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HANDCRAFT: A few years ago her home used to be filled with all types and sizes of handcraft pottery items and costume jewellery. Today she has only a few left from her collection. She had given away most of her treasures as gifts of remembrance to family members, friends and loved ones. “These are all my own creations. When I visit a shop or take part in a party or function, I observe the jewellery carefully. Then I rush home, piece together my ideas and what is produced out of my hands turn out to be new creations which I can claim as my own,” Sujatha Jayasekera said with pride. Indeed Jayasekera had quite a collection to be proud of. Exquisite necklaces, chokers, bracelets, and earrings together with finely designed bottles and pottery had adorned her residence. “There were so many items and we hardly had any space in our home,” she remarked. “I conducted classes for costume jewellery-making under my institution named “S.J. Creations”. Apart from that I was also a beautician. I got my initial training from a famous beautician of that era Carmen Cook,” she said.
As an old girl of Girls’ High School, Kandy and St. John’s, Gatambe, Sujatha had shown her gift for creativity during her school days. She was able to recall her first creations as a set of bracelets and necklaces made of beads. Still remaining in her collection is a set of Kandyan bridal jewellery made of gold and white beads. Another striking item is a clay pot painted with green lacquer paint with a design of flowers made out of yoghurt spoons and sago! First the yoghurt spoons are coloured with red and yellow lacquer paint. Then the handles are broken off. The remaining parts, taken as flower petals, are arranged together to make up flowers. Next the clay pot would be coated with green lacquerpaint and once it is dry, she would decorate the pot with her handmade flowers and her imagination.
You can either buy leaves available in the market or you can make the leaves. It is only a matter of how creative you would let yourself be,” explained Jayasekera. “I use materials that are ready to be thrown away. Once I start on an item I do not stop until I have finished it. It takes time and a lot of will power as it has to be done carefully and neatly,” she pointed out. Jayasekera was well known as a beautician. She had made all the beauty items such as packs and creams at home with ingredients she had selected and imported from India. Now a mother of two sons and three daughters, Sujatha is happy and relaxed. She has two of her daughters following in her footsteps and is able to enjoy her prime years with a peaceful mind. ############################ Strike a balance in rest and workHow to diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis?Rheumatologists have to make what is known as a ‘clinical diagnosis’, where they have to put together all the information from listening to you and examining you and coming to a diagnosis based on this information.This is one of the reasons why you should tell your rheumatologist all the symptoms you have had,not just the ones you think are important. There are two kinds of tests which may help in confirming the diagnosis: * Blood tests * X - ray and other imaging techniques Blood testsBlood tests may show you are anaemic, a problem which affects about 8 out of 10 of people with rheumatoid arthritis (80%). They may also detect changes in your blood which are produced by inflammation.The original test of this type was called erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). More recently the plasma viscosity (PV) test has been used,and the most recent test is for a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP). Each of these may show a high value when inflammation is present. X - rays and other imaging techniquesX-rays can reveal any damage caused to the joints by the inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound scanning are more sensitive for picking up changes and are being studied to see how useful they are for diagnosing early disease and monitoring progress. How can Rheumatoid Arthritis be treated?There are three main ways of treating: * Taking care of your joints. * Treatment with drugs. * Surgery. This is occasionally needed. You may receive advice about the need for surgery both from your rheumatologist and from a surgeon with a special interest in surgery for arthritis.Operations vary from quite minor ones such as release of a nerve or a tendon to major surgery such as joint replacement. How can I take care of my joints?Balancing rest and exerciseOne of the most important balancing acts you will need to achieve is the balance between rest and exercise. Resting inflames joints making them more comfortable. The most important thing is to use your muscles and joints as much as possible without harming them. This helps retain movement and stops muscles wasting away. Exercise is a good thing in general,and exercise helps you feel better. The signs to stop are if a particular activity causes one or more joints to become warm and swollen or if there is severe pain. If neither of these things happen, keep going. Balancing rest and exercise it is something you will need to discover for yourself. If you are having a good day, avoid overdoing things. This particularly applies to tasks such as housework or gardening. Many people suffer the next day because of over exertion on a good day. Do make it clear to family and friends that not all days are the same. They must realise that activities you find easy on a good day may be impossible on a bad one. If some activity always causes problems, ask yourself if it is really essential, and if it could be done in an easier way (or by someone else)? But above all use both periods of activity and periods of rest to their best advantage. (To be continued) ######################### Cuisine:Apple CaramelIngredients: Corn flour - 1tbs Method of Preparation :Mix cornflour with milk to a smooth paste and bring to a boil. Keep aside. Add lemon juice to the apples. Stir over low heat for about 10 minutes. Keep aside. Beat the eggs with sugar, marmalade and marie biscuits. Mix walnuts and cherries, reserving a little for later use. Mix the apples, egg-biscuit mixture and walnut-cherry mixture together. Divide it into two portions. Pour one portion into a caramelised pan and steam for 10 minutes. Add cocoa mixture to the remaining portion and pour it gently over the steamed pudding. Steam for 15 minutes more or till done. Invert the dessert onto a serving dish. Decorate with the cherries and walnut kept aside. Serve chilled. ########################### Readers’ Attic: Easter memoriesThe Easter sun shines bright from a clear blue sky |
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“There is no need to use glue as yoghurt spoons melt once it is
heated. I hold flowers and to a candle flame and once it is heated I
press it onto the surface of the vase. The sago is used to make up a
cluster of flowers that is similar to baby’s breath. 
