frenchbean

...drinking a glass of stout a day.

My GP says my iron levels are low. Interestingly she didn't recommend iron tablets, but that I should eat red meat four times a week. That's really hard, partly because my digestive system is used to 'easy' meat these days - fish, chicken, duck - and protein from cheese and eggs. It's also difficult because at this time of garden gluts, there's barely space on my plate of fresh veggies to stick in a fork and come up with a mouthful of food, let alone any room for a chunk of meat.

I did obey my GP for a week or so (she's that kind of a GP) but didn't much enjoy it. Then my lovely sister-in-law suggested Guinness as an alternative.

Now, I haven't consumed alcohol for two or three years (except for an occasional celebratory ). This is for reasons of wanting to be 100% alert each morning when I wake up: as I've aged even one small glass of red wine has made itself felt the following day, so I ditched the whole alcohol thing and have felt enormously healthier and more energetic for doing so.

But of course, low iron levels are taking a toll in my energy levels, so I decided to chat to my GP about the pros and cons of Guinness vs. red meat vs. iron tablets.

It was a remarkably short conversation which went along the lines of:
FB - Hello ... [explanation].. what do you think?
- Go with a glass of Guinness each day. And have iron tablets too for now. Once your energy levels are normal, cut out the tablets and see how you feel.

So off I went to the supermarket to look at the price of Guinness in six-packs (no single bottles) And then saw individual bottles of various locally-brewed stout sitting cheek by jowl with the Irish stuff

And I am writing this as I sip a cold glass of Clydesdale Irish Dry Stout, brewed in Christchurch . It's bloody marvellous Here's hoping I still think so when the alarm goes off at 5.20 tomorrow morning....

Fb

For much of my life I've known the family fable that Robert the Bruce is my generation's 19th greatgrandfather. My uncle ferreted into the family tree back in the 60s and somehow came up with the illustrious ancestor. Allegedly.

Over Xmas I was slightly incapacitated with a leg injury and instead of spending happy days hiking in the high country, I signed up to a genealogy website and did some ferreting of my own.

To my astonishment and delight King Robert the Bruce is indeed my 19th greatgrandfather

And when I did further digging, I got back to the Earls of Orkney - his ancestors.

So my family line goes back to Orkney on both sides. I only have to go back three generations on Dad's side to get there and can trace them to 1601 before we seem to run out of records (so far anyway). And on Mum's side, 24 generations back I start finding Earls and we're into the Norse Sagas

I had no great expectations when I began this investigation a month ago. And now I'm totally hooked.

Once I get fed up with going back and back and back I shall start looking at more detailed records about some more recent rellies: a few wee mysteries have already popped up

I hope everybody will now treat me with the respect which I am due



Fb

I should think every Cantabrian's New Year wish was for a calmer 2012.

It's not got off to a great start, that's for sure.

We've had 27 earthquakes in the last 9 1/2 hours (since 1.30am); the largest a double-whammy of two 5.5 magnitudes just 12 seconds apart. What sleep was possible was fitful and expectant.

So I'm gazing at my computer through a haze of exhausted headache and bleary eyes.

Enough. Enough.

Fb

Have a good one everybody

And here's hoping for a peaceful and healthy 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU


FB

That's 7,861 earthquakes here since September 4th 2010.

Still a couple each day, but definitely less frequent and of lower magnitudes now. Thank


Fb