Getting the balance right!

I read an interesting article today about a substance called 'Resveratrol'. 

It's some kind of a scientific molecule (why do all those scientific things end in 'ol'?) that I have never heard of before.  So, being curious, I looked it up, and according to Wikipedia:

"Resveratrol is a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol (there's that 'ol' again!), and a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi."

Does that make it any clearer for you?  No?  Well it didn't for me either!

So I went back to the article hoping for enlightenment.  Apparently, as in all good research, they fed this compound to a group of ageing mice, and at the end of the study, the mice showed a huge improvement in their sense of balance.  (Where do they come up with this stuff?)  But alas, the ageing mice that were not fed this wonder molecule continued to stagger and stumble.  A stumbling mouse!  I have never seen one of those, the only mice I ever see seem to be very nimble as they are darting across my kitchen floor and disappearing through some space that I didn't even know was there!  Anyway, according to Dr Jane Cavenaugh, in some university in Pittsburgh, who is conducting the study, Resveratrol "could decrease some motor deficiencies seen in our ageing population and would therefore increase an ageing persons quality of life, and decrease their risks of hospitalisation due to slips and falls".  Excellent result!!  A big thank you to the mice!

Oh I forgot to tell you that this substance is found in the skin of red grapes, therefore by deduction, its also found in red wine, and I didn't need to be a scientist to figure that out.  So, basically, in this study, they got the old mice drunk on red wine and, eureka, they could run around the room without falling over!! Where as the poor old mice that were left to drink the Ribena couldn't make it across the room without falling over. 

Well hurrah, at last a study that makes sense!  Now, thanks to this fantastic research, I know where I have been going wrong...  You see, I only drink WHITE wine.  So now, to get my balance right (eh...not that I'm ageing or anything), I am going to have to change my tipple and start drinking the red stuff.  A whole new world of Merlot's Shiraz's and Chianti's could be open to me here, and you know how much I like to research...

Oh it also said in the article that to get the benefits of Resveratrol from red wine, you would have to drink about 700 4oz glasses a day....

...I better get started...

The 'Fighting Irish'!

I have the 'Rocky' soundtrack on...
I have my fists clenched tightly and I'm holding them in front of my face...
I am dancing and shifting my weight from foot to foot...
I'm dipping my shoulders and moving from side to side...
I'm doing that backwards/sideways shuffle...

I don't get it!

What does that lovely little girl from Bray see in the Sport.  She walks calmly and quietly into the arena, she waves shyly but somehow confidently to the crowd, she smiles, she listens very carefully and respectfully to her trainers, she puts on her head gear and gum shield, she smiles again, she gets into a ring with that pretty little face and humble demeanor, and then, she BEATS the hell out of her opponent!!

I'm all for women having equal opportunities, especially in sport, but really, boxing?  I don't like it as a mans sport.  I know it's very technical and skillful, but still, to me it just looks like two people beating the pulp out of each other.

And not only have we Katie to cheer for but we have two other medal contenders in the male boxing competition...we are really living up to out 'fighting Irish' legend!

But I'll get off my soap box now and I'll even wish them luck.  It's great to see all the support and the tri-colours in the audience.  I'll even join in the party that's been organised in work tomorrow,  I'll take my place in the training centre where the TV is being placed, I'll drink the coffee and eat the cake provided.  And I will cheer Katie on along with the rest of the country, and I'll be proud and probably shed a little tear...

Maybe when (?) she wins the gold tomorrow she will retire from boxing and take up a more lady like sport, like....wrestling....or shot putting....or weight lifting...!  Have you seen those women, jeez, all that Lycra....

On the road again

I'm on this bus again...

My training is over and I'm headed for the airport.

Today I had an off road experience. No, I didn't run a car off the road.  'Off Road' is what they call it when they put you in a 4x4 vehicle, put some traffic cones in lines and curves and make you drive at high speed through the cones avoiding puddles and any other objects placed in your path. Well that's not really off road either, but that's as contrived as it got today.  It was fun! For once we didn't have to worry about hitting or running over anything or doing an emergency stop.  They made us do all that stuff.  So I now know how to handle a very large 4x4 when driving trough strategically placed cones, puddles and barriers, with a car full of testosterone fuelled salesmen and all the safety equipment they could get on board.  

Somehow, I don't think I will get the same result at home from my little Ford Fiesta with my first aid kit and Rusty (the dog) in the back...

They also put me in the front seat of a jeep and drove it up to a great height on a flimsy steel construction at a very sharp angle, I couldn't see anything on the way up except the sky! Then we went over a controlled see-saw thing at the top, and then, down the other equally flimsy side at an even sharper angle.  I was very brave and only screamed once, when the driver insisted on reversing back up the steel rigging just when I thought it was finally over! Thank goodness for seat belts, I was literally suspended in mine hanging loose from my seat looking down through the windscreen at the ground below.  With a smiling driver explaining how the whole thing worked.  Who cares how it works, let met off!!! That was more of an 'out of seat' experience for me than an off road one, and I definitely wont be trying that at home.  I'm still not the better of it.

Anyway, another airport, another flight...

But!!

I'm not flying back to Dublin with the rest of the bunch.  No, I'm flying to Barcelona for a few days well earned rest!  

I know I'm in Schonfeld airport, but As far as I am concerned it's heaven! for much to my delight I have found a shop that just sells chocolate bars.  There are so many varieties....Brazilian pepper....Candied Violet....Rose....Tea Blossom Leaves....Wild Berries...Dark Lemon and Pepper....Red Wine....Coconut...and even Salt! It took me twenty minutes to choose.  I chose Candied Mint and Fitness (!!) bars....

My flight's delayed.  Damn!  Oh well, It must be time for a comfort break...hmmm....wonder can I substitute the cake for chocolate?  :-)