In New Zealand the age for consent of marriage is 16 years (with parental approval) and 21 without so these forced marriages are not legally viable but they are fully accepted and enforced within the religious community and it’s not uncommon for these girls to have two or three children before they reach the age of 16.

We could say, “hands off”, it’s not our lifestyle so we shouldn’t interfere and anyway these girls have reached puberty and so are able to marry but it’s all the other factors that are not okay; informed consent is not there, although the girls do agree to the marriage, how could they refuse?  They have no escape and those that managed to get away tell of going into hiding with their children always fearful of being found and returned to their husband or family.  They tell of violence and control, of not being allowed to attend school (yes these girls are still required by New Zealand law to be in school), not allowed to see their friends and more.

So, is there any good news? Yes, there are specific “Women’s Refuge” groups set up to help these girls and also publicity of what’s happening alerts their communities to New Zealand law and what’s expected when they live here.  Also if we all know what’s happening we will look out for out neighbours and schoolfriends and speak out when we see wrong.

I was told, NO, the 30% off ones are “over there”.   “Over there” was exactly where I’d found the set I wanted to buy so the sales assistant checked further.

The sign did say 30% off  BUT under those large numbers was the small print.  The small print said 30% off if you buy two of the same item.   I checked another sign above some bed quilts.  It read 50% off and again, under the large numerals was the small print – when buying two items.

I consider this to be very misleading advertising!

I believe if a SPECIAL PRICE has conditions attached they need to be as easily seen as the teaser, special 30% off wording.

Legally, in New Zealand the price displayed for an item is an invitation to sale rather than a set price and the sale price is determined at the point that a price agreement is reached or money is paid BUT this usually applies to large items like appliances and vehicles where the customer can be advantaged by a discount for paying immediately or can choose a more expensive, longer payment term.  The FTC store was within the law in the way they displayed their prices but they lost this sale as I refused to pay the full price after being lured by the 30% off sign.  I went to KMart and bought a very similar item at even lower price.

I’m very happy to say that in our Vibra-Train studios the price is clearly displayed and customers NEVER pay more than the displayed price.  In fact they can pay less by taking up various advance or term payment options or by using discount coupons from several publications.  The first visit is free regardless of any commitment to ongoing training.

I choose not to support stores and organisations who have deceiptful advertising or display any sort of signage that deludes me into thinking I am getting a better deal than I really am or in any way obscures the truth about the price or the worth of item.

Sydney has had two weeks of very heavy rain (in the middle of summer) which has caused flash flooding and made Brad’s initial days in a new city a lttle less fun than he’d expected.  The redeeming factor, if there has been one, is that the city has an excellent rail transport network, which along with the buses and harbour ferries make getting around very fast, inexpensive, and easy.

Auckland, by contrast, has had balmy summer days basked by sunshine with just a little rain, very humid at times.  I’m happy that I work in an airconditioned, 17 degrees C, studio.  Customers comment on how pleasant it is to come in the door into the cool temperature and to be able to do their workout comfortably.

The Vibra-Train studio is busy most mornings with the first customers arriving around 6.20am (our weekday hours are 6.30am – 10pm) and if I’m rushing to work arriving at 6.25am it’s possible to miss my first few clients so I have to ensure I’m “up with the birds” at around 5.20am.  We have an open studio where customers can walk in without appointment as we have 9 machines of varying force and instructors to fully supervise all.  This system works very well and prevents the back-up of waiting customers as can happen when sessions are booked and someone arrives a little late.  We can also run classes, if wanted, where customers arrive at a set time.

Already this year we are seeing great results.  This morning’s clients included a young triathlete who at first could not hold position on the level 2 machines and was particularly poor at the upper body poses ( tricep dip and push-up) but has grown in strength and holds perfect position for the whole 60-120 seconds and is now able to hold his body weight in a 60 second pull-up using the vibrating handlebars of the Vibra -Train machine.

This sounds good but -

they added a the last-minute inclusion of a ban on driving while affected by benzodiazepine, a prescription sedative and anti-anxiety medication that is often used as a sleeping pill.  Not only as a sleeping pill, the effect of which wears off overnight, but also taken before air travel and other events that cause anxiety in many people.

The list of drugs in the class “Bendodiazepine” is long and includes the well known, commonly used (especially by older people) simple, anti-anxiety agents, Diazepam (Valium), Oxazepam (Serepax, Alopam), and Lorazepam (Ativan), along with the stronger hypnotic and/or skeletal muscle relaxants, Triazolam (Halcion) and Tetrazepam (Mylostan).  The time to peak blood concentration for the anti-anxiety agents I’ve listed is 1-2 hours with the elimination half life being 10 to as long as 100 hours.  That’s how long they can be detected in your blood.

This change to, in my opinion, a previously excellent piece of legislation is frightening in that it’s been added without public consultation as a Supplementary Order Paper.  So many people are affected by this yet have not been allowed to voice an opinion!  This act is now law and regular folk could be breaking the law by driving to the shopping centre after a good night’s sleep, all because they took a low dose relaxant like Lorazepam at supper time.  Airport lounges and Airlines  might find alcohol becoming more popular as business people and travellers look to relax while flying (and remain within the legal limits) and can no longer take a simple anti-anxiety tablet without possiblybreaking the law when they pick up a rental car at their destination.

In New Zealand we live in a democratic society – yeah, right!   This government has behaved as a dictatorship in this instance as the people have not had a say and have, in effect, had their democratic rights and free will taken away.

The New Zealand Act Party have done a good job, putting this into perspective.

http://www.act.org.nz/blog/benzodiazepine-ban-short-sighted

Yes, benzodiazepines do have an effect on you which is why they are used for anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disorders, and related problems and they are a simple drug, that in low dose, actually works.

An email reply to a  letter sent by a friend to Hon Steven Joyce, MP, states that people will only be breaking the law in regard to taking this class of drugs if they are driving while “affected” by it and they would only be tested if they were pulled over by Police for another reason.  This sounds reassuring but where is the line, what is the definition of affected?  There’s no definitive fail point as  in alcohol testing.

It is my opinion that this legislation is seriously flawed and this will, in time, be shown in court cases where the defendant is shown to have a reading of benzodiazepine in their blood test and will be hard put to prove their driving was not adversely affected by it..

So, what next? Will simple antihistamines like Chlorpheniramine and  diphenhydramine (Benedry) also be tested for and what about other anti-anxiety drugs, prozac and similar.  Some will say I am over-reacting to a piece of legislation put in place to protect me but remember this law started being about reigning in “Boy Racers” and has ended up much wider in application and set under urgency thus removing my democratic right of submitting a comment or opinion before the it was passed into law.

“Listen,” said the CEO, “this is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary has left. Can you make this thing work?”

“Certainly,” said the young executive. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.

“Excellent, excellent!” said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine, “I just need one copy.”

Lesson: Never, ever assume that your boss knows what he’s doing.

It wasn’t enough for my son and me though.  Flying in with an early morning arrival time we picked up a pre-booked rental car and headed for the mountains.  Hoping to ski at Mt Hutt we were a little disappointed when looking up snow conditions on my son’s new Google phone we read that Mt Hutt was closed due to inclement weather.  Porter Heights was open so hoping it would remain so we drove on.

The long winding unsealed road up the mountainside was a little scary to drive but once at the snow base area the sight was amazing.  Soft powder everywhere; moderate temperature and as this was a club ski field only recently turned commercial there was very few people.  Numbers increased during the day but friendliness and consideration of other skiers and boarders regardless of their ability was apparent.

Kea, New Zealand alpine parrot, were interesting to watch.  They are curious, intelligent birds who have almost no fear of humans so they sit on your car pecking at edges of paintwork or rubber, or demolishing your windscreen wipers right before your eyes.  I was told they have a habit of rolling stones down the iron roof of mountain huts and so keeping trampers awake at nights.

Still recovering from flu/chest infection I didn’t really enjoy my ski lesson but I had a wonderful time watching others especially my son, Brad, who skis with such a natural talent he looks as though he was born with skis attached.

This website is all about Vibration Training and so you might wonder why I am writing of my time in the snow – Vibration Training is used by many skiers, boarders and others who spend time on the mountains as part of their lead-up fitness program.  The” basic squat”, “super-squat” and aptly named “ski-the-slopes” positions give incredible leg strength and endurance and so prevent fatigue and the aches that are often felt the day after skiing.  The “pelvic stability” position strengths the core and aligns the body; push-up and other positions build muscle strength in the upper body.

It’s all good news for snow sport enthusiasts and for casual trips to the mountains.  A regular Vibra-Train customer recently took a week’s holiday in Queenstown, N.Z. and spent almost all week on the mountain skiing.  She told me that she enjoys skiing but usually feels very fatigued after her first day on the mountain.  This year, however, she didn’t have any aches or fatigue and she attributed this to her three times weekly Vibra-Train sessions.  She is one of our customers that pushes herself hard and remains in perfect position throughout and now she’s reaped the benefits.

I also had no muscle fatigue in my legs, just bruises on one shoulder and the opposite knee from falling heavily. I’ll be heading to the indoor SnowPlanet facility for more practice before I ski again!

Articles written in an informative, easy to understand style have been removed (as requested by the writers of those articles) leaving  medical and scientific articles plus some about the prices of home machines.

It’s my opinion that this new focus will fail.

The new owner of the site, Peter Davis, has not replied to my emails, nor to my requests on the forums, asking that two articles I authored be taken down from the site.  The articles are my intellectual property and my request has been patient and polite.  Ignoring emails  does not bode well for the future of the site.

Watch this space!

A few months ago when contemplating my move I remembered my teen years, and a more recent experience of living in an old villa, drafty and cold in wintertime with flatmates who “borrowed” my jackets and shoes, threw parties most Saturday nights and invited friends around every Sunday afternoon so that by Sunday evening, when I was getting ready for the week ahead at work, I had to wade through the rubbish left on the lounge floor by guests and  finding a clean cup or plate was impossible until someone did the mountain of dishes that were piled up in the kitchen sink.  It seemed I was the only one who couldn’t face seeing them still sitting there on Monday morning.  Don’t get me started on the state of the bathroom!

Wow, this time it’s so different! If a flat can be judged by the state of the bathroom mine gets 100%, let down only by the smell wafting from the bag of dirty socks waiting to be washed.

Working morning shift I get up very early and try to be quiet.  I’m very aware of others so I creep around not putting on the TV or music.  I was even  going to work early and eating breakfast there so I didn’t make any banging noises in the kitchen but as wet and cooler weather have set in I’ve been having breakfast before I leave; eating cold cereal so I don’t make a noise using the microwave.

I’m now laughing – I’ve done it all wrong! I’ve been waking a flatmate by my actions.  If I’d made regular getting-up noises they might not have been noticed but by being quiet I’ve actually been noisy!  My flatmate decided to tell me about it last night choosing just the moment I was going to bed.  Coming out of the bathroom in my pj’s I felt incredibly vulnerable and more so as I’d been out for the evening at a family party so although I wasn’t  drunk, I wasn’t fully sober either.

I have unknowingly been waking this flatmate by turning the bathroom tap on and off several times as I wash and dress early mornings.  The action of turning the tap causes the pipes to creak and groan.  My flatmate told me vehemently how  affected he was by the pipe noise and demanded to know what I do in the bathroom each morning.  I’m sure he really didn’t want a descriptive account of “putting on makeup” but he got it anyway.

It’s time he learnt “there are two theories to arguing with a woman.. and neither one works!”

I feel so bad about waking him though and I wish he’d told me weeks ago rather than waiting until his patience was extinguished and then, with his usual lack of tact, just like a bomb, exploding!  As tired as I was I couldn’t sleep, longing for a hug as I felt so bad but with no family near and my pillow could not suffice.  The solution may be as simple as having a bottle of water to pour over my hands between makeup applications but now, for his outburst, I am planning my revenge, what will it be?

The problem is we often don’t relax once the crisis has passed.  Or because of our rush-rush busy lives we live in a constant state of “increased stress”.  In this situation the increases of cortisol are not helpful at all.  Blood sugar remains high, blood pressure is elevated, thyroid function suppressed, cognitive skills can be impaired, inflamatory response and immunity are lowered, headaches and fatigue set in, muscle strength decreases, and along with all this, abdominal fat increases.  The higher level of cortisone prevents the body return to homeostasis which is exactly the opposite of the proper use of this hormone.

Increased cortisol causes the body to make more adrenaline giving us the boost needed for escape or to “fight the enemy”.  Adrenaline signals cause release of fatty acids into the blood stream to be used for energy.  How our body works is truely amazing but what if we don’t really need those extra fatty acids? What if we are simply sitting about worrying or rushing about so busy that we don’t stop to sit down for a meal, instead we eat on the run; hamburgers, pizza, corn chips and sour cream dips (my downfall), take-out, fat laden meals, and alcohol.  Our body then stores the unused fatty acids as belly fat and adds to this any fat it can pull from the food we eat.  Perceiving danger and the need for extra energy the body stores fat in the abdominal area as this area has many cortisol receptors. Studies have shown that under ongoing stress people who secrete more cortisol also eat more carbohydrates which can add to blood sugar imbalances along with adding even more fat from the fats in the carbohydrate foods.

We respond to Stress in individual ways; of course it is not only a negative in our lives, it’s the impetus needed to bring about action, but if you’re sensitive to stress reaction you need to take steps to break the cortisol belly fat problem along with learning to relax completely.  Ways to do this include journeling, listening to music or even watching a movie, deep breathing, adequate sleep, exercise as simple as taking a walk, sex (yes, I really did say this), and remember, Don’t overeat to relieve Stress!

Vibration Training works well to release stress. The body reacts to “attack” by the machine by pulling away but by fighting back instead, keeping in perfect position with the end result of increased blood supply; the fatty acids start to get used for energy and this continues over the next 24 or more hours as the body’s metabolic rate has increased.  Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for “good” feeling is increased along with endorphins which give the “runners high” that comes from exercise.  There’s even the creation of new nerves within the brain. Sounds good to me!

This morning, at work, it was a little slower than usual for a Thurday and it wasn’t until my son, Brad, called me with the above temperature details that I realised why.  Only the “Vibe Junkies” had left the warmth of their homes and offices to come in and train.

We received the best compliment from one customer; she told me that she was going to the gym for Spin class after her Vibra-Train session and that she’d come in feeling stiff and sluggish, wondering if she would cope but after her work-out she felt “alive”.  She said she’d not only warmed up but her whole body felt invigorated and stiff muscles had relaxed.  She left saying she was going to recommend vibration training to her Spin classmates.