Recipe: Ocean Basket Lemon Butter Prawns

INGREDIENTS 

1 kg XL pink prawns 
150g butter
250ml Fresh Cream
good sprinkle of Aromat
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
Dash of Aromat, parsley, Portuguese spice

DIRECTIONS

1. Butterfly cleaned Prawns
2. Melt butter, Add fresh cream, Lemon juice and the spices
3. Boil until thickens slightly.
4. Add prawn into the pan of the butter mixture and cook.
5. Leave boiled 1/4 cup butter mixture aside and add just before serving

Recipe: Chicken strips and spicy rice

INGREDIENTS

Chicken fillet, cut into strips
garlic, crushed (use fresh garlic cloves for better taste)
Portugese spice
Nandos sauce
1-2 cups rice (basmati or jasmin) 
1/2 green pepper, sliced
1/2 red pepper, sliced
1/2 yellow pepper, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 tin sweetcorn kernel, drained
1/2 punnet mushrooms sliced, optional 
butter for frying 

DIRECTIONS 

1. Place chicken strips in a bowl and rub garlic, portuguese spice and salt to taste

2. Allow to rest for at least 45 minutes for flavors to permeate.

3. Cook rice in the meantime, with little tumeric added to the water. Rinse off cooked rice and strain.

4. Add butter to a large pot and heat until butter begins to sizzle. Fry chicken strips for about 5 minutes stirring in between. Remove chicken strips and set aside. Adding more butter to the pot, fry onions, peppers and mushrooms if using. Fry for about 5- 10 minutes, then add the sweetcorn. Cook for 5 more minutes.

5. Add chicken strips to the pot, as well as the rice. Stir until ingredients are nicely combined. Sprinkle with Nandos sauce, using as much as you want. Stir again, turning down the heat. Dot rice with butter, cover the pot tightly and allow to steam for about 15-20 minutes.

6. Once cooked, it's ready to serve.

Recipe: Indian Tandoori Spiced Leg of Lamb

                                     

INGREDIENTS

1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 Tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1 Tablespoon grated lime zest
1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cardamon
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/8 teaspoon clove
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 bone-in whole leg of lamb

  

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl combine yogurt with ALL remaining ingredients (except the leg of lamb) whisk to blend well.

2. Place the leg of lamb in rack in a roasting pan.

3. Coat the leg with yogurt mixture all over.

4. Cover the lamb with plastic wrap ( do not use foil to cover the lamb).

5. refrigerate for 24 hours.

6. Set oven to 375 degrees.

7. roast the lamb uncovered for about 1-1 1/2 hours ( for medium-rare cook until temperature reads 175'c on a meat thermometer, make certain that the thermometer does not touch the bone).

8. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving.

     Prep time: 24 hours   Cook time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Recipe: Orange and Honey Creme Bruele

INGREDIENTS

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon cream
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon full cream milk
1 vanilla pod
2 to 3 generous tablespoons honey
1 large orange
6 large egg yolks

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 180'c. In a small saucepan combine cream, milk, scraped vanilla bean seeds, and empty vanilla pod. Slowly bring to a boil; just before it boils over, remove from stove top.

2. In a separate bowl, mix together egg yolks and honey. Allow vanilla milk to cool slightly. Once cooled but still warm, pour into egg mixture while stirring.

3. Return to pot and slowly heat while stirring; remove empty vanilla pod.

4. Juice orange into the pot, adding more juice to taste.

5. Let mixture thicken slightly from stirring over low heat. Pour into ramekins or tea cups. Place cups in an oven-proof dish and pour boiling water half way up outside of cups.

6. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven when there is a set layer atop mixture when custard is tilted. It should ripple or move a bit from underneath the thick milk skin.

7. Allow to cool, then refrigerate a minimum of 2 to 3 hours before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

8. Take out and sprinkle castor sugar on top. Caramelise with a chef's blowtorch, or place under oven broiler with a watchful eye, as it will burn quickly.

Prep:20 minutes Cook: 30 Minutes

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Recipe: Red White & Blue Strawberry Shortcake

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of strawberries, thinly sliced

1 cup blueberries 

1-1/2 teaspoon lemon zest 

1/8 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided 

2 cups all-purpose flour 

1 table baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick cold butter, sliced

2/3 cup plus 1/8 cup half-and-half, divided white sanding sugar

1 cup fresh cream 

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla 

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Preheat oven to 400'f. In a bowl, gently mix strawberries and 1/8 cup sugar; set aside. The longer this sits, the more strawberry juice it will make. 

2. In a food processor, pulse together flour, baking powder, salt, remaining sugar, and lemon zest. Add butter and continue to pulse until mixture looks like cornmeal. 

3. Pour mixture into a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and pour in 2/3 cup half-and-half. Mix gently with a spatula or wooden spoon, be careful not to over mix. It should be sticky. 

4. Pour sticky dough onto lightly floured surface. Turn over a couple of times until dough comes together. Pat it out to 3/4 inch thickness. 

5. Cut out 8 round 3-inch biscuits and place on a Silpat or parchment. Brush with remaining half-and-half and sprinkle with sanding sugar. 

6. Bake for 12 to 18 minutes, or until biscuits have risen and browned. 

7. Place an empty mixing bowl and beaters in refrigerator for 10 minutes to chill. Beat cream with sugar and vanilla until peaks form. 

8. Once biscuits have cooled, cut or break in half to make a sandwich, or use a whole biscuit as a bottom and another whole biscuit as a top. 

9. Add strawberry mixture, blueberries, and top with whip cream. Serve Immediately. 

     Prep: 20 minutes   Cook: 18 minutes

                 Yield: 4 to 8 servings

Recipe: Tiramisu

INGREDIENTS

6 egg yolks 
1/3 cup sugar
16 ounces mascarpone
2 tablespoons strongly brewed coffee
1 cup heavy whipping cream
30 to 40 ladyfingers
2 cups strongly brewed coffee room temperature
1/4 cocoa powder
1/4 cup extra dark chocolate chips, chopped
1/4 cup roasted hazelnuts, finely chopped

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. In an electric mixer, whisk eggs and sugar on high for 3 to 6 minutes, until fluffy and pale yellow.

2. Add cheese and whisk on high for 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons coffee and whisk on high for 1 minute.

3. in a second mixer bowl, whisk heavy cream on high until it becomes thick whipped cream. Gently fold whipped cream into cheese mixture, until just combined.

4. Dip ladyfingers quickly in remaining coffee; do not leave in coffee more then two seconds.

5. Layer bottom of 13 by 9 inch baking pan with dunked ladyfingers in a single layer. You may need to break some ladyfingers before dunking to get them all to fit.

6. Spread half of cheese mixture over ladyfingers and repeat for a second layer each of ladyfingers and cheese.

7. Dust top with cocoa powder and sprinkle chocolate chips and hazelnuts over top.

8. Cover with nonstick aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or over night.

Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 10 minutes

Yield: 16 servings

My Top Style Icons

Some women are just fashion fantastic enough to be termed "style icons". Who are these women you ask? Admit it, you all have some female style icons who you look up to and admire. Well, who doesn’t? But let’s face it, not every celebrity deserves that spot, so heres my list of style icons in know particular order.

1. Victoria Beckham

Original Spice Girl, "Posh Spice" great style started back in the 90's, she has evolved into one of the worlds leading ladies. Victoria Beckham is also known as Fashion Royalty.

2. Princess Diana 

      

Being classy is one thing, but being classy and modest at the same time is a whole different story on its own… This lady was never afraid to try new things when it came to dressing. There was no in or out for her especially in fashion. Maybe that’s what makes her style so timeless and so admirable! Long live the legacy of Diana!

3. GRACE KELLY

   

Grace of Monaco, face of fashion! Looks like Jane Birkin is not the only one who has a Hermes bag named after her… This graceful lady also has a bag carrying her name. (Kelly bag) And not only that! Her clothes had so many admirers that in 2010, the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibited her clothes. Another timeless chick!

4. Audry Hepburn

My personal favorite, after an elegant breakfast at Tiffany’s, she seems to have lost herself in Tiffanies. Our princess then finds herself in the International Best Dressed List of Hall of Fame. Well, this one is far too humble a list when compared to that of Hall of Fame, but our aims are just the same! 

5. MARILYN MONROE

   

If someone influences the fashion industry even after half a century after her death, she is probably one of the most influential figures to have ever walked the face of earth. I’m sure she and her style will never go out of fashion!

6. BRIGITTE BARDOT

Okay, her influence in the fashion world is too solid to summarize in just a few sentences. But here is few of what she is best known for; she has brought into style the wearing of bikinis, started and popularized the choucroute hairstyle, has the Bardot neckline named after her, was idolized by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, has a statue by Christina Motta honoring her… And so on.

7. KATHARINE HEPBURN

She who pioneers something changes the world. Well, this lady pioneered the wearing of trousers in Hollywood and was involved in various sources as a woman who changed the world… Like she said, If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. Would have been so unfair to not give her a place in this list!

8. BRITT EKLAND

This Bond Girl has a strong bond with fashion. She once said, I never learned the value of money. Apparently, the money she spends on clothes is worth it, though. The 007 girl is number 007 of my style icons list.

9. CATHERINE DENEUVE

Is it that she is French, or is it just that she is of good taste? I guess I will never find the answer to this question. One thing is for sure, though: she knows how to get dressed. Her fame will never fade.

10. JANE BIRKIN

You know you are cool when a bag is named after you. But you know that you are an icon when a bag of Hermes is named after you (Birkin bag) What else is left to say? You absolutely have your spot on this list, Birkin!

11. KATE MIDDLETON

Royalty looks so good on her! But that’s not the only thing that she carries so perfectly! This duchess definitely knows how to carry her dresses, too! Will she leave a mark as glory as that of Grace Kelly, only time will show…

12. KATE MOSS

A controversial figure who made it to the list of 100 Most Influential People In The World of the TIME magazine! Well, I agree that she is very influential with her edgy style! Especially when it comes to fashion. Go girl!

13. FAYE DUNAWAY

Only four letters can describe what she is: C-O-O-L! Nice style, check. Nice clothes, check. Nice taste, check. Nice career, check. What else does one need to be considered a style icon?

14. FARRAH FAWCETT

This angel of Charlie definitely deserves a spot on this list! They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Apparently, it really is! Did you know that her iconic photo in the red Speedo swimsuit has been produced as a Barbie? How stylish is that?

15. JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS

A first lady with a first class wardrobe! Did you know that this lady’s fashion expenses exceeded the $100,000 annual salary of her husband the first year he became the president? No wonder she became an unforgettable female style icon! The white house seems to have brought her a white fame! 

Till next time..

Part 2: Living with Bipolar

                           

Bipolar Disorder (also known as bipolar affective disorder, manic-depressive disorder, or manic depression) is a  psychiatric diagnosis for a mood disorder. Individuals with bipolar disorder experience episodes of a frenzied state known as mania, typically alternating with episodes of depression.Genetic factors contribute to the likelihood of developing bipolar disorder, and environmental factors are also implicated. Bipolar disorder is often treated with mood stabiliser and psychotherapy. There are widespread problems with social stigma, stereotypes, and prejudice against individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder exhibiting psychotic symptoms can sometimes be misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia.  

               

The percentage of South Africans living with Bipolar is  +-3-4% diagnosed. We tend to over look that Bipolar is to something that is a illness many Naive people make fun and use the word bipolar freely and not knowing what bipolar really is. In the past few years I’ve heard more people using the word Bipolar freely and more people are been diagnosed with Bipolar then when I first found out that my older brother Zade has it.Growing up with someone who has Bipolar was always up and down, but that was because my brother was always skipping his medication or lying to the psychiatrist that the medication is working when in actual fact it is not. When i was admitted into Crescent Clinic last year, I was nervous and scared of been diagnosed with Bipolar, because I saw what Bipolar was doing to my brother and my family. initially my doctor thought it was just border line personality and boy did i wish it was, anything but Bipolar. I spent 3 weeks at Crescent clinic and only one friend knew that I was there, because I was ashamed of having the rest of my friends know that I was actually there for an evaluation. Been diagnosed with Bipolar was the worse and best day of my life because I could finally put a name to my ups and downs. I still don't know how I am going to face the world by everyone knowing now that i have Bipolar but i can now live with out secrets. My boyfriend didn't judge me and neither did a lot of my friends making it easy for me not to feel insecure, the crazy thing about my boyfriend knowing i have Bipolar is that his always worried that i have taken my medication. Another reason I'm not scared of the fact that people may know about it is because many successful celebrities and well known business people have Bipolar and it gives me a peace of mind by knowing that having Bipolar is not going to stop me from achieving my goals.

Famous people with Bipolar include:

Britney Spears (Pop star)

Catherine Zeta Jones (academy award winning actress)

Carrie fisher (star was original princess Leia)

Jean-Claude van Damme (bloodsport, sudden death)

Linda Hamilton (Sarah Connor in Terminator 1 & 2)

Vincent van Gogh

Virginia Woolf (20^th century novelist)

Jane Pauly

Demi Levato (singer, actress, judge on the x factor)

So from today I'm going to start a online diary about my day to day activities, how I keep my Bipolar under control and about the depressive and manic episodes i might have because  I want to create awareness about Bipolar so that the Naive and insensitive people can also learn about Bipolar and how to deal with it. Remember Bipolar is just a mood disorder it does not mean that we are crazy or that we are stupid, it just means that we have a chemical in balance in our brain that can be treated with medication and calming activities that wont trigger an episode.

Till next time... 

My Life Story

Born on the 11th January 1992, at 7:55am to Fatima Abrahams and Alan Geduld. descendant from Jewish,  Philippine, German and Cape Malay.  

Mom always says "I was a easy birth" and never let's it go that she sat on my head on the way to the hospital, maybe that's why I'm so crazy today. I can't really remember anything before the age of 3 years old but what I do remember I still remember clearly like it was just yesterday. 

My parents got divorced when I was 3 years old, and my mom remarried when I was 7 and then got divorced when i was 11. Dad had a partner named Leonie for 9 years, who he eventually married a year before she passed away from cancer. 

Aunt Leonie and I were very close, till today she still has a special place in my heart which is reserved just for her. She was my other mommy, the mommy that would watch my friends from school and I put on plays, music shows and little modelling shows. 

My mom was always working and busy bailing out her husband Nazeer from the messes he'd make and the business adventures he'd take with her money, which made my mom the pillar in the family and the bread winner, and for that I am always grateful. Till today I don't know what my mom saw in him, but it must've been love at the time because I doubt such a strong, beautiful women would ever go for someone that's not worthy of her or her love.

My mom and I weren't really close when I was young as I never liked her husband Nazeer and as I always believed my brother was the "apple of her eye" the favorite child. I guess having a brother 8 years older then you, with a rare heart condition,(whom doctors predicted wouldn't live to his first birthday) you too would feel the way I felt, like an outsider in my own family. 

In primary school I never really played a lot of sport, I played netball which was a bad idea as I had butter fingers. My extra mural activities included arts & craft, drama, Indian dancing and school pop stars (coca cola pop stars era). I was always made fun of for been skinny, people would make jokes like "you can jump through a straw open legs", "skeletor" and even my family would call me twiggy. 

In grade 6 my step mother passed away from cancer, and I remember that day when I got home from school and my mom was home early, she sat me down and said to me: Zarah, I have some bad news, I looked at her, I could see the sorrow in her eyes as she was about to tell me that Aunt Leonie has passed away, I looked at her and without any control of my body shouted that my mom was lying to me, that she was still alive that I spoke to her just yesterday, hitting my mom and yelling no. I cried for days and even though I knew that she was eventually going to die, I wasn't emotionally ready to accept it, what kid is? This year wasn't a good year for me as my grandmother, Ragmat Petersen born Ivon Beryl Miller also known as Ouma had also passed away suddenly. She wasn't a sickly women yet she had a heart attack at the flower stand in Plumstead. My Ouma and I weren't that close but she would always bring us sweets home on a Friday. I don't remember much about her as I chose to block out a lot of my childhood. I couldn't wait to get to High School to change my character and hopefully build confidence. To get away from all the negative people and forget about the pass few years that only left sorrow and sadness in my heart. 

The day before school at orientation day, I was told by an RCL member "are you looking for a boyfriend?" "Do you think you hot?" "Why is your skirt so short". I think that was my turning point when my life started spiraling out of control, the very next day I started making myself sick, I would run to the rest room as many times as I could, this was something I hid very well for a very long time. Until one day my mom noticed a change, and saw week old sandwiches and food in the bins or the back yard and decided to take charge and send me to a psychologist, my very first psychologist Dr. Kenna, she specialized in eating disorders. I never spoke to her really until about 3 months later and eventually cried out for help from her for my eating disorder and my addiction to prescription (not my prescription) drugs. My eating disorder has been going on for years I just hid it well and my addiction to prescription drugs was about a year. I remember the day we had a conjoint with my mom, this was the day I saw my mom cry for the first time. I didn't realise how much I was hurting and draining her till this day. And that is where I decided right there and then that I wanted help. I was admitted into Crescent Clinic in my June Holidays and was treated for both my Bulimia and addiction, the nursing staff and psychologists, councelors, psychiatrists and other EDU and CDU patients were all very supportive.  At the time I was the youngest patient Crescent Clinic has ever had, only 14 years old. The nurses would give me courage, and would treat me as their child in return I would share stories and treats that were brought to me during my stay. I was there for three weeks and am proud to say that in the past 7 years I have not relapsed once. I am thankful to my mom and the support I got from my family during that very dark time in my life. 

After my stay at Crescent Clinic my mom and my bond grew, we became inseparable, she was my best friend and my confident  and my moms best friend Aunt Julie was my other mom, my other best friend and confident. 

Coming back to Plumstead High after Crescent Clinic had not changed, the bullies were still there and my enemies grew to the people I once called friends but Plumstead High wasn't all bad, I partook in the school athletics in grade 8  & 9 and had some brilliant teachers who encouraged me to do my best. Like Mr. Majiet and Mr. & Mrs. Kiefer and Mr. September who always encouraged me on the athletic field. But when I got back  I decided that Plumstead high was no longer a school for me as I did not fit in with anyone anymore and no one understood me or what I was going through. Straight after my time in Crescent Clinic I was discovered by a modelling agency who boost my confidence levels again and even though I am no longer with this agency if it wasn't for that scout to see me on the train on my way home from school I would never have gained the confidence back that I lost as a child.

I went to Damelin College High School, where I fit in perfectly. I made friends in a instant and teachers who I still SMS on an odd occasion. Damelin became my 2nd home, I evolved at Damelin coming first in the grade, getting awards for almost every subject, been published in the news paper for been top in the grade. Everything just seemed better and my life was finally my life again. In grade 11, I was still among the top students and in this year I lost someone very close to me, my granny Angie Geduld, who passed away in hospital whilst in a Coma, I remember before she went into a Coma I was meant to go stay with her at home to look after her and help her cook, also to study for finals. She was the pillar in our family, the one keeping the family bond together. After she passed away apart of me left with her as well. Not a day goes by I don't think of her, I still sometimes smell her scent in shopping malls and public places, even one so bad, that I followed a lady one day till she turned around and asked me :"child why are you following me?" My reply that's pretty simple:" you smell like my granny an then I broke into years" the poor lady didn't know what to do except comfort me. I felt as though my granny was there with me. 

I passed Matric with a bachelors pass and decided to take a gap year, I hosted my own Fashion show in 2011, which was a huge success in the show but a major loss in my pocket. I guess it wasn't meant to be but i gained a lot of exposure and experience from it. It was this year I met my friends Laila, Ziyaad, Tasneem, Ebrahim, Saeed to name but a few.(we are all still friends).  In 2012 another struggle of a year for me.  My mom left to work away in April 2012 and left me with people I had nothing in common with.(My brother & father). My addictions came back but this time in a different way, in having perfectly fine moles removed cause I told myself I have way to much, it cost me R4000 to have 11 moles removed and because it was cosmetics it was not covered by medical aid. 

After removing my moles, I got specs which also cost about R3000 because I had to have a diesel pair. My shopping addiction developed over night. About a month later I was admitted into Claremont hospital for serve headaches I remember this night like it was yesterday, I took as much painkillers to take the pain away but it wouldn't go away, I then called my mom in tears who was in Beaufort west at the time, screaming and crying that the pain won't go away and that I can't handle it, she told me on the phone calm down there is nothing I can do from where I am but I'm coming home tomorrow, if you can't handle the pain, ask your dad to take you to the hospital. I gave it a hour till I could no longer cope with the pain, and my dad rushed me to the ER. I was admitted into the hospital at 3am and was given medication that would help calm the pain, but the pain went away, it just got worse to the point the doctors eventually had to resort to the strongest medication and drips they could think of just so that I could fall asleep. The next day when I woke up my mom was there standing over me, holding my hand. She spent the only 3 days she had been in Cape Town, in hospital with me, She pushed me in my wheel chair, to my X-rays, MRI scans and even for puff breaks with my drip. My mom, my doctor, my best friend was there with me again. This was also the time I realised who my true friends were and wasn't. When released from hospital with a cause still unknown, My brother and his wife welcomed a baby boy, named Suhail. 

In October 2012, I was re-admitted into Crescent clinic for depression/ border line personality. Because of my mom been gone for so long my depression was acted in shopping and gambling till my credit card was maxed(don't get a credit card, it's evil). I am now on medication for the rest of my life and I am finally proud to say that I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I am not ashamed to say it because mine is under control, and because I can finally understand why so many years ago I could easily become addicted to Prescription drugs and why it was easy for me to develop an eating disorder. At first I was ashamed and scared of saying it out loud, that I have Bipolar because of the stigma attached to people who come out about it, but because almost year after been diagnosed I have finally accepted that bipolar does not determine the person I am but it is part of me. I cannot cure it, but I can treat it to a point where my mood doesn't have to be an emotional roller coaster. 

In January,  I turned 21 and had a big birthday party, with the true friends and family who were there for me through the years of my emotional roller coaster. Who was there for me in the good and bad times, who never left my side. My 21st was also a special day for everyone who was there because the people at my party all played a part in who I am today:-strong, free spirited, crazy, fun, loving, spontaneous: I would not be this person if it wasn't for the positive and negative influences in my life. I have so much to be thankful for as my mom done everything in her power to keep me stable and happy, she gave up her life for me and my siblings. And I may not show it everyday but she knows deep down that I love and appreciate her more then anything in the world. 

Recently I have made new relationships which I feel will be forever. Like they say you only meet your true friends after high school, it's true. I have no friends from high school anymore everyone went their own way, I have distant friends from high school who I will occasionally see but none of them who i can actually call true friends like the ones I have made in the past 3years. 

Ziyaad who is my trusted friend for almost 3 years, we had our fair share of ups and downs, he sore me at my worst and best and will always be someone I can rely on and trust. 

Sherice who is a very good friend, is a party friend and a genuine friend who I admire so much, she makes me so proud of her everyday. She is a strong and fun loving individual with a lot of spunk in her. 

There's more people in my life I can say a lot about, but they are not as constant in my life as Sherice and Ziyaad. 

Then there's Jarryd (My boyfriend) who I haven't properly introduced to social media yet, as once the social media gets hold of that, your relationship is destroyed. I always believed that keeping your personal life personal is the best thing for anyone, anyway Jarryd and I are happy together, and everyday I thank God for bringing him into my life, even though he likes to argue that I changed his life. We are in our own happy place, and together we are perfect. It's crazy how I was not looking for a boyfriend and  now I've got one. I think I need to take my own advice sometimes. 

This is my life story in a nutshell, good and bad, happy and sad, so there isn't really much more to say about my life:-Except that I am happy, at peace and finally able to face up to reality and overcome the obstacles life throws at me. 

I hope that my life story has touched someone out there in order for you to seek help if you are suffering from bipolar, depression, addiction or an eating disorder. My story shows that you are not alone even though it may feel like you are. There is always someone out there who is worse of then you. 

Please do not hesitate to email me for contact details of Psychologists, Psychiatrists or even if you just need someone to talk to. I am always here with a shoulder to cry on or just a set of ears to listen. 

So before you go and judge someone in the street tomorrow, remember not everyone lived the perfect life, not everyone comes from a both parent household, or money and not everyone can walk the same path in life and before you call people bipolar or crazy remember that they never asked to be the way they are, i certainly didn't. 

Also I would like to thank everyone who reads my blog, who follows my blog and Facebook page. 

Happy 10th Blog Post to me (happy dance) 

Till next time...