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Ski Bus Transfers guarantee comfortable, luxurious and custom door to door Chamonix transfers from from the airport in Geneva smoothly to the groups hotel in Verchaix, Chatel, the Chamonix valley and the nearby Mont Blanc region.
Our Chamonix transfers bespoke service covers ski transfers to Espace Killy, Araches-la-Frasse, Megeve, Risoul, Val-d’sere, Courchevel and without forgetting Isola 2000 and Tignes and we can provide bespoke skiing transfers to other ski fields if ordered.
With the up to date well equipped eight man minibuses and SEAT, Tata, Troller, or Kia vehicles we will happily chauffeur as many people as 19, or twenty plus when you demand this. Moreover our staff are extremely trained in adverse winter conditions for your groups piece of mind. Of course we are fully covered and trained.
The company also provide mountain bike airport transfers during May through to Jul and go to French ski resorts like our top ten: Luz Ardiden, Flaine, Les Gets, Les Arcs, Le Tour, Hautacam, Auron, Verchaix, Chatel, La Tania, Les Orres, Flegere.
Getting to Chamonix Mont Blanc, Tignes-les-Brevieres or La Rosiere from your airport has never been so simple. For luxury ski transfer from Geneva to you and your groups chalet accommodation in Chamonix Mont Blanc contact Ski Holiday Transfers right away, then chill out and savour your skiing holiday.
Gatto Matto Bed & Breakfast is ideal for a peaceful and relaxing holiday in the tuscan countryside, close to famous cities like Lucca and Pisa, close to the seaside and surrounded by green land and forests. Here you can find a lovely and friendly atmosphere, Cinzia and Elena will welcome you and spoil you with their kind way of being hosts. The house has 3 large double rooms and 2 bathrooms, outside a covered terrace, a wide garden with old pine and oak trees, a large swimmingpool (10 x 5 mt open from may till september) . A very exquisite breakfast is served every morning outside under the terrace.
Directions to Gatto Matto B & B
Gatto Matto B & B is at 12 km from Lucca and 20 km from the seaside.
From the motorway A11 take exit at Lucca and follow directions for Camaiore.
The village of Monsagrati is on the way, you see arrows to sign the the place.
From Pisa Airport you can hire a car, or take right there a train for Lucca, and here a bus for Camaiore, ask stop at Monsagrati, if you call us we will pick you up at the bus stop.
If you are interested in a cheap hotel in Lucca, pls visit our catalogue of Hotels all over Italy, where you can find also a wide range of Bed and Breakfast in Rome and Hotels in Florence, from cheap to luxury, togheter with Sorrento Tours
Hampton Court Palace is situated to the south west of London, on the banks of the River Thames, encircled by wooded areas & colourful gardens. Hampton Court Palace, King Henry eight’s remarkable riverside apartment is set in well over four hundred acres of park and private gardens.
Stirring up the atmosphere of well over four-hundred and fifty years of heritage, uniformed entertainers can be watched throughout Henry 8ths and King William 3rds brilliant personal homes. The sights, noise and reek of the blossoming Tudor kitchens where royal feasts were planned for Henry?s court of over 500 visitors can also be viewed.
Hampton Court Palace has been divided into 6 distinct routes or excursions. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace that is built on the Thames to the west of London City is in all probability the most treasured hedge maze on this globe.
Hampton Court palace has a turbulent custom & is allegedly inhabited by a number of ghosts, including 2 of Henry 8th’s departed wives & a nursemaid to his kids. Hampton Court Palace custodians & hostesses will be around to aid guests to their selected state accommodation for a sparkling wine and canap?s introduction. Costumed staff will broadcast supper & guests will be called to find their designated seats for a marvellous two course meal with selected fine wines. For a special family day out, visit Hampton Court Palace today.
Hampton Court Palace has sixty acres of ceremonial private grounds in addition to the five-hundred acres of royal forest. The royal private gardens date back to the 16th Century, when the first Privy Garden was installed between fifteen-thirty and fifteen-thirty eight for King Henry VIII.
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is honored to have as our guest author and writer, Sally Wendkos Olds.
Sally has written about family, children, women, relationships, sexuality, psychology, health, and travel, and has authored several books.
Sally has also contributed articles to: McCall’s, Ms., New York Times Magazine, Redbook, Woman’s Day, and many other major publications.
In 1993 Sally and artist Margaret Roche trekked to the remote village of Badel located in the eastern hills of Nepal. They were the first western women to go there.
Norm:
Sally, could you tell our readers something about yourself and why you wanted to trek to Badel? How many times have you returned since your first trip?
Sally:
I had trekked in Nepal twice before with my husband, Mark, who was fulfilling a boyhood dream by going there. In 1987 we went to the Annapurna region and in 1991 to the Everest area, and I fell in love with this little Himalayan kingdom.
I became entranced by the remarkable sweetness and cheerfulness of the Nepali people. In spite of their poverty and hard lives, none of the Nepalis I had met showed bitter, hostile, or even resigned faces to the world. I wanted to learn more about them - and I wanted to learn what they could teach me. I eventually did both.
Mark, whose knee gives him trouble, did not want to go back to Nepal. Through serendipitous circumstances (which I describe in the book) I met Margaret Roche, an artist who had also trekked in Nepal several times, and we decided to go together to a remote hill village and stay with local families. We went to Badel for the first time in 1993, and we returned together three more times, plus one trip each on our own. I have now been to Nepal seven times.
Norm:
Where exactly is Nepal, as well as Badel? How easy or difficult is it to travel to Nepal and what can travelers expect once they are there?
Sally:
Nepal is a narrow, crescent-shaped country about the size of Florida, with a population of about 27 million. It lies north of India and south of Tibet, separated from it by the Himalayas, the youngest and highest mountain range in the world. It’s easy to get there if you don’t mind multi hours in the air and in airports changing planes. Getting to Kathmandu, the capital, from North America involves about 20 hours of flying time. Badel, in the eastern hills due south of Mount Everest, is reached by a 35-minute flight from Kathmandu to a small airstrip in the village of Lamidanda, and then by a three-day trek, since there are no roads into the village.
Kathmandu is a lively, crowded city of half a million. It’s full of the roar of motorcycles; the beeping of horns by taxi drivers swerving around sacred cows resting in the middle of busy thoroughfares; and men and boys trying to sell you carpets or hashish or the all-purpose nostrum “tiger balm,” change dollars on the black market, or take you for rickety rides in bicycle rickshaws.
Much business takes place on the street - and also in the many shops and in the restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. Religion too takes place in the streets, dotted with Hindu and Buddhist shrines and temples.
Norm:
I noticed you had written an article about a Himalayan Seder-Passover in Kathmandu. What was this all about?
Sally:
For about the past dozen years a group of Lubavitchers from Brooklyn (New York) have held an annual Passover celebration on the grounds of the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu, flying over some 250 frozen kosher chickens, countless jars of gefilte fish, and scores of boxes of matzo.
Israel and Nepal have cooperated with each other since 1960, and Nepal is a popular travel destination for young Israelis, especially after they complete their military service. About 1,000 Israelis come to this seder every year, and in 1993 I was lucky enough to be able to join in.
Norm:
As many of our readers are interested in romantic destinations, could you describe some unique and romantic destinations in Nepal, and would you recommend Nepal as a romantic destination?
Sally:
I would recommend Nepal as a romantic destination for any couple who enjoy visiting exotic cultures and getting to know each other in a totally new environment.
* Those who like hiking, camping, and the beauties of nature can experience all these in Nepal. Kathmandu, the capital, offers 5-star hotels and simple guesthouses, top-flight restaurants, gorgeous Himalayan vistas, artistic splendour, and fascinating sight-seeing and cultural opportunities.
* Pokhara, in the geographic center of the country, is known for its stunning natural beauty, with a gentle climate, tropical flowers, a sapphire lake, and magnificent mountain views.
* At Chitwan National Park in the south, you can ride on elephants, go white-water rafting, see tigers, rhinos, and some fifty other kinds of mammals, as well as 400 species of birds.
* The world-renowned Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge provides luxurious accommodations and food, and a number of more modest lodges are in and just outside the park.
* Along popular trekking routes you can either camp out in tents or stay at teahouse-lodges, some of which are high-end, while others are humble. Tour agencies can make all your arrangements for any of these destinations, or you can go independently and hire your own guides.
Norm:
You are the author of a book entitled, A Balcony In Nepal: Glimpses Of A Himalayan Village. Could you tell us something about the book and what made you want to write the book?
Sally:
The book is about the way of life in Badel, a remote hamlet in Nepal’s eastern hills, and how Marge Roche and I were affected by our visits with the people there.
Through our guide, Buddi Rai, the first university graduate from Badel, we were able to meet and talk with the village midwife, headman, school- teachers, shamans, and other citizens. We learned about marriage, birth, death, and many other customs. Some of the people we met have been immortalized by Marge’s graceful drawings and water- colors, which are in the book.
At first we thought this way of life would go on forever, but now I wonder whether we may have witnessed the twilight of a changing way of life. The nine-year-old insurgency in Nepal by Mao-inspired guerrillas, has affected village life and sent many villagers to new lives in the cities. Still, some aspects of life in Nepal’s many regions without electricity or roads will probably endure for years. And once peace returns, the inherent sweetness and friendliness of Nepal’s people will, I am sure, have survived intact. I have to add here that although the rebellion has sparked violence in many outlying areas, no tourists have been targeted, and visitors from around the world continue to come to Nepal to experience its many treasures.
Norm:
As a follow up, can you explain some of your research techniques, and how you found sources for your book?
Sally:
For this book, unlike the other nine I have written, most of my research involved living in the country and observing the people and events around me. I was what anthropologists call a “participant-observer.”
Although I took a few lessons in the Nepali language before I left the U.S. most of my conversations with local people were translated by Buddi, our guide, who speaks excellent English. My sources were right there in the village. I did expand my knowledge of Nepal’s history and culture by reading scholarly books, most of which I purchased in the excellent English-language book stores in Kathmandu. Through them I learned about the Gurkha soldiers, the many different ethnic groups in Nepal, the succession of rulers, and other aspects of the country and her people. I’m happy to say that A Balcony in Nepal has been republished in India for the Southeast Asia market and is now available in Kathmandu.
Norm:
What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while traveling to Nepal? How did you overcome these challenges?
Sally:
The main challenge was the physical one. Before every trek I trained for months. I hiked on hills and walked up and down flights of stairs (up to a total of 1,000 steps), so that I would be able to master the endless hills of Nepal. (You don’t have to be a super-athlete, however; I was 53 years old when I first went, and 70 on my last trip.)
I also needed to be immunized against a number of diseases. And I always took with me supplies of medicines, including antibiotics against intestinal and respiratory illness, some of which I did experience. I also took out travel insurance in the remote possibility that I would need to be helicoptered out of a remote location.
Once there, as in any Third World country, I was careful about what I ate and drank, and I made sure to get enough rest after the strenuous days of trekking. For the most part, I’m happy to say that I stayed in good health and returned safe.
Norm:
Since the first time you traveled to Nepal, what changes have you noticed over the years with each of your return adventures?
Sally:
When I first went to Kathmandu in 1987, the streets in Thamel, the back-packer neighbourhood where I have always stayed, were dirt roads; now they are paved. Garbage pick-up was a matter of stray dogs and sacred cows eating from piles in the streets; now trucks come by every morning.
The number of gourmet restaurants, high-end shops, and 5-star hotels has mushroomed over the years. Communication with the outside world has become more widespread with the advent of email and the Internet, and the cities are full of inexpensive cyber-cafés. In the villages solar power has enabled the use of house lights and television sets.
One change in Badel was brought about with Marge’s and my help - we raised money to fulfill Buddi’s dream to start a library in his village, and we saw it in operation. Another change I wrote about in the book was the plastic surgery that corrected cleft lips in two village children - and gave them new smiles and new lives.
Norm:
When did your passion for writing begin? What kept you going?
Sally:
As a child I wrote poems and stories, and in college I majored in English Literature, but my real passion for writing did not begin until after my first child was born, and I began to write articles about infant care. I went on to write about women’s and children’s health, and other subjects including the civil rights movement, in which I was involved.
My first book was about breastfeeding, a topic close to my heart, since I had nursed all three of my children and found it a fulfilling experience. The Complete Book of Breastfeeding was published in 1972, has gone into three revised and updated editions, sold about two million copies, become a classic in the field, and is now being read by the daughters of the women who read the first edition. Sometimes when I have a bad day at my desk I look around my office and see the covers of the ten books I have written, and I get the confidence to go on with whatever I am struggling with at the moment.
Norm:
I understand you are familiar with some wedding venues in Vietnam. Perhaps, you could describe one or two and indicate why they are unique?
Sally:
In February 2005 Mark and I visited the city of Dalat, the “jewel” of Vietnam’s central highlands. It was a popular hill station when the French controlled Vietnam and is now a favorite honeymoon spot for Vietnamese couples.
Dalat has been called Le Petit Paris, the City of Eternal Spring, and the City of Flowers. It boasts a miniature Eiffel Tower, a beautiful lake, lush gardens, a golf club, and hotels ranging from modest to magnificent. Side trips include a tour of an emperor’s summer palace; a visit to a village populated by the Lat ethnic group; the Valley of Love, with paddle boats, canoes, and motorboats for rent on the lake; and a ride on a cog-railway train to a village with an ornate pagoda.
Norm:
What is next for Sally Wendkos Olds?
Sally:
These days I am juggling three kinds of activities: interviewing fire-fighters for an oral history project; presenting slide talks about Nepal and China and preparing one about Vietnam; and working on the manuscript of a novel that I just resurrected from my file cabinet.
Norm; Thanks once again Sally and good luck with all of your future endeavours.
Norm Goldman is the Editor of the book reviewing site Bookpleasures.com and the travel site, Sketchandtravel.com.
Norm is also a travel writer and together with his artist wife, Lily, they meld words with art focusing on romantic and wedding destinations.
To learn more about Norm and his wife Lily, and to read Norm`s articles and view Lily`s art work click on sketchandtravel.com
My Mercedes is waiting. The sun beams diffusely down through the moisture laden air causing beads of sweat to drip continuously on my already drenched t-shirt. I am going to Satun and the Mercedes is a classic well kept 1962 model. In fact there is a whole fleet of Mercedes waiting to take tourist to Satun from Hai Jai in Southern Thailand. They are all black with an exaggerated curved body indicative of automobiles of the late 50’s. And believe it or not, they still retain the comfort that Mercedes is famous for.
The year is 1998 and I am going to the Andaman Sea in the Straits of Malacca. There I will plant myself for two weeks on one of the many somewhat deserted islands that dot this reclusive part of the world. A world inhabited by pirates and honeymooners in the Koh Tarutao National Park system in the very south of Southern Thailand.
Which island I am going to, I don’t know, but I am not the only one. Sharing my taxi ride is a young couple in love from Germany and a family from Thailand, husband and wife with their 5 year old son.
It takes about twenty minutes for the taxi driver to stuff everyone’s belongings into the trunk. I have made substantial purchases of deliciously fresh dried fruits and filled my water container with pomegranate juice from one of the ‘made for tourist’ vendors surrounding the taxi. We squeeze into tightly together; the family and myself in the rear of the taxi and the couple from Germany in the front and prepare for a long and fascinating journey.
“Are you comfortable” the driver asks in broken English.
I answer like an excited kid, “Let’s get this rocket rolling.”
My feelings were of excitement and anticipation and I don’t know why I said such a strange thing. No one else said anything and I felt as if my words were still echoing in the silence minutes later. But no matter, here I am in the middle of the world, on an adventure that relatively few have gone before.
The journey takes 3 hours of driving through exotic and undeveloped country side; incidentally through a warm and friendly Islamic side of Thailand. At one point we passed two foreigners on bicycles pedaling in racing uniforms. Later they caught up to us in some remote village on the way as we were stopping for refreshment. They came up next to our taxi and said with a heavy European accent “hello?” I answered, “Wow! I can’t believe this! What are you doing way out here in the middle of nowhere on bicycles?”
The young man in his twenties answered, “We are traveling around the world. We are on our way to Indonesia.” The other couple traveling in the taxi with me immediately took notice and a very long and interesting conversation ensues between all of us.
It turns out that the bicyclists are a married couple and the last county they pedaled through was Myanmar. After Indonesia, they planned to cycle the islands of Hawaii and then to Mainland USA.
To this day I still have dreams of that encounter and the miraculous and dangerous journey they were taking. I have never heard of them since and have no idea what became of them.
Before we know it, the taxi driver is honking his horn for us to return and we are saying our goodbyes to this marvelous couple. We pile into the taxi for the last leg of our journey. Looking out the window we pass fields of coconut palms, women balancing wood or foods in baskets on their heads wearing colorful loose clothing down to their feet. The homes we pass by are often made of palm frawns or a patchwork of wood and debris. And in the fields are men and women, young and old with their ox and children tilling vegetables in the same way at their ancestors have done for thousands of years.
Finally we reach Satun. I don’t know what to expect. The town is about two blocks long; a fishing village whose main street leads right to the ocean. There fishing boats made of old rotting lumber wait to take us to one of the many islands we will now select in the many makeshift tourist offices that line the street.
Each old rickety tourist office has pictures of the islands they offer and provide for a fee, the means to get their. And if you are uninformed, you will pay in advance for you accommodations. Something better to do when you arrive on the island. Occasionally an owner of one of these offices tries to get us inside by enticing us with words like ‘beautiful, exotic, cheap…’ We all walk down the main avenue looking and asking questions until each of us select our travel destination destiny.
I study all the pictures from all the offices of all the islands carefully and I choose Langkawi only 5 kilometers away from the southern tip of Tarutao Island. I pay the equivalent of approximately $7 for a round trip boat ticket and I am then led to one of the boats. The boat can fit about 4 people and sits low to the water. There is single engine propeller that is barely hangs attached to the rear of the craft. I wait about 15 minutes before we begin our three hour journey through rough and dangerous seas to the somewhat deserted and exotic island of Langkawi…
My days on the island with boa constrictors, pirates, a lost tribe of Islamic fishermen, my isolated beach cottage right on my own private beach, the couple isolated on the other side of the island studying esoteric Buddhism, the small exotic café serving daily fresh fish from the sea, the many tourist from Europe that came and went, lightening in the sky on a clear day and the marvelous skin diving in clear deep tropical sears are topics I will discuss in my next article. Stay turned.
Douglas Anchell writes travel articles for: http://www.all-reservations.com, http://www.world-accommodations.com and http://www.travelviva.com
Hampton Court Palace can be found to the south-west of the Capital, on the edge of the River Thames, encircled by land and dazzling estates. Hampton Court Palace, Henry 8s astounding water shore palace is set in over six-hundred acres of parkland & grounds.
Awaken the ambience of well over four-hundred & fifty years of rituals, fancy dressed interpreters can be witnessed all over Henry 8th’s and King William 3rds magnificent own estates. The scenes, noise & smells of the stunning Tudor kitchens where royal dinners were set up for Henry?s court of well over one-thousand visitors can also be viewed.
Hampton Court Palace has been divided into six distinct routes or excursions. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace which is sited on the Thames to the west of the City is in all likelihood the most cherished hedge maze on this earth.
Hampton Court palace has a scandalous tradition and is apparently inhabited by more than a few ghosts, including 2 of Henry 8’s late wives & a nurse to his children. Hampton Court Palace owners and staff will be on hand to assist people to their designated state home for a cava & canap?s greeting. Uniformed employees will declare supper and guests will be requested to take their designated seats for a great 2 course meal with chosen fine white wines. For a great day out, why not visit Hampton Court Palace with Enjoy England.
Hampton Court Palace has 60 acres of ceremonial private gardens on top of the six hundred acres of royal wood. The royal gardens go back to the sixteenth Century, when the first Privy Garden was laid out between 1530 and fifteen-thirty eight for King Henry the 8th.
Hampton Court Palace is located to the south west of the Capital, on the edge of the River Thames, enclosed by park and splendid private grounds. Hampton Court Palace, King Henry eights superb riverside apartment is placed in over 400 acres of parkland & gardens. For a great day out, why not visit Hampton Court Palace with Enjoy England.
Inciting the ambience of well over four hundred and fifty years of rituals, fancy dressed actors can be observed all through Henry eights and King William third’s inspiring own houses. The pictures, noise & stink of the blossoming Tudor kitchens where dinners were arrange for Henry?s courtyard of well over one thousand individuals can also be viewed.
Hampton Court Palace has been separated into 6 distinct routes or journeys. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace which is sited on the River Thames to the west of London City is almost certainly the most famous hedge maze in the world.
Hampton Court palace has a dreadful custom and is supposed to be possessed by some poltergeists, including two of Henry 8ths departed wives & a nursemaid to his offspring. Hampton Court Palace wardens and personnel will be close at hand to help guests to their selected state accommodation for a sparkling wine & canap?s function. Fancy dress workers will broadcast the evening dinner and visitors will be asked to take their places for a fabulous two course dinner with hand picked fine red and white wines.
Hampton Court Palace has 60 acres of official grounds as well as the 500 acres of royal park. The royal private grounds date back to the 16th Century, when the 1st Privy Garden was put down between fifteen-thirty and fifteen thirty eight for King Henry the 8th.
Thanksgiving is the most important holiday of the year.
Oh, sure, Christmas is grand, and I know it has many, many fans. I’m not knocking Christmas, but Thanksgiving is more important. And Easter has its fans, too. Rebirth is a wonderful thing, but I still say Thanksgiving is more important. Yes, the kids might put in a good word for Halloween. I am sure they enjoy the costumes and the sugar overdose, but Thanksgiving is more important.
Why?
Because the two most important words in the English language are “Thank You”. This is true for business success, for social pleasure, even for self-actualization.
For business success, a thank you tells a prospect or partner that you are appreciative of what she has just done. It shows you have a genuine interest in that person and the business relationship.
For social interaction, expressing gratitude is equally important to show how you value the other person and the social relationship you have with him. Thank you is a bonding phrase.
But thanksgiving is most important on a personal level for our own happiness. This is true for anybody who has ever lived, but it is even more true for us today.
Consider how much we have. More than any of our ancestors, we live in the Land of Plenty. We have more than anybody who lived at any time before. And for those of us who live in the developed world, we have more than most people on our little planet even today.
I’m not just talking about “stuff”. Oh, sure, we have digital color televisions and computers that take us around the world faster than the speed of sound. And we have 31 flavors of ice cream waiting for us on every second street corner. And we throw out more “junk” than we ever needed to own in the first place.
But we have so much more than just stuff. Consider the following:
FREEDOM: More of the world lives in a democracy than ever before, and democracy is becoming more open or “democratic” with every year (perhaps in part due to the Internet).
OPPORTUNITIES: With freedom and affluence comes opportunity. We have more opportunity to make more money, to earn it the way we wish, to choose our profession, our location, even our lifestyle. Women have just about reached equality with men in most of the developed world, and more people are able to flee oppressive regimes.
KNOWLEDGE: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? With freedom, comes the ability to satisfy our curiosity: knowledge. And with knowledge comes a thirst for freedom. Let’s face it, the idea of “the ignorant masses” has become an anachronism. Even the dumbest among us has more knowledge than most people who lived a couple centuries ago. (I said more “knowledge”, not more “wisdom”, but that’s another topic.)
HEALTH: Just surviving past childhood used to be a major accomplishment. Now we expect to live into our 80s or 90s. And we expect - no, we demand - to have exceptional health care all along the way (even those who are afraid to go to the doctor!).
This list could keep growing, but I think these are the major benefits of living in the twenty-first century, especially in the developed world. What does that have to do with thanksgiving and happiness?
Well, follow this train of thought. Whatever you have, you can either appreciate or not. If you appreciate it — I mean really notice that you have it, that it is good, that you feel good about having it — it will bring you happiness. However, if you get used to it, take it for granted, and focus on getting something you don’t have, it won’t bring you happiness.
Appreciation is the key to happiness. Whatever you truly and proactively appreciate, whether “stuff” or education or a vacation, will bring you happiness. But in this fast-paced, dog-eat-dog, over-stimulated society how can we appreciate anything?
Sadly, many of us who have the most to be grateful for express gratitude the least and feel the least appreciation. It seems the more we have the more we want. The more we want, the less we appreciate what we have. The less we appreciate, the less value there is to having anything, which may explain why we keep wanting more
The secret to feeling that appreciation we often overlook is in expressing our gratitude vocally or in writing. How can we possibly fail to appreciate something when we say “Thank you” for it and focus our attention on the appreciation?
I offer several ideas on how to express gratitude in the “Get Happy Workbook” and my book “Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness”, including keeping a gratitude journal, saying grace, practicing “bolsterism”, or just sending flowers, cards, or an appreciative e-mail message - to name just a few ideas. Perhaps the most useful of all ideas is to make Thanksgiving Day every day.
Christmas is important. Easter is important. Halloween is important for the kids. But for our own personal happiness, there is nothing like a truly heartfelt Thanksgiving.
About The Author
David Leonhardt is author of The Get Happy Workbook (http://www.T heHappyGuy.com/happiness-workbook.html) and Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness (http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/happiness-self-help-book.html), and publisher of the free ezine: Daily Dose of Happiness. (http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html). Web site: http://www.TheHappyGuy.com.
amabaie@phastnet.com
There are so many things to remember. How often have you had to remember to three, four or even more things and then, just like that, they are gone. Have you ever had to remember a birthday or anniversary and just forgotten? Not only does this anger you, but it really can hurt the feelings of the person who now feels as if they are not that important to you. That’s not the case. You are just too busy with every other thing in your life to get anything to go right.
What Can You Do?
It is important to set up a system of reminders for yourself. You need to remember the birthdays, the anniversaries and that meeting with your child’s teacher that is a month away. While you may feel like you don’t have the time to do this, you just have to find it. It is essential that you do so because the more overwhelmed you are with remembering one thing or ten things, the more stressed your life becomes and then, well, it just gets worse.
Take the time to put into place a system that you can use each time that you need to remember something. For example, just keep a small notebook with you in your pocket to keep track of the events, schedules and other important information that you need to have. Pull it out; jot it down whenever there is something you need to keep track of.
But, it is important to reference this information as well. For many, the use of their cell phone, Ipod, or other electronic device can help them to keep themselves organized. If you are continuously missing appointments or are simply feeling overwhelmed with all that you have to do, then work on it! Use these systems to make sure that you keep life a little more structured.
Sandy Baker is a well respected writer and recommends sending free greeting cards, personalized the way you want, to friends and familys on their birthdays, via your mobile phone, for free!
There are many reasons to consider having your next family
reunion at Disneyworld. The fun activities for family members of
all ages are sure to make it an event to remember. With
Florida’s warm climate, you can plan your get together for any
time of year. If family members live in colder regions, you
might consider timing the reunion as a welcome winter retreat.
Traveling off-season can also result in substantial savings, so
investigate your options, as well as the possibility of group
rates.
Putting one or two people in charge of planning and research is
a good idea in order to help you find the best deals, stay
organized, and make sure that everyone gets to take advantage of
the same information. Although it can be difficult to avoid, you
don’t want to create any unnecessary family tension! Have
someone act as travel coordinator, to help arrange carpools
where possible and take your reunion on the road. If the cost is
going to be much greater for some family members, perhaps the
group as a whole would be interested in dividing up the costs
more evenly. There are plenty of options for creating an
equitable and enjoyable vacation for everyone at your family get
together.
Once there, organize some time for everyone to spend together,
as well as time for mini teams to explore their own areas of
interest. Adults could take turns supervising the youngest
children, as well as get in some good visiting time while the
youngsters are on the kiddie rides. Teens will likely want to go
off on their own for part of the time, which should be fine as
long as meeting times and places are well planned and adhered
to. Try to have at least one cell phone per group in order to
keep things flowing smoothly.
If your group is staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel,
you may qualify for numerous special benefits and services,
including assistance planning your itinerary, photo
opportunities, and more. Look into what they have to offer for a
simplified party planning process. Your family reunion can be
tailored to your unique needs and interests, offering something
for everyone. Whatever level of planning assistance you desire,
Disney experts are there to help you every step of the way.
Disneyworld features numerous attractions and dining locations
that are suitable for larger parties, so explore your options
and choose a few experiences that everyone can enjoy together.
With so much to choose from, the Kilimanjaro Safaris, the
nightly fireworks display or watercraft rentals are just a few
of the recommended activities for groups who want to enjoy their
Disney experience together. It isn’t often that all the age
groups find something to share, so make the most of this special
opportunity to reunite the whole family. Don’t forget to take
lots of pictures!