Her mother, the late Sithy Fathima Uvais is no more but her paintings have been around for a long time — hung around her home, and in a state of decay. That’s when Fayroza Farook decided to restore them having had the knack of drawing and painting once in a while. And her efforts at restoring her mother’s paintings which were those of still life inspired Fayroza Farook to start out on her own. That was five years ago.

Encouraged by her husband and children she decided to start painting seriously, going to stores in Australia while visiting her eldest daughter and getting assistance from the stores on what type of paints and brushes she would need. "I was quite ignorant of what I would need but the people at the stores I went to were very helpful," said Fayroza Farook.

The results have surprised not only her but her family as well. Her hidden talents came to the fore when she was in her 50s, and now there’s no stopping her. "The subjects of my paintings are varied. As do all artists I paint what inspires me and I want the others to see what I see through what I put on the canvas," explained Farook. "Painting has a very calming effect and I have a sense of fulfillment at the end of it" she added.

Fayroza Farook will hold her exhibition Shades Of Serendib from August 22-24 at the Harold Pieris Gallery, Lionel Wendt Memorial Art Centre, Colombo 7. Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff will be the chief guest at the opening.

The principal sponsor is INFOMC (Health Information Systems) Philadelphia, USA. (FR)

The hazards of puppy love

While you won’t catch a cold or a cough from dogs (or give them one, for that matter), you may be in for other trouble. Just keep in mind that the health benefits of cohabiting with a canine far outweigh the potential contamination.

Simply petting a dog lowers blood pressure and heart rate. And in one study of heart attack survivors, dog owners were 8.6 times more likely to be alive a year later than people without dogs. But here’s the question: When Spot comes to plant a slobbery kiss on your cheek, should you dodge?

Absolutely, says Lisa Conti, a veterinarian and director of the division of environmental health at the Florida Department of Health. "Dogs have bacteria around their mouths you don’t want on your face."

Case in point: Every year more than 200,000 Americans get stomach flu after ingesting a common bacterium found on the tail ends of dogs — and cats called campylobacter. Another easily transmitted bacterium is salmonella, which causes diarrhoea and fever in humans. The bugs get around thanks to the typical canine meet-and-greet sniffing, and an innocent kiss can pass it to you.

"Dogs lick themselves all over, so these germs can be on the dog’s nose when it’s nuzzling you," says Peter Rabinowitz, MD, associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine and an expert in pet-related infection.

Now that you’re ducking dog kisses, you should probably plan to wash up after heavy petting. Soap and water are your best protection against ringworm, one of the most common infections dogs pass to people.

A fungus, like jock itch and athlete’s foot, ringworm spores can lurk on a dog’s coat or muzzle. Every year ringworm makes the leap from pets to people an estimated two million times. Signs of ringworm include circular, scaly red patches on the skin. In dogs the fungus can surface as hair loss or dry, flaky skin. "I’m not saying don’t pet your dog," explains Rabinowitz, "but I am saying to wash your hands afterward."

Less icky but no less irksome is poison ivy. Although the plant’s tenacious oil won’t bother Spot in the slightest, it can spread from his fur to your skin faster than you can say "no jump."

So if you think your pooch came into contact with the plant after a frolic through fields and forests (maybe even the backyard), get out your gloves and give him a bath. "If it’s lowgrowing ivy, you may be able to get by with just washing the dog’s feet and legs," says Conti.

Advice from your grandpa

Marriage

"Do not marry a person that you know that you can live with; only marry someone that you cannot live without."

"It only takes a few seconds to hurt people you love, and it can take years to heal"

"Money can buy everything but happiness"

"It takes years to build trust, and a few seconds to destroy it"

"There are two eternities that can really break you down. Yesterday and tomorrow. One is gone and the other doesn’t exist… so live today."

"The most effective way to remember your wife’s birthday is to forget it once."

"What is most valuable is not what you have in your life but who you have in your life"

Of fairytales and marriages

Hi,

Chee Chee Corea has had a wonderful
time last week. He was over the moon
with a cricket tour into the country and the Olympics in addition, to keep him occupied at the Kay Cee. He regaled in the company which kept plying him with drinks. He started with a fairy tale.....

One day, long, long ago.......

there lived a woman who did not whine, nag or bitch.

But this was a long time ago.......

and it was just that one day.

And then this one,

all who appreciate great poetry...

Deep in jungle I am went

On shooting Tiger I am bent

Bugger Tiger has eaten wife

No doubt I avenge poor darling’s life

Too much quiet, snakes and leeches

But am not feared these sons of beeches

Hearing loud noise I am jump with start

But noise is coming from damn fool heart

Taking care not to be fright

I am clutching rifle with eye to sight

Should Tiger come I will fall him down

Then like hero return to native town

Then through trees I am espying one cave

I am telling self —  Banda be brave’

I now proceed with too much care

From nonsense smell this Tiger’s lair

My leg is shake, I start to pray

I think I shoot Tiger some other day

Turning round I am going to go

But Tiger giving bloody roar

He bounding from cave like shooting star

I commend my soul to Kali Ma

Through the jungle I am went

Like bullet with Tiger hot on scent

Mighty Tiger rave and rant

Banda shit in pant!

Must to therefore leave the jungle

Killing Tiger one big bungle!

I am telling that never in life

I will risk again for damn fool wife.

Long live Bachelors

Every man should get married some time; after all, happiness is not the only thing in life! — Anonymous

Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others — Oscar Wilde

Don’t marry for money; you can borrow it cheaper — Scottish Proverb

I don’t worry about terrorism. I was  married for two years — Sam Kinison

Men have a better time than women; for one thing, they marry later; for another thing, they die earlier — H. L. Mencken

When a newly married couple smiles, everyone knows why. When a 10 year married couple smiles, everyone wonders why.

Love is blind but marriage is an eye opener. When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.

I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back home always

— Anonymous

I asked my wife, "Where do you want to go for our anniversary?" She said,

"Somewhere I have never been!"  I told her, "How about the kitchen?"

— Anonymous

We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops. My wife was in beauty saloon for two hours. That was only for the estimate.

— Anonymous

She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.

— Anonymous

She ran after the garbage truck, yelling, "Am I too late for the garbage?" Following her down the street I yelled, "No, jump in." — Anonymous

Badd Teddy recently explained to me why he refuses to get to married. He says "the wedding rings look like minature handcuffs..."

A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly parted mother and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to another man kneeling at a grave. The man seemed to be praying with profound intensity and kept repeating,  "Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die?"

The first man approached him and said, "Sir, I don’t wish to interfere with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain is more than I’ve ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so deeply? A child? A parent?’

The mourner took a moment to collect himself, then replied "My wife’s first husband."

If your dog is barking at the back door and your wife yelling at the front door, who do you let in first? The dog of course... at least he’ll shut up after u let him in!  

— Anonymous

A couple came upon a wishing well. The husband leaned over, made a wish and threw in a coin.

The wife decided to make a wish, too. But she leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned. The husband was stunned for a while but then smiled "It really works!"

Ta Ra and see you later.