Shallow Water Blackout

Hi there

I wonder how many swimmers know about Shallow Water Blackout?   Apparently the medical profession have known about Deep Water Blackout for a long time, but it's only been in recent years that Shallow Water Blackout has been commented upon.

A friend of mine swims a couple of times a week at the pool.  Last month, he got into the water, swam five lengths,  then took a couple of deep breaths before diving under the dividing rope'to get into the next lane.

His mate who was swimming behind him suddenly saw my friend at the bottom of the pool.

Lifeguards gave him CPR, he was rushed to hospital and put in intenssive care for several days.  He's now fit.

The doctors told him that he must have sort of hyperventilated as he was sucking in air prior to ducking his head under the water.  And this is what made him lose consciousness.  It's called Shallow Water Blackout. 

I passed the story on to the gang at the beach and we all sat there demonstrating our techniques for going under water.  One said she didn't even think about her breath, just went under.  Another said she took in one big gasp.  Another took a couple of  fast little intake breaths.  Oops.

Here's a pic I took last weekend at Hataitai Beach.  We've swam practically every day this month.  The water doesn't seem all that much colder for March.  But Hurricane Lucy is on the way ....

We will try to swim through the winter like we did over the last few years.   Fingers crossed.

Getting lost

Hi there

As my five readers may remember, I have a friend called Lorraine (no, you're not confused;  my friend has the same name as me).  Lorraine is the 'mother' to Coco, my little Wednesday dog.

Earlier this week, I was invited to Lorraine's new place for lunch.  Lorraine's house is in Seatoun Heights.  It looks down over Worser Bay.

Lorraine and I live no more than 2 kms apart, but it still took me 55 minutes to get from my place to hers.  Goodness, I could have got to Levin, up the line, in the time it took me to drive over the hill.  I got completely lost.

I am so ashamed.  And embarrassed.

I finally arrived at Lorraine's in tears, collapsing on the shoulder of - wait for it! - yet another Lorraine, and this is the trouble when all your friends and yourself are born in the same decade.  Mothers-to-be hear this well -  never give a popular name of the time to your child!

  I was hot, sweaty-wet, emotional, and stressed out.  I'm telling you all, those winding, curvy streets on Seatoun Heights hill, with up to three signs on a single signpost and most of them pointing in the same direction ..... stink!

I'd love to say that it wasn't me, but - and here's a secret - it is me.  Last week, I was supposed to pick up a friend from her house.   I was coming from Porirua and had no idea how to get to her from there, so I put the address into my satellite navigation thingamebob. 

As I was approaching Wellington, I dropped the device on the floor.  It seemed to work again so I followed directions.  I went three times around the suburb of Brooklyn in a big circle, then that annoying lady in the SatNav told me to go through the Hataitai Tunnel.  It was only then that I realised she was sending me home.  In the end, I looked at a paper map, and only got lost twice following that.  I think my friend read "Gone with the Wind" from start to finish, whilst she was waiting for me to arrive.

Here's a pic that I took in Lorraine's house, of Coco, my Wednesday dog. 

I

Advertising Spread at Hataitai Beach

Hi there

Well, a lot of excitement today at Hataitai Beach.  There were a coujple of models being made up, dressed, and photographed for magazine advertising spreads.  The ad campaign was showcasing made to measure vintage-style bathing suits.  For Swan Swimwear.

J and I bowled into the changing shed to find it crammed full of models, make-up, cases, equipment, electrical gear, and lots of other stuff that, not being in the high fashion industry, we hadn't a clue about.  We felt a tad embarrassed in our practical functioning swimwear.

Below is model Bailey, before ...

 

Here is model Bailey, after ...

Miramar filmdom.

Hi there

I was looking at some old photos and thought you might like to see the following. I was wandering around the Miramar area several years ago, and, outside a panel-beaters, I chanced upon a host of vintage cars. On second look, the vehicles didn't look quite vintage to me. They looked as if they'd been built and painted in a slapdash way. Turned out they were vehicles from the Peter Jackson movie "King Kong". I went back over several days to check on progress. I guess I can now show the pictures.

And during all the "Lord of the Rings"/King Kong business, there was a boat parked in the Stone Street Studios yard. I think you can probably see the name on the aft if you click on the picture.

Below is a rowboat used in "King Kong". I got told off for taking photo.  I just chanced upon the activity as I was walking along Stone Street where the studios are. 

...but can you do it on your knuckles?

Hi there

First ...    I can do one-arm push-ups.  In fact, I am pretty brilliant on one-arm push-ups.  It's my party piece.  Not bad for an old dog, eh? 

I would say that about 50% of folk who watch me doing my one-arm push-ups say something like:  "But can you do it on your knuckles?"  Or "What about the other arm?"  Or "How about a dozen one-arm push-ups on the back of a pony, juggling ten coffee cups, twirling  hoops around your arms and legs, and balancing a pussy cat on your nose?"

Okay, I admit I have tried the pony thing, and I just can't do it.   The pussy cat keeps falling off.

My friends tell me the same thing about their achievements.  "It's a nice painting, but have you thought about putting  a bird on that tree?" was one comment given to a friend.  She was devastated, the painting had taken a long time to do and she was so proud of it. 

Another friend got this comment:  "I know it was your first attempt and you spent a long time throwing that bowl, and painting it, and firing it, but why didn't you do a saucer, too?" 

What about, "The scones are great.  You never thought of adding cinammon?"

Oh-oh-oh, here's  one:  "You're swimming in just your bathing suits throughout a Wellington winter?  How long do you stay in the water?  An hour? " 

Heck, I'm telling you, not many folk stay in the water, in summer, for an hour.  In the middle of winter, ten minutes is a challenge.

Praise can so build up a person.   If someone takes ages and ages to learn something, please don't dismiss the achievement by asking why they arent doing it at a higher level.  It's so traumatic.

xxx

Kilbirnie Park - what are these white blobs?

Hi there

I was walking alongside Kilbirnie Park this morning, on my way to the gym, and I saw little white blobs strategically spaced all over the grass.

Some sort of white blobby alien invasion?  Quick, put the airforce on high alert.  Oh, hang on, didn't we mothball all our jet-fighter planes several years' ago?

Maybe vandals had scattered fluffy sudsy stuff all over the grounds?  I truly was tempted to pick it up and blow it into the air.  How sweet.

Some new sporty activity, perhaps?    One that includes something or someone zooming in and out and around white fluffy disclike ....things?     I better look up Wikipedia..

Wait ....  there's a notice warning about weed killing.....    Oh, it's blobs of weedkiller.

Lock up your dogs, cats, inquisitive teens, and those folk who always like to press their finger against a wall where there's a notice that reads "Wet Paint".

xxx

Oh, and I think I will have to take back what I said the other day about just men parking skew-whiff in supermarket carparks.  A woman shot in beside me today and I swear she was in something reminiscent of an army tank.  She parked way over the line and into my personal space. I am so embarrassed for womanhood.  But, hey, maybe it's just drivers of such huge SUVs that are causing the trouble.  Mmmmm, I'll have to think about this.

Swimming at Hataitai beach

Hi there

J and  I have been cruising along with our swimming since about October.  Today everything ,changed.  We got in the water, and there was beautiful blue sky overhead, but by the time we got out, thunder clouds were approaching.  The winds were chilly.,

And my feet in my sandals were freezing.   Freezing toes usually means winter swimming is on the way.

J's chauffeur met us as we were coming out of the water.  He said the forecast for this afternoon was thunder, hail, cold, rain.   As I drove home, it started to rain.  And as I type this, (about an hour out from the beach ) I cannot seem to get warm.

Oh dear, will we be able to complete winter swimming - we go in wearing just our bathing suits, no wet suits for us! - this year.  Or will we chicken out?

The first day of Autumn, here in NZ, was 1 March.......  

brrrrhhhhh...

(Oh, heck, I better sign off as I can hear thunder coming from over Island Bay way.  I don't want possible lightening to home in on my computer)

Here's a not very good photo of one of the gateposts at Weta Workshop, in Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand, just up the road from where I live.  It depicts a dwarf from The Lord of the Rings/Hobbit movies.