I recommend Red Cross First Aid Course

Yesterday I did the Red Cross First Aid Course. I would recommend it to everyone.

We learned various techniques, including dressing of wounds, tying triangular slings, wrapping splints for injuries to muscles/bones/joints, rescue breath and rescue breathing, CPR and we also covered details on what to do for victims of burns, heart attacks, strokes, poisoning, life-threatening allergies, etc.

We practised on each other by tying slings, turning the 'injured' body to recovery position, dealing with conscious choking emergencies, etc. The CPR and breathing techniques were practised on dummies—where and how to pump the chest, how many times to pump, where and how to place the mouth-to-mouth (or mouth covering nose and mouth in the case of babies) for rescue breathing.

Of course it's vital to keep practising so that (a) we don't forget what we learned and (b) we improve on what we learned in terms of efficiency and confidence.

Definitely a worthwhile course. Only 8 hours on a Saturday, once a month, $400 registration. If interested, call the TT Red Cross and give them your name. The next class is in September.

rEVOLVE (my first hooping video)

Soundtrack & Hooping: Elspeth Duncan
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Remember some time back I mentioned my new mission ... to learn to hoop and get good at it? Above is my first hooping video. It's very simple ... no fancy moves and impressive spinning yet. At this point, basically trying to keep the hoop up. I am using a child's hoop (the small, lightweight ones we get here) because it's the only one I have right now. But to get into it properly, I'm going to have to get (or make) a real hooping hoop, which is much larger and weighted. Working on that ...

I'll be documenting my progress over time and sharing those subsequent videos as I revolve.

Wowwwwwie! My new mission

Source of this photo
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My friend C has a daughter, A (12 years old now) who, at times when I was over (when she was still in primary school), often had her hula hoop out. I would always pick it up and give it a go ... but that talent which I'd had as a child seems to be dormant now.

My friend's daughter would laugh at me, then sigh with childish exasperation: "Spec, look let me show you. It's eeeeeasy!" She would then stand there, barely even moving her body, a placid, yawning, this-is-so-easy expression on her face as the hula hoop went zipping about her slim frame.

The other day I bought a red hula hoop in Excellent Stores so that I can practice. My new mission is to get really good at it. I will experiment on my own ... but I think I may also have to take some lessons (not sure where though) and learn some tips and tricks. This is a beautiful art. Whether it zips or floats around your body ... it just looks great ... fluid, sexy, relaxing, energizing, zippy, fun, wow ... Below are a few inspirational videos featuring other hoopers. When I've got the hang of it, I'll do one of my own.

(N.B. The music in the last embedded video automatically plays. Just press stop or pause so it doesn't conflict with the sound in the other videos if you're looking at them).

Unwinding at home
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(Sigh): Look Spec, it's easy!
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Simple, natural, effortless, surreal
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Effortlessly elegant