Cockroaches - Cunning or Critter?

This last weekend I was enjoying the sun in Chris and Amanda Cowley's (of RedPR) back garden, and the subject of cockroaches came up. I know that this is not a normal conversation over tea, but our conversation wasn't normal anyway. It was geared around Africa and other exotic destinations. Chris had mentioned that whilst he was overseas, a cockroach had crawled over his face, and he had waited in James Bond style whilst this cockroach moved on before he could take his shoe to the little critter.

I feel as if I am quite well versed on the subject of cockroaches and happily recalled the time that I had spent many a night squashing cockroaches in a seedy youth hostel bathroom in King's Cross, Sydney. Little did I know at the time, that if the cockroach is female, the eggs are jettisoned and can hatch at a later date. In order to prevent a massive infestation the best thing to do is to cover the whole place with bleach to prevent cockroach world domination. I didn't know this at the time, and we narrowly escaped a cockroach coup.

I do feel a bit of an expert on cockroaches, partly because I've spent a lot of my life in areas where there are vast populations of the critters and partly because I have spent many an hour reading up about them. I have to say, for my defence, that the reading up about them was because I had nothing else to read. Whilst I was living in Vanuatu I found a bookshop which had three English books in its, the rest were all in French. I am a bit of a bookworm and was delighted to find an alternative to the books that I'd been rereading. These were "The Three Musketeers", "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Laboratory Experiments on Cockroaches".

The book on experiments on cockroaches proved to be quite fascinating, as well as rather macabre. For instance, did you know that you can freeze a cockroach in a tub of water, defrost it, and it will carry on as if nothing has ever happened to it? Cockroaches can also survive a vacuum (for a very short space of time), will continue to move for a number of days once decapitated, can survive high voltage electrocution and are one of the few animals on earth that could survive a nuclear holocaust. Now that certainly has to show something cunning about these creepy crawlies.

I personally do not like them, they resemble something out of the Alien films, but you do have to give them their due. They have managed to survive in a number environments and I suspect there is a master plan to conquer the world.

They are nasty little critters, in my mind, but I am sure they have a 'cunning plan'. Beware.

A Roan Licked my Mirror

Whilst out in Swaziland I was in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the reserve.  There is something about Mlilwane that makes me feel as if I have come home, it is a wonderful place where you can get away from everybody and take time out for yourself.

I was driving around the park with my friends Terry and Vicky, looking at the animals that were housed in the endangered breeding area.  Ted Reilly, who set up Mlilwane after recognised the demise of Swazilands' wildlife, is trying to re-introduce species that were once roaming wild in Swaziland.  We had already seen red duiker hopping amongst the undergrowth, watched sedentary eland and heard the booming calls of the blue crane.  But the most remembered sighting was of a roan antelope.

"Stop, stop, I'd like to take a photo", said Terry and I pulled the car over to watch the approaching roan.

Terry had his camera on zoom trying to focus on this particular animal, and it obliged by walking closer to us. And closer, and closer until the roan completely filled his view finder.  Terry took his camera away from his face only to realise that the roan was eye-balling him, only 1m away!  This did not stop the brazen animal, it leaned towards the open window and stuck its head right into the car and began to nibble on the mirror adjuster knob! I was speechless, until I realised that its horns could get caught inside the car. This could not only get messy but the rental car company would not be happy, let alone my bank balance.

With some verbal persuasion, the roan removed its head from our small mazda, licked the wing mirror as a passing shot and nonchalantly walked off to graze on more wholesome grass.

Terry never really got his award winning picture, he was too busy laughing.

Expect the unexpected in Africa!

A Taste of Africa - Bobotie

This weekend I will be out on the hills in the Lake District checking up on students who are  practicing for Ten Tors and Gold Duke of Edinburgh. It will be good to be out in the fresh air.  However, sometimes camping food can not be that great and I know I will be craving healthy, wholesome food.

My great friend Ed Tuffin gave me this receipe and it is delicious, I am sure that I will be dreaming of it.  Ed is also accompanying me on Sense Africa's Rejuvenation Safari to South Africa in September providing more delicious receipes and gourmet meals to tantalsite our taste buds.

Try this Bobotie and tell me what you think. It is also cheap and cheerful, which is what we all like.

Chickpea and Lentil Bobotie with turmeric and cinnamon rice with toasted almonds.

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons- Olive oil
1 Large red onion, diced
1 Clove garlic, crushed
1 Large grated carrot
1 Large grated apple
1 Tin green lentils(250g)
1 Tin chickpeas (250g)
1 Teaspoon curry powder
1 Tsp  Ground coriander
1/2 Tsp Ground ginger
1 Tsp fresh or dried chopped mixed herbs
1 Tsp Turmeric
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Sugar
1/2 Tsp Fresh chopped red chilli or Cayenne pepper
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp black pepper
Juice and rind of 1 Lemon
2 Slices of white bread soaked in water,lightly squeezed and mashed
2 Bay leaves

Topping:
400 ml Greek or thick yoghurt
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 Tsp salt, pinch of pepper

Rice:
250 grams rice
625 ml water
2 Cinnamon sticks
2 Tsp Turmeric
1 Tsp Salt
Handfull of toasted flaked Almonds

Method:
Heat oil in a pan and fry off onions and garlic. Add chickpeas and Lentils. After about 2 minutes add grated carrot and apple then add spices and continue cooking briefly to develop spice flavours.
Add lemon juice and zest, Bay leaf and the mashed bread mixture.
Spread the mixture out into an ovenproof dish.
Beat together the topping ingredients and pour onto the Bobotie. Bake in an oven at 190 degrees c (375 f)(Gas mark 5) for 35 minutes until golden brown and firm.
Put the rice, water, turmeric and cinnamon in a pan and boil until done. When cooked, drain rice well, remove cinnamon sticks and mix through the toasted almonds.
Spoon onto warmed plates with Bobotie and a big green salad!!!!

Now tell me that your mouth is not watering!

Painted Wolves

I was at a wonderful party last Friday evening, at Mimi Avery's, of Avery's Wine Merchants of Bristol. So obviously the wine was pretty good that evening. There were a number of people there that had been to Africa and even someone from the BBC who is in the process of managing people filming out in Sierra Leone – rather them than me.

Anyway, we were discussing wild dogs. For those of you who are keen wildlife spotters, you will know that seeing wild dogs is something of a treat. I have only been lucky to see them a few times, but I will never forget my first sighting of a pack of wild dogs - the painted wolf.

It was in Zimbabwe, during my time in Save Valley Conservancy, and I was driving back to my mud hut which really was in the middle of nowhere. (My first night there I had not slept a wink for fear of being eaten by a passing leopard.)  An impala bolted across the road in front of me, swiftly followed by three wild dog. I've never seen anything like it. They caught the impala about 10 m from the road whereupon the remainder of the pack descended upon their evening meal. The impala didn't stand a chance. There didn't seem to be any semblance of order, all the dogs just tucked into this impala, squabbling and fighting over tasty morsels. You had to admire the way they devoured their prey, within half an hour only the horns and a few bones were left. And I was dehydrated as my mouth had been open for the duration!

As the light was fading, these satisfied and satiated animals trotted quietly into the bush like ghosts, leaving little behind to show that they had been there in the first place.

It was a memory never to be forgotten.

Yoga Safari to Malawi - shown in Pictures.

This yoga safari to Malawi offers a holistic approach to well-being, placing the same emphasis on your body, as well as your mind...

Give yourself a treat...

Give yourself a rest...

Spend time watching the wildlife and find peace in the serenity of the African wilderness...

Listen to the honking of hippos in The Shire River...

Leisurely float by sun bathing crocodiles and watch the herds of elephants drink from the river...

Stay in inspiring accommodation and get back to nature...

Eat healthy and nutritious food...

Become motivated in wilds of Africa...

Learn more about African wildlife...

Practice yoga over looking the African savannah....

Feel re-vitalised....

Snorkel in the aqua marine waters of Lake Malawi...

Feel the sun caress your face...

Explore the tranquility of Africa...

Practice pilates on the white sands of Lake Malawi...

Take time out for you...

Relax mind, body and soul.

A Picture Paints A 1000 Words

I am really excited about the new trip that I've just put on my website - a Rejuvenation Safari in South Africa. 

The pictures speak for themselves.


Take time out to soothe an aching body in the luxurious setting of White Elephant Bush Camp....

Explore Pongola Game Reserve, a private game reserve set on the banks of Lake Jozini where four of the Big 5 animals can be spotted as well as a host of other exciting and wonderful wildlife....

You never really know what you are going to see....

Have 1-2-1's with a professional expert to help you with your well-being programme....

Spend time participating in group relaxations sessions....

Restore your mind, body and soul...

Stay in exclusive accommodation, privately situated in the African wilderness and away from the hubbub of mass tourism....

Taking time out for yourself....

Track elephant and rhino on foot, lazily float by boat on Lake Jozini and watch the honking hippo or simply lie beside the pool and feel at one with nature....

Experience tranquil settings....

Spend time by the sea....

Revitalise yourself....

Re-energise yourself....


Sense Africa for yourself.

Tapping for your Health

I was recently reading an article in the Natural Health magazine and was instantly drawn to an article called " Tap your Way to health". I know there are non-invasive techniques known as health tapping, but I did not realise how many techniques there are to naturally combat a variety of common health issues. We all use health tapping without even realising it, such as gently rubbing the place that hurts. This is a very primitive form of tapping, but in essence it is still the same thing.

I was amazed that with tapping we can help ourselves to relieve pain, reduce stress, combat colds, reduce lethargy and control migraines, all by tapping different areas of your body. So here are a couple of useful methods to help you with your day;

1. To help relieve anxiety or stress place your first three fingers just below your belly button and pushed gently for the count of three and release for the count of two. Repeat this five times.
2. To reduce lethargy put your thumb on the palm of your other hand, near where your thumb and index finger meet, and put your index finger on the opposite side of your hand to your thumb. Using your index finger, tap the opposite side of your hand for the count of 10 and then gently squeeze this area for the count of three. Repeated as often as you want to.

Now that is better than taking some tablets isn't it?

Give it a go, nothing ventured nothing gained.