Great movie. Made me chuckle too
10-Day Detox Diary
Thank you. It was cut off at the end. I think my internet connection isn't so reliable.richard wrote:Great movie. Made me chuckle too
Day 9
I made some progress yesterday with the cockroach phobia, going from instant tension to being able to hold a dead one in the hand. With EFT you sometimes have to deal with 'aspects' of a problem. For instance, you can resolve a fear of a dead cockroach but still be alarmed at a live one. You can resolve the fear of a live one, then be alarmed again when it actually moves... and so on. Identifying these aspects is down to the skill of the practitioner. At some point I hope to be able to use this on children.
Sleep
The married couple were both pooped last night and went to bed early. I would like to see them tucked up in bed at 0930 and up at 6, having had a deep and restful sleep. This would then start to resemble an ashram or spiritual retreat, which would be fun to do but perhaps not in Hua Hin. People come for holidays and to relax, and may be put off by the discipline needed and the philosophy which may not gel with their own. The purpose of this 10 days is to cleanse, relax, move and nourish the body and to leave the guests hopefully inspired to carry on with their improved lifestyle. Sleep is VERY important and I see that the male in particular does not get enough. I will ban laptops in future!
Anyway. The couple are refreshed and into the morning ritual. It really is wonderful to see people who arrived tired, tense and distracted, slowly transform in front of your eyes. The husband is clearly pleased to have lost 5kgs but his wife has lost only 2kg. This is unusual. I lose more than that and there isn't an ounce of fat on me!
Looking at her normal diet, like the Thai lady, I see her caloric intake is very low. She says she is feeling great though and as clean as a whistle inside. Both say their stomachs feel better than they have felt for a long time. I know the next day or two will be even better. With my own detoxes it's around the 10 day mark that my mind clears totally and a wonderful sense of calm descends. I probably chose the wrong group to write about as they are all in pretty good shape to start with. However, they are still seeing worthwhile benefits and are learning a lot. 
Detox Questionnaire
I don't really need it, since you can tell by just looking at most people but all the same, I have put together a questionnaire to help people identify their levels of toxicity and whether they will benefit from a detox. If you don't think toxicity is a problem, here's some food for thought...
From the most recent 2004 Toxic Release Inventory National Report: 4.24 billion pounds of chemicals were released into our environment. Some 650 chemicals involving 90,000 different chemical forms. These toxins were created by industries as on-site air emissions (1.55 billion pounds) and direct discharges (721 million pounds) into receiving streams and bodies of water. 602 million pounds were discharged by underground injection wells polluting our precious aquifers. 541 million pounds were deposited into landfills. Lead emissions increased by 25 million pounds since 2001, totalling 445 million pounds of which 83% were created by metal mining companies. Mercury emissions totalled 4.8 million pounds. 67% of all air emissions of mercury and mercury compounds were created by the electric utility industry. Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds which are some of the most toxic substances on earth are measured by increments of .1 grams, that’s 1/10 of one gram, totalled 111,472 grams or 246 pounds in 2004. These figures do not even reflect automobile or other internal combustion engine emissions only industrial emissions. We live in an alarmingly toxic environment! It is estimated that 25% of the U.S. population is likely to suffer to some extent from heavy metal poisoning.
It's a pity the focus is on global warming and making us feel guilty about our part in it, rather than the real problem, the environmental disaster avaricious corporations are wreaking on the planet.
Progress, progress, progress.
The wife has realized this morning that both of her nostrils are clear. All her life she thought one nostril had a thinner passage than the other and it was always blocked. Now she says they are both clear and she can tell they are the same. I put this down to the breathing exercises, in particular, Kapalabhati (Cleaning Breath) or Skull Scrubber as I call it.
Our bodies are incredibly adaptable. Many of us are walking around with a level of tension that would make a child cry in pain. Yet we don't feel anything. Our bodies have adjusted. It is not until we do some bodywork that we realize our tendons or muscles are painful from prolonged physical tension.
Detoxers start to notice things changing. They feel lighter, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Skin problems clear up, the complexion improves, eyes are whiter and sparkling, our vitality comes back, energy levels are up and so on. Sometimes the benefits are not fully realized until after the course, when you might have a Eureka moment as you discover some long term problem has cleared up. 'Hey! Remember that fat lump I had? It's gone!' (and I don't mean the fat lump called your husband!)
It's not possible to take everything I am teaching into everyday life immediately. For some people the transformation required is too great and too stressful. Gradual changes are better. That doesn't mean reducing your beer intake from 10 bottles to 9 makes you suddenly a health nut!
While The Master Cleanse is good, it is not the only method of detoxing. For instance if someone has signs of candida (thrush) then sugar is to be avoided. Raw Food cleanses, as in the video I posted, are excellent for Kapha and Pitta-Kapha types but not so much for Vatas, as it's too 'cold'. Vatas need warm nourishing foods, although a short fast is okay if they aren't too emaciated. 'Kitcheri' gives you everything you need nutritionally while continuing to detoxify the body. A mono-diet with just 'Kitcheri' is ideal for everyone, adjusted to constitutional type. Some centers use aids such as Bentonite Clay and Psyllium drinks. Bentonite is a fantastic detoxer. Like a magnet it attracts toxins to it and takes them out of the body. I take a sachet or two with me on holidays and take it if I ever get an upset stomach. 'Delhi Belly' will clear overnight. Some people take it every morning and claim great benefits.
The wife is still showing a heavy coating on her tongue, while her husband's is getting lighter and pinker. It may be that she needs to carry on, once the program has finished, with a Kitcheri recipe matched to suit her constitution. While he needs continued blood cleansing and a similar mono-diet to clear the hives. I am teaching them how to prepare these today. He will receive some bitter tonic and perhaps the daily Bentonite as well. One can't throw the kitchen sink at these things otherwise you never know what works, although I do know of one Doctor who does exactly that. He throws everything at a health problem. If it says drink 4 glasses of wheatgrass juice a day, he'll tell you to drink 12!
I'll decide tomorrow.
Today the Thai lady is having a Turmeric and Coconut Oil facial mask, repeated for 3 days. Lemon juice can be substituted for the coconut oil. Protect your sheets!
One more day and we are done. I get to enjoy some relaxation and reflection time of my own. Yesterday an ageing golfer dropped by to see the detoxers and ask if I would design a program for him and his golfing buddies. Now that will be fun. Trapping a group of hackers in a distinctly different kind of bunker.
More later.
Last edited by MrPlum on Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Vital Spark
- Legend
- Posts: 2047
- Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:34 pm
- Location: Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
No, no, not at all.MrPlum wrote:It's getting very quiet on this thread. I must be sending you all to sleep.
This is (in my opinion) the most interest thread ever on HHAD. I'm riveted. Mr.VS and I are already discussing how we can do our own mini-detox when time permits. Mr.VS is now on the Montignac Diet and as he's the chef - I'll be on it too.
It'd be difficult for us to follow your regime when we're working, but may well try a shortened version when we're on holiday (and near a loo!).
Your daily diaries are both informative and fascinating.
Thank you - and well done to your volunteers.
VS
"Properly trained, man can be a dog's best friend"
Good for you that you are making an effort and having read the blurb for the Montignac Diet I give it a very cautious thumbs up. Why cautious? I think there have been something like 20,000 'diets' in the last 40 years. The same old diets get re-packaged again and again. They didn't work then and they don't work now.
The food information we get changes so much we are all left dazed and confused and absolutely ripe to be plucked by the constant stream of 'solutions' that the corporates offer up. I've read about 'breatharians' and actually met 'fruitarians' and tried to live just off fresh figs picked straight off the tree until I ate one full of worms!
It always came back to one man's meat is another man's poison and the idea of diets suited to constitutional types and ensuring the digestion and elimination channels are functioning optimally holds more appeal to me.
Eat less! Exercise More! No charge
I read a story once about a group of American nutritionists who were sent to France to discover their secret. The French could drink, smoke, eat all sorts of strange things and yet they were fit. The nutritionists couldn't figure it out until they went and ate at a French restaurant where they discovered the secret. Smaller portions. I would add my own thought that the small French cooperatives still produce great quality food, although that's come under attack in recent years. Having motorbiked through France, I can testify to the great food and wine.
About fad diets. I have a businessman friend who was a European distributor for the Atkins Diet. He made a fortune and he loved the diet himself. Basically... 'Keep eating all the crap you were eating before!' Who wouldn't love it? He's the size of a baby elephant and the only reason his heart hasn't given out yet is, I'm sure, his bloody mindedness. Meat eaters are imbibing all the stress and fear hormones the animal produces when it is killed and the high meat atrophying in my friends colon stinks to high heaven. He's my friend but I don't sit downwind of him.
This is just a quick look and forgive me if I sound less than convinced.
Montignac is just a corporate smart guy who knows about marketing. Since he is an executive for a pharmaceutical company, he's immediately on my 'Proceed with Caution' list. The web site is full of 'shoulds' and 'coulds' and 'mights' so there are no guarantees and his shop is full of expensive goodies that any fad worshipper 'must have'. His books and tapes and consultations will make him a very rich man. Ooh la la!
He is saying strip out the refined sugars, processed oils and fried foods. A big thumbs up but my Auntie Ethel could have told you that! In fact you knew it already didn't you? You just needed some pharma executive to present it in a complicated glycemic index package. This will achieve its aims since you shed pounds just through the mental exertion of working out the numbers! Instead of the headache of calorie counting you now have the headache of glycemic index counting. Both provide the kind of pseudo-science that adds scientific respectability to beef up his marketing effort.
We are left none the wiser reading this... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montignac_diet which says there are those that say it's great and those that say it's tosh.
What Montignac doesn't say is that there are so many complex chemical reactions going on in the human body that scientists will never figure it out. This means that anyone can make any claims and be plausible. Here's my plausible claim. Look at all the countries that have introduced western diets and see the waistlines of the populations increase while their health deteriorates. It's even happened to our pets. Then look at the differences in what they are eating. Why is it that Thais have a sweet tooth and yet aren't fat? Perhaps it's because their diet has lots of compensatory elements which ours does not. Be it bitter herbs, chilli peppers, spices or fermented foods. I think our problems occur when we don't eat the cinnamon to balance the blood sugar. Or don't eat the apple a day or drink the Apple Cider Vinegar or chew the 'Sadao' to cleanse the blood. We have stopped eating nature's balancers. 7-11 doesn't stock them. Only pumped up packets of crisps with 6 pieces in it for 20 THB. It's all garbage.
I'm all for any approach that cuts out sodas (especially 'Diet'), processed oils and anything bleached... white flour, white sugar and so on. It's no secret to me. But I wouldn't spend lots of money on yet another slick hustler. It isn't necessary. Just use your own noggin.
Give it a try absolutely and please provide some feedback as to how you get on.
Seriously. Best of luck!
The food information we get changes so much we are all left dazed and confused and absolutely ripe to be plucked by the constant stream of 'solutions' that the corporates offer up. I've read about 'breatharians' and actually met 'fruitarians' and tried to live just off fresh figs picked straight off the tree until I ate one full of worms!
It always came back to one man's meat is another man's poison and the idea of diets suited to constitutional types and ensuring the digestion and elimination channels are functioning optimally holds more appeal to me. Eat less! Exercise More! No charge
I read a story once about a group of American nutritionists who were sent to France to discover their secret. The French could drink, smoke, eat all sorts of strange things and yet they were fit. The nutritionists couldn't figure it out until they went and ate at a French restaurant where they discovered the secret. Smaller portions. I would add my own thought that the small French cooperatives still produce great quality food, although that's come under attack in recent years. Having motorbiked through France, I can testify to the great food and wine.
About fad diets. I have a businessman friend who was a European distributor for the Atkins Diet. He made a fortune and he loved the diet himself. Basically... 'Keep eating all the crap you were eating before!' Who wouldn't love it? He's the size of a baby elephant and the only reason his heart hasn't given out yet is, I'm sure, his bloody mindedness. Meat eaters are imbibing all the stress and fear hormones the animal produces when it is killed and the high meat atrophying in my friends colon stinks to high heaven. He's my friend but I don't sit downwind of him.
This is just a quick look and forgive me if I sound less than convinced.
Montignac is just a corporate smart guy who knows about marketing. Since he is an executive for a pharmaceutical company, he's immediately on my 'Proceed with Caution' list. The web site is full of 'shoulds' and 'coulds' and 'mights' so there are no guarantees and his shop is full of expensive goodies that any fad worshipper 'must have'. His books and tapes and consultations will make him a very rich man. Ooh la la!
He is saying strip out the refined sugars, processed oils and fried foods. A big thumbs up but my Auntie Ethel could have told you that! In fact you knew it already didn't you? You just needed some pharma executive to present it in a complicated glycemic index package. This will achieve its aims since you shed pounds just through the mental exertion of working out the numbers! Instead of the headache of calorie counting you now have the headache of glycemic index counting. Both provide the kind of pseudo-science that adds scientific respectability to beef up his marketing effort.
We are left none the wiser reading this... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montignac_diet which says there are those that say it's great and those that say it's tosh.
What Montignac doesn't say is that there are so many complex chemical reactions going on in the human body that scientists will never figure it out. This means that anyone can make any claims and be plausible. Here's my plausible claim. Look at all the countries that have introduced western diets and see the waistlines of the populations increase while their health deteriorates. It's even happened to our pets. Then look at the differences in what they are eating. Why is it that Thais have a sweet tooth and yet aren't fat? Perhaps it's because their diet has lots of compensatory elements which ours does not. Be it bitter herbs, chilli peppers, spices or fermented foods. I think our problems occur when we don't eat the cinnamon to balance the blood sugar. Or don't eat the apple a day or drink the Apple Cider Vinegar or chew the 'Sadao' to cleanse the blood. We have stopped eating nature's balancers. 7-11 doesn't stock them. Only pumped up packets of crisps with 6 pieces in it for 20 THB. It's all garbage.
I'm all for any approach that cuts out sodas (especially 'Diet'), processed oils and anything bleached... white flour, white sugar and so on. It's no secret to me. But I wouldn't spend lots of money on yet another slick hustler. It isn't necessary. Just use your own noggin.
Give it a try absolutely and please provide some feedback as to how you get on.
Seriously. Best of luck!
Mr Plum
Mr Plum, I am also following this thread with great interest.
In fact, it seems to be one of the few HHAD threads these days which does NOT lead to Buffalo Bill's. ( In which I have no interest at all!)
Although I already lead a very healthy lifestyle and watch my diet carefully, I believe I can benefit from some of what you have outlined and described in this diary. It is interesting to read and to follow and I especially like finding out how your participants are doing.
I must say that I don't buy everything you are saying. I tend to read up on these things and to compare information from various sources before arriving at my own conclusion.
And I have yet to be swayed by (among several other things) vegetarians ( my niece and her boyfriend are unbearable on this topic) by conspiracy theories of any kind ( the drug companies rule the world etc) by accepting that there are chemicals and toxins in everything we eat ( its ALL poison?) and even by the "body type" business which reminds me of horoscope readings ( and yes, I have had mine done using specifics like the time of birth etc) .
But I read what I can on these topics and try to keep an open mind. I certainly enjoy reading what you post! Its the first thing I scroll to when I open this website.
In fact, it seems to be one of the few HHAD threads these days which does NOT lead to Buffalo Bill's. ( In which I have no interest at all!)
Although I already lead a very healthy lifestyle and watch my diet carefully, I believe I can benefit from some of what you have outlined and described in this diary. It is interesting to read and to follow and I especially like finding out how your participants are doing.
I must say that I don't buy everything you are saying. I tend to read up on these things and to compare information from various sources before arriving at my own conclusion.
And I have yet to be swayed by (among several other things) vegetarians ( my niece and her boyfriend are unbearable on this topic) by conspiracy theories of any kind ( the drug companies rule the world etc) by accepting that there are chemicals and toxins in everything we eat ( its ALL poison?) and even by the "body type" business which reminds me of horoscope readings ( and yes, I have had mine done using specifics like the time of birth etc) .
But I read what I can on these topics and try to keep an open mind. I certainly enjoy reading what you post! Its the first thing I scroll to when I open this website.
Re: Mr Plum
Hello ChasChas wrote:Mr Plum, I am also following this thread with great interest.
In fact, it seems to be one of the few HHAD threads these days which does NOT lead to Buffalo Bill's. ( In which I have no interest at all!)
Although I already lead a very healthy lifestyle and watch my diet carefully, I believe I can benefit from some of what you have outlined and described in this diary. It is interesting to read and to follow and I especially like finding out how your participants are doing.
I must say that I don't buy everything you are saying. I tend to read up on these things and to compare information from various sources before arriving at my own conclusion.
And I have yet to be swayed by (among several other things) vegetarians ( my niece and her boyfriend are unbearable on this topic) by conspiracy theories of any kind ( the drug companies rule the world etc) by accepting that there are chemicals and toxins in everything we eat ( its ALL poison?) and even by the "body type" business which reminds me of horoscope readings ( and yes, I have had mine done using specifics like the time of birth etc) .
But I read what I can on these topics and try to keep an open mind. I certainly enjoy reading what you post! Its the first thing I scroll to when I open this website.
Thanks for being open-minded. You are right that the verdict isn't in with respect to all the different diets out there and I, for one, would be very interested in what you do believe.
If you recall I said I had spent 3 years on a veggie diet, then went more extreme and onto a vegan diet. I ended up looking like an AIDS victim (I still do!). If you are dubious about pharma/food industry conspiracy then I recommend a book called The China Study. If you still feel after reading it that there is no collusion then you will never believe it.
I think the true test of any food is how we react to it. No-one knows our own bodies like we do, so why swallow someone else's prattle? Either we have lost touch with our own bodies and no longer listen to its signals or simply lost confidence in our own decision-making ability.
I like what I'm doing because it's based on some very simple premises..
1. We need oxygen
2. We need nutrition
3. We need relaxation
4. We need a good alkali/acid balance.
5. Our bodily plumbing needs to be flushing all the garbage out.
6. We need to be calm when we eat.
I don't think anyone can reasonably argue with those goals. As to all the rest, we could debate all day long. What attracts me to the Indian way is they have a long recorded history. I would call them the wisdom-keepers. Their guru system passed all this knowledge down from generation to generation. In Kerala I had a pot-bellied Hindu, who was always standing on one leg, practicing 'Japa', show me a Papyrus booklet with all the ancient remedies. The head of Ayurveda in Southern India sought me out to stiff me for a few bucks on the pretext of teaching me all about the Vedas. He put his fingers on my arm, told me my Pitta and Vata were off the scale and called a hospital to send some medicines to the bar where we were sitting. One concoction looked like carpet dust, the other like black tar. It was fascinating stuff. I learned the black tar was called 'Mountain Sweat' or Shilajit. Look it up. One property of this multi-mineral compound was to.. ahem.. put more lead in my pencil.
Anyway. The outcome is really what matters and this regime DOES produce results. You are welcome to come round and talk to the victims yourself or anytime for a chat. My door is always open.
By the way I had my horoscope read by a real astrologist and was astonished at how accurate it was.
Last edited by MrPlum on Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Chas's post has caused me to remind everyone that my beliefs are borne out of experience and my experience is not your experience. So of course I do not expect everyone to buy into them. I like the fact that Chas has not resorted to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Many naturopaths have achieved miracles where orthodox medicine has failed. So if I had a view it would that just because the doctors say something is incurable doesn't mean you have to buy into it. Once hope is gone we are truly lost. I believe that natural approaches are an important component of our health arsenal and should be supported. They can be slow. They aren't always effective and they require a certain skill. Skills which have virtually been driven into extinction and which are now making a comeback.
Day 10
A light morning Yoga session today. Just two breathing exercises and some gentle stretches. The couple are doing brilliantly! They are both feeling so good today, it's a real pleasure for me to see. The wife in particular is transformed. Her skin is glowing, she smiles like the cat who just got the cream and she just looks a picture of health. Her weight loss has started to increase as I reduced the sugar content of the lemonade, so that's put an extra smile on her face. The husband is a dour kind of chap yet he too is feeling lighter in his mind and body.
The salt water flushes pose no problem at all. As the body gets cleaner the salt water is easier and easier to drink. Tongues are still coated today and the wife's urine PH is quite acidic even after alkalyzing drinks. This shows the body is still shedding a lot of acid waste. So the cleanse continues. In fact the lady is so inspired she wishes to carry on a few extra days. That's fine with me. I can control the husband's breaking of his fast. So, now the detox just went from 10 days to ??? Wow. Now that is a complement to the process if ever I heard one! Actually, I'm delighted for them. As I said previously, it's a fantastic feeling to help people experience the kind of health and vitality they had all but forgotten.
Kriyas
Part of the reason for the light exercise this morning is that this evening I wish to take them through an advanced spiritual and physical purification process which is a little demanding. In Yoga there are some practices called 'kriyas'. These are normally for advanced practitioners but some Indian masters have realized there is a great need now in the west for these powerful techniques and have released some of their secrets. Tonight they will experience Sudarshan Kriya. This is a breathing exercise which floods the body with oxygen over a 30 minute period. Once the body is energised you lie still, covered in a blanket to keep off flying beasties and to keep the body warm. I have seen some interesting things happen with this exercise. Some people chuckle like they are on laughing gas, while others may cry out as they release deep fears. Vatas tend to be the latter while jovial Kapha types laugh like loons. Sometimes nothing happens at all. We just accept without judgement and there is no attempt at interpretation. Trust me. After many years of seeing this kind of thing in retreats, particularly Christian retreats, and thinking they were all stark raving mad, it was a real shock to realize the howling that seemed to be coming from outside myself was ME! It's powerful stuff.
'Alkalize or Die'
There is a book of the same name. One needs to bear in mind that there are many aspects to living and to focus narrowly on only one aspect then write a whole book about it can lead you into cul-de-sacs. It is the whole person that is important in naturopathy, so read these kinds of books and add another brick to your total understanding.
It sounds dramatic and with good reason. Our diets, our thoughts, our water should be alkalyzing, yet they are more likely acid-forming. We certainly don't drink enough water and the 13 THB municipal water they sell us is quite a low PH. Decent water is vital. Here's a list of the pros and cons of alkalyzing. Please do your own research.
Alkalinity creates. . .
Sense of oneness & harmony
Allows for friendly bacteria
Healthy organs & glands
Decreased body aches
Diminished illness
Relaxed behavior
Mucousless body
Cellular health
Well-being
Happiness
Acidity creates. . .
Irritability
Depression
Mucous build-up
Autointoxication
Anxious behavior
Increased illness
Cellular degradation
Increases body aches
Allows for bad bacteria
Sense of separation & pain
More when I have time.
Many naturopaths have achieved miracles where orthodox medicine has failed. So if I had a view it would that just because the doctors say something is incurable doesn't mean you have to buy into it. Once hope is gone we are truly lost. I believe that natural approaches are an important component of our health arsenal and should be supported. They can be slow. They aren't always effective and they require a certain skill. Skills which have virtually been driven into extinction and which are now making a comeback.
Day 10
A light morning Yoga session today. Just two breathing exercises and some gentle stretches. The couple are doing brilliantly! They are both feeling so good today, it's a real pleasure for me to see. The wife in particular is transformed. Her skin is glowing, she smiles like the cat who just got the cream and she just looks a picture of health. Her weight loss has started to increase as I reduced the sugar content of the lemonade, so that's put an extra smile on her face. The husband is a dour kind of chap yet he too is feeling lighter in his mind and body.
The salt water flushes pose no problem at all. As the body gets cleaner the salt water is easier and easier to drink. Tongues are still coated today and the wife's urine PH is quite acidic even after alkalyzing drinks. This shows the body is still shedding a lot of acid waste. So the cleanse continues. In fact the lady is so inspired she wishes to carry on a few extra days. That's fine with me. I can control the husband's breaking of his fast. So, now the detox just went from 10 days to ??? Wow. Now that is a complement to the process if ever I heard one! Actually, I'm delighted for them. As I said previously, it's a fantastic feeling to help people experience the kind of health and vitality they had all but forgotten.
Kriyas
Part of the reason for the light exercise this morning is that this evening I wish to take them through an advanced spiritual and physical purification process which is a little demanding. In Yoga there are some practices called 'kriyas'. These are normally for advanced practitioners but some Indian masters have realized there is a great need now in the west for these powerful techniques and have released some of their secrets. Tonight they will experience Sudarshan Kriya. This is a breathing exercise which floods the body with oxygen over a 30 minute period. Once the body is energised you lie still, covered in a blanket to keep off flying beasties and to keep the body warm. I have seen some interesting things happen with this exercise. Some people chuckle like they are on laughing gas, while others may cry out as they release deep fears. Vatas tend to be the latter while jovial Kapha types laugh like loons. Sometimes nothing happens at all. We just accept without judgement and there is no attempt at interpretation. Trust me. After many years of seeing this kind of thing in retreats, particularly Christian retreats, and thinking they were all stark raving mad, it was a real shock to realize the howling that seemed to be coming from outside myself was ME! It's powerful stuff.
'Alkalize or Die'
There is a book of the same name. One needs to bear in mind that there are many aspects to living and to focus narrowly on only one aspect then write a whole book about it can lead you into cul-de-sacs. It is the whole person that is important in naturopathy, so read these kinds of books and add another brick to your total understanding.
It sounds dramatic and with good reason. Our diets, our thoughts, our water should be alkalyzing, yet they are more likely acid-forming. We certainly don't drink enough water and the 13 THB municipal water they sell us is quite a low PH. Decent water is vital. Here's a list of the pros and cons of alkalyzing. Please do your own research.
Alkalinity creates. . .
Sense of oneness & harmony
Allows for friendly bacteria
Healthy organs & glands
Decreased body aches
Diminished illness
Relaxed behavior
Mucousless body
Cellular health
Well-being
Happiness
Acidity creates. . .
Irritability
Depression
Mucous build-up
Autointoxication
Anxious behavior
Increased illness
Cellular degradation
Increases body aches
Allows for bad bacteria
Sense of separation & pain
More when I have time.
Beliefs?
Well, Mr Plum. .I dont have any specific "beliefs" when it comes to healthful practices, but I taught aerobics and nutrition for ten years ( and I still do aerobics & work out three times a week)
I eat as much from the fruit and vegetable groups as I can manage, plus only whole wheat bread/ cereal, low fat milk & yoghurt etc. Mostly fish or chicken for protein. I have NEVER smoked or even wanted to try it ( ugly habit!) and drink perhaps one glass of wine every two weeks for spirits.
I did Tai Chi ( Chuan) for about a year back in the US and absolutely loved it! I wish I could take this practice up again but it has so far proved impossible here in Hua Hin. ( That is a surprise actually because it IS popular in Bangkok. Here it costs 500 baht per session . . or more! I can't afford that on a regular basis.
I have been on any number of Christian retreats, even the pentecostal types where people speak in tongues. (Scary. .and not me at all)
But I have never done Yoga and the whole world of Eastern/alternative medicines, herbal healing, acupuncture, meditation etc. .ways of life I find just fascinating.
Thanks! I have learned a lot from this thread and I am definitely interested in learning more. Further, I am much encouraged to try such a retreat.
I eat as much from the fruit and vegetable groups as I can manage, plus only whole wheat bread/ cereal, low fat milk & yoghurt etc. Mostly fish or chicken for protein. I have NEVER smoked or even wanted to try it ( ugly habit!) and drink perhaps one glass of wine every two weeks for spirits.
I did Tai Chi ( Chuan) for about a year back in the US and absolutely loved it! I wish I could take this practice up again but it has so far proved impossible here in Hua Hin. ( That is a surprise actually because it IS popular in Bangkok. Here it costs 500 baht per session . . or more! I can't afford that on a regular basis.
I have been on any number of Christian retreats, even the pentecostal types where people speak in tongues. (Scary. .and not me at all)
But I have never done Yoga and the whole world of Eastern/alternative medicines, herbal healing, acupuncture, meditation etc. .ways of life I find just fascinating.
Thanks! I have learned a lot from this thread and I am definitely interested in learning more. Further, I am much encouraged to try such a retreat.
Re: Beliefs?
500 THB per session for Tai Chi?!! Ouch. And here I was, considering starting a free Yoga class (or at least have people cover my bus fare). Maybe at my home or a space in town if someone will donate it. I'll post later and see what interest there is. After Christmas.Chas wrote:I did Tai Chi ( Chuan). Here it costs 500 baht per session . . or more! I can't afford that on a regular basis.
Me too!But I have never done Yoga and the whole world of Eastern/alternative medicines, herbal healing, acupuncture, meditation etc. .ways of life I find just fascinating.
If you mean in India, I'd recommend it if you can find the right retreat. Spirituality comes out of the soil in India. It's not for the faint-hearted though due to pollution, overpopulation, constant noise and everyone wanting to be your friend in order to grab any commission going. Some of the ashrams are too commercial for my tastes and some westerners particularly in Yoga ashrams don't want the philosophy and only want the yoga teaching certificate. I had spent a couple of years attending yoga classes, then decided to go to India and spend a month at the Sivananda Ashram. In Alleppy, I found a yoga teacher for 6 weeks private intensive teaching... this gave me some great insights and a good foundation.Thanks! I have learned a lot from this thread and I am definitely interested in learning more. Further, I am much encouraged to try such a retreat.
A motorbike accident followed by a car crash put me out of action for a long time. Now I am back into the yoga but with a little less flexibility as a result. Just because my grandma can do a better forward bend than me, doesn't stop me being able to teach!
You can do a search for 'ashrams in India' or find Buddhist retreats in Thailand. There is one up the road here but they are not geared up for westerners. As a first-timer I would recommend Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris (Raja Yoga) or Sivananda Yoga. The Sivananda ashram also has an Ayurevedic clinic. Rishikesh is famous for ashrams. Outside the ashrams India is a culture shock. Inside it's a pleasure. If you ever did decide to venture over there, I'm coming too!
Last edited by MrPlum on Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Detox Day 11
It's Kidney flush time for the husband, to flush out any build up of toxins in the Kidneys prior to him eating again. Hurrah!! Last night's Liver flush and Gall bladder cleanse produced nothing dramatic in the way of stones but it did produce a hard lump of faeces from the husband. After this many days he was surprised to see anything still come out. This is not unusual. Hardened deposits in the corners and folds of the colon can take 40 days or more to dissolve. These cause auto-intoxication, continuously poisoning the organism. If he sticks to the high fibre diet I am starting him on, the colon walls will be gradually scrubbed clean as a normal consequence of eating. He's now hugely enjoying some young coconut water and will follow up with a single, easily digestible fruit. This afternoon, it's a steamed soft vegetable.
The major organs responsible for cleaning the body should now be in much improved condition.
The wife is carrying on, although I have set a limit of 14 days, since I have family commitments over Christmas.
The husband's tongue has a very light coat now, far cleaner than last week. The wife's tells me the body is still cleaning. PH tests for her show her still eliminating acid wastes, while his PH is now more balanced but still on the low side. He will need to stay slightly alkalyzed for maximum long term health benefits. His skin problem he said was related to nuts, may not be at all. He doesn't get the skin reaction until about a month after eating them. How can anyone tell after that long? In any event he's now been given a strategy for clearing up the problem.
Weight-wise, both husband and wife are losing 1/2 a kilo of weight per day, which is typical. As mentioned, they are both in reasonable shape. Heavier people tend to lose more.
Anger is Destructive
These courses are as inspiring for me as they are for the detoxers. They provide useful reminders of what is really important. One such reminder has to do with anger and fear. Of course I see people getting uptight about world affairs, the stock markets, gold manipulation etc.. I have my moments of frustration too. But it's only a transient emotion and I simply let it go. World affairs are not things you can affect with your anger. So your anger or fear is completely wasted. It only serves to increase your blood pressure, lower your PH and make you more acidic. Clean up your diet all you like but if your mind and emotions are still toxic, you are undermining all the good work. I've come across ex-pats, who complain bitterly how the 'ex' took them to the cleaners. They are raging inside long after the ex-wife has dusted them off and got on with her life. They are ever consumed by 'injustice', and she's not given them a second thought.
Even when your anger is justified, the body doesn't care. The stress hormones are still affecting your health. A good example of this was the mother of a child murdered by Myra Hindley. After 30 years of being unable to let go, she looked terrible. Tormented with anguish and hatred.
Contrast that with Gordon Wilson, whose daughter was killed by an IRA bomb. He could have been bitter and twisted but instead said...
"Don't ask me please for a purpose. I don't have an answer, but I know there has to be a plan. If I didn't think that, I would commit suicide. It's part of a greater plan, and God is good. And we shall meet again.
I have lost my daughter, and we shall miss her. But I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk is not going to bring her back to life."
There is a lesson there. For your own health and peace of mind.
Let it go.
Don't Cheat Yourself!
The best way to get the most out of any program is to stick to the rules. If you cheat, you only cheat yourself. Why am I saying this?
'Don't eat anything spicey' I said to the Thai lady. What did she eat yesterday? Chillies. 'No problem' she says, 'Chillies not hot'. Perhaps not to her palate they aren't but it is still putting a hot spice into her body when they are a known trigger for acne. 'I not eat chillies for 6 days and still have spots'. 'Yes, yes. I realize that but you were still having Cayenne Pepper in every drink and the idea was we clean the body first, then take it from there'.
'Ok. Ok. I listen now.'
Will she, now she's finished her detox? The onus is really on her. I've done as much as I can and now have to let her go. I hope that she has seen and experienced enough to want to adopt some of what I've passed on into her life. I certainly hope she continues with the skin treatment.
ANY kind of internal cleansing is highly beneficial yet to go through a detox can be off-putting due to the expense. If you import OTC herbal supplements, do parasite cleanses, have daily massages, buy the best water, use Maple Syrup and so on. Yet by using locally-sourced products and alternative techniques, you can put together a program that makes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual cleansing accessible. Someone said Detoxing was nonsense (or words to that effect). Note that for thousands of years fasting (which is basically what detoxing is), has been practiced, as it says in the Christian Bible, 'For physical health and healing' - (I Sam. 30:11-15; Psa. 35:13; III John 2).
I never expected this
This Detox has been very different to what the participants envisaged. Their concept of a Detox was the same as most people's... The Spa experience or the TV series previously mentioned. I've given them something a little different. A cross between a Spa detox and an esoteric healing retreat. Complete with strange practices they have never heard of. 'Panting Dog - Breath of Fire', 'Laughing Meditation', 'Skull Shining Breath'. 'Sudarshan Kriya' and more.
It's almost time to finish this diary. Will be a shame, since I've enjoyed this last couple of weeks. Perhaps I can cajole HH into my tender loving care and then there will really be something to write about!
With his rejuvenated taste buds, the husband savoured his food today like someone who hadn't eaten in more than a week!
It's Kidney flush time for the husband, to flush out any build up of toxins in the Kidneys prior to him eating again. Hurrah!! Last night's Liver flush and Gall bladder cleanse produced nothing dramatic in the way of stones but it did produce a hard lump of faeces from the husband. After this many days he was surprised to see anything still come out. This is not unusual. Hardened deposits in the corners and folds of the colon can take 40 days or more to dissolve. These cause auto-intoxication, continuously poisoning the organism. If he sticks to the high fibre diet I am starting him on, the colon walls will be gradually scrubbed clean as a normal consequence of eating. He's now hugely enjoying some young coconut water and will follow up with a single, easily digestible fruit. This afternoon, it's a steamed soft vegetable.
The major organs responsible for cleaning the body should now be in much improved condition.
The wife is carrying on, although I have set a limit of 14 days, since I have family commitments over Christmas.
The husband's tongue has a very light coat now, far cleaner than last week. The wife's tells me the body is still cleaning. PH tests for her show her still eliminating acid wastes, while his PH is now more balanced but still on the low side. He will need to stay slightly alkalyzed for maximum long term health benefits. His skin problem he said was related to nuts, may not be at all. He doesn't get the skin reaction until about a month after eating them. How can anyone tell after that long? In any event he's now been given a strategy for clearing up the problem.
Weight-wise, both husband and wife are losing 1/2 a kilo of weight per day, which is typical. As mentioned, they are both in reasonable shape. Heavier people tend to lose more.
Anger is Destructive
These courses are as inspiring for me as they are for the detoxers. They provide useful reminders of what is really important. One such reminder has to do with anger and fear. Of course I see people getting uptight about world affairs, the stock markets, gold manipulation etc.. I have my moments of frustration too. But it's only a transient emotion and I simply let it go. World affairs are not things you can affect with your anger. So your anger or fear is completely wasted. It only serves to increase your blood pressure, lower your PH and make you more acidic. Clean up your diet all you like but if your mind and emotions are still toxic, you are undermining all the good work. I've come across ex-pats, who complain bitterly how the 'ex' took them to the cleaners. They are raging inside long after the ex-wife has dusted them off and got on with her life. They are ever consumed by 'injustice', and she's not given them a second thought.
Even when your anger is justified, the body doesn't care. The stress hormones are still affecting your health. A good example of this was the mother of a child murdered by Myra Hindley. After 30 years of being unable to let go, she looked terrible. Tormented with anguish and hatred.
Contrast that with Gordon Wilson, whose daughter was killed by an IRA bomb. He could have been bitter and twisted but instead said...
"Don't ask me please for a purpose. I don't have an answer, but I know there has to be a plan. If I didn't think that, I would commit suicide. It's part of a greater plan, and God is good. And we shall meet again.
I have lost my daughter, and we shall miss her. But I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk is not going to bring her back to life."
There is a lesson there. For your own health and peace of mind.
Let it go.
Don't Cheat Yourself!
The best way to get the most out of any program is to stick to the rules. If you cheat, you only cheat yourself. Why am I saying this?
'Don't eat anything spicey' I said to the Thai lady. What did she eat yesterday? Chillies. 'No problem' she says, 'Chillies not hot'. Perhaps not to her palate they aren't but it is still putting a hot spice into her body when they are a known trigger for acne. 'I not eat chillies for 6 days and still have spots'. 'Yes, yes. I realize that but you were still having Cayenne Pepper in every drink and the idea was we clean the body first, then take it from there'.
'Ok. Ok. I listen now.'
Will she, now she's finished her detox? The onus is really on her. I've done as much as I can and now have to let her go. I hope that she has seen and experienced enough to want to adopt some of what I've passed on into her life. I certainly hope she continues with the skin treatment.
ANY kind of internal cleansing is highly beneficial yet to go through a detox can be off-putting due to the expense. If you import OTC herbal supplements, do parasite cleanses, have daily massages, buy the best water, use Maple Syrup and so on. Yet by using locally-sourced products and alternative techniques, you can put together a program that makes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual cleansing accessible. Someone said Detoxing was nonsense (or words to that effect). Note that for thousands of years fasting (which is basically what detoxing is), has been practiced, as it says in the Christian Bible, 'For physical health and healing' - (I Sam. 30:11-15; Psa. 35:13; III John 2).
I never expected this
This Detox has been very different to what the participants envisaged. Their concept of a Detox was the same as most people's... The Spa experience or the TV series previously mentioned. I've given them something a little different. A cross between a Spa detox and an esoteric healing retreat. Complete with strange practices they have never heard of. 'Panting Dog - Breath of Fire', 'Laughing Meditation', 'Skull Shining Breath'. 'Sudarshan Kriya' and more.
It's almost time to finish this diary. Will be a shame, since I've enjoyed this last couple of weeks. Perhaps I can cajole HH into my tender loving care and then there will really be something to write about!
With his rejuvenated taste buds, the husband savoured his food today like someone who hadn't eaten in more than a week!
Day 12
The husband and wife have lost another lb. Even though for him the detox is virtually over, he will still lose weight.
Instead of me repeating their daily routine, here's a breakdown of how the course has been designed and what it has achieved with the current set of stalwarts.
These are the basic stages of the program. Cleanse, Move, Relax, Nourish and Rejuvenate.
Cleanse
The basic premise is that a build up of toxicity within the body leads to illness, depression, comfort eating and so on. So the task is to have the body dump its toxic build-up, from the blood, elimination channels and lymph. You can opt for 3 days, up to 14. More than 14 and I recommend medical supervision. You can detox slowly or quickly, depending on how much time you wish to give to it and your level of motivation. All the organs involved in elimination are cleansed and supported. A parasite cleanse should form part of any program.
Move
Move or die. We are designed to move, not to permanently sit on a bar stool or slouch on the sofa. The program incorporates gentle stretching, sometimes dynamic, sometimes energising.
Nourish
Rubbish in, rubbish out. The body is a fantastic creation which can take any old rubbish and extract nutrients from it but it does break down over time and you start to pay the price, if your eating habits are poor. You can help yourself by giving the body what it craves. Nutrients! If you are constantly eating de-natured, de-mineralized, chemical-laden foods, the body is not getting sufficient nutrition. So what does it do? It says, 'eat again'. An hour after your belly is full, you snack again. By giving your body fresh, raw, natural, organic, live food, your body will thank you a million times over. Think about food as medicine. The Thais do.
Relax
It is necessary to bring Relaxation to both the mind and body. Different techniques are used including meditation, peace, music and yoga. Emotional issues can be addressed with fasting, EFT and the Kriyas.
Rejuvenate
Your body replaces itself completely every 7 years. Every cell, bone and sinew. Why not replace your tired old cells with cells that experience life, joy, peace, fun, vitality! Laughter Meditation!
The proof of the pudding is in the eating
My charges have been fantastic. The married couple in particular. Everything I have asked them to do, they have done willingly and because of this, they are realizing the benefits. There have been no complaints, except for the husband, who now says he has to buy a new wardrobe, since his shorts keep falling down.
There have been some hunger pangs but no desperate cries for food and no emotional tantrums. They have approached the detox in a positive frame of mind and embraced everything. And what has been the result?
They are slimmer, calmer, healthier, happier and they both say they feel CLEAN. Inside and outside. The wife has cleared up a lifelong problem with her breathing. The husband has lost 6kgs, the wife 4kg and both are still losing.
The Thai lady felt great after her detox but her body was already clean since she was young, fit and eats like a bird. So, her vital power already has plenty of opportunity to 'clean house'. Her main focus now is on clearing up acne, a common problem in Thailand, which needs more time to address. I believe if she follows my suggestions she will improve.
What has been learned? A lot I hope. They now have a daily yoga practice incorporating stretching, breathwork and relaxation. They know what foods are beneficial and which are not. They have a toolbox of techniques to handle whatever life throws at them.
The breathing exercises are designed to both detoxify, alkalyze and oxygenate. Oxygen is nature's cleaner. The information on uses of Hydrogen Peroxide has already benefited them and they now know how to control their breathing to bring calm or to invigorate. Cleanse.
The yoga postures work every muscle and sinew. The benefits are improved flexibility, digestion, the nerve channels are all cleaned, the body becomes stronger and better balanced. Move.
The diet they are taking away with them has been designed to suit their own constitution. Their need for nutrients as well as their mental and emotional needs. It's tasty, filling, cleansing and comforting. The digestive fire is burning efficiently. Nourish.
Meditation is wonderful for bringing calm. Laughter is highly therapeutic. Peace is vital in a noisy world. Exercise relieves tension. Relax.
With a clean body, proper nutrition and calmer mind, your cells are happy. You feel younger more vital. Rejuvenate.
The opportunity now presents itself for you to choose life and I don't mean simply to exist. I mean to choose LIFE. And that's all it is. Simply a choice. You have been so long feeling depressed or down or burdened, self-tranquillising with your drug of choice, be it cigarettes, food, booze, gambling, women, that you have forgotten what it is like to really feel alive. There are other ways to achieve these results. Yet based on everything I have tried in my own life, I have found a detox to be the quickest and easiest (yes, easiest) way to move out of the bad habits and into good ones.
Did you know that there are two kinds of Yoga? One is called 'Raja' (the royal path) and the other 'Hatha'. One is control of the mind. The other is control of the body. When it comes to achieving wellness you can meditate (the mind influences the body). Or exercise (the body influences the mind). You could say one works from the inside out, the other from the outside in!
I may add a follow-up post later to this topic to get the final verdict from the couple and see what their favourite parts of the course were. In the meantime, if my detoxers are reading this I would like to thank them for their wonderful contribution to a terrific couple of weeks.
You did great!
The husband and wife have lost another lb. Even though for him the detox is virtually over, he will still lose weight.
Instead of me repeating their daily routine, here's a breakdown of how the course has been designed and what it has achieved with the current set of stalwarts.
These are the basic stages of the program. Cleanse, Move, Relax, Nourish and Rejuvenate.
Cleanse
The basic premise is that a build up of toxicity within the body leads to illness, depression, comfort eating and so on. So the task is to have the body dump its toxic build-up, from the blood, elimination channels and lymph. You can opt for 3 days, up to 14. More than 14 and I recommend medical supervision. You can detox slowly or quickly, depending on how much time you wish to give to it and your level of motivation. All the organs involved in elimination are cleansed and supported. A parasite cleanse should form part of any program.
Move
Move or die. We are designed to move, not to permanently sit on a bar stool or slouch on the sofa. The program incorporates gentle stretching, sometimes dynamic, sometimes energising.
Nourish
Rubbish in, rubbish out. The body is a fantastic creation which can take any old rubbish and extract nutrients from it but it does break down over time and you start to pay the price, if your eating habits are poor. You can help yourself by giving the body what it craves. Nutrients! If you are constantly eating de-natured, de-mineralized, chemical-laden foods, the body is not getting sufficient nutrition. So what does it do? It says, 'eat again'. An hour after your belly is full, you snack again. By giving your body fresh, raw, natural, organic, live food, your body will thank you a million times over. Think about food as medicine. The Thais do.
Relax
It is necessary to bring Relaxation to both the mind and body. Different techniques are used including meditation, peace, music and yoga. Emotional issues can be addressed with fasting, EFT and the Kriyas.
Rejuvenate
Your body replaces itself completely every 7 years. Every cell, bone and sinew. Why not replace your tired old cells with cells that experience life, joy, peace, fun, vitality! Laughter Meditation!
The proof of the pudding is in the eating
My charges have been fantastic. The married couple in particular. Everything I have asked them to do, they have done willingly and because of this, they are realizing the benefits. There have been no complaints, except for the husband, who now says he has to buy a new wardrobe, since his shorts keep falling down.
There have been some hunger pangs but no desperate cries for food and no emotional tantrums. They have approached the detox in a positive frame of mind and embraced everything. And what has been the result?
They are slimmer, calmer, healthier, happier and they both say they feel CLEAN. Inside and outside. The wife has cleared up a lifelong problem with her breathing. The husband has lost 6kgs, the wife 4kg and both are still losing.
The Thai lady felt great after her detox but her body was already clean since she was young, fit and eats like a bird. So, her vital power already has plenty of opportunity to 'clean house'. Her main focus now is on clearing up acne, a common problem in Thailand, which needs more time to address. I believe if she follows my suggestions she will improve.
What has been learned? A lot I hope. They now have a daily yoga practice incorporating stretching, breathwork and relaxation. They know what foods are beneficial and which are not. They have a toolbox of techniques to handle whatever life throws at them.
The breathing exercises are designed to both detoxify, alkalyze and oxygenate. Oxygen is nature's cleaner. The information on uses of Hydrogen Peroxide has already benefited them and they now know how to control their breathing to bring calm or to invigorate. Cleanse.
The yoga postures work every muscle and sinew. The benefits are improved flexibility, digestion, the nerve channels are all cleaned, the body becomes stronger and better balanced. Move.
The diet they are taking away with them has been designed to suit their own constitution. Their need for nutrients as well as their mental and emotional needs. It's tasty, filling, cleansing and comforting. The digestive fire is burning efficiently. Nourish.
Meditation is wonderful for bringing calm. Laughter is highly therapeutic. Peace is vital in a noisy world. Exercise relieves tension. Relax.
With a clean body, proper nutrition and calmer mind, your cells are happy. You feel younger more vital. Rejuvenate.
The opportunity now presents itself for you to choose life and I don't mean simply to exist. I mean to choose LIFE. And that's all it is. Simply a choice. You have been so long feeling depressed or down or burdened, self-tranquillising with your drug of choice, be it cigarettes, food, booze, gambling, women, that you have forgotten what it is like to really feel alive. There are other ways to achieve these results. Yet based on everything I have tried in my own life, I have found a detox to be the quickest and easiest (yes, easiest) way to move out of the bad habits and into good ones.
Did you know that there are two kinds of Yoga? One is called 'Raja' (the royal path) and the other 'Hatha'. One is control of the mind. The other is control of the body. When it comes to achieving wellness you can meditate (the mind influences the body). Or exercise (the body influences the mind). You could say one works from the inside out, the other from the outside in!
I may add a follow-up post later to this topic to get the final verdict from the couple and see what their favourite parts of the course were. In the meantime, if my detoxers are reading this I would like to thank them for their wonderful contribution to a terrific couple of weeks.
You did great!
If that HH is me, I have to say that I am certainly not against your program and I'm sure it has great health benefits so I need no convincing of that. The part I can't handle is my own weakness. As I said on another thread, I quit smoking but it was hard and I had to really want to do it.Perhaps I can cajole HH into my tender loving care and then there will really be something to write about!
Until I decide I really want to quit or limit my other bad habits, I'm afraid that any good your program did would be undone by me in a matter of days or weeks after leaving your "tender loving care".
You never know, I may PM you one day and decide to give it a go but I have to get my head in the right place first.
I should think finishing it would be the favourite part Mr.P; if you did that to anyone apart from volunteers you would have Amnesty International knocking on your door!I may add a follow-up post later to this topic to get the final verdict from the couple and see what their favourite parts of the course were.