Putting on shoes rather than sandals for the fist time in a while is one of those moments when I know that summer is nearing the end, shoes can feel constricting after summer sandals, but also comforting when my feet start to feel the cold. Time to think of being kind to my feet, a pedicure is nice treat and adds a splash of my favourite colour to my nails, but the best treat starts at home with a bit of self pampering.

Michael Phelps and others have caught our attention in Rio with ‘ The mark of an Olympian ‘ large red circles across their upper arms, shoulder, back, in fact anywhere on the body. The Athletes use cupping to ease the aches and pains of training, a means of aiding a faster recovery.

Are you feeling the hay-fever sting?

You have options besides medication

Acupuncture offers you an effective solution for therapeutic preventative purposes.

February seems to have comes and almost goes before I’ve had a chance to blink. I had been thinking of a winter delights, blood oranges, they are in shops for such a short time, so grab them while you can, my favourite way of eating them is simple, eat them just as they are, peel and saviour that bitter sweet taste, no cooking required just keep something to hand to catch the juice.

A couple of years ago my stepmother, via a friend gave me some Kefir grains, I had come across a recipe for a ‘super food’ breakfast shake that sounded the perfect cereal free start to the day, since then i have played with the mix and created my own breakfast smoothy. And happily handed out gains to anyone willing to give it a try for themselves.

Fresh ginger tea is one of natures wonders, if you are feeling cold it’s warming and  it’s great in helping  to combat the on set of coughs and colds, then at the latter stages  ginger helps  to  clear unwanted  mucus and phlegm, after a heavy meal it is a  perfect  digestive and  as  an antidote to food poisoning  ginger is definitely something every  household  should  never  to be without.

Chicken soup the perfect dish to ward off coughs and colds, use fresh seasonal vegetables if you can, today i added squash, mushroom, leak & fennel.  If it’s to late and you already feel that cold coming on, In addition to your vegetables add fresh thinly sliced ginger and spring onions, then curl up somewhere warm and cosy to slip your soup, it will make you feel better.