Phillip Holt's World of NLP, Hypnosis, PhotoReading, Mind Maps & Memory

I don't believe it

2010-03-09T15:41:00Z

It has only been an hour since posting Timeshare Advisory Service a Scam , and the telephone rings.

Yes you have guessed it, "Mr Phillip?", in and Indian accent, and a small time delay.

It is hard for me to understand him as I curtly reply "What do you want?".

He purports (indicates) to be from the Telephone Preference Service, (UK 0800398893) and he started telling me how "cold calls", wanted calls, would be stopped.

But I was already registered with the free Telephone Preference Service, and I told him that, but he was having non of me butting in, interrupting him, saying that by registering with him I would be protected for five years.

"I am already registered with you." I said, thinking I was speaking to the TPS.

He would not listen, until I asked him what are the fees.

"Just a £1 a week." was his reply, "and then you will stop getting calls like this."

"Get lost." was my reply as I cut the call.

I just don't believe it.

The Telephone Preference Service is a free service, so if anyone in the UK wants to use it go the their web site http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/ and register for free. Do not fall for the webs sites when using the search engines that look as if they are the TPS and charge a fee. All they are doing is taking your money, then adding your name and telephone number to the free Telephone Preference Service.

As someone commented, I am "p----d off", or not very happy.

Timeshare Advisory Service a Scam

2010-03-09T10:40:00Z

I am continually getting telephone calls from people wanting to sell me a new mobile phone, sort out my debt problems which I do not have, and buy my timeshare holiday week, even though I have used a service in the UK called The National Do-Not-Call List, or the Call Prevention Registry, which should prevent such calls or organisations making unwanted "cold" telephone calls to me.

As soon as I hear a foreign accent, sorry to say from the Indian sub continent, and they ask for "Mrs Mee Holt", the hairs on my neck go up, I know that they will be trying to sell me something I do not want. She never uses the shortened name "Mee" from her name Mee Len.

"No you can't. She does not live here any more.", will only make them say, "Is that Mr Holt?"

Just thinking about it makes me mad, but then I expect they can get around UK laws by calling from outside the UK.

I apologise to those working in the call centers making these calls, I know I am rude to you and I cut you off. Sorry, I know you have a job to do and want to make money, earn a living, but I do not want to speak to you.

I also sometimes get telephone calls from people who want to buy the timeshare week. I wrote about one company Alpha Group Resales who sounded very convincing in their sales patter or talk. (see article).

They give a reference of the Timeshare Advisory Service and a telephone number. I wonder if when the number is called, it ends up in the same office as Alpha Group Resales or whatever name they are operating under now.

I still notice after a number of years, people are landing on my web site article after searching on Timeshare Advisory Service in a search engine, so the scam still seems to being used.

To operate this scam, taking a large sum of money at the outset by credit card, to register the sellers name and cover administration costs, the seller enters into a contract which contains a clause saying that if the seller ends or cancels the contract, the initial sum will be forfeited. Obviously, there are no buyers for the timeshare, and thus the buyer cancels the contract or arrangement with the company operating the scam, and looses their initial deposit.

I cannot understand how these people can sleep at night, knowing that the next day they are going to sell something to people that they do not want it, advertising space, search engine placement, listings in telephone books and directories, a name of a potential buyer who does not exist.

The credit card companies know that these scams exist, they must get hundreds of calls of complaints, yet they continue to let these companies trade and take money off unsuspecting people.

The banks must know about the scam emails, which promise untold wealth from a person who died in a plane crash, or from a military person who found a box of millions of dollars in the middle of the desert whilst fighting in Iraq and wants to share it. Why don't they stop the unsuspecting public transferring money abroad to these people?

Worldwide government agencies know about these scams, why don't they do something to stop it?

Oh Poo Poo, am I sounding like a grumpy old man?

Life is so hard and unfair.

Now read I don't believe it

Beauty is only Skin Deep

2010-03-08T16:37:00Z

Was today a waste of time?

For some time now, I had been asked to attend an exhibition at London's ExCel Exhibition and Conference Center, and I could not make my mind up if the subject matter was appropriate for me.

In the end, I decided to go to Professional Beauty London, which is, quote, "the ideal place to meet therapists, nail technicians, hairdressing and beauty salon owners, tanning salons and freelance / mobile therapists looking to source new suppliers and benefit from great deals".

Well I do therapy, so why not, I may learn something, and it was a chance to be with a colleague.

I should have known it was not for me as soon as I got on the DLR train, it was full of excited young girls, obviously from a college going to the exhibition. But, I had come this far, being delayed by slow trains and cold, I may as well continue, and anyway I had made arrangements to meet someone there.

As soon as I got inside the hall, my suspicions were confirmed, this was not for me, but I did stay long enough to fight my way around the crowded aisles, of eager young girls, some in their health and beauty uniforms, their name badges hanging around their necks, craning to see the latest hair extension stand, the many nail specialists, the waxing treatments, the spray bronzing equipment, and other painful looking treatments on show.

At 95 (ho ho, I am not really 95) years of age, I do not think makeup will help me become more attractive or look any younger. I did not see any hair extensions in gray, and I have enough hair on my head to keep me warm, so I do not need a wig. My nails would look rather strange with flowers or birds painted on the, and I do not like pain so I am happy with having hair on my legs and my other private parts, and would not like waxing.

My friend was totally absorbed by the experience and enjoying every minute, but all I could think of was each hair being pulled off my leg, oh the agony.

I made my excuses and left, leaving those others behind, buying, learning, absorbing information relative to them, and perhaps some of those attending could pick-up some tips on becoming beautiful, because they needed help in their make-up application.

Me I am happy on my journey, how I look, and what has been given to me, as people can take me as I am, and yes I did see some well made-up females, in English we say that they "looked the bees knees", looked really great.

But then I thought, I wonder what they are really like, what is their personality like, would I get on with such a person?

How would they compare to the little tubby girl next to her, with no make-up, spots on the face, hair askew, and with hairy legs?

Um, beauty is only skin deep.

The exhibition was the same, on the surface and on paper it looked good, but when I got involved, it was not for me. For others it was the greatest adventure they had taken, it was for them.

Sometimes we take a road that keeps promising us the world, happiness, security, wealth, and we get taken in by promises and hold on with expectation, but we eventually find that road is not for us, no matter how it is made-up to look good, and then we have to change direction. If not, it will lead to heartbreak and unhappiness, be it a job, a relationship, a holiday or an exhibition.

I am happy on my journey, doing what I do, who I am and how I look. But that is my Cat on the Mat, my view of the world, and in my world I am warm and cuddly.

Phoenix Squadron, HMS Ark Royal

2010-03-07T09:07:00Z

I have lived through many interesting times which have gone down in history, and it is only now, having time and the knowledge and ability of PhotoReading, (to absorb 20,000 - 30,000 WPM), that I can research and read so much more, to give me more insight into what has happened from the many books which continually get published to appear on book shelves.

A book is only as good as the author, and contains only what he or she wishes to write. So, I always try to stand back, to try and understand what is the author trying to tell me, what have they included in the book and what have they left out.

My fascination for aircraft, fast jets, fighter aircraft, airliners is ever strong, from the Hawker Hurricane of WWII, the Airbus A380 to Concorde, the one aircraft I wanted to fly but never made.

One book recently caught my eye, something I advise participants on my PhotoReading courses never to allow to happen. The picture on the dust cover of the hardback book Phoenix Squadron by Rowland White, showed two iconic fighter jets, the Blackburn Buccaneer, with HMS Arc Royal in the background.

In the bookshop, I quickly Previewed the book, and had the feeling that this book could help me understand more about the crisis between Britain and the South American country Guatemala, over one of the British Empire's last territories British Honduras, soon to become the independent country Belize. (see map of Belize - click).

The book tells how the Guatemala President, Colonel Arana Osorio, and his powerful military leaders, saw British Honduras as part of their country, and how neighbouring countries also saw either the little territory as useful to them as a means of expansion, or as an opportunity to assert influence as I seem to understand the USA was trying to do.

It was understood that the military wanted to invade British Honduras as the British were moving away from "owning" countries, by giving independence to nations, to their own people, and it was the wishes of the British Hondurans that they had their independence, and not become part of Guatemala.

The British had a very small military presence in British Honduras, no aircraft, no ships, just a few solders, but news of an impending invasion, a build-up of military strength by Guatemala, summoned to last aircraft carrier in the British Navel Fleet, Ark Royal with it's onboard aircraft the F-4 Phantoms and the Blackburn Buccaneers, to race over 2,000 miles across the Atlantic, to show the strength of the British military, and head off any plans Guatemala had.

The book itself gave a good account of the crisis from the British point of view, perhaps one day I can find a book written on the subject by an author from Guatemala to understand how they view their history of that time. It is well researched by other written material, newspaper and TV accounts, naval and government reports, and interviews with members of Arc Royal and the Royal Fleet Air Arm.

The book was at times difficult to read as it was full of acronyms or initialisms, for example, SPLOT, RAS, MADDL, CBALS, (hover pointer over to see meaning), which meant flow of reading was interrupted as I tried to workout and understand the meaning.

The first half of the book had little to do with the crisis and the part played by the Arc Royal and the Phoenix Squadron, but gave the background to the carrier and aircraft and their history. The author, Rowland White, built-up suspense, with stories of problems of the iconic and world beating Buccaneers taking off from the deck of Ark Royal, and I felt myself being let down when an accident did not happen, I was waiting for something to happen.

Personally I did not find it as "gripping as any Tom Clancy thriller", as said on the cover by the BBC Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, but yes "riveting" because of my interest in that field of knowledge.

But now, should I research more to view things from others points of view, or move on to other learning?

Exeter, lifes journey

2010-03-06T12:36:00Z

Feeling sorry for myself, having fulfilled my commitments for the day by 12 noon, I was at a loss for something to do with myself.

I know I am about to get a head cold, there is a strange sore feeling at the back of my nose, when that happens I know I will get a running nose, ending with my nasal tracts being stuffed up and blocked.

As I was a long walk from home, perhaps an hours walk which is good for me as it is exercise, my mind suddenly came up with an Idea. In the distance a fast train raced down the rail track to some far off destination, and I thought, why can't I be on that train?

My mind raced through distant places, as my eyes caught a plane reaching for the sky having just taken off from Heathrow, Penang in Malaysia, Machu Picchu in Peru, Rome in Italy, Erzincan in Turkey, all places far far away, too far.

How about Brighton on the South Coast of England, Bognor Regis another seaside town on the South Coast? I love the seaside.

Then I had a Eureka moment, Exeter in Devon.

Exeter is a town I had never been to, but heard about. My school friend from many years ago, Ronald Rose, used to go on holiday there, and back at school would not stop talking about it. My mind was made up, Exeter here I come.

My local train service, South West Trains, had a train that went there. I would see the City of Exeter I had wondered about for all these years, and as a sea port, be able to see the sea.

By 12:20 midday, with a sandwich, with fillings I had never heard of, and orange drink in hand I joined the train, and soon we were racing through the countryside, visiting railway stations, picking-up and dropping-off passengers, my mind fantasizing what I might see at the other end of the line, nearly four hours away.

At Salisbury, the nine carriage train parted, the first six carriages of to Exeter, the last three off to Bristol. Although I knew I was sitting in the correct part of the dividing train, a slight panic raced through my mind, "was I on the correct train?".

The speed of the train now reduced as we stopped at more frequent stations, some with platforms too small, so only the first three carriages of the six was actually in the station.

At one station we were held for five minutes. Why?

The rails was single track, with only limited places where trains could pass, so there could be only one train at a time on the track, one up train and one down train.

This did not bode well, small stations, single rail track, we must be leaving the hustle and bustle of suburbia, of London.

Eventually arriving in Exeter Central Station, one stop before the end of the line, I searched the city center map on the wall.

"Where's the sea?"

No where to be seen, so I headed to the city center, from there I must find the sea.

With seagulls squawking overhead, that must be a good sign surely, I headed down a steep hill, leading to a valley which I reasoned must contain a river which will lead me to the sea, and sure enough, there was the river, but no sign of the sea.

Nearby, was an old ruin, was it an old church, or a castle, or just an old warehouse? Some one was working on the stones, obviously an archaeologist, but I could see no information to help me.

There were direction signs which pointed to the City Center from where I had just come, and another to the Quay, a six minute walk.

Now that is the direction for me to go.

I walked by the side of the River Exe, slow flowing and not very wide, sitting in a valley.

I followed the flow of the river to the Quay, which was now a collection of cafés and handicraft workshops and only four or five at that.

There were no ships in the port, and as I read the information plaque outside the public toilets, I found out that it had begun to close in about 1840 due to that single track rail track built by Brunel I had just traveled on, which could take the wool exports away quicker. The port continued into the 20th Century, but declined rapidly, eventually closing to only the pleasure boats, and not many of those either.

The old warehouses, as in many old ports of the UK, have been converted to offices, apartments and restaurants.

Still no sea.

Exeter Quay
Another information plaque in the small harbour showed a map, and I was about eight miles or twelve kilometers from the sea, connected not solely by the River Exe, but a canal built two hundred years ago, to bring the trade ships to the quay.

By this time, it was too late to visit the sea, even if there was a pathway for me to follow.

I returned to the city center, noticing how small Exeter was as it rose up from the River Exe's valley.

I visited the Cathedral, St. Peters, an imposing building, but it was getting late, I was getting cold, my nose now running even more, and I contemplated the four hour train journey home.

St. Peter's Exeter Cathedral
Thankfully, I passed a book shop selling books at a cut price. That is my answer, a good book to read on the way home.

With another sandwich, with again only understanding the ingredients cheese, the rest I had no idea of, plus an orange drink, I boarded the London bound train.

Totally absorbed in my book, the journey fled past.

I had built up in my mind a day out to remember. I had in my mind something out of this world, total satisfaction, wonderment, a fantasy of Exeter started in my school days by Ronald Rose.

I was disappointed, it was not what I expected.

Life is so cruel to me. Oh Poo Poo.

But hang on, yes life is like that. We build something up to something beyond what will happen, what is there and available and we go for it, only to find that our expectations may not be fulfilled.

Yes, sometimes our experiences far outreach our expectations.

I actually had a great time.

I had forgotten about my running nose, my head cold. I had learned some more things about Exeter. I had relaxed for once. I had read a book and learned something from that.

I had made the journey I had watched others had done and made the sames journey myself and can now relate it to you reading it here.

Life is a journey, sometimes it is not what we want, sometimes it is more that we expect, but we should take the journey and be happy what we experience, for to be sure the track we take could be a fast or a single slow track, but it has a start and an end.

Enjoy.

Water under Tower Bridge in London

2010-03-05T09:55:00Z

It was a cold, crisp evening as I stood near to Traitors Gate of the Tower of London, looking down the River Thames at a wonderful view of Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge, London, seen from The Tower of London, Traitors Gate
As I stood there, I wondered how many times had the bascules had been opened, the central section which has two sections swinging up and down, to allow shipping to pass up and down stream.

I wondered how many people had left London on journeys to other parts of the world, sometimes never to return, sometimes to return to a different London they had left, as London is continually changing.

I wondered for how many people this was their last sight as they went to beheaded, but then realised that Tower Bridge was opened in 1894, and the last beheading at the Tower of London was nearly 300 years earlier in 1601, one Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and the last execution being by firing squad in 1941 of a German spy Josef Jakobs.

I watched the flow if the River Thames, as the water was flowing back up stream from the Thames Estuary, flowing under the bridge as the tide was rising, just like the River Thames has always done bringing back travelers and people with memories of far off places and experiences.

I could not wait in the cold night air to see the water change direction to flow downstream, washing away the dirty water, the drift wood, the flotsam and jetsam. I had a warm home to get back to.

There is a saying "water under the bridge", which means referring or looking back at past experiences, good or bad, which we have decided to or should have forgotten, to have left behind us.

Perhaps looking at way the flow of the River Thames under Tower Bridge is a better idiom or metaphor, for as past experiences are washed away, the tide brings them back once again, but there is even more fresh water from upstream which will eventually wash away the dirty water, the memories.

PhotoReading in Milano, March 2010

2010-03-03T16:49:00Z

A recent course in PhotoReading just finished in Milano.

The participants, PhotoReading, Milano, February 2010

I am always pleased to see old faces I know on the course who return for free, to reconfirm, to practice the techniques taught on the course. It is a chance to make the learning even stronger.

But no course would be the same without the chocolate cake, and sure enough a cake arrived.

The chocolate cake, PhotoReading, Milano, February 2010

Thank you all.

see "Old Friends"

Old friends

2010-03-03T12:11:00Z

Still traveling to Italy to give courses, it is always great to see old faces, friends I have made on previous courses, and yes I can call them friends, as we seem to make a bond.

One such person is Donatella Fazzino, a lovely girl, whom I have met many times on NLP courses and PhotoReading and Mind Maps, her smiling face, her eagerness to learn, and her friendship was a joy for me.

Oh and Donatella, your driving was not that bad.

Donatella Fazzino and Phillip Holt Milan 2010

The power is with me

2010-02-25T09:33:00Z

I have a day off today in Rome, the airmen I am training have their senior officer visiting their base, so I am catching-up on my work and emails.

I had just finished replying to an email, and just about to hit "send", when I receive a text message from the person.

I then sent an email message to a person who had been negotiating with me to provide courses for them, but I had not heard from for two months,saying, if they did not wish to proceed, please let me know as I have other people wishing to work with me, and within five minutes, my telephone rang, and one of these people was asking me to go to their country to give my courses.

Oh Poo Poo, I really must have the power I talk so much about, telepathy, the power to transmit my thoughts.

What a difference a day makes

2010-02-21T07:52:00Z

Although I have traveled to Milan in Italy, I have not ventured from the Concorde hotel where I am giving PhotoReading and Mind Mapping courses, it is an enjoyable time,as I take participants from unconscious incompetence towards unconscious competence.

The participants visibly get more confidence and better with each hour, and the difference after a nights sleep is very evident.

It has not only been the participants who have changed but also the weather.

Arriving early Thursday morning, to a little snow in the air, to cold rain on Friday and Saturday, this Sunday morning there is not a cloud in the sky. Now for Rome tonight.

View from the Concorde Milano

A talk tp the Probus Surbiton Club

2010-02-17T16:00:00Z

One of the benefits of my work is that I am often asked to give talks.

Today I visited the Surbiton Probus Club, with about 50 members in attendance.

I hardly ever know what I am to talk about, unlike other speakers who have one set talk, so sometimes I get a challenge, to make the talk entertaining and informative, to get it right so that the listeners do not fall asleep, especially after a good meal. Well, if the talk is on hypnosis, then falling asleep can be an advantage.

But now I am back home. I have ironed my shirts, now I must pack for an early start to Milan Italy tomorrow, to start a set of PhotoReading and Mind Map courses in Milano and Rome.

Visit www.strategiegeni.com to book a place.

Surbiton Probus Club

PhotoReading and Mind Maps in Milano and Roma

2010-02-16T09:56:00Z

It is always a pleasure to present my courses around the world, and in the next two weeks I will be returning to Milan and Rome in Italy to give PhotoReading and Mind Maps courses.

For those who would like to get a flavour of the courses, which are interactive and fun, visit the web site www.strategiegeni.com , or you can see two videos by clicking pictures below or on PhotoReading or Mind Maps here.

Hope to see you on a course soon.

CLICCA PER AVVIARE IL VIDEO CLICCA PER AVVIARE IL VIDEO

Gong Xi Fa Cai, Happy New Year

2010-02-13T14:01:00Z

To my many Chinese followers Gong Xi Fa Cai, Happy New Year.

This year it is the Year of the Tiger, and the New Year falls 14th February 2009, Saint Valentines Day.

So to my female followers, if you received flowers or a card and you do not know who sent it, think of me, and where is mine? Next year, perhaps you could send me a card or chocolates, as I do not like flowers much.

To my Italian friends. I will be in Milan from 18th February until 21st, and then in Rome from the 22nd until 26th, giving PhotoReading and Mind Maps courses. You can still join the courses by contacting Fabio Cucinotta at E-mail info@metodogolfera.com or visit the Web www.metodogolfera.com. You can telephone on Numero Verde 800 91.32.64 or Cellulare 334 50.29.667.

You can give me my Saint Valentines Day card and present then.

Money as a driver

2010-02-13T11:52:00Z

I will never become a millionaire, not because I would not like to become one, nor that I do not dream of not having to budget of what I spend, as most people have, but because I am not driven by money.

Some people are driven to make more and more money, that is their driver in life. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact it is good. For them.

Me? I am driven by other things. I get my drive from seeing change for the better in people and things.

I love to find how things work, to get them to work, to repair if broken. Yesterday, I had great joy in modifying my kitchen hot water tap to flow without splashing all over the place, and the exhilaration I felt this morning when washing-up my breakfast plate and cup, without getting wet myself must be the same as an athlete looking at their gold medal after winning at the Winter Olympics.

I love watching people change on my courses, when people come to me for fears and phobias. It gives me a buzz. The woman who was petrified of going into the MRI scan at the Penang Adventist Hospital, and after two minutes of me talking and working with her, being calm and ready for the treatment. The Doctor who had Bells Palsy, with zero percent movement in one side of her face to now having 88% movement, seeing her smile after 32 years, and the happiness on the face of her husband.

A member of the Southside Chamber of Commerce I belong to in London, asked me for help. Not for therapy, not for hypnosis, just to help her move her business along to the next level, to help her resolve a problem in a foreign country. To coach her, guide her.

I helped her by listening to her, finding her strengths and weaknesses, by helping her come up with her own solutions, but where she did not have the expertise, finding that for her, or just spending a little time, not for finacial gain, but giving my time.

Over lunch recently, I sat next to a highly respected business person, having served his community beyond what was expected of him, but now he wanted to stand back, to take things easy, to do his own things what he wanted to do. The relief on his face, his posture change within a few minutes when I got him to solve his own dilemma.

Did I charge them a fee? No. My payback was seeing them move forward.

Yes, sometimes my way, my generosity bites back at me. Sometimes I am taken advantage of, sometimes I am used, sometimes I am stabbed in the back, sometimes agreements are broken, because of the greed of people chasing money. I wish those people well.

So, if you need a costume, a dress, a suit designed, created, made, why not call or visit Pearline Banton in London who has a wealth of experience in delivering quality designs, patterns and clothes. Just take a look, no matter where you are in the world at Pearline Banton (click to visit web site) and see what she can do for you.

SSCC

Slingbox to Telewest TVDrive

2010-02-06T11:30:00Z

I love gadgets and to be able to watch UK TV when I am travelling around the world.

I am a firm lover of Slingbox, as I travel abroad a lot and watch UK TV in the hotels via my PC. I also have a home in Malaysia, and with Sling Turbo and Sling Catcher, I can watch UK TV on my 32" Malaysian TV. OK, when I sit down to watch TV in Malaysia in the evening it is early morning in the UK (8 hours difference).

The problem arose when I was say in Turkey and wanted to watch BBC1 and my wife was in the UK home wanting to watch ITV1, two different channels, there would be a fight as I changed the channel and she changed it back.

To overcome the above I rent a second cable box from Virgin Media which is dedicated to the original Slingbox Clasic.

I decided to experiment with the newer Sling Media Solo attached to the other Virgin Media (TeleWest) TVDrive cable box.

I have my TV connected to the TVDrive via the HDMI cable. That leaves output available from the TVDrive to the Singbox Solo via the SCART (A/V, SD), S-Video, or Component (SD) outlets, and I spent even more money on more cables to try to get remote viewing via the PC working.

I could obtain a very acceptable video and audio signal on my PC remotely, and from my remote PC, control the TVDrive cable box back home, i.e. turn the cable box on and off, BUT, there is no text overlay, i.e. menu, information, shown on the PC when hitting the remote control on my PC, YET, the text overlay appears on the TV back at home.

The answer so far is before leaving home switch the output on the TVDrive to SCART, but then my wife complains about the quality of picture she is watching on the home TV.

Result?

Not the answer. Back to the drawing board.

Great product, great service from Sling Media, but I cannot believe I am the first one to have this problem.

Interview Skills

2010-02-02T11:34:00Z

Being a member of The Kingston upon Thames Rotary Club gives me great pleasure and enjoyment. The idea of Service above Self, being able to give back to the community, to other people, what I have in my portfolio of life experience gives me great joy.

Today, I had the honour to be asked to be part of a small team of Rotarians to visit a local school (The Richard Chandler School), to give mock interviews to 16 year old pupils, so that they can prepare themselves for life outside school, to experience and to gain knowledge of what to expect when being interviewed for a place at university, for a job, and to give feedback on how they did.

Just to listen to a young man who wished to become a creative writer, but failed to mention that he was already doing this on the internet as a so called game, because he thought it was not important, to draw out of another the fact that he manages a young football team, coaching them and leading their training sessions every week, to listen to one saying that he did not think he was sporty because he did not play football or rugby yet was a member of a swimming club, going swimming three times a week, and the enthusiasm of a young man who liked horror movies, yet the more I asked and drew him out, I realised that he did not just look at the film but analyzed what was really being said below the surface, (click to understand) the social messages being given.

I trust my little effort has helped them on their road, to point out to sell themselves, to prepare themselves, and to give them an experience.

I love my work.

Visiting and seeing old friends

2010-01-31T07:35:00Z

Travel, means that I meet new people in different countries, but also I meet old friends too.

A very quick visit to Istanbul allowed me to return to a fantastic eating place, La Cantine very near to the historic underground train at Tunel and the terminus of the famous Taxim Hill tram.

La Cantine near Tunel with the Taxim Hill Tram in Istanbul
La Cantine offers a unique wrap, where you can choose a multitude of ingredients.

La Cantine Menu, Istanbul
As soon as I walked in, even after I think two years I was greeted like an old friend, and my favourite wrap was prepared for me, perhaps because I choose strange mixtures.

Sometimes old friends come to my home towns, and I look forward to being with Mehpare Kileci of GAP Danışmanlık, and her family in London. Mama Mia.

CT Scan from the Penang Adventist Hospital, I give you my heart.

2010-01-21T06:10:13Z

I had been to the Penang Adventist Hospital the previous day for a CT Scan on my heart. Now it was time to collect the results.

So, I give you my heart.

The heart of Phillip Holt seen from the front view

CT Scan stands for Computerized Tomography(CT) or Computerized Axial Tomography(CAT).

The 64-slice CT scan imaging method, produces a series of pictures, only two of mine is shown above and below out of hundreds, that are then reconstructed by using computer into cross-sectional views. Then doctors can view parts of the body they were never able to see before. The GE LightSpeed VCT Scanner (64-slice) installed in the Penang Adventist Hospital can capture this information in about 5 seconds. the system creating 64 credit card-thin images, totaling 40 millimeters of anatomical coverage. These images are combined to form a 3D (three-dimensional) view of the patient’s heart or other selected part of the body, for the doctors to view and analyze.

The images are captured onto a computer, which the doctors can now store in a databank, disc or CD for future viewing and reference, and for me to keep and to take back to Dr Tan and my own doctor in the UK for a diagnosis.

They did not make sense to me, but I made a visit to Queensbay Shopping Mall, and the Borders (MY) bookshop, and a book presented itself to me, The South Beach Heart Heath Revolution, by Arthur Agatston, M.D.

Firstly let me explain what was in the report, not the actual report but the pictures which were captured of my heart, perhaps this will help you understand your heart.

At the top of the above picture showing my heart is the main aorta leading from the heart

There are four main chambers to the heart, the upper two chambers are the left and right atrium, and the lower two chambers are the left and right ventricles. The atrias supply blood to the ventricles, whilst the right ventricle pumps the blood into the lungs, and the left ventricle pumps blood into the blood circulation system (systemic circulation) through the aorta for the rest of the body.

So, the oxygen poor blood enters the right atrium and is the pumped into the right ventricle, from there through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood is enriched with oxygen, and the carbon dioxide removed. This newly oxygenated blood is now sent by the pulmonary veins to the left atrium then to the main pump the left ventricle.

Various one way valves are in the heart, thus allowing one directional flow of blood.

Stay with me, I know you will find this interesting and could one day save your life.

As blood enters the aorta artery, the light coloured tube at the top of my heart above. it is directed to coronary arteries, these look like roots of a plant in the picture above surrounding the heart and these supply the heart with blood and oxygen.

A heart attack occurs when one of these arteries is blocked for more than twenty minutes, thus depriving that part of the heart on blood and oxygen, so that part dies. Should sufficient amount of heart muscle die, then there will be insufficient pressure to supply the body and this will result in heart failure, it could also mean that the lungs cannot send the oxygenated blood out, making breathing difficult.

The heart of Phillip Holt seen from another angle showing the (LAD) or

left anterior descending, with the stent shown in white. Further problems shown

in the first diagonal, plagues, again showing in white

The above picture shows the left coronary artery with the stent I had inserted three years ago shown as two white lines, and with a branch coming off known as the first diagonal, showing more problems, plaques, again shown in white.

There are many more pictures in the whole CT Scan, showing the whole of my heart, and I wanted to share the above with you to give an insight to the human body normally unseen. I am not giving a diagnosis on my own body as I am not medically trained.

Until I had my wake-up call in Antalya, I was I considered, a relatively healthy person, yes overweight, somewhat unfit, but I knew of nothing unduly wrong with me, apart from sweating to much and a few aches and pains, just that I was like my old RX7 car, needing a little care and attention.

Do you know if there are problems in your body?

I will next tell you about the book The South Beach Heart Heath Revolution, by Arthur Agatston, M.D.

My articles may help you, to look at your lifestyle, your own body, and if it does, I have done my job.

CT Scan at the Penang Adventist Hospital

2010-01-21T00:37:00Z

Back in March 2007 I wrote in my blog Monday, the day before my birthday, how I had to under go an angioplasty, that is to have a stent inserted into a constricted artery in my heart. A common procedure.

Previously I had noticed that I was sweating a lot, especially after a long walk, and at that time I when I was working in Istanbul I was staying at a place called Tunel and then walking up to Taxim Square, a twenty minute or so walk. It was a walk I used to enjoy, but was beginning to find I did not want to do, only to arrive in the course with my shirt soaking wet.

I was asked to give a course in Antalya in the South of Turkey by the sea, and my translator at the time, Asuman Yildirim, decided to learn scuba diving in the evenings. I am a Master Diver with over 600 dives under my weight belt, and my metaphors in class obviously was an inspiration for her to take up the hobby. On her qualifying dive I joined her and her instructor, only for my world to turn up side down, literally, I had to abort my dive.

Getting back to the UK, I went to my doctor to checkout my little ailments, and after cardiovascular stress tests and angiogram, I was given the stent, and tablets to take for the rest of my life.

I listened to what the medical professionals had to say what was happening to me, and thought I understood, but really it was like the Energy Saving Lamps articles, all I knew was at the surface level, I did not really understand.

Yes, I was modifying my life style, eating differently, difficult when staying in hotels, eating in restaurants in foreign countries, not knowing what I was eating. I tried to modify my daily exercise by walking more, doing exercises.

I had an idea why, because exercise helps you loose weight and strengthens the heart, and eating good food helps stop the fatty food, cholesterol entering the blood system, thus clogging the heart.

Then there were all these good fats, bad fats, trans fats, triglycerides, HDL's, LDL's, plaque, lipids, cholesterol, hypertension, high blood pressure, figures and measurements that just meant nothing to me.

All I knew was there was something wrong, I had procedure which involved placing a stent in my heart which widened the artery.

It was as if I was looking at the white Energy Saving Lamp, not knowing what was inside or how things work.

As I monitored my own health, my well being, I began to notice changes, I had slowed down, at one time I noticed my short term memory had gone due to the drugs I was taking then, and I had aches and pains, one in the right side of my neck. Just a dull pain, like a stiff neck after a bad nights sleep.

I sometimes got an indigestion pain from eating too many cashew nuts or too much beef, (yes I am strange), and as I reported these to my doctor in the UK, my medication was modified. But I felt like a hypochondriac, always having something wrong with me. I was like my old Mazda RX7, getting on in years, a collectors item, worth its weight in gold, but bits and pieces wearing out and needing replacing.

My visits to Malaysia with the high temperature and humidity makes my ankles and feet swell, not an uncommon symptom for non tropical climate living visitors I am told, but when I mentioned something else, I was taken, against my wishes, to a local doctor, Doctor Tan Hong Ping of the Pusat Pakar Union practice in Alma, Bukit Mertajam.

Dr Tan listened to my story and put my mind at rest, along with others, but suggested that I should have a CT Scan on my heart at the Penang Adventist Hospital, just to see if anything was wrong there.

A starvation diet was requested, well no food after 12 midnight, for my 9am appointment. A quick check of my blood pressure and heart rate, which needed to be slowed down a fraction, then it was into the CT Scan room.

A very simple procedure, just to have an intravenous drip placed into the arm to feed a dye into the blood stream, which will then show- up on the CT Scan, it as a matter of just to lie there and follow instructions.

An arch was remotely moved into position over my chest, with its internal components spinning round, and the instruction to hold my breath three times was given. The only uncomfortable part was when the dye was pumped into my blood stream, this gave a warm sensation in my ears and the same warm sensation in my private parts. Interesting.

That was it, let the computer do the rest, to give a three dimensional representation of my heart, and for me to go back the next day and get the results.

So of we went, to visit Queensbay Shopping Mall, the Borders (MY) bookshop, and for a book to present itself, to jump off the shelf, I was not even looking for a book on that subject, consciously that is, that will change your life. Those who have taken my PhotoReading course will understand.

Train Spotting - Malaysia

2010-01-20T10:08:00Z

For my train spotting follows, here are a few pictures of the main West Coast line in Malaysia, taken at the Bukit Mertajam station.

The heavy rail system mostly carries freight and runs on narrow gauge tracks, that is track of 1,000 mm or 3 ft 3³⁄₈ in, compared to standard gauge tracks of 1,435 mm or 4 ft 8¹⁄₂ in.

Malaysian Freight Engine in Bukit Mertajam station. Narrow gauge track
Being much narrower, the trains seems ready to topple over at any time to me.

Malaysian Freight Train TG Piandang 26112, Bukit Mertajam
The Malaysian Peninsular railway also links into the Thai State Rail System, a wonderful journey I took in the 1980's from Bangkok down into Malaysia, over twenty-four hours, with wonderful views of paddy fields, temples, tropical scenes to dream about, all undertaken at a very slow speed.

At the moment there is mostly a single track laid, but this is in the process of being upgraded to a dual track arrangement.