I’ve just finished reading a book which touched me to such a degree that I feel it deserves an ample mention in this month’s magazine.

The book is called A Stranger In Paradise by Julie Chimes.

Thirty years ago Julie was almost stabbed to death in her home by a paranoid schizophrenic, who claimed that God had instructed her to act in such a way.

As the meat knife which once lived in Julie’s cutlery drawer, repeatedly plunged into her flesh, she found herself outside of her body, free from pain and watching the horror unfold as if she were a member of an audience.

Luckily, a week or so before the tragedy, Julie had been informed by a psychic medium to “change the front door.” A new door, which opened outwards –  rather than inwards into a poky hall – had been sitting in the garage for months. So Julie acted on the advice and asked her boyfriend to get on with the chore.

This new front door ultimately helped to save her life. Now back in her body, the knife-wielding madwoman continued to stab Julie, who by now was smothered with blood. Somehow she found the strength to shuffle to the front door. She fell into the fresh air to see shoppers carrying their M & S bags after a trip to the supermarket.

But instead of the help she craved, when these people saw Julie they screamed and fled. The stabbing continued as using her elbows, she pushed her body into the road, thinking that the cars would surely stop. Alas, they simply steered around her.

By now a crowd of onlookers had formed, making comments such as; “Look, she’s a goner anyway. There’s nothing we can do to help….” And, “I’m not getting my coat all covered in blood…this cost me a hundred quid….”

The situation improved when a young builder stopped his white van, walked fearlessly over to the attacker and slid the knife out of her hand as she attempted to hack Julie’s head off.

En-route to the hospital she drifted in and out of consciousness and after more than thirty stab wounds and against all odds, Julie managed to survive the frenzied attack to the utter astonishment of all the hospital staff.

In the days, weeks and months that followed Julie’s recovery was aided by a voice she knew as Veritas. She often found herself outside of her body, just as she had during the attempted murder. Once she found herself swinging in the stars and on other occasions she literally bounced off the bedroom walls.

The most remarkable thing about this true story is that despite everything, Julie learnt to love and forgive her attacker.

And that’s the most profound lesson we can all take from Julie’s book…the power of forgiveness.

 A Stranger In Paradise is available here http://amzn.to/i8mshJ – it’s a highly recommended read.

Keidi Keating

Here’s The Sentinella Axarquia magazine of February 2011. Click on it below and turn the pages, just like you would as if it were a physical magazine!

To advertise in the March 2011 edition call Kami on 664 210 468 before February 15th, or email sales@thesentinella.com

Firstly I’d like to wish all The Sentinella readers and advertisers a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year, jam-packed with only magical things. We all deserve a blissful life, so here’s to yours for 2011…make it the best one ever.

I’ve not long returned from the trip of a lifetime, three weeks travelling along the west coast of the USA, followed by a week of relaxation in Honululu, Hawaii. Many people have asked me to divulge what I got up to, so here goes…

We flew into San Francisco and spent a few days ogling the city sights, including Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39 and Alcatraz. Longing for some respite from the chilly San Francisco winds we jumped into our rental car and headed towards Los Angeles. En-route we stopped off in various random places, hiking for four miles to see the seasonal elephant seals, followed by a quest to find and sample the famous Anderson’s Pea Soup in a town called Buelton. Delicious…

We spent our days in LA checking out Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard, the Walk of Fame and the weird and wacky world of Venice Beach. Typically we reversed our rental car right into a limousine, which the driver declared had just enjoyed a 40,000 dollar paint job. “Welcome to LA,” said a passing lady rolling her eyes in the direction of the rant.

From LA we headed to San Diego, a beautiful city full of Mexican wares and scenic spots, such as The Old Town, the Gaslamp region and the island of Coronado. And we couldn’t leave San Diego without visiting San Diego Zoo. Never have I witnessed so many animals in the same place!

Then we said goodbye California and hello Nevada, arriving to the bright lights, shows and casinos of Las Vegas. My boyfriend had great fun risking his life on roller-coasters which flung him over the top of buildings. But dare devil rides, zombie-infested casinos and Elvis Presley look-alikes weren’t my cup of Tetley. In fact I preferred watching our washing churn around the tumble drier in the laundrette.

While in Las Vegas we took a day trip to the Grand Canyon, viewing the natural wonder of the world from a helicopter, coupled with a boat trip along the Colorado River.

After all that action we headed back to San Francisco to catch our five-hour flight to Hawaii. The sun shone, the waves crashed and the golden sand slid between my toes like silk. Finally paradise had reared its head. Life doesn’t get much better than Waikiki beach and happy hour cocktails.

And now I’m back in El Morche. The sun is peeking out from behind a tangle of clouds, Manolo is selling tubos from his kiosk across the road and I’m busy planning where the world will take me next…

Keidi Keating, Editor

The Sentinella Axarquia New Year edition (Jan 2011) is now out! Flick through the pages below and see in the New Year with a giggle

To advertise in the Feb 11 edition email Kami on sales@thesentinella.com or call 664 210 468 before January 15th.

Happy Christmas everybody! Click on the magazine below to read our Christmas special edition…

To advertise in the January 2011 edition call Kami on 664 210 468 or email sales@thesentinella.com before December 15th.

She’s beautiful, she’s intelligent, she’s adorable…she’s Stefanie Rycraft Jones and she’s representing Hull City at the final of the UK’s most prestigious beauty pageant, Miss Great Britain 2010.

The glittering event, takes place on December 4th at the new Grand Pier in Western Super Mare, where sixty girls from across the British Isles will compete for the crown, designed by award-winning jeweller Zoe Harding and executed by The Jewellery Channel.

Amongst the celebrity panel of judges are Chris de Burgh’s daughter and former Miss World Rosie Davison, East Enders actress Carol Harrison, multi-award winning hairstylist Anestis Cobella, Katie Price’s make-up artist and Hollywood film executive Teddy Zee, producer of Hitch and In Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith.

A part in Teddy Zee’s next film is just one of the prizes the newly crowned Miss Great Britain 2010 will take home.

The finalists arrive for their three-day stay at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Bristol on December 2nd. The following day they’ll take part in fun challenges on the Grand Pier, including a trial on the first public Formula One simulator.

Stefanie is only 23-years-old, but she’s already paving her way to great success. After gaining a first class BA (hons) degree in Fashion and Brand Promotion with Marketing, she began modelling with the Toni & Guy Artistic Breakthrough Team. She also became the face for online fashion retailer Missguided and just recently she became the first ever female face of Nestle’s Milky Bar.

Along with all this, Stefanie is the presenter and producer of online TV channel Video Junkie (www.videojunkie.co.uk) which follows her interviewing bands from Leeds Festival, reviewing the new Ferrari 458 and going backstage at various events.

Public text/phone voting began on October 4th and finishes on December 3rd. So what are you waiting for?

To vote for Stefanie text ‘Miss Hull’ to 81118 and watch this fresh-faced star shine.