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A
helping hand to Thalassaemia victims Mr. Buxton has
designed many flower festivals and helped to raise thousands of
pounds for charity with his demonstrations. He has won numerous
prizes such as the RHS gold medal in 1988 at Wembley. He was the
designer of the Chelsea 2003 NAFAS (U.K.) exhibit and led his team
to special victory with a unanimous decisions from the 14 judges
to award the Gold Medal. Tickets for
the demonstrations and workshops are available at the Hotel Galadari
reception and Pearlrich, Crescat. The significance
of this Floral Fiesta is that, part of the proceeds from the workshop
and demonstrations will be utilised for the benefit of child victims
of Thalassaemia. Thalassaemia is a genetically transmitted condition,
which is still incurable. Thalassaemia makes people ill because
the inadequacy of red blood cells results in the lack of sufficient
oxygen the body requires. There are at least a thousand victims
in Sri Lanka primarily from the North-Western, Central, North Central
and Uva provinces. These patients require frequent blood transfusions
and daily injection of drugs through infusion pumps. The National Hospital of Kurunegala maintains a special ward for victims of Thalassaemia. There is also a Thalassaemia Association in Kurunegala to increase awareness and understanding of the disease among parents, patients and the public. Life
is for real And what about
interest in the opposite sex? The teens are a natural time for boys
and girls to start noticing each other - hormonal activity in your
bodies sees to that. Unfortunately, adults - both parents and teachers
- feel that nothing should interfere with your concentration on
forthcoming exams. How do you cope with your natural inclinations? Self-awareness We don't have
much career guidance in our schools. Parents sometimes decide what
subjects you should do for A/Ls and what career you should aim at.
Young people
need to look into themselves and see what they are good at, what
they like doing, what kind of work would give them real satisfaction.
Self-awareness means finding out your own strengths and weaknesses and how to develop what talents you have, while trying to find ways of overcoming weaknesses. Parental
pressure To some it
means a prestigious and well-paid job, a fine house, an impressive
car and all the status symbols of material prosperity. To others
it could be finding the job most suitable to one's special capabilities,
reaching out in some form of community service, being contented
with having enough for one's needs and avoiding being greedy and
grasping. If your parents want you to become a doctor, an engineer
or a lawyer and all your gifts are in an artistic or creative direction,
how do you stand up to parental pressure? Choices
to make Is being popular
with your peers more important to you than being your real self
- i.e. one who has thought about the temptations that come one's
way and has decided what course to take? Do you stick to your standards
of behaviour or do you run with the pack - i.e. do what everyone
else does? Life brings us choices all the time and how we decide
can affect our futures. Remember, we can choose how we will act
in a given situation, but the consequences of our actions are generally
beyond our control. Every action is followed by a consequence that
can affect yourself and those close to you for good or ill. Taking charge
of your own life You have to accept that life is unfair and things can happen to you that you feel you don't deserve. That's the time to decide you will not feel sorry for yourself, but will start again and do your best without bitterness or self-pity. So you have to take charge of your own life and be responsible for what you do with it. |
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