Monday 5th to Tuesday 6th December
On Drive I spoke about the Billericay Christmas market that was such a success that so many people showed up, no one could move! I shared local weather items and shared some local news about a lady living in Billericay who is promoting a vegetarian Christmas. It’s not my idea of good nutrition but its an interesting idea for the festive season. I shared local events from our Phoenix Events Guide and I also shared some other events I have come across in some of our local newspapers and magazines.
I also shared information on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which affects approximately 7% of the UK population. Therapies that are considered useful for the condition are light Therapy and talking therapies. Ways to help yourself/reduce symptoms include painting the walls around you a light colour, massage, meditation and acupuncture. For those that can afford it, taking a sunny mid winter holiday can help, and for those that can’t, taking walks outdoors can also be mood boosting. The diet also plays a major role in the regulation of mood so paying particular attention to this is key and controlling blood glucose levels by avoiding high GI foods (especially when unaccompanied by a food containing fat and/or protein). Ensuring you do not have a magnesium deficiency by eating a diet rich in foods that contain magnesium can help. Lavender essential oil can help lift mood by inhaling the aroma it gives. Ginseng is a mild stimulant as it increases blood flow and can help lift your energy levels if you are feeling lethargic and rundown. Rhodiola can increase mental awareness, strength and memory and is thought to be helpful for anxiety. St John’s Wort can also be helpful for those suffering from SAD, many studies have shown it is useful for those experiencing depression but it must not be taken with antidepressants.
Wednesday 7th December
I was joined in the studio by Leandra from PaperArtsy. She came bearing gifts and I seriously believe this is the best present I am going to get this year! My gifts included rubber stamps, decorated paper for scrap booking and card making. Metal card to use an indentations tool with, acrylic paints and paper tags. This gave me a brilliant idea of what PaperArtsy sell and do. Not only do they sell and make all of these items available for crafters, but they also run workshop retreats in the UK which run over the course of 3 days. You can either go along for a day, or stay for all 3. PaperArtsy arrange accommodation and food should you chose to take it! What a wonderful idea as creativity is essential to our mental and emotional wellbeing as I shared on one of my Drive shows previously. Get lost in your own creativity – listen again by clicking the link below and find out more:
Chatting to Leandra from PaperArtsy
(0044) 1277 212 911 sales@paperartsy.co.uk
Thursday 8th December
I shared some findings on how stress is affecting the health of our nation (and the health of the economy), brought to light by a local Hypnotherapist. People joke about stress but it really is becoming a massive health risk for the majority of people in these rushed times. Try not to get too hungry because I also shared a very yummy, yet nutritious, Nutty Panforte Recipe. Here’s the recipe: 
Ingredients:
Wafer thin edible paper or rice paper
100g flaked almonds
75g hazel nuts
100g pecans
100g brazil nuts
50g sunflower seeds
100g pistachios
50g goji berries
100g dried cranberries
175g gluten-free flower mix (brown rice flower, soya flower and millet flower)
2 teaspoons mixed spice
2 tablespoons quality honey
2 large eggs
Preheat oven to 160°C (Gas 3). Line a 20cm square tin with wafer or rice paper. In a bowl combine the nuts, seeds and fruit. Stir in the flower and spices. Melt the honey in 1 cup of warm milk and beat in the eggs. Slowly add the liquid to the fruit, nuts and seeds, adding more milk if you need to. Press the mixture into the baking tin firmly to push out the air. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Turn out onto wire rack, cut into slices and store in a tin with sheets of wafer or rice paper.
Friday 9th December
I was joined on Drive by Mike Townsend from BBG Auto Services otherwise known as the Weald Park Garage. He spoke about winter car care and how you can prepare yourself for breaking down or getting stuck out on the road. I learnt that putting antifreeze neat solution into your car coolant is wrong so I’ll make sure I don’t do that again. I really enjoyed speaking with Mike and it turns out our ancestors are even from the same part of London so who knows – we might be distantly related. To listen again (well worth it) click the link below:
Chatting to Mike Townsend about winter car care
Weald Park Garage Limited, 377 Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9HZ
01277 202050 m.townsend@bbggroup.net
