The toys of the rich, such as flashy cars and yachts, are normally thought of as being good and desirable; something worth aspiring to. However owning a luxury yacht may not always be a good thing … and I’m not just saying that because I can’t afford one!

I was prompted to think this way by some of the weather we’ve been having lately here in Perth (the photo here shows Cottesloe Beach on a day not suitable for swimming). Strong cold fronts, winter gales and rough seas have produced the sort of conditions that occasionally result in boats breaking loose from their moorings and being damaged. Although I haven’t noticed any recent news reports of storm damage to yachts, it does happen, and if I had a yacht moored out in the open I think I’d be a little concerned about it in squally weather.

Then there’s the cost. According to a West Australian newspaper story (here) boat ownership in Perth has risen massively but the number of parking places for boats hasn’t, and with demand outstripping supply the fees for yacht moorings have skyrocketed. This must surely be a concern for people who bought a boat with an inheritance or a lotto win, but don’t have an ongoing high income.

When I woke in the night recently to the sound of destructive winds and heavy rain, for some unknown reason I visualised luxury yachts being tossed about and breaking loose from their moorings. At that moment I was genuinely glad that I didn’t have a yacht of my own to be worried about.

It made me think of a Bible verse found in Ecclesiastes 5:12 - “The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep“. With that thought I rolled over and fell asleep.

You may have heard it said that men can only do one thing at a time, whereas women can do several things at once (if you have, it was probably a woman that said it). Even if it’s true that doesn’t mean men are inferior. On the contrary, an article in the Wall Street Journal executive career site suggests that doing one thing at a time is more efficient.

The article, titled “Juggling Too Many Tasks Could Make You Stupid“, reports on scientific research which shows that doing several things at once - multitasking - can be less efficient than doing one task at a time, and comes with a cost. Here are some pertinent quotes from the article:

• “People who multitask are actually less efficient than those who focus on one project at a time, according to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. The time lost switching among tasks increases with the complexity of the tasks, according to the research by Dr Meyer and others.”
• “Managing two mental tasks at once reduces the brainpower available for either task, even when these activities engage two different parts of the brain.”
• “If the tasks require the same parts of the brain, such as two assignments that both draw on language skills, it’s going to be extremely hard to succeed efficiently”
• “Chronic high-stress multitasking also is linked to short-term memory loss”
• “It doesn’t mean you can’t do several things at the same time,” says Dr Just, co-director of the university’s Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging. “But we’re kidding ourselves if we think we can do so without cost.”

I’ve often felt that I can work more effectively by doing one thing at a time, and doing it well, rather than trying to do several things at once and doing none of them well. Finding research that supports my belief is gratifying. Now if I hear a woman complaining that “men can only do one thing at a time” I’ll view it as a compliment … a sign that we men are just working more efficiently!

The human body is full of surprises. Just a month ago I had no idea that you could lose a toenail, other than by being tortured. Then one of my own nails decided to drop off, opening my eyes further to the wonders of our bodies’ capacity for self-repair.

It all started with a 48km walk. My boots were probably a little too snug to begin with, but with the addition of an extra sock layer and feet that are enlarging slightly with age, the result was squashing of the little pinky toe on my biggest foot. Once the pain and blistering eased, I noticed the toenail had come loose, attached only at the rear end.

A quick check in Google revealed that toenails loosening and falling out are not uncommon among serious runners and hikers. In fact many comments in runners forums suggest you’re not a real runner (or hiker) until you’ve lost a nail or two, as if it were an initiation into a higher level. I read of one person who, having lost all his toenails, not only kept them as souvenirs but had a necklace made out of them … with extra toenails donated by others! Despite my tendency to collect things like navel lint and beard clippings, I draw the line at toenails.

Fortunately, when an injured toenail detaches, a new one grows in its place within six months with minimal discomfort. I know its a trivial complaint compared to the medical traumas that so many others suffer, but I still find it a little unsettling that something thats always been there can just loosen and drop off. Unsettling, yet the body’s ability to eject and regrow a damaged part strangely fascinates me. We are well-designed creatures.

Being squeamish, I’ve just had my doomed toenail removed properly by a podiatrist. As I watch it regrow over the coming months I’ll console myself with the thought that my credibility as a hiker may have increased!

If you’re really keen, that toenail necklace can be seen by clicking here.

Here are some more examples of cats who have shown that they are capable of more than we usually expect.

Sky News reports of a two-year-old male cat called Kuzya who crossed Siberia by himself. Kuzya was on a summer holiday in Yakutsk, eastern Russia, when he ran away from his family. After weeks of searching, the Efremov family returned home to Olenyok without him. Three months later, Kuzya arrived tired and thin at his family’s house, having trekked 1300 miles across Siberian woods, hills, rivers and lakes. My earlier post on Amazing Stories of Cats Coming Back has more examples.

In Columbus, Ohio, according to USA Today, Gary Rosheisen fell out of his wheelchair and was unable to get up or call for help. Police received a 911 emergency call from Rosheisen’s phone, but with nobody on the line. After calling back and getting no answer they went to the apartment to check things out. Gary Rosheisen was found on his bedroom floor, but in the lounge room police found his cat Tommy lying next to the phone. Their only plausible explanation is that Tommy the amazing cat dialled 911, probably using the speed dial button next to the speakerphone button. This didn’t surprise his owner, who’d once attempted to train Tommy to dial 911.

Many people still think animals operate purely by conditioning and are incapable of conscious thought. That Ohio man and Russian family, and anyone else who has owned cats, would know there is more to our furry friends than meets the eye!

Links: Cat Crosses Siberia from Sky News and Cat Called 911 To Help Ill Owner from USA Today