True Happiness Comes From Within - some thoughts......

I took Colin on a longer walk this morning as we both needed the exercise. A walk gives me the opportunity to think. Today I was thinking about happiness and how my mood was shifting away from my post holiday blues and that my spirits were lifting.

I was wondering what had happened to change this, as I had not done anything particularly exciting. So it must be that the factors that were making me happier were coming from the inside. Lasting happiness is not something that can be achieved from external sources and happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think.

So how can I continue this feeling of  happiness? I have read that daily affirmations are quite powerful in boosting your happiness. For example, starting each day by thinking of all the things you have to be thankful for is one way to put your mind on the right track.


Making a list of things for which we are grateful is one idea that works for me. It is  something that I can use to refer to when I am feeling low. I made one of these last year and so I reconnected with it when I got back home from my walk and I was amazed how relevant it was still. But it needed some updating. I now have something I can quickly refer to and I can reflect on one or more of things that make me feel gratitude. I don't spend a long time contemplating these items it depends on how much time I have and how I feel.


Also, remember that your future depends largely on the thoughts you think today. So each moment of every day is an opportunity to turn your thinking around, thereby helping or hindering your ability to think and feel more positively in the very next moment.

Most experts agree that there are no shortcuts to happiness. Even generally happy people do not experience joy 24 hours a day. But a happy person can have a bad day and still find pleasure in the small things in life.


Postponing your happiness until you reach a certain goal, like getting a promotion or pay raise to go on vacation, is a sure-fire way to stay stuck in misery. Instead, consciously spend a few minutes every day thinking about the good things in your life, such as eating a balanced meal or getting enough rest. Practice this every day and each day try to extend the time you spend on positive thoughts.



Additionally, while there is no rule or special formula that can make a person constantly happy, happiness tends to come more easily when you focus on life having a sense of  meaning.

Including a spiritual dimension (whatever that means to us individually) tends to be an essential component of happiness for most people as well.

I left the sunshine a week ago...........

............and with the rain and muddy dog walks I have been wishing that I was still in the sunshine and the Llandudno Beach House.

Summer

  This was a sure sign that the post holiday blues had made an appearance! I was finding it difficult to shrug off these blues. Yesterday was sunny and surprisingly there was some warmth in the sunshine.

Ruth and I were a bit adventurous today as gave Fego a miss and went to a different cafe today - Treacle in Sunninghill. 

It could become a popular place to go to in 2014 as all their food is homemade. The cakes(not that I eat them) are all made by the owner, who is passionate about baking. But the best news is that they allow dogs in the cafe! They allow dogs as the food preparation is on a different level.

The interior of Treacle

You can find them on Facebook.  

Colin watch out you could be coming along with me for a cuppa! They had a doggie water bowl for you and I will take a treat with me for you.

I realised that I need to change my routine and try different things. That's what holidays are all about in a way. So I was pleased that I went somewhere different today and I need to put more variety in my life and be happy with where I am. This quote sums it up really well.

Sheila Dillon's take on cancer and nutrition.

There is an interesting story by Radio 4’s Food Programme presenter Sheila Dillon on the BBC website  and in the Good Food magazine. She has had treatment for cancer as has her sister so they are well qualified to comment. I must say I was surprised to see such an article in anything associated with the BBC which is a bastion of protection of the establishment. The following is a quote from the article.

‘"It is now accepted by almost everyone in the scientific world that diet is one of the major causes of cancer. But there’s hardly a doctor in the UK who will tell you that there is also good evidence that what you eat after diagnosis also matters, despite hundreds of studies indicating that when you’ve got cancer, you should pay attention to what you eat.’"

You will find a video at the link here with a summary of Sheila’s comments on this subject.

There is no doubt in my mind that what we eat is critical in both our ability to prevent cancer and also vitally important if we are undergoing treatment - whatever treatment. The message clearly from Sheila Dillon'’s article is don’t wait for your doctor to advise on your nutrition, take personal responsibility.

Guess who's happy to back home?

I got back yesterday morning after an 11 hour flight that unbelievably passed very quickly. I am always so happy to see Colin and I just had to share this photo of someone who is happy to be home.

It's so lovely to be back on a comfy sofa!

How can I leave ?

So sad to leave this wonderful place again. I have the photos and I have this view firmly planted in my mind. I will have this have my special place to go to when I am meditating or having my healing

The view from the terrace at the Llandudno Beach House

Such a wonderful holiday again ...... cant wait I come back.

I love South Africa...... this post card sums it up!

I "heart" South Africa

The Food Barn Noordhoek Lunch

Then we moved onto lunch! a real foodie day! Annie our dear friend here in Llandudno recommended this as she thought the food was amazing. What a great recommendation. Thanks Annie. You were right the sauces are so delish that you could lick the plate! 

It's a bit of a drive but the drive is amazing along the Chapman's Peak Drive. Such brilliant views as you drive along the scenic drive. The location of the restaurant if not the most picturesque that we have been to while we are here but the food and the service makes it the best restaurant that we have visited.

The Foodbarn's logo

The Foodbarn Noordhoek

Wild Mushroon Ravioli Starter

Breakfast at Dario's Hout Bay.

Where we started ten days ago! We had our first breakfast at Dario's so it seemed apt to go there on our last day. Delicious freshly made apple carrot and celery juice and freshly cooked eggs on rye toast. Perfect start to the day.

Me and Ruthie having enjoyed a yummy breakfast

Picnic lunch at at Buitenverwachting

A beautiful sunny hot day with no wind so it was a perfect for a picnic lunch at Buitenverwachting in Constantia. They provide the picnic and you sit at tables in the shade. The tables 

Are all widely space out so it has the feeling you are in a country meadow.

What a place for a picnic lunch.

It has a wonderful coffee shop where you get your post lunch coffee. It had an amusing quote on a

blackboard outside

love this quote

And inside they had a great portrait of Nelson Mandela

O

Sundays and fun times

.

And  this is exactly what we did on Sunday ...... a long fun lunch with Annie who manages the Beach House. Healthy food thanks to recipes from Deliciously Ella 's website . I made her broccoli, avocado and lime salad (which was amazing) and for dessert her raw mango and pineapple tart which was delicious .

 Lots of wine for those who wanted it ,  a beautiful setting and great conversations. 

Table all set for lunch - what a back drop.

The happy housemates!

Can't remember a more fun lunch and it ended up with us all dancing on the terrace - such fun memories were made with wonderful friends.

                                 

This sums up happy times!

Newly planted coastal fynbos garden at the Beach House

I love the natural planting at the Beach House. Lots of coastal fynbos and the local birds are loving it.

My morning walk on Llandudno Beach

This was my morning walk today. So very different from my normal walk back home -better weather and more stunning scenery, but sadly no Colin. He would love running along this  beach.

Sums up where I am today!

Original T-bag Designs Hout Bay

 
A morning trip out to Original T- Bag Designs in Hout Bay. This is a community based project of the Imizamo Yetu community which turns discarded tea bags  they receive from around the world into beautiful works of art. These include greetings cards, table wear, textiles and artwork.

First I was shown a DVD of how the project started and how the tea bags are created into the artwork. It started of with very small outlets but now has a store at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Capetown as well as shipping internationally. 

They use ordinary used tea bags that have been emptied of their tea and dried. People ship their used tea bags from all over the world. How fascinating is this whole story around used tea bags that I have thrown away or composted. I need to start saving my tea bags!

Here are some photos of the tour........

me outside the Original T-Bag designs at Hout Bay

Busy varnishing and assembling.

 A beautiful tray with artwork made out of used tea bags

Coasters coasters and more coasters.

Their Hout Bay Store

Dinner at home tonight

 After eating out for the last few nights we all felt like a dinner cooked at home. So we made reservations for a table at the Beach House last night. Chris and Neil went to Fish for Africa  yesterday morning while I was at yoga and bought Calamari and Swordfish for dinner. It was absolutely delicious - thanks to Chris cooking the fish while Neil made an excellent coconut and vegetable rice and the sous chefs Gillian and Ruth prepared all the veggies. A truly combined effort.

It was delish and here's the proof

And here we are having dinner -not quite outside but in the sun room Gillian Chris Neil & Ruth enjoying dinner - I'm taking the photo.

What's been happening?

It's been a long while since I blogged I realised and so Ruth has informed me. Christmas was so busy with visitors and cooking and all the usual Christmas stuff.

New Year was quiet. Apart from Colin barking in the New Year as their was lots of fireworks near where we live. He has an aversion to fireworks and gets very stressed barking at them. So we were up until 1.30 a.m.until the war zone that our area seemed to become for a few hours with loud explosive fireworks going off heralding  in the New Year. I don't like to be a kill joy but fireworks have become a real pain in my life as Colin is really angry at the sound of them. What with 5th November, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year and any old excuse it seems they have been going off every night causing a lot of stress to our little furry friend. Surely there should be something that could be done to limit the time people can let these explosives off in a residential area and think it is ok?

Enough now and breathe....... The new year has started well with a trip to my favourite place!

                                  Does anyone recognise it from January 2013?

Back in Llandudno just outside Cape Town. The view from where I am staying

So I am back in my favourite place - Llandudno just outside Cape Town

I can't quite believe that we are here. It was a bit surreal to be going away on holiday so soon after the Christmas and New Year festivities. After the dreadful rainy stormy weather in the UK and getting soaking wet every time I stepped outside the front door I am so lucky to be back in summer and in January. Yes it did take 11 hours on a plane which passed really quickly -watching a few movies and some sleep. I really liked "Enough Said" which was a bit different and really uplifting when I didn't think it would be. Even got some shut eye on the flight.

 It was cloudy when I arrived but warm. The weather has been patchy and reminded me of summers back home, rain cloud sun and winds all in one afternoon.

So lucky to be staying at the Llandudno Beach House. There is a story connected to why I am so happy to be staying here at long last.  Two years ago I was supposed to be here in the former Beach House but I had to postpone it as I  had to have my liver resection. So I never got to stay here as when  I came out here 7 weeks later it was booked by someone  else. Sine then it has been demolished and rebuilt and in November last year I connected with Annie a wonderful agent here in Llandudno to see what was available  for early 2014 and the new and improved Beach House was available in early January for 10 days and was the only opening this season. Wow how lucky was that and I am convinced that it was just meant to be!


I am back in my favourite place and I can't tell you how wonderful that feeling is and how beautiful it is being here. I have a huge sense of gratitude for being given the opportunity to be here with Neil and my wonderful friends Chris Gillian and Ruth.

And this is the view from my bedroom window - I could sit here and stare out at the sea all day.

Watch this You Tube clip of my bedroom.

And this quote has resonance for this time..........

"Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.” ~Maori Proverb