Amazing Peru - Go Back in Time to the Magic of the Incas

 

Peru is  one of the world's most amazing holiday destinations. Memorable, magical and an absolute must.

Explore the natural beauty and history of Lake Titicaca, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The journey itself will blow you away and the altitude, well that's another high that you will not be able to imagine! You'll walk, you'll climb, you'll sit and wonder why you are doing it, but at the end of each day, you'll be so glad that you have had the experience of a life time.



Cusco, Sacred Valley & Lake Titicaca

Nothing can prepare you for the experience-

the camaraderie of fellow travellers, the enthusiasm of the locals, the endurance, perseverance and character you will discover within yourself.

So much to see, so much unexpected pleasure and surprises. One traveller had gone for days crawling through blizzards to see Machu Picchu. Many endured hours of rain and fog whilst exploring the site and were rewarded by afternoon sunshine.

See the amazing crafts - alpaca and wood carvings inspired by the culture and history.

 

Check out the flowers - so many varieties and from all over the world. And there is corn galore and cooked so well. Cancha - omg! Lima was gastronomical, the beach and sunset simply stunning.

I love London - even in the winter (see Winter in London), but Peru was a wonderful adventure which I want to hold on to. I've even started trying to create the flavours of Peru (Peruvian inspired Corn Pancake with Guacamole and Chili Chocolate). Peru, it's a journey for young and old. Machu Picchu is truly one of the greatest wonders of the world, and Peru has so much to offer.

 

A Gourmet Christmas

 

Create your own Gourmet Christmas with fine fruit, flowers and chocolate. Mini trees, Christmas tree branches for vases with small baubles bring that atmosphere of Christmas spirit. Tinsel adds charm. Make your own hampers for friends and family with a few of your favourite things - all you need is cellophane, ribbon for curling, tape and a basket or piece of cardboard.

And we can't forget a cocktail to brighten things up - I made a simple one from oranges, passion fruit, cranberries and lemon. A dash of champagne, vodka or whatever you fancy if you want a little zip.

There's lots on offer, with plenty of 3 for 3 deals or savings from smart online shopping. Make this a special Christmas with just a few small touches. Wishing you a very Gourmet Christmas and New Year!

Relax and feed the ducks

Most of the swans have now left London and the waters are full of squabbling and waddling ducks.

I've read that watching animals is incredibly relaxing and have started wandering down to check out the ducks and swans, feeding them and taking a few minutes out in my day to wonder at nature's marvels.

London has a multitude of zoos, parks and wonderful animals. Even though it's dark early,  rainy and grey, there is still much to smile about, relaxing doesn't just have to be a pint of beer or a glass of wine or lying comatose in front of the tv, you just have to do a little searching and make the effort.

Dealing with mental illness

They say it's very common. It's just not talked about much. In many ways, it's still very taboo.
Mental illness is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, takes a long time to treat with a great deal of trialing different anti-depressants and psychiatrists poking around in your head, exploring your past.
It's a long hard road to recovery, with more downs than ups, as well as alot of fear - what if you don't get better, what if you get worse, what if, what if, what if?

And for family and friends, it presents many challenges and can be a burden and take its toll.
So why is it getting worse? Is it the pressures of today's time conscious society, the need for perfection, unsympathetic employers who demand too much, the bullies, the state of the world, the government, the doctors, inadequate health care, the dreadful economy? Does it matter the cause - should we just look for a cure?

There's a lot of books, cds, self-help websites, support groups, doctors, shrinks and it's overwhelming and daunting trying to figure out the best course of action.

I wish I had the answers. I only know that we all have to take one step at a time, try to move in the right direction and be patient. 

I'd love to hear you views and experiences. It's only if we share and help each other that we can find a way forward.

Motivational Self Help Seminars and Gurus - Spin or For Real?

Self help and motivational gurus such as Tony Robbins, Paul McKenna and Stephen Covey- spin doctors or the real deal?

I attended the National Achievers Congress at London's Excel Centre. It made me wonder, are these guys worth the £2000 + fees they command?

Let me confess, I do like to buy and borrow self-help books. They have helped me. Not all of them are great, but some of them do give some useful tips. But, I am also a huge sceptic.

So back to my experience at London's Excel Centre. This is a big venue, which allows an audience of 9000 people so it can be rather impersonal.Ticket prices ranged from £77 to £1297. So the cheapest priced tickets provide an affordable means for mere mortals to see and hear these masters who meet and work with the stars and billionaires. They sell the opportunity to gain a little wisdom, offer hope and sell the dream of making it rich.

I did learn a handful of tricks and it has made me think a little more about how I can become more successful financially. We all want to become more financially secure in these uncertain economic times.

The stars of three day event for 2012 were Tony Robbins, Lord Sebastian Coe and Donald Trump. But there are a number of other presenters. Andy Harrington gave some interesting pointers about presentation skills. He offers some free advice online. Adam Ginsberg talked about his experiences selling on ebay.

What was the most disappointing was that overall the National Achievers Congress is an event in which the presenters are constantly trying to sell tickets to future events. It was one sales pitch after another. If you truly do find value in these expensive seminars then this is a great forum and you should attend it. It showcases a range of speakers. However, be careful as I found that some speakers simplified the idea of making money and that many people who are none the wiser may end up losing money based on the advice given or on buying seminars on the spur of the moment based on these 'great offers'.

So how much is spin? These guys are masters of making you feel good, giving you confidence and a little bit of knowledge which could be a good or dangerous thing. How much can you learn in 3 days? Can they really impart knowledge and set you on the path of success? May be. Ultimately it will come down to your personal experiences, attitude, common sense and many other factors. They can be a useful tool but remember that their gleaming stories about this person and that person presents only one side of the story.

To really make the most of these guys, it's worthwhile to read their books, check out the dvd or cd first to see if you like what you are getting before you decide to get into debt and buy a seminar on your credit card. Don't be fooled. These guys are not going to magically make you money. There is a lot of hard work and you will need to invest your hard earned cash first without guaranteed results. But potentially you could be one of those success stories.

Some websites you may be interested in:

• Tony Robbins
• Paul McKenna
• Stephen Covey
• Andy Harrington
• Adam Ginsberg

Seminar Review comments on what you could expect from attending - NAC review

Here's a positive review from last year- Great experience and privilege. Here's one blogger who thought it was a scam - NAC Scam

I've read about half of Tony Robbins' Awaken the Giant Within. It's only taken me nearly 10 years! When I first bought it. I found it very inspiring, and I told everyone I knew about it and they bought it too. We only read about 20 pages. I started reading a page a day recently and I've found it to be more useful and digestable. Given Tony's course is £2000 for personal development or £6000 for a business mastery, I'm going back to my £10 book and trying to make the most of it.

The National Achievers Congress was held in London October 2012.