The redesign means that now advertisers and editorial content are more evenly distributed throughout the magazine, proving advantageous to all.

Do keep on letting our advertisers know that you saw their advert in The Sentinella magazine. We owe our success to our readers, for always keeping this in mind, and for staying so loyal over the last five-and-a-half years (doesn’t time fly?!)

A big thumbs-up to Kami and Tony Knight for making the magazine look so good this month. It was a lot of extra work for them, re-jigging everything, so let’s make it clear that we’re all grateful for the effort. All together now – “thanks Kami and Tony!!”

From next month onwards there will be a new monthly article in The Sentinella, called ‘Mind, Body, Spirit’. Recently, a few people emailed to thank me for writing about such issues in the monthly editorials, and one or two suggested a page dedicated to these topics. So from the March edition onwards, look out for the ‘Mind, Body, Spirit’ section. It may open your eyes to some of the important elements of life that we often forget amidst the stress and hardships.

Note that we’re now on Facebook and Twitter. Follow us on Twitter @The_Sentinella, or @Keidi_Keating. Our Facebook fan page is called ‘The Sentinella Axarquia’, so hopefully we’ll see you there!

We have some real treats in store for our readers this coming year, so keep looking at our website, our monthly newsletter, and of course this rib-tickling little mag. After all, you don’t want to miss out on anything!

Check out The Sentinella website on http://www.TheSentinella.com

Is it just me, or has Mr Frost paid a trip to Spain this last few weeks? As I sit here writing this I am wearing three jumpers, have the heater cranked up full blast, am sipping a cup of char, and I can STILL feel the chill in the air.

Oh well, only a few months of the cold weather left, before summer takes our hand and leads us into warmer days.

As I write this, I’m feeling rather excited because I have recently discovered ‘subliminal messaging’ software for my computer. I simply set this to play all the time I’m tapping away and short messages flash across the screen every two seconds. The beauty of subliminal messaging is that you don’t need to consciously concentrate to read the messages. They are absorbed into the powerful subconscious and after 21-30 days the messages are accepted as reality in the brain. The info centre in our head literally hotwires these new beliefs, and the result manifests into your life days, weeks, or perhaps months later.

Considering all I have to do is hit ‘play’ every time I switch on my computer, there’s minimal effort on my part, yet maximum results.

The subliminal messages include sentences such as ‘I grow healthier every day’, ‘I choose to accumulate wealth’ and ‘I am amazing’. The beauty of most subliminal software is that you can also enter your own affirmations / beliefs and set them to flash across your screen in the order that you choose.

Coupled with goal setting, plus daily meditation and visualisations, it provides that last boost needed to change the results in your life.

A couple of books I’d recommend reading on the subject include ‘Having It All’ by John Assaraf, ‘Ask And It Is Given’ by Jerry and Esther Hicks, and ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’ by Robin Sharma. The latter book teaches the rules we should follow every day to enjoy a happy, fulfilling life, which is also on purpose.

It’s all very well setting New Year’s Resolutions, but if your beliefs are out of sync with what you commit to achieving, then sorry, but come January 15^th you will most likely join the masses as you break them for the tenth year running.

Try the daily recipe cocktail of mind enhancers above and by the end of the year you’ll see profound changes in your life. And from then on, every December you’ll KNOW that the resolutions you make for the coming year will definitely NOT be broken.

Handy Hint: Before your ‘beliefs’ have you dismissing the above as ‘rubbish’ or ‘yeah right, whatever’, why not try it first, hey!

Its funny how differently two nations (only two hours away by plane) celebrate! After dinner his family throw a huge party with loud music, dancing, karaoke singing and general silliness. It’s always a giggle and as you might have suspected, a lot of brandy does the rounds! Christmas Day is a much more tranquil event and not much celebrating goes on that day, as everyone is busy nursing their hangovers. New Year’s Eve is the next biggy and then before we know it Three King’s Day arrives.

When it comes to presents, my boyfriend and I tend to take advantage of the differing traditions so we enjoy TWO pressie days – Christmas Day when we fill stockings for one another and Three King’s Day when we fill shoes in the same way. Two Christmas’s in one. I’m certainly not complaining! This year we’d like to hear from our readers about any BIZARRE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS received. Whatever they happen to be, please share with our readers and email info@thesentinella.com

As for the New Year, I’m looking forward to the holiday of 2010 and a trip to Australia, spending some time in Melbourne and Sydney. That’s not until February, but we can’t wait to see kangaroos, koalas and of course the ozzies themselves (plus a couple of British friends who have moved there). The thought of spending three weeks on a different continent is particularly appealing, as is being on the opposite side of the world! Speaking of new starts and excitement, the current incarnation of The Sentinella website will be launched sometime in December. We can’t promise an exact date as yet, but it will definitely be complete by the end of 2009, all ready for the dawn of a New Year. We have some really exciting things happening in 2010, so do stay tuned!

My publishers have compared it to Bridget Jones’ Diary and my first radio interview can be accessed via my blog, www.Sol-Searching.com. You’ll also find articles and interviews on an array of websites, including www.absoluteaxarquia.com, www.seabreezespain.com and  www.inmalagatoday.com I’d like to thank these website owners for their kindness and support. 

Sol Searching is now available to purchase online at www.Amazon.com or www.Amazon.co.uk priced 9.99GBP / 12 Euros. Alternatively buy a copy from The Sentinella stall at the Tuesday Farmer’s Market, El Trapiche, or from Arkwright’s main store, in Puente don Manuel. Or if you want a more personal touch email info@thesentinella.com and I’ll sign one for you, ready for collection at the Farmers Market in Trapiche. Sol Searching would make a great Christmas gift, or why not just self indulge and receive a healthy bout of the feel-good factor just because you deserve it?!  

Local author Joanna Styles, who has written several books on relocation and Spain, said the following about Sol Searching: “Escaping the hamster wheel of daily life in your home country is the stuff of dreams for millions. Keidi Keating is one of those who turned the dream into reality. Choosing to cut all ties with her life in London, Keidi moved lock, stock and barrel to southern Spain. Five years later and she’s still there .As Keidi quickly discovers, life in Spain isn’t all a bed of rosas. Even on the sun-drenched Costa del Sol, it can pour with rain, jobs are few and far between and well-paid ones almost non-existent. The expat community is a weird mix and making lasting friendships can be as frustrating as finding a good job. But if you stick it out and Keidi does, Spain is a land of opportunities. After five years on her Spanish roller coaster, Keidi has found plenty.

Moving abroad is probably one of the most challenging things life can throw at you, but with perseverance, the right attitude and a bit of luck, it’s also one of life’s most rewarding as Keidi finds out. This refreshing and light-hearted look at relocation is a welcome addition to the many books on Spain. Enjoy!”

There’s more about Sol Searching later on in this issue I’d love to know what you think of it, especially as I’m toying over the idea of a part two!

Anyway the clock has just struck twelve and I’m still in front of the keyboard. My bed is calling…

Here’s the entry for October 09:

I’ve just returned from a 12 day trip to the UK, home for 24 years of my life. Normally when I return from London I feel totally downtrodden. And it’s no wonder. There’s the cold, the wind, the greyness, the stress, the yobs, plus the fact that I usually catch a bug on EasyJet from the serial sneezer sitting next to me.

This time, however, I loved my break. And there was one thing which made all the difference. Seminars! Now, there’s something about that word which immediately raises the word “boring” to mind. Nevertheless, I prefer to see seminars as opportunities to learn, grow and network with like-minded people.

The first seminar I attended was called The Ultimate Marketing Seminar, a Christopher Howard event, located in London. Held over three days, the world’s top ten internet marketers gathered under one roof to divulge the secrets of their trade, and all for FREE.

Amongst them was the number one Ebay seller in the world, who has made millions selling billiards tables and cashing in hugely on the deliberate mis-spelling of the word ‘billiards’. I learnt plenty more cool ideas and tried and tested formulas too, all of which I may be good enough to share with you over the months ahead. For example, there was the guy who made millions selling property guide ebooks online. Most of the countries he wrote about he has never even stepped foot in! Is that impressive, or what?!

Seminar two was more like a mini-course, about coaching. I spent two days learning the ropes, so that I can help other people improve their lives via asking them the right questions.

Lastly, I spent one day at a Writing and Publishing Conference in Kingston, which was fantastic timing as I’m just about ready to send my latest novel, The Path, to a collection of publishers and agents. The information I learnt there was absolutely priceless and I’m now confident about how to write an irresistible synopsis and introduction letter.

Aside from all the seminars I met untold friends, visited my ninety-five-year-old Nan and spent time sunbathing (yes, really!)

Now that I’m back in Spain, and all the tourists have cleared off, it seems a bit dead in contrast to London. Needless to say, I’m already planning my next trip back.

Keidi Keating

Editor