Okay, so today I went for my freebie visit to the spa. If you’ll remember, lovely E, the manager, had offered Hubby and I a go at the new thermal spa, but we’d never managed to keep the appointment due to one of the sprogs selfishly deciding to be ill. Anyhoo, now the new mud rasul bit was open and she wanted me to have a go at that too, so how could I resist?
Now we go to Knightsbrook quite a lot (they have a lovely bar area overlooking the golf course where we take the children for burgers the size of cricket balls), but I never cease to be impressed by the massive marble-clad entrance complete with the biggest, blingiest chandelier you’ve ever set eyes on. The people there are just so friendly and I was dead excited to be back again. Because I’m always popping in with me Mum or C&R or just to get the odd bit of waxing or whatever, I’ve got to know E and some of her girls quite well. I have to say it’s lovely being welcomed back with a big smile by people who remember your name (and ask after your friends and family too) and the spa is just gorgeous - all brown leather sofas, creamy marble and coffee coloured walls. I could spend all day there (in fact, I sometimes do).
Right, digressing again there - so I was welcomed by the lovely C and shown to the changing rooms (more buttery marble and piles of latte coloured waffle towels) to change into my funky flip-flops and ridiculously plush bathrobe (I’m desperate for one but not so desperate I’d stuff one in my handbag - it wouldn’t fit anyway). Then it was down a spectacular marble staircase to the thermal spa: an incredible mosaic-tiled mega-bathroom with all sorts of different cabins and cubicles: some hot, some cool, some steamy, some with aromatherapy stuff and even a salt grotto (a high humidity chamber with sea salt infused steam wafting around). This is the good bit: I was given a pot of mud which looked kind of like chocolate spread but actually smelt quite nice - a bit herby and medical - and (because I wasn’t officially having a treatment, just a ‘go’ - usually it’s combined with body brushing or something else) I was allowed to put it on myself. The therapist very kindly offered to do my back, then let me loose with the mud. Seeing as I was on my own, and I’m not shy anyway, I stripped off and smothered myself all over (singing the Disreputable one’s favourite Hippopotamus song: ‘Mud, mud, glorious mud’ to myself as I slapped it all over - and I mean ALL over). This was truly the best fun I’ve had naked in a long time (well, since Hubby’s been away anyway). Then, looking somewhat like a Cadbury’s chocolate finger, I took my seat in the steam rasul where delicious smelling steam soon turned everything cloudy. Had it not been so bloody hot I think I would have dozed off.
Some time later (ahem) and after a brisk shower (ooh, this is fab, you can press different buttons and choose between a tropical storm, side jets, or a ’spike’ shower where you get really pummelled), I headed out to the thermal spa to try out all the different cabins. Sadly this is when it all went wrong as they’d all just broken down. Ah well. I had a lovely sauna, another go with the mad showers, dried off, smothered myself in yummy body lotion, and headed off to the ‘chill out’ room for herbal tea, fruit and a nice lie down.
A bit disappointed that I didn’t get to try the thermal spa but hey, it was a freebie after all. My skin is tingling and soft as a baby’s bum and it was a really lovely pampering experience. This mud really was glorious!