According to The National Human Genome Research Institute

” Double helix, as related to genomics, is a term used to describe the physical structure of DNA. A DNA molecule is made up of two linked strands that wind around each other to resemble a twisted ladder in a helix-like shape. Each strand has a backbone made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups. Attached to each sugar is one of four bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) or thymine (T). The two strands are connected by chemical bonds between the bases: adenine bonds with thymine, and cytosine bonds with guanine.”

https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Double-Helix

And even though this sounds like Greek and Latin to some people, most people can recognise the two twisted ribbons as the ultimate iconic image in the study of human biology. And even if they ( me included) don’t know the difference in molecular structure between the various chemicals that make up the structure we all know the Double Helix when we see it. Even Ms Papaya who is all ears old knows what it is called.

So last week when Prima Donna came home with an Industry award, everyone remarked how it resembled the Double Helix. So did Ms Papaya who was happy for her mum.

We were all thrilled when she received an award for marketing her brand and we were gazing at it with admiration bordering on awe, thrilled that her work was recognised by a national professional body. Since I’ve always been a Stay at Home Mum for most of my life, to me this was as significant as winning the Olympics.

By the time she can home, the award had tilted to one side and me being me, found it irksome once the thrill of seeing the shiny trophy sitting on the dining table. Having grown up in a military home, discipline was something that was dinned into my head and even inanimate objects had to be just so. It didn’t matter how insignificant it was, if an object was meant to be straight, it should be. Similarly, if it was meant to be crooked. It had to be crooked.

So in my typical way, I tried to straighten it out. And just as it became straight, one supporting rod popped out I wanted to put it back in when the other end came off and the rod fell.

Taking some Fevicol, I tried to stick it on but it didn’t. “Try Feviquik”, suggested Akshata, the house help, who is good with art and craft projects. I ended up sticking my fingers and dropped off two more supporting rods

I then took some Gluetack but that didn’t help either. The more I tried to fix it, the more unfixed it got.

Finally, Prima Donna snatched it away before I could crack the base on which it was mounted.

It is no wonder I never got a trophy for anything ever!

Have a great week all

Ciao