Banana skins, more deadly than you think!

Up until last week I didn’t think it was possible.
I thought it was something out of a comic book, an act designed to make people laugh.
I am, of course, talking about slipping on a banana skin.
This act is famous in comic books, cartoons and sketch shows, where one character is sent flying by the deadly yellow skin, often with hilarious consequences.
However I was under the impression I was immune from the problem, not believing it could really cause people to fall.

How wrong I was.
Now, I am pretty accident prone, and have been known to fall over thin air.
So when, on my routine walk home from work, I slipped and landed on my bottom I thought I had been having one of those days.
Imagine my surprise when I looked down and saw the banana skin crushed beneath my shoe.
For me it dispelled the myth that stepping on a banana skin was safe, and for people around me it gave them a good laugh.

Interested to see if others had experienced the same thing as me I turned to the internet.
After some research I found that the  joke of slipping on a banana skin dates back to the turn of the century, when bananas were becoming popular as a snack for the working class.
Once the bananas were eaten, the peels were just discarded on the street.
Comic strips and artists drawings at that time showed naughty little boys throwing skins to trip up parents, teachers, police, and other people in authority.

So here is a warning from me to you.
When you are innocently walking along keep your eyes peeled (no pun intended) for the seemingly harmless banana skin.
It is not as harmless as you may have believed.

Review of The Vinyard, in Berkshire

I am a wine lover, and it is my favourite tipple to drink at weekends.

So what was better for me than a visit to The Vineyards, in Newbury, Berkshire, which prides itself on the vast array of good quality wines on offer.

The Vineyard is privately owned by Sir Peter Michael, who is a self confessed wine lover.

It shows in his hotel, which has an extensive wine list, with around 2,300 bottles on offer, from countries including France, Italy, Spain and Australia.

It is no wonder, then, that on choosing wine before our meal my partner Joe and I needed a little help.

Luckily the charming and friendly staff were only to happy to oblige, choosing us a light and fruity chardonnay.

Although widely known for its wine The Vineyard also boasts a top restaurant.
The menu has been created using the freshest of ingredients all seasonally sourced, and is described as  classic French cuisine with both Mediterranean and far eastern influences
The work and care that goes in to creating each individual dish is clear to see.

This comes as no surprise when you realise the kitchen is headed up by Michelin star chef Daniel Galmiche, who regularly appears on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen with James Martin.

I almost did not want to eat my main dish of free range veal with Swiss chard and smoked mash potato as the presentation was so lovely.
However I was glad I did, as it was by far the best veal I had ever tasted.
The pan fried sea bass got a big thumbs up from Joe, along with both our starters and desserts.
The atmosphere in the restaurant is perfectly complimented by the sounds of a pianist, who was only too happy to play requests for diners.

As part of our stay we visited the spa, which gives guests time to relax and be pampered.
A full range of treatments are offered in the tranquil settings, from facials to full body massages as well as beauty essentials, and makeup.
Although we did not have time to try one of the many treatments, we were happy to swim in the pool, and take time to relax in the hot tub.

For the night we were put up in one of the five star hotels luxury suites which have been beautifully decorated.
Each of the 49 rooms have been named after wines, with the top six suites named after Peter Michael wines, and the remaining rooms named after Californian, French, Italian and Spanish wine labels.

During our time at The Vineyard our every need was catered for, and nothing was too much trouble.
From the dedicated service at meals, to the friendly greeting on arrival the staff were keen to please and excelled my expectations.
Guests will not be disappointed, and will be left wanting to stay for longer.

The Vineyard excepts guests, diners, and people who just want to use the spa.
For more information and to view prices visit http://www.the-vineyard.co.uk/, call 01635 528770 or email reservations@the-vineyard.co.uk.

Hypnotherapy.....does it work?

Hypnotherapy conjures up images of men asking you to look into their eyes before convincing you to bark like a dog in front of a laughing audience.
To dispel the myth, and get help for exam nerves I visited Victoria Proctor at the Peace of Mind clinic on Upper Borough Walls.

On entering the light office I was immediately put at ease by the relaxed setting, and clam manner of Victoria.
I knew that I was in good hands as Victoria is one of the first hypnotherapists in the country to be registered by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the UK regulator for complementary healthcare.
Victoria, aged 27 from Highlittleton, has been treating people in Bath for three years, with problems including anxiety, depression, and weight issues.
Her interest in hypnotherapy began while she was studying for her degree in psychology with music.
Also a trained classical singer she suffered severe stage fright when performing, and found hypnotherapy helpful in managing her fear.
She became interested in how the mind creates anxiety and how this can be effectively treated.

 

On learning this I felt she was ideal to help me learn how to cope with the nerves and feelings of anxiety I experience when taking a shorthand exam.
Hypnotherapy involves using a trance state to reinforce positive change and personal goal achievement.
Victoria said: “Being in a relaxed state allows us to understand the vital role the mind plays in allowing us to reach our goals.
“It allows people to make positive changes in their lives.
“Having hypnotherapy myself for both stage fright and weight loss, I have experienced first hand the enormous benefits that hypnotherapy, combined with psychotherapy, can give.

After explaining my problem I was asked to lie on the sofa.
In traditional hypnotherapy style Victoria counted down from 10 to 1, while playing relaxing music.
Quite sceptical at first I did not believe it would work, but I soon found myself in a very relaxed state.
Victoria helped me to reach a state of mind where I felt relaxed and happy, using images of sun, trees and water.
On bringing me back into the real world she told me to remember the feelings, and use them to stay calm in an exam situation.

Victoria has seen people ranging in age from 10 to 76, and said she loves being able to help people.
She said: “I love my job, as no two days are ever the same.
“I know that hypnotherapy can really help someone.
“People who see me are amazed at how it can help them.”
I am determined to use the relaxation techniques Victoria taught me in my next exam, and fingers crossed it works.
To find out how hypnotherapy can help you visit www.peaceofmindchp.co.uk, call Victoria on 07860 475220 or email victoria.proctor@peaceofmindchp.co.uk.

Me and my car....a disaster waiting to happen!

My knowledge of cars, and their complex inner workings is lacking. Actually, when I say lacking, I mean non existent. This, coupled with my ability to cause chaos wherever I go, is why my poor car must hate me.

As all sensible parents would do mine put me in a breakdown cover. This was to protect me, and indeed them, when disaster struck. And strike it did. In the space of two years I managed to call the company out three times, to deal with mechanical problems like my tyre blowing while I was merrily doing 80mph in the middle lane on the motorway, or when my battery died leaving me stranded in a dark park. I have also called on them when my own stupidity (they don’t call me blonde for nothing) caused me to lock my keys in the car while visiting friends in Hereford.

However for my latest car disaster I didn’t call them, as I wasn’t sure they would take me seriously. Imagine the phone call ‘Hello, I was driving along and my wing mirror just shattered.’

That’s exactly what happened (or what I thought had happened until I spoke to the oracle of cars, better known as my dad, later). I was driving along an empty country road, laughing at the antics of Chris Moyles and his crew, when suddenly there was an almighty bang. This caused me to scream, and hurriedly pull over. Now, I believed that one of my tyres had burst. Feeling slightly smug that I had worked out what the problem was, I got out of the car and checked my tryes. All four were fine. Feeling stumped I sat back in my car, and did what I do in times of stress, check to make sure my hair looked ok. Well, I may have to call on a cute policeman for assistance, and I wanted to look good! This was when I established the problem, the glass in my wing mirror was gone.

Feeling very confused I drove the rest of the way to work, to recount my tale. Proving that they know me well my colleagues all asked me what I had hit. The answer was nothing, I was the only car on the road, and there was nothing to hit!

On arriving home that night the car oracle assessed the situation and told me that, rather than just being the glass as I had thought, the whole wing mirror was broken.

The verdict on what actually happened? Well, according to the car oracle I hit a bird! You think even I would have noticed this! Apparently not.

So a word of warning to all the feathered  creatures out there, if you see a small silver clio heading your way with a blonde driver behind the wheel fly away. It will save your life, and will mean I still have a wing mirror to assess my hair. After all, that’s what they are for, aren’t they?!

Lose yourself in a good book

I love to read. Picking up a new book and losing yourself in the words inside is my perfect way to unwind.

From a young age my parents knew I would be a book worm. It was a bit of a give away really, as my first word was 'book' and my first proper sentence 'read a book'. I used to climb into bed with my parents, and they would have to read stoires like Mr Gotobed, and Jemima Puddleduck. I learnt these stories off by heart almost, and would chant along with my mum. I think she was glad when I learnt to read myself!

As a child I was enthralled by Enid Blyton's books. I yearned to join in with the adventures of The Famous Five: Julian, Dick and Anne, George and Timmy the dog. I spent many happy hours travelling to distant lands with Molly and Peter in the Wishing Chair. And it was down the Malory Towers and St Claires that my obsession with going to boarding school started.

As I got older it was the adventures of Nancy Drew that caught my imagination. I was also very in to The Babysitters Club. The books, by  Ann M Martin, told the story of Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacey McGill who set up a babysitting club. I used to buy one book a week with my pocket money, and read it in 1 day. I would then be left waiting until the next week when I had money to buy another. These books also inspired me to set up my own babysitting service....with my dolls and teddys as the clients. However babysitting stuffed toys was not as interesting as the adventures the girls got up to, and I soon got bored with it.!

Moving on into my late teens/ early 20's, when an A'level and degree in English Literature saw me turn to the classics. This was when I was introduced to what would become my favourite book of all time: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Reading this book sparked a big interest in the Bronte sisters, and I quickly read all the books by Charlotte, Emily and Anne.

What got me onto the subject of books was two things.

One being that I have joined my first bookclub. We set it up at work, and have been reading The Other Bolyen Girl by Philippa Gregory. It is a brilliant book, and one I would probably not have picked up if it hadnt been for the bookclub. I have now been inspired to read other books by her.

The second thing was that the BBC have published a top 100 list of books we should read, and say that sadly most people have read less than 10. I have read 48, so still have a way to go. I have published the list below, how many have you read? Are there any in particular that you like/disliked? 

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher

51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
53. The Stand, Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
83. Holes, Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie