Month: January 2019

It’s that time of the year again when diets feature regularly in conversations along with thoughts of new body shapes for 2019. If everyone loses the pounds they are hoping to lose in the coming months, Ireland will rise a few centimetres above sea level. But that probably won’t happen.

Jeremy Clarkson, the previous star of Top Gear, gave up cigarettes some time ago and as a result, he put on two stone in weight. His said his belt started screaming at him and his legs and ankles began to hurt, so he decided to try and lose some weight.

He drank lots of water that he describes as tasting like liquid lettuce and he ate small quantities of slimming food for ten days but was surprised to find that when he stood on the weighing scales, he had gained two pounds. That brought him to the conclusion that water is fattening and I have a certain amount of sympathy for Jeremy because I have had a similar experience.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I got one of these Garmin watches for Christmas. The kind that tells you to get off the couch and walk. Since I got it, I have made a big effort at the walking and the watch tells me that I have walked 95 miles in the last two weeks. But when I stood on the scales after all that exercise, the needle was going in the wrong direction.

Normally, dieting is not an issue I need to concern myself with. I’m lucky to have the body of Adonis, or whoever that guy with the good physique was, or Ronaldo if you want a modern-day comparison.

I’m always reminding my wife how lucky she is to have the perfect husband, but she doesn’t say very much. She usually throws her eyes skyward whenever I mention it and I suppose she’s quietly giving thanks for being so fortunate. I reckon she’s just overwhelmed and that’s understandable.

In the meantime, other mere mortals will be testing out diets of all kinds and setting various targets for the rest of the year. It’s big business and there is plenty of money to be made from it and no shortage of people willing to fork out for the opportunity to lose a few kilos.

Many of the weight loss programmes promote the fact that they are scientifically proven to work and guarantee a successful outcome. Really though, it isn’t rocket science at all and if you eat less and move more, you will lose weight and that’s the reality of it. So, you might well ask, if it’s that simple why are we heading for a problem in this country with obesity?

The main issue is that we lack discipline. We eat and drink too many of the wrong things because we’re human and we like nice stuff. It’s also far easier to sit down and watch the telly than it is to move outside, especially when there’s a chance we could get wet or cold.

We spend more time sitting down than our parents did and we have a more sedentary lifestyle. For those who are desk bound at work, they can leave their job, drive home and sit in front of the TV without taking too many steps during the entire day. Because of this, we are getting fatter.

This is bad news because obesity can cause a number of health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease which can reduce your life expectancy.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, Ireland has the highest cases of obesity and excess weight in the whole of Europe. The research involved 53 countries from the WHO European region and compared recorded figures of 2010 and projected ones for the year 2030. If this trend in Ireland continues, experts are of the opinion that by the year 2030, we may have to deal with a big obesity crisis.

Anyone who has ever struggled with being overweight will tell you it’s not easy to lose a few pounds. And it takes a lot of effort and can be a constant battle. If you’re struggling, you should take some encouragement from the story of Juan Pedro Franco, a 33-year-old Mexican man.

At one point he topped the weighing scales at 93 stone, almost 600kg and the Guinness World Records named him the heaviest person alive in 2017.

He was involved in a car accident at the age of 17, and the injuries he sustained meant he was confined to bed, so the pounds piled on. He really wanted to be able to go for a walk outside and breathe fresh air and not to be trapped in his house, but it wasn’t possible. He was simply too heavy.

Two years ago, he was removed from his bedroom for the first time in seven years to undergo life-saving treatment in hospital. He was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, hypertension and liquid in his lungs. His future was looking bleak unless he shed the weight.

By May 2017, Franco had lost 170 kg (26 st. 10 lb) and was able to have gastric bypass surgery. After the surgery, he started a supervised dietary programme and a new exercise regime which saw him lose a third of his body weight by the time he appeared in the pages of Guinness World Records 2019. By November last year he had reduced his weight even further and reached 304 kg. So far, he has lost a staggering 45 stone or 291 kg.

The next time you complain about being a bit roundy, think about this guy. So far, he has lost somewhere in the region of the combined weight of four average sized men.

Now that’s dieting.

A friend of mine isn’t too well at the moment and is in need of a new heart. His own one has let him down so he is now depending on a transplant to literally save his life. That’s a tough challenge to be facing, not only for him, but also for the family of the donor. A family somewhere has to suffer a great loss before he can begin his recovery.

Whenever we see our friends and family in trouble like that, we want to do whatever we can to make things right. We want to make them better. In this case though, I’ve told him that as much as I like him, I’m not giving him mine.

On a more serious note though, I want to do the next best thing and highlight the need for organ donation and try to encourage as many as possible to consider signing up for it. The provisional figures for 2018 show that there were 231 transplants performed in Ireland last year compared with 308 in 2017. This lower figure is mainly because organs are in short supply.

There are those who don’t like the idea of passing on their bits and pieces to be used by others when they finally depart planet Earth and that’s fair enough. Whether they make that choice because of religious beliefs or for personal reasons is neither here nor there. That’s their decision and they’re perfectly entitled to it.

But I’m sure there are many who are not aware of the serious shortage of organs or have never considered donation simply because it hasn’t been brought to their attention. It is a subject that often only comes up when someone has just died but it’s not a discussion to be had while a family is grieving. That needs to happen when everyone is in the fullness of health so that all involved are prepared for the next step if and when the time comes.

Minister for Health, Simon Harris wants to introduce an opt-out system of consent for organ donation which would mean that we all consent to have our organs harvested for donation unless we specifically take the decision to withdraw that consent.

Under this system when a person dies, consent would be deemed to have been granted unless the person, while alive, registered their wish not to become an organ donor.

According to Mr. Harris, 83% of those who were asked, said that the proposed opt-out system would encourage them to discuss their intentions regarding organ donation with their next-of-kin. These conversations need to happen and it’s important that we all consider our position on organ donation and that we make our views known to our loved ones.

This makes great sense to me. There are too many healthy organs currently being cremated or buried in the ground when they could be used to give a great gift to someone in need.

Strange Boat is a group representing the organ donation community and they say that for many people who are awaiting organ transplants, it can be a very long wait. It can be a time of great physical suffering, worry and anxiety, and only those in this situation can truly understand.

In 2015, Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland (ODTI) was established as the national service and they operate around the clock for 365 days a year. 

Professor Jim Egan, Director of Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland says that the message is a simple one, organ donation saves lives. Thanks to the generosity of 98 families donating the organs of their loved ones, 308 people have received the gift of life through transplant surgery in 2017 and he acknowledges the courage and generosity of families who have donated their loved one’s organs. 

Awareness is a major factor in promoting organ donation and the proof of that can be seen in the huge rise in interest following a documentary on TV about Orla Tinsley and her double lung transplant. In the following ten days after that was shown, over 9,000 people registered to become organ donors in Ireland.

Orla Tinsley had been a long-time sufferer of cystic fibrosis. She became a well-known campaigner for improved services for people living with the disease. Her health deteriorated when she suffered a bilateral lung collapse and her condition worsened throughout 2017 and by December, she was on life support. Since her transplant, she has continued to make a remarkable recovery.

Larry Gogan was also in the news recently when it was announced he was leaving 2fm after 40 years, and during an interview, he revealed that he is receiving kidney dialysis. He spends four hours a day, three days a week in hospital, where his blood is removed, washed and then returned to his body.

That prompted other callers to contact the Joe Duffy Show the following day, to give their accounts of dealing with the same thing and this led to a conversation about organ donation. There were stories of long-suffering patients in dire need of replacement organs and there were positive stories about life after transplants.

One caller told of being at deaths door with a failing heart, but he got a second chance of life after he received a heart from a young 15-year-old girl who had been killed in a car accident.

That was obviously a tragic and traumatic experience for the little girl’s family at the time, but they must get some comfort from the fact that another person is living a normal healthy life thanks to their bravery and generosity.

It makes sense to become an organ donor and that decision could save many lives. You can apply for an Organ Donor Card online or free text the word ‘Donor’ to 50050 or Lo-call 1890 543 639.

I have been approached by several people over the last few weeks to write something about the amount of dog fouling that is plainly visible around Cobh at the moment. Many of us have highlighted this issue in the past but unfortunately the situation hasn’t improved. In fact, I think it’s getting worse.

As far as dog fouling is concerned, we’re starting 2019 in the same way we finished the previous year. If you don’t want to take my word for it, just take a walk in the Five-Foot Way and you’ll see the evidence for yourself. Continue on through the town, along Harbour Row and along Connolly Street to the Titanic Memorial Garden and there is no shortage of dog fouling to be seen.

The comments on social media would seem to indicate that other areas of the town are equally destroyed. It’s not good enough and there is no excuse for it but the dog owners in question couldn’t care less.

I don’t have a dog and I never had any interest in having one. Taking it for walks, cleaning up after it or finding a home for it when I go on holidays isn’t my cup of tea and I’m not prepared to do it and that’s why I’ve never had a dog. But lots of people do have one and I can understand that.

But along with dog ownership, comes responsibility but sadly, there are too many who just don’t get it. There are two types of dog owner. The one who looks after the dog properly and then there’s the other type.

I’m often accused of being anti dog, but the reality is that I have nothing against them, but I do have a low tolerance of dog owners who do not behave responsibly. Especially those who refuse to exercise control over their animals and prefer to let them to wander the streets to foul the public space at will.

Many dog owners control their animals and clean up after them but there are also plenty who don’t and they’re happy to allow their animals to use the streets and footpaths of Cobh as a public toilet. They have little or no regard for anybody else and they treat the rest of us with contempt. They are plainly flouting the law as well, but why wouldn’t they when there is no enforcement.

According to Cork City Council, under Section 22 (of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997) , if a dog fouls in a public place, the owner commits an offence if he, or she, fails to remove and dispose of the mess. This means that the person in charge of the dog is required by law to remove dog faeces and dispose of it in a suitable and sanitary way.

Unfortunately, no matter how often we highlight this issue, it doesn’t seem to make a difference. We have lots of rules and regulations governing the control of dogs in public places. Rules about dog fouling, excessive barking, and dogs being under effective control in public. On the other hand, we have an abundance of dogs roaming freely around Cobh, pooping and barking at will.

And the irresponsible owners couldn’t care less.

Many years ago, I arrived home to Cork on the car ferry from Swansea. My daughter was only two or three at the time, so it wasn’t today or yesterday. As we were getting off the ship, we came down a flight of stairs but there was a slight hold-up, so we were all bunched together, quietly waiting for something to happen.

I was holding my daughter in my arms and she was looking back over my shoulder. Suddenly she started poking me in the neck with her finger and in a voice loud enough to break the silence and attract the attention of everyone around us she said; “Daddy, look at him”. She was pointing to someone behind me.

I turned around and I saw a black face with two rows of pearly white teeth smiling back at me. I was mortified. While everyone else found it hilarious, I was embarrassed, and I apologised to the guy, but he was too busy laughing to care about my predicament. It must have been the first time that she had seen a black face or at least been that close to one and he obviously realised that too.

These days we have a multi-cultural society. We engage with people of all nationalities, colour and creed on a daily basis without batting an eyelid. We hear many different languages being spoken on the streets in every town and village in the country and we take no notice because it’s become the new norm.

I go out and about regularly with my grandson and we often go down to the Heritage Centre in Cobh during the summer when the liners are in and we have an ice cream and watch the world go by. Unlike his mother, Cooper has never embarrassed me by pointing at someone different. This is his world, it’s what he knows, and nothing surprises him. That’s how it should be.

Except of course, it isn’t and there will always be those with issues. Some people are just so full of hate and anger that they can’t help themselves and they are always ready to offend someone.

Recently, there was an incident during a football match between Manchester City and Chelsea involving the Jamaican footballer Raheem Sterling, who claimed that he was racially abused when he went to retrieve the ball by the corner flag. I don’t know what was said to him but on the TV footage, you can clearly see a group of men shouting and gesturing furiously at him.

They are not youngsters either. They are grown men, adults, who should know better. Regardless of what they said, I don’t understand why middle-aged men would go to a sporting event and then treat one of the participants with such abuse. But it happens.

There was a story I read some time ago about a youngster who was experiencing racial abuse here. Joella Dhlamini, a sixteen-year-old girl, living in Drogheda, is originally from South Africa but moved to Ireland when she was 13 years old. She was in the news because she won a competition after writing an essay about racism.

She wrote about being a victim of violent crime in South Africa and her experience of dealing with racism since she arrived in Ireland. She said she was walking through the city centre in Dublin one day when someone just spat in her face and called her the ‘n’ word and then walked off. She said she cried because the person was an adult.

There was plenty of support for her on the Internet and people were demanding that the police, the Government or somebody else, should take action.

That’s a bit of a cop out because racism is a cause that can be championed by every citizen. It’s not enough to witness a racist incident and point the finger of responsibility at someone else. Any individual who wants to make a dent in racism is free to do so and I’ll tell you how.

The Macpherson Report defines a racist incident as “any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person”.  It’s a broad definition that covers a multitude and it basically means that the victim of the racist incident does not have to be the person making a complaint. Anybody who witnesses it can also take issue with it and they shouldn’t be afraid to do so.

Racism is a reality for some people living in Ireland but how serious the problem is, is difficult to determine. Many types of racist incidents are not specifically catered for under Irish law, so they are more usually recorded as offences under the Public Order Act.

Offenders have often been prosecuted in court under the Public Order Act for insulting or abusive comments made towards non-Irish nationals. These wouldn’t necessarily be recorded as convictions for racist offences even though, in many cases, that’s exactly what they were.

If this seems a bit complicated, then that’s because it is. Unlike other jurisdictions, there is no specific offence in our criminal justice system to deal with racially motivated offences. There is a crime of incitement to hatred but that takes things to a different level and requires the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions to take to court.

But that shouldn’t stop anyone from getting involved. It’s not difficult, it just involves making a complaint to the gardai. It may also involve a court appearance to give evidence before a judge.

That can’t be done on social media, so those who demand action from everyone else will have to put their outrage where their mouths are. That would have a definite impact on racist incidents but might just be just a step too far for the armchair critics.

One of the great things about being retired is not having to watch the clock. Not having to work out when you need to start getting ready for work or worrying about how much time you have left sitting in the recliner before you have to get out of it.

Having spent over 35 years as a policeman, I learned early on, how to live my life by a watch. One of the first things I was taught in the Garda Training Centre in Templemore was that every entry in the official notebook begins with four headings; Day, Date, Time and Place.

So, for every incident I went to, the first words written in my note book were, what day it was, the date and what time it was when I arrived at my location. These are important details that can easily be forgotten over time and especially when you could be dealing with many incidents during an eight-hour shift.

So, right from the start, a watch became a critical piece of equipment for me and making those entries became as automatic as breathing. We all did it without thinking.

When I retired, I was surprised at how quickly time became irrelevant to me and it wasn’t long before I began to lose track of it altogether. It doesn’t matter to me what day of the week I have because unless I have something specific to do, it is all the same to me.

To a retired person, every weekend is a Bank Holiday weekend and every day is free to be enjoyed however we chose to do it. I adapted to this lifestyle with little difficulty and quickly grew fond of it. There are some who have commented that I was born for retirement and that’s fair enough I suppose.

I liked this new-found lifestyle, not having to look at my watch every few minutes, and I was blissfully happy. And that’s a dangerous mindset to be in because it seems to me, that any time I reached a state of contentment, something always happened to turn it around and introduce me to some misery and hardship.

I put it down to the Gods, the Greek ones in particular. You have probably heard about some of them over the years like Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Athena was the goddess of reason and wisdom, Artemis was responsible for hunting, while Ares looked after bloodlust and wasn’t liked by the others but apparently, he wasn’t bothered.

Zeus is probably one of the better-known Greek gods and he was the top man. The go to guy. Apart from his many other duties, he also controlled the weather but unfortunately, he was unable to control himself and spent a lot of his time chasing after other women.

Hera was the queen goddess and she was a bit complicated. She was married to Zeus but was also his sister and old Zeus liked to have his few flings and Hera got her kicks out of tormenting these other women. Then there was Hades who ruled the world of the dead and Apollo, who was like a fixer and carried out the instructions of the others.

So, there were lots of these characters around, creating mayhem and carnage, and while many of you will dismiss all this as bunkum and a load of nonsense, I believe there is something to it. Not only that, but I think there was another God that was not as well-known as the others.

I don’t know what his name was, but he was the one responsible for misery and hardship. He’s the guy who watched over everyone to make sure they were unhappy. When anyone showed the slightest sign of having a good time, he struck to make sure that misery was visited upon them and knocked all sense of fun out of them. And I’ll tell you something else, he hasn’t gone away.

That’s not all. This guy knows me personally and I have no idea what I ever did to him, but he has had it in for me for a long time. He will not leave me be and he struck again at Christmas. He could see I was comfortable at home and he observed my relaxed lifestyle. It displeased him and not content with minding his own business and leaving me in peace, he preferred instead to have some fun.

So, he infiltrated the minds of my children and persuaded them to buy me a watch. Not an ordinary watch either but a Garmin Vivomove. When I opened the box and saw it, I immediately thought it was an attractive piece of kit and I took a shine to it. But the instruction manual sent a shiver up my spine and I knew straight away that the god of misery had a hand in it.

You see, for those of you who have never seen one of these watches, telling the time is only one of its many functions. It also records your heart rate and estimates your level of stress. It records the number of steps you take, the number of stairs you climb, how many calories you consume and how many you lose.

It sets targets to get you exercising, times your movements and tells you how many miles you have travelled in your day. But by far, the most alarming aspect of this gadget, is that if I sit for too long in the one spot it will vibrate on my wrist and the screen will light up with a message telling me to ‘Move’.

For a short while, it felt good not having to worry about time anymore, but now a watch has taken control of my life again. Thanks to the god of misery.