Special Interests Archives - Page 97 of 118

Jemalong Wool Weekly Market Update

March 8, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

After a hesitant start on Wednesday the market gained momentum leaving most MPG’s 10-20 cents dearer at the close. Thursdays market saw strong support for the better style fine wools, which gained more ground in the last designated superfine sale for the season, while the broader end retreated up to 30 cents in some areas.

The skirting market performed with mixed results. Wools carrying less than 2.0% vegetable matter (vm) and possessing good length and strength results were highly sought after and therefore dearer for the week, faultier lots and those with less favourable results were highly irregular, tending cheaper.

The crossbred market also had varied results. 25.0 to 28.0 micron were generally 10 to 25 cents dearer, however the broader types lost 10-15 cents. The carding market also suffered further corrections this week after a solid start, with all types and descriptions suffering general losses of between 10 and 30 cents, with the Southern region least affected.

46,490 bales are currently rostered for sale week commencing 6th March.

Source AWEX

Habits Homeowners Need To Break

March 1, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

Bad habits are so easy to fall into but in the end, we know they only make us miserable. Here are some bad habits to break now for a happier you (and a fuller bank account):

Taking Long, Steamy Showers: Spending 20 minutes in the steam may be good for your pores, but it’s also great for mould and mildew. Run the fan while you’re in the shower, squeegee the walls afterward and scrub that grout every few months.

Keeping Out The Sun: Shutting your shades on winter days might seem smart. More insulation from the chilly weather, right? Your energy bill disagrees. A sunny window can warm your home and lower your heating costs.

Compulsively Buying Bargains: Finding a deal feels so good, but cheaper isn’t always better. In fact, budget buys might cost you more in the long run. For instance, dollar paintbrushes will leave annoying streaks, requiring a costly re-do.

Running A Half-Full Dishwasher: Your dishwasher wastes water unless it’s completely full. Dishwashers do save more water than washing by hand but most machines use the same amount of water regardless of how many plates you’ve put inside, making a half-empty cycle significantly less efficient.

Going On A Remodelling Rampage: Don’t break out the sledgehammer for a demo three weeks after moving in unless your home needs serious, obvious work. Give yourself time to understand the home’s quirks before renovating.

Packratting: You know clutter is bad, but you just can’t help it. You had to put that unused exercise bike in the spare room instead of by the road as a freebie because what if? Plus, there’s so much in there already, and decluttering seems like such an insurmountable goal. If the task seems impossible, clean out a drawer or reorganize your counter, and then you feel the satisfaction of having done it. It becomes easier to do the next small thing.

Just remember that breaking habits takes time and a lot of slipups. It’s important to be kind to ourselves when we fail. When we create new habits, we’re building new wiring, but it’s not like the old

wiring disappears. Don’t turn goof-ups into give-ups.

To read the full article, go to the houselogic website (source).

Forbes Phoenix Friday’s Hot Property

March 1, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

Click the image for more info…

Opportunity Knocking At Your Door

February 22, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

12 Cross Street, Forbes is sure to impress in your portfolio with huge potential situated so close to town. Create a home with eight bedrooms into whatever your heart desires. Vendors wanted it gone yesterday and have given the property a makeover in a way where you can imagine designing your long awaited modern kitchen area along with lounge room and maybe even a stylish bath room. It’s your call for this once called doctor’s surgery to be now made into a well-located family home with huge potential.

107 Flint Street, South Forbes home offers to the market a very well maintained three bedroom home situated in a highly desired area of town. Set back off Flint Street allows for this home to have plenty of privacy when entertaining guests. Vendor needs gone as maintenance and upkeep is becoming unrealistic. If you’re thinking about investing your money in the rental market or occupying a desired home in South Forbes, then 107 Flint Street could be yours.

8712 Lachlan Valley Way, Forbes. We all know that finding approximately 5 acres just outside of town with a very tidy three bedroom cottage set amongst established grapevines, gardens and lawns is like finding a needle in a hay stack. This once off opportunity has now risen to the market’s attention with so much potential.

Chislett’s vineyard was well known around the district for his divine red and white wine. The estate is being wound up and vendor has done a wonderful job maintaining the property like Mr Chislett had done some years ago. It’s now your time to buy such a rarity.

Is Your ITB Tight?

February 15, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

Do you sometimes feel a pain in your hip or the outside of your knee after sitting for a while? Maybe when you stand up or when you run? It could be that you have a tight Iliotibial Band (ITB).

The ITB is a thick band of fascia that runs down the outside thigh. It starts at the top of your pelvis, runs over the hip and attaches to the outside of the knee. It also attaches to some of the buttock and hip muscles allowing it to co-ordinate how these muscles work to stabilise the hip and knee. Fluid sacs, called bursae, located at the hip and knee, provide cushioning between the ITB and the bones beneath. If the ITB is tight it can irritate the bursae causing inflammation and pain.

An inflamed bursa at the hip is called a Greater Trochanteric Bursitis and at the knee it is known as ITB Friction syndrome or Runners Knee.

The ITB shortens when sitting for prolonged periods. It can also tighten if the muscle is overworked. This occurs with sudden increases in exercise load or volume or if pelvic control is poor due to weak hip and glute muscles.

Because the ITB is a thick, fibrous band rather than an elastic muscle it requires a longer lighter stretch than most muscles.

The use of a foam roller can also be quite helpful in increasing the flexibility in the ITB. A YouTube search of “foam roller + ITB” will yield videos of how this can be done. For the fitness of you,

Linda R

Improve Your Brain Power

February 15, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

The figures are staggering and there’s little awareness that more than 413,000 people in Australia live with dementia. By 2050 that figure will rise to almost one million.

“Dementia can’t directly be prevented or cured but reducing risk is important,” Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive officer

Maree McCabe says. “Many people are not aware of what they can do to reduce the risk of getting dementia.”

Look after your heart: Look after your heart health by regularly checking your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Challenge your brain: Exercising your brain is also important. Find something that involves learning new skills – and keep on learning. Try a new sport, learn a new language, start a course, study for a new qualification at work or take up a new hobby.

Be active: “Being physically active increases blood flow to the brain and this stimulates growth of the brain cells and the connections between them,” Maree says.

Enjoy social activity: Social activity has benefits in a range of areas, including cognitive function. Make time to catch up with family and friends, join a social club or interest group, or volunteer in your community.

Follow a healthy diet: “We need a balanced diet to maintain brain health and function, and some foods may be more directly linked to dementia and reducing your risk,” Maree says.

For more information, call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit yourbrainmatters.org.au

By Sarah Marinos

Why Weight?

February 15, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

Maintaining a healthy weight is vitally important to staying healthy as you grow older.

Being overweight can increase the risk of many health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and strokes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, kidney disease and osteoarthritis.

Gaining a few kilos during the year may not seem like a big deal. But these kilos can add up over time.

If you are considered to be overweight, losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight may lower your risk for several diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Eating a balanced, nutritious diet and being physically active is the best way to stay healthy and help reduce your risk of disease. To maintain a stable weight, your energy (kilojoule) intake needs to equal the energy you use. If you use more energy than you consume, you will lose weight. On the other hand, if you eat more than you use, you will gain weight.

For some, the answer to losing excess body fat is to make small healthy changes to your eating and exercise habits. These changes should be things that you can maintain as part of your lifestyle – that way you will lose weight and keep it off.

However, some people may need help to lose those extra kilos and the team at Flannery’s Pharmacy can help you with information, advice and a range of meal replacement and weight loss products specifically formulated to help you lose weight.

If you would like help to lose weight, call in to Flannery’s Pharmacy for information and advice and let us help you on your weight loss journey.

Good News For Local Farmers

February 8, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

An application to declare the severe storm at Back Yamma and Cookamidgera late last year as a natural disaster has been approved.

On 13th December 2017 Central West Lachlan Landcare submitted an Agricultural Natural Disaster Assessment application for Back Yamma and Cookamidgera, in consultation with the Central West Local Land Services, to the Department of Primary Industries.

The intention of this assessment was to have the isolated hail incidents and flash flooding that saw many crops and infrastructure significantly impacted in November when they were on the verge of, or had commenced harvest, recognised as a natural disaster.

Due to this event being isolated to the Back Yamma and Cookamidgera areas, many in the surrounding districts did not receive the significant rain and hail events that were experienced in this area.

This declaration is an important step to allowing access, through application, to funding provided by the State Government.

This funding will potentially assist with preparations for 2018 sowing season.

The Department of Primary Industries has

approved the application, which will now allow for submissions from landholders impacted by the event, through the Rural Assistance Authority to access disaster relief loans and transport freight subsidies.

The Natural Disaster Relief Scheme assists primary producers affected by flood/ fire/storm damage or any other declared natural disaster. Assistance under this scheme by its nature is not compensatory therefore applicants need to be in urgent and genuine need of assistance.

Marg Applebee, Coordinator for Central West Lachlan Landcare said the BackYamma and Cookamidgera areas are not only picturesque, but also have some of the most fertile soils in the Parkes and Forbes Shire areas. “This funding will enable primary producers, some of whom suffered significant crop losses and other infrastructure losses, the ability to seek assistance to address immediate concerns and enable preparation for this year’s sowing season.”

Central West Lachlan Landcare are thankful for the assistance of landholders at a difficult time when harvest had commenced, the State Government through the Central West Local Land Services and Department of Primary Industries, appreciate the support from Member for Orange, Philip Donato and his willingness to meet with landholders to see the impact first hand after the event.

Philip met with affected landholders recently, Cr Neil Westcott and Cr Steven Karaitiana from Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils respectively, Alli Gartrell from the Rural Assistance Authority, President of Parkes and Forbes NSW Farmers, Gavin Tom and Marg Applebee to share the good news of the declaration.

For landholders seeking further details, information may be accessed through the Rural Assistance Authority website at www.raa.nsw.gov.au and are encouraged to contact Marg Applebee on 6862 4914 if assistance is required with applications submissions.

Jemalong Wool Weekly Market Update

February 8, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

This week’s sale opened on a cautious note with most wools selling at discounted levels, the only notable exception were low mid break lots, which were attracting strong demand under limited volume. Buyer confidence slowly returned as the sale progressed and wools which were previously being overlooked started to attract stronger competition.

The skirting market experienced an up and down week, prices generally fell by 20 – 40 cents on the first selling day, only to recover the losses on the second day, to finish the sale generally unchanged.

The crossbred sector performed with mixed results. The finer and broader end managed to record small gains of 5 – 10 cents, while the bulk of the offering in the 26 to 30 micron range slipped another 10 – 20 cents.

Oddments continued to lack buyer confidence with all types and descriptions discounted further as the market struggled to find a level, leaving the carding indicators to shed another 40 cents on average.

Source AWEX

Making Maintenance Easier

February 1, 2018 by Maggi Barnard

No one ever said maintenance had to be fun. But can’t it be just a little bit easier? Here are some home hacks to take a bit of the drudgery out of your to-do list:

• Tuck chalk in your toolbox to stop rust: You can keep the metal tools and hardware in your toolbox rust-free with blackboard chalk. Chalk is a moisture-sucking material that traps dampness. Place several pieces throughout your toolbox.

• Spray your mower’s blades to keep clippings from sticking: If you have a lawn, mowing is one of those must-do drudgeries. Fortunately, cooking spray can make the chore problemfree. When applied to a mower’s undercarriage and blades, it can help prevent grass clippings from sticking.

• Toss in a tennis ball to clean your pool water: Suntan lotions, moisturizers, and body oils will leave a greasy slick on pool water. To clean, toss in a fresh tennis ball. Its fuzzy surface will soak up the oils your guests left behind.

• Grab a makeup sponge to repair drywall holes: Typically mesh or paper tape is used to fill small holes in drywall. But a cosmetic sponge will get the job done, too. Just stuff it into the hole and spackle.

To read the full article, go to the houselogic website (source).

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