Arthritis can hit you at any age. but as you get older or menopausal it is more common than you think. Many of us suffer from stiff joints. I was diagnosed with Osteoarthiritis in my spine about 10 years ago in my early forties. At the time I was walking with two sticks and having regular steroid injections in my spine under anaesthetic. My prognosis was ” you will not get any better but we cannot say how fast it will deteriorate” when it spread to my fingers, elbows and toes, I sprang into action.
Today I play tennis, do yoga have a full and active life and no longer use sticks and definitely no more steroids. Even my consultant has noted down full details of how I fought arthritis and won.
So today I am going to share with you my anti inflammatory diet.Passed to me by a friend in Hollywood.The town of all things healthy. This changed my life and I notice an immediate improvement if you stick to it for 3 days per month only. As I have been busy for the last few months I have omitted for the first time in having my anti inflammatory diet days and my joints have noticeably started to stiffen again.
It consists of a smoothie, hot drink and a soup. You can have as much as you want . I have JUST this. But if you need some solid food stick to fish and vegetables. NO red meat, sugar,carbs, eggs or chicken. No dairy, (cheese is difficult to give up for me ) and absolutely NO COFFEE!! Keep it fairly simple so your body does not have to work too hard.
Smoothie
1 Lime , cranberries, blueberries,cucumber,spoonful of avocado,a few walnuts, teaspoon of spirulina(alkaline).
Whizz up in your blender with lots of ice ( it always tastes better chilled).
Have every morning on an empty stomach.
Hot Drink
Make enough in one go to drink throughout the day so you can let it steep.
Boil in a big pan. 8 lemons, 8 tablespoons of dried parsley,3 tablespoons celery seed,1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder,1/4 grated ginger root. 10 cups of water.
Once billed just leave it to steep. Sieve the tea.Then once cooled leave in a jug in the refrigerator. Heat up and drink throughout the day or have chilled in the Summer months.
Soup
Make a big pot for you to have throughout the day.
2 cups of root vegetables, parsnips, carrots,swede. 2 cups of sweet potato, 2 cups of greens (preferably kale), 1 red onion, 5 celery stalks, a cup of mixed mushrooms, garlic and fresh coriander.
Boil then simmer for an hour. Blend to a puree add more water to achieve a consistency you prefer. This soup does not look pretty but it is actually delicious. When my friends visit and I am on my anti inflammatory days they always love a bowl of this, in fact I am sure they pop around on purpose !!!
Treat yourself gently during these 3 days lots of Epsom salts baths or book a professional lymphatic massage.
I hope this works for you in easing the inflammation like it works for me, but you lose nothing by trying…..except perhaps some excess weight and the sugar ring around your waist.
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: IF YOU SUFFER FROM INFLAMMATION GIVE THE BODY TIME TO REST I TRY TO ONLY EAT IN A 4 HOUR WINDOW BETWEEN 1-5PM. THIS GIVES YOUR BODY TIME TO HEAL AND CALM. YOU WOULD BE INFLAMED IF YOU WORKED CONSTANTLY TOO !!
THOUGHTS, NOTES AND A DOSE OF INSPIRATION TO UPLIFT AND REFRESH YOUR SPIRIT AND MENTAL WELLBEING.
WE ALL HAVE LIGHT WITHIN US THAT THE WORLD IS WAITING TO SEE. DISCOVER YOUR OWN LIGHT . WHAT MAKES YOU A SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL ? HOW DO YOU WANT TO SHOW THIS TO THE WORLD. WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE THAT LIGHT UP THE ROOM AS THEY WALK IN, SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO OOZE LIGHT AND RADIANCE.
SPEND SOME TIME TODAY GETTING TO KNOW YOURSELF. LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR. LOVE WHAT YOU SEE. APPRECIATE THE PERSON YOU ARE. MANY OF US LET THE HUM DRUM OF LIFE TAKE OVER WE LOSE OUR LUSTRE. SO POLISH YOURSELF FROM THE INSIDE. TAKE A DEEP BREATH OF LIGHT INTO YOUR BODY FROM YOUR HEAD TO THE TIP OF YOUR TOES AND AS YOU EHALE DISPEL ALL THE DARK NEGATIVE AIR. DO THIS A FEW TIMES YOUR BODY FEELS LIGHTER AND CLEANER.
WRITE A LIST OF YOUR POSITIVE QUALITIES AND WHY YOU LIKE YOURSELF. ONCE YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR GLIMMER DUST IT OFF AND GO OUT AND SHOW IT TO THE WORLD. SHOW YOUR GREATNESS AND ILLUMINATE YOUR DESTINY.
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: BATHE EVERYONE AROUND YOU IN YOUR NEW FOUND GLOW. I PROMISE WHEN YOU RADIATE LIGHT PEOPLE WILL BE ATTRACTED TO YOU LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAME.
PEOPLE ALWAYS POINT OUT HOW IMPECCABLE MY MANNERS ARE. THIS IS PROBABLY AS IT IS A DYING ART , WHEN I AM OUT IN THE BIG WIDE WORLD I FEEL AS THOUGH I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO STILL CARE ABOUT MANNERS.
NOW I AM NOT EVEN POINTING THE FINGER AT THE YOUNGER GENERATION AS THEIR MANNERS SEEM TO BE FAR BETTER THAN THE OLDER GENERATION. WE JUST SEEM TO HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER OTHER PEOPLE. POST COVID EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE ANGRY AT EACH OTHER, STRANGERS AND THOSE WE HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP WITH !
2022 IS THE YEAR TO REDISCOVER YOUR MANNERS. LETS WAKE THEM UP GENTLY WITH A FEW SUGGESTIONS;
DRIVING. THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF ALL BAD MANNERS. DISPLAY COURTESY AT ALL TIMES TO OTHER ROAD USERS. LET PEOPLE IN FRONT, AND FLASH YOUR LIGHTS OR GESTURE A THANK YOU WHEN MOTORISTS DO THE SAME FOR YOU. IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE AND INCUR THE WRATH OF OTHER ROAD USERS HOLD YOUR HAND UP AND SAY SORRY. THERE IS NO POINT IN GETTING INTO ROWS AND ESCALATING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LET IT GO ! IT IS NOT A COMPETITION. ON A SEPARATE NOTE NEVER TAILGATE SOMEONE AND DONT COAST IN THE MIDDLE LANE !!!!!!
PUNCTUALITY. YOUR TIME IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS SO DONT STEAL THEIRS. I LUNCH WITH A REGULAR FRIEND (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS SHE HAS ARRANGED A DENTAL, A WAX, AND A MASSAGE APPOINTMENT AT THE SAME TIME AS OUR LUNCH APPOINTMENT TO ALLOW HER TO BE AN HOUR LATE EACH TIME !!! DONT LET THIS BE YOU. UNBELIEVABLY RUDE AND I AM CURRENTLY CONSIDERING MY POSITION. IM NEVER LATE FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND I RECOGNISE SOMETIMES IT IS UNAVOIDABLE BUT IF IT IS JUST SLOPPY AND INCONSIDERATE TIMING WITH NO APOLOGETIC MESSAGE ON YOUR PART THEN IM GONE BY THE TIME THEY GET THERE.
CANCELLATIONS IF YOU HAVE MADE A PRIOR ENGAGEMENT AND ALL CHECKED YOUR DIARIES AND CONFIRMED. DO NOT CANCEL LESS THAN 48 HRS BEFORE, BECAUSE YOU GOT A BETTER OFFER. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ARRANGED THEIR LIFE AND TURNED DOWN OTHER INVITATIONS /WORK TO BE THERE FOR YOU. HONOUR IT. I HAVE STILL MADE A CONFIRMED ENGAGEMENT AFTER UNEXPECTED MAJOR SURGERY BECAUSE I GENUINELY VALUE OTHER PEOPLES TIME AS MUCH AS MY OWN.
ACCEPT INVITATIONS PROMPTLY. IF YOU ARE LUCKY TO RECEIVE AN INVITATION FOR YOUR COMPANY REPLY WITHIN 48 HOURS DONT KEEP THEM WAITING. STICK TO IT (SEE ABOVE)
RESPECT SERVICE STAFF. MANY PEOPLE TODAY TREAT WAITERS,SHOP STAFF,SWITCHBOARD STAFF INVISIBLY. IF THEY ARE WEARING NAME BADGES OR HAVE TOLD YOU THEIR NAME, USE IT. REMEMBER YOUR PLEASE AND THANK YOUS. THEY ARE HUMAN TOO AND WE ALL WANT THE SAME BASIC THINGS IN LIFE. JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE SERVING YOU IT DOES NOT MAKE THEM LESSER THAN YOU. LETS MAKE THEIR JOBS EASIER AND MAKE THEIR DAY PLEASANT TOO. (UNLESS OF COURSE THE SERVICE IS BAD)
MOBILE PHONES, PUT IT AWAY. PLEASE DONT SIT OPPOSITE ME TEXTING MIDST CONVERSATION. ENJOY SOME HUMAN INTERACTION. EVEN WORSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WALK DOWN A STREET TEXTING AND BUMPING INTO YOU AND WALKING IN FRONT OF CARS ( NOW IM BOILING OVER!!) IF THIS IS YOU PLEASE STOP ! TODAY! LIVE IN THE PRESENT. ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD #LOOKUP I ALSO DONT WANT TO LISTEN TO YOUR PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS IN PUBLIC PLACES. TALK QUIETLY OR LEAVE THE AREA.
RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBOURS. MOST OF US HAVE NEIGHBOURS AND WE ALL WANT A HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN. SO KEEP THE NOISE TO A MINIMUM WHETHER ITS MUSIC, CHILDREN, DOGS OR ARGUING WITH A PARTNER. SO SHOW RESPECT TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE SHARING AN AREA WITH. ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR NEIGHBOURS SMILE,WAVE,SAY HELLO. OTHER THAN THAT KEEP THEM AT ARMS LENGTH DISPUTES AND ARGUMENTS WITH NEIGHBOURS CAN ESCALATE QUICKLY AND CAN RUIN YOUR HOME LIFE.
KEEP YOUR PRIVATE HABITS PRIVATE. WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR OWN HOME IS YOUR BUSINESS BUT DONT BE SURPRISED IF OTHER PEOPLE GET UPSET WHEN YOU BRING UNACCEPTABLE HABITS INTO THE PUBLIC ARENA. ADAPT YOUR BEHAVIOUR TO SUIT THE SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL LIVE IN HARMONY.
FINAL NOTE…….. WHEN OFFENDED BY BAD MANNERS KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS RATHER THAN OFFENDING WHILE POINTNG OUT THEIR INCREDIBLY SELFISH SELF ABSORBED WORLD OF INCONSIDERATION.
IT WOULD BE LOVELY TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF POLITENESS AND CONSIDERATION TO OTHERS AND AVOIDING POTENTIAL CONFRONTATIONS. I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT MANNERS SO LET US WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR SPACE A HAPPIER PLACE TO LIVE IN.
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: MANNERS COST NOTHING , TAKE NO TIME AND NO EFFORT SO LETS GET PRACTISING !
YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF POSITIVITY TO UPLIFT YOUR SPIRITS IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD. LETS EXPLORE TOGETHER FOR INSPIRATION THROUGH MANTRAS, TASKS AND THOUGHTS TO EXERCISE OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND LIFT US TO A BETTER PLACE.
IS YOUR BIGGEST ENEMY YOUR OWN MIND ?
YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND OR YOUR WORST ENEMY. IT IS WISE TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND AS MUCH AS YOUR CONSCIOUS MIND. YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES HAVE PROGRAMMED YOUR SUBCONSCIOUSNESS AND MAKE YOU THINK AND BEHAVE IN A CERTAIN WAY. SELF AWARENESS IS HUGELY IMPORTANT AND HOPEFULLY BY FOLLOWING THE TASKS ON THE MIDWEEK MANTRA OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE OF SELF. THIS IS WHY MEDITATION AND SOUND HEALING IS FAST BECOMING A REGULAR PART OF SO MANY PEOPLE LIFES AS THEY DISCOVER THE INCREDIBLE BENEFITS OF DISCOVERING THE DEEPER PART OF OUR BRAINS.
YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS THROUGH YOUR CONSCIOUS MIND.
ITS NOT WHAT OTHERS TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE ITS WHAT YOU TELL YOURSELF THAT REALLY MATTERS. SO PROGRAM YOURS TO BE JOYOUS AND POSITIVE.
NEGATIVITY IS THE ENEMY OF THE MIND. WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE THAT CAN ONLY SEE WHAT IS WRONG IN THEIR LIFE EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL BE POSITIVES TOO THEY PREFER TO DWELL ON ALL THAT IS NEGATIVE, DOING THIS WILL LEAD TO YOU MISSING WHAT IS WONDERFUL RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW AND LEAD TO A MISERABLE EXISTENCE.
SO TODAY TEAM THERE ARE TWO TASKS TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH:
TASK 1 – TELL YOURSELF WHO YOU ARE. WRITE DOWN 10 GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU AS A PERSON. THIS NOT ONLY MAKES YOU SELF AWARE BUT MORE POSITIVE ABOUT YOURSELF TOO. HOW OFTEN, IF EVER HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOURSELF AND REALLY THINK ABOUT WHO YOU REALLY ARE ?
TASK 2- OVER THE NEXT WEEK, UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN I WANT YOU TO CHALLENGE EVERY NEGATIVE THOUGHT AND ANY NEGATIVE VERBAL SPEAK WITH A POSITIVE ! THIS MAYBE DIFFICULT IF YOU HAVE PROGRAMMED YOUR MIND TO LOOK AT THE NEGATIVE IN EVERY SITUATION , BUT THERE WILL BE A POSITIVE TO EACH SITUATION AND I WANT YOU TO FIND IT. START RETRAINING THAT CONSCIOUS MIND AND YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS WILL TAKE IT ON BOARD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING UP WITH MORE HAPPY CONTENTED PEOPLE NEXT WEEK !
MWAH MWAH XXX
JOJO X
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: ITS ALWAYS BETTER TO HAVE FRIENDS RATHER THAN ENEMIES. SO MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS TODAY. LOVE IT, NURTURE IT AND SHOWER IT WITH GIFTS OF BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS.
I recently attended a Theta Brain Workshop as part of my on going development of my Sound Healing Therapist qualifications. I was astounded to discover that they advocated Spinach as a bad food. Now, as a spinach addict, I eat in EVERY day and in addition I make a green juice with it in the mornings to start the day with a pop of goodness.
If like me , you had spinach on the ‘superfood’ list read on. Still disbelieving I went home to research the subject for myself and could not believe that there has been so much written about the toxicity of cadmium in Spinach and that this just has not been communicated.
Health professionals are still telling us to consume large portions of spinach in our diets and the benefits of iron. But in fact no one has ever told me the dangers of high levels of cadmium that are found particularly in Spinach. Actually I had never even heard of cadmium !!
CADMIUM is the most dangerous among heavy metals as it is carcinogenic similar to that found in cigarette smoke . Tests proved that through passive smoking high levels were ingested which led to a ban in public places. But these heavy metals exist in many foods at acceptable levels but spinach exceeds these safe limits. It appear to accumulate in high levels in Spinach but not in other leafy vegetables e.g. Kale or cabbage. Heavy metals that are found in food represent one of the most important food risks for consumers.
CADMIUM is all around us in air, water, soil all around us but for some reason Spinach absorbs the most cadmium and boiling spinach does not show any reduction in the levels.
Exposure of such high levels over a long period of time can be toxic to kidney function this has been widely accepted but newer data shows an increased risk of some cancers e.g. lung, bladder and breast cancer.
Perhaps if there are any Nutritional/Medical experts reading this article I would love any further information you may like to add.
I am not a medical Doctor and this information and the data that exists shocked me that I thought I would like to share it with my readers as it has been kept well hidden from the general public. Many of us would have no reason to search this data . Of course it is your freedom of choice.
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: PERHAPS ITS TIME TO SWAP YOUR SPINACH FOR KALE !
YOUR WEEKLY SUPPORT BLOG EVERY WEDNESDAY TO INSPIRE AND STRENGTHEN YOUR SOUL SO YOU CAN MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE WEEK AHEAD. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR AND SHARE YOUR COPING MECHANISMS ESPECIALLY THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
FLOW WITH THE UNIVERSE NOT AGAINST IT
EVEN I HAVE HAD RECENT TUMULTUOUS TIMES NORMALLY I AM VERY STRONG AND CAN COPE WITH THE HARDEST OF TIMES BUT WITH ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER I STARTED TO FEEL VERY BATTERED AND BRUISED.
SO AS I PRACTISED KABBALAH TEACHINGS THROUGH TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL SOME YEARS AGO I TURNED TO MY MENTOR, SHIMON FOR SOME WISE ADVICE. THE ADVICE WAS SO RESONATING I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH ANYONE GOING THROUGH A RELENTLESS ONSLAUGHT OF STRESS RIGHT NOW AND HOPE IT HELPS.
“YOUR INCLINATION IS TO SWIM AGAINST THE TIDE WHEN THE WAVES GET STRONGER, THIS EXHAUSTS YOU AND IT DOES NOT MAKE THE WAVES ANY SMALLER. . SO INSTEAD GO WITH THE FLOW UNTIL THE WAVES DIE DOWN..”
ME: “BUT I WILL DROWN UNLESS I KEEP SWIMMING MADLY”
‘NO YOU WILL DROWN FROM EXHAUSTION. LEARN TO FLOAT AND GO WITH THE FLOW UNTIL THE WAVES DIE DOWN FOR THE WAVE WILL EVENTUALLY CARRY YOU BACK TO SHORE’
THE TRUTH IS MOST SITUATIONS DO WORK THEMSELVES OUT EVEN WITH NO INPUT FROM ONESELF. WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. THIS CERTAINLY WAS TRUE FOR ME ONCE I STARTED TO FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS AND STOPPED FUELLING THE FIRE WITH MY ANXIOUS ENERGY IT REALLY DID WORK.
SO IF YOU ARE FACED WITH A DIFFICULT SITUATION ASK YOURSELF DO I NEED TO LET THIS DESTROY MY MENTAL HEALTH WORRYING ABOUT THIS OR WILL IT EVENTUALLY DIFFUSE OR WORK ITSELF OUT. IF YOU CANT CHANGE THE SITUATION GO WITH THE FLOW UNTIL ITS IMPORTANCE DIMINISHES.
MWAH MWAH
JOJO XXXX
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: IF THERE IS BAD VIBRATIONAL ENERGY IN A SITUATION THIS CAN ONLY BE DIFFUSED BY ADDING POSITIVE VIBRATIONS TO THE SITUATION. SAVE YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH !
Its time to get our travel confidence back and start booking our our spring breaks and summer holidays………….
I love a long weekend in Como and it really is one of my favourite places for a weekend break so I thought it would be great to share some of the secrets of Como with you guys. It is surprisingly difficult to find great restaurants as it is fairly quiet as it is mostly about villa living here. There is not a sophisticated social scene and it really is a place to go to rest and recuperate. However Como is still one of the most magical places I have been to and just a couple of hours from the hustle and bustle of London you can restore the senses with peace and tranquility whats not to like ?
As you only have a few days to unwind let me save you some time and share the most amazing weekend I have just had and some gorgeous discoveries I stumbled upon. It is surprising how many people who have visited Como cannot give you a recommendation for a good restaurant as they just stumble on them by accident and can “never remember the name”. So let me give you my secret guide to getting the best from Como but sssshhhhhh…….. dont tell anyone else.
SHH The Mantra For This Trip
THURSDAY
We arrive late afternoon after taking the 3.30pm BA flight to Milan from Heathrow. Hire a car but keep it small for the winding Como mountainous roads. You wont regret this. Staying at a firm favourite Il Duca Hotel close to La Scala and La Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II the wonderful designer shopping mall. Yes before heading up to Como we have one night in Milan for shopping (Como not great for shopping) and dinner at Savinis. We choose the lobster linguini and the sea bass with a bean and leek puree. Savinis has a wonderful history of famous visitors since 1867 and is one of the most prestigious restaurants in Milan. You can also choose to visit Il Duomo the beautiful cathedral in the same vicinity. Beautifully lit up at night. Back to the beautiful Il Duca for drinks on the rooftop terrace.
A relaxing coffee and croissants in one of the many street cafes before heading off to Lake Como for the 1 hour drive (one toll e 1.70). The Mandarin Hotel is just beyond the town of Como in stunning Blevio one of the early points on Lake Como . The Mandarin newly opened in 2019 is a welcome luxury Hotel. I cannot praise this Hotel enough but be warned once you have stayed here nowhere else will do. From the beautiful restaurant along the lake, the floating swimming pool, sumptuous spa and outstanding service , expensive but worth every penny and 2/3 nights are plenty. From the main entrance on the winding road down to the front door of the hotel we were mesmerised by the view across the lake. We were welcomed with glasses of Prosecco and ushered to the best seats in the house to lap up the views and the prosecco.
FRIDAY
A chauffeur driven buggy escorted us to the Villa Quercia to our penthouse suite with a large terrace and a bath tub the size of swimming pool. Champagne on ice and a cornucopia of macarons , pastries ,apperitivos.
A reservation was made for a late lunch although the Hotel was mostly empty (a CV19 blessing). I can thoroughly recommend the Tuna Tataki salad and the Rose Laria , produced locally.
As we have hot stone massages booked for the evening we decide to wind down in the Spa, although the sauna and tepidariums were shut due to CV the private suite was made available to us with its own sauna and steam room.
The massages were deeply relaxing . We felt we had been away for a week already. We retired to our terrace (and the champagne and pastries) just to stop and take in the views.
SATURDAY
Decide to try out the floating pool. Dressed head to toe in Melissa Odabash head down to a very quiet pool area .The hotel has a full range of detox and revitilising fresh juices so I opt for a’ Bosco ‘to detox Even though the Hotel was not busy there is still an emphasis on peace and calm with SSSHHH notices everywhere. As we are still in full relaxation mode we have lunch at the Hotel again with King Prawns on a cacio pepe pasta. More Rose Laria.
Now one MUST DO when in Como is to hire a boat to take on the Lake. The Rivas are very expensive but the Mandarin has another option a speedboat (100€ per hour) with a sunbathing deck. Faster than a Riva so allows you to explore further and steps at the back of the boat enable a refreshing swim in the lake very chic. You can even take a picnic on board if you wish. This was the best fun and enabled us to bypass George Clooneys villa and more importantly discover a couple of stand out lakeside restaurants ( these are few and far between ). One such restaurant was Vapore in the village of Torno which once back on dry land we headed to this pretty village right next door to Blevio. Now a TIP if you stay on the main roads none of these places look amazing but dip down into the villages and they are breathtakingly beautiful. We meet Ali who owns Vapore we then find an equally stunning restaurant Belvedere …..there was Ali again yes he owns this one too. We end up there for a couple of hours when the locals invited us to join them for Franciacorta Rose . I love Italiens ! We make reservations that evening for Vapore. Head to a cafe bar on the lake for Gelato …….yes you guessed it Ali is there too. This village is picture perfect.
That evening we head to Vapore the restaurant is full to the brim we pass a celebrity wall of its past visitors including Robert de Niro, Harry Styles and Silvio Berlusconi . The setting, the food and the service was exquisite. I had fish fresh from the lake and the Tiramisu was unmissable ! As we watched the sun set over the lake I defy anyone to find a more perfect setting. This will be a permanent fixture on our future visits.
SUNDAY
Today we decide to venture a little further afield to the town of Bellagio. A tourists favourite. It has many boutiques and restaurants. Although is very busy and parking initially is very difficult. But as you come into the centre of the village carry on out the other side where we discovered a huge hillside car park and the walk back to the village was really very nice although a lot of steps and hills just to give you some warning. Wear walking shoes if you are planning a visit. The restaurants here were catering for the tourist and it took us a while as foodies to locate a really fabulous restaurant. But we found it. SUISSE, although it was authentic Italien. The best Caprese Salad , salt baked sea bass with olives,tomatoes,capers and olive oil. I am salivating just thinking about this scrummy lunch in a little square by the ƒerry stop with white clothed tables. Try it !!
Bellagio is known as “The Pearl of Lake Como” but not sure we would revisit as it was a very busy town and not the r&r we were looking for. A 45 minute hair raising cliff top drive from the Mandarin , honestly we were glad to be back in the tranquility of Blevio.
After a long day we retire to the elegant Mandarin bar spouting tunes of a bygone era. Of course while you are here it would be rude not to try George Clooneys Casamigas tequila on the rocks, it really is very smooth.
MONDAY
Unfortunately time to head home (about 30 mins direct to Malpensa Airport, Milan). The wonderful staff are there to say goodbye. Honestly it was the hardest goodbye of any trip both to the staff and the beautiful Lago Di Como. We spend some time before we leave just soaking up the view and doing nothing that is the real secret of The Lake.
We vow to return before the Summer is out…………just like everyone else !
A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION, TASKS AND MANTRAS TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS, BOOST YOUR POSITIVITY AND HELP YOU GET THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK.
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS IS TAO TE CHUNG BY LAO TZU. A BOOK OF TRADITIONAL WISDOM THAT IS PERMANENTLY ON THE NIGHTSTAND. IT IS A GREAT BOOK TO READ IN ANXIOUS TIMES. EVEN TO JUST READ A SMALL PASSAGE IS SOMETIMES ALL THAT IS NEEDED. SO TODAY I WANT TO SHARE A QUOTE FROM LAO TZU.
” THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH ONE STEP”
SO TODAY REASSESS YOUR GOALS AND AIMS OR SELF IMPROVEMENT OR TRAVEL AND TAKE THAT FIRST STEP.
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF YOUR NEW ADVENTURE TIME TO GET OUT OF OUR COVID COMFORT ZONES.
