About me

PROFILE:
I have been writing poetry and stories since I was a child, and a love of reading was instilled in me from an early age. I am passionate about writing, and hope you enjoy the books I have written. Whilst most of you sleep soundly in your beds, like many Parkinson’s patients, insomnia dictates, so during those hours that sleep eludes me, the house is tranquil and quiet, an atmosphere perfect to immerse myself in writing. My life has been a series of strange events, which have without doubt contributed to my creativity. To publish anything is to bear one’s soul to the world. It is to stand naked and let everyone see who you really are. I have poured my heart and soul out on paper and I hope to share this journey, immersing you in a story, capturing your attention and firing the imagination. Through my writing and public speaking I hope to bring greater awareness to the general public about living with chronic disease.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Catching a centipede

A friend of my daughter's is studying insects and her homework assignment, as strange as it may sound, was to collect 30 specimens of bugs. Deciding to help and take on this challenge, recently having earth delivered to our garden, I quite quickly managed to find a few every day common varieties. This morning, much to my horror, I found a brightly coloured centipede laying in our kitchen sink. Goodness knows how it got there! It was about 6 inches long and laying very still at first. Immediately thinking this would make an excellent specimen for the young lady studying entomology, the question was now how to catch the little critter with the household still asleep, and my lack of dexterity, extremely stiff painful fingers along with slow reactions, Parkinson's and I were going to have a tough time catching this unexpected visitor. I grabbed an empty clear plastic box and placed it over the unsuspecting centipede, only then realising how fast they can move as it struggled to escape its confinement. Great! now what was I supposed to do? I had no way of getting on the lid. I took a saucepan that was drying next to the sink, and for weight put it on top of the box, lest my captive should escape. Finding a stiff piece of plastic packaging in the bin, it made for a perfect solution, as I carefully slid it under the container, all the while the centipede wriggling and moving at great speed frantically trying to escape. Holding tightly the plastic sheet in place I was able to turn the box up and place the lid on top, sliding the plastic away. Now safely sealed inside the box, still no one was up to see the antics going on in my kitchen, and how despite having Parkinson's I had managed to capture the centipede alive. Why is no one ever around when these things happen? It's like watching someone commit a traffic offence when there's not a policeman in sight. Well after all this excitement, and it's not even 07:00, I think I will put the kettle on and make a hot drink. I hope your day starts "centipede free"!

4 comments:

  1. Well done Elaine I wouldn't even have tried and I think the tap would have been turned on pretty fast
    I have been writing to the Israel Medical Association since 6 am and to medical friends in the Uk to try to get some action on countering the anti Israel bias in the Lancet magazine.

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  2. I hope you poked an air hole. No one will believe you caught it alive if it isn't. Chag sameach vkasher.
    Howard

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  3. Oh I just typed my comment and do hope it's gone thru properly ~ saying ~ Elaine you're absolutely incredible ...definitely beyond the realms of "duty" for an assignment ... loads of luv - Hag Sameach ve neshikot from the 3 of us x x x

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  4. Wonderful story ... who else could have done that?
    Hope you'll recognise me as "Anonymous" on this one and the other a bit earlier ... cos I was getting nowhere trying to send this on google and it never showed up - will have to speak to see how it's done ...
    As I tried to say - you are totally amazing ... I just have this vision of you and the centipede [having never 'met' one !!!] I'm sure your efforts were greatly appreciated Have a wonderful Pesach 'chez vous' and Mr Darcy and we are looking forward to seeing you but I'll speak before I leave on Friday Loads of love ~ again x x x

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