A Simple Little Holiday Plan
May 31, 2007
The Thanksgiving leftovers have all been eaten and the gift-buying season has shifted into high gear. Remain calm and prepare yourself for the most jam-packed month in the calendar year. There are a small percentage of you who may actually have completed your to-do list long before everyone else. (If this is you, then kick back and relax.) The rest of you needn’t despair! Just read on for the essential steps in holiday preparation. The key to preparing yourself for all the craziness is a well thought out plan. Believe it or not, the simple act of putting it down on paper can give you some peace. I am not sure why seeing my obligations and tasks in black and white are more calming than letting them race through my mind, but it really works.
During December, the holiday plan that I depend on is divided into four separate sections or categories. They are:
- Cards
- Gifts
- Social/Community Obligations
- Decorating
(Keep an extra copy of your gift list in the car, because you never know where your daily travels will take you.)
Holiday Cards
Christmas Mourning
May 30, 2007
Deecember is a cruel month. Christmas sales, decorations, advertisements -everyone seems so happy and cheerful - it’s easy to feel alone.
It’s precisely at these happy times that the loss of our loved one can be felt the strongest. We remember only too well who is missing.
Whether our loss was recent or whether it occurred many years ago, we are constantly surrounded by sights and sounds that trigger memories of holidays past, and wracked with dreams of what might have been. Holidays involve expectations about getting together with family, about special meals or special gifts, and special traditions. Even when we find a way to cope with everyday life, the holiday season brings a renewed sense of these dreadful feelings of grief.
No matter how much we surround ourselves with the closeness of family and friends, it’s impossible to forget the memories of past holidays when our loved ones were here. And impossible not to wonder what the present holidays would be like if our loved ones had not been taken from us. What can we do?
Plan ahead
The Ice Hotel ? Is an Ice Hotel the Ultimate in Cool Destinations?
May 30, 2007
The demand for a stay in an ice hotel has never been greater. The first hotel made of ice opened in Jukkasjarvi, a Lapland town in the north of Sweden, in1990. The Ice Hotel concept has gripped the world’s imagination since then.
Sweden remains the world’s main venue for buildings made of ice. By exploring Sweden you might expect to find ice galleries, ice restaurants and ice bars as well as the ice hotels. But Sweden is not alone - the other Scandinavian countries have launched their own versions of the Ice Hotel concept. Even Alaska and upstate Quebec in Canada have built an ice hotel in the last few years.
The real adventure of an ice hotel is in staying overnight but many visitors simply arrive for the day to dine in the restaurant or to drink in an Ice Bar. There is nothing quite so warming as a shot of pure vodka served from a glass made entirely of ice.
Legends of the Christmas Tree
May 29, 2007
The Christmas tree is a much loved symbol iinstantly calling up images of gifts and family jollity. There are many beautiful connections to ancient traditions. Egyptian and Roman customs, early Christian practices and Victorian nostalgia are all combined in our modern Christmas tree.
The Greek Fir is commonly used as a Christmas tree. Ancient Greeks called the tree “Pitys” and, together with the pine-tree, it was sacred to Pan. Legend tells us Pan was once in love with a nymph called Pity, as was the god of the North wind. Pity chose Pan and the wind god, insulted and humiliated, blew her over a gorge to her death. Pan found her lifeless body and turned her into his sacred Fir-tree. Ever since, whenever the North wind blows, you can Pity crying and her tears are the droplets of pitch that leak from the fir-cones every autumn.
Since ancient times, evergreen trees have been revered as a representation of sexual potency and fertility, and played an important role in Winter Celebrations. Perhaps the Christmas tree is a watered-down version of the Scandinavian Yggdrasil, the Great Tree of Life. In Northern Europe the evergreen was a reminder that the long dark nights of Winter would end and the green of Spring would return. For Saturnalia, Romans would decorate their trees with suns, candles and small pieces of metal and today we still carry trees into our homes and adorn them.
Magical Plants of Christmas
May 28, 2007
Most of the plants we associate with the holiday season are from Europe or the Mediterranean. We know the holly, ivy, mistletoe, christmas rose, rosemary, hawthorn, bay and of course, evergreens while the New World is represented in Christmas legend by the poinsettia. What are the legends and lore surrounding these common plants ?
Hawthorn.
The Glastonbury thorn is connected with Christ’s death as well as his birth. Legend has it that soon after the death of Christ, Joseph of Arimathea came to Britain to spread the message of Christianity. As he lay down to rest from his weary journey, he pushed his staff into the ground beside him. When he awoke, he found that the staff had taken root and begun to grow and blossom. From that day onwards - every Christmas Eve the white thorn buds and blooms.
There is a tradition in England that a branch of the Glastonbury Thorn is taken and displayed each year in Buckingham Palace.
Rosemary is another plant with extensive holiday traditions, symbolism, and legends and associated with remembrance, friendship, and fidelity. Floors of churches and homes were strewn with the herb and the traditional boar’s head for the Christmas feast was decorated with rosemary.
Why Visit Magical Cape Town?
May 27, 2007
People often ask me why we keep returning year after year to Cape Town and my answer is always the same, because we’ve not seen everything yet!
"A world in one country" is the way South Africa is often described, but this statement can so easily be attributed to Cape Town alone.
Cape Town is one of the top destinations world-wide for vacations these days and now that South Africa has managed 10 years with relative stability and economic growth, people are rushing to take a look at this magnificent city.
Based in the Southern Hemisphere, its summer months are those of December, January and February; the winter months, June, July and August. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the destination for winter warmth is second to none.
What can you expect to see and do?
Mountains and sea dominate the landscape and shape Cape Town’s character.
One of the first ports of call is Table Mountain, which fills the skyline with its impressive edifice and flat-topped surface. Everywhere you go in Cape Town is in the shadow of the Mountain, whose face changes as the sun moves around ? it’s something you never get bored of.
The Truth about Mistletoe
May 26, 2007
You can call it the emasculator of the old king, a sexual symbol, latent with fertility or a good luck charm for a dairy herd. It’s been used as an antidote for poison, a fire suppressant, a protection against evil spirits, a pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis and as a gift of peace between warring neighbours. This parasitic shrub with sticky white berries has somehow shrugged off its shady past to become a tradition of our Christmas. But this is, after all, a season of myth, legend, and make believe.
Today mistletoe, while not exactly decking our halls, is hung over doorways to entice a couple to exchange a kiss. And we have forgotten even the meaning of its name.
The name is perhaps derived from the ancient belief that mistletoe was propagated from bird droppings, a belief related to the then-accepted principle that life could spring spontaneously from dung. It was observed in ancient times that mistletoe would often appear on a branch or twig where birds had left droppings. “Mistel” is one of the Anglo-Saxon words for “dung,” and “tan” is “twig”. So, mistletoe means “dung-on-a-twig”. Not a name that would normally encourage thoughts of romance.
Reduce Waste This Christmas
May 25, 2007
- Christmas is responsible for more waste and consumption than any other holiday. North American’s trash increases by 25% over Christmas - which equates to 25 million extra tons of garbage going to the landfill. By recognizing the incredible waste that is generated the urgency to do something becomes apparent. A truly useful or environment friendly gift is a better ecological choice. Here is a brief list of ideas to inspire you.
- For the homeowner - thermostat control that automatically turns the heat down at night. A low flow shower head attachment. A draft cozy (placed in front of doors to prevent drafts) and tubes of caulking or weather stripping. Dimmer switches or compact fluorescent bulbs. Hot water tank and hot water pipe insulation kits.
- For the gardener - subscription to an organic gardening magazine or a membership to a seed organization. Bird, bat and butterfly houses, baths and feeders ? or the patterns to build them. A composting worm bin or a membership with an environmental group.
- Tickets to a performance, restaurant gift certificates or services such as lawn care, diaper, cleaning, music lessons, exercise or dance classes, tune-up or tire rotation services ? all support local business.
Looking For A Holiday With A Difference?
May 25, 2007
Fancy holidaying somewhere unusual? How about a 7 day tornado chasing safari? Care for a camping safari across the desert? How about a night in an Igloo? Or perhaps you may want to attend a winter driving school and receive your reindeer license!
Chloe Lim goes in search of holiday spots with a difference. You will reach areas that are totally remote, stunningly beautiful, rich in history and heritage, away from mainstream tourism and not in any guide book. For those seeking an energetic adventure, complete relaxation, a romantic interlude, or a holiday that combines all of these elements, the following holiday packages are particularly appealing. Offering inspiration for travellers, each itinerary is a complete package. The accommodations may not have satellite TV or air-conditioning - but they offer an unforgettable experience.
By way of a taster, here are just a few of the unusual holiday packages on offer…
6 Day Ayers Rock Adventure Duration: 6 days / 5 nights Commences: Perth, Western Australia and concludes Alice Springs, Northern Territory
10 Holiday Sober Savers 2004
May 24, 2007
1.) BEGIN NOW !!!
Don’t save your shopping, decorating, cooking, wrapping, and cleaning for the last minute. That is too much pressure for anyone. This is the year to be organized, so you’ll have time to enjoy the season in sobriety. If you can’t get something done, just let it go with no regrets.
2.) Attend your meetings
Start preparing NOW. ‘Tis the season! Don’t let social invitations distract you from recovery.You’ll find a meeting invaluable when you happen to come up against a trigger or some craving. If you start feeling down, or really don’t feel like going to a meeting–THIS,is when you really do need to go. That hour of your time may save your life.
3.) Don’t take on new commitments.
It just isn’t a good idea. Let someone take care of you this year.If asked to do something you may find too stressful simply say, “I’m sorry. I’m doing some developmental work and I’m just too busy to give the attention it deserves…” Making Christmas dinner for 50 people or example, will not help you relax and stay focused on your recovery.
4.) Before planning the family reunions
