How To Get Dizzy

If you’re a new reader of my blog posts, I must explain that I write from my own experiences and feelings and try to connect with readers in a unique and sometimes playful way. Perhaps I’m trying to reach those who may have the same thoughts as I or haven’t yet realised that they do.

You may think that this title is peculiar and if you’re expecting a step-by-step guide on “How To Get Dizzy,” your wish is my command (with a twist)

Step 1.  “You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round”…. uh yep, that would work

Step 2. Someone is waiting just for you
“Spinnin’ wheel, spinnin’ true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Ride a painted pony let the spinnin’ wheel fly”… hmmmm perhaps something else was involved?

Step 3. “You make me dizzy, Miss Lizzy
The way you rock and roll
You make me dizzy, Miss Lizzy
When we do the stroll
Come on, Miss Lizzy
Love me before I grow too old” … Awww, that’s nice

***STOP***

Read each one carefully and ask yourself, “will these 3 steps actually make me dizzy or will I simply enjoy each moment?”

Recently, I attended a celebration event with 15 friends and family members.  We visited a beautiful city; the weather was lovely, the surroundings magical and the company fantastic.  For some of us, it was the first time spending 2 days in a row together, socialising and getting to know one another.

We played games, enjoyed good food, boogied a little on the dance floor and sang at the top of our lungs, even if it was out of key.  Nowadays, we’re all connected to devices to try and capture “moments in time,” which can be kept forever…  forever in a cloud, forever on our profiles and forever digitally.  I missed something… in fact I missed quite a few things to be honest, because I was connected in the wrong way.

I FELT present during each “moment in time,” but I wasn’t.   When we returned from this wonderful event, everyone was buzzing from happiness and we all hugged and said “farewell for now” and everyone promised to share each other’s photos and videos.  I was excited to see them and how each of us experienced our time together.  I was shocked, very sad and surprised at myself.  This was and is my wake-up call.   The videos in particular…everyone around me were singing together and I thought I was part of it.

The moments where I thought I was present, I was not.   I watched the videos and in each one, I was glued to my phone, while everyone was dancing and singing around me.  I felt sick. I wasn’t the only one, but it has hit me hard because I’m so passionate about being connected to people.

We rely on technology to make some things possible, that never were before and in a lot of instances, it’s truly amazing. My experiences of “disconnections” when I’m at work, on the train or anywhere for that matter have been baffling. A row of people on a train looking down with glazed expressions, people crossing the street engaged with their screens, who never notice traffic, work colleagues who sit in the lunch area not talking, but rather gawking. It’s not comfortable for me to watch this anymore.

After my wake-up-call, everything makes me “Dizzy” now. GIF’s, Emoji’s, face-swaps, quizzes, acronyms, which not all of us get. It’s like Vegas on the internet.   The one thing that all of these gadgets and gizmos will never do is replace a memory, a feeling and a moment, whether it’s happy or sad.   I will share a menagerie of selfies I’ve taken recently as an example and explain some of my points and the reason for this rather long and hopefully spirit awakening moment in time.

From top left:  1-Event (not present), 2-Sun on my face, on the way to our best friend’s wedding (present), 3-shopping with friend and fun with selfie mirror (present) 4-Selfie with friend trying to get best photo to post on Facebook (not present)

From Bottom left: 1-Bored selfie at home testing filters to make me look better (not present) 2-Me day at the local beach-happy with sun and toes in sand (present),

3 & 4- 2 more selfies for no reason and I couldn’t tell you what I missed, because I missed it amusing myself with snap chat filters (not present)

The moral of this story is, have real conversations, look up, look ahead,live in the moment and capture only things that matter.  If there is no person or experience attached, chose wisely as you cannot get time back.

Memories live on forever.

Thanks for reading

With love

Hands-On

 

Lyrics snippets extracted from Lyric finder 

1- (Dead or Alive)

2-(Blood, Sweat and Tears)

3-(The Beatles)

3 Pockets- The Untold Story

 

I was born in the year of the horse, according to Chinese astrology, but that has almost nothing to do with this post. Read on and you’ll see….

During my first trip to Santorini in May of 2015, my husband and I came across this handsome devil every day on the way to our hotel from the main beach road.

We always said hello and managed to catch this image.  I’m not sure if horses smile and he doesn’t appear to be.  Perhaps he’s happy and enjoying the land, visitors like us and the weather, but he’s not running free… something that made me rather sad each time I passed him on the hill.   Is he grateful for what he does have?  Does he have friend’s, a mate or even a comfortable place to live and sleep?  I don’t know, but he is there and he looks healthy and well cared for.

Next photo victim.. Me

I’m smiling, the sun’s on my face, I’m in paradise and enjoying a wonderful vacation with my one true love.  Everything is wonderful and I’m full of life.

All of this is true, or is it? (scroll down for more)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is true however; no one really knows what lies beneath.

I’ve been smiling since the day I was born (nearly) and I enjoy being happy and doing pleasurable things. I counsel friends who are down, have a playful sense of humour, have taken care of my family and husband when they weren’t well and take pleasure in finding perfect gifts for everyone in my life for special occasions or “just because.” I give a lot, probably more than is healthy for me.

I have 3 pockets.  I stuff each pocket with things that I don’t need or want while I’m enjoying life and happiness. My first pocket is close to my heart and holds the sadness of losing my father, the second pocket holds my worries… for everything and the final pocket holds my fears.. fears of health and fears of future.

The moment that I walk through my front door after a relaxing and enjoyable vacation or fun event, it’s there again. Me, the “me” that I tucked away in those 3 little pockets.  The me that has been struggling “inside” with trauma that has taken over my persona.

My outside (public self) stays positive, optimistic and playful. Nobody realises, I am a great actress and my smile hides a lot of stories.

With love-Hands-On

Optimists…we’re only human

Red Tomato’s

Introducing the tomato.

It comes in many shapes, sizes and colours but it’s best known wearing a red coat and whether or not you believe it to be part of the vegetable family or fruit, it has graced our plates and tables for many years.

So why have I chosen to feature our red friend?  Well,  I’ll tell you.

Life was simple, free and easy growing up in the states during the 70’s and as a kid, I had the pleasure of regularly visiting farmer’s markets and helping my brother and later on my parent’s tend to an extensive and beautiful vegetable garden in the heart of Northern Maine, New England.

At a very early age, I remember my father bringing home his favourite plum tomato’s and eating them like candy.  They were bright red, shiny and were still attached to their vine with soft and fragrant leaves. It’s hard to explain the scent but I guess they smelled like sweet earth to me. I loved them and they were easy to pop in your mouth.

“Where’s the beef?”  Beefsteak tomato’s… now this one is the Daddy of all tomato’s!  As much as I’d like to say my first experience of this meaty fruit was in New York, I will hold my hand’s up and admit that New Jersey at that time had the best! (sorry fellow New Yorka’s)

Now this is one that can ONLY be enjoyed 2 ways:

1. cut in half, salted and eaten like an apple
2. Sliced thick and served on a juicy burger

My summer’s spent in Maine as a child were magical. It was like camping,  an adventure of sorts and it helped me to appreciate nature and the simplistic life. What kid wakes up in the morning, picks tomato’s, green beans and sweet peas off of their vine’s and eats them quite happily whilst walking through a maze of blooms to reach a babbling brook only steps away?  It was me and I am grateful.

There’s a bit more to this story, which was the motivation for this post.  Moving to Northern UK was a culture shock for me in the beginning and I had to adjust to many differences, mainly food.   My first tomato experience here was completely different.

Entering the quite reputable kebab take-away… so you can probably gather that I’m pretty darn passionate about food in general.  “What would you like on your kebab Miss?”  “Oh, I’d like tomato, lettuce, onions and whatever else you have in the way of salad please.”  I got home and opened the carefully wrapped package.  Orange?? These tomato’s are orange.  My husband (who is not entirely passionate about food in general) replied, “what’s wrong with that?”

My reply: “Everything darling, just everything.”

A letter to Daddy

 

 

Dear Dad,

It’s been awhile since I’ve written you a letter, but I think of you every day.

A lot has happened in my life since you left and the piece of my heart that you took with you on your journey is still felt. I didn’t think it would be this hard… not to hear your voice, tell you about my life and hear your stories (even for the 10th time), but it is.

Your pride, your unconditional love, support and general inquisitive nature…it is a part of what’s missing in my life, my routine and my being.  I am not the same person without you, I have lost the one person who made it all better just by listening and being my father.

Life is funny in a strange way…as a child, I never saw an end to anything, only seasons,the last day of school and maybe an ice cream.  Those are moments that are enjoyed but their end does not leave a lasting mark.

As I reminisce about times past and the holiday season, I am reminded of how time changes things.. circumstances, people, events and myself. All of this leaves me searching for something and I haven’t put my finger on what it is yet. So this letter .. I’m an optimist but sometimes even an optimist falls. I resisted writing this, for fear that my readers would doubt my optimism, but I’m only human.

I’ve been watching videos I’ve taken of you and it’s almost like you’re here. I wish you were. I have a heavy heart writing this because I have changed since you left. I know that I was lucky to have you in my life and I have wonderful memories of all of the times we’ve spent together. Somehow I feel selfish… selfish for wanting everyone to understand my loss, but I still keep these feelings tucked inside.

I’m in a foreign land, with a man that I love however, my heart is missing family and familiar places to ease my sadness.  So I listen to songs that remind me of moments, people and places and sigh.

I’m trying Dad, but there are few that understand my dreams, wishes and wants.

I hope you are safe and not worrying about me. I will bounce back but you dear father have left an large empty space.

 

 

Its a matter of taste

Okay, so I love pretty much ALL food, but I was curious to see if a national Thai food chain in my local area met the standards of the London branch I visited over a year ago.  My friend who also loves to dine went with me on a Wednesday evening, which we thought was a nice change to the weekend rush.

We decided to take our time and enjoy the full experience by ordering all courses and started with 2 appetisers and a bottle of wine to share.  The wine chosen was a light and medium dry rose, which had a mild citrusy flavour and was very smooth.  (We didn’t want to offend the other flavours)

Starters were next to arrive and we felt that they almost arrived too quickly…. we chose a plate of fried Asian greens in a soy, garlic and ginger sauce and steamed chicken gyoza dumplings with a mild but sweet dipping sauce.  After drinking a half a glass of wine, our taste buds were ready for the next experience.

First let me make something clear….  I love to cook and experiment quite often however; I am not an executive chef or culinary wizard by any means but my palate is sensitive and I appreciate good food, nice flavours and pleasing textures.

My take on starter 1: stir-fried greens in sauce-that’s about it… swimming in sauce and dare I say micro waved or re-heated?  The veggies were still firm and still had their natural juices when you bit into them but the SAUCE… why use so much when the veggies are happy enough being themselves?  A drizzle maybe to add dimension to the dish… we had no idea what to do with all of that sauce at the end… and it wasn’t steaming or sizzling when it arrived.

Starter number 2: steamed dumplings, kind of my favourite Asian appetiser in the states, so I was excited and awaited its arrival.  If you’ve never had them before, their skin (for the lack of a better description) is like ravioli pasta but thicker.  It should arrive plump and hot (or very warm and moist) on the outside and the juices from the filling should be slightly dripping onto the serving plate.  When you first bite into it, the flavours and filling should explode in your mouth and deliver an enjoyable mmmmm reaction. The consistency and texture should be non-offensive. If you have to ask, “Should it taste like this” during the first bite, it is not up to scratch. Can you tell I like dumplings? (please note, photo link is how it should be)

OUR dumplings were small and the skin was too thick, rubbery (micro waved) and lacking moistness and filling. They were also a little oily, which kind of leads me to believe that they were fried first, and then re-heated.  No taste explosion and no mmmmmmmmm.

Main course……….

Pad Thai, I love this dish because the noodles are flat and light, unlike typical Italian pasta dishes. My favourite part aside from the noodle is the sprinkling of peanuts amongst the blend of spicy, sour and sweet fresh herbs. When it arrived, it looked okay but my first reaction was, “where’s the peanuts?”

The dish looked a little lack-lustre and dry, but okay…. here I go dipping my fork in to test it out and… Hmm… it had that slightly tart taste, which it should have and the noodles were cooked well (almost slightly sticky) It looked like Pad Thai, but sadly was a little dry.  My friend’s expression was the same as mine… perplexed.  My friend suggested that we ask for a little extra sauce, so it arrived and we drizzled and tossed, until it started to resemble what we were expecting.  It was better.  The textures were up to standard I would say, sticky and light noodles with the traditional sprinkling of fresh Thai herbs and little crunchy bits with the sauce absorbing nicely into each bite.

Desert and grand finale

We were curious about Mochi and there were a few of them to choose from, so we decided to order the “mix it up” assorted plate.   Mochi’s are little balls of flavoured ice cream wrapped in sticky rice and served with various sweet sauces. We were slightly excited because we had never tried this, hence a new experience was about to happen!

Here we go… first one Coconut…I found it strange when I first bit into it. The coconut flavour was really prominent and creamy but the sticky outside consistency was almost like Turkish delight, chewy and slightly slimy. The ice cream dissolved in your mouth to leave you chewing the coating for a moment longer. It was different and we were intrigued.  So we tried the next flavour-Raspberry… our palettes were not surprised any longer and this one was more enjoyable and must have been made with real raspberries because we began to crunch on the little seeds as the ice cream melted in our mouths. Final stop… sesame.  These were slightly different and had both the flavour of sesame on the inside and seeds on the outside rolled within the rice.   We finished our meal with a piping hot mug of green tea.

I must admit, we enjoyed our experience even though it didn’t meet our expectations however; it was a taste experience and I can now admit I’m a Mochi fan.

Thank you very Mochi for reading

Hands-on  🙂

Something amazing

Something amazing happened to me this morning.. for the first time since I’ve lived here in the UK, I witnessed a Monarch butterfly land in my back yard and it stayed for quite some time. So I decided to check into the meaning of this, if there was any…. this Optimist is now speechless…

Here’s little preview of what I found, but the full description is available by viewing the Monarch butterfly link added above.

Lessons and Challenges:

The monarch butterfly teaches us that life is short, and that it must be valued. Assuming that we have decades of our lives left (or at the very least, years) is all well and good for things like economic planning, but it is through recognising the fleetingness of human existence that we come to value every day, even those which get us down or which are hard to appreciate.

Enjoy

Happy Friday

With love,

Hands-on

I really want_____

It’s a big world out there but somehow, somewhere there is a place for you.  Maybe you’ve just left school or haven’t decided which job or course is for you….perhaps your family is asking you to decide what you’re going to do now?  You need a place….

Where that place is, can ONLY be found by you.  Yes, I’m saying YOU.. the ones who are not sure what they want to do,  who to ask, how to do it or what to do when you get there.

What’s next?  <<<< cool video (at least I hope so)

Do you get it?  You can be anything you set you mind to.. you just need to do a few things to get there:

1. Think about what you like (maybe even go on-line and look stuff up)
2. Know what you CAN do
3. If you need more help, ask for it
4. Prove yourself to those that are able to help you
5. Don’t give up (It’s your life and your future)
6. Ask questions! No one knows everything
7. Present yourself differently than you do with your friends (you know, your “good clothes” not hanging out with friends or going out clothes)
8. Don’t be too hard on yourself.. we all had to start somewhere

So maybe you’ve liked what I’ve said so far or maybe you’re not sure…

I’ll leave you with some stuff to get you started and please, take my advice.. I really want to be one of those people whom you’ve never met that perhaps you can thank one day.

First job-cv-template

There, I hope this helps.

Keeping it short, but keeping it real.

Hands-on

How good is your memory?

The human mind is an amazing thing don’t you think?

Throughout the years, I’ve tested myself to see how far back my memories reach, which thankfully land as far back as the age of 3-4.  (I’m in my 40’s by the way)

These moments in time are so clear to me, that I can almost picture myself there now. I’m visualising where I was, what I was doing and matching those visions with triggers such as food flavours and scent’s. Yes, I believe that our senses are quite strong.

Since I’m being honest here, I’ll give you a few examples of what I mean.

Milk… it’s good for growing kids and we must drink it. (mom said so) I didn’t like drinking it plain at all… especially after my mom decided to serve it in one of those 1960’s pearl lustre type mugs, which gave it an odd paint-like sour taste. (No, I’ve never tasted paint in case you’re wondering)

So as you can imagine, from that moment forward I opted for nestle chocolate or strawberry quik. I was 4, so you can clearly now understand how powerful taste senses can be.  To prove this is not a “one-trick-pony” example, I’ll fast forward to aged 7.

My parents loved to introduce me to old movies as a kid because they grew up and lived through the depression era.  Sunday afternoon movies with the parents were great and as I sat on the couch, still in my pyjamas some days,and watching on this particular day Laurel and Hardy, my mom made us both a cup of Jasmine tea (you know, the loose kind that requires one of those strainer things?) This was a luxury item then and probably chosen because it was served  at the local Chinese restaurant that my family and I visited for many years.

I probably liked the smell more than the taste but every time I drink it now as an adult, I think of Laurel and Hardy movies and the plaid couch I was sitting on.

Speaking of Chinese food and having grown up in New York,  I can’t help thinking of my experience with Pu-Pu.  You heard me, and it’s not a typo.. it’s actually a pretty wonderful experience for kids and adults. (Visual with descriptive review below)

Not that I’m drooling or anything.. okay, I am!  I was first introduced to this magnificent beast when my parents would take me to our local Chinese restaurant in the suburbs of New York.  I was dazzled by the blue, red and yellow  flame created with a jelly type substance and the “mini” BBQ effect.  Generally, the first item I grabbed was the beef teriyaki stick purely because I could hold it over the fire. Total joy and the hot flame made the flavour explode even more. Next I went for the spare ribs… again, easy to hold over the fire and sometimes I would heat it just long enough to see a little flame appear. Camp fire anyone?

There was a process when enjoying this and boy, did I enjoy it!  One of my other favourite items was fried jumbo shrimp, which was coated in batter. This I dipped in what they called duck sauce, although it wasn’t made of duck but rather used on duck dishes… I think.  It’s a sweet fruity sauce that is probably made with mandarins, but makes the savoury shrimp all the more tasty.

It was very sad when we finished the platter… farewell tasty tidbits and tiny barbecue.. till we meet again.

Do you have any fond food memories?  If so, I’d love to hear them!

Thanks for reading

Hands-on

This blog is a prequel to something new and exciting that I’m working on..stay tuned 🙂 

A Beginners Guide to the Job World

Happy professional journey everyone!  Have you made it out there in the world, or are you just starting out?

What’s your shtick, speciality or   job role?

Job roles   are used in business as a way to identify your purpose within a company   and  level of authority, but what do they actually mean and are they communication barriers when trying to build professional relationships or generate business?

To me, a job title/role should be a way of defining what you do in the organisation and provide you with clear tasks to follow, which will hopefully aid your professional success and add value to the company that employs you.  Simple, but true.

Questions that I’ve asked myself in the past when I was just starting out in my career:

1) Why do I feel    nervous when  contacting a company director or owner? After all, they are people just like us.. right?

2) How do I encourage senior   level people to return my call or email? Should I entice them with “an offer that they can’t refuse?”

3) What IS the right approach?  Am I saying something wrong or not using proper etiquette?

My wish back then and sometimes even now is for an answer… a logical one…. one that would cure my curiosity so that I no longer need to ask why.

I’m a relationship building type of person and to me that means that everyone  is a potential customer.

The top 3 things you should   do:

1. Seek knowledge in your role to build confidence (always ask questions)
2. Prepare your own script to use when making phone calls (in your own words)
3. Research the company you’re calling (It shows that   you care and are not a “drone”)

In general, businesses that grow organically are much more likely to succeed in the long run. This means they have received recommendations based on  service, professionalism, integrity,trust, quality etc.  (Many,many test runs) by people.. just people.

Of course we all understand that those in senior positions have a lot on their plate and delegate representatives from within their company to deal with certain calls, emails and queries however; communicating is always the best way forward. I would like to keep you motivated by providing   a nice little list of young successful people who made it to the top-level of their game before they reached 20.

Personally, I have a lot of respect for MD’s, Directors and Owners of companies who answer their own phone on occasion and “get their hands dirty” so to speak.   It simply means that they have not lost touch with their customers and their staff for that matter because without them , a title   is simply   Mr or Mrs.

Present yourself and your company in the best light and you’re likely to succeed.

With respect

Hands-on

Listen to your mother

I’m switching tactics here, following one of my earlier   posts entitled “Food Glorious Food.”

Diet’s, healthy eating, fitness programmes.. they are there to help us right?  One size fits all… I have learned that this is not the way to approach weight loss and become a healthier you.  I’m no expert by any means but the fact is…everyone is different.

Over the course of my life, I have tried numerous plans, pills and potions, which were advertised to “give you your ideal body” in so many weeks, months etc.  Back then I believed every word however; now that I’m older and wiser, I know that It’s impossible to guarantee the same results if you don’t know your individual circumstances, genetics, metabolism etc. For example… would a vegetarian have the same results as me on an Atkins type diet?  What about someone who has physical limitations and would find it difficult or nearly impossible to go spinning or weight train? Can we all afford a personal trainer? Probably not…

So that leads to the journey I have found myself part of and I’m hoping it can provide others with some inspiration from lessons that I have learned.

Let’s see if Mother was right….

1. Metabolism-“breakfast is the most important meal of the day” it jump-starts your metabolism and this instruction was embedded in me from an early age.
2. Oatmeal and oils Oatmeal is not only healthy for your heart, but it also sets you up for the day leaving you feeling full and satisfied. Oil’s- ease up on these folks… there are good oils/fats and bad ones. Stick with oily fishes (high in Omega like Salmon and mackerel), cod liver oil in the form of a capsule from your health food shop or grocery store and low-fat cooking spray.  (They even have olive oil types and garlic flavours now)
3. Tomatoes-Vitamin C, good source of fibre, potassium and B6 to name a few!  Can be eaten raw   on it’s own to help with snack cravings, in a salad of course or sautéed with other veggies. SWEET! Treats are also important! If you don’t treat yourself now and again, you’ll end up bingeing and reversing all of the good you’ve accomplished. Save a small treat for each day or reward yourself at the end of the week or weekend. For instance: 2 of  your favourite cookies with a cup of herbal tea at night or perhaps some Chinese food on a Friday or Saturday night. (get something tasty but try to stay away from fried stuff in gloopy sauce.)
4. Herbs-Goodbye gloopy oily and sugary sauces… Let’s opt for flavourful herbs instead. pepper, rosemary, basil, cilantro, curry powder, tarragon, lemongrass.. you choose.. it tastes nice and it’s healthy!
5. Eggs- Great source of protein (especially for vegetarians) and easy again to snack on if you plan ahead and hard boil a bunch for the fridge.  Plus, it contains .. you ready? (Iron, zinc, iodine, Vitamin E, B2 and studies have shown that it boosts weight loss when eaten for breakfast (without 4 slices of toast with butter of course!)
6. Red food-Well, green food has always been on the list, but as we’re going with mom’s advice here.. I’d like to focus on the red’s-Strawberries (high in vitamin c and has powerful antioxidants that have been proven to preventdegeneration of the eyes in some cases)  cherries are high in quercetin and ellagic acid. This antioxidant flavonoid has been shown to promote cell and tissue health.Cherries are also high in substances related to reducing the joint and muscle discomfort. Cherries also contain melatonin, an important natural chemical related to healthy sleep rhythms and maintaining a youthful appearance. BONUS!

By following “mother’s” instructions, I  lost 2 stone (almost 30 pounds) in 7 months.  I feel better about myself and I’m healthier to boot.

I hope this helps at least a few people and thanks for reading!

With love-Hands-on

Red berry health facts were taken from this site