Nelson Market

Rainy Day Flower Sale

Priscilla

Queens of the desert. I can explain...I think!

Preparation. Kite Boarding

Spot the Difference!

Paula & Kyle's big night out....more to come



The Kids

Grace checks out the action on the park by Nana & Pops house.

Thomas relaxing between biscuits!

Marina Views

Must be something good on tele!

Stand Out

Tauranga Harbour Bridge

Toi Toi Season in New Zealand

Hull of a Shambles

Thomas.

He rings the change of watch in my office.

Me out and he stays! (Yeah right)

Sunday Evening Fishing

A nice way to end a beautiful winters day.

First XI college football

The goalie's team lost but not through lack of commitment from him. He got hammered!

Sailing

A very typical Tauranga scene.

From Mauao

The rain and wind stopped long enough today for Rob and I to head up Mauao (Mt Maunganui) and it was beautiful. Someone was quite pleased with herself....

Mainly Grace (YouTube)

Sailing

A New Zealand tradition.
While testing out a new lens at the Tauranga marina I came across a large group of kids (young adults really) having a great time getting organised to go sailing. Most of them were Sea Cadets from the local unit and also from Whangarei.
I met a couple of their senior commanders and they were keen to see my pictures so I put a small YouTube video together and you can see it here LINK
I really enjoy and appreciate seeing our young people doing this sort of thing and just admire the people who put the time and effort into making it all happen.

Perfect Trim

Easter

Having been out "late" Robo was not ready for a family get together this Easter.

Grave Flower

Football Action

 

 



The Kids on Mothers Day

We went and had some fun while mum and dad went for a walk.

Photo Blogging Mum

Check out this cool blog. The latest series of B&W shots are an awesome fun study of a lovely two year old girl. I added this blog to my "check this site out" list.
LINK

Can Heart Disease Be Reversed

This is topic nicely summarised by Janet Bruno MD

Day 136 Plant Based Diet

After 136 days without meat, fish, chicken, oils, nuts, avo and only eating whole foods Robyn and I eagerly awaited our results from our latest blood tests. I extracted some results that may be of interest. All were within range of traditional targets however in regard to Cholesterol I have lower targets as I attempt to stop and reverse coronary artery disease.  Also being solely on a meat free plant based diet things like Ferritin are of special interest.
Ferritin at 210 (target 30 - 300)
Sodium at 141 (target 135 - 145)
Haemoglobin 143 (target 130 - 175)
Note that for many many years I have had a low Neutrophil result (Neutropenia) and I was pleased to see that this has corrected and I am now in range!
Cholesterol = 4 (my target 3.88, my starting point = 6, last test result = 3.1* )
LDL = 2 (my target 2.07 according to Esselstyn or 1.5 according to my cardiologist, starting point = 3.2, last result = 1.3* )
Triglyceride = 1.4 (target < 2, last result = 1.6 )
eGFR and Creatinine = Normal (both indicate kidney function)

*note that since my last blood tests I have halved the statin drugs from 40mg and day to 20 and clearly this has resulted in a slight increase in my total and LDL cholesterol results. however according to Esselstyn as long as you are adhering to the diet this is not a problem and besides I am within his range for LDL and close with total cholesterol. So the decision I have made is to not increase the statin back to 40 and stay with my current regime for another month and see how it goes. If I am holding on these numbers I will not increase the drugs but if I see a creep uward I will ask the doctor if I can cycle the statins so that I alternate weeks at 20 then 40mg per day.
Otherwise I am feeling well, I am exercising with no pain and energy levels are surprising me.
Robyn has adapted amazingly to all the new foods and cooking but its been a challenge and not for the faint hearted. But now we are past the hard stuff and experimenting with all sorts of plant based whole foods.
We are finding that our taste is drifting more toward Asian flavours and we are loosing the desire for sweet things.
We are happy with our new life and its often a talking point. As I have been traveling and eating out a lot recently, for business, I have discovered that almost no one can get their heads around "no oil please"
Robyn has promised a story on all this from her perspective soon. This is why I have not revealed her results and comments.

Baby Savannah with her Dad Tom

My friend Bev took this lovely photo.

Beer

I found this on the web.

I have been traveling to the USA for many years and always liked Sam Adams and to my surprise I am not the only one.

Not sold here in NZ as far as I can tell.

Grace Goes To School

Thanks to her mum for the shot. I think this uniform may last for a year or two!

ANZAC Day Memories (WWII)

Dad (Ken) spent 4 years serving in North Africa, Italy and various campaigns within those war zones.

He was wounded several times once seriously.

Mum (Pauline) served a similar term in the WAAC's based Bernham and other New Zealand bases.

This Anzac day their great grand kids Thomas and Grace went to their grave and put these lovely ornaments and flowers there.