Mother’s Special Heaven Lies Under the Feet of Mothers
A Reflection on Motherhood by T. Houareau
A Busy Woman’s Guide to Looking Good It IS Possible!
IN FULL BLOOM
Say It with Floral Print Pieces
Super-Mums and the Art of Balancing
The Life of a Working Mother by R. Bella
Mother is a Verb
A Take on Adoption by Sandra Hanks MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
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From the
EDITOR
Dear Folks,
At some point in the ‘motherhood’ process, a woman is guaranteed to have a panic attack – or the equivalent of. How can she not? Once the anticipation of the new arrival is over, once the novelty of waking up in the middle of the night wears off, once life goes back to ‘normal’ - whatever on earth that means anyway – there is one fundamental assertion that remains; the wellbeing of this human being rests on her shoulders. From its happiness to its health to its education – a significant part of all of this is down to how this person is raised. How a mother goes about embracing this frightening reality varies from woman to woman – in my personal experience, a mother needs to try and find a way to make it as fun and nurturing as possible. What that entails also varies from woman to woman. There is no one way about it nor no one rule of how it should all be – but one thing is certain and that is nothing else on this earth can be as gratifying as watching your child grow before your eyes. Our May issue is a tribute to all mothers out there -including the men who also play the role of mothers. Whether you gave birth to a child, adopted him/her, or you are the ‘aunt’ or ‘grandma’ who unintentionally became ‘mum’ we take our hats off to you and say thank you. A proud mother will be seeing her daughter crowned Miss Seychelles 2013 this month. If you haven’t seen the girls yet, we have a line-up of them in the POTPOURRI Photography Studio on pages 34 and 35. Find out more about the event on http://www.facebook.com/MissSeychellesNationalPageant SEYBREW is pleased to announce the winners from the February and March issues – Juliana Francoise and Maria Cedras, please contact the Marketing Section of the Seychelles Breweries Ltd. For those of you visiting our beautiful islands this month, may you have a memorable holiday and are blown away by the Seychellois hospitality. Until next time, stay healthy and happy. Marie-France Chief Editor
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Cover Model Models: Mother and son duo, Tina & Sebastien Houareau. 36 year old Tina is a Seychelloise living in the USA with her son, 5 year old Sebastien. Do not miss her column on page 4 | Photographer: Joel Zamzow. Joel lives exactly half way between the equator and the north pole. Sometimes he is busy being a father, producing videos and creating photographs. Other times he naps. He is into minimalism. You can reach him at joel@zamzowmedia.com
MAY
Regulars
In this issue 8: What is The Best Part of Motherhood? YOU tell us
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40
Nathalie Hoareau
Jenny Gilbert
15
11
Brigitte Monchouguy Alexandria Faure
11: What makes us happy in life? Alexandria Faure 12: Exploring the enigma of Wine Daniel Balkwill
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45
Tina Houareau
49
Bernard Georges
42
Georges Grave
50
Nathalie Hodgson
Ahmed Afif
36 Jennifer Baldwin
7 Annalisa Labiche
40: Colour in Your Life The Station 42: Mindful Parenting Nathalie Hodgson 45: Car Hire Responsibility Bernard Georges 46: Post Baby Blues Our Agony Aunt 51: Green Your Life THE FEMININE WAY
The Team
10 CĂŠlia Ponzo
Marie-France Watson & Ineke Camille Martin Houreau
Elaine Lafortune
Olivia Michaud
Steve Nibourette
Contact Us Chief Editor: Marie-France Watson M: + (248) 2512477 | E: paradisepromotion@gmail.com Sales & Marketing: Ineke Camille M: + (248) 2520937 | E: ineke.paradisepromotion@gmail.com Freelance Writer: Elaine Lafortune
Virginie Quatre
Joel Zamzow
Hair Stylist: Martin Houreau’s Hairdressing Make Up Artist: Virginie Quatre (Make-Over) Photography: Steve Nibourette | E: snibourette@gmail.com
Potpourri Magazine Seychelles
Graphics & Layout: Olivia Michaud E: info@angelcreativedesign.com
Potpourri Seychelles is published by Paradise Promotions Ltd, Box 1539, Room 18, Docklands Building, Victoria, Seychelles E-mail: paradisepromotion@gmail.com | Tel: + (248) 4325215 | Fax: + (248) 4325216 | Printed by: Emirates Printing Press
MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
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Musings of an Island Girl by Tina Houareau Heaven lies under the feet of Mothers Photo Credit - Joel Zamzow
her how remarkable I thought she really was. But there are still so many things that I never mustered the courage to say, and she remains, at bottom, a woman I never properly got to know. Mothers’ Day always brings with it bittersweet wanderings. It leaves me acutely aware of how much I never had and how much I have lost. That is inevitable. But it also reminds me that I got a beautiful second chance. Lately, I have caught myself staring at Sebastien and thinking of that really melancholic scene at the end of Fly Away Home when the little girl allows the birds to fly away. You have to let go, but you must learn to do so in a graceful and peaceful way.
Before I became a mother I vowed I was going to try and do a better job than my own did in bringing up a child. I had a not-so-little list of mistakes I would never make based on my opinions of where my mother had faltered. I struggled for years to overcome a bitter resentment I harbored against her for abandoning me at birth. I ended up being raised in an environment where I was physically, verbally, mentally, and emotionally abused. My mother was acutely aware of my hardships but she chose to stay away for six long years. How do you come to terms with such despicable selfishness? I have tried looking at my own behavior between the impressionable ages of 1621 – which would mirror the age frame she was the childless mother in the hope of being able to relate to her own struggles at the time – in the hope of trying to simply understand. My conclusions? The young can be reckless, gullible, unwise, and shockingly self-centered. I was fortunate that a few years before my mum tragically died, our relationship grew less volatile and that I actually got around to telling
I think it is fair to say that every woman enters motherhood with a set of beliefs or expectations about what it means to be a good mother. We cultivate these beliefs from the pressure of our communities and society, the involvements with our own parents, and through the anticipations of friends, family, and the all-too-powerful media. These outside influences can have so much control and influence over us that when we finally do become mothers ourselves, it can be challenging to explore or even find our own definition of what it means to be a good parent. But motherhood should not be like a spectator sport. We should never aspire to an image that is convenient yet impossible or painful to maintain. We should not do that because such images all too often come at a very high sacrificial price. Tina Houareau is a Seychelloise living in the USA with her young son. She is an Instructional Designer for Capella University, where she is completing her PHD in the same field.
The world on its first morning.
To begin your experience call: (230) 402 27 72/73 o r v i s i t u s a t w w w. c o n s t a n c e h o t e l s. c o m
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Ineke Camille E:ineke.paradisepromotion@gmail.com TEL: 2520937
LIFESTYLE
Super-Mums
and the art of balancing
“The phrase “working mother” is redundant”. ~Jane Sellman Jarred awake by the sound of incessant, high pitched ringing, I stumble towards my dressing table reaching blindly in an attempt to silence the intrusion. I breathe a sigh of relief as I hit the snooze button, look around and realize my two-year old son is still fast asleep. A glance at the clock tells me I only have 45 minutes to take a shower, get dressed, apply makeup and – hopefully – gulp down a cup of coffee before the inevitable struggle of frazzled diaper changing, ankle grabbing and overall panic of getting a toddler fully clothed begins – bearing in mind I might have to do it all over again before clambering into the car and dropping him off at school. Such is the life of the working mother. The incredibly high number of mothers working in Seychelles could easily bring to mind images of emotionally deprived or “damaged” children who never had a mummy stay with them full time. Even I at some point went through the guilt of feeling as though I never had any bonding time with my son because I started work as soon as he turned four months old. In effect, this is usually a huge worry for a number of women who work, raise children and perhaps come to feel inadequate as mothers for having either begun work or headed back to the office environment. Luckily for us though, an English paediatrician and psychoanalyst by the name Donald Woods Winnicott coined the term the good-enoughmother which has more or less let a lot of us off the hook. The premise, is a mother is neither good nor bad and the good-enoughmother simply starts off with a complete adaptation to her child’s needs. However as time progresses, she adapts less and less (gradually of course) and allows the child to realise his or her own independence. Dr Winnicott
”Even I at some point went through the guilt of feeling as though I never had any bonding time with my son because I started work as soon as he turned four months old.’
believed this withdrawal from complete adaptation would eventually help the child adapt to external realities themselves. What it came down to, in effect, was there is no such thing as a supermum – nor should there be, hence; a good-enough-mother is better than the “perfect mother”. This theory fits in perfectly with my previous twisted idea that all time should be dedicated to the little one and feeling guilty for working and developing my career. So for the working mothers out there, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to your carrying on a successful career and being there for your children.
1. Make time for your kids. So you work the evening shifts most nights. It
really doesn’t matter. Pick a weekend where some real bonding will take place and use that to your advantage.
2. Do not compare yourself to other mothers either of different age to you, experience or the type of work you do as a living. Hillary, a trainee journalist is 18 and has a 3 year old daughter. “Most of the time, I find balancing work and spending time with Latika a rather difficult feat and I am extremely lucky to have the support of my mother and partner,” she said. “I work on alternate weekends so I try to make sure on those where I am free, maximum time is spent with my daughter. She has only just started attending an adaptation program at the Beau Vallon kindergarten where they end at 11 am at which time I am still at work. This means I have to find a way of leaving work to drop her off at her usual babysitters in town”. This fits in nicely with my next point. 3. Planning. You may think you can get away with it, but one of the
most important things to do as a working mother is plan! Do you have an emergency babysitter at hand? Preferably one who has transport? This could make a working mother’s’ life a whole lot easier and can help with those times you just need to get away or chip in a few more hours of work.
4. Accept our limitations as human beings and stay in the moment Whether your child is 2 or 14, staying in the moment is important. As working mothers we often do not realize how much we could possibly miss out on if we are not constantly paying attention. So if and when your child needs to speak, put down the iron or the broom and close the laptop. Accept that we too can make mistakes. After a long day of work, all my son wants to do is hang off me like a bonobo monkey and rattle on at a thousand words a second – often incomprehensible. Often, my mistake is shooing him away for a breather. This usually happens at around 6pm which is the time I get home from work. Those two hours before bed time (he sleeps at 8) could make a big difference in developing our mother-son bond if only I would take the time to be with him for a little bit and forget about job responsibilities for a while. 5. Know that it is possible to have a thriving career while raising
wonderful kids. Sheena, the project officer for an international company based in Seychelles and the go-to person for any information their foreign offices might need also has a 3 year-old son. “I am lucky in that I have flexi-time. I also have the option of working from home if I really need to and this works brilliantly with spending more time with my son,” she said. “The only bad thing is I often use the television as a babysitter which is a horrible thing to do but sometimes I have no choice as I often have to bring work home and cannot concentrate when he wants my attention. I make up for it later though; often I’ll take half an hour to sit down and chat with him after school or read him a story before bedtime. I suppose finding the right balance between work, family and time to unwind will always be an issue”. Which brings me to my other point
6. It is extremely important to schedule “mummy-time” – or at least hang up an “only people above this height allowed” sign three-quarter way up your bedroom door. All kidding aside, this is the final and most important step to regaining your sanity and working towards a more peaceful household in the long run. The outcome is a calmer demeanour which will help you respond more positively towards your child – and a happier more independent child ready to give you space when absolutely needed. A win-win situation for all involved! 6
MARCH 2013 | POTPOURRI
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HAVE YOUR SAY
What is The Best Part of Motherhood? Follow our page on Facebook (Potpourri Magazine Seychelles) to share your views on the questions we ask. “The best part of motherhood for me has been the first minute of giving birth and knowing both baby and me were ok...Then, there comes the part where the baby grows up and right now I’m the ever so proud mother of 3 healthy young men, aged 20, 18 and 13...Watching them grow – that’s my best part of motherhood...it is worth it.” Antonia Bistoquet Payet
“There is no best part in motherhood. From the moment you feel your child growing inside of you, it’s purely amazing. When you hold your child for the first time... nothing beats the moment u look at your child and hold him. You never forget that day, it’s not just a moment that you have. It’s like nothing else matters. “ Kelly-Anne Pothin Bertin
“Every single part of the motherhood experience is great... Be it the looks, hugs or smile. But so far my now best and always best will be the day she called me “Mommy” for the first time. That feeling I had at that given moment was overwhelming.” Divya Pillay Manikandan
“I love everything about being a mum; as an extended breastfeeding mother (nursing my first until he was almost 3) watching my babies grow knowing that it’s because of what my body has produced - seeing their little personalities develop knowing you had some part to play in nurturing their characters - knowing that this little person you’ve grown inside you and brought into this world will always rely on you in one form or another makes you want to be a better person every day. On a lighter note the best part of motherhood is having an excuse to do daft things like dance and sing in supermarket aisles ... not that I ever needed an excuse but now it’s acceptable!” Nadia Long
“Simply...Everything! I love my daughter to bits! :)))” Maria Laurence “The sleepy kisses just as they enter the world of dreams with whispers of ‘love you manman’” Ineke Camille “The random kisses, hugs, ‘I love you mummy’, little gifts made out of paper and seeing their big smiles and eyes light up with so much love for me when I walk in the door is the best part of motherhood and I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.” Misa Lablache “When two tiny little hands wrap their arms around you with the tremendous and unconditional love they have for you, to take all your stresses away! “ PSN
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“The best part of motherhood is being a role model to my children. Becoming a mother made me a better person. I hope I raise children who say “thank you” and “please.” I hope I raise children who are kind to other people, who realise that life is unfair but that doesn’t mean giving up on it. I hope I raise children who know that they are loved and special but that they are not the centre of the universe and never will be. I hope I raise children who relish life’s tiny pleasures. I hope for all of these things, but I know this: Being a mother is so much more fulfilling than anything I’ve ever done; nothing can beat nurturing your own creation...” Jini Finigan
MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
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SUGAR DOWN YOUR LIFE!
Better Living With Célia Ponzo
Are you feeling sluggish, low in energy more than you ought to be ? Everyday I have someone telling me “mon fay”. Yes, hot climate does contribute to the feeling especially at this time of the year but unfortunately we have little control over it. Good news is there is something else we are able to control that can make us feel this way too…It tastes so sweet but yet is slowly poisoning…Yes SUGAR is sweet… Unfortunately sugar has many more serious health impacts than simple sluggish feelings; Insomnia, dizziness, allergies, depression, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, hypoglycaemia, colon & pancreatic cancer, metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes…I know the list is exhausting but this is the simple truth. The sweet stuff may not be so sweet after all…Moreover sugar has no nutritional value containing zero vitamins, minerals, fibre and fats. Do not get fooled by the fact that it has no fats. Sugar has empty calories and it turns excess of them into fat! It is very hard to get away from sugar in a world where most of our diet is filled with it. Did you know that the average adult consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar every day? Even worse, a call for all mothers reading this, did you know that the average child consumes 32 teaspoons of sugar per day? (Daily requirement: 6 teaspoons for women; 9 teaspoons for men) You might be thinking at this point, what is she talking about? It is simply impossible that one can consume so many teaspoons of sugar. The answer is that many foods contain hidden sugars. We tend to associate sugar to ice cream, sweets, biscuits and cakes. However, hamburgers, bread, chips, pasta sauces, salad dressings, mayonnaise and most of processed foods which are so predominant in Seychelles contain added sugar. Food may not taste sweet but you are stocking up on sugar without even knowing it!
So how can you cut down on sugar? Bad news is that it is addictive; studies have found that it releases an opiate like substance that activates the brain’s reward system. Good news, there is a way to slowly create a healthy relationship with sugar by understanding why in the first place you reach for it. The hardest part of all is that fine line between the wanting and the reaching. I am sure all of you have experienced wanting an extra piece of chocolate then reaching for it and then maybe slowly pulling you hand back? It is this exact moment where I advise you to pause. 1. What have I eaten today? Eating food which are unprocessed, as close to their natural form will take away these sugar cravings. Processed food does have hidden sugars which will throw you right into the addiction cycle. 2. How am I feeling and what is going on in my life? Sugar cravings are often associated with feelings and emotions. Try and note your emotions when you feel like reaching for something sweet. Are you feeling lonely? angry? anxious? Feeling the need to reward yourself? If you find a pattern see if something else can help instead of reaching for the cookie jar. 3. Who am I with when I crave something sweet? Sometimes certain people may bring up different emotions. These feelings can make you want to reach for something sweet. Try and think whether you have people influencing you in this way. 4.What stage was I in my menstrual cycle? Girls, we all know that our special time of the month does leave us craving for something sweet and we just cannot control it! 5. What was I doing? We tend to associate eating sweet things with certain activities we do like watching TV, studying, reading. Classic example is eating popcorn while at the cinema. (Popcorn has sugar too nowadays!) Keep these points in mind and you will slowing start listening to yourself and make wiser decisions by discovering that sugar is not the answer to everything. What is most important is not to be hard on yourself. Do not get me wrong, I don’t mean to tell you to cut sugar out of your life! Like all things in moderation sugar is indeed heavenly…My advice is to simply sugar down your life. Célia is passionate to inspire happier and healthier lives by sharing holistic tips to her public. Her background is in medical anthropology and public health. She is currently working in the nutrition unit at the ministry of health.
A Fresh Start - London to Mahé by Daniel Balkwill
“I never fail to be impressed by the incredible views here whether they are the pristine white beaches, the stunning backdrop of the mountains or the magnificent Indian Ocean.” Now that I’ve been living here in Seychelles for almost four months it seems an appropriate time to reflect on some aspects of my former life back home in the UK and also on some of the changes involved in my new habitat. Obviously, leaving friends and family behind is tough but it has prompted me to finally embrace twin social media titans Facebook and Twitter to help keep in touch with people, in addition to email and letter writing. Consequently, I’ve managed to catch up with one of my best friends from school that I hadn’t seen for years. He has lost weight but gained two lovely children who mercifully take after their mother in the looks department. My parents and two sisters email regularly and have all expressed what I believe to be genuine enthusiasm to come here to visit before too long. I don’t miss my old job which was stressful and largely unfulfilling but do miss a lot of my former colleagues who were a good bunch and playing football each Friday lunch time with the guys. That was always the highlight of the working week. I particularly enjoy the social element of my new job though. It’s great to meet people from all over the world who are all united by their interest, enthusiasm and appreciation of wine,
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especially when they buy some of my stuff! My former home town of Bedford had some redeeming features but can’t compete with Mahe in terms of outstanding natural beauty. I never fail to be impressed by the incredible views here whether they are the pristine white beaches, the stunning backdrop of the mountains or the magnificent Indian Ocean. I’m determined never to become blasé despite now encountering these extraordinary sights on a daily basis. I haven’t particularly missed many foods from the UK partly because some of my favourites such as pizza, lasagne and associated products are mostly readily available here but also because the cuisine out here is generally healthy, tasty and light – the perfect foil to the hot, humid climate. My new favourites include Seychellois style curries which have the right balance of subtle heat and flavour, smoked fish salad and freshly grilled fish with rice. I love Red Emperor or ‘bourgeois’ as I should say in Creole! The family dog continues to be a constant source of amusement. I seem to spend most of my spare time attempting to extricate him from a neighbour’s garden or trying to prevent him from leaving his dirty paw prints on a newly-cleaned floor. My favourite time of day is first thing in the morning. In the UK I would be rushing around getting ready for work and heading to the train station for the long commute into London. Over here, I have a leisurely cup of vanilla tea on the veranda and share several pieces of toast with the dog before the short drive to work.
Dan works for Kreol Wines - a new wine shop located at Eden Plaza on Eden Island, specialising in Argentinian, Australian, French and South African products. Opening hours are 9-6.30 Mon-Fri, 10-6 Sat & 10-4 Sun.
What makes us happy in life?
by Alexandria Faure “Positive emotions such as gratitude, positive self-talk, empathy and serenity can help us to be happier” Happiness is such an elusive word to describe; yet it’s something we all want in our lives. The social norms dictate that happiness comes from status, accomplishment, possessions and food. But in actual fact happiness does not lie in a tasty product or a cheque that will fill our bank accounts, or a transformation to have the supermodel/perfect body. And because of this we seem to be on a hopeless chase of finding happiness in material goods. So what exactly makes us happy if those things don’t really do the job? I know I ask a lot of questions! Although external circumstances can help to make us happy they aren’t the central factors that complete that happiness. There are people who live with the bare minimum in the world but yet are still happy. Psychologists who study happiness believe that it’s something we can pursue, but that it essentially comes from inside of us. They say that by resisting negative emotions we can become happier. Positive emotions such as gratitude, positive self-talk, empathy and serenity can help us to be happier. I found a list of 15 things that might help us with this. 15 Things you should give up to be happy: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Give up your need to always be right. Give up your need for control. Give up on blame. Give up on self-defeating self talk. Give up on your limiting beliefs. Give up on complaining. Give up on criticizing. Give up on your need to impress others. Give up your resistance for change. Give up labels. Give up on your fears. Give up your excuses. Give up the past. Give up attachment. Give up living life to other people’s expectations.
These 15 things are easier said than done, but with a little effort they do help in releasing negativity and give ample room for some happiness.
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. The Dalai Lama Alexandria Faure is a Seychellois studying Drama And Theatre Arts in London, England.
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CONSUMER AWARENESS
Exploring the enigma by Daniel Balkwill The world of wine can be a dizzying minefield with thousands of grape varieties and a seemingly endless list of complex terminology to contend with. However, armed with a reasonable amount of information and experience it is possible to gain a much improved insight in how to further enjoy and appreciate it.
”For a bottle of wine with a retail price of 100 SCR, the value of the actual wine inside is approximately only 10 SCR once you deduct excise duty, VAT, transport, packaging and marketing plus the retailer’s profit margin”.
What is Your Type of Wine There are approximately 5,000 different grape varieties. A further layer of complexity is added by various countries referring to the same variety under a different name (e.g. ‘mourvedre’ in France is also known as ‘mataro’ in Australia and ‘monastrell’ in Spain). Perhaps the best way to start navigating your way around this maze is to start with a particular wine you already know you like. I have a great poster in my wine shop at Eden Plaza that maps out all of the most common grape varieties and groups them all in terms of acidity levels and body (the sense of fullness the wine conveys whilst in the mouth). Using this poster or indeed any suitable, relevant reference material, you can then discover many other new types of wine without having to dive into uncharted waters completely unprepared and therefore risk buying something that you might not like. For instance, if you appreciate a bold, full-bodied, red wine with spicy notes such as a shiraz (also known as ‘syrah’) then it is highly likely that you would also enjoy the lesser known Sicilian variety nero d’avola which possesses similar properties. Enthusiasts of medium-bodied, aromatic white wines such as sauvignon blanc would most likely also appreciate a torrontes (grown in Argentina, Spain and Chile).
Value v/s Price Once you are confident of which types of wine you are most fond of and where your preferred place of purchase is you must then decide what is a reasonable amount of money to spend on a bottle. When making this decision it is worth bearing in mind that actually spending a little more money on a bottle ultimately helps to make a better value purchase. For a bottle of wine with a retail price of 100 SCR, the value of the actual wine inside is approximately only 10 SCR once you deduct excise duty, VAT, transport, packaging and marketing plus the retailer’s profit margin. Were you to double your spend, the VAT would increase marginally at the higher price whilst the other variables remain fixed. Consequently the quality and value of the wine in the bottle increases significantly with the additional expense rendering it both justifiable and worthwhile. During the process of buying wine the consumer can sometimes experience difficulty deciphering the information on the wine label. The sheer volume of information conveyed here within such a concentrated area can cause confusion. It is best to focus on the country of origin, region, alcohol content and producer’s name. Sometimes it is advisable to ignore the often rather over-elaborate description of the wine on the back label. Checking an independent review online or in a magazine or listening to the advice of a reputable wine retailer is generally a better steer when faced with an unfamiliar product.
A Restaurant Order Ordering wine in a restaurant can be a stressful experience. Occasionally, a lengthy wine list featuring numerous unfamiliar labels and a wide range of price points can intimidate. Not only do you want to choose a good wine that compliments your food choices but there can also be the additional pressure of not looking too cheap when dining with a date,
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CONSUMER AWARENESS
especially in the early days of courtship! Often it is best to ask the advice of the waiter or sommelier if you are experiencing any doubts or difficulties. A good example of either profession will ask for your food preferences from the menu and your budget in order to match a suitable wine to your requirements. However, if you don’t like a recommended wine you should feel free to tell the waiter/sommelier. A good restaurant will often be happy to change the wine under these circumstances in order to ensure that the guest’s dining pleasure is not compromised.
Food Pairing Very often, a glass of wine on its own is more than ample to enable maximum enjoyment while relaxing at the end of a tough day at work or at the weekend. However, the pleasure of drinking some wines can be further enhanced by combining them with particular foods. A steak (or any other grilled or barbecued meat) is elevated to a higher plane when combined with a good Australian shiraz or an Argentinian malbec. Try it if you don’t believe me. You won’t be disappointed. For fans of white wines, smoked fish pairs well with chardonnay and sauvignon blanc as do many other fish and seafood dishes. Rosé enthusiasts may well enjoy their preferred tipple (especially a French example from the Provence region) with a salade nicoise, a mixed salad with olives, tuna and anchovies. In terms of Seychellois classics, seared tuna goes beautifully with a pinot noir (a light/medium-bodied red) and chicken curry is great with a torrontes – I have a lovely Argentinian one in the shop which is my top seller. Although there are numerous other traditional classic food and wine pairings it is important to remember that, ultimately, it is your choice how you enjoy your wine whether it be with or without food any way you want.
The Right Glass Makes a Difference Choosing the right type of glassware is of paramount importance when drinking wine. Coloured glasses are not advised as these
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prevent the consumer from appreciating the colour of the wine. The best choice is a clear, tulip-shaped glass (i.e. the mouth of the glass is narrower than the curved bowl) with a transparent stem. This allows the aroma of the wine to be concentrated and funnelled upward towards the nose whilst also preventing spillage when swirling the wine around in the glass. It is advised to hold the glass by the stem, particularly when consuming white or rosé wine, as holding it by the bowl causes the wine temperature to increase due to the heat radiating from the hand. Unfortunately there is sometimes a degree of snobbery associated with wine. I’m sure we’ve all endured the dubious company of a dreadful wine bore at a dinner party who mistakenly thinks they know it all and is hell bent on convincing as many people of this as loudly as possible. However, you don’t have to be an expert in order to enjoy a glass of wine but sticking to a few basic guidelines will provide invaluable assistance in helping to improve your personal enjoyment of this wonderful substance.
Brigitte Monchouguy is a Seychelloise legal professional living and working in London. She is happiest when travelling, with interests in music, art, theatre and architecture. She also dabbles in mixology and will be sharing cocktail recipes along with her monthly escapades. renée martin designs
I
t’s been a good few years since I trudged through the mud and rain at Glastonbury in the name of good music but I had a feeling the West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots festival was going to be a lot easier. Sure enough, my friend, Jen, and I awoke to clear blue skies and made our way to Fremantle Park for the first day of the 2 day festival, dressed in the standard summer festival gear of playsuits and cowboy boots. We arrived just in time to grab a glass of wine before heading to the Main Stage where Chris Isaak was warming up the crowd with his smooth, country vocals. Having had a crush on him since I was a little girl, I could hardly keep the smile off my face, especially when he walked through the crowd and high fived me! After bopping our little hearts out, Jen and I laid under the trees to listen to the acoustic sounds of Jason Mraz. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the coconut paratha stand – delicious – before moving to the Big Top for some Status Quo action. The temperature dropped as the sun descended, giving us a reason to groove even harder to the sounds of Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin and later Iggy Pop, shirtless and as skinny in his sixties as he was in his heyday! By now Jen and I had hit the cocktail bar for a couple of fairly strong Gimlets and we were in the mood to party! We danced frenetically to Manu Chao before calling it a night. The next morning I awoke to fresh coffee and crepes à la Jenny - the perfect antidote for a fuzzy head. Picking up some followers as we strolled back to
the venue, we made our way to the front of the stage so that we were eye to guitar with Carlos Santana himself. There were 5 times the number of people as the previous day and the crowd was one big party! Next was Ben Harper, who had all the ladies in the crowd swooning to his soft, dulcet tones. Feeling mellow after some more Gimlets we managed to sway to the reggae king himself, Jimmy Cliff, before the headliner, Paul Simon, hit the stage. Is there any instrument he cannot play? And how is his voice even better after all these years? Some sort of magic must have been at work because he had the crowd mesmerised as we joined in singing every word of his famous songs. What a wonderful end to the weekend! Until next time - if you can’t be good, be good at it!
Gimlet
Having had a crush on him since I was a little girl, I could hardly keep the smile off my face, especially when he walked through the crowd and high fived me! – On Chris Isaak
50ml gin 15ml lime juice 5-10ml simple (sugar) syrup* Ice cubes 1 lime wedge, for garnish
Pour the gin and lime juice into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add the desired amount of sugar syrup. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a wedge of lime. *To make the sugar syrup, mix 2 parts sugar with 1 part water.
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15
EXPLORING EDEN
Dinner for Two at La Plaine St Andre went my favourite, a mojito cocktail. It was a Thursday evening, my husband and I, were off to dine at La After only 5 to 10 minutes our drinks came. We both enjoyed Plaine St. André located at Aux Cap. The restaurant is conveniently our drinks. Eventually our waiter Richard came and gave us the located on the main road right next to the Takamaka Bay Distillery. menu list and advised us on a few foods they did not have on the The car park was quite big so parking was not an issue. I simply menu for tonight. The menu list there was a variety of tantalising love traditional Creole houses and so I fell in love with the food, and we had enough to choose from. They had food ranging restaurant’s architecture from first sight. It is a traditional plantation from fish, pasta, chicken etc. We had a good look at the list and house built from the 70’s but beautifully renovated without losing eventually he came to take our orders. I am very keen on the main much of its olden charm. I felt like a princess from back in the days course but we decided to go for a starter as well. For the starter when I walked down the footpath hands in hands with my prince, my husband decided to go for the towards and up the stairs of palm salad and I went for my usual the restaurant. There were two favourite, the prawn cocktail. As big trees on either side of the There were candles on the table for the main course I went for the entrance giving it a majestic creating a very romantic and calm bourgeois fillet and my husband feel. was keen on the burger. The waiter Even if it was night time the atmosphere, and I could picture went off with our orders and in the place was beautifully lit up myself sitting there and sipping away meanwhile we continued to sip on with yellow lights which our drinks. The food did not take gave it a warm and homely on a cocktail long and finally my prawn cocktail feel. The front veranda was
indeed charming with wooden chairs and coffee tables. There were candles on the table creating a very romantic and calm atmosphere, and I could picture myself sitting there and sipping away on a cocktail. We were instantly welcomed at the entrance by a gentleman who introduced himself and courted us through the inside of the house, and into the back patio where our table awaited us. The other staff we met along the way as we walked to our table greeted us, with smiles on their faces. Everyone was so friendly. As we were comfortably seated, we looked around and tried to take in the beauty of the place. The table was perfectly set. The decor was simple yet beautiful, ambiance extremely quiet and relaxed. This is the ideal place to relax after a stressful week of work. There were quite a lot of customers there, especially foreigners. They looked happy munching away on delicious looking delicacies, making us the more anticipating for our dinner. We were chatting away for a very short while and then our waiter came to us. He greeted us and introduced himself to us as Richard, of course with a smile. He was very polite and well groomed. He then came back with the cocktail and wine list. We schemed through it and my husband settled for a glass of red wine and I
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arrived. It was well presented with lettuce garnish on the side. I was surprised that it was not with mayonnaise, as prawn cocktail usually was, but the taste was simply divine and unexpected with a little lemon and chilli flavour. I really enjoyed it and was reluctant to share it with my husband simply because it was so delicious. The palm salad stood true to its image of being a local as delicatessen here so he loved it. My husband described the taste as being exquisite. As we were dining, our waiter came a couple of times to check if we were alright and the food was to our liking. We always had positive responses for him. We finished our starters and continued chatting and sipping on our drinks. I decided to order another cocktail (Daiquiri) and my husband went for a beer. After about 10 minutes our main courses arrived and I was so elated. I am always excited for the main courses. My fish looked so tasty. It was nicely presented. On my plate was a big chunk of fish on which rested grilled tomatoes and I could smell the aroma of the herbs they had put in it. It was accompanied with tartare sauce, eggplant and pumpkin chutney and some rice. The dish was very simple but looked and smelled heavenly. My husband was so impressed with his burger. He did not expect it to be so big. That’s what we call value for money! It
MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
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The table was perfectly set. The decor was simple yet beautiful, ambiance extremely quiet and relaxed.
was a huge beef burger along with egg, bacon, side chips and coleslaw. Instantly we started digging into our food. Wow! The fish was so soft that it melted into my mouth. Not too overdone - just right! My husband also enjoyed his burger. He said the chips were so nice and fresh. We enjoyed our main courses and then our waiter Richard came and cleared our table. We chatted a bit again then our waiter brought the dessert list. My husband was too full for dessert. I’ve got a sweet tooth and had to have something sweet despite the fact that I was also full. I had a quick glance at the list and told the waiter I wanted to go for the crème brulee. He went away and in about 5 minutes voila I had my crème brulee. The crème brulee texture was soft and at the right consistency. It was so tasty and nice. My husband had a spoonful of it and he also agreed it was delicious. After the dessert we were both full and tired. We decided to drink some water and asked for the bill. The bill didn’t take long to come. We paid and were ready to go. As we walked out our waiter thanked us for coming and said goodbye. All the other staff were very friendly and greeted us as we walked out of the restaurant. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a quiet night out with the family or for couples wanting something romantic. My husband and I had a lovely meal at La Plaine St. André and we will definitely be back one day for another taste of their exquisite food. Georgette Georgiev
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STUDIO full page ad coming....
MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
19
SEYCHELLOIS OVERSEAS
Carolyn Monchouguy POTPOURRI: How long you lived in Seychelles before you left? CM: On and off for the first 10 years of my childhood
POTPOURRI: Which school you went to? CM: International school
I TRULY FEEL RELAXED AFTER A GETAWAY TO SEYCHELLES. WHENEVER I VISIT I FEEL AS IF THE REST OF THE WORLD DOES NOT EXIST.
POTPOURRI: Which district you’re from? CM: Au Cap
POTPOURRI: And your family? CM: While my parents live in Australia, most of my relatives still live in Seychelles.
POTPOURRI: When did you leave Seychelles? CM: As a child I moved between Seychelles, the UK and Australia. When I was 11 my parents finally decided they wanted to live in Perth, Western Australia. One of the main reasons for this was education – my parents wanted to make sure my sister and I had the opportunity to go to good schools and universities
POTPOURRI: How was it like adjusting to a new country? CM: Being a child it was tough trying to make new friends in school but I adapted well. But, I have always found it easy to speak to people and I think this helped me in being able to make friends. Though, missing my relatives and friends at the international school was very difficult.
POTPOURRI: What do you do now? CM: I studied Public Relations at Edith Cowen University in Perth and graduated in 2007. As much as I loved living in Perth, in 2008 I decided I needed a change. I wanted to see the world and experience as much as possible. As someone in the Public Relations field I also wanted to go to a big city to make sure I could gather as much experience as possible for my career. I now work in London in a PR Agency as an Account Manager. The agency I work for has clients that are in the financial and insurance sectors. In my day to day job I deal with trade and national press including TV, radio, newspapers in the UK and internationally. It is my job to proactively put together PR campaigns and ideas for clients and promote them to the press to get them coverage. I also work reactively protecting the image and brand of my clients and dealing with crisis situations. My job definitely has it’s perks. I have worked for clients in other countries such as Germany which means I get the chance to travel. It is also my job to have strong relationships with journalists so I regulary socialise with them. I also get the chance to attend industry awards and events throughout the year. Yes it does all sound fun, but it is very very busy and challenging at times!
POTPOURRI: What are the main lifestyle differences between London and Seychelles – are there any similarities worth mentioning? CM: I can’t say there are any similarities between London and Seychelles. Seychelles is a very slow and relaxing place with natural beauty throughout. London is the capital of hustle and bustle, you are constantly in a rush wherever you go, and the commute on the tube to work is an example of how unrelaxing
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healthier pregnancy
…with Elaine Lafortune
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I conducted an interview with Mademoiselle Loréa Dewals, a local midwife of French and Seychellois origin, to get an idea of what midwifery is all about. Here is what she had to say:
What led you to Midwifery? “I’ve loved medicine since I was a little girl and I aspired to become a doctor, I would have loved to become a psychiatrist. Initially, Midwifery was the last thing on my mind. I was really upset when I landed into midwifery and so were a lot of students in my class.” Loréa tells Potpourri that out of the 36 students in her class, only two actually wanted to become midwives. “I felt like a failure. I wanted to be a doctor but when I could not get in, I was disappointed in myself. But in France Midwives and Doctors go to the same University, so since I had already done 2 years of Medicine, I said okay I’ll give it a go. I still wasn’t happy but I tried anyway. But today, I’m happy! If I could go back (as I can go back into medicine), I wouldn’t”, she acknowledges.
yoga training for midwives, not the usual yoga classes we are accustomed to. I do also yoga for new mums with their babies… I do normal breathing classes as well.” Do you assist women in labour? “If a pregnant woman wants me to go with her to the labour room after having followed my sessions, I can also do that, though I will not be able to deliver the baby as I am not licensed for that at the moment (though I qualify in it). But I can still assist her and help her during her labour. But in the future I would like to be able to deliver my patients. You follow them through the course of the pregnancy and when the time comes for the delivery, you miss out on that; especially with the labour room being my favourite part.” How do you go about your tasks? “I’m flexible so I can go to people’s houses if they cannot come to my office for the pre natal classes. I also take my patients to the Roche Caiman pool where we do exercise. I can also help them with breastfeeding if a mother (or a couple) have some difficulties...” Mademoiselle Dewals is also trained in a rehabilitation course for women after their pregnancy,
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”...but in the future I would like to be able to deliver my patients. You follow them through the course of the pregnancy and when the time comes for the delivery, you miss out on that; especially with the labour room being my favourite part.” Experiences of a Nurse Midwife Loréa earned her degree in Midwifery at a Medical University in Montpellier, France, where she studied for 6 years. She did 2 years at the University of Medicine which was then followed by 4 years in Midwifery. Following her return in June 2011, which was the beginning of her midwifery career, Mademoiselle Dewals started work at the Victoria hospital in the middle of September that same year to march 2012, when she decided to quit due to personal reasons. “I felt as I was not happy in my post and was not delivering as effectively as I wanted to. It was then that I thought of opening my own private practice. I asked for my license in March 2012…it was a hard undertaking for me. It was a long road before I was given my license, end of January 2013”, she says. “I had seen many midwives opening their own “cabinets” in France, as there are lots of pregnant women and not enough places in hospitals to cater for them. I knew this service was lacking in Seychelles and wanted to propose this service to women in Seychelles.” During her education, Loréa has had several clinical experiences in small to larger affiliated hospitals in places like Montpellier, Lyon and Mende amongst others. Over the course of her 4 years of midwifery, Loréa delivered well over a hundred babies alone.She adds, “I was fortunate to get a variety of experience from lots of dedicated clinical instructors.”
Loréa with a client
What do you do now? “I do prenatal classes, which I trained in when I went to Bordeaux last year for one week. There I did a course in Pre natal yoga training. But it is
21MAY 2013 MARCH | POTPOURRI 2013 | POTPOURRI 21 Photo Credit: Steve Nibourette
BEHIND THE BUSINESS
All you need for a
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Satisfaction as an Artist “I’m not an egoist or a perfectionist but to be able to say that I’m truly satisfied with all my work? I don’t think I’m there yet! I still feel that there
is more I can accomplish to better my music.” “But then again, the biggest impact in my career as a musician, would be the fact that I came out of practically nothing, as a simpleminded young Praslinois… like they say, ‘grandi anba koko’ and started to play guitar ‘lo ros’ and to finally end up singing in major European countries like France, England, Germany and even Australia amongst others, and performing with some great artists in somewhat major concerts; to me that is a huge accomplishment!” Mr. Ally has indeed come a long way, especially with songs like ‘Welcome to the Seychelles’ and ‘Mon zoli pei’. These are popular songs amongst foreigners and are often played on Air Seychelles’ flights to the Islands. Songs like ‘Linite’ is also popular on National Day celebrations… plus the ‘oldies but goodies’ like ‘Ma Zozefin’, ‘Mon amour’ and ‘Pardonn mwan manman’.
What’s a typical day like for you, as a Musician? “No one day is the same. I make sure I don’t stress myself out too much during the day if I’m working the evening; I make sure I rest as much as possible. Usually when I have recordings to do at the studio, it’s on a day that I’m not occupied during the evening. Studio work is rather stressful; it’s not simply standing in front of a microphone with a guitar. It’s about recording and re-recording… over and over again until everything sounds just right. It can be draining”, explains Jean. With commitments with his church and family at home (his wife and daughter), Jean tries to make ends meet with all of them. To him, family, business and work, are all intertwined.
Where does your inspiration for writing music come from? “Often times, while driving home from work I sing all the way to home just so I stay alert while driving since I work in the evenings. These are the times I usually get a line or two in my head by just singing a random tune that comes up in my head. But I usually forget it all by the time I reach home. Sometimes, if I’m at home cooking and I get a tune, I leave everything and grab my guitar and string along with the words that come in my head.” Jean, who’s been an entertainer in Hotels as a solo entertainer for over 40 years, tells POTPOURRI that he believes his knack for music and inspiration are Godsend.
Photo Credit: Steve Nibourette
Continued on Page 24
Jean Ally MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
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FEATURED ARTIST
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magine yourself lying back in an old arm chair with your feet up, immersed in old nostalgic tunes which reminisce a past filled with sweet memories. Just the mere thought of this, is bliss! Sitting in the lounge of the National Library with one of Seychelles’ best known veteran artists, Potpourri takes a little trip down memory lane with Mr. Jean Ally. As we waltz down, listening to a rhythmic Sega compilation, we get to know more about the man whose songs have been on the lips of so many Seychellois, and whose tracks have ended up in many foreigners’ CD players all over the world. Mr. Ally who had just gotten back from his trip to Germany the week before, was eager to tell us about what he had been doing in Germany. We learned that on their visit to the Seychelles, a German couple heard his songs and the wife fell in love with them. As a present for his wife’s birthday, the husband invited Mr. Ally all the way to Germany, for a private performance in his wife’s surprise birthday party. ‘What an honour’, we thought. Jean’s songs not only mirror certain parts of his past life experiences, but also embellish the beauty of the Seychelles in a patriotic sense. His genre of music being mostly Sega is widely appreciated in the homes of many Seychellois, young and old. We were curious to know when Mr. Ally started singing and he told us that before he started singing professionally in 1973, as a young boy he would enjoy playing his small guitar that he made out of bamboo while listening to songs by the late Mickey Mancham and his colleague Despilly Williams. Jean remarks that music is more than sheer passion for him…it’s also his profession. “I didn’t have a job prior to my singing career and I’ve been blessed with this noble task, so that’s how music started out for me”, he says.
Continued from page 21 called the Urogynecological Rehabilitation. “This is not in existence yet in the Seychelles but in France women do their pre and post natal consultations and then they do the Urogynecological consultation which is included in a package of sessions. The sessions treat the obstetrical traumas, treat and prevent urinary incontinence, anal incontience and prolapses. The sessions will prevent, decrease or stop symptoms that can have a big effect on women’s life. All the women who have delivered are concerned. The symptoms normally increase during the menopause period, due to the modification of the hormones’ level. “ The Urogynecological Rehabilitation is also for women who have incontinence problem which sometimes require surgery, says Loréa. “Not everyone wants to go through surgery, so that is when these exercises come as a great help. It won’t cure you, but it will most of the time help with the symptoms. I usually do the urogyneacological rehabilitation in 10 sessions for half an hour.” When we asked Loréa whether she is working alone, she laughed and said “Yes! From cleaning to answering the phone to paying the bills… it’s all me.” The multi-tasker claims that with her business still taking baby steps, employing help is not on her mind right now. Your business is fairly recent. So what were you doing before you started officially? “I’ve been working at Ecole Française as a biology teacher (which I do part time so I can make time for my patients and work at the office). It has helped me with setting up and maintaining my business. It has not been easy for me to set up my business financially. The teaching has helped considerably with that, and luckily I could count on my fiancé and my parents.” Loréa tells us, “I like teaching and might probably continue doing it, but it will all depend on how my business develops. If it becomes too hectic, I will have to focus on my business.” Favorite part about your Midwifery career “I feel privileged to assist women as they make the transition to become confident mothers,” says Loréa. She also tells us that her experiences have taught her a great deal about women before, throughout and after pregnancy. “I do try to keep reading and go for short trainings as often as I can, so I
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Tell us a bit about your childhood “As children we are often impertinent with our parents and I was exactly that! I recall how I would always exasperate my mother while growing up. My father passed when I was still young, but I hardly disrespected his authority, the way I would my mother. I was more fearful of my dad, but I was more impudent towards my mother.”
Is that why you wrote the song ‘Pardonn Mwan Manman’? “This song was written in line with the great apology I had to give my mother for vexing her all these years while I was growing up. Despite my mother‘s strictness towards me and my brother, I remember there was a time where I started smoking. I would go down to the beach out of view to indulge in that. One day, I had forgotten a fag in my pocket and had gone down to the river where my mother did her washing; the minute she saw that cigarette in my pocket, she started flogging me on my back with the same towels she had been washing”, recalls Jean with a smile.
In that same song you also say ‘kan manman bat mwan, mon demann lanmor vin ravaz li’, is that what you would do when your mother would correct you for your misbehaviours? “Not really”, says Jean. “I don’t recall wishing for any sort of misfortune befalling my mother.
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keep abreast with everything that’s going on in the medical field. I also keep into contact with other friends in Midwifery, so whenever I have questions or clarifications on something, I can always contact them. I do that so that I don’t lose out on the technical aspect, as I’m not performing as I used to. What have you noticed with pregnant women here? “Seychellois women are really strong women!” “When delivering they know how to stay focused and take the pain. In France, most of the women go for epidurals when going in labour. But here, their grandmothers and mothers have delivered like this, so it becomes a sort of tradition and they know that giving birth comes with pain.” What is a typical day for you? “That would be a bit of hours at the French school and then the office. Sometimes I work up until 8pm just seeing patients for sessions, especially since most can only make it after working hours “ Where do you foresee yourself five years down the line? I would like to continue going back to France for training, though it would have to be short courses as I don’t want to be gone too long, that I miss out on sessions with my patients. I would like to undergo some courses on ultra sounds and how to go about it, as that would give me the same degree as that of a doctor. I really want to do that. My deepest wish still remains the desire to be able to deliver my patients. Loréa’s classes are for mothers who enjoy their discretion and who would like to have a midwife assist to them personally. She also does couples’ classes, pool classes and classes for both mother and baby. Mademoiselle Dewals is flexible enough to come to your home for any sort of sessions. So for all your queries, don’t hesitate to call Loréa at Cabinet Isis on 2510155 or email her at loreasf@gmail.com for all your pre and post natal services. Location: Same road to Airtel , but the first turning (where the apartments are) on the way to Providence. Remember, that having a liberal midwife who is a health professional is a privilege throughout your pregnancy. She can assist and accompany you personally for a swifter pregnancy.
Sometimes in a song, you just need to add lines which make the song more meaningful to listen to. Yet, I know it’s something that kids often think of when they are being disciplined by their parents. After that beating that day, I grew up realising that my mother was only doing what was best for me…she only desired to see the best in me.”
‘Manman pardon mwan pou tou lamizer ki monn fer ou…’ Is the song a public plea of you asking your mother for forgiveness? “Yes it is! I had to ask for her forgiveness because I knew I had done wrong and she did forgive me. She has listened to the song and though she doesn’t display her appreciation for it overtly, I know that she is proud of the person I have turned out to be, though I was not the ‘golden child’ when I was growing up.”
‘Demen, tanto petet mon osi petet ma vin en paran. Mon pa tya voudre mon zanfan en zour rann mon laparey’ tell us more about this line : “When you do wrong to others, you always wish that someone else does not pay you back the same way. Growing up, I knew I was wronging my mother and I knew I wouldn’t want to one day see my own children treating me the same way. Children don’t always realise this when they are young but only as they get older. As God instruct us, we should ‘Honour our parents.” A piercing message left by Jean through his childhood stories to all POTPOURRI readers will surely be, ‘Obey your parents or risk being flogged by wet towels’. Jokes aside, Mr. Jean Ally has truly made many of us cheerful with his tunes which embody life, love and pride for our country and spirituality. Blessings go out to Jean from POTPOURRI, for all his future musical endeavours.
MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
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HOMES IN PARADISE
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For more information, contact Jean Paul Maurel Office: +248 4374585 Fax: +2484224730 Mobile: + 2482717797 E: sales@seychelles-properties.com www.seychelles-properties.com 26
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HOMES
The Cot – Where it all begins One of the exciting parts to welcoming a new baby in a family is the way family members come together to assemble the list of necessities for the baby. From cots to layette, there is almost always something that is passed down (or across) to this newborn. Aside from sentimental values there’s also the fact that such ‘exchanges’ help the parents’ budget situation – but, is it always the best thing for the baby? We are talking about the cot in particular. Babies probably spend more time in their cot than anywhere else, so while comfort is important, safety is essential.
*The Bureau has a library opened to the public in the case they want to learn more about the mentioned standards or would like to seek the availability of any standards for a specific item. www.babycentre.com recommends the following safety tips for cot buyers:
Impending motherhood brings an excitement like no other and preparing for the baby’s arrival can start several months before the due date. Setting up the cot is definitely one of the major tasks in this domain and it also gives the mother a sense of readiness for the arrival.
Buying a Cot The Seychelles Bureau of Standards says, “Given that standards are voluntary in nature, the Bureau cannot impose the use of these standards on any importance unless these standards are referenced in a regulation or declared as mandatory. We do however encourage importers to import products that meet International Standard Requirements (or equivalent) if the standard exists. 2 3/8 inches slats: Your cot should have slats that are close enough together to prevent your baby’s head from slipping through or getting stuck. The distance between the cot slats must be no more than 2 3/8 inches (about the size of a standard canned drink). Safe corner posts: If the cot has corner posts, they should be no higher than 1/16 of an inch (unless they’re over 16 inches high to support a canopy). If corner posts are higher than 1/16 of an inch, clothing can catch on them and injure or choke an infant. OBABY Lily Cot (dark) from Pti Baba, Plaisance (SR3680) OBABY B is for Bear (Cottage Pine) from Pti Baba, Plaisance (SR3680)
International Standards ISO 7175-1:1997 [Children’s cots and folding cots for domestic use -Part 1: Safety requirements] British Standards BS EN 1130-1:1997 [Furniture. Cots and cradles for domestic use. Safety requirements] Such certifications ensure that the cot has been tested for quality and safety.
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Adjustable mattress height: Most cots let you change the height of the cot mattress by simply raising or lowering the mattress support. The time to lower the mattress is when your child begins sitting up. As kids get more active and move to pulling up and standing, you don’t want them to climb or fall out of the cot. Stability: Give the cot a good shake in the store or after you put it together at home. If it wobbles or rattles, it may have been put together improperly. But wobbling or rattling could also be a sign that you should look for a sturdier cot. Frame size: The cot interior should snugly accommodate a standard cot mattress – at least 51 3/4 inches long by 27 3/4 inches wide. If you can
HOMES
Babies probably spend more time in their cot than anywhere else, so while comfort is important, safety is essential. fit more than two fingers between the side of the mattress and the cot, the mattress is too small. This poses a significant danger, as babies can get trapped in that space. Make sure that with a mattress in place, the cot sides are tall enough to keep your baby safely inside.
The NO-NOs Cots with drop sides: There is no two-way about this one – Do not use them. The movable railings (drop sides) can be hazardous to babies if they detach or come loose. Such an incident might strangle or suffocate a baby. Old cots: However nice it might be to receive a cot beware of issues pertaining to aged furniture – i.e. lead paint and splinters. Pale Blue/ White and Brown options available with mattress at Furniture Cave, Transit House, Pointe Larue (SR6500)
*If you are adding varnish or paint to a cot – make sure you let it dry properly. This will mean putting it out in the sun for at least 5 full days. Decorative touches: Always think safety before pretty. Cot decor should not pose choking hazards to your baby.
Choosing which Cot Once you have identified ‘safe’ cots, by all means, go to town with the cosmetic preferences! Cot Size – Cots come in different sizes so make sure you bring that measuring tape along and check the dimensions of the space you have allocated for it so you know what size cot will fit. Cot Color – If you’ve chosen the overall theme (or colors) for the nursery or baby’s corner then the next step is choosing the cot finish that will enhance your décor? If you know your baby’s sex you can go with traditional boy and girl colors or if this is your first baby and you think you might have more children, you might choose a more gender neutral finish.
Setting up the Cot There are some basic rules to follow when it comes to setting up the cot. Make sure you choose a spot away from windows, window blinds, and draperies. Babies can strangle on the cords, and older babies could possibly pull themselves up and fall through the window. Always make sure cords are out of their reach. *If you have a monitor in the room, make sure it is kept away from the cot if it has a cord, or better still, opt for a cordless one.
H
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FASHION
Skirt from Dolly Rockers (SR300)
y’s Trend from Heels ) 5 (SR69
Clutch from Pe
ue
Boutiq
tite Folies (SR3 85
(SR565)
floral
Tote from Petite Folies (SR400)
Bikini from Exotic Suns (SR625)
m Blue Black
Top & Skirt fro
)
F
ew things shout out feminine as loudly as floral prints. In Seychelles, we are exposed to floral patterns from birth – think of our childhood home curtains and our grandmother’s tablecloths...It might be easy to associate floral patterns to the home in general as opposed to the wardrobe, but floral patterns have had a huge impact on the fashion industry for years. From tiny daisies to large hibiscus, from black and white to bright colours, almost all flowers have been experimented with on cloth. Wearing floral prints come naturally to some but for most of us, the daring feeling it leaves us with might be a bit overwhelming that we just stay away just to be safe. Well, don’t be.
Top from Blue Black (SR225)
Pant Suit from Trendy’s Boutique (SR395)
Here are a few tips to help you surrender to the awesomeness of floral prints; • When wearing a floral dress, pick a color from the print and pair it up with shoes, bag, hair band (not floral!), shades – etc. For a cooler evening, add some fun and funk with a denim jacket. • Floral bottoms are head turners and can look very fashionable when paired with a black or white top or one in an accent color that you pick out of the print. • Size more often than not does matter. So, if you are on the tiny side, large prints may overwhelm you, and if you are on the bigger side, tiny prints may make you look bigger. The key is to always try the clothes on (and have a reliable second opinion) Do double check where the ‘flowers’ fall on your body – you do not want them to highlight unflattering areas. • You do not need to be in flowers from head to toe to make a floral statement. Accessories can also do the job. A bag, a scarf or jewellery will add the floral touch without overwhelming you. Just remember to wear ‘it’ with block colours (not stripes or other designs)
Location of the Shops:
Dress from Dolly Rockers (SR650)
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Quatre Epices – Eden Plaza | Blue Black – Providence Exotic Suns – Eden Plaza | Petites Folies – Eden Plaza Dolly Rockers – Martin Hoarau’s Hairdressing | Trendy’s Boutique – Victoria Clock Tower Photo Credit: Steve Nibourette
Havaianas slippers from Quatre Epices (SR400)
BEST BUYS
ANESI’s CELESTIAL SECRET is a NEW & REVOLUTIONARY Anti– Aging Concept with a new
unique ingredient which is beyond this planet – contains: METEORITE EXTRACT. Available at Aromatherapy Beauty Centre & Spa at the Angel Fish Marina, Eden Island Bridge Tel: 4346660 or 2526050. www. aromatherapycentre.sc. During the month of May, Aromatherapy is offering POTPOURRI readers 15% Discount on all ANESI Celestial Secret Therapies. To claim your discount: Show this page upon payment.
Robes & Pyjamas (in matching bags!)
These beautiful robes and pyjamas ensure that you are never out-of-style, even if you are heading to bed! They could also be a great gift for a loved one. Available at Island Living, Petit Paris for SR300 if you mention code POTPOURRI upon payment. Normal price SR350
Sandra Bertille Pool
Age: 33 Job: Sales Agent at Air Seychelles She Wears: A purple top from Chloe’s boutique, black trousers from Beb website (USA), black Bow Sandal from (UAE), Pierre Cardin watch, Rings from African Jewels, Kreol’Or earrings. Her Take on Fashion… “Less is best! My wardrobe portrays my love for life and the confidence I have in myself as a Creole girl”.
Miss Margaret
Profession: French Teacher English River School’s very own fashion icon! Margaret is also part-time stylist/ adviser to her colleagues and students. She chooses her outfits carefully and always ends up looking smashing with a touch of make up here, a matching accessory there and of course ‘to die for’ heels. “The teaching profession is tough.. but dressing up and keeping up to date with the latest fashion helps me feel confident, powerful, fierce, like I can take on any challenge,” she says. Dress: Chloe’s Boutique Bag & Shoes: Stile Italiano Fringe: Home-Made (or should I say Maggie’s Snip Snip Salon?)
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Jeannine Nourrice
MAKE OVER
MAKE-OVER
Martin Hoareau Hairdressing
53-year old Jeannine is a paediatric nurse at Lopital Sesel. She also has two children of her own. She was selected for the make-over by Facebook’s The Mummy Club following a visit they organised at the hospital.
Make up (with Virginie) Martin discovered what he
BEFORE
called ‘beautiful curls’ hidden behind Jeannine’s extensive hair brushing. “Once you’re in your 40’s your hair tends to get dryer and starts to lack moisture,” he explained. He chopped her hair shoulder length so that it became more manageable and also revitalised her curls.
For booking, call Martin Hoareau Hairdressing on 4325186
Hair (with Martin) Virginie loved working with Jeannine’s face, saying, ‘even skin tone makes the job easier!’ She applied bronzer all over for that glow we can all do with at any age. Given that Jeannine was wearing a blue top for the make-over, Virginie followed suit with blue eye shadow. Dark brown eyeliner was used to fill in her eyebrows. Lips were kept natural with some gloss. *All make-up used are from Duty Free Seychelles
For booking, call Virginie Quatre on 2733020
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AFTER
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33
MISS SEYCHELLES
“Miss Seychelles... The Seychelles Tourism Board is proud to be hosting the 2nd edition of the “Miss Seychelles... Another World” beauty pageant”
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Rohanna Adelaide (20), Francesca Lablache (22), Lindy Barallon (18), Avrena Marie (18), Isha Hoareau (17), Steffi Fred (17), Nikitta Nourrice (19), Joanne Napier (19), Kelly Payet (20), Naomi Fernandez (18), Angelle Quatre (20), Sandra Ramanoelina (22), Agnes Gerry (17), Emma Desnousse (17)
To purchase your ticket for this event contact: E:events@seychelles.travel or Tel: 4 67 13 00
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MISS SEYCHELLES
Another World 2013� The aim of the pageant is to highlight the high standards of feminine beauty and elegance to be found among our islands.
On the 25th May 2013 at the Eden Plaza, Eden Island.
Dresses: Trendy Boutique, Clock Tower, Victoria Hair: Hair Connections | Make-Up: La Jeunesse Salon, Pirates Arms Building | Photographer: Steve Nibourette Venue: POTPOURRI Photography Studio
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BEAUTY
A Busy Woman’s Guide to
LOOKING GOOD Once you find the perfect style for your body shape, buy 2 or 3 pieces in different colours if you can.
• • •
These days, most women are strapped for time, balancing everything from children with complicated school and social calendars, keeping the home from looking chaotic, and often working on top of it all. Here are some time-saving health, beauty, and fashion tips that any busy woman can fit into her routine to help her look and feel fabulous every day!
Wake up and shower before the children! Extra time in bed is precious but there’s absolutely no point putting off getting up on a school day – running late will only add to your stress levels. Start your day calmly and set your alarm at least half an hour before the kids wake up so that you can shower in peace and get yourself ready.
Simplify your beauty routine! A good beauty routine starts with fresh, clean skin. Aim to cleanse tone and moisturise morning and evening. However, keep some emergency cleansing wipes by your bedside for those days when you can’t resist falling into bed with your make up on. Also, •
Keep your night care products and hand / foot creams close
•
by too, so you remember to put them on. Use multi tasking products like a tinted moisturiser, ideally
by Jennifer Baldwin
one with an SPF instead of a separate foundation to save time. Have your eyelashes dyed every 6 – 8 weeks to avoid last minute mascara smudges. A clear mascara will thicken up lashes if necessary. Make your manicure & pedicure last by applying a coat of clear polish every other day, it will help prevent chips and keep the shine. Get a great haircut – a good length is something between the chin and shoulders, easy to manage but you can still tie it all back into a ponytail on a busy morning.
Stay healthy! Take care of yourself, both because you deserve it and because your children will follow your example for a healthy lifestyle. Eat breakfast – it is the most important meal of the day. Mums often prepare a healthy breakfast for their kids but just grab a coffee for themselves if they are lucky! Drink eight glasses of water each day, and you’ll look younger, fresher, and have more energy to keep up with the children.
Get organised! Set a little time aside and organise your wardrobe once and for all. A bulging wardrobe of unworn clothes only adds to more confusion when you are time starved. Throw out or give to charity any of those items that for the last few years have been waiting for the perfect moment and be realistic about the ones you bought hoping to slim into. Know what suits you – an empire waistline [just below the chest] will skim over any residual pregnancy bulge. Once you find the perfect style for your body shape, buy 2 or 3 pieces in different colours if you can. This will help in those moments of self doubt in the morning when half your wardrobe is on the floor and the familiar wail of “I have nothing to wear” echoes through the house.
Make your manicure & pedicure last by applying a coat of clear polish every other day, it will help prevent chips and keep the shine. Invest in one great bag! half seychellois overseas contin...
Let’s face it ladies – how many bags do we really need? Buy the best quality day bag you can afford and wear it proudly! A bag with various inner compartments and outside pockets for essential keys and phones which otherwise always end up buried at the bottom is ideal. Never again will you experience that feeling of sheer panic when you have to tip your overstuffed bag upside down [hopefully in private] to find a “lost” item. An organised bag will make you feel like your life is in order [even when it isn’t] If all else fails, invest in a pair of huge sunglasses to hide under eye bags and dull skin. Add a touch of lip gloss to brighten your face and you will look chic and stylish with minimum effort as you struggle out the door!
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Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Mahe Island T: (+248) 438 6688 E: drift@hibiscus.sc Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, Silhouette Island 37 T: (+248) MARCH 2013 | POTPOURRI 429 3949 E: labriz@hibiscus.sc
BEAUTY
Lynette Botha Lynette Botha, Beauty Editor, ELLE Magazine (South Africa)
Q:
FACEBOOK Beauties The faces that turned our heads on FACEBOOK in April 2013... Name: Zanah Volcy Age: 19yrs Residence: Anse Boileau
What’s the best type of foundation to use for humid weather?
A:
You need to choose a foundation that keeps skin matte. A matte foundation is less likely to rub off in humid weather. It’s also best to go for an oilfree foundation, as skin tends to produce more oil in warmer weather. Alternatively, apply a little powder over your foundation using a big powder or blusher brush; this will set your make-up in place and ensure it lasts longer. Touching up with powder throughout the day is much easier than reapplying foundation.
Name: Tara Marimba Age: 19yrs Residence: Ile Perseverance
Name: Maria Morel Age: 21yrs Residence: Glacis
Continued from Page 20 it can be! But where London would beat Seychelles is the amount of things there are to do. You will always find a new restaurant, bar, museum or broadway show to go to as well as hundreds of other activities. I also love the opportunity to be able to travel so much around Europe. Some of the places I have visited include Croatia, Iceland, France, Italy and Turkey.
love to go there again. Another holiday my sister and I and some other Seychellois friends took a boat to Cerf island and had the whole island to ourselves. We had a beach bbq and lots of Seybrew – it was unforgettable!
POTPOURRI: What do you miss most about Seychelles?
CM: I would love to use my skills in PR to promote our amazing islands to the world. I still meet people that have no idea Seychelles exist. We need compete with the other tropical islands in the world to show we are the best!
CM: The beautiful beaches, the food, the serenity of it all! I truly feel relaxed after a getaway to Seychelles. Whenever I visit I feel as if the rest of the world does not exist.
POTPOURRI: How do you keep in touch with family and friends from Seychelles? CM: Thank god for the digital age, I keep in touch with family and friends via Skype, phone and Facebook.
POTPOURRI: Do you come back for holidays? CM: Yes I just spent Christmas and New Year’s in Seychelles and I had a wonderful time
POTPOURRI: Any holiday memories you can share? CM: So many memories! Six years ago I came over with my whole family and we visited Bird Island for the first time. That was an amazing place and I would
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POTPOURRI: If you could contribute something to Seychelles, what would it be?
POTPOURRI: In your opinion, which words best describe the Seychelles Islands. CM: Hundreds of unique islands in a magical land of paradise
POTPOURRI: Would you want to come back and settle here? CM: As much as Seychelles is in my heart, to be honest not now. Seychelles would be the perfect place to settle later in life but right now I am in my prime and enjoying the chance to experience the world and advance my career.
HEALTH
VIEW FROM THE STATION by Jenny Gilbert
Part 5 of 12 – A lighter, more conscious you in 2013
COLOUR-IN YOUR LIFE and let your light shine!
I’m not sure exactly when I was introduced to the concept that the intuitive use of colour was one of the keys to maintaining balance and harmony in health but it probably was around the time that I discovered the chakra and meridian systems of the body. As if to signal my readiness to recognize colour significance in healing, it was also around that time that I would discover the history of Colour Therapy.
Colour therapy was developed during the second half of the 19th century when Dr Edwin Babbit published his book “The Principles of Light and Colour”. Later, Indian scientist Dinshah Ghadiali’s definitive work on colour therapy coincided with the clinical findings of Dr Harry Spitler who produced fascinating case studies of the profound physiological and psychological changes in his patients by altering the colour of light entering their eyes.
Colour, in healing, dates back to the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks who designed and built their temples to maximize the value of light and colour. Likewise the Chinese and Indians used colour as a fundamental element in healing.
Colour therapy has continued to gain momentum and today thousands of practitioners around the world use a wide variety of colour-related therapeutic techniques to enhance healing and wellbeing. So accepted is the practice of colour therapy that
HEALTH
HEALTH
One of the simplest methods is to choose clothing more consciously. The colour that we cover ourselves with for hours on end can very definitely affect the way we feel.
mainstream colleges now offer courses for architects, artists and designers to optimize the living and work experience with intelligent use of colour. From the brightly coloured exteriors of apartment blocks for the elderly in crowded urban centres to the more subtlecoloured interiors of spa and wellness environments around the world, colour therapy is being implemented more and more to positively influence residents in these spaces. So let’s take a quick look at colour in order to appreciate that it is not simply a one-dimensional component of a pallet but an interplay of wavelengths as they are reflected or absorbed by objects. Although light from the sun appears colourless or “white”, it actually contains a full spectrum of colours - red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, violet and magenta. A red flower appears red because when white light strikes it, the flower reflects only the red wavelengths of light and absorbs the others. A white flower appears white because it reflects most of the wavelengths that strike it, absorbing relatively few. Contrarily, when all wavelengths are absorbed, and none are reflected, the object it strikes appears black. Colours affect moods and emotions. As energy healers, colours therapists operate under the premise that each organ and body system has its own characteristic vibrational energy, and disorders can be healed by applying colour of the corresponding vibrational energy, either to the whole body or to the organ concerned.
that is sure to enhance it. Use the colour chart to guide you. One of the simplest methods is to choose clothing more consciously. The colour that we cover ourselves with for hours on end can very definitely affect the way we feel. Bright clothes can counteract depression, lack of self-confidence, or low self-esteem. Calming colours can alleviate irritability or stress. Another practical way of inviting colour into your life in a meaningful way is to select colours in your décor that enhance harmony and positively influence good vibrations in the home. Change the colour of your walls, sleep under soothing-coloured linen, and buy a new lampshade that imbues the room with a happy, harmonious coloured glow. Breathe in colour. This is a potent form of meditation or visualization, in which you imagine yourself inhaling and exhaling colours. There are many guidelines to colour breathing on the internet. This is a beautiful way to start the day in consciousness. Choose food according to the colour you need at the time. For example, if you need yellow eat a banana or add saffron or turmeric to your rice. Colour is very much vibrational and as such, can act as a reliable source of enlightenment and empowerment.
COLOURCHART
There are a number of ways for you to colour your life in a way
TING
ST
I
M
A UL
I
N SI
G
RESTFUL
REVIT A
L
Colours affect us on the Physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual levels Affect
Physical
Emotional
Mental
Spiritual
Restful
Green, Light Blue
Sky Blue, Turqoise
Indigo
Blue
Revitalizing
Orange
Peach
Emerald Green
Gold
Stimulating
Red
Orange
Yellow
Violet, Purple
Jenny Gilbert is the founder and owner of Everglow Ltd, the island’s premier natural health manufactures and service providers. She is also Director of Wellness at Resonate Wellness at The Station. Homoeopathy is a well recognised system of ‘natural’ medical treatments for most diseases and conditions. Please visit resonatewell.wordpress.com or email reson8.well@gmail.com.
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PARENTING
Mindful Parenting by Nathalie Hodgson
I
’m nestled in our silent, dark bedroom feeding my son Lance, now 13 months old. He’s been awake since dawn and I’m preparing him for a mid-morning slumber. I find my breath as I let go of my thoughts and discover the moment with him again. It is a choice to be with him or to be in my head. I choose to be with him. I notice his body soften, his chest rising and falling with mine. After a while, I open my eyes and look down at his beautiful features. A sliver of light peaks from behind the shades landing on his silken cheek. His golden hair is outlined. His ears are so little. He just finished his bottle with drops still at the edges of his delicate baby lips, as he places it down to his side. His eyes remain closed as I watch him fall deeper into his relaxed state. I speak internally all my wishes, hopes, prayers and dreams for him and when I am done as if he heard every word he slowly opens his eyes and gives me the smile that could melt the Artic.
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I need only look at my first child Charlize – now two and a half years old, going on five – to know the preciousness of these moments of tender connection. This is may be my last baby, it may be the last time I can spend hours just staring into the eyes of my offspring at this tender age. I am so grateful for these two magical people that have been so pivotal in my parental transformational journey to a more whole and humble human being. Starting work again was a real internal battle, after spending 2 years with Charlize every moment of every day to even contemplate about leaving her with strangers; qualified and dedicated as they maybe played on my mind and pulled on those heart strings. I know it was a luxury for us to be in such a dilemma when so many mums have to return to work almost immediately just to make the monthly bills. For me however it was not about finances, it was about an opportunity to delve into a career I always wanted to do coinciding with Charlize coming of age to go to nursery and whether or not she should. This progression was more stressful for me than it was for her. She is a naturally sociable character with an outgoing personality, so nursery just made her blossom even more, (ironically as her nursery is called Blossom Nursery). I will not get these mornings back, I am literally giving them away for someone else to enjoy. Was I being selfish, would I regret this? Was this adventure really worth it? After taking the job I must admit I do miss the mornings with them, the morning cuddles with Lance before his mid-morning slumber as he rolls around humming to my “Twinkle Twinkle” and other nursery rhymes, every now and then climbing up my chest to give me a kiss on the cheeks or lips or to just rub the top of his head across my chest to find the perfect place to then rest his whole body on top of mine. I love it how when he gets close to sleeping he will start moving closer to me from all fours like a slow cobra coming into position and then flick on his side, back towards me in the spoon position. He then reaches back to grab my hand; enveloping his waist and tummy so selectively with his little hands. His lets out a sleepy sigh and in his relaxed state knows that I won’t move until he is asleep. I eventually place him into his cot, semiconscious of what is happening as he gives me a half grin when he feels the cold pillow against his back. I whisper I love him and for the angels
to watch over him and I will be there when he wakes (well nowadays it may not be right away but soon after). With lots more activities crammed into our lives now, I am taking a conscious effort to be more mindful. Making an effort to be truly present with whomever I am with, especially my children. Yes I have to multi-task and my mindfulness seems to work more like a roving spotlight, shining on one thing then the next, seldom illuminating the whole of me and my life at once. I notice in my new world of publishing that for some, that spotlight hasn’t even ever been turned on; no self-observations have ever taken place. The beauty, power and peacefulness of the present moment has never been experienced at all. While it may not be possible to be mindful all day long, the power of a mindful moment each day shared with someone you love can make a relationship strong and loving. With children ‘one on one time’ builds trust and subconsciously builds confidence knowing that their parent is listening and has made time for them. A mindful moment with yourself can keep you peaceful and capable of being strong and loving. Life is so short and special moments with family really mean everything. As a mother, time for your self is so vital and seven months into the new routine, the new role feels right, it feels good. Improving your talents, taking on challenges and enjoying being you (not just the mother of you but other aspects of what makes up who you are) makes you a better, well rounded person, therefore an improved Mum with more knowledge, experience and life wisdom to pass on to your family. Mother’s Day is not just a Hallmark money making scheme, it allows us to reflect on all that our parents have done for us, all that they have sacrificed for us, and for those of us lucky enough – all that they will continue to do so. The further I progress in life, the greater my appreciation for all that my parents did for me. Cherish them and enjoy their company for as long as you can. I do hope one day my children will say the same for us!
Happy Mother’s Day Nathalie Hodgson, is a writer, mother, PR & Marketing consultant and yoga instructor, juggling this whilst raising two kids under two and enjoying the most of life.
Name: Leanne Kyla Ma-low Birthday: 23rd May From: Mummy Nyla Ma-low Nyla says, “Leanne is a fun & sweet girl who is full of life. She enjoys being in front of the camera but can be shy at times in person. She is always ready for new adventures.” *Nyla signed off with plenty of kisses for Leanne!
(In collaboration with Chanterelle Bookshop)
MU S
Leanne Turns
T
Y U B
Keep your little loves close to you in the home – their adorable little faces on your fridge can make a huge difference each time you’re sweating it out in the kitchen! A bargain buy at SR90.36, Modern Printing, Docklands.
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ADOPTION SPECIAL
“Mother” is a Verb by Sandra Hanks
“Race, blood, lineage, and nationality don’t matter; they’re just the way that small minds keep score. All that matters about blood is that it’s warm and that it beats through a loving heart.” ~ Scott Simon
O
ut of all the words I might use to define myself when called upon to do so, the one that sits at the top of any list I would compile is “MOTHER”. Yes, I am also a friend, a writer, a reader, a fan of American football, an environmentalist, a passionate and opinionated woman, a reluctant cook, a ponderer of deep issues, a daughter, a sister, a former hippy with a taste for Rock & Roll, a skeptic and many other things that can appear in almost any sort of order under different circumstances. “Mother” however, explains more about me in one word than any other verbal snapshot could. “Mother” entirely encompasses my raison d’être. From the minute I knew I was expecting my first child my focus permanently shifted and it has never reverted back to a pre-mother mode. It can’t, because there is no more a pre-mother mode option than an ability to regrow my milk teeth. I live as a mother. I work as a mother. I think as a mother. I eat as a mother. I sleep as a mother. Everything in my life is dictated by the fact that I am a mother. The shift from regular person to mother doesn’t happen all at once, but in waves, and it’s not until there’s a child to be attended that it fully dawns that “mother” is not only a noun; it is also a verb. To don the mantle it must become not only what you are, but also what you do. Although there is a biological mandate in all creatures to reproduce, it is not necessarily the case that all are willing or able to take responsibility for mothering -- the demanding daily, lifelong, active role that comes with the job description. Making a person is the easy part, as bodies have systems for growing one from scratch; sperm meets ova, cells divide and, voila!, there’s a baby. (Okay, it is harder than I am making it out to be, and for some physically impossible, but you get the point.) The work really kicks in when it comes to making as sure as you can that your tiny new person grows into a fully-functioning adult human with the potential to achieve wonders, fulfill dreams and live a life that adds to the good stuff in the world.
THAT is the verb bit … and where things get more complicated. Some people who make babies, shouldn’t. Those who are very young or afflicted by addictions or incapable of caring for themselves are in no position to take full responsibility for the life of a totally dependent being. Some already burdened with many children do not always approach yet another impending birth with joyful anticipation, but trepidation and resentment. There is no standard to which people must adhere to generate progeny, no thought that is required to start a new life, so tiny humans sometimes pop up in places they are not welcome and abuse and neglect happens. Lack of care, and even outright brutality and molestation, may be assumed to be the right of biological parents or a cultural quirk, a tradition passed from generation to miserable generation. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere are entitled to: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. Given this mandate, in cases where children are at the mercy of abusive adults, biologically related or not, the children should be permanently removed from the dangerous environment and placed somewhere safe, and parental rights should be terminated Tragically not every sperm-meets-ova event is welcome. Far from it. UNICEF estimates that out of every eight children born around the world, one will be abandoned … more than one million each year, and the numbers are growing steadily. Many of these children will die at a very early age. Thousands upon thousands will be forced into hideous situations involving prostitution, slave labor, drug trafficking and other such horrid circumstances.
”The shift from regular person to mother doesn’t happen all at once, but in waves, and it’s not until there’s a child to be attended that it fully dawns that “mother” is not only a noun; it is also a verb.’ Some women who have delivered a child they are unwilling or unable to care for will opt to leave it to be found; an abandonment, yes, but one done with some hope. Orphanages the world over are full to bursting with kids who were left in places of relative safety and found after a short period of time. A very few of these will be adopted into families. The Convention on the Rights of the Child states its mission as advocating “for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential” and clearly states that “every child has the right to grow up in a family environment,” and when, “ … a child’s family is unavailable, unable or unwilling to care for her/him, then appropriate and stable family-based solutions should be sought to enable the child to grow up in a loving, caring and supportive environment.” That is adoption. In simple terms, adoption is nothing more than one of the ways to build a family. Every family is a complicated framework, and there are as many forms as there are families. As writer Jodi Picoult, an adoptee herself, said, “My mother used to tell me that when push comes to shove, you always know who to turn to. That being a family isn’t a social construct but an instinct.” An orphanage, no matter how well equipped, no matter how caring the staff, is an institution, not a family. For many of the children in them -- those without the possible option of adoption due to biological relations unwilling to relinquish their right to the child while jettisoning the responsibility -- an orphanage can feel much like a prison; a place of containment for a period of time that often will not end until childhood does. Edith Wharton put it gently when she wrote: The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend!
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MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
ERSPECTIV
“Adoption is a redemptive response to tragedy that happens in this broken world.”
their older sister and brother were at their ages … and continued to be. We are an adoptive single-parent family from different countries living in Seychelles, so totally normal from our perspective. Our family isn’t ‘less than’ anyone’s because of adoption; in fact we think it’s more -- more interesting, more adaptive, more introspective, more compassionate … and funny. (We laugh a lot!) Yes, I have the smartest, most beautiful, kindest children in the world … but you knew I was going to say that. After all, I’m their mother.
Katie J. Davis, Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption I am mother to four. Two of my kids were made the old fashioned way. Two came to me through the miracle of adoption. Aside from the fact that time passes, I am the same mother to all. There is no difference in love, dedication, amazement and appreciation between my feelings for any of my children. They are all wonderful and I have been blessed by the privilege of their presence in my life. My youngest daughter was ‘left-to-be-found’, my son was taken to an orphanage, and I am forever grateful for the courage, hope and trust of the women who bore them, then loved and cared enough to see to it that a chance could come their way. They were born in Cambodia, a country steeped in poverty and with recent history that saw the national disintegration of the family unit through war and genocide. At the time of my son’s adoption, there were 137 children in the orphanage that cared for him -- one of many in the area of the capital city alone. They were infants when they came home -- both 13-weeks old at the time -- and are now 10 and 8. As brother and sister they are closer than any siblings I know. Sam plays a great game of footie, is incredibly handsome and excels in school. CJ has a million friends and is the sweetest, happiest girl in the world. Both are perfect in every way, just as
Sources: UNICEF: Convention of the Rights of the Child. <www.unicef.org/crc/> SEYLII: Children’s Act <http://www.seylii.org/sc/legislation/ consolidated-act/28> Scott Simon, “Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other: In Praise of Adoption” Jodi Picoult, “Keeping Faith” Edith Wharton, “The Age of Innocence” Sandra Hanks is a mother, writer … and that other stuff up there in the first paragraph. Globally recognized for her work as an advocate for adoption, she has written hundreds of posts and articles on the topic. In addition to her popular personal blog, “Paradise Preoccupied” and numerous professional blog sites, Sandra authored “The Guide to US Infant Adoption” published by Adoption Media and contributed to “Female Nomad and Friends” from Three Rivers Press and “It All Changed in an Instant” from Smith Mag Publishing. A collection of short stories, “Papaya … and other seeds”, and compilation of poems, “It Gets Verse”, are available through her blog website.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WITH
BE RNARD GE ORGE S
Is there a way of making Car Hire companies financially responsible for accidents that are caused due to negligent renting of their cars, e.g. to a newly-licensed driver? To address this question we must go back to something we discussed two or three issues ago – the law of negligence, or fault as it is known in this country. Fault, the law says, is an error of conduct which a prudent person would not commit. If someone commits a fault (by act or omission, it does not matter which) and that fault causes injury or damage to another, then the person committing the fault must repair it. ‘Repair’ in this context means both putting right physically (rebuilding a broken wall, for instance, or replacing a smashed car windscreen) and paying for the damage and loss if repair is not possible (such as if a person dies, or loses an arm in an accident). Next, we must remember that in a motor accident the law in Seychelles presumes that the driver of the vehicle causing the accident is at fault. This makes it easy for the victim of the accident to recover damages arising out of the accident from the driver (who is usually insured). But the driver is not always solely responsible. He or she is, but others are also sometimes responsible for the driver’s fault. Thus, for example, the employer of a worker who causes an accident while in the course of the employment of the driver is also responsible. So, if the driver of a businessman causes an accident while delivering goods for his employer, the driver is responsible (the law calls this primary responsibility) and his employer is also responsible (the law calls this vicarious responsibility). The victim can thus recover from either, or both, (but only for one amount, not twice!). Sometimes, there can be two people primarily responsible for the same damage. They can be liable for the same act (or cause of action as the law calls it) or for different acts or causes of action towards the same victim. Thus, if my wife and I jointly own a dog (as we do, four actually) and our dog bites a person walking by on the road, we are both liable to the person. It is the same act of
the same dog which has caused the damage. An example of two different acts causing damage is the one in today’s question. The driver causing the accident is primarily responsible for the accident. The person renting the car to him or her can also be primarily responsible to the same victim for the same damage caused by the driver, but for a very different act (or cause of action), this time for being negligent in renting a car to an unsuitable person (rather than for directly causing the accident). It is of course not every renting of a vehicle by a car-hire company which will be negligent. Most rentals are perfectly in order and it is the driver who then goes haywire and causes an accident, perhaps because he or she has been drinking, or has speeded. In these cases the car-hire company has done nothing wrong. But if a car-hire company rents a vehicle to a notorious bad driver (someone who has been responsible for many accidents before, perhaps) or to a very young driver who has just obtained a licence, or a person with no licence, or whose licence has expired, then it may well be that these factors will amount to an error of conduct which a prudent car-hire company would not commit. If that is the case, then fault will be established and the car-hire company will be responsible for any damage or loss occasioned by the driver of its vehicle. Lest any readers think that these situations are far-fetched, let me reassure them that they are not. Only recently a case on the very point arose. The car-hire company couldn’t wriggle out of responsibility for renting a vehicle to a person it shouldn’t have. It was forced to settle the loss of the victim of the accident caused by the driver it had negligently rented the car to. Car-hire companies, just like everybody else, have a responsibility to the public. When they fail in that responsibility they become liable for their failure, just like everybody else. Let them be warned...
Educated at Seychelles College and Cambridge University, Bernard has two Masters Degrees – in law of divorce and in canon law, the law of the church. He is best known as a lawyer, having been in private practice for over 30 years.
ADOPTION SPECIAL
Of course, depositing a child at an institution meant to provide care is a far more acceptable move than dumping a newborn in a rubbish bin or tossing it into the sea. Those unimaginable actions are more common in the world than we would like to think and speak loudly of the misery so many around the globe suffer. Leaving a child without releasing a grasp on him/her that would allow for the possibility of becoming a member of a loving family, however, is akin to passing a verdict that dictates a childhood lived in Purgatory.
AGONY AUNT
Dear Annalisa Too young to date Q:
I have given my daughter the ipod, ipad, laptop – and everything else she has requested in order to keep her well entertained within the confines of our home. At merely 15 years old, she is far too young to date and I simply will not allow it until I decide the time is right. She is of course unhappy about my position and is always reminding me that her other friends have boyfriends. How do I make her see my point? Mildred, 45
A: Dear Mildred,
Investing in the gadgets to keep her entertained, might well serve its purpose when it comes to being at home, moments of boredom, and to fulfil certain tasks. However, gadgets are not tools that have the ability to keep away the normal development of interest in romantic relationships that is experienced during adolescence. In the States, boys and girls begin to date in mid – adolescence (15 years) and dating often begins with the meeting up of same –sex groups and progresses to well-defined couple. Of course cultural factors strongly influence dating patterns all over the world. Now the issue here, is getting your daughter to see your point on the matter of being too young to date at 15 years. To be honest is that really possible? Is it possible to get a 15 years old to see the point of a 45 year old (especially when the adolescent is not getting her way on the matter). As parents, our roles are different from that of our children, and as with a lot of other relationships it can be difficult to get another to see your point on a matter, which is where we sometimes use the infamous “let’s agree to disagree”. However in our roles as parents, we have to remain the “boss” in our family, otherwise the lines of authority can become blurry very quickly. Parents should know what issues they want to assert their authority over, and which ones to allow their children to have a vote on, i.e. they can have a voice in but not necessarily the final choice of. I personally do not like the label “boss”, let’s call it “Limit Setter”. Parents need to set limits on their children’s behaviour and maintain the rules of the household. So if dating at 15 is too young, then that’s the household rule, - and note for all the children. In settling limits, giving consequences and making children accountable for their actions should be employed where rules are broken. Do note, that while it is essential to execute the role of the “Limit setter”, two other roles should also be established, that of “Teacher” and “Coach”. The “Teacher” teaches the child about appropriate behaviours. This is where you address issues about how she displays that she is unhappy. We all have different ways of displaying our emotions/feelings. When we are sad, we cry; when we are happy we laugh, smile or dance; when we are angry, we cry, storm out. You may not be able to change her feeling of being unhappy but you can work on the appropriate behaviours about being unhappy. Note this is not about changing your decision or getting her to accept your decision, but it is about teaching her appropriate ways to behave when unhappy. On the other hand, the “Coach” challenges the child to behave better. So coach your daughter how to react in instances where decisions made are not to her liking, basically how to effectively learn to “agree to disagree”. Allow discussion about your position and how she perceives dating at 15 years. Do not hold back discussing your fear, if any, your values and moral that drives your decision. It is also a perfect opportunity to teach about relationships and some of the things that go with it. I do not think that this is essentially something where you will find a compromise as such, but an open honest discussion, with no negative consequences for sharing, may help towards establishing some understanding on both parts.
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MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
Post Baby Blues Q:
Nothing in my life as it is right now should make me unhappy. I have an amazing husband, supporting family and a beautiful new baby. I have heard of post baby depression but never in a million years thought it would happen to me. But it has. I cry all the time, I hate myself and find everyone around me insufferable – despite their best efforts. How do I fight this? Jan, 26
A: Dear Jan, As any new mother, you were generally prepared for joy and excitement, but not exhaustion, anxiety and weepiness. During the first week after childbirth up to 80% of mothers will experience, some of the following symptoms (to name just a few): being extra sensitive, tearfulness, irritability, anxiety, sadness, appetite changes, concentration problems, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms tend to peak between 3 and 5 days following delivery and it is so common that it has been named baby blues. The upsets are mainly caused by the hormonal changes of childbirth. The symptoms normally disappear within 2 weeks once the hormones level out. There is no need for specific treatment, aside from support and empathy of loved ones, plenty of rest, acquiring skills in mothering, practice and knowledge. However sometimes the symptoms continue for longer and become more severe, which is a more serious problem called postnatal or postpartum depression. In addition to the baby blues symptoms, suicidal thoughts, lack of interest in the baby, negative feelings towards the baby, worrying about hurting the baby or an inability to care for the newborn, are also present. In some cases postnatal depression can come on suddenly and in some women, the first signs do not appear until months after childbirth. A less common but more serious condition is postpartum psychosis, which may develop within the first 2 weeks of childbirth or within 48 hours. The symptoms amongst others include hallucinations, delusions, bizarre behaviours, and confusion and disorientation. The cause for both remain unknown but a number of interrelated causes and risks factors, such as hormonal changes, stress, physical changes, and family history of psychiatric problems are believed to contribute to the problems. If it is just a case of postnatal depression, here are some self-help for you: • • • • • • •
Get as much sleep as you can. Go as far as enlisting the help of your support network to allow you to catch naps when you can. Set aside quality time for yourself to relax and take break from your mummy duties. Find whatever small ways to pamper yourself, e.g. a bubble bath. Make meals a priority. Establish good and healthy eating habits. Get out in the sun and ease back into exercise. Go for a little walk, both sunlight and exercise can lift the mood. Be honest about how much you can do. Lean on others for help and support. Talk about your feelings to others. Keep a daily diary of your feelings and thoughts. It is a good way to let everything out, and to keep track of your progress as you begin to feel better. Share with other new mothers or mothers in general.
If, despite the self-help and support of your family, you believe you are still struggling with postnatal depression, it is recommended that you seek professional treatment. There based on the assessment the treatment may take the form of medication, counselling or psychotherapy or be of a combination. Your first bold step is not to allow yourself to suffer with this in silence, now do not allow it to become progressively worst, monitor yourself and seek help. Annalisa Labiche is a practicing Clinical Psychologist with over 5 years experience. She completed her Bachelor of Art (Psychology) degree and Master in Psychology in Australia. She is exposed to a multitude of complaints such as relationship, parenting, family issues, psychological disorders, substance misuse amongst many others.
MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
47
PET CORNER
Mama Cats with Nathalie Hoareau
A
mama cat will always protect her young; an instinctive and special trait that cats and many animals are just born with! There is that pre-birthing ritual where they seek out a suitable and safe “nest” in which to actually give birth and then care for their new born infants, close to food and water yet hidden away from potential dangers and threats. I have personally witnessed this and learned that some animals really do make better mothers than others do, but then again, some have better resources, so maybe it isn’t 100% instinctive. Like humans and every other creature, it is most probably a combination of factors that determines whether an animal will do an excellent job of mothering her young, so should we really generalize and assume that it is all instinctive? Stray cats have a challenging life, even finding themselves enough food is a constant battle and many females are just barely six months old
when they become pregnant with their first liter. Still a kitten themselves, it is hard to imagine that they will be able to care for a litter of crying babies. And sadly, many times they are not, inadvertently leaving their young in harm’s way while out hunting for food or perhaps because of poor nutrition, her kittens are born sick, sometimes dead, which I can’t categorize as poor mothering, just unfortunate circumstances. Many times we find that mother cats tends to other youngsters that has been left motherless, such as squirrels and hedgehogs amongst other litters. Some mama cats, like Scarlett, makes headlines. Back in 1996 she was tending to her kittens in an abandoned garage when a fire broke out. Having extinguished the blaze, firefighters sighted her, slowly carrying her four-week-old kittens from the building. Badly scorched, her ears radically burned, she lined up her babies. With her eyes blistered from the inferno, she was seen touching each with her nose, to reassure herself that her litter of five had made it to safety. She then collapsed, unconscious. They were transported to a nearby vet services where they were treated and after three months of treatment and recovery, Scarlett and her surviving babies were ready for adoption. Scarlett sadly passed away in 2008, but her memory forever lives on. Indeed, Mothers know Best!
find out more about Scarlett on en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlett_(cat)
Pet Products Must-Buy
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Oh Chelsea, Chelsea!!!” Cats – you either love them or you don’t. But, if you have them, they also need attention that extends beyond the occasional petting. Connections Trading has a selection of tablets for deworming and fleas to ensure your cat maintains in the best of health. Cleaning themselves also means that they swallow fur balls which need to be removed to ensure that nothing ‘inside’ is blocked. Oral creams are available to address this. Have a bit of fun with your cats with cat training tips. You’ll be surprised at what they can learn in just 10 minutes! All products are available at Connections Trading, Providence (next to Stone Mill Bakery) Call 2522130 for more details.
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MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
Pet of
the Month
BOOK REVIEW
MUST BUYS!
Ellen Sussman, French Lessons
From the Shelf
“Sometimes we have to run away from ourselves in order to find ourselves”.
1
1. What to Expect when you’re expecting. Book back in stock by popular demand! Available now for SR425 at Chanterelle Bookshop
2
This is a bestselling pregnancy book for a new generation of expectant mums, featuring a fresh perspective and a friendlierthan-ever voice. There’s more than ever on pregnancy matters practical, physical (with more symptoms, more solutions), emotional (advice on riding the mood roller coaster), nutritional (from low-carb to vegan, from junk food-dependent to caffeine-addicted), and sexual (what’s hot and what’s not in pregnant lovemaking), as well as much more support for that very important partner in parenting, the dad-to-be. It is everything parents-to-be have come to expect from What to Expect...only better.
This is a cultured, refined, sensual (sometimes verging on erotic) story!
2. Mama Glow: A Hip Guide to Your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy (Paperback) By Latham Thomas. Price SR285.00
So you’re ready to have a baby? Congratulations, girlfriend! Drop that blood orange cosmopolitan and triple soy latte, it’s Glow Time! Giving up your daily dose of caffeine and five o’clock cocktail doesn’t have to make you miserable. A healthy, balanced, plant-based diet can ensure that for the next nine months - and beyond - you’ll look and feel radiant! In “Mama Glow”, maternity lifestyle maven, Latham Thomas shares the tips and techniques to support a blissful journey to motherhood. “Mama Glow” also features a post-natal wellness plan, to guide you back to your pre-baby body, troubleshoot breastfeeding problems, and embrace your abundant new life.
So if you liked ‘Shade of Grey’ you may enjoy ‘French Lessons’
Merci!! (par Georges Gravé)
The location for the book, French Lessons is set in what the world over claim to be the “city of love”. So straight away one would expect the “lovey-dovey” enchilada. After reading the book, I realised that Ellen Sussman has taken the concept of love and turned it topsy-turvy, placed it in a cocktail shaker and given it a good shake. Or in simpler terms she has taken the phrase “thinking outside the box” literally. The book focusses on 3 main characters; Philippe, Nico and Chantal. All three are friends as well as French tutors who meet every Wednesday morning at a small café found on the Parisian backstreet of Rue du Paradis before taking their students out for their lessons. French Lessons is written in several parts, each depicting what happens to the characters and their students on that one day in Paris with flashbacks in everyone’s life. This book is a refreshing take on love. And indirectly provides a life lesson, that sometimes , one day , somewhere, whatever you have known, the mundane routine that has become a habit, it can all change, in the blink of an eye and in a matter of hours. Life is an adventure, but we must remember to appreciate and remember the journey, because after all it’s the journey that teaches us the lessons. Annike Faure, Potpourri - Chanterelle Book Reviewer.
Un grand patron d’un hôtel me racontait un jour que sa première mission de la journée était de prendre le temps d’aller dire bonjour à un maximum de ses employées le matin en arrivant.
un rite symbolique. Regardons comment se salue les Japonais avec des inclinaisons différentes selon la place hiérarchique dans laquelle vous évoluer. Les arabes quant à eux passent un long moment à demander des nouvelles de tous les membres de la famille. (cela fait parti du bonjour) . Ici les jeunes Seychellois comme beaucoup de jeunes à travers le monde, se cognent le poing fermé avant de le poser sur le cœur. Nous le voyons, se dire bonjour n’est pas du tout un acte anodin.
Bonjour, comment allez vous ? Bien merci et vous ?....Dialogue banal de tous les jours, et pourtant si primordiale au vivre ensemble. Bonjour, un véritable rituel et souvent si mal utilisé. Voila encore un petit mot de la langue française (c’était la semaine de la Francophonie le mois dernier) que nous devrions réapprendre à utiliser non seulement dans la vie de tous les jours mais également sur notre lieu de travail. Dans notre quotidien, il ponctue chaque nouvelle rencontre, il incite au respect de l’autre et est la porte d’entrée de toutes relations humaine. Chaque personne en contact avec un public devrait prendre des cours de bonjour afin de maitriser la sincérité de ce dernier et surtout toutes les palettes de ce mot magique : bonjour avec les yeux, bonjour avec le corps, bonjours avec l’âme, bonjour avec son cœur, bonjour avec sa pleine conscience. Bonjour, c’est être prêt à rencontrer l’autre. Dire bonjour a l’autre, c’est, si l’on est sincère, se livrer et partager l’humeur du jour. Dans d’autres cultures, le bonjour est presque
Dans l’entreprise, dire bonjour est pour le patron ou le chef de service un véritable acte managérial, un outil de management puissant a condition de ne pas faire semblant et de l’utiliser avec ses tripes et son cœur. Ce premier signe de courtoisie et de respect devrait aller de soi, et pourtant nombres de managers l’oublient en se croyant dispenser de la politesse élémentaire. Un grand patron d’un hôtel me racontait un jour que sa première mission de la journée était de prendre le temps d’aller dire bonjour à un maximum de ses employées le matin en arrivant. Cela lui prenait environ 30 minutes, et durant ce temps la, disait-il, il apprenait beaucoup plus de choses sur la marche de son hôtel que dans les rapports qu’ils trouvaient ensuite sur son bureau. Le bonjour est le ciment d’un travail en équipe. Il donne la pêche pour la journée et si le patron est courtois, il installe de fait une harmonie dans l’équipe. Avec un bonjour chaleureux et joyeux vous obtiendrez bien plus de respect de la part de vos employés. Un vrai bonjour doit toujours s’accompagner d’un regard…. Dire bonjour, n’est surtout pas une banalité. A chacun de trouver sa méthode et son style. Pour certain, il est accompagné d’une tape amicale sur l’épaule, pour d’autre d’un sourire ou d’ une petite plaisanterie, d’autre encore d’une question, peut être d’un compliment…etc, mais dans tous les cas, c’est un message personnel que vous offrez a l’autre. Il faut impérativement se consacrer à son bonjour. Attention aux automatismes ! Quand vous enchainez les serrages de mains en salle de réunion, soyer conscient de votre action. Vous n’avez pas devant vous un troupeau, mais des individus et saluer un participant en regardant déjà le suivant est une maladresse grave qui peut blesser et qui ne montre pas un grand respect de l’autre. Vous l’aurez compris, dire bonjour est en fait un exercice délicat, et pour le réussir, il faut en général être bien avec soi-même. Car il n’y a rien de pire qu’un bonjour raté. En ce sens, le sourire et le regard franc ne sont pas des options, car le visage ne doit pas exprimer l’inverse de ce qu’il dit. Bonjour, veut dire je te souhaite une bonne journée. Alors, si l’humeur n’y est pas, mettez vous d’abord en condition, retrouvez vous, faites le vide, respirez à fond et c’est parti pour de beaux bonjour.
ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE
The Strains on Commuting in Seychelles by Ahmed Afif Seychelles, with its less than 100,000 size population and 115 islands flung far and wide across the ocean, is probably liked by visitors for its isolation, quietness and simple way of life. But as life evolves and the pace of change happens faster with the advent of technology, modern trade and a growing population, the simple ways that used to characterize Seychelles may be threatened. One attraction Seychelles used to have, at least on the main island of Mahé, was the easy access to move from one place to another quickly since the wider road network was built in the last few decades. It was great to say then that unlike many other countries, in Seychelles, one spent very little time commuting to and from work. This allowed most Seychellois to enjoy quality life at home or with one’s loved ones despite not having all the modern amenities of life and the choice of goods and services that is otherwise taken for granted in a much larger economy. How do most people commute? Based on available numbers such as SPTC’s turnover, the total workforce and the number of cars available in Seychelles, one can safely say that at least half the population uses an SPTC bus to work whilst the others would be using private cars; only a small minority would use taxis on a daily basis. In the case of some large hotels or organisations, private transfers are also in place. What is clear for both bus commuters or those in private vehicles is that traffic jams both in the morning and after work are getting worse which means not only are we losing in productivity as a country but we are also spending substantially more fuel as vehicles lie idle in long queues exacerbated by traffic control wardens that appear at random on the road trying in their own desperate ways to solve the problem. Several questions may be posed: • Are there too many cars on the road? • Are our roads too small? • Are the delays or traffic jams caused by poor traffic co-ordination? • Do we have too little parking available in Victoria especially? Speaking to pundits, there are also several suggestions or proposed solutions: • Impose a ban on new cars or limit new imports • Increase import taxes on new vehicles • Only allow cars of a certain age to be on the road • Raise the licence fee for vehicles to be on the road • Improve traffic control especially in Victoria at peak hours All in all, there is consensus that the main problem lies not just in the total number of cars in the country. The real issue is that there are too many cars in the same place at the same time. In fact, this is mainly as you enter Victoria say between 0730 and 0830 in the morning or between 1600 and
1700 after work as you exit Victoria. It would appear to be the case that a large portion of the workforce is in Victoria or simply has to come to Victoria to drop school kids or some other task requiring a service from the town area. Queues build up at these times simply because the main two-way roads in Victoria, namely 5th June avenue, Francis Rachel Street, Independence Avenue and Palm Street cannot handle the volume of vehicles wishing to pass through in that space of time and given the bottlenecks that are inherent, e.g. pedestrian crossings and traffic lights. How can one reduce or get rid of these traffic jams. A few ideas have been touted: • remove police interference at the round-about. Most people I have spoken to agree that Police should control junctions but not the round-about which has a self clearing system which simply becomes less inefficient once interfered with. • create one-way traffic lanes to create the best possible circulation systems • create several multi-storey car park areas just outside Victoria and a few within Victoria and encourage small privately run shuttle services within Victoria. On the latter, it may be argued that it had been tried and tested with the “park and ride” concept in December 2012 with some apparently poor results. Here, vehicle owners were offered a parking for their cars just outside Victoria and shuttle buses to move them around Victoria. Most people, it seemed, carried on using their cars. Was that surprising? In my view, not at all. A private vehicle owner would only be tempted to try the “park and ride” concept if there was a deemed benefit, e.g. you would get to your destination and back faster than in your car perhaps because these buses had a special lane for them, they moved quicker and there were several regular streams of them circulating within Victoria at all times. But that was not to be. They usually left only when they had a good load and they would then join the rest of the traffic and thus were as slow or less maneuverable than everybody else. So really, there was no benefit to jump on one compared to being in your own car stuck in the queue. The idea was partly good but fell short of enticing anyone to buy in as it did not take into account drivers’ expectations. Can this be improved? Perhaps yes but most users would only decide to park their cars if the alternative transport means was better. Therefore important considerations need to be factored in – frequency of service, comfort, reliability, swiftness of commuting and cost must combine to ensure that commuters would perceive of a “park and ride” service as a viable alternative. There is now talk of imposing paid parking throughout Victoria including the Stadium car park. This may bring more revenue for Government but will this improve one’s ability to commute to, within and from Victoria? In other words, if commuters are asked to pay to solve a problem, will there be a solution by them paying for parking now, e.g. will there be more parking space?
Continued on Page 51
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CONSERVATION
Green your life… Although not all women can afford to purchase an energy-efficient hybrid car or convert their home heating system to solar energy, they can reduce dangerous landfill waste by choosing to use the right feminine products. Every month, women flush and throw away hundreds of disposable products and their packaging. Have you ever wondered what happens to all those products? While many prefer to take the “out of sight, out of mind” approach, disposable tampons and pads are anything but “out of sight”. They are visible everywhere – in our bathroom garbage cans, our landfills, washed up along our coastlines and even leave a visible trace on or in your body.
Something to think about: •
Most tampons and pads contain surfactants, adhesives and additives. • Traces of dioxin - a known carcinogen - and the synthetic fiber rayon are also found in tampons. Dioxin is a byproduct of the bleaching process in the manufacturing of tampons and the synthetic fiber rayon can leave residue in the vaginal wall, leading to possible risk of infection and overall discomfort. • A significant number of cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome (a severe bacterial infection) are linked to tampon use, particularly the extra-absorbent variety. = compromised women’s health (Do you really want any of that stuff near or inside your body?!) • Most pads contain polyethylene plastic whose production is a pollutant. • In landfills, many of these substances can leach into the environment (groundwater, streams and lakes) causing serious pollution and health concerns. • Tampons and their packaging can block up sewage treatment systems if accidentally flushed down the toilet. = environmental harm (Do you really want to be responsible for polluting our environment?)
Source: http://www.aselfsufficientlife.com
The feminine way. The solution?
Back in the old days women used cloths, which could be washed and re-used, but this system is not likely to appeal to many women today. However, there is another great solution…you can help care for our planet and your body by switching to a menstrual cup which is used as an alternative to pads and tampons. There are several different companies that make these reusable, medical grade, silicone cups that are used a bit like a tampon. In Seychelles, you can order one through the local health food shop “Healthy Living A-Z”. Otherwise order one online or ask someone to send you one from overseas (they are available in natural food and health shops in UK, Canada, US, Australia and some parts of Europe). So…switch to a menstrual cup and do yourself and the planet a favour! For more information about menstrual cups check out these sites: http://menstrual-cups.livejournal.com http://menstrualcups.wordpress.com http://divacup.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfHF0p7X4MI http://www.thegreenmama.com/blog/greener-and-healthiermenstrual-cycle
The average woman menstruates for forty years and uses approximately 20 tampons or pads per cycle. This means she will use 9,600 tampons or pads during her entire life – that is a lot of waste! Contributed by Michéle Martin for Sustainability for Seychelles, a local NGO whose mission is to promote sustainable living in Seychelles. Email: info@s4seychelles.com Tel. 251-9135 Web: www.s4seychelles.com or find us on Facebook. Address: Suite A9 Arpent Vert, Mont Fleuri
Continued from Page 50 The other solution proposed is one-way traffic at certain times on certain routes. Will this help reduce congestion? These would need to be answered by the Land Transport engineers. On the regulatory side, there has often been pressure to increase taxes on new cars or proposals to increase road licences. Here again, this would certainly decrease imports to some extent and but whether it would actually be of any real benefit is to be seen. The fact remains, people need to move around efficiently. The fact remains that there is a large number of people who need to come to Victoria every morning and leave every evening irrespective what cars cost, what tax rates exist and how much pay parking costs. If we do not find efficient ways to move these passengers every day at these times and instead we impose new charges only, all that will happen is that their livelihood will be affected by the newly imposed costs and there will actually be no benefit to the economy. Whilst it may be perceived that this will only affect half the workforce who use cars, the reality is that everyone will be affected as increased
costs are always passed on especially by businesses. If we can find a better transport system that allows people to move around with less cars, let us do so. This must be possible and surely Seychelles is not the first country to face this dilemma. And if this does happen, there will be no need to worry about the influx of new cars on the road or a surplus of old cars rattling along as the demand for them will drop. So for now, the focus must remain on finding an efficient transport system at least within Victoria to start with so that the secondary problems of traffic jams, pollution and wastage become less significant and therefore easier to handle. “Ahmed presently runs a small business consultancy under the name of Twin A Business and Financial Advisory Services. He had earlier served in numerous key positions within the in the civil service over the last 25 years. His last position was that of Principal Secretary of Finance and Trade where he was instrumental in helping Government design and implement a major macro-economic reform involving major fiscal and monetary reforms. He resigned from public service in March 2012. He is married and has a 17-year old son.”
BLUE OCEAN
Dyab Lavwal
Boat & Crew About Dyab Lavwal Details: 29ft catamaran -style speed boat with 2x 150HP suzuki four stroke engines Capacity: 18 passengers + 2 crew Services: Snorkeling, island visits + BBQ, fishing, transfers, private charters, taxi boat services
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The Skipper • • •
• •
Christian De Charmoy Lablache 31yrs Married and currently awaiting the arrival of his first child Skipper since 2003 Christian has a great passion for fishing and it gives him enormous pleasure to enable our visitors to experience the uniqueness & beauty that our islands have to offer.
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BLUE OCEAN
OceanStyle with Vicky Farrow
“Vicky is the Sales Director for TG International Yacht Agency based on Eden Island. She has been in the marine industry for over 15 years in sales, service and charter based in Europe and the Middle East. TG International Yacht Agency is the exclusive dealer for The Ferretti Group and Chris Craft in the Indian Ocean”.
Exclusive Yacht Services join forces with Bush & Noble
Exclusive Yacht Services who are based on Eden Island, who are one of the up and coming front runners for luxury charter in the Seychelles have teamed up with Bush & Noble who is an experienced yacht consultancy based in the UAE. Together with a wealth of experience in luxury yacht sales, service and charter they will bring a new a revitalized energy to the marine industry. You can find out more by visiting – www.bushandnoble.com
Seychelles Marine News
Giant SuperYacht Slide Eden Island Marina is busy making space for larger visiting yachts. With deep water berths currently able to cater for boats of 40M+, it is a welcome sight for the Seychelles that these yachts can berth safely in sheltered waters and help increase the tourism market for such high net worth clients. For further information please contact Keith on info@edenislandmarina.com Used boats for sale, with some of biggest names from the marine industry now having dealerships here in the Seychelles and all being based on Eden Island, your variety of big and small motorboats is growing. With the advantage of the boats being based here already you can save a large amount on shipping, plus the addition of adhering to the safety standards in place within the Seychelles, these boats are really turn key and ready. For further information please contact, Sunseeker Seychelles, VDS Marine and TG Radek Masin.
Yes, this is true and looks like too much fun… Superyacht Tenders and toys have partnered with Freestyle cruiser to produce the custom made 12.6 metre long s shaped cruiser slide. It will be placed onboard a 70 metre superyacht and will be deployed either side of the helideck!!! On that note I will slide off for another month, don’t forget if you have any news or want to get in touch with me my email address is vicky@radekmasin.com.
Take it easy and enjoy the sunshine!!!
Did you know?
Worldwide Marine News Two Big Swedish boat builders file for Bankruptcy Sweden’s Nord West & Najad AB filed for bankruptcy in late February due to the lack of money, although both suppliers and 120 employees should still get paid. It is due to the downturn in the market which has caused this situation to one of the biggest Scandinavian boat builders.
Seahorses:
Roles Reversed!! by Helena Simms • • • • •
9PM
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They are bony fish which have an unusual equine (horse) shape. Some species are monogamous and stay with one mate for life. They are among the only species on Earth in which the male bears the unborn young. The male is equipped with a breeding pouch on its front, ventral side. The female deposits the eggs (up to 1,500) into
• • •
this pouch. As the female releases the eggs her body slims while his swells!! The pouch provides oxygen as well as a controlled environment for incubation. The male can carry the eggs from 9 to 45 days and then releases fully formed miniature seahorses into the water! Once the eggs are released, the male provides no further care and can mate again within hours during the breeding season.
‘Helena has always been passionate about marine life. Within her heart beats the rhythm of the ocean and her son basks in her wake as she champions those who cannot speak for themselves’
5PM - 9PM
BLUE OCEAN
Are Women Better Anglers? Hooked On Conservation One of my best fishing buddies just got inducted into the (IGFA) International Game Fish Association’s Fishing Hall of Fame. This is a great honour in the fishing world. Her name is Joan Vernon and she is not only a fantastic person but also an excellent angler who devotes much of her free time to conservation. She is a past president of TBF (The Billfish Foundation) and runs a tournament series in Central America and the Caribbean promoting fishing tourism and conservation. Joan’s induction got me thinking about an age old question. Who are better anglers – men or women? I once had a few too many drinks with two of the top captains in the world and some fellow anglers while discussing this very subject. Capt. Ron Hamlin, Capt. Bubba Carter, the afore-mentioned Joan Vernon, several other well-known anglers (both male and female) and myself found ourselves at a bar after a recent TBF awards ceremony. Both Ron and Bubba agreed that women can easily outfish men. When pushed a little more on the subject, these men revealed that they would rather teach a woman than a man to fish. Women, they said, will listen better and quickly grasp new ideas while men are still battling old habits and ignoring what seasoned captains have to say. In other words, women listen better and follow instructions more closely. These captains also mentioned that women are technically better anglers. While men are busy trying to use their strength; women are instinctively using the equipment and leverage to the best of their abilities. By doing this, women are usually less tired and many times bring a fish quicker to the boat. Finally, they both agreed women have better tact or feeling while fishing and use this to their advantage not only when doing battle but
also when they are trying to coax a bite out of a fish. In the Seychelles, like many other countries in the world, fishing is predominantly a man’s sport. However, this is slowly changing. Today, many fishing manufacturers are catering to women. There are a number of pastel coloured fishing rods and reels now on the market, for example. There are also many international fishing organizations that cater to female anglers. One that comes to mind is the International Women’s Fishing Association (www.IWFA.org). This organization was founded in 1955 and is still going strong today. In Australia, there is an all-female fishing team called the ‘Reel Girls”. They have placed very well in the Broome Sailfish tournament for the past several years and are wellrespected anglers in any competition that they enter. This brings me back to the discussion we had after a TBF banquet several years ago. The consensus in the end was that women in fact can be better anglers than men. Just as importantly however, many men did not want to share ‘their sport’ with women, and others said they were simply afraid of being outfished by their woman in front of their friends. I think we need more female anglers in the Seychelles to help us settle this age old question. How about it, ladies? Bio: Henry is one of a few anglers that has caught IGFA’s coveted ‘Billfish Royal Slam’ (all 9 billfish species). A passionate angler and conservationist, he is also The Billfish Foundation (TBF)’s ambassador in the Seychelles. Together with his wife, Allison, Henry co-owns FINS Tackle, a big-game fishing and pro-tackle store opening in early 2013.
Imported by Chandler's Trading Ltd. Neverland Building, Providence Estate, Tel: 437 33 33
e ic tle r P t al l bo n io m ot 200 om / Pr R80 S
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BON APPETIT
Herb-grilled Lamb Fillet
Served with Pommes Anna, Red Wine Sauce and Feta-stuffed pickled carrot
This month La Plaine St. André would like to throw a bigger challenge than usual at the Chef of your household. Have fun making this multi-dimensional lamb dish, preferably with the help of a sous-chef of some description! Serve this with Archipelago Wine & Spirit’s recommendation of Constantia Glen Saddle from Constantia, South Africa, to really impress your guests. There’s also the option of a Beached Mojito à la Takamaka Bay to wash things down and spice things up for a great night of entertaining!
The Lamb
Pommes Anna
200g Lamb Fillet Oregano, rosemary, basil, thyme, salt, pepper
250g thinly sliced potato 20g melted butter 1 finely chopped garlic clove 1 egg yolk
Sprinkle your herbs, salt and pepper over a flat worktop and roll the fillet over the mixture so that it is evenly coated. Wrap in cling film and leave to rest overnight in the fridge. Pan-fry in butter long enough so that the centre of the fillet is still pink in colour. If you want to be precise and have a food thermometer, it should ideally read 55˚C when inserted through the thickest part of the fillet once you are done frying. Allow to rest for 6-7 mins before slicing into medallions, ready to serve.
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Pre-heat your oven to 150˚C. Finely slice the potato and mix with the egg yolk, butter, salt and pepper in a bowl. Line an oven tray with baking paper and neatly pile the potato slices on the tray to create a small tower of about 2 cm high Cover with another sheet of baking paper and press down with your hands
La Plaine St. André T: +248 437 2010 E : reservations@laplaine.sc W : www.laplaine.sc
Bake in an oven at 150˚C for 90 mins Divide into 7x7 cm portions and re-heat in the oven until piping hot before serving.
Feta crème and pickled carrot 1 carrot, thinly sliced 2 tbsp feta cheese 4 tbsp mascarpone 5 mint leaves Pickle your carrot: In a bowl, stir equal parts of sugar and salt into vinegar (1/2 a cup each for example) until completely
dissolved. Add the carrot slices and cover tightly with cling film. Let the carrots marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight. Mix the mascarpone, feta and chopped mint leaves until evenly combined. Roll the individual slices of carrot and stand the rolls vertically so that you can fill each carrot ‘receptacle’ with the cheese mixture.
Red Wine Sauce 5 dl Dry Red Wine 1 ltr Beef Stock 1 pc Red Onion 1 pc Carrot 3 pcs Garlic Cloves 1 pc Cellery
10 Whole Black Pepper Corns 3 Bay Leaves 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste 1 Tsp Thyme ½ Tbsp Dark Soya Sauce Chop and fry all vegetables and herbs to desired colour and consistency Add tomato paste and stir on heat Add wine and reduce to 1/3 its original volume Add the stock and let simmer for 15-20 mins Thicken with corn flour until desired consistency Colour with Soya Sauce Pass through a fine strainer To serve, place your potato in the centre of a large plate and arrange your lamb and carrot around it. Garnish with a cherry tomato and Brussels sprout, before drizzling with your sauce.
The Wine Constantia Glen Saddle, Constantia SA A wine to savour. The aromas move confidently onto the palate and are complemented by juicy tannins that allow for immediate enjoyment and hint at opportunity for development too. This wine is both alluring and satisfying with a fine meal yet sufficiently sociable to allow for enjoyment on its own.
Beached Mojito Takamaka white rum pressed with fresh mint, lime & passion fruit and topped with fresh pineapple
What you need.... A highball glass and a long handled teaspoon Crushed or cracked ice One loose handful of fresh mint leaves Half a shot of fresh lime juice 1 fresh passion fruit Two shots of Takamaka Bay white rum Three quarters of a shot of sugar syrup (two parts sugar to one part boiling water) Two to Three shots of fresh pineapple juice
What to do...... Place the fresh mint, lime, passion fruit and sugar into the glass – mint first. Press the mint against the side of the glass with your long handled spoon, smearing it around the glass as you do so. Make sure that you are mixing the flavours as you smear the mint around the glass. Pour in the rum and add a scoop of cracked ice – fill around ¾ of the glass. Churn the rum and mint through the ice pulling the mint up from the bottom of the glass so that the flavour is evenly spread. Fill the glass with ice and top with pineapple juice, add two straws and garnish with a mint sprig.
Takamaka Bay T: +248 437 2050 E: info@takamaka.sc W: www.takamakabay.com Archipelago Wines & Spirits T : +248 4 37 48 76 / 77 E : cheers@archipelago.sc
Archipelago Wines & Spirits Ltd Providence Mahé Seychelles T: +248 4374877 / 4374877 E: archipelago@takamaka.sc MAY 2013 | POTPOURRI
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Smirn
OCCASIONS
Photo Credit: Steve Nibourette
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o
Ther e B e ff
Smirnoff Be There is becoming increasingly popular and is the talk of the town. Smirnoff mixes the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best drink and creates the coolest parties. The event is brought to life in Seychelles by Seychelles Breweries. It rouses the spirit of inventiveness in everyone and allows you to enjoy the Seychelles nightlife to the fullest. Watch out for the next Be There Event and Be There! (Photos were taken on 5th April at Konoba Restaurant, Angel Fish)
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WEDDINGS IN PARADISE
Andrea & Christian
Not many couples from Germany can say they got married on a piece of earth many think of as the most beautiful place in the world. One exception would be Andrea and Christian who, all the way from Hamburg, made their way to Anse Source D’Argent on La Digue to exchange their vows. The ceremony took place on 8th March 2013. They say “ We saw the Seychelles Islands on TV and wanted to get married and have our honeymoon there.”
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All photos by Cameraline Productions | camline@seychelles.net | www.weddinginseychelles.com
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