Half term here...

...and so far it's consisted of boat trips, snorkelling, football parties on the beach, dinner with friends, very late nights, too much wine, heated discussions, very late mornings, indulgent trips to the spa, drinking tea, painting, reading...and it's only Monday.

Don't worry, the kids are happy! Sometimes it's got to be about the grown-ups.

More of the expat life...

Lots of paintbrushy stuff recently, I hardly post about my expat life here in Oman. Admittedly art has become a new passion of mine, whether teaching it, viewing it or making it. So forgive me if it's art-heavy over here. It makes me smile.

But the 'pedicures' side of life here continues. Not so many of those really. No time. It's not all relaxing by the beach or the pool, kindle or costa in hand. It's all about the kids now. Clubs every day. Rugby, guitar, football, sailing, choir. I'll fit my Gaelic football, golf and yoga in, hubby'll get to play rugby and bike ride at some point. It's none stop. I'm shattered. But it's through our own choosing. I am not complaining. I could quite easily stop the kids' club or not go to mine. But why do that? The kids have told me what they want to do, we've discussed limits and tiredness and making sure we have one quiet early night a week. We have a balance. Life's good.

But I'm still shattered. Weird feelings and pressure in my head. The meteoropath in me??

So I've decided to do something about it rather that make an action list to do something about it. Today I went to see a cranialsacral therapist. I'd heard of it as a young mum, great for babies etc. it was recommended to me for my migraines. So I thought I'd try it for my general 'unwellness'.

Interesting practise!

 

She basically manipulates and feels for the membrane between my head and my sacrum in my lower back and feels the vibrations and tensions. I didn't feel anything astounding or health changing but the fact she was noticing certain things in my body that I hadn't told her about told me that she was hitting the spot.

 

I'm still on the Topamax and after the neurologist increasing my dosage because the migraines hadn't disappeared as expected and this increase in dosage in turn coincided with another day with 4 auras, I knew I had to action my action list!

 

I can but try.

Pin of the Moment

It's been a while since I've shared a Pin.

I've not been on Pinterest any less of course. You know me.

This one is perfect for living and driving here in the Middle East.

Except I wouldn't have the button at the end. I doubt the Omanis would either.  

The Infamous Staff Bubbly Brunch...

It's my first staff bubbly brunch this weekend at the Radisson. I've been ill all week so this is just what I need.

However, I have just found out that some of the families from school will also be there as they were winners of a radio competion and they won their Mums and Dads a bubbly brunch too!

So I'm on my best behaviour.

Wish me luck.

Post edit: well, that didn't go quite to plan.....I just have to keep telling myself we are one big happy family, in this here li'l expat bubble...

Artist of the Month - October

Ola Rek

 

A polish artist living in Edinburgh.

Here's her blog and her website. Another website that exhibited her work: http://www.kinblethmontgallery.co.uk/Exhibition3.html.

An interesting and eclectic collection of works in a variety of media.

 

I think the point of this post is not so much the artist as the theme of her art.
 

So my last lesson of the week prompted me to write about Ola Rek and meteropathy. She isn't specifically an artist whose only theme is meteropathy but she leans strongly that way. And it's through her I became more aware of that term. And actually since then it's become a feature in my life.

I was well aware that weather affects us in many ways, especially mood. I am becoming more aware of it recently as I think I am a walking barometer. My health seems to deteriorate (migraines increase especially) around March/April and September/October when 'the weather changes'. That's another stock phrase here I'm getting tired of hearing especially in relation to all the bugs going around. 

Let Me In from http://www.kinblethmontgallery.co.uk/Exhibition3.html

Meteoropathy: Meteoropathy (from Greek meteora, celestial phenomena, and pathos, feeling, pain, suffering) is a disorder, or physical condition, or symptom due to climate or conditions of weather such as humidity, temperature or pressure. Someone said to suffer from meteoropathy is called meteoropathic.{Citation...

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteoropathy

The first who studied the link between health and climate was Hippocrates in the fifth century BC. However, until recently it was believed that a meteoropathic is the true representative of a hypochondriac, but today more and more scientists associate sudden weather changes with the general state of health. Wind, humidity, rain and climate change can actually cause various symptoms of migraine or asthma to anxiety and insomnia. The latest research has proven impressive data: 30 percent of the population is sensitive to weather changes. In other words, every third person feels broken when the sky suddenly becomes cloudy or starts to rain.

From http://wechoosehealthy.com/meteoropathy/

And just a bit more info if you're interested on what season you are(!). I've figured out I'm autumn.

Summer type of person, for example, indicates a person full of enthusiasm, extrovert, hyperactive person who has optimism and huge ambitions. The adrenal glands are working with these people more active than normal. The consequence of this is that the summer type is resistant to physical and climatic stress. This type of a person only does not like the excessive heat.

Then, there is a winter type, that is somewhat opposite of the previous. These people are lazy, phlegmatic, introverted and lonely. (Don't take it personally!) They look calm, but badly bear pain. They do not like contingency, they are very rigid with their schedule, they prefer to obey the orders. They are full of confidence but may be prone to depression. They do not like sports and their aversion to physical exertion may be associated with low activity of the thyroid and other glands. This type of person is sensitive to humidity and cold. Rains and low temperatures, for example, cause joint pain, fluid retention and weight gain. For them, therefore, is better to go on holiday to dry and warm areas, which will act on them therapeutically. However, it is enough a sudden rain, and they will immediately become terribly sad.

Spring type of person is uncompromising and extrovert. Their life is stressful as they are very aggressive in relation to themselves and others. They are difficult to comfort, do not accept reality and go to the doctor only when they have to. Their hormonal glands are overactive, which is why they always lead an unbridled pace of life. They usually do not get tired, but they also have their weak point, and that is they are never able to sit in peace. This type of person has extremely hot nature, to feel better, they should choose the mountain as a place where to spend  holiday. They get more nervous if they spend they time on the seaside, and they should care about wind, which affects the nervous system.

There is also the autumn’s temperament. These people are sentimental, hypersensitive individuals, pessimistic and proud. They hard bear the stress of climatic factors (extreme cold or very hot) so often get sick when the seasons change. What would be the ideal climatological therapy? To find an environment that will awake their bodies. Ideal would be a holiday by the sea, which will stimulate all their hormonal glands.

In fact, the change in weather causes physical problems due to poor functioning of our thermoregulation system, which is a sort of physical thermostats, biological system that helps us to maintain a constant body temperature. Meteorophatics practically react adequately to external influences (cold, rain, wind), fail to adapt and feel bad. Hormones secreted by the brain gland are responsible for that. The consequences vary from person to person, but usually restlessness, anxiety and insomnia prior to the change of weather conditions. Depression and fatigue usually occur when the humidity is high.(OK!!!!) But what climatic conditions are the most dangerous? Not cold or rain, but wind. For example, when really blows, the level of serotonin in the body increases, which affects our mood. Change in air electricity, which is sometimes sudden,  causes anxiety. But, with gusts of wind come headache, nausea or muscle tension.

I love how this website considered the word as a relative of the word hypochondriac. Funny. No one's going to take this seriously!

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood. 

“(...) the sky is low, the clouds are mean”

        Beclouded, Emily Dickinson

“(...) Winter dawn is the color of metal

        The trees stiffen into place like burnt nerves”

        Waking in winter, Sylvia Plath

“(...) we understand that melancholy is nothing but the internal equivalent of air

        pressure, that is to say the internal barometer of the organism.”

        American medicine vol.33, 1927

(Quotes sources from http://www.artscomplex.org/events/exhibition-ola-rek-meteoropathy)