It's that strange time between Christmas and New Year when you can really relax and have a chance to unwind. The mad dash of the Christmas roast is over for another year and you don't need to start planning New Year's Eve just yet! So, you're in that nice stage of limbo when you can wonder around the shops and pick up bargains if you fancy or go out for walks or maybe just stay in and watch some family movies.

Today is the Winter Solstice, Winter Equinox or Yule and it's one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. Technically, it's occurs exactly when the earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'! It is known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere due to the seasonal differences.

Many cultures celebrate various combinations of the winter and summer solstices, the equinoxes, and the midpoints between them, leading to various holidays arising around these events. For the December solstice, Christmas is the most popular holiday to have arisen. In addition Yalda, Saturnalis, Katachun, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Yule are also celebrated around this time

Yule is a Pagan celebration and was celebrated in Britain long before Christianity arrived. The Celtic Druids would celebrate Yule by burning a log during the long dark, short days to conquer the darkness. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were wassailed with toasts of spiced cider.

In modern times Christian all over the world celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas, which falls on December 25. However, it is believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. Some believe that celebrating the birth of the “true light of the world” was set in synchronisation with the December solstice because from that point onwards, the days began to have more daylight in the northern hemisphere. Wishing you all a happy Yule!

It's day 7 of my hideous cold and I can say it is only marginally better! I can't remember having a cold that has lasted this long, been so lingering and debilitating before! Usually 5 days and I'm back in work and back to normal. Not only do I have a cold, but I've lost my voice too, have lost my sense of smell and have lost my sense of taste. What a pain!! As a complementary therapist, I'm really ... disappointed that the cold bug has got me, even though I eat lots of fruit and veg., drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep! It's time I found a new therapist near our new home, someone to help me keep the bugs at bay! if you're feeling under the weather or can feel a cold heading your way, come for some reflexology to help your body fit of the bugs and viruses and heal itself. Reflexology points of ...focus

* Head/Sinuses: To help decongest the head and sinuses.
* Lungs/Bronchial Tubes: To help break up congestion
* Spleen & Thymus :o help with immunity

And now, I'm off for an orange, plenty of Vitamin C required!!

Well, we've been in the new house over two weeks now and it has rained every day. So, the plans for the garden will have to wait for spring! So, we're working on the inside! The new therapy room is looking really lovely, painted in a warm toffee colour. With dimmed lighting and a few candles burning, it has just the relaxed atmosphere I was looking for. The next big job is the kitchen, cnsequent to many hours spent in Ikea, looking, thinking planning and deciding! The aim is to have a fully functioning new kitchen by Christmas, which, I was informed today will all be over a month from now!! Eeek!

On the train to Llanelli with my iPod, pad and pen. I don't usually travel this way. I probably haven't been on a train in this direction since Uni days, some 12 years ago. Bust Bee BlogI can't really work out where I am; so used to getting in the car, pointing the bonnet towards the M4 and heading off. But, I cannt deny, I enjoy my train journeys. On the busy short journeys I get to people watch and on the longer journeys I get to enjoy the greenery going by. Some lovely glimpses of rivers winding below the track. From Cardiff Central to Pontyclun in just over 10 minutes. Try doing that by car! I can't say I'm a covert and would happily give up my four wheels permanently, but for now, while I have no choice, I'm going t enjoy my journey and yes, definitely, the train can take the strain!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What will you do to show your support? Maybe you could do a sponsored event, donate money, get your office wearing pink or become a volunteer with Breast Cancer Care. What ever you do to show your support, your contribution will be valued by all those people who are fighting cancer, have beat cancer or have lost someone to cancer. Red Raven Therapy will be donating 10% from every therapy treatment in October to Breast Cancer Care. Book your appointment now and support the fight against breast cancer.

A work colleague recetly passed away after a brief battle with cancer. it was only today, when I saw a photo did I realise who he was. I never knew his name but often bumped into him in the kitchen or in the corridor. He was 29 eyars old. There are more than 50 people from Torfaen County Borough Council doing a sponsored walk on the 11th to raise money for Velidre Cencer Centre. You can donate here. The fragility and mortality of man strikes me again, and the cruelty and injustice of life. Rest in peace, Jon Conick. Wishing the walkers of Torfaen good health, good weather and good fortune. xxxx