Healthy Adelaide

Whenever we have a stiff sea breeze from Gulf St Vincent, the air of Adelaide is freshened. A gale arriving from the Great Australian Bight, or off Antarctica, is even more...

...invigorating. It clears away the smog and we can breath more easily.

Northerly winds are another matter though. They stir up the dust and allergens and make life miserable for those with breathing difficulties. Hot days and northerly winds are especially unpleasant (even more so if there is a bushfire).



AS SAFE AS HOUSES

There are many houses on hillsides here that are unlikely to stay standing if a spark lands on them in hot, windy weather. It is why I prefer living in the western suburbs where the sea breezes are plentiful and the bushland is at a distance.  Do you live near me or far away?



SAFE PLACES TO WALK

There are lovely places to walk nearby, including the River Torrens Linear Path and various beaches.  I usually prefer to stroll with a companion than walk on my own, to share the experience and to feel a little safer when mentally unstable characters might be wandering about.

The other parks and open spaces are not especially interesting however. Most of the benches put in them by local councils are usually located in uninspiring and unsociable spots. And when a bench is needed, it is nowhere to be seen.  If you live in Adelaide, where do you like to walk?


PLEASANT WEATHER

Being outdoors can be quite pleasant here on most days of the year, except near traffic. Although we had rain overnight, and the wind is blustery today, the sky is now clear except for a few little clouds. It is 17 degrees Celsius in my garden.

Our clocks have been on daylight saving time for a week now so evening strolls around the neighbourhood will become a more common feature of my routine. It is a pity that most of my neighbours have front gardens that are rather boring.  I do like to experience botanical splendour whenever possible.  Do you enjoy organic gardening?


APPRECIATING MOBILITY

Walking can be a pleasure. It is something that those of us with working legs often take for granted whilst promenading. If you like walking in Adelaide, where do you enjoy going the most? If you rely on a wheelchair, how easily do you get around?

I am not a fast walker.  I see very little point in racing from one spot to another when I might miss out on something interesting along the way. My ethereal sketchbook is often with me in case I want to capture an especially picturesque moment.

Some of my pictures appear within this blog pamphlet from time to time.  You may even have a device known as a digital camera to record your movements and experiences.  How do your pictures enhance your health?


WIDE STRAIGHT ROADS

For people who are familiar with driving conditions in Europe, there is a delightful lack of roundabouts here in Adelaide.  We have traffic lights and give way signs, though sometimes these are ignored by delusional speeding characters and silly creatures holding mobile telephones. 

Carparks are not very safe places as the drivers mentioned above also use the same driving techniques there.  You will rarely find a footpath in Adelaide's car parks, or anywhere to feed and water a horse when you wish to trot to the supermarket.  What are the most convenient methods of transportation where you live?


HOSPITALS

We have several hospitals though you may have to wait a while before your medical needs will be attended to in a diligent manner.  Do not worry yourself though, dear reader, your entertainment needs will be met in most of the waiting rooms provided by health care operators in Adelaide, at least if you enjoy having a commercial television station or one of the commercial radio stations blaring at you at all hours of the day and night.  Did you say you suffered from migraines?


SUPERMARKETS

Our supermarkets are very well stocked, especially if you buy a lot of chemical cleaning agents and pet food products.  Fizzy drinks and fried snack foods are easy to obtain.  Many pharmacy products and personal hygiene products are on offer, too.  But did you mention real food?

It is advisable to read labels for anything from the bakery section, though you might need a degree in chemistry with expertise in personal hygiene products or chemical cleaning agents if you have a taste for cakes and desserts.  I like eating trifle, but I would not risk buying a ready-made one from anywhere in Adelaide.


ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKET

This is Adelaide's most important centre for good health.  Its main area has a reasonably high ceiling, making the atmosphere pleasantly sociable without any feelings of claustrophobia, even at the busiest times.  It is where real food is sold.  If you know about nutrition, all of your dietary and sensory needs will be met at the central market.


MIND YOUR HEAD

If you wish to have a picnic on a warm day, please avoid sitting under a large gum tree.  These plants are often very large and tend to be specially adapted for hot weather.  Some even have a propensity for dropping off branches when they feel stressed.   Sometimes they react in a similar manner in windy conditions. I call them brittle trees.  Keep your car and your house away from them, too.


ALWAYS CARRY A JACKET

Adelaide's buildings are often too cold in winter, mainly due to the fact that central heating is not known in this vicinity.  This is somewhat unpleasant when temperatures can be near freezing in the early mornings, though we rarely have any frost or snow.

Buildings and buses are too cold in summer because most air conditioning systems are made for conditions of the tropics rather than a summertime semi-desert.  Wear a damp scarf around your nose to prevent discomfort in your nasal passages from the overly dry air.  You may be stopped by security staff wherever you go, but what is your health worth?


HAVE A GREAT TIME

Over its more recent history, the dominant cultural strain of Adelaide has included the common British affliction of rapidly consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.  We do not have the gloomy skies and endless drizzle of northern Europe as an excuse here.  Even Australian wine has been known to be more expensive in Adelaide than it is in Britain.  Some people here even mix alcohol with their medications, other people's medications, and substance without any medical merit, for what reason I am not quite sure.

Remember to watch out on the roads.