Pampered pooches

Maylyn and Carlos Gonzalves do not spare much expense when it comes to their four adorable pet Pugs (a breed of dog). Bappa and Ie have been a part of the family for four years, whilst Koila and Kajol are the new additions, just five months old.

This husband-wife duo are wholly committed to taking the best care of their loyal friends and in doing so, go out of their way to provide a home that is as good as it gets.

“We give them everything. If my husband and I do not spoil them rotten, then their carer or my other family members treat them like royalty,” says Maylyn.

“The dogs follow our daily routine. They wake up with us in the morning and take an afternoon siesta when I do. Despite them having their own cane cots, the rascals always manage to slip into our bed.

Apart from their weekly bath, they are sponged twice a day. We even condition their fur.

In fact, we have engaged a boy to look after them. In addition to washing, cleaning and feeding the dogs, he also changes their bed linen, daily,” discloses the doting owner.

Lap of luxury

As one can see, these dogs truly live in the lap of luxury. They are even provided with air conditioning during the scorching summer whilst simply traveling or just lazing about the house.

Although the selection of pet luxury products is endless, Goa, au contraire, lacks variety when it comes to pet food, toys and apparel.

“Besides ‘Puppy Love’ (a pet store) in Mapusa, there is no choice here. Mumbai, on the other hand has everything,” says Gonzalves.

She continues, “Whenever a family member visits Mumbai, it is imperative for them to stop at a store dealing in luxury pet products and bring back doggy treats with them to Goa.

I pamper my pets with trendy outfits and visit children’s stores to pick out clothes for them. Bappa is dressed in T-shirts and shorts, whilst Ie wears halters and panties.”

As regards to their diet and general health, “they are fed on Royal Canine, a top quality dog chow. Apart from this, they receive their daily dose of vitamins and have monthly check-ups at Dr. Marilyn’s.”

To top the icing off on the cake, these lucky Pugs have their birthdays celebrated every year. Presents and a cake with their names plastered across it, make its way into the party.

When asked about entering their canines into shows, Maylyn replies, “I took them for a dog show in Panjim once, but the weather was unbearably hot for them.

Although I receive a large amount of invitations, I turn them down. I am quite content with my pets and do not need to show them off.”

 

Closer to nature..

“It feels out of place and time, like a little community where people relax and have time for each other, separate from the stress and strains of normal life,” is how Louise Rogan passionately describes her ‘slice of heaven’, her very own allotment.

Located in King’s Langley, backing on to the canal, it was not just the picturesque location, I presume, that caught this nature enthusiasts eye, but more importantly, the several other benefits that it had to offer.

To begin with, “the advantages are fresh fruit and veg, grown without pesticides. Plus, with soaring food prices, it works out much cheaper,” says Lousie.

All this, coupled with a feeling of “pride of seeing food grown from seed, working outside in a lovely environment, seeing wildlife and generally feeling closer to nature. Also, the people are always friendly and happy to give advice.

When I first started, they would come and introduce themselves and even now, often give me produce from their own plots and pass on plants if they have grown too many.” Who could complain?

So, is it an expensive hobby, I question. “I have taken over half an allotment which costs me £6.50 per year. Other expenses include gardening tools, seeds, water butts, netting, a shed, if you want one, although it is not necessary,” informs Rogan.

Allotment facts

Well, as is the two sides to every coin, I begin to wonder if this‘hidden treasure’ has perhaps, a downside to it. 

She reveals that “occasionally sheds do get broken into, so most people don’t put padlocks on. I just have old tools and leave them out. None however, have gone missing.”

Contrary to common belief though, allotments have acquired such an increased popularity not just with retired folk, but with “a lot of middle aged-working people and a few individuals in their twenties, as well.”

Hence, be prepared for a substantial wait to get your hands on a plot. “I have had the allotment since January 2008 and was on the waiting list for approximately eight months prior to that. It is full now, with people still queuing to get in!”

It is evident therefore, that time is no deterrent and neither are any of the apparent drawbacks.

A rebirth is what has occurred, and a good one at that! “Owners tell me that a few years ago, the place was overgrown with few people, so they have definitely undergone a revival.

Allotments have gained much exposure recently, via river cottage and gardening programmes,” concludes the nature lover.

 

Eco-fashion: the truth about going green

The economy may be in the red due to the credit crunch, but our appetite for all things “green” is booming.

With the increasing popularity of eco-conscious clothing, its prices are falling and the locations from which it is available are proliferating.

However, balancing consumers interests between consumption and the environment is an exhausting task. The reason being that the pros and cons of green fashion are complex and need to be thoroughly understood.

In recent years, eco-conscious clothing has become more mainstream, with a variety of celebrities and designers embracing this trend – from Angelina Jolie to Ralph Lauren.

Recently released government figures reveal that the clothing and textiles sector in the UK produces around 3.1m tonnes of CO2, two million tonnes of waste and 70m tonnes of waste water each year.

Moreover, 1.5 million tonnes of unwanted clothing ultimately ends up in landfill, a figure that has increased in recent years as the shift towards wider use of man-made fibres has made recycling more difficult.

As a result of this, London Fashion Week 2009 saw many of the fashion industry’s biggest names signing up to the government’s new Sustainable Clothing Roadmap – an agreement to cut the industry’s giant environmental footprint.

More than 300 organisations, including retailers like Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s, clothing giant Nike, emerging green fashion firms such as Adili and charity shops agreed to undertake a wide range of measures designed to cut its environmental and carbon footprint across its global supply chains.

Many are worried that all of this talk about going green is just that – talk.

Serious concerns

Bamboo is being heralded as the newest eco-fabric to hit stores across the world. Although at one point of time, organic cotton and hemp were the most widely used substitutes for non-organic apparel.

Indian fashion designer Savio Jon says, “The concept of eco-friendly clothing was completely alien to India a couple of years ago. But now, many fashion designers, including myself, use fabric made from bamboo. Its texture is extremely close to that of satin, in comparison to organic cotton.

“Also, my clothes aren’t very expensive as organic clothes can be found in a number of shopping outlets in India,” he said.

Fabrics made from bamboo or hemp are promoted as having been raised without pesticides and also for growing much faster than cotton.

However, organic cotton which is also a favourite amongst environmentally-conscious designers and consumers, is also grown without the use of pesticides, but is not always used in its pure state.

The major downside for bamboo, hemp and cotton, is that once they have been harvested, they may be chemically treated, or printed with toxic dyes, and still be labelled as organic.

Julian Riley, an Environmental Science teacher at Watford Grammar School for Girls says, “These chemicals are extremely toxic and can cause severe health problems to the workers handling them.”

Even with all these health effects bamboo is still more environmentally friendly than many other materials. For example non organic cotton uses approximately 150 grams of pesticide per pound of raw cotton – enough to produce just one T-shirt.

Naturally softer fabrics made from soy have a mild impact compared to the three mentioned above.

According to several environmental groups, clothes made from soy wear out faster and have to be replaced more often – which has an environmental cost of its own, whereas bamboo or hemp fibres are naturally tough.

And there are still other serious factors that have to be considered.

For instance, how can clothes assembled in factories far from the fabric mills and shipped from one end of the world to another be green?

In addition to this, how eco-friendly is the packaging that contains these clothes?

Julian Riley glancing at the pair of socks he just bought over the internet makes an interesting point also. “Although I am a frequent buyer of organic clothes, what really gets under my skin is why do a lot of them have these huge cardboard information tags pinned to them, discussing their organic nature? Isn’t that a waste of paper?,” he asks holding up the newly bought socks.

Given such criticisms, are the bamboo-based and organic clothes really “green?”

“Perfect doesn’t exist and we’re probably never going to get there,” said Leslie Hoffman, the executive director of Earth Pledge, a non-profit group that promotes sustainable development and technologies. “We all make compromises every day. Making them with your eyes open instead of arbitrarily is the best piece of advice I could give.”

From scribbling on walls to excellence

Nicky Thomas, a down-to-earth contemporary Indian artist, based in Goa, speaks his mind about his art, inspiration and marketing.

Nicky Thomas, an eminent artist in Goa’s art circle, has been residing here for nearly a decade. Originally from Kerala, he spent several years in different parts of Northern India.

He reveals, “During my stay in Delhi, I would often holiday in Goa. However, it was never a happy feeling going back to a town I didn’t like. Around 1999, my wife and I decided to trade it in for Goa.”

He says that towards the end of his stay in Delhi, his art exhibited the turmoil and restlessness brewing within. Delhi was just not the spot for him.

At present, he resides in Saligao and is involved in graphics and print making (monoprints, woodcut), in addition to painting.

His artistic creations have been exhibited at numerous shows in Delhi, as well as at the Fontainhas Art exhibition and Art house in Goa.

Art talk

Nicky elaborates on his art technique, “Goa is a great place to derive visual inspiration. For me, art is about people. My work is very down to earth and I am opposed to this whole gallery culture.

I do not commercialise my art. People come to me and ask if they can display it or if I could design posters or hand paint T-shirts for them.

A sample of Indian Popular Art; Source: Wikipedia

I do Indian Popular Art (Pop Art), emphasising the banal elements of our culture. Pop art targets a broad audience, marking the return to sharp paintwork and representational art.

Stencilling, one of the earliest known techniques, allows me to create a limited amount of pictures and enables me to experiment with colour.

People are definitely able to pick-up on the ideas portrayed in my paintings. They are able to appreciate the funny side of it. I play with typography, as I like ‘type’ to be a part of art. I also like to incorporate humour in my work.

My paintings are not very big in size, so people can hang them up on their staircases or in the kitchen,” informs this artist on the rise.

Fine Art Training

Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Baroda, Department of Fine Arts is known the world over as the cradle for art expression in India. Being a part of this vibrant community exposed Nicky to a diverse creative interaction.

Later, he completed his Masters at the prestigious National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad.

He says, “In my opinion, attending a fine art school is important to a large extent. It gives you a foundation to do art and to stand on your feet.”

He continues, “Many a time, an artist can face a block for various reasons. For me, this is resolved when I see something I like. I could be passing by a ‘chai’ (tea) or juice shop and notice that their sides have drawings on them. It is this ‘naiveness’ that brings the humour out of it.”

Nicky’s earlier projects were environment-related. “Greenpeace; Down to Earth and India Magazine are some places that I have worked at. I have also done logos for organisations like People for Animals and The Organic Farming Association of India.

Apart from these, I have designed book covers for Birds of Goa; Backyard Birds of South India; The Book of Trees; Bhopal, The Inside Story and Where There Is No Psychiatrist.”

According to Nicky, making art is the easy part, as it is something that he enjoys doing. Handling the marketing side of his work is the most challenging, he says.

A bright future

“I want to be doing a lot more than what I am presently doing. Once my studio cum gallery opens at Palolem – Goa, I am looking forward to incorporating various types of art in my work.”

Thomas reveals that his wife is tremendously supportive of his art career, although the rest of his family was against it. For them, a career in fine art was unheard of. He has no regrets though. Art is his passion and will continue to be so.

Some of his all time favourite artist’s are the legendary Andy Warhol; Roy Lichtenstein, a prominent American Pop artist and the exceptionally talented F.N. Souza.

“Art should be fun and appealing to everybody, whether rich or poor. It should not be made only for the intellectual or the elite of society. It is essential to keep doing what you like,” is his message to aspiring artists.

Butterfly numbers plunge after wet summer

Wet summers and changes to countryside are behind the dramatic fall, leaving some species threatened with extinction.

The small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is on the brink of extinction.

Britain’s butterflies have suffered their worst year for more than a quarter of a century as a series of wet summers have hit species already struggling with changes to their habitat, a study revealed today.

The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme found 12 species – the highest number ever recorded – have suffered the worst summer on record, since monitoring began in 1976.

Some of the rarest butterflies such as the high brown fritillary is one such species, with fewer than 50 colonies in many parts of the country, many of them small.

Other threatened butterflies include the pearl-bordered fritillary and the wood white, which have less than 100 colonies.

The small tortoiseshell experienced a 45 per cent decline and is becoming scarce in some areas. And the orange tip, easily recognisable in Scottish gardens due to the distinctive colourings on its wings, was down 26 per cent.

Charlotte Rogan, a 2007 Zoology Graduate from the University of Reading said if there is another dire summer this year, butterflies could suffer long-term damage.

“In the summers of 2007 and 2008 especially, we had heavy downpours which prevented butterflies from performing two tasks essential for their survival – flying to reach flowers that supply them with nectar and mating. They require the sun to become fully active,” she said.

“The butterfly population is important because it acts as an indicator of the wider environment. These new figures reflect a degradation of their habitat such as flower-rich meadows, thought to be lost due to climate change, intensive farming and other human impacts.”

Huw Irranca-Davies, the Wildlife Minister, promised to support conservation schemes to boost butterfly numbers.

“Climate change is having a detrimental effect on a number of our butterfly species and in parts of England we’re in danger of losing some species all together,” he said.

“Butterflies need good habitats to thrive and the Government will continue to support schemes to promote the recovery of butterfly numbers.”

The survey, run by Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, involved 1,500 volunteers who monitored butterflies in 920 sites across the UK.

Of quirky museums and more

The London Canal Museum; Source: Wikipedia

Off-beat, quirky, not to mention eccentric; where else but in London would you find museums dedicated to just about anything?

Museums may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you have to appreciate the fact that London plays host to an array of them, no matter what the subject or how odd.

From a canal museum, to one on tennis, just name it and it’s here.

“It’s fascinating,” says student Seby Fernandes, speaking of his amazement at discovering that London has a museum for literally everything.

“I’ve been in London for a year, and take every opportunity to visit the most eccentric museums I can find. My all time favourites are the Horniman and the Jewish museums,” he adds.

Talk about odd!

Fancy discovering a museum that features only stationery. Well, the Smythson Stationery Museum on Bond Street does just that.

mindZgap ventured deeper, and found that the quaint little museum actually doubles as one of London’s oldest stationery shops.

Entry is free and it’s packed with wartime memorabilia like telegrams, old engraved dye stamps and stationery from the colonial days back in India.

There’s also the Museum of Childhood, a couple of minutes walk from Bethnal Green tube station.

As the name suggests, you can find just about anything related to when you were a child here.

From exquisite dolls houses (the largest collection in Britain, mind you!), to Victorian-style clothes and toys galore, the displays make for the perfect trip down memory lane.

For more of an ‘artsy’ theme, then why not visit the first and only museum in the world (that’s what the museum claims!), devoted entirely to every aspect of fans and fan making.

More than 3,500 fans from around the world, predominantly antiques dating back to the 11th century constitute the collections on display.

If bizarre is what you’re after, the Museum of Freemasonry should do the trick. With an extensive collection of Masonic engravings, photographs, pottery, and items that belonged to Winston Churchill, you won’t be disappointed.

For more information on quirky museums that might take your fancy, check-out www.britainexpress.com or www.talkingcities.co.uk

Strange, but true degrees

Britain is host to some of the most strangest degrees in the world; Source: Naveen Kumar

 

Host to some of the largest, most conventional degrees in the world, British higher education also has another side to it – a more quirky side.

England is by far where you want to be when it comes to pursuing an educational degree.

To keep its head afloat in this highly lucrative business, the UK has had to branch out beyond its narrow range of academic courses to include some very eclectic vocational and specialist degrees.

From acupuncture to wine, aromatherapy, pig and poultry production, knitwear and folk music, have your pick!

As the only degree of its kind in the world, a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Golf Management Studies does actually exist.

“The University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the Professional Golfer’s Association  (PGA) aims at a generic approach to sport and golf”, says the University website.

Richard Lenis, an ex-student of the course told mindZgap, “ This degree is not a walk in the park, as some people think. It is as difficult and strenuous, if not harder, just like any other course.”

Who you gonna call?

If investigating spooks, haunted houses and the survival of bodily death is where you’re interests lie, then this next course will be just perfect.

Tony Lawrence, director of the two-year parapsychology course in a BBC article says, “Coventry University offers a two-year Masters programme in Parapsychology. It is less about Hammer House of Horrors and more about proper methodology.  It promises “an honest, open systematic examination of the evidence for these exceptional human experiences.

Students will use yoga and meditation to extend or enhance their personal development.”

The surf is on… In an interview with the BBC, the principal of Swansea Institute, which has a degree in Surf and Beach Management “maintains it is not a ‘Mickey Mouse’ course”. Professor David Warner said graduates would gain a valid qualification for the tourism industry that would lead to meaningful employment, are his claims to negative comments , such as “Surfing is a hobby, not a subject”. So where should universities draw the line, in light of their courses bordering on absurdity? I personally feel, that in order to survive, courses are just going to get even more imaginative, to attract thousands of young people from across the globe. With the government target at educating one in three, what more can be expected?

 

 

More than a funny red nose

Red Nose Day posters are plastered at Sainsbury’s, red noses are being sold in every street corner, Let’s Dance for Comic Relief has dominated Saturday night TV and a bunch of celebrities have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. And all for what?

Well, all these campaigns and activities are in aid of Comic Relief, a charity that aims for ‘a just world’ free from poverty.

For 22 years, it has been running campaigns and activities which people can take part in to raise money for a good cause.

The BBC and Sainsbury’s are two of its biggest supporters says Time Out. That explains the posters!

Talking to mindZgap, Michelle Hannon, an employee at Sainsbury’s in Watford, Hertfordshire, feels a sense of pride to belong to an organisation that supports Comic Relief so ardently.

“We have had a good response this year, in spite of the recession. Our red noses sell like hotcakes and our customers are always inquiring about ways in which they can contribute.”

Do Something Funny For Money!

An article in the BBC reveals, “All donations go to different projects and schemes that support people suffering in both, Britain and Africa. Fund raising happens throughout the year and builds up to a live show, this year on 13 March.”

An interesting fact I picked up from the official Red Nose Day website, “Red Nose Day swings round every two years, this being its twelfth year in the running since 1988.”

Although Comic Relief generates a positive response from people most of the time, some like Mark Eglinton have a few questions.

Eglinton, a retired school teacher, has been contributing to the charity for two years now, and wants proof of how exactly his money has benefited kids in Africa.

“All I want to see is a bit more evidence of the good that is being done. For instance, if the charity was to say, oh, we bought new benches for the kids to sit on in this school, then that would be enough,” he told mindZgap.

So maybe Comic Relief needs to iron out a couple of issues, but in the end it’s for a deserving cause and raises millions of pounds for charity.

According to the website TV.com, “One of the most fundamental principles of Comic Relief is the ‘Golden Pound Principle.’ This means that every penny donated goes straight to the people who need it. Salaries and all operating costs are paid for by sponsors.”

No one’s asking you to climb Kilimanjaro or to make a national spectacle of yourself on tele, just put a red nose on your conk, and Do Something Funny For Money.

London 2012 going for green

The official olympic games logo; Source: Wikipedia

Plans for London’s Olympic Park will mean the 2012 games will be the greenest held in modern times, but critics fear they do not go far enough.

 

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), in charge of constructing all the venues, aims to deliver infrastructure and facilities for London 2012 in a sustainable manner by concentrating on energy- saving schemes, the use of alternative energy sources and recycling.

The authority aims to measure the games entire carbon footprint, including the emissions caused by the construction of the Olympic Park and those from the flights carrying competitors, media and fans alike.

Carbon emissions from the Olympic village and the venues left after the games will be cut by half through energy efficiency measures and a specially designed combined heat and power plant.

And a minimum of a fifth of the energy used will come from renewable sources, including a 120-metre high wind turbine north of the park.

All venues will also be designed to reduce water consumption by 40 per cent with grey water recycled from showers, sinks and baths used where possible.

Richard, an environment manager of the ODA said, “It is part of my job to ensure that we minimise the effects of our construction project on the environment, and on people living and working around the Olympic Park. This is extremely challenging as a result of the scale of the project and fixed deadline – everything must be built by mid-2011.”

One significant element of the Games that should not add to the footprint will be the Olympic flame, which organisers are determined to make carbon neutral.

Jane Johnson, an activist for Greenpeace London said, “Although the initiative shown by the ODA to go green is commendable, they need to reorganise their priorities to meet renewable energy resource targets, which have so far been disastrous.”

“Doing calculations is not enough, more action is what is needed. Publicity stunts like making the Olympic flame carbon neutral will have hardly any environmental impact,” she said.

Plans reveal that more than 50 miles of walking and cycling routes will be built to encourage people to travel to and around the Olympic site.

Treasures out of a car boot

Whether you are looking to integrate with British life and bag a bargain, or both, why don’t you swing by a car boot sale?

If you don’t have the faintest idea what they are all about, the clue is in the word itself.

A car boot sale is just that. CAR. BOOT. SALE. Selling things out of a car’s boot.

Britain is legendary for them, and they happen all over the country, mainly on a Saturday or Sunday during the summer.

A car boot sale in the UK; Source: Wikipedia

Some do run throughout the year though. So, there will always be one in walking distance or a bus drives reach from you.

A school playground or field or even an open area play host to these jumble sales on wheels.

Booti-ful bargains

Although most items are second-hand, they appear to be brand new.

Vintage clothing is on sale next to toys, cheap running shoes next to second-hand electronic goods.

A ‘car booter’ for ten years now, Lou Rogan told mindzgap, “I just love checking out car boot sales, because you never know what you may come across.

Over the years I have got some fabulous bargains for under a fiver, like a beautiful writing desk for my daughter.”

Keep your eyes peeled.Your local newspaper will provide details of the closest one to you or you can even check online to check venues and timings.

So, instead of being cooped up inside on a Sunday morning, go bag yourself a boot-iful bargain.There is bound to be one about!