POTPOURRI July 2014

www.potpourrimagazine.com

MARSHA PARCOU’s

journey to great shape and good health

Camila Estico CONFESSIONS of a Beauty Queen The Real ‘NICHOLAS’

Meet AARON JEAN

Magician of the Desert

ALPHADI talks fashion, culture, Africa

The importance of the WRITTEN WORD Behind ‘Sales & Marketing Seychelles’

VESNA RAKIC JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

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POTPOURRI

July

45 Shift into Integrity

52 Millie’s Jungle Fever Smoothie

28 Vous avez dit… difficile

26 The Garden of Eden

64 Head to Cork!

The Team 1. Chief Editor: Marie-France Watson | M: + (248) 2512477 | E: marie-france@seychellespublications.com 2. Marketing: Ineke Camille | M: + (248) 2520937 | E: ineke@seychellespublications.com 3. Freelance Writing: Elaine Lafortune | 4. Freelance Writing: Martine Gontier 5. Photography: Suzanne Verlaque | POTPOURRI Photography Studio 6. Graphics & Layout: Olivia Michaud | E: info@angelcreativedesign.com

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Potpourri Seychelles is published by Paradise Promotions Ltd Box 1539, Room 14, Docklands Building, Victoria, Seychelles Tel: + (248) 4325215 | Fax: + (248) 4325216 | www.potpourrimagazine.com Printed by: ATLAS Printing Press LLC.

Closed on Wednesday

From the

EDITOR Dear Folks,

Photo credit: Suzanne Verlaque

I don’t mean to damper the tone of our third anniversary issue by kicking things off with a not so happy topic such as funerals. However, I went to one very recently and once again, I was left amazed at how funerals remind us of what is really important in life. I am equally amazed at how quickly we always forget the minute we step out of the funeral scene. I believe there are people who are simply destined to achieve great things in life. Do the names Shakespeare, Beethoven and Newton ring any bells?

Due to their contributions in this world, their names will be remembered for centuries to come. For most of us ordinary folks who, even if we were alive in 1665 and had a hundred apples fall on our head, we would still not have directed our thoughts to gravity. Our names aren’t etched into the history books so easily, and so our mark on this earth truly lies within the people we love.

Quotes on this matter are abundant everywhere. We read them and acknowledge them but then, well, life takes over and the task of creating a beautiful memory with our children or partner or friend, becomes a chore we simply do not have the time for.

Of course, there are exceptions and these exceptions are what the people we leave behind remember and re-visit after we leave this earth. As hard as it is sometimes, we HAVE to set time aside to enjoy a moment or two with our loved ones. Memories of those moments, as simple and unadventurous as they may be, are all we really leave behind.

Three years ago this month, the first issue of POTPOURRI came out. This journey continues to be an incredible one. I write this editorial a day after completing a weekend retreat at The Station up at Sans Soucis. At some point in this life-changing retreat I was pondering what had brought me to this incredible place. The answer was simply the magazine. I have met amazing people who have made such a difference in my life and my perspectives of the world we live in. I am so grateful for this.

For those of you visiting our beautiful islands this month, may you have a memorable holiday and are blown away by the Seychellois hospitality.

Chief Editor

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Cover Model Marsha Parcou (Read Marsha’s story on page 6)

Hair: Martin Hoarau

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Make-Up: Olga

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Jewelry: Portofino

Photographer: Marsha Dine

Photo Credit - Joel Zamzow

Musings of an Island Girl

by Tina Houareau

The Toughest Job

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We all have jobs that we attend to every day and that we try to derive meaning from. Myself, I study the concepts of instructional design to know how people learn so as to create degree programs that can boost their academic credentials and improve their lives and that of their families. It is an extremely demanding job but the rewards are endless. The other day while driving home, I found myself wondering: what is the most difficult job in the world?

I pondered over the question for a good 15 minutes but it quickly escaped my mind as soon as I pulled in my driveway and realized the endless chores that awaited. It was not until several days later when I dropped my son off to school and watched him walk to the main entrance as the loud bell rang that I realized I had an answer for my question: The most trying job is to listen.

Listening may sound quite simple. Music, for instance, is our daily medicine. We are connected to a kaleidoscope of sounds out there. The rustling of the leaves on the trees, the crash of waves on the shore, the roar of thunder, the ambulance siren, the contagious laughter of children.

But when it comes to the human voice, listening is no longer simple. This is because a big part of listening involves interpretation.

We often fail to spend enough time with those talking to accurately interpret what they are saying. Listening is not just about translation

but interpretation – and those are similar yet very different concepts. While translation can be synonymous with interpretation, interpretation carries with it the need for clarification, explanation, understanding, and analysis. It is this fundamental difference between the two words that gives ground to the all-too-common statement, “you heard what I was saying but were you not listening.�

When we do listen to each other, it is of paramount importance that we deliberately seek to test our listening skills. We must attempt to use our bodies as a resonating chamber so that we can refrain from making hasty judgments. The toughest job on the planet need not be so tough if we make a more conscious attempt to lose our preconceptions, allow ourselves to be vulnerable and open to new philosophies, and quit being so terrified to hear what we would rather not hear.

Tina Houareau is a Seychellois 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.

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LIFESTYLE

Marsha Parcou Did It YOU CAN TOO ...

“I MAKE TIME TO TRAIN - EITHER EARLY MORNING, LUNCH TIME OR AFTER WORKING HOURS. BEING BUSY IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR ME. TRAINING IS THE SAME AS TAKING A SHOWER EVERY DAY”.

THE OLD ME

Growing up as an obese child was not pleasant. As a teenager I tried to lose some weight by joining an aerobics class and seeing a nutritionist for a diet plan.

However, none of them worked as I could not stick to the diet or the exercise plan. I self-indulged in junk food and fizzy drinks - these were my only pleasures in life as I was very unhappy with my size. I had a lack of self-confidence and was unmotivated. My peers bullied me in primary school as I was overweight, and I refused to participate in any physical activities. My family background was filled with weight problems, heart problems, diabetes and high blood pressure.

MY LONG AND INEFFECTIVE JOURNEY

In my twenties I realised that it was time to look after my health and well-being! Remembering correctly, I tipped the scale at almost 80 kg and wore L to XL! My first efforts to lose weight were with diet pills - I became hooked on them. I was introduced to Dinintel

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LIFESTYLE

from Mauritius and EET less from South Africa, and used these pills for a few years. I lost a significant amount of weight, but my eating habits were still bad and I did not do enough exercise to tone my body. During this time I did not realise the amount of damage I was doing to my body by taking all these tablets.

I spent almost five years in Australia from 2000 to 2005, where I did my first degree in Bachelor of Business with double majors in Tourism Management and Marketing. During my time in Perth I became more active by engaging in more physical activities, but I was trying out so many diets, which caused a “yoyo effect” of losing and gaining weight. During my last year in Perth I noticed that I was constantly feeling dizzy and nauseous and was experiencing heart palpitations. This brought about the end to my love affair with diet pills as I was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, which is caused by excess fluid and air pressure in the ear. I could not take any stimulants and had to follow a low-sodium diet.

After my studies I went back to my beautiful island home in my native Seychelles.. I continued doing regular exercise such as walking, jogging and kata boxing. I tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle by cutting out junk food and fizzy drinks and increasing my water intake.

Unfortunately my weight was still fluctuating as I believe I was not eating right.

My job for the Seychelles Tourism Board required regular travel. In September 2009 I was posted in South Africa to promote Seychelles as a tourist destination. I had the perception from friends and family that South Africa was an unsafe destination, so walking and jogging could not be done. This led me to the best decision I have ever made for my weight-loss journey: I joined Virgin Active gym. I went to the gym on a regular basis - four to five times per week. I started to become a regular face at the gym and was approached by personal trainers to assist me to lose weight.

I hired four personal trainers from 2009 to 2011. I must say they did contribute to my weight loss but it was difficult to maintain as my eating habits were still not right, even though I thought I was eating healthy. With all my bad eating habits, regardless of how much exercise I was doing, I believed that their training programmes did not meet my expectations and thus I did not give it my best shot. The result: no big impact on my weight loss - my body fat was still high and my body still remained untoned and undefined.

THE TURNING POINT

At the beginning of 2013 I was fed up seeing the same me year after year. I was determined to become leaner by losing all that extra body fat, hoping to get the desired body I always dreamed of. In April 2013 I was almost 60kg and thanks to my friend Bronwyn Swanepoel, who introduced me to weight training and proper cardio training, I started noticing a change in my body. I became leaner and more toned and my body fat started to drop too, hence, motivating me to push myself more and more. I started having a positive mind-set, believing that I can achieve anything that I set my mind to.

In September 2013 I experienced a turning point in my life when I met Kirschlee and Elaine Naidoo at Virgin Active gym in Pretoria, South Africa. Kirschlee and Elaine are both personal trainers and founders of AdrenalX. The moment I saw Elaine she caught my attention. I was amazed and astonished at how lean, sexy and beautifully toned her body was. Quietly I said to myself, “gosh, I wish I could have such a beautiful, sculptured body.”

Kirschlee and I had the same training schedule on Sundays. So we started chatting and my journey with the Naidoos had begun. I remember my first meeting with Kirschlee where he said I must eat six times per day (every three hours) and take the right amount of supplements required for proper body function, such as Omega oil, multi vitamins and CLA. I must admit that I was quite skeptical to follow Kirschlee’s diet plan and stick to his rules - it was like he was speaking Greek to me. As solid as a rock, Kirschlee did not give in; he gave me no option but to both trust and follow his plan, or he would not assist me.

BEING TRANSFORMED ON THE OUTSIDE...

September 2013 to date has been a major transformation period for me and my body. At long last I got my nutrition right, my training plan/techniques are perfect, I really enjoy my eating plan and look forward to my training session (the highlight of my day). Kirschlee makes changes to my eating/training plans whenever required, so my body does not get used to the same thing. My strength has increased immensely and my training form has improved tremendously.

...AND INSIDE

I must say apart from the changes in my physical appearance, I honestly believe that this fitness journey is changing my life completely. I have discovered who I truly am. I see life in a different light, which is leading me to fulfil my purpose and God-given destiny. People who have known me for the past few years admire my dedication to fitness - they know that I have come a long way. Often I am asked, “when you get your desired body, what’s next?” I always say “there is no finish line on this fitness journey - there is always room for improvement and you always need to challenge yourself.”

THE FUTURE

Apart from my current position as Regional Manager Africa for the Seychelles High Commission, my goal is to be a “history maker” by changing and influencing the lives of others. My passion for fitness is leading me to take it to the next level. I am currently following a course with Trifocus Fitness College in Comprehensive Nutrition and later on in Personal Training. I believe that these courses will help me not to only become my own fitness hero, but to inspire, influence and help change others - as yes, it is possible to lose weight and achieve your desired body. I am also planning to open a health shop in Seychelles, which will offer clients diet and training plan advice (suitable to their lifestyle) and an in-house consultant advising on the right supplements and food.

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LIFESTYLE

“I AM ALSO PLANNING TO OPEN A HEALTH SHOP IN SEYCHELLES, WHICH WILL OFFER CLIENTS DIET AND TRAINING PLAN ADVICE (SUITABLE TO THEIR LIFESTYLE) AND AN IN-HOUSE CONSULTANT ADVISING ON THE RIGHT SUPPLEMENTS AND FOOD”.

FACING CHALLENGES & OBSTACLES

My biggest challenge is my health condition – I suffer from Meniere’s disease/Vertigo (excess fluid in the right ear). I have been suffering from this condition for the past eight years and will have to live with it for the rest of my life, as there is no cure. I just have to manage it. I have to follow a low-sodium diet as salt retains water in the body, and also a stimulant-free, caffeine-free, sugar-free and dairy-free diet, as I am allergic to monosodium glutamate (MSG). I have to be very careful of what I consume as specific food triggers the attack. My attacks involve the room spinning, vomiting, drowsiness, nausea, etc.

Whenever I have an attack it means I have to skip training and I cannot take certain supplements or eat certain food due to my condition - it thus does have a negative impact on my journey. I cannot even do certain types of exercise as it makes me dizzy. I think this is my biggest challenge, but YET, as a spiritual person I have learnt to accept my condition and try not to do anything that will trigger the attacks. Having said that, I do NOT allow it to control my life! Like I always say, I can achieve anything that I set my mind to. I give 100% in my training while I am at the gym, as I don’t know how I will feel the next day. My message is regardless of any medical condition: we can still train and not use a medical condition as an excuse.

Like the saying goes: “It takes a dream to get started, a desire to keep going and determination to finish.”

Another challenge is to stick to the meal plan, as the nature of my job involves lots of travelling. When I travel it is difficult to train and eat properly. I overcome this by taking certain foods along, such as tinned tuna, nuts, protein bars, and the like.

I make time to train - either early morning, lunch time or after working hours. Being busy is not an excuse for me. Training is the same as taking a shower every day.

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STAYING MOTIVATED

I am passionate about fitness - it is my lifestyle. I believe that I influence many people to lose weight, so this keeps me going. There is no finishing line and no in-betweens. There is always room for improvement. Good things and results happen not because of luck, but because you work hard to get them.

ADRENALX & NUTRITION

I have tried and tested many diets and trained with a few personal trainers, but none like Kirschlee from AdrenalX & Nutrition. He is gifted, blessed and passionate about what he does - always putting his clients first, which makes him stand head and shoulders above other personal trainers. I would highly recommend Kirschlee and Elaine from AdrenalX & Nutrition to help transform your body into the one you have always dreamed of. I am certain that they can make a difference in your life as they are doing in mine.

A well-built physique is a status symbol. It reflects the hard work one has put in. You can’t steal it, you can’t borrow it and you cannot hold on to it without constant hard work. It is achieved through dedication, discipline, determination, self-respect and dignity, despite the speed bumps encountered on the journey.

One of the best decisions I ever made was to take Kirschlee on as my personal trainer. It’s tough but he has taught me that through dedication, perseverance, consistency and self-discipline anything is possible. I know I will see great results and grow from strength to strength. Take the first step and find out more at http://www.adrenalX.co.za

The Trainer’s Take

I met Marsha in September 2013. A week after our meeting Marsha started training with me. When I met Marsha she was very skeptical of my methods. She is very motivated and dedicated in what she does and always strives for perfection (which caused a lot of friction in the beginning). Marsha took a while to completely trust me and adapt to my nutritional plan (her fear of gaining weight slightly derailed our initial progress), and it also took me a while to fully come to terms with her medical condition and to design a nutritional plan that allowed her to progress while improving her condition.

After Marsha adapted to the training and nutrition her results were amazing - I believe we found a winning combination. She started gaining strength and losing body fat at a rapid pace. I teach all my clients that consistency and patience is key to achieve the physique you require, and Marsha understands that fully. There is no finish line and she constantly has to be disciplined and dedicated to achieve the physique she desires. That she does without fail! Marsha is dedicated to living a healthy and active lifestyle and makes time in her busy schedule to train. She eats up to six times per day, while balancing that with day to day living and a demanding job! Nothing worth having comes easy and Marsha makes an effort to stick to the nutritional plan, which I recommend for her, while still taking time to enjoy the occasional treat. If you have a winning mentality, dedication, discipline and perseverance then anyone can achieve what Marsha has achieved.

Kind regards, Kirschlee

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OPEN LETTER

TO THOSE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME STAGE AS ME IN THEIR LIVES. Dear Girls, My three-year relationship ended quite suddenly four months ago. I had never felt so much disappointment in my life before. He was everything to me, we were a team and I was happy despite having faced a few obstacles along the way. People make mistakes and some of these mistakes drive relationships to the point of no return.

During this time I have learned a lot about myself. Initially, I was quite angry and bitter but I soon realised how powerful forgiveness is.

Forgiveness is for you and not for those who have hurt you. As long as you stay bitter, that person will always have control over you. For example, the sight/thought of them would make you feel repulsive.

Learn how to channel all of these negative emotions towards achieving something positive in your life. Perhaps something completely unrelated, such as a project at work.

Give yourself a break in between. This is something my mother has always told me but I have only realised the importance of it recently.

The worst thing to do is to jump from one relationship to another. This is quite common amongst us young women. Take some time off, appreciate your space and clear your mindset.

On the misconception of ‘happiness’: I have heard so many people saying how ‘unhappy’ they feel because they do not have a person in their lives. Your happiness does not depend on a person’s presence in your life. Be happy on your own, feel good about yourself. In doing so, when you do meet someone special you will bring all of the positivity into that relationship.

Do not expect your better half to instantly bring happiness into your life. It is not an ‘on and off switch.’

It is important to connect with your partner on a spiritual level. This is one of the most important lessons I have learned. Sometimes we overlook the importance of God in every relationship we have. We may have our own relationship with God but we often forget to ask ourselves, does my boyfriend/girlfriend and I connect on a spiritual level; do we as a couple feel united as one? A couple that prays together stays together. This is a prayer I would like to share for couples.

“Eternal Father, help us to realise that genuine love, deep and lasting, is your own gift to those who respect and reverence one another. Take from our hearts all trace of selfishness, so that in all things, we may help each other to grow in true friendship. Convince us that true love will not hurt, use or abuse the one loved.

To this end, keep ever growing in us an ardent love of your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, by means of constant prayer and frequent Holy Communion. May the bright hope of a happy marriage make us determined to prepare well, by avoiding sin and the dangers that can so easily lead us into sin. We thank you for our love, and we desire to consecrate it to you. Keep it always pure, so that we may continue to live as your worthy children. We ask this in Jesus’ mighty name.

Amen.”

My lessons for 2014: • Do not get serious too soon, there is so much out there

to experience in life.

• You are the most important person in your life. Learn

to love yourself and understand your worth. Our lives

can easily be consumed by our relationship to the point

that we will put our better halves first.

• Do not allow yourself to deal with problems that are

beyond your age and beyond the level of stress that

you need in your life.

• People will disappoint you all throughout your life. This

is something that we young women need to realise

early on. Every person we meet is there to teach us

something; learn from these experiences.

• Surround yourself with people who push you up in life

and not those who act as an anchor and pull you down.

• Your mother is the best shoulder to cry on. There is

nothing more special than realising the depth of a

mother’s love. Unfortunately, this took me a few years.

• Life is beautiful; there is so much to live for and to look

forward to.

• Be positive and trust that God has a plan for us all.

Lastly, I forgive you and I wish you the very best in life.

Do you have something you need to get off your chest?

Something you desperately need to say to someone?

WRITE TO US; marie-france@seychellespublications.com. All letters will remain anonymous.

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miss seychelles

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miss seychelles

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miss seychelles

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Flying you to the city of

light & love

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I

renée martin designs

“IT MIGHT SOUND STRANGE, BUT I’VE BECOME QUITE FOND OF THE COMEDY SCENE SINCE I STARTED DATING A CERTAIN AUSTRALIAN STAND-UP COMEDIAN.” 18

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arrived back in Perth just in time for a killer week at work followed by the Perth International Comedy Festival. It might sound strange, but I’ve become quite fond of the comedy scene since I started dating a certain Australian stand-up comedian.

He happened to have a run of shows at the festival and that gave me VIP access to most of the gigs on offer (or as VIP as comedy in Perth can be).

We kicked it off with the opening night showcase at the Astor Theatre in Mount Lawley.

After enjoying some excellent paella and a glass of rose at Clarences, we headed backstage where the comics mingled and warmed up, most having just arrived from overseas and interstate. As each comic did their thing on stage I peeked out from behind the curtains, enjoying the best view of all – a thousand-strong crowd rolling in their seats with laughter!

Later we headed to the after party, where we got the chance to chat with the likes of Dom Irrera (of Seinfeld fame), Eddie Ifft and Daniel Sloss, as well as thank the camera crew and the amazing support staff that help make these events happen. Everyone was so welcoming and pretty soon we all felt like one big happy family.

The rest of the week was a blur of court hearings and comedy shows. Often heading straight out after work, I was running on pure adrenaline and getting very little sleep. Better yet, the comedian’s

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show proved a great success and so he extended his run.

We ended the week with a group of our friends who came to see his last show. The theatre was packed to the rafters once again and despite having seen the show more times than I could remember, I still found myself bursting with belly laughs every time an impression hit the nail on the head.

This column is dedicated to the comedian with the hairy navel.

Until next time, if you can’t be good, be good at it!

Hairy Navel You will need...

25ml peach schnapps 25ml vodka 100ml orange juice 1/2 cup ice 1 orange slice, for garnish

What to do...

Combine schnapps, vodka and orange juice in a highball glass.

Add ice, stir to combine. Garnish with an orange slice.

Brigitte Monchouguy is a Seychelloise legal practitioner with a passion for social journalism.

She is happiest when travelling, with interests in Brigitte Monchouguy is aand Seychelloise legal professional living music, art, theatre architecture.

She also dabbles and working in London. happiest whenrecipes travelling, with in mixology and willShe be is sharing cocktail along interests music, art, theatre and architecture. She also withinher monthly escapades. dabbles in mixology and will be sharing cocktail recipes along with her monthly escapades.

A Fresh Start - London to Mahé

By Daniel Balkwill

I DECIDED TO WALK TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY. IT TAKES A LITTLE UNDER AN HOUR. TERRIFIC EXERCISE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE METABOLISM WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY IN THE STIFLING HEAT OF THE TROPICS. French soldiers could accommodate their bread rations inside their trouser legs.

Unfortunately, whether this method was designed to facilitate the transportation of military provisions or to help impress would-be female admirers is not preserved in the historical records. Doubtless, the Little General would have flashed me a stern look of disapproval if he’d witnessed the way I’d bent my baguette in half and stuffed it unceremoniously into my man bag – an aesthetically displeasing but necessary sacrilege due to spatial constraints.

I marched on, marveling at the natural beauty of the granitic mountains, covered liberally in lush, green foliage to my left and the vast, azure expanse of the Indian Ocean, punctuated by St Anne and Cerf Island to my right. Suddenly, the serenity of my scenic commute (and very nearly my right collarbone) was shattered as a small/ medium-sized projectile hurtled into me. A roadside worker, without bothering to check behind him first, had thrown a rock just as it was my misfortune to be passing by.

To be fair and to his credit, he apologised straight away once he had belatedly realised what he had done. I resisted the urge to pick up the offending item and return it vigorously from whence it came, refrained from expanding his understanding of British swear words exponentially and went on my way. I did give him a deserved telling off first though.

Moments later, a truck overtook me. The guilty party was on board and had the audacity to give me a cheery wave. I was tempted to reciprocate with a similar gesture but with the notable use of four less fingers, but good sense and dignity managed to prevail. Besides, my mum wouldn’t have approved.

I couldn’t help but reflect that it was cruelly ironic that day one of my new ‘healthy lifestyle’ regime had almost resulted in me being hospitalised.

The moral of this tale is twofold; 1) Before doing something that could be construed as dangerous, cavalier,

careless, ill-advised or just plain stupid, take a few moments to decide whether

it’s wise to proceed.

2) If you absolutely must indiscriminately fling a lump of petrified material at

someone, ensure that they are not the author of a regular column in a

nationwide magazine.

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.

recent few2013 weeks| of particularly good 19After a AUGUST POTPOURRI

living involving several wine and samosa-fests too many, I decided to rectify this persistent overindulgence with a strict, self-imposed detox and exercise programme. What could there possibly be to lose, other than a couple of pounds of excess weight?

I decided to walk to and from work every day.

It takes a little under an hour. Terrific exercise, especially with the metabolism working at full capacity in the stifling heat of the tropics. All you need are a pair of sturdy, well-cushioned walking shoes and an unshakeable, iron will.

I took a swift detour into Providence to pick up a baguette from an excellent new bakery there. As I strode purposefully along the highway, I abruptly, and rather randomly, recalled how the shape of the baguette was apparently invented during Napoleon’s ill-fated Russian campaign so that the

H

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“I STILL HAVEN’T UNDERSTOOD HALF THE LESSONS THAT SEYCHELLES HAS THROWN AT ME. BUT I’M ON THE BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY OF DISCERNING THEM..”

Goodbye, For Now

By Alexandria Faure

Exactly a year ago this month, I had finished university and moved back to Seychelles ‘permanently.’ I loved my country so much, that regardless of the numerous warnings about me going back, I did it anyway. I left London and didn’t look back. I was ready and willing to come back to my loving country and contribute somehow, some way. Little did I know what a turbulent year I would experience. And little did I know of the tough blows that Seychelles had in store for me.

Seychelles was always my sanctuary if I ever needed healing, reconnecting with my family and my roots. I soon realized that the expectations that I had would never be fulfilled. I was exposed to certain parts of myself that I didn’t recognize and many parts of myself that I had always denied and some that were hidden.

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I read somewhere that “when you are ready to receive a certain lesson, you will receive the perfect experience or person who will represent an opportunity for you to learn that lesson. And once you get the lesson, time must elapse so you can integrate it. There is no hurry. It’s all a beautiful journey. Trust that where you are at any given point, is precisely where you are meant to be.’”

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Seychelles has been the perfect experience for me to learn a lesson – a dozen for that matter.

I could describe my experience as the beginning of a turning point in my life where I have to make decisions about what I truly wanted and most importantly of what will truly make me happy. These hard moments in Seychelles have truly informed me and it seems that things will happen that we will not always understand. I still haven’t understood half the lessons that Seychelles has thrown at me. But I’m on the beautiful journey of discerning them.

One thing I know is that it isn’t easy to start over. There is nothing easy about it at all. But no matter how heartbroken I am to leave - all I know now is that the love I have for my country has not died, but that my capacity cannot uphold what Seychelles is asking of me; that time must elapse before I can come back again.

I believe that nothing has been wasted and a lot has been gained. Until next time, Seychelles!

Alexandria Faure has a degree in Drama and Theatre. She graduated in 2013 and has been working with the Seychelles Tourism Board upon her return to Seychelles.

La valeur n’attend pas le nombre des années.(par Georges Gravé) L’autre jour, j’assistais à la cérémonie de remise des diplômes de la -Seychelles Tourism Academy -Une -Annual Graduation Ceremony - de très bon niveau qui reflète bien le sérieux de cette institution prestigieuse. Une centaine de jeunes filles et de jeunes garçons recevaient fièrement leur diplôme qui leur ouvre les portes de ce merveilleux métier. Le monde de l’Hôtellerie-Restauration et du tourisme.

Comme tous les ans, le « gratin » de l’Hôtellerie Seychelloise était présent afin de partager joie et émotions avec ces jeunes diplômés et tous les GM (Directeurs généraux) de tous les fleurons hôteliers de l’ile défilent sur scène afin de participer à l’événement. 90% d’entres eux sont des expatriés, Suisse, Allemand, Français, Sud-Africains etc.

En voila un merveilleux challenge pour vous chers jeunes professionnels Seychellois !!!! Et si dans 10 ou 15 ans les Seychellois prenaient le pouvoir et devenaient à leur tour les GM des hôtels. Je vous le souhaite de tout cœur !

Oh certes, il va falloir travailler dur, car autant vous le dire tout de suite aujourd’hui, diplôme en poche, vous ne savez rien du tout !!! L’école vous à juste apporté les fondations rudimentaires du métier mais tout reste à faire et le véritable apprentissage commence maintenant.

C’est avec votre premier emploi que vous allez vraiment découvrir le monde du travail.

Le monde de l’Hôtellerie est un monde absolument merveilleux, mais qui va demander a chacun et chacune d’entre vous des efforts considérables.

Vous aller découvrir que derrière toutes les techniques et les outils que l’on vous a enseignés, ce monde est avant tout un monde ou l’humain est roi ! C’est le règne de l’amour, de la joie et du don Oui, autant vous le dire de suite, si vous ne savez pas aimer et donner, il faut fuir tout de suite car la suite sera trop dure.

Donner !!!! Voila un mot bien mystérieux qui ne figure dans aucun livres scolaires, et pourtant, il est certainement là, le secret de la réussite. Donner le meilleur de soi-même dans la joie et l’allégresse et tous les jours !

Soyez humbles, sachez regarder, sachez écouter, sachez partager et pas à pas vous aller découvrir la vie. C’est un métier de passion ou folie et créativité sont reconnues comme des valeurs sures. Et bien sur, vous le deviner déjà, plus vous aller donner et plus vous aller recevoir.

Vous avez de la chance, beaucoup de chance. Vous allez servir les autres. Servir, c’est le cœur de notre métier, c’est ce qui doit nous rendre heureux.

Amis Seychellois, vous avez la chance de vivre presque au paradis ou l’Hôtellerie et le Tourisme sont les piliers fondamentaux de l’avenir de votre pays et comme le disait justement un intervenant pendant la cérémonie, il y a pour le moment du travail pour tout le monde tellement le tourisme se porte bien. Mais il vous faudra, si vous vous voulez vraiment gravir tous les échelons de la hiérarchie partir a la découverte du monde. Découvrir le monde vos clients, d’où viennent ils, que mangent ils, que boivent ils. Je pense aux jeunes sommeliers qui étaient sur scène l’autre jour. Certes vos professeurs vous ont déjà enseigné tellement de choses…. Mais il faut partir a la découverte des vignes du monde entier, parcourir ces fantastiques routes du vin, rencontrer et boire avec les vignerons qui ont tant a partager avec vous. C’est en parcourant le monde que l’on découvre toutes ses richesses et il est tellement important pour vous d’en découvrir un maximum.

Et puis, il vous faudra également comprendre que derrière le strass et les paillettes la rigueur est indispensable. La rigueur, en fait, c’est la clef de votre liberté. Vous ne pouvez être libre que si vous maitriser parfaitement les taches qui sont les vôtres, tel un grand artiste qui doit travailler des centaines d’heures avant de maitriser son rôle. Je sais que l’on est pressé quand on est jeune mais la patience est aussi un outil indispensable à maitriser.

Vous avez de la chance, beaucoup de chance. Vous allez servir les autres. Servir, c’est le cœur de notre métier, c’est ce qui doit nous rendre heureux.

Servir, un des plus beaux mots de la langue française, à ne pas confondre avec servitude. Pas de soumission dans la notion de service, mais au contraire de la noblesse et de la grandeur… Quoique que l’on fasse dans les métiers de l’hôtellerie/Restauration, du General Manager, en passant par le cuisinier et par le réceptionniste, il faudra « servir » le client….avec respect et professionnalisme.

Servir, c’est toute une philosophie de la vie, c’est un art qu’il faut intégrer et maitriser. Servir, c’est avant tout vouloir faire plaisir en toute humilité. Servir, c’est ouvrir son cœur en toute simplicité.

Je le disais en titre, la valeur n’attend pas le nombre des années. Vous avez le devoir de réussir si vous le souhaiter et le rêve est toujours a votre portée. A vous de transformer vos rêves en réalité.

Je voudrais dédier cette rubrique mensuelle à un jeune GM d’hôtel. Je l’ai rencontré il y a une dizaine d’année en arrivant aux Seychelles. Il était en stage à l’hôtel Maia pendant 5 mois afin de terminer ses études.

Oui, il s’agit bien de toi cher Lionel. Tu es en fait la preuve vivante de tout ce que je viens de raconter. Tu es la preuve vivante qu’en travaillant avec cœur et passion, il est possible de réussir. Tu es aujourd’hui le très jeune Directeur du Paradise Sun de Pralin et tu es aussi le plus jeune Directeur du groupe Tsogo-Sun. Je suis certain que l’avenir te réserve encore bien des merveilleuses surprises, car en plus d’être un GM reconnu, tu es avant tout un être humain remarquable et malgré ta réussite tu restes toujours simple et accessible à tous.

Je conseille à tous ces jeunes Seychellois qui rêvent de belles carrières de venir te rencontrer afin de partager ton expérience. Tu leur feras comprendre, j’en suis sur que tout est possible dans la vie, même devenir Directeur General d’hôtel.

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

JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WITH

BE RNA R D GE ORGE S up the Rent Board dates back to the 1950s when the number of houses being rented was relatively small, most of them being agricultural dwellings in poor shape, and the tenant needed protecting from landlords. Today’s situation is starkly different. House and apartment rental is a major industry and the numbers of dwelling units rented to individuals are large. What should we do to cater for this change? Two things, essentially.

First, update the law to enlarge its scope of operation. Instead of limiting the grounds for a landlord to obtain relief, the law should allow the Rent Board to grant relief in all cases where there has been a breach of the lease agreement. In that way, the protection which is in the law for tenants – which is a good thing – will be balanced against protection for the landlord against defaulting tenants.

Second, make the law more pro-active. The Rent Board should be given more power to see through to the end any order which it makes. Thinking radically, this could lead to more self-help measures, which may not be a bad thing.

Here is the problem. Tenants have a great degree of protection under the law as it currently stands. Essentially, a tenant cannot be evicted from a house without an order of the Rent Board. Even if this is a pretty quick procedure, it sometimes happens that a tenant can only be evicted

Why is it that the Rent Board cannot enforce its own ruling? What are the weaknesses and loopholes in the law of the Rent Board as against the Civil Code?

This question sent in by a reader of the magazine gives me an opportunity to speak a little of a little-known part of our law – that of leases and tenancies.

In common with many of our laws, the law relating to the leasing of houses is a mixture of the French and the English. While the Civil Code – which is based on French law – deals with the law relating to leases in general, the Rent Board is a creature of English law and some of the concepts behind it marry uneasily with broad principles of French law.

Our legal culture is to make the two blend as well as possible, in order that any differences are ironed out. But that is not always as easy as we would like.

The Civil Code is the main law relating to civil issues. In that respect, it caters for all types of leases – from the lease of Eden Island, for instance, between the government and the developers, to the lease of a small piece of land between two individuals for one to grow a crop of sugar cane. The Code regulates what can go into the leases, how long they can run for, what will happen to any buildings erected when the lease expires, and so on. The Rent Board is regulated by another law – the Control of Rent and Tenancy Agreements Act. This deals specifically with the rental of houses. Under the law, the Rent Board has three main tasks – to evict those tenants who do not pay their rent, or who breach a condition of their lease, to fix a proper rent when the one agreed is too low or too high, and to force the landlord to repair the house if it falls into disrepair.

The Rent Board itself is a different court, made up of a magistrate as chairperson sitting with two lay members. The procedure adopted is more relaxed. The idea is to make the Rent Board approachable in a swift and easy manner to persons – especially tenants – who require some protection and to render quick and efficient rulings in cases that come before it. By and large it succeeds in this endeavour.

There are however some issues which remain and which are a cause for complaint at times. One is that the Rent Board has lost its essential aim, of affording quick solutions without the need for long legal arguments; the other is – as the question of our reader underlines – that the Rent Board cannot enforce its own decisions. The solution to both lies in a reform of the law. The law setting

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“SOCIETY CANNOT ALLOW THE LANDLORD TO TAKE THE LAW INTO HIS OR HER OWN HANDS AND THROW THE TENANT OUT, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT CANNOT MAKE PROVISION FOR SPEEDIER ACTION..” for not paying rent after several months. In the meantime, the rent has accumulated to a sum that the tenant will never pay, and the landlord – who sometimes has to depend on the rent to live – is faced with hardship.

Sometimes, even in the face of a tenant in serious default, the Rent Board does not order the immediate eviction of the tenant but allows another few months to pass to enable the tenant to find alternative accommodation. In the meantime, the landlord has to wait patiently. This is a source of great frustration. The landlord is helpless. He or she is unable to throw the tenant out, or cut off the utilities to speed up their departure, because that will lead to a case against the landlord, which the landlord will lose on the basis that two wrongs do not make a right.

In these cases, there should be a quicker solution. Just as it is right for tenants to be protected from eviction on a whim, so too the landlord should be able to repossess the house or apartment quickly and without undue fuss. Society cannot allow the landlord to take the law into his or her own hands and throw the tenant out, but that does not mean that it cannot make provision for speedier action. One way to achieve this would be to make it a necessity for the Rent Board to order the immediate eviction of the tenant upon proof of a breach of the lease agreement. In that way, the balance would be redressed. Tenants would be protected from landlords evicting them for no reason. Landlords would be protected from tenants defaulting. Naturally, this would leave the option on the parties not to take action in minor cases, and would encourage dialogue between them as to any problems encountered. But, where the tenant breached the lease agreement without excuse, the remedy would be swift and total.

I am sure that if the law were to be modified to introduce some balance into the legal relationship between landlords and tenants, under the supervision of the Rent Board, things would be much better than they are nowadays.

Educated at Seychelles College and Cambridge University, Bernard Georges has two Masters Degrees – in the 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.

Over the past ten years, he has also been a member of the National Assembly. He is currently a part-time lecturer in law at the University of Seychelles, where he teaches Constitutional Law. And, he is a budding writer. He has written and published two novels to date and he promises many more books on history, law and Seychelles.

CONSUMER AWARENESS

The Gadget World with Elton Moustache (Director of Unified Technologies) sales@unifiedtechnologies.info

THE SMART SMOKE DETECTOR

When it comes to the safety of our home, we invest in a lot of security equipment and gadgets to protect our assets and our family. One of the biggest threats to our home is fire and even if there are many gadgets out there to alert and protect us when there is a fire, NEST has come out with a smart and innovative way to keep us safe.

The NEST Protect is a sleek looking Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detector with mobile device connectivity that blends in anywhere you place it in your home and most of all it is packed with lots of cool features.

The device comes in two color versions- black or white. It is available in a battery operated version and a wired version to integrate it with your home circuitry. The NEST Protect uses a series of light codes blue, yellow, green and red which manages to communicate without always making noise. The smoke detector’s soft feminine voice will walk you through the steps of setting up the device and also warn you when smoke or high level of carbon dioxide is detected in the air. The center lighting and voice directions offer a lot more than the standard series of beeps: alerting you to emergencies, low batteries and even lighting your way at night. The NEST Protect comes with a downloadable app to install on your iphone or ipad which monitors the activity in your home and alerts you if something is up.

My take on this is that a standard smoke detectors will likely still do the trick but if you are tech enthusiast and like smart things then the NEST Protect provides you a smart way to protect your home and family. Once you acquire one, you will not look at a fire alarm system the same again.

ISPC at Anse Royale ISPC Supermarket Fresh opens its doors in Anse Royale this month and will offer the most extensive Fresh, Frozen and Dry Food range with around 2,000 different products on sale, including a top range of beers, wines and spirits to ensure that the shoppers in Anse Royale and the South of Mahe have the same shopping choices as those living in Beau Vallon and Baie Ste Anne Praslin, where ISPC Supermarket Fresh is already open.

This is the third supermarket to open its doors. Now ISPC products are available near you and being served by a friendly well trained fully Seychellois team of staff providing great service all the time.

ISPC Supermarket Fresh aims to supply the basic needs of all shoppers but also to surprise, delight and inspire food lovers to really enjoy the products on offer and to give real variety to the Seychelles food shopping experience.

The shop will be open Monday to Friday from 9am till 7pm and on Saturdays from 9am till 6pm. The ISPC Supermarket Fresh team looks forward to seeing you in-store soon.

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, a Tenant of SACOS, or a member of SCCI, 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 Insurance Company Ltd on telephone 4295,000 or pay SACOS a visit at the SACOS Tower, Palm Street, Victoria, for professional assistance and guidance.

Contributed by SACOS Insurance Company Ltd.

SACOS. Rest Assured, Be Insured

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CONSUMER AWARENESS

Know Your Wine

by Kreol Wines (Eden Plaza) Mount Vernon Sauvignon Blanc Piercingly aromatic, extremely refreshing and best drunk relatively young, sauvignon blanc is one of the world’s most popular white grape varieties. Its trademark characteristics include distinctive gooseberry aromas followed by citrus fruits and grass on the palate.

The most notable examples of this varietal are from the Loire region in France, which produces Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume but this traditional heartland of sauvignon blanc has become increasingly challenged in recent years by wines from the Marlborough region in New Zealand and from other, similar cool climates such as Chile and the higher altitude, coastal areas of South Africa.

Mount Vernon is a second label of parent winery Lawsons Dry Hills, a multi awardwinning winery established in 1992, based in the Marlborough region in New Zealand and is particularly renowned for its production of gewürztraminer and sauvignon blanc.

However, they also produce world class chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot gris (also known as pinot grigio) and riesling.

The 2012 vintage won the prestigious Decanter magazine World Wine Awards International Trophy for the best sauvignon blanc in the world under £15 – a laudable accolade both in terms of quality and value for money. Winemaker Marcus Wright reckons that the 2013 is even better. The addition of 14.5% semillon, which is unusual for wines from this region, improves the overall flavour, adds extra complexity as well as providing an interesting point of difference.

Fruit; An immense, delicious hit of passion fruit, citrus and fresh cut grass.

Oak; N/A Tannin; N/A Acidity; Medium Ageability; A wine to be consumed while young and vibrant.

Recommended dishes – Fresh fish and seafood. A particularly good accompaniment to lightly spiced Asian cuisine, particularly dishes featuring ginger, garlic and chilli.

Tip; A lesser known but equally enjoyable style of aromatic, white wine, similar to sauvignon blanc in terms of body and acidity is torrontes, a grape variety originally hailing from Spain but that grows particularly well in the Salta and Mendoza regions in Argentina.

Price; Rs 265 – Kreol Wines

JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

25

of Eden”

The Seychelle s granitic platea u is a “micro co history from th ntinent” that ha e volcanic and s had quite a di coraline islands It therefore ha fferent in the Indian Oc s a large numbe ean. r of endemics One of the mos compared to ot t interesting le he gends born ou de Mai, as the t of this phenom r islands in the region.

“Garden of Ed en.” The valley enon relates to an area which lie the Vallée s in the heart of was untouche the Praslin Na d until the 1930 near-natural st tional Park, s and still reta ate. ins primeval pa The British Ge lm forests in a neral Charles George Gordon after he visited propagated a the island on a myth in the 19 mili the Book of Ge th century nesis, he envisio tary mission in 1881. Based on a Kabbalist ned Vallée de this passage fro ic review of M ai as the Gard m the book Th en of Eden, as e History of Se The islands, [G described in ychelles: eneral Gordon the remains of ] said, were at one time join the continen ed t on which was went so far as situated the Ga to India, and were to designate a place in the rden of Eden Garden had be . He even island of Pras en placed. Th lin, where he e situation of to the famou considered th the Garden of s ‘Coco-de-m e Ed er ” valley, and he en is a lovely was the forbid spot close was of opinio den fruit. It is n that the ‘Coc known the ‘C must have ea o –de-mer” oco-de-mer’ ten the jelly, is a strong ap then he tempt they were na hrodisiac. Eve ed Adam to ea ked and asha t it, and finally med” (Bradley The Coco de m both knew (1940:349)... er has outstand ing universal va palms bear th e largest and he lue as an ende mic species, an aviest nut in th is the endemic e world. The m d the black parrot, re ost noteworth stricted to Pras and surroundi y species lin and depend ng palm forest en .

Th t on e valley still is new frog spec the Vallée de M turning up ne ies has been re ai w discoveries cently discover Foundation. as well: a ed by Daniel Je ssy of the Seyc helles Island

Vallee de Mai Waterfall

EXPLORING EDEN

Nature Trail s with Wildli fe Club of Seyc helles “ The Garden

Male Coco

-de-mer

ignate a es d to s a r fa so t en He even w in, where he sl a pr of nd la is e th place in d been placed. a h en rd a g e th ed er consid

Female Coco-d

e-mer nut

e-mer

d Coco-

26

Tree

JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

27

Vous avez dit …difficile ?

Le français est souvent jugé comme une langue difficile. Il ne l’est pas plus pourtant que l’italien, l’espagnol ou l’anglais. Il l’est encore moins que le chinois, l’arabe ou le russe. Parole de linguiste !

Que reproche-t-on au juste au français ? Son système verbal avec ses conjugaisons, le genre des noms ; une fleur mais un lycée, l’accord du participe passé et de l’adjectif, le fonctionnement des pronoms, ou son orthographe non phonétique (l’on n’entend pas ce que l’on voit !)?

Je conçois aisément que cet aspect de la langue française est source de problèmes même à ceux dont c’est la langue maternelle. Un certain conservatisme a, dans l’histoire du français, empêché toute évolution de la morphologie du mot alors que sa phonétique change par paresse linguistique.

Voici un exemple éloquent avec l’adjectif « beau ». Il vient du latin « bellus ». Ce mot va connaître à travers le temps une altération de sa prononciation passant de « bel » (forme qui existe toujours quand l’adjectif se trouve devant un nom commençant par une voyelle ou un « h » dit muet) à « beu ». Le « l » final latin se mue généralement en « u ».

Le « e » de « beu » se diphtongue, c’est-à-dire qu’il prend une autre voyelle en appui, et devient « beau ». A noter qu’au 11ème siècle toutes les lettres se prononçaient. On disait « beaou ». La forme « beau » va ensuite évoluer phonétiquement en « beo » et enfin « bo ». Au 12ème siècle le mot se prononce déjà « bo » mais son orthographe est restée figée. En France et dans d’autres pays où le français est langue maternelle, les enfants font l’apprentissage de l’orthographe comme les petits japonais apprennent, entre autre, à manier les baguettes. Pas évident dans les deux cas !

Est-ce pour autant une raison suffisante pour bouder le français ?

Corneille disait dans le Cid : « A vaincre sans péril, on triomphe sans gloire ! ». Apprendre une langue réputée difficile, n’est-ce pas être prêt à relever les défis, à franchir les obstacles, à éviter les pièges supposés… le mérite n’en est que plus grand quand on finit par la maîtriser. N’imitez pas ce centurion romain, dans un des albums d’Astérix, qui déclame héroïquement : « A vaincre sans péril, on évite les ennuis ! » Il est vrai que l’anglais paraît plus simple dans sa forme et sa grammaire.

Beaucoup font le choix de l’anglais pour cette raison et je ne leur jette

pas la pierre puisque j’ai péché avec eux ! Cependant, savez-vous que vous parlez français quand vous vous exprimez en anglais ? … Vous êtes perplexe ? Et pourtant le tiers du vocabulaire anglais est composé de mots français. Un exemple : le verbe anglais « to close » est issu de la forme féminine du participe passé « clos » du verbe « clore » = « fermer ».

Encore un autre : qui sait que le verbe « to surrender » vient de la locution verbale française « se rendre » ? Qui sait encore que la langue officielle des universités de Cambridge et d’Oxford est le français ? (souvenir du passage de Guillaume le Normand dit le Conquérant sur le trône de l’Angleterre).

Sait-on qu’aux 17ème et 18ème siècles le français était considéré en Europe comme la langue de la culture ? Sa précision, qui en fait aussi la complexité, lui a valu d’être la langue des contrats.

Si on ne se jette pas à l’eau, on ne va jamais savoir si on sait nager.

Passons à la pratique du français. C’est une langue vivante et dynamique.

Sa grammaire fait sa beauté, sa complexité son charme et la musique de ses phrases la rend incomparable, pleine de saveurs, de sensualité et de grâces.

Mettons à bas une idée reçue : le français n’appartient pas à la France. Il est parlé dans le monde entier et, donc, appartient à tous ceux qui ont fait le choix de le posséder ou d’y avoir recours pour communiquer. D’ailleurs, l’avenir du français se trouve en Afrique grâce à sa démographie dynamique. L’OIF estime le nombre de locuteurs francophones à 700 millions en 2050 dont les deux tiers en Afrique.

Le français fait partie du patrimoine linguistique des Seychelles.

Il appartient de plein droit aux Seychellois. Il n’est pas seulement la langue des romances, des demandes en mariage ou de l’amour. Le français permet d’exprimer les pensées les plus profondes visant tous les domaines : vie quotidienne, technique, scientifique, artistique …. avec la même précision qu’une montre suisse !

Fouad LAULLOO Directeur Alliance française de Victoria, Seychelles.

Evènements culturels culturels

Cours de français

Ateliers créatifs

AllianceFrançaise de Victoria Toutes les informations sur les évènements culturels à l’Alliance sur notre site internet www.allianceseychelles.org

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On the fast track with Barclays

Warren Perrault is a relative newcomer to the business world. But as he says, everything happens for a reason. Cars seem to be a real love for Warren who started his car hire business in 2009, following a couple of life changing opportunities. That year, a group of experts from USA were in Seychelles following several pirate attacks in the region. Warren had the opportunity to chauffeur them around and organise transportation for some of them. “It started slow, but I got lucky. This first experience helped me earn some money. The disadvantage I had was that they wanted to make payments with credit cards, but I didn’t have any Point of Sale machine. That’s what pushed me to go to Barclays Bank in the first place,” explains the entrepreneur.

“I knew instantly I wanted to venture into a car hire business on Mahé.”

The first meeting with the bank convinced him that starting a small business was the way to go. It would enable him to not only accept credit card payments more readily, but also help him expand from being a chauffeur to being a real entrepreneur, a dream he had been nursing for a long time. “When asked what kind of business I wanted to venture into, it came instantly - I wanted to operate a car hire business on Mahé.”

Once he had taken that step, the next challenge was finding the cars for the business. Instead of starting over anew, he decided on another approach - to buy an existing business. He had heard of one that might have just the right mix of cars he was looking for, and approached Barclays Bank with a business plan, in order to secure the facility to buy the business. “The service was excellent right from the start. They helped me with the paperwork and everything was processed rapidly. Mrs Pascalina Monty, the Head of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) at Barclays was always a great help.

She not only listened to me, but gave me good advice about the business. The staff at Barclays not only tell you when there is an issue, they also come forward with the solutions to help you move forward,” reveals Warren.

Once the loan was secured, Warren acquired the car hire business and in 2009 Sarah’s Car Hire was officially launched. Through the ups and downs, Warren says he could always count on the help of Barclays Bank. When clients disappeared without honouring their payments or his cars broke down or met with accidents, Warren ended taking money from the company’s reserves to help keep the company afloat. He found Barclays particularly helpful in these instances “They always found a way for me to access my funds.

They also helped me with the repayment of my loan and I never felt that they were pressuring me. I always felt that Barclays was looking out for me,” he explains.

Looking forward to the future “I am always looking forward, to next year or the next five years and beyond. My goal is to make this a family business. Right now, I am the only employee of the company, but I would like my family to be part of it, too. One day, when I am no longer able to run it, they can take over,” adds the family man. Since starting his car hire business, he has subscribed to other Barclays products and services and looks forward to expanding his business in 2014. He has already applied for the new Incentive Scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises, following the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Seychelles and Commercial Banks in 2013.

With this new loan, Warren wants to buy new cars, but also offer a new service; chauffeur-driven executive cars. Having already found his market and his new cars, he will be recruiting in the coming weeks and plans to have this service up and running soon. He will also be using the newly launched e-services Barclays has to offer such as internet banking and estatements. “ Barclays is always coming up with new ideas and products, such as Mobile Banking launched recently, providing convenience and making the lives of their clients much easier. I will definitely be using these services to help me stay in control of my finances and that of the company. I know that if it comes from Barclays, it will help my business grow,” expresses Perrault.

Incentive Scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises In July 2013, the Government of Seychelles signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Commercial Banks, in order to facilitate the Incentive Scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises.

The new scheme is aimed at boosting local entrepreneurial growth and economic development. The scheme covers all businesses with the exception of retail and wholesale.

Criteria to be eligible for the loans: • • • • • • •

Business has to have an annual turnover below SCR 5 million Maximum loan amount of SCR 3 million Repayment over 5 - 7 years Interest rate payable is a two-tier rate structure - 5% on the first SCR 1 million and 7% on the next SCR 2 million Maximum arrangement fee is not more than 0.25 % of the loan amount 2.5% personal contribution (except for property projects which is 20% equity) Security: Mortgage which is backed by Government Guarantee

To accelerate the loan request, the borrower needs to prepare a detailed business plan, following which they can book an appointment with the Commercial staff (located on Market Street) to discuss the application. Credit approval and disbursement of loan will be made within reasonable length of time once the Bank has received all required documents from the borrower.

For more information, please visit our branches or contact our Call Centre on 438 3939 or email sez.customerservices@barclays.com. Terms and conditions apply

PERSONALITY SPECIAL

Spotlight on FetAfrik Magician of the Desert Alphadi talks fashion, culture, Africa Someone once told me that the best surprises are the ones that you don’t expect to receive. I never really paid that philosophy its due until I walked into the National Library in Victoria, where I was set to meet and interview a man who, until a couple of weeks before, I had never heard of.

Alphadi is not only one of the most riveting and original fashion designers in the world but someone who bears a progressive personality and an open smile unlike any that I’ve ever seen.

As we got acquainted in a small, file-filled office, I could tell from the get-go that the unassuming man who was sat opposite me might well be the most intriguing person I’d ever met – an assumption that became an indelible truth after the first question of the interview.

Magician of the Desert Alphadi

POTPOURRI: I suppose the first thing that we should talk about is your style and how you created this very unique voice. They call you the Magician of The Desert?

ALPHADI: Yes, they call me the Magician of the Desert because firstly, I’m from the desert. I was born in Timbuktu, in Mali. Secondly, I founded a big festival in the desert in Agadez, Niger, called FIMA. FIMA is one of the biggest festivals in the world. We have 55,000 people coming to the desert for the festival, which only exists to promote fashion and of course, to promote the desert.

Before, there were major problems because the natives of Agadez were living with war, seeing people die everyday and struggling with poverty.

So, I tried to make something better and now, we bring all of the worlds greatest designers, like Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix, with their models, out to Niger for my festival. We have presidents and members from almost every country in the world coming out to the desert and it is absolutely fantastic.

There truly is nothing like it. We transform the desert completely; we bring lights, tents and stages and there, we host one of the biggest fashion shows in the world.

POTPOURRI: So you create a kind of oasis amongst the dunes?

ALPHADI: Exactly! And this show, this oasis, is really just about fashion for peace.

It’s to show the ways in which fashion can help an entire country grow in a positive way. That’s really why they call me Magician of the Desert. Tourism has opened up, the calm and quiet has arrived in Niger and every two years, we recreate this moment of beauty.

Alphadi really sends that kind of message to the country and perhaps to the world, through this event. Also, my designs help the country by creating real employment for Niger and even the rest of Africa because I’m the president of fashion for the whole continent, so I have a duty to Africa as a whole.

POTPOURRI: Right. So how did you go from your studies in Paris and the launch of you first couture line in 1985, to creating the Alphadi brand and one of the biggest fashion events in the world?

ALPHADI: After releasing my first couture line, I went to work in tourism because I have a Masters in tourism so I thought I would find a way to work with tourism and fashion, together. After that, really, fashion became very important to me and I put my career in tourism to one side so that I could focus on fashion. And it was through fashion that I realised I had an opportunity to really promote my country and my continent.

So, I found nice models, nice textiles and used them to make African fashion something that is ‘true.’

POTPOURRI: With that being said, I can tell that you’re very passionate about promoting Africa and staying true to your heritage as an African.

Obviously it’s a huge subject, but what would you say are the most important

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POTPOURRI: So how do you create the link, successfully from contemporary European fashion trends to traditional African trends and still make it work?

ALPHADI: Well, I’m one of the only people from Africa to have studied in Europe and returned to my home country to build my brand, so I know what the Europeans want, and I know what the Africans want.

I think that the main link is made when I take very modern European ideas and transform them using the colours in African fashion. And people love it! It’s ‘in’ now, you know? People start by saying “It’s not my style” but soon, they’re all wearing it.

For example, this bag (Alphadi’s own hold-all style handbag) is made from African leather and handembroidered in Congo. Everybody can wear it! Man, woman, white, black. Even though you would expect to see it in Europe, this bag is 100% African and in countries like Senegal, Mali and the Ivory Coast, you’ll see these everywhere. I think that the reason why it is so successful, in Africa especially, is because with Alphadi, you wear what you do. The clothes are made with African culture in mind but I know, for example, that my client base is 55% European, which shows that everybody can wear Alphadi.

POTPOURRI: So in order to get to this point, you must have had a very clear plan. How did your identity as an artist develop from the first time that you realised you wanted to be a fashion designer?

ALPHADI: Well, my parents really didn’t like the idea of me getting into fashion for a living because like me, they are Muslim and in the Muslim culture, the areas in which a woman should work and where a man should work are very different. Unfortunately, when I was young, my parents refused to let me follow my desires to become a fashion designer because it was considered to be a woman’s role in society. Really, my identity and character as an artist came from the desire to show the world that a man could design, too.

You know, the best fashion designers in the world are men! The best cooks in the world are men! The best hairdressers are men, too!

So that’s how I knew I could show my parents that I was going to be the one to give Africa the things it needs through fashion and for 32 years, everything’s gone very well. Now, I’m building a big university for fashion in Niger, so that I can show everyone that we’re really passionate about the education of Africans because we

Alphadi on the runway with Agnes Gerry.

know that it can only build our continent in a positive way.

And don’t get me wrong, I’m not someone who earns millions and millions of dollars. I make money with my brand because we need money to pay for the growth of African culture.

Dancers, painters, designers and musicians in Africa are supposed to have an opportunity to grow and develop so that they can hold their countries up. Culture is our heart. That is what we can truly be proud of.

POTPOURRI: So your main aim, if I can put it so simply, is to see African culture flourish and get the recognition it deserves, so that Africa itself can become a more successful, influential place?

ALPHADI: That’s it. First of all, Africa is supposed to be a culture of love. After that, it’s supposed to be a quiet, peaceful continent and not a place that has negative issues with politics, as we see today. They tried to make me Minister of Culture in my country and I refused, of course.

POTPOURRI: Why? ALPHADI: Because that isn’t my job. I’m not a politician. I’m an individual who can help young fashion designers to embrace new ideas and become one with the rest of the world. All Africans have incredible opportunities in the industry of fashion. Incredible opportunities!

You see, here in Seychelles, you have a beautiful city and calm, accepting people. We have all of the same things on the main continent but things like politics get in the way at times. We’re all supposed to work together to push our industry, whether it’s fashion, music or dance. We have to pull together to gain money for the whole group and then we’ll see a change that everyone will benefit from.

POTPOURRI: And when was it that you realised that you wanted to benefit the continent of Africa rather than just move into a design house in Europe and chase money?

ALPHADI: I’ve always loved fashion and I’ve always had a very strong link with my home, which is Africa. I mean, I worked for 10 years in the tourism industry in Ghana before I decided that I would go out on my own and focus only on fashion. I know how difficult it is. I know that it’s more difficult today than it was 30 years ago. But now, I can really can help people – thousands of people – by creating jobs in my industry and by inspiring Africans to do what they love.

In the beginning, people used to put me down. They didn’t like me at all and look at me now; I’m giving opportunities to people, who might have done something else, to say, ‘no, I don’t want to be a lawyer, I want to be a designer,’ or ‘I don’t want to be a doctor, I want to play music...and make money from it.’ That’s the important thing: everyone should get paid for what they do, if they do it well. There is money everywhere. We just have to know that we can do what we love and still get paid.

You see, Africa really needs to stand up and say to the world ‘We can do it. We can make anything happen because we want to. Not because we need to.’ That’s what is happening in Seychelles now. The people here want to be an active part of Africa and show that they are proud of their culture, so they make it happen and that’s how we’ll change Africa for the better.

As the end of the interview started looming over my shoulder, I found myself brainstorming ways to prolong my time with Alphadi, just to soak up more of his knowledge. I’d realised, after an hour and a half of non-stop conversation, that I may never meet another person quite like Alphadi. His passion is undeniable; his thirst for progress unquenchable. In fact, as I walked back to my car and replayed in my mind the parts of the interview that I could remember, I realised that my brief moment in time with Alphadi had induced a sort of epiphany and that, quite fittingly, I found myself thinking about my influence as an individual in relation to the country that I live in. If his intention is to spread a message of positive growth and unity, he succeeded in doing so with at least one person during his time on Mahe.

JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

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PERSONALITY SPECIAL

characteristics of African fashion? There is a huge melting pot of influences, isn’t there?

ALPHADI: That melting pot is actually me, because I’m mixed. If you’re mixed, you can create a chance to blend different materials, colours and embroideries. We really try to give Africa her own textiles. We don’t want to promote textiles from China or from India. We want to only promote handmade material from Africa. That is me. The first priority in my position is to create a chance for traditional African textiles and jewellery to have a place in the modern world.

For example, my blouson - which is sold in France - is made from leather in Niger. I’ll mix leather and traditional materials to create colours that are fantastic and because of this, people are really happy when they’re wearing Alphadi. I think they can sense they authenticity behind my creations.

To go further, I began using African cottons and prints to make shirts, dresses and anything else you can think of for a wardrobe. In doing this, we show the world that we have our own textiles, we have our own jewellery, we have our own materials to make haute couture and now, we also have our industry, which can make thousands of metres of cotton, the same as any other industry. Of course, cotton is great for summer but leaves something to be desired for winter, so we buy wool from Europe and bring it to factories in Africa, where we create a mixture with African cotton to suit a colder climate as well.

BEHIND THE BUSINESS “I’ve created businesses that align, so there’s a synergy in terms of accommodation booking, events promotion, car hire and guesthouse which all operate differently, but work cohesively,” Vesna Rakic says.

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with Sales and Marketing Seychelles

by Elaine LaFortune Born of Seychelloise and Serbian parentage, Vesna Rakic is the lady behind Sales and Marketing Seychelles Pty Ltd. POTPOURRI gets the inside scoop on how she set up her business, which is promoting Seychelles’ hospitality and entertainment both locally and abroad.

Even before she set up her business, Vesna has been making her mark in the promotion of Seychelles as a holiday destination for years. Her early days began at Travel Services Seychelles (TSS) – then Seychelles’ largest inbound operator under Christian Lenferna.

Three years later at the tender age of 21, Vesna held the position of marketing manager for four portfolios simultaneously including TSS, Desroches Island Lodge, Cerf & Surf Chalets and Cat Cocos. This responsibility meant extensive travel promoting the Seychelles first and foremost, “which always comes naturally when it is out of love” she says. “I was never grounded for more than three weeks and I would work really long hours”.

She is also well known for her part in the launch of Seychelles’ first Cat Cocos. With many such stories behind her, “I left the Islands to get an Honours Degree in Business specialising in marketing from a London University.”

On returning to Seychelles, Vesna joined Creole Holidays (now known as Creole Travel Services) as a market development manager under prominent Seychellois businessman Joseph Albert.

“As his right-hand at the time, Mr Albert gave me the reigns to do the job which included a turn-around strategy, while he guided me through new areas such as the merger with TSS and the early days of L’Orangeraie,” she says. “I was very fortunate to have such great inspiration right from the outset, and that trust in me definitely helped me to grow.”

But it was a change in her personal life that prompted her to start her business.

“The birth of my daughter was the change in direction for me,” she says. “She is my greatest achievement.”

Building a new business, while catering for a family lifestyle, meant getting creative while tapping into emerging technologies. And so Sales and Marketing Seychelles was born, her umbrella for tourism marketing online in Seychelles.

Holidays Direct Seychelles, under which she operates Seychelles Last Minute, is a secure online booking website for mostly locally owned properties to promote their establishments.

“I wanted to promote responsible tourism to Seychelles and in so doing directly improve the wellbeing of our local population, while supporting the government’s sound environmental protection policies,” she says. “If you have a look at the website, you will see that it is predominantly Seychellois-owned small properties. I believe that this is the real Seychelles experience and this is the market that needs my expertise. Helping small businesses to establish themselves is a deeply satisfying feeling.”

With Holidays Direct Seychelles, Vesna competes with the rest of the world in selling Seychelles as a holiday destination.

“I made good choices from the beginning and although I am a small player and business is really tough against the big boys online, our website has top internet ranking and I am very proud of that,” she says. “However it’s only one step in the process of closing a sale.”

Meanwhile, Vesna also created another online platform, Seychelles This Week, which provides all tourism-related businesses in Seychelles with an opportunity to communicate their auxiliary services’ offers such as restaurants, bars and spas. The e-newsletter also covers local night life, live music and concerts, national events, outdoor adventures, art, kiddies activities and more. Seychelles This Week goes out to a email database weekly – it is free of charge for anyone to subscribe via their Facebook page, which is the main focus of their local promotion.

“Seychelles This Week is a one-stop shop for events and entertainment in Seychelles” she explains. A social creature with an active lifestyle, Vesna wanted to communicate the wide variety of interesting activities available to do in Seychelles. ‘’Our mission is to offer a service that even the smallest start-up businesses can afford to advertise in, and for the readers, to provide something interesting for everyone to do depending on their budget.

“There are three amazing spin-offs with this service. The first is the value for money that it creates, as organisers are now aggressively promoting themselves with special offers like ‘buy one get one free,’ give-aways, etc, which means that going out is more affordable.”

The second spin-off, Vesna says, is the “encouragement to be more creative in your line of business knowing that you have the platform to test that idea affordably”.

The third spin-off is that by communicating through the right channels, tourists can also seek out different venues and “experience Seychelles through the eyes of a local.”

Although the first advert is free without obligation, “it is still a process of change to get businesses to communicate what services they offer. Fully aware of this, we require just one call or email from a potential advertiser and get the ball rolling immediately working with what they have or creating a promotion for them, respecting their budget and taking that fear factor out of trying something new,” Vesna says.

Apart from the benefits Seychelles This Week brings to both consumer subscribers and its advertisers, it also is an example of how new technologies can be utilised for business.

“My online businesses are both ‘here and now.’ I strive to be in the frontline locally, moving forward with technology and keep in touch with what’s going on in the business world,” she says. “This is visible with Seychelles This Week for example with the utilization of the QR code.”

With the introduction of smart phones in Seychelles, incorporating the QR system into marketing strategies is becoming more and more common. Subscribers need only use their smart phones to scan the QR code – which can be found in POTPOURRI and the quarterly tourism magazine Sesel Sa - and instantly they will be directed to the Seychelles This Week page of activities.

“The idea of introducing the QR code is to convey as much information in as little space as possible and to be able to share it instantly,” Vesna says, noting that in taking advantage of technology, an online-only business also has the benefit of being green. “Be green, keep it on the screen.”

Vesna believes it’s not about taking one giant step to be successful in business, but rather about taking a lot of little steps.

“I’ve created businesses that align, so there’s a synergy in terms of accommodation booking, events promotion, car hire and guesthouse which all operate differently, but work cohesively,” she says.

At the same time she tries not to lose sight of what’s really important to her: family time.

“As a single mom, I had to find the right balance between working and being a parent,” she says. “I am very fortunate to have a strong support system of a wonderful family and friends.”

“As my businesses are virtual, I can run them from any mobile device. I can see the reservations on the online booking system, process a file, alter anything on the website or social media instantly. I do not have to wait to get back to the office. The down-side of that of course is the discipline of putting the device down and being present for quality time with my amazing princess, which is something I am very aware of.

“Moving out of mainstream tourism and opening my own company has enabled me to understand the real pressures in business in the local business environment which today enables me to better serve my clients,” she says. “It also allowed me to really concentrate on what I wanted to do and find the tools to get there. Together with my experience of Seychelles tourism, this is what I share with other businesses to help them along the way too. As a small population of our beautiful archipelago, we need to work together efficiently to maximize our resources, to be able to all enjoy the benefits.”

JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

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BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Bookings on the Go

FEATURED ARTIST

The Real Nicholas Potpourri’s Martine Gontier catches up with Aaron Jean of SBC’s Senaryo…

We were all born to shine.

Some of us though, just tend to shine a little brighter.

For those who do not follow the local telenovela scene, Aaron Jean stars as Nicholas from SBC’s very own Senaryo, the show that seems to have a considerable majority of Seychelles TV viewers hooked. And for good reason: who doesn’t like a little drama to escape from our own little grievances once in a while?

If you don’t have much time for TV, you may also be familiar with Aaron on the live music scene. At 23, he has been singing for a solid couple of years now. He is also a member of the Mahé Chamber Choir, headed by Raymond Clarisse.

Remember our April feature on the band FAME? Aaron is the front man and one-half of the voice (the other being Antoinette Dodin) of the band.

And yes, I’m going to say it for those of you already thinking it – he’s not too bad on the eyes, either!

But who is Aaron Jean really, behind his on-screen and on-stage personas? He was born on July 7, 1990. A Cancer. Astrological stereotyping may not be something he believes in, but it’s one of my little obsessions, so I looked it up: Those born under this sign are ‘roots’ kinds of people, and take great pleasure in the comforts of home and family. The Cancer is fiercely protective of their personal space, interests, possessions, relationships and loved ones. The great strength of the Cancer-born is the tenacity with which they protect their loved ones. These folks don’t ask for much, either: a comfortable home and sense of peace about sums it up. Cancers often find that a robust workout session is just the tonic for their touchy feelings. Team sports are always nice, since they offer a sense of community.

Let’s see if that holds true to form in Aaron’s case. Here’s the down-low on our local star, in his own words:

ON FATHERHOOD

The most beautiful memory I have is that of the birth of my daughter Ailey. She comes before anything else in my life, and each song I sing, I dedicate to her. I find that having her in my heart each time I perform pushes me to give the best of myself. She is by far my biggest and strongest drive to make something of myself. She definitely occupies the biggest place in my heart.

ON THE PITCH

I play football for Young Foresters, a team I hold close to my heart, as I grew up in Foret Noire, which is where the team is based. I had to stop playing for a while for lack of time to attend practise and subsequent matches, but I have come to realise that if you don’t make time for things you love doing, you will never find the time. One of my proudest moments was winning the best young player award twice. That really pushed me to always give my best as it always pays off, no matter what it is you do in life.

ON HUMILITY

I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have reached this far had it not been for the strong support system that is my family. They have been the driving force behind the person that I am today-my source of inspiration, strength, courage and motivation. Not everyone is as lucky as me to have that, and I’m extremely grateful for them.

We all go about life sometimes forgetting to be grateful for the smallest of things. That’s forgivable. But what isn’t to me is forgetting who you are and where you come from. This is what keeps our feet steady on the ground when all that’s around us moves at a pace we can hardly keep up with. If life has taught me anything at all, it’s that I should never forget

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where I’m from, because I might have to go back someday.

I’ve learnt to be humble in life and to remain true to my principles. I’m a really simple guy- I don’t wear any jewellery and I prefer to avoid the social scene. I really enjoy the simple things in life and place little value on material things. I love the peace and quiet that is home. If i’m not performing or on set acting, there is no warmer, more comforting place for me than being home. This is the biggest misconception about me-that I’m a show-off. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You can ask anyone who knows me really well about this one.

Being an artist, it’s not just what i do, but it’s who i am. Ten years from now, i see myself still at it. I don’t need to make it big. As long as i’m still entertaining people, as long as i still have people appreciating what i do, then i will always be successful.

ON HOME

Home is definitely where the heart is, and to me, my heart is and always will be with my family. My parents have always taught me everything I know, including to stay true to myself.

ON SELF-BELIEF

One thing I really don’t appreciate: dishonest people, and I’ve met a few in my lifetime. What I’ve learnt is that I can’t please everyone. Some people will dislike me, and that’s just part of life. It’s sad that so many people have negative things to say, but like I said, such is life. We are all entitled to our own opinions but it does not, and nor will it ever deter me from doing what I love, and that’s entertaining. If I could teach anyone anything today, it would be to never sacrifice who they are just because some people have a problem with it.

FEATURED ARTIST

We are all entitled to our own opinions but it does not, and nor will it ever deter me from doing what I love, and that’s entertaining. If I could teach anyone anything today, it would be to never sacrifice who they are just because some people have a problem with it.

ON INSPIRATION

Artists who have inspired me most have definitely been the ones I’ve worked with, and who have been a presence in my professional life one way or another. First and above, Raymond Clarisse has really inspired me to always be bigger and better than my current self, by doing so himself. He has achieved a lot at a young age and I really look up to him, not only as an artist but also as a friend. He is a hard worker and a great leader.

I also really appreciate Bruno Mars as a singer. His music. to me, just makes sense. His voice just seems effortless and to me that’s just the whole point of music – to touch people without having to do much in the first place.

ON FAME & SUCCESS

Being an artist, it’s not just what I do, but it’s who I am. Ten years from now, I see myself still at it. I don’t need to make it big. As long as I’m still entertaining people, as long as I still have people appreciating what I do, then I will always be successful. Success is not necessarily measured by the amount of fans I have. I mean, I’m not known worldwide after all so it’s not the biggest fan base. But to see people who enjoy my work get excited whenever I perform, or whenever they bump into me in person, that to me is great success as an artist. I feel I have achieved a lot so far, and the only way is up!

It’s a long road ahead but I wouldn’t have it any other way – this is who I am for sure and I would never wish to be anyone else.

ON FEAR AND DOUBT

[Fear[ will whisper “no, you can’t” to you over and over again. But listen closely, and you will hear determination yelling “yes, you can!”If I could share any piece of advice to anyone today, it would be this: never give up on something you love, no matter how hard it may get, keep trying. It may not be easy, but it is always worth it. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. So do everything with a lot of love. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference it makes.

JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

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SHERA is a product obtaininghas obtained the Green LabelGREEN LABEL from Singaporelike no others in this Fiber Cement industry, and SHERA has a strong sense of duty to s‘social responsibility credentials, with a track record of improving infrastructure and standards of living in’ and tries to help in the betterment of societies where its products have been introducedany society that it is introduced into it aims at improvinginfrastructure and standards of living, giving people the means to develop and evolve themselves, helping to regenerate essential income for the community and society as a whole.

SHERA is the only brand of Ffibre Ccement in the Seychelles market that comes with a 50-year warranty worldwide. It is also the only brand that has been certified by the Seychelles Bureau of Standards (SBS) and the Cavendish Laboratory in the UK to be free from all kinds of asbestos.

When it comes to purchasing your Fibre Cement products, choose only SHERA brand!

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FASHION 38

JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

FASHION

Aishah Bristol

Photographer: Marsha Dine

What’s your number one fashion rule?

If it does not make you feel good then you should not wear it.

Which celebrity would top your ‘best dressed’ list?

Kim Kardashian.

What’s your favourite item in your wardrobe?

Black mini lace dress (so love lace by the way, I think it makes a woman sexy)

Do you have something from when you were 15 in your wardrobe?

Yes, you know when you’ve loved a particular clothes item so much, even if it doesn’t fit you anymore, you still want to keep it.

What colour is dominant in your wardrobe?

Black, I think it suites my skin tone best.

Your favourite place to shop?

Bedos at Unity House

Are you a high heels/flats or sneakers girl?

Flats. Even when I go out clubbing I would wear flats most of the time, and my mum would usually give me a telling off before leaving the house to switch to high heels so that I won’t embarrass her. They say give a woman a pair of high heels and she can take over the world, well I think if you give a woman a pair of flats life would be so much easier and less painful. I mean I love them and they look gorgeous but they are just not for me.

Your favourite designer?

Karine Dupouy, her work is exceptional. She creates pieces that I can see myself wearing. A creative designer with impeccable taste.

Bits and bobs from Aishah’s wardrobe.

A definite NO-NO is: Bright-coloured clothes

A brief description of your fashion style would be:

My style is individual. It’s a combination of classy, glamour, femininity and ladylike. I rarely follow trends unless it’s something I like. I’m a fan of “less is more.” I’m not a girliegirl type at all. I love textures, patterns and interesting detailing.

A good fashion sense means…

Having a good taste and knowing what works best for you .Wearing something that not only makes you look good but makes you feel confident in yourself. Believe it or not when I’m wrongly dressed I feel less confident in myself. It does not necessarily mean wearing the latest trends. Fashion is like a form of art, it’s just a matter of knowing what will go well with what and how to play around with your colours so that you can present yourself in the best light.

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FASHION

Get Her Look Katie Holmes

Dress: Bagit - R310 Jewelry set: Trendy – R395 Shoes: Rodyanne’s - 495

with Ms Jules

THE BELLY-RING We live in a world where individuality is encouraged and being judgmental is frowned upon (at least in public). There are exceptions and I firmly believe the belly ring is one them. Not that I think there is an age limit to getting a naval piercing, but I do think there is certain way a tummy needs to look to pull off a belly-ring; regardless of what age you are. Not all of us are blessed with wash-board tummies and unfortunately technology have not yet allowed for photoshop-ing real life. Physical maturity dictates that younger women generally have these tummies (yes, there are many, many exceptions).

Some things to note before going for the needle: Age: No, I am not relating age to looks here but rather to the sense of responsibility.

Piercings need to be looked after in order to avoid infections. If your attention span to any form of commitment is less than 3 days then wait until you blow a few more candles on your birthday cake.

Innie or outie? A belly-ring does not belong on a protruding belly-button. It looks wrong. Do not do it.

Listen to your beautician: In Seychelles, few places offer this service. La Jeunesse salon in the Pirates Arms Building is a popular option for many women who choose to glamourise their naval areas. Ask your beautician about the after-care process and make sure you listen.

Health concerns: If you have had any medical issues which you feel might have a negative effect on a navel piercing, ask your doctor about it. If you have had any medical issues but you feel it won’t have any effect on a navel piercing, ask your doctor about it then too!

Stocking up on belly-rings: Use only new jewelry made of non-allergenic metal, such as stainless steel, 14K gold, niobium, titanium, or platinum.

I’d like to end with this; Belly button piercing is a personal statement, perhaps you want to mark a milestone in your life or it could be that your significant other finds it attractive. The reasons are endless, and whatever yours may be, make sure that you’re doing it for you and have fun with it.

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www.posh24.com

Once upon a time, Katie Holmes’ dream was to marry Tom Cruise. Most women dream they could look like Katie Holmes. Around the time her marriage to Cruise ended, the Dawson Creek star’s focus was on her daughter and her wardrobe was somewhat limited to jeans and mummy-and-daughter’s dates to the park attires. As she settled and began to enjoy her new life, a more confident Holmes emerged – but her signature style remained; classy, effortless and graceful.

Daphne Govinden (49)

MAKE-OVER

MAKE-OVER

Martin Hoarau’s Hairdressing Occupation: Physiotherapist

Family: I am married with a 16-year-old daughter General hair and beauty routine: I shampoo and condition once a week. On a daily basis, I stick to a hair cream/lotion routine. I get my hair trimmed two or three times a year.

Last hairdresser visit: Late May General make-up routine: On a daily basis I stick to lip gloss. I make an effort occasionally and add eyeliner, mascara, eye-shadow and blusher to the mix.

BEFORE

Why I need a make-over: I want to change my hairstyle and get make-up in a professional way to enhance my look.

What am I expecting from it: I expect to have a new look and feel more confident on how to take care of my hair and properly apply make-up.

Hair (with Martin)

“The main problem with Daphhne’s hair is volume; or rather lack of it.

Her hair is extremely flat on top because it is being stretched by the weight of her locks at the end.

The key here is to add volume by minimising the weight at the end and adding some heavy layers. This will totally change the shape of her hair as it is now. I will also add an optional fringe to add some glam as and when she wants to.”

For booking, call Martin Hoarau Hairdressing on 4325186

Make up

for AFTER photo go to page 44

(with Sophie) “There’s nothing to hide with Daphne’s perfect skin. I used two foundations to level out the colour but skipped the concealer part entirely. The key with her eyes was to make them shine so I used a pastel white right up to her brows and then added some maroon colour on her lids given her tanned skin. I filled up her eyebrows to add some definition and finished off with mascara and a mix of lipstick and gloss.

For booking, call Sophie on 2793300

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The Team

1. Hair: Martin Hoarau | 2. Make Up: Sophie Pool | 3. Photography: Alvin Abel JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

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BEAUTY

The Long Bob There was a time when the bob was either french or boring. There weren’t many options in between. That was until the long bob came along. It is neither long hair, nor short hair, but cut somewhat blunt and just above the shoulders. The word ‘somewhat’ here is calculated for if the cut is too blunt, the bob would look bland.

The ‘thing’ with the long bob, is that the real work happens at the back of the hair. Stacked layers in the back add dimension. The front part of the hair cannot be too layered or else it is simply not a bob. A good stylist will thin out the ends with scissors (or even a razor) to give it as more edgy look.

The good news is that this style works on both straight and wavy hair.

Stylists would tell you that this cut is great on businesswomen – or women who mean business! It is a powerful cut when worn with a suit for sure.

Jennifer Aniston

Simple steps to The Braided Mohawk Ponytail With Helen Payet

After backcombing the hair, section off the hair from the top of the head and start a french braid.

Braid until the end of the sectioned hair and then tie/secure it with an elastic band.

Bring the two side sections of the hair together to the tied middle section.

Twist the two side sections into the middle section.

Secure all of the hair in an elastic band forming a ponytail.

Take a loose section and wrap it around the secured bit to ‘hide’ the elastic band.

Helen, from Martin Hoarau’s Hairdressing is a fully trained hair stylist who joined the team in December 2013. She is from Kenya and is great at putting hair up.

Victoria Beckham

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MAKE-OVER

R E T F A

Daphne says, “This new hair style has changed me instantly!

The make-up makes me look like a different person.

I love both.”

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HEALTH

VIEW FROM THE STATION

SHIFT INTO INTEGRITY ....move into fulfilment

By Jenny Gilbert Our fifth virtue, and by far the virtue that calls for some serious renovation and reconstruction of ourselves as individuals, Integrity guides us towards wholeness. I find this virtue to be the one that most people hover over when they’re asked to choose a virtue in some of our processes at The Station. It’s almost as if they know what is good for them

but just can’t “go there.” Instead they suddenly shift focus and, more often than not, select a more comfortable virtue in the programme such as Abundance or Grace. I understand that well. Being in Integrity calls upon us to give up the act. It demands that we get real with ourselves in order to reclaim our power to be who and what we truly are. And we may think

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HEALTH

that this is really difficult because we all too often concern ourselves with what others think about us. However, the journey to fulfilment is so much sweeter when we move in Integrity.

So let’s look at the word Integrity. Open any dictionary and you’ll learn that Integrity means ‘whole’ or ‘complete’, the inner sense of ‘wholeness’ deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character.

Over the years in my work as a facilitator and healer, I have asked participants or patients to share their definition of Integrity. I am always surprised at how this word, the enactment of which provides a solid foundation for contentment, is often either rarely understood or limited to “being honest to others” or “doing good.” It is as if we have never been taught the true value of the word, let alone how living its meaning sets us free to live life more fully as ourselves.

While the Virtues are not intended to judge one’s value system, the Integrity Virtue suggests that to live a chaos-free life that honours one’s values, beliefs and principles we must observe what we are thinking, saying, feeling and doing consistently in any situation.

Perhaps a simple explanation of what NOT being in Integrity means is necessary here. Let’s imagine a situation arising in which we feel one way about it, think something that doesn’t match what we feel, do something else in response to it that matches neither the way we feel nor what we say and then think that this is all okay! Which of course it isn’t and will without question lead us down a path of confusion, pretence, chaos and even destruction of our true identity.

What we are taught from an early age is to be nice, well-mannered and obliging (which is all well and good and I’m not suggesting that this is not a beautiful way to be in the world) but when we’re nice, well-mannered and obliging towards others and not to ourselves, when we suppress our true feelings in order to make others feel better, we deny our right to Integrity (being whole). In this state we end up going down shady alleys and travel through hostile terrain which creates fear and uneasiness and shifts our persona into one we start getting comfortable with, but really do not like at all.

One of the tell-tale signs of being out of Integrity is when we are constantly struggling, when everything seems to be going wrong which generally leaves us feeling anxious and with a sense of dread, instability or uncertainty. Do you know this feeling? A tough question for sure but one that simply must be asked. Doing a reality check in these circumstances gives us a chance to realise that the very foundation of our construction as a thinking, feeling, talking, acting individual is at risk of decay and disintegration.

At this point, choosing Integrity immediately shifts us into an “above the line” position in which we choose to align our values to become whole. It may seem daunting, especially when we realise that what we are consistently feeling does not sit well with what we are constantly showing the world, but getting back into Integrity with ourselves is a fairly straight-forward process.

Firstly we need to consider what really is important in our life and what isn’t. Consider what gives us peace, allows us to feel complete and what detracts from that. We need to think about what we’re saying, thinking, feeling or doing that makes us feel like a fake, living according to someone else’s rules or expectations. What makes our heart sing with joy and what gives us a sense of purpose and comfort?

Identifying these characteristics about ourselves is necessary before we can start being that person. Turning the nurturing and caring attention towards ourselves might seem to appear selfish, potentially leaving friends, colleagues or relatives a little disgruntled as a result.

Remember, however, that if those we love and respect do not love and respect our true character, we may well be engaged in relationships that really aren’t doing us any good at all.

Now, instead of wasting time pretending that all is fine, doing the comfortable, expedient thing rather than the right thing for ourselves, we can start rebuilding our identity by observing what needs to be repaired. This means paying special attention to those things we are doing that we really are not happy to do and starting the process of weeding these unwanted aspects out of our life by replacing them with thoughts, feelings, words and actions that support everything we love and feel okay with. In doing this, we move into a state of being in Integrity with ourselves in which state we learn to slowly develop the strength to say ‘no’ to anything that gets in the way of feeling great in the pit of our tummy.

At this point, let me direct your focus to a point about two fingers above your belly-button, otherwise known as the “seat of Integrity.”

In the chakra system this is called Manipura (solar plexus) and is the energy centre for personal authority, Integrity and self-control. This is the area in the body where we feel a sinking feeling that should normally alert us to the fact that we are out of Integrity. Its negative qualities generate anger, hate and a lack of will power, together with

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ONE OF THE TELL-TALE SIGNS OF BEING OUT OF INTEGRITY IS WHEN WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRUGGLING, WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING WRONG WHICH GENERALLY LEAVES US FEELING ANXIOUS AND WITH A SENSE OF DREAD, INSTABILITY OR UNCERTAINTY. physical symptoms of stomach and digestive problems. It is the energy area that shapes our personality – as well as unfolds it, allows us to grow from true expression and being ourselves or suppresses who we are, gives us our personal power and self-esteem or makes us feel inadequate, allows us to nourish the self or starve ourselves of the nurturing we deserve. When out of balance, we can expect the negative aspects of its energy, and in balance (when we’re in Integrity) we enjoy its wonderful healing energy.

Being in Integrity makes us whole and strong, gives us back the responsibility for our actions, provides us with valuable insights into who we are, supports our emotional, spiritual, physical well-being and keeps our foundations strong so that we can weather any storm.

Starting today, consider what you are currently struggling with. Take one situation and observe how you really feel about it. Think about what you need to do in order for any negative feelings about it to dissipate and then go about communicating (saying) your true intentions before acting (doing) in a way that brings you into Integrity. Start slowly with Humility and Grace and see how this subtle shift in consciousness has the power to transform you into a happier, more sincere individual worthy of your approval.

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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Better Living

With Célia Ponzo

ACCEPTANCE AND SURRENDER element within yourself of not wanting to do what you are doing? . A truly successful outcome cannot happen if we can detect this in ourselves.

Doing one thing at a time, means to be total in what we are doing by giving it our complete attention. This is surrendered action, empowered action.

Your acceptance of what is takes you to a deeper level where your inner self and inner state no longer depend on the mind’s judgeement of good and bad. When you say yes to the ‘eishness’ of life, when you accept this moment as it is, you can sense a space within you, a sense of peacefulness.

On the surface you may still be happy when it is sunny but not happy when it is raining. Neither happiness nor unhappiness go that deep anymore. They are ripples on the surface of your being, the background peace within you remains undisturbed despite the nature of external conditions. The yes to what is, reveals a dimension of depth within you which is dependent neither on the external condition or internal conditions of constantly fluctuating thoughts and emotions.

Surrender becomes so much easier when you realise the fleeting nature of all experiences and that the world cannot give you anything of lasting value. You then continue to meet people and be involved in experiences and activities but without the wants and fears of the egoist self. You no longer demand that a situation ,place, person or event should satisfy you or make you happy. It is passing. The miracle is when you are no longer placing an impossible demand on it -- , every situation, person and event not only becomes satisfying but also more peaceful and harmonious.

When you completely accept this moment is when you no longer argue and the compulsion to think lessens and is replaced by an alert stillness.

You are fully conscious yet the mind is not labellling this moment in any way. This state of inner non-resistance opens you to the unconditional consciousness that is infinitely greater than the human mind. This vast intelligence can then express itself through you, that is why by letting go of inner resistance you find that circumstances change for the better.

This month I want to share with you something on “acceptance and surrender.” This passage hrase is often associated with has been influenced

by Eckhart Tolle, one of the most famous spiritualand ly inspiring authors in the world today.

Here it is:; Whenever you have time, look at your external circumstance in this moment. Look at where you are, who you are with, your thoughts and feelings. How many of you stand in opposition to what is? If so, can you see how painful it is? Iif you recognise this you are also now free to understand that you can give up this futile conflict, this inner state of war.

How often each day, if you were to verbalise your inner reality at that moment, would you have to say, ‘I don’t want to be where I am’?. What does it feel like when you don’t want to be where you are? The traffic jam, your work, the bank, the people you are with. It is true of course that some places are good places to walk out of and sometimes this may be the most appropriate thing to do. In many cases however walking out is not an option. In all those cases the ‘I don’t want to be here’ is not only useless but also dysfunctional, making you and others unhappy.

It has been said that wherever you go, there you are. I, in other words, you are here, always. Is it so hard to accept that.? Do we really need to mentally label every experience? Do we really need to have a like or dislike relationship with life where we are in continuous conflict with places and people?. Or is there a deep-seated mental habit that can be broken, not by doing anything, but by allowing this moment to be as it is.

The habitual and reactive ‘noNO’ strengthens the ego, and ‘yesYES’ weakens it. Our form identity the ego cannot survive surrender. ‘I have so much to do.’, Yyes, but what is the quality of our doing? Going to work, working on a computer, running errands -, how total are we in what we do? Is our doing surrender or non-surrender? Can you detect the slightest

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Is Eckhart Tolle saying we should enjoy all moments and be happy? No, but rather that to .allow the ‘suchness’ of this moment , that is enough.

Surrender is surrender to this moment, not to a story through which we interpret this moment and then try to resign ourselves to it.

Surrender comes when you no longer ask, why is this happening to me?

Even within the seemingly most unacceptable and painful situation is conceived a deeper good, and within every disaster there contains a seat of grace. Throughout history there have been people in the face of great loss, illness, and imprisonment that accepted the seemingly unacceptable, and thus found the peace. Acceptance of the unacceptable is the greatest source of grace in this world. When all answers and explanations fail and where life does not make sense anymore, if you accept that you don’t know you will give up fighting and struggling to find answers.

Surrender means giving up trying to understand and become comfortable with not knowing.

Surrender, one could say, is the inner transition from resistance to acceptance, from no to yes.

Whatever you accept completely will take you to peace including accepting what you cannot seem to imagine accepting.

Leave life alone and let it be.

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.

Moving On Q:

Dear Annalisa, For most people, moving out of home is a fun and exciting experience. I fear that mine will be far from joyous. I was raised by my mother and for 26 years, it’s been her and me. We’ve been a pretty good team. My boyfriend of 2 years recently proposed (I accepted) and we then decided to move in together. How do I break this news to my mother?

Lucianna, 26

A: Dear Lucianna,

Despite the fun and excitement, moving house is considered to be one of life’s top stressors. Change has a way of rattling us. Yet most people are more open and receptive to change than we give them credit for.

Your mother might be sad to see you move out. That would be a normal reaction to the change in both of your living arrangements. She might be a little anxious, to be living on her own after so many years. She might even be worried about how you will cope in your new home. Again, normal reactions. She might be happy to see you go, knowing full well that you are embarking on a new chapter in your adult life, to set up your own home and start your family. She might feel lonely, knowing the house will be quiet and conversations will be rare. She might simply miss you a whole lot. She might feel disappointed and hurt, thinking that she is being abandoned by you after all these years. Yet all that doesn’t necessarily mean that she won’t cope.

There is an endless list of thoughts and emotions that may present itself as she goes, or rather as you both go, through this transition. However because the move is inevitable, the point is to simply inform her about your decision. Address your concern and why this journey is proving one that is “far from joyous” for you. In addressing those issues, you can take the opportunity to show that you have considered her feelings and that you are genuinely concerned about how she may be affected by this transition in her life. It is also an opportunity to thank her for creating the home that she did and show your appreciation for her work and effort.

Best wishes for this new chapter in your life with your mother foreverclose-to-you.

No Sir Q:

Dear Annalisa, I think my boss might be interested in me. He never fails to pay me compliments and occasionally pats my shoulders (with his hands lingering a couple of seconds too long). He is married and his wife frequently visits the office and is very kind to me. Two other colleagues have already started teasing me Mrs *Smith. There is a weekend getaway coming up for the company’s 10th anniversary and I am dreading that he might make a move then. How do I stop this?

Maude, 31

A: Dear Maude,

Seems tricky at first glance, when you start thinking, “wow it’s my boss, my job, can’t afford or don’t want to lose my job.” Then again, what lesson are we trying to teach our young girls (and boys for that matter): to stand up for themselves; to make it a clear no; and amongst others, that “no means no.” So why should it be different here?

Stopping this behaviour is within your boss’s control. How you react to the behaviour (which is within your control) can send a strong message to your boss about stopping or going further. The best technique to use is to send an assertive message to your boss. Assertiveness is the key to stating our position on any matter. Assertiveness is at the midpoint where aggressive and passive lie respectively on either extreme. Being assertive means that you are willing to honestly express your thoughts, feelings and wants in a way that also takes into account the rights of other people. It is not always allowing others to get their own way. However it is not the same as aggressiveness. Being assertive doesn’t require one to be forceful or rude. Instead it is about stating clearly what you expect and insisting that your rights are considered.

Essentially you want to tell your boss what you appreciate about working in his company and having him as a boss. You then need to state clearly how you expect him to behave towards you. You can point to the behaviours and situation that leaves you feeling uncomfortable and may elaborate why, e.g. your colleagues are already teasing you “Mrs *Smith.” At this point you may address your concern about the upcoming company trip.

Once your message has gone across, it is important that you maintain your position on the matter, as this will encourage others to treat you with respect.

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.

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AGONY AUNT

Dear Annalisa ......

PARENTING

The Importance of the Written Word One of the best gifts you as a parent can give to your child is to instill the habit of reading. It is something you can instill whether or not is it one of your habits and no matter what your child’s learning abilities may be. In order to progress academically, parents need to be actively involved in their children’s education and the first step is helping them grasp the concept of the written word.

I love reading. I read everywhere and at anytime. Thankfully, I married a fellow bookaholic, and so now we have stacks of reading material in every corner of the house. Nowadays though the reading is mostly online and this is not how we want to develop the love of reading to our children. We admit, we are on a quest to make two more book-aholics and so we started the journey early. Here are a few ways you can make your child think reading is awesome... because it is.

Daily routine

Even before my first born could focus I read her a bedtime story. I was determined to develop good sleeping patterns and this was one of the steps of our evening ritual. It really helps them calm down,

especially when Daddy arriving home from work sparks a new round of playing and rumbling. It really does not matter what time you do it, but make it a part of your daily routine and spend the time even for one book (maybe three minutes of reading). Over the weekends it maybe three or more times, where we will sit with a book at leisure (in lieu of the TV).

Reading Out Loud

I remember when I first started dating my husband, we had all the time in the world, and he insisted that I read a favorite Wilbur Smith book of his, The Burning Shore. A book, like other of Smith’s books, that was distinctly macho about far-flung African adventures. I am not a fiction novel fan and so I told him I would, only if he read it out to me. So as a part of his courting techniques, he read every word to me, cover to cover, even twice when I would nod off to sleep sometimes. I loved every minute. It took me back to my childhood and I would imagine the story coming alive. Little did he know that I was secretly thinking how wonderful a story reader he was and how I could not wait for him to read stories to our children!

Reading together gives you and your child a connection unlike anything else. Even for older kids for something different, but especially for young kids, be sure to read aloud to them as much as you can. It opens opportunities for conversation when they interrupt with questions like, “Why is he sad?” or “what colour is your favorite?”, while learning numbers, shapes and colours at the same time.

Let Them Choose

I really enjoy our monthly trips to the bookstore. Everyone is allowed to choose one book and we spend hours flicking through what is available, reading some on the floor of the store and then finally negotiating on a winning title. We chat about topics on the way and try to shop for it in the store. When budget is tight we go to the local library where there is more time to relax and enjoy a larger variety. It gives me great pleasure to see their faces light up when they find a book they like and open it up for the first time. I have also invested in scholastic-level books (as they have the level of reading numbered on the book for their age group). They are great for identifying words that are repeated throughout the book so they remember how the words look and they recognize the letters of that word, which is the first step to reading.

Start Your Own Library

I always make sure that books are accessible and within reach. They have their own library (yes this is what we call it), a low-lying bookshelf in their bedroom. I love developing their curiosity and sense of imagination when they open up a storybook. Since my children are only 3 and 4 years old, books with lots of pictures are the most popular but the topics and types of books have a good range, which is important. From musical/sound button books, to pop-ups and large picture books; to give variety and choice, with topics ranging from classic story tales to space, animals, geology and geography. Most birthdays guests ask me, ‘what can I get them?’ and I always have a book title in reply. I take note of the books they enjoy at nursery and some at friends’ houses and place them on a wish list. I also do ‘swap a book time’ with friends which works well. I leave books in the car for longer rides or when we are stuck in traffic, I let them take the books to school and show their friends. I especially love taking them to picnics where we can read on a big rug under a shady tree. Somehow it’s almost like a new book when read outdoors.

Make the books come alive

Choose a topic that you know your child is interested in or currently studying (maybe learning at school, etc). If it’s creepy crawlies then try and find them around the house (or backyard), or cut some pictures out of magazines to make a collage for the fridge. If they can somehow interact with the content on some level they will not only get more involved but learn faster, develop a passion on some level and this will assist in memory retention on that particular topic.

My husband always likes to play out (or act out) some books, making it a theatrical moment. This works well but not for every story or every evening.

Be The Role Model

It’s more about what you do, and less about what you say. When your child sees you reading they will think reading is important and enjoyable; not only because you say it (which they may associate with the other things you say like ‘it’s important to eat all your vegetables or brush your teeth before bed). On the first day of the weekend my husband and I like to relax and

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PARENTING

1. Joseph Whittingham is reading an adventure book on Orangutans in Indonesia, 2. Kian-Lee Nair prefers pictures for now, 3. Kayla Michel sticks to girly literature, 4. Amanda Leopold gives mummy’s book a go.

take a book or magazine with a cup of tea. Our kids notice this and well something magical happens, it’s almost like automatic ‘read time mode’.

They notice this and either keep playing quietly or take their own books out. They even like to take ours (my husband’s watch magazine and my yoga ones with lots of pictures) and make up the stories on each page. It’s hard to not over hear the story lines and giggle.

Just like all the virtues and good behaviors in life, model for your child the importance of reading and it will, with no doubt turn into habit.

I will be one of those mums that will keep in close contact with my child’s teacher to monitor how they are doing in the classroom setting.

Assessing the work they are bringing home and how they are grasping the concepts being taught. No matter if my child may or may not be as much in love with reading as I am, I will not stop reading with them and to them, because as they get older they still benefit from being read to.

So what are you and your child reading this month?

For more information on why reading is so important take a look at the resource books I have read on the subject: • How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish • Don’t Move The Muffin Tin by Bev J. Bos • Mind In The Making by Ellen Galinsky • Raising Your Spirited Children by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka • Einstein Never Used Flash Cards by Roberta Michnick Golinkoff • Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, Lisa M. Ross • The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel, Tina Payne Bryson

EvaTurns

Name: Eva Karydis (also lil’ papaya) Birthday: 15th July 2013 From: Elaine

Happy Parenting!

Nathalie Hodgson is Seychelloise living in Qatar. She is a yoga instructor, tourism consultant, freelance writer, Doterra oils wellness advocate and budding naturopath.

Eager to spread as much love, joy and happiness to all that she meets and inspire endless possibilities for creation for a better more peaceful world. Get in contact with her on FB:EssentialoilsDoterraDoha

Elaine says: “Dearest little one, You will soon be turning one. Your mummy keeps me updated on all the little pleasures you bring to her life. She thinks you are the bees knees and I agree!! Lots of love to you! Although I am far away, know that I carry you in my heart! Happy Birthday lil’ Papaya! XOXO” ‘In collaboration with Chanterelle’

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The Smoothie Queen Hello Smoothie fans, I hope that you are all enjoying your smoothies so far. This July I shall share with you my Jungle Fever smoothie, the smoothie that will unleash the inner animal in you. One sip and you’re swinging on a vine in the Amazon rainforest.

The swmoothie consists of pineapple, papaya, lemon, honey and mint.

Just a cup of fresh pineapple provides you with more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs. Pineapples also contain high levels of Bromelian, a proteolytic enzyme, which has a lot of health benefits. Bromelain has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, digestive aid and it also includes chemicals that interfere with the growth of tumor cells, making pineapple a good food to prevent cancer.

Papaya contains the digestive enzyme Papain, which is used like Bromelain for treating sports injuries and so on. Papayas offer not only

the luscious taste and sunlit colour of the tropics, they consist of nutrients which promote the health of the cardiovascular system and also provide protection against colon cancer.

Mint, the well-known mouth and breath freshener, has more than two dozen species and hundreds of varieties. It is an herb that has been used for hundreds of years for its remarkable medicinal properties such as soothing the stomach in the case of indigestion or inflammation and it is also a quick and effective remedy for nausea.

I hope you all enjoy this jungle madness. Just picture yourself in the midst of the jungle, wearing nothing but leaves, relaxing on a hammock made of vines, taking a sip of this fresh blend of fruit!

Mili’s Jungle Fever Smoothie

Ingredients: 1/2 pineapple 1/4 papaya 200 ml water 1/2 lemon 2 tablespoons of honey 1 handful of mint

Method: •

• •

Put all your ingredients into a blender Blend until silky smooth Serve in a frosted glass with ice

Enjoy and release your inner tiger!

Emilie is our Smoothie Queen and she shares her smoothie recipes with us each month. She is a young pescatarian from the Seychelles who dedicates much of her time making it possible to provide us with not just super healthy but also amazingly delicious smoothie recipes! Catch Emilie in action on our website, potpourrimagazine.com where she shares videos on how to make her smoothies and she will help us improve our diets with her fabulous recipes.

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CONSERVATION

Eating Fish Sustainably

A source of lean, low-calorie protein, fish (and other seafoods) are stable foods for the Seychellois, and form a great part of the cultural identity of the Seychelles islands. “There are plenty of fish in the sea” goes the old cliché. But are there? According to the FAO, around 85% of global fish stocks are over-exploited, depleted, fully exploited or in recovery from exploitation.

Overfishing has placed the bluefin tuna, for example, at risk of extinction. And, between 20 and 100 million sharks are killed each year thanks to increased demand for shark fin soup; thousands more die in the purse seine nets used by tuna fishermen. This is quite alarming. Global fish stocks are exploited or depleted to such an extent that without urgent measures we may be the last generation to catch food from the oceans. If the world’s fish stock continues to deplete, how will an island nation like Seychelles fare?

4. Try a different fish species.

Traditionally, the Red Snapper or Bordmar is famous for being first on the list of guests to any major Seychellois gathering. In view that the fish species is under threat, we should try to diversify the fish platter that we have on the menu. A nice alternative can be various types of parrot fish fillets, jobs and even, a grilled Karang (why not?).

As consumers we can and do make a difference through the choices we make. By choosing sustainable seafood we take a step towards a future with healthy oceans by helping drive change in the way our fish and shellfish are caught or farmed. We can all help make our seafood sustainable, because the fish we eat today is the health of our oceans tomorrow.

For some additional web links about fisheries, head to www.potpourrimagazine.com

What can you do to help?

1. Choose your species carefully The Marine Conservation Society (website http://www.fishonline. org) regularly updates a list of fish to avoid and fish that are fine to eat.

Examples of fish common to the Seychellois diet that need to be avoided include Red Snapper, several species of grouper, marlin, several species of shark such as the black-tip and bull shark. Ideally, pelagic fish that are fast reproducing, such as Jackfish (Karang) and Dorado are the best ones to eat.

2. Avoid buying immature fish Buying a wide range of fish is crucial for maintaining current fish stocks and protecting dwindling species. In addition, it is also recommended that you buy bigger fillets, as smaller ones tend to come from immature fish.

As a rule of thumb, if the fish are not big enough to have reproduced and contributed to their species, they should be avoided. So, if it is plate-sized version of a large fish (like bourgeois or vieille), you should avoid it.

WATCH THIS SPACE……Keep your eyes out for a mouth-watering new local fish cookbook being produced by the Bel Ombre Action Team with the Bel Ombre Fishermen’s Association.

Contributed by Ginnie Laurencine for Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S), a local NGO whose mission is to promote sustainable living in Seychelles. For more info about our work contact us: 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. This article was supported by the GEF small grants programme.

3. Make sure it’s line caught Avoid bigeye and bluefin tuna, both of which are endangered and opt for line or poll caught albacore or skipjack tuna. In Seychelles, you can buy a fish with the label ‘line fish of Seychelles.’ As a rule of thumb, avoid all fish caught by long-lining.

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DINING

LA SCALA

A LESSON IN THE CLASSICS FROM BEL OMBRE

By RJ Williams With new hotel establishments and eateries regularly introducing themselves to the Seychelles dining-out landscape, competition in the restaurant business has never been more fierce.

For many of the newer entrants to the scene, gaining a foothold often means aggressive advertising. Not just to say you exist, but to shout across the islands about new dishes and menus, theme nights, promotions and any number of other creative selling propositions

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that will hopefully draw patrons through the doors.

La Scala, Bel-Ombre’s fine-dining fixture at the furthest end of Beau Vallon Bay, can afford to take a different approach.

The strategy is simple enough, but it’s one that very few others can replicate: churn out excellent cuisine, night after night, with precision and consistency.

For 30 years.

DINING

Safe in its own skin

You don’t see or hear much out of La Scala in the press. Perhaps you’ll catch the small newspaper notice mentioning its yearly closure during June (this year the restaurant closed on May 31 and re-opens July 7).

Apart from that, “out of sight, out of mind,” right?

Except that’s not exactly true, either, despite that the restaurant lies at the very end of the coastal road where Bel Ombre effectively gives sway to the Danzil road.

While it’s still only a short drive from the main hub of Beau Vallon tourism establishments, the fact that La Scala is not necessarily within easy walking distance does require some effort for tourists, and more so for residents, to make the trip.

So for over three decades, Silvana and Gianni Torsi have built the kind of reputation - mostly for classic Italian and European fare but also dishes with distinct Seychelles ingredients and influences - that would ensure they’d never have to rely on walk-ins casually strolling by while deciding where to eat.

This far down the road, those clients simply don’t exist.

“You have to want to come here,” Silvana says. An oft-heard joke at La Scala, from city-dwelling Italian tourists who’ve seen the fast-food movement uproot traditional fare back home, “is that anymore they have to come thousands of miles to Seychelles for fresh pasta.”

Traditional Favourites

As a writer tasked with reviewing a restaurant objectively, I am obligated to issue a disclaimer: La Scala is not a new experience for me. It’s also one typically reserved for special occasions – in other words, it’s not a place I frequent more than a few times a year.

So when I do find myself loping up those stairs (that’s what La Scala actually means in Italian), I want to make it count. I know what I like, and usually have a fair idea of the dishes I’ll be selecting.

That doesn’t mean the choices are ever easy. For starters I typically find myself wrestling between the carpaccio (thin slices of raw beef, with a tangy dressing and shaved parmesan cheese), the marinated raw fish, or the creamy shellfish soup.

Calling La Scala’s wine list a wine list doesn’t really do it justice. It’s more like a wine brochure, and the actual inclusion of the bottle labels for each variety is a nice touch.

Selecting a main course is even more challenging. Part of La Scala’s reputation stems from the mean things Chef Gianni can do to a nice cut of beef – the tenderloin in green pepper sauce, and the Chateaubriand for two, are among the more popular choices.

As are the dishes featuring fresh pasta.

“Always made to order and never pre-cooked,” Silvana notes. These include the lasagna, tagliatelle, the ravioli stuffed with fish or spinach and ricotta, and then, there’s the gnocchi.

Dear God, the gnocchi.

Potato-based pasta may sound starchy and bland, but La Scala’s execution of this traditional Italian peasant dish never disappoints. Each morsel melts in your mouth. I’m not just saying that because it tastes good - that’s what it actually, literally feels like, with no exaggeration - and the butter and sage sauce oozes flavour without taking away from the richness of the actual pasta. For my partner and I, the gnocchi is a musthave, every single visit, be it as a starter or main, so that we can both have a taste.

For this review, however, I’ve decided to spare you from past experiences

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and the 500 words that I could easily write about the gnocchi alone.

Instead, we stepped outside of our usual comfort zone to indulge in some dishes - and a very unusual wine - that we’ve never tried before, at Silvana’s suggestion.

Welcome and Aperitifs

Fifteen years ago, it seemed like every bar and restaurant in the islands would offer little nibbles of freshly sliced coconut to accompany your drinks and aperitifs. Somewhere along the line, the tradition seems to have faded away in favour of imported peanuts and other snacks in stayfresh foils.

Thankfully, this little touch is still sacred at La Scala, and along with garlic mini-toasts and crisp moulouk, these local bits of flavour always grace your table, almost as soon as you sit down.

A suitable cocktail to wash them down was the next order of business, and we passed over the well known classics on the menu - the Margarita, Tequila Sunrise and Pina Colada, among others - in order to test out the two signature creations unique to the restaurant.

The “Scala Fashion” is a concoction of fresh passion fruit juice, campari, gin, mandarine and raspberry syrup. It has a mellow, almost bittersweet tone. Meanwhile, the “Punch Maison” is a sweet but potent concoction with a kick, made of rum, mandarine and fresh juices.

Both have an appeal depending on the palate - if you’ve got a sweettooth and aren’t driving, knocking back a few punches could set the tone for a fun (and potentially embarrassing) night.

Keen-o on the vino

Calling La Scala’s wine list a wine list doesn’t really do it justice. It’s more like a wine brochure, and the actual inclusion of the bottle labels for each variety is a nice touch.

The wines are conveniently grouped by country, region, and type, and you’ll find a good cross-section of offerings from France, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and, of course, Italy.

I’ve always found Italian whites to be underrated - each time I try a new one I find myself pleasantly surprised. But rather than going for a traditional choice like a pinot grigio or orvieto, I asked Silvana to suggest something a bit out of the ordinary, and she delivered.

The Vesevo Falanghina Beneventano is produced from the volcanic soils around Mount Vesuvius in Italy’s Campania region. The label notes that the producer’s adherence to traditional practice means that deposits formed during the wine-making process are not filtered out - a nice bit of rustic impurity for the purists.

It’s one of the most vibrant and complex white wines I’ve ever tasted: light and crisp with a hint of fruit, but also with a drier edge that hits you at the finish, almost a smoky peat tone that you’d like to imagine comes from those ancient Falanghina grapes growing in volcanic ash-infused soil.

Maybe that’s exactly what Vesevo’s marketing department wants me to think, but I don’t really care. The wine’s that good, and it’s not going to break the bank, either. Highly recommendable.

Fighting our gnocchi temptation to the bitter end, we opted for hot and cold seafood dishes for the first course.

For me, the cold mixed seafood platter, which had equal portions of smoked fish, prawns with cocktail sauce, octopus salad, marinated raw fish, clams and mussels, all nestled around a bed of palm heart salad to provide some contrast.

There’s a lot to sample here, and some of the items, such as the prawn cocktail and the raw fish, can also be enjoyed in more copious amounts as a stand-alone dish. But this is an ideal starter for someone in search of variety and a wide array of flavours and textures.

By contrast, the stuffed clams in garlic butter pack the same flavourful burst in every bite. While I sampled all manner of marine life with one hand, the other would send bits of bread swimming into my partner’s plate, to mop up as much of the butter sauce as possible. There are no shortage of clams on the plate (and thank goodness for that - they’re not very filling), but if a starter’s aim is to get your appetite going, then this fits the bill.

Main Courses

Among the latest additions to the chef’s suggestions at the front of the menu are a fruit bat civet (the traditional French stew method using red wine) and a spaghetti with prawns in brandy sauce. The latter sounded too tempting to miss.

I tend to be disappointed with alcohol-infused cooking - once the alcohol burns away, dishes often fail to retain the intense flavour of the liquor. Not so in this case. The essence of the brandy really stood out, bringing together the fresh tomatoes, prawns and pasta in a very unique way.

My partner chose a dish featured on the regular menu that tends to get skipped over quite often without some intervention. Tenderloin steaks tend to be the most popular meat selections, Silvana says, but the Veal Marsala is one dish she recommends to those looking for something a little different and aren’t sure what they want.

It’s normally served with fresh tagliatelle, but you can also order it with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The medallions of veal are super-tender, and the sweet Marsala wine sauce is an excellent accompaniment.

Both dishes figure to enter our usual ‘rotation’ for subsequent visits, and we felt rather rewarded for trying out something different than our habitual selections.

what was supposed to be a short-term adventure of no more than a few years to help out their relatives.

“My mother still complains,” Silvana says. “We were never supposed to have been gone for this long.”

In any country, it’s an extraordinary feat to survive in the volatile restaurant business for 30 years. But what’s truly remarkable is the amazing consistency of the La Scala ‘product’ over that span.

Be it the menu, the ambiance, or even the service (the current Seychellois head waitress has been with Gianni and Silvana from the very beginning), not much has changed, and that’s not a bad thing in La Scala’s case.

Silvana tells us the décor and colour scheme has been updated within the last year, but as with everything else, the changes are subtle. Muted tones and soft, warm light has always characterised the oversize terrace that makes up the main seating area, offering a relaxed but elegant feel, with views over Beau Vallon Bay. New items will occasionally grace the Suggestions du Chef , but wholesale reinventions and gimmicky creations are not part of the mystique that Silvana and Gianni have created.

The fresh fish fillet with garlic and ginger, Silvana says, has been a regular on the menu for years because of its simplicity. This classic approach - one in which flavouring is meant to accentuate, rather than mask, the natural taste and identity of the ingredients - speaks to the essence of the place.

La Scala doesn’t toy with its own identity, either.

As we wrap up our dinner with a cappuccino at well over the threehour mark, Silvana motions to a nearby table, where a family of young and middle-aged adults begins to gather toward the exit after a special birthday meal. “I remember the children when they were like this,” she says, with her hand less than a metre off the ground.

The local patronage is still strong, and it seems even the younger generations, whose parents have brought them here for years, are able to understand what La Scala stands for.

New is fun, and new is exciting, but sometimes, only a classic will do.

La Scala re-opens from its annual June closure on 7th July. The restaurant is open for dinner only.

Finito

If you’re making the effort to get to La Scala, I highly recommend going in for starters and mains, rather than just single-dishing it. Not just to soak in the maximum diversity of flavours on offer, but it’s also simply a lovely place to spend a long, drawn-out dinner.

The catch, at least for us, is that after a starter and a main, desserts are often a luxury our stomachs can’t afford. But on this special occasion, I wanted to try something I’ve always had my eye on but was never brave enough to tap on the menu: the Zabaglione.

A traditional Italian custard-style dessert, it consists of egg yolks gradually whisked up over a light heat, together with sugar and Marsala wine.

Silvana warned us: it’s rich. Due to the way the eggs lift up the volume of the dessert, it is also only served as a dish for two, so sharing was out.

Despite all that, we threw caution to the wind.

It’s not heavily creamy like an English custard, but rather light and frothy, with a warm and delicate burn from the wine to offset the sweetness. I thoroughly enjoyed the taste and appreciated the execution required to pull off that kind of texture in a dessert.

Zabaglione might divide opinions - it is indeed very rich - but I don’t imagine anyone will form an opinion until they’ve tried it. So if you’re feeling adventurous one evening and want to try something different and traditionally Italian, give it a go. Even if it’s not for you, you’ll have expanded your repertoire.

Of course there are other Italian favourites on the dessert menu and then some: tiramisu, profiteroles, ice creams and sorbets. Of particular interest are the Banana Flambe and the Crepes Suzette, prepared right before your table on a wheeled cooking station.

Roots and Branches

La Scala first opened in 1978, but it wasn’t until 1983 that Gianni and Silvana moved from Italy to Seychelles and took over the restaurant, for

La Scala re-opens from its annual June closure on 7th July. The restaurant is open for dinner only.

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DINING

For Starters

BON APPETIT

Chicken Breast Roll-ups stuffed with Coffee, seasoned with a Green Sauce & served with Sautéed Onions & Roasted Potatoes This month La Plaine St Andre presents an exotic and modern dish that will be the delight of those eager for a taste of faraway continents.

POTATOES

Serves 6. Timing 1 hour.

1 kg potatoes Oil & butter

INGREDIENTS

6 chicken breasts Salt & pepper Oil & butter for frying

DIRECTION

STUFFING

150g smoked pork belly 3 tablespoons of classic coffee beans 1 dl parsley 1 can of chickpeas

GREEN SAUCE

½ dl basil ½ dl parsley ½ dl mint 2 dl cream 1 dl fresh cream 1 table spoon of lemon juice Salt & pepper

SAUTEED ONIONS

4 shallots 2 red onions 1 leek (only white part to be used) ½ dl olive oil 2 table spoons of honey 2dl of white wine ½ table spoon of cumin Salt & pepper

Between two layers of plastic wrap, pound chicken breasts with meat mallet to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch.

Slice up the smoked pork belly in ½ cm cubes. Set aside.

Crush coffee beans & parsley together using a pestle. Set aside.

Strain and rinse the chickpeas.

Combine together the pork belly cubes, chickpeas, coffee & parsley using a fork until you get a consistent mixture.

Lay the chicken breasts flat, season each side with salt and pepper.

Spread the mixture over each breast, covering the surface of the breasts.

Starting at the shortest end of the chicken breast, roll up as tightly as possible and tuck in the ends to form a neat roll.

Secure each breast with 2 toothpicks Using a frying-pan, cook your rolls with oil & butter until golden brown.

Preheat your oven to 180°C

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

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GREEN SAUCE

Pour cream & fresh cream in a blender, add herbs and blend until you get a green sauce.

Season with lemon juice, salt & pepper.

SAUTÉED ONIONS

Peel and cut the onions.

Heat your frying pan, put a little bit of oil and add your onions, fry lightly.

Add to your onions, honey and cumin.

Fry while stirring at low heat 2-3 min.

Pour white wine, simmer until reduced. Season with salt & pepper.

POTATOES

Peel and clean potatoes. Stir-fry with oil and butter until golden brown.

Put your fried potatoes in an oven platter and bake for 35 min..

After 15min, place the chicken breasts in the oven.

Bake 20 min.

SERVING

Remove toothpicks, slice chicken rolls in small portion and drizzle with green sauce.

Serve on a bed of sautéed onions alongside golden potatoes with a timbale of thyme.

The Cocktail

only at Archipelago Wine & Spirits

Chateau Auzias, Cabardes Rose

Takamaka Bay white rum soured with lemon & passion fruit, softened with orange and finished with tonic water.

YOU WILL NEED

Tasting notes Type of wine: Rose Varietal: Cabardes Producer: Chateau Auzias Color: Rose petal On the nose: Soft and notes of litchis.

Palate: Balance and structured, a final freshness and a nice persistence.

Food pairing: with grilles, assortment of charcuterie or with a light exotic spice menu.

Price: SR 132.25 + 15% discount

Archipelago Wines & Spirits T : +248 4 37 48 76 / 77 E : cheers@archipelago.sc

Golden Passhion-Fruit Tonic A highball glass and a cocktail shaker Two shots of Takamaka Bay white rum 1 fresh passion fruit Half a shot of fresh lemon juice Two shots of fresh orange juice Half a shot of sugar syrup (two parts sugar to one part boiling water) One bottle of tonic water

WHAT TO DO

Carefully measure all ingredients into the shaker, except the tonic water.

If your passion fruits are large, only add half of the pulp from the fruit – save the other half for your next drink.

Add cubed ice to the shaker and shake it REALLY hard for around ten seconds.

Strain the cocktail into your drinking glass and top the drink with tonic water.

Garnish with a slice of orange and sip away.

Takamaka Bay T: +248 437 2050 E: info@takamaka.sc W: www.takamakabay.com

Rum Distillery - Bar - Restaurant

A truly picture - worthy venue for any special occasion whether it’s dinner for 2 or your fairy tale wedding

www.laplaine.sc

Email: reservations@laplaine.sc Tel:4372010 JULY 2014 | POTPOURRI

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BON APPETIT

The Wine

Buy a case of 6 bottles & get a 15% DISCOUNT

OCCASIONS 60

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OCCASIONS

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WEDDINGS IN PARADISE 62

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WEDDINGS IN PARADISE

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DESTINATION

Corcaigh, ‘The People’s Republic

By Paola Denis Welcome to Cork, the largest county in the Republic of Ireland!

If you have flown in via Cork airport, chances are you have already taken in the sheer vastness of the county’s 8,000 sq km landscape, characterised by its infinite green fields, farmlands, coastlines, peninsulas and jutting headlands.

While Dublin is indeed the capital of the republic; Cork is proudly referred by the local population, the Corkonians, as the ‘People’s Republic of Cork’

Opera Lane- Cork City

Patrick Street

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and ‘the Real Capital.’ It is very common to get entwined into the “Cork is better than Dublin” conversation as there is a real sense of pride and attachment to this unique county.

The central hub of Cork is located less than a 15-minute drive from Cork airport. It’s the most densely populated ‘spot’ amongst the boundless areas of green fields, fields and more fields!

While in the city, head directly to the main street, Patrick Street, beautifully separated by the River Lee flowing through the city. Since the city is by no means as large as that of Dublin, it is remarkably easy to walk around, with all the amenities within close proximity. There is so much to take in even at your own leisurely pace considering the city never feels crowded.

Shops, pubs, restaurants cafes, alleyways, historic buildings, cathedrals, art galleries and even the famous ‘English Market’ – the Queen herself even checked it out!

Stroll around from Patrick Street to Oliver Plunkett Street while crossing the other side to Opera Lane, accommodating a number of UK’s High Street Brands for the shopping aficionados. Soak in the Cork culture, chat with the locals and keep an ear out for the famous Cork accent, characterised by the over-use of the word ‘like’ and ending a sentence on a high note with either boi or gurrl at the end. Youtube the “Sminky Shorts” cartoon series for some great examples of this incredibly musical accent.

Extremely family-friendly, the city no doubt caters to every taste, well deserving its 2005 title of European Culture Capital.

Where else to rest your feet than in a traditional Irish Pub? The more traditional the better, these are known as suffering from creaky door

Blackrock Castle

One famous castle, the Blackrock Castle, has been converted into a Space Observatory and Visitors Center nestled in the outskirts of Cork city. Blarney Castle is also a very popular sightseeing spot amongst the tourists, as legend has it that if you kiss the Blarney stone you will get the ‘gift of the gab’! So, pucker up, smooch the stone and start speaking for Ireland!

A few places worth noting on your holiday to-do list: • For the more discerning Irish Whiskey palate, be sure to visit the Jameson Distillery Visitor Experience in Midleton, world-renowned for the local Jameson Whiskey and Midleton Rare, where for a special price they’ll even put your own name on the label.

• The Franciscan Well watering hole, with its own micro-brewery offering own-brewed craft beers, ales, stouts and wheat beer, all natural and made with the best of ingredients, is a must savour.

syndrome, when all the “auld” eyes at the counter will stop and stare at the entering stranger for a split second before returning to nursing their pints.

The walls will be filled with dusty bric a brac (old Irish artefacts) and classic volumes.

What’s the best time to visit Cork?

Any day of the year! It’s quite often raining, so never come to top-up the tan, but rather for everything else. Tip: Always carry an umbrella. Even if the sun is out in the morning, there is a high likelihood that it will start raining. Prepare to experience four seasons in one day. Still that’s a fair trade off, I guess, for such beautiful fertile countryside that produces a huge export market of fresh local produce.

If you are an avid jazz fan, then the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival during the October Bank Holiday Weekend (last weekend in October) is not to be missed. The city hosts the biggest jazz gathering attracting hundreds of musicians, acts and around 40,000 tourists from around Europe.

While there, pull up a stool, order a pint and savour the atmosphere of the pub scene, preferably one with live traditional Irish music, otherwise known as a ‘trad session.’

If you are visiting during the summer months, drop in to Páirc Uí Chaoimh (the local GAA stadium) to experience a nail-biting seventy minutes of the quickest and most skilful field game in the world, known as Hurling!

You will witness a group of anything between four and sometimes up to a dozen very talented musicians gathered very informally around a few tables playing instruments such as guitars, banjos, mandolins, fiddles, tin whistles, flutes, accordians, uillean pipes & bodhrans (Irish goat skin drums). The more rural you go to experience one of these sessions, the more likely you are to see a few of the locals stepping out with an Irish jig too. This style of music is hundreds of years old and appears to be as popular today as it was back then – the talent is so clearly passed down through the generations.

Do I need to mention dropping in on the 17th of March for St Paddy’s day?

Probably not!

Enjoy the craic lads, because there’s a lot to be had and so much to see in beautiful Cork!!!

Old Head Kinsale

Sláinte!

Although ‘Kimye’ (Kim Kardashian and husband Kanye West) opted to spend their honeymoon in East Cork (why, oh why?), I am naturally biased towards the West Cork Coastline with its panoramic views of the Atlantic and its own distinctive charms well worth experiencing for yourself.

Set off towards majestic Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland well known for its excess of 40 restaurants catering to the culinary delights of all tastes, from fresh seafood caught from the local waters and landed at the nearby fishing port, to premium Irish meats – again locally farmed.

The village has retained its quaint historic appearance, judiciously protected by its local council. The townhouses boast their own set of unique colour schemes in addition to the brightly coloured shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants, as well as boasting its own marina.

The narrow streets will test the very best of driving skills, so it’s well worth parking the rental car and losing yourself amongst the tourists that gravitate daily towards this ornate town.

Sin é Pub - Trad Music Session

There are several viewpoints along the way on the outskirts of Kinsale that will grab your attention and provide some photo opportunities for the perfect holiday selfie! Namely, the Charles Fort Heritage Site in Summer Cove, which is a star shaped military fort built in the late 17th century.

The Old Head of Kinsale is another scenic point, a headland protruding towards the Atlantic offering spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, nearby cliffs and stunning wildlife. Keep a keen eye out for the sometimesappearing dolphins and sea seals.

If you have plenty of time for a ‘good ole shpin’ continue driving along the beautiful West Cork Coast through the towns and villages of Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Glandore and Union Hall. You will be in for a real sightseeing experience certainly meriting an article of its own.

Be prepared to drive through ‘villages’ and ‘towns’ merited as such by at least a single representation of a pub, a church and post office also serving

Kinsale Colourful Shopfronts

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DESTINATION

as a convenience store. Blink and you’ll miss the majority of these idyllic communities!

The famously dubbed ‘forty shades of green’ countryside hosts a multiple number of castles (or remnants of ).

REVIEWS

Top 5 rental releases

(sponsored by GR Video Rental)

The Monuments Men starring George Clooney and Matt Damon

Based on real events, The Monuments Men tells the story of an oddball World War II Platoon that is tasked with rescuing art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their owners. Directed

by George Clooney and starring a slew of top-notch actors, this film is both hilarious and eye- opening. Although it may take a while to get going, once the story is snowballing, you’re caught up in a piece of cinema that is very hard to turn away from.

Pompeii starring Kit

Harington and Emily Browning

That Awkward Moment starring

Ride Along starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart

with Kur t Gilber t

Zac Efron and Michael B. Jordan

About Last Night starring Kevin Hart and Michael Ealy

Film of the month X-Men: Days of Future Past Starring Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman Dir. Bryan Singer “It’s the blockbuster of the year!” or “It’s like, 10 movies in 1!” are the first two things that spring to mind when I’m asked to give a quick low-down of the latest X-Men installment, Days of Future Past. Regardless of the fact that there is a seriously great team of actors involved in this movie - Michael Fassbender of 12 Years A Slave and James McAvoy of The Last King of Scotland, not to mention Hugh Jackman reviving his role as Wolverine – it’s never more pretentious than it claims to be.

The whole story revolves around present-day Wolverine and his fellow mutants heading back in time to stop a chain of events that lead to the destruction of humans and mutants alike, so you can imagine that the plot has the propensity to get a bit lost in itself. Nonetheless, though somewhat far-fetched, the story remains gripping from start to end and even when you think you know what to expect, director Bryan Singer manages to retain a sense of originality throughout.

Admittedly, I’m a bit of a sucker for Super Hero movies, so it’s hard for me to ever see the negatives but I can honestly say that I enjoyed every aspect of Days of Future Past. It’s important to remember that you’re not going to watch a human-interest film or an historical epic. You’re going to watch a film about kids with super powers who travel back in time to stop the apocalypse. Keep that in mind and you’ll be fine in the moviehouse.

Avoid the 3D version.

If that’s not your thing: Be sure to watch the latest Godzilla reboot.

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REVIEWS

Album of the month

Coldplay – Ghost Stories We all remember a time when Coldplay was just an acoustic guitar driven four-piece fronted by the politically correct and never-ageing Chris Martin. It’s no secret that Mr Martin is a world-class songwriter, with compositions such as ‘Fix You’ and ‘The Scientist’ under his belt. However, if you’re an avid fan of Coldplay’s older releases, I’d advise you to approach their latest album with a hint of caution; it’s far darker than anything else they’ve done before and perhaps the furthest away they’ve strayed from their signature sound.

Essentially a concept album about one man’s emotional journey from heartbreak to heart...fix, Chris Martin has shaped the entire album around his front-page breakup with Hollywood starlet Gwyneth Paltrow. The album ventures through the emotions caused by past actions, with Martin continuously questioning his own capacity for ‘true’ love and at times, criticizing himself both vocally and through beautifully written piano parts.

The singles don’t represent the album in it’s entirety, so I would recommend sitting down, pouring a glass of wine and listening from track 1 right through to the last note. With extra production from a a few heavyweights such as Timbaland and Avicii, Ghost Stories is more wholesome in a sonic sense and more relate-able in its subject matter than most other albums you’ll hear this year.

Why wait?

If that’s not your thing: Listen to the super-smooth ‘Explorations’ by Jazz aficionado, Bill Evans.

This time, 10 years ago...

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy This is the greatest comedy ever made. I would stop this article there if I could but I have a word-count to meet.

I really do believe it, though. Will Ferrell’s most well known and loved character, news presenter and jazz-flute genius Ron Burgundy, first came into our lives a whole decade ago, quickly cementing the true legend in audience’s minds everywhere.

I’ll never forget moments of script-writing magic such as Brick’s timeless “I love lamp” moment, or Ron responding to his beloved dog’s barks with, “You know I don’t speak Spanish!” Not to mention the ridiculous news team fight towards the end of the film, which had cameos from all the biggest names in Hollywood comedy in a back-alley showdown with Ron and his co-workers.

Simply put, I can’t get enough of it. It’s even cooler that 10 years later, the original Anchorman is still the funniest movie I have on my DVD shelf.

July’s Book Highlight

Theodore Boone, Half the man, Twice the Lawyer Theo was born and bred inside the courthouse of his small town of Strattenburg where even there, the lawyers battle like gladiators and the judges rule like kings. He knows the law better than the most seasoned law enforcer, and everyone within a ten-mile radius of the courthouse knows the pleasure of the name Theodore Boone. You’re waiting for the catch?

Here it is: he’s only 13 years old. And now he finds himself knee-deep in a murder trial, the first one in his part of the county, all because his friends at school trust him with their deepest secrets. A long-awaited trial, a perfect murder and not a witness in sight. Now Theo is thrust into the whole scene with two choices: keep his friend’s secret and allow a guilty man to walk, or betray the one who trusted him and ensure that justice prevails. Which will it be, Theo?

For a while now, I have been enthralled by the world of John Grisham, and believe me when I say that once one of his books are in your hands, it’s staying there until the last pages have been turned. Trust me. However, it has been said that some of his more recent books may not hold the same enticement as some of his earlier work, titles like The Street Lawyer, The Client, The Partner and quite a few more award-winning novels.

So with a rather skeptical mind frame I began to read Theodore Boone, and mind you, it was only after I had finished, that I learned that this was one in a series of Theodore Boone stories. This rather short but interesting book does rival the likes of teen crime fighters such as the beloved Nancy Drew and, dare I say, The Secret Seven and Famous Five. Despite being, as I mentioned, not nearly as long or as intensely thought-provoking as any of Grisham’s

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previous novels, this story does remain captivating due to the passion that Theo obviously has for what he does.

I assume that Grisham maybe had a younger audience in mind when writing this book. The mystery aspect that this author is notoriously known for, without a doubt, comes out in the pages and you are always left wondering who killed the helpless victim. You really can’t ask for better suspense than what you will find in this book.

I think I enjoyed it mostly because it was simple and did not demand too much concentration to read, while still being memorable and at the same time serious!

If you didn’t quite get it yet, I have mixed feelings about this book!

None the less, it’s a great choice for this month to keep you awake at night even when you promised yourself that you would go to bed early!

Thy humble servant, The Mad Book Blogger www.madbookblogger.wordpress.com

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