Fathers Day – A time to remember June 17, 2007

I didn’t get my dad a card for fathers day. I didn’t think it was important. How I wish I could get him a card now, but it is too late. He’s not here any more. Regrets? Yes, yes and yes.

My dad died on July 17th 1999 from cancer, he was just 50. It took less than 4 months to reduce a strong willed, fantastically talented and skilled man with a great sense of humour to a shell. Not only did it destroy him, it destroyed part of me as well. I have never really looked at the world the same way since his awful ordeal at the hands of cancer.

This was the man who could turn his hand to anything he chose. An engineer by trade, he could make you literally anything you asked for, usually in a very short time. He was funny, smart and I realise now, very well respected and admired by all who knew him. Through my teens and early twenties I never spent any time with him. He was always making something for someone and occasionally needed a little help, I always refused as I was “going out”. Stupidity was always one of my strengths. Fortunately it has all but left me as I have got older but I still have flashbacks now and again, I’m only human.

Looking back at his life, he achieved more in 50 years than some people will ever achieve. He travelled extensively with mum and they were away virtually every weekend during the summer months. Mum really misses the weekend jaunts. He was a keen historian, brought about by his love for metal detecting. He loved digging things up, you could see the anticipation on his face as he rummaged around a dirt filled hole on his knees in the middle of a field. Even better was the look when he found it was a ring pull from a drink can!

He found some great treasures of the deep while metal detecting, including several hammered silver coins and even a gold sovereign. All finds were meticulously cleaned and their history thoroughly researched. No detail was omitted.

I could write page after page about my dad but that’s not what I set out to do. I want people to realise that, in most cases, your parents will be the two best friends in the world you will ever have. No one else will look out for you more than they do. Don’t ignore this fact and don’t ever forget it. If you had a fight with your folks, don’t let it brew into a family feud, sort it out and do it today. Apologise, even if you think it was not your fault. It doesn’t matter who was wrong or right does it? Just take a deep breath, make friends and enjoy life, before you end up on the Jeremy Kyle show.

If your dad isn’t here today, take a few minutes to think about him and remember him with fondness in your heart. Here’s to your memories of a special man.

Take pills – be happy February 21, 2007

Do you ever get out of bed in a morning and immediately feel like clambering back under the duvet?

I think we all have days like this but unfortunately, some of us suffer more than others. I suffered a bout of depression after the death of my father. Nothing seemed to be important or worth making the effort for. I mean why bother if you end up dying anyway, right?

I was prescribed anti-depressants by my gp and they seemed to do the trick and after six months I was back on track. The world we live in is not a particularly friendly one at the moment and many people are struggling to just exist never mind anything else. Both parents have to work to make ends meet and children seem to be allowed to roam free and do as they please with no consequence.

I began to feel a little down several months back and did not want to go back to anti-depressants so I had a “Google” for alternatives. One substance was quite prominent amongst the results and I thought I would give it a try.

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola Rosea, also known as “arctic root” or “golden root”, indigenous to the polar arctic regions of eastern Siberia. As a powerful adaptogen rhodiola offers broad non-specific effects supporting overall body function particularly via adrenal stress.

I purchased a tub of rhodiola in powder form from an American company called 1fast400.com . I also purchased empty gelatine capsules to put the powder in as apparently it tasted really bad.

I am in the UK but this company shipped to me without incident via Fedex. It is cheaper to buy supplements from this company only if you are going to buy a few items in one visit. Fedex to the UK is approximately $18 minimum. Alternatively you can use US Postal service but it takes longer to arrive and provides no tracking. Please be aware that you may receive a bill for import duty a week or two after you receive your items. Rhodiola is available in the UK but is usually combined with other substances and it is quite expensive. But isn’t everything in the UK.

I made a few capsules up and began taking two a day, giving me approximately 1gram a day. After about 3 or 4 days I noticed I was becoming less irritable and grumpy. I suddenly had a lot more optimism and felt quite happy in myself.

Of course this could be put down to a placebo effect but I think not. I am still using Rhodiola and combined with my exercise regime, I feel pretty damn good at the moment! I recommend you try it if you are feeling stressed, anxious or just a little down.

The bonus is that Rhodiola also has other health benefits including cardiac health, immune system boost, increased physical and mental performance. You just feel “well” and I for one will continue to take it every day. Some of you may think it wrong to rely on an emotional crutch but at least this is a natural product and seems to have no adverse effects.
I have also tried another product from 1fast400.com called Phenibut and will post about that another time.