Journal
Blue Moon Milk for Sleep and Stress
“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?”― Ernest Hemingway Blue Moon Milk may be just the answer to help you unwind and drift off into a deep and healing sleep. Drinking warm milk before bed has been the traditional way to relax in many a household down the years. There is something comforting about holding a cup of warm milk and honey. I have a lovely memory of staying with my grandmother. I knew it was time for bed when the Ovaltine was on the stove, and the soothing aroma of malt came drifting by. The Ayurvedic Way Moon Milk is an Ayurvedic tradition where milk and honey has the addition of adaptogens and in particular Ashwagandha. An adaptogen is known as a substance which helps the body adapt, adjust and reset. They are the most amazing medicines and there are countless studies proving their efficacy for stress, depression, stamina and immunity. Sleep is so important for a strong immune system, repair, rejuvenation, energy and mental health. If you find yourself waking up at 2am this is often a sign of low blood sugar and so here is the ideal remedy. Blue Moon Milk is the perfect sleep aid and more – Lowers stress hormones Improves blood sugar levels Boosts brain function Boosts metabolism Supports thyroid health Supports gut health Promotes eye health Antioxidant rich Reduces inflammation Recipe I cup of cow’s milk or a plant based milk 1 teaspoon of coconut oil 1 teaspoon of Ashwagandha powder 1 teaspoon of freeze-dried blueberry powder 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom powder 1 heaped teaspoon of raw honey Optional – Add 2 teaspoons of collagen powder Dried blue cornflowers Method Add a cup of milk to a saucepan and warm gently. Add the coconut oil stirring until dissolved. Whisk in all the other ingredients apart from the honey. Pour into a cup and stir in the honey. Take to bed and enjoy with a relaxing book.
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Tomorrow’s Medicine You Can Begin Today
Land is not merely soil, it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants and animals. Aldo Leopold The Royal Society of Medicine sits nicely next to the headquarters of Coca-Cola on Wimpole Street in London. Such a contrast as we settle down to hear medical experts share their specialised knowledge on the microbiome, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The day began hopeful. I was seated next to a nutritionist and cook and she told me that once a week she makes a meal with two others for eighty homeless people in London. The chefs are given food past its sell-by-date by supermarkets, Wholefoods and Michellin star restaurants, which they then prepare in to a wholesome meal. It will probably be the only nutritious meal they receive all week. Practical charity at its best as we go into a day where too much food, poor choices and poor quality are creating much of the negative health issues we have today. From as far back as I can remember real food was first. It was the foundation of health at home and in our herbal practice and it’s hard to comprehend that it has taken mainstream medicine decades to understand a most primal necessity. The Farmers – stewards of the land Agriculture is our primary health service Patrick Holden started the day at ground level. He established his biodynamic farm in 1973 and quite wonderfully explained that a healthy gut microbiome begins in the soil. There is a call to connect the human biome to the soil biome. It all starts there and it really makes you think about the food you buy. We can look at the farm as the cell and if the cell is sick, ie the soil, then we have a sick population. We know that intensive farming methods and toxic chemicals are depleting our soil and compromising our health, leading to low nutrient levels in vegetables and in turn us. He gave up selling carrots long ago to supermarkets. They squeeze the life out of farmers and I acknowledged even more that we need to support local farms, eat seasonally and organically as much as possible. And support people like Patrick in this most life giving work. Like me he says he doesn’t need science to tell him organic is better. But studies do show that organic produce contributes to the maintenance of optimal health and reduces the risk of developing chronic disease. The Gut Professor Professor Tim Spector has been studying twins at St Thomas’ hospital for 25 years and also specialises in the gut microbiome. We must keep in mind that every meal we eat changes the environment in the gut and literally speaks to the body, influencing the expression of genes. Forget the 5 a day, which has no scientific basis. For maximum biodiversity we need around 30 different plants a day in our diet. That sounds like an impossible task but this could be a nut, a seed, a herb, spice or vegetable. It’s not unachievable. Fibre is important as the fertiliser, because without it the microbes can’t thrive and will therefore go elsewhere. Top tips for a diverse microbiome – Eat a little fermented food every day; sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha Choose sourdough bread Consume a wide range of dark and brightly coloured fruit and vegetables Enjoy dark chocolate and red wine in moderation The best prebiotic fibre rich ‘microbe fertilisers’; leeks, celery, onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes Avoid sweeteners; animal studies show they produce abnormal chemicals and reduce microbe diversity Eat a wide and varied colourful diet Interestingly studies show that patients undergoing immunotherapy for cancer have better outcomes if they have a rich biodiversity in the gut. For more on this fascination subject read – Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ “Every day we live and every meal we eat we influence the great microbial organ inside us – for better or for worse.”― Giulia Enders The Heart Specialist Dr Aseem Malhotra, an award winning consultant cardiologist made a bold statement to one of his elderly patients. She arrived at his clinic worried sick about her raised cholesterol. He congratulated her and said she would live a long life. Study. Lowering cholesterol does not increase longevity. In fact if you can withstand the side effects of Statin’s, over a 5 year period they will prolong your life by 4 days. Statin’s have not reduced cardiovascular mortality. Stress reduction is paramount and is an independent marker of heart disease. The importance of community, connections, friendships, love, peace, a sense of purpose and joy cannot be underestimated. Read here how you can beat heart disease with a Mediterranean diet and by eating more fat. Giving and receiving love lowers your risk of heart disease The GP Dr David Unwin is on the list of the top 50 most influential GP’s in the UK. He is a warm, slight man, joyfully helping his patients without the use of drugs. He gives his patients hope and optimism. The word hope was used a lot during the day and it reminded me of Dr Lissa Rankin’s book Mind Over Medicine. She said you cannot belittle the most important aspect of healing, that you need a compassionate, optimistic doctor who doesn’t quash hope but offers possibilities. Five years ago David’s practice was one of the biggest spenders of anti-diabetic drugs in the UK. Now it is the lowest. And it’s all down to diet. He has transformed the lives of many of his patients who were overweight and ill. He told us that even though these patients were on various drugs for their conditions they were still sick. Drugs were not creating health. Many of his patients are now in remission and symptom free. The fastest case of reversal was in just 38 days, with diet alone. This is empowering and life changing. “Hope is a waking dream.”― Aristotle So What to Eat The Eatwell guide which was designed by Gregg’s, McCain and The Coca Cola Company amongst other unhealthy food companies is promoted by the NHS. And you wonder why we are in trouble. Doctors working in an NHS setting reported at the conference on the unhealthy food offered in hospitals. No one wants it. And at a most critical time where nourishment is required it is just not there. They said there is inertia in the NHS. It has to change. We are reaching a tipping point, and as two young and newly qualified GP’s revealed, in 6 years study they received only 3 hours nutritional training. They aren’t happy and are calling for change. Many doctor’s feel ill-equipped to deal with health conditions that so often can be improved and eradicated with nutritional changes. The tide is turning, the ship has left the port and I was encouraged. For decades natural health practitioners, like us, have always known the value of food in health. I remember about 5 years ago I advised a person with terrible gut issues to change their diet, (they subsequently had part of their colon removed), their gastroenterologist said diet had nothing to do with it. And so they carried on. But is has everything to do with it. Eating well is simple, life enhancing and life saving – Buy local, organic and seasonal where possible – support your local farm Eat natural, unprocessed food Eat meat from pasture raised animals Include a variety of herbs and spices in your daily diet Consume brightly coloured berries Enjoy dark chocolate for healthy gut bacteria Red wine is beneficial for gut health, in fact three times more than white wine Use only good quality fats; butter, olive oil, coconut oil and olive oil And be joyful, walk, laugh, sleep well, keep good company, speak your truth, get sunlight and love. It is never too late to begin.
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Befriending the Darkness
Life is a Growth in the Art of Loss John O’Donohue As I took my daughter to the train today she said that every day feels like World Mental Health Day. We read and hear constantly about the struggles all around us. Sometimes I wonder if this exacerbates feelings we may not hold so much attachment to. I don’t know. Thich Nhat Hanh said that “feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky”, and they really can. Like the flick of a switch. Have you ever felt in the depths of despair but a good laugh and wonderful company brings joy to the surface? But whatever the case I do believe there is still much healing to be done within ourselves We are a constant work in progress to live a life that allows us to cope in all states of being. Loss and sadness comes in so many forms; the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a home, health, a job, a friendship, connections and community. But it also comes like a thief in the night, with no apparent cause, leaving you floundering and wounded, wondering why. Time has taught me that in all states of mind where I am challenged, instead of pushing feelings down they must be embraced. Hugged and acknowledged. Whatever this feeling is, it is valid. And it is okay. I see feelings and emotions like a meandering river. Sometimes they cling on to a bend for a few days or longer, sometimes passing through with ease, and sometimes damming up. But the first stage to feeling whole again is acceptance. A genuine self-acceptance that deep down we are okay. And we are okay whatever the feeling. We are not damaged, or useless or weak or something to be fixed. And we will once again feel joy. It is liberating to know that the voice in your head that says you are this or that, is not the essence of who you really are. With this comes freedom and a crack of light can emerge which in time will enable you to shine brightly once more. “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”― Rainer Maria Rilke When I read the quote above in Rilke’s book I saw the beauty in what he was writing. It is so moving. He states that we need to discern the value of these fragile periods and sit with them. There is such personal growth in truly knowing ourselves. During times of struggle community, friendship or family support are vital. Find your tribe and someone who has your back and loves you with all your cracks and imperfections. In Burkina Faso, West Africa, the day ends with the community gathering together to share their day. Everyone is welcome. Everyone feels worthy, and it is a time to laugh and cry. No one is isolated or alone with their thoughts and worries. We all need someone to talk to. The great romantic poet John Keat’s suffered periodic savage bouts of depression which incapacitated him. His hands would become like lead, unable to lift his pen to write. Such is the physical impact of depression. He said that one thing brought him relief.“There is a comfort in throwing oneself on the charity of ones friends — ’t is like the albatross sleeping on its wings — ” With support, non-judgement, self-acceptance and openness your heart can break out in to joy once more. Life can be so hard, heart-breakingly so, filled with sorrow and loss. But it can also be beautiful, amazing and joyful. Nothing can be denied to live fully, as a most beautiful human being. There is a brokennessout of which comes the unbroken,a shatterednessout of which blooms the unshatterable.There is a sorrowbeyond all grief which leads to joyand a fragilityout of whose depths emerges strength. There is a hollow spacetoo vast for wordsthrough which we pass with each loss,out of whose darknesswe are sanctioned into being. There is a cry deeper than all soundwhose serrated edges cut the heartas we break open to the place insidewhich is unbreakable and whole,while learning to sing. Rashani Réa
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Andrographis for Immunity, Inflammation, Infections and More
Andrographis paniculata is a herb native to India, traditionally known as the “King of Bitters”. Used for centuries Andrographis is a bitter tasting plant, giving us an insight in to its support for the liver. It is the perfect choice where someone complains of poor gut health. Symptoms of gas, bloating and bubbling are a sure sign of gut dysbiosis where Andrographis can be very useful. Evidence from clinical studies show this herb can reduce upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, the common cold, rheumatoid arthritis and can relieve diarrhoea, pain and fever. In the first NHS trial of its kind Andrographis is being prescribed to patients to see if it cuts down the symptoms of colds and viruses. This is an amazing leap and could reduce the amount of antibiotic prescriptions handed out. In the clinic I have found it a very useful herb for people with chronic infections, gut dysbiosis (imbalance of intestinal microorganisms), low immunity, cystitis and inflammation. Best taken twice daily, before food Botanica Health's Andrographis capsules may support immunity and either prevent or reduce the amount and symptoms of colds and viruses. Studies show it as a potential treatment for – Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Dysentery Rheumatoid arthritis Angiogenesis inhibitor – (blocks the growth of blood vessels that support tumour growth) Diabetes Inflammation Lyme disease Urinary tract infections Viruses The common cold Inflammatory bowel disease Blood cancer It certainly is a remarkable plant with a wide ranging potential for healing.
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Blackberry, Elderberry and Star Anise Cordial
Nature Gives to Every Time and Season Some Beauties of its Own Charles Dickens There is a real feel of summer merging into autumn. Nature gently shows us this transition. The air suddenly seems to take on a different feel, and while the days might still be warm there is certainly something changeable about September. Cobnuts are on the ground here and there. The leaves are beginning to turn and there is a slight scattering of prickly green chestnuts. The squirrels must love this time of year. The elderflower is a distant summer memory as the elderberries appear in their place, hanging like black shiny jewels. Blackberries are ripe and sweet, daring you to pluck one from the thorny branches. These black beauties are a wonderful source of vitamin C, K, B1, B2, B3, B6, E, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. Nature has medicine in abundance. The elderberry arrives in time to boost the immune system before the cold snap, helping prevent colds and viruses. They too are high in nutrients and antioxidants. Studies show their potent anti-viral activity and benefits reducing the length and severity of influenza. Star anise, an aromatic and sweet flavoured fruit dates back 3000 years to southern China and Southeast Asia. Numerous active compounds in this star shaped fruit contribute to its extensive list of health benefits. One of the compounds was a primary ingredient in Tamiflu, the antiviral drug. It is also anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal. A wonderful mix from natures treasure chest. This cordial is warming and protective, transitioning us in to this new season. RECIPE 12oz mix of blackberries and elderberries (berries easily removed with a stroking down action with a fork) 8oz sugar Pared rind of one unwaxed lemon 2 star anise METHOD Place the blackberries and elderberries in a saucepan. Mash them up a bit with a potato masher. Add the 2 star anise and lemon rind. Just cover with water, about 600ml. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain through a cloth and sieve over a jug. At the end I squeeze the bag to get the remaining juice out. Add the liquid back to the cleaned saucepan, add the sugar, bring to the boil, stirring and simmer for 20 minutes. Pour in to a clean bottle. Dilute with sparkling water.
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Hedgerow Pavlova with Apples, Blackberries and Nuts
At this time of year we are starting to see Autumn make its gentle arrival. With it comes an abundant offering from nature; the trees heavy with apples, hedgerows glistening with blackberries and the ripening elderberries beginning to appear. There is a great harvest to be had and many ways to make use of this gorgeous bounty. But let’s start with this ……. RECIPE Serves 8 Ingredients Meringue 4 organic egg whites 200g Billington’s golden castor sugar Autumn topping 2 sharp, sweet red apples 2 pears Small handful of bashed hazelnuts or walnuts 2 handfuls of blackberries Small handful of blackcurrants 1 sprig of elderberries, berries removed (Note. These are not advised to be eaten raw, but look pretty!) 1 tablespoon of butter 1 teaspoon of golden caster sugar 300ml double cream Half a vanilla pod, seed scraped, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (not essence) Method Heat the oven to 120C. Lightly grease a piece of parchment paper measuring around 35cm by 35cm and lay on a large baking tray. Add the egg whites to a large bowl and using a hand mixer whisk until soft peaks are formed. Gradually add the sugar a tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition and continue whisking for about 6 minutes. You want a thick, smooth and glossy mix. Spoon the meringue onto the parchment paper making a large round about 30cm across and 1.5 inches high with slightly raised sides. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Then turn the oven down to 90C and gently bake for another 2 hours. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. In the meantime core and slice the apples and pears into 6 pieces each and gently caramelise them in the butter and sugar for around 10 minutes until cooked and golden but still firm, turning occasionally. Allow to cool. Whisk the cream with the vanilla pods or essence until thick. Spread over the base. Arrange the apples and pears, blackberries and blackcurrants over the top. Then sprinkle over the hazelnuts or walnuts and elderberries. A real showstopper for any table.
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Magnesium Deficiency Can’t Be Ignored
As a child I suffered from restless legs; an irritating, troubling sensation in my legs. They just wouldn’t keep still. There were other signs too that I now, through much study, have concluded were from deficiency in this forgotten but vital mineral, magnesium. But until I read Dr Carolyn Dean’s book The Magnesium Miracle, I hadn’t quite grasped how important this life changing and saving mineral is. Unfortunately poor soil quality has depleted the stores of magnesium found naturally in vegetables, and with ever increasing stress and disease in society and more and more prescriptive drugs churned out, many people are depleted in this miracle mineral. Why You Need Magnesium Study after study shows the efficacy of taking magnesium. It is not only life changing but can be literally life saving. Research shows magnesium supplementation can help sleep, migraines, depression, reduce feelings of stress, improve thyroid function, heart health, asthma and insulin sensitivity. Magnesium is necessary for: Heart health – deficiency of magnesium can lead to heart disease and is a risk in heart attack. Study Thyroid health – known as the surrogate hormone to support the thyroid function. Magnesium is responsible for converting the inactive T4 thyroid hormone into the active form of T3. Study Bone health – magnesium is the most important component as it is vital for utilisation of vitamin D and calcium. Study Activation of 1,000 enzyme systems Stabilisation and protection of RNA and DNA Relaxation of muscles constricted by calcium The transmission of nerve signals 300 biochemical reactions in the body Common Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency Cramp Migraines PMT Heart Palpitations Insomnia Goitre Restless leg syndrome Irritability Eye twitches Anger Hot flushes Acid reflux Poor concentration Apathy Low mood Anxiety Depression Atrial Fibrillation Neuropathy Joint Pain Hypothyroidism Nervousness Over thinking Common Paths to Magnesium Depletion Excess stress High caffeine intake Drugs taken to treat acid reflux, blood pressure, antibiotics, diuretics, hormone contraceptive pill, HRT. Study Endurance exercise Running Hot yoga Calcium supplementation Taking more than 2,000iu of Vitamin D daily Consuming more than 7 alcoholic drinks a week Magnesium Deficiency Can’t Be Ignored Experts agree that magnesium deficiency is at epidemic proportions. Dr Norman Shealey stated that “Every known illness is associated with magnesium deficiency”. He also said that “A magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient”. Magnesium deficiency is even implicated in cancer risk. Study. Everything points to the fact that magnesium is necessary, protective and life saving. Unfortunately the standard magnesium blood test is not a useful predictor. Why ReMag is Now Used Worldwide ReMag liquid magnesium formulated by magnesium expert, Dr Carolyn Dean, offers maximum absorption for maximum remineralisation. ReMag provides picometer sized magnesium ions which are fully absorbed at the cellular level. As a result most patients find that ReMag works very quickly due to its high absorption rate. It is ideal for people who find that standard magnesium supplements can cause loose bowel movements. ReMag has been formulated so that this laxative effect doesn’t happen. ReMag is also economical providing 150mg of fully absorbable magnesium per half teaspoon. Much more convenient than the many magnesium pills needed to reach the RDA of between 300mg and 400mg of magnesium a day.
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Apple Bacteria keeps the Doctor Away
‘let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food’ – Hippocrates An apple a day keeps the doctor away. And this may be true after all and not just an old English proverb with no weight. A recent study has found that an apple carries more than 100 million bacteria! The beneficial bacteria they carry help to colonise the gut maintaining a healthy microbiome. Interestingly, but not surprisingly the study found that organic apples had a significantly more diverse and distinct bacterial community. Organic fruit and vegetables will always be healthier, grown without chemicals and harmful pesticides. And if you have always believed that organic produce tastes better, well now the science is revealing that you were right all along. Researchers found that a microbe known as methylobacterium, which is known to enhance strawberry-flavoured compounds, was significantly more prolific in organic apples. Birgit Wasserman, from the Graz University of Technology the lead author of the study stated that microbiome and antioxidant profiles of fresh produce may one day become standard nutritional information, displayed alongside macronutients, vitamins and minerals to guide consumers buying habits. And so the original raw breakfast, that my father devised more than 20 years ago, holds true as the perfect start to the day. A power packed, nutrient dense, gut healing bowl of medicine.
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Avignon, the Heart of Provence
“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark” John Muir To travel, is one of life’s luxuries. But it is a luxury that can fill the heart with such peace and joy. To look, take in, be and let go. If you feel a mini-break would do you good, then Avignon, a city in southeastern France’s Provence region is perfect. Good food, friendly people, beautiful sights and healing sounds. Immerse yourself among the olive trees, vineyards and lavender and just meander. How to Get There For someone who doesn’t enjoy the experience of flying these days I decided it was time to take a train. Catching the Eurostar from Ashford we travelled direct to Avignon, taking just over 5 hours. It takes around 15 minutes to reach the tunnel and then 19 minutes to emerge in to France. I took three books thinking I would read on the way, but the countryside was so enchanting I just gazed out of the window, watching the landscape change as we traversed France moving further south. The trees, wildlife, waterways, beautiful buildings and agriculture kept me content all the way, with a cup of tea and snack from the onboard Cafe Metropole. It was almost soporific and just so relaxing. Avignon, The Quiet French City Medieval stone ramparts surrounding Avignon We arrived in Avignon mid afternoon. The train arrives at Avignon TGV, a station about 10 minutes outside the city so we picked up a taxi to transport us there. You can catch another shuttle train which takes you the few minutes into the central station but not able to speak French, we couldn’t quite work out how to do it….. The outskirts of the city fade away as you reach the centre, which is surrounded by a medieval stone wall. From here you can walk on foot through the lovely cobbled streets, passing the cafes, wine bars, bakeries and shops, deciding which ones you might return to. The longer you stay, the more discoveries you make. Avignon in History Set on the Rhône river, Avignon is famous for the huge Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), one of the largest medieval buildings in Europe sitting magnificently over the city. Avignon was the seat of the Catholic popes from 1309 – 1377, and remained under papal rule until it became a part of France in 1791. The Pont d’Avignon is the famous medieval bridge which spanned the Rhone between Avignon and Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. At first, this was a wooden bridge erected between 1177 and 1185, but was eventually destroyed 40 years later during the Albigensian Crusade. Beginning in 1234 a new stone bridge with 22 arches was built, but was abandoned in the mid-17th century as every time the Rhône flooded it would collapse and was just too expensive to maintain. Four arches and the gatehouse have survived at the Avignon end. Where to Stay We stayed on Barthelasse Island, situated between Avignon and the beautiful village of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, between the two branches of the Rhone. Much of it is farmland, and covered in 700 hectares of peaceful greenery with only around 1000 residents. Mas Chataeu Blanc has been lovingly restored and opened for business two years ago. With a garden full of pear and cherry trees, and the soothing sound of bird song it is the perfect place to relax and unwind. It offers a salt water pool, continental breakfast, comfortable and quiet bedrooms and bike hire. The friendly owners want to make your stay enjoyable and will advise on where to go and places to eat. We decided not to hire a car and instead hire bikes, which was the icing on the cake. Cycling through the quiet roads with green fields and fruit trees either side was just enchanting. The famous Mistral wind keeps the air fresh as the temperatures rise, the delicate poppies scattered throughout the region wave gently in the fields. The only sound, birds and the soft wind rustling the leaves. The roads feel safe, with cycle tracks and thoughtful drivers. The property is a good hour’s walk to the courtesy ferry that takes you the few minutes crossing from the island to Avignon, so you need to think about car hire if you choose to stay here and don’t want to walk miles every day. What to See The area is beautiful with an abundance of fruit trees and wild flowers, green fields and pretty buildings. We wandered through the streets of Avignon and visited the must see Palace of the Popes, which is worth a visit purely to experience the vastness and hear the story of this historical place. There is also a garden within the grounds with lovely views over the river and famous bridge. Avignon is a wandering city, either on foot or by bike. Enjoy a delicious cake or a glass of local wine and day dream in the sun. A must see is the famous Les Halles food market. It cannot be missed as it is covered in a living wall. It is frequented by the locals who drink wine and eat bread on a Sunday morning and leave fairly merry before lunch time. Open from early morning until around 2pm you can peruse the stalls of local cheese, vegetables, meat, fish and bread or take a seat at one of the eateries and enjoy the produce. A great place to collect some snacks for the train journey home. At the time of our visit it was closed on a Tuesday. My favourite place was neighbouring Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, a few minutes ride away, built on the hills facing Avignon. A fortress town, the Benedictine monks built the St André Abbey around 1000AD which towers over this pretty town. It is quiet and peaceful with some lovely places to eat and watch the world move throughout the day. It is really worth visiting St André abbey with its beautiful garden, interesting history and stunning views of the Provence countryside. You can enjoy a refreshment, sit on a deckchair and contemplate the beautiful surroundings. Take your time, be still and take it all in. Where to Eat Finding places to eat when you are away can sometimes be tricky. TripAdvisor can be helpful but I prefer finding little gems by accident or getting a tip from a local. For simple, tasty and quick food on the trot we visited Vivotto a few times. Choose from risottos, simple but delicious salads, pasta dishes, and lovely desserts, well-made and good value for money. I almost cried at Naturabsolu. This vegetarian/vegan restaurant run by a husband and wife team offers organic, locally produced food and bio-dynamic wine. I was bowled over by the sheer love and brilliant minds that went in to making this exquisite food. It doesn’t matter if you don’t follow a vegetarian lifestyle the flavours were mind blowing, beautifully executed and the memories will remain with me for a long time. You conclude that when something is made with care and a joyful heart everything is better. We gave them a nice tip and he was genuinely moved. It was worth every penny and more. If you don’t mind the friendly cat roaming around and are open to something new please go. The highlights for me were the date chutney made from dates fermented in Chardonnay and the roasted nettles with fenugreek. Trust me it was awesome! We also enjoyed a meal at La Petite Cuillère, as recommended by our hosts. Frequented by the locals with a refreshing wine list. Look out for Violette, for delicious cakes and bread in Avignon. Avignon will not disappoint. Be prepared for changeable weather in the spring, the famous Mistral wind, nature in abundance, birdsong and friendly locals.
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