Reader’s Digest Asia (English Edition)

Our Favourite Gifts Reading ‘The Best Gift I Ever Received’ (Dec 24/Jan 25) in which RD readers shared their most meaningful presents took me back to my blue plastic tea set my parents gave me when I was eight years old. It was my prized possession and helped me hold many tea parties with friends, including mini sandwiches and my mother’s mini cakes. SHOBA SINGH Santa’s Substitute The story ‘Santa’s Helper’ (My Story, Dec 24/Jan 25) brought back memories of my dad playing Santa at a children’s Christmas party. One of seven kids, my older brother spoilt the magic for the rest of us when he spotted our Dad’s finger, which had been chopped off in a lawnmowing accident. Needless to say, the following year he wore gloves. ROSANNE WARWOOD Modesty…

Fundamental Caring THE IMPORTANCE OF UPHOLDING our humanity and extending help to those in need is eloquently portrayed in the article, ‘An Exceptional Husband’ (page 22). This modern-day love story involves a family with a unique twist – a woman who is now her ex-husband’s legal guardian, and who shares his care with her second husband. These three prove that everyone deserves to have their dignity respected. The Bonus Read, ‘The 14,000-Foot Miracle’ (page 94), describes in dramatic detail what it feels like to fall from the sky and survive with severe injuries. But it goes further as we follow the young skydiver’s long – and inspiring – road to recovery. Instead of giving up, she’s now writing the next chapter of her life. We also share the first part of…

As a new migrant to Australia, the first thing that I wanted to do was embrace its wide-open spaces and natural beauty. Wilderness adventures were something that I always enjoyed when I lived in Africa, whether it was kayaking, trail running or mountain biking. Australia has a lot to offer, and I was keen to do some exploring. In 2007, our family settled in the small town of Busselton, about 220 kilometres southwest of Perth in Western Australia, where I teach at one of the local high schools. One day, I overheard a colleague talking about exploring a cycling trail called The Munda Biddi that runs through the bush. At that time, it extended from the nearby town of Collie to Mundaring in the Perth Hills – some 225 kilometres.…

Health Kick DEANNE One day, I had decided to make a healthy soup using beef, onions, garlic and seaweed, only to discover that no one in the family actually liked seaweed that much. As seaweed contains beneficial nutrients, instead of throwing it away, I scooped it out of the soup and fed it to my pot plants. The next day, on my way out to take my dog Banjo for a walk, I noticed that the seaweed had all disappeared. I thought that was a bit odd, but didn’t ponder too much about it. When Banjo is feeling a bit under the weather, he usually chomps on something green, usually freshly sprouted grass. During our walk that day, he stopped to throw something up. Nothing unusual there, he did this…

Cats aren’t known for their sensitivity. But a new study published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science suggests that our feline friends may care more about us and other pets in the house than we give them credit for. So, do cats grieve? Study co-author and psychologist Dr Jennifer Vonk and her co-author, Brittany Greene, surveyed 412 cat owners, asking them how their cat reacted after the death of another pet in the house. They found that cats responded to the loss in ways that looked strikingly like mourning. Participants used a five-point scale to indicate any changes in their cat’s behaviours in the days and weeks after the death. Behaviours they tallied included: sleeping, eating, playing, vocalising, spending time alone, hiding, seeking attention from humans, sitting or lying…

Shingles is surprisingly common: one in three people will develop shingles (herpes zoster) in their lifetime. Fortunately, there are effective ways to prevent getting shingles – as well as treating this painful condition. WHAT IS IT? Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) – the same virus that causes chickenpox. When you’re exposed for the first time, you develop chickenpox. But when you recover, the virus doesn’t leave your body. It lies dormant in nerves that emerge from the spinal cord and causes no problems until something reactivates it. Then you get shingles. Reactivation can be caused by getting older, being immune compromised, feeling generally run down or dealing with a lot of stress. “It’s almost like the body’s way of kicking you when you’re already down,” says dermatologist…