And so to blog ..
posting, talking, recommending; people, places, products and more: a copy of Deadly Diplomacy and a glass of Bolly; all good things Made by the Forge; Green People make-up; homemade jam; shopping, sharing, living & loving!
posting, talking, recommending; people, places, products and more: a copy of Deadly Diplomacy and a glass of Bolly; all good things Made by the Forge; Green People make-up; homemade jam; shopping, sharing, living & loving!
October is menopause awareness month and in yoga circles there is a great deal of talk about how the practice can help to ease this natural transition. The menopause, and the period that precedes it, known as the perimenopause, can last for several years. It’s not something that most women can
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A tour of this website will reveal that I get up to quite a few different things; I enjoy what you'd probably call a portfolio career. One of the hats I particularly relish wearing is that of creative director/advisor. Shaping brands, helping companies not to improve what they have, but
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If we are to talk about combatting stress with yoga it’s useful to have an idea of what we mean by stress. These days mental health is a high priority agenda item for many organisations and health providers, and stress is a word in everyday use. Most people would undoubtedly share common
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It’s easter, the time to talk about eggs and I have just given an interview to ITV news for a nationwide feature on “Size Matters”. It’s a campaign being run by the national charity British Hen Welfare Trust to raise awareness of the issues (for hens), of this penchant we
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I deliver live Q & A sessions for the British Wheel of Yoga, answering questions that arise for teachers during the ever changing covid landscape and doing my best, sometimes unprepared, to interpret regulations in the context of one particular teacher or one particular student’s unique teaching or learning scenario.
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Mmmm, everyone is talking about this these days; to the degree that it seems to be politically incorrect not to either know what it is, or be aspiring to master it. The development of Mindfulness as a contemporary practice can be attributed to Jon Kabat-Zinn who as well as being
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At some point or other during the covid crisis almost everyone will have considered the idea of the “new normal”. But that implies there was a previously standardised norm against which this new mode of operating can be compared. It has been generally accepted that this was a work culture
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Dogs. Never have they been more popular. Famously billed as man’s best friend they are now the solace of lockdowners everywhere. There must be some interesting psychology behind the reasons why but, not having access to that information, I have my own thoughts on the cause of this massive uptake
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Mostly I am reluctant to voice a position on political issues; but “Black Lives Matter” is not political it is humanitarian and I am often vocal on matters of humanity. Benjamin Crump spoke about a “Pandemic of Racism and discrimination” and he’s not wrong, because the heartbreaking truth is that
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We are in a global crisis, but the crisis is not coronavirus; this is a symptom, not the cause. We now have covid-19. We have had SARS, we have had the horse meat scare, we have had foot and mouth. There is global and pandemic suffering to the earth and
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My elder son is at the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. He tells me it’s the most incredible and amazing thing he’s ever seen. Considering he’s just been to Machu Picchu, on his enviable sojourn around the breathtaking beauty of South America, I am inclined to believe it’s pretty special. I
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My younger son has developed an extraordinary and consistent interest in reptiles and arachnids. I have no idea how this came to pass. My elder son used to read nature books cover to cover, but kept to more conventional interests in pets. Not so the younger. I have always believed
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A Prayer: Refuse to fall down If you cannot refuse to fall down, refuse to stay down. If you cannot refuse to stay down, lift your heart toward heaven, and like a hungry beggar, ask that it be filled, and it will be filled. You may be pushed down. You may be kept from rising. But no one can keep you from
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It's the international day of yoga and I am spending it with Donna Farhi. How cool is that?! Of all the teachers from whom I have learned and been inspired, in all of my decades of yoga practice, Donna is my absolute hands down favourite and my “go to” authority. Her
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Serendipity is a wonderful thing and I have trained myself invariably to surrender to it. So when I chanced to read a report on The Great Yorkshire Show, with rave reviews on Alison O’Neil’s “Wool is my Bread” collection, I thought it was high time we met because this was
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The NHS is in crisis. With a population whose lifespan is increasing and a growing number of patients with multi-morbidity, funding is stretched beyond the limit. On top of that there is now a worrying concern that this untenable situation is leading to a rise in stress amongst demoralised healthcare
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Berwick Kaler and York Theatre Royal's annual christmas panto is an institution, not a production. The plots (or rather plotless) performances are so intrinsically connected with the audience and the locality they have been a feature of the festive calendar for generations of families. Having not originally hailed from North
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Since becoming Vice Chair of The BWY its all been about the Yoga and this book recommendation continues in the same vein. De Michelis is a well respected scholar and at the time this book was published there had been no other attempt to define modern yoga, so it was
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At the time of writing I am preparing to go into my second year of a masters degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS). I’m studying “Traditions of Yoga and Meditation” in the department of religions and philosophies. Who would have thought? Not only
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“Ok right, so what is sustainable about going to New York?” I hear you say. “How does that fit into the home grown “buy local” ethos?” And the answer from me is “more than you think”. Surprisingly. Notwithstanding that carbon neutral is the way to go, this year I made a
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There is a phrase used to describe pasture that is grazed exclusively by equines. “Horse sick”. Horses know their bodies and needs and so they are picky and choosy; favouring some grasses and plants over others and pasture, without proper management, will quickly become very poor indeed. Consequently, anyone who
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What is Valentines about.... really? I don’t think it’s chocolates, champagne and roses, trips to Venice or expensive jewellery. Those gifts are more about demonstrating that one cares, with a bit (or a lot) of indulgence, depending on one’s pocket. Isn’t valentines really about opening the heart and giving of
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Christmas presents... honestly, I have very mixed feelings about this because on the one hand I think gifting is an opportunity to show people how much they are valued and on the other the uneven distribution of wealth in the world can make presents seem obscene. Consequently, I alternate between
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I really enjoy writing, (no surprise there) but I might never have come across these wonderful workshops had it not been for the fact that Laura, who leads them, is a personal friend. The phenomenally qualified Dr Laura Napran is an experienced teacher, writer and storyteller, a member of Lapidus (Literary
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Meditating is no longer the self indulgent province of those with time and inclination, it has become something of a necessity for many and is viewed as an increasingly valuable means of gaining and maintaining equilibrium both by professionals and lay people alike. Perhaps not surprisingly then, I recently became
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As a young child I remember (dimly!) keeping a supply of candles and matches handy in case of a power cut. I don’t recall candles ever being considered much more than an inconvenient and occasional necessity. Or at least that is my recollection; perhaps it is inaccurate. Either way, that
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"Oh the British Hen Welfare Trust, yes marvellous work they do and all started by Jane Howorth, she has an MBE now you know." It all trots off the tongue quite easily, pleasant enough conversation, suitably complimentary and supportive of a worthwhile charitable cause. I've done it myself. The BHWT was
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With a heritage as fine as the dusting on their hand made truffles Charbonnel et Walker were one of Britain's first chocolatiers. Esteemed by Edward VII, they are endorsed by the Royal Warrant and have enjoyed the enduring patronage of royalty and socialites since 1875. Yet a box of these heavenly delights
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It would be stretching the truth to say that York Minster is on my doorstep, but it is nevertheless very doable, and I have been thinking of going to the Sankta Lucia festival for a few years. This year I had a firm intention and bagged my seat. What a treat! Sankta Lucia
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Perhaps I have had a sheltered life but I have never seen anything quite like "The Imaginarium" on Blake Street in York. It bills itself as a lifestyle store but to call it a shop seems woefully inadequate because it is more accurately an experience, where purchase is possible. Crammed with unusual, unique and
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Ayurveda is the science of life, the knowledge of how to achieve and maintain perfect health. Originating from the ancient vedic knowledge of India, it is the most comprehensive system of health care in the world today. To call it holistic would be selling it too short because ayurveda is so much
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As an owner and hobby breeder I am well qualified to sing the praises of the charming little Norfolk Terrier. Do not be fooled by its diminutive stature, the Norfolk is courageous and loyal with bags of personality and individual style; a giant sized canine in pocket pooch form. This little bundle of
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I have been a huge fan of Neal's Yard Remedies for almost as long as they have been around so when I discovered they were selling their products through independent distributors I knew it was only a matter of time before I signed up. From the first little store in Covent Garden Neal's Yard
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A truly international equine charity working tirelessly to improve the lives of horses in the UK and around the world. With HRH The Princess Royal as President, and patrons including Pippa Funnell MBE, WHW has a distinguished and hugely respectable pedigree. Their vision is a world in which horses are
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My Christmas is not complete without carols and I have yet to find anything to top the choir of King's College, Cambridge. One of the great representatives of the British choral tradition, their rendition of "All Bells in Paradise" is just sublime. They have been delighting swith their voices since
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When my little princes were babies this was my miracle in a tube. Weleda is a company with great ethics and great products, and I have had some fantastic buys from them over the years; but this nappy change cream from their calendular baby range is worthy of the crown. As a
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It's not wacky, it's not weird and millions of people are at it every day. As a VERY long term meditator, I speak from considerable experience and the transcendental meditation technique is simple to learn, quick to do, and best of all it really does work. Extensive studies have concluded that TM is profoundly effective
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I'm not sure exactly when I discovered this little deli and coffee shop, but I've been back a few times since. The coffee is excellent, the food is delicious and the service is stupendous! Emma and Will Quarmby are serving and selling a range of produce from specialist, local and boutique (dare
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"Born out of the British obsession to unearth something new. Forged by the desire to discover." The spirit of Hunter was created for people who want to find their own path... Wow! How amazing does that sound? Great branding for great boots; I've tried a number of alternatives and nothing comes
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Allen and Page is a horse feed company who set out to help owners feed their horses as naturally as possible, and to make really useful horse feeds for specific nutritional requirements. From laminitics to nutritionally deprived to dentally challenged, they cater for all; and their nutritional helpline is staffed by
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One of the best things about teaching yoga is the privilege of meeting the myriad of interesting people who come to classes. I had no idea Jean Harrod was an author, playwright and former diplomat until she announced her novel was soon to be published. We all ordered copies. Naturally. I am a "Girl with
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Life is not all about sunshine and roses; it's full of opposites. Sometimes there will be darkness, and even roses have thorns. Difficult times are made easier with the right sort of help and when my precious Lola came to the end of her life this month I called the
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There are yoga teachers, and then there is James... With a glorious voice and fluency in sanskrit, he has a special gift for bringing the traditional teachings of yoga to life in ways that are relevant, practical, and downright magical. Without exception, I leave his sessions feeling uplifted, energised, and infused with a
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This amazing company started out making pan racks and kitchen ironwork about 5 years ago. They have a fantastic ethos, are committed to sustainability and make some cracking good products; I have several of their pieces in my own home. All their ironwork is hand forged with attention to detail,
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It's little and it's all about the yoga. This unique micro company is the brainchild of Jules and Ruth, on a dedicated mission to bring world class yoga to the North Yorkshire Moors. After four of their weekend retreats with top notch yoga teachers in the breathtaking setting of Ampleforth Abbey,
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Because the brand, and the web design, and my copious notes and our telephone conversations and then more input from HOLY COW!, and emails and more chat and yet more emails ... ALL went into the melting pot of Dave Gladwin's magical forge. Then after a good deal of technical
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It began as a idea, or rather a collection of disparate and unrelated ideas, but with an overall theme, or maybe it was more a general focus, or was it merely an intention... Whatever it was to begin with, the creative genius that is the team at HOLY COW! helped coax
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