While all you beautiful Flowers, Thorns and Gnomes are sunny yourselves in Barmy summer weather, spare a thought for poor Ange and I (although I think Ange is somewhere on the Kokoda Trail by now) freezing our proverbials off, In the land of the Down Under.

Last night here in Tassie, we set a New Record Low Temperature for July. In a small Township Liawenee in the Midland of Tasmania, it reach or dropped depending on how you see it the mind numbing temperature of MINUS 10. Now I know it gets cold in places, but this was coming straight from Antarctica so the wind chill was even colder. The Liawenee Police officer when he went to start his patrol vehicle, a diesel 4WD, this morning reportedly first needed to break the ice of his handbrake, then pop his break callipers to allow the handbrake to release, he also needed to bring large amounts of hot water in buckets to melt ice in them in order to pour over his car so he could get in.

In my driveway in order to open the driveway required the use of a hammer and my hose (once thawed) to get the door open… frozen shut.

Although it is Winter in Oz, On the West Coast of Tassie our weather is about 2 months later than the rest of the Country, so this time of year is normally autumn/early winter so mild…. all this comes after rain since Thursday Last week and Occasional thunder storms, 43 mm fell in 6 hours in town here. It has certainly been a rough week. Snow is on the peaks around town, the roads have been closed off and on, several people killed or injured for driving stupidly on White and Black Iced roads. It has just been amazing…

Just to top it off that beautiful area of Trial Harbour I showed earlier this year had huge waves on top of a massive swell in parts Yesterday. It has luckily died down for now and we are just getting frost and ice so all is well.

I am left wondering at the moment if this just the start of severe winter where we are snowed in or if it has passed, fingers crossed for the latter. A town of 5000 cut off from the rest of the country is not a romantic notion when our supplies come in from the coast by Truck, the airstrip will be closed from the ice. No milk, bread, petrol, mail, newspapers, fresh produce, medication etc and last time this happened it lasted 3 weeks.

No they wont send in helicopters with Food drops.

So this leads me to the question…

What is your worst weather experience, sunburn, snowed in, cyclones, flooding do share

and think of us down here as you sun yourself at your BBQ.. jealousy raging…

Ok I know I haven’t ranted for a while - generally I’m just too nice you see but if there’s one thing that ‘gets my goat’, its incredibly silly news…. take this example from the other night…..

SOme big UK Cycling (pedal power) club are putting forward some suggestions for inclusion in a new highway code which should be slanted towards green travel (e.g bikes) …(naturally!).

Here are some of their suggestions… (don’t laugh)…. 1) that cyclists should be allowed to cycle the wrong way up one way streets and 2) at traffic lights, cyclists should get a green light ahead of other traffic to give them time to move off.

Well, not only do i see plenty (most) cyclists (no not kids but adults commuting or leisure racing) already doing these silly antics… but plenty more like going the wrong way round roundabouts, using pelican crossings at high speed (no waiting for the driver to stop first) and using traffic lights to wobble down the outside of patient queing cars before getting stuck in the outside lane when the lights have changed.

Now I’m not anti cyclist - i do the odd bit myself. I’ve even been on cycling holidays - me, a bike and a tent to France! so don’t call me anti-cyclist.

But already many cyclists seem to have a death wish and these new ‘rules’ will only encourage them to break every civilised motoring law when it suits them…. so motorists - watch out! They’ll soon be legally aloud to come at you from all directions. We’re the ones that will need the helmets.

What do you reckon? Any bad experiences you’d like to share (as a motorist or cyclist)? As I said I’m not anti-bike, far from it! But the few are spoiling your reputation…..

Thanks to O’DB in Manchester, England for sending GO! Smell the flowers this BBC news link announcing another world first from Dubai - a building that NEVER looks the same!

This shape-shifting skyscraper may someday energize the Dubai skyline with its revolving floors and environmentally friendly, electricity-generating wind turbines. The Dynamic Tower design is made up of 80 pre-fabricated apartments which will spin independently of one another.

“It’s the first building that rotates, moves, and changes shape,” said Italian architect David Fisher. “This building never looks the same, not once in a lifetime,” he added. Pretty much like us humans then?

The 420-metre (1,378-foot) building’s apartments would spin a full 360 degrees, at voice command, around a central column by means of 79 giant power-generating wind turbines located between each floor. The skyscraper will cost an estimated $700m to build and should be up and running in Dubai in 2010.

No site has been finalised for this project or any of the project team so how they’re going to close our by 2010 amazes us, even by fast-track 24×7 construction, Dubai style where 28% of all construction cranes now exist.

Comments on this twisty-turny idea are most welcomed! Will they REALLY pull it off. Shape shifters anyone?

It’s not just flowers that grow in fields folks - crops do as well with some interesting patterns emerging as the most complex ‘mind boggling’ crop circle ever to be seen in Britain was discovered in a barley filed in Wiltshire last week.

APEX PICTURES

The circle is a coded representation of pi to the 10th significant figure The formation, measuring 150ft in diameter, is apparently a coded image representing the first 10 digits, 3.141592654, of pi and has been described by astrophysicists as “mind-boggling” and  ”an astounding development - a seminal event.”

Crop circles have been shunned as post pub antics by bored British farmers or students but maybe more people are looking in now thanks to technology. Crop circle enthusiasts are now using Google Earth to track down the most interesting patterns in fields across Britain. The internet giant’s satellite mapping service has made it easier than ever for fans across the world to locate and study the phenomena, which previously had to be photographed from light aircraft.

Check out top 10 crop circles picked up on google earth right here with more to follow on this youtube clip:

Could it be that inteligent beings are communicating with us through this medium or is it a student or a bored farmers hoax? Are crop circles created by humans, higher beings or energy fields?

Please look at the top 10 and the clip before posting your answer!

Do share any crop circle stories, youtube clips and you point of view right here. Cheers!

Druids, Pagans & flower smellers - today is the summer solstice in the U.K marking the first day of summer. Even google recognise this today!

 It looks like Stonehenge is the place to be which is still shrouded in mystery as to how and why this place was constructed. Any thoughts?

Plenty of people are expected to see the sun & moon in action down at Stonehenge as they gather for an annual group hug:

Do you believe Where would you like to see the sunrise and set given the choice?

Do tell - Anywhere in the world!

As we’ve added a ‘Movie’ category here at GO! Smell the flowers we’d like to share a recent inflight movie we watched called outsourced Well worth a watch!

An American call centre Manager is told to pack his bags, fly to Mumbai and train the native Indians to be convincing Americans over the phone.

It changes his life! We’d love both American and Indian opinions on the future of outsourcing or is it ‘best’ sourcing? Do tell, Visas are optional.

Hi from Dubai folks after an 8 hour delay at Toronto airport we took deep breaths, checked our luggage in and headed off to explore downtown Toronto. With a 14 hour flight ahead of us we both folded like cheap suits and knocked back Canada’s infamous coffee - Tim Horton’s - like it was going out of fashion. From de-tox in Thailand to re-tox in Canada!

Others must have done the same plus e-numbers as when we returned some of the rapid fire abuse the poor airline staff were getting at check-in was jaw dropping. We sat back and watched as insults where exchanged between fuming passengers and the team that was only doing their jobs and apologizing through understandably gritted teeth.

Rather than step in and try and save the day we thanked the staff for doing a great job and understood what pressure they must have been under explaining the reasons for the delay (Emergency maintenance work in London - Gulp) that was out of their control.

So, two questions for you to ponder and reply to:

1) What would you have done during an 8 hour delay in a major City with only hand luggage to hand?

2) Would you have stepped in to stop the insults to the airline crew - assuming you wouldn’t opt to complain yourself, of course.

We’d love to read your comments on this one and please, 25 words per person is your maximum word limit permitted on this post and anything that is fluid and over 100ml has to be displayed in a clear plastic bag 

I was thinking it’s great to hear from Jim and Emma and their adventure on the ranch in Canada and asking about our own bucket lists. Well one the things I am going to do in just over a week from now is trek the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea and we, that is the team I’m a part of, will be leaving very cold Melbourne on the 20th June to head over to a tropical environment where the temperatures range between 85 Farenheit/30 Celcius during the day and 75 Farenheit/23 Celcius at night with around 77% humidity.

The last four months I have spent training in the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne climbing the 1000 steps and the Glasgow Rd trek which is a rugged mountain of uneven steps and can be very slippery coming down. This is the suggested training in preparation for the Kokoda Trail (this link is a map of the trek), as well as sessions in the gym and a weekend away trekking mountains for five and three hour sessions one day after another.

The track itself is a 96km single footpath with unrelenting climbs and slippery steep descents. It was the scene of a very horrendous battle between the Aussie soldiers - nicknamed “chocos” and the Japanese which the diggers managed to stave off and prevent from invading Australia along the northern coast during WWII. There is a lot of history on that track and oh… it’s VERY muddy too. I will be right out of my comfort zone as I have never hiked or camped away from civilization and once you are on the track, there’s no getting out except via the finish line.

We will be camping in villages for the most part, maybe get a hot shower at the end of the night, there will be plenty of river crossings and I will definitely employ a personal porter to carry the bulk of my belongings. I will carry my essentials of 4 litres of water per day, my snack packs made up mainly of sugar fixes and cup of soups for lunches. I will also have an emergency medical kit in my pack and my camera. The rest which is made up of a couple of changes of clothes (one for night and one spare), towel, sleeping bag and mat, spare socks, running shoes just in case, a journal for writing my experience, pen, some toiletries, a head torch and spare batteries and that’s about it! Very basic for the 8 day trek!

I should explain that the reason I chose to go on this trek is because it is a great personal challenge and a good way of finding out exactly what I am made of. I think I am mentally tough and this trek will show me just how much! As my journey progresses through my personal development, this kind of challenge will only help me on my way. After all, if I don’t put myself out there and get out of my comfort zone, how else will I know what I am capable of?

Has anyone here done any trekking like this before? Would you like to be adventurous and get out of your comfort zone or are you comfortable with yourself as you are? Do you think you will attempt this or something similar? Am I crazy leaving two young kids and my partner behind to take this on? Yes I want some feedback… good and/or bad. Let me know your thoughts on this.

PS: I forgot to mention that this is some of the most pristine rainforest around and I’m glad I don’t have to fly all the way to Brazil to experience this… not yet anyway… maybe next time.

Hi gang from Toronto where we have the bonus of internet access! The first time in 18 days and it’s amazing how slow the old typing GO!s after what seems like an eternity pretty much offline. First off a HUGE thanks to all the founders who have kept the garden growing since we signed off on May 21st - only once did we get a chance to take a peak at GO! Smell the flowers and were so proud of the content that this community is producing.

Having survived the saddle soreness of the Homeplace Ranch in Alberta and heading onto the sights and sounds of Havana, Cuba  - Em’s 40th birthday went according to plan in our latest adventure where we met some incredible people from all walks of life. We’ll be downloading some of the highlights of the trip here at flowers when we’ve re-grouped back in Dubai.

Visits to Cuba and Canada where two of the things on our bucket list  -things we wanted to do before we die that we’d mentioned before we left. Here’s the trailer for the film that we saw on our flight from Thailand:

Do share with us one thing on your bucket list that you MUST DO before you are pushing up the flowers and WHEN you intend to do it by. It can be travel, family, finance, writing, reading, watching or just plain old whatever you want it to be - Cheers!

Well folks we’re signing off now for THREE WEEKS (gasp) as we head off to Canada on a working ranch to celebrate Em’s 40th birthday. We’re leaving all the content to the trusted founders here at GO! Smell the flowers as we STOP online activity for the first time in a few years.

So, over to you founders - good luck, enjoy and we look forward to seeing what the garden looks like in a few weeks! Maybe more founders badges awarded, new visitors, flowers, thorns and plenty of threads to get cyberspace thinking?

What would struggle to give up for 3 weeks? Do tell - A 3 week spell without…………? Do tell……

Hi  GO! Smell the flowers from  the Spa Koh Chang. Our final day here having completed the cleansing program and we’ve both lost eleven pounds each in weight, feel clear headed, healthier inside & out and generally more chilled out.

To ‘keep it real’ we’ll report back on our result in 3-4 months time. Before the cleanse Jim had blood pressure, pulse and  blood work done (his biggest fear - needles  ) to measure pre-cleanse lipid profile, (cholesterol & triglycerides), Biochemistry (Blood glucose) , Endocrinology (testosterone) and thyroid.

The immediate step-on-the-scales-whoop-whooop-high-5 results but that could be down to water loss, clearly a lack of carbs and just giving the body a break so time will tell and getting back amongst ‘reality’.

We ‘broke-fast’ with Papaya, mango and bee pollen:

Back for more general abuse with Thai massage:

Smell the flowers, Em:

We’ll reflect on the key things we learned and share them with you here when we return to Dubai  in the next couple of days. It’s been great learning and laughing at the threads here at GO! Smell the flowers, at times when we barely had the energy or the inclination so thanks for all your interest, support and comments.

NOW! Where did we put that hose pipe?  Do share how you’ve found our detox diaries and this whole experience we’ve shared with GO! Smell the flowers and feel free to add a few captions to the photos above just for fun as we leave ourselves wide open as ever, which, after 8 days of colonics could be interesting - Cheers!

Just as mobiles have become an extension of many peoples lives,are things about to go one step further……

Ryanair are currently working on installing equipment on twenty of their fleet,to allow mobile phone calls from 35,000ft,they are anticipating lucrative profits from the service. Emirates have recently equipped an A340 with the needed equipment.

So as the Dom Jolly gag was almost forgotten,what are your thoughts on this,will it be convenient or a nuisance….necessary or not…txt ur ansrs 2….

Our final day of the cleanse! Energy levels are pretty high considering it’s 7 days since we’ve consumed any solids and drink with the exception of water, coconut water, Wheatgrass:

Cocktails of Carrot juice and slurps of Oolong tea, a herb popular in China we understand.

So, with only 1 final flush to go (pure water first thing tomorrow morning) and a few ‘flora grow’ bacteria tablets we’re done! Then after breaking our fast we can star gradually re-introducing solids back into our day to day lives.

What would you break your fast with? Comments welcomed as we prepare to post how we feel after this intensive cleansing experience. Cheers!

Hi from the Spa Koh Chang with less than 48 hours to GO! before we break the fast with only 4 more colonics remaining.

To help keep things moving we’ve tried our hand at Yoga, first thing, in the morning to help us stay us on track and our bodies active without food. Whatever your capabilities it can aid relaxation, improve flexibility, help with detox and massage the organs of the body - always a bonus, right?

Pictured above with Yoga instructor Cliff on Day 5 of our fast we declined to bring our feet together like that - maybe another time, after a few ice cold Chang beers perhaps A big thanks to our teacher Cliff who taught us a few stretches that’ll keep tension at bay and exercise our eyes whilst we tip-tap away on the laptop.

So anyone ever tried Yoga? How do you help stay / get in physical and mental shape and as the years catch up with you? Do tell, hold that pose and release!

One of the things that erks me big time is miss pronounciations.

It sounds silly but it really bugs me.  The worst is place names. You see if you travel the one thing you need to know is how to say the place names like a local, it is how we tell you are tourist.  If you have an accent but say the name like a local then your in.

So here is my little contribution to solving this puzzle.

Here is a list of the most mis pronounced Aussie Cities and the correct way to say them.

Please add yours in the comments so we can all share in this language exchange.

Newcastle: tourist say New Ca sel, correct New Car sel

Sydney: tourist Sid in nee, correct Sid nee

Melbourne: tourist Mel  born, correct Mel Bin

Brisbane: tourist Bris Bain, correct Bris bin

Canberra: tourist Can Berra, correct Can Bra

Uluru tourist Uluru, correct Ayres Rock

Australia: tourist Au stra li a, correct ost stral ya

So there you have it, if you are coming to Oz practice these before you come and you’ll be treated like a local. Just dont order Fosters at the Pub, thats a dead give away.

We’ve only just realised it’s Saturday so happy weekend to all from us here mid De-tox at the rainy & chilled out Spa Koh Chang, Thailand.

So, getting straight down to the process of our bi-daily flush out we thought we’d share some of the finer highlights of our stay. DON’T try this at home - not even gardeners who KNOW their hosepipes:

Step 1 - Fill a 16 litre bucket full of coffee solution:

Step 2 - Lie down, insert and RELEASE as the next 20 -30 minutes ‘pass’:

We’ll spare you the detail of sharing with you what ends up in the pink plastic sieve after emptying but it’s far from smelling of flowers

We’re feeling far more ‘human’ today and are getting into the early doors exercises, detox drinks and the general way of the spa here. Time for our Midday broth, carrot juice and detox drink - more on that tomorrow.

The key to success in this procedure is to relax and let it GO! on every level so we ask YOU - how do you relax and ‘let it go’ in your day to day life generally? Do tell!

Well gang despite having BIG plans to post photos of our progress there’s a photo uploading techy hitch this end plus we’re totally washed out - all part of the process we’re told as we stick with it. With even the local Mosquitoes taking quite a shine to us we feel popular.

‘I find it hard to be compassionate towards Mosquitoes’ - The Dali Lama

Our tongues are turning from white to yellow (metallic toxins coming out apparently) with lighter headaches and dizzy spells (real dizzy spells - not blond moments) and we’re sleeping very deeply amongst the pit-patter of the rain pink sieves are being filled with digested matter of yesteryear as our coffee & garlic buckets are emptied.

On the way over to Bangkok we watched a film called ‘The Bucket List‘. Two terminally ill men make a wish list of the things they’d like to do before they die and then set about doing it.

So we ask you to share with the garden some of the things that would feature on your bucket list! Do tell……

Captains log so Day 2 of our 10 day detox Spa Koh Chang style ended with Em having coloured laughs (being sick) as her toxins were released unable to keep even carrot juice down. Jim suffered with  the hangover from hell headache and both our tongues have turned from yellow to white with breath strong enough to take paint of a well treated door frame.

As detox day 3 broke we had next to no appetites,  generally irritable and struggled to report in for our 7a.m detox drink before a morning meditation,  yoga class and deep issue massage Thai style…… 

Our appetites increased  throughout the day with Emma craving fish & chips, a glass of chilled Chardonnay & a large bar of dairy milk chocolate with Jim craving a Sunday roast dinner, a pint of Sam Smiths ale with apple crumble and custard for dinner.  Then it became a case of craving anything remotely edible…..

On the upside we’re getting into the swing of things colonic wise  (Em - coffee, Jim - garlic) and enjoy the steam room and tomorrow will be posting photos of ourselves  in and around the Spa. So it’s time to head off for our evening broth, shot of wheat grass and a lug of carrot juice.Life in the fast lane huh?  Do share your plans for tonight right here and as always we welcome your comments, knowledge and opinions.

We awoke to the tip-tapping of rain here at Spa Koh Chang as the rainy season gets underway. A far cry from the dry heat of Dubai plus the croaking of frogs reminding us of that Bud advert from the mid 90’s.

Beers aren’t on the menu as detailed on our daily Candida cleansing schedule that we’ll be following over the next 7 days as follows:

7.00am - Detox drink (every 3 hours)

8.30am - Supplements 3 x Intestinal Cleanser capsules & 3 x Herbal Nutrient Capsules

10.00am - Detox drink

10.15am - 11.30a.m Coffee Colema*

11.30am - Supplements

13.00pm - Detox drink

14.30pm - Supplements

16:00pm - Detox drink

16:10pm – 17.30pm – Garlic Colema*

17.30pm - Supplements

18:00pm - Herbal steam room

19:00pm - Detox drink

20:30pm – Supplements

*20-40 minutes of self administered colonic irrigation with 16 litres of purified water and clinically clean equipment. A pink sieve catches all solids that can be inspected with chop sticks as required.

In addition to the above ‘treats’ we can enjoy / squirm during Thai foot, back, shoulder and stomach massages plus access to the pool and stream room with liquid top ups of broth, coconut and carrot juice. Cravings so far include a spicy Thai green curry, fish and chips and a pint of Guinness (Jim) with Em dreaming over a piece of chocolate cake and a cheese board. Yum.

We are curious to know what you’ll be eating / have eaten today. Do tell – what delights are we missing out on here? Comments and questions welcomed right here and save a piece for us!

Sawadee Krup (Jim) Sawaddee Ka (Emma) as GO! Smell the flowers start our detox diaries from the Spa Koh Chang Resort, Thailand. We’ve decided to stick our necks out and share the ups, downs and insides of our Thai ‘ clean-me-out’ Spa experience designed to rejuvenate and lead us on the path towards a healthier and happier life.

Good eh - or is it? Some would argue this is totally unnecessary.

We’ve decided yet again to give our bodies a chance to heal as it is believed they work at their full potential after 24-36 hours without the intake of food as our healing mechanisms works best when we stop eating, ingesting, digesting and metabolising food. Hmmmmm, F-O-O-D - Homer Simpson drool - GO! Homer:

On the flight from Dubai to Bangkok we chose to pass on the ‘we’re entitled to it so we’ll have some’ alcohol, bread, coffee, meat and peanuts. Same for the hop over to Trat, the skip on a boat to Koh Chang and all that remains is the jump but will we have the energy as we start our Pre-cleanse diet.

A bonus start to our trips as we’ve a letter featured today in the Dubai ‘paper of the people’ (lift right clenched fist above your hand) 7 days. We addressed an article on ‘ How has the internet changed your life?’ and this community blog is a case in point. Read it here!

So, welcome to the garden to all new readers and feel free to post a comment in any of the articles below and get amongst it and share your knowledge, experiences and opinions with other as we literally dig deep and share our detox diaries with the world before, during and after our 9 night / 10 day stay.

Group hug anyone? Now where did we put that hose?

Colonic irrigation anyone?

Some 21 months after our first Thai Spa experience in Koh Samui we’re preparing our luggage, so to speak, as we leave the bling of Dubai for the rains of Thailand this time at the Spa in Ko Chang.

We’ll be posting regular (it’s important to be regular) updates right here on how we get on, off and a bit of both as we embark on a 7 day fast to detoxify, cleanse, purify, spit, polish and whatever else is on offer. So, the majority of Jim & Em content here at GO! Smell the flowers will be detox based for the next 10 days, best read either on an empty stomach.

Comments and support welcome here - get ready for the detox diaries

Emma here having just read this excellent book ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ . Not only chick-lit - it should appeal to all who enjoy a funny and well written read.

Whilst in Rome, Italy during her year out, Elizabeth is asked to think of one word that sums the place up.

She replies that Rome to her is ’sex’.

Here in Dubai my word for this City is ‘juxtaposition’ and Jim’s is ‘Surreal’.

What is the one word that sums up where you live? Do tell! One place - one word.

Ever had one of those days when you’d like to step out of line and be / say something a bit different?

GO! on - tell us when the last time you did? David Icke believes most of us are sheep in this clip about free mind society.

Comments rights here and we’ll be baaaaaack later.

Thanks to Arnie from south Africa for sending us in this recent holiday snap:

This sign ‘may work on many levels’, according to Arnie from South Africa via email who reads flowers but prefers not to comment! So flex your current affairs muscles and share with us what this means to YOU! Cheers…..

Well as mid 30 degrees C becomes the norm here in Doo-bye we crave a hit of fresh air, cold water and the fall of Autumn leaves - our favourite of the 4 seasons.

What is your favourite season and why?  Do tell….

Part time golfer Jim here reporting in after surviving 9 holes of golf with Dubai based professionals Tom & Matthew on the black tees at Dubai’s Majilis course at Emirates Golf Club.

I tried, tested and bought this wonderful piece of equipment:

At first I thought it was a case of ‘ALL THE GEAR NO IDEA’ and that golf is a game played in the mind not what clubs you use. Many choose to GO! cheap and buy fake online sets of golf clubs. I opted for professional advice and a tailor made service to ensure the right clubs for my swing were ordered.

So, the right kit and lessons are highly recommended, as demonstrated here as more wonderful equipment is demonstrated:

Comments on buying the real deal versus look-a-likes are welcome here. FORE!