Christmas
It was just the best one ever, having been away, just the two of us, to Stobo Castle, which is a spa hotel in the Borders.
It`s every inch what promises on the website. Spending Christmas there was just incredible. So relaxing, so pampered, so void of all the things I don`t like about Christmas.
We both so want to go back next year!
Diagnosis : Obesity
Now it`s official – the vet insists that she loses 1/3 of her body weight.
Visit to Germany
The above went quite okay, and I am so glad about it!
As often, I was anticipating major frictions, and I had been given an inkling about what those might be about – dad found out that I had been last year and not told him by two people divulging this by careless comments on the same day. I had not told him to spare his feelings, as we did not have time or inclination to see him, and not out of nastiness.
But, of course, they see this differently. Of course, they asked, and as previously agreed, I firmly declined to comment, not wanting to lie or discuss the whole thing.
Although body language was as expected (he looked deeply disappointed but also embarrassed, she slapped her and his legs cheering and laughing), the topic was dropped quickly, and after some two minutes of silence, the evening continued okay.
A few more bitchy things but never too much to handle! I was even proud of myself as it came to an end, feeling that I have mastered all the challenges bravely! 
**
I found it more difficult to be with my uncle who has recently been told that he has a year to live. What do you say when you say goodbye to someone who may be dead before you come back?
A Weekend in Germany
I am going home for the weekend – it`s my granny`s birthday.
I had been looking forward to it but right now, I am not exactly savouring the thought.
There are problems again, with the usual people. I always get apprehensive weeks before we go, but at least on this occasion, I know what we will fall out about:
My dad and wife have found out that we were there last year and did not see or tell them.
Oops.
A Wedding!
Well, the biggest news is probably that a wedding is coming up in our family!
My sister will get married to her boyfriend of one year in January!
They have been talking about marriage from quite early on, and initially, people were a bit concerned that it was all happening a bit too quickly! However, things are going well and a date has now been set!
I am really happy for them! I would have been very wary had they married in January this year, but by January next year, they will have been living together for more than a year!
All is well, and I am glad that I have not firmed up plans to spend Christmas in Germany – I had actually thought about this, after not having been for 5 years!
Alive!
Oops, I have not been doing too well with this blog! I have started well but then stopped blogging until two people recently said to me that they are actually reading my blog and noted that I have not written for a while.
Well, I will take you on board and take blogging up again, honestly!
Thankyou!
Pension Greed of “Cripple Scotland” Strikers
Council workers preparing to cripple Scotland with a pay strike have been handled a final salary pension worth £ 600 Mio a year.
Up to 150,000 local government staff are planning to shut schools and nurseries in a mass walk-out just after the summer holidays.
The move is aimed at maximising disruption for thousands of parents.
(Daily Mail)
Caution, nutrition therapist?
This case here is currently making headlines: A lady suffered permanent brain damaged after drinking 6 pints of water a day, following the advice of a nutrition therapist, hoping to lose weight.
Today, an article in our paper warned to avoid nutrition therapists. Everybody may call oneself one, this profession is not regulated by law, a weekend course is sufficient in order to open a practice. If you need nutritional advice you should see an NHS-dieticien but never a nutritional therapist.
So one woman is giving the entire branch a bad name.
Fact is – nutritional therapy is a complementary therapy and not regulated by law.
However, this profession has its own associations and every patient considering to see a nutritional therapist shoud make sure that theirs has a qualification which is recognised by at least the two large associations:
* Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC)
* British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutrition Therapy(BANT)
* many are, in addition, registered with the associations for complementary therapists
A certificate for membership with ideally both NTC and BANT should be clearly displayed in the practice. Nutritional Therapist who do not have a qualification accepted by these associations cannot become a member.
Fortunately, the college where this lady gained her qualification from was named in one of the articles, so I could have a look at their website.
The training with this college costs 1/3 less than mine – in time (15 months) and in money. While looking for a suitable course for myself I have encountered various such ”colleges” and courses. None of them is registered with BANT and only few with NTC. Instead, there are with various dubious-sounding associations which I have never heard of on the sites of the most acknowledged colleges and associations. This particular diploma is vaguely called “Diploma for natural nutirtion”. Mine is called “Diploma for nutritional therapy”.
I am annoyed that there are such large differences in training but not in the job description.
Dieser Fall hier sorgt momentan in der Presse schwer fuer Furore: Dame erleidet permanenten Hirnschaden nachdem sie auf Anraten einer Ernaehrungstherapeutin taeglich 3 Liter Wasser getrunken hat, in der Hoffnung davon abzunehmen.
Heute wurde in unserer Tageszeitung eindringlich vor Ernaehrungstherapeuten gewarnt. Jeder darf sich so nennen, diese Berufsbezeichnung ist nicht gesetzlich reguliert. Ein Wochenendkurs reicht um eine Praxis zu eroeffnen. Wer Ernaehrungsratschlaege braucht sollte zu einem NHS-Dietician gehen, niemals jedoch zu einem Nutritional Therapist.
So gibt eine Frau einem ganzen Berufszweig ein schlechtes Image.
Tatsache ist – Ernaehrungstherapie gehoert zur sogennanten “alternativen Medizin” und ist nicht gesetzlich reguliert. (Das ist in Deutschland uebrigens genau so).
Jedoch hat dieser Berufszweig seine eigenen Vereinigungen und Innungen, und jeder Patient der daran interessiert ist einen Ernaehrungstherapeuten aufzusuchen sollte darauf achten dass sein/e ErnaehrungstherapeutIn eine Ausbildung genossen hat welche zumindest von den zwei grossen Vereinigungen akzeptiert ist:
* Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC)
* British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutrition Therapy(BANT)
* viele Kurse sind weiterhin noch bei den Vereinigungen und Innungen fuer alternative Medizin/Heilpraktiker registriert.
Ein Aushang welcher die Mitgliedschaft bei idealerweise NTC und BANT bestaetigt sollte in der Praxis zu sehen sein. Ernaehrungstherapeuten mit einer Ausbildung die von diesen Vereinigungen nicht akzeptiert wird koennen dort nicht Mitglied werden.
Gottseidank wurde in einem der Artikel ihr College genannt, so konnte ich mir dessen Webseite einmal ansehen.
Die Ausbildung dieser Ernaehrungstherapeutin kostet 1/3 von meiner – in Zeitaufwand (15 Monate) und auch in Geld. Viele solche “Colleges” und anderer Kursanbieter sind mir auf der Suche nach einem geeigneten Kurs fuer mich selber unter gekommen. Keiner dieser Kurse ist jedoch bei BANT registriert und die wenigsten bei NTC. (Dafuer haben sind sie bei einigen anderen dubios klingenden Vereinigungen registriert von denen man bei den “groesseren” Anbietern nie was hoert. Die Bezeichnung dieses bestimmten Diploms heisst sehr vage “Diplom fuer natuerliche Ernaehrung” (Meins heisst “Diplom fuer Ernaehrungstherapie”).
Mich aergert dass es diese grossen Unterschiede in Ausbildung, jedoch nicht in der Stellenbezeichnung gibt.
Leider gibt es auch hier wie in vielen Feldern der alternativen Medizin Scharlatane, aber die sollten nicht eine ganze Branche in Verruf bringen.
Potato Salad
This German potato salad from a somewhat old-fashioned book with emphasis on complete, natural nutrition, looks almost like it did in the receipe book:
Book:
On my plate:
