I spent a wonderful day recently at an Aromatherapy workshop and learnt such a lot about the wonderful benefits of essential oils and how to use them properly. I have learnt the basics before, but it was lovely to spend a day working with them. Like crystals, they are very powerful – much more then people realise and you really need to know what you are doing. I have promised myself to use more oils everyday. The power of nature’s gifts should not be underestimated. Eastern countries, and even other parts of Europe embrace them more than the UK does. We have so many wonderful resources to call on to help us with our physical and emotional health, it is a shame that people are reluctant to trust and try them.

The weekend at the Saundersfoot Food & Craft Festival was brilliant, with many examples of what we can gain from nature, with lots of lovely food and drink tasting, cookery demonstrations and the cawl trail, which my children really enjoyed. The weather was better than forecast, although it was bitterly cold – I am not sure where the heaters were! It was well attended, my highlights were selling out of my Himalayan salt crystal lamps, sampling fresh baked ham, catching up with old friends and watching a dog – and a cat, having their paws painted for a commemorative family plate!

My counselling essay is complete, and has been handed in (huge sigh of relief!) and my psychology essay is nearly there, deadline is this week. Titles were; compare and contrast two approaches to counselling (I chose person centered counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Discuss the psychological insights of crowd behaviour. I am thoroughly enjoying both subjects, it is part of the part time degree BA Humanities through Swansea University, and they are holding taster courses in the spring, check the local press for full details.