Weekender Living

BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOHO ASTRO - JOANNE MADELINE MOORE

Daily posts at www.bohoastro.com | twitter @JoMadelineMoore | © Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

AQUARIUS

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

Th ere’s a planetary pile-up in your home zone so expect some family shenanigans and domestic dramas this week (especially on Monday and Tuesday). You’re also likely to hear some startling news that makes your ears burn but try to be super discreet with any secrets that come your way. If you’re tempted to spread red-hot rumours and gratuitous gossip, then heed the wise words of birthday great, novelist and poet Charlotte Bronte, “Look twice before you leap.”

Most Geminis are gregarious gadfl ies, clever communicators and masters at multi-tasking. But things could go haywire this week, as the planets disrupt your preconceived plans. Don’t let it deter you though! Mercury (your patron planet) links up with intrepid Uranus, so strive to be more adventurous, as you grab opportunities with both hands. Be inspired by birthday great, actress Shirley MacLaine, “Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. It’s where all the fruit is.”

Monday and Tuesday look unpredictable (especially involving fi nances) and the Sun/Pluto square could throw a relationship challenge in your direction (perhaps involving jealous behaviour or a power struggle). Your ruling planet Venus is transiting through Pisces, so do your best to play the perceptive peacemaker. Romance and passion are also highlighted as the Sun, Mercury and Uranus stimulate your sensuality zone. Feel the love Libra!

Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune are all visiting your sign, so it’s time to tap into the Piscean creativity and courage within. Other people are looking to you for compassionate strong leadership and perceptive solutions, so roll up your sleeves and get to work! Your motto is from the great Queen Elizabeth (who turns 96 on Th ursday). “When life is hard the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat. Instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.”

With the Sun, Mercury and Uranus all moving through your networking zone, the more you mix and mingle and the more connections you make (in person and online) the better the week will be. Looking for employment? It’s time to capitalise on all the contacts you have - from family members, close friends and former colleagues to acquaintances in your local community. Don’t wait for opportunities to magically appear … be proactive about following your dreams.

Th e Sun moves into your relationship zone, so fi nd practical ways to help those around you. But resist the temptation to be a stubborn, intractable and riskadverse Scorpio. Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures, innovative ideas and creative thinking. So keep your options wide open and your adaptability muscles well-fl exed. Be inspired by birthday great, actress and author Shirley MacLaine, “Someday change will be accepted as life itself.”

As the resident Warrior Man/Woman of the zodiac, your usual approach is to charge into situations quickly with impulsive verve. Th e long list of Aries hotheads includes Butch Cassidy, Bette Davis, Alec Baldwin and Russell Crowe. Rams are also notorious for lacking follow-through. But this week Mars is in introspective Pisces and the Sun transits into patient Taurus. So make sure your fi ery enthusiasm is tempered with a thoughtful attitude and a long-term plan.

Th e Sun, Mercury and Uranus bring the opportunity for recognition and advancement at school, university or work. Th rough your daily words and actions, you have the power to infl uence other people in positive and productive ways. So don’t miss the chance to make a difference. But Monday’s Sun-Pluto square could increase pressure and encourage power struggles and ego clashes. Clever Lions will employ smart strategies to reduce confl ict and lower stress levels.

When it comes to a social event or a complicated friendship, hold onto your hat and prepare for some dramas! It is a good week to spruce up your domestic abode and entertain at home, as you enjoy fi ne food and convivial company. However, when dealing with a fractious family member, you’ll fi nd some creative sugar-coating will help to convey your message in a more positive way. On Sunday, replace negative thinking with a focused mental approach.

Th e Sun shifts into your sign on Wednesday. So it’s time for steady Bulls to step up and be the calm voice of reason, as you fi nd creative ways to work with others. If you collaborate and are prepared to pivot, then it will help steer you onto more solid ground in these uncertain times. Be inspired by the great Queen Elizabeth (who turns 96 on Th ursday). “Whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load.”

Th is week the Sun, Mercury and Uranus encourage you to explore new horizons. Th e wider your circle of friends and acquaintances, the more infl uence you will have in the big world outside your door. Being confi dent and decisive are the keys. Plus, with harmony planet Venus visiting your relationship zone (until May 2) do all you can to bypass dramas and fi x problems. It’s time to be more conciliatory as you sit down and smoke the pipe of peace!

Capricorns will feel capricious and cranky this week! Expect some uncomfortable discussions with family and friends. You’re not in the mood to be diplomatic, and others will be surprised by the intensity of your feelings (and your reluctance to compromise). But you’ll have to give a little in order to get a lot. Avoid becoming bogged down in negatives and being a carping critic. On the weekend, do your best to kick up your Goat heels and have some serious fun.

PISCES

FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

ARIES

MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

TAURUS

APRIL 21 TO MAY 21

GEMINI

MAY 22 TO JUNE 21

CANCER

JUNE 22 TO JULY 22

LEO

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23

VIRGO

AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

LIBRA

SEPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

SCORPIO

OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

CAPRICORN

DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

WITH DR ERIN SHORT • GREENCROSS COREEN AVENUE • 4731 3055

Easter danger lurking for our pets

Easter is a fun time of year filled with spending time with family and pets, a relaxing long weekend, Easter egg hunts and of course chocolate! But for our pets, there are lots of hazards around which could turn a relaxing day into an emergency trip to the vet.

Easter eggs and chocolate

Chocolate is usually in abundance in most households when Easter comes around. Our pets are more likely to have the chance to hoover up sweet treats, especially if they’re left around on low surfaces or on the floor. Although harmless to us chocolate can make dogs extremely ill and can even be fatal. This is due to a toxin called Theobromine. Pets metabolise this chemical much slower than humans, meaning it can have detrimental effects. Symptoms of Theobromine poisoning include muscle stiffness, tremors, vomiting, heart arrhythmias and seizures. If you think your pet has eaten chocolate, we’d recommend you take them to your vet immediately.

Sweets

Sweets are also a popular Easter favourite. Unfortunately, some sweets contain a substance called Xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener. It is extremely harmful to dogs and even a small amount can be toxic. If your dog eats sweets made with xylitol, monitor for any vomiting, lethargy, lack of coordination and seizures.

Easter baskets

Easter baskets are a lovely gift idea and are great for kids as you can put small toys and other treats in there. Small toys and filler material like straw and plastic grass (very appealing to cats as it’s fun to play with) are easily swallowed by pets. This is likely to cause digestive obstruction, which may lead to an emergency surgery. Symptoms may include persistent vomiting, bloating, weight loss, weakness and dehydration.

Hot cross buns

Hot Cross buns contain raisins and other dried fruits, which cause kidney failure in both dogs and cats. Kidney failure classically causes increased thirst and urination; however, symptoms are usually seen weeks later when the secondary effects of reduced kidney function become evident.

Lilies

Easter lilies (along with many other types of lilies) are often gifted around Easter time, and although they help to brighten the house up, they’re extremely toxic to cats. Every part of the lily is dangerous; this even includes the water it’s sitting in! It causes kidney failure and can be fatal if treatment isn’t given quickly. Some of the signs your cat may be suffering from lily poisoning are as follows: dehydration, extreme thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures and even death.

Sadly, the majority of toxins mentioned won’t show symptoms until the damage is already done and at which point it is not reversible, especially raisins and lilies which effect the kidney.

For more information regarding Easter dangers for your pet, call the team at Greencross Vet Coreen Ave on 4731 3055.

BARIATRIC Reboot

Vanessa Currie

Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist and Hair Test 500 Practitioner Have you had, or are you considering, weight loss surgery? Did you know that long-term success has little to do with the surgery itself?

Hi, I’m Vanessa! As a Bariatric Naturopath, I help amazing women on all stages of their weight loss surgery journey achieve the transformation of their dreams.

Bariatric surgery takes care of the physical side of weight loss, at least initially - but what if the mental and emotional aspects are neglected? Weight regain is unfortunately common.

Through my Bariatric Reboot program, you will be given all the tools and support for long-term success by: • Nailing your Nutrition • Learning to Love Movement • Mastering your Mindset

Naturopathy can also gently and effectively relieve many common side effects of surgery, including reflux, dumping syndrome, nausea, vomiting, and constipation/ diarrhoea.

For more information contact me via the contact info below, or chat to me at Terry White Chemmart at 447 High St, Penrith. PRICE LIST

Initial Consultation

$129 (60-75mins)

Follow up consult

$79 (30-45mins)

Hair Test 500 Items

$279 (Without consultation)

Hair Test 500 Items

$349 (With consultation)

SOFITEL FIJI

Words: Scott McRae | Photos: Supplied | More Info: www.thetravellingguy.com

Iwas hesitant to jump right in and start clearing the cobwebs from my passport and saddling up the travelling horse as some of the restrictions that had held us from international travel for what seemed like an eternity began to disappear. The constantly shifting rules and restrictions were a minefield, and the last thing I wanted to do was spend the majority of my first international trip trapped in a hotel room.

As a result, it was nearly effortless for me to begin my return to wanderlust close to home and in a country that has previously demonstrated its ability to make wise travelling COVID decisions. I hadn’t been to Fiji in a long time; in fact, it had been more than 10 years since my last trip. To be honest, it had been far too long, and I understood how important tourism is to the Fijian economy, with over 150,000 Fijians employed in the business, so I made up my mind to return and reacquaint myself with those smiling faces and the warmth of Fijian hospitality once more.

Still, I was going to play it relatively safe by choosing a resort holiday, one where I knew I would be in somewhat of a holiday bubble where everyone visiting or working would be following protocol and were following the same rules as me.

Sofitel Fiji was my chosen destination and there were a few reasons that swayed that conclusion. Firstly, they are a Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) hotel, a WHOapproved standard of best-practice health and safety measures for travel in a postCOVID world and that was reassuring.

I’ve stayed in Accor hotels before and knew that not only would I be in a safe, pleasant environment, but I’d also be able to experience everything that makes a visit to one of their properties as enjoyable as it can and should be.

With the decline in visitor numbers over the last few years, Sofitel Fiji saw a chance to elevate the resort, and Director of Sales and Marketing Michael Bell stated, “We were out to establish the best hotel on mainland Fiji”. It would be easy to trade on location alone, with such a large amount of land surrounded by tropical palms and a lovely ocean front setting but that is certainly not in anyone’s thoughts here.

When it comes to where and what you want to do on vacation, the hotel provides the best of both worlds. This is owing to the resort’s ‘two sides’ possibility. One side caters to families with a higher-energy, action-packed feel that boasts the Pacific’s largest pool, complete with its own water slide.

The flip side of the Sofitel coin is the Waitui Beach Club, which caters to lovedup couples, honeymooners, or just those lucky folks looking for some one-on-one time. Waitui Beach Club has its own checkin station, which you will be delivered to on a private golf cart upon arrival, and you will instantly feel distinguished. The complementary nibbles during the day, as well as poolside canapes and champagne after dusk, assist! The luxury suites with views of the beach or the adults-only pool and deck are extremely spacious and feature the most comfortable bedding and furnishings.

An added extra bonus of a free mini bar that gets replenished every day makes it even more superior.

Water activities are abundant, and they are accessible to everyone. You can enjoy use of the non-motorised activities such as Paddle Boards, Kayaks, and Hobie Cats at no cost, or you can go for the adrenaline rush and treat yourself to a Jet Ski Safari or a sky-high Parasailing expedition.

Dining options are also exceptional, which is saying something considering my first trip to Fiji was not particularly gastronomically memorable. Sofitel has delivered, and I believe that ‘foodies’ will be pleasantly surprised. Bazaar, with its multiple interactive live cooking stations offering flavours from around the world for breakfast and dinner, is one of three primary dining options.

The gastronomy of Solis, with its Mediterranean seafood specialities prepared with the freshest and cleanest local produce available, may be enjoyed right on the water’s edge. The local lobster is absolutely magnifique!

Waitui Beach Club Bar and Grill is a true delight that must be experienced at least once during your visit. Adults only once more, so if you’ve had the youngsters in tow, take a night off and enjoy some scrumptious specialties from the charcoal grill while sipping on some top shelf wines or perhaps some French Champagne.

The resort also boasts a beachside Suka Bar with a seemingly endless range of in-house infused rums served with Fijianstyled tapas, as well as a French-inspired Café with a heightened coffee experience that includes those always-tempting pastries that we find difficult to refuse.

Overall, I couldn’t be happier with my decision to take small steps back into the realm of international travel. Everything went almost perfectly.

WITH DAVID NORRIS • NORTEC IT • 9894 9514

How to make your TV smarter

Arange of content streaming devices can be plugged into your television to make them a smarter TV. While most modern-day televisions are smart, you are limited to what applications or services they support. For example, my four-year-old Samsung smart television has no Apple TV or Disney + support, so I need a smart TV device.

Over the coming weeks, we will look at the three most popular ones: the Amazon Firestick, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast; I have used all three over time, my favourite being the Amazon Firestick.

Like its competitors, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K will stream content from your favourite streaming service at 4K. It supports HDR, HDR10+ Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. These are enhancements a lot of existing televisions do not have, so the Firestick will provide you superior sound and improves video by boosting colour clarity and depth.

The Firestick looks like an oversized USB stick and connects to your television by plugging it into an HDMI port. It has a built-in Wi-Fi receiver to connect to your home Wi-Fi. The installation and setup process is quick and easy, and access to the device is simply changing your source input on your television to the HDMI port it is plugged into. Once set up, you are presented with a screen listing a selection

of movies and television shows and a list of suggested applications, including the most popular ones. Enter your Netflix, Disney, Stan or Apple credentials and start streaming in 4K. You can also access all the catchup TV services, including 7+, 9Now, 10Play, ABC iView and SBS.

The remote that comes with the Firestick

is well designed and simple to use. It also supports Alexa voice commands to find and launch content. By holding down the microphone button, you can ask Alexa to open YouTube or ask for a list of action movies. It will look across all the services you are logged into and show a consolidated list.

As well as supporting the popular services it also supports and has applications for hundreds you haven’t heard of. Many free streaming services are available in the Amazon App store, including FilmRise, which has channels covering dedicated Sci-Fi, Westerns, British TV, Action and Romance channels.

Amazon also has apps for TED talks, Red Bull TV, CBS News, Tubi free Movies/TV. The App store is extensive and includes games that can be downloaded and played on your television, including Minecraft. It also has a range of utilities, including VPNs and Plex. Using a VPN will let you access content from overseas, whilst Plex will allow you to access content on your local network or off your friend’s networks.

The Amazon Firestick 4K is a powerful device that turns your television into much more than a Smart TV. It is the lowest pricewise of the three streaming devices, especially when compared to Apple TV 4K. The Firestick retails between $59 and $99. At the time of writing, it was $59 with a promotional code.

HEALTH

WITH RANDY BALUYOT ONE POINT HEALTH • 4732 5188

Why a Podiatrist gets involved in your Diabetes management plan

If you have been recently diagnosed with Diabetes or have had a history of Diabetes, you may find yourself being referred to your Podiatrist by your doctor. Why?

Podiatrists are equipped with tools and knowledge to conduct annual diabetic foot checks.

This may involve the feeling and listening of blood flow to the lower limb and conducting tests to examine the degree of sensation at your feet.

Signs and symptoms of worsening Diabetes complications may include tingling, cramping and numbness in the feet.

Nerve damage can occur in legs, arms and hands due to high blood glucose levels.

It is for this reason that a podiatrist will conduct certain tests to identify if you are at risk of causing injury to yourself unknowingly. As the name suggests, protective sensation is protective as it equips you with the ability to be aware of episodes of trauma or sharp objects that may protrude and cause injury to the foot.

Diabetes can also affect small and large blood vessels of the lower legs causing decreased or slow blood flow and in return causing delayed healing and a greater possibility of infection.

Together these two factors can often cause severe complications. The inability to sense the presence of a wound coupled with slow healing can often lead to infection and subsequent amputation. The Australian institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimated that 3570 lower limb amputations were conducted in hospital to admitted patients with a Diabetes diagnosis in 2012-2013.

Book in to see your Podiatrist regularly, or annually for a foot assessment.

Tip of the day: Observe your feet daily by sitting in front of a mirror and looking for cuts, bruises or strange lesions.