Weekender Living

BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOHO ASTRO - JOANNE MADELINE MOORE

Daily posts at www.bohoastro.com | twitter @JoMadelineMoore | © Joanne Madeline Moore 2021

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

Calling all Aquarians – avoid being disruptive and getting drawn into disputes with your frustrated partner or an assertive family member. Th is week will work best if you keep your nose out of other people’s business and concentrate on pursuing personal projects. Th en Mars and Uranus turbo-charge your impulsive side on the weekend. So slow down and simmer down, otherwise you could fi nd yourself smack bang in the middle of an argument or accident.

Twins are in the mood to enthuse and extrapolate. Mars and your ruler Mercury encourage you to talk, text, tweet, post, podcast or publish in style as you convey your ideas to the outside world. But you must take your time and think things through. If you rush, then you could end up regretting what you say. Travel also looks problematic, as Saturn slows things down and Uranus upsets previous plans. Th is week, slow and steady wins the race … eventually!

Expect some annoying dramas as the planets stir up old grievances. By all means use your natural diplomatic talents to help smooth troubled waters. However, if you sit back and let other people make decisions, then you’ll just feel paralysed and powerless. So strive to be more self-suffi cient. Getting the ratio right between your public and private lives is an ongoing challenge. But if anyone can juggle complex commitments, it’s a well-balanced Libran! Have you been feeling like a lacklustre Pisces? Are you sick and tired of being perpetually busy? Have you got too many tasks crammed into your timetable? With Saturn snoozing in your solitude zone, you’ll fi nd sleep, meditation, contemplation, rest and relaxation are just what the doctor ordered. You also need to listen to the wisdom of your inner voice. Be inspired by Cancerian birthday great, Princess Diana: “I work on instinct. It’s my best advisor” .

On Monday, Mars activates your humanitarian side so it’s the perfect time to lend a hand to someone who’s in need, at home or far away. Be inspired by birthday great Princess Diana: “Everyone has the potential to give something back”. But then the Mars/Saturn/Uranus aspects could exacerbate a relationship problem. Don’t take things too personally and put away those Crab claws! You’ll fi nd the more defensive you are, the more diffi cult the week will be.

Are you running on empty? Smart Scorpios will strive to get the ratio right between being on top of things at work, while still having time to rest, refl ect and recharge your batteries. Balance is the key. Relations with a loved one or work colleague could be unpredictable and problematic later in the week, particularly if you try to control an uncontrollable situation. So expect the unexpected and keep your adaptability muscles well fl exed! Monday’s Mars/North Node link is fabulous for pouring energy into creative projects. It also encourages you to help a friend or family member who’s going through a rough patch. But reckless Ram behaviour could mar the rest of the week so tread carefully. You’re keen to get things moving but don’t be in such a rush that you start an argument or cause an accident. Do your best to be dynamic and courageous, rather than bossy and demanding.

Creative Cats are fabulous at formulating ideas, discussing dreams and talking about future plans. But – with Venus and Mars both visiting your sign – it’s time to be passionately proactive and actually walk your talk. Th is week, actions defi nitely speak louder than words! So your motto for the moment is from entrepreneur Elon Musk, who was born on June 28, 1971: “I don’t create companies for the sake of creating companies, but to get things done” .

Sadges love drama, and there’ll be plenty of it this week as your usual routine is shaken and stirred. You’re keen to persuade others but don’t add fuel to the fi re by being too hasty. Th ere’s much more to a current situation than meets the eye, so resist the temptation to jump to conclusions. Discretion and moderation are what’s needed at the moment. Connecting with colleagues brings benefi ts, as you put on your networking hat and schmooze in style. Mars, Saturn and Uranus stir up your home zone, so be careful how you communicate with family members. When it comes to other matters, Uranus (in your sign) urges you to jump out of your comfort zone, shake off bad habits, embrace opportunities and fast-track changes. It’s time to view transformation as terrifi c, rather than terrifying. Be inspired by Taurean author and philosopher Edward de Bono: “If you never change your mind, why have one?”.

Are you taking your work responsibilities seriously? Saturn demands that you shape up or ship out. Mercury (your patron planet) is powering through your career zone until July 11. So it’s a terrifi c time to improve your professional literacy through study or via the mentorship of someone with smart and savvy connections. Some brave Virgos will tentatively revisit an old romance – but do you really want to travel down that bumpy road again?

Your compulsive Capricorn side is likely to go into overdrive, as conscientious Saturn amps up your obsession with perfection. But family and friends may fi nd your standards far too demanding. If you push too hard, you’ll just end up driving them away. So do your best to modify your control-freak tendencies. Being an iron fi st in a velvet glove is the smarter (and less stressful) way to proceed. Remember – the highest form of control is knowing when to let go!

FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

APRIL 21 TO MAY 21

MAY 22 TO JUNE 21

JUNE 22 TO JULY 22

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23

AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

SEPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

*Pay no top-up on your adult entry ticket to Featherdale when you present a valid Service NSW Discover Voucher 217-229 Kildare Road,Doonside, Sydney NSW 2767 (02) 9622 1644

Massage has been around for thousands of years, and most cultures through history have used it in one form or other. Even Hippocrates, who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine, prescribed massage to treat physical injuries.

Massage has been shown to have many benefits, including reducing muscle tension, stress hormones, anxiety and depression. It can also improve circulation, immune response, and recovery from soft tissue injury, increase relaxation, and stimulate the lymphatic system.

So why should you get a massage?

Some of the main reasons people come for massage are stress and physical pain.

By stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest and digest system, blood and lymph circulation is increased, assisting in moving oxygen and nutrients where they are needed and removing toxins and waste from the body. Endorphins are released, as well as serotonin, which can assist in reducing symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety.

Almost everyone will experience some form of physical pain in their lives, often caused or made worse by work or lifestyle choices. A big example of this is the back, shoulder and neck pain so common to people who work in an office. As massage increases circulation, working with the fibres of the muscle to help return it to the form is designed to be, most people will find large improvements to their pain levels, tension and posture. This can be supported with stretches and exercises given by a massage therapist, as well as adjusting posture, both at home and work. In the end, there are a multitude of reasons to get a massage, whether you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, or just to spoil yourself. The real question is, why not get a massage?

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As our life changes so do our financial planning needs. I have created a list of some important life events that are commonplace and highlight some of the issues associated.

Pay rise – Pay rises are obviously financially good news, they increase our capacity to save or repay debts and will allow us to achieve our goals sooner. Don’t let pay rises get sucked up into everyday spending without improving your lifestyle. A pay rise may also change your income protection requirements.

Getting married – Getting married changes everything! Weddings themselves are expensive and couples are treated differently to singles for taxation and social security. Combining expenses is likely to have some economies of scale, but you may also become financially reliant on each other and that may bring into play some insurance requirements. It goes without saying that your estate planning situation is also affected by getting married.

What to do with a lump sum? Pay off debt? Invest? Make a contribution to super? These are all valid options. There are so many considerations in this scenario and the correct advice with a lump sum can make an enormous difference.

Having a baby – Having a baby significantly affects both income and expenses greatly altering the budget and associated plans. It is likely that one or both partners are likely to reduce work hours and this might open some opportunities to be considered as a low income earner for a short period of time and utilise associated benefits. Both partners will definitely be financially reliant on each other once kids are involved and insurance needs are definitely more important.

Redundancy – Redundancy payments are complicated. There are taxation issues, the possible requirement for this to replace income and all the possibilities around what to do with a lump sum. A redundancy is a situation where good financial advice can add significant value.

Retirement – Retirement is the bread and butter of financial planners. A large portion of our advice is about providing enough wealth to meet income needs in retirement. We aim to minimise or eliminate tax, maximise Centrelink payments and create efficient income streams for retirees.

We are all likely to be effected by one or more of these significant events in our lifetime. Getting good financial advice during these times can help to secure a brighter financial future.

WITH DR ERIN SHORT GREENCROSS COREEN AVENUE • 4731 3055

Feline respiratory disease (also referred to as cat flu), is a common disease seen in unvaccinated cats. It can affect cats of all ages but tends to be particularly severe in kittens and purebred cats. Cat flu is highly contagious and can spread from one feline friend to another via eye, nasal or mouth discharge. Contaminated food or water bowls can also be a source of the spread of disease.

There are several viruses responsible for cat flu. Most have a targeted vaccination. However, the majority of cases will be caused by one of two viruses, Feline Herpes Virus 1 (FHV-1) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV).

The clinical signs of cat flu are similar to colds and flu in people. Symptoms include: • sneezing • coughing • runny eyes • nasal discharge • loss of appetite • tongue ulcers Some infected cats don’t show any clinical signs and are known as ‘carrier cats’. A carrier is only infectious to other cats when they are shedding the virus, which may be continuous or intermittent. If the carrier is stressed, shedding of the virus will be increased. Nothing can be done to change the carrier status of cats. All cats that have had cat flu should be considered potential carriers.

Diagnosis is usually based on the clinical signs and physical examination of the feline. Occasionally, a swab may be taken from the cat’s mouth for viral culture and sent off to a laboratory for identification and confirmation.

The treatment of cat flu can vary depending on the cause. Treatment is usually only symptomatic relief that includes keeping the nose and eyes clear and clean. Antibiotics are often used to control secondary bacterial infections, and mucolytics are given to reduce the thickness of secretions and help cats breathe easier. Dehydration can occur as the disease worsens, so it is important to encourage eating and drinking. Hospitalisation, close monitoring and intravenous fluids may be required for severely unwell cats.