Get those arms up!

I don't always believe what I read on the internet but I was hoping that this one was true. We've all had those situations - when you or someone with you laughs or does something just as they eat or drink and it "goes down the wrong way" leading to coughing and spluttering as you try to catch your breath. So I was happy to read that you could help fix this by raising both arms in the air to help clear the airways. I've been waiting for the chance to check it out and last night someone did the "wrong way" thing and I told them to raise their arms as someone else raced to get them a drink of water because we all know that can help. I am pleased to say that by the time the water arrived it almost wasn't needed - the arms in the air trick worked. No-one was as surprised as I: but apparently if you say something confidently enough people believe you know what you're talking about - even if you're just repeating something you read on the internet!

What's that?

It's great when just being yourself can make folk happy! We went around to my sister and her partner's house where they had been getting ready for a surprise birthday party which in the end didn't happen as the Guest of Honour and her three children had all come down with a lurgy. The decorations were up when we arrived and while most of the balloons and other bits and bobs had been relocated to the Birthday Girl's house, the Happy Birthday sign Wa and Ma had strung together was still there. It wasn't until we were in the middle of dinner that I noticed that Birthday had a couple of letters in the wrong order. When I mentioned this, Wa and Ma burst out laughing and high-fived each other. They had done it intentionally and had been sure that if anyone noticed it would be me - they were so happy they'd been right.  I'm so glad my reputation for noticing stuff remains intact - and that they enjoyed it so much!  I'm just stunned that it took me over an hour to notice!