Sunday, December 27, 2015

Avignon, France

Many moons ago, I visited Avignon. It was once where seven successive Popes resided. It is a pleasant city to visit with World Heritage sites such as the Palais des Papes, the cathedral, and the Pont d'Avignon.

Avignon at night

The Papel Square at night...
...and in daylight
Bridge Of Avignon
View form the Pont Du Gard Aquaduct 

Friday, December 25, 2015

Getting Sugar Under Control



In a previous article I wrote about white sugar being an enemy, I thought it wise to add how to beat the addiction. You may be surprised to think of it as an addiction but tests show that it is extremely addictive. Most of our consumption is through bought, processed foods. The food industry knows about it but they are there to sell to you again and again, not nurture your well being.

So how to beat it? As I have been reading labels for years on products and avoiding 'hidden' sugar, I didn't have an addiction to beat. However I just liked some processed foods like ice cream for example. I got a machine that turns frozen fruit into a delicious desert and no more ice cream (found here). There are all sorts of ways to beat the system - that wants you hooked on sugar - I call healthy alternatives.

So how about some practical advice. I could just copy from a web page but I know of one that seems to say the right things on the subject, so I suggest you take a look. I'm not a health professional but one who for my own physical condition had to limit sugar and much of what is said here I now do. Simply click on MBG.

Some things I don't touch such as soft drinks and also fruit juice. If I want fruit, I eat fruit. If I am thirsty I drink room temperature or warm water (not iced). I don't suck on a bottle all day but drink a full glass. Instead of coffee (I recently started a low coffee consumption regime) I substitute with a carob powder drink. Find what works for you as we are all different. Except in one way...white sugar is bad for all of us.

For all that, will power is the major player. Unless you have the commitment to win, you won't. It's that simple.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Food Public Enemy Number One



I remember my mother reading about public enemy #1 and #2 written by Doris Grant. She criticised the processed food industry for overuse of refined carbohydrates, especially white bread and white sugar. It caused a rethink in our diet and we went from heavy consumers of above ingredients to lesser users.


More recently I have for health reasons cut back to virtually zero white sugar. I still eat a fair amount of white flour but mix it with wholemeal when baking it. I never buy commercially made bread as it doesn't agree with me the same as home made.

If one could do one improvement in their diet, I would suggest virtual elimination of white sugar. Some sources claim it is nutritious but I beg to differ. The appearance and taste tell me all benefit has been removed in the processing of it.

Sucrose is found in fruit but there is a difference between natural sucrose that found in white sugar or syrup usually found in processed foods. The refining process ensures there is no nutritional value. In fact they take energy and health. I don't want to sound a crusader but these are my personal thoughts, not shared by all. I know I feel better with minimal white sugar and I don't hold back on naturally occurring sucrose.

Monday, December 21, 2015

World Trade Centre

Back in 1994, I went up the Twin Towers with my wife and took in the amazing sights, albeit a bit hazy. They were very impressive. In the previous year a bomb had gone off in the basement but it didn't have the intended effect. As we know another attempt in 2001 did. All that remains of the buildings are the photographs people took. Here are mine.

The lobby 

The 107th floor viewing platform

The Hudson River

Brooklyn & the East River

Manhattan East

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Kaiteriteri, Tasman

Overlooking Kaiteriteri & the campground we stayed at

Overlooking Kaiteriteri & to the right

A small cove at Kaiteriteri 

Yours truly enjoying a summer evening on the beach

Leaving Kaiteriteri and going toward Motueka

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Proverbs



The bible book of Proverbs has so many wise sayings, ancient wisdom that is as practical today as ever. Here are a few I like:

11:14: Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. ESV. 

Humans need clear direction and guidance. They look to governments but so often are left disappointed. When there are those who give fine advise on how to do things, people are benefited.

13:20 The one walking with the wise will become wise, But the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly. NWT 

Associations need to be chosen wisely, especially for youths. Get in with the wrong crowd and it all turn to custard. However, good friends and good advice will be of great benefit to us.

18:17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. ESV. 

Have we ever heard something about a person and said "How terrible they did (or said) that"? Then later we heard the other side of the story and realised that the situation is very different to what we first thought. There are two sides to a story.

22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. KJV. 

Good training and clear boundaries allow a child thrive. They may resist their implementation at the time, but will thank you later when they realise that it was for their good. In fact when they become adults themselves, these will become their standards for life too.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Tongario National Park, North Is, NZ

Heading toward the Mangatepopo Hut from the Chateau

Having climbed the Mangatepopo Saddle, looking SW toward Mt Egmont

Looking lost

Some of the rock and soil colours

The beautiful lake colours

With Mt Ngauruhoe as a backdrop, a kiss  

Friday, December 4, 2015

Newspaper Headlines











The Light 'N Funny Blog

My first article was June, 2009 (can be seen here). There was no introductory article, just straight into a joke. The blog has retained its ethos of no commercialism allowed. There are no advertisements and when people use comments to promote business, they are deleted.

Statistics were added by owner Google in July, 2010 which have been useful. Using that data the top nations for visitors can be seem from the above date to the end of November, 2015.


USA 47.9%

New Zealand 6.2%

UK 5.6%

Canada 4.7%

Australia 3.8%

Russia 2.6%

Germany 2.3%

Others 26.9%



Overwhelmingly this blog is appreciated by people in the U.S. As jokes can be 'language dependent' to be understood, the fact that English speaking nations are the top five is not surprising.

I hope you enjoy future additions to the site. Thanks for coming and from a computer desk somewhere in New Zealand, enjoy.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Manukau Heads - Waitakere Ranges Auckland

Just to the west of Auckland is a range of hills, the Waitakere Ranges. Walk west along the Manukau Harbour along a ridge dropping to the water and you get spectacular views. Then you reach the Tasman Sea and the steep walk down and the whole area is wild and beautiful.

In my youth we came as a family to the area in vacation times. The pictures taken some time ago don't do it justice but they give you an idea.

The walk along the ridge

Looking west, the harbour to the left and Tasman Sea ahead

At the end before the descent

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Africa Is Unique

Sometimes you're the bricklayer,
 another time the trestle

This could take a while

When you cannot afford a car...

....you take wheelbarrow

Not recommended