Roger Moore Has A Message

As a member of PETA I wanted to share this with you. Please read it and absorb the message.

Dear Fellow Friend of PETA,
I have a confession: I used to eat foie gras.
However, when I saw PETA's video footage on foie gras production and the deadly force-feeding of ducks and geese, I felt compelled to do something to help stop this cruel "delicacy".
Once my eyes were opened, I become a passionate campaigner against foie gras –volunteering to narrate PETA's documentary about the barbarity of its production, writing to every member of the House of Commons asking them to help end foie gras sales in the UK and penning pieces for national publications to spread the word against this repugnant practice.
I also joined forces with PETA on a relentless two-year campaign to convince the Selfridges department store chain to pull foie gras from its shelves, mobilising concerned individuals to bombard the company with thousands of e-mails, phone calls and letters.
The day Selfridges announced that they would no longer carry foie gras was one of the proudest of my life. And of the many honours that have been bestowed upon me over the years, few have moved me as much as being awarded the PETA UK 2009 Person of the Year award for my work. I am most humbled that my passion has helped make a positive difference in the lives of these animals.
However, despite our victories, the battle to outlaw foie gras in the UK, across Europe and around the world is far from won. Our success will only come through the continued commitment of compassionate people like you.
Thank you for standing with PETA to protect ducks, geese and other animals from suffering and death. May this Christmas period bring you and your family happiness and good health.
Most cordially,

Sir Roger Moore

Issue 26 Now On Line!

This issue is all about being positive as we move into 2011. It is packed full of people who exude positivity and as the magazine continues to grow, so does the momentom of positivity.

We reject negativity, we reject anything that stops us living our life the way we want and we want you to reject this too.

Enjoy it and spread the word!

Lynn
xx



This

Milk!

Coming up in our next issue of International Lifestyle Magazine, we are looking at the cost of cheap milk and at the same time looking at some of the best kept cows in the world and the milk they produce.

When you buy milk try to opt for organic or maybe look at trying soy milk as an alternative because when you see milk that is low in price you can be sure that there is a factory farm somewhere exploiting a herd of cows, making them produce much more milk than they should be in order to line the fat cats pockets with money.

Any food that is super cheap comes with a cost, even when you see incredibly cheap clothes you know that someone, somewhere is working very long hours with very little pay so try to shop with a conscious.

Consider also the amount of drugs that are pumped into these poor animals to protect them from disease which they would never even have to worry about if they were allowed to graze and live correctly in the right environment, so even if you could nto care less about the cows who produce the milk, at least care about yourself and your family and what you are drinking.

Food for thought.

Lynn

Love or hate them, they are brilliant!

This is the time of year that we start to see the wonderful Brussels Sprout appearing and I have to say I just love them. I love to take my fork, collect one or two and then dip them straight into the cranberry sauce for the most fantastic taste of winter. I shall be cooking them today having just written that, I am craving them as we speak.

People often say they just hate them, but I really believe that this is down to how they are prepared, if you buy frozen ones and then boil them for a couple of days, or even fresh boiled this way, they will be horrific.

That said, I could wrap them in chocolate and my son would not eat them, so in some cases you simply cannot make them great, but each year I try again in the hope that his taste buds will one day kick in to this fab little vegetable.

The best way to cook them, in my opinion, is to simply steam them until they are just cooked through and then they taste awesome. I could eat these just on their own with a little olive oil and a sprinkling of seasoning. You can even slice them and put them into a wok with a little sesame oil and cook for a couple of minutes, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and you have a wonderful side dish.+

How you cook and prepare them also dictates how good they are for you.

Not only do they taste fantastic, they hold incredible health benefits with 3 times more vitamin C, weight for weight, than an orange, which is why Mother Nature produces them now to help protect against colds and flu, plus they help protect against certain cancers so well worth finding away that you can enjoy them.

I strongly suggest you buy fresh, look for smaller ones and try these, go on you never know you may actually like them now.

Lynn
xx

Here We Go!

I see that we are now being bombarded with information on how to get rid of those extra pounds before Christmas, how to deal with a hangover, how to deal with overeating, how to get into that little black dress etc etc and I have to ask why?

Why do people need to wait until Christmas or a holiday to get into shape, why do people need to wait to be inspired to get rid of any extra weight, why do people need to drink to the point that they need help to get over it, I mean, these articles are directed at adults aren´t they?

If you live your life in a healthy way you can enjoy everything in moderation and feel great all year. Weight loss for example is incredibly difficult to achieve, well, if you are stressed about the whole process. This generally results in some crazy diet which leaves you feeling fed up, spotty and so as soon as the bell strikes and Christmas arrives you stuff your face to cheer yourself up, back to square one again, and then start reading articles about how to get the ´new you´in 10 minutes in the new year publications.

If you want to look and feel great, brilliant, but do it right, do it for you and do it because you want to, not because you have purchased a dress too small with the view that one way or another you will fit in it. As a nutritionist I work with many people who want to make a difference to how they look and feel and it can be a long journey, but in the end, living well becomes so easy, no stress, just positivity and a very positive outlook.

Lynn
x

Christmas Is Coming The Lentil Is Getting Fat!

This Christmas why not do something really different and dump the turkey, the pork, the beef, the sausages in fact, dump anything on your table that just screams negativity.

Most illnesses over Christmas are caused by over eating or food poisoning and yet with the right ingredients you can have a great Christmas dinner, you can still have all the veg and trimmings but why not eliminate the source of food that not only effects you on the day but also goes on to clog up your intestines for many days to come.

You may think the idea of lentils are Christmas is just crazy, but if you prepare them properly I assure you that the texture is similiar to meat, it has more protein than any piece of meat and it will help to cleanse your system of everything else you have consumed over Christmas.

Here is a statistic to consider for a moment, More than 45 million turkeys are killed every year for Thanksgiving alone, and more than 300 million are killed for food throughout the year in the United States (www.peta.org) 45 million turkeys, I mean you have to consider the treatment these animals go through just to put the seasonal traditional bird on the table.

This Christmas plan a healthy and concious free seasonal dinner.

Lynn
xx

Seriously, is this really needed?

Although foie gras is expensive and is produced by some incredibly cruel methods it is a favourite at Christmas time in France, and if the French are incredibly busy running around they can now buy a burger which includes their favourite foie gras in the form of a burger!

Quick, which is a rival to McDonalds in France, will be selling the 'Supreme Foie Gras Burger' for just 5 euros, or 7.50 euros with fries and a soft drink The burger features pieces of foie gras atop a minced beef patty, with onion relish and rocket leaves.

It will be served at its 360 outlets across the country for three days only, from December 17 to 19.

Foie gras, which translates literally as ‘fatty liver’, is produced mainly in the southwest of France by farmers who force-feed poultry with large quantities of ground corn and wheat in order to swell the birds’ livers, and by force fed I mean a tube shoved down their throats and then food literally poured into their stomachs, makes the burger sound better all the time, I mean, who would not want to buy such a positive snack?

Once extracted the livers can fetch up to 100 euros per kilo at markets in the Aquitaine region and even more in Paris during the pre-Christmas shopping rush.

For me this is just another example of human greed and vanity, you can imagine can´t you, "look at me and my incredibly expensive burger" really, the fact that you are eating a fast food burger indicates you have no style at all, no matter what is in it.

If this works in the 3 days that the burgers are on sale no doubt this ´forward thinking´burger chain will expand the branches that you can purchase this burger. You will be able to find ´fatty liver´burgers served with chips, sorry french fries, and a soft drink in more places, hippie.

If you are reading this and are about to say it is ok because the animals like being force fed, they look forward to it, blah, blah, blah don´t. I have geese and ducks as pets who live with us and I can assure you, they would not want to live in a shed with thousands of other birds with only the thought of being force fed to look forward too. Get your head out of the sand and see the reality of this. Sorry to rant but it simply drives me nuts!

Lynn
xx

Who Are You?

Sometimes we need to stop and remind ourselves of who we actually are. It is easy to fall into our roles of wife, mother, personal shopper, housekeeper, cook, mobile memo pad and of course you need to throw your job into this mix also but everyday we need to kick back and take a moment.

If that means reading a book for an hour, watching mind numbing TV because it allows you the space to unwind, or take walk then so beit.

No we do not need to apologise for this for these actions are those which allow us to do all the other jobs we have been allocated.

If you have the complete mix you have a beautiful completed jig saw puzzle at the end of each day, without taking the time you need you end up with the most annoying picture with one piece missing.

Take time, do not apologise and reject any statements that may make you feel guilty.

Life is about balance so check your scales to ensure the right mix and success.

Lynn
xxx

Green Tea

If you drink alot of tea and coffee you need to think about cutting down on our cafeine in take, but it is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not just stop drinking tea and coffee but start to reduce your intake by incorporating other drinks into your daily diet and one in particular is green tea.

There are many health benefits associated with green tea but here are just a few to consider.

1. It helps to fight cancer.
2. It helps to fight heart disease.
3. It will hope lower cholesterol.
4. It can help prevent strokes.
5. It can help prevent diabetes.

Start each day with just one or two cups of green tea, which will help you reduce your caffiene intake and start to make you feel better and ultimately you will have more energy!

You can buy green tea anywhere but if you can, buy the leaves, but if you are on the go bags will be ok.

Have a great day

Lynn
xxx

Before You Do Your Weekly Shop....

www.viva.org.uk

Please check out this web site and see for yourself the horrors that go on behind the scenes in order to bring you meat.

We often see adverts from large supermarket chains offering reduced price meat and meat meals but in order to save you a few pounds animals have to go through absolute hell, so ask yourself is it worth it.

Look at the meat on the supermarket shelves, look at the boxes showing happy animals on packets of prepared meals, look in a butchers window and consider for a moment the absolute hell that these animals have been through and then consider why on earth you would want to put this into your system.

Your body needs energy, you will not find it in dead meat, there is no energy in this at all, it is what it clearly is. Dead.

Read through the site, do not find excuses look at the evidence and make the right choice.

Even the word organic can be deceptive, check out what happens to a chick before it is moved to a world of organic upbringing.

www.viva.org.co.uk

Get Organised!

Animals Asia, currently featured in our latest issue, have a great selection of gifts that everyone will love and of course, you will be helping the work of these great people by ordering from them.

The the calendar, priced at only 10.00 GB, is a perfect gift to keep people organised and work as a constant reminder of the continued work that is going on.

Think wisely this year when buying gifts, not only for the people you are buying for, but also what effect your gift will have on the planet.

Check out www.animalsasia.org to find out more about their work and if you can, get involved.

Lynn
xxx

Not To Keep Going On About China and their attitudes to animals but....

In issue 25 of International Lifestyle Magazine we look at some of the work carried out by Animal Asia and today I read this article....

Commuters in China are being offered a supposedly healthy alternative to crisps and chocolates from underground vending machines - hairy crabs that are meant to be eaten while still alive.

The Dazha hairy crab, a popular delicacy in the southeastern province of Jiangsu, is on sale in three different sizes in the province capital of Nanjing.

Prices for the small, medium or large crabs range from the equivalent of £1.50 to £5.00.

The crabs are packed into custom-fitted plastic boxes and chilled to 5C, leaving them sedated but still alive.

If a customer gets a dead one, he or she will get three live ones for free.

"The customers were a bit sceptical at first as they were worried if the crabs were alive or not," Wu Zhendi, general manager of the Twin Lake Crab Co, told reporters.

"But now they see they are alive, they keep coming back.

"We are selling hundreds each day, and more at weekends."

The company now plans to expand its business and is even thinking of trying out sales in Japan, where vending machines are big subway business.

IS IT JUST ME OR IS THIS JUST WRONG ON EVERY LEVEL? Not only are these poor things pulled from the sea, or created in some factory farming system somewhere, they are boxed up and put on a shelf for people to view, buy and eat. Who exactly looks at a poor crab stuck in a piece of plastic and thinks "yummy that looks nice, I think I will take a large live crab and munch on it on the way to work". What is wrong with an apple or a bag or nuts or anything that does not involve eating live animals.

Sorry to pick on China but really, cruel circus tricks, live crabs in vending machines and that is just what we see.

Lynn
xx

Make People Smile!

Today lets make it a personal goal to make other people smile, even better, make them laugh.

There is so much doom and gloom around and yet if we can smile or laugh we can release chemicals in our system which will give us a natural high and therefore equip us better to deal with any problems.

Seeing a smiling face will instantly give you a high, make the effort to say ´hello´or ´morning´to as many people as you can, it is a completely natural thing to do here in Spain, and I know when I return to the UK that people tend to look at you as if you have lost your mind when you say ´hello´but to make a difference we have to start the change. Smile, say hi, and see how many smiles you get back. Give people a lift when you meet them by commenting on their appearance, remark on new hair styles, clothes anything, all this builds peoples confidence and therefore their self esteem. They then in turn begin to smile at others and spread the happiness.

It costs nothing, it takes a moment, but it makes a huge difference to you and everyone else!

Have a happy day!

Lynn
xxx

Christmas Presents!

I note, with some horror, that some people are already putting up their Christmas decorations which seems a little early considering that it is just October, however, it is also clear that people are now buying their Christmas presents. I would also like to point out here that I have not even considered this yet, too busy organising a halloween party for what seems like every child in the village, however, for those that are organised take a moment.

There are a million great gifts you can give which will truly reflect the meaning of Christmas.

Before you puchase expensive, sometimes unwanted, gifts think about doing something really positive. You can donate to so many people and make a real difference or you could buy vouchers for travel in the new year. There are so many great companies, with many great ideas, that you could give someone the best gift of their life, plus it will not be stuffed in a drawer by the new year, they will have something to look forward to.

You can sponsor an animal from around the world, you can purchase some brilliant gifts from some great companies who use the profits to make a difference to the world, so before you rush out and spend, spend, spend, take a moment to think about the person you are buying for and choose a gift that will make them feel thought of and special and make a difference to someone or something in the world.

Lynn
xxx

From Little Acorns

I heard a great saying just the other day,

"You cannot change the direction of the tides but you can change the direction in your sails"

I hear people often talk about all the negative things in their life, how they would like to change this, how they would like to do that not even contemplating for a moment all the good things in their life which really makes me sad.

If people put as much energy into positive thoughts as they do into negative thoughts think how much better the world would be.

There are always people worse off than ourselves and we should spare a moment of our time to consider these people. It is very easy to complain but harder to actually get off your backside and make a difference but you have to get out of your chair to make that journey.

If you have a dream or ambition then make it happen. Only you can do this, it cannot be done for you so use everything you have to achieve it. Do not instantly think that without money you cannot achieve anything, simply start with small goals to make your dreams reality then build on your successes.

My own moto is that there are never problems only solutions, in otherwords, find the positive solution to a situation and waste not a moment of your time on the negative alternatives.

We can all achieve anything, nothing is unrealistic, the only thing that can prevent us achieving anything is ourselves so do not hold yourself back just get out there and go for it, and the next time you see a huge oak tree, remember how it started out.

Lynn
xx

Digital Magazine Awards!

Today is an incredibly proud day for us as we are pleased to announce that we have been selected in the finalists for the Digital Magazine Awards!

This means so much for us as it brings extra light onto our publication which helps all our contributors and friends we have made along the way so we hope this will go towards helping us all.

We will keep you up todate on the results but in the meantime, keep all your fingers crossed and send lots of positivity!

Have a wonderful day and keep believing in your dreams.

Lynn
xxx

Lifestyle Blog 1 from julian nicholson on Vimeo.

The Magic Kiwi Fruit

My children love kiwi fruit which they eat by simply cutting it in half and scooping out the delicious flesh with a spoon, rather like an egg.

Kiwi fruits are brilliant for everyone, why? let me tell you..

They help prevent cancer.

They help prevent depression.

They help with diabetes.

They keep your eyes healthy.

They help your heart.

They build your immunity.

They can help with impotence.

They reduce stress.

They can help with physical fitness.

You can start to see why you should be including these funny little hairy fruits in your shopping trolly each week, just one a day will make a difference to all you, young and old.

Enjoy!

Lynn
xx

Envy The Route Of All Evil

Why are so many people in this world jealous of family. They see a family unit, happy, working together and building a life and rather than see it as an inspiration they choose to try and tear it apart.

I know from experience that there are people who feel that it is their right to condemn a family unit, to mock what they either do not understand or do not have and why?

What drives a person to believe that they can do this? What do they hope to gain from it? I can only assume that they want everyone to be as miserable and as empty as they are. Can they not see that everyone has an opportunity in life but you have to work for it and make it happen.

What possible gain can you get from spreading lies, putting a strain on a family, selling your soul to the media? What do these people believe others will think of them?

For any true family, these situations only go to make them stronger. If you are in a real family unit you are a team, and an incredibly strong one at that. For most of these people who throw dirt they simply do not have the gift of family, they have no self worth, they have, in short, nothing but darkness.

Envy is a horrible thing, it feeds on itself and produces a shell of a former person who ultimately becomes eaten up with it.

To those of you with family who have had to endure people like this, remain strong, keep your head up, and turn away from people like this. To recognise them, to pursue them just feeds on their ego, they feel that they have achieved something. To ignore them simply causes them to implode.

If you are the type of person who feels that you have the right to attack other people may I suggest you take a long hard look in the mirror, ask yourself what you want from your life, ask yourself how you are going to do it and make positive steps towards living a full and happy life. When you reach old age you want to look back with happy memories that you can share with those around you. The alternative is to be alone with your own miserable thoughts.

Lynn
xx

What Do You Want To Be Remembered For?

When we leave this planet it would be nice to think that we left something behind,something to be remembered for and with the 2010 Guiness Book of Records being released it would be great to be included for perhaps something really memerable and yet it was this image that caught my eye of Stephen Parks and his collection of Smurfs.

Perhaps it is because I know someone who still feels bad about leaving ´Brains´the smurf behind whilst taking the rest on holiday, who still wonders what happened to the whole collection who, at the drop of a hat, can leap into a whole verbal presentation as to each and every smurf that was available, how they insisted that their Father only bought petrol from a certain petrol station in order to secure the missing Smurf from the collection, but do look at this image, wouldn´t it be nice to be remembered for something a little more than the day you appeared within National Media dressed as a Smurf.

Doing something good today!

Lynn
xx

What Is Beauty?

Having watched a week of news reports about London Fashion week and who looked beautiful, who looked too thin, who looked too fat, blah, blah, blah you have to wonder what is beauty?

Society promotes the belief that you need to be dressed from head to toe in designer labels, spend hours at the beauty parlour and mix with the right people, be seen in the right places in order to be beautiful but in reality the real beauty lies beneath.

Beauty comes from the heart. A truly beautiful person just exudes an energy that makes them beautiful. Beauty is seen everyday on the news and within the media and yet it is never mentioned. What about people who travel the world, dressed in whatever, working with abandoned children to help them find a friend and a future? How about people that risk their lives for others every day? There are people who live in amoungst some of the darkest people on this planet to highlight to the world the cruelty that exists and yet not once are they described as beautiful people.

Look around you and witness for yourself the true beauty. Beauty lies in a Mother wiping a childs nose with care. It lies in a parent holding a childs hand for support. It lies in the person helping another with a problem. Beauty is everywhere and it does not have to have a designer label attached and nor does it need to have an endorsement contract with a cosmetic company to make it truly beautiful.

Move away from what we are pushed into believing is correct and live your life in truth. The most beautiful way to live your life ever.

Lynn
xx

Would Images Of Fat Make You Less Likely To Eat It?

I heard today that their are plans to include photographs of what fast foods, and other high calorie foods, can make you look like on the packaging and stores. Would this make a difference?

In my opinion no. Most people who suffer with weight issues have much deeper issues to the reasons behind their weight gain, and quite honestly, images of overweight people will simply add to their already fragile state and make their situation worse.

People know that these foods are not good for them but for some it is their only way for comfort. What these people need is someone who can sit and talk with them to discuss their problem and find solutions in a holistic way, through their mental, physical and emotional aspects.

Putting up pictures will only encourage those people to feel worse and give others, less sympathetic in society, an opportunity to point and laugh.

Why is it so difficult for people to look for solutions that actually help people rather than humiliate them?

Lets drop the bullying tactics and work towards a solution that helps people lead happy and healthy lives.

Lynn
xxx

Grab A Bag Of Almonds.

As the almond harvest continues here in Spain, I wanted to just highlight a few of the health benefits you can achieve my eating a handful of raw almonds each day.

The health benefits of almonds include getting relief from constipation, respiratory disorders, cough, hearth disorders, anemia, impotency, and diabetes. It also helps in hair care, skin care (psoriasis in particular which I found incredibly helpful in curing my own condition), and dental care.

Almonds contain the most nutrients in comparison to all other nuts.

Good for brain: Almond is a source of many nutrients which help in development of the brain. Almond induces high intellectual level and has been considered as an essential food item for growing children. Many mothers give almonds soaked in water to their children daily in the morning (2-3 pieces of soaked almonds are good enough, you can also remove the outer shell if it causes allergy to you).

Regulates your cholesterol without the need for chemical help.

Prevention of certain cancers. The almond works to help your digestive system by moving food through your system much more efficiently which in turn can help prevent cancers.

Will help to regulate your blood pressure without the use of chemical. If you are taking drugs for blood pressure always speak with your doctor about any changes you are making.

Great in pregnancy because it contains folic acid.

Energy. Just a handful of almonds can improve your energy levels for a much longer period than simply grabbing a chocolate bar which can give you an energy boost but will leave you feeling exhuasted after you crash and burn on the otherside.

Buy a bag of natural almonds and keep them in your bag and try to eat at least five a day either as they are or maybe on your breakfast cereal and remember, these will help you to look younger, which has to be incentive enough!

Lynn
xxx

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

Look at this picture. Look at what is happening here. Look at the jerk with the knife.

Every year in Spain 40,000 bulls are murdered in the name of entertainment.

Ears are cut off whilst the bull is still alive and waved to the watching crowd to show everyone how manly the murderer is. Even worth things are cut off and shown to the crowd. The animal dies a slow death in many of the activities here in Spain, no matter what people tell you.

There is of course bullfighting but there is also the hideous tradition of ´blood fiestas´ here some poor bull is chased around by men on horses who spear the poor animal as he tries frantically to get away. Eventually, when the poor thing is completely exhuasted the men move in for the kill, only when they are sure that they cannot be injured. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

It makes me so angry and to think that these people are trying to get these sports listed as a cultural right in order to obtain funds from the European government is even worse.

The EU has already provided 185 MILLION POUNDS since 2005 to support these sports and it cannot go on.

60% of Spanish people want these sports, if you can call them that, to stop but that still leaves 40% who continue with these barbaric activities.

It is not only bulls it is many other animals too. Chickens stuck in boxes with their heads out so that a blind folded man can see how many heads he can cut off. Chickens hung from washing lines so that someone can ride underneath and see how many heads they can remove.

Again, WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

Check out many of the animals organisations working to bring this to a stop. It can be done, look at bullfighting in some regions of Spain which is now illegal, not long ago this would have seemed impossible but with believe and determination you can make a difference and you can make changes.

Lynn
xxx

Do Not Accept Bullying in Your Life.

It came to me today that in our quest for an easy and tranquil life we can sometimes leave outselves wide open to the bullies of the world.

What makes someone think they can tell you what to do, that they can instruct you to behave in the manner that they behave, that they are the most important person on the planet and you will follow their instructions?

It is vital that throughout our live we maintain control. This applies to all aspects of our life. It is important to always act in the correct manner, to respect everyone, but this is not an open doorway to others to abuse this.

Stand up for what is right, question what you feel is wrong and act upon it. If you have a bully in your life confront them, never hide from them. They seek power for their own problems but you have to show them that they cannot seek this power from you. Find your inner strength, hold onto your faith and believe.

Most importantly, do not let the experience of a bully change your view on life and people. It is easy to hide away, to avoid people to avoid any situations but if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear. Your true friends will shine through and those who show negative signs are not worth your time and energy. People are quick to condemn others mainly, I am afraid to say, because of jealousy, but this is no reason to change your life, your dreams and your goals.

Protect your children from people like this by explaining what is happening, highlight how nothing in life can be achieved by the actions of a bully. They have enough negativity to last them a lifetime and yet if they used this energy for good their life would be full and enriched instead of bitter and tainted.

Go about your business, raise your head high and in the most holistic way that you can raise two fingers to those who believe they can bully you.

Lynn
xx

If You Do Not Eat Meat You Will Die! Good Grief!

Whilst enjoying our, vegetarian, meal last night, we were all talking about our days and Megan started to tell us about lessons at school and the things they were learning. It all started very well, with if people keep killing the whales there will soon be none left but then it went onto meat eating.

Megans teacher told the whole class that if you do not eat meat you will die. That everyone must eat meat for protein that we need to grow and develop. Megan decided to remain quite on the fact that her Mum was a vegetarian and as I write this, in very good health.

Whilst I have never insisted that anyone in my family is vegetarian, all the meals I produce are vegetarian and if they wish to eat meat outside the house then of course they can, I want them to make their own choices. Our son Freddie has always steered away from meat, even refusing cows milk, and yet he is the tallest in his class, incredibly bright and intelligent and the same goes for our daughter Megan. She has always eaten everything put in front of her and again, towers above her class mates. Both have excellent skin, and quite honestly are an advert to the reduction of meat products in their diet.

Why do people make such ridiculous statements. I hear all the time that all vegetarians are ill, how it is impossible to have a balanced diet without meat, true if you include saturated fat as part of your balanced diet, and yet when faced with the fact that I do not eat meat, I do not take medication for anything, how I am never ill they still argue.

What many meat eaters seem to always demonstrate is the fact that they are incredibly angry people, often overweight, often full of stress and have clearly lost the inability to look to new ideas and thoughts. You will not find many vegetarians in heart wards within hospitals, very rarely will you find an overweight vegetarian, in fact the list goes on.

Be happy with your choice of lifestyle but do not condemn other peoples unless you want to accept the facts as they are returned to you.

At the end of the day you are most certainly what you absorb. If you absorb something that is dead, devoid of energy, loaded with saturated fats that will sit in your digestive system for hours, sometimes days, creating gas, sleep disturbance, lack of energy and a general lethargy along with increased blood pressure, I could go on, then fine, enjoy your choice and leave others to enjoy theirs and do not teach people that without meat you will die, I think you will find that in many cases it is the otherway around.

By the way, I know it is a pretty gruesome image but this is the reality of meat. A dead animal. Why would you want to eat this?

Lynn
xxx

Remember what is important.

Too often we waste time concerning ourselves about some pretty stupid things,which, I realise can seem important at the time, but we really need to stand still once in a while and put things into prospective.

I find myself often begging my children to tidy their bedrooms, I despair at school bags left on the floor, the ever growing array of shoes, the bathroom left like a team of rugby players have used it and yet really, is it important?

The important things to focus on are the facts that the mess is created by my family, a family I adore. In no time at all the children could be at University or travelling the world working on eco projects, either way, there will come a time when their will be no shoes on the floor, no school bags left in the most difficult places and these times now will be just memories.

My lesson to myself today is to relax about a bit of mess and enjoy the moment of having my family around and to think about how lucky I am to have them with me.

Lynn
xxx

New Video Blog

I have spent today putting together our first video blog, which you will, God willing, be able to see tomorrow and I am so excited about this because it means I can chat to you rather than just write, plus I will be able to introduce you to our animals, face to face!

Have a wonderful weekend and whatever you have planned, enjoy it!

Lynn
x

Back To School!

Today the children have returned to school. It is strange how you cannot wait in the end for this day to get here, mainly because you need to get back into a routine of some sort, and yet, now they are away the whole farm feels really empty.


Hamlet and his piglets are looking for Megan who usually brings them a treat in the morning, all the geese and ducks are wandering around trying to work out what is missing, Nero the donkey keeps braying because no one is rubbing his ears, Maurice the horse could not care less but then that is no surprise! even the little guinea pigs want to know where the children are who by now are usually hand feeding them lettuce!

A family is an incredibly tight bond and when one piece is missing it feels completely out of balance, but sometimes we need to be apart in order to identify and appreciate all the things that make each one special.

I know that when they return home they will be full of news about new teachers, new people in the school, who had what in their school snack, can so and so come and stay and see the animals, how they have told everyone that they will bring in the donkey for show and tell, how the teacher was not too keen and even less keen about the idea of bringing in Hamlet the pig, how they saved a snail at break, how they needed a plaster (they never really need a plaster but it looks good!) how they have yet another list of things they need for school and after all this, without a single breath, they will then tell me they are starving and what is for lunch and so the routine is established again.

Lynn
xxx

Nero Update!

So here is one of our first pictures of Nero enjoying a stroll to the village to meet all the locals!

He went down a storm, everyone, obviously, loved him. He had his photograph taken, he was greeted by everyone and he even let off a huge bray and bought a smile to everyones faces, even those who were still asleep (it was quite early we went for breakfast before the heat kicked in) peered from their windows with a smile and a wave.

Nero bought a smile to everyones face, he lifted spirits, he became the talking point so how wonderful that after being abandoned he feels once again loved by everyone.

However, spare a thought for those less lucky than Nero and do what you can. I know that we cannot all take home a donkey but we can sponsor a donkey through various charities throughout the world so make a difference if you can. No matter how small your donation or sponsorship it will all go to help and if it means one less thing a week in your shopping basket then this has to be a positive move.

When you look at Nero it is hard to believe that someone actually tied him to a post and left him there. Imagine what was going through Neros mind. Thankfully he was rescued by the local police but for some it is too late, but for others, they just need a chance, as indeed, many of us do at some point in our life and think how grateful we are to those people so maybe it is time to pay back the kindness you have received in the past.

Check out where Nero spent his recovery time www.easyhorsecare.net

Lynn
xx

New arrivals on the farm!

so, I have told you about Nero the donkey and there will be much more on him soon, but I thought that you would like to know about a few more arrivals at the farm.

Our guinea pigs have had babies, three tiny, perfectly formed little guinea pigs!

Nature is amazing, they are born with their fur, their eyes are open and they are ready to go, no need for mum they are straight into their food! The whole guinea pig village simply love them and everyone has gathered around them to welcome them and show them the ropes, even the tortoise have taken an interest, although more I think because they see a few more that will steal their lettuce! Nero wandered across, I do not think he really knew what he was looking at but he wanted to be a part of whatever was going on, but his arrival made the scene almost biblical, the birth of the guinea pigs surrounded by all the animals and us!

I will post some images soon, they are just so tiny it is amazing, and I have many more stories of Nero already, donkeys really are just full of character, they always make your smile, even when they have just broken into the feeding house to check out what EVERY pot contains.

Have a great day whatever you are doing, keep positive, keep focused and keep things real!

Lynn
xxx

The Arrival Of Nero!

Yesterday we collected Nero the Donkey who now joins all our other animals on the farm.

He was found tied to a lampost in a town here in Spain where he had been for three days, back thanks to the work of the easy care horse centre he has been restored to full health and he is now the perfect friend for Maurice our horse, who still remains, as he has made quite clear, number one, but for Nero he can now live happily.

He is incredibly beautiful, friendly and has instantly become one of the family on the farm.

Do check out the web site www.easycarehorse.net where you can find out about all the work that they do there and you can make a donation or you can adopt a horse and give it the life it deserves.

Today is a great day!

Today is a great day, why because everyday is a great day. We have to grab life with both hands and live everyday to the full. It is easy to get into a routine and miss out on opportunities that come our way, putting the boring and mundane aspects of life to the front, but house cleaning, laundry will all be there tomorrow and if you have the opportunity to do something really fun and exciting take it.

Today is our sons 10th birthday, and it seems like only yesterday that we were at the hospital looking at a brand new baby, our daughter was only 2 years and 3 months and now she is 12. Life moves at a very fast pace and your children grow incredibly fast so take every moment to enjoy your family, to experience the process of them growing mentally, physically and emotionally and be a part of all of it.

You want to look back on life with fond memories, not snatched moments, and so it is vital that you put everything into order of priority.

If your child wants to learn to knit and you need to sweep the yard, there should be no competition. If your child wants to learn how to make bread and you know that the whole kitchen is going to be filled with flour, so what, you can clear up mess but you cannot return to this time again.

Life life, enjoy life and embrace it with both arms.

Lynn
xxx

Incredibly Easy Jam

I found this recipe in the book Raw Living by Kate wood www.rawliving.eu and it is so easy and tasty that I wanted to pass it onto you and encourage you to try it.

With so many jams being filled with sugar this is an incredibly healthy alternative.

You will need:-

2oz prunes which you will need to soak for 4-8 hours.
3 apples
1 lemon juiced

To Make

Obviously soak your prunes in advance and then core and chop the apples, put the pieces in a blender and then blend until you have a puree. Add the prunes and lemon juice and then puree again.

Store in jars in the fridge and it will keep for around 5 days.

You can vary it by changing the prunes for dried apricots, equally delicious!

Brilliant!

Lynn
xx

www.wspa.org

This is a fantastic site that covers all kinds of animal issues and gives great advise on how you can work to help prevent this cruelty.

Do check them out and do what you can.

Did you know that every year 16 million dogs are killed for human consumption?

Do you know about the horrific conditions that some working horses and donkeys live in?

Do you know who takes care of the animals within countries who are suffering disaster situations?

Do you know what goes on in the fur industry and just what animals are used including cats and dogs?

There is a ton of information here, some of it is incredibly difficult to read, but if we all turn away nothing will ever change.

Make a difference and do something to help these animals who without you, are destined to a short life of misery.

Lynn
xx

Gastric Bands & Gastric Bypass

There is much talk today about overweight people having surgery on the NHS to help them deal with their obesity but is it a solution?

This is not a simple operation, quite the opposite, it is incredibly dangerous, here you have overweight people having surgery which in itself, is life threatening.

In my opinion, having surgery will not solve the problem. Most people that I come into contact with are overweight for many reasons, alot of it comes down to emotional feelings and unless these issues are dealt with, the overweight issue will never go away.

Anyone can loose weight and get to their ideal weight, but it takes time and work.

Simply removing the ability to eat food does not work alone, it leaves a huge problem because many people eat to mask the real issues they are having and all that happens with surgery is the route for release is booked and people can become even more depressed than before and look for a different outlet for release.

If you, or anyone you know, have a weight problem then find a good holistic nutritionist who can work with you on all levels, your mental, your physical and your emotional aspects and help you achieve a happy and healthy life.

No one needs to live like this and help is out there, but not always in the form of surgery and the search for a quick fix.

If I can help in anyway please let me know and drop me an email.

Lynn
x

Appreciate Your Space

Right now, as you read this, 33 men are trapped within a mine in Chile.

It took 17 days to find them and it could take months to get them out.

33 miners are stuck 2500ft below, their supplies are being sent through three six inch wide shafts but the real threat to these men is the stress.

They will need to pull on their strength to keep it together, this is a serious test for their mental, physical and emotional elements, all of which will get them through this and back to their families and friends who all wait above ground praying for their safe return.

So as you start your day spare a thought for these men and send them as much love as you can and imagine for a moment the horror of being trapped in this situation and take a moment to appreciate what you have rather than focus on what you don´t.

Lynn
xx

Do You Want Great Hair?

I often look at all the ´wonderful´hair conditioners with equally ´wonderful´price tags and I wanted to share something with you.

If you want shiny hair the easiest, and cheapest, way to achieve this is to use Almond Oil. You can buy this from any health shop, yes it is a little expensive but a little goes a long, long way plus you can use it for many things apart from your hair.

To start with, use on your hair once a week, by simply rubbing it into your dry hair and leaving overnight if you can, or if you are spending a day in the sun perfect, the heat will help the oil penetrate through your hair.

The next day, just shampoo out as normal and you will be amazed at how soft your hair is. Once you have done this for four weeks you will probably only need to do this once a month to maintain soft, shiny hair.

It is perfect for all hair types and colours and it is completely naturaly so you are not adding any chemicals to your hair at all and you can use it at any age. My own children use this if they are going to the local swimming pool to avoid their hair being damaged by the chlorine in the water.

You can also use it on your skin for the same results. Just rub it into your skin after a shower, when your skin is still damp, to maintain healthy, soft skin. Again, this works for everyone at any age.

Certainly the best option for soft hair, it is cheaper and of course, no chemicals so a very eco way to maintain great hair and skin!

Lynn
xx

What Is Wrong With People?

This morning, as the sun was rising, I watched our animals wake up. The horse was trotting around, the chickens were all clucking and spreading their wings, the ducks and geese were all making their usual loud noises, dogs were running about whilst it was still cool, the puppies and kittens were waking and playing in the flowers, the pigs were honking waiting for their breakfast and all the other birds were singing giving the impression that we are living in the Amazon even Blaster the guinea pig was doing his hair (a little bit worried about him!) and then I came into the house and switched on the TV to see some ´woman´stroking a cat on a garden wall, the cat had come along to say hello and was clearly someones beloved pet, and then, for reasons I cannot understand, she picked it up by the scruff of the neck and put it into a dustbin!

Fortunately this piece of baggage was caught on CCTV and the authorities are looking for her, but where in her mind did she think this was acceptable behaviour? How dare she even think she can do this and I hope they find her and stuff her in a bin, which quite frankly is where all baggage should go.

No doubt the cat is now traumatised, the owners are probably terrified about letting their cat out again and why, because this woman took it upon herself to just ´throw away´a cat.

If this is the world we live in then I worry for the future. Some people should not be allowed to roam amoungst civilisation, if they have hearts as cold as this surely they should be six foot under.

I believe in Karma and I hope she is ready for what is coming her way.


Lynn
xx

What Is So Funny About Being A Vegetarian?

As I walked through our local market yesterday with my daughter we were stopped by various people about 10 times to ask, "whats in the box?", we replied that we had five baby chickens. Everyone, without exception, said are they going to end up as dinner, "no" we replied, "They are going to have a long and happy life with our other chickens".

Blank faces.

"But then you will eat them?"

"No, we are vegetarians, we will eat their eggs but not them personally"

"Oh but you have to eat meat otherwise you will die" or "What are you a Christian or something" or "Children have to eat meat otherwise they will not grow"

What is it that makes people think they have the right to question if we are vegetarian, I mean, one thing that really stands out to me is that most meat eaters are just aggressive. They all seem to believe that they have the right to laugh at your choices, to critise what you eat, to tell you how unhealthy it is to be a vegetarian and quite often they are a walking example as to why you should not eat meat.

Being a vegetarian means you eat foods that still have their energy intact. To eat a raw salad will leave you feeling full, energised and in high spirits. To stuff your way through a piece of dead flesh will leave you feeling full, bloated and ready to sleep, not to mention the stress you will put onto your digestive system.

When I encourage people to follow a holistic diet for a month I ensure they cut out all meat, just to cleanse their system but also to highlight how much better you can feel by removing it from your diet. For those who simply must have meat then I encourage them to limit the amount they eat each week, to give the digestive system an opportunity to deal with it before you chuck another load on top. Nearly everyone I have dealt with has felt more alive after a month, their skin and hair has improved and one really outstanding difference, their attitude.

You only need to look at my pig to see how content being a vegetarian makes you feel!

Mood swings are gone, they are bright and happy, they focus on the positives in life and not the negatives. In short, what you put into your system does reflect on the outside so to all of you who feel that you can mock my choices, I would rather reflect energy and health than a rotting piece of flesh anyday of the week!

Lynn
xx

The Rise Of Greed

I spoke previously in one of our issues about shark fin soup with the cruel trade that goes on behind the scenes to produce a bowl of soup.

Selling, in some cases for over $400 a bowl, it was limited mainly to the rich tourists who were visiting and whom wanted to, basially show off, experience the local cuisine.

Now with the upturn in the Chinese economy there are many more rich Chinese people than ever before and this dish, previously kept for very special occasions, is now becoming more popular on a daily basis.

This can only mean more destruction to sharks within the ocean. For those of you who maybe feel that the world would be better off without this predator consider for a moment the purpose of a shark. It is part of a much bigger Eco system and without the shark in place to maintain levels of certain fish, other fish will diminish, the fish that fishermen go out to catch, to earn a living and most importantly to feed the people who do not have $400 for a bowl of soup.

Just because we do not fully understand something does not give us the right to put on a posh frock, paint our faces and sit at a dining table declaring to the world how rich you are at the expense of the planet. I have met people who have eaten this soup and they all fall into the same category. It is all done for effect.

This display of greed is on the increase, the need to have what others do not have and yet at the end of the day, without a planet we all have nothing. If you have money to burn on a bowl of cruelty soup then do something useful with it. People are starving in the world, people have no water, people have no homes. We all have the opportunity to do something but we need to take the mud from our eyes and look clearly at what we can do.

Check out www.humanityy.com for more information and facts on this subject.

Lynn
xx

Great Books!

Yesterday I received two books from Kate Wood, co owner of www.rawliving.eu and I wanted to share them with you because they are absolutely brilliant!

Kate often writes for The International Lifestyle Magazine and we love what she is doing but these books are more, much more, than just a collection of recipes they inspire you to start thinking more about what you put into your body to make a difference and those of you who know me will understand why I found myself still reading these books at 2am this morning!

As a holistic nutritionist I strive to encourage more people to just eat properly to solve many of their life issues without the need for man made chemical solutions, and these books build on this. Kate is all about raw living, something you can start slowly and build on, but just including some of these recipes into your daily diet will make you feel so much better, you will find energy you never knew you had.

The information is incredibly easy to follow, not full of long words which can cause many to switch off, and tons of really easy recipes, many of which I will be trying today.

The photography of Kate, her family and friends make the books feel like personal scrap books, you can just pick them up anywhere and start reading and when you close the pages you will have learnt more about Kate, about food and about yourself so I really encourage you to get on line and order yourself at least one of the books.

Have a great day and a truly wonderful weekend!

Lynn
xx

What is all the fuss about?

Yesterday a bull escaped from a Spanish bullring and injured 40 people. It lept from the ring into the crowd where people began to scream and scatter.

The crowd of people, who had paid to watch this and other poor bulls be tortured and finally killed, did at least have the option of escape routes and yet, everyone seemed upset about the bulls behaviour but, in my opinion, he should have been given his freedom.

He should have been able to cut off a few ears to show his friends on his return, he should have had his photograph taken and hung in the local bar as a hero of the area and yet, for this poor chap, he was killed after he was captured. Hardly seems fair does it?

So all those people who pay to watch this, spend their days organising these events and breed these animals who they say have a wonderful three years, shame on you. This bull managed to get away and if he hurt a few people then that is the price you pay for sitting and watching such a horrible demonstration.

Surely as civilised people we can see that this is wrong? I do not buy into the fact that people say that bulls actually love this, that they enjoy the event.

I have never seen a line of bulls outside a bullring trying to get the job but as long as we keep seeing the line of people paying to watch bullfights they will continue to put them in the ring.

If you are taking a vacation anywhere in the world where this happens, do not buy a ticket to watch. You will be supporting a very cruel industry.

Do something positive with your time.

Lynn
xx

Getting Up Close And Personal

Yesterday we took a trip to a local safari park which was absolutely brilliant. It was different in the way that you could stop throughout the drive through and get out and meet the animals, except for the lions and tigers, and for children it was just brilliant.

We walked up to enormous Bison, held huge snakes and met some of the parks new arrivals. It was just brilliant for children who were able to really connect with the animals there were plenty of people to ask for information and it was a fantastic way to have a science lesson in a real hands on way.

Do try and find something similar for your family there are loads of places you can visit, not all of them expensive, there are lots of local farms who are more than happy to let you in and meet the various animals and children just love it, as do the adults.

We write about many different trips in our magazine, you can see the story about Bison in our latest issue at http://www.lifestyle.tk/ but you do not have to travel the world to see these animals, find out what is in your area and get out there.

When you think that some children still do not know where an egg comes from or even where milk comes from this is a valuable lesson that they can really benefit from. Within five minutes of being here our children witnessed an Ostrich laying an egg! That was the talking point all the way home.

Have a great day and if you can, get out and meet the locals!

Lynn

xx

Taking Time Out!

There was no blog yesterday purely because it was time to take with the family to go and have some fun.

It was time to put work aside, forget all those jobs that need doing and to spend time with the children before they grow up and those moments are gone.

Our children took their first ride on a ´grown up´roller coaster, they took rides that left them screaming for more, they got soaked to the skin, they ate sweets and chips and they ran everywhere with excitement.

It was a day full of memories, a day of fun a day of just being a family.

All the other jobs are still here today, but yesterday could never be recaptured, so be sure that you find time for you to make memories. All too quickly it can be gone.

Have a wonderful day!

Lynn

xxx

For Crying Out Loud.

You can view this sick display of animal cruelty in todays News Of The World, www.newsoftheworld.co.uk where another stupid person has stated that these animals actually love being forced to jump 22ft into a pool of water, I mean we see this all the time in the wild, mules just looking for the perfect cliff in which to perfect their art.

The main people to blame here are those who pay to watch this, I wonder how they would feel if a small child was forced to jump from up here. Anyone who pays to watch animal cruelty should be sentenced and charged just as much as the people who ´train´these animals to carry out such stupid and dangerous tricks.

Where does this all go on? Why, down in Texas, the land of the Rodeo, run by the owner Bill Rivers who says "If they did not like it, they would not do it". OK, so you have been forced to the top of the ramp what are the options? They have to jump, they have no choice, it is like saying that someone jumps from a burning building because they like it. They have no choice.

What is wrong with people? Everyday there seems to be another idiot making money out of cruelty and even more idiots smiling and clapping in the audience. Wake up and see what you are supporting and do something positive with your life. If you like mules, go on a trek and see some of the world with a reputable company, and I guarantee you, not once will they lead you to a cliff and jump off in delight towards 6ft of water.

Lynn

xx

Put A Smile On Your Face!

I saw this today whilst scouring through the tons of miserable news and instantly felt lifted so I wanted to share it with you.


In the Straits of Gibraltar, the gateway to the Mediterranean, a group of Pilot Whales were swimming past when they noticed the camera. Not wishing to miss an opportunity one stopped to show his best side, looking at his reflection in the camera to be sure that they had the right shot, and indeed they did.

At 3 tons and 20 foot long he certainly has pressence and whilst they have been known to grab a diver by their leg and drag them to the bottom if they feel threatened, they have also been known to do the reverse, pulling people up from the bottom of the ocean, so as well as being absolutely stunning, great in front of the camera they are also, it would seem, very good judges of character!

I just love him, he makes me smile and what else can you ask for?

Lynn
xx

Natures Super Food!

Lots of people take their daily multi vitamin tablet, mainly out of habit but very view actually consider why they are taking it and if, in fact, they actually need it, I mean the word ´multi´can be pretty vague.

If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to take spirulina every day. Why? I will tell you.

Spirulina contains 45% protein which far outways red meat which sits at 27% and the soy at 34%, plus it contains just about everything else you could possibly need to keep healthy which in turn keeps your immune system fully charged at all times.

The biggest users of Spirulina are the Japanese who we know have the longest life expectancy and they use it in just about everything. Now I am not suggested that you start finding ways to cook with it there is a much easier way of taking Spirulina, just pop into a chemist or ideally a health food shop and buy a bottle of Spirulina capsules and start taking them everyday. How many depends on those you buy but I always take one in the morning and one in the afternoon at about 3pm. Any later and I have too much energy to go to sleep!

The most important point is that when you take Spirulina you are taking a completely natural substance, nothing hidden, nothing chemical which will feed all of your body.

As a nutritionist it is one of the first things that I suggest to my clients, particularly if people are trying to control their weight. Taking a Spirulina tablet will remove those craves, usually bought about by initial poor nutirition.

Do your research on this and make sure you buy yourself some today!

Lynn
xx

Keeping The Balance!

This is a wonderful image that I saw yesterday in the Daily Mail, and I love the way that the Gorilla is studying the Nintendo DS. Even better is the fact that once she had given it a good looking over she was happy to swop it for a big red apple!

I think this confirm that Gorillas are more intelligent than many people who seem more than happy to allow their children to remain locked in their rooms playing these games.

Now before you think that I am completely against these games I am not, but their has to be balance. There is a world outside of computer games, the real world, so it is incredibly important, in my opinion, that you monitor the use of these games and balance it with getting outside into the fresh air.

Children need to develop their imaginations, to build camps, to look for insects whatever, the point is, the real world is not confined to a tiny screen and children need to know this.

Have a wonderful day!

Lynn
xx

Appreciate Your Life

I listened to some people yesterday moaning about how they wished they had a better car, how their house was not big enough and how they did not know how the could go on unless they had an ensuite bathroom, how they needed to find a gardener to keep their flowers looking pretty all the time and whilst I appreciate that these are things which are important to them, they really need to look outside the windows of their own world and see what is happening in the world and appreciate what they have.

In China they have had a mudslide which has taken the lives of 700 people, with thousands more missing. Many of the survivors have only what they are standing in and have lost family and friends.

In Pakistan 1500 people have died in the floods and with 14 million people affected this number is sure to rise. They are living in tents made of bits of plastic with no food and no fresh water and with the rain still coming down.

The people of Haiti are still trying to build new lives from the rubble that was left.

A child dies every 3 minutes of hunger.

The list goes on but isn´t it time that we started to appreciate what we have, that we can turn on a tap and we have water, that we have a bed to climb into, that we have our family around us. These are the important things in life, this is what we should be focusing on and putting our energies into helping others that need it.

Lynn

x

SO ANGRY!

What exactly is wrong with certain people in the world. I watched in horror this morning a report bought to the west by http://www.animalsasia.org/ showing us the horrors of the zoos and circus acts in China.

Beautiful animals reduced to nothing but beaten souls, terrible methods of cruelty are used to make a bear dance, a monkey ride a bike, a tiger stand on a table and for what purpose, so that a group of sick humans can stand and watch and clap hands. Even worse is the fact they feed their tigers, and other animals, live food such as chickens and calves. Were the audience appauled, including the children, no, they clapped and cheered and took photographs.

I recently had a long conversation with someone who told me that I was wrong to condem a circus because the animals had choosen to be there, they had stepped forward it was their destiny! I cannot imagine any animal would choose to have their teeth and claws removed, to be beaten with sticks and lumps of metal and to spend a life of humiliation in front of a group of cheering people. I am quite sure given the option between a forest or a tiny, filthy metal cage they would not choose to live this way.

Unless people speak out, this just goes on and on s please check out their web site, see what is happening and find a way to help. Avoid any circus that uses animals because despite what some rather simple people may think, animals do not want to live like this, not now, not ever..

Lynn
x

Quick, Easy and Very Tasty Recipe!

Today I want to share this recipe with you, I tried it yesterday and it is just delicious!

Carrot, Cumin and Lemon Salad

You will need:

1lb of organic carrots

pinch of salt

4 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 Tablespoon of cumin seeds

1 Tablespoon of black mustard seeds

4 teaspoons of lemon juice

The zest of the lemon

To Make:

Peel your carrots and using a potato peeler cut them into long strips. Then put them in a bowl with the salt and toss around.

Put your oil into a pan and when it is hot add the cumin and mustard seeds and let them sizzle for a couple of minutes.

As soon as the mustard seeds start to ´pop´tip the whole lot over the carrots add the lemon juice and zest and mix around. You can top with some fresh corriander for a really fresh taste.

Then serve, easy!

Have a great day!

Lynn

xx

Watch Out For The Child Catchers!

The UK newspapers are today reporting on how parents are letting their children down by not educating them on good health, in particular food.

The leading fast food chaings lure children into their food stores with gifts, play areas and bright colours not unlike that of the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

With my own children I give them the option, they can go to any of these places, but I have spent alot of time educating them on what goes into the food, how it is prepared and the nutritional value behind the food. I have sat with them and gone through a brilliant web site www.meatrix.com which illustrates fantastically what this food is all about. I have used my marketing background to explain how the gifts are a lure to children to entice them in. No I am not brainwashing them with information I am giving them the facts that every child deserves.

I started educating my children when they were only 6 and 8 years old and now they have a very clear understanding.

Theyknow what organic means, they know that if a they see signs saying ´100 chicken legs only 4.99´they understand what it contains and that it is probably not even suitable for a dog.

I make a lentil burger with my children, they see everything that goes into it and we talk about how the Romans marched across Europe on a diet of lentils because they are full of protein and made the soldiers strong. They put them in a bun with all the extras and they love the taste, the smell and the texture. They have a burger, they have helped to make it, they have a story to share and most importantly they are being nourished on all levels.

My point here is that children want to learn, we all need to learn, to understand what we are putting into our bodies. We need to set the right example to our children to ensure their future. No one wants to see their children unwell so keep them healthy including their mental, physical and emotional.

Never say no but give them the information to make their own decisions, you will be surprised how many times they choose correctly. It is incredibly heart warming to hear them talk to their friends about the dangers of fast foods and foods from unknown sources. These children are the ones who will make the difference in the future.

Lynn
xx