Learn to know yourself; to search realistically and regularly the processes of your own mind and feelings. Nelson Mandela

I have just finished reading Guernica, a historical novel by David Boling, set in the Basque town of Gernika (Guernica in Spanish). It is a fascinating first novel by Boling that encapsulates the horror and sadness of war. The interesting thread for me was the inclusion of the artist Pablo Picasso. The Picasso painting – which is on display at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid – shown below is the artists’ impression of the bombing of the town. After reading the violent account of the bombing and taking a closer inspection of the painting, the horror is plain to see. Guernica by Pablo Picasso Below is an excerpt from the Times, which, according to the book, Picasso is said to have read and which inspired him to paint Guernica, published on April 28th 1937: The Tragedy of Guernica Town Destroyed in Air Attack Eye-Witness Account Bilbao, April 27th 1937 Guernica, the most ancient town of the Basques and the centre of their cultural tradition, was completely destroyed yester

Over the years I have taken part in a number of marathon events. Although I am not prone to blisters (losing toe nails is my problem), a number of my friends are. Below you will find some useful information on hydration and blister prevention/ treatment, written by my husband Clive Lathey MSc Sports Medicine. Hydration Dehydration impairs performance and health. Fluid loss during exercise dependent on exercise duration, intensity, temperature and humidity. Body size and fitness levels also affect loss. Pale to very pale yellow urine is an indication of good hydration. Dark yellow urine indicates advanced dehydration. Always start exercise well hydrated. Continue drinking at regular intervals- ideally every 15mins. The aim is to match intake of fluid with the amount of fluid lost. Exercise- more intense or lasting longer than 1 hour- solutions sodium + carbohydrate (Sports drinks), can speed up water absorption and provide additional fuel. Blisters Prevention Always dry your feet; pa

Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. Gandhi

The London Marathon takes place this Sunday (25th April). The forecast is for a pretty warm day, so hopefully the organizers will set up showers en-route. I took part in this amazingly challenging event in 1999 (so a few years ago). I had been challenged by a male friend at an alcohol-fuelled dinner party to take part in the Marathon… Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Training was the hardest part; running during the winter - come rain or shine - took a lot of discipline. In comparison, the actual event was a much more enjoyable experience. That is if a 26-mile run can ever be considered enjoyable. I ran on behalf of United Response (a local disability charity) and whenever my energies waned during training sessions, I would think about the charity. The day itself is a bit of a blur. The crowd was absolutely amazing; as were my family, who jumped on the Tube and LDR to follow me around the event. It was suggested that I wore a t-shirt with my name on it, which – as it tran

I visited the Henry Moore Exhibition at the Tate Britain (Millbank, London) the day before yesterday. It is a stunning display of works by one of the Twentieth Century’s greatest sculptors. Moore sculpts in a number of different mediums, including: plaster, bronze, elmwood, stone and alabaster. The exhibition includes etchings and paintings (again using different mediums). The images from Wartime London are among my favourite pieces. Apparently, Moore was trapped in a London Tube station during The Blitz and the etchings depicting scenes from this time. Although Moore is better known as a sculptor these etchings are masterpieces in their own right.

By embracing your mother wound as your yoga, you transform what has been a hindrance in your life into a teacher of the heart. Phillip Moffitt

The ego lies in the fact that I share it with men and women, some of whom are more capable than me. That is my ego. Nelson Mandela

There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always. Gandhi

Spiritual practices help us move from identifying with the ego to identifying with the soul. Old age does that for you too. It spiritualizes people naturally. Ram Dass