ON MY BIKE, AND TO MINSTER MILL

I interviewed the fascinating Will Butler-Adams this week, MD of Brompton Bikes. Excellent bike. A fraction of the weight of Boris Bikes.   Everyone should have one. Everyone.   Make life much easier and nicer.   See the full interview in forthcoming Richmond magazine.  They are in a race this weekend as part of the big cycling event which will make traveling by car in London a nightmare, well more than it is already.  www.brompton.co.uk

I also visited Minster Mill this week.  Good if you have pets. Not perhaps children. Good for lovers (v romantic) and dog lovers (see below). www.oldswanandminstermill.co.uk

KIPLING MAKES EXCEEDINGLY FINE FESTIVALS

I went to Brighton this weekend and a place called 'Rottingdean', a place which sounds dreadful but it is utterly delightful (see photos)l. Its a beautiful village outside Brighton where Kipling lived and rented a home for about five years, and was happy until it became tourist ridden and people kept looking through his windows. When he once pulled the curtains on a woman she said 'how rude'.    I get the feeling the same would happen in Richmond.

Parking in Brighton is appalling. Far worse than Richmond, which I thought was impossible, but Rottingdean, about a ten minute drive away along the coast, is fine.   You can park and stroll and in the warm June sunshine it was an afternoon of heaven.  

The second annual Kipling Festival takes place this week (25th June to 7th July), with a variety of events celebrating the life and work of the man, born in India and most famous for The Jungle Book,  The Just So Stories, The Man Who Would Be King and 'If'.   "If" is one of those poems written for men, by men, to men, but it is as relevant to women.   Kipling himself wrote a lot of his stories about men for men, but he had a formidable mother and married a formidable woman, so perhaps he felt women didn't need the courage and focus, they had it in spadefuls already.   And he didn't want to give women the vote so obviously he was deeply flawed in many ways.   

The Festival, organised by the phenomenal Christine Foster (below) a local theatre director, this year celebrates the 150th anniversary of his birth in Bombay (Mumbai) in 1865.   The events explore the early life of a man who would be Kipling - winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature for the sheer 'originality of his imagination and his remarkable talent for narration' - at the time when the young reporter was creating the beloved poems and tales of his adventures under the exotic influence of the The Raj. 

Rudyard Kipling lived at The Elms in Rottingdean from 1897 to 1902.  His history can be viewed in a room dedicated to him at the Grange Museum.   

I arrived to the walled library gardens to find actor Geoff Hutchinson in full flow under the blue skies, amongst the roses, playing Kipling.   Evoking the eccentricity and mesmerising complexities of a man who was prone to depression, he quoted from his famous works, spoke of his life story in first person, then broke into full cockney (although don't think he is) when finished and out of character. Hilarious and rather wonderful.   Geoff didn't recite the poem, 'If' which would have made me cry.  It has the same powerful theme to 'The Quitter' by Robert Service. It stirs real courage; a quality I admire in anyone, and always wish to build in myself.  There were talks from celebrated historians Kathryn Tidrick and Mary Harner, who had a bit of a to-do over whether Kipling's wife was a force for good or just a nag. We decided she was a force for good, who had to be a nag.   

There were wonderful little 'sayings' of Kipling, planted around the gardens for the 'Kiplings Kids', where children could treasure hunt the sayings and win a prize at the end, but I found more adults doing it (see below - they are are priceless and timeless).   

Although Kiplings home was bought last year (Just over £1.6 million so not London price as it is beautiful, on a green over looking the pond), you can walk round the walled gardens, which are ideal for inspiring a writer, wild flowers, peonies, camomile, garlic, herbs scattered as though the seeds have just been thrown down, but obviously not.

the incredible organiser (Christine Foster).

kipling and the other journalist…(I write poems and books too!!! and I love India.   Kiplette...

yes. agree with this one 

I think this was tongue in cheek.. depends on the mother… 

Not always, depends who you are flying with...

The festival continues this week and is very well worth the journey, especially the performances of The Fever Trees at the Village Hall ((Wednesday and Saturday). for tickets go to info@kiplingfestivalrottingdean.co.uk   There are plenty events for children and a writers group, who will read their own work inspired by Kipling in India.    You can even walk on the South Downs surrounding Rottingdean, guided by Rob Upward a local guide.    Just don't expect to find a parking space in Brighton. Eat at the Indian Summer restaurant www.indian-summer.org.uk to get you into the Kipling mood, and beware the hen parties.  Kipling would have been enthralled.  The festival was a credit to Christine and her team.  If you don't' go to any festival this year, do this. Its baby porridge; small, substantial and perfectly formed.     The Kipling Festival is bi-annual. 

www.kiplingfestivalrottindean.co.uk

FLYING HIGH WITH A TO ZEN OF YOGA

Interviewed the High Commissioner of India this week. Lovely man, lovely photographer (Glen) who also does yoga.   He loves the book and is sending one (I'm sending him one more) over to the Prime Minister.

birthday photos

BIRTHDAY ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN

Gawd, fifty one already.   Birthday morning, I stood on top of a hillside in La Clusaz, and cried at the overwhelming beauty of the place, silly cow that I am.  Closing myself off to hatred, I also close myself off to beauty as well - and its overwhelming when I feel safe enough to open up again and let the beauty in.  I'm back in Richmond now so heart hermetically sealed.   But for that moment, that day, there I was, very happy, and open, surrounded by (not so) silly cows, with huge cow bells munching grass (the cows that is, not me), I spent three days in the company of some lovely strangers, loads of mountain bikers, a yogi and osteopath who placed crystals in places I haven't had anything for a very long time!   It is a village of 2000, which explodes by ten in the winter months, and during the summer has a series of mountain bike competitions which defy gravity and courage (or is that stupidity).  I took the easy 9k route 'route de gourmande' which basically is they say an 'easy peasy' route punctuated by cheese and wine stop overs.  There was only one we stopped at (very good, goat cheese - excellent; and I had apple juice instead of cider, but was hit by a low hanging cow bell (from the tent) thank goodness for the bike helmet because I would have knocked myself out).  You had to be born before 2000 to take part - so I was fine.

But oh boy, my bum hurt. Absolutely aches. Those who take part in mountain biking must have butts as tight as walnuts or at least be able to crack them between their cheeks. Bless.   On the Saturday it was hot and everyone got sweaty. Then a huge storm (incredible in the mountains) and on Sunday, rain in the afternoon, so everyone was covered head to toe in mud. Except the panda eyes thanks to the glasses they wore. Some of the drops that ride over appear vertical. Am sure they are not, but they appear that way.

I did yoga on my birthday at seven am started a two hour walk up up up up and then reached the top, to downward and upward dog and tree pose and of course eagle and mountain pose because seemed appropriate on top of a mountain.  Was with lovely guide Natalie who was in Nepal when the quake happened. She told me it lasted for 45 minutes. She felt the earth was angry with the way we were behaving - we as in mankind.   "Trying to wake us up".  Has she succeeded?   Nope.   Have to happen again then won't it.   Not in Nepal again though please. Nor in la Clusaz for that matter. And they speak French there - more than you can say for the nearby Chamonix where they don't speak French in some bars now.

Lake Annecy lovely.  Have never visited - or if I have can't remember.   Lovely place which doesn't depend on tourism. Which is a good thing.  Places that do are at the beck and call of people with absolutely no taste.

Thank you to all those who wished me happy birthday.   I had a nice time. x

SOME OF THE LOVELY MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT BLOWING PEOPLE I MET (details on previous post…Ailsa, Cate, Skylar, Tiffany, Momo, David and Art. and the lovely SamjMoon

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MIND. BODY, SPIRIT BLOWING...

I am sceptical of exhibitions mainly because its usually hard sell, and I walk away with sore feet and loads of leaflets I end up binning.   This year I attended the Mind Body Spirit Exhibition at Olympia.    I met a lot of people but here are the ones I recommend and why.

'As most journeys start, I had an intention to be there for a short time, fulfil a remit and go. I would stay a few hours on a Friday afternoon. This turned into a long weekend. Initially I visited the Mind Body Spirit Exhibition at Olympia to find out more about holistic holidays. There has been an unprecedented growth in this healing holiday market, for want of a better phrase, over the past few years, with retreats, spas, wellness centres, top of mountain yogic and meditation experiences designed to blow your mind body spirit, transcend and embody, empower and ignite the energies in you, allowing you to find yourself, loose yourself, centre yourself, discover yourself or just be yourself - if you know who you are, that is - which may not be the person you think you are at all. Or the person people tell you you are. Anywhere with a sunset and sunrise, ideally a hillside, or beach, and someone looking floaty and sorted, you could chill, channel, recharge and head back to the big smoke with some clarity until it filled you up again with nonsense. An exhibition hall at Olympia doesn't quite have the same energetic magnetism as a mountain top in the Himalayas, but the place was magical - which says a lot for the energy of those who were there.

Wandering around the stands at the show, which initially seems like any other exhibition, stands in neat rows, some smelling of joss sticks, another with an Indian man with a long beard (it was fake) and others smiling, handing out pamphlets, I was looking for my friend Ailsa Frank, who is a hypnotherapist. Diverted as I usually am on my travels, I looked around. Everything from massaging the chakras, realigning your life force, yoga in all its guises, silent disco, vegan nibbles, personal development workshops in the UK and overseas, wildflower therapies (www.WildFlowerEssences.co.uk (get the balance spray), chocolate and tea therapy (www.barakateas.com) bee therapy (www.wellbeingessences.com), light therapy, chakra therapy… any form of therapy seemed to be catered for. There was even organic chocolate for those who enjoy chocolate therapy.

Some offered an almost scientific analysis of why you feel the way you do, others offered more esoteric advice about how we are connected with nature. It is not surprising there is an increasing need for explanation and definition, when our faith in everything from the Church, the government, the media, even our parents has been challenged over the past three to four years and found wanting. The internet, for all its faults has enabled people to send before they have thought, and hence sent what they really think. Thats not what the government or the media or the Church are telling us to think, but what we really think - which is totally different. Thats powerful stuff. It was shown only on Saturday when the media announced 'the world is excited by the birth of the next royal baby.' No they are not. The media is but the world is not and twitter, Facebook et al showed as much.

As a result there's a lot of people who have based their lives, their journeys on falsehoods either told to them by their parents, their boss, goodness, even the media. And they don't know who to believe any more. When you don't believe in God, you start to believe in everything and there is an opportunity to explore yourself further. Not just geographically, but emotionally and spiritually. You don't need to be in midlife to have a crisis these days – it can happen anytime, any place, anywhere. A lot of those who have had some sort of 'aha' moment or are in need of one come to this exhibition.

Two years ago I came to this event and felt suffocated by the sell and take of the stands there. Full of tarot readers and astrologers, crystal sellers, I was slightly sceptical of the hard sell. But people today are seeking deeper and further now, beyond the star signs and crystal balls. As TV and media sells us more vacuous and superficial images of what and who is real (celebrities as false Gods), so we are realising that what is being is sold as 'real' is anything but, and what appears plausible is not necessarily authentic. Alternative is gradually becoming mainstream. Today the festival, because it is more a festival than exhibition is about tell and share rather than sell and need .

Essentially its about the stuff of experience rather than the experience of stuff. So less selling crystals and more telling stories and healers who heal, who share their knowledge, grace and wisdom. Everyone in some way, whether they label themselves it or not, at Olympia was a life coach, giving a different perspective on the life journey. So it was probably fitting my editor should send the travel editor there to investigate.

My very good friend Alisa Frank (www.hypnobalance.co.uk), who is a hypnotherapist was there selling her book 'Cut the Crap and be Amazing' which is essentially what everyone walking through the door wants to do. There are a number of workshops and areas - the Mantra Tent, the Wellbeing Studio, Aura Central, the Chill Out Space,but I headed for the Love Dome, because,if I'm honest and no reason better than that, I felt like it.

There I met Cate Mackenzie, ( www.catemackenzie.com 07974 341 545 ). Cate is a psychosexual therapist, couple counsellor and work shop leaders. She is above all else, a force of nature.

“I've been called many things, love coach, sex therapist, but essentially love coach is what I am. I help people connect with themselves so they are able to connect with others.”

With a red top hat , like a sparkling spiritual ring master, she has been working with people for over twenty years. A bright, beautiful lady, she's grounded with a wicked, engaging sense of humour, which will win over even the most cynical of hearts. You immediately want her to like you.

“Women and men are totally different aren't they?” I ask, hoping she will agree with me, and confirm my belief women are multi dimensional, much more evolved than men who are two dimensional, emotionally autistic followers who women have to drag kicking and screaming into enlightenment.

“They find love in a different way.” she replies, “Women channel through the heart, men through sex, but they are both extremely tender and loving and end up at the same place – they just reach it through different channels.”

Cate realised she had strong intuition from an early age, as did a lot of those I interviewed at the show, although many of them started out either as successful business people who realised there was more to life than making money . Many also s tudied Law at university , totally changing their perspective on life. Seeing angels or trusting intuition in childhood, knowing something was wrong or right, regardless of what you were told, was a common theme of those I spoke to. A lot also came from professions or education totally unrelated to psychic ability. I'm a believer in you meet good people through good people and I met a fascinating array through Cate.

One of those was Skyler Arcanesis, life coach, speaker, author and spiritual activist. Like Cate, she is incredibly inciteful, telling you more about yourself, your true self, than your friends, your mother and even you would like to admit to yourself (www.skyacamesis.com). This can be scary as well as fascinating, like someone holding a mirror to you for the first time in your life. Originally studying law, she realised that this wasn't her vocation and work revolves around love – how to love and be loved greatly, and the premise that we are all tired of being afraid. She was so illuminating about my life, she could have written my life story and guaranteed the happy ending.

Tiffany Wardle ( www.tiffanywardle.com), a psychic and expert in past life regression, soulmates and soul connections and Reiki Master and healing teacher, was an extremely successful businesswoman with property and business and lost it all, but in doing so found out something about herself which had more meaning to her life.

“I lost everything, even my soul mate,” she said. “Everything was taken from me, and then I went on this journey, a physical as well as meta-physical journey, that made me realise I had psychic abilities. I wanted to use and explore them.”

She also has that ability to hold up a mirror but one of her specialities is past life. She told me I had my knuckles rapped a lot in a previous life time and had to say stuff I didn't believe, which explains a lot about my distrust of establishment despite a conventional upbringing. I am more inclined to trust people than process.

Beverley Drumm ( www.nectaroflife.co.uk) specialises in kundalini yoga and tantric transformation. “ Whenever people think of kundalini and tantra they think sex but its much more than that. Its much more than improving your sex life. That is only on the surface. You change how you feel about yourself, and there are so many ways you evolve, the fact it improves your sex life is almost a bi product of all the other benefits of kundalini yoga, which is breaking down the barriers and blocks you have in your life to be yourself, and find yourself. I organise groups of eight to ten women for half day workshops who want to explore their sexuality and improve it. Sexuality is not just about sex, its about identity. Its a magical experience which I do in peoples homes.”

Tori Hartman (www.ToriHartman.com) , who compiled a series of parables and produced cards to help focus people on their life purpose. Tori talked me through the story behind each card. Its an accessible way of getting to the truth and confronting issues which can be quite brutal. She has strong psychic abilities and doesn't pull any p unches. "This woman spoke to me once and sobbed down the phone telling me 'he doesn't love me any more'. That's not the problem, I said. What's the problem is you're miserable."

Another excellent retreat are those run by the effervescent Samjhana Moon ( www.goddessportraiture.co.uk) Samjhana is a fine art portrait photographer (who actually originates from Chiswick, offering one to one luxury retreats in Totnes Devon. She offers a range of photography experiences helping women to look at themselves differently, regain femininity and light through getting in touch with nature.

"We are all connected with the seasons, especially women through the moon cycle. If you identify with the seasons it tells you a lot about yourself and how you see yourself as a woman, and enables you to reconnect with the 4 seasons because women are every element - air (breath-spring) fire (temperature-summer) earth (bones-autumn) water (blood-winter). Society loves the young adventurous girl (represented in the season of Spring) and the fertile, hot, sexy woman (Summer), but is less sure of the mystic and wise side of women, that are represented by the seasons of Autumn and Winter. I wish society would embrace every aspect of women!" Check out Samjana's gallery on the website, the images are illuminating in more ways than one.

Its not all women there. Art Giser has evolved NLP to bring in a psychic and spiritual elements to the practice, deepening it so that its not about them or you “getting what I want”, but heightening your perception into realising getting them to do what you think you want may not be the best way forward. That's evolution for you ( www.ENLP7.com ). I asked him why he felt the show had become more popular over the years. “More and more people realize that they are much more than they thought they were, much more than then their personality. They want more than just love, sex and money, they want to bring their spiritual nature into every aspect of their lives.” Some of us are wanting to transcend lfie, go to another level, others are wanting to embody their spirituality more strongly, so come back, be in our body again. We are all taking different spiritual journeys in different dimensions” 

Aware that I had gone to the exhibition in the first place to talk travel, I met the man behind The Big Calm ( www.thebigcalm.com) set in Kafelonia.

“A lot of people go there and they don't see the real destination. They don't see what it really has to offer. They don't explore enough. Its an incredible energy there and we've tapped into it with the retreats, which offer anything from meditation to reiki, horse riding, poetry and fishing.” Also try out www.upsidedownholiday.com, who holds yoga holidays in Dalyan, Turkey.

I ended up going for three of the four days – when I had anticipated only going for a few hours. I met Momoyo Smozky (momoyoworks@hotmail.com) who is, like the rest of those I have named in this piece, phenomenal in her healing powers. her powers will literally knock you off your feet. I bought some frankincense – a powerful oil I use in my yoga classes a lot - from the frankincense store (www.freeyoursenses.co.uk) which sells the best from Oman.

In fact I floated out of the exhibition every day, having mixed with some truly amazing and enlightened people. I have travelled extensively around the world and seen many phenomenal places, but on many levels, the trip to Olympia this May Bank Holiday was the best journey I have taken in a very long time.'