Tag Archives: travel

Losing My Virginity by Sir Richard Branson

Sir Richard is known for his love of life. He lives it in a big way. He has fun and lets us all in on his adventures and causes. And we are always interested to see just what this crazy billionaire is now up to!

This man needs no introduction we   all know who he is. If I brought you all upto speed on his bio, well it would be seconds before it would be out of date beeause he is constantly setting out on new adventures!

I read his autobiography Losing My Virginity a few years back. I couldn’t put it down. It is an honest book with great stories of his childhood, youth and adulthood. He shares his feelings with us of his love for his beloved Joan and for his two children Holly and Sam. He also shares how he approaches business deals and ideas. We get the story of how Virgin was created, how he started his own airline and of how he bought Necker Island with hardly any money?!

His relaxed and likeable style has  mass appeal. We like him! He just seems a real nice guy.

This book is not only about his fun and games where Sir Richard goes from the one success to the next. He also writes of his  business failures, his disappointments and his stuggles in the court room with British Airways.

This is an inspirational read that will motivate you to want to live your own  life to the full and to also have more fun doing it.

No surprise that it is a #1 International Bestseller!

Sir Richard links:

His Blog

His Facebook

His Twitter

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Francesco Piscitelli – Author

Author Francesco Piscitelli

First time author Francesco Piscitelli is a name to look out for. At only 19 he has already penned his first major novel:

 CRYPTIDS:Origins available  on Amazon.

This is a book where the animal and human kingdom merge  into intrigue and adventure. It is also intelligently written with an exciting cast of characters.

Francesco Piscitelli is currently studying animal behaviour at Exeter University, England.

I recently caught up with this rising talent and asked him some pretty deep questions. As you will read below, this young man is a deep thinker and is already well grounded in who he is and what he wants in life. His answers are very inspiring.

TSP: What do you love most about your life?

FP: My freedom to pursue my talents the way I want to. I was lucky to be born in an era where indie authors don’t have to rely on publishing houses and instead can independently publish books and send their work out quickly to their required audience. I’m still pretty young, so I believe in living life to its fullest; I live with my friends in Exeter during my University term-time, so life isn’t exactly awful when I take off my writer’s hat. I’m around my favourite people 24-7 and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

TSP: What is the best part of your day?

FP: At the moment, I’m on summer holidays between academic years so my days are spent doing what I do best – writing, creating and weaving together an intricate story that I enjoy telling. Pursuing my dreams and honing my talent are parts of my days that are golden. Soon, I can only hope all my hard work pays off so that reading my book will be the best part of my reader’s day.

TSP: Do you have a particular positive experience you’d like to share with us?

FP: Year 4, Teacher-Parent meetings, one-on-one. Mum and I have been called in to talk about this green notebook I carried around with me for a month. It started off blank, but I soon filled it with a story about a group of kids who get lost on an island full of dinosaurs, written eloquently in an eight-year-old’s scrawl. We spent most of the meeting talking about that.

TSP: What is the best advise you have ever been given?

FP: Some of my favourite actors, actresses and singers alike have come so far in their lives and when asked how the managed to get to where they are, they simply say “Don’t give up. Be yourself. Do what you love.” I’ve heard lots of paraphrases of that message and I try and live by it. I think life’s too short to ever pass up on opportunities or give up on your dreams.

TSP: What do you feel is the greatest lack in the world?

FP: That’s a super hard question, and I’ve left this last to answer because I have scratched my head and sat speechless for about ten minutes before I’ve come to the conclusion there is not enough mozzarella in the world. Yes, the cheese. I’ve eaten an entire packet for dinner before (the way of a student life) when my stores were dire and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

TSP: What is your definition of a spiritual person? 

FP: In my eyes, a spiritual person is someone who is in-tune with themselves. A person who knows what they want and found a way to express themselves, whether it be through a book, a canvas or a lyric or otherwise, whatever makes them happy. A person who believes in the soul and that there is something after death, too, because that surely is part of one’s spirit, no? I’ve met spiritual people who aren’t necessarily creative, either, just open-minded.

TSP: Do you have a life philosophy that you follow?

FP I saw this on a blog called MeYouAndCharlie (anybody who has an eye or an ear for fun things to see or read should have a gander) created by one of my favourite actresses, Dianna Agron, under the ‘Daily Inspiration’ section and for some reason it really spoke to me.

TSP: What in your opinion, is the most important thing that parents can give their children to prepare them for life?

FP: A sense of humour and the quality to never take yourself too seriously. That, without a doubt. For me personally, I’d like to create a stable homely house full of kids so that they can learn from one another. And furthermore to infuse a drive to pursue any mere whim that they enjoy, whether it be acting or horse-riding or football or juggling toasters. Even if they lose ten competitions in a row, they should keep at it, just to puzzle the teachers, annoy their rivals and most importantly have a little fun!

Buy Cryptids:Origins (part 1) eBook on Amazon

Visit  www.cryptids.co.uk for more information.

 You can follow Francesco on Twitter
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Andreas Gursky

About 3 months ago I went along with a friend to see a photograph exhibition at Louisiana Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark by the German artist Andreas Gursky.

Gursky’s enormous photographs were praised by the Danish media.

For me photography is not art.

Although I found the Gursky photographs to be clever and interesting, I didn’t feel the same rush of excitement that I feel when  viewing a Picasso, a Klimt or a Van Gogh. I missed that rush.

Andreas Gursky’s photograph of the Rhine river was sold for £2.7 million making it the most expensive photograph sold to date.

Gursky manages to present ordinary scenes and situations from life in an arresting manner. One is captivated with awe and wonder – not so much about the subject matter but more about his technique.

That being said, I am pleased that  I went along to catch this exhibition. This is clearly an artist who has honed his craft and that is to be admired – especially in a day and age when a lot of modern artists try to grab our attention by playing the provocative card.

This huge photograph of a supermarket was one of my favourites at the exhibition.

So if the works of Andreas Gursky ever come to your town do go along to see them, they will leave you wondering and pondering about something or another …

 

 

 

 

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Interview with Linda Evans

Linda Evans, beautiful, sweet, gentle and kind. These are what one reads in her gorgeous eyes. Actress Linda Evans has personified beauty and grace to worldwide television viewers for over five decades, from her role as Audra Barkley, a daughter of the Old West on The Big Valley (1965-1969 on ABC) to the glamorous Krystle Carrington on Dynasty (1981-1989 on ABC) to Hell’s Kitchen, the British competitive cooking reality show she won in 2009. She has survived the industry and has learned lessons along the way. Some of which she shares with us in her autobiography Recipes for life – my memories.

Linda keeps in touch with her fans through facebook, twitter and her website where she also blogs. Thank you Linda for sharing your thoughts with us here.

TSP: If you could go back in time to when you were 20 years old and give yourself some advice – what would it be?

LE: Love yourself. Have a lighter heart about everything happening in your life. Things will always work out for the better no matter what it looks like in the moment.

TSP: What do you feel is the greatest lack in the world?

LE: The greatest lack in the world may be that we do not know how powerful we are every moment in our life. We have the ability to make choices; to change how we see and experience reality. We can have hope when there is none. We can feel joy when there is pain. We can realize our potential because we have the power of changing our mind every minute. “Lack” means we have no resource. That’s not true. We always have the resource of choice; an opportunity to mindfully respond to life. When a disaster happens in the world, people can feel bad that it happened, or gather together to support and rebuild. It’s the same on a personal level. When someone passes, we can celebrate their life instead of just be sad for the loss. We have choices everywhere. The greatest lack is perceiving the glass half empty instead of half full. The “lack” is not knowing how rich we are in so many ways.

TSP: What is your definition of a spiritual person? 

LE: I think a ‘spiritual person’ is one who sees and values the essence in all things; seeing behind the façade of appearance to understand there is an unseen essence that gives life to it. Spiritual people honor life; for all of life has its purpose – the good and the bad.

TSP: Do you have a life philosophy that you follow?

LE: I have always lived the Golden Rule, “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you”. I have always thought this way. I am now learning to apply a new Golden Rule to me: Do unto me, as I would do unto others. Women, being such caretakers, sometimes leave themselves out of the equation. Oh my God, “Give to myself as I have done to others?!” It is opening a world of possibilities.

TSP: What, in your opinion, is the most important thing that parents can give their children to prepare them for life?

LE: Unconditional love. A mother’s love is your child’s first schoolroom. Listen to them if you want them to listen to you. And love them and allow them their own unique perspective, even if you disagree.

Follow Linda on Facebook

More information about Linda’s book Recipes for life – my memories can be found on her website

BOOK REVIEW HERE

Photo of Linda – Courtesy ITV/Rex Features
Book cover – Photo Courtesy John B. Cahoon III, Book Cover Courtesy Vanguard Press

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Interview with Antony Worrall Thompson

THE TIGER CHEF …

Antony Worrall Thompson

TV celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson has been cooking for us and entertaining us for many years.

He is sharp witted, talented and rather feisty!

He cares passionately about good food.  So much so that he has a group of restaurants.

AWT Restaurants comprises a country pub called The Greyhound in which Antony is the head chef; two grill restaurants in Kew and Windsor; and the Windsor Larder, which is a delicatessen café. Each one has menus designed by Antony with classic, simple dishes that use the very best fresh, seasonal ingredients around.

Author of several great cook books. No doubt about it Antony is all about sharing his expertise. Here’s the interview.

TSP: If you could go back in time to when you were 20 years old and give yourself  some advice – what would it be?

AWT:  Wish I’d listened to my own feelings instead of my grandmother’s – and gone straight into cheffing rather than doing a hotel management course  - that experience would have had given me a  great head start !

TSP: What do you feel is the greatest lack in the world?

AWT: Lack of respect for poeople’s views – and lack of cooking skills in young people (!) Oh yes – and lack of commonsense within a democratic government.  Once they are elected do they really represent the voters’ wishes?  They could do so much more good by being a little more ‘streetwise’

TSP: What is your definition of a spiritual person? 

AWT: I don’t think it’s defined by religion – it’s defined by how each particular person lives their lives via their own values and ideas

TSP: Do you have a life philosophy that you follow?

AWT: It’s better to have lived two days as a tiger than a lifetime as a sheep… what is the point of tip toeing through life hoping to get to death safely?

TSP: What in your opinion,  is the most important thing that parents can give their children to prepare them for life?

AWT: Not to relive your life through them but to be involved in their life.

For more information about Antony’s restaurants visit http://awtrestaurants.com

For Antony’s website vist http://www.awtonline.co.uk

Follow Antony on Facebook

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Douglas Adams

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He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

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Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

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Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that’s just peanuts to space. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

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It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes

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It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase ‘As pretty as an Airport’ appear

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He hoped and prayed that there wasn’t an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn’t an afterlife

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I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be

Photo credit: Jill Furmanovsky