Flu Vaccination

 How sad that three children have died in Ontario from flu complications. Certainly the flu that I had early in November was very dissipating and took several weeks to really get over it. It was fourty eight hours before I could really eat and I lost several pounds but did stay hydrated. I am also lucky to have medical advice by internet although 60 kilometres away (moving closer to family is still top in my mind for sure) and my other daughter chatted to me as usual.  I took it easy and just kept myself hydrated for the two days and I was soon eating my favourite cooked oatmeal once again to fatten me up. Mostly I am very healthy for which I do feel rather lucky although have had my share of poor health years ago. But getting the vaccinations for flu and COVID is very important I think. But the weakness caused by the flu does take a couple of weeks to really eliminate when you are 80 so get vaccinated and take it easy if you do get the flu since there is an errant flu making the rounds but better to protect yourself as much as you can with the vaccinations. 

Interesting that a Conservative MP has suggested that he could get involved with getting the trade talks restarted once again with our friend and neighbour the United States (I think that working together is important and I do see this as a national emergency which needs a somewhat more unified support across the parties - I like that when you see it happening in the United States (it is an asset of their system)). We have certainly seen parties work together in Canada during national emergencies many times and it does need to happen. I do not see this as a party issue but rather an item that is inherent to the entire well being of Canada and its ability to make itself tariff proof. To me that is really the important item here that we be in fact tariff proof and not readily reduced to difficult circumstances by external tariff. That has been the concern of the Prime Minister from day one when he took on the position and he has my full support in the ideas that he has brought forth and the constant movement towards a more diversified trade relationship both internally and externally. The Conservative Party needs to learn how to be in Opposition and yet supportive when a national emergency arises - this is not the time for "attacking" every single solitary item. We need 100% support from parliament for this process of becoming tariff proof. 

I do not always agree with the Prime Minister on everything. I certainly do not agree with a group of Liberal MPs and an NDP MP going to the Middle East especially at this time given the horrific attack against the Jewish people in Australia at the start of Hanukkah. It was a poor choice given the time chosen and should have been changed even at the last minute. The reason that the Prime Minister supported the eventual State of Palestine is conditional on Hamas not being involved and disarming - this has not happened and Hamas continues with their rhetoric which is the source of the problem as long as they have been involved in Gaza. The Palestinian people themselves do not appear to understand how Gaza was created and it was by the United Nations which is the people of the world (it had nothing to do with Israel who likewise were turfed off their farms and made to move to the present location of Israel (they did not sit around in that swamp that they were given and whine for four generations as the Palestinians have done but created a country; a very wealthy country). If the United States had not supported Israel in the early days their transition to wealth and a stable country would have been much slower but they did much to their credit and they continue to support Israel. Billions and billions of dollars have been poured into Gaza by the United Nations since 1948 (Israel did not receive such support from the world via the United Nations); a huge amount of money by the world and we can no longer bankroll Gaza in that way. They have to get to work and do something with that land (make it produce to support themselves, 600 trucks a day is ridiculous and needed elsewhere in the world) - the Rohingyas would love to have a land they could call home and they would work to make it beautiful like Israel has become. It is up to the Palestinians to create a country and that means respecting the borders of the countries around you. It is up to the Palestinians to disarm and eliminate Hamas as far as I am concerned although an International Force to do so is still a method that I support. It is up to the Palestinians to get rid of the rhetoric that permeates their culture and destroys them really - they destroy themselves no one else is responsible for the state that they are in - Hamas is responsible for all the deaths and the destruction of this past couple of years - they attacked Israel. It is possible to separate Palestinian from Hamas; they just have to have the will to do it and to become good neighbours to their Israeli neighbours (that is what is required - the rhetoric against Israel has to go it just creates more generations of hate (anti-semitism has to disappear world-wide)). Education is the key and I do hope that Egypt does become a sort of mentor to Gaza and help them to move forward. They need to have better education in Gaza and not be taught a bunch of lies about Israel. That ISIS appears to be behind the attack in Australia does not change my opinion on this visit to the West Bank. 

Yesterday was a cleaning day and the basement is done. I feel lucky that I can still do that at 80. I was also out skiing about 2 kms in total so amazing really that I did both. But I was pretty tired and slept 8.5 hours. But today is the main floor to clean and I shall start in a bit. I often think about the Psychiatrist who looked after me when I was just 28 years old and gave me his piece of advice - eat when you are hungry, sleep when you are tired and look after your little baby; enjoy life and don't work it away right now. Mind you I still did pick up the proofreading/copyediting that I did at home a few years later but I tried to be as wise as possible (I am a workaholic I know that) and avoid over-tiring myself. Perhaps I should have let him refer me to a psychiatrist here but we both agreed that I was doing well and listening well so I did not. My getting there for appointments when I first moved would have been difficult as I had to learn the streets and comparing my eyes now with what I had then does amaze on occasion that I managed to get anywhere really as I counted the streets from the chart I would produce to go anywhere years ago. As my daughters grew they told me the streets that we passed which was so very helpful; they were quick learners and knew their letters very early on and then read very early on as well. As soon as they turned 16 they always drove as they knew my limitations!

No work on the great grandparent phasing but perhaps today; no skiing today a rest is a good idea in between such bouts for sure. The new skis though are terrific and the ski boots are so flexible - I am glad that I decided to buy a new set. This idea of them being selected by weight to decide on length is a good idea I think as these skis are shorter and when I fall down I can easily get up without taking them off and I did go down at least three times into the soft snow and then up I got and on my way again. I need to get my balance once again for skiing. It will come over the winter. The fresh air is lovely. 

Another beautiful day in God's world - the Creator must wonder when will we learn to love our neighbour as ourself. We are still waiting for some countries to get there.