Living longer – but how ?
Doris opens her eyes. Sleepily she squints at the alarm. Oh, it is already so late and still so dark. Raindrops drum on the window panes. With this kind of weather you would rather pull the blanket over your head and not get up at all.
She feels an irritation in her throat. I do hope I shan’t fall ill is what she thinks with some worry. Had she not resolved to watch out for her health and wanted to implement her good resolution.
In spite of wind and cold she should get more exercise outside, well protected of course. Even a walk in the woods would be for her like an act of heroism, because she is so sensitive about the weather and catches a cold easily.
Mostly it starts with hoarseness. Jus imagine how terrible this could all be. She can already see herself lying in bed for days with high fever. I really must fix an appointment with the doctor, she thinks. He will surely tell me I need a rest. Yes this would be very good for her. Leave everything behind – cold, rain, frost, darkness just get away. Away to the sun – that is the solution. Even the predicted high pressure zone over the Azores cannot change her decision. Spontaneously she rings up her friend and tries to win her over for her plan. She needs all her powers of conviction and she manages it! Two weeks later both are on the road to the airport and are as happy as children about the holidays on a sunny island. They imagine the most wonderful experiences which will help them forget the day-to-day stress. Josee I’m happy that you can come with me says Doris. I wasn’t sure until now if you would withdraw.
Annemarie (Luxembourg)
16/03/2007
Mmmmhh - chocolateMmmmmh, chocolate, what wellness !
As the legend goes, it was Quetzalcoatl, the Toltecan god of vegetation and its renewal, represented by a plumed serpent, who taught mankind how to cultivate the cocoa bushes and prepare the “tchocoatl” – a divine beverage conferring strength and health. It is here that we find the origin of the technical name of the cocoa bush: Theobroma cacao. In Greek Theobroma means “food of the gods”.
Enough of the traditional ideas!
No, chocolate will not make you fatter than any other food substances. If you don’t abuse it, it’s even good for your health. And in particular dark chocolate which contains much less sugar and fatty acids than white or milk chocolate. So that you do not notice it when you weigh yourself, you have to keep a well-balanced diet.
No, chocolate does not lead to caries. In the ranking of sweet foodstuffs, chocolate lags behind grapes, chips and even bread! In addition, cocoa contains 3 substances guaranteed as anti agents to caries: polyhydroxyphenol which stops microbes developing, fluoride which strengthens dental enamel and phosphates which attack the acids produced by sugar.
No, chocolate does not generate a liver crisis. This term is often confused with indigestion. You can have indigestion after a chocolate orgy…
No, chocolate does not give you blackheads. At present there is no medical study allowing us to confirm any link between eating chocolate and acne.
No, chocolate does not produce cholesterol. Cocoa butter consists of a balance between saturated fatty acids, responsible for “bad” cholesterol, and unsaturated fatty acids for “good” cholesterol.
No, chocolate is not bad when you feel down in the dumps. A little bar and you already feel better.
Well, are you now convinced that a good chocolate snack, without abusing it, is good for your health?
MAOUSSI (Luxembourg)
I dare
A quick look back : it’s 1998. being a member of parents’ and pupils’ association, I discover a school project in which I should like to participate. As circumstances would have it, I was employed in this establishment.
Being delighted about having daily contact with pupils between 12 &and 19 years old, I had the pleasure of being able to participate, amongst other things, in the annual concert which welded more than 300 pupils together. The 4 performances attracted an audience of about 3000.
This story of success went on 8 times until 2006 when I unfortunately had health problems. I spent a certain time abroad for my rehabilitation and on returning home to my surprise, I had become the victim of a well-known vice in our society : mobbing!
Disappointed and with death in my soul, I decided to get things going and to escape from this dead end state of imprisonment.
Useless to declare war on everybody because I have now decided at last to express myself.
I dare to say NO at the moment!
No to working conditions leading to burn out syndromes!
No to excessive work loads!
No to deadline pressure conducive to stress!
No to being directed with no sense of orientation!
No to role conflicts!
No to cynicism and sarcastic remarks!
One year on, my vital energy has returned. At last I feel free – and even liberated.
I dedicate time to my family and friends and have taken up some physical activities.
I am by no means perfect. I am simply a human being.
At last, I enjoy living again.
At last!
Maoussi (Luxembourg)
A quick look back : it’s 1998. being a member of parents’ and pupils’ association, I discover a school project in which I should like to participate. As circumstances would have it, I was employed in this establishment.
Being delighted about having daily contact with pupils between 12 &and 19 years old, I had the pleasure of being able to participate, amongst other things, in the annual concert which welded more than 300 pupils together. The 4 performances attracted an audience of about 3000.
This story of success went on 8 times until 2006 when I unfortunately had health problems. I spent a certain time abroad for my rehabilitation and on returning home to my surprise, I had become the victim of a well-known vice in our society : mobbing!
Disappointed and with death in my soul, I decided to get things going and to escape from this dead end state of imprisonment.
Useless to declare war on everybody because I have now decided at last to express myself.
I dare to say NO at the moment!
No to working conditions leading to burn out syndromes!
No to excessive work loads!
No to deadline pressure conducive to stress!
No to being directed with no sense of orientation!
No to role conflicts!
No to cynicism and sarcastic remarks!
One year on, my vital energy has returned. At last I feel free – and even liberated.
I dedicate time to my family and friends and have taken up some physical activities.
I am by no means perfect. I am simply a human being.
At last, I enjoy living again.
At last!
Maoussi (Luxembourg)
Gone to the dogs
I can remember it very well indeed. It was a gleaming lovely summer day. I was busy in the garden hanging up the washing. A car stopped just in front of the house. Our daughter alighted. At that time she had almost finished her studies in Liege. But she was not unaccompanied. With head held high he approached me. For the first I was speechless. Well, whom have you brought home? It was a large deer-brown dog which my daughter had saved from the animal home in Liege. There he was, standing there somewhat shy and gazing at me with faithful eyes. Formerly I had nothing to do with dogs but with this one, it was love at first sight.
My husband’s love for animals was until then very underdeveloped – even inexistent, so to speak. His motto was: No animal shall enter my home! It remained in force until the day when a cat with long hair and blue eyes strayed to us and decided to stay. It became our dear pussy for cuddling.
And then there was suddenly this dog, a Belgian Alsatian mixture whose name was Bobby. My husband was head over heels. In his youth he had owned an Alsatian too. Now he had Bobby. And Bobby had him. It did not, however, seem to be the cat’s cup of tea. Out of protest she moved out and stayed in the garage until her end. In the meantime our daughter had finished school, found a job and soon left home after that. The dog stayed with us. But Lydie always remained his saviour. When she came Bobby always staged an admirable and lasting dance of joy.
My husband taught Bobby everything a dog had to learn. The latter obeyed him in everything and followed him wherever he went, both becoming inseparable. Together they undertook long walks. Very often Bobby brought back a big stick from the woods with which he could play with my husband for hours on end. Bobby developed into a watchdog which safeguarded the premises and never ran off even without a fence. Only when the lady from the village came by with her white poodle would Bobby accompany both of them for a part of their way and then return home. Bobby was my husband’s hiking companion for many years until the walking tours became shorter owing to the fact that the dog became less agile and got problems with his hind legs.
Bobby never ran away but he was unable to be stopped when Love called. (He was of male gender). A little, black she-dog from the village had taken his fancy and although he was old and somewhat ill he was nevertheless attracted to her. Shortly afterwards Bobby died. This caused us all a lot of grief – especially my husband.
He had lost a faithful companion over many years.
Annemarie (Luxembourg)
I can remember it very well indeed. It was a gleaming lovely summer day. I was busy in the garden hanging up the washing. A car stopped just in front of the house. Our daughter alighted. At that time she had almost finished her studies in Liege. But she was not unaccompanied. With head held high he approached me. For the first I was speechless. Well, whom have you brought home? It was a large deer-brown dog which my daughter had saved from the animal home in Liege. There he was, standing there somewhat shy and gazing at me with faithful eyes. Formerly I had nothing to do with dogs but with this one, it was love at first sight.
My husband’s love for animals was until then very underdeveloped – even inexistent, so to speak. His motto was: No animal shall enter my home! It remained in force until the day when a cat with long hair and blue eyes strayed to us and decided to stay. It became our dear pussy for cuddling.
And then there was suddenly this dog, a Belgian Alsatian mixture whose name was Bobby. My husband was head over heels. In his youth he had owned an Alsatian too. Now he had Bobby. And Bobby had him. It did not, however, seem to be the cat’s cup of tea. Out of protest she moved out and stayed in the garage until her end. In the meantime our daughter had finished school, found a job and soon left home after that. The dog stayed with us. But Lydie always remained his saviour. When she came Bobby always staged an admirable and lasting dance of joy.
My husband taught Bobby everything a dog had to learn. The latter obeyed him in everything and followed him wherever he went, both becoming inseparable. Together they undertook long walks. Very often Bobby brought back a big stick from the woods with which he could play with my husband for hours on end. Bobby developed into a watchdog which safeguarded the premises and never ran off even without a fence. Only when the lady from the village came by with her white poodle would Bobby accompany both of them for a part of their way and then return home. Bobby was my husband’s hiking companion for many years until the walking tours became shorter owing to the fact that the dog became less agile and got problems with his hind legs.
Bobby never ran away but he was unable to be stopped when Love called. (He was of male gender). A little, black she-dog from the village had taken his fancy and although he was old and somewhat ill he was nevertheless attracted to her. Shortly afterwards Bobby died. This caused us all a lot of grief – especially my husband.
He had lost a faithful companion over many years.
Annemarie (Luxembourg)
TRAVEL
The journey to Bahr bela ma.
The journey to Bahr bela ma. This journey lies somewhat in the past but the recollection of it very much in the present. Since then I suppose things have changed in the sea without water. Beautiful and dangerous they said. They spoke about fascination and stressed at the same time its relentlessness against living creatures. All in all, such slogans were capable of boosting my thirst for knowledge and of enhancing my curiosity about foreign cultures. At that time I was an easy to influence adolescent who got involved in a desert adventure somewhat naïf and careless. Today’s travellers drive comfortably in convoys in special off-road vehicles equipped with gps and consider everything as being an adventure. I was looking for an adventure too at that time – forty years ago as I headed towards Tunisia officially called al-Dschumhurija at – the Republic of Tunisia. Was the travel schedule favourable? Today I very much doubt it. On leaving the pleasant, air-conditioned plane a wave of hot air engulfed me – until then for me an unknown phenomenon and my body promptly reacted to this aggression: just a few steps and I was drenched in sweat and felt numb. A mini bus belonging to the hotel took the tourist party to Monastir, the former Phoenician- roman Ruspina. The driver was an amiable gentleman from the Maghreb who had been probably instructed by the hotel management to be polite and courteous with solvent clientele. Later I was to learn that the natives were good hosts through and through and invited, with no after thoughts, people to “brique” - a thin chapatti with all sorts of edibles and served folded in two.. We did not have much time to get used to it but at least we had enough to enjoy the ceremony of drinking tea. Strong, aromatic peppermint tea is drunk at all times of the day and is also used as a medicament. The next day there was an excursion to Tunis to see Medina – the historic city and the adjacent Souk. The very fact of diving into the labyrinth of lanes with numerous stands, penetrating odours, merchants’ cries was enough to disarray your intellect. Then there was the bleating of the sheep being driven through the crowds. Later on still bleeding clumps of meat were hung up on the stands and were immediately covered by fickle scavengers. The merchant did not even bother to fan away the mosquitos and all this when the temperature was 40°!
This lulling heat lay all over the place and then there was the omnipresent sand which you inhaled with every breath. The micro fine particles annexed themselves to the beads of sweat running down your neck and were also noticed in your hair and shoes.
An unknown feeling of being dirty stole upon me. It was exactly the same with the natives but the bore it with poise and fatalism (kismet)! In the 70s president Habib Bourghiba ruled over a people consisting mainly of Arabs and Arabian Berbers. Well wishers called him a modern calif but critics think, however; he is a democratic dictator. The people’s mentality has been handed down for generations but there is also room for the western moral code. At that time nobody would have had the idea of reprimanding a tourist because she was not dressed correctly or misbehaved ( as usually happens with ignorant tourists). It is not often that tourists are interested in day to day politics or social discrepancies as long as they do not have to suffer under them. Notwithstanding, my ultimate goal was the desert – the Sahara.I wanted to see this huge sand-pit and swore one day I would experience that freedom which is described in literature and have the authentic and grandiose sky above me and I wanted to smell the odour of the desert. I wanted so much – poor me I was vanquished by the fascination of the desert long before I even felt a grain of sand! Responsible for my blindness was the archaeologist and author T.E. Lawrence who had described in his book ”The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” the desert in such a way that I just had to go there. I found what I had expected and even more. A huge glistening sandy surface, painful light and suffocating furnace heat in which not even the smallest bush could grow and promise refreshment. The continuous batter of sweat and sand grains was extremely unpleasant and in addition there was the all pervading thirst due to lack of liquids. The transport camels were the oly ones to step over the sand stoically as is their wont. Their feet are perfectly gauged to the ground hardly sinking in even when their backs are heavily laden with all our equipment whereby the water reserves were the most precious possession. A great surprise were the gigantic oscillations in temperature between day and night/ During the day it was 50° and at night the temperature fell to freezing point. There is no twilight and night falls very quickly.
We were not used to the quietness – even the animals which were active at night hunted in silence and I would really like to have seen one of these desert inhabitants. Our officially qualified guide was a true Djeffara-Berber ( you can see and admire the biggest cave village in Matmata. The former Berbers absolutely refused to move into conventional flats and the government had to capitulate). He gave us useful information and brought the journey to a satisfying end.
HOLI (Luxembourg)
On a Friday morning almost five years ago.
My colleague and I were sitting in the office anticipating no evil when we noticed them coming. Two black clouds in the shape of our regional manger and our financial director. The latter only set himself in motion when there were real problems. We therefore ducked and awaited what was to come about.
Both sat down on the opposite side of my desk. For ten years I had been the one in charge. They made me recognise they had to deliver bad news: the board had decided a few days beforehand to close our office down. At first we were speechless, then hot then cold then came the questions, why, how come, for what reason? The directors esteemed the situation as not being so good after all (whereby years before we had pleaded for a different location), yes and the turnover was not high enough – we had to achieve a minimum sales volume per head and anyway they had deliberated long enough over the issue and had come to the only possible final stipulation – to CLOSE DOWN!!!!
“And when?” – “In a week, on April 1st exactly. – “This has got to be a joke?” my colleague reiterated, “and what will happen to us if we are transferred to other offices – where shall we go to?” – “No, this is the main reason why we came personally. We have to dismiss both of you!” Immediately the pushed the dismissal in written form over the table. We were utterly amazed and bewildered.
After this there were long explanations from the directors and counter arguments from our side which brought us nowhere apart from granting time for us to take in the news. Another cherry was put on the cake when they told us the official holidays would be taken into account and therefore I had only 2.5 days to work – to Wednesday till 12.00. However, and then it came; we would not be allowed to be in the office alone any more. A colleague from the Belgian head office, whom we already knew, would be with us immediately.
The managers took their leave while we were trying to vent our anger, frustration and fear of the future. You can imagine what kind of weekend we had.
On Monday, as usual, I was in the office with the other colleague looking over my shoulder, or at least this is how I felt it. Although she tried to explain the situation to me, it was not at all easy to work. Then Wednesday came. Shortly before the end, an acquaintance wanted some advice. I noticed it was almost 12.00 and had great pleasure in advising him according to all the rules of the art. Finally I was able to book a holiday for him just as he had wished it. On taking leave of him I could do no other than tell him he was my last client for whom I had had the pleasure of having done an hour’s overtime and that the office would be closed immediately. For this deed my colleague praised me, which I could have done without but at least I was able to leave the office with my head held high and in an attempt to put together the pieces which this dismissal had shattered.
ANNABELLE (Luxembourg)
My colleague and I were sitting in the office anticipating no evil when we noticed them coming. Two black clouds in the shape of our regional manger and our financial director. The latter only set himself in motion when there were real problems. We therefore ducked and awaited what was to come about.
Both sat down on the opposite side of my desk. For ten years I had been the one in charge. They made me recognise they had to deliver bad news: the board had decided a few days beforehand to close our office down. At first we were speechless, then hot then cold then came the questions, why, how come, for what reason? The directors esteemed the situation as not being so good after all (whereby years before we had pleaded for a different location), yes and the turnover was not high enough – we had to achieve a minimum sales volume per head and anyway they had deliberated long enough over the issue and had come to the only possible final stipulation – to CLOSE DOWN!!!!
“And when?” – “In a week, on April 1st exactly. – “This has got to be a joke?” my colleague reiterated, “and what will happen to us if we are transferred to other offices – where shall we go to?” – “No, this is the main reason why we came personally. We have to dismiss both of you!” Immediately the pushed the dismissal in written form over the table. We were utterly amazed and bewildered.
After this there were long explanations from the directors and counter arguments from our side which brought us nowhere apart from granting time for us to take in the news. Another cherry was put on the cake when they told us the official holidays would be taken into account and therefore I had only 2.5 days to work – to Wednesday till 12.00. However, and then it came; we would not be allowed to be in the office alone any more. A colleague from the Belgian head office, whom we already knew, would be with us immediately.
The managers took their leave while we were trying to vent our anger, frustration and fear of the future. You can imagine what kind of weekend we had.
On Monday, as usual, I was in the office with the other colleague looking over my shoulder, or at least this is how I felt it. Although she tried to explain the situation to me, it was not at all easy to work. Then Wednesday came. Shortly before the end, an acquaintance wanted some advice. I noticed it was almost 12.00 and had great pleasure in advising him according to all the rules of the art. Finally I was able to book a holiday for him just as he had wished it. On taking leave of him I could do no other than tell him he was my last client for whom I had had the pleasure of having done an hour’s overtime and that the office would be closed immediately. For this deed my colleague praised me, which I could have done without but at least I was able to leave the office with my head held high and in an attempt to put together the pieces which this dismissal had shattered.
ANNABELLE (Luxembourg)
After hours ?
Knitting socks ? Crocheting bibs? Sacrificing yourself for your loved ones or not so loved ones. Enough of masochistic nonsense and now forwards, or, should I say, to the mouse! Life long learning is the magic word to make senior citizens into sharp grannies and grandpas, if they are not already in this category. Science has revealed that grey-haired knowledge potential is remarkable – it just has to be stimulated and downloaded. But seriously speaking: neuro scientists have been of the opinion for quite some time that only a minor part of our mental performance capabilities are genetically programmed, and that no general degradation occurs in old age. The capability of being able to think in old age can influence our well-being positively. Gerontologists also share the opinion that pathological ageing processes cannot be stopped but that they can be drawn out.
Life-long learning (both required and facilitated) can be an alternative. A test-run throughout Europe will support this subject. Economically speaking, this means that human capital should be kept as long as possible in order to make bequeathed knowledge available to coming generations.
Never before have senior citizens been courted in the same way as today. State, communal and private supporting organisations outbid each other with educational offers specially for the elderly (-politically correct: seniors). Moreover, there is a network of European projects in which there are dozens of forums which chant the mantra of digital technique: “being on the inside is cool”. Being online means more than “knowing it”, it also means being able to keep up with people, means not being defenceless when confronted with communication technique and last but not least, the computer offers the possibility of socialising in a virtual way when reality in this connection leaves a lot to be desired.
Life-long learning can be delightful in spite of any problems the process of ageing might have. Social scientists and demographers are striking the alarm because the biological age limit has adjusted itself upwards. The legislator reacts hectically. Seniors capable of working should be led back into the working process. Being pensioned at 67 is a mere compromise. It is planned to release the elderly from work at the age of 70. The question poses itself if only the multimorbids will be able to have their rest ahead of time.
Finally, a more recent piece of information from the European Union: a work paper with the well-sounding name “Strategy, Growth and Occupation” points out that by the year 2017 we can reckon with more elderly employees being available for the work market.
We seniors, called “ a demographic time bomb” by badly bred politicians, are making ourselves fit for the future work market e.g. by participating in numerous workshops or on the Union’s subsidised “ life-long learning”.
HOLI (Luxembourg)
Knitting socks ? Crocheting bibs? Sacrificing yourself for your loved ones or not so loved ones. Enough of masochistic nonsense and now forwards, or, should I say, to the mouse! Life long learning is the magic word to make senior citizens into sharp grannies and grandpas, if they are not already in this category. Science has revealed that grey-haired knowledge potential is remarkable – it just has to be stimulated and downloaded. But seriously speaking: neuro scientists have been of the opinion for quite some time that only a minor part of our mental performance capabilities are genetically programmed, and that no general degradation occurs in old age. The capability of being able to think in old age can influence our well-being positively. Gerontologists also share the opinion that pathological ageing processes cannot be stopped but that they can be drawn out.
Life-long learning (both required and facilitated) can be an alternative. A test-run throughout Europe will support this subject. Economically speaking, this means that human capital should be kept as long as possible in order to make bequeathed knowledge available to coming generations.
Never before have senior citizens been courted in the same way as today. State, communal and private supporting organisations outbid each other with educational offers specially for the elderly (-politically correct: seniors). Moreover, there is a network of European projects in which there are dozens of forums which chant the mantra of digital technique: “being on the inside is cool”. Being online means more than “knowing it”, it also means being able to keep up with people, means not being defenceless when confronted with communication technique and last but not least, the computer offers the possibility of socialising in a virtual way when reality in this connection leaves a lot to be desired.
Life-long learning can be delightful in spite of any problems the process of ageing might have. Social scientists and demographers are striking the alarm because the biological age limit has adjusted itself upwards. The legislator reacts hectically. Seniors capable of working should be led back into the working process. Being pensioned at 67 is a mere compromise. It is planned to release the elderly from work at the age of 70. The question poses itself if only the multimorbids will be able to have their rest ahead of time.
Finally, a more recent piece of information from the European Union: a work paper with the well-sounding name “Strategy, Growth and Occupation” points out that by the year 2017 we can reckon with more elderly employees being available for the work market.
We seniors, called “ a demographic time bomb” by badly bred politicians, are making ourselves fit for the future work market e.g. by participating in numerous workshops or on the Union’s subsidised “ life-long learning”.
HOLI (Luxembourg)
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