POTPOURRI August 2013 by Paradise Promotions

Ky-Manie Eliza The Next Eliza Star?

The Perfect

The Language of SMS OK 2 uz all da tym?

Jazz Evening The Station’s Not-So Well Kept Secret

Is There a ‘Right’ Size to Win His Heart?

POTPOURRI

August Lifestyle

Personalities

48:

Take me as I am

Spanking Your Child

14: Safe Surfing 47: Be Healthier; Have a Pet

20: Anisa Rose; Modelling Waves in the UK 22: Neesha Kumar; A New Brand

Fashion & Beauty 32: The White Shirt

25: Ky-Manie Eliza; A Star is Born

Health

33:

36:

Best Buys

In Flight Beauty

40: 37:

The art and joy of Pendulum Dowsing

The Transformation of Anielle Esparon

42: The importance of Forgiveness

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

Potpourri Magazine Seychelles

Potpourri Seychelles is published by Paradise Promotions Ltd Box 1539, Room 18, Docklands Building, Victoria, Seychelles Tel: + (248) 4325215 | Fax: + (248) 4325216 | www.potpourrimagazine.com Printed by: ATLAS

From the

EDITOR

Dear Folks,

Photo credit: Suzanne Verlaque

The summer holidays are once again upon us. In Seychelles, the holiday spirit comes to life with the students who will be making our capital, Victoria, and our beaches more alive with their presence. The tourist arrivals also reminds us of how beautiful our islands are as fellow world citizens set foot on our soil in their search of the perfect summer vacation. Then there are of course the local families whose holiday plans; either to other islands in Seychelles or to foreign soils, comes to life. It is an exciting and busy time. The common thread with holiday time is that families come together and therefore provides the perfect opportunity to renew family bonds and to plan quality time with our loved ones, especially our children. One of our articles which did tug a cord at my heart this month is our Better Living with Célia Ponzo – on page 42. It talks about forgiveness; its importance and more significantly its benefits in our lives. There’s so much heaviness and baggage in carrying grudges and desperate feelings towards some situations that bring us down mentally, physically and in so many other ways. Forgiving does not mean hoping something will change but rather accepting something for what it is and deciding whether we can or cannot live with it. Deciding the latter is hard and requires strength to walk away; but it’s crucial to realise that life is short and we need to surround ourselves with people who make us happy and positive. Each of us in turn need to be the person that we ourselves need in our lives, that is; a happy and positive person. I hope the article gives adequate example for each of us to start this journey if we need to. For those of you visiting our beautiful islands this month, may you have a memorable holiday and are blown away by the Seychellois hospitality. Until next time, stay healthy and happy.

Marie-France Chief Editor

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Cover Details Model: Kathrina Sinon Age: 18 Profession: First Year Student at the School of the A-Level Studies Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, a Manchester United fan, she loves watching Premier League football matches.

Photographer: De Waal Rautenbach

Hair & Make-Up: Gemma Sedgwick Mondon

Clothes & Accessories: Tres Jolie Boutique Located at Unity House, Block A, First floor, Shop 112 Venue: POTPOURRI Photography Studio

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa, Silhouette Island T: (+248) 429 3949 E: labriz@hibiscus.sc

Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Mahe Island T: (+248) 438 6688 E: drift@hibiscus.sc

Musings of an Fishing on the Susquehanna in July Island Girl by Tina Houareau

Photo Credit - Joel Zamzow

A beautiful poem that I wanted to share with my readers in this month that America celebrates its Independence Day.

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I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna

when I balanced a little egg of time

or on any river for that matter

in front of a painting

to be perfectly honest.

in which that river curled around a bend

Not in July or any month

under a blue cloud-ruffled sky,

have I had the pleasure--if it is a pleasure--

dense trees along the banks,

of fishing on the Susquehanna.

and a fellow with a red bandanna

I am more likely to be found

sitting in a small, green

in a quiet room like this one--

flat-bottom boat

a painting of a woman on the wall,

holding the thin whip of a pole.

a bowl of tangerines on the table--

That is something I am unlikely

trying to manufacture the sensation

ever to do, I remember

of fishing on the Susquehanna.

saying to myself and the person next to me.

There is little doubt

Then I blinked and moved on

that others have been fishing

to other American scenes

on the Susquehanna,

of haystacks, water whitening over rocks,

rowing upstream in a wooden boat,

even one of a brown hare

sliding the oars under the water

who seemed so wired with alertness

then raising them to drip in the light.

I imagined him springing right out of the frame.

But the nearest I have ever come to fishing on the Susquehanna was one afternoon in a museum in Philadelphia

by Billy Collins

resort experience in Seychelles

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AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

LIFESTYLE

by Preethi Nair

THE REALITY IS THIS; WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL - PERIOD. BUT NOT ALL OF US CAN BE SUPERMODELS.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

Photo credit: The Return of The Supermodels; Vanity Fair Magazine September 2008

I AM NO EXPERT ON MALE PSYCHOLOGY BUT I AM A GREAT FAN OF COSMOPOLITANS – (BOTH THE MAGAZINE AND THE DRINK), AND I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THROUGH THE MANY HANDY HINTS AND TIPS, THAT MEN LOVE FUN FEARLESS FEMALES! BUT, I DON’T KNOW OF ANY WOMAN WHO HAS NOT BEEN INSECURE ABOUT SOME PART OF HER BODY, OR HAS NOT WISHED AT SOME POINT WHETHER SERIOUSLY OR IN JEST ABOUT CHANGING HER PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.

through no matter what size you may be- skinny, sporty, curvy or voluptuous. And that positive energy will always make people sit up and take notice. An honest smile, a carefree laugh, and twinkling eyes- no one could ever be so blind not to notice the sunshine you bring. But, I don’t know of any woman who has not been insecure about some part of her body, or has not wished at some point whether seriously or in jest about changing her physical appearance. Growing up, I was very much a tom-boy always one of the guys, and secretly extremely insecure about my appearance. If the guys taught me anything at all, it was to have a little swagger- a quiet self-assurance about myself. And when I joined fashion school I was asked to walk the ramp (not the plank) many times and that was such a confidence booster. I read this line somewhere, ‘Its beauty that captures one’s attention, but personality that captures the heart.” And men definitely did notice but hey, I wasn’t winning any hearts. It was only as I grew more comfortable in my own skin, embracing my many imperfections I found a man willing to accept me just the way I was, with crazy hair, eccentricities and all. My lesson, learning to love and accept yourself first, is the way to win a man’s heart. Falling in love is easy but staying in love takes a bit of work. As we grow older we change because -change is inevitable. Love isn’t based solely on outward appearances; it is in the kindness of our words and actions. Love is being able to appreciate the goodness in each other even on our worst days. There are days when I look in the mirror and cringe. I see my face; it’s not all glow-y as I would like it to be. I look at my hair that’s all out of place and defying gravity that no amount of conditioning is going to tame. I check out my figure and feel it’s beginning to take on a new geometric shape altogether! And I turn to hubby to seek some validation that he still finds me attractive and so I ask the dreaded question,” Babe, do I look fat?” and the answer that usually follows, “ Err, no you aren’t fat, but you do need to lose weight!” I decide not to feel too sorry for myself (I asked for it) and make an extra effort to wear something nice, fix my face and blow dry my hair to near perfection. I glance at the mirror again, feeling far more cheerful than I did 20 minutes ago, and without having to ask, hubby notices and says, “You look nice!” VALIDATION! (I know, I know- it’s not the best compliment but it will do- at least he noticed!) He comes over and gives me a random hug, and as I glance at us in the mirror, with him holding me tight- I smile. Bryan Adams pops into my head, (well the song anyway) and I secretly hum to myself “ I don’t look good in no Armani Suits No Gucci shoes - or designer boots I’ve tried the latest lines from A to Z But there’s just one thing that looks good on me The only thing I want The only thing I need The only thing I choose The only thing that looks good on me...is you…” yeah yeah yeah! I’m no Supermodel. I wish I were- but I’m not and that’s ok. I can live with being me and so can he. (He better!)

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LIFESTYLE

I am no Supermodel. I wish I were- but I’m not. Every day, we come across images that appeal to our aesthetic sensibilities. Our ideas of beauty are shaped and firmly ingrained in our minds through the magazines we read, the movies we watch and the many advertising gimmicks all geared to sell us on the idea of “Perfection.” In my eyes (and those of many men and women) Supermodels are simply gorgeous- from head to toe of flawless skin, perfectly formed cheek bones, perhaps perfect breasts that may have been molded by a plastic surgeon, a tiny waist and long slender legs that never seem to end, in clothes that always seem to fit just right all designed to make one sit up and take notice for reasons that are equally right as they are wrong. So who would not want to look like one? If you were to be exceptionally blessed to look as exotic as Adrianna Lima or as fierce as Naomi Campbell or simply stunning like Cindy Crawford, I am sure your man would not complain. But the question begs,” Do you have to be a Supermodel to win a man’s heart?” The reality is this- Women are Beautiful-period. But not all of us can be supermodels. “Why not,” you may wonder? Well for starters, not all of us are over 5’8” tall. Heels help of course but do not elevate one to Supermodel height. Secondly, not all women are waif-like- some women are sporty, some are curvy and some are simply bootylicious. I have seen some of the most gorgeous models on the runway up close and personalwithout make-up and truth be told, a good foundation and a professional make-up artist makes the transformation from blah to glam! Some women are privileged enough to have an army of make-up artists, designers, hair stylists- to ensure that they always have a flawless complexion, wear clothes that compliment their body shape and that their hair is beautifully styled and set. In other instances they either have personal trainers or plastic surgeons to ensure that they remain forever fit and young. I am no expert on male psychology but I am a great fan of Cosmopolitans – (both the magazine and the drink), and I have come to the conclusion through the many handy hints and tips, that men love FUN FEARLESS FEMALES! And the good news is they come in all different shapes and sizes! Of course, if you feel good about yourself, that positive energy will radiate

by Mawess Wirtz “Sup? Nw2z ppl hv bn usin dis 2 rite. Lol. Hw fr du u lk it? Ritin ths med splchkr olmst crsh on m lptp. Nt 2 4gt, frnse frnswa z also uzd. Cuz we no lnger rite ani lnguag trs bien. Xcuz moi! PWIZ! Fren lk m wil tel u.” There have been heated debates about this issue but it is like a swarm of locusts, it seems like it just cannot be stopped. What perception of the writer would be gleaned from such communication? Should the Queen of England visit, how will we ever keep our heads up? There

Everyone should try as much as possible to improve their writing skills and be aware that this text language is NEVER desirable in a formal context. is such a thing as a first impression; do you want yours to be that you are an idiot? It has become such a problem that it has even permeated into settings where this should not happen. So where does it come from this language (which we shall now dub the “text language”)? Who is responsible for perpetuating it? After asking around, I concluded that apparently we are now in the age of instead of the younger generation learning from the older, it is vice versa, they educate us. In our quest to seem younger than we actually are, we fall prey to all the new youthful trends. “So, hw r u doin? 4gtin hw 2 rite propa english 2 ste in fshon?”. One would think that it is just harmless fun but bad habits are hard to shake off. At some point people start to lose the ability to discern between proper English and “the language of confusion”. People then no longer know how to write English properly. Learning is learnt through repetition and if one continuously keeps writing such drivel then that is what one’s writing is likely to become. Even though the world is not expecting everyone to be a literary genius, they would really appreciate knowing what you are corresponding about. This “text language” is being used in formal letters, in curriculum vitae’s and even worse in English examinations. It has become such that it has even seeped into national publications imparting formal information. What a lot of people do not understand is that communication becomes difficult because of it. Just imagine, there was a whole generation in existence before mobile phones became the norm. I for one sometimes find myself wanting to club people over the head. I read something and I get nothing out of it. “Y shud I ker? If vri1 undestnd den no nid 2 wori. Xcept sum ppl dont. Lk m”. You might be wondering where I got these examples from; I got them from Facebook, the place where the English language goes to die. I have personally

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

read posts then fantasised about strangling some people, if I didn’t know that it was against the law to not attend school under the age of 15, I’d have been tempted to believe that a few people have never sat through an English lesson. I sometimes fear that one day information will be so lost in translation that it induces legal proceedings. Even though I guess, that the reverse can be said and it can be used to get one out of trouble as well. However not everyone will have the same level of understanding. The writer has to be conscious of who is going to be reading. Who writes to impart information that only they can understand? It is even worse when the writing causes miscomprehension. Recently I came across, “i need a brake” and I had to laugh, imagine someone offering that person information about where they can find brakes as opposed to needing some time off.

We can’t blame the teachers about this either because I have also had to listen to English teachers complain bitterly about the issue. They teach the students the proper way to write emphasising all the grammar rules, repetitiously going over key points and still the children use text language so it’s not their fault when said child grows up with this habit they persisted to keep. I still remember one child’s idea of poetry, said child got this assignment for Valentine’s Day and wrote this: She m luver She mek m hert bit fas I luv hm I remember my friend’s face, I think she wanted to quit. A person should feel proud of having good writing skills and use it as much as possible. It can serve as an example to the less able as to how it should be done. Don’t make the excuse of it being quicker if you remove certain letters as you are in a hurry, it doesn’t make it right and pray tell, how exactly is writing du instead of do saving time? Solid writing skills equip a person for life. When an employer is going through a CV whoever has the best one gets the job. How will it look if a prospective employee has good qualifications but writes like a child? The person reading will be forgiven if they think that either the applicant cheated his/her way to the grade or the grade is a forgery. One’s writing is often used as a reflection of one’s mental acuity. I had only given examples of the extreme types of writing but there is also just plain improper grammar that people write because they do not know any better. There are words that hav even becum so popular that they are difficult to spot becuz everyone is using them. (There are 3 in the previous sentence, try to spot them). I kno that when people are askd, a lot will prefer to hide behind this new language rather than admitt that they have flaws. Seychellois as a nation cannot abide to bein made fools off. They wil always do something to make themselve look good. (There are six mistakes in this paragraph, try finding them). Everyone should try as much as possible to improve their writing skills and be aware that this text language is NEVER desirable in a formal context. If one does not have proper writing skills and one has to communicate in a formal setting, it is always best to pay a professional rather than writing nonsense and being taken for a fool. It is very easy for the gist or ethos of a letter to be lost if spelling mistakes or improper grammar causes mirth. It will also be a sad scenario should an employer be corresponding with employees who then sit and pick out the mistakes. This would create an atmosphere where there would be a struggle for the employee to respect for the employer much. Even something as simple as putting up a status on Facebook and having it completely lost in translation is something to be avoided. I think that we should all aspire to be better and to at least attempt to banish text language from our lives if we can help it. Don het m 4 dis!

A Fresh Start - London to Mahé by Daniel Balkwill

“Firstly, make an effort to dress up a bit and ensure that your personal appearance in general is up to scratch. For example, two clearly defined and separated eyebrows are considered the norm.” I am now happily married to a wonderful woman but I haven’t always been this fortunate. Historically, I have been as vulnerable as the next person to the mysterious, baffling, bizarre and occasionally gut-wrenching search for the perfect partner. When you think about it rationally, what are the chances of finding someone who is beautiful, attractive, sexy, intelligent, funny and kind? Fairly remote I would say, all things considered. As if there weren’t a seemingly infinitesimal quantity of variables flying around already, if you are lucky enough to find such a person then they also have to reciprocate at least some of these sentiments in return. I am by no means an expert on relationships but I thought it might be useful to air some of my views and experiences on the subject and hopefully provide some support to those brave souls currently attempting to pick their way through the wreckage that the world of dating can often present. A dinner date can be the ideal way to get to know someone new. The intimate, sympathetically lit environment of a restaurant can often be conducive to engaging and romantic conversation. However, beware the pitfalls that can lurk concealed to the naïve, impetuous or foolhardy. Firstly, make an effort to dress up a bit and ensure that your personal appearance in general is up scratch. For example, two clearly defined 10 AUGUST 2013 | to POTPOURRI and separated eyebrows are considered the norm. Always compliment your date on the way she looks. Opening a door for a lady is deemed gentlemanly and is invariably appreciated.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

When casting your eye over the menu, consider whether your preferred choice is something that you are more likely to end up wearing rather than consuming, especially if you’ve opted for a predominantly white ensemble. If you’re determined to go for a pasta option avoid spaghetti or fettuccine-based dishes which can leave you looking like an unsuccessful sparring partner and opt for penne or fusilli instead which are far more user friendly and forgiving. Bear in mind that the gap between your front teeth somehow takes on mystical magnetic properties when eating spinach or seed-based products. If resistance to temptation proves elusive then the discreet use of a toothpick or a strategic inspection in the mirror whilst in the gents can help sidestep potential embarrassment and rescue a relationship at its embryonic stage. Consuming a lobster still incarcerated in its shell should only be eaten in the privacy of one’s own home preferably while wearing a boiler suit, not in public whilst trying to project an aura of class and sophistication to an attractive young lady. Some other general advice resulting from some of my personal romantic misadventures includes the following; Never loudly call a girl ‘Clare’ in front of all her friends in the pub, particularly when her name is actually ‘Katie’. Look into your date’s eyes and listen to her attentively when she is speaking however tempting it may be to allow your gaze to linger on her décolletage. To accidentally spill red wine on your partner’s white sofa once is a forgivable folly. To do so twice in the same evening is tantamount to signing your own death warrant. Finally, good luck people. It’s a minefield out there. 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.

“The relevance of university and the value of graduates is a hot topic of discussion, but in the end it’s about what you do with what you have that matters”.

by Alexandria Faure The unbounded world of work. I’m writing this as I am job searching and updating my CV. To all my fellow graduates, I absolutely feel your uncertainty. After being hassled with the ‘what are you going to do now you’ve graduated?’ question, the next phase is getting a job. After graduating from University follows the daunting process of job searching and job applications. A degree definitely helps you to acquire the skills for a workplace or a specialised career field, but it doesn’t exactly show you ‘how’ to get there. Hence why after graduating you face a very long endless road, unsure and tough. (Unless you are one of the lucky ones) The relevance of university and the value of graduates is a hot topic of discussion, but in the end it’s about what you do with what you have that matters. When the door of education has closed and you face the world head on my advice would be: - be flexible - be open - believe in the degree that you have ( in other words don’t undervalue it. After all, you have acquired a numerous amount of skills and experiences) - be confident Lastly, don’t focus on trying to answer the ‘questions’ and negativity that

floats around in your head. Just go for it! If there is a job that appeals to you then go for it guns blazing. I’m joking! Go for it equipped with confidence, open minded ness, belief and positivity. Just remember: ‘A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.’ Don’t be disheartened by rejection, in fact use it to drive you forward.

‘Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall’ Confucius Alexandria Faure recently returned to Seychelles following the completion of her studies in Drama and Theatre Arts in London.

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ith Air Seychelles operating triweekly flights to Hong Kong, and having just visited this amazing city of mountains and skyscrapers myself, I thought I’d countdown my top 10 recommendations. Hold on to your hats ladies and gentleman – it’s an exhilarating ride!

10. Start in the heart of Central Hong Kong and explore the seemingly endless shopping mall in the International Finance Centre. You’ll find all of your designer and high street brands under one roof. 9. If you get peckish, try Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest Michelin Starred restaurant in the world, for the best dim sum of your life. Make sure to order the Tonic Medlar (flower scented jelly)! 8. Take the Peak Tramway up to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong’s highest mountain, and you’ll find yourself 552 metres above sea level. Head to Sky Terrace 428 in the Peak Tower and take in the 360º view of the city and greenery below. 7. For a meal to pleasure the taste buds and pack a punch to the wallet, you can’t beat Zuma restaurant at the Landmark. Particularly outstanding dishes are the miso marinated black cod and sliced yellowtail with green chilli relish. 6. Take the Central-Mid Levels Escalator up from Des Voeux Road and you’ll find yourself on the longest outdoor covered escalator in the world, running 800 metres in length and rising by 135 metres. 5. Exit at Hollywood Road and you’ll be in SoHo, which stands for “South of Hollywood Road” – the perfect place to sample Hong Kong’s nightlife. Listen to live jazz at The Melting Pot on Elgin Street or explore the multitude of bars and restaurants. 4. Take the ferry from Pier 6 to Lantau Island, then travel by bus to Ngong Ping to gaze in wonder at the giant bronze Tian Tan Buddha. Then hike along the marked paths to Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay) where you can enjoy a traditional Chinese lunch. 3. Take the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) and exit at Mong Kok. Walk down hectic Nathan Road and shop to your heart’s content - in the air-conditioned comfort of Langham Place or barter for goods at the Ladies Markets. 2. Relax and unwind with a superb Lychee Martini at OZONE, the highest bar in the world, situated in the Ritz-Carlton hotel on the 118th floor of the International Commercial Centre in Kowloon. Grab a seat on the outdoor terrace overlooking Victoria Harbour to enjoy the daily 8pm light show. 1. Cross the Harbour by taking the Star Ferry, Hong Kong’s oldest commuter ferry, from Tsim Shah Tsui. This is also a great way to enjoy the light show if you’re not one for heights. renée martin designs

If you can’t get away to Hong Kong, never fear – here is my foolproof Lychee Martini recipe for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Until next time - if you can’t be good, be good at it!

Lychee Martini You will need... 4 canned lychees in syrup Handful of ice cubes 50ml good vodka 25ml lychee liqueur, such as Paraiso or Bols* 1 small splash white vermouth Cocktail stick or toothpick (for garnish) Skewer 2 lychees on a cocktail stick or toothpick and put into a cocktail glass. Then place the glass carefully in the freezer for 10 minutes to chill. Put the remaining lychees into a cocktail shaker, along with a good handful of ice, a splash of the lychee syrup, the vodka, lychee liqueur and a small splash of vermouth. Secure the top on the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into the iced cocktail glass and enjoy! *If you don’t have lychee liqueur simply add a further 25ml of vodka and splash of lychee syrup.

Brigitte Monchouguy is a Seychelloise legal professional living and working in London. She is happiest when travelling, with interests in music, art, theatre and architecture. She also dabbles in mixology and will be sharing cocktail recipes along with her monthly escapades.

SACOS Lotteries...be in it, to win it! SACOS Life...Be Wise The first half of the year 2013 sees the lotteries of SACOS in full swing. With numerous loyal clients having happily received their winning cheques, SACOS, is in turn thrilled at the positive feedback received. For instance, take the first prize winner of the first edition of SACOS Insurance Company Ltd.’s lottery, the ‘Incentives Lottery’, drawn earlier in January. Pleasantly surprised at receiving the unexpected cash, the winners decided to use it to fund the much needed repairs of their old family home. In the second edition of the Incentives Lottery that was drawn on May 31st on national television, the second prize winner was so thrilled to have won the SR 6,000 cash prize that she immediately put to good use towards buying printer ink cartridges for her business. SACOS, knowing that it has helped to brighten up its valued clients’ lives, is exactly what the lotteries are about – rewarding their loyalty and support towards SACOS throughout the years. Wondering how you participate in the Incentives Lottery? You simply have to insure your private vehicle and home with SACOS, and you automatically enter the draw. There were four draws scheduled for 2013, and you still have the chance to win in the remaining two that are left. The third edition is scheduled to take place in a few months, so it’s not too late to be eligible for one of our ten cash prizes! However, the next lottery on schedule is SACOS Life Assurance Company Ltd.’s Mid-Year Lottery that will take place towards the end of July. The SACOS subsidiary company first launched its lottery last year in December, with their ‘Year End Grand Lottery’, which is aimed towards its existing and newly confirmed life policyholders. The July Lottery are mainly cash prizes, with the first prize amounting to SR 7,000 and you can keep an eye out for the prize-giving ceremony date, that will be announced in the local newspapers. If you would like to participate in one of upcoming lotteries, remember that you have to be in it, to win it! You only have to choose SACOS when it comes to insuring your life and assets. Take a policy with SACOS today for your house, motor, or life and be part of the SACOS Lottery Draws. A wide range of interesting prizes to be won! Visit us today at the SACOS Tower for General Insurance and on the 3rd floor of Block A, Unity House, if it is Life Assurance you seek. Otherwise, you can always give us a call on 4295 000 to speak to a friendly SACOS representative. It will be our pleasure to assist and guide you. Contributed by Ms. Dianne Dalida, Sales Executive, SACOS Insurance Company Ltd.

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CONSUMER AWARENESS

Safe Surfing is Smart Surfing The growth of the internet gave rise to many important services accessible to anyone with a connection. While digital communication allows us to communicate with others through the internet, this has also allowed communication with malicious users, who often abuse the service for personal gain, which may not be limited to financial and/or material gain. Internet Safety, or Online Safety, is all about knowing and maximizing your personal safety and security risks on private information and property associated with using the internet and the self-protection from computer crime in general. As there is a continuous global growth in the number of internet users, internet safety is a growing concern for both children and adults. Common concerns regarding safety of the internet include malicious users (Spam, Phishing, Cyber bullying, Cyber stalking, etc.), websites and software (Malware, Computer Virus, etc.) and various types of obscene or offensive content. Several crimes can be committed on the Internet such as stalking, identity theft and more. With the arrival of SEAS (Seychelles’ fibre optic cable), the growth of the internet market is expected to continuously increase and revolutionize internet experience for end users in the process. Internet Services Providers have the responsibility to ensure not only connectivity but also security for end users whilst they are online. As a responsible service provider, Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS), in February 2013, introduced SafeNet.

INTERNET SAFETY, OR ONLINE SAFETY, IS ALL ABOUT KNOWING AND MAXIMIZING YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY RISKS ON PRIVATE INFORMATION AND PROPERTY ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE INTERNET AND THE SELF-PROTECTION FROM COMPUTER CRIME IN GENERAL.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

An unsecured Internet connection can be harmful for organizations (big and small) as well as for children and in Seychelles it is a growing concern. That is why SafeNet – an internet filtering and Web 2.0 security has been designed to provide and/or enhance your home with a safe and secure internet experience. This service is an add-on, optional service available to Cable & Wireless postpaid broadband internet customers that provides comprehensive Web Filtering and Security options. You get peace of mind as your home becomes a safer environment for internet use. Productivity in the workplace can be affected by Internet distractions whilst privacy and confidentiality can easily be compromised. Data leakages readily occur in a business environment and unchecked bandwidth usage can reduce the performance of business critical applications that potentially run up large unbudgeted expenses. An advanced SafeNet solution surely enables your organization to experience secure Internet use, free from threats and malware, while ensuring that internet use is appropriate and compliant with your organization’s acceptable usage policy. The service targets a range of web-based threats and security concerns such as: Web/URL Filtering: This service employs the latest range of web filtering technologies, running in real-time mode and automatically updated, enabling you to control access to all web content. Anti-Virus & Malware: With the incorporation of dynamic anomaly detection and behavioural modelling systems, your home is guarded from viruses, botnets, spyware, browser exploits and other web threats. Application Control: Gain control over popular web applications such as social networking, online gaming, streaming media and web-based messaging. Bandwidth Control: Manage your Internet usage and control unnecessary traffic. Data Leakage Prevention: Control the distribution of sensitive data or private information via the web. The service enables you to control who can upload important files, as well as types of files that can be uploaded. Internet customers wishing to benefit from the SafeNet service can simply visit any Cable & Wireless Customer Services Centre for a package of their choice ranging from SR100/- to SR200/- monthly.

EXPLORING EDEN

Broadcasting Jazz by Mawess Wirtz

lose your eyes, and imagine an evening of live Jazz and authentic Indian Cuisine, set in a location with a breathtaking view. There is a place in Seychelles, unlike any other, and to visit it is to enter into another world. The Station is located at the ex-Feba radio station at Sans Soucis, and for the first Saturday of every month, at 6:30 p.m., they have a music night. This is quite an experience!

On entering into the building, the sultry tones of Ella Fitzgerald greeted me at the door, immediately instilling the most relaxing sensation. I had expected to enjoy the night, since I was a closeted jazz lover, but I was accompanied on the night by a sceptic who had only tagged along for the free food I had bribed him with, and it was interesting to see how even he noted the atmosphere. Thus began one of the most enjoyable and definitely the healthiest night out of my existence. Complimentary drinks at the door were freshly squeezed lemon juice and iced tea, which set “My partner in crime, the tone for what we could in the food section who had fully expected expect of the night. The owners are to be bored, was tapping pioneers for holistic living, and they have strong views along with me and as to what kind of food they At this point, I must bopping his head in serve. interject that I had been very time to the music”. much anti-healthy foods, and very much in love with sugar, oil and salt in large quantities, and I had come for the music, not the food. The speed at which the both of us converted was astounding in itself; they had us with the lemon juice! We were smacking our lips and nodding our heads at our glasses, both agreeing with each other that it was good.

Once inside, we had the option of going to sit at a table, or a sofa in the lounge. Guess where we chose? You got that right; as we snuggled into the cushions of the large sofa, we listened to the gruff timbre to Louis Armstrong’s voice, and it set a more upbeat tempo to the night, and the feet starts taping. My partner in crime, who had fully expected to be bored, was tapping along with me and bopping his head “I was loving everything, in time to the music. It was very nice to be in and hoping that some an environment where of the owner’s obvious the music was being appreciated, and the talent would seep into me clients all shared a respect for the genre. via osmosis. I don’t The view from the windows is of Victoria think it did...” at night with all its twinkling lights, and the shadowed outline of the wind farm in all its glory. The panorama of our little town at night is quite breathtaking and obviously a great backdrop for photo shoots. However, my photographer was busy taking pictures of everything in sight at the time. In particular, there is an amazing mural (that we just loved!) showing the Sans Soucis road, and all the “interesting spots” along the way. The detailing on it was enthralling. Then there was the décor. I sat there wishing with every fibre of my being that I had such decorating skills and ideas; I was loving everything, and hoping that some of the owner’s obvious talent would seep into me via osmosis. I don’t think it did... A buffet dinner of authentic Indian cuisine staves off the hunger pangs, and is so good that it induces a second trip to the table. Just to induce saliva in your mouths, imagine a starter of Dal Tadka (a spiced lentil soup) followed by the following options as main course; Chanal Dal (granm!!!!!), Chicken Tikka Masala (chicken curry

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

EXPLORING EDEN

with yoghurt), Kashmiri Lamb Korma ( lamb curry) and a green salad. I demurred from a second trip to the buffet out of fear that I would come across as being of a particular type of glutton since I had already been the first in line once it was announced that the food was ready. I was very surprised when the owner who was checking on her clients, noticed, and coaxed us back to the buffet table. Embarrassed, I pretended to need the washroom, but came back to our table to find my partner happily scoffing down his huge second helping, so I helped him (since am such a nice person). Dinner was accompanied by more soulful Jazz, the music seemed to entice the food through the “At this point, I must digestive system. interject that I had been After dinner we to the very much anti-healthy foods, returned sofa, full and and very much in love with exceedingly happy. And just sugar, oil and salt in large when we thought could not quantities, and I had come for we eat anymore, the music, not the food. they brought dessert The speed at which the both out and our greedy of us converted was astounding hearts soared! It was an almond in itself; they had us with and cashew nut cake, and we the lemon juice!” immediately found space that we didn’t know we had, just so that we could have some, which shows how big a fan we were by then. I ordered a tea and he ordered a coffee, and we attacked our plates. Unfortunately, by that time we had waddling sized guts and we failed to finish our cakes, much to our dismay. We watched the half-eaten cakes as they disappeared all forlorn! The live band entertainment was in one word…..amazing! The band comprised of four men on saxophone, drums, bass guitar and lead guitar, all great musicians who could easily make you believe that you were in an old Jazz club of the 1920’s. Kurt Gilbert

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

(The Station baby), Tony Julie, Hugo Ladaffu and Ian White, sound like a band that has been playing together for years, and they play off each other to create beautiful music. They were playing the songs of Jazz legends without breaking a sweat. They played so effortlessly that watching them was not only a pleasure but aweinspiring. The music they produced was so good that guests got up and danced along with them. Now, I can shake what my “momma gave me” and for a moment I forgot my natural reticence, and actually got up to join them, luckily sanity prevailed and I opted to dance around in my seat instead (as if that wasn’t equally as foolish!). I was having a great time playing air guitar and air drums, and singing along to those songs that I knew (yes, I had lost all sense of decorum at that point). My newly conformed partner was dazzling me with his newfound joy in the music, had I been a braver person I would have introduced myself to the band and thanked them for giving me such a treat. The man went from expecting to doze off to dancing in his chair; it is safe to assume that he’s a Jazz lover now. So people, its official, miracles do happen! Words fail to express how I enjoyed my evening. It is worth every cent. I am DEFINITELY heading back there again, come to think of it, not even floods would keep me away.

Vive Le Tour! (par Georges Gravé)

LE TOUR M’A ACCOMPAGNÉ DURANT TOUTE MA VIE, ET AUJOURD’HUI LORSQUE J’ENTENDS LES PREMIERS BRUITS DE LA FOULE, LES COUPS DE KLAXONS DE LA CARAVANE PUBLICITAIRE…. JE FERME LES YEUX… ET JE REGARDE AVEC PLAISIR ET UN PEU DE NOSTALGIE LES GRANDS MERVEILLEUX MOMENTS DE MON ENFANCE

Georges Gravé is the Personal Development & Training Manager at the Maia Luxury Resort and Spa Nous sommes le 29 juin 2013 et me voila devant ma télévision pour regarder le rituel de l’été. Le Tour de France. Le tour, c’est l’événement sportif le plus regardé après la coupe du monde, Il fête ses 100 ans aujourd’hui. Mais le Tour pour moi, c’est Ma Madeleine de Proust. Le tour m’a accompagné durant toute ma vie, et aujourd’hui lorsque j’entends les premiers bruits de la foule, les coups de klaxons de la caravane publicitaire…. Je ferme les yeux… et je regarde avec plaisir et un peu de nostalgie les grands merveilleux moments de mon enfance. « Je vous parle d’un temps que les moins de 20 ans ne peuvent pas connaitre…. » Nous sommes à Argeles Gazost, petite ville dans les hautes Pyrénées dans les années 1960. Petite ville qui a la particularité de se situer juste en bas du col de l’Aubisque. Un des cols mythiques du Tour. C’est la, que pendant plus de 10 ans, nous passions les vacances. Et oui, ma grand-mère faisait sa cure annuelle et nous avions une charmante location que nous retrouvions avec joie tous les

mois de juillet jusqu’ à la fin Aout. C’était le temps ou pour un gamin de 10 ans ces deux mois de vacances loin de la région parisienne étaient synonyme de joie, de fêtes et de liberté. Oh certes, il n’y avait pas de tablettes, pas d’ordinateurs, pas de jeux électroniques, mais de longues journées à jouer dehors avec tous les copains. Une des grandes occupations du mois de juillet était bien sur de préparer le passage du Tour. C’était la grande époque des duels Anquetil-Poulidor et la conversation des grands revenait toujours a la même question : Mais qui allait gagner le tour ? Quant à nous, les gosses, nous passions nos journées à jouer au Tour. Avec les billes bien sur… Il nous fallait de longues heures pour préparer le circuit avec des dangereux virages, des cols vertigineux, et des descentes à faire frémir un Anquetil. Sur la ligne de départ, les petits vélos en fer étaient prêts, et souvent, c’est à la nuit tombée que les mamans étaient obligées de venir chercher leurs sportifs qui tombaient de fatigue. Et puis, le grand jour arrivait. La veille déjà, l’excitation était à son comble. Sur la grande place d’Argeles le podium d’Europe 1 faisait escale avec la vedette de l’année, (c’était la grande époque des yéyés) et toute la famille se noyait dans la foule pour partager la grande soirée des vacances. Le lendemain, levé aux aurores ! Les mamans se regroupaient pour préparer les victuailles. Car il en fallait pour rassasier tout ce monde. Charcuterie, salade, roastbeef et rôti de porc avec des montagnes de cornichons. Et les paniers de fruits : Pêches, abricots, cerises, etc. C’était le temps ou mordre dans une énorme pêche jaune était la terreur des mamans, tellement tous les fruits regorgeaient de bon jus qui dégoulinait bien sur, sur les t-shirt. Les papas, quant a eux allaient préparer la place afin d’être dans « Le virage » ou nous pourrions avoir la visibilité la meilleure. Et nous, nous avions l’autorisation d’aller sur la route, car bien sur elle était dès le matin coupée a la circulation et nous regardions émerveillé cette grande parade se mettre en place. Le Tour, c’était bien sur la caravane publicitaire. Elle annonçait plusieurs heures avant l’arrivée des coureurs. C’était comme le père-noël en juillet et il en fallait de la technique pour avoir le maximum de cadeaux (mais les sponsors étaient généreux). Casquettes en tout genres, crayons, Bic… mais les deux voitures les plus attendues étaient celle du journal de Mickey et de Pif le chien !!! Repas, sieste a l’ombre des parasols car d’antan, il faisait toujours chaud en juillet…. Et puis la clameur de la foule -ils arrivent – Hurlement, encouragement, joie collectives… Jaune, vert, blanc, a poids…km après km, l’Aubisque accueillait ses invites de prestige ! Des années plus tard, j’ai souvent eu l’honneur de vivre le tour de l’intérieur toujours avec cette même passion, mais rien ne pourra remplacer ces émotions d’enfance qui sont toujours tellement vivantes en moi. Emotions familiales et collectives, émotions de partage et de fraternité. Des grands moments d’amour que je voulais partager avec vous aujourd’hui. Vive le Tour !

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

SEYCHELLOIS OVERSEAS

e s o R Anisa

The one thing that was hard for me to get used to is how people describe each other by their race. I didn’t understand why that was such a major issue. Coming from such small, far off island country like the Seychelles, no one in the UK was able to define me. To them I was just another African, from mud huts without running water. That really annoyed me. Mostly everyone I met had never heard of the Seychelles Islands and they were all intrigued to know where this place was. I remember once someone made reference to the movie “Rapa Nui” (Easter Island) and the primitive ways of life depicted. I was offended but simply shook it off as people being simply ignorant. In the end when they used to ask where Seychelles was, I used to say “Google it”. Although now that Prince William and his wife honeymooned ‘back home’ makes the task of describing where I come from just a little bit easier! School was however an easier environment to adapt to. We already knew how to speak English of course and knowing French was surprisingly an added advantage. The school I went to was very diversified with various nationalities, and I found that a lot of my classmates where from countries like Congo DRC. They on the other hand struggled with English, and being bilingual and thus able to translate, made me quite popular.

P: Whereabouts from Seychelles are you from?

I was born in Victoria Seychelles on April 24th 1987. Growing up I lived at Le Niole, therefore attending Beau Vallon Primary. I then moved to Belvedere where I joined Plaisance Schools until the age of 15.

P: When did you leave Seychelles?

In 2002, I left Seychelles with my sister to join our mother in Manchester UK. My parents had separated and we were simply in search of a better life. I was in S4 at Plaisance Secondary School at that time and had to say good bye to all my friends and family. I was actually really excited about the big move and couldn’t wait for it to take place.

P: From Beau-Vallon to Manchester...what was that like?

Life in Manchester UK……where do I begin? For me being 15 years old and moving to such a big place like the UK was like a kid inside a candy shop for the first time. I was fascinated by everything I saw, what impressed me the most was the buses, the double deckers, (upstairs sitting). I also remember fondly the very first day we stepped foot at Heathrow Airport, I came across what looked like a telephone booth, It also allowed used of the internet and it was touch screen. That technology hadn’t reached Seychelles yet, and I suddenly said ‘mum take a picture’. To this day I still cherish that photo. Another thing when we stepped out that surprised me was that it was so cold, when we spoke, smoke came out of our mouths. My sister and I kept blowing puffs at each other saying “look at us smoking”. Looking back now, everything surprised us in some way. Everything was bigger than what I was used to, Shops, Restaurants the cinemas. I was excited over the simplest of things.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

THE ONE THING THAT WAS HARD FOR ME TO GET USED TO IS HOW PEOPLE DESCRIBE EACH OTHER BY THEIR RACE. I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WAS SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE

P: How did the modelling start?

Since moving to the UK a lot of random people have asked me if I was a model. When hearing “no” as a reply they were taken aback, which surprised me, because I never saw myself modelling. Since a young age, I have battled with my weight. I used to be bullied in school for looking like a beanpole, and I wanted to do ANYTHING to get fat. However, peoples belief in me pushed me, and helped build up my confidence. I decided to go for it. I went to a well known agency but I was turned down due to my height. For example to be part of world renowned Elite Model Management, you need to be 5’8. I am 5’6, I was only missing 2 inches!! It came as being weird because I am actually the tallest girl in my family..! To be honest that really knocked my confidence back down and I was ready to give up. My sister, Diane, who is only 5’ tall, kept encouraging me saying that in the year 1963, Miss Jamaica, Carole Joan Crawford, won the title and she was just 5’3! But to me, all I could think about was, I WAS TOO SHORT. Coincidentally, a few months later, my school, Manchester Academy, asked me if I wanted to represent them in doing Fashions Shows. I excitedly agreed and thought it will be a great opportunity to put myself out there. I did a few more shows for charity purposes. However during my last year of school i stopped with the modelling and concentrated on my studies. Then in 2007 my life changes when I gave birth to my beautiful son Dewayne. His presence served as motivation, to being a better human overall. Even as a new mummy, I was still stopped in the streets by agencies even when I was pushing my pram. In 2012, I realised that being 25 and being too short were minor setbacks, and just a pitiful excuses to not move forward. I told myself that I might as well just do it now because if I don’t I would regret it for the rest of my life. I decided on doing modelling free lance, full time. I was determined go for it even being the height that I was as well as being from a racial minority. I decided to send my pictures around to agencies, and I went to numerous castings. Finally, the hard work paid off, I got in. I now belong to agencies in London, Liverpool and Manchester. Work wise, I have been on Television

SEYCHELLOIS OVERSEAS

Soap operas like Coronation Street and Hollyoaks. I have been in Music Videos and on pages of the Black Beauty and Hair Magazine. I have also done commercial work for Catalogues, websites etc…One of my biggest achievements was coming out as 2ND Princess in Manchester International Beauty Pageant 2012. In 2012 I took a new path and signed with an Agency recently set up here in Manchester called Cliché Model Management. The CEO is Melissa Drummond. Melissa has started something amazing. Cliché Model Management revolutionises the way people think about beauty, no matter what their size, shape or ethnic background. Melissa always says that the world is multicultural, our looks represent our heritage, and that’s something to be celebrated. Melissa has been nominated for a positive role model for race award at the NATIONAL DIVERSITY AWARD 2013. I recently read an article about Ethnic Models on the runway. The contributor, Demi Sinclair mentioned ‘It’s time for the global fashion industry to stop turning a blind eye to the lack of racial diversity on the runways’ and they have discovered that a mere thirteen percent of looks were worn by non-white girls, until now, where the figure stands at seventeen percent, every season has brought the same conclusion: the vast majority of the women walking the runways are Caucasian.’

P: If you were to return, what could you offer these islands?

The very first thing that I will bring from Manchester is self dependence for young people, to help young ones to follow their dreams in becoming entrepreneurs and achieving their goals in whatever they aim to do. As an example, being a free lance model, I can only keep being successful if I keep looking for all aspects of modelling, and keep bringing diversity in what I do. I do not let my height hold me back. Instead I use it to drive me, knowing that I need push HARDER than those who are taller. Therefore, I aim to help young people push themselves to the max and never settle for less.

P: What is the best description of the Seychelles Island? The original Garden of Eden

P: So you must want to come back and settle here? Oh yes, it is most definitely on the cards... Not just yet, but soon. Facebook: Anisa Audrey Rose ‘fan page’ | Twitter:@far2anisa

As far as I am aware, I am the only Seychellois model in the UK. I am extremely privileged and I hope one day I become an inspiration to all young and old in the Seychelles. You can achieve whatever you want if you always aim higher than high.

P: Your story is very inspirational. Seychelles must seem so far away in the middle of all this. You miss it? I miss my family, most definitely. The silver lining within that cloud though is: not having them here pushes me to do more. I want them to be proud of me. Growing up I was always close to my cousins. Leaving them behind was the hardest thing. These days technology allows us regular contact, but back then it wasn’t so easy. My sister and nephew moved back in 2009, and being away from them is like a part of is missing. Being away from the sun and sea made me realise that I took my country for granted. I used to live on a hill where we could see the sea, some islands in the distance and the sun always setting right in front of us, looking back now I miss seeing that sun. I’m begging you all to appreciate what you have, and enjoy the beautiful weather as you never know what tomorrow holds. It could all be taken away in just a flash.

P: You’re in touch with our local music scene?

Technology has definitely its advantages. Since being here, I regularly check YouTube to see what’s happening. I don’t get a chance to hear every single that comes out. But I really admire all the talent that we have. I’d like to take the opportunity to take my hat off to all the artists in the Seychelles, Big Respect.

Any favourites?

I don’t think I have an absolute favourite, as they are all good. I could name you something to day as being my favourite, and hear something else tomorrow that changes my mind. The younger generations and equally the old, they all have a lot to offer.

P: How often do you come back?

Honestly, I have never been back. I am currently on my 10th year in the UK. But I plan to visit sometime soon. My son has never been, and I feel it would be good to expose him to the culture and to his heritage.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

The Brand Name Coming to Your Shores Soon

By Elaine Lafortune

f you’ve got a special occasion lined up and you want something that’s completely unique to hold on to, then you definitely need to rendezvous with Neesha. A graphic artist with a bold and distinctive style, who has set the tone of distinctiveness in her work. At the age of 29, she has had several years of experience in Graphic Design and Craft work. Get to know more about Neesha as she shares her passion, inspiration and design philosophy in this interview.

Tell us what you do:

NK: In a nutshell, I am an independent Graphic Designer and Owner/Director of The Shopping Guide. I specialise in unique greeting cards for special occasions! I work with companies doing brochures, flyers, and adverts amongst others. Right now, I’d have to say that my specialty is more into greeting cards (wedding invitations especially). Basically, everything you would need for your wedding preparations in terms of invitations to designing menus.

When did your interest in Graphic Art begin?

NK: When I was in secondary, my parents bought a computer (that was a huge thing at the time) and I became obsessed with learning how to edit pictures and doing cards for just about anything and everything: for a birthday, to say a simple hello or even a thank you card. I used to get into a lot of trouble with my parents for that, especially my dad who was very strict and academic and who thought I was merely wasting my time. After my studies, I took a few computer courses at VCS

Some of Neesha’s designs

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Neesha Kumar

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

Photo Copyright: Slide Up Moda Photographer: Marsha Dine

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

“…I’M A CRAZY PERFECTIONIST! I MEASURE EVERYTHING TO THE LAST MM”… ALL MY RIBBONS ARE THE EXACT SIZE. IT’S INSANE!” while I figured out what I really wanted to do. While there, I met the late Mr. Daniel Adrienne who was my teacher and who was also the one who encouraged the talent within me. Now, I’ve my own business and I work alone! Everything is done from scratch: from meeting the clients to doing the invoicing to every trim, cut, gluing…

You don’t find that rather nervewracking?

NK: Oh yes! It’s really stressful, because I put in about probably almost 20 hours every day. I’m very fussy when it comes to my work and I like it when everything is absolutely perfect.

than as a personal page. Most of the time, I just Hiring other people to work with sit at home and my clients communicate with me could decrease your work load and through FB where I can send them samples of my give you more time on your hands, work and where they can easily have a peek at my couldn’t it? albums which display my work. NK: My ultimate goal was to have a proper company set up, with people doing their We see you work under your name, is respective jobs but I find it hard to work with all of your work done as a freelance other people. I’m a crazy perfectionist! I measure designer? everything to the last mm”…all my ribbons are NK: Yes. Right now, what I’m trying to focus on is the exact size. It’s insane! So I think it’ll be a bit of slowly turning my company name ‘Neesha Kumar’ a problem if I have people not being that precise, into a brand…a bit like Hallmark greeting cards; working with me as I enjoy every single process that way, all my work will have my logo at the of my work. back.

What is your main list of offers?

NK: I do brochures, flyers, leaflets, menus, newspaper / magazine adverts, business cards, posters, banners, newsletters, logos, branding / packaging profiles, invitations for all events, calendars, The Shopping Guide. The price range is actually very vast because of the type of paper I use. If I use the normal standard paper, the price is usually much cheaper. Some people have more to spend while others may just want something very basic, so I cater for everyone’s needs. The price range will probably be something like from Rs12 to Rs35 a card, upon request of the client. Some want special paper or ribbons, so regardless of how much money you have to spend, it’s very important for me that each card is completely unique.

Neesha who’s been in the trade for 10 years now told us that her company Do you always come with your own started out of a crazy idea she had ideas? one day. NK: Some clients want you to do your own thing, NK: I went in the phone directory and highlighted all the emails of companies, and I sent an email to each and every one of them telling them I do greeting cards. Funnily enough, that was my big break. I got a lot of responses as I had low prices. Everything was just free designing and all you had to do was pay a minimum fee for your cards. That worked out better than I had anticipated.

What do you enjoy the most about what you do?

NK: The greeting cards! It’s what started me off. For a good while I was also focusing a lot on companies doing adverts but now I’ve gone back to the greeting cards. To me, it’s like mixing Craft with Graphic Designing which is very rare here as people usually focus on either Crafts or Graphic Designing. I think that’s what makes my work stand out a bit more.

How do you make yourself known to potential clients?

NK: I think word of mouth in Seychelles goes a long way as it has been the best method for me over the years and now recently with Facebook; I use my profile more for business purposes rather

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

others come with a preconceived idea of what they want and I cater for both. But when a client comes to me with something they found off the net and they want me to do an exact copy, I always like to add a little bit of my touch to it, to make enhance its uniqueness as I do not like copying off other people’s work. I prefer proposing something, but you obviously have to make your clients happy, so I welcome any ideas.

What has been your main struggle in doing such trade?

NK: It’s the working hours! It’s completely draining and it’s very hard to balance work with family life though my husband is very supportive of my work.

What does being your own boss feel like?

NK: Since I left employment last year as a Graphic Designer at SIM to go into my business full time, it has been a very scary and yet exciting 6 months for me. What people don’t often realise is that with being self-employed, every minute you slack, you risk not being paid. It’s all about getting work done and not more so about the hours you put in. I absolutely need to be busy every minute of the day, to feel like this is going somewhere and that it’ll last. Since I’ve started, I’ve not had a free day; which is good because it shows that at least there is a demand and that I’ve built my clients’ trust.

I agree! You’re also the mastermind behind The Shopping Guide, tell us about that:

NK: That’s my baby! In a moment of madness, 2 weeks before Christmas, I just came up with the idea. The objective of the shopping guide is to do maximum advertising. It’s given out for free to the public to ensure that people have 100% readership, so we print about 6,000 copies. All businesses are welcome to advertise in the guide, but we like to concentrate on small and new companies. It usually focuses on happening times of the year: we have a Valentine edition, a Christmas edition, and in between I do a SALE edition in the months of June-August. For companies, if they want it delivered, we do free delivery and for the general public, this is available at the Seychelles duty free, on the airport and the one next to Docklands.

What’s new?

NK: Oh! This year I’m very excited to let the public know that I am also offering PRINTING SERVICES.

Ever thought of furthering your How can clients get in touch with studies in what you’re specialising in? you? NK: Constantly! I’ve always wanted to do a proper course to know how to use Photoshop the proper way, but my biggest problem is time. If I’m away doing a course, even for a week, there’s going to be a huge backlog. Every day I learn something new though, and it’s good to note that I’ve learnt everything on my own and I’m still learning.

NK: Anyone who would like to contact me can easily just browse my Facebook page, Neesha Kumar, or email me on neeshakumar@hotmail. com and we’ll take it from there.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

FEATURED ARTIST

The new Eliza generation is here!

by Mawess Wirtz

name like Ky-manie will make anyone stand out, but for this nine year old, his name is an introduction for how special he is…..and the star that he will become! God’s most precious son. Ky-manie, Nathan Eliza is the only child of Mr Stephen and Mrs Sodia Eliza, and his parents have already made a name for themselves in the Seychelles. Do you remember the athlete Sodia Lesperance? She still holds the record for Long Jump in the under 18 category for the National Sports Day event of 29th June. Do you know the singer Elijah? With parents such as these, the boy had already been blessed with good genes. When his parents explained how he was named, one sees how much thought went into it. The name Ky-manie is inspired from one of Bob Marley’s children, it means “precious”, and his second name Nathan means “son of God”. The ways both his parents talk about him, show how proud he makes them, and how much they love him. And he loves them just as much. Do not say ANYTHING remotely critical of Elijah in his presence, because his dad is his idol, and he will defend Elijah to the end. You are only allowed to compare Elijah to Mercenary, but Elijah has to win. ‘Daddy’s best!’ Tonton can come next. Understandable, when dad is Elijah and Mercernary is Tonton Vincent. According to his mum, Ky-manie is a typical boy despite his obvious star quality. He did try out for sports, but he always lost interest. What he truly loves to do is watch television and play video games. This causes Ky-manie to stay inside so much that funnily enough, Sodia confessed that once a neighbour (a foreigner who was living next door for a while) saw her with him, and asked her whose child he was……..the lady had never seen him playing outside before.

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A star is born. Ky-manie may be a quiet boy who enjoys sitting by himself, but when he steps onto a stage, he shows all the charisma of a true performer. The boy knows how to make you get your groove on. His father first got an inkling of his son’s talent, from as early as when Ky-manie was 5, he would sit in front of the TV and put his own spin on the theme songs of the cartoons that he would watch. Most fathers might have overlooked this skill, but not when your father does this for a living. Oh no! Let us not forget that Elijah is responsible for building up the careers of many local artists, one of whom is his own brother Vincent aka Mercenary. When Ky-manie was 7, Elijah introduced him to the stage, where the pair sang the song “Larg Dilo”, which followed the tune of mardilo, to great reviews. Before the show, since Ky-manie dislikes crowds, his father confessed that he had felt afraid for his son, he worried that he would “freeze” or stutter his lyrics, or not like the experience, but he was pleasantly surprised to find that Ky-manie was a born showman. The little boy might not like mingling in a crowd, but he certainly enjoys entertaining the masses.

Learn something first Even though Ky-manie has actually already said he wants to be a singer, his parents aren’t going to let him focus on that full time, they are firm believers in education, and though they can easily support his career, Ky-manie is going to finish school first. He is a bright boy and he is doing well in school, his dad is expecting him to complete post-secondary before he can even make a peep about quitting school for music. Mrs Eliza is equally not going to entertain that idea, she is going to need a VERY good reason before she is even going to think of her son singing for his bread and butter! Ky-Manie will be doing his music during his school holidays, and during the weekends. He will be an artist still, but not at the expense of his education.

You are not getting away with it! His illustrious parentage does nothing for him, when his mother is a teacher at the very school he attends. Sodia laughingly admitted that Ky-manie’s classroom was behind her own, and she could swoop in on him anytime she heard his teacher even just mention his name! He is a boy who enjoys running around and playing with his friends, so she gets to hear him quite often. Sodia handles the day to day disciplining since, for obvious work related reasons, Elijah stays on Mahé, while Sodia stays on La Digue. Should Ky-manie misbehave in a manner requiring reinforcements, Elijah is more than happy to step in….even if he has to do it via telephone. The family reunites every weekend

and school holiday, so it’s not like Elijah is going to forget! Amusingly, Elijah can render his son to tears by just talking to him over the phone; the little boy does everything he can to keep his father happy. If you want to know Elijah’s secret, it’s, “Bargaining”. Ky-manie does well he is rewarded, he misbehaves, things he loves disappears. Poof!

Maturity He is a boy that is spoiled by all members of both sides of the family, and it would have been easy for him to become a little monster. The fact that Ky-manie is taking this in his stride is a testament to how mature he is for a nine year old. He is able to hold his own when talking to adults and his best friend is 18 year old, T-Tray (Whoop whoop!). They play games and go to the movies just like normal boy friendships. He doesn’t even need to be told to go to bed at a reasonable hour, he sleeps early all by himself.

Prince Charming Thou shalt not hug him in public (the shame!) but at home he is free with his affection. He is quite the charmer as well, and lavishly compliments on his nearest and dearest. His parents say that he will always notice the little things, and compliment them. He compliments his mum about her looks, and his dad about his shows all the time.

Outside daddy’s shadow Daddy says he tells him, “Get mwan, Kopi mwan, Me pa vinn mwan.”Elijah hopes Ky-manie gets to be better than him, and do all the things that he hoped to do. He wants his son to sing about the issues he never did; songs about love, respect, faith and all the principles that he admires. He wants his son to be more successful than he is, and achieve more than he ever has. (Quite the tall order!)

Shine bright like a diamond Despite that he is a hard worker, he is already working on his first single, and he produces himself…. with daddy’s help of course. He has his own label called “Tikim Production”, and he is releasing his single which will include five songs. There will be one song with Mercenary (tonton), one with Elijah (daddy), one with T-Tray (best-bud) and two songs by himself. He is quite prolific for a nine year old! The best thing about him? The boy has all the Eliza swag, he has no fear, and he throws himself into his music. Finally, a quality child star, Seychelles style!

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FEATURED ARTIST

“DO NOT SAY ANYTHING REMOTELY CRITICAL OF ELIJAH IN HIS PRESENCE, BECAUSE HIS DAD IS HIS IDOL, AND HE WILL DEFEND ELIJAH TO THE END. YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO COMPARE ELIJAH TO MERCENARY, BUT ELIJAH HAS TO WIN. ‘DADDY’S BEST!’ TONTON CAN COME NEXT.”

HOMES IN PARADISE

This rare and exotic sea front location in North Mahé features: • A stunning, panoramic view the bay and beach of Beau Vallon • 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom • 2500sq m of land • Private driveway • Plenty of parking and entertainment space • Raised water tank • Spacious garden with fruit trees • Breezy and cool at 18 metres above sea level • Room for expansion or a new home • Quality kitchen appliances • Rare bois noir kitchen cabinets • 5 minute walk to the beach of Beau Vallon • 10 minutes drive to Victoria • Perfect view of Beau Vallon sunsets

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

HOMES IN PARADISE

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A Spa Experience

Whoever thinks that luxury is limited to hotel rooms and villas needs to think again, take another look at his/her living space and start planning! The bathroom is one common room where a hotel’s or a spa’s is always perceived to be nicer than what you have at home. And while in most cases, that is probably true, it does not mean you cannot add small elements of luxury to your bathing space – and well, feel like you’re worth a million bucks!

bath and even add spa-like features. Here are some options for you to consider;

No bathtub? No problem! Create a rain shower instead!

A shower is more than just the two minutes you spend to clean your body parts. We’re not saying you need to keep the water running for ages (which is water wastage by the way, not to mention it will run up your electricity bill if you do not have solar panels), but, it can be 5 incredibly enjoyable minutes of your day with a rain shower head! Nothing is worse than a clogged up shower head with low pressure and too hot/cold temperature.

How boring is your seat?

Forget remodelling or expansion; we are not asking you to go into debt for this, but that doesn’t mean you have to forgo upgrades that can beautify your existing

If we lived in a cold country, we would suggest you get a seat that warms up – but lucky you; you live in paradise! Still, the same old white seat cover usually does not do much for the wow factor of a bathroom and the cloth toilet seat that usually comes in the mat sets you buy – well, they are not very hygienic (unless you have no boys in the house – sorry guys!). Why not look for a wooden or patterned one that would add that extra thing to the room? Just make sure that the design is in line with your overall theme.

There has to be natural materials

Nothing shouts out spa louder than teak, bamboo and stone. They can come in the form of fabric for storage, framed art and decor.

Upgrade your towels!

The comfortable towels we come across in hotel rooms and spas are not exclusive to commercial institutions. You too can have them in your bathroom! They are not cheap but you will forget about the cost once you’re snuggling away in their softness. Choose spa-like colours; white, light green, beige...

Create a mood

At the end of the day, it will boil down to this; the mood you create and how soothing the effect is. Few things create the spa mood as easily as the soft, flickering glow of candlelight. Cluster candles on the vanity or window ledge or around the tub for a long, stress-relieving soak. Choose varieties that are infused with a relaxing scent, such as lavender, sandalwood and ylang ylang — all known to help in countering stress, anxiety and fatigue, and in fostering calm.

Choose your playlist carefully and set up the ipod

Make sure there are no songs on your playlist you would want to skip. If you are soaking in the tub, you need to simply close your eyes and please your senses! It would be assumed that instrumental or classical music would be the way to go – but this is YOUR spa. You choose!

More than a soak

Baby oil works, but this is a spa; right? Why not go organic with your salts and look for aromatic blends specially designed to refresh, soothe and relax your senses...Choose the right products and you will might just also stimulate your blood circulation, enhance your energy levels and eliminate toxins.

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HOMES

Make Your Bathroom

FASHION

The White Shirt There are a few items which are must-haves in a woman’s wardrobe. One of them is a white shirt. White is flawless. White is pure. White is crispy. All of that combined along with its sheer simplicity merits a spot in your wardrobe. While we mostly associate the white shirt with office wear – we cannot deny its touch of sophistication and elegance in less formal settings. So, the white shirt does more than just add professionalism to your 8 to 4 job, it is also multi-functional; adding something classic to your ...

Jeans: Blue jeans and a white shirt may seem typical, but you can easily tweak it by wearing cropped pants and pair it with strappy flat sandals. Throw on a chunky neckpiece or bracelets to look casual yet chic. Aviator sunglasses can also be thrown in the mix!

Emporium (Anse Etoile)

Sarah’s Boutique (Revolution Avenue)

Leggings: Wear your white shirt as a tunic; it’s the perfect way to showcase an intricate necklace. Wear a nice bright collared necklace under the collar of the shirt and you have a completely new look. Skirt: Tucked into an A-Line skirt, no one

would question you mean business. Soften it up with heels and a few bracelets. At the same time, a flowy knee-length skirt will keep them guessing if you are more on the playful side or business side! Remove uncertainties with accessories.

Skinny trousers: Pair your white shirt Rodyanne’s Boutique (Victoria House)

with a pair of skinny black trousers and an eye-catching pair of flats. Leopard print or red would make an unforgettable statement!

Slide Up Moda (Anse Etoile)

Shorts: For a weekend brunch, pair your button-down shirt with a pair of chic shorts. Keep the shorts well above the knee and tuck in your white shirt. Finish the look with accessories and a pair of peep-toe wedges.

Rodyanne’s Boutique (Victoria House)

Slide Up Moda (Anse Etoile)

Chloe’s Boutique (Lodge Street) Sarah’s Boutique (Revolution Avenue)

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BEST BUYS......... BE BOLD. Add this iconic OPI Lacquer to you collection! Makes for hot manicure and/or pedicure. Grab yours @ Scentz Gift-Shop at SR195 only.

Kaftan from Dolly Rockers This beautiful kaftan from Dolly Rockers (Martin Hoarau’s Hairdressing) will turn every single head at the beach or pool party. Its fresh colours and mirror details make it the perfect item to have in your wardrobe for bikini/swimsuit days!

Irresistible, fresh fragrances. A range from Victoria’s Secret that will provide you with the luxury of fragrant hydration. Fast-absorbing formulas in all lotions not to mention an abundance of antioxidant vitamins E and C. Massage on for silky, replenishing moisture. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate feminine sensation. Available at Dira’s Cosmetics at SR304 each

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MAKE-OVER

MAKE-OVER 18 year old SALS student, Anielle has got her best friend Kerri to thank for mustering up the courage for the make-over. It would seem Kerri left her with no choice on the matter. Kerri claimed that Anielle was ‘killing my self-proclaimed swag,’ with her long, lifeless hair and Anielle was quite content to have the tables turned!

Anielle Esparon

BEFORE

Martin Hoarau’s Hairdressing

Hair (with Kellie) Kellie quickly diagnosed Anielle’s hair as shapeless and in need of a bit of shine. Given that a dramatic cut was not much of an option, the way to go was to add some colour to Anielle’s hair. Auburn organic hair colour was chosen to do the job. Martin Hoarau’s Hairdressing uses the OALIA Spanish brand for hair colouring – An odour and ammonia free permanent hair colouring range which allows colour tones full of luminosity and shine. Kellie shortened Anielle’s layers to add softness to her face.

For booking, call Martin Hoarau Hairdressing on 4325186

Make up (with Virginie) Students spend late hours studying, networking and it is no surprise that most of them wear dark under eye circles from the lack of sleep! The first thing Virginie targeted on Anielle’s otherwise flawless face was the dark circles. For the rest of the face, Virginie kept it rather subtle with pinkish and orange tones though the liquid black eyeliner did add a bit of dramatic effect to Anielle’s eyes.

For booking, call Virginie Quatre on 2733020

for AFTER photo go to page 38

The Team

1. Hair: Kellie Allen-Hoarau | 2. Make Up: Virginie Quatre | 3. Photography: Steve Nibourette

AFTER

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BEAUTY

In Flight Beauty… By Jennifer Baldwin

We all look forward to travelling overseas on holiday but as most of us cannot afford the luxury of first class comfort, a long haul flight often means arriving at our destination looking less than our best with crumpled clothes, dry scaly skin, puffy eyes and swollen feet. It only takes a little planning to step off the plane feeling refreshed and looking good.

What to wear

Keep it simple and wear loose, comfortable clothes that don’t wrinkle. Any spills or stains should be less obvious on dark colours, but it’s a good idea to carry a spare top that you can change into in your hand luggage. Keep jewellery to an absolute minimum and don’t forget to keep a wrap handy in case the air-conditioning gets too much. Avoid strappy shoes but if you are travelling in sandals, you might want to carry on some socks to keep your feet warm. Remember, though, that your feet may swell during the flight so if you take your shoes off while in the air, you may have problems fitting into them later. Easy to pack, a pair of flip flops will be your saviour if shoes are uncomfortably tight on landing and will also slip on easily for onboard trips to the toilet.

Keep your body hydrated

Drink plenty of water before and throughout your flight to fight the dry air in the cabin. Keep your body hydrated with water, energy drinks and juices rather than fizzy drinks which cause bloating. Avoid tea and coffee which are diuretics and alcohol which will increase dehydration.

Moisturise

Low humidity and recycled air on board a plane is going to have a dehydrating effect on your skin. Exfoliate the day before or the morning of your flight to remove the top layer of dead cells and maximise absorption of your moisturiser. Use a water rich moisturiser [rather than oil-rich] before you travel as this will help to keep your skin fresh and stop it losing moisture. Make sure you pack a travelsized moisturiser into your bag so that you can reapply during the flight. And don’t forget a lip balm to stop your lips from drying out too!

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Make up

Pack some cleansing wipes, ideal for removing stale make up or for freshening up. Ideally make up should be left off during the flight so that you can apply moisturiser liberally. You can then apply fresh make up before you are due to land rather than retouching what you may have been wearing for hours. However, if you cannot imagine going bare faced for the flight, keep it simple with a tinted moisturiser, a touch of blusher, clear mascara and lipgloss.

However, if you cannot imagine going bare faced for the flight, keep it simple with a tinted moisturiser, a touch of blusher, clear mascara and lipgloss. Continued on Page 38

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BEAUTY

Beauty Tips with

Lynette Botha

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

Lynette Botha, Beauty Editor,

ELLE Magazine (South Africa)

Q: A:

How do I get fuller eyelashes without extensions?

First, comb through lashes with an eyelash brush, then, using an eyelash curler, curl lashes gently. (For more impact, blast your eyelash curler with hot air from your hair dryer before curling – just don’t burn the delicate eye area!) Apply one coat of mascara, making sure you reach all lashes – in the inner and outer corners. Comb through lashes again, to brush out any clumps and add a second coat. Comb through again. For even better results, use a lengthening mascara, followed by a thickening mascara.

Continued from Page 36

Name: Valerie Laljee

Effie says: ‘’I never wear make-up unless it’s a night out clubbing, but great shoes is a must for any night out! Beauty is purely confidence in oneself, what you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.’’

Never leaves the house

Sponsored by:

without: My eyeliner Never says no to: Dresses and shoes. Effie says: “I believe beauty is a quality that someone possesses and it is captivating. It’s not only what is on the outside but also what is in the inside.”

Anielle says: “I look so different! I am definitely coming back.”

Get moving

Deep vein thrombosis has long been associated with long haul travel. Moving around once the seat belt signs are switched off will get your blood flowing to help avoid blood clots in veins. Support hosiery [socks and tights are available] can also help to avoid circulation problems. In between short walks on the plane, you can keep the circulation going in feet and legs while sitting by flexing your ankles in an up and down motion.

Stay comfortable

As well as packing warm socks and a wrap, you may wish to add a supportive neck pillow and a sleep mask to cut off any light will help you drift off to sleep. Listening to relaxing music will help shut out any noise around you. Our easy to follow tips above should help ensure that you leave the plane looking and feeling great, so as they say, sit back, relax and enjoy your flight!

Jennifer Baldwin has worked in the fashion and beauty industry in several countries

Name: Effie Michel

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AFTER

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HEALTH

VIEW FROM THE STATION by Jenny Gilbert

Part 8 of 12 – A lighter, more conscious you in 2013

WHAT IS YOUR SWING TELLING YOU? the art and joy of pendulum dowsing

Pendulums being used for selecting a remedy

I was 19 years old when, in desperation, I was guided to consult with someone called a ‘homeopath’ after medical science had failed to deal with a serious health issue I’d lived with for some years. As if it were yesterday the picture of the elderly German lady wildly swinging what I later found out was a pendulum is still fresh in my memory. At the time - though somewhat fascinated and curious - I was mostly cynical and rather suspicious. Until I got home that evening and shared the experience with my father. For the purpose of clarity, my late father was a most respected industrial chemist whose passion was chemistry and physics. A more logical, lateral thinker I have yet to meet - and I totally trusted and treasured his opinion which wasn’t always so forthcoming because he was such a measured, cautious individual. That evening, after sharing with him the story of the “pendulum-swinging lunatic homeopath”, my father suggested that I should refrain from judgements and proceeded to explain the value of pendulums in the world of science and, closer to home, his reliance on using pendulum/resonance equipment in his laboratories. Needless to say, I never questioned the validity of the pendulum again and instantly saw Ursula Wunderlich (loosely translated as whimsical) with entirely new eyes. She would become my mentor and greatest

WHILE THERE ARE MANY THEORIES OF HOW AND WHY THE PENDULUM WORKS, IT IS IMPORTANT ONLY THAT IT DOES. ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES I DEPEND UPON IN MY LIFE CAME FROM A TEACHER OF MINE WHO SAID THAT ‘UNDERSTANDING IS THE BOOBY PRIZE IN LIFE 40

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source of inspiration and I grew to love and cherish her. She took me under her wing and taught me everything that is important in Homeopathy as well as the use of the pendulum as an imperative tool in the selection of remedies. The strangest thing of all was that over the weeks and months that followed my discovery of pendulums, I was drawn to individuals who were masters in the art of ‘dowsing’ which is the method of using a pendulum. The scope of use of this simple tool was impressive and I learnt how these individuals – most of whom were very learned academics and professionals – used pendulums in their every day lives. It appears that the earliest use of pendulum power comes from a prehistoric cave in Libya some 6000 years ago. Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison and Leonardo da Vinci and many more illustrious men and women worked with pendulums. In 1959, Verne Cameron was able to demonstrate to US Navy officials that he could locate the position and depth of all US submarines in the Pacific using his pendulum. Cameron was even able to say which submarines were American and which were Russian - all by using a pendulum and a map – a task that took him just a few minutes. The fact that pendulum power has re-emerged in the modern world is largely thanks to the determined work of a few good people, one of whom was French priest Abbe Mermet. While skilled at locating sources of water and minerals around the world Mermet also found missing people simply by dowsing over their photograph. Mermet was able to detect where unexploded German shells lay after World War II and it is largely thanks to the priest’s work that many French physicians today use the tool.

willing to accept it into our lives and to let go of our ego. Once we are, we can use various tools, including a pendulum, to reach out to that information to make our lives work better, to improve our health and to contribute to the greater good of mankind. The pendulum can be used for a wide range of applications: healing, energy balancing, detecting imbalances in energy fields, finding missing objects and testing food allergies are just a few. Though there are many beautiful pendulums available, any object hung from a piece of string is a pendulum. If I ever move without having my wallet on me and find the need to ‘pendel’, I use a strand of my hair and a ring for the job. It is as effective as the lovely silver pendulum that lives in my wallet or the crystal pendulum that resides at home, readily accessible at all times. These are my close companions, dependable and comforting for me whenever I am in doubt. As I write this article I am reminded that there have been times when I pondered my sanity in respect of this complete commitment to relying so much on my pendulum - which I’ve used for nearly 40 years now. I choose to measure my mental state of health and intelligence by the successes achieved around me as a direct result of trusting my ‘swing’. How else could I have formulated one of the most respected baby-care ranges on the market that 23 years later has never caused an allergy, or pioneered Homeopathy in Seychelles? How could I possibly develop the balanced, safe and energized products demanded by discerning users from around the world without my trusted companion, guiding me as to the dose and percentages to be used in the formulations and giving me exact and precise information as to what to put in or leave out of the products? I think it is fair to say that the pendulum has enhanced my life immeasurably. I choose to go out on a limb with my pendulum – and always find the fruit. How about you? A Dowsing/Pendulum workshop by an international trainer is being planned to be held at The Station pavilion later this year. Please email your interest to thestation@seychelles.net. Pendulums are available at Lily Moon, The Station. Lily Moon opens 8:30am – 4:30 Monday to Saturday and 11am – 3pm on Sundays.

While there are many theories of how and why the pendulum works, it is important only that it does. One of the most inspirational quotes I depend upon in my life came from a teacher of mine who said that ‘understanding is the booby prize in life’. He was a mathematician and a very wise man who encouraged his students to go out on a limb in order to truly experience their purpose and beauty. In my view, I reckon that even if we studied the pendulum for 40 years in isolation and did nothing else, we still would not have the knowledge and intelligence that the pendulum is able to source for us within minutes. Think of the pendulum as a tool used for obtaining information from beyond normal consciousness. Using a pendulum is a method of focusing and quietening our active intellectual or `left brain’ mind long enough to connect into a deeper level of our own knowing. There is no magic involved. When we are too engrossed in everyday life and materialistic worries our powers of intuition diminish and we lose our connectivity to the unlimited field of knowledge in the universe. This universal information, The Gaia Mind, is the collective energy which is created and broadcast as a result of the combined or collective individual thought processes of the worlds population and it is available to each and every one of us. We have only to be ready and

Pendulums on Crystal

Jenny Gilbert is the founder and owner of Everglow Ltd, the island’s premier natural health manufactures and service providers. She is also Director of Wellness at Resonate Wellness at The Station. Homoeopathy is a well recognised system of ‘natural’ medical treatments for most diseases and conditions. Please visit resonatewell.wordpress.com or email reson8.well@gmail.com.

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HEALTH

THINK OF THE PENDULUM AS A TOOL USED FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM BEYOND NORMAL CONSCIOUSNESS. USING A PENDULUM IS A METHOD OF FOCUSING AND QUIETENING OUR ACTIVE INTELLECTUAL OR `LEFT BRAIN’ MIND LONG ENOUGH TO CONNECT INTO A DEEPER LEVEL OF OUR OWN KNOWING. THERE IS NO MAGIC INVOLVED.

Better Living With Célia Ponzo

“Forgive because where you are is exactly where you are meant to be and be grateful for everything that has led up to this moment’’ This month I want to dedicate this article to my grandmother who just left Seychelles a couple of days ago after having visited me for two weeks. Her departure left me feeling loved, nurtured, grateful and determined to go through life the way she did until now. I cannot begin to tell you the hours I spent talking and listening to her. From a very young age her life was filled with pain leaving her now with a bitter taste to life. Her inside may be the most fragile of all yet she is one of the strongest woman I know. Yet her departure left me thinking how much happier she could have lived if she could have set herself free from guilt and anger. I tried to share with her how I spend my days, how I try as much as possible to live in a better way by letting go of any negative feelings and concentrating on positivity everyday. At one point while I was talking I stopped and thought to myself how much can I influence her now? she has lived far many more years than me therefore felt I had no power to get through to her as somehow I felt what I was saying was of little importance or somehow too late. If I could have been there for her earlier in life this is what I would tell her about anger and forgiveness:

Anger Own your anger: Acknowledge what other people’s words and actions reflect about ourselves. See where you have treated yourself in a similar way and thus attracted the same behaviour externally. This will allow you to take responsibility for the feelings that have been triggered in a situation Try indirect expression: Instead of shouting out loud and letting anger rule you try and express it indirectly by physically moving the anger away and breathe. Breathe and dance. Breathe and sing. Breathe and run. Change: Use the fire energy anger releases in you to make changes in your relationships, career and personal life that align with your true passions.

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FO R G I VE Forgiveness

- Forgive yourself for being disappointed with yourself or people around you but choose to move forward with your life - Forgive because where you are is exactly where you are meant to be and be grateful for everything that has led up to this moment - Forgive because holding onto anger is the perfect pathway to misery - Forgive because you have had the chance to learn something new and you can only be grateful - Forgive because you are here today, so there is no need to blame yesterday - Forgive because time doesn’t move backwards but forward - Forgive because what has happened to you may have been done to someone else - Forgive because you won’t allow someone’s mistakes or behaviour to be a reason for you to play the victim - Forgive because dwelling in hurt hinders your ability to love - Forgive because the best way for you to have control over the situation is to be at peace with it - Forgive yourself because you are enough. You did enough - Forgive yourself because there is not perfect human being that doesn’t make mistakes - Forgive yourself because you are internally fighting with yourself, you are exhausting yourself and making yourself sick. How long will you keep fighting for? Yes, I wish I could have been there for you to relieve you a little from anger, pain and guilt but I am here now and trying my best to transmit this to you. To all readers, if you are going through something negative that causes you pain whether it has been inflicted from others or yourself you are still in time to forgive.

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.

Back on The Scene Q:

The latter half of my twenties were spent at home having and raising my two girls. Now that they’re 5 and 3, I am finally looking forward to stepping out a little and feeling like a woman again. While my partner and family have no problem with this, colleagues I have spoken to about it are shocked that a mother would do that. Am I being selfish? Mildred, Victoria

A: Dear Mildred,

What are your bases for questioning if you are being selfish? Is it based on the fact that your colleagues have a different opinion of how you should be behaving as a mother, or on the fact that you believe you are behaving wrongly towards your children? In the first instance, note people will always have an opinion about how, or what you should and shouldn’t do. Again we can’t help that, for the simple reason that we have no control over others’ thoughts, opinions or their belief system, all together. However, the process of labeling ourselves negatively, based on what others think or what we ourselves think (for that matter) has to be handled with care, ‘cause remember labels tend to stick hard. So once we identify the negative thoughts or opinions, it is important to dispute them. This means questioning the faulty aspects of the opinion or thought, and identifying more realistic and helpful ways of perceiving the situation. There are several strategies that can be used to challenge and ultimately change unhelpful or negative thoughts. One of those strategies, called logical disputing, is to alter unhelpful thoughts/opinion by disputing them logically. It involves, asking yourself questions (called Socratic questioning) and identifying more logical and helpful ways of thinking about the same situation. Example of Socratic questioning: Where is the evidence that I am being selfish, by choosing to step out a little? Why would it be a disaster, when I have my partner and family support on this decision? Just because others are not in favor of my decision, how does that make me selfish?

IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, NOTE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT HOW, OR WHAT YOU SHOULD AND SHOULDN’T DO. AGAIN WE CAN’T HELP THAT, FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER OTHERS’ THOUGHTS, OPINIONS OR THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM, ALL TOGETHER. The aim here, is to find the lack of logic in the assumption. However, it is not enough just to ask the questions. Next step is to change the thoughts, and this can be achieved by devising more rational and helpful ways of perceiving the situation. It involves coming up with statements that directly challenge the irrational assumption. For example: “I have spent the last 5 years at home to raise my children, I now want some adult fun time, while my children remain cared for and protected by my partner and family.” “Others may not like or agree that I step out a little, but that doesn’t make me selfish. It simply means that they have a different approach and way of doing things.” Now do the exercise and I hope you come to a more correct evaluation of your decision and about yourself.

I’m sure you will generate a few answers here. But in all honestly, nothing will happen. Nothing, will happen if people were to think that you are crazy for being pregnant at 44. It may well be an opinion that they will have, and one that you really have no control over, but ultimately it has no impact on your life, your decision or how you live your life. Therefore, if that is your only concern about starting your family, then you really have no problem at all and nothing to worry about. Take very good care of yourself, discuss the pregnancy plan with your partner, get the right medical person on board, let your support network in on it, as and when you feel ready, and lastly enjoy the baby making process. Best wishes.

Can I have some Money? Q:

Given that my grandmother’s carer asked me for money after working for only one week, I should have known I had met one of ‘those’ kinds of people. 6 months into the job, and my debt list is now close to SR3000 – unpaid of course. I know that it’s now time to address this. My problem has been how fond my grandmother is of her and I just thought I’d overlook the situation. How do I tell her no next time? Miss Generous, Victoria Jenny, 26

A: Dear Miss Generous,

Now this might come as a surprise but the only way to say no, is to say “NO” (Just for a little giggle here). But seriously the only way to get past this issue, is through use of effective communication in problem solving. There is no arguing that it can be hard to find the right carer for an elderly person to spend her/his day with. You are lucky to have found one that your grandmother is fond of. This bit of information has been clearly communicated to the carer. However, the problem is what has not been communicated clearly, and that is the issue of pay and other money matters. The message that has been communicated since the first week, is that money can be made available to her at any given time. I’m sure this was not directly stated, but the fact that she asked and it was given, you set the stage for probable future demands, which were equally met, resulting even in a debt situation. Now the question is how to reverse the situation, without impacting on the most important person in this equation, your grandmother? So to solve the problem, follow those simple steps. 1) Define the problem clearly. “Is it that she asks for money at random times or that she doesn’t pay back” because each represent different issues and will be dealt with differently. 2) Brainstorm possible solutions. Some solutions are not so obvious, so be creative in your thinking. 3) Identify the best solutions. In the process eliminate the ones that are not feasible or realistic. 4) Decide on a solution and set clear goals. From the list of workable solutions, write down specific goals which will become the focus of your future actions. Specify things like “when you will raise the concern? Next time she ask or before? who will be present?” 5) Break down your larger goals into subgoals. If the goal is that she repays her debt to you, you might have to break the goals into small chunks, in terms of how she’s going to do that. 6) Implement the solution. As you planned it. 7) Evaluate the outcome. If the solution did not work. Go back to the drawing board. Good luck and hope it’s a win-win situation all around.

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.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

AGONY AUNT

Dear Annalisa ......

PARENTING

De-worming by Nathalie Hodgson

Did you know that animal flesh tends to be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, worms, and their eggs? Not a pleasant thought, but an important one to know for the benefit of your health. You may have heard that worms is something that only happens in so-called “third world countries”, however we live in the same world they do, the chances that you are a worm carrier is extremely high. After a visit to my Ayurvedic Doctor here in Dubai I discovered a whole history behind having worms and what you can do about it. Many of us have been infested our entire life, from when we were children. You may have never actually seen the worm. But if you eat the eggs, which are very tiny, they will grow into something much bigger, and they will grow inside of you. The eggs can be found everywhere, from the soil to the playground, to the daycare center to the restaurant, at your job, and more so from your pets. They are spread mostly by people not washing their hands, after the bathroom. The tiny eggs and parasites lie quietly, waiting to be picked up by a host (that means you), and they thrive on sugar, dairy, carbohydrates, chemicals and are fascinated with meat.

How do I know if I have worms?

Have you ever eaten dairy? Beef from a fast food restaurant? How about raw food such as a salad that you did not clean yourself? Have you ever had sushi without the wasabi? Do you eat pork, which like chicken and their eggs are a huge parasite carrier. The same can be said for ground beef. How many times have you eaten a meal without properly washing your hands? So yes probably you have some parasites. But don’t be alarmed many people don’t feel sick from worms and they tend to just live with them, while others have mild symptoms such as a on-going ferocious appetite, digestive problems and circulation problems. People tend to especially pick up parasite infections from animals, children, and food. If the children or an animal is a carrier, if they are not treated, they can easily re-infect you as some parasites are very contagious. When it comes to small children especially, they go out and come into contact with many other children, which tend to be high carriers as they do not “wipe” themselves correctly, and tend not to practice good hygiene. So what are the symptoms to look out for? After a visit to the Ayurvedic Doctor here in Dubai, he advised me to look out for are stomach bulge, loss of appetite, continuous fever, malnourishment, dry cough during night, lack of concentration, white patches over the face, loss of energy, lack of sleep and loss of hemoglobin count in the blood. People with a persistent parasite/worm infestation tend to have blood problems, anemia, muscle and joint complaints, mood problems, bloating, itchy anus at times, digestive complaints, heart and lung problems if it has spread, discomfort in the stomach or liver area.

Treatment

Everyone should consider a cycle of de-worming twice a year to improve your health. Children should also de-worm every year (from the age of 12 months). All the common worm infections in school-age children can

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

i o d o t w o h d n a n e wh

“THE EGGS CAN BE FOUND EVERYWHERE, FROM THE SOIL TO THE PLAYGROUND, TO THE DAYCARE CENTER TO THE RESTAURANT, AT YOUR JOB, AND MORE SO FROM YOUR PETS. THEY ARE SPREAD MOSTLY BY PEOPLE NOT WASHING THEIR HANDS, AFTER THE BATHROOM.”

be treated effectively with two single-dose pills: one for all the common intestinal worms (hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms) and the other for schistosomiasis (bilharzia). The treatment is safe, even when given to uninfected children. He continues to advise that ‘there are many de-worming capsules on the market however you must seek advice on those that expel, and those that kill’. Medicines like medicines like Albandazole or Mebandzole are recommended. Antibiotics only target bacteria that are living in and around the worm, they do not kill worms. Herbs are usually the most effective and natural treatment. Such herbs such as black walnut, wormwood (the prima donna of worm killers), garlic, sage, ginger, castor oil, Pau D’ Arco, thyme, bitter lemon (found in Indian markets that looks like an ugly cucumber), milk thistle herb to support the liver, peppermint, and many

more. According to WHO, pregnant women can be treated, but only after their first trimester (12 weeks). Albendazole (medicated de-wormer) is not recommended for pregnant women.

Why De-worm?

A large portion of the nutrition required by the body is consumed by worms, resulting in malnutrition. At the same time, a considerable amount of blood

Continued on Page 46

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PARENTING

Continued from Page 44 is also been taken from our body by the worms. This can cause organ failures and delay in development milestones in children, who tend to be most affected by worms. Types of common worms in the human stomach are hook worm, pinworm and tape worm. In the olden days there were medicines which will expel worms from the body. But nowadays the medicines have changed. The new generation of medicines will kill the worms, which the body digests and expels with the stool. This is for the safety of the children as the sedated worms which when expelled can come up to the throat from the stomach and obstruct the respiratory passage. This can also be fatal.

On-going home remedies:

The below herbal remedies will not expel the worms completely but rather keep the eggs from hatching or maybe even expel the young worms so they don’t grow into adulthood. The below are for adults only and not recommended for children. Take echinacea capsules. This potent herb can eradicate numerous disease-causing microorganisms. It works by stimulating your immune system cells, including macrophages, which target these parasites. Take one 500-mg capsule once a day for no more than 2 weeks. Take turmeric tablets. This powerful East Indian spice can cleanse your body of most diseasecausing bacteria, especially bad intestinal bacteria and worms. It contains an active ingredient called curcumin, which destroys these bacteria internally or externally. Take two 500-mg twice daily. Eat a lot of raw fresh garlic. This potent herb is composed of a substance called allicin. When ingested, your gastrointestinal tract turns into a hostile environment for many parasites. Chop two cloves of fresh garlic and swallow with a glass of water. Take uva ursi (bearberry) tablets. This herb contains potent compounds called arbutin, which acts by destroying the cellular walls of numerous bacteria that can infect your body. The recommended dosage is one 800-mg tablet once a day with food. Consume Vitaklenz capsules. This supplement contains 12 all-natural potent herbs which can cleanse your body by destroying intestinal parasites. It also detoxifies your liver. Take one capsule three times daily. Recommended dosages are for no more than two weeks or for however long your Ayurvedic Doctor advises. Please consult your doctor for more information for herbal remedies for your children. Happy Parenting! References: www.dewormtheworld.org http://www.natural-old-home-remedies.com Dr Chandy Balance 360 Spa – www.balance360.com Nathalie Hodgson, is a writer, mother, PR & Marketing consultant and yoga instructor, juggling this whilst raising two kids and enjoying the most of life, she can be contacted on natsavy@hotmail.com.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

Parole de sage-femme avec Loréa Dewals (Cabinet Isis) Planifier sa grossesse est une décision personnelle, qui peut parfois être prise au sein d’un couple. Vous désirez être enceinte, pour commencer ou agrandir la famille, voici quelques recommandations : • Avez-vous une alimentation équilibrée ? si oui, continuez comme cela et variez le type d’aliment que vous consommez. • Etre enceinte, ne veut pas dire manger pour deux. Au contraire, vous devez dorénavant être plus attentive à votre alimentation. Souvenez-vous, c’est la qualité qui compte, non la quantité. • Le seul complément alimentaire recommandé pendant la grossesse est l’acide folique, (dans le cadre d’une alimentation variée et équilibrée). Il est préférable de débuter dès que vous désirez être enceinte et ce jusqu’à 12 semaines d’aménorrhées. • Si vous êtes en surpoids, vous devez contrôler votre alimentation et essayer de perdre du poids avant votre grossesse, pour éviter toutes complications. Il est recommandé que la prise de poids d’une personne dont l’Indice de Masse Corporelle est normal ne dépasse pas 12 kgs. • Débuter ou continuer une activité physique, en évitanttous sports de contact. • N’attendez pas d’être enceinte pour arrêter de fumer, de boire ou de consommer des substances illicites. Si vous rencontrez des difficultés à arrêter cette consommation, vous pouvez solliciter l’aide d’un professionnel de santé. Il est important de savoir que fumer augmente significativement vos risques de grossesses extra-utérines ou de fausses couches, par exemple. • Assurez vous d’avoir fait un frottis cervico vaginal, moins de deux ans avant le début de votre grossesse. • Vos vaccinations doivent être à jour. • Ayez une vie sexuelle, sans comportements à risque. Vous devez garder à l’esprit qu’une maladie sexuellement transmissible, ne sera pas sans conséquences sur le déroulement de votre grossesse et le devenir de votre enfant. Ce ne sont que de simples recommandations. Une fois enceinte, le suivi anténatal et l’accompagnement seront primordiaux, pour le bon déroulement de cette merveilleuse aventure.

Name: New text, Name:“New Ezekiel Beaudouin quote. New colours.” Birthday: 3rd August *New text”! From: Jilliann Beaudouin (Aunty) Jillian says: “An energetic little boy, who never gets enough of watching ‘Madagascar’…. Though he can be a handful at times, there is never a dull moment around my little lion. No words can ever describe how much he means to me... Happy 3rd Birthday my lil’ Eze….”

(In collaboration with Chanterelle Bookshop)

PET CORNER

Health Benefits of Having a Pet with Nathalie Hoareau

hen we come home, no matter where we’ve been or how long we’ve been gone for, the greeting we get from our pets surely warms our heart, no matter how exhausted we feel. If you’ve ever loved a pet, you know the kind of joy animals can bring. But we should be excited about the mounting evidence that they can improve our physical well-being, too.

Here’s a list of Health Benefits your pet can bring: 1. Reduced Risk of Allergies, Asthma, and Eczema

People with allergies produce antibodies—which can cause inflammation in the airways (asthma) or the skin (eczema)—in response to irritants like dander and saliva. But exposure to a pet during infancy may mean less chance of developing such reactions in adulthood—possibly, scientists speculate, because the immune system becomes desensitized to allergens. What’s more impressive is that this immune-stabilizing effect appears to begin before birth. A 2008 study showed that prenatal pet exposure lowers allergic antibody production in the umbilical cord.

2. Lower Blood Pressure

The simple act of petting an animal—or even gazing at an aquarium—results in a drop in blood pressure. And pets can have a longer-term impact on the cardiovascular system, too, as researchers discovered when they tracked 24 hypertensive stockbrokers who adopted a cat or dog. Pet ownership blunted the blood pressure response to mental stress; the traditionally prescribed hypertension drug did not.

3. A Stronger Heart.

Researchers who followed 369 heart attack survivors in the landmark Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial found that dog owners had only a 1 percent chance of dying within a year, compared with a 7 percent chance for subjects who didn’t have a dog. A newer study, from 2009, found that people who had owned a cat at some point in their lives were 37 percent less likely to die of a heart attack than those who hadn’t.

Pet of the Month Name: Sammy

Age: 9 months old

Gender: Male

His Partner in Crime: Bubbles (the cat) Owners: Christy & Stuart Doust

Christie & Stuart Doust say: “Sammy has got shinny black fur and a white diamond shape patch on his chest. He’s had a rough start in life; we found him near our house when he was about 3 months old. He was very sick. Him and Bubbles are the same age and full of energy!! They play, eat, sleep together and also hunt together!! Mainly lizards, snakes, dragon flies. They are very cheeky!! One day I noticed some eggs were missing!! I had left some eggs out in the plastic box and Bubbles climbed on the table opened it and took an egg out and dropped it on the floor ! They both enjoyed the snack and then Sammy ate the egg shell to hide the evidence (good team work!!) We love them to bits”

4. Greater Calm for Alzheimer’s Patients

Studies have revealed that Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outbursts if an animal is present, and research shows that caregivers can feel less burdened as well, especially if the animal is a cat (perhaps because cats require little additional care). A diabetic alert dog notices the subtle chemical changes that occur in its owner’s body as her blood sugar begins to drop, then notifies her by barking or licking her—waking her in the middle of the night, if need be—so she can eat a snack and avoid a dangerous hypoglycemic episode. Seizure dogs provide protection in a number of ways: They bark to alert others when their owner goes into a seizure, and lie down next to her to prevent injuries from convulsions. They are even able to retrieve a phone for a 911 call. Over time, some dogs develop the ability to detect a seizure before it happens. An autism service dog is trained to provide a calming presence for its owner, and may even accompany children to school, helping to minimize their emotional outbursts. The dogs also provide a common ground through which autistic kids can interact with their peers and further their social skills. The Mexican hairless is gaining popularity as a therapy dog for people with fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic pain. Since it lacks fur, the dog’s body is warm to the touch, and patients experience relief simply by holding the animal or lying next to it. So if you are considering a healthier lifestyle and don’t have a pet, these tips may be for you. Source: www.oprah.com

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WITH

BE RNARD GE ORGE S

Spanking my child? At what point does it become illegal? The debate on corporal punishment for adults and spanking for children has been going on from time immemorial. Today still, parents are polarised, and society is divided on the subject. On the one hand are the defenders of the rights of the child for whom any spanking is wrong as the child, it is said, ends up traumatised. On the other hand are the traditionalists who claim that appropriate spanking puts the child on the straight and narrow and serves a useful purpose. The argument of these goes something like this: ‘I was spanked by my parents and it made a man/woman out of me. I want my child to grow up to be a responsible adult rather than a pampered brat.’ The jury is still out on which is the correct approach and I suspect it will be out for some time still. At the end of the day, correction of children is a matter for the parents and the appropriateness of one method over the other is subjective and depends somewhat on the attitude of the child to non-physical sanctions. But what does the law say? There is a wonderful provision of the Civil Code which sets the scene. ‘A child during his minority,’ says the Code, ‘owes honour and respect to his father and mother...He shall remain under their authority...which shall be exercised in the interest of the child.’ Any punishment or chastisement of the child thus must be exercised within these parameters: to achieve honour and respect when that is lacking, to underline parental authority, and to do it in the child’s interest. When looked at in that light, the answer to the question is evident. Any punishment, including spanking, is permissible, so long as it is carried out to achieve these purposes and is done in the child’s interest. The same sentiment is present in our penal legislation. The Children Act criminalises assaults on, or ill-treatment of, a child if that results in unnecessary suffering or injury to health. But, the Act allows parents, guardians and teachers of a child to ‘administer proper

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

“OUR LAW IS BOTH FAIR AND CLEAR ON THE MATTER. SPANK THE CHILD, BUT DO SO IN ITS INTEREST. DO NOT CAUSE ANY UNNECESSARY SUFFERING TO THE CHILD WHEN DOING SO. NOTE WELL THE WORD ‘UNNECESSARY.’” punishment’ to the child so long as that stays within the bounds set out before. This, of course, is a euphemism for a good old spanking when the child needs it. This short journey through the law will have provided the answer to this vexed question, I hope. Our law is both fair and clear on the matter. Spank the child, but do so in its interest. Do not cause any unnecessary suffering to the child when doing so. Note well the word ‘unnecessary.’ The law realises that spanking will hurt, but it must not hurt too much. Likewise, a spanking must not cause injury to health. What the parent/guardian/ teacher must not do therefore is go overboard. So long as the spanking has a purpose, is administered fairly and is not gross, the law will smile on the application of the correction. But, belts and buckles, roten anba lasann, a whipping leaving marks and welts, administered in anger, are no-nos. The law frowns on that. As with many things – and here I am thinking alcohol consumption, or staying out in the sun, or working or studying too much – moderation is the name of the game. Spank in anger to frighten the child, and the long arm of the law will find you, grab you and punish you. Spank moderately to punish and correct the child, and do so only when absolutely necessary, and the law will stay away from your door.

Educated at Seychelles College and Cambridge University, Bernard has two Masters Degrees – in law of divorce and in canon law, the law of the church. He is best known as a lawyer, having been in private practice for over 30 years.

CONSERVATION

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE Eco-crafts made from waste

Some of the products created by APANA

Miss Carol’s classroom

Contributed by: Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S), a local NGO whose mission is to promote sustainable living in Seychelles. S4S is currently implementing a project on sustainable waste management funded by the GEF small grants programme. 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.

Did you know?

People who have visited parts of the world where resources are scarce and poverty is rife have probably been impressed with how resourceful, creative and innovative people can be when it comes to creating arts and crafts out of rubbish. A great example of this is Bazura.Biz who work with a women’s co-op in the Philippines to collect used juice containers, rice bags and advertising banners and turn them into amazing handbags and accessories. Bazura bags are now sold online all over the world and are becoming standard fashion accessories! If you have been to Africa you will also have seen all kinds of funky little cars, trucks, planes and boats made out of bits of tin, wood, plastic and whatever other trash was at hand. But guess what? This phenomenon is happening here in Seychelles too! First of all, if you visit any of the local schools, you will see numerous examples of creativity being shown off by teachers and their students. One particularly inspired teacher from Beau Vallon Secondary, Miss Carol Athanasius, shows her students how to make a vast array of crafts using recycled textiles, leather, take-away boxes, PET bottles, wires, cardboard and other waste. This practice of re-using waste for arts and crafts in schools has been going on for decades, prompted partly by limited funds and resources to buy new materials, but also the creativity of teachers and their desire to tackle the waste problem through re-use and recycling. An interesting new trend in Seychelles is the emergence of recycled products on the arts & crafts market. There are two great examples of this: APANA, an NGO which focuses on glass recycling, and Kaju Studio, which makes jewellery and accessories from waste and found objects. APANA was set up in the 1990s by Lucy Hickerson-Luc, and since they started they have experimented with a variety of art forms, most involving some form of recycling. Perhaps their most exciting venture to date is the glass recycling project, which involves melting down used glass bottles and creating beautiful practical and decorative objects. Products such as wine glasses, soap dishes, and salad bowls are for sale at their studio in Baie Lazare, but can also be purchased in Victoria at the craft shop near the courthouse and at Temooljee’s. More recently Juliette Dine set up Kaju Studio, a business specializing in the production of handbags, jewellery and other accessories made from waste materials such as gunny sacks and car inner tubes. Juliette’s products are exquisitely crafted, each one unique and made on order, although she does plan to eventually open a shop in town, (she says preferably in a used container that will reflect her recycling ethic!) Recycling ventures are great but only work as sustainable projects or businesses if people buy the products. It’s one thing to sort waste for recycling, but sorting is only one part of the “cycle” that recycling entails. So next time you’re looking for a special gift for someone, or a treat for yourself, make sure you check out APANA or Kaju, and support local recycling artisans and also help our planet! For further reading about recycled arts and crafts in Seychelles and overseas, check out these websites: http://apanango.org http://kajustudio.com http://www.bazurabags.com http://www.africancrafts.com http://www.scoop.it/t/recycled-crafts

The Sea Star By Helena Sims

• Sea stars (starfish) are carnivorous invertebrates closely related to sea urchins; • They have no brains or blood; • Their ‘blood’ is actually filtered sea water; • They have an eye spot at the end of each arm; • There are over 2,000 species of sea stars and although the 5-arm variety is most common, some species can have up to 40 arms! • They can regenerate their limbs if one has been lost and sometimes can grow an entire body from just one portion of severed limb! • A starfish can consume prey by extruding its stomach outside of its body, enveloping the prey and digesting it, then pulling the stomach back in the body. This is important as often the prey is bigger than the mouth of the sea star. • They can reproduce both sexually (by eleasing eggs and sperm in the water column) and asexually. • They have the ability to change their gender whenever they want! ‘Helena has always been passionate about marine life. Within her heart beats the rhythm of the ocean and her son basks in her wake as she champions those who cannot speak for themselves’

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

CONSERVATION SPECIAL

Academy by the Sea A year of adventures by Abi March

Academy by the Sea Project Coordinator and MCSS Education Officer On Saturday 26th April 2013, eight excited yet nervous students from schools across Mahé and Praslin sat on a small plane on the runway of Seychelles International Airport. The reason for their excitement? They knew they were off on an adventure of a lifetime. The reason for their nerves? They had no idea where they were going! The group were part of the Academy by the Sea marine education programme for secondary and post secondary students across Seychelles. The project is coordinated by the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS) and is funded by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF). The project, which began last July, aims to increase levels of awareness of the marine environment and possible career paths at secondary and post secondary level. In June/July 2012, Exploring St Josep

h Atoll. Photo by Mi

chael Scholl.

students from all the secondary schools in Seychelles were invited to take part in a competition to gain one of the 24 SOSF scholarship places to the ‘Academy by the Sea’ programme. The competition was to write an essay or design a poster on the theme ‘Conserving Seychelles Marine Life’. There were two age categories (S1-S3 and S4-S5) for the competition, which coincided with the two age groups for which the programme would be taught. The standard of entries was very high, but after a hard decision, the 24 students were selected. There were an additional 11 students who took self-funded places. The two Level 1 programmes took place in the August/September school holiday last year at the Dive Seychelles Underwater Centre at Berjaya Beau Vallon Hotel, with a sandy beach and beautiful reef on the doorstep. During the programme students developed their skills in fish and coral identification, snorkelling, teamwork and building their confidence by doing presentations and role plays. Throughout the programme teaching, the SOSF Five Key Threats of Climate Change, Habitat Destruction, Overfishing, Pollution and Predator Loss were underpinned. Students also visited different coastal habitats like coral reefs, wetlands, seagrass beds, sandy beaches and mangroves all around Mahé. They learnt about these different coastal

rubbish colle turtle made from Students around the . rch Ma oll. Photo by Abi SOSF Michael Sch

cted with CEO of

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

habitats in the Seychelles and the animals that live within them, and the threats that the habitats and animals are facing. One animal the students learnt about in more detail was sharks. Sharks have a bad reputation in many places around the world and with many people in the Seychelles this is no exception. Students researched different aspects of sharks: their importance, the threats they face, how they are used and why they are misunderstood. Academy student Oneal Tambou, 16, previously thought sharks were a big threat to students, after his research he said “Their prey is not humans but mostly fish. They play a vital role in the ecosystem and should be protected.” Changing people’s perceptions about sharks is an important part in helping to conserve them. Before the programme, of the 35 students, only 3 were regular snorkelers, the majority had either never snorkelled before or had just once. The difference in the students over the two weeks was astounding; they went from being timid, novice water goers to confident and proficient snorkelers; in fact by the end of the two weeks it was a tough job getting the students out of the water! At the end of both two weeks, all the students had gained a lot from their time and were keen to continue their learning. “I really enjoyed it, it was so much fun, I learnt a lot of new things and made new friends” said 16 year old Shafira Charlette, “the only thing that would make it better is to make it longer!”. 12 year old Sophie Berlouis simply “loved loved loved loved loved it!” So the Level 1 programme was a success, but what could the students do next? Earlier this year, Academy by the Sea received a very exciting invitation from SOSF to host a special Level 2 programme at an undisclosed location. From the students who attended the first programme, the 16 most deserving students were chosen to participate. The students were selected based on their enthusiasm and interest shown, and willingness to participate at the first academy. Secret meetings and emails were exchanged between the students parents and I, but after months of planning we had succeeded in keeping the secret. So back on the runway, the plane sped down the tarmac and 16 students took off to an unknown land. Their excitement was infectious due to the surprise that lay ahead, “How long will it take” they asked, “Anywhere between 5 minutes and 10 hours” they were told so as not to give any clue as to their destination. As we got nearer to the mystery location and the plane got lower, the anticipation on the plane was overwhelming, everyone excitedly pointing and squealing in delight! As you looked out of the windows, turquoise blue waters stretched ahead, and then little islands appeared from nowhere. The plane made a loop around an atoll and then flew down low over a small island to one side and landed on

“THE PLANE MADE A LOOP AROUND AN ATOLL AND THEN FLEW DOWN LOW OVER A SMALL ISLAND TO ONE SIDE AND LANDED ON THE GRASS RUNWAY. AS THE PLANE ROLLED TO A STANDSTILL, THE PILOTS TURNED AROUND AND ANNOUNCED TO THE GROUP “YOU HAVE ARRIVED ON... D’ARROS!”

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

CONSERVATION SPECIAL

lobby. The opening on 6th July also saw the first public showing of the SOSF short film about the Academy by the Sea programme and D’Arros. Sophie, Irma, Abi & Stepha nie enjoy a snorkle in the clear waters at D’Arros. Photo by Michael Scholl. Since joining the Academy by the Sea programme the last August, grass runway. As the plane rolled to a the students’ standstill, the pilots turned around and announced to the group “You knowledge, have arrived on... D’Arros!” enthusiasm and D’Arros is a 1.5km2 island in the Amirantes, one of the groups of the dedication to Seychelles outer islands. Last year the island and nearby St Josephs conservation has ! Students jump into marine education Atoll were purchased by SOSF. SOSF, together with the D’Arros grown. Thanks by Abi March. o Phot Research Centre, will now be turning this amazing, unique part of the to Save Our Seas Seychelles into a nature reserve. As part of their commitment to marine Foundation and the conservation in Seychelles, they were hosting Academy by the Sea Marine Conservation Society Seychelles, there are now 16 more students on the island. passionate ambassadors for marine conservation in Seychelles. Anthea The time on the island flew by, just like the birds we surveyed, though Laurence is an aspiring marine biologist in her last year at Beau Vallon so much was crammed into each week! We explored the island and Secondary School, “The Academy by the Sea programme has been an neighbouring St Joseph Atoll. Every new activity led us to seeing more excellent opportunity for myself and other students to learn about and more amazing marine life. Students looked at evidence of the coastal habitats around the Seychelles and the animals that live within five key threats while on the island; they undertook fish surveys and them. On behalf of all the students who have attended the Academy by linked the results to overfishing, and coral surveys and learnt about the Sea programme, I would like to thank MCSS and SOSF for giving us how climate change can lead to coral bleaching; they had firsthand this chance to have fun and amazing experiences. We will endeavour to knowledge of pollution by doing a beach clean and collecting 10 big continue to be marine ambassadors for the Seychelles.” bags of rubbish which had washed up on a turtle nesting beach; they I am very proud of each one of the students for the skills they have learnt a solution to habitat destruction and each planted a native tree as developed and enthusiasm and dedication they have shown in each part of the rehabilitation of the forest on D’Arros; they gained an insight activity they have undertaken. It has been a pleasure to share so on predator loss through presentations by shark experts and through many incredible experiences with this group of committed young personal experiences appreciated why sharks are people. I hope they continue to join the Academy important. activities and this is just the start of their journey Visits to St Joseph Atoll, into the world of marine conservation. This August/ a beautiful place with September we will welcome a new group of many white sand cays students to the Academy by the Sea programme. atop pristine waters with We look forward to getting to know them and an abundance of marine exploring the beauty of Seychelles waters together. life, gave such experiences MCSS is a non-governmental organisation with sharks. While on the registered in Seychelles which promotes the boat we saw lemon sharks conservation of the marine environment through in the shallows around education, research and the implementation of a the mangroves. Just on number of programmes (www.mcss.sc) crystal clear water at the in l rke sno t firs ir Students on the the outside of the lagoon, SOSF is a non-profit organisation which funds oll. sch l hae Mic D’Arros. Photo by the students were taken projects which focus on the major threats to the to a very special snorkel marine environment through research, education, site. They slid off the boat awareness and conservation (www.saveourseas.com) and put their head into the water and were greeted with the sight of For more information on the programme, ‘like’ the ‘Academy by the Sea, around 20 black tip reef sharks. Any nerves soon turned to awe and Seychelles’ page on Facebook. You can also follow the project through amazement as they watched the graceful animals swim around the reef. our blog at www. saveourseas.com/projects/integrated_marine_ It was an incredible sight watching the students; this time last year the science_education_in_seychelles same students were describing sharks as ‘scary’ and ‘killer’. Through the The SOSF video about the Academy by the Sea: D’Arros Expedition can knowledge and experiences gained at the academy, the 16 students be viewed at www.vimeo.com/69096172 now have a great passion for these animals and desire to save them. 13 year old Joshua Sofola said “I love sharks since I met one”. The students described their inwater encounters with manta rays as one of the most breathtaking highlights of their trip. Students in one group were snorkelling on the reef with a turtle, just as we started to head back to shore a manta was spotted. “Suddenly everybody stopped in surprise when a manta ray came” recalls Benny Boodna, a 14 year old student from Praslin, “I was over the moon to see it and it was opening its mouth and coming right towards me and Abi, I was so excited. I have never even seen a manta ray before and to see one so up close was amazing!” Farima Figaro described her time on D’Arros as “a place of silence, of interest and of love for the sea”. Farima is currently studying biology, chemistry and maths at A-Level, “It’s seriously inspired me for my future AbtS students on the runway at D’Arros. Photo by Michael Scholl. career as a marine biologist” she continues, “I am dedicated to becoming an amabassador and I love D’Arros and the place it is”. To celebrate the first year of Academy by the Sea, an exhibition was held at the National Library. All the students worked really hard, attending weekend sessions, to produce the content. It was an opportunity for the students to show the public about the different activities they have participated in and things they have learnt while attending the Level 1 and 2 programmes. Our thanks go to local art teacher Andy Alvis, who helped the students prepare the display. It was a huge success, gaining lots of public attention, as an eye catching focal point in the library

BLUE OCEAN

Release Fish Mounts Hooked On Conservation by Henry Riggs-Miller

Anglers are becoming more and more conscious about conservation worldwide. It is now customary to release a billfish alive. Contrary to old norms, many people now frown upon those who kill these beautiful fish for a ‘common hero shot’. Fly-fishermen have been releasing their catches for years, and many foreigners who travel to our islands release trophy dogtooth tuna and GT’s (Giant Trevally) alive to fight and breed another day. As more and more of these conservation-minded anglers vacation on our shores, local captains and charter operators will have to adapt and learn how to make catch and release fishing a routine part of their day. So how do you remember or immortalize that once-in-a-lifetime catch when you release the fish? The answer is with a release fish mount. Captains and deckhands can help their customers preserve their memories and document their fish stories while in Seychelles by recommending that they invest in a release fish mount to hang on their wall. A release mount is produced without the need for any part of the fish, which means you can release your catch and still hang it in your home or on your office wall. Technology has kept pace with catch and release fishing, thus allowing beautiful lifelike replicas to be manufactured from manmade materials. Each original replica is hand painted in vibrant life-like colours by skilled artists. Since there are no parts of the actual fish, release mounts will last longer and can be completed quicker than traditional mounts. The mounts will be carefully crated and delivered to your home or office in any part of the world!

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

Another advantage of a release mount is that you don’t have to decide on the spot if you want to commit to the mount. If you decide months later that you wish you had a particular fish mounted, it can be done with a phone call. All you need is an approximate length or weight of the fish. A photo helps but is not necessary. Compare this with traditional taxidermists who still use parts of the fish to produce their mounts. These original mounts use the skin of the fish and a number of parts. Recently the skin has been replaced by fiberglass or a similar material, but some of the parts are still needed which means that the fish still has to be killed if it is to be mounted. These fish parts dull and deteriorate in time, which means the quality and colours of a traditional mount cannot compare to those of a release mount. Finally, you must commit to a traditional mount on the spot since some body parts of the fish will need to be used. Just like catch and release fishing, release mounts are the wave of the future. You can preserve the exciting memory of your catch with a replica that you can be proud of, and still allow the fish to go free by releasing it to live another day. For more information about release mounts please contact 2531531. Bio: Henry is one of a handful of anglers that has caught IGFA’s coveted ‘Billfish Royal Slam’ (all 9 billfish species) twice. A passionate angler and conservationist, he is also The Billfish Foundation (TBF)’s ambassador in the Seychelles. Together with his wife, Allison, Henry co-owns FINS Tackle, a big-game fishing and pro-tackle store opening in the third trimester of 2013.

Boat & Crew The Crew

BLUE OCEAN

Flipper

The Boat

Names : Emmanuel and Adrian Uzice (Father & Son) Ages : 57 years and 31 years Position on boat: Emmanuel: Owner, Adrian: Skipper Years with the boat: 5 Why they love this job: “The job helps us meet new people every day. We have a passion for the sea. We feel that we are ambassadors for our country and that this business helps us to represent Seychelles.” About Amical Charters: Friendly, fun loving personalities. When we’re not busy with clients we’re busy fishing which is our past time, our way of life, since that’s what we did before we created Amical Charters. We have this wonderful relationship with each other not just as father and son but as best of friends. We believe in family. And this is what makes our job successful, UNITY. Hence the Name Amical Charters, sharing this friendship with our clients making them part of this family, making them feel at home away from their home. Amical Charters is not just a business, it‘s FAMILY.

Currently we have 2 boats in fleet. Winner and Flipper, each of them have their own story. Flipper, one of the two boats from Amical Charters, unbelievably, came as an apparition. Something or someone spoke to us and said we must get that boat called Tralala. It so happened that Flipper’s previous name was Tralala and she was found at a very friendly gentleman’s house and it was for sale. As soon as we saw her we said that’s the one. She’s been with us ever since. The picture shows us and some clients (who are now our closest friends) holding sailfishes, that’s Flipper in the beginning. Together with Winner (our other boat) we redesigned her and made her new; a more dynamic, colorful and fiery Flipper. Flipper is a 29ft Catamaran power boat, with an outdoor shower, and very spacious. Excellent boat for fishing trips because of its huge space. She has two Suzuki machines both 140 hp. She is equipped with all Navigation equipments, from Fish finder to GPS. We provide free soft drinks and water for our excursions. We also provide snorkeling equipments, life jackets, and if the guests wish it, a nice BBQ on the island of Curieuse.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

OCCASIONS

Shamira weds Balla

They said that orange and pink would make a mardi gras wedding but Shamira Leon (aged 25) showed them how it is done! Now Mrs Gnan-Balla Leon-Traore (aged 32), she mixed tangerine and fuschia to make a beautiful theme. Just view the photographs taken by the amazing Francis Victor, who was so professional he managed to capture every single moment they could think off and even candid shots to boot. The theme came to life with the help of Mrs Anne Souris who did the floral arrangements at both the church and the reception and the decorations were the pride of Sey Décor. That Saturday 6th July, Deacon Agathine had the task of merging the beliefs of the bride and groom in a beautiful ceremony held at the Our Lady of Sorrows church of Anse Boileau. Kudos to Mr Raymond Clarisse and the Mahé Chamber Choir, they sang a truly wonderful repertoire of beautiful songs. What is a wedding without a party? The wedding reception was held at Sea Breeze restaurant and the guests were entertained by the extremely funny MC, Terry Rose. The wedding cake was a masterpiece by Mildred Lozaique and Golden Plate catered the event. Dj James Edmond knew how to set the mood for digestion then got the guests to shake their tail feathers for the whole night into the early morning. A most memorable day for many reasons! Good luck Balla and Sham on your God sanctioned adventure….not that you need it.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

Courtesy of the last-minute-bridesmaid.

OCCASIONS

BLISS – Explorer, a 30m Safari Yacht, lifted anchor for its maiden Sunset Party Cruise on Saturday 06th July. On board, a representation of STB marketing, SMSA, Hilton, Fisherman’s Cove, Maia, Coral Strand, and the main operators in the tourism and communication panorama in Seychelles. Guests were entertained with an Arabic night full of surprises and spontaneous performances. The presence of Dj Ezy D and Dj MC Taj from Paradise FM, contributed with their charismatic vibrations adding on to the exhibitions of belly dancer Melanie Labrosse, the live vocal performance of famous Dubai pianist Julia Frants and the applauded jam session of local celebrity T-Tray. The 12 cabins Safari yacht, with 3 spacious decks and indoor saloon is ready to welcome his guests on board on daily excursions and BBQ in the Islands, mini cruises of one or two nights, charter cruises and the eventful Party Cruise every Saturday from 05pm to 08pm (500 SCR resident rates including sun set cruise, 3 drinks, finger food and DJ set). The beauty of the scenery, the comforts aboard, Bliss’ little attentions will make your voyage unforgettable.

Contacts Email: blissexplorer@bliss-hotel.net Tel: +248. 2766492 | Facebook: Bliss Explorer www.bliss-hotel.net AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

WEDDINGS IN PARADISE

Paul and Cheryl “We chose the Seychelles because it is a stunning and magical place!”

All photos by Cameraline Productions | camline@seychelles.net | www.weddinginseychelles.com

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

WEDDINGS WEDDINGSININPARADISE PARADISE

14th June 2013 was the date Paul and Cheryl Bigger decided to tie the knot in paradise. The magic for the British couple happened at St Anne Resort and Spa.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

BON APPETIT

Roast Pork Belly For the month of August La

Plaine St. André is sharing its recipe for Roast Pork Belly. Enjoy this with Archipelago’s recommendation of a red number, the Bourgeuil ‘’Clos des Paves’’ Pierre Borel from France or with Takamaka Bay’s Le Miele cocktail. Cheers!

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

Honey marinated roast pork belly presented on a Victoria Gin infused tropical sauce. And served with a sweet potato and parmesan soufflé.

INGREDIENTS

250g pork belly, sliced 2.5cm thick 50g chopped onion 5g halved cherry tomatoes 20g chopped orange 20g chopped pineapple 20g chopped banana 5g chopped parsley 10g grated ginger 30ml honey 25ml Victoria Gin 150g mashed sweet potato 10g melted butter 10g flour 10g grated parmesan cheese 2 egg whites, whisked

THE POTATO SOUFFLÉ Preheat your oven to 175˚C Grease a ramekin with oil, and sprinkle with flour Whisk your egg white Mix the sweet potato mash, melted butter, flour, grated parmesan and whisked egg white in a bowl Put the mixture in the ramekin and oven bake for 30 mins

THE PORK BELLY

Cut your pork belly into 2.5cm wide cross-sections Fry skin down in very hot oil until crispy Roast in the oven at 175˚C for 12 mins Top tip: You can use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature of your oil before frying the pork - 250˚C is ideal

THE SAUCE

Heat a pan and add oil Fry all vegetables and fruit for 2 mins Add honey and cook for a further 3-4 minutes Flambé the fruit and vegetables in gin Serve immediately

HOW TO FLAMBÉ:

Heat the gin in a saucepan with high sides just until bubbles begin to form around the edges. Remove the pan of vegetables away from the heat source and add the gin. Ignite at the edge of the pan with a long match or long barbecue lighter. Let cook until flame disappears.

SAFETY TIPS:

Please remember to use extreme caution here; you will be dealing with a liquid that is on fire. Never pour alcohol from a bottle into a pan that is near an open flame as this could lead to an explosion. Keep a large metal lid at hand, to cover the dish in case the flambé goes out of hand.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

BON APPETIT

The Wine

The Cocktail

Bourgeuil ‘’Clos des Paves’’ Pierre Borel, France 100 % Cabernet-Franc aged in old cask, this red wine without sulphur is fleshy with some ripe and friendly tannins, black and red fruit on nose with a very elegant finish.

25ml Takamaka Bay Dark Rum Wedge of Lemon 2 teaspoons of Honey Crushed Ice (Build) Top with Ginger Ale Recommended Glass – Tumbler Recommended Garnish – Mint leaves in glass

Takamaka Bay T: +248 437 2050 E: info@takamaka.sc W: www.takamakabay.com Archipelago Wines & Spirits T : +248 4 37 48 76 / 77 E : cheers@archipelago.sc

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

REVIEWS

Top 5 rental releases (sponsored by GR Video Rental) Straight A’s starring Luke Wilson and Anna Paquin

The Words starring Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana

Gambit starring Cameron Diaz and Colin Firth

Allegiance starring Shad Moss, Seth Gabel and Pablo Schreiber

Man Of Steel – Starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe. Dir. Zack Synder

with Kur t Gilber t

360 starring Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law and Rachel Weisz A dramatic thriller in the style of 2005’s Crash, 360 weaves together a number of narratives, culminating in an outburst of emotional and physical energy.Multifaceted plots are hard to pull-off, even when backed by the most competent film-makers, but terrific acting and a solid plot make this a film not to be missed.

Film of the month Now, I know some of you are probably thinking ‘Another Superhero movie? Really?’ and truth be told, I understand. We all do. Superhero films seem to have been Hollywoods go-to cash cow over the past few years, forcing filmgoers to swallow endless reboots and sequels that revolve around the same characters in comic books and TV shows that were made decades ago. Some have been good, some great (yes, I’m talking about Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy) but most of them have just been senseless hour-and-a-half long computer generated rambles that lack serious backbone in the acting and scripting departments (not to mention the costumes they make some of these poor thespians wear). However, with that being said, we cannot look at Man of Steel, the latest Superman reboot, as anything but exciting. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) with the help of none other than Christopher Nolan, this account of Clark Kent’s alienated existence and super strength seems to be the most promising yet, with newcomer Henry Cavill taking the lead and the legendary (albeit dried-up) Russell Crowe playing his alien father, Jor-El. If you enjoyed The Dark Knight and loathed every minute of Green Lantern, you need to see this movie. If that’s not your thing: Try to catch the sassy illusionist thriller ‘Now You See Me’ starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo

This time, 10 years ago... The Neptunes - Clones A decade ago, the music world was just starting to get used to the 8-bit, playful synth grooves that The Neptunes have since made a club standard and when their seminal compilation album Clones was released in the Summer of 2003, the duo marked their move into the realm of super-producers with a set of tracks so timeless that we still hear them played in car parks and house parties worldwide. From recreating the hip-hop ballad with the undeniably smooth Frontin’ (arguably one of Jay-Z’s best features) or inciting the evolution of West Coast cool on It Blows My Mind, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo made sure that on Clones, they didn’t just create something for everyone to bump to - they made sure that we’d never heard anything like it before. And we haven’t heard anything like it since.

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

REVIEWS

Album of the month Daft Punk – Random Access Memories With their fourth studio release, fans of French duo Daft Punk may say that they’ve given too much of their signature Disco-Funk sound away on collaborations with big name featured artists such as Giorgio Moroder and Julian Casablancas of The Strokes. It’s true that this may not be the Daft Punk everyone expected to hear but when have the masked pair ever produced something other than the unexpected? From the opening track ‘Give Life Back To Music’, with it’s Herbie Hancock-esque vocoder phrases and up-tempo synth rhythms, through to the driving ‘Get Lucky’, featuring super producer Pharrell Williams (you may have heard his name somewhere), the album weaves in and out of moods and atmospheres seamlessly. Although it may take some listeners more than one sitting before they break out their storm trooper dance routine, have faith in the fact that it will happen and that after that, the only tracks you’ll want to drive home to from work will be the ones on Random Access Memories. Singing off key in your car: likely. If that’s not your thing: Check out legendary metal outfit Black Sabbath’s latest release ‘13’. Available on iTunes.

Introducing you to Lesley Cookman ‘ the Queen of Cosy Crime’ . A true whodunit. The characters, plot twists and love interest will keep you up past your bedtime. Most of all it gives new meaning to the words ‘family drama’. Give it a go if you like the Agatha Christi series or you enjoy British Detective movies. Murder in Steeple Martin (Libby Sarjeant series book #1)

X-actress Libby Sarjeant’s fresh start in a picturesque Kent village includes an exciting new venture - The Oast House Theatre. She never expects it to include a new romance in the form of Ben but who’s complaining? She just isn’t expecting ingredients three, four and five: mystery, intrigue and the shadow of an old murder...This is a tale of engaging misfits and muddlers in a Kent village, whose theatrical endeavours have unwittingly murderous consequences. Promotion price for Potpourri Readers SR100 for any Lesley Cookman book for the month of August!! A nine book series.

Murder By The Sea (Libby Sarjeant series book #4)

Fourth title in the Libby Sarjeant Murder Mystery series.When a body is discovered on a rocky little island in the middle of Nethergate Bay the media swoop on the seaside town. Soon an enquiring hack discovers that local resident Fran Castle, has previously aided the police using her psychic abilities. Brought into the investigation, Fran naturally asks her friend Libby Sarjeant to help, but they soon find themselves up to their knees in more mud and murder than they could possibly have anticipated. Promotion price for Potpourri Readers SR100 for any Lesley Cookman book for the month of August!! A nine book series.

Murder Imperfect (Libby Sarjeant #7)

The seventh title in the Libby Sarjeant series finds her distracted from involvement with her local pantomime by her friend Harry, who asks her to help a friend of his who has been receiving threatening letters. At first she believes it to be a simple case of prejudice, but soon Libby uncovers links to particularly nasty crimes in the past, revelations that have catastrophic results. Promotion price for Potpourri Readers SR100 for any Lesley Cookman book for the month of August!! A nine book series.

BOOK REVIEW

The Soldier’s wife” by Joanna Trollope

All books are available from Chanterelle Bookshop, Quincy St. Email: chanterelle@seychelles.net

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

“The soldier’s wife” was my first Joanna Trollope book and it will definitely not be my last. I love her style of writing; very British. Joanna Trollope captures the essence of family to perfection. She relates the complexitiesof family situations with ease and addresses questions that as a unit it is hard to face. The book is filled with interesting characters that will leave you longing to know more about them long after you have turn the last page. You want to cry with characters and you want to smile with them and most importantly ladies you all will want to understand Dan our hero, be his wife, comfort him, but you will also relate well to Alexa because we are all Alexa at some point in our family life; married to a soldier or not. The soldier’s wife will keep your head buried in the book and will keep you well entertained until the very end. Review by Jessica D’Unienville _ facebook group ‘Book Club Seychelles’

AUGUST 2013 | POTPOURRI

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Cable & Wireless (Seychelles) Ltd. Francis Rachel Street, Victoria, Mahé. Tel: (+248) 428 4000 Fax: (+248) 432 2777 www.cwseychelles.com

BlackBerry®, RIM®, Research In Motion®, SureType®, SurePressTM and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. Used under license from Research In Motion Limited.