Carnival

Carnival!

There is something about summer, heat, and holidays that makes people want to dress up in weird and wonderful costumes, scream ‘aaaiiiiiieeeeee!’ from the top of their voices all whilst dancing around on garishly decorated lorry trailers. No, its not City bonus day – its carnival season! We have all seen pictures of the wonderful events in Rio and our very own Notting Hill – the colour, the excitement, the energy, the atmosphere…there is just something about a carnival that sets everyone in a good mood.It’s a time to let your hair down and party like you’ve never partied before.

Now, (here’s the very short history lesson) the tradition of carnivals originally came from the urge to have as big a party as possible before the Lent fasting began. Which leads us very nicely to the subject of food; think of a carnival and you’ll think of costumes and dancing and everyone having a wonderful time and, most of all, huge amounts of fun. But that usually means that the food available is fun too.

No room for limp lettuce and its fellow salad partners with low fat mayonnaise.Oh no, we are talking cholesterol city – sky-scraping burgers and hot dogs. Basically it is the food every waist-line has nightmares about.  So how on earth are we meant to stay slim and party? Well, here are a few hints that may just help. Why not try substituting the burgers for a light sandwich which will contain far less fat and a shed-load less calories.

Also avert your eyes when presented with displays of sugary deserts and ice cream; if you can’t see them, you can’t be tempted by them. Whatever you do, don’t forget the hidden calories in drinks too. Instead of alcohol or fizzy drinks, have water or even that British favourite – a nice cup of tea (without sugar, obviously).

Follow these tips and you will party and still remain slender, virtuous, incredibly self conscious and sober. Of course, the other option is to totally ignore all advice, eat, drink and be merry whilst dancing furiously in a style that your father would be proud of and you’ll burn off so many calories you will probably end up slimmer than when you started! Marvellous, I know which option I prefer.

Perhaps you know of an even better method of surviving the carnival season. Do you have any handy hints, tips or even stories that you would like to share with one and all? Go on; spread a little happiness especially for those of us unfortunate enough not to have been caught up in the party atmosphere.

References:Wikipedia: CarnivaleHow: How to Eat Healthily at a Carnival

The SaVVy Club’s members enjoy a unique calendar of bespoke social events organised just for them. They can enjoy the company of fascinating people and relax in the knowledge that everything is taken care of.

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The Work – Life balance: where is the divide, and should there be one?

The work-life balance has been the focus of a great deal of attention in recent years. As global skills and economies grow, many of us are finding that in order to be successful, we have to put increasingly long hours into our careers, often at the expense of our personal lives.And that is where the debate begins. How much is too much time spent on one’s career?

Is it quantifiable, and if so, how many hours per week does it boil down to? Is it different for men and women? Does, or should, the presence of a family make a difference? If one does choose to work less so as to spend more time with loved ones and oneself (the oft-forgotten person we should all spend time with), how much of our income is it fair to sacrifice? Which is more important – to send the kids to that really expensive school/buy that really wonderful home, or to have quality time with those around us?

These are not questions I can answer. I don’t believe anyone can – they are questions the answers to which are most likely different for everyone. It is worthwhile to think about them, though, and thinking about them seriously, so as to ensure that there are no regrets later in life.There is also another issue to deal with:actually separating work and private lives can be almost impossible. It’s not only that we may spend too much time at work.

It’s also that we are all, fundamentally, human beings, and as such we tend to bring our private lives with us to work.While this may not always be ideal – for example, going through a rough personal time may negatively affect our work – it is, for most of us, unavoidable. It’s something it behooves us all to remember, no matter where we may be on the corporate ladder.

Even modern management theory has abandoned the “Metropolis” idea of people as automatons, and reluctantly concluded that people are just that – people, complete with all the characteristics that can make them both brilliant and nightmarish.There is an alternative, though, and one is that not often discussed. Perhaps it is seen as being too romantic or idealistic.

In short, though, maybe it is not necessary to have such a balance – perhaps we can endeavour to find something that we love to do. If we can, then the distinction between “work life” and “private life” falls away, and everything we do simply becomes part of “life”. It’s another challenge in and of itself, of course, but the dividends will far outweigh the costs when the final books are balanced.

aimée whitcroft

The SaVVy Club’s members enjoy a unique calendar of bespoke social events organised just for them. They can enjoy the company of fascinating people and relax in the knowledge that everything is taken care of.

 

 

 

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