The Gathering

Delighted to be back with good friends.  Busy times still for me so I don't visit forums too often at the moment.

About to participate in an exciting pilot with the University of Wollongong.  Patient volunteers, of which I am one, were canvassed to find Diabetics willing to share their stories and experiences.  We have done a fair bit of preparatory work, filmed little snapshots of us talking about our stuff and in a few weeks the link will activate.  
We choose a time slot on a weekly basis where we log in to a Skype like system and the student doctors can log in and ask us questions.  The Uni find that after the doctors qualify and get into general practice the diabetics don't fit into their textbook learning! Part of my story is the forums I joined and how the info I found through other's experiences led my research to take me in the direction that I now live.

I manage to fit in fire brigade call outs and we are already experiencing serious conditions before the season starts.
Also now a Peer Support Officer for the Critical Incident Support Service after 3 years of training.

I am very involved with the organisation of a Folk Festival and a coordinator of a team at a very large festival a few hours away.  We have two dogs and eight chickens who share the back garden with a large section of it growing vegetables and berries.  Recently have sourced raw milk which I have been making soft cheeses with.....  Yummm...Camembert, mascarpone, labne, greek yoghurt, ricotta, feta.

Loving life, oh and just a little excited as we have just booked a two week holiday in China for November!!!!!!!!
Alison

hi

sounds a wonderful place to be and a great project to be involved in,

i always wondered if words like "Wollongong" sound reasonable to aussies? hehe

clearviews wrote:Delighted to be back with good friends.  Busy times still for me so I don't visit forums too often at the moment.

About to participate in an exciting pilot with the University of Wollongong.  Patient volunteers, of which I am one, were canvassed to find Diabetics willing to share their stories and experiences.  We have done a fair bit of preparatory work, filmed little snapshots of us talking about our stuff and in a few weeks the link will activate.  
We choose a time slot on a weekly basis where we log in to a Skype like system and the student doctors can log in and ask us questions.  The Uni find that after the doctors qualify and get into general practice the diabetics don't fit into their textbook learning!  Part of my story is the forums I joined and how the info I found through other's experiences led my research to take me in the direction that I now live.

I manage to fit in fire brigade call outs and we are already experiencing serious conditions before the season starts.
Also now a Peer Support Officer for the Critical Incident Support Service after 3 years of training.

I am very involved with the organisation of a Folk Festival and a coordinator of a team at a very large festival a few hours away.  We have two dogs and eight chickens who share the back garden with a large section of it growing vegetables and berries.  Recently have sourced raw milk which I have been making soft cheeses with.....  Yummm...Camembert, mascarpone, labne, greek yoghurt, ricotta, feta.

Loving life, oh and just a little excited as we have just booked a two week holiday in China for November!!!!!!!!
Alison

Hi Alison long time no see   I do receive feeds from facebook though  I keep up to date with your exploits so it comes as no surprise you don't have much time for forums.

I reckon you must have been following a LC diet for around five years now and they say it's unsustainable  Eddie and Jan are away at the moment spoiling their grandkids rotten, I spoke to Eddie earlier and he and Jan send their regards.

Oh and welcome to the forum hope you can pop in occasionally to update us.

Cheers
Graham

Hi Alison! I remember you on another forum so a big "Hi!" and welcome from me!

Thanks for the welcome back!
Andy12345 I am not sure how real Aussies feel about these strange names though I am now a 'neutralised' Aussie these days! Wollongong is a Wodi Wodi tribe name from the Illawarra region meaning five islands. I try to fit in :~) My village of Culburra Beach means 'many winds' and indeed we do get plenty of them on the coast.
Hi Paul, I too remember you.
Graham, not forgotten you for one moment. I remember Skype sessions with you and Eddie where I would inevitably be in my nightwear. It was because of the antipodes timing folks, in case you were wondering!
Due to the many friendships and supportive people I met on the forums leaning to LCHF, I even was able to host the son and his girlfriend of a lovely lady I met through a forum from England, when they were travelling Oz. I taught them some of my favourite recipes and in return they made us a fantastic LC meal when we were working on a polling station where we are locked in after close of polls to count. We were the envy of our co-workers.
I 'popped in' to another forum recently and noticed a very different vibe there too. The times they are achangin!
These days I unconsciously choose to have pure fat and protein days with fat bombs containing all the good fats like butter, cream cheese, coconut oil, nut butters with a natural sweetener like erithritol and flavoured with macca powder or cocoa powder. Yummm! Just cooked up a double batch of pork crackling (scratchings) too and after many years have perfected the best method for the crunchiest result and avoiding slicing through my fingernails with my new, super sharp knife!
You are correct Graham in your observations about sustainability. The naysayers said it couldn't be done. I'll let you know when I can no longer keep up this hectic life on mostly fat and protein and a smattering of veggies.
Good to be amongst like minded peeps.
Alison

Hello Alison - so good to see you here and hear about life down-under. Just love your avatar.

All the best Jan

clearviews wrote:Thanks for the welcome back!  
Andy12345 I am not sure how real Aussies feel about these strange names though I am now a 'neutralised' Aussie these days!  Wollongong is a Wodi Wodi tribe name from the Illawarra region meaning five islands. I try to fit in :~)  My village of Culburra Beach means 'many winds' and indeed we do get plenty of them on the coast.
Hi Paul, I too remember you.
Graham, not forgotten you for one moment.  I remember Skype sessions with you and Eddie where I would inevitably be in my nightwear.  It was because of the antipodes timing folks, in case you were wondering!  
Due to the many friendships and supportive people I met on the forums leaning to LCHF, I even was able to host the son and his girlfriend of a lovely lady I met through a forum from England, when they were travelling Oz.  I taught them some of my favourite recipes and in return they made us a fantastic LC meal when we were working on a polling station where we are locked in after close of polls to count.  We were the envy of our co-workers.
I 'popped in' to another forum recently and noticed a very different vibe there too.  The times they are achangin!
These days I unconsciously choose to have pure fat and protein days with fat bombs containing all the good fats like butter, cream cheese, coconut oil, nut butters with a natural sweetener like erithritol and flavoured with macca powder or cocoa powder.  Yummm!  Just cooked up a double batch of pork crackling (scratchings) too and after many years have perfected the best method for the crunchiest result and avoiding slicing through my fingernails with my new, super sharp knife!
You are correct Graham in your observations about sustainability.  The naysayers said it couldn't be done. I'll let you know when I can no longer keep up this hectic life on mostly fat and protein and a smattering of veggies.
Good to be amongst like minded peeps.
Alison

Hi Alison thanks for the update, say hi to your hubby from me. Don't know if you've noticed but names you will recall Wilflib and Dillinger have joined John Walker is also a member, hopefully we will have more joining us shortly.  Things have moved on a lot since we last talked, LowCarb has gone from strength to strength and this forum with so many knowledgeable diabetics already on board some who you may not be familiar with but have made a valuable contributions to the forum already.

Cheers
Graham

Good to see you here Alison :-) I work in Fire Service also ! I bet you've seen some huge bush fires out there ? ( say nothing Andy lol )

 

Hi,

Nice to meet you.

And don't worry, I have no intention of using my centuries old samurai sword to chop off your head, absorb your life essence and achieve world domination.

I'm nice like that.

@clearviews, just noticed your avatar ! It's quality :-)

Thanks mo1905, it says it all for me!