Hello and welcome to the closing of a very meaningful year and the beginning of a special and exiting twelve months ahead! The closing of 2007 for me holds true meaning, new discoveries, so many interesting people and many many different unexpected experiences. Above all, it has been the year of exploring the art of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). I would love to pay homage and acknowledgment to all of you who have helped me to reach my true dream goal. Each of you have contributed in ways this year that no words could ever express except my deepest "thank you" to you, and I feel extremely privileged to be a part your lives. So, what I ask of you is to look at what gives you meaning, what you want to have for yourself in 2008, and what is special for your loved ones, your family and friends and within the next 12 months what is it you would like me to address each month?

There are so many topics as a writer that I will follow and address. One intention I have next year is to discuss the National calender events occurring throughout 2008. For example the 1st December is National Aids Awareness Day, the 3rd is International Day of People with Diability, the month being the Christmas holiday season has been dedicated since 1981 to the National Drunk and Drink Driving Prevention Awareness Month.This helps create awareness by campaigning with the Red Ribbon Safety Appeal each holiday season. However I ask you from my heart to look within your own life, and your own health goals as this time of the year we all aim to put out a few challenges, and towards the "new" year it would be great if you could think about what would make you happy? Write these down so you can reach these goals.By me writing on topics that you are interested in personally and sending me Feedback Forms will certainly help, to help you towards your goals.

In my last editorial, I spoke from the heart and it felt very rewarding and precious to me. My plan now is to continue doing so, speaking from that place that each time you do speak it fills the gap. My last piece of writing opened up a phase of listening this month my focus is on the importance of having a garden, a garden of Eden, a Shangri La, a place to uplift your spirits and as well, your nose...:) Could you imagine living without peace, tranquility and aromatic wonders? To have discovered recently that within a single flower lies another world and that the height of a tree can leave you wondering how small you and the human race really are, is that is a magical thing, indeed! Therefore I am devoting this last editorial to the importance of finding outside yourself a time and space, safe enough to unwind with family, friends, a good book and even a pad and paints. It maybe you already have this place? Which ever way it is for you, place some importance now at the close and beginning of a brand new year on your precious time to unwind, relax and enjoy life!

I realised deeply that the drought has caused many concerns for all of us today. Understandably! As we are faced with issues, almost out of our control! Although if we all practiced consistently, one or more things a day, to help our water shortage problems there would be a change globally towards this problem. When I was researching this editorial, I wanted to find sites that give awareness to water saving methods. I have included here some reference's, web sites with information I feel illustrates the importance of this very current issue! Also I am fortunate to have inherited a most wonderful garden of Eden hence the topic again, is close to my heart.

I am learning daily how to maintain, nurture and love this garden and as a consequence on a daily basis I am thinking and actively doing things to help our environment. It can be likened to loving yourself, and or a baby.... Have a look at the definition of the following two words,it is just to illustrate that you can have an active role in the betterment of our current issues and that it require's an awareness and a true set of action plans on our behalf, for us all to experience deep changes in our world today. This is a heavy topic I know, however so vitally needs to be addressed...

My intent is not to scare you with "hippy" jargon environmentalist talk, but to move your natural awareness and intellects towards awareness in a global sense. That is to say "show you the beauty within a plant" by growing them in your garden, and maintaining their existence with just two or more methods of water conservation, love and TLC. One of the plants I have chosen, has many properties to use in and around your household;the Lavender bush. There are many types to consider, the most common variety is Lavandula angustifolia (syn. L. Vera) usually known as English Lavender, although Italian and French Lavender, are also quite common. In a quick short way; do not over-water, over-feed the bushes as they were originally grown in the hot stony fields of Provence. Lavender should face north or northeast and it likes an open position where soil is fully drained. Regular pruning will help in autumn time, strip the leaves and use for potpourri and toss the branches onto an open fire or BBQ to add a new flavour to cooking! As a garden design the plant works well similar to a hedge or walkway allowing a fragrance to woft down your pathway, the pink-flowering herbs such as yarrow or roses help contrast the flowers of a Lavander plant.

Medicinally, a Lavender plant can be recognised and used to relieve muscle spasms, nervousness and headaches. As a powerful anti-bacterial and also as an anti-fungal. Doctor Jean Valnet M.D, who wrote "The Practice of Aromatherapy" discovered the healing properties of this essential oil when one day he was chronically burnt in his laboratory, and within that moment of being burnt he plunged his forearm into the massive lavender essential oil cylinder and there was an immediate relief and following up to that there was no scaring to the area when the oil was applied, neat. (Neat Definition: no other substance just the substance at hand, with no interference of other substances used.)

My next plant is a rare yet beautiful species indeed. The Frangipani plant native to Mexico and the West Indies is the loved tropical plant. Legend has it that the name derived from the Italian Count, Frangipani when he presented his perfume to the noble women of his time, where the gloves were worn by the noble women imbued with the scent and essence of the plant assured fame and fortune. The Buddhist traditionally used this scent in the shrines and temples in Asia and it was known as the Pagoda Tree or Temple Tree. In Malaysia the Frangipani tree was used where the Muslims place them on graves of the newly dead, as the plants ability to flower even when lifted out of the soil, resembles and explains immortality and the afterlife.

Medicinally the plant has been used by the Amazonian natives - only the bark and the end stem of the leaf, the stalks, using copious quantities of the milky sap as a local anti-inflammation agent. This is the link if you would like to read further, or purchase Frangipani Plants.

"Fragrant grasses, herbs and Flowers must come and go to the season's hours. But whether fresh or timely dried, their magical qualities...they never do hide."

--Jacquie Eastlake

My hope is that you can move into the silly season with a sensation of success from all of your activities. May 2008 bring you peaceful memories, awareness and love;as this is what truly makes the world go around!

All of my love to you and family, Merry Christmas and have a great start to a Happy New Year :)

Blanca Perez.