that I seemed to have something wrong with my balance and within a week I had received a text from the STARS Clinic on Herston Rd. I was enrolled in their Rehab Balance Clinic. STARS stands for Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service. It has wonderful professional staff. I have never had attention like it . Yes, I did have imbalance due to an ear problem and also found I had a foot problem. I attended a two-hour clinic every week for six weeks and solved it. Everything is brand new at STARS so yes, Cheryl, such a place exists, in case you have another fall and require them. The clinic specialises in teaching people how NOT to fall, with gentle exercises to strengthen legs and arms, and even a kitchen to learn kitchen safety. It was wonderful. The saddest part about falls is that they can put paid to a lifestyle the victim enjoyed and who, before the fall , were fully independent and active. If the break does not respond to treatment, you are bound for nursing home care. The loss of independence and way of life is heartbreaking. Rita Malone
HERE’S a clever little device that just got even smarter – an all-in-one watch, phone and GPS tracker that now incorporates fall detection. It also has medication reminders, safety call back, location by request, SOS alerts and Bluetooth pairing to hearing aids. And on top of all that it tells the time. The Spacetalk LIFE watch uses intelligent sensors to triangulates the wearer’s location. The fall detection technology is a world-first for devices specifically designed for seniors and people with special needs. “With Spacetalk LIFE, we were determined to build a practical, useful, reliable and secure smartphone-watch for our seniors,” founder and chief executive Mark Fortunatow says. “We invested heavily in style because, along with useful features and functions, it creates a point of difference.” The device addresses the needs of a broad audience to match lifestyles, from those with significant health issues to the active golfers. Spacetalk devices are online and in numerous retail outlets.
IN THE GARDEN — with Penny THERE’S so much colour around with annuals such as petunias, marigolds, poppies, sweet peas and primula. Citrus are in full flower. Reward them with some fertiliser and a good soak to ensure lots of fruit next year. The mango trees also have lots of flowers so fingers crossed they set well. Prune camellias to shape if required, take cuttings of geraniums, coleus and most other shrubs. A 50/50 peat and perlite mix is good for propagating. Dahlia tubers can still be planted. Disbud for larger blooms. Remove old foliage from broms, spray roses for black spot and trim back when flowers have finished. Keep picking sweetpeas for more flowers but leave a few for next year’s seeds. It’s a good time to repot if required. Plant annuals now for a Christmas display. All summer salad veges can be put in now. A large water-well pot is great to grow veges without setbacks. An orchid or succulent is a great living gift. Pop one in a pot for a long-lasting display. Keep the weeds at bay while they are small and don’t let them go to seed. Check your plants daily for grubs, caterpillars and grasshoppers. A liquid feed really keeps plants happy and healthy.
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Brisbane
29/09/2021 1:55:13 PM
