Chandler's Ford Today

health

Winchester United Nations

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At 4.30 am on a Sunday, as the sky was lightening, an ambulance with me on board rocked and bumped from our house en route to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester. A sudden fever and collapse caused Madam some alarm, and fortunately for me, her 999 call brought the ambulance within 30 minutes.

‘We’ve got to strap you in, by law,’ explained the ex-soldier paramedic. No need, I thought. But the potholes and ambulance suspension showed it was necessary.

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The RHCH was quiet at dawn on a Sunday, and I was soon in a bed.

‘What’s been happening to you?’ asked Dr Hemeda as he looked me over. I asked him where he qualified. ‘Ein Shams, Cairo. We’ll get you x-rayed.’ We chatted about Ein Shams, as I have lectured there a few times. It is the oldest of Cairo’s Universities and the Centre for Muslim Studies. On my first visit there, I took a bottle of Whisky for my host but thought better of it and kept it in my bag. [Read more…] about Winchester United Nations

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Healthy Living?

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‘I see you are eating the meat of a pig,’ an American sharing my table in the hotel eyed my delicious crispy bacon. ‘Disgusting animals, they eat worms and roots from the ground. They roll around in mud and their own excrement.’

‘You must be a vegetarian,’ I suggested as he was eating a bowl of gravel-like cereal.

‘Vegan,’ he said. ‘Cooked meats contain secondary amines, and they are carcinogenic.’

‘So that is not milk on your cereal but some vegetable juice that lacks calcium. You must be taking supplementary vitamins to stay healthy.’ I glanced under the table to see whether he was wearing leather shoes, but his feet were tucked under his chair. He was not used to being challenged by a committed omnivore. Perhaps I should pay attention to a healthier lifestyle.

Coffee - image via Kaboomppics
Coffee – image via Kaboomppics

Coffee comes in for most comments. In the popular press, it is shown to be harmful, cancer-causing, and to be avoided. The following week’s newspaper will hail coffee as the drink to improve your intellect and prevent dementia, not to mention physical prowess. [Read more…] about Healthy Living?

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Restart A Heart at Eastleigh parkrun, 15th October

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This Saturday 15 October the Restart A Heart charity will be running a bystander CPR training event at Eastleigh parkrun from 8.30am.  By giving up a few minutes of your time, you can learn how to give someone who has collapsed the best chance of survival.

When someone has a cardiac arrest, performing immediate CPR can help double their chance of survival in some cases.

The team of trainers will be on site before, during and after the parkrun, outside the Blackbird Café at Pavilion on the Park, Fleming Park.
[Read more…] about Restart A Heart at Eastleigh parkrun, 15th October

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parkrun – it can be a walk in the park

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Despite its name, parkrun isn’t about running.  It’s about social interaction and community.  In fact, it could be described as a community event masquerading as a sports event.  I’ve written before about how participants are welcome to run, jog, walk or volunteer and that every form of participation is equally valuable and equally welcomed.

parkrun turns 18 this month, and to mark its birthday it is running the parkwalk at parkrun campaign to celebrate the value of walking.  For each of the five Saturdays participants will be encouraged to walk and chat their way around the course.  There will even be dedicated “parkwalkers” who will be more than happy to walk with you. [Read more…] about parkrun – it can be a walk in the park

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parkrun rewards for persistence

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Almost 7 years since my first parkrun (though parkrun was suspended for 70 weeks of that time), I have recently completed my 250th parkrun.  That’s 250 Saturdays, plus a few Christmas Days and New Year’s Days, that I’ve got up early enough to run 5km at 09:00 am.

unofficial 250 parkrun tee shirt
Chippy models his home-made celebratory shirt before his 250th parkrun

That’s some persistence – and a milestone.  But a milestone that is easy to achieve.  All you have to do is keep going back. [Read more…] about parkrun rewards for persistence

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Cancer Ward – My Story

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Half of us will have cancer at some time in our lives. By far the most common is prostate cancer for men and breast cancer for women. These exceed lung, bowel, ovary and testicular cancers by a factor of 2 or more.

I never asked for a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test, but I got one anyway when my GP checked me over one day. The result was high, so did I mind if he did a rectal examination. I said it would be OK if he promised not to enjoy it any more than I would.

Image via kaboompics
Image via kaboompics

‘You’ve got cancer there. It’s a decent-sized lump but still in the prostate, hasn’t spread. We’ll zap it with radiotherapy; surgery is not a sensible option. It’s 99% curable for five years, and you might die of something else in the meantime.’ My doctor is a straight-talking man, I was pleased not to be offered surgery. When I was a junior doctor, I assisted in prostatectomy operations and looked after the patients afterwards. I was called up most nights to deal with blocked catheters or excessive bleeding. Later on, many of the men suffered urinary infections and other complications. [Read more…] about Cancer Ward – My Story

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Eastleigh parkrun 400

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If you were near Fleming Park last Saturday morning (21st April) you might have seen a number of tutu-clad people – both male and female – heading to or from Dragonfly Park.  What was going on?  Was it a flash-mob performance of Swan Lake?  A group of half-hearted entrants to a drag-queen competition?  Take-your-ballet-dancer to work day?

The reason was far more exciting than those possibilities.  It was the occasion of the 400th Eastleigh parkrun, and the event organisers thought that a tutu-wearing event would be a good way to celebrate.  [Read more…] about Eastleigh parkrun 400

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Why isn’t Mental Illness a Brain Disease?

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Illness is illness – impairment of normal function of part or all of the body. Why, then, do we have illness and mental illness as if they are different things? We all fall ill from time to time, it may be an infection, heart disease, liver, bones, joints, any organ including the brain. But when it comes to the brain we call it mental illness and it carries stigma. [Read more…] about Why isn’t Mental Illness a Brain Disease?

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parkrun 101 – a run (or walk) in the park

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A few years ago someone told me that a group of people meet in Fleming Park every Saturday morning to run 5 km.  My first thought was “why would they do that?”, swiftly followed by an assumption that it was a training run for a local running club, and wouldn’t be open to non-runners like me.

That’s before I discovered parkrun.  I ran my first parkrun – after over 25 years of not running – in March 2015 and since then have been back 100 times – pretty much every week.  I think it’s safe to say I’m hooked. [Read more…] about parkrun 101 – a run (or walk) in the park

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World Blood Donor Day

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I often drive along Hursley Road on a Friday evening and it seems that almost every week the Give Blood vehicles are parked outside St Boniface church – a blood donor session is underway.

Today (14 June) is World Blood Donor Day, so I thought I would write a little a bit what happens when you give blood – and highlight some of the improvements that have been made over the thirty-plus years that I’ve been a blood donor. [Read more…] about World Blood Donor Day

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Trip of a Lifetime – My Antarctic Trip

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I have just returned from a trip of a lifetime – a visit to an Emperor Penguin colony on the frozen Weddell Sea within the Antarctica Continent.

Yes it was a bit of a hike to get there. It took me a couple of days to travel to the gathering point in Punta Arenas, Chile. [Read more…] about Trip of a Lifetime – My Antarctic Trip

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Roger Clark’s Quest to Antarctica to Photograph the Right Penguins

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We don’t normally see the name ‘Chandler’s Ford’ being mentioned in the national news (ok, the HSBC armed robbery on Bournemouth Road in September 2007 was an exception: “Two armed robbers were shot dead by police”).

However today, ‘Chandler’s Ford’ is mentioned all over the media, from The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Mirror…, and on the BBC radio programme. [Read more…] about Roger Clark’s Quest to Antarctica to Photograph the Right Penguins

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Why Don’t Cyclists Use Cycle Lanes?

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“Is there anyone out there who can give me a good reason why a lot … not all … of cyclists ride on the road when there is a perfectly good, and expensively made cycle way nearby?

For example, Castle Lane from Chandler’s Ford to Baddesley, Baddesley to Rownhams, Bishopstoke to Eastleigh?”

So asks a recent post on Streetlife, a popular local Social Media site. [Read more…] about Why Don’t Cyclists Use Cycle Lanes?

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Revamping Fleming Park. Fancy Swimming alongside a Local Fiction Writer?

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The planned revamp of Fleming Park sounds very interesting and I am pleased they are keeping the current pool open while work is underway on the new one.

I’m also pleased the plan includes keeping free car parking. I use the bus to get to Fleming Park for my twice weekly swims there so perhaps this is not relevant for me but I believe free parking is the way forward to encourage people to visit the centre. [Read more…] about Revamping Fleming Park. Fancy Swimming alongside a Local Fiction Writer?

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Should We be Charged for Visits to the GP?

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Should we be charged for visits to the GP?

I heard a report on the radio this week about an article in the British Medical Journal discussing the pros and cons of imposing charges on patients for visits to the GP surgery. [Read more…] about Should We be Charged for Visits to the GP?

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News from Eastleigh parkrun

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There were extra opportunities for a parkrun over the Christmas period in Eastleigh.

As well as the standard Saturday morning events, runs were also organised for Christmas and New Year’s Day mornings. In addition, the New Year’s Day events in Winchester and Southampton started 90 minutes later.

This gave the truly dedicated a total of five parkruns in nine days.  I managed three of the five – so I must be semi-dedicated. [Read more…] about News from Eastleigh parkrun

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Tropical Diseases – What You Need to Know

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Tropical diseases? Not your problem? Oh yes they are and not just because of the need for anti-malarials when you go on holiday.

I heard about some of the problems and successes at the first International Meeting on Tropical Medicine to be held in the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. I went along and learned a few thing of general interest. [Read more…] about Tropical Diseases – What You Need to Know

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Where is My Tattoo? By Jean-Louis Bravard

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A good friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with colon cancer in January this year.

Jean-Louis Bravard is partly retired now, but works with Boris Johnson promoting London, still runs his own consulting company, and at one time he was the MD of J P Morgan bank.

Jean-Louis has written a short story called “Where is my tattoo?”. This is an account of [Read more…] about Where is My Tattoo? By Jean-Louis Bravard

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Article Series: Eastleigh Lions: Message in a Bottle

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This is the second article in our series about the important community works by Lions Club of Eastleigh.

The first in the series is Eastleigh Lions: Champions Of The Blind.

Since writing on Chandler’s Ford Today, I have met some incredible Lions, and Devan Kandiah is one of them.

Devan Kandiah told me a great deal about Eastleigh Lions – [Read more…] about Article Series: Eastleigh Lions: Message in a Bottle

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Eastleigh: 250th parkrun

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Did you know that Eastleigh held its 250th parkrun last weekend?

We’re a quarter of the way through the year. How are you getting on with that New Year resolution to take more exercise? You didn’t make such a resolution? No, neither did I, but let’s just pretend that we did.

If, like me, you are not a runner, [Read more…] about Eastleigh: 250th parkrun

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