The Importance of DETOX (and healthy living)

I am currently detoxing!! (be warned, the only negative thing about detoxing, is that you are constantly thinking about food!)

It is suggested that we cleanse our bodies through a detox, every three months or so. You can do this for 3 days, 7 days or even up to 21 days. It will really change the way you look and consider the importance of the right food in your everyday diet. It is vital that you put a lot of thought into your meals while on a detox, because if you don’t, it will lead to you being hungry and irritable, and chances are you will be most likely to quite the detox before you will be able to see the results.

Where possible, try to buy organic produce as this will add to the flavour and quality of your meals. I know organic is costlier that normal, but it really does make a difference. Everything organic just tastes better, and it will make you feel better too. (I will post something soon all about the wonderful world of organic!)

I have included here why detoxing is important and what to/what not to include in a detox. Also listed is information about different minerals, vitamins, salt and the different food groups. As well as info about the nasty compounds found in everyday foods, snacks and drinks (such as additives, colourants, preservatives etc). So all in all giving you a breakdown of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the food world!

Why should I consider detoxing?
Detoxing is particularly important in the modern world, since environmental pollutants, toxins and other elements can quickly build up to toxic levels and cause ill health and a variety of mental and physical consequences. These serious consequences include such things as weakened immune system to fatigue to feeling of depression. What is the aim of a detox?Basically the aim of any detox program is not just for the food, or lack there of to do the work, but to engineer an environment for the body to undertake its natural processes of healing. When we detox, what we are trying to do is stop cramming toxins into our body, which in turn allows the body to start booting out the accumulated junk. Think of it as a spring clean for the body!

FOODS TO INCLUDE:

Fresh Fruit
Enjoy all fresh fruit. It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit when detoxing, and any type of fruit can be used, including apples, oranges and more exotic fruits. Fruit juices are fine as well, provided that they are made with 100% real fruit and contain no artificial preservatives or added sugar. Go easy on grapefruit. A compound in grapefruit called naringin can significantly inhibit liver detox enzymes and should be avoided during detox diets.

Fresh Vegetables
You can eat any fresh vegetables, but great detox foods include broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic, artichokes, beets, carrots, turnips, cabbage, bean sprouts, peppers, mushrooms, leeks, and cauliflower.

Live Yogurt
Live yogurt is a great choice for detoxing, as it contains valuable nutrients and beneficial bacteria which help to sooth the digestive tract during the detox process.

Rice and Oats

Rice is easily digested by most people. Choose brown or basmati rice, rice cakes, rice crackers and rice pasta.

Other Grains
Quinoa, amaranth, millet, and buckwheat can be used instead of rice. Tofu and quorn are also great and nutritious substitutes for meat.

Beans and Lentils
Any kind of beans are great for detoxing the body, including dried beans and beans canned in water. Split yellow and green peas and lentils are easy to digest and require less soaking time. Other acceptable legumes include kidney beans, pinto beans, mung beans, chickpeas and adzuki beans.

Nuts and Seeds
Unsalted nuts, seeds and nut butters can be sprinkled over any meal. Includes flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews and walnuts. Avoid peanuts.

Fish
Poached, broiled or steamed fish can be enjoyed in moderation. Some of the healthiest varieties of fish include cod, salmon, mackerel, monkfish and trout. You can also have tinned tuna, as long as it is in brine/salted water and not oil.

Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil

Condiments
Vegetable salt, sea salt, vinegar, naturally fermented soy sauce, any culinary herbs or spices, limited amounts of honey.

Herbal Tea and other Beverages
Herbal non-caffeinated teas and green tea. Water, lemon water, 100% natural fruit and vegetable juices, rice and soya milk.

FOODS TO AVOID:

Sugar
Refined sugar and mixtures containing refined sugar, including sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup, brown sugar. Avoid artificial sweeteners.

Dairy Products
Milk, eggs, butter and other dairy products.

Wheat and Corn
Wheat and products containing wheat.

Caffeine
Coffee, both regular and decaffeinated, black tea, and other drinks containing caffeine.

Other Foods to Avoid
Yeast
Alcohol
Food additives and preservatives
Chocolate, biscuits and cakes
High-Fat Foods

SAMPLE DETOX MENU’s

Detox Plan Breakfasts

* Banana porridge. Porridge made with water and topped with natural yoghurt, banana, raisins and sweetened with honey.
* Fruit salad with yoghurt and oats. Fresh fruit salad with natural yoghurt and a sprinkling of oats.
* Fresh fruit smoothie. Fruit smoothie made from fresh fruit, natural yoghurt and honey to sweeten if needed. * Fresh fruit and yoghurt * Fresh fruit and a pot of natural yoghurt sweetened with honey.

Detox Plan Lunches

* Vegetable soup and oatcakes. Large bowl of vegetable or lentil soup (either homemade or supermarket 'fresh') with oatcakes.
* Tuna jacket potato and salad. Jacket potato topped with tuna (canned in water) mixed and natural yoghurt and served with salad.
* Mediterranean salad with rice cakes. Rice cakes served with rocket, avocado, tomatoes, fresh basil and black pepper. Plus a handful of unsalted nuts.
* Guacamole with crudités. Homemade guacamole made from avocado, lemon juice, fresh chilli, tomatoes and garlic served with vegetable crudités and oatcakes.
* Avocado and prawn salad Fresh avocado served with prawns, salad, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice.

Detox Plan Dinners

* Chinese vegetable stir fry. Stir fry a selection of vegetables such as bok choi, spring onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and beansprouts in a little olive oil with garlic and ginger. Serve with brown rice.
* Baked salmon with jacket potato. Bake a salmon fillet and serve with a jacket potato and steamed vegetables. * Tuna and prawns with noodles. Gently fry a selection of vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, peppers, courgette and leek in a little olive oil. When lightly browned, add a handful of prawns.
* Sweet and sour stir fry with rice. Gently fry a selection of chopped vegetables such as onions, peppers mushrooms. Add canned pineapple (in fruit juice), canned tomatoes, tomato purée, white wine vinegar and honey.

Detox Plan Snacks

* Fresh fruit or fresh fruit salad
* Natural yoghurt mixed with honey
* Handful of unsalted nuts or seeds
* Oatcakes

DAILY DETOX TIPS

Start the morning with a cup of hot water and lemon.

Drink a minimum of 6 glasses of water per day, warm or room temperature. Water is essential to clear waste from the blood. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Most people think 2L of water should be drunk, but 1.5L is more than enough because you will make us the other 500ml by herbal tea, fruit juices and other beverages.

Do not drink liquids around mealtime.

Take the time to chew food well, especially grains.

Stay away from dried fruit and bottled fruit juice (they contain loads of sugar and preservatives). Rather opt for fresh juice and dilute with water.

You can have free range or organic chicken (as long as its grilled lightly in olive oil or steamed) just stay away from red meat and pork/bacon and processed meat including ham and sausages/viennas.

You might want to take some multivitamins (eg calcium and iron esp as you are not getting any dairy)

WHAT DETOXING ‘detoxifies’…

Additives
Food additives carry out a variety of necessary functions in foods, from helping to maintain quality to keeping food safe. Food additives are very carefully regulated and undergo thorough testing to ensure they are safe to use in food. Once a food additive has passed safety tests and been approved for use by the European Union, it is given an E number. Not all additives are ‘artificial’, some are natural products that can have a useful function in food e.g ascorbic acid E300 (vitamin C)

Additives are used to keep food fresh and safe by helping to prevent deterioration, for example:
Antioxidants – help prevent oxidation of foods resulting in them ‘going off’ or discolouring. These are commonly used in baked foods, cereals, fats, oils and salad dressings. A commonly used antioxidant is Ascorbic acid, E300 (vitamin C) for example:

Preservatives
- help to keep food 'safe' by limiting the growth of micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria, yeast or mould) that can cause food poisoning. They can be in any food. An example is sulphur dioxide (E220) which is commonly used on dried fruits.

Additives can be used to help improve the texture of foods, for example:

Emulsifiers and stabilisers
– help prevent the ingredients from separating in many foods such as margarine and low fat spreads. They are used in any recipe that requires the mixing of ingredients that don’t usually mix i.e. oil and water. These are commonly found in reduced fat and low fat versions of foods. An example is lecithin (E322)
Thickeners
– help change the consistency of the product. An example is pectin (E440) which is used to thicken jam
Sweeteners
– lower in calories than sugar and can be used as an alternative to sweeten foods. They are useful for developing low calorie foods. Intense sweeteners such as aspartame (E951) only need to be used in very small quantities as they are much sweeter than sugar. Bulk sweeteners such as sorbitol (E420) are used in similar amounts as sugar but they provide fewer calories
Flavour enhancers
– used to bring out and enhance the flavours in foods. They are commonly used in savoury and oriental products. An example is monosodium glutamate (msg) E621
Colours – used to add or restore colour that can be lost through processing, to make the food more appealing to the customer. They are also used for decoration e.g. on cakes and confectionery for visual decoration. An example is caramel (E150a), which can be used in products such as gravy and soft drinks

Minerals, Food Groups, Vitamins and Salt – which one for what thing?

1. Minerals
Minerals have a wide variety of roles within the body and eating a variety of different foods should ensure adequate intakes of most minerals. Some minerals are required in larger amounts (e.g. potassium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorous and sodium) and others are required in smaller amounts and are known as trace elements (e.g. zinc, iron, copper, iodine, selenium, fluoride).

Calcium
Role of calcium – main component of bones and teeth; blood clotting; required for nerve and muscle function (including the heart). Calcium may also be important in helping to prevent high blood pressure, obesity and bowel cancer, however, research is ongoing in these areas.
Rich sources – milk, cheese, dairy foods, green leafy vegetables e.g. broccoli, bread made with fortified flour. The body absorbs calcium more easily from milk and dairy sources.

Getting enough calcium in early life is important for building peak bone mass. Peak bone mass is reached by about 30 yrs old, after this age some calcium is lost from the bone (a natural process) and bone mass slowly decreases. Severe loss of bone mass results in the bone becoming weak and brittle and more prone to breakages, this condition is known as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis most frequently effects women after the menopause (oestrogen helps to protect bones), although men are also affected. One third of women and 1 in 12 men over the age of 50 will have osteoporosis.

Potassium
Roles – regulates fluid balance; may also help lower blood pressure.
Rich sources – fruit (e.g. bananas), vegetables and milk. Present in most foods, and generally raw foods contain more than processed foods.

Phosphorous
Roles – building strong bones and teeth; releasing energy from food; structure of cell membranes (phospholipids).
Sources – found in many foods e.g. red meat, dairy, fish, bread, grains.

Magnesium
Roles – energy metabolism; electrolyte balance; muscle function; bones and teeth structure.
Sources – found in many foods, richest sources are green leafy vegetables, grains and nuts.

Selenium
Roles – required for the enzymes that protect the body from oxidation (antioxidant); helps the immune system defend the body; production of thyroid hormone
Rich sources - brazil nuts, fish and offal. It is found in most foods.

The selenium content of plants depends on the availability and content in the soil in which they are grown.

Iron
Roles – required for the formation of haemoglobin (transports oxygen around the body) in red blood cells; immune system; energy metabolism.
Rich sources – meat, fortified breakfast cereals, beans, nuts, dark green leafy vegetables, wholegrain. Iron from meat sources is more easily absorbed by the body.

Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron from food, particularly the non-meat sources. Phytates (in cereals and pulses), fibre, tannins (in tea and coffee) and calcium can bind non meat iron and reduce absorption.
Low intakes of iron result in poor iron stores which can lead to iron deficiency anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia can leave people feeling tired, irritable and suffer from poor concentration. Iron is particularly important for women of child-baring age and teenage girls

Zinc
Roles - cell division; growth and tissue repair; reproductive system; wound healing; immune system
Rich sources - meat, fish, shellfish, diary products, cereal products such as wheat-germ

2. Protein, Carbohydrates, Fibre and Fat

Protein
Role – needed for growth and repair of the body; provides energy (around 16% of the daily energy intakes of the UK diet).
Sources – meat, pulses, nuts, cereals, fish, dairy. Different foods contain different amounts of amino acids so you should vary the dietary protein sources.

Protein is made up of amino acids. Some amino acids can be made from others. There are 8 essential amino acids that must be supplied by the diet.

Carbohydrates
Role – most of the energy (calories) we need should come from carbohydrates (around 50% daily intake). Most of our energy should come from eating complex carbohydrates.

Sources – carbohydrates can be spilt into 2 groups – sugars and complex:

Sugars provide an instant energy source, resulting in a rapid rise in blood glucose levels
Intrinsic – found in fruits and vegetables
Extrinsic – sugar in dairy products, honey, fruit juices, confectionery, soft drinks

Complex, often described as 'slow releasing carbohydrates', release energy at a much slower level resulting in more steady blood glucose levels. These include:
Starchy foods – found in potatoes, bread, rice & pasta
Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) e.g. cellulose, pectins and gums, found in fruits, vegetables, beans and whole-grain cereals.

Regular consumption of complex carbohydrates has been linked to decreased heart disease, lower incidence of bowel cancer and can help control diabetes.

Fat
Role – provides energy (which should be no more than 35% of daily energy), provides essential fatty acids and carries vitamins A,D,E and K (also necessary for their absorption), component of cell membranes and other metabolic substances that help regulate many body functions.

Fats can be divided into 2 categories; saturated and unsaturated (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats).

a. Saturated Fat
Found in fatty meat, cream, full fat dairy products, butter, lard, cakes and pastries.
Target daily intake in the UK should be no more than 11% of energy. Current UK average intake is 13%.
Saturated fats increase the risk of heart disease by raising blood cholesterol, resulting in the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries.

Trans fats
There are 2 types of trans fats – those that occur naturally in products i.e. meat, dairy produced from ruminant animals (e.g. cows) and those that are formed through the hydrogenation process i.e. hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Trans fats have a similar effect on blood cholesterol as saturated fats. There is some evidence to suggest that trans fats may have a worse effect on blood cholesterol than saturated fats although they make up a much smaller part of the diet.

b. Unsaturated Fat
Unsaturated fats can help to reduce the levels bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase the levels of good cholesterol (HDL).

Monounsaturated Fat (MUFAs)
Doesn’t raise the levels of blood cholesterol (LDL) and may also help to reduce it. Rich sources include olive oil, rapseed oil, nuts (macadamia, hazel & brazil), olive oil margarine

Polyunsaturated Fats (PUFAs)
The body can make all the fatty acids it needs except for two, known as alpha linolenic acid (n-3) Omega 3 fatty acids, and linoleic acid (n-6) Omega 6 fatty acids. These are called the Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and must be supplied from the diet.

Omega 6
Found in safflower oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, soyabean oil and spreads made from these oils.
Omega 3
Best sources of the parent Omega 3 fat (alpha linolenic acid) are linseed, flaxseed, walnut and rapeseed oils
The Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish (EPA - eicosapaentanoic acid & DHA - docosahaexanoic acid) are more readily used by the body. These can help protect against heart disease by reducing the 'stickiness' of the blood. Omega 3 fats are also important for brain development and vision.
Best sources are oily fish – mackerel, fresh tuna, salmon, trout, pilchards and sardines.

Aim to eat at least one portion (about 140g) of oily fish each week, although some groups of the population e.g. men, and women who are not pregnant and not of child-bearing age, may benefit from eating more.

Fibre
Fibre is only found in plant foods. There are 2 types of fibre, soluble (fully digested) and insoluble (mostly indigestible).

Role of insoluble fibre – passes through the gut so helps prevent constipation. Also helps the stomach feel fuller for longer.
Good sources of insoluble fibre – wholegrain bread, brown rice and wholegrain, fruit and vegetables, breakfast cereals.

Role of soluble fibre – eaten in large amounts soluble fibre can help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and may also help people with diabetes to control blood glucose levels.
Good sources of soluble fibre – oats and pulses (beans, lentils and chick peas).

Low fibre diets are most commonly associated with constipation.

3. Vitamins

Vitamins are essential for a wide range of metabolic functions. Eating a varied balanced diet is all that’s needed to ensure we get all the different vitamins that we need. We require different amounts of vitamins at different stages in our life and it’s worth noting that processing and cooking can reduce or destroy vitamins.
Some vitamins are fat soluble, excess being stored in the liver and fatty tissues. Others are water soluble and readily excreted fat soluble vitamins.

Vitamin A
Role – growth or repair of body tissues; protein digestion; helps build strong bones and teeth; important for good vision; helps body to fight infection (immune system).
Good sources – liver, oily fish, eggs, fortified margarine and dairy products.

The body can convert the anti-oxidant B-carotene to vitamin A. B-carotene is what gives yellow and orange fruits their colour. Good sources include yellow and green (leafy) vegetables, and yellow/orange fruits.
If you are pregnant or thinking of having a baby, avoid taking supplements containing vitamin A, including fish liver oil (except on the advice of your GP); avoid eating liver or liver products such as pâté because these may be high in vitamin A.

Vitamin D
Role – required for calcium and phosphorous absorption from food therefore essential for normal bone and tooth structure.
Good sources – oily fish, liver and eggs. By law in the UK, margarine is fortified with vitamin D, additionally some breakfast cereals and bread are also fortified. The body can also make vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.

Deficiency of vitamin D results in rickets.

Vitamin E
Role – antioxidant and can help protect cell membranes and cells from damage by free radicals and oxidation.
Good sources – plant oils such as soy, corn, olive oil, nuts, seeds and wheatgerm.

There is some evidence to suggest that it may reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease.

Vitamin K
Role – essential for the clotting of blood and normal bone structure.
Sources – plants such as leafy green vegetables, vegetable oils and cereals. Also made by gut bacteria.

Deficiency is vary rare in adults but can sometimes be seen in babies. A vitamin K injection is normally given routinely after birth.

Water soluble vitamins
Vitamin C
Role – required for normal structure and function of the connective tissue in skin, cartilage and bones; production of collagen; wound healing; aids absorption of iron from the diet particularly from non meat sources; helps the immune system fight infections; antioxidant, protecting cells from free radical damage
Good sources – include peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, oranges and kiwi fruit. Found in wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Deficiency in vitamin C could lead to scurvy; bleeding gums and poor wound healing.

Folic acid
Role – required for normal cell division; formation of blood cells; normal development of the structure of the nervous system particularly the neural tube; also has a role with B6 and B12 in maintain normal blood homocysteine levels.
Good sources – green leafy vegetables and some fruits (oranges and bananas), brown rice and chick peas, also found in wholegrains (breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid).

B vitamins
Vitamin B12
Role – normal cell division; normal blood formation and function; normal structure and function of nerves; together with folic acid and vitamin B6, required for maintenance of blood homocysteine levels.
Good sources – meat, fish particularly salmon and cod, cheese, eggs, fortified breakfast cereals.

Thiamin (B1)
Role – helps release energy from carbohydrates when eaten; helps keep the nervous and muscle tissue healthy.
Good sources – pork, vegetables, milk, cheese, peas, fresh and dried fruit, eggs, wholegrain breads and some fortified breakfast cereals.

Riboflavin (B2)
Role – energy release from protein, carbohydrate and fat; healthy skin and mucous membranes; metabolism of iron.
Source – Small amounts found in many foods, good sources include milk, eggs, fortified breakfast cereals.

Niacin (B3)
Role – release of energy from food; normal function of the nervous system; healthy skin and mucous membranes.
Source – found in most foods, esp meat. Niacin can be made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan.

Pantothenic acid (B5)
Role – helps release energy from food
Source – found in nearly all meat and vegetables. Good sources include chicken, beef, porridge, tomatoes, wholegrains, fortified breakfast cereals.

Pyridoxine (B6)
Role – helps metabolise protein; involved in iron metabolism and transport; together with B6 and folate, helps to regulate homocysteine levels.
Source – found in a wide variety of foods; beef, fish and poultry are rich sources. Also in whole grains, eggs, some vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals.

4. Salt

Salt is made up of sodium and chloride. The body needs sodium to help regulate fluid balance and for nerve and muscle function. Sodium is in most foods and processed foods often contain more sodium. It is the sodium that is bad for health.

What's wrong with eating too much salt?

On average we are eating 9.5g of salt a day, which is nearly 60% more than we should. Scientific evidence has shown that eating too much salt can raise blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are almost 3 times as likely to suffer from heart disease or a stroke.

What can you do to reduce salt?

Don't add it to foods at the table
Don't add it when cooking – use herbs and spices to flavour your food
Check food labels to see how much salt they contain
Choose foods with no added salt or have "controlled" or reduced salt
Try a low sodium salt or pure rock/sea salt instead of table salt

Who’s Who in Orangeblossom’s Zoo (continued S-W)

Sharon

Sharon is The Wandering Fairy (also known as Lobelia!). We lived and played together in New York. Sharon has always intrigued me – her placid and earthly nature is so inviting and she remains so open and non-judgmental and above all…free. We have only recently refused our energies and its been so wonderful to share my life and thoughts with her again. She is definitely an earth fairy – she does exalt!

In the garden, among the flowers, the Wandering Fairies is shining brightly. Playing along the breeze in the sunshine, dancing with stars above them nightly. With a heart as light as feathers she flitter about, every challenge is faced with a wink and a laugh. She collect the raindrops from the leaves of the willowing trees, eyes filled with wonder as she travels life's path. She gathers sweet nectar from fine smelling clover, makes miniature houses on branches of trees. Her hours are filled with the softest of pleasures until she settles down into a slumberous ease. Dreams full of magic carries her to the dawn, and in these hours is pleasantest rest. Weaving thoughts of tomorrow all hopeful and splendid. Resilient, lighthearted, radiant and free will the Wandering Fairy always be.

Shevaun

Shevy is my soul mate, but not in the traditional sense that we associate soulmates to be, it goes much deeper than that. We met in our Std 8 maths class and our mutual obsession of Grease got the ball rolling and pretty soon we planned to go on a Contiki trip through Europe as soon as we finished Matric. We stuck to our plan and did it. We had the adventure of a lifetime. I will never forget my experience with Shev in Europe, it was just such a definitive moment in our lives. We still never learnt how to put a tent up properly, but it taught and showed us so much about life outside of South Africa. Shev has been in Sydney, Australia for the last 3 years and has just finished her degree in Sports Psychology (I beam with pride!) and I hope she does return to the UK so we can once again join forces! Where shall I begin to describe my love and affection for Shev…there is a saying “Dynamite comes in small packages” well Shev fits this expression perfectly! She is such a funkadelic, charming and witty Libra and she probably knows me inside and out. She never judges me or my actions and I feel totally at home around her. We plan to retire together and settle in a villa near a golf course! So in carrying through this intention, I see Shevaun in my past, present and future…

Frodo gathers her belongings and sets out on yet another trip, but before departing her Shire, she bids farewell to Merly, her lifelong companion and most treasured find. No tears are shed, instead Frodo sprinkles magical fairy dust upon Merly and Frodo takes for herself, a tiny bit of Merly’s essence. This essence she places in her pocket and keeps it with her through all her travels. To lands of pyramids, rolling mountains, salt plains, waterfalls, jungles of concrete and amazon, deserts, majestic table mountains and back to green hillsides. Through all her adventures, Frodo always brings Merly out to share the sights and splendor of what she sees, what she hears, thinks and experiences. When they next meet again, their reunion will be one of utter joy and they will dance in circle around each other, embracing their spirits, until once again they are binded together by all that is the past, present and future. For they are meant to always find each other, in this lifetime and the many lifetimes passed before. Always together, in spirit, in memory, in life.

Simone

Simone was also in the same high school as me, but it was only really after matric, that we really got to know each other and become friends. In high school (and now too!) Simone was one of those girls who you just did not want to mess with! What you see is exactly what you get. No games. She has an exterior intensity that can just draw you in or push you away. Luckily for me, I was reeled in and fell hook, line and sinker for this bundle of Sim joy! Beneath her gregarious and bubbly personality, lies a deeply compassionate and soft soul. Like a toffee with a melting, caramel centre. We have shared many raucous, loud, crazy, fun and memorable parties and moments together. It is like an everlasting firecracker goes off when Simone gets into full swing. When Simone and Chris moved to England two years ago, our friendship grew and keeps growing. In Simone’s company, I feel so at ease, as we share our feelings, thoughts, hopes and dreams. She has gotten me through a really tough time of late, and I cherish all her kind words of wisdom and advice that she has so freely given me. I hope to return that favour in the future. Simone is back in SA now, and although it’s always so difficult to find your feet again, after being away for so long, I know she will find her way soon and the doors of opportunity will be open wide for her.

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."~ Arabian Proverb

Tyran

"Soul mates are locked at the heart and written in the heavens, promised to find one another when the time is right."

I was in the presence of Tyran since I was 11 or 12. But I only met him in September last year in South Africa. Confused? It’s only the beginning! We went to the same primary school, but we only formally were introduced last year when I went with Christine, Rox and Werner to Robertson. Although I kept referring to him as Trevor for the first day, we instantly connected! I can’t say I have ever formed such a deep friendship with someone, in such a short space. It was like upon meeting, our souls remembered each other from a lifetime previous. We share an uncanny telepathic connection – he mostly gets in there first, before I can proclaim it was my idea in the first place! Great minds indeed, think alike! Tyran is an IT wizard, and once you are lucky enough to get to know him, he throws all stereotypes of the profession, out the window. We have been to trance parties together and share many conversations about everything. It is difficult to describe the being that is the Tyrant, but I shall try in my own words and feelings. His human form loves all things scientific, logical, mathematical and technological. He loves people, understanding what makes them tick and all the little idiosyncrasies that make us individual. Curiosity will definitely not kill this cat (he is also of the magnificent Leo breed!). He is like a eager child, questioning the why? what ifs? how come? of life and people. But Tyran the Soul is a remarkable being and I struggle to find the words to describe all the good things I wish upon him and how I want to walk with him on his journey of self discovery and purpose. I see him in this vision…

On known lands, he begins his daily walk around his fields, he knows all the paths and routes – he walks them every day. One day he is distracted by the sight of a white rabbit, eagerly follows the rabbit and loses his path. The rabbit has led him to the entrance of a forest that he has never come across before. Was it always there? Should he turn back and find his path again, or should he follow the rabbit. Where will the rabbit take him? Is it safe? What is in the forest? Will reason win over curiosity? He throws caution to the wind and ventures into the forest and beholds in wonder the enchanting sights that engulf his senses. Although only on the edges of this forest, he can see far beyond the trees’ shadows, to a place of inner peace, solitude, hope and unity. A forest of such immense discovery and enlightenment, he can barely contain his excitement at this new discovery. How far shall he go into the rabbit’s hole…or shall he just turn back? When the time is right I know he will dive into the rabbit hole and he will arrive at his destination that he was always destined to be at. We continue to wave at each other under skies of different stars, until our waving hands meet with binded fingertips.

Werner

Wern Wern Wern! I met Werner through Roxanne a few years ago, and instantly liked him. Wern loves to entertain and be entertained! He is the master party organizer and you are always guaranteed a grand time when you are around him. When Werner is not being the Wern, he really is such a gentle being. Werner is such a friendly, down to earth and generous soul and he really does hold his friends in the highest regard. His friends (and Rox of course!) are what makes him happy and he will go to the ends of the earth and back again if you are privileged enough to be one of them. He loves sharing and his charm and generosity are unending, but he never asks for anything in return. Wern is also such a Leo (I am forming quite a Leo collection hey!) and embraces all the great qualities of his sun sign (optimistic, dignified, outspoken, loyal, focused and just down right lovable!) Wern has such a big heart and his energy brings him such success in life. Wern has said to me that he feels he is a ‘young soul’ because he just wants to be young forever and wants to experience everything. If only all of us could embrace the youthful enthusiasm and wanting that Wern has. Just stay as you are – just be The Wern!

The magnificent lion stalks across the savannah, he paces in sleek chivalric certainty. He creeps and he crawls in search of the curious. He lives a sleek, solitary and sensual existence carrying his aloof and imperious nature on broad shoulders. He lazes under the beating sun, absorbing the rays. He rolls around and prances about among the lady lions – always enjoying his dashing displays of ‘leoness’ grandeur. He takes long walks by himself, contemplating this and that, but always returning to his loyal posse that greets him with great affection. He will always gaze silently down on the setting dusk and up at the rising dawn, because this lion pays his worship to his sun, his giver of abundant energy and life. He is the lion whose mystique and idolatry is the elegant exemplary.

Who’s Who in Orangeblossom’s Zoo (continued J-R)

Jodene

“A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam. And for a brief moment it's glory and beauty belong to our world, but then it flies on again. And though we wish it could have stayed, we feel so lucky to have seen it.” - author unknown

I met Jodene (also known as Jo and Dimple Boffin!) while I was in New York and we instantly discovered we shared an unsaid bond. Still today, even if we don’t see each other for ages, when we do, we pick up right where we left off. There are no judgments, only happiness and joy at being able to be in each others company. Jo exceeds her young, earthly age to such an extent, that I tend to see her in a light of far greater wisdom and maturity than my own. I have seen her spiritual and personal growth expand in these recent years and she surprises me continually with her views and words of knowledge and understanding. She has an ability to see every side of an argument and her compassion and patience with others is truly remarkable. I bask in her sunshine. I hope to continue to walk this path with her, and I know we will have buckets full of fun along the way! We tend to speak in our own language and I often wonder if people think we can even understand one another when we chatter. People have asked if we are sisters, to which Jo informs them “No, we are not sisters, but we are soul sisters.” Touché. Soul Sista’s indeed!

I saw a butterfly go fluttering by on wings of orange, and silvery blue, and yellow too. She floats in the air, making her home most anywhere: The rainforest, field, and prairie land, on mountaintops, and desert sand. I said, "I'd love to fly with you and sail around the way you do. To fly up toward the summer sun. To have but one moment of such an exquisite flight, would be like a dream where all seems so right. But, alas, I have not your graceful charm. I haven't got wings, just these two arms. I've been designed to walk around and my human feet must always touch the ground.” Then she spoke to me and told me what her wish would be. She said, "What I'd love most to do is walk upon this Earth with you, to squish it's mud between my toes or touch my finger to my nose.” I reached up to her and carried her, gently, in my hand. I placed her on the mud and slowly sank until she could feel the squish. I brought her back up and she kissed my nose, then lifted me on her wings so that I could flitter through the clouds and kiss the petals of the flowers. And so I continue to carry my butterfly, and she continues to take me to greater heights.

Johan

I have known Johan since 1999, back when he was still in the Belgian army as a young recruit. Since then, we have always remained in contact and he continues to enrich my life with his stories, life and interests. Johan is a Leo too! (people are going to start thinking this is a criteria for me!) But besides this great quality, he possesses an ability to get you totally wrapped up in his writings. His passion is film and I swear he will break Hollywood soon! He has such a deep understanding for the art of film making and he carries this through in his scripts. I saw his first film earlier this year and I loved it (even though it cut out before the end!) It was so original and I got the full lowdown from Johan too – the behind the scenes action. Besides our mutual love of movies and books, he got me interested in Greek and Roman and general history, because he shared so much of what he learnt and understood with me. He is such an interesting, sensitive and well rounded spirit and I can really write about anything to him, and he will always express his opinions and views very honestly and openly. He has so much to offer the world and I hope that the world is graced with all his energy, passion, and enthusiasm!

Lee-ann

I am not certain of the exact moment when Lee-ann and I met, sometime in high school, we were mostly in the same class the whole way through. But with Lee-ann, we always managed to find ourselves getting into all sorts of mischief and trouble. How could I ever forget the drama and stories of Monty’s, Bucknalls and Wild Side! And energy surrounds her and is magnetic (and the fact that she is oblivious to this, makes her even more charming!). She draws people to her, and she has such a contagious laugh and sense of humour, you just laugh with her always. Lee-ann has gone through many battles in her short life, but she continues to succeed in everything she endeavors. Besides the fact that she is a Leo as well, she naturally processes a bright inner light that shines through her. We share a therapist/patient relationship and visa versa and are always advising and commenting on each other’s love lives! Our motto is “Whatever happens, happens for a reason.” I know her angels are guiding and protecting her always. She is an angel herself, she just doesn’t realise it yet!

“Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.” - Author unknown

Natasha

Tash was my flat mate in London back in 2001 and I met her when she was 8 months pregnant and I was there when her stunning baby girl, Jade, was born. Tash is an extraordinary person, she has overcome such hardships and struggles, but she has always kept afloat, through it all. She has gotten her life on track and she amazes me with her enduring and deep love for Jade. I can always sit back and relax with Tash, she holds no pretenses and we are always up for a giggle and chat. She brings out only the best in me, she sees the good in everything and everyone. She will always fight for the rights of others (both people and animals) and she has recently undertaken a child psychology course with the open university. I think it is her mission to learn to help others help themselves. I have sent her my angels to look after and protect her and I hope to always be near to give her my hand.

An extract from “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying”

I walk down the streetThere is a deep hole in the sidewalk I fall in.I am lost. I am hopeless.It isn't my fault.It takes forever to find a way out.I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalkI pretend I don't see it.I fall in again.I can't believe I'm in the same place again.But it isn’t my fault.It still takes long time to get out.I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I see it is there.I still fall in? It's a habitMy eyes are openI know where I amIt is my fault.I get out immediately.I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk I walk around it.I walk down another street.

Rene

I met Rene back in 2003, when I returned from New York, back to England. She was my uncle’s girlfriend’s daughter (but she is now my cousin-in-law!) and I got her number from her mom back in South Africa. We met up in Camden and went for a coffee that lasted 3 hours! We share many common interests and over the last two years, we have both been more open and inviting to new alternative ways of thinking and looking at life. Rene has gotten me hooked on Angel and Tarot cards (thank you my special Earth Angel!) and I every time I catch up with her, we get whisked away into our own world of esoteric discovery and wonder. I love the exchange of energy we have when we are together and I only wish everything of the pure and good upon her, because she deserves all that and so much more.

She drifts on the clouds as they float peacefully by. Like an angel out to play, she dances with fairies as they all roll and tumble around on puffs of cotton, making shapes and forms of earthly creatures and self portraits of themselves. She tip toes from one to another, like a game of hop scotch, and when she sneezes, she blesses the earth with vital showers of rain, life and love.

Roxanne

I her Bumblebee and she my Hunny Bunny. Rox sat behind me in our Std 6 class and actually was not very fond of me at first (cant blame her really, I was a bit of a snob and used to pass papers back to her in frustration esp if she took like more than 5 seconds to take it from me!! Shooo!) Anyway we have Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” book to thank for bringing us together (it’s a long story and I wont delve into it – but it involved our English teacher, Accounting teacher and our vivid adolescent imaginations! Enough said!). We were then separated for the next 4 years, and it was only really in our final Matric year that we became close again. I share a rich history with Rox and in the years that I have been overseas, our friendship has strengthen and evolved. It keeps evolving, but my love and affection for her never changes. Rox is very picky with her friends (aren’t I the lucky straw that was picked!) and I am grateful for every experience and moment I have been with her. There is never a dull moment when we are together – there is always raucous laughter bellowing out of us. Sometimes I don’t know why we laugh so much – maybe it is the invisible feathers that our merging energies tickle us with. Rox has obtained her degree in occupational therapy and it is with this and her natural gift for healing, that she touches the lives and souls of those lucky to be close enough to feel her warmth, love and compassion. She is always craving deeper knowledge and understanding of the human body and psyche, she is a Piscean mermaid and she sings songs for all to hear in her deep ocean soul.

She sits by the ocean sitting alone on a rock, combing her hair of gold. Watching the coming and going of tides, watching the gulls as they hover above, watching the yachts as they head to the shore. She waves at me standing on the edge of the tide, I wave back, wondering what hidden beauty she must see beneath the crashing waves. She smiles, takes a deep breath as she stares at the moon and takes the plunge backs into the deep blue. She sees snails wrapped in curls and oysters wearing pearls. She glides past the lumbering whales and plays hide and seek with the clown fish in the coral. She catches a ride on dolphins back and takes a peek above the surface – I see her! Her hair is covered in white sea foam, and as she takes a last look at the world above hers, she throws me an amber streaked seashell so that I will always hear her song with me.

Who’s Who in Orangeblossom’s Zoo (continued A-C)

Adam

Ads is my big brother and currently resides in Melbourne, Australia. He loves princesses! I am only one of many of his special princess’s in his global princess collection! I met Adam in London 2001 when we worked at Luscious Organic. We have shared many experiences in London, we spent a new years together in South Africa and went on a trip to Ireland last year. He has worked for the Red Cross and is now working for Health Purchasing in Melbourne, doing wonderful things. I am always comforted in Adams presence; he has a very approachable and soothing essence. He can get along with anyone – he continually amazes me with his innate ability to communicate to people on all levels. To find a common ground or interest. He makes connections and he is going and has been to amazing places in his life. Ads is so open and friendly, that just being around him is an adventure on its very own! His energy is contagious and I know that no matter where my life leads, our paths will always cross and be intertwined.

Adele

Adele and I worked together at Engen, when I went back home last year. Adele always went out of her way to make me feel comfortable and part of the project group we were in. We spent many tea breaks talking about life in London and all the things we used to get up to. I find it very easy to talk to Adele and she can relate to different types of people, by always considering their views, opinions and background. She is such a kind hearted and patient person and always has the best intentions at heart. I hope to see her soon so we can catch up on all the skinner!

Charlene

“Skippy, Skippy, where for art thou Skippy?” Now that we are all grown up (are we?! Well when it suits us we are!), Charlene would rather us refer to her by her birth name and not the name we bestowed upon her in Std 6 – which all makes perfect sense and logic. But Charlene will always be our Skippy! Forever in our hearts! By “our” I mean me, Shevy, Rox, Lee, Simone and Christine – basically by all us Fairbairnians! I set my sights on Charlene in our Std 6 class and couldn’t for the life of me understand how a girl could be so darn loud – I figured she must have been born with a microphone imbedded in her throat, because you can not ignore her, even if you tried! Then Std 8 came, along with that eventful night at Monty’s. I wont divulge the finer details, but after that night, Charlene and I just became friends. Overnight! From then on… there would never be a dull moment in my high school life! Charlene possesses this fire inside of her that burns and it will enlighten and brighten your life when she blesses you with her friendship, affection, loyalty and care. Throughout matric, we (Shev, Me and Skips) became inseparable – the Three Musketeers taking on the world! I can only smile and laugh at all our crazy adventures and fun time spent together – it was bliss and heaven sent. Charlene has conquered America (au pairing, working, studying) and is happily married to Norm and has the most gorgeous baby, Joshua. I tease her about her ‘white picket fence’ life – but really I couldn’t be more ecstatic and happy for her, she has found her everything. She is living her dream, a dream come true. I adore Charlene, and everything she is and has grown up to be. She is an inspiration to me and those around her.

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

Cherise

I met Cherise when I worked at Engen (South Africa) last year and instantly liked her infectiously bubbly personality. Cherise is like a forgotten Elvish Queen, left behind to bless those around her with a sense of wonder and enlightenment about the beauty that is all around us. It’s difficult not to be drawn to Cherise (besides the fact that she is drop dead gorgeous!). It’s not just her fun and lively spirit that exudes from her, but she is so sincere and genuine and honest.

Her story begins in a far away glen, in a land long forgotten, lived a beautiful Elf, who held the wisdom of time. For many years, she lived in peace, until the ignorance of man came down into the glen. They no longer knew the mystical, and feared the unknown. The Elf, who saw not with her eyes, but with all her heart, to heal the world from the ignorance of man. So that she could once again, tread on water lilies in the stream and catch butterflies in her hands. She would return to her existence of eternal bliss and peace.

Christine

Christine is my Barrbi and I am her Notpoff! I have known Christine since high school, as we bonded over our mutual dislike for our hockey coach in Matric! Currently she is studying to become a fully fledged pilot – overtaking the skies with her charm and grace. Christine is such a special and pure soul. She is my breath of fresh air. She has so much love to offer and give, you can not help but feel her warmth when you are around her. Sweet as syrup is not a good enough metaphor for her, she goes beyond that to an extent that you can hardly believe that someone can be of such pure intention and thought. Christine is a swallow and if you have ever witnessed swallows displaying their daring formations – you will know how they dance in the clouds and glide with the wind in their full glory for all to see.

The lone swallow divides the air in shapes invisible and evanescent. Creating a kaleidoscopic beyond the mind’s or memory’s power to keep them there. She writes with invisible ink across the sky. Those lucky enough to view this display of seemingly reckless flight will gaze in envy – to roll and glide, to wheel and spin, to feel the joy that swells within. She sails over canyons and up to the stars, she reaches for the heavens and hopes for the future. She shouts to me “Come dance with me in the west wind, and touch the mountain tops.” But I cannot join her, but just watching her will give me enough happiness to last a lifetime.

Who’s Who in Orangeblossom’s Zoo (continued The Grandparents)

Grandpa and Granny Lappin (Archie and Kathleen)

My dad’s parents were born in Belfast, Ireland and eloped to South Africa. They couldn’t have been more Irish, even their accent didn’t waver through the years. My friends would often have to ask me to interpret what was being said to them! My granny passed away from ill health and my grandpa passed away soon after, he was battling lung cancer. I often think of them, and all the goodness and purity that surrounded them. My grandpa was so intelligent and worldly – he could tell you just about anything about everything. He was a man who knew a little about a lot of things. He was like a walking encyclopedia, a fountain of knowledge and wisdom. My granny was possibly the sweetest women ever, and she was so vibrant, doing yoga and tap dancing in her eighties! She was a diamond. I miss them greatly, but I carry their spirits with me, always.

“Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.
Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.
Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to rememberThe blessings that come each day.”
~ an Irish blessing

Grandad and Gran Lang (James and Yoland)

My mom’s parents grew up and lived mostly in Natal, South Africa. I remember when we used to take yearly trips up to Durban, we would visit Gran and Granddad Lang in Pietermaritzburg. They had a fabulous coffee shop that we used to practically spend all our time, tasting all the delights of their cooking and baking. Welsh Rarebits and Scones! When our boy cousins were up – we used to take over the place and Granddad use to pick us up by our ears, much to our glee and delight! My granddad passed away a few years ago, and it always saddens me that I never got to know him better. He always had a smile on his face and he was like this gentle giant that had a heart of gold. My Gran is the most wonderful and elegant women – she is a spirit of great faith. I can listen to her talk for ages about books, gardening, cooking, art, her travels and her life experiences. She is very “old school” and I love that she still holds true to all her ideals and beliefs, through all the passing years. Even though she is going through a difficult time right now, I hope she knows that I send my love to her always.

Who’s Who in Orangeblossom’s Zoo

I have decided to write a brief description of all (or most) of my beautiful and special friends and family, all around the globe. I have tried to gather images to put a face to a name (as you probably have heard of each other but don’t know how they quite fit into my life, who they are, and why they mean so much to me).

I’ll start with my immediate family, then my friends (in alphabetical order so as not to reflect favoritism!! You are ALL my favorites!!). There are only positive words here, because I am not always readily able to easily express my feelings and emotions towards each one of you, please know that I hold you only of the purest light in my heart.

Shireen

"One's Sister is a part of one's essential self, an eternal presence of one's heart and soul and memory." - Susan Cabill

I struggle to find the right words that will fully express or justify the deep love and respect I have for Shireen. But basically she is the guiding star in my ocean and shores of my dreams and life…

My sister is my heart. She opens doors to rooms I never knew were there and she lights my darkest corners with the sparkle in her eyes. My sister is my soul. She inspires my wearied spirit to fly on wings of angels. But while I hold her hand, my feet never leave the ground. She stills my deepest fears with the wisdom of her inner song. My sister is my past. She writes my history in her eyes I recognize myself, memories only we can share. She remembers and she forgives. She accepts me as I am with tender understanding. My sister is my future. She lives within my dreams, she sees my undiscovered secrets, believes in me as I stumble. She walks in step beside me, her unconditional love lighting my way. My sister is my strength. She hears the whispered prayers that I cannot speak. She helps me find my smile and freely giving hers away.

My sister is like no one else. She's my most treasured friend, filling up the empty spaces and healing my broken places and spaces. She is my rock, my inspiration.

Though impossible to define, in a word, she is...my one and only sister.

Mom (Shirley)

“My mother's love for me was so great I have worked hard to justify it.” - Marc Chagall

I have always seen my mom as this tower of pillaring strength. Shielding all of the world’s ugliness from my sister and I. Always teaching us to fight our own battles, but still consider and respect other people’s feelings. I am safe in the knowledge that my high morals and values about myself and life are contributed to the upbringing I was so luckily blessed with. And for having a mother that gave (and continuously gives) so much of herself, so much of her truth and patience to me – never asking for or expecting anything in return. Her beacon of light and love stands on an island of peace. It shelters the rain, wind and tides. It is bound on the north by Hope, by Patience on the West, by Counsel on the South and on the East by Rest.

To be a mother is the hardest job in the world and I am thankful for everything my mom has given me. Her shoulders are heavy from carrying all our burdens and hers, but she wears a halo of kindness, wisdom and caring. Instead of verbal praises of pride and love, she shows these in the sparkle of her eyes and in the depths of her heart. Sometimes the simplest words hold the greatest meaning, so I always wish my mom to know this “how much I admire you...how much I appreciate you...how much I thank you…how much I love you.”

Dad (Desmond)

“He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” - Clarence Budington Kelland

I call him The Traveling Irishman because he encompasses all the positive attributes of the Irish (laidback, generous, straightforward, and hospitable) and the traveler (independent, brave and curious). He is living in the present, but is always seeking to the future. He has lived a life so rich in adventure that he entertains those around him with countless stories of his journeys and experiences, back in his youth and still now in his older years. I never get bored of listening to my dad talk about his life and views, his questions of life and people. He has given me the courage to explore, to do things on my own, to venture into unknown lands – to live my life the way I want to, the way I need to. Teaching me to appreciate and respect the nature around us. I will always remember (when we used to go away for weekends and holidays) how he used to proclaim to us girls “Look at the mountains! Look at the sky! Look at the waterfalls! Breathe in the fresh air!” Now whenever I travel and see such magnificent earthly creations, I think of him and how he would be in his total element surrounded by the beauty of nature.

I envision him always searching for a place that he can call home, he will find this place soon, he dreams about it. Perhaps it is a place where he walks alone along the coast, smells the clean salty air, gazes at the moonlight. Always in awe. And as the wind whispers in his ear, he hears the voices of his angels bringing him peace on their wings of love. His soul is set aflame with dreams, and his eyes glow bright, and he shall sing a song and carry on striding into the night. Living the dream.

Baba Will

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.”

His name, William, means “Valiant protector” and he is the most precious being I have ever encountered. Although I am not with him in body, I send him my spirit so that he will not forget me! I can’t wait to watch him grow up and develop. He is the splitting of his dad, Jason, and with his image he brings out only the best qualities from each of his parents. He is surrounded by Shireen’s calm and collected aura of love, by her emotional and intellectual intelligence, by her shining presence. Jas gives Will a total freedom of expression, injecting him with his own unbounded energy and compassion, always striving to be the best person he can be. Because Shireen and Jason are the best parents that any child could ever ask or want for. They inspire me with their selflessness, love and total devotion to Will and to each other.

The Tao of Pooh

I have read this book a while ago (I actually first heard of the book from this crazy and sweet Canadian girl, Amanda, on my 2001 Contiki tour) and when Ty mentioned it in his email this morning, I thought I’d post a blog about it. It’s a wonderful, charming and true to life philosophical read – read it if you can! This is what it is all about…

The Tao of Pooh is a book by Benjamin Hoff, which is an elementary but entertaining introduction to Taoism, using the fictional character of Winnie the Pooh. Hoff uses Winnie the Pooh and the other characters from A.A. Milne's stories to explain in simple terms the basic principles of philosophical Taoism. The book also includes many translated excerpts from various Taoist texts, from authors such as Leo Zi and Zhuang Zi.Although people have vastly differing views on what "Taoism" is, the book has been praised for successfully introducing Taoist concepts to much of the western world.

Winnie the Pooh has a certain way about him, a way of doing things which has made him the world's most beloved bear. And Pooh's Way, as Benjamin Hoff brilliantly demonstrates, seems strangely close to the ancient Chinese principles of Taoism. The 'Tao of Pooh' explains Taoism by Winnie the Pooh and explains Winnie the Pooh by Taoism. It makes you understand what A.A. Milne probably meant when he said he didn't write the Pooh-books for children in the first place.

Over the centuries Taoism classic teachings were developed and divided into philosophical, monastic, and folk religious forms. But the basic Taoism is simply a particular way of appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life. From the Taoist point of view, the natural result of this harmonious way of living is happiness.

One of the basic principles of Taoism is P'U, the Uncarved Block. The essence of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed. This principle applies not only to things, but to people as well. Or Bears. Which brings us to Pooh, the very Epitome of the Uncarved Block. When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few, other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun.

Along with that comes the ability to do things spontaneously and have them work, odd as that may appear to others at times. As Piglet put it "Pooh hasn't much Brain, but he never comes to any harm. He does silly things and they turn out right."

Owl instead, is the opposite of Pooh, the Knowledge for the sake of Appearing Wise, the one who studies Knowledge for the sake of Knowledge, and who keeps what he learns to himself or to his own small group, rather than working for the enlightenment of others. But sometimes the knowledge of the scholar is a bit hard to understand because it doesn't seem to match up with our own experience of things. Isn't the knowledge that comes from experience more valuable than the knowledge that doesn't?

While Owl's little routine is that of Knowledge for the sake of Appearing Wise, Eeyore's is that of Knowledge for the sake of Complaining About Something and Rabbit's is that of Knowledge of Being Clever. As anyone who doesn't have it can see, the Eeyore Attitude gets in the way of things like wisdom and happiness, and pretty much prevents any sort of real Accomplishment in life. Cleverness, after all, has its limitations. Its mechanical judgments and clever remarks tend to prove inaccurate with passing time, because it doesn't look very deeply into things to begin with. The thing that makes someone truly different -unique, in fact- is something that Cleverness cannot really understand.

"A fish can't whistle and neither can I." There's nothing wrong with not being able to whistle, especially if you're a fish. But there can be lots of things wrong with blindly trying to do what you aren't designed for. Unfortunately, some people aren't so wise, and end up causing big trouble for themselves and others. The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not.

To demonstrate what we mean, we can think of no one better than Tigger, who doesn't know his limitations ('Tiggers can do everything'), which brings him in lots of trouble. Piglet instead knows his limitations and that's what makes him sometimes more braver than you would expect from such a small animal. So, the first thing we need to do is recognize and trust our own Inner Nature, and not lose sight of it. Inside the Bouncy Tigger is the Rescuer who knows the Way, and in each of us is something Special, and that we need to keep.

Quotes from 'The Tao of Pooh'

"Tigger is all right really," said Piglet lazily."Of course he is," said Christopher Robin."Everybody is really," said Pooh. "That's what I think," said Pooh. "But I don't suppose I'm right," he said."Of course you are," said Christopher Robin.

"Lots of people talk to animals," said Pooh."Not that many listen though.""That's the problem."

You'd be surprised how many people violate this simple principle every day of their lives and try to fit square pegs into round holes, ignoring the clear reality that Things Are As They Are. Everything has its own place and function. That applies to people, although many don't seem to realize it, stuck as they are in the wrong job, the wrong marriage, or the wrong house. When you know and respect your Inner Nature, you know where you belong. You also know where you don't belong.

From the state of the Uncarved Block comes the ability to enjoy the simple and the quiet, the natural and the plain. Along with that comes the ability to do things spontaneously and have them work, odd as that may appear to others at times.

"Pooh hasn't much Brain, but he never comes to any harm. He does silly things and they turn out right."

"Just How do you do it, Pooh?""Do What?" asked Pooh."Become so Effortless.""I don't do much of anything," he said."But all those things of yours get done.""They just sort of happen," he said"

"While Eeyore frets ... ... and Piglet hesitates... and Rabbit calculates ... and Owl pontificates...Pooh just is."

"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind, "Pooh!," he whispered."Yes, Piglet?""Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."

"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully."Yes,"said Piglet, "Rabit's clever.""And he has Brain.""Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."There was a long silence."I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything."

"Well, what do you think, Pooh?" I said. "Think about what?" asked Pooh. "The Tao of Pooh, of course." "The how of Pooh?" asked Pooh. "Do we have to go through that again?" I said. "Go through what again?" asked Pooh. ""The Tao of Pooh," I said. "What's the Tao of Pooh?" "You know - the Uncarved Block, the Cottleston Pie Principle, the Pooh Way, That Sort of Bear, and all that." "Oh," said Pooh. "That's the Tao of Pooh," I said. "Oh," said Pooh. "How would you describe it?" I asked. "Well ... this just came to me," he said, "I'll sing it to you." "All right." "Now, then ... (erhum)," To know the Way, We go the Way; We do the Way The way we do The things we do. It's all there in front of you, But if you try too hard to see it, You'll only become Confused. I am me, And you are you, As you can see; But when you do The things that you can do, You will find the Way, And the Way will follow you. "That's what I think it is," he said. "Perfect," I said, "But you know, don't you ..." "Know what?" said Pooh. "It's the same thing." "Oh," said Pooh, "so it is."

Conquering the Monday Blues

Waking up to yet another Monday morning, and I have hit the “Snooze” button more than I should really. Just five more minutes…and that was half an hour ago.

But instead of becoming yet another victim of Monday Blues, I figured I would welcome this fine morning with open arms and savour the freshness of the crisp morning air, shouting “Yay it’s Monday!”

I was startled by my own thought. While the whole world is grumbling and groaning about Monday, unwilling to let go of lovely, lazy Sunday, here I am, chirping about the first working day of the week. Contemporary man is completely sold to the idea of the weekend and, therefore, horrified by the idea of working seven days a week. People drag themselves through workdays so they can relax in the evenings. They endure the week so they can have the weekend. They work through the year so that they can go on leave at the end of the year. If we stretch the logic a little further, they put up with life so that they can relax in death.
I found these helpful little tips to get us through the work days, or maybe just shed light on the positivity that is all around us- if we only just take the time to really look around.

***
Instead of justifying the need for a holiday, let us look at the quality of our working life.
Perhaps some Osho insights can help change the way we work.
The basic question is, do you enjoy your work?
Do you work wishing you could do something else? Is your work a necessary evil -- to earn a living or to fulfill ambition?
1. What and how What you do is not important, it is how you do it. Whatever you do, do it with deep alertness; then even small things become sacred. You can clean the floor like a robot; you have to clean it, so you clean it.
But it could have been a great experience; you missed it.
You cleaned the floor and that would have cleansed you. Clean the floor full of awareness; be luminous with awareness.
2. Remember yourself
One thing has to be a continuous thread: remember yourself.
While walking, say, "I am walking." While sitting, say, "I am sitting."
And feel the shift in your awareness. There will be a sudden spark.
3. Are you a perfectionist? Beware! What counts is being total, not perfect. This brings out the best in you. The very idea of perfectionism drives people crazy.
The perfectionist is bound to be neurotic. S/he cannot enjoy life till s/he is perfect. And perfection never happens, it is not in the nature of things.
Life is imperfect. Only death is perfect. Totality is possible, perfection is not possible.
There is a huge difference between perfection and totality. Perfection is a goal for the future, totality is an experience now. If you can get into any act with your whole heart, you are total. Totality brings wholeness, health and sanity.
The perfectionist forgets about totality. There is a big gap between how s/he is and how s/he wants to be.
And, of course, change can't happen now, it is always tomorrow or the day after. So life is postponed.
These are small tools, but they will help you see the gap between workdays and holidays decreasing. You will eagerly wait for work to begin.
And then you'll also say: "Yay it's Monday!"
***

“With every morning’s dawn, lift up your notes of thanksgiving, and let every setting sun be followed with your song. Girdle the earth with your praises; surround it with an atmosphere of melody, and angels will hearken from heaven and play your music.”

Ok now that is out of the way, you can curse me being an incessant and annoying morning person!!

Yes so it is Monday and another great weekend has passed me by. I was in London this weekend, as Sharon, Jo and myself planned to head to the Whirl-y-gig on Saturday night. We had been psyching ourselves up – hoping we would be surrounded by like minded fairies, hobbits, hippies and other fantastical creatures. But it turned out to be something quite different. There were a lot of young people – heck Jo and I thought this one young lad was attempting to pick us up when we were standing outside and he came over to ask our names. Jo shrugged him off (in a polite fashion as always!) and he responds by saying “It’s cool, no need, I am just trying to be happy.” After which we felt bad about assuming he was trying his luck with us!! How sad that we have grown up always being wary of people’s motives and intentions. I suppose there is just cause and reason for being wary, but still it is good to let go of this apprehension and suspicion, once in a while. Anyway back to my story…so we chilled out on the couches and gazed at the graphic/visual art on the screens above us. Wow! They are amazing, you get totally hypnotized and in trance with the images. They are so varied and random, but make for total and sublime visual pleasure. And we hadn’t even had one drink yet! We wandered around for a bit, but then decided to head back home and chill out there. Jo picked a daffodil on the way back to the tube station (and I had just written about daffodils in my Friday posting!!! The power of thought projection!) We got back to Sharon and Jo’s and played that funky music till the wee hours of Sunday. I don’t think we were disappointed with the gig – it was just not what we were expecting. I am glad we went there and we enjoyed the experience for what it was.

Upon rising on Sunday morning (ok more bordering Sunday afternoon!), we trekked to Camden (I really just cant get enough of that place!) and I bought some fire twirling sticks to practice with. For those who are new to the concept of poi – let me enlighten you! Poi is a form of reeling, juggling, weaving, and spinning with balls on ropes, held in the hands and swung in various circular patterns It was originally practiced by the Maori people of New Zealand (the word poi means "ball" in Māori). Women used it as an exercise to increase flexibility of the wrists and hands, and by men to increase strength in the arms and coordination. It developed into a traditional performance art and there are gatherings and practice sessions going on all over the place. So I will be twirling and spinning stick poi in my garden soon! And Sharon and Jo are getting poi balls so we can practice together and take them with to the Ozora festival in Hungary in August. I have attached a picture… We then tried our beat at a drumming circle group at Akwaaba in Camden - to take part in drumming is the perfect way to balance your energies and the energies around you. Even though I couldnt hold a beat at all for any length of time - I still enjoyed it greatly. It was very empowering to create a definitive beat and sound together, as one.

Now I am off to begin another day at the office – we are being taken out to lunch as a thank you for exceeding our projected figures. Whatever that means?!!

Safe travels and bless the day!

Love Orangeblossom xxx

3D Chalk Drawings by Julian Beever

My friend Wern sent me these amazingly optical illusionary chalk drawings. Check them out - they look awesome!

I have had to attach only my favorites, because my blog is stingy with the number of pics I can upload at one time :(

Go to http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/ to see his whole collection

Orangeblossom xxx

Daffodils in Bloom (and other stuff about flowers!)

Last night, Jo showed me an article about flowers and their holistic properties in a Spirit and Destiny Magazine. Then on the way to work today, I was sitting on the bus, and glanced out the window, and instead of focusing on the grey skies above, my focus was drawn to the fields of daffodils in bloom in Memorial Park. A smile rose from the corners of my mouth and I marveled at the simple beauty that can be found all around us. Flowers have such a positive effect on us, their colours span that rainbow and back and their smells tickle our receptors to life.

If I were to return as a flower, I would be a sunflower. Even though I love roses (and I mean if you came back as rose, you would be guaranteed to be the most sought after rose in town!), its sunflowers that I really adore. They are such happy flowers, they rise and fall in the presence of the sun, the sun is their life force and they worship it without hesitation.

My mom and gran are both avid gardeners and I always admire their dedication and knowledge about things fauna and flora. So I will dedicate this post to them and all others that give their time, energy and love to nurture these fantastical creations.

Throughout history, flowers have been used as medicine for their healing properties. Flowers are still used today in this capacity as people increasingly demand homeopathic remedies that modern medicine cannot offer. Near the turn of the century, Dr. Edward Bach created several flower essences that would help heal holistically. They do not work directly on symptoms, but help our spirits to heal, which in turn, helps our bodies heal.

Here is a brief A-Z list of common flowers and what they represent:

Azalea: nearness
Bachelor's Buttons: work, individuality
Buttercup: friendship
Camellia: company, gatherings
Clematis: serenity, steadfastness
Cowslip: secrets
Crocus: birth, rebirth
Daffodil: communication of secrets
Daisy: simplicity
Hawthorn: divination
Heather: powerful woman
Heliotrope: wellness and vitality
Honeysuckle: fertility
Honesty: honesty
Iris: frail but hearty
Jasmine: night rendezvous
Lady's Slipper: wealth
Lily: purity, life
Lily of the Valley: death, change
Lupin: passion
Magnolia: unfolding events
Morning Glory: glory, quickness, firsts
Mum: affection
Myrtle: remembrance
Orchid: promises kept
Pansy: weakness
Petunia: gentleness, shyness
Primrose: modesty, guardianship
Queen Anne's Lace: gentleness, quiet strength
Rhododendrom: In waiting
Rose, red: love, fidelity
Rose, pink: youth
Rose, yellow: infidelity
Rose, white: silence
Snapdragons: power, man
Sunflower: power, strength, watchfulness
Snowdrop: children
Tulips: constancy
Verbana: motherhood
Violets, purple: fidelity
Violets, white: betrayal
Waterlily: otherworldliness, dreams
Wintersweet: eternity

So next time you are out and about, take a few minutes to look around at the flowers and perhaps have a chat with them or give them a stroke or just gaze lovingly at them, because they are special gifts from the earth!

Have a fantastical weekend and safe travels!

Orangeblossom (which is a symbol for purity!) xxx

What colour does a smurf go if you choke him?

Another of life's many unanswered questions hey?! This one in particular is from my IC Tyran – he continues to amuse and stimulate my mind in weird and wonderful ways! But when you associate and surround yourself with people who constantly question and wonder about life and our purpose in it – it makes you think and question pretty much anything and everything. It makes you feel so much more connected to others, it feeds your soul!

I wrestle with life's great unanswered questions all the time. For instance, I'd like to know if Albert Einstein knew he looked so nerdy? Did he make a conscious choice to grow a 'fro at 70 or does that just happen to people who get too close to nuclear fission?! Why do cars speed up just when I'm trying to pass them? Why does 90% of all bad weather occur on weekends? Why haven't I won the lottery yet? Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs? Rabbits don't lay eggs. Why do British people never sound British when they sing? How do they get those boats in those glass bottles?

Ok perhaps these are not groundbreaking and philosophically sound questions – but they are fun! It is interesting to see where our everyday sayings and expressions originate from.

Some popular Ye Old English Sayings:

“Goodnight, Sleep Tight” - In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on.

“Honeymoon” - It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the "honey month".

"Mind your P's and Q's" - In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them mind their own pints and quarts and settle down.

In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen Only - Ladies Forbidden... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

In 1945, an IBM researcher named Grace Hopper was trying to fix a problem in one of the first electronic computers. She discovered a moth jamming a relay and coined the term "bug" for any computer glitch.

“Beat around the bush” - Game birds were scared out of their hiding places under bushes and then killed.

“Saved by the Bell” - When our ancestors realized that they were burying a great deal of people before their time had actually come, they came up with a solution. They tied a string onto the "dead" person's hand, buried them, and tied the other end of the string to a bell and then tied it to nearby tree branch. If the person revived enough to ring the bell, their survivors would rush out and dig them up. Hence... "saved by the bell"

“Getting the short end of the stick” - Candles were expensive to make, so often reeds were dipped in tallow and burned instead. When visitors came, it was the custom for guests to make their exit by the time the lights went out. Therefore, if your host didn't want you to stay very long, he would give you a "short stick."

“Giving someone the cold shoulder” - When a guests would over stay their welcome as house guests, the hosts would (instead of feeding them good, warm meals) give their too-long staying guests the worst part of the animal, not warmed, but the COLD SHOULDER.

“Mind your own beeswax” - This came from the days when smallpox was a regular disfigurement. Fine ladies would fill in the pocks with beeswax. However when the weather was very warm the wax might melt. But it was not the thing to do for one lady to tell another that her makeup needed attention. Hence the sharp rebuke to "mind your own beeswax!"

“Cloud nine” - It is of relatively recent origin. The US weather bureau listed the different cloud formations and assigned them numbers. Cumulous clouds are #9.

And last, but not least…

In ancient England, a person could not have sex unless you had consent of the King (unless you were in the Royal Family). When anyone wanted to have a baby, they got consent of the King, the King gave them a placard that they hung on their door while they were having sex. The placard had F.*.*.*. (Fornication Under Consent of the King) on it. Now you know where the "F" word came from!!

And so the list carries on…English is really such a complex and strange language! Well that’s a bit of useless literary information for you to do with what you like.

And now I must go and book hostels for my HungryCzech with Jo and Sharon and fulfill my organizing hobbit duties!

Safe travels xxx

Who is Orangeblossom?!

Ok so introductions have been made – but you probably still wondering who the heck Orangeblossom is?

Well to get formalities out of the way, my birth name is Catherine and I was born on the 30th July 1982 (making me born under the greatest Sun sign Leo!) to Shirley (child of James and Yoland) and Desmond (child of Archie and Kathleen). I also have an older sister, Shireen. And the most recent addition to my family is little William Bruce – who is THE most beautiful baby ever born. And I am not just saying that because I am such a proud aunt – its true – he has the face of a wise old soul, his ocean blue eyes just gaze and stare right inside of your own.

I was born, bred and education in Cape Town, South Africa and I have been traveling since I finished high school. Although the bug first bit when Shireen and I went to Australia in 1997 – that was the beginning of my itchy feet. Although I am sure I have inherited them from my dad, whom I fondly think of as a wandering shepherd, always seeking the greener pastures in new lands.

After high school, my soul mate best friend, Shevy and I conquered Western Europe (ok maybe I am exaggerating ever so slightly!) on a 35 day Contiki camping tour, having the time of our lives. We truly did appreciate all the sights and cultures – we had to buy another bag to fit all our appreciation in! Then we settled in Londontown for a year and a half, doing the whole London rat race thing – we had loads of fun and fully embraced our new found independence. I then went to New York on a 6 month programme and lived, worked and socialized with 16 other girls – drama is not the word for what happened on a daily basis! But lifelong friendships were fused there (my Dimple Boffin and Lobelia!) and I will never forget and will cherish always. Then back to England, worked for 2 years, went to Egypt, Scotland, Ireland and also on an 8 week trip to South America (through Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil) and also met a bunch of awesome gals. Recently went back home for 6 months and was there to welcome little William into this world. Now I find myself back in the Shire country, hoping to be accepted into university, and also squeeze in as much travel as possible, of course.

So that is the just of Orangeblossom’s history so far…

I will now continue to elaborate a little on my interests (what gets me going!) and they are very varied/weird/interesting/whatever! Here are a few…

Traveling (but that is a given – see above!) I have many more places on my “To See List” like Czech Republic and Hungary (going in August!), Russia, Thailand, China, Tibet, Laos, Vietnam, Alaska or Greenland, Peru and the Caribbean – to name just a few. A great website to check out is www.lonelyplanet.com or www.roughguides.com
Ancient History - Roman/Greek/Egyptian are among my favorite ancient civilizations to read up on. Especially Egypt – I really believe I was like an Egyptian Queen there…perhaps Cleopatra!
Psychology – well when two of my close friends study that, it’s hard not to get hooked on the subject. It’s so intricate, the human mind. I love to “people watch” like sitting outside a café and just looking at how people are, how they exist, how the interact with strangers, partners, friends. As much as I am fascinated by all of it, I tend to not go too deep into it, try not to over-analyse it all. Else you lose sight of other things around you, you get lost within all the thinking. You end up both unconsciously and consciously re evaluating every aspect of your life and the life of those around you. It’s all about Balance.
Alternative and Complimentary Therapies – like reiki, homeopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga, reflexology, crystal therapy and meditation. All these (and there are many more) are so beneficial to our mental, physical and spiritual health and progression. I try to gain a bit of insight into each other these, in time. I think we should all pamper ourselves at least once a month to a treatment. So often we neglect our bodies, and don’t look after them as they should be. Therapies are becoming more available and are affordable – I wish I could just live in a spa retreat forever!
Alternative or New Age thinking – in recent years I am become more attuned to the spirituality that surround us. My sister (thank you Reenie!) first introduced me to concepts such as chakras, reiki, positive energy, angels and auras. It’s taken me a while to accept it all, but lately it’s all become so clear and I find myself consciously aware of it. Ill be posting more on this subject on my blogs esp. now that I have become a trance party addict (thanks to Jodene’s magical influence!!) and it’s a great was to surround yourself with likeminded people and positive light and energy.


Ok phew…I think that is enough for today, I have already devoted my entire work day to my blog (not that I am complaining because if I could, I would blog for a living!!) and I must meet Jodene at the train station!

Safe travels xxx