Recipe: endive au gratin

Belgian endive, also known as chicory and witloof, is a refreshingly versatile vegetable. This is one of the most traditional ways to prepare endive.

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS: 4 heads endive; 8 slices ham; 50 ml butter; 50 ml flour; 750 ml milk (3 c) or a mixture of milk and cream; pinch of nutmeg; salt and freshly ground pepper; 30 ml (2 T) wholegrain mustard; 50 g mozzarella cheese, grated.

METHOD: Preheat the oven to 180 C. Trim about 2 cm from the base of the endives and halve them. Wrap a slice of ham around each half. Heat the butter and add the flour. Stir for 1 minute and add the milk or milk and cream mixture. Stir until a white sauce forms. Season with the nutmeg, salt, pepper and wholegrain mustard. Arrange the wrapped endives in an ovenproof dish and pour over the white sauce. Scatter the cheese on top and bake for about 30-40 minutes. Serve with green salad.

TIP
Mature cheese, smoked meat, bacon and creamy sauces are the ideal companions for Belgian endive.

Tips for a good holiday

YOU advice columnist Dr Louise has these ideas for making the most of your annual break.

BUDGET
Going overseas may sound great but maxing out your credit card will cause stress.

TAKE TIME
That doesn’t mean a long holiday. A short break can be as good if you don’t cram in too many activities.

CHOOSE WELL
Don’t go overseas if you’re tired. Dealing with the unfamiliar is tiring. This isn’t conducive to relaxing.

STAY HOME
Don’t feel deprived if you can’t afford to go away. But this isn’t the time to renovate the house. Plan fun things you don’t usually do.

GO CAMPING
It’s affordable, kids will make friends and you’ll experience the healing effects of being quiet in nature.

“ME” TIME
Don’t fill your break with lots of family time. You also need nurturing after a tough year.

DITCH THE PHONE
It’s a link to stress. Sort out a landline for emergencies and communicate face to face.

RECUPERATE
Destress with psychologically beneficial holidays:

- Soak up the sun. Sunlight raises serotonin levels in the brain, creating feelings of wellbeing and relaxation. Remember to protect your skin with sunscreen.

- Be active. It doesn’t mean don’t rest but some exercise causes your body to secrete endorphins, natural feel-good hormones.

- Have the right fun. Socialising all the time might be fun for some but not for you. Think carefully and plan holiday activities to suit yourself too.

- Don’t let your holiday become a chore. It should be a time to do the things you most enjoy and that you tend not to have time for during the year.

Juggling keeps brain alert

Learning to juggle - at any age - can cause positive changes in the brain, UK neuroscientists have found. Oxford University’s department of clinical neurology found juggling caused changes in the bundle of nerve fibres that carry electrical signals between cells and connect various areas of the brain, boosting overall brain power. The findings show the brain remains adaptable beyond childhood. Juggling was chosen for the experiment because it’s a difficult motor skill to master - researchers say the same principle applies to any similar task, including doing crosswords.

HIDDEN SALT
Gherkins, pickled onions, capers and artichokes are preserved in brine, which contains a lot of salt - something you should keep in mind when putting these items in your supermarket trolley. If possible, rinse them before eating to get rid of excess salt and have them as a treat, not an everyday snack - particularly if you have high blood pressure.

Book reviews

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Geraldine Brooks (R139,95, HarperCollins)
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Charlene Rolls

Hanna Heath restores rare books and is thrilled when given the chance to work on the Sarajevo Haggadah, an ancient Jewish text. Between the centuries-old pages she discovers part of an insect’s wing, a red wine stain, a white hair and salt, among other things.

The history of each find is explored in a new chapter and we see how people risked their lives to save the book. For example, a Venetian priest spilt the drop of wine during the Inquisition in the 1600s when anything Jewish was destroyed. The chapters alternate between Hanna’s work and the story of how the book survived through the years, going back as far as 1480.

The book is richly layered and reads almost like a collection of short stories. It’s a fascinating journey into the past, across continents and through various social upheavals.

DEAD UNTIL DARK by Charlaine Harris (R199,95, Orion)
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Claire Reddie

Violent, sex-crazed vampires have come out of the coffin thanks to a synthetic drink that satisfies their lust for blood. And as they try to find their niche and blend into mainstream society relationships between humans and vamps blossom and tension mounts. Add into the mix that many people are less than thrilled to have the undead as neighbours and you’re in for a thrilling adventure.

Set in hillbilly country in Louisiana, it’s the first book in Charlaine Harris’ series that inspired the popular TV series True Blood. Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time waitress who falls passionately in love with Bill, a tall, dark and handsome vampire. As well as dealing with her feelings for Bill she must avoid becoming the next victim of a psycho serial killer.

Superb, thrilling reading. Although not as explicit as the TV series it’s still strictly for adults only.

Laugh a little

KIDS’ PERSPECTIVE
“Donald, what’s the chemical formula for water?” the teacher asks.
“H I J K L M N O,” Donald replies.
“What are you talking about?”
“Yesterday you said it was H to O.”

“Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn’t have 10 years ago,” the teacher asks.
To which Winnie replies, “Me!”

“Glen, why do you always get so dirty?” the teacher asks.
“Well, I’m a lot closer to the ground than you are,” he replies.

“Mary, tell me honestly, do you say prayers before eating?” the teacher asks.
“No sir, I don’t have to - my mom is a good cook.”

“Johnnie, your composition on ‘My dog’ is exactly the same as your brother’s. Did you copy his?” the teacher asks.
“No, sir. It’s the same dog.”

“Wendy, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?” the teacher asks.
“A teacher.”

Recipe: chicken with caramelised onion

This week Joburg décor expert Melanie Robinson shares recipes with a Middle-Eastern flavour including this one.

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS: 1 onion, chopped; 60 ml oil; large pinch saffron threads; 5 ml (1 t) ground ginger; 5 ml (1 t) ground cinnamon; 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces; salt and pepper to taste; 500 g baby onions, peeled; 30 ml (2 T) honey; toasted almonds for sprinkling on top.

METHOD: In a pan large enough to hold the chicken pieces in a single layer fry the chopped onion in the oil. Add the spices and mix. Arrange the chicken pieces in the pan. Season with salt and pepper and fry gently until browned all over. Add about 250 ml (1 c) water, cover, reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the baby onions and simmer for another25 minutes or until the meat is done and tender.

Remove the chicken pieces and stir in the honey. Simmer until most of the liquid evaporates and the onions are brown and caramelised. Sprinkle with almonds before serving.

TIP
To peel onions cover them with boiling water and leave to cool. The skins will be easy to remove; simply trim the ends.

Don’t ignore chest pain

People who receive care within 90 minutes of the onset of heart-attack symptoms fare better in recovery, a new US study says. If you have chest pain don’t make excuses or worry you may be making a fuss. See a doctor as soon as possible, especially if the pain is accompanied by pain down your arm, shortness of breath, dizziness or nausea.

SUGAR LINKED TO VIOLENCE
Allowing kids sugary treats whenever they want them will do more than rot their teeth. A UK study found 69 per cent of young adults convicted of offences involving violence reported they’d eaten sweets nearly every day during childhood. Researchers suggest several possible reasons, including that “difficult” kids might be given sweets to control their behaviour and regular intake leads to addiction to some additives which contributes to adult aggression. A favoured explanation is that giving sweets on demand might stop kids learning to delay gratification which leads to impulsive behaviour associated with delinquency.

KIDS IMAGINE AWAY PAIN
Their imagination is often so powerful kids can be taught to use it to tackle frequent bouts of stomach pain, according to new research in America. The study found methods such as listening to a relaxation CD that asked children to imagine themselves in scenarios such as floating on a cloud led to dramatic improvements in abdominal pain. Frequent stomach pain without an identifiable cause affects up to one in five children. Seventy-three per cent of the kids who used the CD reported their abdominal pain was much better by the end of the eight-week treatment course.

What to do when feeling threatened

BE ALERT
Stay in the here and now. Living in the present keeps you aware of your surroundings and helps you notice potential threats.

BE POSITIVE
Make an effort to think positive thoughts - it will help you walk more confidently, and confidence deters muggers.

DON’T STRESS
Take deep breaths. It will prevent you becoming anxious and make you focused.

BE CONFIDENT
If you’re confident but polite when faced with beggars and hawkers you’re less likely to invite aggression.

BE ALERT
Don’t stop thinking and being alert when you get into your car. Drive consciously.

Book reviews

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett (R200, Penguin)
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Charlene Rolls

This powerful novel, which won the Exclusive Books 2009 Boeke prize, focuses on three extraordinary woman. Aibileen is a black domestic worker who has raised 17 white children. Her best friend is Minny Jackson, a mom of four who can’t stop backchatting her bosses. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is the recently graduated daughter of a white cotton farmer and is unaware of the racial tension simmering in their town, Jackson, Mississippi. Together they do something so dangerous they could be jailed - or worse, killed. It’s a time in American history when black maids are treated terribly. They raise white women’s children but aren’t allowed to use the same toilet.

Skeeter helps the maids tell their stories and what unfolds is an amazing insight into the lives of “the help” and the women they serve. This is a tale of hope and bravery with a lot of relevance to our country’s history.

SLEEPER’S WAKE by Alistair Morgan (R190, Penguin)
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Tsholofele Segage-Modise

In his debut novel Alistair Morgan tells of a man dealing with immense tragedy after an accident strips him of his sense of being. John Wraith’s life revolves around his wife and daughter and he plans a holiday to see if he and his wife can conceive a second child. But he wakes up with a bad headache and memory loss and is told his precious family has been wiped out.

To deal with his loss John seeks refuge in his sister’s isolated cottage in Nature’s Valley and shuns human contact. Then he meets a family trying to overcome the violent death of their mom. It’s the teenage girl, Jackie, whose plight most touches his soul. As his relationship with the disturbed teenager deepens John is at the same time attracted to and repulsed by her and this leads to some unnerving soul-searching. This is a brutal yet brilliant examination of loss and obsession.

WIN
Three readers will each win a copy of Kathryn Stockett’s The Help. SMS the word HELP, your name and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 5 November 2009. Each SMS costs R2.

Laugh a little

Ever wonder?
- Why do we press harder on a remote control when the batteries are flat?

- Why do kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

- Why do people believe you when you say there are four billion stars but check when you say the paint is wet?

- What’s the speed of darkness?

- How did we succeed in putting man on the moon before discovering it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

- Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, “I think I’ll squeeze these pink dangly things here and drink whatever comes out?”

- Who was the first person to say, “See that chicken there? I’m going to eat the next thing that comes out of its bum.”

- Why do toasters have a setting so high it burns toast to a horrible crisp that no one will eat?

- Why is there a light in the fridge but not in the freezer?

- Why does a dog seem to dislike it when you blow in its face but sticks its head out the window in a car?

Recipe: apricot and walnut cake

Turn teatime into a special occasion with this week’s tried-and-tested cake recipes (YOU, 22 October). This cake is best when left to stand for two days, contains very little fat and is packed with fibre.

CAKE: 150 g dried apricots; 500 ml (2 c) rooibos tea; 300 ml caster sugar; 50 g walnuts, roughly chopped; rind and juice of half a lemon; 2 extra-large eggs; 250 ml (1 c) milk; 750 ml (3 c) self-raising flour; 2 ml (½ t) salt; 45 ml (3 T) butter, melted.

DECORATION: 125 ml (½ c) crème fraiche; apricots; finely chopped walnuts.

CAKE: Soak the apricots in the rooibos tea overnight. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and grease a 21 cm square cake tin. Line the base with baking paper. Drain and finely chop the apricots and mix with the sugar, walnuts and lemon rind and juice. Whisk together the eggs and milk. Sift together the flour and salt and add to the egg mixture, beating well. Add the melted butter to the batter and mix well. Turn the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour. Leave the cake to stand for a few minutes then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut the cake into squares.
DECORATION: Top each square with a little crème fraiche, apricots and a sprinkling of nuts.

Easy on the flipflops

Flipflops are great to wear at the beach or in the shower at the gym but that should be their only use if you don’t want to damage your feet, experts warn. Wearing flipflops regularly could be harmful as they offer too little support at the bridge of the foot. Your toes also have to grip the sandals to keep them on, putting extra strain on your foot and leg muscles, which can cause injuries.

CHALLENGE CANCER THROUGH CHORES
Do you enjoy doing housework? A new American study shows women who do household chores regularly can reduce their risk of getting breast cancer. Those who stay physically active after menopause are 17 per cent less likely to get cancer than their couch-potato sisters. Scientists say they could get the same benefit from moderately strenuous exercise such as gardening, walking, tennis, cycling, swimming and aerobics.

MILK SOOTHES FRAYED NERVES
Feeling stressed? Drink a glass of milk. Lactium, a protein in milk, has a calming effect on the body. It lowers your blood pressure and cortisol levels (cortisol is a hormone the body releases when you’re stressed). Chronic stress is linked to several conditions such as depression and cardiac disease. Researchers noticed more than 20 years ago that babies become calm when given milk but they surmise adults, with their more mature digestive systems, may have to drink more milk to enjoy the same benefits.

Reaching your exam goals

YOU advice columnist Dr Louise has this advice if you’re about to write exams.

PREPARE
Don’t bluff yourself you can function better under pressure and leave studying to the last minute. More pressure means greater stress.

TIME IT
The brain is more active and processes information faster in the morning. Two hours’ study in the morning equals four hours in the evening.

READ FIRST
Reading through material will help you process the information properly. Memorising the work is easier when you understand it.

USE ALL THE SENSES
Read aloud, visualise, demonstrate with your hands in the air - the more senses you use the easier it is for your brain to process and encode the material.

HAVE ATTITUDE
A positive, enthusiastic approach will help you focus and learn better.

BE PURPOSEFUL
Remind yourself your studies are excellent preparation for a good life and career.

REWARD YOURSELF
Enjoy small treats between study sessions - a TV show, a walk. The unconscious mind responds to rewards for work well done.

PREPARE YOUR BODY
1 Get enough sleep. Your brain uses sleep to organise mental material and embed it in the memory. Lack of good sleep makes it tough to focus and think creatively.

2 Exercise. The extra oxygen will help your brain function better. The endorphins released will make you feel good and help you stay enthusiastic about your studies.

3 Eat properly. Low blood sugar means tiredness and listlessness. High blood sugar means concentration problems. Eat healthily and regularly.

Book reviews

THE LOVERS by John Connolly (R184,95, Hodder & Stoughton)
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: André Brink
Private investigator Charlie Parker finds himself without a licence to operate and stripped of his right to carry a gun. With his career temporarily stalled he gets a job as barman and he uses this forced retirement to begin a personal investigation: to find the reason his father, NYPD policeman Will Parker, committed suicide hours after killing two unarmed teenage lovers.

Meanwhile a young woman is running away from an unholy threat, which has already taken the life of her boyfriend, and a writer is conducting his own investigation into Charlie Parker’s life with the aim of writing a nonfiction book about his exploits. All the time a mysterious duo - a young man and woman - shadow Parker.

The Lovers, like all previous Parker novels, is a dark thiller and might not be to everyone’s taste. But Connolly fans will love it.

HOW NOT TO SHOP by Carmen Reid (R115, Corgi)
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Claudia Pillay
The third and latest instalment of the Annie Valentine series is another winner. While even this fictional shopping paradise is hit by the recession this easy-to-read book is hard to put down. Step into the fashionable world of personal shopper Annie, who leaves her high-paying job and huge staff discount at The Store to become a makeover guru on a TV show. Although she’s super-excited about getting her big break there’s also her kid’s school fees to worry about, a boyfriend who’s broody, mother woes, a friend’s love child and a tight budget.

There are plenty of amazing fashion choices with fantastic descriptions which will have you rethinking your own wardrobe.

Fans of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series will especially love this frolic in retail heaven. It’s a fabulous holiday read which will have you laughing out loud.

Laugh a little

THE PRIEST’S WAY
On a flight home from overseas a priest is seated next to a young woman.

As the plane comes in to land she asks, “Father, may I ask a favour?”

“Of course, child,” he replies. “What may I do for you?”

“Well, I bought an expensive hairdryer for my mother for her birthday. It’s well over customs’ limits. I’m afraid they’ll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through customs for me, under your robes perhaps?”

“I’d love to help you but I must warn you: I will not lie.”

“With your honest face, Father, no one will question you.”

When they get to customs she lets the priest go ahead of her.

“Father, do you have anything to declare?” the official asks.

“From the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare,” he replies.

The official finds this answer strange and asks, “And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?”

“I have a marvellous instrument designed to be used by a woman but which, to date, is unused.”

Laughing out loud the official says, “Go ahead, Father. Next!”

Recipe: grilled fish with pear marmalade

Fish is good for you, tasty and easy to prepare. This week YOU features delicious recipes including this healthy dish of grilled whole fish with dried pear marmalade.

Serves 4 to 6

FISH
INGREDIENTS: 2 fish (eg jacopevers or snoek, gills and gut removed), scraped clean; lemon salt (see tip below).
METHOD: Rub the fish well inside and out with the lemon salt and place in the fridge for an hour. Place a few lemon slices in the gut cavity.

DRIED-PEAR MARMALADE
INGREDIENTS: 1 small onion, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 80 ml red wine vinegar; 100 g (250 ml) dried pears, cut in strips; 125 ml rooibos tea; 60-80 ml sugar; 2 sprigs fresh rosemary; 2 bay leaves.
METHOD: Place the ingredients in a small saucepan and boil until most of the liquid has evaporated and the pears are soft. Remove the rosemary. Set aside.

TO COOK
INGREDIENT: olive oil flavoured with garlic cloves.

METHOD
OVEN: Preheat oven to 180 C. Place the whole fish on a well-oiled baking sheet and sprinkle well with garlic oil. Cook for 20-35 minutes or until just done, depending on the size of the fish.

GRIDDLE PAN: Cut the fish into fillets. Heat the griddle pan until very hot, brush with oil and cook the fish for 2-3 minutes on each side, sprinkling with garlic oil while grilling.

BRAAI: Keep the fish whole. Place skin side down on a hot, well-oiled grid and braai high over the coals until done. Sprinkle often with garlic oil.

Serve with mashed sweet potato topped with a spoonful of dried-pear marmalade and a rocket salad sprinkled with a little olive oil and lemon juice.

TIP: To make lemon salt, finely grate the rind of 5 lemons. Spread on baking paper on a baking sheet and dry completely in the oven at 100 C. Cool and process in a food processor. Mix with coarse sea salt in the ratio 1 part lemon rind to 3 parts salt and process until very fine. Store in an airtight container with a sprig of rosemary.

Positively chubby

Are you very optimistic? That could reduce your chances of losing weight. People who are “fat and happy” tend to respond worse to slimming programmes, Japanese research shows. Some negativity can be good if you want to slim because it causes you to worry more about your health and appearance.

BELLY DANCING KEEPS YOU FIT AND TRIM
Belly dancing is sexy, fun and a wonderful way to get fit. And that’s not all. During an hour-long class you can burn up to 1 250 kilojoules, depending on the intensity of the dancing. Along with a healthy eating plan it’s a safe and effective way of losing weight and not putting it on again. Because the dance movements are calming and you need to concentrate it also reduces stress.

Helping traumatised kids

Trauma counsellor and YOU columnist DEBBIE ROZOWSKY says children should be reassured and made to feel secure - especially at night.

- Be verbal. When the child’s in her room chat in a normal voice to her from your room. She’ll realise you can hear her if she needs you.

- Lighten up. Install a nightlight in the room if your child needs to cope with anxiety.

- Provide company. Let your child keep a pet in the room if it makes her feel safer. This doesn’t have to be permanent.

- Children might feel safer sharing a room with a sibling for a while or when their parents keep their bedroom door open.

Book reviews

TURBULENCE by Giles Foden (R189,95, Faber&Farber)
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Kevin Jacobs

The short-term fate of a vast military force waiting to cross the English Channel in the first week of June 1944 depended less on the defenders of Hitler’s Fortress Europe than on something far more complex: weather. If it were to succeed in its D-Day operation the biggest invading army ever gathered needed the right weather conditions. To ensure an accurate forecast British and American war planners need the best scientific minds. But the best in his field has become a pacifist recluse. Someone has to find him, befriend him and persuade him to cooperate.

As he did in The Last King of Scotland, Giles Foden uses a background of historical truth to paint a clever and original story. Through the narration of a bright young meteorologist, he weaves science, suspense, history and human adventure into a thoroughly satisfying and original read.

WIN!
Three readers will each win a copy of Giles Foden’s Turbulence. SMS the word TURBULENCE, your name and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 22 October 2009. Each SMS costs R2.

TO HEAVEN BY WATER by Justin Cartwright (R210, Bloomsbury)
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Kim Van Reizig

His wife recently died but ageing news anchor David Cross isn’t particularly sad. In fact he sees her death as an opportunity to immerse himself in London’s modern culture and ultimately find himself.

Not liking what he sees he heads to the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa to spend time with his long-lost brother, Guy, who leads an existence completely opposite to David’s - one in which materialism has no place. Here David is able to discover what is truly important in life.

It’s an often grim look into the life of a man who has had to lose a loved one to finally start living. His star status as a TV personality and new-found freedom often lead him astray morally but it’s the honesty in which the story is told by this South African-born author that makes this novel both compelling and memorable.

Laugh a little

THE PREACHER’S SALARY
The preacher’s wife is expecting their first baby so he asks the congregation for a raise. After much consideration and discussion they decide that every time the preacher’s family expands so will his pay.

All goes well but after six children the congregants find the preacher’s salary is becoming unaffordable so they hold another meeting to discuss the matter.

After many members have had their say about how much the clergyman’s growing family is costing the church the preacher gets up to state his side of the case.

“Remember, children are a gift from God,” he says.

Silence falls on the congregation. Then a little old lady in the back of the hall gets up and says in a frail voice, “Rain is also a gift from God but when we find we’re getting too much we have to wear raincoats.”

Recipe: sweetcorn soufflé

You can do a lot with canned foods. Keep a selection in the pantry and you’ll always have enough for a quick meal - including this tasty dish which is perfect as a braai side dish.

Serves 4 to 6.

INGREDIENTS: 15 ml (1 T) butter, melted; 4 extra-large eggs; 30 ml (2 T) sugar; 60 ml self-raising flour; pinch of salt; 1 litre (4 c) milk; 2 cans (415 g each) sweetcorn.

METHOD: Preheat the oven to 200 C. Grease a medium ovenproof dish or 4 to 6 ramekins with melted butter and set aside. Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl and add the sugar. Beat for a few minutes. Stir the flour and salt into the egg and beat for a few minutes. Add the milk, stir well and add the sweetcorn. Pour into the prepared dish when well mixed. Bake for an hour or until done and well risen. Serve with braaivleis and a salad.

Enjoy a red-blooded old age

Thought steak was bad for you? Not entirely. A Japanese study says eating red meat every two days during middle age significantly lowers the risk of impaired physical function when older. Researchers looked at protein-rich eggs and fish and noted no significant impact compared with meat. They say eating meat regularly could help preserve muscle mass and the increased protein intake might also assist older people to continue with an active lifestyle.

IT’S RAINING GERMS
Your morning shower is meant to leave you squeaky clean but it might be dousing you with potentially dangerous bacteria. In a US study researchers found almost half of used showerheads had high levels of Mycobacterium avium, which can cause infection when inhaled or swallowed.

The bacterium affects the lungs and causes symptoms such as a persistent dry cough, breathlessness and fatigue and especially affects people with compromised immune systems such as those with HIV and lung diseases.

While this isn’t serious for most people researchers suggest that those who are vulnerable should change their showerheads at least once a year or opt for bathing.

How to deal with addiction

The pleasure you might get from alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs is nothing compared with the damage and harm these substances cause, says YOU advice columnist Dr Louise. Here are her tips for dealing with addiction:

1 Admit it! It’s only when you admit to addictions that you can be helped. They’re often genetic and it takes more than willpower to overcome them.

2 Don’t kid yourself. You’re affected if you indulge only occasionally. If it impacts negatively on your life you have a problem.

3 Don’t fudge. Don’t think you can drink, drug or gamble “just a little” and be fine. Being addicted “a little” can get you hooked.

4 Get help. Seeking professional help doesn’t make you a failure. It means you’re courageous and wise.

5 Go to rehab. Outpatient treatment isn’t very effective. Rehab treats the physical and emotional ramifications of addiction.

6 Notice others. Your loved ones suffer when you destroy yourself. Stop for their sake too.

7 It’s up to you. Don’t shirk responsibility for stopping or blame others for your addiction. Only you can make yourself quit.

HOW TO AVOID BECOMING ADDICTED
1 Be sensible. If you gamble don’t do it often and always set a sensible limit beforehand on the amount you will risk. That way you’ll stay safe.

2 Avoid the wrong stuff. Don’t take drugs except for medical reasons. If you’re not informed and take even one hit of a substance that’s wrong for your body it could kill you.

3 Set limits. If you enjoy alcohol restrict your intake to recommended limits and never drive after you’ve been drinking.

Good reads

CHASTENED: NO MORE SEX IN THE CITY by Hephzibah Anderson (Random House Struik, R215)
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Claudia Pillay

Smart and thought-provoking, this memoir is something many women will relate to, especially those looking for love. Chastened is thirtysomething Hephzibah’s personal story about how she decides to seek love without sex. Like many modern women she’s disillusioned after too many instances of mistaking a casual hook-up for something more. So she decides to take sex off the table completely and sets off on a quest to be romanced.

She flirts, enjoys lingering looks and passionate embraces - all without sex. What the reader gets is a month-to-month account of how she fares in her newfound modesty. The writing is poetic and peppered with plenty of recognisable references to popular culture as well as some older, more obscure words of wisdom from philosophers. The story makes you think twice about your own attempts to find love. Plenty of food for thought here.

THE LOST SYMBOL by Dan Brown (Bantam Press, R295)
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: André J Brink

Fans have had a long wait for the follow-up to the mega-bestselling The Da Vinci Code. So has it been worth it? Well, yes and no. Yes, The Lost Symbol is another fast-paced thriller in which our hero, Dr Robert Langdon, has to solve riddle upon riddle. This time he’s in search of a Masonic treasure - the Lost Word, the key to the Ancient Mysteries which is apparently buried somewhere in Washington.

His adversary is a killer named Mal’akh - a heavily tattooed, hairless man who neutered himself. He sends Langdon an “invitation” to join him in his search in the form of the severed hand of his friend and mentor, Peter Solomon. On Langdon’s side is Peter’s brilliant scientist sister, Katherine.

As a thriller The Lost Symbol satisfies but it is no Da Vinci Code. And I doubt we will see the same hysteria that surrounded Brown’s radical vision of Jesus and Mary Magdalene repeated with Freemasonry.

Laugh a little

*The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference - he acquired his size from too much pi.

*She was only a whisky maker but he loved her still.

*The clumsy butcher bumped into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

*No matter how much you push the envelope it will still be stationery.

*A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was fined for littering.

*Two silkworms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

*Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

*A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. Police are looking into it.

*Atheism is a non-prophet organisation.

*A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab: “Keep off the grass.”

*The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

*When cannibals ate a missionary they got a taste of religion.

*Don’t join dangerous cults - practise safe sects!