Mental distress: where to turn for support in Cornwall

Everyone has days when they feel miserable; ups and downs are an inevitable part of life. However for some people, these lows don’t go away, they can become overpowering and affect their ability to cope with everyday life.

About one in four people experience some form of mental distress at some point in their lives, yet there is still a lot of stigma attached to being mentally ill. A Department of Health survey carried out in July asked people to say what they understand by the term mental illness. A worrying 63% of respondents defined a mentally ill person as ‘someone suffering from schizophrenia’. It is clear that there is a still a lot of misunderstanding surrounding mental health.

When people think about mental illness, many often picture someone who is acutely and visibly ill. However many people with mental health diagnoses, including schizophrenia, do not come across as being ill. Often they can put on a ‘well face’ and pass as ‘normal’.

Mental ill health can take many forms. If you are feeling low, worthless, and unmotivated most days you may be experiencing depression, while constant and unrealistic worries about life could indicate anxiety. Mental distress is very individual and can affect anyone at any time in their life. What ever your situation, there are many organisations across Cornwall that can help.

The first port of call is often your GP. If problems are severe and enduring you may be referred to the Cornwall Partnership Trust, which provides children and adults in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with mental health, learning disabilities, drug and alcohol and eating disorder services.

They provide services across Cornwall including psychological therapies, resource centres providing a range of social and therapeutic activities, inpatient care, and community mental health teams who work with people in their homes.

They take a ‘whole life’ approach and can support people with issues such as housing, leisure, and employment. Lezli Boswell, Chief Executive of the trust, said:

“A range of effective and supportive community mental health services are essential in maintaining people within their local communities and networks, and is important in breaking the cycle of social exclusion that many people with mental health problems and their carers experience.”

Cornwall Mental Health Forum is an independent organisation that works to support and protect the rights of people with mental health problems. The forum runs initiatives such as the Service User Representatives Group (SURG), which provides a service user perspective in the provision of mental health services, including having members on the interview panel for key NHS personnel.

Other forum initiatives include the Independent Visiting Scheme, where visitors (usually service users or carers) provide a confidential ear, helping people in hospital raise issues about their care, and signposting them onto other useful organisations. Nicki Sweeney, the forum’s co-ordinator. said:

"It's imperative that mental health service users are consulted and actively involved in the planning and development of the services they receive.”

The forum works with, and can provide information on, self help and support groups for anyone suffering mental distress, throughout the county.

For people experiencing or recovering from mental illness and thinking about returning to work, Pentreath is an organisation that can help.

One barrier to employment can be overcoming the social exclusion often felt by people suffering from mental ill health. Pentreath’s Fit for Life project can help with this first step by supporting individuals to access recreational activities in their local communities. Pentreath can also offer training and work experience to help people use and develop their skills in a supportive environment. Vitality Matters magazine is one such scheme.

The aim is to help build people’s self esteem and confidence, so they feel ready for work. Compared to other disabilities, mental ill health is the disability with the most unemployment. Pentreath chief executive Louise Knox said:

“People do get better, and are just as loyal and committed as any other employee; they just need to be given a chance.”

Caring for someone with a mental health problem or other disability can take its toll on the carer’s own health. Full time carers are often unpaid and don’t get a chance to get out into the community, which can lead to them feeling isolated and depressed.

Regular breaks can be beneficial in helping people manage the strain of caring for someone else. Luckily there are organisations across Cornwall that can offer support to carers.

Run by local artist Julia Rowlands, the Carers Colour Group provides a break for carers of adults with mental ill health. Meeting regularly in Camborne, Julia leads artistic activities and encourages carers to use colour to express their feelings and emotions. The group offers carers a chance to get together and share ideas with others in similar situations to their own.

Last year, members of the group exhibited their work at the World Mental Health Day event at the Shire hall in Bodmin, and with Julia organising this year’s event at the same venue on the 10th of October, the group’s work will again be exhibited. Julia said:

“My group enables carers to get out and enjoy the company of others in a relaxing environment. It gives them a chance to be exposed to, and be part of, the artistic community of Cornwall.”

The Carers Support Worker project has worked with carers for 10 years. They provide one-to-one support for carers all over Cornwall. Initially, they assess a carer’s needs and look at ways of helping them cope, and can provide information on benefits, counselling and respite services. They have also been instrumental in helping set up carers support groups, which are then run by the carers themselves.

They also produce a really useful carer’s information pack, which includes information about benefits, emergency contacts and lists all the carer’s groups in Cornwall. Monica Thomas, who runs the project, has worked with carers for 21 years. She said:

“I have a real understanding from my own experiences that juggling one’s life around family, work and caring can take a heavy toll. The team of support workers and myself are committed to ensuring that we reach as many carers as possible and hopefully make a real difference to their lives.”

With so many people suffering from mental distress there is a great need for these organisations, not only because they provide excellent treatment and support, but also because they help overcome the stigma and social exclusion often associated with mental health problems.

Contacts
Community Partnership Trust
Phone 01726 291059 or for more information go to www.cornwall.nhs.uk/cpt

Mental Health Forum
For the North Cornwall, Restormel and Caradon area
phone Lesley Ayers on 01872 222141 or email lesley.ayers@cornwallrcc.co.uk
For Carrick, Kerrier and Penwith:
Phone Nicki Sweeney on 01872 223250 or email nicki.sweeney@cornwallrcc.co.uk

Pentreath
phone 01726 862727 or email pentreath@pentreath.co.uk
For more information go to http://www.pentreath.co.uk/

For the Carers Colour Group
phone Carer’s Break Projects on 01209 613456
or email Julia at jdrowlands@yahoo.com

Carers Support Worker Project
Phone 01872 261035 or email carers@cornwallrcc.co.uk
For more information look at www.cornwallrcc.co.uk/carers.html

This article was published in September's issue of Vitality Matters a free Cornish Health and Wellbeing magazine. http://www.vitalitymatters.org.uk/

Exploring the origin of words and phrases

When I said to my daughter ‘night night, sleep tight’ the other evening, it got me thinking about where the saying ‘sleep tight’ came from, and set me off exploring the origins of other phrases. It’s interesting how words and phrases change over the years, for example who remembers when ‘gay’ meant jolly. Some original meanings of words are forgotten about altogether such as the word ‘pay’, which originally meant to appease or pacify, before it became a word meaning to give money for goods or services, and ‘budget’ which historically meant a wallet.

This article is the result of my fascination with words and phrases.

Sleep tight is a phrase that has been common for many years. "Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite", is often said to someone retiring to bed. There are several theories as to the origin of the phrase.

One theory dates back from the days when mattresses were supported by ropes, which needed to be pulled tight at night to produce a well sprung bed. Another theory suggests it comes from bedclothes being pulled tightly to stop bedbugs biting.

However the first citation of the phrase was in Susan Bradford Eppes diary; ‘Through some eventful years’, in 1866, and it was not found again till the early twentieth century. As this was after the period when ropes were pulled around beds it doesn’t support that that theory of the phrases origin.

In Susan’s diary there was a clear link between ‘sleep tight’ and ‘sleep well’, and with ‘tight’ meaning firm sound and secure, this is a more likely explanation. ‘Sleep tight’ purely means sleep soundly.

However others simply believe that ‘sleep tight’ came about as a rhyming word to be used with ‘good night,’ or ‘bed bugs bite’.

We all use the term ‘Boycott’ meaning to refuse to have dealings with a person or organisation, however have you ever wondered how the word came about? ‘Boycott’ actually comes from Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott, who was working in Ireland as a land agent for an absent landlord in the 1870’s. At the same time the Irish Land League were campaigning to reform the landholding system. In 1880 protesting tenants demanded Boycott reduce their rents and he didn’t, so they came up with the idea that everyone in the locality should refuse to have anything to do with him. Local shops stopped serving him and he even had trouble receiving his post.

The events made big news, and people felt passionately about the reforms, so ‘Boycott’ quickly became used as a byword, and within weeks it had spread all over Ireland and England. By the time Boycott died in 1897 it was a well used term in the English language.

The phrase ‘In the Limelight’ meaning at the centre of attention came about in the theatres of the nineteenth century. Limelight is a bright white light produced by heating a piece of lime in a flame of burning oxygen and hydrogen. It was discovered by Goldsworthy Gurney in the 1920’s, and developed by Thomas Drummond to be used in theatres to illuminate the leading actors. It began to be used as a phrase meaning what it does today around the turn of the twentieth century.

The ‘Bees knees’, meaning excellent and of the highest quality, is another saying with an unclear origin. It doesn’t appear to have any connection with the phrase ‘a bees knee’ which in the eighteenth century meant smallness and has now disappeared from our language. It does however seem to have been coined in 1920’s America, and first appeared in an Ohio newspaper The Newark Advocate.

Theories as to its origin include; that it refers to bees carrying pollen on their legs, and that the concentrated goodness of the pollen was found around a bees knee. However there is no evidence to support this theory.

Another suggestion is that it refers to a dancer Bee Jackson, who was credited with introducing the Charleston to Broadway. It may be that the ‘bees knees’ was a reference to her and her active knees.

However it is just as likely that ‘bees knees’ came about due to the 1920’s trend of inventing nonsensical terms for excellence, such as the ‘kipper’s knickers’ and the ‘cat’s pyjamas’.

If these explanations of the origins of words and phrases have sparked your interest, as they have mine, you can check out a variety of sayings at www.phrases.org.uk. Or have a read of one of the many books available on word origins.

The extraordinary life of Beach Boy Brian Wilson

As told by Mick Brown at the Port Eliot Lit Fest

The Port Eliot Literature festival is situated on the landscaped grounds of the 18th century Port Eliot House at St Germans in Cornwall. Taking part over three days, the Lit fest attracts a diverse range of performers, and has something for all tastes. Whether you want to catch some music, listen to poetry, see talks by authors about their work, watch films, or take part in a pub quiz, the Port Eliot Lit fest will not disappoint.

With flooding in the Midlands, and trains not running, a few of the artists didn’t manage to make it to the festival, and I was disappointed when I turned up to see Mick Brown talk about the life of Brian Wilson, and found he was another victim of the floods. When I heard later he had managed to get down after all, and was talking at seven I hot tailed it over to see him and it was well worth it.

Mick Brown is a freelance writer and journalist who has written for publications such as Rolling Stone magazine, the Observer, and the Daily Telegraph. He’s also the successful author of books such as ‘Tearing down the wall of sound: The rise and fall of Phil Spector’, and 'American heartbeat: A musical journey across America from Woodstock to San Jose'. He has interviewed, and written about, many legends of the music scene, including David Bowie, Santana and the Sex Pistols. His article ‘Brian Wilson – Beach Boy, Pop Visionary, Wounded Soul’ appeared in GQ magazine in 2004.

Joined by his friend Colin Midson, and intermingled with recordings of Beach Boy’s classics, they recounted the extraordinary life of Beach Boy, Brian Wilson.

The Beach Boys were a family band consisting of Brian Wilson, his brother’s Dennis and Carl, their cousin Mike Love, and a school friend Al Jardine. They all grew up in the suburban wasteland of Hawthorn, 30 miles down the freeway from LA. Father Murray was a machinery sales man, failed songwriter, and a bully. He frequently beat Brian and his two younger brothers. But he saved his most sadistic behaviour for Brian, his most gifted and sensitive son. Brian later remembered his childhood as hell and misery.

As a child Brian was a socially awkward boy, he was kind of kid who spent most of the time in his room, and never seemed to successfully manage the transformation from adolescence to adult hood. While Brian’s songs evoked a California dreamscape of surfing hot rods and sun kissed girls, Brian was a lonely person, only truly at ease at his piano or in the recording studio.

In the first 4 years of their existence the Beach Boys produced 12 albums all written and produced by Brian, but the intense pressure of writing, producing, and touring took it’s toll on Brian, and in 1964 he suffered his first nervous breakdown. He retreated to the studio and began to dream of a more sophisticated grown up music. The talk had started off with a rendition of ‘Barbara Ann’, a hit for the Beach Boys in 1965. Brian disliked it saying it wasn’t the Beach Boys sound. He wanted the band to evolve from a band with a formulaic showbiz persona, to a band producing the most spiritual advanced and intricate music ever. At the end of 1965 he began work on what was to become ‘Pet Sounds’.

However he had opposition. The leader of the band on stage; Mike Love liked the showbiz persona, the Beach Boys delivered hits and that delivered royalties, he loved the fun fun fun party Beach Boy style. He didn’t want to trade the hit making machine for un-commercial art music. Other members of the band agreed with Mike. So when Brian Wilson said ‘Barbara Ann’ was not the Beach Boys he actually meant ‘Barbara Ann’ was not Brian Wilson. In 1966 Brian and the band were on a collision course.

By now rock was beginning to address the broader issues of the world, it was becoming politicised. Wilson immersed himself in the hippy culture and discovered pot. Years later he said when smoking grass he could feel the inspiration coming fast.

Working with lyricist Tony Asher on the album 'Pet sounds', he wrote arrangements that were sophisticated and complicated and were way beyond the simplicity of Beach Boy’s earlier songs. When Wilson delivered 'Pet sounds' to Capital records, they considered ditching it and releasing a greatest hits album instead. The greatest hits album came out 2 months later, taking the steam out of ‘Pet Sounds’ sales. In Britain however, 'Pet Sounds' reached no 2 in the charts, and although it took a couple of years to reach the same sort of success in America, it did eventually become regarded as one of the greatest albums ever made.

The apparent failure of 'Pet sounds' angered Love, who wanted the group to go back to simple undemanding pop songs, which kept fans happy and maintained the beach boys in the affluent style they had become accustomed to.

Brian was too far gone to go back, and in spring 1966 he started work on a song that would prove to be a leap into a different kind of music for the Beach Boys. The song was ‘Good Vibrations’. It took six months before Brian was happy with the final version.

In August 1966 two songs about loneliness dominated the charts; the Beatle’s ‘Eleonor Rigby’, a song by a pretend lonely person, and at no2 ‘God Only Knows’ a song by a real lonely person. At the same time Brian was finishing ‘Good vibrations’ and it was released in October to rave reviews. Again Brian encountered opposition from the other Beach boys and ‘Good Vibrations’ was actually recorded by session musicians. People questioned why it did not sound so good live.

Seated at his piano fuelled by amphetamines and hash, Wilson started work on an album he intended to call ‘Dumb Angel’ but was later called ‘Smile’. To realise his dream he employed a new lyricist Van Dyke Parks. They wrote together at Brian’s Beverly Hills mansion, where he had a purple and gold silk Arabian tent erected for creative pot smoking, and in the dining room he had a fourteen foot square box filled with sand so he could be on the beach while he composed. In this period Wilson is portrayed as mad, out of control and devoid of creativity. In fact it was arguably his most creative focused period.

This was the beginning of Wilson’s next mental breakdown which would last for the next twenty five years. When Mick Brown went to interview Brian, he found him sitting on a sofa, staring into distance and clutching a cushion to his chest. It wasn’t until Mick was sat opposite him that Brian even seemed to know he was there. People had described Brian as childlike, and Mick found he replied to questions with no more than the question demands, often only with yes or no.

In the 1970’s and 1980’s while Brian lapsed into drug induced obesity, the other beach boys toured the world resentful of their reliance on Brian. It was during this period Brian met psychiatrist; Dr Eugene Landy who put Brian under 24 hour surveillance, and a punishing regime of dieting, physical fitness, and mind altering drugs. He became a surrogate Murray figure and it took a court order to finally remove Landy from his life.

The Beach Boys were now middle aged men with middle aged problems singing about teenage life. In 1983 the Beach boys were invited to the White house by Ronald Reagan who described them as a National treasure. They posed for pictures, where Brian’s brother, Dennis was seen bloated and stoned in the background. Two months later he was dead.

Brian Wilson’s life story is very depressing, from his father Murray who stole the copy write to Brian’s songs, and Landy who bled his bank accounts dry, and Mike into success Love who was driven by envy. The tragic truth of Wilson’s life was that he was continuously manipulated and exploited by others. His comeback is another example of this, as he would probably be happier at home with his piano. In Mick Browns words, Brian Wilson is a wounded soul and a vulnerable visionary.

Wonderful Watercress

Once known as ‘poor mans bread’ watercress was a staple part of people’s diet in the 1800’s. Today it is probably one of the most underrated and underused greens, yet packed full of nutrients watercress is a superfood well worth adding to our diets. A new report called ‘Watercress The Original Superfood’ written and researched by Lyndel Costain B.Sc.RD, outlines these health benefits.

The benefits of eating watercress have been known for many years. As far back as 500BC, Hippocrates known as the father of modern medicine located his hospital near a stream, so he could grow watercress for its blood purifying qualities. In ancient Greece the name for watercress is ‘kardomon’ which roughly translates as head subdoer, where they believed watercress could brighten the intellect and cure a deranged mind. Similarly the Romans treated insanity with watercress and vinegar.

Watercress was also reputed to increase stamina. Greek generals used to feed it to their troops, and Egyptian Pharaoh’s gave it to their slaves to increase productivity. In seventeenth century England, watercress was sold in bunches at markets and eaten like ice cream cones. It was commonly eaten for breakfast in a sandwich and became known as ‘poor mans bread’ as people who couldn’t afford bread would just eat watercress.

Watercress is a member of the cruciferous family which includes broccoli, kale and mustard. It’s been classed as a superfood because of its high levels of nutrients; it contains three times as much vitamin E as lettuce, more iron than spinach, and more calcium than milk (useful to know for anyone on a diary free diet). More importantly it contains natural compounds called phytochemicals which evidence suggests are very beneficial to our health.

The health benefits of watercress include promoting healthy eyes, skin and hair. It contains the phytochemicals; lutein and zeaxanthin which are found in the lens and retina. Both are actually available in supplement form, sold in health food shops, specifically to help with eyesight. Watercress also contains Zinc and Vitamin A (via beta carotene) which are important for good night vision. The high levels of vitamin A and C watercress provides can help keep skin supple and smooth, and its iron and zinc levels are essential for healthy hair and strong nails.

Hippocrates used watercress for its blood purifying qualities, and it can still be used today as part of a detox diet. Watercress contains glucosinolates which are phytochemicals which can boost and regulate the livers inbuilt detoxification system. Watercress was used by the Anglo Saxons to spring clean the blood, and the American Indians ate it for liver and kidney problems.

Watercress is also a good food to use as part of any weight loss regime. It contains high levels of iodine which is needed to make the thyroid hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate. It is also very low in calories, and has a low energy density which contributes to feeling fuller for longer. A study undertaken by Pennsylvania State University found that people eating a watercress starter went on to eat on average 12% less calories in the main course.

Due to watercress’s high vitamin and mineral content there are many health benefits, such as to the immune system, where the vitamin B6 content can help make defensive antibodies. It is also high in folic acid and iron which are especially important in pregnancy. The levels of Calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A C and K in watercress, can help build and maintain healthy bones. Most interestingly however recent research has discovered watercress is very useful in reducing the risk of developing cancer.

The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research suggest up to 40% of deaths by cancer could be avoided by adopting a healthier diet. The majority of cancers are formed by ingesting or inhaling potentially carcinogenic compounds. The cancer fighting potential of watercress seems to be due to the presence of phytochemicals such as ‘phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC)’. PEITC inhibit the activation process which can turn some of these compounds carcinogenic, and watercress is one of the richest sources of dietary PEITC. Studies in the past few years are also discovering watercress may have properties that can counteract the effects of smoking, such as ‘Gluconasturtin’ which can help neutralise a carcinogen in tobacco.

For anyone interested in the findings of studies into watercress and cancer’s such as; breast, prostate, colorectal and lung, you can find them in Lyndel Costain’s report available at www.watercress.co.uk.

It seems that watercress is the original superfood, and it doesn’t have to be boring. There is so much more to do with watercress than just having it in a salad. It’s actually quite a versatile ingredient, adding a peppery zing to stir fries, sauces, juices and fish dishes. Try adding it to mashed potato with cheddar cheese and spring onions, or chopping and sprinkling watercress over scrambled eggs. Alternatively try the more traditional watercress and potato soup. I know I will be eating it more often.

“Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food”
Hippocrates

Treating Cystitis naturally

If you’ve ever had cystitis you’ll know how unpleasant it is. Symptoms include a frequent and overwhelming urge to go to the toilet, and when you get there you often pass only a small amount of urine which stings and can feel hot. The urine passed is also often smelly and/or cloudy. Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder and is normally caused by a bacterial infection. Cystitis is more common in women as the passage from the bladder (the urethra) is shorter than men’s urethras, and bacteria can be more easily spread from the anus or vagina to the bladder.

To reduce the symptoms of cystitis many people opt for over the counter remedies which often work by making the urine more alkaline. A cheaper and just as effective remedy is to dissolve a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in water. Personal hygiene is also important in reducing the likelihood of infection, such as making sure you wipe from the front to the back after emptying your bladder or bowels.

Cystitis is one of a range of problems that can affect the urinary system. Urinary discomfort can also be caused by chlamydia, prostate problems in men, urethritis, and kidney stones. This is by no means an exclusive list. The doctors should be the first port of call, so that the causes of urinary problems are identified and treated. However with less severe problems eating the right foods can have a dramatic effect.

The first priority when experiencing cystitis is to drink lots of water, which helps dilute the urine and flush out the kidneys. It is also a good idea to avoid foods which can aggravate cystitis, and eat more of the foods that can have a beneficial effect on urinary infections.

Foods to avoid
Sugar is one of the first foods to cut from your diet. Swiss naturopath Alfred Vogel when treating patients found that when they abstained from sugar their pain was relieved, however upon being given sugar again the pain returned without fail.

Salt encourages fluid retention which can affect the flushing action of the kidneys.

Citrus juices in large quantities can increase the acidity of the urine which can add to urinary discomfort. However they also are important in providing valuable anti-oxidant vitamins which enhance the ability of the immune system to fight infection. When your symptoms are relieved, try re-introducing citrus fruits and cut back on them again if symptoms return.

Alcohol can increase levels of uric acid which can interfere with the normal function of the kidneys.

Some of the ingredients in Coffee, Tea and carbonated drinks can have an irritating effect on the kidneys and urinary tract.


Foods that can help
Cranberries are a well known food for helping clear up cystitis, which works by preventing bacteria sticking to the inner walls of the bladder. When buying cranberry juice opt for the ones without added sugar.

Barley is another extremely beneficial remedy for cystitis but not as well know about. Barley’s demulcent qualities can soothe inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract. You can make your own barley water by boiling 1 heaped tablespoon of pot barley (available at supermarkets and health food shops) in 1 ½ pints of water and simmering for 30 minutes.

Celery is not only anti-inflammatory, but also can help eliminate waste via the urine. The active compound in celery is concentrated in the seeds which can be brought at health foods shops and made into a tea, or added into salads.

Dandelion acts as a tonic to the urinary system as well as being a gentle but effective diuretic, increasing the rate of urination, and helping the body eliminate waste products. Dandelion leaves can be added to salads. There are also coffee substitutes you could try made from ground dandelion roots. They are often combined with chicory (see below).

Chicory has a reputation for being an excellent cleanser and detoxifier.

Melons can gently stimulate the kidneys, and has been used in traditional medicine as a remedy for kidney and bladder problems. Melons are an excellent cleanser, and due to its high water content can rehydrate the body and help flush out the kidneys.

Yogurt is a must if you’ve been prescribed a course of antibiotics for cystitis. Antibiotics can wipe out both good and bad bacteria and eating yogurt can help to restore equilibrium in the gut. Yogurt can protect against bacterial infection especially in the urinary tract.

Garlic is an amazing all rounder, with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral qualities. For any ailment garlic is an invaluable addition to your diet.

Extra help
Uva-ursi was recommended to me by my reflexologist for a urinary tract infection, and I found it worked really well Uva-ursi works as a urinary antiseptic. It also has a high tannin content which strengthens and tones the membranes of the urinary tract.

“Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food”
Hippocrates

Please note
I am not medically qualified, but have had an interest in and have researched nutrition and alternative remedies for many years. For this article I referred to:
The food doctor, Healing foods for mind and body by Vicki Edgson and Ian Marber
Superfoods by Michael Van Starten and Barbara Griggs
Prescription for Nutritional Healing (2nd edition) by James F Balch M.D and Phyllis A Balch C.N.C

Curses and Cargo cults at Port Elliot

The Port Eliot Literature festival is situated on the landscaped grounds of the 18th century Port Eliot House at St Germans in Cornwall. Taking part over three days, the Lit fest attracts a diverse range of performers, and has something for all tastes. Whether you want to catch some music, listen to poetry, see talks by authors about their work, watch films, or take part in a pub quiz, the Port Eliot Lit fest will not disappoint.

On the Saturday afternoon, Charles Montgomery’s account of his travels to the Western South Pacific islands, and the origin and influence of myths, had the audience captivated.

Charles Montgomery became interested in myths at ten years old when he discovered his Great Grandfather’s diary in the attic. His Great Grandfather, Rev. H. H. Montgomery, wrote stories about the Anglican’s church attempts to Christianise the South Pacific in the 19th century. He described a place which was full of myths, magic and violence and danger.

Charles found “the images followed him into his dreams” and he was fascinated by the idea of myths. A myth, he suggests, doesn’t mean a fib, but a story that helps us learn about our relationship with the world, and tells us how to live. He wanted to understand the stories his Great Grandfather told, and to see if there was anything left of the lands he had described. Following in his footsteps, he travelled to the Melanesia islands in the South Pacific 120 years later.

Charles recounted myths he had been told on his journey, such as a sorcerer who could change himself into an owl and fly around the islands at night. If he didn’t like you, he would pull open your stomach, rip your guts out and replace them with sticks and leaves. You would feel fine the next day but in a few weeks you would start coughing them up, and wouldn’t live long after that.

Another tale was from an island where terrible sorcerers lived. They would leave curses wrapped up in a leaf lying in the road, and if you stepped over it your penis would disappear. I wondered what would happen if a women walked over them.

What fascinated Charles was how these myths influenced the way the islanders lived. The chief of one village told him the story of a visitation from a spirit saying “you must understand what guides us.”

Back in 1940’s when the island was essentially a Presbyterian theocracy; a Spirit came in the middle of the night, in a big white hat with his eyes in the shadows, and appeared before the elders. He said “You have to stop going to church, throw your western money into the sea, and cast out the missionaries. Go back to your parties and circumcision ceremonies. If you do all these things I will return on a great white ship from afar, loaded with everything you ever wanted.” They did as he said, returning to traditional practices such as the men partying and drinking Kava on a Friday night. They have continued living this way even though they’re still waiting and praying for the spirits return. When Charles said to the chief “You’ve been waiting for 60 years for your prophet to come back, aren’t you getting a little frustrated?” He replied “Well, how long have you been waiting for Jesus to come back?”

Exploring the history of the islands, Charles found out that when the Americans arrived on the islands in World War two they brought lots of goods, and the islanders believed they must have controlled some kind of magic to have all this junk. The ships that travelled around the islands carrying gifts, became known as ‘cargo cults’ and the islanders prayed for this kind of magic.

As he moved through the islands he learnt that the magic he looked for was based around the concept of ‘mana’. Mana is a supernatural power which flows through all living things; it flows through rocks, and islands, and is concentrated in human skulls, which explains the head hunting that went on in the Northern Solomon Islands. The more exalted the victim the greater the mana, and the more skulls you could collect the more powerful you were. The islanders described mana as a force you could draw to yourselves and use for good or evil.

Charles had been told lots of stories, explored the history of the islands, and seen how myths influenced the way islanders lived, but he still hadn’t seen magic in action.

That is until he visited a village in New Georgia where the chief told him not to go into the mountains and blow on a stone, which was a petrified head of a snake. The chief had sold the mountain side to a logging company, and if he blew on the stone it would create a rainstorm, and they would have to stop logging for a couple of days. Defying the chief’s request, they made their way up to the mountain, and blew on the stone and indeed a rain storm started up. As they ran down the mountain there was thunder and lightening and the heavens opened. This may have been proof of the existence of magic, or it could have been a coincidence.

To try and find further proof magic existed, Charles tracked down the last of the islands shark callers, Celestine, who had a special relationship with a particular black shark. He was sure he would show him a miracle.

At midnight one night they paddled out in a canoe to the middle of lagoon. Celestine jumped in the water, and Charles took a deep breath and pushed off from canoe and circled beneath it. As he had to keep coming up for air, he realised Celestine was still under water and had been for many minutes. He saw a light, and pushed himself towards it. He saw the light was coming from Celestine sat cross legged on a bed of crushed coral, but he wasn’t alone, he saw a shadow of a black shark circling Celestine. He would like to have gone down further, but felt himself being pulled to the surface again for air.

He wasn’t sure what he had seen, and didn’t realise what had happened until weeks later. After leaving the islands, he was asked on numerous occasions if he had seen the shark spirit, and he answered no. Late one evening in the company of a group of friends, however he answered yes, he did see the shark god, and he was able to visualise what he had seen that night. Charles said:

“The story became whole finally, and I grew more certain every time I repeated it, now there was no doubt. Yes it was a shark… Yes an ancestor could still be summoned from the darkness”

He realised myth is about belief, it was true because he believed it, he says:

“Myth for me is like love, it’s a decision, what it answers is the kind of longing, what it demands is faith, what it opens is possibility.”

You can find Charles tale of his journey, his interpretation of what he discovered, and the difficulties he faced, including arriving at a time when civil war had raged through the islands, in his book: The Shark God: Encounters with Myth and Magic in the South Pacific.

Buy fresh Buy local
Sell local and Flourish

With the rise in the number of farmer’s markets and farm shops, where ever you are in the country, it’s becoming easier to buy local produce. More people are becoming concerned about the origin of their food, and recognise buying locally often ensures freshness and quality, and supports the local economy.

As buying locally produced food is becoming more popular, there has been an increase in the number of restaurants and schools, sourcing their food locally, as well as many supermarkets now offering local produce. This trend has also encouraged the opening of shops on our high streets, committed to supporting and promoting local produce.

Within five minutes of each other in Falmouth in Cornwall, there are some shining examples of businesses that are thriving, by producing and selling local produce.

Halzephron Herb Farm was started up by husband and wife team Deborah and Alan Fowler, who specialised in making the finest food from locally grown organic herbs, and other natural ingredients. Originally at their farm in Gunwalloe, they grew herbs which they supplied to local restaurants. Deborah then experimented with recipes, and the business grew. They now produce a wide range of mouth watering products which includes, marinades, sauces, mayonnaises, dressings, dips and preserves, many of which you can taste if you visit their shops.

Supporting the local economy has always been at their heart, and people from their village were employed to help as the business grew. In 2005 they handed over the business to Donna Boon, who had worked at the farm since she left school. As their products became more popular they moved to a kitchen in Penryn, to enable them to concentrate on supplying their shops in St Ives, Truro, and Falmouth. Since they’ve been buying in herbs, they’ve ensured they only use locally grown organic herbs for their recipes. The good news is you don’t have to live in Cornwall to try out their products, as they are available on the internet at www.halzherb.com.

A few doors away is Citrus café, a bright summer fresh yellow gallery and café, serving healthy food sourced locally where possible. They offer a selection of meals from soup to salads, all of which are made fresh daily, and there is always a good selection of vegetarian and vegan meals. They also make their own range of gluten free bread and cakes, all made with local free range eggs. As well as buying local produce, they are committed to providing fair trade products. They buy their coffee from Cornwall based Origin, who sell Fair-trade, Organic or Rainforest Alliance certified coffees.

Over the three years they’ve been open, they have built up a clientele of regulars, which provides enough business for them to keep going over the winter. Their commitment to serving healthy locally produced food is doubtlessly instrumental in establishing this loyal customer base. As well as being a café, they double up as a gallery, and display paintings and craft work by local artists. The local university runs arts and media courses, and students are able to get themselves known, by displaying their work at Citrus café on a sale or return basis.

Five minutes down the road, Discovery Quay, is situated on Falmouth's waterfront, looking over one of the world's largest deep water harbours. Also housing Falmouth’s Maritime museum, it provides the perfect setting for the Quay deli. Committed to selling local, organic, and quality products, the Quay deli is a feast for the eyes of any discerning customer. When they opened three years ago they were one of the only businesses around, concentrating on supplying quality West Country products.

Among the attractive, but filled to the brim shelves, they sell everything from Cornish honey to local organic meats, and Cornish beers and wine. They sell Vicky’s bread, a small Helston based business, which bakes French style artisan breads made with organic ingredients. In the freezer section you can find Roskilly’s Cornish ice cream, and frozen home made meals from Truro based Pencoose pantry, who also source their ingredients locally. If you’re after a drink, the choice available may present some problems, with Devon based, Luscombe farm’s strawberry lemonade, and Cornish orchard’s apple juice on offer. Looking around the shop is like being at a Taste of the West’s food and drink awards ceremony.

Whether you’re after fine meats, organic vegetables, or homemade herbal salad dressings, local producers offer an impressive selection of goods right on your doorstep. Choosing to buy locally helps keep our towns and villages alive, allows closer relations between customers and producers, and ultimately supports the local economy.

Mim Aylett
Surviving as a self employed artist

A mile out of Wadebridge in North Cornwall is the beautiful Trevilder Cottage. Surrounded by fields, it’s the ideal setting for local artist Mim Aylett to lose herself in creativity. Her studio, built in the garden, is filled with paints, canvas’s, work in progress, and an amazing array of finished paintings. With the addition of a heater, music, and a couple of comfy chairs, it’s the perfect space to create her art.

Mim specialises in landscapes and portraits in oil. Her vibrant, richly coloured paintings have a spiritual feel about them. The creation of her art, Mim says “is triggered by emotion, intuition and an appreciation of the beauty of nature.”

Mim graduated in Humanities and Fine Art, in 1986, and moved to London to develop an exciting career as a specialist decorator, working for clients including; Claridges Hotel, the National portrait gallery, the Sultan of Brunei, and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. She became well known for her paint finishes, marbling, wood graining, and murals, as well as her ability to be able to mix colours to match any colour.

In 1992, Mim moved back to Cornwall, her childhood home, to start a family with her husband Andy. Together they set up their own specialist decorating firm; Palmer and Palmer. As they became better known, they found themselves in the position of being able to take on employees. One of their many commissions was producing wood panels painted with iconic cinema images, such as Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe, and finished with a marbling effect for the Plaza cinema in Truro.

Although Palmer and Palmer were successful, the marriage wasn’t going so well. After splitting up with Andy, Mim found she couldn’t manage the business on her own. It was then she returned to painting, she says “as a means of emotional and spiritual survival.” She spent a lot of time out in the open air staring at the sky, painting what she could see. She felt it helped her “to stop looking inside and start looking outside.”

She would often close her eyes, take two brushes, and just let them move over the wood. “I would let the energy flow down my arm,” says Mim. She was amazed at the results; she clearly drew figures and spiritually significant animals, without consciously doing so. Mim felt that painting helped her understand who she was, and helped her through a lost and chaotic time.

With her growth of confidence Mim’s pictures became bigger, and she expanded her repertoire to include seascapes, angels and flowers. Due to a lack of money for materials, she painted on off cuts of medium density fibreboard (MDF), and was able to produce paintings in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of her most popular paintings at the time were painted on long, tall, triangular shapes. In order to sell her paintings she started to display her work at exhibitions, and at her first one she sold six of her paintings.

As her painting evolved Mim discovered canvas’s being sold at an affordable price. She described painting on canvas for the first time as “a big step on psychologically from painting on wood.” At first, presented with a beautiful white canvas, she found herself walking around a lot, too scared to make the first mark. She felt “painting on canvas was Art with a capital A.”

Becoming more confident painting on canvas, Mim began to paint lots of portraits; returning to landscapes in financially tight periods, as they are more likely to sell. Sometimes her paintings are planned but mostly they’re not, and she prefers not to be swayed by market forces, instead letting the paintings come to her. She says “The canvas decides, the energy of the day decides, sometimes I’ll be going to paint a landscape and end up doing a portrait.” Mim also describes herself as a binge painter, as some days she finds painting really difficult, and feels she’s not satisfied with any mark she makes. While on other days she may stay in her studio all day, and paint 3 or 4 pieces.

As Art has helped her spiritual growth, she has fed her spirituality in other ways, which complement her art. Over the past few years, she has also worked on gaining her Reiki Masters, and a Diploma in Past Life Therapy. Last year she discovered she had a gift for painting people’s spirit guides, after painting one for a healer who knew what their spirit guide looked like. She say’s “I tune into your energy and with loving help from my guides and yours, a portrait is created of the Spirit who walks by your side.”

She is now able to offer these services alongside her art. The peaceful countryside setting of Trevilder cottage is ideal, for receiving the healing energy of Reiki, or having a spirit guide painted. The whole place has a friendly and relaxing feel about it. It’s by no means easy making a living working for yourself, however Mim seems to be doing all the right things to keep a sustainable business running.

If you live or are holidaying in Cornwall, you can go along and see Mim’s paintings at her exhibition at the Rock institute near Wadebridge running from September the 28th to the 30th.

Recycling
One person’s waste can be another person’s treasure.

With landfill disposable space running out, more people are making an effort to recycle their everyday waste. However there are now opportunities to recycle more than just our rubbish. Anything from unwanted household goods, to computers, mobile phones and even unused paint can now be passed on and put to good use.

When left unattended for a long time clutter can rob us of our energy, as we can feel that twinge of guilt that we haven’t done anything about it yet, or feel overwhelmed by the task ahead of us. With the coming of sunnier days, it’s a perfect time to make a start on clearing away your clutter. Clearing up your space can not only give you a sense of achievement, but also help you feel more relaxed in your environment.

Whether you’re having a clear out and want to know how to pass on items you don’t need anymore, or you want to find some furniture, there are a growing number of schemes that can help.

One such scheme based in West Cornwall is S.O.F.A; a non profit voluntary group which will collect any unwanted furniture and electrical appliances, and pass them onto people on a low income.

For more information look at http://www.sofawestcornwall.org.uk/
To find your similar local schemes in your area check out the furniture re-use network: http://www.frn.org.uk/


Online recycling opportunities

The Freecycle network was set up in 2003, to promote waste reduction, and to keep usable items out of the landfill. The idea is simple; freecycle provides an electronic forum to ‘recycle’ any unwanted items, from furniture to washing machines. Freecycle is a global organisation; with local groups across the UK. Any item you want to get rid of can be offered to other members of your local group for free, and similarly you can search for anything you need for free.
The registration process is not the easiest, and you need to set up a Yahoo email, but you have the opportunity to change it to your main email afterwards. In the interest of research, I joined my local group which has 422 members. Among the many items offered and wanted, I was able to enquire about a free computer chair, (which unfortunately, for me, went within thirty minutes of being posted) and answer a wanted message for an exercise mat.

Check freecycle out on: http://www.freecycle.org/ and click on groups in your local area.

Other online recycling networks include: http://www.i-recyle.info/ and http://www.recycle.co.uk/


Recycling other goods
Computers for charity recycle computers to pass onto charities and voluntary groups.
Find out more at: http://www.computersforcharity.co.uk/
Action aid recycling collect ink cartridges, toner, mobile phones and PDA’s to raise money for the charity Action aid. You can request a freepost envelope on their website: http://www.actionaidrecycling.org.uk/ or by phoning 0845 3 100 200

The Red Cross also collect ink cartridges, you either drop them in at your nearest Tesco store, or for a supply of freepost envelopes email: freepost@redcross.org.uk

Community Re>paint is a nationwide scheme where you can donate unused paint and they pass it on to community projects and people who are on low income. I checked out their website and in Cornwall I would need to travel 30 miles to pass on my paint, however other areas are better covered. There may be a drop off point near you. Check it out on: http://www.communityrepaint.org.uk/

If you have something to recycle not mentioned above check out:
http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/ They provide information on how to recycle just about anything from oil, metal and wood, to vehicles, and have links to the relevant organisations. They even have a section on how to build a house using recycled building products.


Buying recycled goods
As well as trying to ensure what we throw away is put to good use and doesn’t fill up our dwindling landfill space, there are also many opportunities to buy recycled products. Just by typing ‘recycled products’ into a search engine many inspiring businesses pop up.

Alternatively you could look at: http://www.recycledproducts.org.uk/ which provides information on where you can buy recycled products such as furniture, fuel, pet and cattle bedding, and clothes and accessories.

http://www.recycledpromotionalproducts.co.uk/ is another good website to visit where you can buy notepads made from tyres, or tee-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles.

Whether you make an effort to pass on your items for re-use or buy recycled products you will be helping the environment. As well as not filling up landfill space, creating recycled goods produces less pollution. Recycled paper for example produces around 70% less air pollution than if it were made from raw materials, not to mention the number of trees that are saved. It’s estimated to take 24 trees to produce 1 ton of newspapers.

Recycling makes a lot of economic and environmental sense; after all one persons waste could be another person’s treasure.

Guerrilla gardening at the
Port Eliot Lit fest

The Port Eliot Literature festival is situated on the landscaped grounds of the 18th century Port Eliot House at St Germans in Cornwall. Taking part over three days, the Lit fest attracts a diverse range of performers, and has something for all tastes. Whether you want to catch some music, listen to poetry, see talks by authors about their work, watch films, or take part in a pub quiz, the Port Eliot Lit fest will not disappoint.

One of the highlights of the festival this year was a talk by Richard Reynolds, a guerrilla gardener. Guerrilla gardening is essentially about reclaiming land which has been neglected and transforming it into a beautiful garden. The land they work on is often land which councils are responsible for, such as traffic islands and road side verges, land the councils consider unimportant, and not worth spending money on. Once a piece of land has been identified, guerrilla gardeners will go out at night or early in the morning, dig it up, plant plants, and give it a new lease of life.

Although Guerrilla gardening is getting more media attention today, it goes back about 2000 years, with references to guerrilla gardening in Matthews Gospel. One of the first guerrilla gardeners was Gerrard Winstanley, who in 1649 decided to dig up some common land and grow vegetables to feed the hungry people in the village. The name ‘Guerrilla Gardening’ wasn’t created until the twentieth century, when Liz Christy, an American living in New York, noticed children playing amongst litter and broken fridges. She set about getting a group of volunteers together who then transformed the vacant lot into a garden which is still there today.

Richard’s talk was accompanied by a selection of slides of successful gardens that have been created all over the world, including land alongside the torn down Berlin wall, and outside a school in Singapore. Guerrilla gardening also has a serious side as in poverty stricken parts of the world; guerrilla gardening is a practical solution to providing communities with food. In Uganda, for example, we saw a photo of a woman growing onions outside her house on public space as she needs to eat.

With the population rising and land becoming a finite resource, Guerrilla gardeners feel it is wrong that there is so much land going to waste. They are politically motivated but also pragmatically motivated as they want to make the places people live in more pleasing to the eye.

The reception guerrilla gardeners get from residents in the areas they garden is generally supportive. Many people thank them for their work, which is voluntary and relies on donations of plants and equipment. While talking about his work, Richard showed a photo of an area of Plymouth they had worked on and a member audience called out:

“That’s outside my Mum’s house.”

She went onto say her Mum was really pleased with the planted area, as it really brightened up the area. She had had no idea, that it was Richard and his team who were responsible for the transformation.

Richard’s enthusiasm for guerrilla gardening was evident throughout the talk, and even while he was down for the festival he couldn’t resist having a go at brightening up the run down St German’s station. Early Saturday morning Richard and his team arrived at the station, dug a gravestone size bed and planted some Verbena and Mallow.

Guerrilla gardeners often finance projects themselves. However some gardens can also be self-sustaining. One project where wasteland in central London was planted out with lavender, was then harvested at the end of the summer, and lavender pillows were produced which raised around £700 they could use to buy more plants.

Anyone can have a go at guerrilla gardening themselves, after all the land is there for us all look after. Richard believes a sign of success of the guerrilla gardening movement is when:

“everyone feels they can do this, and that this isn’t the activity of some hardcore cult or extremists.”

If people find a bit of land in their community that is neglected then Richards suggests they adopt it. Unfortunately trying to do this legally is a frustrating long drawn out process. He says it’s much easier to go out there do the gardening, and then when people see the results they are more likely to endorse it.

He offers tips for successful guerrilla gardening such as; wearing a yellow jacket so people think you’re a council worker He also suggests you tell people what you are doing, as they may be able to donate plants or even want to get involved and help. Many other tips are available, alongside success stories all over the world, on Richard’s website www.guerrillagardening.org, and Richard’s book on guerrilla gardening is due out in the spring next year.

Look out for more articles on the Port Eliot Lit fest in the coming months on Jax Writers spot

Spreading a little happiness

Are you searching for happiness? Many of us spend our lives looking and never quite get there. We may think we would be happier if we had more money, lose weight, or find a love in our lives; however Annie Seager believes it’s not necessarily our circumstances that we need to change in order to find happiness, but our attitude to life. Happiness is easier to find than we imagine, she says:
”It’s all about unlearning negative ways of relating to the world around you and gradually substituting more positive ways”.

Annie’s interest in happiness grew after studying psychology, and finding her studies focused more on misery and suffering, than joy and contentment. After graduating with honours, in a quest to find out more about positive psychology she came across Robert Holden a pioneer in the field of happiness, who has spent much of his life studying positive emotions.

She soon embarked on Robert’s ‘Teaching happiness’ course at Oxford University, and was so inspired by his teachings that she decided to share what she’d learnt by running happiness workshops all over Cornwall.

In the workshops, Annie starts off by using an African method of greeting, which she finds breaks the ice and relaxes everyone. The workshops are friendly and informal, and participants can contribute as little or as much as they want in the discussions.

She then leads a variety of exercises designed to encourage people to explore the psychology of happiness, looking at what makes us happy, banishing negative thinking, the importance of smiling, and why we all deserve to be happy.

Annie says the first obstacle to overcome is that often people feel it is selfish to want to be happy, because it’s focusing on themselves and not others.
“Happy people often exude warmth and caring for other people,” she says.

Happiness can be contagious, and even just smiling at people can make their day. Therefore searching for happiness is not selfish, as becoming happier can have a beneficial effect on people’s families and communities.

Becoming happier can also help us become healthier. Research such as a famous study carried out by David Snowdon in the 1990’s, supports the link between happiness and health.

After analysing almost 200 short autobiographies written by nuns on first taking holy orders, he found that those who expressed a more positive outlook on life, lived longer than their less positive peers.

Annie believes that anyone can learn to think more positively if they are committed to change. She uses the techniques she learnt on the happiness course to help people challenge their deep-seated attitudes and beliefs, and replace them with more positive ways of thinking.

People who have attended her workshops have said they have thoroughly enjoyed the day, and one participant said:
“I definitely will be able to reflect on the day and remember the positivity of becoming happier.”

The cost of the workshops is usually between £25 and £35, and she does offer concessions. To find out more about Annie’s happiness workshops you can phone her on 01736 850738 or email happiness.cornwall@yahoo.co.uk.

This article is published in July’s edition of Vitality Matters a free Cornish Health and Wellbeing magazine Check out their website: vitality matters

Making the most of Nature

Spiezia Organics

With a rise in the sale of organic unprocessed foods, as people become more concerned about the foods they eat, it's a wonder why anyone would choose to put a chemical based product on their face and bodies. Chemicals in skincare products can actually act as an irritant to the skin and some skincare ingredients have been found to be carcinogenic. Luckily nowadays there are many companies committed to producing natural chemical free skin care products. One such company, Spiezia Organics produce the first and only collection of skin care products to all be accredited with 100% organic status by the Soil association.

After graduating in medicine and surgery in 1981, Dr Spiezia worked in hospital emergency departments in Italy for many years, before deciding to follow a gentler approach to healing. Dr Spiezia and his wife Loredana, have always had a passion for nature and a healthy lifestyle. He began to research natural remedies that in the past were more a part of everyday life. He felt the passing down of knowledge of the properties of herbs and plants through the generations, has been lost over the years.

After 10 years extensive research and moving to Cornwall, Dr Spiezia and his wife set up Spiezia Organics in 1999. The human skin will absorb most of what is applied to the skin, and with skin care products today often full of chemicals, he was convinced nature provided a safer alternative. By using the whole plant, flower or herb, and combining it with carrier oils and essential oils, Spiezia products can be produced that safely moisturise and revitalise the skin.

All their products are made by hand. In their greenhouse, they firstly infuse the herbs used in organic olive oil, which are then left to warm exposed to the sun and the moon. When they are ready, they are pressed and the resulting oil becomes the main ingredient for their range of products.

Most creams include water, which Dr Spiezia says encourages the growth of germs and requires other preservatives to be added. None of the Spiezia skin care creams contain water.

They produce a wide variety of creams and balms for all occasions, including a foot balm for sore and tired feet, and a moisturiser using rose petals and vanilla pods. They also provide an excellent ‘nappy salve’ to sooth dry skin and nappy rash. Men haven’t been forgotten either, the Spiezia range for men includes an aftershave oil, and a nourishing cream. Their Lemongrass and Marigold soap won best organic beauty product in the 2006 Organic Industry awards. Their soaps combine flowers with cold pressed extra virgin oil, which helps cleanse, without drying the skin.

Looking to the future Spiezia Organics are hoping to increase their range of products.

Julia Azopardi from Spiezia said “We are often asked whether we can produce other products, and we hope to introduce a range of body scrubs in the near future.”

Dr Spiezia believes that everything we need to be healthy and fulfilled can be found in Nature. It is this passion, drive and enthusiasm, which have made Spiezia Organics so popular, with their sales trebling since 2004. As if he isn’t kept busy enough with the business, Dr Spiezia also manages to find time to practice holistic medicine at the Walsingham clinic in Truro (01872 263163). With 20 years of experience practising holistic and herbal medicine, combined with a medical background Dr Spiezia and his team, are able to produce products you can trust.

For more information look at www.spieziaorganics.com
Or phone 0870 850 8851

This article is published in the July/August edition of Cornish World magazine.

A good night’s sleep

We all know what it’s like, we have a busy day coming up and need a good nights sleep, but as soon as we get into bed our mind starts racing and we just can’t drop off. Sleep rests the body and the mind and not getting enough can lead to irritability, lack of energy and poor concentration levels the next day.

Typically during a night we experience ‘deep sleep’ and ‘dream sleep’. It is the deep sleep that’s important to allow our bodies to re-energise, and this occurs during the first five hours of falling asleep. Therefore someone who only sleeps for six hours can get the same amount of quality sleep as someone sleeping for eight to ten hours.

Our ability to get a good night’s sleep can be affected by physical illness, pain and/or psychological problems such as depression. This article looks at ways of achieving a quality night’s sleep.

What we do in the day will have an affect on how we sleep at night, things we can do to help us sleep better include:

Getting out of bed as soon as we wake. By trying to go back to sleep we’re only likely to experience dream sleep, and not quality sleep.

Trying to get up at around the same time every morning can help re-programme our body clocks, so we are ready for sleep at night.

Do some physical activity in the day, such as getting out for a walk in the fresh air.

Do not nap in the day. If you do nap, you’ll be less tired when you go to bed and you’ll probably take longer to fall asleep.

Avoid drinking caffeine after around 4pm and cut down on your caffeine intake during the day.

If you’re finding you don’t get off to sleep because of worrying, set aside time in the day to address these worries.

Having prepared ourselves in the day, there are many things we can do in the evening to help ensure a quality sleep:

Allow yourself time to wind down before going to bed. Do something relaxing such as a having a bath with calming essential oils or reading a book (see extra help for a good nights sleep).

Don’t go to bed too early as your body may not be ready for sleep yet. Around 10.30 is a good time to head for bed.

Watching television in bed is not a good idea. Television is stimulating and more likely to wake your mind up than switch it off. Try to use your bed only for sex and sleep, and you will learn to associate your bed with sleeping.

Avoid using alcohol to help you sleep. Alcohol causes you to sleep less deeply and to wake more frequently.

Make sure your bedroom is quiet and cool. If you’re too hot you won’t go into a deep sleep.

Don’t go to bed hungry or with a full bladder.

Don’t be tempted to take sleeping pills, they can be addictive, and you’ll find it more difficult to sleep without them. Try putting a few drops of some relaxing essential oils on your pillow instead.


For some people sleeping problems may last for months or even years, which can lead to worrying about sleep and create a vicious circle which is difficult to break. This can be the case for people suffering from depression. If you have long term sleep problems staying in bed when you’re restless and anxious, is unlikely to result in sleep.

If this sounds like you, then it’s probably best to get up and do something quiet and relaxing until you feel tired. If your mind is racing, then pick an activity that distracts you from your thoughts. When you find you are feeling sleepy, then go back to bed. If you don’t fall asleep shortly after getting into bed get up again and repeat the process.

Extra help for a good nights sleep

Some essential oils can help us relax and aid sleep, a few drops can be added to a bath, or an oil burner can be used in the bedroom prior to sleep. Oils which can help us relax include lavender, chamomile, hops, valerian, and lemon balm.

Try relaxation exercises. Lie on the bed, and focus on every part of the body in turn, starting with your feet. Start by tensing your muscles and then relaxing them so your limbs feel heavy, while doing this be aware of your breathing which should be slower than normal.

Some people find quiet relaxing music can help them drop off. There are a number of CD’s available which are specifically composed using tempos which match the resting heart rate of the listener, to promote relaxation and to calm the mind ready for sleep. A wide range of these CD’s are readily available in shops and on the internet. Try looking at http://www.newworldmusic.com/ or http://www.ambientmusic.co.uk/

Having a cup of a relaxing herbal tea, an hour before bed can also be useful in helping us get to sleep. Choose from Valerian or Chamomile tea or try some of the special tea mixes such as ‘Sleepytime’ made by Celestial seasonings available at most health food shops.

Cooking for Optimum Nutrition

We may believe we eat a healthy diet that gives us the vitamins and minerals we need. However we could be destroying nutrients in our food simply because of the way we cook them. This article will examine methods of cooking, and look at ways of keeping the essential goodness in our foods.

Boiling versus Steaming
One of the most popular ways of cooking vegetables is to boil them, however this method of cooking can destroy up to 70% of their vitamin C content and around 40% of their B vitamins. If you really want to boil your food, you can minimise nutrient loss by using as little water as possible, not cutting the food too small, and by boiling for the minimum amount of time. However to ensure you get maximum goodness from your food, it would be better to switch to a different method of cooking such as steaming.

One of the best ways of cooking and preserving food’s nutrient content is to steam. Steaming foods not only cooks them quickly, but also they maintain their firmness, colour and flavour. Water-soluble vitamins such as the B vitamins and vitamin C do not disappear into the water, as with boiling.

A good old stew
Making soups and stews is a good way to maintain nutrient content. The liquid is served with the food allowing us to still benefit from the vitamins and minerals that have been transferred into the water. Stews and soups are also generally cooked at a low temperature which minimises the nutrient loss.

To fry or not to fry?
Frying foods is another popular method of cooking, yet even though it cooks foods quickly, the extreme temperature can deplete essential nutrients. In addition to this, oils used have a burning point, which when reached can create free radicals. Free radicals attack our cells, and have been linked to the development of cancer. Also frying inevitably increases the fat content of our diets, which can contribute towards health problems such as; high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Fried foods however are tasty making it a popular cooking method. One way to minimise the risks could be to stir-fry which uses a minimal amount of oil. Using a wok and constantly moving the food around ensures an even distribution of heat. A spoonful of water can also be added, which stops the oil burning and produces steam to help with the cooking. Stir-frying however will still drain foods of their nutrients, and it may be better to steam foods for a while and finish them off in the wok, to get that fried flavour.

Cooking for the family
The traditional Sunday roast has been traced back to the industrial revolution, when meat was left in the oven to cook before church and was ready to eat upon the families return. It still remains an important meal of the week for many families.

One of the common mistakes people make with roasting is to turn the oven temperature up too high. This can allow oils to reach their burning point and increase their carcinogenic potential. The longer food is cooked the greater the vitamin loss, and roasts are often cooked for longer than needed. By cooking at a lower temperature and not for longer than necessary, nutrient loss can be reduced. Boiled vegetables are often an accompaniment to the meat; however the water the vegetables are cooked in often contains more vitamins than the vegetables themselves. Using the water to make your gravy ensures you still get these vitamins.

Another meal which can bring family and friends together is the barbecue. Food cooked on barbecues is subjected to extreme heat, which not only destroys essential nutrients, but also when foods appear cooked they can be raw on the inside. For this reason barbecue food is often overcooked and slightly burnt on the outside, which can produce more damaging free radicals. To ensure food is properly cooked it is a good idea to part cook them before putting them on the barbecue.

What about microwaves?
Research suggests that microwaving foods can help retain a fairly high level of vitamins and minerals. Microwaves work by agitating the water molecules contained within the food, and this movement heats the food. Potentially dangerous micro-organisms thrive in temperatures between 5°C and 60°C, and another advantage of microwaving is that the food spends less time in this temperature zone, as it can be thawed, cooked and served quickly.

A major drawback of microwaving is that the food doesn’t heat evenly, which means there can be cold spots where bacteria can thrive. To prevent cold spots food should be stirred at least once during microwaving, or if they are unable to be stirred they should be left to stand so the heat can distribute more evenly.

It should be noted however that while microwaving may be a useful cooking method for keeping the nutritional value of fresh foods, they are often used for heating up ready made meals which can have an unhealthily high salt, sugar, and fat content.

Raw foods
Eating raw foods is the ultimate way to ensure you get all the nutrients from food. One of the biggest advantages of eating raw foods is that they are full of enzymes, which help break down proteins and are important for every function of the body. If any food is heated above hand hot temperature it loses these essential enzymes. By only eating cooked food we put extra pressure on our bodies to produce these enzymes.

However by complimenting our diets with raw foods we can help our bodies function more effectively. Supporters of eating raw foods often call them living foods, as cooking destroys the foods life-force. They believe there can be many benefits to not cooking, including increased energy, better skin, better digestion, weight loss and a reduced risk of heart disease.

The good news is that there is an abundance of raw foods we can choose to include in our daily diet, from fresh fruit and vegetables, to nuts seeds and grains. Eating raw foods doesn’t need to be a chore; a few simple changes can benefit our health greatly. We can eat a salad with main meals, choose fruit for breakfast, eat nuts and seeds as a snack in between meals, or make our own juices.


To cook or not too cook?
By cooking food essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes, will be destroyed. In addition some cooking methods increase the possibility of producing potentially harmful free radicals. However we can minimise the depletion of nutrients by changing the way we cook. The main rules to making the most of foods natural goodness are:

• Cook for the minimum amount of time.
  
• Cook at lower temperatures.
  
• Steam or microwave instead of boiling foods.
  
• Stir-fry instead of fry.
  
• Add raw foods to the daily diet.
  

“Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food”
Hippocrates

The Stigma of Mental health



Mental illness can affect people of all ages, from all walks of life. The effects of mental illness are all consuming, often affecting the sufferer’s life completely. Every year around 250,000 people are hospitalised due to mental illness, and over 4,000 people take their own lives. While the awareness of mental ill health issues has increased, it has done nothing to lessen discrimination. This essay will argue that discriminating attitudes and the stigma attached to being mentally ill, has worsened.

You may think with all the awareness raising going on, that discrimination towards the mentally ill would have reduced. Organisations such as Rethink, Mind, and the Mental Health Foundation are actively involved in challenging discrimination. One of the most well known of these organisations is Mind, who campaign to improve policy and attitudes towards people in mental distress. They produce straightforward information leaflets for people with mental health problems, and their carer’s and employers. All these organisations regularly write comments published in many newspapers, and are well respected as authorities on mental health.

The problem lies in the fact, that we need these organisations. A report by Mind into social exclusion and mental health problems, found that discrimination is rife (1999). They found that once people were diagnosed with a mental health condition, they would be labelled as different, and became known as mad people. Ivan Massow, who was the chair of this inquiry, was surprised about the number of ways society excludes people with mental ill health. Another study; ‘Pull yourself together’, done by the Mental Health Foundation found that 70% of those questioned, had experienced discrimination due to their mental health. 56% reported discrimination from family, 51% from friends, and 44% from their doctors (2000). For many, at a time when they are feeling most vulnerable, and need support from family and friends they are not getting it.

This discrimination may to some seem justified, as people in mental distress, are often not seen to be helping themselves get better. Many people experiment with self medication using drugs and alcohol, which while providing short term relief has a detrimental effect in the long term. In today’s meritocratic society (where people are judged on their merits), a common view is that people should take responsibility for themselves, and that society cannot carry the vulnerable. Cognitive behavioural therapy illustrates that a lot can be done by challenging negative thoughts. It could be put forward that people should be able change their own thought patterns, and pull themselves together.

This attitude however is not helpful. While having to deal with their illness and the overwhelming feelings of not being able to cope, people close to them are telling them to snap out of it. Within daily living, people with mental ill health can come across lots of obstacles, which can exacerbate their illness. Obstacles such as being refused insurance or finance because of their mental ill health are commonplace. Insurance companies often charge more because of a client’s medical history. The justice system can also fail people with mental illness, as they are often thought of as unreliable witnesses. It seems that people with mental health problems, are considered unable to make their own decisions, and not taken seriously a lot of the time. According to Hywell Davies, who was a respondent in the Mind inquiry:

“It is easier to live in society with a prison record, than a psychiatric record.”

The media have a big role in contributing to the public’s understanding of mental health. Television programmes, such as Stephen Fry’s account of his experiences of manic depression, have done a lot to inform people about the realities of mental health. Also positive role models, such as Robbie Williams, and Monty Don being open about their experiences can help with demystifying the area of mental health. There have also been many soap opera’s, which have dealt with mental health issues sensitively. Channel four’s Hollyoaks sensitively handled the portrayal of Bombhead’s schizophrenia by illustrating the illness from Bombhead’s perspective. Films such as ‘A beautiful mind’, and television drama’s such as ‘The Illustrated mum’, (based on Jacqueline Wilson’s book) have done a lot to inform people, and raise awareness about mental health issues.

Despite these steps forward, the media is also guilty of portraying mental health negatively. According to a study into people’s attitudes to mental health, by the Department of Health (2000), people are actually becoming more fearful and intolerant of people with mental illness. This study was a result of respondents filling in questionnaires ever year for five years. The media have continually made links between the rise of violence and the rise of care in the community which has greatly contributed to this perception. These connections are unjustified, as although homicides have increased over the last 40 years, the number of homicides committed by people with mental health problems over this period has remained steady. People with mental health problems don’t pose a threat to the general public, and are actually more vulnerable to being victims of crime. Within journalism, especially in the tabloids, there are little or no challenges to the use of words such as psycho, nutter, and loon, which are used regularly. These words may grab the reader’s attention, but they also contribute towards the public’s fear of people with mental ill health.

Moves have been made in other areas to deal with discrimination. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), covers people with long term mental illness. The DDA makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities within employment, as well as the provision of goods services and facilities. It has been most effective in the area of employment, as it’s attempted to redress the discrimination within the workplace. An employer is not able to turn anyone down for employment, or indeed terminate employment due to their mental health. They are expected to make reasonable adjustments, to ensure the person can work there. Many employers’s, especially larger organisations, are taking this on board and have policies in place to support workers with mental health problems.

Unfortunately due to the nature of the illness it is very difficult to prove discrimination due to mental health. There is no real definition of the ‘reasonable adjustment’s’ employer’s have to make. Also the information on what you need to do if you’ve experienced discrimination of this kind is not easily available. For someone at a mental low, the process is likely to appear to be impossible. In relation to employment, the DDA only applies if people are looking for, or are in work. Compared to other disabilities, mental health is the area with the most unemployment.
The Mind inquiry found that 12% of people with mental health problems were in employment, while 4% are looking for work. 84% were not seeking employment, often because of worries about the assumptions that colleagues and employers may have about mental health. Participants in the Mind inquiry mentioned the changing attitudes of colleagues, as soon as they were diagnosed with a problem. Many people do not disclose their illness for fear of being unfairly treated and this fear may well be justified, as 47% of respondents in the ‘Pull yourself together’ survey, reported to have experienced discrimination in the workplace (2000).

Legislation is an area that also affects people with mental health problems. As awareness has risen the Government recognised that mental health legislation needed to be updated. The last time the Mental health act was amended was in 1983, and it was based on the act before in 1959 so Mental health law had stayed fairly the same since the early 19th century. A Government Bill to amend the 1983 Mental Health Act is currently going through Parliament. The proposed bill is mainly about compulsory detention, and addresses the changes in society such as the growth of Community support groups. It aims to improve services and treatment for mentally ill people. One of the main changes to the 1983 act is the introduction of supervised treatment in the community. The Government believe that this will prevent the social exclusion, which comes with long periods of being detained in hospital. To support this they want to broaden the range of professionals who have the right skills and training to support people in the community. Another change is that if someone is detained under this act, they are able to choose their ‘nearest relative’, which can be anyone they choose. Over the eight years the Government have been researching this bill, they have regularly consulted with leading mental health organisations.

Mind, however says the bill is a bill of compulsion and not compassion, and that they have rejected advice from mental health organisations. The bill actually increases the numbers of people, who may be subjected to compulsory mental health treatment. It aims to give more professionals the power to make decisions for people with mental health problems. The bill places lots of importance on protecting the public from so-called dangerous people. One major criticism of the bill is that it addresses the public’s misconception of the link between violence and mental ill health. Mind believes fear of being detained may prevent some people seeking help when they are struggling. This bill may actually make it more difficult for people with mental health problems, to be taken seriously. With the Government appearing to back up myths presented by the media, the myths are reinforced. This bill is not likely to help with the discrimination and stigma that people with mental health problems face.

Looking at the studies done by organisations aiming to reduce discrimination, it seems that the stigma attached to being mentally ill has increased. Within employment the mentally ill are frequently discriminated against, and they often don’t have the strength to challenge the discrimination through the DDA. Many people who are mentally ill are not even trying to get work, as they believe they will be treated unfairly. There are many ways people are discriminated against in society, and this essay has mentioned only a few. The media has an influential role in contributing to beliefs and attitudes about mental illness. Unfortunately while they are raising awareness through some television programmes, they are also adding to the stigma, by constantly linking mental ill health and violence, and by using derogatory words such as ‘nutter’. Although there may now be more awareness about mental health, discriminating attitudes and the stigma attached to being mentally ill has worsened.

References:
Dunn. S (1999) Creating accepting Communities, Report of the Mind inquiry into social exclusion and mental health problems. Mind publications.
Attitudes to mental illness. (2000) Study prepared by Department of Health. Taylor Nelson Sofres plc.
Mental Health Foundation (2000) Pull yourself together.

CUT 4 CLOTH
An innovative family business

Situated on the banks of the Helford river in Cornwall, Cut4Cloth is an innovative family business, with a strong commitment to reducing damage to the environment. The idea for Cut4Cloth came about when founders Lucy and Kurt Jewson had their first baby Tom. Aware that disposable nappies did not bio-degrade they opted for cloth nappies. Not long after starting using them, they discovered Tom’s cloth nappies were too big for his baby clothes, even by using a size up, they found they were not cut to fit over cloth nappies.

Lucy trawled the internet and couldn’t find any companies who made clothes to fit over cloth nappies. An idea was born. Cut4Cloth now provide a wide range of clothes for babies and toddlers, which are stretchy and comfortable allowing greater freedom of movement.

They wanted to follow the environmental principles that led them to use cloth nappies in the first place. Their range of clothing is made from 100 percent organic cotton. With a baby’s sensitive skin, there are many benefits to dressing them in gentle organic cotton. Organic cotton feels softer, allows the skin to breathe, and due to the absence of chemicals organic cotton is also less likely to trigger skin allergies.

The cotton is handpicked, and the clothes are ethically manufactured in rural India. They are able to produce brightly coloured clothes, using environmentally friendly dyes that are free from harmful additives such as formaldehyde. The factory itself also supports the local tribal school, by providing food, books, and equipment.

The business has gone from strength to strength, since starting up three years ago. From starting out as a two person team, Cut4Cloth now employ five people. They started off only doing clothes for 0-2 years, and as their customer’s little one’s grew; they were asked to do larger clothes, so they have increased their range up to 4 years. They now sell to 20 countries worldwide and 180 shops across the country. Lucy said;

“We are growing as quickly as we can manage. We haven’t had to go out to market at all really. People just keep finding us, and we try and struggle to keep up, but it’s a great way to be.”

Despite Cut4Cloth having a strong ethos, Lucy felt they could be more proactive in trying to remedy environmental damage.

She said “We really wanted to put our money where are mouth is, so we’ve joined the 1% for the planet scheme.”

They give 1% of their turnover which equates to 10% of their profits to benefit environmental causes. One of the projects they chose to support is the Cornwall Wildlife trust’s ‘Beep’ (Bycatch Evidence Evaluation Project). Beep is a research project looking at possible explanations why marine mammals get stranded on our Cornish beaches. Teams of volunteers inspect and collate all the markings, and injuries on stranded mammals. The findings are then investigated by the National History Museum and the British Zoological Institution, in an effort to find explanations as to why dolphins, seals porpoises and occasionally whales wash up on the Cornish coast.

With more people thinking about what they put in their bodies, it seems a natural step to think about what we put on them. Cut4Cloth’s range show there is no need to use chemicals that can have a detrimental effect on the environment, as well our health. Their high quality clothes are made with room for movement and growth, and when your little ones do eventually grow out of them, they can be passed on. Kurt and Lucy’s new baby is wearing Cut4Cloth clothes which have been handed through five different children and they still look great.

Whether you’re looking for a gift or clothes for your own little ones, June is a great time to check out Cut4cloth’s range as they are having their first half price sale to make way for an exciting new range of winter clothes.

For more information look at www.cut4cloth.co.uk
or phone 01326 221930 for a catalogue.

Writing about what you care about.

Janey Lee Grace

Radio presenter, turned author, Janey Lee Grace has been offering tips on natural living, to listeners of Steve Wright in the afternoon on Radio two for many years. She’s become well known for her knowledge of natural alternatives to just about anything; from what you put on your skin, to products used for cleaning the house. She has now written two books; ‘Imperfectly Natural Woman’ and ‘Imperfectly Natural Baby and Toddler’ which came out in April this year.

With a rising number of people thinking about their carbon footprints, and being concerned about what they put on and in their bodies, Janey found she was personally answering so many calls and emails resulting from her radio presenting, that when she was approached by Crown House publishers, she decided to put all her ideas down in a book.

Janey felt writing these books was the next step on from the work she was doing already to promote green living. She says;

“I want to make people aware of how much choice there is now, in totally natural, fair trade, eco alternatives that won’t cost you any more money but will help save your health, and will save the planet a little bit, its the small change big difference sort of principle.”

It’s clear she’s passionate about her subject area. Kurt Vonnegut the author of Slaughterhouse-five and Cat’s cradle who also taught on a Graduate Creative writing course, said that if you write about a subject you care about and feel other people should also care about, it will be evident in your writing and compel people to read on.

Janey wanted her book, to be a useful resource for anyone interested in a green lifestyle. By combining her personal experiences, including how she’s come to adopt all things natural, with information on products ‘Imperfectly Natural Woman’ is an interesting read which is so much more than a directory.

She came up with the title ‘Imperfectly Natural Woman’ as she says she’s by no means perfect. She recognises that while many people may want do everything they can for the planet, and to be as natural as they can, there’s only so much time, and everyone has their limits. She embraces the 80:20 principle, which is to do pretty much what she can 80% of the time. She hopes readers will do what they can, but not beat themselves up for not being ‘perfect.’

The whole process of writing the book, fitted in around her radio appearances and bringing up her four young children, took just over a year. Initially she produced a synopsis and the first chapter for the publishers, which was accepted, and she was left to get on with it apart from a few meetings with them. Towards the end she met with them another couple of times to decide on photographs and the design of the book.

Taking about 6 months after she had finished writing it the book came out in November 2005. Crown house however are a small publishing company and the book had little publicity. Janey says;

“This was my precious baby that I had put a lot of effort into, and I really wanted it to be successful, and I managed to get one interview on Johnny Walker’s show on radio two.”

The Johnny Walker interview was extremely successful, and the show had never had so many calls and emails on any other feature. After the interview her book shot to no 1 on Amazon. Janey said;

“It made me realise this wasn’t just me, and my funny little barking mad ideas, but this actually was becoming very mainstream and that’s great news.”

Although it’s generally the writer of the book who needs to study the market trends and decide if their book is likely to sell, in this case it was Crown House publisher’s who recognised Janey’s area of expertise was becoming very popular. Realising how mainstream green living has become, Janey felt there was also a market for a book about natural parenting, and ‘Imperfectly Natural Baby and Toddler’ came out on April 19th this year.

This book is a fast track to all the best natural products for children. It gives information on everything from what alternatives there are to sweets filled with E numbers, to buying cloth nappies and washing them without using harsh synthetic chemicals.

‘Imperfectly Natural Baby and Toddler’ was published by Orion books, which is a major publishing company. They’ve published books by Maeve Binchy, Ian Rankin and Terry Pratchett among others. This time around, again fitted around her busy life, Janey wrote the book in four months, delivering it in September last year.

Being with Orion meant the book would be available in all the major bookshops, as well as Amazon. Janey still found she needed to promote her book herself, if it was to be successful. She has her own press agent who organises interviews, and two weeks after the book has come out, she was still working hard on publicity with an interview with the Guardian newspaper and appearance on the Wright stuff on Channel five.

Janey has really enjoyed writing, saying it’s nice to be able to share information. She’s already working on the third book in the series ‘Imperfectly Natural home’ which will be out in 2008, and has an idea for another book about her take on child psychology. When asked if she could make a living out of writing, she answered;

“In my case I can’t make a living out of writing. I think I would have to supplement my income by writing articles maybe.”

Janey however seems to have a winning formula at the moment. Not only is she writing about a subject that she’s passionate and knowledgeable about, green living is also very mainstream at the moment. With more and more people becoming concerned about their carbon footprints, it’s likely this topic area will go from strength to strength.