Personal – Page 2 – AlaraApothecary

What a week!

tumblr_nsk3pyLyBf1teesjko1_500 (photo:Splemderosa)

The title ‘what a week’ would make most Londoners think of the tube strike but believe it or not, the two days of the tube strike were the calmest days of my week. ‘How can that be?’, I hear you ask. You obviously do not live on Planet Alara. To describe this week as a truly bizarro one from beginning to end is an understatement. Having a bad week when every nutter in the city makes a beeline for you to have a pop is not odd in itself. We all have those. What made this one really odd is that every single time I had a bad experience, something really amazingly wonderful happened within the next hour. It was like living in my own personal rollercoaster. To all you wonderful, life-affirming peeps who made this a fab and groovy week, ta most awfully. In the spirit of keeping London weird, I see that Selfridges is already gearing up for Christmas. I have therefore decided to share the featured hipster with you, along with random photos that I like. Soon all the holidays will roll into one New year- Easter-Bank holiday-Christmas binge-fest that runs for 7 random days which leave a comatose nation behind. Have a lovely Boxing Day.

August 8, 2015/by alaradesigns@gmail.com

Personal

Neuroscience and Aromatherapy

ALARA APOTHECARY
LUXURY IN A JAR

SHOWERS OF PURE GOODNESS

Peaches, Lemon Verbena, Petrol, Freshly-mowed grass, Night-scented stock. Every single person has a set of aromas that make them inordinately happy. In fact, the loss of olfactory perception can be one of the first signs of some illnesses. Hope that fact helps the next time you’re struggling to breathe on the Victoria Line because of some soap-dodger! Congratulate yourself on your healthy senses instead. Some aromas can promise more than they deliver: coffee– it always smells great even if it tastes like dishwater. Some never let you down: bacon, roast chicken– I need say no more.

The senses of smell and taste are inextricably intertwined, and are as personal to each person as their fingerprint is. To say that this complicates matters when one is formulating a fragrance is a massive understatement. One of the hardest things I had to learn was not to compound scents based only on my preferences. The second was to learn to rely on people’s instinctive responses. I found that if you encourage people to dwell on a scent they hated at first smell, they begin to vacillate. However, they still hate it deep down and would never apply that scent, so you end up with a false positive. Of course, some testers are wonderfully brutal and honest (Thanks, the BC crew!!), and that makes life a lot easier for the chemist.

A smell can instantaneously transport you back to another place or time in a way that even music or words cannot. This can be pretty freaky because one often can’t pinpoint the source of the aroma but suddenly, there you are at the door of the principal’s office again. We all know nothing good ever came from THAT, except for you swots out there. So, stay safe. Confine yourself to the lovesome AlaraApothecary range of products and all will be well. Coming soon–the personalised sci-fi style inflatable Aromabubble. You never need fear the Victoria Line again………

August 3, 2015/by alaradesigns@gmail.com

Personal

Vision, Perseverance & Other Blessings

In my days of innocence when the world was young, I used to wonder why people didn’t start their own businesses and really, what a to-do about nothing (roll of the eyes). Then I started my own business and I found out! The monomania, the constant stress, the infinite care needed, endless rules and regulations, the endless expenditure, the zero income etc etc. Hoist by my own petard, deservedly.

But once in a while, it all comes together beautifully and you get a ‘Eureka’ moment that is all too rare in our regular lives as wage-slaves. Even better, because it is your business, you can apply that inspiration without having to pass through a gazillion focus-groups( If your idea involves naked flames, don’t skip the focus groups. Seriously). The most unforgettable moment is when someone else believes in your vision and is willing to invest cold, hard cash in it. What a head-spinner. The euphoria of acquiring the first investors will never be replicated, and that is probably a good thing or you’d never get any work done. So, to wonderful investors out there, God bless you abundantly. You are an answer to much prayer and fasting (well, a little fasting). May God reward you with health, wealth, prosperity and bumper dividends. Amen!

As for all the would-be, and actual entrepeneurs out there, when it all seems impossible and you’re wondering if you’ve lost your mind, take a step back, look at your business idea/plan again and remember the words of Winston Churchill ‘never give in, never give in, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy’

Have a fabulous weekend.

August 1, 2015/by alaradesigns@gmail.com

Personal

Art. What’s it for, anyway?

You know when you’re having one of those days? When you have to stop and marvel at just how despicable human beings can be? We’ve all had them. That’s one of the things art is for. When you look at someone and you find yourself briefly considering what the consequences would be if you punched them in the face. That’s what art is for. When you have to deal with one of these sons or daughters of Belial, and you feel your head may explode, plus how EXACTLY do you make napalm anyway? That’s what art is for.

On those days, get thee to the National Gallery, the V&A, the Tate. If you can’t get away, go online and look at the collections until the urge to have their guts for your garters subsides. Listen to some Mozart, some Haydn, some Bob Marley. That way you’ll stay out of prison. I recommend in no particular order: Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, Haydn’s ‘Surprise’ Symphony, Ruben Blades, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, The Housemartins, Bob Marley. Read some P.G Wodehouse in your lunch hour. To all the artists and artisans out there, who make beautiful things just because they can, a grateful human race salutes you.

July 29, 2015/by alaradesigns@gmail.com

Personal

Me and my boy Louis

Well, those four days we had in June were a great summer, weren’t they? Two days more than last year, whoop,whoop.If you’re stuck indoors or have just had your barbecue rained off, all is not lost. Even though I’m here indoors, messing with page attributes, I’m as happy as a sandboy. ‘How?’ I hear you ask.’What’s your secret?’ Two words- Louis Prima. A day with Louis in it is a grand day, even with weatherocalypse happening outside. ‘I’m just a gigolo, and everywhere I go, people know the part I’m playing…..’ Louis and the great Keely Smith, pair of geniuses. Here are some lovely pictures of puppies and kittens to cheer you up. Not really, but I really like these. Altogether now ,’ I eat antipasti twice just because she is so nice, Angelina. Angelina, waitress at the pizzeria. Ti voglio bene, Angelina I adore you...’