Total Failure

A quotation commonly attributed to Albert Einstein defines insanity as repeating the same thing multiple times while expecting a different outcome. Milton Friedman observed that, every so often, we should examine the results of policies, regardless of the good...

Outcome vs Intention

There is a great quote by the late economist Milton Freriedman. In fact, quite a lot of good quotes from him. I think the man was a um, a genius. But that's beside the point. One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than...

Money Talks

A wise senior colleague told me in the 1990s, when I was involved in some medical committees, “Never stand between your colleagues and a barrel of money.” Maybe that’s a little harsh. I think Paul Keating, when he was Prime Minister, made similar observations about...
Lemony Garlic And Thyme Chicken

Lemony Garlic And Thyme Chicken

You need: 8 chicken thighs 5 cloves of garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon of sea salt ½ teaspoon of fresh ground pepper 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1 lemon To prepare: Preheat oven to 400° F or 200° C In a large bowl mix garlic, thyme,...

What’s In A Name?

What’s In A Name?

It is surprisingly easy for urban myths to take hold and once accepted there is not much questioning of it. One myth that refuses to die is that sweet potatoes have less sugar than potatoes. When you think about it for a moment, the name should give us a clue....

A Moral Not Medical Dilemma

A Moral Not Medical Dilemma

A quote from Hippocrates about the role of medicine came to me when considering the case of Oshin and treatment for his cancer - “Cure sometimes, treat often and comfort always”. In 400BC Hippocrates was not able to cure much. Today we can cure some conditions but we...

Crunchy Almond Chia Cookies

Crunchy Almond Chia Cookies

Serving – about 15 medium cookies (2 tbs dough) or 30 small cookies (1 tbs dough) You need: 315g almond meal 5 Tablespoons chia seed 1 Tablespoon coconut sugar (or organic brown sugar) 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 organic egg (or you can make these completely vegan by...

Being Who You Are

Being Who You Are

Over 40 years ago Don MacLean wrote about the day the music died in his song American Pie. It seems that 2016 might be the year that the music died. It is only April and we have already lost a number of notables in the music industry. Country and Western is not my...

Dairy – Why It Is Problematic For Most People

Dairy – Why It Is Problematic For Most People

The advertising slogan is “dairy good.” But is dairy really good for us? I’d argue that for many people, the answer is NO. Generally speaking, I believe that cow’s milk is the ideal food for baby cows, and is rather less than ideal for humans. Many of my clients love...

Indian Lentil Soup

Indian Lentil Soup

You need: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, roughly chopped 1 tablespoon curry powder 2 teaspoons ginger, grated (thumb sized piece of ginger) 1 cup orange lentils 5 cups chicken broth 2 medium tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped 1 tablespoon lemon juice Sea...

Oh My Goodness – Another Crisis

Oh My Goodness – Another Crisis

A new report claims that the average person gained 1.5 kilos per decade over the last 40 years. Here we go again. Cue the usual response. The world’s population is getting heavier and “massive action” must be taken. The usual suspects bandied around words like...

Playful Preparations For Childhood Injections

Playful Preparations For Childhood Injections

We presented to the Doctors' surgery right on time. Both of my daughters were having their injections. Neither of them showed any sign of being nervous and immediately entered the play area to pass the waiting time. I noticed one little boy, about 4 years old, was sat...

Break The Fast Breakfast

Break The Fast Breakfast

You need: 1/2 cup puffed rice 2 tablespoons chia seed 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds 1/4 cup blueberries 1/2 – 1 cup milk of choice (homemade coconut milk works REALLY well!) 1/4 teaspoon agave, brown rice syrup or raw honey (optional if you want to make it a little...

Quit Smoke And Mirrors

Quit Smoke And Mirrors

Recently one of my favourite movies of all times – The Blues Brothers was shown on the big screen again. It is fascinating to see the changes in society since 1980. Phone calls are made from a phone booth, as there are no mobiles. With no Internet they literally drive...