March '10

Although both my parents were naturally right-handed, my father exceptionally used his 'eating irons' left handedly - but that is just one of several things I didn't inherit from him (another, I'm afraid, is gardening!). While I was in hospital last year, my arms became swollen (making the selection of sites for blood tests awkward or even impossible) followed by my hands, which also lost their grip (already restricted by age). This latter was restored the day I was due to transfer to Pine Cottage, surprisingly (since I'm naturally right handed) to my left hand first! Today, I can use both hands to pick up things but I prefer to use my left hand to do this (especially when moving objects on my bedside cupboard as my right hand often needs steadying by the other one). However, I still write with my right hand.

The frequency of left handed adults is reported as being 7 - 10% of the adult population. The majority of those I have come across have been of an artistic (in its broader sense) nature; this ties in with the popular conception (famous examples being Peter Scott, M.C. Escher, Brad Pitt, Marilyn Monroe, Jean Boht & William Roache). Left handed adults who do not display this artistic tendency in life need not feel frustrated but should consider those famous in other fields, like Otto von Bismarck, Fidel Castro, James Callaghan, Joan of Arc, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill, Julius Caesar, Lord Baden-Powell, Charlemagne & Terry Waite.

Whether you're right or left handed, many thanks for the comments (usually favourable!) which I've received about my.Musings - you probably already know that, if required, early articles are accessible via links on my web site; I plan to add a link to: www.mikesmusings3.blogspot.com (for articles from last August). Whether your source is paper or electroniic, please get in touch with any comments or thoughts which may arise.

All the best                                                                                                              

"put your hand into the hand of God." - Minnie T. Hawkins


"Let not the right side of your brain know what the left side doeth."                                                    - George Bernard Shaw


"The right half of the brain controls the left half of the body. This means that only left handed people are in their right mnd "    - Author unknown

"God made everyone right-handed, the truly gifted overcome it."                                                                                      - Jadu Saiki

"It is often argued that left-handed batsmen have an advantage compared with the right-handers. I do not agree."                           - Frank Woolley