Mediterranean diet helps cut risk of heart attack, stroke: Results of PREDIMED study presented

Mediterranean-style salad with feta, olives and walnuts.
ScienceDaily (Credit: © Barbara Dudzińska / Fotolia)

Results of the PREDIMED study, aimed at assessing the efficacy of the Mediterranean diet in the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine. They show that the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or tree nuts reduces by 30 percent the risk of suffering a cardiovascular death, a myocardial infarction or a stroke.

Read more in ScienceDaily: Mediterranean diet helps cut risk of heart attack, stroke: Results of PREDIMED study presented

Despite reported dislike, older readers put in less effort when using e-readers

According to recently published research reading text on digital devices like tablet computers requires less effort from older adults than reading on paper.

The conclusion of the research found that when asked, both young and old adults stated a strong preference for paper books, but when they compared eye movements and brain activity measures, older adults fared better with backlit digital readers like tablet computers.

Being within the age group measured as part of the study, 60-77 years, I agree with the findings inas much as I read far more books now that I use my Kindle. I find it less tiring on my eyes.


Read more of the report in ScienceDaily: Despite reported dislike, older readers put in less effort when using e-readers

SabadellCAM bank reacts to my Weblog and Tweets

On Monday the 4th February 2013 I published an article entitled 'Do you wish to be charged in Euros or Sterling?' to this weblog. It is about a fault I discovered with the programming of the SabadellCAM bank's ATM cash dispensers.

As I normally do; I posted a Twitter-tweet with a link to my article as shown below.

Do you wish to be charged in Euros or Sterling? elliotsampford.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/do-you… @sabadellcam #Spain #spanishbanking #atmcashwithdrawal
— Elliot Sampford (@ElliotSampford) February 4, 2013

I included the Twitter account address of the SabadellCAM bank; knowing that it has a department that monitors tweets that relate to the bank; to hopefully generate a reaction. It worked. Just thirty-one minutes later I received the reply below.

@elliotsampford Hi Elliot! Can we help you? We are here at your disposal if you want to DM us the details of it. Thank you! ^NM— Sabadell CAM (@SabadellCAM) February 4, 2013

I didn't send a DM (Direct Message) as suggested because all the details are in my previous weblog article. I decided to wait and see what might materialize.

Just under six hours later I received the reply below in which SabadellCAM acknowledged that there is in fact a problem as I suggested.

@elliotsampford Hi Elliot! The incidence with the ATM is detected and being resolved. We remain at your disposal 24x7 ^ NM
— Sabadell CAM (@SabadellCAM) February 4, 2013

Today at 10:44 I sent the bank the following tweet.

@sabadellcam Pleased to read you agree there is a problem. Suggest you read new comment added to my weblog by Graham. bit.ly/14Bpoxw
— Elliot Sampford (@ElliotSampford) February 5, 2013

As I said the bank constantly monitors Twitter-tweets: just twenty-four minutes later I receive the following request.

@elliotsampford Thank you for notifying us! I'd love to talk to you on the phone if possible. Could you DM us your number? Thanks! ^TM
— Sabadell CAM (@SabadellCAM) February 5, 2013

As can be seen in the next episode, on this occasion I did DM the bank with my telephone number.

@elliotsampford Thank you! I'm getting in touch with you shortly ;-) ^TM
— Sabadell CAM (@SabadellCAM) February 5, 2013

I received a telephone call from TM (Tony) and we discussed the problem. The précis of the situation, as I understand it, is that the bank accepts that there currently is a fault and that it has existed since, on-or-about, the 8th December 2012 when the Sabadell and the CAM banks computer systems were amalgamated. The bank was not aware of the problem until this time, only having it drawn to its attention by my weblog article. It was suggested that the problem would be resolved within approximately seven to ten days. I pointed out that there should be no delay for a solution to be initiated as during any delay customers would continue to suffer financial penalties not of their own making.

Subsequent to the telephone call, I received the following tweet from SabadellCAM. The fault is to be fixed tomorrow, Wednesday 6th February 2013.

@elliotsampford Thank you for talking to me! I've been informed that the issue will be solved tomorrow. We continue at your disposal! ^TM
— Sabadell CAM (@SabadellCAM) February 5, 2013

It is a satisfactory rapid conclusion to a situation that should not have been allowed to have happen. The SabadellCAM bank I suggest needs to investigate as to why such an error, which financially penalised users of the bank's ATM machines, was not picked up by a pre-launch system audit and continued undetected for almost two months.

On the personal aspect, I am pleased with the conclusion for two reasons. First it proves that it wasn't an error on my part by misreading the options and I was right to report and pursue the matter. Second it shows again the power of modern internet social media; in this case my weblog and Twitter-tweets; to effect beneficial reactions.

Edit 12.02.2013: The Coastrider newspaper published the following article this week:  Local expat blogger gets national ATM problem fixed

Debriefing.

The police station front-counter sergeant was sitting behind his desk, day-dreaming about his allotment. The noise of the automatic entrance doors opening brought his mind back to reality. He got up from his desk and went to the counter. Waiting for him the other side of it stood an unkempt, unshaven vagrant wearing a dirty, ripped army greatcoat. On his head was a maroon beret with a Parachute Regiment cap badge. A rusty shopping trolley full of what looked liked rubbish was parked beside the reception area chairs.

“Corporal Richards reporting Sergeant. I'm here for my debriefing after the skirmish on my patrol this morning.”

“What are you going on about old man? What the heck is that shopping trolley doing in my reception area?”

“That's all my kit in there. That's the easiest way to move it about as I can't carry it because of my spine problems.”

“Well I'm not having that filthy thing and rubbish in here; take it and yourself back outside and go away.”

“I can't leave it out there; someone will try and steal it again. That's what the two men tried to do this morning. I warned them not to but they didn't listen. They attacked me so I had to kill them to save myself.”

“What are you going on about? I don't have time to waste chatting to you. Now out you go.”

“I was on my daily patrol this morning going through an alley towards the common when I was confronted by two men wearing hoodies. They blocked my way and tried to steal my gear. I told them to clear off and let me pass – but they wouldn't. They each had a knife and tried to kill me – but I was too fast for them.”

“So you ran away from them and came here to waste my time complaining and boring me with your story.”

“No! I told you Sergeant; I killed them and I've reported here for my debriefing.”

“That's it I've had enough of your nonsense! Get yourself and your rubbish filled trolley out of my reception and my sight or I'll find something to arrest you for, and lock you up. Now move!”

Ex-corporal Richards lifted his right leg, bending it at the knee, moved it next to his left leg, slammed his foot to the ground. Standing at attention he shouted: “Yes Sergeant, right-away Sergeant.” He executed a smart military about-turn, collected his trolley, and marched out of the building at double-quick-time.

The sergeant returned to his desk and his day-dreaming.

Awhile later a telephone in the rear of the office started ringing. A Constable standing nearby lifted the receiver to answer the call: “Hello?” He listened to the voice at the other end of the connection for a few seconds and said: “OK I'll tell him,” and replaced the handset, ending the call.

“Hey sarge two bodies have been found in the alley that leads from the high street towards the common.”

© Elliot Sampford 2013



If you haven't already, you might like to read my other short story on this theme: 'Utrinque Paratus'

Do you wish to be charged in Euros or Sterling?

This morning my wife and I went to the SabadellCAM bank in Los Balcones, Torrevieja, Spain to withdraw some Euros in cash from the ATM machine. We used our debit cards of our account in the United Kingdom.

As part of the normal transaction procedure we were asked which currency we wanted to choose to be charge to the card. If we wanted to be charged in Euros we were instructed to select the 'No' option. If we wanted to be charged in Sterling we were instructed to select the 'Yes' option. We always want the Euro amount we have withdrawn from the machine to be charged to the card. This means that the card supplier (Visa in our case) calculates the exchange rate rather than the bank operating the ATM machine. This results in a better rate of exchange and a lower final Sterling cost being deducted from our account.

I read the options offered twice to ensure I understood the choice to make. I selected the 'No' option. When the confirmation of the transaction was printed by the machine I was annoyed to read that the SabadellCAM bank had charged the Sterling conversion to my card: the opposite to my choice. On a previous visit, on the 13^th December 2012, to the ATM machine at the Playa Flamenca branch of the SabadellCAM the same thing happened; but, I assumed I had pressed the wrong option button on that occasion. We subsequently learnt that other people have experienced a similar problem of the options offered via the ATM screen do not correspond to the actual action carried out.

After I had completed my transaction, my wife then used her debit card to withdraw cash from the same ATM. When she was offered the choice of currency to be charged by the Sabadel/CAM to her card we read the options offered three times. Once again our conclusion was that for Euros to be charged the option is 'No'. We decided to test our theory that the bank has got the options the incorrect way around so we pressed 'Yes' to say that we wanted the bank to charge a Sterling amount to the card. The bank charged the Euro amount we had withdrawn from the card.

Prior to the take over of the CAM bank by Sabadell, and the introduction of the Sabadell system on the ATM machines, we never experienced any problems in choosing the Euro charging option for cash withdrawals over the past 6 years.

On a withdrawal of 300 € choosing the Sterling option of charging at today's rate of exchange means that the transaction cost us £0.51 more. Or putting it another way means the SabadellCAM bank makes an extra 0,57 € profit on this transaction.

We decided to go into the branch and report our findings to the staff there in the hope that the error in the programming of the ATM system would be corrected. From the response we received this morning I'm not that hopeful.

I wonder if other people using a SabadellCAM ATM machine in Spain to withdraw cash via a UK debit card have experienced a similar problem as we have.


Edit 05.02.2013: See my follow-up article: 'SabadellCAM bank reacts to my Weblog and Tweets'

Utrinque Paratus.

Nick and Jack had seen the unkempt, hunched tramp pushing the rusty shopping trolley, full of what they assumed was rubbish, on the common yesterday. Now he was walking down the deserted alley which connects the lower and quiet end of the town's high street to the common, passing through their gang's patch within the council owned housing estate. It was their allotted task today to monitor anyone using the gang's alley.

“Hey Jack, let's have some fun with the dirty old man. Let's see what he's got in his trolley.”

“Yeah, a good idea Nick, I'm getting bored doing nothing. He might have something in there that we want.”

They slouched towards their prey; their hoodies covering most of their faces, their hands in the pockets.

“Hey you where do you think you're going?” asked Jack.

“What you got in your trolley then old man?” added Nick.

The vagrant bent forward over his trolley, as if to shield its contents, ignored the questions and continued on his way, unfortunately towards the hoodies. As he got closer to them he moved to the left of the wide path to bypass them. Jack moved to his right, stood in-front of the trolley, grabbed hold of it, at the same time putting his foot on the bottom bar of the frame, and stopped the man and trolley in their tracks.

“We asked you some questions you old git. Are you deaf or what?” said Jack menacingly.

“What you doing coming down our lane old man? Show us what you've got in there.” said Nick as he put his hand forward with the intention of reaching into the trolley.

The man laid over his worldly possessions to protect them. At the same time he pushed Nick's arm away with his own. He tried to move the trolley forward away from the two trouble makers. They both moved threateningly closer to the drifter.

“Hey watch it old man, let us see what you've got in there.” said Nick.

“If you know what's good for you you'll show us. You might have something we want” Jack said as he tried to reach into the trolley.

“Leave me alone!”

“What did you say?” said Jack.

“Leave me alone please,” the wanderer repeated: “I haven't done you any harm.”

“Oh yes you have. You've come down our path without our say-so and you just hit my mate.”

“I didn't. I just pushed his arm away from my things.”

“You hit me,” said Nick, “so I'll have what I want out of your trolley as payback. Get out of my way.”

“No! They're my things and you're not having any of them. Leave me alone,” said the vagabond as he moved the trolley further away from the youths positioning himself between them and his possessions. “You don't touch another man's kit.”

“You think so old man,” said Nick. He put his right hand into his jacket pocket, pulled out a knife and pointed the blade at the vagrant. “Now clear off unless you want some of this. Your trolley is ours now.”

“You're not having my kit. Go away and leave me alone – if you know what's good for you.”

“Stick him Nick, the dirty old git deserves it. We'll show him he can't mess with us. Go on stick him.”

Nick suddenly leapt towards the vagrant and at the same time thrust his hand holding the knife forward to stab the old man.

But he wasn't a slow old man any-more. With lightening reaction the traveller moved sidewards. He grabbed hold of Nick's knife wielding hand with his right hand. At the same time his left hand grabbed hold of Nick's elbow and pulled it sharply to the left making the arm fold back on its self. The sharp, deadly blade was now pointed towards Nick. With the momentum of his body travelling towards the tramp; who at the same time forced the knife-holding-hand back towards its owner. Nick's knife was plunged deep into his own abdomen. After forcing the weapon upwards; the man released his grip of the knife hand and took a step back. Nick bent his head looking with amazement at the knife protruding from his stomach. At the same moment the drifter landed an upper-cut karate kick to Nick's jaw. The accurately placed, forceful blow sending Nick's dying body hurtling backwards to the ground.

Instead of stopping for a moment to think, and then run away, which would have saved his life: Jack launched his own attack on the wanderer. He pulled the large Bowie knife from its cover in his trousers' hip pocket with his right hand and made a sweeping thrust towards his mate's attacker. The drifter took half a step back. The blade passed in front of him almost close enough to shave off his beard. With no contact, the momentum of Jack's sweeping arm and the lack of grip of his shoes on the gravel path spun him off balance. His back was now towards the tramp. He was now the victim. He felt an arm wrap around his upper chest from the left and grab hold of his right shoulder blade. Another hand from the right grabbed hold of his jaw and violently twisted his head to the right. The last sound Jack heard was a thunderous 'crack'. His limp body was dropped to the ground.

The drifter returned to his shopping trolley and rummaged amongst his worldly possessions for the maroon beret he'd earned and loved so much. As he put it on, cap badge over his left eye, cloth smoothed tightly to his head, he quietly said: “Utrinque Paratus”. He stood up straight and started to push the trolley to continue his journey. He calmly looked down at the two corpses saying: “What a waste. I thought my killing days were over. Why couldn't you have left me alone?”

© Elliot Sampford 2013

I have published another short story on this theme entitled 'Debriefing'

Who needs safety equipment

During the last ten days, here in the Costa Blanca, and many other regions of Spain, we have experienced many extended times of very fast, strong, property damaging winds of between 70 km/h and 115 km/h.

It was during the morning of Saturday 19^th January that three of the roof ridge tiles on our highest roof were picked up by the wind and thrown into the adjoining community swimming pool area. There wasn't any danger at the time to any of our neighbours as none of them are daft enough to be swimming in the near freezing water.

I initiated a claim with our property insurance company three days later on the Tuesday morning. If you read my article 'Three hours delay' you'll understand why I didn't have time to report it on the Monday. The insurance surveyor visited us on Wednesday; during another period of forceful winds; took a couple of photographs and agreed the claim.

Yesterday morning, as arranged previously, the insurance company's builders arrived to replace the missing tiles. They couldn't carry out the work for three reasons. Firstly, they had brought sapphire ridge tiles and ours are emerald; secondly, the brutish winds had increased the total number of missing tiles to four and they only had three; thirdly, another period of strong winds meant it was too dangerous for the safety conscious Spanish worker to be on the roof.

Today we have a cloudless azure sky, radiant sunshine and calm air.

The builders returned with the correct number and colour of roof tiles. Within an hour their work was completed. The new tiles were installed, loose tiles were rebedded on new cement.

Ridge tiles were missing from the rear right corner of the emerald roof

Considering that the roof on which the repair was carried out on is three storeys high, approximately 15 metres above ground level it was assuring to see that full safety precautions were paramount in the Spanish workman's mind. Who needs safety equipment, when your working on the edge of a sheer drop?

 

Who needs a safety harness?

Poor sleep in old age prevents the brain from storing memories

Having had several nights of badly disturbed sleep over the last few days because of the very strong winds rattling the security grill, the window shutter and the bedroom patio doors; my attention was drawn to this article in ScienceDaily.

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, believe they have found the elusive connection between poor sleep, memory loss and brain deterioration as we grow older; hallmark maladies of growing old. Their discovery opens the door to boosting the quality of sleep in elderly people to improve memory.

Have a read of the article Poor sleep in old age prevents the brain from storing memories now in case you forget later.

I'm left wondering about the suggested possible therapeutic treatments for memory loss in the elderly, such as transcranial direct current stimulation or pharmaceutical remedies. Wouldn't going to bed earlier and getting up later help?

Larry Lamb, Billy Kid and friends come visiting.

In Madrid on the last Sunday of October each year since 1994 nomadic 'Trashumancia' shepherds have exercised their right of passage for their flocks through the streets of the city. With the 'Trashumancia Fiesta' they are following and maintaining sections of the 78,000 miles of ancient livestock migration paths known as the 'Camino Real' that exist throughout Spain. Ancient migration, droving and grazing rights have existed since the 13^th century.

I mention this tradition because it was on Sunday 20^th January 2013 that we experienced an example of it – directly outside of our house, here in Orihuela Costa.

Close to lunchtime we noticed a noise that at first we thought was a baby crying. Gradually the noise level built to a crescendo, a cacophony of wailing. On opening our front door to investigate we were greeted by the sight of a flock of sheep and goats that probably totalled in excess of 750 animals on the land on the opposite side of our road. There used to be orange groves there before the developers moved in. Because of the crash in the property market the site has been abandoned and nature is reclaiming it.

This video is a précis recording of the visit: some of the animals crossed the road to attempt to devour the ivy growing on our front garden wall.

 

If you would like to know more about trashumancia here is a link to another video to watch: Pastores y Trashumancia

Three hours delay.

What a morning we had at our local Spanish health centre in Orihuela Costa.

It was necessary for my wife to have an appointment with our doctor today. Natalie has been unwell for the last week. Using the health system online booking service we managed to arrange a consultation for 11:15 a.m. Although we knew that she probably wouldn't been seen until after the appointed time we were seated in the doctors waiting room at 11:05 a.m.

With the large number of other patients waiting we suspected we were in for a bit of a wait – were we!

It was not until 2:20 p.m. - over three hours later – that we were to be seated in front of the doctor. Yes I have written that correctly: we had to wait for over three hours to be face to face with the doctor. We couldn't abandon Natalie's allotted slot and make another appointment for later in the week as she needed to get some medication without any further delay to relieve her symptoms.

It was not the doctor's fault for the delay but it was that of the system. Three separate appointments are made for the same time slot. There was a continuous flow of patients in and out of the consulting room during the whole of the time we were there.

As the morning progressed and the period of delay between the times of the patients booked appointments and actual consultations increased peoples' level of frustration of waiting increased. Several people completed official health system complaint forms. There was a degree of comradery developing amongst the patients, from a variety of countries, in helping others in completing the forms about the inadequate appointments system.

After just ten minutes with the doctor we left her room, with the necessary prescriptions for the important medication, with a great feeling of relief for ourselves and sorrow for those still enduring the long wait.

It is totally unacceptable to have to endure a three hour delay for a confirmed appointment because of a policy of allocating three patients to the same time slot. It would seem that there is an inadequate number of doctors due to insufficient funding of the health system within the Valencia region of Spain.