POTPOURRI June 2013

TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE Infidelity Heartbreak Everything You Need to Know on

RESTRAINING ORDERS

I LOVE SEYCHELLES

June’s Fashion Special

Christine Chetty

The Fabric of a Woman’s Life

Shanice Hoareau More Than Just a Pretty Face

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Duty Free Gift Shop, New Port, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles. Tel: +248 4225405

From the

EDITOR

Dear Folks,

Photo credit Suzanne Verlaque

Mother Earth seems to have taken some pity over us in recent weeks with noticeable cooler weather. The scorching heat that has been dominating conversations all over the islands has finally been laid to rest. Just as well, June is a month with a few public holidays allowing families to spend precious time together – so make them outdoor events!

A few days ago, a new Miss Seychelles was crowned. At the time of going to print, the pageant had not taken place so a name cannot be revealed in this editorial.

In lieu of the end of the 2012 reign, we have a special personality feature with Shanice Hoareau – the First Princess from Miss Seychelles 2012. Shanice also won the – then People’s Choice Award indicating the extent she warmed the hearts of most Seychellois. Do not miss out on her interesting and emotional interview on page 24.

June, if you follow the Gregorian calendar, marks the half way point of the year. For those of us who are in continuous disbelief about the pace of time, this reminds us that the days pass by quickly and that yes, before we know it, 2013 will be over.

Plan your next 6 months wisely, if you had projects or resolutions at the start of the year which you have not managed to attain – yet.

June in Seychelles is also a month of great political debates as days commemorating poignant political developments are celebrated. June 18th will mark the 20th anniversary of the birth of the 3rd Republic and a National Show (at Roche Caiman) is being organised to coincide with the celebrations. In 2010, the first time this event was organised, 23,000 Seychellois are estimated to have turned up to see what businesses were showcasing – the numbers are expected to be higher this year, so do pen the dates 14th to 16th June down in your diaries.

For those of you visiting our islands this month, may you be blown away by the beauty of our islands and the hospitality of our people.

Until next time, stay healthy and happy.

Marie-France Chief Editor

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Cover Model Model: Shanice Hoareau | Age: 20 | Profession: Seychelles Tourism Academy Graduate – For more on Shanice, turn to page 28 Hair & Make-Up: Gemma Sedgwick Mondon | Photographer: Marsha Dine (http:// 500px.com/MDPhotos) Dress: SR570 from www.venture-bay.com

JUNE

Regulars

45 Nathalie Hoareau

38 Jenny Gilbert

In this issue

15

12

Brigitte Monchouguy Alexandria Faure

10: Sleep Your Way to Health by C.Ponzo

20: Christine St Ange on Life in Australia

12: What Now? Alexandria Faure explores life after University

36: Be a Beach Goddess

by J. Bladwin

13: A View on Customer Service in Seychelles 19: Anna Marzocchi......

Grants you an Escape to Luxury!

4 Tina Houareau

40 Nathalie Hodgson

44

44

Bernard Georges

Georges Grave

47 Ahmed Afif

36 Jennifer Baldwin

42 Annalisa Labiche

40: Meditation - Even YOU Can Do It! 42: Effective Discipline by mum-of-two Nathalie Hodgson

The Team

10 Célia Ponzo

Contact Us

Marie-France Watson Gemma Mondon & Ineke Camille

Martin Hoarau

Elaine Lafortune

Marsha Dine

Steve Nibourette

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

Olivia Michaud

Hair Stylist: Martin Hoarau’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

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Musings of an Island Girl by Tina Houareau It is Only Water it is true. Whether it is a better understanding of what we can or cannot live without or being forced to let go of dream that no longer has any power on its own, the unknowns of life are what give it its splendor, vigor, and us - reasons for unending curiosity.

Photo Credit - Joel Zamzow

Over the past few weeks, a project has been on the move at my house - the repair of an automatic water sprinkler system. It was during this process of watching the yard being torn up that I remembered a lesson about alteration and progress. Ideally, I would prefer to have some of life’s revelations wash over me in gentler ways. But much like my temporarily demolished lawn, in order to reshape and continually improve, I must be willing to feel uncomfortable.

Almost always without fail, just when I think I have figured out the direction that life is taking me or settled into a syrupy sweet routine, life dishes an unappetizing change that stops me dead in my tracks and forces me to readjust my sails.

Is this the universe’s way of continuing to surprise and amaze me? The constant changes I am faced with often rob me of my sense of faith that all will work out in the end. In the moment, it can really be scary, exhausting, unnerving, and incredibly lonely.

I say ‘in the moment’ because I work really hard at not making that unsavory state a permanent one. While we can never predict the length of our happy moments, so long as we keep choosing to always be a student of life and seek out new reasons to smile, we will continue to be amazed by the capabilities that reside within each of us to shine.

Even in the initial moment of the unanticipated detour, there is always good to be found. I know this can be a challenging concept to accept, but

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So long as we keep choosing to always be a student of life and seek out new reasons to smile, we will continue to be amazed by the capabilities that reside within each of us to shine.

The improvements we seek in life and the changes that are often worth our efforts will not magically occur without a bit of disruption to our lives.

We simply cannot escape the unsettled feeling that precedes any leap into the waters of new and perkier realities.

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.

LIFESTYLE

e v a e L To

flood lasting a week, surpassed only by the sadness and loss that I felt as I faced the inevitable end of a relationship I had invested so much time, energy, forgiveness and love, for surely I had to take my fate into my own hands rather than contemplate, like Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them.”

This was not supposed to happen to me. After all, I am an intelligent, modern and independent young woman.

These things only happen to naive women who either ignore the signs or are resigned to ‘bearing their cross’, or to women who marry for material gains. ‘Shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool me

I DARED TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAD GOTTEN BACK OUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER. ONLY TO BE PROVEN WRONG WITH A STRING OF CHAT MESSAGES WITH I-NEED-YOUS AND I-CAN’T-LIVE-WITHOUTYOUS THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED TO ME.

or Not To Leave

To leave or not to leave... that is the question I find myself faced with at this difficult juncture in my marriage. I found my prince charming at the tender age of 17 and our wedding 7 years later was the start of our happily-ever-after. Or so I thought.

We were the perfect couple, we both had good jobs, a baby boy, spent a lot of time together – in essence, we were probably the envy of many others around us. I was on top of the world and when the opportunity presented for us to take up a new life abroad, I thought nothing could possibly spoil what we had. But I was so wrong.

On the day of the 10th anniversary of our first kiss, 3 and a half years into what I thought was a sublime married life, I was to make a shocking discovery that would rock the foundation of my perfect life – my husband was unfaithful. It was not merely his infidelity that shocked me, but the manner in which I found out. Not being told by someone, but having concrete evidence through pictures and video clips that left little to the imagination. And the worst part, it had happen throughout our marriage.

And the evidence had been lying around in our “loving” home all along.

I was angry, frustrated, hurt, sad, disgusted, all at once. What to do? I was far from my family and friends; it was just the two of us in a foreign country with our young son. He said he had been a fool, that it would not happen again, that he loved me. After a week, things were back to normal.

Only for my world to tumble again six months later. Countless raunchy emails with one, indecent facebook messages with another, continued contact with the one I found out about in the first instance, inappropriate exchanges - although nothing overly suggestive - with a “friend” of mine.

Another flood of tears, another fit of rage. This time, my husband had the decency to hold his head in shame. More confessions of love, this time with the promise to change. The age-old adage of ‘once beaten, twice shy’ was lost on me. I really love him, I said to myself, and he has promised to give change his hardest shot. How could I deny the love of my life this one last chance? And so, life carried on.

twice’, they say. But I had gone beyond shame, as it had happened many times. How could I stay after this? I gave him back my engagement and wedding rings, vowing to leave him.

And that was when I remembered where it had all started: Vows – an integral part of a wedding ceremony, words made concrete by the exchange of rings. I decided that my husband and I should watch our wedding video, in an attempt to remember what spurred us 5 years ago to exchange vows before our family and friends, and try to understand where we had strayed. ‘For better or for worse’, he challenged. ‘Forsaking all others till death do us part’, I countered. Emotions ran strong for both of us, the strongest of which was love, contained in the reading which we had chosen for our big day: “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

All that was two and a half months ago. Since then, we have talked and cried, and for the first time, my husband has really opened up to me and I have a better understanding of what drove him to infidelity. However, understanding does not equal accepting the situation.

18 months later, we were in a good place. I had gotten through a master’s degree with his support. Whilst I studied, he cooked and cleaned and took care of our son. A loving father, a devoted husband. I dared to believe that the past was behind us. I dared to believe that the leopard had changed its spots. I dared to believe that we had gotten back our happily ever after. Only to be proven wrong with a string of chat messages with I-need-yous and I-can’t-live-without-yous that were not addressed to me.

Our current family life is more than I could have wished and our son thrives with the love and affection showered onto him by both his parents. We cook together, eat together, laugh together, do things together as a family. However, the wounds of this battle are far from healed and remain a barrier to physical intimacy, the only element now missing in our marriage.

Leopards can’t change their spots. That’s why I married a man, who has the power to influence his own fate. Changes are slow to come about, just like rebuilding trust takes time. To stay has never been an issue. To leave is the hardest choice any couple can face. But I married for love, and where there is love, there is always hope.

My anger this time around was short-lived. No fits of rage. Just tears, a

Anonymous

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HAVE YOUR SAY

Is an Affair a Deal Breaker?

Follow our page on Facebook (Potpourri Magazine Seychelles) to share your views on the questions we ask.

“It depends. Is it a one off affair? Or is it a multiple of affairs from the beginning of the relationship?

A one off affair is forgivable. No matter the circumstances. If one can show remorse, means it, and is willing to work on the broken trust, that is.

We are all capable of mistakes and repentance. But, multiple affairs? Just forgive and move on.”

V. Leon

but life was a tad bit more complicated that. I am yet to face this situation (hopefully I never have to), but I know that walking away from my marriage and breaking up the family life that provides so much love and security to my son is not something I will do in heartbeat. That’s not to say I would never do it. But, it would have to be an extremely unforgivable case.”

Marie-France Watson

“It doesn’t have to be! Especially in a marriage where there are kids in the picture. Some people work through it! For the sake of the children and with the hope that despite such an ordeal, there is always a chance that things might actually change for the better. Some negative situations in life can sometimes bring positive changes in people’s lives.

Every mistake done but once deserves forgiveness.

If it continues it only becomes a bad habit and you definitely need to call it quits.”

Elaine Lafortune

“In my personal opinion, an affair is very much a deal breaker. Trust is paramount in any relationship and once either party has been unfaithful, the trust is all but lost.”

Jeremy

“Nothing is more devastating than discovering that your supposedly faithful partner had or is having an affair. The fact that your spouse has lied to you whether in words or in silence - adds unspeakable pain to the betrayal.

It is normal for the harmed party to feel furious, depressed, crazy, disoriented, obsessed with details of the affair, and convinced that nothing will ever be normal again.

But as catastrophic as an affair can be, don’t automatically make it a deal-breaker; if you and your partner have a significant history together, and especially if you have kids, try to work it out.

There are worse things people do to one another that are far more devastating than a momentary lapse in judgment that leads to sex with another person.”

Rose Adams “Prior to marriage I actually felt very strongly about this. You cheat – you’re out. Simple as that. But then I got married and had a child and life was no longer black and white. Shades of grey started appearing and I realised that principles were great to have

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“Right off I would say it is a deal breaker. The vows made in the House of God were broken and how could I ever trust him again. I would doubt and question him if he was 15 minutes later than he said. The stress would rub off on the children and would I want to subject them to two unhappy people who were constantly in a war of words or rather two parents who were happy apart? Then there is the part of me who thinks what if it was just a bad error and with counselling the marriage could actually be stronger. But at the end I would place the children first, we are raising the next generation. I would not want my girls thinking it was ok for a man to use her as a door mat or my son to think he could move from woman to woman and discard her like dirty laundry.”

BH “If my partner were to have an affair, I would imagine that my initial reaction would be to break up with him. On the other hand I have witnessed couples relationships get stronger after they have been through the ordeal of an affair.

I suppose that sometimes an affair makes someone realize the underlying issues of their relationship and/ or how much they appreciate their partner.

One thing I know is that I certainly wouldn’t blame the person he had the affair with. Whiles her actions would be less than admirable, it is my partner’s duty to respect me and communicate with me, instead of being unfaithful.”

Isabelle H.

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SLEEP YOUR WAY TO HEALTH!

Better Living With Célia Ponzo

“You could be doing everything else right but if you are not resting properly you have little chance to rejuvenate, restore and heal.”

I am so grateful to be a very good sleeper.

We have all been there at some point, that agonizing time lying in bed wide awake where the mind-chatter just does not seem to switch off.

Next you are tossing and turning and sleeplessness is creeping on you as the minutes pass by. Results are the next morning you feel fatigued, unproductive and grumpy with everyone around you. Am I right?

The bad news is that there are other hidden health hazards caused by sleep deprivation. Just one week of insufficient sleep can alter the activities of our genes which control our response to immunity, inflammation, stress and overall health. Higher levels of anxiety and depression; Higher risk of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, breast cancer, heart disease, obesity and disruption of circadian rhythm (the body’s natural time clock) can all be triggered by prolonged sleep deprivation.

Good sleep is one of the most important keys to a healthy body. You could be doing everything else right but if you are not resting properly you have little chance to rejuvenate, restore and heal.

I would like to focus this article on sleep and the link it has on overweight and obesity given that about 60% of our Seychelles population is overweight.

Food Binges Exhaustion and tiredness are often causes of food binges. In order to get an energy boost we may reach for a snack thinking it will energize us. Actually what our body is telling us is that we need to rest. Opt for more down time, a snack will only give you a short term energy booster.

Appetite Regulator Ever wondered why you are hungrier after a sleepless night? Our hormones that regulate our appetite are impacted by our sleep. Lack of sleep tends to increase appetite levels as it increases levels of ghrelin our appetite stimulating hormone and decreases leptin our appetite sating hormone. Sleep your hunger away!

Food choices Not only does sleep impact our appetite but it can also influence our food choices.

Lack of sleep triggers our stress response leading to higher levels of cortisol and norepinephrine (our stress hormones) being released in our body. When we are tired and stressed we tend to reach for the fatty and sugary foods. Eating these unhealthy foods will have an effect on our blood sugar level leaving us craving for more sugar and increasing our risk of diabetes! Invest in your sleep and you will naturally choose healthier foods.

Do you now see how important sleep is in keeping a healthy weight? If any of you readers are dieting at the moment, all those efforts you are making are not worthwhile if you are not getting enough sleep.

As always there is good news!! There are small changes you can start doing right this evening that with a little time will guarantee you a peaceful sleep.

Your Lifestyle About 100 years ago we functioned much closer to nature, we used to go to sleep when it got dark and wake up when it was light. Our body clock was unconfused.

Now our 21st century lifestyle has made it difficult to wind down leaving the brain very active, resulting in a ‘’lifestyle insomnia’’.

•

Avoid late night use of technology. There is increased evidence

Continued on Page 46 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 would like to pay tribute to my excellent driving instructor John at this stage. My sole criticism of him is that he supports Liverpool FC.” I’m beginning to make real strides in adapting to my new home now.

Fortunately the local mosquito population has stopped viewing me as a human buffet and I now only get the occasional nibble during their less frequent, cowardly, nocturnal attacks. I’m no longer the palest person on the island although sadly I’m probably still in the top 50. My attempts to learn Seychellois Creole have progressed to the stage where I can now say ‘hurry up’ (useful for when someone has barricaded him/herself in the bathroom in the morning), ‘little baby’ (it’s what my mother-in-law calls the dog even though he’s massive) and ‘I would like to pay please’ (I’m planning on limiting the usage of this phrase as much as possible).

I’ve managed to pass my driving test in Seychelles even though the on road test coincided with rush hour in Victoria and a torrential downpour of epic proportions. I would like to pay tribute to my excellent driving instructor John at this stage. My sole criticism of him is that he supports Liverpool FC. Aussie the dog and I continue to be the best of friends – most of the time.

He objects strenuously when I have to sit on his head in an attempt to remove nasty ticks and unsightly eye seepage in the morning. Gratitude in return for these delicately performed surgical procedures frequently

takes the form of a fairly painful bite. It usually takes two pieces of buttered toast to pacify him afterwards. He is also prone to unleash a particularly savage mauling should any hapless individual wander too close to him when he is enjoying either his dinner or a lollipop during the course of the evening which I suppose is fair enough all things considered. Usually he’s in a much more amiable mood though and can be seen either swimming in the stretch of sea outside the house, playing with his canine chums next door or pelting up and down the garden at terrifying speed with a succession of objects wedged in his mouth, ranging from coconut husks to squeaky plastic snowmen.

Acclimatising to the extreme heat is not something that is easy to achieve but I’m fortunate that I have air con in our wine shop and by the time I get home in the early evening it’s the perfect temperature to sit outside on the veranda (occasionally with a glass of vino) and put my feet up for a while at the end of the day. I do feel more than a degree of sympathy for my family in the UK who have endured snow and low temperatures even though spring is finally supposed to be on the horizon.

The lifestyle out here continues to be wonderful. There can’t be many greater pleasures than bobbing around in the Indian Ocean at Anse Royale about to consume an enormous pizza accompanied by a glass of cabernet sauvignon. Bliss.

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.

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What Now?

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Make & receive calls, send and receive text messages and even surf the web or update your status when you are overseas.

How it works Cable Prepaid Roaming can keep you connected from a number of selected countries around the world. Here’s how:

by Alexandria Faure “After years of being wrapped around the blanket of education, you are finally facing the world head on. And the world can be a scary place” An overwhelming question that every graduate asks themselves as they wave goodbye to university life to face the ‘real’ world. It all becomes an endless ongoing mess of questions.

After finishing university, for a while I felt like I was lumbering in a huge pile of questions that I funnily enough didn’t have the answers to, along with another huge pile of questions fired at me by family and friends. What are your plans? What’s next for you?

Questions, questions, questions everywhere! Coming from all different directions! Along with a whole load of pressure, panic and frustration. Completely out of my comfort zone!

Looking ahead there are so many paths one can take after university - making a decision on what one wants in life is a daunting task. After years of being wrapped around the blanket of education, you are finally facing the world head on. And the world can be a scary place.

As soon as university finished I faced the dreaded task of ‘figuring out what I want out of life and my career’. Something that was the hot topic of conversation amongst my friends and I. We all had questions, if only we had the answers.

I soon realized that it matters now, more than ever, for me to figure out what my place is in the world. But what I wanted at that moment mattered the most as well, and that was freedom.

Freedom from the constraints of questions and the expectations of others and society. Because the one thing I had been given in my course at university was the freedom of expression and a chance to think outside the box. And I really wasn’t ready to relinquish that gift. In fact, I don’t intend on relinquishing it anytime soon.

After finishing university you come to a point where you either choose the well worn path that everyone has trampled on, or, you question the rules that others have made for you and you take the unexpected turn. Sure, it’s safe and comfortable to take the recommended path, but it’s much more magical to discover the world of incredible surprises that lie just around the corner...

I am curious to discover the surprises that lie around that corner.

And sure they say ‘curiosity kills the cat’ but that’s nothing but technical language.

So I’m taking that unexpected turn and I’ll see you around the corner.

“I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”.

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Alexandria Faure is a Seychellois studying Drama And Theatre Arts in London, England.

• Before you travel, visit any Cable & Wireless Customer Services Centre to have your Cable Prepaid account activated for Roaming.

• Top up your account before you leave the Seychelles using our eTopUp service or Prepaid vouchers • If you run out of credit, you may ask a friend in Seychelles to top up your account using your normal prepaid number Current Cable Prepaid Roaming Partners include: Orange (France), Hutchinson 3G (Hong Kong), Vodafone India (India), Telecom Italia (Italy), Orange (Mauritius) & Etisalat (UAE).

Go to www.cwseychelles.com for an updated list of destinations and network partners as well as pricing information. Terms & conditions of service apply.

SACOS Motor Insurance Knowing you are well-protected makes all the difference Basic facts When you are ready to purchase a motor vehicle, one of the most important things to consider is car insurance. Depending on the kind of car you are going to purchase, your insurance premium could be high or low.

Most people do not realize that they are not covered properly until something happens and once someone realizes they were not covered properly - it is too late.

Options As a General Rule, when you take out a car insurance policy, you will be offered a choice of two main levels of cover: SACOS Comprehensive Car Insurance This gives the widest cover including: • Repair or replacement of your car if it is damaged or stolen • Injury to other people including passengers in the car • Damage to other people’s cars and property • Windscreen repair or replacement • Your car stereo and loss or damage to personal effects SACOS Third Party Cover (TP) Third party: the minimum type of motor insurance you can take out is “third party”. This covers liability for: • Injuries to other people, including passengers • Damage to other people`s property • Accidents caused by passengers in the car Although SACOS provides the basic cover, the company offers additional variants on the policies, such as courtesy cars in the event of theft or accident, or protected no-claims bonuses. These and other options such as windscreen cover and loss of use may be added at additional costs.

SACOS Offers Special Rates Are you a Lady Driver, a SACOS Shareholder or a Tenant of SACOS, we have special Motor Insurance Rates just for you. SACOS also offers competitive Introductory Rates for New Motor Vehicles.

Knowing you are well-protected with SACOS makes all the difference Contact the SACOS Life Assurance Company Ltd on telephone (+248) 4295000, or any of the SACOS Licensed Life sub-agents; or pay a visit at the SACOS Life Assurance Company’s offices on 3rd Floor, Unity House, Palm Street, Victoria. We will be happy to assist and guide on the best life assurance plan to suit your needs and budget.

Contributed by Ms Jane Joubert, General Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, SACOS Group Limited

by M.Philo

Customer service has been defined as “the provision of service before, during and after a purchase.” I am certain that leaders and employees of companies, large or small will agree that delivering outstanding customer service is fundamental for the prosperity of their businesses.

However, judging from the services provided in quite a number places here in Seychelles, sadly, one may wonder how many companies actually strive towards Customer Service improvement.

I have had one too many conversations with people who were discontented with services and reception they received at government offices, private companies, shops, telecommunications companies etc…

Often, the complaints are of small negligent acts: For example: coworkers, who go on chatting away even if a customer has walked into the business premises, not replying to a customer’s greeting, shouting and swearing in the presence of customers, just to list a few. Yes, small they may seem, but these acts leave a bad impression and sometimes deprive customers of their rights.

Consumer Awareness in the Seychelles Nowadays, extensive effort is being put into consumer awareness campaigns worldwide. Therefore, a large percentage of the world’s consumers are now well acquainted with their basic rights and their implications. There are four basic rights on which the majority of consumer rights campaigns have been conceived and developed: 1.

The right to safety; i.e. the product or service should not harm the customer in any way.

2.

The right to choose which suggests that customers should have a variety of similar goods and service providers to choose their products and services from.

3.

The right to be informed which implies that the customer should be provided with all information related to the service or product before purchase.

4.

The right to be heard which allows the customer to make their concerns and complaints with regards to a specific product or service known to the company.

In Seychelles, work has also been done to educate our consumers. The Fair Trading Commission which was set up in 2009 has the mandate to safeguard consumer interests, monitor and investigate the conduct of business enterprises, promote and maintain effective competition in the country, protect consumer rights as well as impose duties on producers and suppliers of goods and services when necessary. In line with the assigned mandate, the Fair Trading Commission has produced several adverts and documents which gives tips and advice to consumers, educate them of their basic rights and guide them to lodge complaints about unsatisfactory goods and services.

Customers who are well versed on the matter expect to receive the type of Customer service which embraces the principles of consumer rights. At the same time, there are still customers who are unaware of their rights and accept the substandard service they are offered, assuming that it cannot be improved. For anyone who would like to learn more about consumer rights and consumer rights protection in the Seychelles, I would recommend the Fair Trading Commission website: www.ftc.sc.

I believe that customers have a significant role to play in standardizing the level of Customer service, especially here in Seychelles where too often customers are dissatisfied with the service they receive but yet remain quiet. Most dissatisfied customers feel that it is a hassle to lodge a complaint with the concerned parties against a business. While it might be a hassle, it is an act which will benefit the country in the long run as

it will oblige businesses to adopt the best Customer Service practices.

My advice to all customers out there is to complain responsibly when dissatisfied even when you have decided that your relationship with the business in question is through.

What’s a Business without its Customers For those who interact with customers regularly – always remember that your customers’ needs, opinions and complaints are valuable. Customers who complain and seem to nag are your most valuable customers. They are well aware of the type of service they deserve and will not accept anything below the required standard. They could without any doubt just walk away. No matter how complicated or absurd their demands and questions may be, take time to listen and go that extra mile to get as close as you can to satisfying their needs. And when you are absolutely sure that you cannot give the requested service, have the required information at hand so that you can explain why your company cannot deliver.

Empathize with your customer. The customer will walk away (probably on to another business), but with conviction that the employee did all that she/he could. The customer will rarely point fingers at your company for failing to deliver the requested service or goods. But for bad customer service, they most definitely will!!!

Customer Service Campaigns Economically, our lovely Seychelles depend largely on the tourism sector.

In my opinion a nation with such a significant tourism sector should be naturally well committed towards providing exceptional customer service, not just in hotels, restaurants & other places highly frequented by visitors, but in all businesses.

It is clear that more needs to be done to evoke a higher standard of Customer Service in our beautiful country. On that note, I suggest that, perhaps, the Government and business enterprises come together to look at possibilities of introducing Customer Service campaigns similar to the U-First campaign .The Ministry of Tourism came up with the extensive U-First campaign in the late 1990’s to promote Customer Service in tourism establishments.

The campaign did not only target in-service workers through the various Customer Service competitions, but it also targeted youngsters through the curriculum and U-First Clubs’ activities. The youngsters engaged in activities which aimed to get across the message of the vitality of delivering high quality service. The campaign motivated youngsters to learn about and promote Customer Service and motivated in-service workers to offer quality service. Introducing another campaign of the sort will revive the motivation of employees to excel in providing high standard service as well as encourage businesses to develop systems which support state of the art Customer Service.

Customer service is everybody’s business Simply put, customer service is everybody’s business. Whether you look at it from a business or consumer point of view, we each have a role to play towards the matter. So, let us all together do our utmost to develop the very best practices of customer service for the good of our Seychelles.

After all, it has been proven that businesses which derive their core principles based on superior customer service are the most successful ones. And successful businesses will unquestionably contribute towards a successful economy.

There are businesses who are already striving to improve their services based on their capabilities. I wish to extend my congratulations to all businesses, employees, and individuals which try their very best to serve all with a smile. On that note - I would like to commend two particular businesses for their service: Rose Salad bar at Providence and The Island Grill in Victoria. Pay them a visit and you’ll see what I am talking about.

CONSUMER AWARENESS

Customer Service Improvement - A MUST!

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Brigitte Monchouguy is a Seychelloise legal professional living and working in London. She

we wisely shared some taxis home before things got too out of hand. The next morning I woke up with no regrets, but I did have a smile on my face when I found a certain Mike’s phone number in my coat pocket. Until next time - if you can’t be good, be good at it!

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.

P

However, those Magic Mike Martinis had been very strong so we wisely shared some taxis home before things got too out of hand.

renée martin designs

erth might not be the cosmopolitan metropolis that London is, but boy can you still have fun! Some girlfriends and I were in a cheeky mood so where better to make the most of it than a “Magic Mike” night at the Aberdeen Hotel? We started off with some cocktails and watermelon shots at Amy’s house to get us in the mood. Dressed to kill, we took a taxi into Northbridge. No sooner had we alighted then Magic Mike Martinis were thrust into our hands by sexy male waiters wearing nothing but bow ties and very skimpy shorts! They guided us into the VIP area by the main stage as the troupe of all male dancers warmed up the crowd. Then it was time for the main event!

If you’ve seen the movie, “Magic Mike”, then this needs no further explanation, but suffice to say that there were some very fit specimens on stage and as a bonus their dancing wasn’t bad either! My friend, Evie, was lifted onto the stage and given a rather saucy private routine by the lead dancer. She was so overwhelmed that she later claimed to have forgotten the whole thing.

Luckily I had a camera! The rest of the evening passed by in a blur of cheering, drinks and dancing until we started to get a little worse for wear and, having found Amy who had been chatting up one of the bouncers, decided to head to the after party.

The after party, held at “Mike’s” private warehouse nightclub, gave us a chance to learn a little bit more about the dancers, who obviously have a way with the ladies! However, those Magic Mike Martinis had been very strong so

Magic Mike Martini 25ml coconut rum 25ml vodka 25ml pineapple juice Dash of grenadine Handful of ice cubes 1 orange slice, for garnish Combine the rum, vodka and pineapple juice in a cocktail shaker. Add the ice. Shake firmly until frothy. Pour into a martini glass. Add a dash of grenadine in the middle. Garnish with an orange slice.*

*Best enjoyed when served by a muscular man in a skimpy butler’s uniform!

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EXPLORING EDEN

Bodamier Café and Lunch Bar

The New ‘IT’ Place to Be

Are you busy running around town on your daily business? Do you need somewhere to go and grab a bite to eat before going about with your business? Or, in these very hot days that we are experiencing do you prefer to have a drink with friends for a quick catch up and an escape from the heat? Or how about after spending over two hours at the Martin Hoarau hairdressing salon you are famished but certainly do not want to ruin the new hairdo running around looking for a place to eat …

Well look no further, the Bodamier Café and Lunch bar is the place you are looking for. This little haven in the heart of Victoria provides you with somewhere small but not overcrowded so that you would temporarily forget the heat. For those busy mums with toddlers in toe you want somewhere safe for your little ones to roam about freely while you grab a bite.

But Bodamier Café, where is that you might ask? Do not be embarrassed by your lack of knowledge of the culinary scene in Seychelles although you are as local as they come, for that was the same question I posed when I first heard about the café. The great thing about Seychelles is that it seems every once a while a new culinary place is being opened and they are just waiting for “foodie lovers” to come and indulge themselves in their culinary delights.

Located in the De La Vega Mansion on Revolution Avenue, Bodamier Café and Lunch bar provides just the right atmosphere for the “meet up with a friend for a quick coffee/lunch”. It is a small cafe with the outside sitting of about six tables, and although small, the tables are far enough away from each other for that much needed privacy one craves on such a small island. Though located near a major arterial road that feeds the north traffic in Victoria even with the lunchtime traffic jam the restaurant is still very comfortable and not noisy from the traffic.

So after the morning work routine, my husband and I headed to the

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unknown place ravenously armed with empty stomachs and ready to sample the delights and give our critical views about our dining experience. We selected an outside table and despite the heat there was a nice cool breeze. We were immediately served by a friendly waitress.

With the aforementioned heat I was very thirsty and what better way to cool down than with a fresh local juice. I was very happy to note that as promised, there was fresh juice on the menu (recently I had been to a couple of restaurant whereby upon ordering my fresh juice was told they had none at the moment and only imported packet juice). I opted for mix passion fruit and local orange juice and my husband went for the passion fruit juice only. Aside from juice, there was the usual selection of beverages such as wine, beer etc.

IT IS A SMALL CAFE WITH THE OUTSIDE SITTING OF ABOUT SIX TABLES, AND ALTHOUGH SMALL, THE TABLES ARE FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM EACH OTHER FOR THAT MUCH NEEDED PRIVACY ONE CRAVES ON SUCH A SMALL ISLAND.

Our beverages arrived very promptly and after sampling our delicious juice we went straight for the lunch menu. They had a wide selection of salads ranging from local octopus to greek salad; choosing the starter salad was pretty easy as most of them were self-explanatory. On to the fun part was the main course. Bodamier Café and Lunch bar offers a

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Continued from Page 16

Left to Right: Dan Payet, chef and shareholder of Bodamier cafe bar, Sandra William, floor manager, Gina Nicette, queen of salad and sandwiches, Dave Cesar, the pizza king

nice little selection of both creole and international food ranging from fish and chips to Balinese and Spanish food, but, on a personal level, I thought the choices were limited. My husband ended up settling on fish and chips while I scanned the list for something more exotic to try. I immediately discarded the pizzas, wraps and sandwiches just for the simple reason that I wanted to eat something with rice. I needed to enquire about certain food as it was not as self explanatory as the salads. I was a little let down to note that out of the little main course that they were offering the one I chose was not available at the time but not to worry, there were others that appealed to my taste. After a few minutes of deliberation I finally chose the Balinese Porc which was a stir fry of porc, chinese cabbage and ginger.

As we waited the restaurant began to fill up, and I took the opportunity to take some souvenir photos and I did not realise the passage of time but I was surprised to realise that after an hour we were still waiting for our salads to come – and by that time my juice was already long gone. When our salads reached the table however, the plates looked

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delicious and smelled even more mouth-watering – that all was forgotten. Needless to say, my husband and I dove right into our food.

The salad was nice and delicious; the octopus was so soft and well cooked, that I completely forgot about my old time favourite habit of taking a souvenir picture of the meal! It was when we had finally finished the salad that my husband reminded me of that little fact and I silently reminded myself to do it for the main course. Between meals we had the opportunity to be greeted by the wife of the owner, who came by our table for a quick chat.

Fortunately or unfortunately for me as I was already full after the sumptuous octopus salad, we did not have to wait long for the main course. The fish and chips that my husband ordered were very well presented although the chips could have been a little warmer. The Balinese pork was a simple dish but beautifully presented and most importantly, it was a light dish for the middle of the day. I dug straight into it, and yes you have guessed correctly; I forgot to take my photo souvenir. What I loved the most about my chosen dish was that it was simple enough that it could be reproduced at home – something which I am very much looking forward to!

As expected, my husband and I had very little conversation whilst eating; the food was good, the atmosphere was relaxed and calm and it was the perfect place to be away from all the hustle and bustle of Victoria. After declining both dessert and coffee, we had the pleasure to meet the chef who had whipped up the culinary delights – I almost felt like a celebrity! The chef did apologise for the lateness of the food that was due to some technical difficulties outside his control. The restaurant has just opened and they are in the process of ironing out teething issues - it was such a relief to hear that after having discovered this amazing little niche in town, I could still come back and fit a nice lunch during the lunch break and not have to worry about getting fired!

As someone who has lived outside Seychelles and thrived on coupons and loyalty cards I was very excited to learn that the Bodamier Café and Lunch bar offer loyalty cards for coffee; you buy 9 and the tenth one is free!. Yipee! So, next time you have that power lunch or a long awaited tête-à-tête or you simply want a coffee break why not give Bodamier Café and Lunch Bar a try, after all, the best part of eating there is that your pocket will love you for it.

Grants you an Escape to Luxury!

By Irene du Preez

Aromatherapy Beauty Centre & SPA is a well-established business based at the foot of the Eden Island Bridge at the Angel Fish Marina, which provides specialist care in Beauty, Wellness and Relaxation. Anna Marzocchi is the power woman, owner and beauty therapist behind the business who manages to stay on top of things with an infectious laughter and a big smile. How she manages to lead the business, works along with her staff, managing afterhours a tourist establishment and being a caring mother and wife is a riddle to many. In this article you get to know more about the elegant lady who offers you: Your Escape to Luxury. ….and isn’t exactly that what we need in our overscheduled busy lives?

You have 12 years’ experience in Beauty Treatment, what are the ups and downs of the business?

AM: The business, I am happy to say, has established itself well and I am proud to say that I have loyal valued clients that have been with us since the beginning. The difficult part would be finding the right staff, the team has to be chosen carefully and have to be up to the standard we are known for and luckily I have staff who have maintained our clients’ satisfaction and expectations.

How is everybody trained and how do you stay up-to-date in the industry?

AM: I hire certified beauty therapists, hairdressers and a makeup artist and I bring in specialist masseuses. With our top range product line, we benefit of annual training workshops, so we can offer the best results in using their high quality products like the top range from L’Oreal and Anesi. I believe in quality. I do not believe in cutting corners.

What is your personal specialty and what makes you so passionate?

AM: Facials are my specialty. It’s a ‘Work of Art’ at the end of the day!

They come in and don’t feel good about their skin. You consult and check the skin to find out why it has become like that, then you advise and you do your work. I like to see the change, the grand difference

I LIKE TO SEE THE CHANGE, THE GRAND DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THE PERSON… MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY, CONFIDENT WITH A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN SEE.

when you have done a good job on the person… making people happy, confident with a difference you can see.”

What’s the trick to maintaining a perfect appearance?

AM: That’s easy! Book your facials regularly – it’s best to do it every three weeks and follow up at home by using your products every day.

This way, I am confident when I say, you can take years off somebody’s appearance!

Another tip is to start young, it will help that you maximize the skin’s condition and you will age well.

We educate the person about her skin type; it can be sensitive skin, dry and combination skin or a problem skin with acne and spots. We help the client know how to go about maintaining her complexion and it is very rewarding to see the big difference.

Do you cater for male clients?

AM: Very much so. It is still a bit of a new market in Seychelles. Back massages are doing very well and also facial hair removal. I also have some male clients for facials and some manicures and pedicures. We have a treatment room that is specially decorated to a man’s taste.

With the new generation of men, who are more conscious about their appearance, we are expecting to cater for even more male clients in the future.

As a young girl, were you dreaming of a career in Beauty or Fashion?

AM: No, not at all, as a young girl I was focused on a career in hotel management, which I set out to do, successfully! As a matter of fact, I still run one. When I bought Aromatherapy I was a client at the Aromatherapy Beauty Centre.

What made you buy Aromatherapy and get trained as a Beauty Therapist?

AM: It was a business with a future. The SPA boom really took off and nowadays it is almost a requirement to satisfy this need in a hotel establishment of class to offer SPA relaxation and beauty therapies.

How do you see yourself, Anna the Business Woman or Anna the Service Provider?

AM: The Business Woman - but it makes me happy to work directly with

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BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Anna Marzocchi…

SEYCHELLOIS OVERSEAS

Christine St Ange

I OCCASIONALLY SKYPE WITH MUM AND DAD, BUT HAVE TO ADMIT THAT GOOD OLD FASHIONED PHONE CALLS, WHILST EXPENSIVE, ARE MORE CONVENIENT FOR ME P: Tell us about your family back in Seychelles.

CST: My Dad is Alain St. Ange, and he is currently the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture and my Mum, Ginette (neé Michel) is the person responsible for purchasing for the Denis Island Private Island resort. On my father’s side we are from La Digue and we hold dearly that link to what we see as one of the nicest islands of the Seychelles. On my mother’s side we are from Les Mamelles on Mahe.

P: And you attended school in Seychelles?

CST: Yes, Plaisance crèche, International School & also Independent School.

P: So, you’re somewhere from Central Mahe?

CST: Yes, La Louise.

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From L to R - Steve, myself & Puppy Penny, Dad, Mum, Michelle & Ameer

P: How long did you live in Seychelles before you left?

CST: I did my primary schooling in Sydney, Australia, and when we returned to Seychelles in the early 90’s, completed all my secondary schooling through to my IGCSE’s on Mahé. I then went to boarding school in Scotland for my A Levels, before heading to Queensland, Australia for University.

P: So, you left for education purposes only?

CST: I’m proud of the success that all my family have achieved in Seychelles and I’ve always been conscious of making my own way through life and succeeding in my field based on my own merit. With a father who is the Minister for Tourism & Culture, it would be very easy to be lost in his shadow!

I initially left Seychelles for University (Bachelor of Business Management -Marketing & Tourism Management) and chose sunny Brisbane, Australia, in part due to its similar climate to home.

P: So what was next for you?

CST: When I left Seychelles I was asked what I wanted to do with my marketing career.

My answer was “to work for a company like Toyota”. I do love cars, but I think the real reason for my answer was that I saw working for a global brand as a benchmark for success. To cut a long story short, I started my automotive career marketing for a BMW dealership. This period in my career really influenced me as a marketer and nurtured my love for the motor industry. Years later I was offered a role with the largest selling Toyota dealer in Australia (which was also

the 15th largest in the world) and all of a sudden I’d gone from marketing luxury brands to marketing mass market brands.

I felt like I’d gone full circle and achieved a Marketing Manager position along the way.

An opportunity then presented itself to me to join the aftermarket side of the motor industry as a Marketing Specialist. I seized the opportunity with both hands and have never looked back! AshdownIngram is Australasia’s largest distributor of automotive electrical and thermal control parts to the independent automotive aftermarket. With 45 branches and over 400 employees, we boast the most comprehensive range of product across various categories and are the distribution choice for internationally respected brands.

My team is responsible for everything from brand management to promotions to product launches to packaging to 600+page catalogues and much more.

P: Career-wise, you have done very well…

CST: Yes, I was recently nominated by Ashdown-Ingram for the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association’s Kim Aunger Young Achiever Award.

The Great Whites brand of LED Driving Lights would be another recent career highlight as our team designed and developed the brand in house with everything from the logos, the packaging, marketing collateral, advertising, product launch etc. This brand allows us to play in the retail space and has been a lot of fun.

The lights themselves were designed by our product department in conjunction with a lighting company in the USA and it’s been

P: Is the Seychellois girl lost in all this?

CST: A few years ago, I launched a website promoting Seychelles which helps level the playing field somewhat for local providers who don’t have the budget of the larger providers to advertise effectively. www.experienceseychelles.com allows tourism providers to create free listings and therefore be visible to a targeted audience on a professional website. I’m proud to be a Seychelles Tourism Ambassador and love that I’ve been able to do my bit to help share our beautiful story to the world.

P: So, you miss Seychelles?

CST: I do miss my family and really wish Seychelles was close enough to be able to visit much more regularly. I speak to mum and dad at least once a week and the much

anticipated call becomes the highlight of my weekend! I spent 2 weeks over Easter 2012 in Seychelles and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all my aunts, uncles, cousins and of course my parents. Seychelles will always hold a special place in my heart as home and I couldn’t be prouder of my heritage and wouldn’t swap it for the world.

P: Is it easy to keep in touch with everyone?

CST: Social media and the internet have certainly changed the way we keep in touch with friends and family. Facebook allows me to maintain friendships from school days – I love seeing what my friends and family from all over the world are up to in their lives, and sharing in special moments with them through their shared photo albums.

I occasionally Skype with mum and dad, but have to admit that good old fashioned phone calls, whilst expensive, are more convenient for me.

P: Finally, tell us what Seychelles is to you?

CST: You can tend to get lost in the rat race of living to work as opposed to working to live. I always find that Seychelles restores that balance and reminds you of what is really important in life. It’s family, friendships and doing the simple things that make you happy. Simply sitting on the veranda and looking out to Ste Anne and Cerf Island, cycling from La Passe on La Digue to visit family, spending time with loved ones surrounded by furniture and framed photos that have been there my whole life, sitting around the table enjoying meals with family, sun downers on the beach front… so many of the best memories are made because of those you shared them with as opposed to what you were doing at the time.

Paternal grand-parents - Granny Germaine & Grandpa Karl

My Family My graduation

I’M PROUD TO BE A SEYCHELLES TOURISM AMBASSADOR AND LOVE THAT I’VE BEEN ABLE TO DO MY BIT TO HELP SHARE OUR BEAUTIFUL STORY TO THE WORLD

Maternal grand-parents - Grandmere & Papa with mum

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SEYCHELLOIS OVERSEAS

one of the best launches we’ve had to date!

FEATURED ARTIST

The Fabric of a Woman’s Life with Christine Chetty by Najma Pirani

Christine Chetty, an artist born in Cascade, Mahé, Seychelles, in 1969. She was raised by powerful women that have impacted her life. She realized her artistic inclinations and soon asked herself, ‘What do I stand for?’ When she found her answer she put her art and soul into it. Today, Ms. Chetty is recognized as a strong voice for women in Seychelles. An unshakable chutzpah travels through her words and gestures, filling the atmosphere with a vibe of confidence. Boldness is an underlying theme that can be found throughout her art. Some with touches of red to celebrate India’s hard labour, while others are finished with radiant threads and colors that depict Ms. Chetty’s particular acknowledgement of the toils and accomplishments of women in Seychelles.

MY STUDIO LOOKS LIKE A KITCHEN! I DON’T BELIEVE IN HAVING FANCY STUDIOS. I WORK WHERE I LIVE; I LIVE MY ART. • Christine Chetty is inspired by ‘intelligence’ and motivated by ‘hard work’ • She adopted a stray cat named Coco but insists on calling him Boy • She is often confused for a feminist

There is a lot of fabric usage and texture in your works of art. Tell us more about that.

It is like a book with its many chapters; fabrics are made of bits and pieces that narrate a story. You touch a piece of fabric and it reminds you of an event. Like, for me, fabric takes me back to my ancestral roots and keeps me in touch with my femininity. I am inspired by mundane objects and collect anything that has to do with fabrics. In fact, most of my works that involve fabric are made out of things I’ve collected and not bought. It is all about the transformation that I witness when I’m in the process of creating.

I agree, there is something fascinating about watching a process unfold. How do you make that sort of transformation happen?

Yes, it’s not just about using glue and patching things together. I like texture, that tactile feel to it. I think that women are innately close to nature and we tend to deal with things at an intimate level. It must have something to do with our instinctive bond with the word ‘nurture’. We conceive life inside us and nurture it and rely on the sense of feel and touch a lot. I think all of that translates itself into my working process.

Why fabrics?

I want to challenge the concept of making art. There is no reason why crafts should be separated from arts. And also, fabrics have a lot to do with my being a woman. No matter which part of the world, I think women deal with fabric more than men do. To us, it is a sentimental material; we accessorize ourselves with it, we protect ourselves with it. It becomes a part of our daily life. We love aesthetics and fashion, both of which stem from fabrics.

How did you come about being the contemporary artist that you are today?

When I was in school, at one point I felt the need to search for my ‘voice’.

That then led me to Fine Arts. I went to UK to study Arts and Design in the University of Sussex. There I learned the classical traditions of painting. While doing that, I came to realize that yes, art is a form of selfdiscovery but painting wasn’t me, so I kept searching. I’ve always wanted to have a deeper connection with the materials I’d end up using.

And so you were searching for an art medium that has a certain kind of significance.

Yes, I found myself relating stitches to a mother giving birth, her labour pain, and I related fabric to the material that protects her. That is when I found meaning in fabrics. I then noticed my obsession with clothes and how all that I chose to wear had to say something. I decided that through fabrics I could bring out a lot more messages.

What an interesting connection! Are there any other forms of art that interest you?

Yes. I have an obsession for ‘primitive art’, or what some people call prehistoric art. I like the mystery in it. With primitive art, you can’t really tell whether it was done by a male or a female. I like any form of art that challenges stereotypes.

What are you communicating through your art?

I embrace and glorify women in my art as I’m really intrigued by the things that women have accomplished throughout history, despite the obstacles. I focus on issues that are taken for granted, like our roots and culture.

What is your studio like?

My studio looks like a kitchen! I don’t believe in having fancy studios. I work where I live; I live my art.

Tell us about the work that you’ve shared with us?

It is a series called Footsteps. A story of origin and immigration. I used burlap sacks from Tamil Nadu, India. They are normally used to carry rice.

There are many Indians in Seychelles and they are always working hard, so this series was telling their story. I used my footprints to represent their toil.

Where have you exhibited?

In Seychelles, on Praslin. Also in Senegal, Mauritius, New York, India. Paris, I exhibited in Hotel De Ville. I am grateful for that opportunity, amongst others.

Where is your favorite place to be in the whole world?

I have to think about that one. I’ve been to many places. India, Senegal, Mauritius, France, but I left Paris in tears. I can’t really tell why. I guess it had something to do with the people there and the energy. Very

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Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Mahe Island Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, Silhouette Island

…with Elaine Lafortune

Photo Credit: Marsha Dine

PERSONALITY SPECIAL

Shanice Hoareau More Than Just a Pretty Face We met up with Shanice, whom had you not known her prior to the Miss Seychelles Beauty pageant in 2012, you would be very much acquainted with such a pretty face by now. While she did not take home the crown, she was also made first princess that evening and was able to snatch the People’s choice award.

Let’s get to know more about her and her experience with Miss Seychelles!

You’re still fairly young. Are you studying at the moment?

JUST HAVING ALL MY FAMILY THERE, AND HAVING EVERYONE FROM MY DAD’S SIDE BEING THERE, ESPECIALLY WITH MY DAD BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR, MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME 24

JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

“Yeah I am! I actually just completed my course in Tourism and Tour guiding at S.T.A which has been very interesting and I’ve learned a lot about Seychelles; things I would have never learnt elsewhere. Taking into account that I’m more of a people person, it’s helped me a lot in giving a better approach to people visiting our little islands. I’ve been thinking of maybe doing a course at SIM or do my A levels in English literature, but right now I’m still in the thinking process about it all. I find literature rather interesting and I read up a lot about it.”

I just had to laugh when Shanice told POTPOURRI about her love for literature, that and I took the time to give her a little tip or two on Literature in its entirety which is more so my domain.

Shanice, who comes from a family with brothers and sisters, has told POTPOURRI that she’s the eldest amongst her siblings. “I’m the oldest and I have to lead them by example, and show responsibility but I don’t find it to be a hard job being an older sister!” She was also quite joyful to announce that she’s going to be a big sister for yet another time as her mother is pregnant with another child.

You’ve been a strong voice for young people. How are you an example to the youngsters out there?

If we were to make reference to all the bad habits many young people are indulging in today, I for one I’m not a smoker and I wouldn’t call myself a drinker, either. By leading off with that example, I make known to them that you don’t need to smoke to look and be cool, and you definitely do not need to be gulping down alcohol to be recognised or to fit in.

First Princess at the Miss Seychelles 2012 pageant, Photo Courtesy Le Seychellois

PERSONALITY SPECIAL

THAT NIGHT, WHEN I WON THAT AWARD IT WAS DEFINITELY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME, BECAUSE ON THE PANEL OF JUDGES THERE WERE ONLY SIX JUDGES, BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF SEYCHELLOIS PEOPLE VOTING FOR ME, THAT WAS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Tell us more about your experience in Miss Seychelles?

Up until now, I haven’t really found a set of words to describe it all, but it was a really amazing experience and I don’t regret taking part at all. I met so many girls and we all made friends. We were all beautiful in our own ways, in terms of our personalities. Everybody had something I could relate to. Just meeting all these people and having the experiences and even going places that probably on my own I would’ve never gone, was just mind blowing!

You were voted the People’s choice! How did that make you feel?

To be honest, when they announced to us that they were going to have a people’s choice award, it had been something that I had been aiming for and to think that I didn’t really have to do basically anything to win it, was beyond me. That night, when I won that award it was definitely the most important thing for me, because on the panel of judges there are only six judges, but for the majority of Seychellois people voting for me, that was a huge accomplishment. I really appreciated it!

When the results were announced, we could see some tears. Was it tears of joy or disappointment?

Since it all began, there was this controversy about the height being an issue and from day one I knew my chances of winning were slim. The day before at the prejudging (and I’m disclosing this exclusively to POTPOURRI), one of the judges approached me and told me that I had been one of the best that they had talked to, but they were deciding about the issue of my height to take part in a competition on the level of Miss World; then she gave me her email address, and told me that I would go a long way in life.

Come the day of the pageant, when they announced there was a tie, I had already known that I was not going to win. So the results didn’t really come in as a shock. The tears were of joy… even if I hadn’t won the crown. Just having all my family there, and having everyone from my dad’s side being there, especially with my dad being in a wheelchair, meant everything to me.

When I won first princess and saw my grandma in the crowd rooting for me and looking ever so proud; it was a very touching feeling.

While telling us about her experience, we notice a slight glow in Shanice’s eyes and it was clear that she was trying hard to fight back her tears of how indescribable her night was…or was it tears of knowing she would not be chosen because of her only flaw that night…her height?! I wondered!

But not wanting to spoil the moment, I allowed her to continue her story and brushed off the urge of shedding a little tear myself, as she had been one of my favourites too.

“I had everyone hugging me and saying how proud they were of me. To have had all my family and friends there, was the best feeling for me”, she said smilingly.

And to them, you were the best! What happened after that night?

During the prize giving I was awarded a free trip to Italy for a week and I went and visited and stayed for another 3 weeks in UK. I travelled for a while, but then it was time to get back to my studies …and that’s about it really.

So you haven’t been doing much after that?

No, not really! I’ve had a few interviews but nothing major. When the pageant was in its course, I was offered the chance to do some photo shoots, but as per the competition, I had to decline.

We’ve seen a few photos on Facebook of you and Jah 1 (one of our local artists). What is going on there?

We’ve been going steady for a year now and we recently celebrated one year together. So yeah, we’re in a stable relationship and everything’s been going quite well for the time being. He’s a very lovely guy! I’ve actually featured in two of his music videos for two of his songs that were released on his album. I also featured in one of Master Emel’s music video as well. So that’s three videos and counting.

What do you enjoy getting up to?

First Princess at the Miss Seychelles 2012 pageant

“You just need to be yourself at all times, no matter where you are or which group you’re in.

Don’t exaggerate! People will like you for who you are!”

What is your perception of fashion?

Do you consider yourself a fashionable person?

Yes I do! I’m very much into fashion. Usually if I find something I like, I’ll buy it and pair it with something old that I already have in my closet.

I could be wearing something that I bought 5 years ago with something that just came out, and people wouldn’t be able to tell. I like to mix and match! When I travel I buy my trunk load of clothes from boutiques like Boohoo and New Look amongst others.

I love being at home with my loved ones and spending my hours at the gym burning out the junk I eat sometimes. Do you feel that size matters, we asked? As long that somebody is comfortable in their own skin, then there’s no need to take any drastic measures to slug down diet pills. I’m going to the gym now to lose a few, but that’s because I have a few shoots coming up and I don’t want to have anything bulging out. I’ve never wanted to be thin and I like the way I am now.

Ever wanted to be taller, maybe?

Just a little bit. I reckon I’m fun size (laughs).

Watching Miss World last year, I was quite surprised to see a number of short girls which goes to show that their height didn’t affect them in anyway. Miss Seychelles should be about finding that one person who can represent Seychelles as an ambassador. For this year, if somebody has all the attributes and the capacity to do so, I don’t see why she shouldn’t win. Why should someone be penalized for something that they’re not responsible for in the first place? I think height shouldn’t have been an issue.

What would you like to say to the readers?

Live life fully and be grateful for what you have. I’m really approachable and it’s not fair that sometimes people take one look at you and tag you as someone you’re not. After Miss Seychelles, there have been a lot of turning points in my life. I’ve lost people who I thought were my friends, but I just want to say that in life, forgiveness is the key, and I choose to do just that. So yeah, we need to be more appreciative in life rather than go through it complaining.

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HOMES IN PARADISE A villa in a dream beach front location in Praslin

• 3 bedrooms with a guest bedroom • 1200 square metres of land area • White sand beach front of Cote D’Or

and Anse

Volbert at your doorstep

• Top restaurants all around within walking distance • Just behind Le Duc de Praslin,

with fabulous dining

• Full concrete walls • Outdoor shower • Safe swimming in shallow water that

stretches out far

• Safe to keep your own boat in front • Walking distance to most attractions along

Cote D’Or

• Outdoor kitchen • Central yet private with ultimate convenience

For more information, contact Jean Paul Maurel Office: +248 4374585 | Fax: +2484224730 | Mobile: + 2482717797 E: sales@seychelles-properties.com | www.seychelles-properties.com

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HOMES

Meaning of Colours in Your Home

The argument never gets old. A newly painted wall (or walls for that matter) dramatically changes a room. It is not an easy task choosing the ‘right’’ colour. Often we visit friends’ homes or offices and we fall in love with a certain colour or colour scheme and think it must have been easy for the decision to be taken. You might be wrong there.

The perfect colour does not necessarily exist – your favourite colour might not be appropriate for the mood you want to create in a certain living space or might not be the best colour for your children to be exposed to everyday (some people argue that bright red can make small children aggressive). Ideally, the closest you can get to the perfect colour scheme is one that incorporates your preference/ style and the ambiance you want to create.

3 steps you might want to follow to achieving the perfect wall colour are:

1. Find Inspiration You can come up with ideas by creating a portfolio of what appeals to you: your favourite place (the beach or Mission Lodge?), the color of a childhood item that soothes you each time you think of it – that list can be endless.

First, take into consideration your inspirational image’s common denominators in terms of color. Do you like a variety of colors or particular shades and tints of a specific color? Do you like them bold or muted? Digging deep in the well of inspiration plays an important role in selecting and whittling down your choices.

2. Define the Mood Secondly, is there a mood or theme that you would like to achieve in a particular space? Do you want a restful feel in the bedroom, or an energizing feel to the family room? The mood will lay the groundwork on the desired visual impact of a chosen paint color palette.

3. Use Key Elements in Your Home Lastly, take stock of all the key elements in your house. Do you have carpeting, hardwood floors, modern or antique furniture? The color of the flooring is an important consideration when you choose colors because it anchors the room and can impact the color on the wall due to reflections.

Furnishings also play an important role in determining the perfect color scheme for your house. Since these are usually the most expensive and not easily replaced items in the house, they tend to suggest a coordinating color scheme that ties everything together.

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Colours and Their Meanings In Your Home (http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com)

Blue

Blue color is said to be very calming, relaxing and refreshing. It also makes a room look bigger than it is. Blue is best used in case of bedrooms.

Since it acts as an appetite represent, it should not be used in the dining room. At the same time, it is a cold color and should always be balanced with warm colors like yellow and orange.

Green

Green color has a soothing effect on the mind and thus, is associated with relaxation of nervous system and lowering of blood pressure. Being a cold color, it should be always be balanced with red. Green is also considered to be the color of luck and makes a small room appear bigger.

Red

Red color has been known to stimulate mind and nervous system and thus, is regarded as conversation stimulant. At the same time, it also arouses appetite. These are the reason why the color will be suitable in drawing as well as dining room.

Red makes objects appear smaller, so avoid it in rooms that are already small. Being a warm color, it should be used in association with green.

Yellow

Yellow is a warm color that is associated with power and helps in spreading about a bright, happy and cheerful atmosphere. It is best used in rooms that do not get adequate sunlight. Yellow also makes a room appear smaller and can be balanced by using violet color.

Pink

Pink is a very soft color and is best used in bedrooms of little girls.

Since it has been associated with weakness, it should not be used in excess and should always be used with a bold color.

Orange

Orange, being the combination of red and yellow, has all the traits that those two colors have. It exudes warmth, acts as an appetite stimulant and spreads exuberance. Orange should be used in dining room and can be balanced by using blue color.

Since it gives an emotional uplift, those suffering from depression would benefit if surrounded by this color.

HOMES

IDEALLY, THE CLOSEST YOU CAN GET TO THE PERFECT COLOUR SCHEME IS ONE THAT INCORPORATES YOUR PREFERENCE / STYLE AND THE AMBIANCE YOU WANT TO CREATE Purple (Violet)

Purple has been known to be the color of royalty and is also associated with spirituality. The color is said to promote creativity, but only if used in moderation. It is a cold color and is never advised to be used in excess; otherwise it might lead to depression and moodiness. You can moderate the color’s effect by using it with yellow. Purple also helps in making small room appear larger.

Brown

Brown is an earthy color that is believed to create the feeling of intimacy. It also spreads calm and serenity and is good for those who suffer from anxiety or nervousness. However, since it is so subdued, it should always be used with bold colors like green. You can also go for different tones in brown, like beige and tan.

Black

The color black can convey a lot, depending upon how it is used. On one hand, it can make a room look elegant, suave and chic. On the other, it can impart a depressed feel to the room. This is the reason why it should not be used alone and in a wide area. It is best complimented with white.

White

White color signifies purity, freshness, peace and kindness. Rather than using on the surface as a whole, white should be used as an accent or background color. The best combination of white is formed with black.

H

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FASHION

I love Seychelles ‘I LOVE SEYCHELLES’ does not need much deciphering. It is an expression of one’s feelings for these beautiful islands. For tourists, it is part of the memorabilia they take back home with them to remind them of the wonderful time they have had in paradise.

Red Coral

Kid’s T-Shirts (SR275-350) T-Shirts (SR300-375) Bags (SR325-400)

If you think Seychelles memorabilia is solely for our foreign visitors, think again. Labels such as Red Coral and Petites Folies have a range of products that fashion conscious folks would not turn away from. From the coco-de-mer shape on the Red Coral T-Shirts and bags (which replace the conventional heart shape) to the glittery hearts on the Petite Folies vest tops, you will find something you will love.

Our fashion theme, I Love Seychelles, is chosen for this month of June given the National Holidays which mark poignant political developments in the history of Seychelles. If you are attending any of the festivities for any of the holidays, why not glam up the celebrations with the wonderful products featured on this page!

Petites Folies Vest Tops (SR350) Hat (SR155)

Exotic Scents Polo T-Shirt (SR450) Hat (SR200) Kid’s T-Shirt (SR200) T-Shirt (SR350) Sleeveless Men’s T-Shirt (SR300)

Location of the shops: Exotic Scents – Eden Plaza | Petites Folies – Eden Plaza | Red Coral Seychelles – Kiosk 19, Lesplanade/ Quatre Epices, Eden Island/ STC Duty Free, Airport Departure Lounge/ Red Coral Shop, Praslin/ Kokosye Boutique, La Passe, La Digue

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BEST BUYS.................

Yellow Drop Back Strapless.

Price: SCR690 Label: AX Paris

Eros is a new Fragrance by Versace named after the Greek God of Love currently available at all Gift Shops and Airport Duty Free Shops.

The scent is fresh oriental and woody.

Details: Show off tanned bare shoulders in this perfect summer maxi with drop back. An effortlessly classy style for holidays, summer weddings - or just weekend.

UK Sizes 8-14 Available from venture-bay.com from 23rd May.

Price: 100ml SCR1035/ 50ml SCR775

READER SPECIAL:

Enter the voucher code on checkout to get 10% off PotpourriJune This offer cannot be used with any other offer, and may be withdrawn at any time, promotion expires 30th June.

Shariya Magnan She Wears: A printed summer dress from OJ mall. Handbag from Matalan UK. Crisscross wedges from Debenhams collection was obtained at Chloe’s Boutique (at Doctor Murphy’s complex).

Loop earrings are from a shop at Unity House Complex.

Her Take on Fashion…

Fashion matters! Choosing the right top to mix with the right short/skirt, combing my hair the right way, so that it stays in one place...all matter.

Fashion is not only in clothes we wear, but in hairstyles. I like to make my own fashion and do not feel the need to wear everything that everyone else is wearing.

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Georgette Georgiev

MAKE OVER

MAKE-OVER

Martin Hoareau’s Hairdressing

30-year old Georgette is mother to one year old Nathan and is in the process of starting up a pharmacy venture - in line with her university studies in South Africa - in the northern part of the island. Her spectacular smile aside, she has curls that had everyone at Martin’s become green with envy. She came to the make-over prepared with some images of what she had in mind...

BEFORE

Hair (with Martin) Martin was ecstatic that Georgette wanted to go dramatically short. At first glance he noted the dryness of her hair which was a direct result of her misinformed hair product choices. The key to managing hair like Georgette’s is to avoid hair brushes, detangle with hands and be generous with conditioner.

For booking, call Martin Hoareau Hairdressing on 4325186

Make up (with Virginie) Georgette was not a fan of make-up and unfortunately Virginie did not manage to deter her from this despite making her look nothing less than stunning with her brushes and colours! Going as neutral as possible, Virginie worked with a selection of neutral colours on her face, eyes and lips to make Georgette as gorgeous as she could possibly be without looking like she had too much make-up on. *All make-up used are from Duty Free Seychelles

For booking, call Virginie Quatre on 2733020 32

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Continued from Page 22

Contined from Page 19

overwhelming. I would love to go back to India too. I miss the colors.

What was your childhood like? Can we see some of that in your art?

I was a very curious child. I enjoyed my alone time. I drew on sand, made dolls with all sorts of material from my surroundings. I enjoyed fishing. My mother had a shop, people travelled from all over Seychelles to come to that shop and there I met some very powerful women. They would sit me down and tell me stories. I had a nanny and through her, I saw a different face of life. Life was different then, more organic. The lady that came to do our laundry would have this bucket of water, she would soak all the clothes in there with detergent.

They looked so colorful. I used that memory to make one of my pieces. Yes, you can definitely see some of my childhood there.

When you are not making art, you are?

I am busy being the Director of the School of Visual arts of Seychelles. I had started out as an art lecturer. I believe in what I do. I think that art is a powerful tool that could transform this world for the better. I want people to know that, so I share what I know.

Any upcoming events that you are excited about?

I am still working on a new piece now. I produce less now but with more meaning. I am trying to explore human relationships with the current piece I am working on.

What advice would you give to someone that wants to follow your steps?

Art is not just a beautiful painting on the wall, it is a perception, a lifestyle. Art is freedom of expression. Use it. Be courageous. This is one of those things whereby the more you do the more you will want to do. It is not an easy journey, you have to be prepared to dive deep into yourself. If you have the passion, dedication and patience, go for it.

For viewing some of Christine Chetty’s works of art visit Galerie Passerose, Cote d’Or, Praslin, Seychelles

Georgette says: “A complete transformation! I love it!”

I LOVE TO BE THAT BACKGROUND FIGURE THAT MAKES OTHERS SHINE. our clients. It’s great when you feel you have enriched someone else’s life! I am fortunate where I am and who I am but I thrive from the fact when I see an overjoyed client at the end of a session. I love to be that background figure that makes others shine.

It is also the pace of life these days, people are stressed out. I love to interact with the people and become their partner to master life better.

Everybody loves their beauty-therapist. It’s us that make them look good.

But enough talking about me, I couldn’t run a successful business alone.

It is my staff that carries the same message and keeps their personal clients happy. I like to say here a grand thank you to my staff. They are honest, confidential, hardworking and devoted to Aromatherapy - they are the reason we keep our clientele. Our standards and services are of international levels. I had many great compliments from clients, who have experienced spas elsewhere in the world.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN CUTTING CORNERS What kind of services do you provide at the Aromatherapy Beauty Centre & SPA? AM: Basically we offer a wide range of beauty treatments, relaxation, slimming and recreational wellbeing packages, to name a few in each category. The massages can be gentle, like Hot Stone Massage and Anti Stress Massage to medium pressure massages like Shaitsu to strong hands on massages, like when choosing a sport’s massage. Body Wraps, Slimming and Toning Packages are other body therapies offered, where we help the clients to get soft skin and improve their toning.

We even have an in-house Sauna and Steam Room. With facials we concentrate on improving the facial appearance of the client. Next to deep cleansing; the range varies from the client’s needs, rejuvenating, anti-wrinkle, lifting and treating problem skin. Then manicures and pedicures are another very important branch; it’s not only nail beautification but the treatments offered can help with ailments like corns and ingrown foot-nails while improving the skins texture. Then we offer waxing, which means hair removal with hot wax for bikini lines, legs to underarm. The male client is not neglected, and for him we provide chest, back, ear and nose hair removal. Last but not least we have an indoor hairdressing salon. The advantage of this set up is that we offer everything under one roof. It helps for those who are always on the run or the ones preparing for a big date like their wedding day or big anniversaries or when having an important presentation.

How to go about to get groomed and pampered at Aromatherapy Beauty Centre & SPA? AM: That’s easy! You can contact and book an appointment by calling us on 4346660 / 252 60 50 or drop by our Centre at the Angel Fish Marina (Eden Island Bridge). Nearby parking is available. You can also check out our website: www.aromatherapycentre.sc.

Now it is up to you to make your move and find your heaven, Escape to Luxury!

AFTER 34

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BEAUTY

Beach Goddess

by Jennifer Baldwin

Whilst we are fortunate enough to live in a land of perpetual sunshine and beautiful beaches, it does mean that consistency is the key when it comes to beach beauty. Regular attention and maintenance means that we can throw on our bikini for an impromptu beach visit without feeling the need to hide under the towel!

Sun Protection High on our priority list should be protecting our delicate skin from the damaging effects of the sun potentially causing skin cancer. A darker complexion does not mean skin does not need protection from the sun but evidence of damage may take longer to show up on women with darker complexions compared to women with lighter complexions.

Sunscreen should protect you from both UVA rays and UVB rays. The degree of sun-protection factor (SPF) your skin needs depends on your complexion and the amount of time you will be spending in the sun. The higher the SPF number, the more protection you get but experts recommend not going below SPF 15, which should be applied thoroughly to your face and body.

“A darker complexion does not mean skin does not need protection from the sun but evidence of damage may take longer to show up on women with darker complexions compared to women with lighter complexions”.

•

•

Be aware that the sunscreen you use on your body may be too oily to apply on your face and could cause breakouts.

Protect your precious eyes from sun damage by wearing a good pair of sunglasses.

Not all sunglasses are made equal—bad lenses can cause permanent damage. Make sure you get proper UV protection and that your lenses are clear, non-cloudy, and unscratched.

Healthy Hair The sun can literally fry your hair so it is important to take special care as it may become brittle and dry causing split ends.

•

•

Condition your hair once a week whatever the texture to help keep it healthy. Hair colour treatments also fade faster when directly exposed to the sun. If you’ve added highlights or colour to your hair, use a shampoo and conditioner that are specially formulated to protect colour treated hair.

Swimming is the ideal way to cool down but over exposure to salt or chlorinated water can cause your hair to suffer from excessive drying so wash and condition hair thoroughly after swimming to combat dryness.

Consider doing a hot-oil treatment, which will replenish moisture to your hair, about three times a month and look for specially formulated creams and spray treatments that can be applied to your hair to protect it from the sun.

Body Beautiful • A healthy diet with incorporating lots of fruit,

vegetables and lots of water will help keep

skin in great condition.

• Keep exercising throughout the year to keep

wobbly bits in check.

• Keep skin super smooth – dry body brushing,

best done before a shower, will help

stimulate the lymphatic system, improve

circulation and remove dead skin cells. For

faster results, use a body scrub. Regular

exfoliation will ensure that your tan develops

evenly and lasts longer.

• Regular hair removal will ensure fuzz free

legs, underarms and bikini area whenever

you want to hit the beach. Try a professional

waxing treatment which will keep skin hair

free for 3 – 6 weeks.

• Have regular pedicures and manicures to keep feet and hands looking flawless. Choose an eye-catching colour in coral or tomato red and apply clear polish every few days to help prolong polish.

• Keep make up to a minimum with a little bronzer and gloss. Play up your lashes with waterproof mascara or better still have your ashes dyed professionally.

Beach Fashion •

•

•

Invest in an amazing bathing suit. If you are insecure about how you look, choose a suit that cinches in your tummy, tames your large bust or tones down your thighs. Choose a colour that enhances your complexion. A strong pattern will help to distract from any figure flaws.

Stay cool in a sheer kaftan as a flirty cover up or dare to bare all on top with a colourful sarong around your hips.

Keep jewellery to an absolute minimum to minimise visual clutter.

Do your best with your natural assets and let your amazing personality outshine your insecurities. Remember that looking good and bringing out your inner goddess is about feeling confident and happy in your own skin. Hold your head up, walk with good posture and put some swing in your hips as you stroll along in the sand.

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Lynette Botha

FACEBOOK Beauties The faces that turned our heads on FACEBOOK in May 2013...

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38

Lynette Botha, Beauty Editor,

ELLE Magazine (South Africa)

Q: A:

Is it essential to trim hair after 6 weeks, mine looks fine?

It is recommended that hair gets a cut every six to eight weeks, however, if you look after your hair by conditioning it often, using a hair mask every now and then and avoiding too much heat-styling, it is not necessary.

A trim is mainly to get rid of split ends and to give your hairstyle a more groomed appearance. Trust your judgment and go for a cut when you feel it’s necessary; six weeks is only a guideline.

Name: Anielle Esparon Address: Au Cap Profession: A’ Level student

Name: Dr. Dorothy B. Felix Address: Copolia Profession: Research & Policy Planning / Lecturer

27

Name: Juliette Reinert d’Offay Address: Point Au Sel

Name: Nyla Perrault - Malow Address: Beau - Vallon

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BEAUTY

Beauty Tips with

HEALTH

VIEW FROM THE STATION

by Jenny Gilbert

Part 6 of 12 – A lighter, more conscious you in 2013

GOING WITHIN

the art of detachment and true connectivity!

Meditation is known to have many benefits that include improved focus and performance, enhanced relaxation, more creative self-awareness and a calmer, more peaceful disposition with better capacity to manage stress and anxiety, pain and other physiological and metabolic stressors that affect our mental, emotional and physical state of being.

Simply put, meditation improves the health and well being of an individual by altering the autonomic system of the brain.

It replaces the ‘fight-or-flight’ response mechanism that raises blood pressure and heart rate with a calmed nervous system which it does by physiologically lowering blood pressure and heart rate, slowing down breathing and relaxing mind, body and soul.

Considering this to be true, why is it that only a tiny group of individuals practice this health-giving, enlightening selfhealing discipline in their lives? While a huge number of people try it at some point in their lives, few actually continue with the practice of meditation.

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THE BEST PART OF MEDITATION IS THAT ANYONE CAN LEARN HOW TO DO IT, AND IT CAN BE LEARNED AT ALMOST ANY AGE. MEDITATION CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS YOU WANT IT TO BE. SPENDING 2 MINUTES FOCUSING ON THE FLAME OF A CANDLE IS A GOOD START.

Importantly meditation is a tool that enables us to correct imbalance – a vital ingredient in being healthy and in contributing positively to the collective consciousness of society, to the health and wellbeing of our world and wider Universe.

Perhaps one of the reasons people fail to continue with the practice of meditation is that their expectations are set too high or they believe that only the ‘spiritually enlightened’ have the capacity to meditate. Another reason might be that giving into quiet or stillness equates to giving up control.

Meditation, like anything good and wholesome, requires a gentle exploration, loving mindfulness, an appreciation and regard for its gentle ability to bring positive change in our lives. If we are able to focus 100% of our attention on one thing at one time we automatically enter a zone in which control of anything at all becomes meaningless. It is in this space that we achieve humility and peace.

Perhaps the first lesson to be learnt about Meditation can be found in the words of Hsiao Chih-Kuan by Master Tien-T’ai, 6th Century China who said: “There are many paths for entering the reality of Nirvana, but in

PERHAPS ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE FAIL TO CONTINUE WITH THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION IS THAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE SET TOO HIGH OR THEY BELIEVE THAT ONLY THE ‘SPIRITUALLY ENLIGHTENED’ HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MEDITATE. ANOTHER REASON MIGHT BE THAT GIVING INTO QUIET OR STILLNESS EQUATES TO GIVING UP CONTROL.

Being ‘still’ is conceivably one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves for just a few minutes during our hectic schedules.

Only in a totally quiet state can we detach our external drama from our internal truth and beauty. In a state of stillness we connect to all that is, to the whole of humanity and to the entire universe – to Divine wisdom. In this state we heal and we help the healing process of others.

The benefits of practicing meditation regularly are vast. The best part of meditation is that anyone can learn how to do it, and it can be learned at almost any age. Meditation can be as simple as you want it to be. Spending 2 minutes focusing on the flame of a candle is a good start. Monitoring your breathing, sitting on a park bench and focusing on a flower are all ways in which we can bring our attention to the ‘here and now’.

I have learnt that when we regularly practice meditation it alters our own thoughts and feelings and brings a positive effect to those around us. Good energy builds within us and we become happier and more peaceful. The more this happens, the more positive our lives become and the less strife we are likely to encounter.

From this realisation I have come to embrace the idea that if even 1% of the people I know spent 5 minutes a day in mindful meditation, the impact would be enormous.

With this in mind, I would love to encourage the readers of Potpourri to consider the impact this would have on world peace, the reduction of violence in the community, greed, hatred and conflict throughout the world.

Start meditating today, savour each moment by being still and move into a higher level of consciousness. When we begin a meditation practice we commit to the worldwide community of people striving for peace, wisdom, love, humility, compassion and joy. Join us!

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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HEALTH

essence they are all contained with two practices: stopping and seeing. Stopping is the primary gate for overcoming the bonds of compulsiveness. Seeing is the essential requisite for ending confusion. Stopping is the wholesome resource that nurtures the mind. Seeing is the marvellous art which fosters intuitive understanding. Stopping is the effective cause of attaining concentrative repose. Seeing is the very basis of enlightened wisdom.”

HEALTH

Meditation has been practiced since the beginning of time, often as a component of numerous religious traditions and beliefs used in a way to bring balance between our external and internal selves.

Meditation is different for everyone but in my limited experience it is a gift from the Universe that enables us to catch a glimpse of Nirvana in which all desires and unworthy deeds are eliminated and in which state the mind succumbs to unshakeable peace and joy. It is a state in which there are no limitations, no anger, no addictions, no isolation, no hatred, no ignorance, no pain or suffering.

PARENTING

Effectively discipline your child (without shouting or feeling guilty) by Nathalie Hodgson Truthfully I was a skeptic walking into the parenting workshop on Effective Discipline, conducted by South Africa’s ‘Super Granny’ Andalene Salvesen. She promised to empower parents (to let kids be kids) in 5 easy steps. Really 5? I can think of about 10 that I use that sometimes work and sometimes don’t (depending on the child, the day and the situation). Is she really going to provide me with any new advice?

She promised to go through the steps highlighted in her book ‘a Brand new Child in 5 easy steps’. I was highly curious and did my best to listen attentively with an open mind and non-critical hat. Her energy and introductory approach had an impact and I could see how she was a great child educator, Nanny and now global child behavior consultant expert. This was a woman that had worked with children all her life. Her teachings were from her the ‘days of her life’ and not from text book MBAs or degrees. She was also a great speaker so it did not take me long to feel happy that it was time and money well spent. Below is a summary of her lecture and some notes:

1.

Recalibrate the Role of Parent

As a parent, you need to develop a healthy, mature attitude to your role as an authority figure. You have ‘permission to parent’. It is your role and your right to be in charge. You cannot give a child a position of authority when he has no life experience wisdom. Authority without wisdom is life with a time bomb. Wisdom is attained through discipline, years of acquiring knowledge, experience and learning from mistakes.

2.

is up to us as parents to help them cope with negative emotions rather than avoiding the feeling or protecting them from these emotions.

5.

Maintaining the New Status Quo

Children need to learn to trust you, but trust is built when consistent, loving boundaries are repeatedly reinforced. When they consistently see that your yes is yes and no means no, then they will know exactly where they stand, feel safe and build confidence and trust in your relationship and in themselves. If you ‘ no’ waivers because of a child’s nagging, crying, tantrums, or any other form of manipulation, then they once again begin to start pushing the boundaries to establish where the new boundaries will be. (smart little things hey). Keep in mind that where children have defined firm but fair boundaries consistently maintained, they are invariably happier children.

We all want to be the best parent we can and Andelene’s advice is not rocket science or breakthrough research strategies but very sound reminders on how to be the best, for your children every day.

Happy Parenting!

Nathalie Hodgson, is a writer, mother, PR & Marketing consultant and yoga instructor, juggling this whilst raising two kids and enjoying the most of life.

Define Predictable Boundaries

Before you speak decide whether it’s your intention to give an option or an instruction. Think about your sentence structure and tone of voice beforehand. Remember that younger children cannot differentiate between the intensity (potential danger) and the importance of various instructions. To them, ‘Pick up your toys’ is an important (or not important) as ‘stop there is a car coming’. They need to learn to listen to you, not because they understand the instruction, but simply because you say so. As they grow wisdom, they can be given an explanation.

They soon learn that every decision they make has a ripple effect on their lives. This is a valuable life skill.

3.

Activate the Rules of Engagement

Children should not be told ‘you are naughty’. Generally, it is not a character issue but rather plain disobedience. The child needs to understand that he is always loved unconditionally but his actions or attitude is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. An instruction that has been given needs to be followed by immediate action if it is not obeyed. Only after this first time obedience and respect have been instilled do children earn the right to negotiate.

4.

Realign the Relationship

When you consistently stick to your negotiated boundaries, your child’s initial anger will eventually turn into sadness and disappointment that he did not get his way. Disappointment deserves understanding and empathy, not sympathy. Try to connect with his feelings by putting a word to the appropriate emotion. We cannot protect our children from experiencing disappointments – these are part and parcel of real life. It

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JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

“THEY NEED TO LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOU, NOT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTION, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU SAY SO.”

ElyssaTurns

MUST BUY

Name: Elyssa Micock Birthday: 16th June From: ‘Maraine’ Rachel Lionnet Rachel says: “She’s a very bright young girl who is doing very well in school (P3). She’s a loving big sister to her baby brother Samuel.

Recently, while watching a program on weddings on TV she asked her mum what the ‘small knots’ do when they get married. She had made a direct translation of the creole word for dwarfs!

Finally, I want her to know that I love her very much and I hope she continues to do us proud at school and that she grows up to be a lovely young lady.”

Name: New text, “New quote. New colours.” *New text”!

(In collaboration with Chanterelle Bookshop)

Puzzle Tales (for 6+)

Putting 100 pieces of puzzle together is no two-minute task for most adults and will no doubt keep your young ones occupied for quite a while!

Available in a selection of much-loved childhood characters, i.e.

Humpty Dumpty, Three Little Pigs, Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood.

From Modern Printing, Docklands. Price: SR71.78

JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

41

AGONY AUNT

Dear Annalisa ......

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.

Re-Visiting the Past Q:

Cases of abuse which have been making headlines recently have awakened a dormant monster in my life. For 15 years I have suppressed all emotions and issues relating to something similar that happened to me when I was only 16 years old. I could never tell anyone about it because of the shame I felt even though as I got older I realised I was only a victim and had done nothing wrong.

My concern now is 15 years later too late for me to address this? How do I even start? I know I have to if I want to be truly happy and at peace.

Marie-Stella, Victoria

A: Dear Marie-Stella, Simply put it, it is never too late to address anything that you believe is holding you back from being truly happy and at peace. An essential component is to find the right person to whom you can address the issue with. A psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor is some of the professionals equipped to help you address the issue of abuse. One of the many things about abuse is that the damage is done and cannot be reversed. Hence, the intervention is based on its impact on the client at the time when he/she enters treatment, for example is the client dealing with traumatic memories; does the client need to learn about healthy human sexuality; is the client having issues with bodily contact; and/or is the client having difficulty directing the blame in this situation.

It is important to note that some people opt, to talk to someone simply that they trust and feel comfortable with, but who is not a professional in the field. With this, bear in mind that despite the person’s best intention to help, he or she is not trained to deal with all the emotions or issues attached to abuse, hence the real work may remain undone.

As a side note, allow me to suggest an immediate change in your description of yourself – “victim”. There is no denying that the experience robs people in many ways, but release yourself of the burden of being a victim, and talk about yourself as a “survivor” of abuse. Because this is exactly what you did, you survived this ordeal.

That’s the best place to start, next make an appointment with a professional and start talking.

Continued Courage.

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JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

Dad or Step-Dad

Q: I am getting married in December and since wedding

preparations have started I have avoided one particular topic of discussion – who will walk me down the aisle. My parents divorced when I was two and I have had two wonderful men as fathers since then. Everyone is waiting for me to choose. How do you decide whose heart you are going to break?

Bride-To-Be, 27

A: Dear Bride-To-be, In all sincerity, my take is this. Why break any hearts? Does it have to be one or the other? I know about the tradition of the “one” father walking his daughter down the aisle, reflecting the traditional family. Time has changed and as you expressed, the divorce of your parents brought you two wonderful men as fathers, who appear equally deserving of the honor. Maybe this is a first, and you need to run it by your priest or pastor first, but what are the chances that they both get to walk you down the aisle?

I’m thinking, one walks you half way and the other takes you the other half, to the man-in-waiting. Afterall, you started your life journey with one and then met the other on the way (although not half way). You might then ask, who goes first? Do a draw, go by their names’ initials, go by the order in which they entered your life, it is really up to you.

Alternatively, you can also choose to be on both of their arms as you walk the whole aisle. Now these might not be the conventional nor traditional way of doing it, but then again, you don’t come from a traditional family. Both men stepped up to their roles of father and stepfather to see you through your life’s journey up to now. So why can’t they both travel down the aisle with you as you move onto another chapter in your life?

However, if I’m too “out-there” on this one, I suggest you have an honest and open discussion with both men, expressing clearly where the dilemma lies. As wonderful of men as you’ve known them to be I am certain that they will be mindful of your anxiety and assist you in resolving this long avoided issue. Bear in mind, the men may have already solved this dilemma for you.

My point is, this ultimately is your “big day”, anything is possible and you really need to be able to enjoy all the moments of the day without any unnecessary sadness. Therefore explore all your choices/options and don’t limit yourself to what others expect.

On this note, CONGRATULATIONS and enjoy your day with your family.

Qui, Ou et Comment??? (par Georges Gravé) LA TECHNIQUE DE PÊCHE À LA LIGNE EST UNE MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE AUX SEYCHELLES, RECONNUE COMME ÉTANT UNE DES TECHNIQUES DE PÊCHE LA PLUS SÉLECTIVE AU MONDE pêcheurs du monde entier vont prendre exemple sur les Seychelles !!

Laissons la parole aux responsables afin de nous faire mieux comprendre les enjeux de cette démarche :

Georges Gravé is the Personal Development & Training Manager at the Maia Luxury Resort and Spa

Voilà maintenant les trois questions que le consommateur de poisson peut se poser en allant acheter son Bourgeois, son Thon ou tous les merveilleux poissons que l’on peut déguster quand on a la chance de vivre aux Seychelles.

Qui a péché le poisson, où a-t-il été péché et comment (dans quelles conditions). C’est en fait toute la démarche qualité et de traçabilité que Seychelles Hook and Line Fishermen a (avec la plupart des poissonniers seychellois) mis en œuvre afin d’assurer une qualité de produits exemplaire.

J’ai la chance d’avoir pu visiter le mois dernier l’entreprise Oceana Fisheries, partenaire privilégié de cette démarche. Un grand bravo a tous pour ce travail d’orfèvre, et nous pouvons être très fier de ce travail qui redonne du sens à un métier et qui nous responsabilise. Nul doute que les

“Dans le but de promouvoir les techniques de pêche responsable, la durabilité des ressources et de prouver leur approche responsable de la pêche, les ligneurs seychellois ont initié un programme de labellisation des produits de leur pêche. Ce programme se fait en partenariat avec la Seychelles Fishing Authority et le Bureau des standards des Seychelles. Un code de conduite, qui comprend les critères des normes, a été établi. Ces normes sont le fondement du programme de labellisation des Seychelles et traduit les engagements des pêcheurs impliqués dans cette démarche. Ces caractéristiques permettent d’offrir aux consommateurs le premier produit de la mer « haut de gamme » en provenance des Seychelles, unique sur le marché international La technique de pêche à la ligne est une méthode traditionnelle aux Seychelles, reconnue comme étant une des techniques de pêche la plus sélective au monde. Pour cette raison, notre pêcherie est unique puisque le niveau de prises accessoires y est très faible et il n’y a aucun rejet. De plus, les dégâts causés aux récifs et autres habitats marins sont moindre.

Nos objectifs de qualités sont garantis par l’application stricte des normes du cahier des charges : traitement, glaçage, conditionnement et marquage du poisson à bord du bateau. Capturé vivant, le poisson est saigné et éviscéré dès l’arrivée à bord, pour qu’il conserve une qualité de chair parfaite. Il est lavé, marqué, glacé, conditionné sous 30 minutes. La température des cales est maintenue en dessous des 3º C. Les cales sont nettoyées et désinfectées après chaque marée. Les produits de nettoyage et la glace utilisés sont aux normes alimentaires. » SUIVRE LE POISSON DE LA CAPTURE A L`ASSIETTE ET LUTTER CONTRE LA PECHE ILLEGALE “Pour garantir l’origine de nos poissons et renforcer notre lien avec le consommateur, nos poissons sont marqués avec une étiquette. Cette marque contient un code/référence du bateau qui a capturé le poisson. Cet étiquetage permet également de garantir aux consommateurs que nos produits ne proviennent pas d’une pêcherie INN (pêche illicite, non déclarée et non réglementée) c`est ainsi un outil puissant contre la pêche illicite. A chaque navire est attribué un code qui permet, en consultant notre site sur Internet, de savoir par QUI, OU et COMMENT le poisson a été capturé.

Par souci de respect de l’environnement, seul les déchets biodégradables sont rejetés en mer. Nos navires sont équipés de bacs pour le stockage des déchets non biodégradables et sont débarqués à terre en fin de marée. “ Pour en savoir plus : www.seychelles-hookandline-fishermen.org

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WITH

BE RNA R D GE ORGE S

On what grounds can a restraining order be obtained and what power does it carry?

All legal systems must cater for preventing something bad from happening and not only restrict itself to punishing after the event. That is the basis of the restraining order. As its name implies, this is an order of the court restraining, or preventing, someone from doing something the person has threatened to do, or something it is feared the person will do.

Assume you have a right of access from the main road to your house. Assume, further, that this access crosses your neighbour’s land and that you have been using this driveway to get your car from the main road to your house for several years without any problems. Then, one day, you fall out with your neighbour for some reason and he threatens to block the access and prevent you from using it. In fact, you see him beginning to move some large rocks from his land to lay them over the driveway so as to prevent you from using it. What do you do?

There are underlying legal problems that will need to be resolved – what was the extent of your right; is it legal or customary; does it give you the right to access by vehicle or on foot etc. All this will need a court case to resolve. You may succeed, or you may not, depending on the legal basis for your use of the access. All of this, as you may imagine, will take time to process. Lawyers will have to be consulted, papers drawn up, a case filed. Two years may elapse by the time a judgment is given. Then there may be an appeal – another two years. In the meantime, how can you ensure that you continue to use the access? Enter the restraining order.

Restraining orders have many names. In some laws they are called just that – restraining orders. In other laws they are called injunctions, or interdicts. Whatever the name, the purpose is the same – to restrain someone from doing something.

[There is a corollary to the restraining order and that is the mandatory order. A restraining order restrains an action; a mandatory order forces an action.] Restraining orders and injunctions can be temporary or permanent.

In the case described above the court may make a temporary order restraining your neighbour from blocking your access pending the hearing of the case. This allows you not to be inconvenienced before the court has heard the evidence. But if, having

heard the evidence, the court forms the opinion that you do have a right to cross your neighbour’s land, the court may grant you a permanent order. This has the effect of restraining your neighbour from blocking the access again, thereby forcing you to restart the whole process.

All injunctions and restraining orders are discretionary. Nobody has a right to receive one. This is because the effect of such orders can be life-changing and potentially unjust towards the party restrained. Imagine an order restraining a spouse from entering the matrimonial home. Or one preventing a parent going to live permanently abroad from taking a child away with him or her.

Such orders are not easy to obtain. They will only be made when the person asking for them can show a clear and urgent need, when the threatened action – if carried out – will bring about a result that money alone cannot repair, and when the balance of convenience is in favour of the order being made. Obviously, these orders are not made on a whim. In that respect, the court has a complete discretion to make or refuse to make the order.

It must be so because no two situations are ever the same. The balance of convenience continually shifts, so the court has to be ever open to revising a restraining order if the situation requires it.

So, what happens if a restraining order is issued and the person against whom it is made does not respect it? In our example above, you get your order from the judge restraining your neighbour from blocking your access. You return home happy and relieved, waving your order. Then, as you watch in disbelief, your neighbour starts rolling the rocks over the driveway. You rush out to confront him and he tells you that he cannot care less about what the judge has said and that no way will he allow you to drive across his land. What do you do?

Flouting a court order, especially an injunction or a restraining order, is not a clever thing to do. The only way the court can enforce its order is by contempt proceedings. Depending on the gravity of the breach – and its frequency, assuming the breach is repeated – the court will fine the culprit or send him to prison. In addition, the court may give permission to the innocent party to give effect to the court order at the expense of the one in breach. In that way, the court can ensure that its orders are not made in vain.

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.

PET CORNER

Cat Loving

with Nathalie Hoareau

I

magine having a chat with friends over coffee and sandwiches in a room full of cats. Well in Tokyo you can.

Ordinarily, being surrounded by over 20 felines puts you in Crazy Cat Lady territory. But in Tokyo—where long work hours and cramped dwellings make it hard to commit to a pet—it just means you’re squeezing in some stressrelieving me-time after work. Like going to the gym, only furrier.

At Shinjunku Calico Cat Cafe, you pay a nominal fee (about $10 US), clean your hands, and settle in with some tea or other refreshment, some treats for the kitties, and then play and spend time with the cats that live there. The cats are really well looked after the smooshie-faced Persians get their eyes and nose cleaned and all the long-haired breeds´ fur is in beautiful condition, plus there is a separate quarantine section. There is a myriad of different breeds. It’s a must see for cat lovers.

As with any establishment where one pays for companionship, there are rules: Catnip is forbidden. Don’t wake napping cats or touch ones wearing ribbons (they’re still too young). And if a cat resists your advances, you must respect its wishes.

The cats are part of a big family, so no, you cannot adopt any.

If and when you do visit, just one suggestion: Don’t wear black.

Bounce Plus Poster.pdf 1 4/12/2012 12:28:15 PM

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

Name: Aussie Age: 1 year & 8 months Breed: Part Rhodesian Ridgeback, part Lisyen Owners’ name: Dan Balkwill

CMY

Gender: Male

K

Dan says: “Aussie is a lovely dog, full of character and is an integral part of the family. He enjoys swimming in the sea outside our house, digging, eating chicken and lasagne, barbecues, meeting nice girl dogs and is particularly renowned in the neighbourhood for his impersonation of a fire engine siren”

Pet of

the Month

Ineke Camille E:ineke.paradisepromotion@gmail.com TEL: 2520937 JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

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Continued from Page 10

•

•

•

that late night technology is disruptive to our sleep.

Neuroscientist Dr.Howard-Jones from Bristol University found that staring at a mobile phone screen when the lights are off can strongly disrupt our secretion of melatonin which of course is our key to sleep.

Have a bed time routine. Think of a child needing a bed time routine to get a good night sleep, you require the same. Try and switch off your phone at least half an hour before going to sleep.

Read a book or listen to soft music this will help you unwind and before you know it your eyes will slowly be shutting.

Exercise. Nowadays we reach the end of our day mentally exhausted from all the stress we carry with us throughout the day. Exercising on a regular basis not only will fight the stress by releasing endorphins but it will also leave you going to sleep physically rather than mentally exhausted.

Your diet is key to good sleep. Eating a heavy oily meal will definitely keep you up all night. Evidence has shown that three substances tryptophan, Serotonin and Melatonin enhance a good night sleep. You can get your tryptophan from foods such as chicken, steak and pumpkin seeds. Always remember to combine with whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables!

Your Bedroom • Keep it dark. Your sleep inducing hormone melatonin is extremely

light-sensitive and will not be produced properly if there is light.

• Keep it the right temperature. I know, we are in Seychelles and

it is hard to keep the room cool if there is no air-conditioning.

However to facilitate you ‘’sleep mechanism’’ a cooler temperature

is preferable.

• Clear the clutter. A tidy room has been shown to achieve greater

peace of mind. Clutter has been associated as an energy drainer,

you know you should be tidying up but you cannot be bothered

and this will linger at the back of your mind adding to your sleeplessness.

I hope I have transmitted to you the importance of quality sleep for your overall well-being. If you are already tucked in bed while reading this article, you have chosen to unwind your mind with some reading making you one step closer to getting a good night sleep. Sweet dreams!

BOOK REVIEW The Manhattan Diet

By Eileen Daspin This book will change your fat content.

The ideas and concepts work, you just have to find a way to adapt them to your surroundings. Since we all can’t live and work in Manhattan, change our friends and buy designer clothes, what can we do to internalize The Manhattan Diet? Try imagining the impact you would have on your subconscious if while reading this book you took notes and then turned those notes into your personal aspirations. I believe if you write just this one of many powerful Eileen Daspin quotes everyday for ninety days you will astonish yourself at how much better you handle your food intake. Try starting with this - I shall learn to recognize the sweet spot between not being full and not being hungry.

Review by Richard Quis co-author Thinking Anew: Harnessing the Power of Belief.

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JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

MUST BUYS! From the Shelf 1.

2.

3.

All books are available from

Chanterelle Bookshop, Quincy St.

1

2

3

Email: chanterelle@seychelles.net

POTPOURRI & CHANTERELLE BOOK CLUB

Gates of Paradise is the seventh and final instalment in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz.

Schuyler Van Alen is running out of time.

The Dark Prince of Hell is storming the Gates of Paradise, intent on winning the heavenly throne for good. This time he has his greatest angels by his side, Abbadon and Azrael, or as they are known in this world, Jack and Mimi Force. Love and vengeance, duty and loyalty, life and death, are all at odds in the gripping, heartbreaking finale of the Blue Bloods series.

The Host By Stephenie Meyer Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. Wanderer, the invading ‘soul’ who has been given Melanie’s body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

The Valentine’s Card By Juliet Ashton Orla adores her actor boyfriend, Sim, who’s away filming. Although the long-distance relationship means that she can eat toast for dinner and watch as much reality TV as she likes, she misses him like crazy. But Valentine’s Day changes everything . . . The same morning Orla learns that Sim has died, she receives a card from him. As Orla travels from Ireland to London, to live and breathe Sim’s final moments, can she bring herself to open the Valentine’s card and read his final message?

- A Plus or a Risk? by Ahmed Afif Seychelles once floated a very popular tourism slogan - “Unique by a thousand miles”. It was by far one of the best slogans we had ever come up with as a small tourism destination. It symbolized isolation, uniqueness and perhaps some form of exotic tranquility. Of course this fared nicely with the islands’ desire to harbor especially the high spending visitors to our shores.

Thus over the years, Seychelles developed tourism products such as five star hotels and lately the luxury cruiser charter business that has catered well for those from the higher echelons of this world.

As we look at the tourism numbers today, it is evident that numbers are increasing although the source of this market is slowly diversifying.

The recent NBS statistics for the week ending May 5th 2013 show

clearly that the European countries, Russia, the UAE and South Africa are still by far our greatest source of tourist arrivals at least during the last 4 years.

Of the European countries, the most important growth comes from Germany. South Africa and the UAE are also clearly on the rise.

Of course, this is good news for Seychelles and the industry but it may be pertinent to also note that all three destinations are served by direct flights. Germany has come from being the third most important source of visitors in 2010 behind Italy to the number 2 source after France in 2013. Readers will recall that France has traditionally been Seychelles’ most important source of visitors and has remained so until now.

However, the French market experienced a serious dip in 2012 whilst still remaining as the number 1 source, most likely as a result of the cutting of direct flights by Air Seychelles to Paris - Charles De Gaulle in early 2012.

Germany is still served direct only once a week by Condor from Frankfurt and is showing very impressive growth.

Are there lessons to be drawn from this?

Since we have been in this business, Europe has always been our traditional source of tourism. This has served Seychelles well since Europeans have for many years enjoyed good economic growth although of late many states have felt the crunch of the global recession.

However, according to figures published by the World Economic Outlook in Jan 2012, Germany, France and UK will all show positive economic growth in 2013.

We may therefore hopefully conclude that as growth continues in Europe and Seychelles remains competitive, we should see resurgence in arrivals from these traditional markets.

Can we accelerate such growth from Europe?

The simple answer is yes provided we meet up to certain expectations, e.g. we remain competitive, in other words, we offer value for money but importantly draw an important lesson from what the statistics suggest, i.e. where Seychelles can offer direct flights, there is a much better chance of increased arrivals.

If we were to consider the journey of every European to Seychelles other than those flying on Condor, it is evident that instead of flying for say 10-11 hours to Seychelles from Paris as they did prior to 2012, they now probably spend on average 15-16 hrs on average or 50% more time to reach Seychelles either via Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Our statistics show that on average visitors spend some 10 odd nights in Seychelles; this figure is likely to reduce with increasing frequency of flights. However, my point is that if a European traveler is to lose almost 10 hours extra in the entire journey compared to when there were direct flights for a trip that was to last 10 days, this is not an insignificant dent in one’s “satisfaction” rating for the trip.

When you compare the experience of a direct flight to Seychelles say from Paris compared to having to hub in the Middle East, it would be fair to say that the lack of a direct flight is a serious dampener to growth in the European market. So for example, for the business-class traveler who could put his leg up after having taken off from Paris and wake up to the scenic view of a morning arrival at Mahé, one is faced with having to wake up to land in the desert and then disembark and pick up one’s luggage and go through the rigmarole of another check and formality to board yet another flight to Mahé after waiting for a good few hours in the closed confines of a desert airport. And the same all the way back.

Of course, they have no choice today as no other airline is doing this other than Condor. Not surprisingly Germany’s figures are extremely promising.

Short of provoking a debate as to why Air Seychelles had to abandon the much coveted direct flight to Europe, it is clear that

Continued on Page 51 JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

47

ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

Unique by a Thousand Miles

CONSERVATION

GOING TO THE TOILET …are you doing it ecologically?

Ah!

There is nothing like escaping from the world to answer the call of nature, knowing that you will have a few private moments to finish off the last chapter of that book you were trying to read during your lunch break, peruse a fashion magazine as you try to decide how to wow your boyfriend, hide away from your nagging wife because you haven’t fixed the leaky tap or fantasize about the 101 ways you could do away with your boss. Unfortunately, the crazy environmentalists have found a way to make us feel guilty for one of life’s small pleasures and it comes in the form of toilet paper!

Yes! The world is debating on how best to wipe. ‘Normal’ toilet paper is a big ‘No No’ because of trees being chopped down and all of the chemicals used to process it. Recycled toilet paper is a controversial topic, not only because it is costly to produce and ship (and hardly likely to make a dent in your carbon footprint!), but also because often the recycled paper is contaminated with BPA (an endocrine disruptor and carcinogenic chemical, which is linked to cancer, diabetes, liver and thyroid problems, birth defects, heart disease to name but a few).

So! Other than going back to leaves, what exactly are you supposed to use for a guilt-free trip to the loo? Not to worry, the die-hard environmentalists have found a safe alternative – cloth toilet paper.

“Yuck” I hear you say. Well consider this: toilet paper itself is a pretty Visit the following sites to learn more about the great toilet paper debate: http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/recycled-toilet-paper.html http://happyskinnymrs.blogspot.com/2013/01/hows-it-hanging-greattoilet-paper-rant.html http://sortacrunchy.typepad.com/sortacrunchy/2009/09/3-reasons-touse-cloth-toilet-paper-aka-family-cloth.html http://thegreentoilet.blogspot.com/2008/02/so-why-is-toilet-paperwhite-anyway.html http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/reusable-toiletpaper-really http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/recycled-toilet-paper-notsuch-a-great-idea-after-all/ Contributed by Elke Talma for Sustainability for Seychelles, a local NGO whose mission is to promote sustainable living in Seychelles. Email: info@s4seychelles. com Tel. 422-4072 / 251-9135. Address: Suite A9 Arpent Vert, Mont Fleuri.

Website: www.s4seychelles.com or find us on Facebook.

SO! OTHER THAN GOING BACK TO LEAVES, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO USE FOR A GUILT-FREE TRIP TO THE LOO? new invention. Historically, people have used pages from catalogues, soft plant material and yes, cloth. If done right, it is absolutely sanitary.

In fact, it’s not unlike using cloth diapers for your baby, washcloths to clean yourself and using a hanky to sneeze in. The only difference is that we have been taught that toilet paper must be disposable... thus allowing companies to make big profits.

The benefits of cloth toilet paper •

• • •

•

Affordable: you can make cloth squares from used soft old sheets or other cloth, and then you don’t need to spend money on toilet paper.

Truly Eco-friendly: there is no more repeated manufacturing or shipping of a disposable product.

Healthier: no bleach, BPA, BPS, or other funky processing chemicals coming in contact with your body.

Softer & Gets you cleaner: truly the softest option for toilet paper, especially good when you’re wiping a lot due to sickness. And you feel cleaner because you actually are when using cloth toilet paper.

Keeps you cleaner: no fingers poking through because it doesn’t tear like recycled toilet paper.

Put a small laundry bin near the toilet to put the dirty cloth wipes in.

Cloths for #1 can just go in with your regular laundry, but for #2 do a separate wash for the cloth wipes in hot water. No big deal!

The best way to be convinced though is to try it yourself … and let me know as I am still on the fence!

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

JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

49

BLUE OCEAN

Hooked On Conservation

Tag a Sail

What do June and the Southeast Monsoon mean for fishing in Seychelles? Well, sailfish of course! Even though sailfish are caught in good numbers year round, the peak sailfish season on the Mahe Plateau is June through September.

Sailfish are part of the billfish family; the most glamorous and sought after sport fish in the world. For this reason, billfish are also the most economically important fish from a tourism point of view. This is why the world over billfish are protected by law in many countries, and also why the majority of serious fishermen in the world today catch and release or tag and release billfish. In Seychelles, we need to catch up with the rest of the world and protect these wonderful sport fish.

Sailfish are the smallest member of the billfish family. They are generally considered the fastest fish in the ocean reaching speeds of up to 110kph. These speedy fish weigh an average of 30kg, and are wonderful adversaries on light tackle. They are renowned for their high dorsal fin, acrobatics and beauty.

Because sailfish can be found in pairs or groups of fish, it is not uncommon to catch several in a day’s fishing. For this reason, sailfish are the perfect fish for youngsters and novice anglers alike.

It gives them the opportunity to ‘practice’ catching a billfish. And if for some reason the fish gets away, they will normally have a reasonably good chance of hooking another sailfish soon thereafter.

However, their schooling nature can also be their downfall if some mal-intentioned fishermen find them first.

June is the perfect time to catch and tag your first sailfish. By

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tagging these majestic fish you will be helping conservation and science. There are two tagging organizations that are well represented in Seychelles. The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is the oldest, largest, and most important billfish tagging organization in the world. It is also the only organization that actively tags billfish in all the major oceans. The African Billfish Foundation (ABF) is also an important player in the regional conservation of billfish.

Nearly everything we know about the migrations of billfish comes from a small piece of nylon commonly referred to as a spaghetti tag. Before anglers started placing tags in released billfish, scientists couldn’t determine where exactly these migratory animals swam, where they spawned or how quickly they grew. We now know much more about billfish thanks to conventional tagging, but there is still plenty to learn. Because these fish use the waters of multiple countries they require collective management for conservation.

For example, a fish that you tag in Seychelles in June could very well arrive in Kenya by November.

Tagging is the perfect way for all of us to play a role in the conservation of one of the most important sport fish in Seychelles, and June gives us a great opportunity to get out on the ocean and do it. TBF ‘how to tag’ videos are available in both English and French by calling 2531531. Get started tagging today.

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 coowns FINS Tackle, a big-game fishing and pro-tackle store opening in early 2013.

there is a case to strongly encourage any applicant who wishes now to enter the fray of undertaking direct flights from Europe to Seychelles and complement the good work that Condor is already doing.

No doubt, this would not be welcomed by the middle-eastern carriers as clearly some of their traffic would be diluted.

But it must be argued that there are perhaps even more persons who today have clearly ticked off Seychelles as a destination for their holiday simply because of the hassle that it takes to get there. And how can one blame them when they can fly direct to our competitors such as Maldives and Mauritius in comfort and in style?

There is also a danger not to be ignored in allowing Seychelles to be dependent mainly on middle-eastern carriers. Whilst they may boast state of the art aircraft, there is always that looming possibility of widening instability or even war in the middle-east that would seriously dissuade visitors from transiting in these hubs. At the limit, even flying could become impossible on certain routes in such a situation.

What would happen to Seychelles then? Was this not why Seychelles decided to have a national airline in the late 80s that could mitigate such eventualities for the benefit of the industry and the economy as a whole?

As it stands, Air Seychelles’ international fleet comprises of two Airbus A330-200 aircraft registered in Abu Dhabi although they carry the Air Seychelles livery. It is most likely the case that Air Seychelles leases them from Etihad. With the management arrangements in place today between Etihad and Air Seychelles, management decisions over aircraft movements and logistics would clearly be decided in Abu Dhabi.

Would they ever consider it within their global strategy to allow Air Seychelles to by-pass their traditional “hub” and fly direct from Europe to Seychelles? It is indeed a probing question but the fact lies that they do not do it today when it is clear as proven by Condor that it is possible to fly direct successfully and grow the market.

This article is not meant to belittle any advantages that may exist in fostering such strategic partnerships. These include improved connectivity, economies of scale, expertise in specialized areas of management etc. Indeed, such developments have happened in other parts of the world. However, the interests of Seychelles must come first especially in long term planning which would then form the backbone of any long term strategic direction the country embarks on.

Can one envisage the setting up of an operation out of Seychelles to undertake direct flights to Europe? Should the Government or the industry support it?

In my view, the answer is yes. There are many activities that are better done in private hands than by the Government and recent history has proven it especially in the tourism industry where only a few decades ago, some of the larger hotel chains were owned by the state through COSPROH. Today, the same hotels are run much more successfully in

OUR STATISTICS SHOW THAT ON AVERAGE VISITORS SPEND SOME 10 ODD NIGHTS IN SEYCHELLES; THIS FIGURE IS LIKELY TO REDUCE WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY OF FLIGHTS. HOWEVER, MY POINT IS THAT IF A EUROPEAN TRAVELER IS TO LOSE ALMOST 10 HOURS EXTRA IN THE ENTIRE JOURNEY COMPARED TO WHEN THERE WERE DIRECT FLIGHTS FOR A TRIP THAT WAS TO LAST 10 DAYS, THIS IS NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT DENT IN ONE’S “SATISFACTION” RATING FOR THE TRIP

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Did you know?

Parrotfish;

Calling it a Night in a Bubble!!

by Helena Sims • Named after their flamboyant colouration and toothed beak that resembles a parot’s beak.

• There are over 90 species of parrotfish.

• They can change colour and their sex several times throughout their lifespan!

• One of the hardest reef fish to identify because they have different colour forms at di ferent stages of their lives.

Males differ from females and adults differ from juveniles!

• Parrotfish form harems with multiple females and one male.

• When the dominant male dies, the group’s largest female will change sex and

colour and gain exclusive rights to mate with the remaining females.

• Feed on algae extracted from the reef from biting off chunks of coral • In one year, one parrotfish may convert a ton of coral into sand!

• Have two sets of teeth; the front fused row (beak) and a set of teeth in their throat for crushing the ingested materials!

• At night they exude mucus from an organ on their head forming a cocoon that envelopes the fish, hiding its scent from predators such as moray eels that hunt by scent.

‘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’

private hands.

And I suspect, no hotelier or tourism operator in Seychelles would turn away the opportunity to see direct flights from Europe back in Seychelles as this would likely entail higher spending tourists and increased visitors.

But if this is to happen, the would-be operator must be prepared to face the challenges ahead, including competing with the likes of the middleeastern carriers and offering value for money in a cut-throat industry.

Seychelles must do everything possible to make this happen. After all, when you go for a holiday to Seychelles, it all begins with the journey.

Seychelles took a step back when it stopped direct flights to Europe.

For many sad reasons and especially the cash-strapped position of Air Seychelles then, perhaps it was inevitable. However, it does not diminish the prospects of restoring national pride by flying the flag and the creole spirit straight from Europe to Seychelles swiftly and in style and showcase the Seychelles experience at a much higher level.

“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.”

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BLUE OCEAN

Continued from Page 47

BON APPETIT

Grilled Prawn Salad For the month that every Seychellois looks forward to, with the

string of days off that it offers, here’s an effortless prawn dish for a lazy lunch when you so happen to have prawns and lots of fresh fruit and veg’ at the ready.

A great wine to pair it with would be the Sancerre Domaine Vacheron of France, says Archipelago Wine & Spirits, and as for Takamaka Bay’s two cents, the honey-sweet Bee’s Knees is this month’s contender.

La Plaine St. André T: +248 437 2010 E : reservations@laplaine.sc W : www.laplaine.sc

Recipe Per Portion Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

150g prawns 1/2 an orange A slice of fresh pineapple ¼ mango 1 tomato 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 clove of garlic, Pepper Lettuce

The most important thing about this dish is that your ingredients are fresh and

nicely presented. The proportions can also be changed according to taste.

Prepare your prawns by shelling and

deveining each one. Mix them with your garlic and sweet chili sauce in a bowl so all prawns are nicely coated.

Prepare your fruit by rinsing, peeling and finely dicing.

Mix in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Place your prawns on a grill pan or

under an oven grill on medium heat until

the flesh has turned from grey to orange, red or white.

Finley chop your lettuce and layer your

fruit mixture and prawns into a cocktail glass.

Drizzle with the sweet chili sauce and lemon juice.

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The Wine

The Bees Knees Takamaka Bay white rum softened with orange & lime juice and splashed with bitters

What you need....

One highball glass, a long handled teaspoon & a cocktail shaker Cubed ice Two shots of Takamaka Bay white rum Two teaspoons of runny honey Half a shot of fresh lime juice Four shots of orange juice Angostura bitters

What to do......

Sancerre Domaine Vacheron, France

Crispy and fresh, grapefruit and lemon flavours on the nose with ripe white fruit and a touch of minerality; to drink and enjoy anytime!

Carefully measure the rum and honey into the shaker Quickly stir the honey into the rum and pour in the remaining ingredients Add cubed ice to the shaker and give it a shake to mix the flavours Fill your glass with ice and pour your cocktail Add a splash of bitters to the top of the drink and garnish with a slice of orange If you need to sweeten your drink further add a splash of sugar syrup (two parts sugar to one part boiling water)

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 MahĂŠ Seychelles T: +248 4374877 / 4374877 E: archipelago@takamaka.sc JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

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WEDDINGS IN PARADISE

Denis & Olga On May 1st 2013, Denis Verkhorubov and Olga Morar exchanged their vows at the Four Seasons Resort. The Russian couple currently live in Seychelles and Denis is the General Manager at the Coral Strand Hotel.

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WEDDINGS IN PARADISE All photos by De Waal Rautenbach from Memento Media info@mementomedia.co.za | www.mementomedia.co.za | Tel: 248 2841418

JUNE 2013 | POTPOURRI

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OCCASIONS

Launch of New Menu at Bodamier Café & Bar

Chef Dan, as Daniel Payet is fondly referred to at Bodamier Café & Bar, is the man in the kitchen bringing the menu to life Monday through to Saturday, 7:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. Take typical café food common around the world (sandwiches, pizzas, paninis, etc), add fresh juices made from seasonal fruits and you will get the Bodamier Café & Bar menu. At the moment, make sure to ask for fresh “zoranz local” (i.e. local oranges).

The new menu was launched on 3rd May at what is now the Friday Happy Hour weekly event, starting at 7p.m and ending at – well, when the final guest leaves. Around 70 friends and regulars joined Martin and Kellie Hoarau to celebrate the occasion.

Aside from being able to have anything on the menu at any time of day you desire, Bodamier Café & Bar also offers outside catering – which is ideal for a stress-free approach for your event – not to mention indulging in delicious food. For bookings you will have to call at least two days in advance.

Bodamier Café & Bar | Revolution Avenue

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Photo Credit: Steve Nibourette

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Roaming Goes Prepaid

Voice & Data

Travelling outside the Seychelles? Stay in touch with family & friends at home with Cable Prepaid Roaming.

Make & receive calls and text, surf the web or update your status using selected partner networks abroad* Simply visit your nearest C&W Customer Services Centre to activate your Prepaid Roaming service before you travel. *Current partners include: Orange (France), Hutchison 3G (Hong Kong), Vodafone India (India), Telecom Italia (Italy), Orange (Mauritius) & Etisalat (UAE). Go to www.cwseychelles.com for an updated list of destinations and network partners as well as pricing information. Terms & conditions apply.

No one knows Seychelles better Cable & Wireless (Seychelles) Ltd. Francis Rachel Street, Victoria, MahĂŠ.

facebook.com/CableAndWirelessSeychelles

@CWSeychelles

Tel: (+248) 428 4000 Fax: (+248) 432 2777 www.cwseychelles.com