My Journey

When I realised that it would be near on impossible to get 10,000 steps in today I made a decision to hit the city about an hour before my appointment began, so that I could go for a walk and at least get some movement in. I caught the train and got out at Wynyard where I discovered a really great 'cheap shop' that will be great to make up Christmas parcels for work. I shall be bringing the committee back next week. Then after about half an hour of solid walking I went into Dymocks to buy a book. I figured I would have some opportunity to read and would take it to read something new. The first thing I did was go to the crime section and have a look where Daniel Hatadi's "Loving the Law" would be. If it was published. Which it is not. Yet. It would have been nestled on the bottom shelf (not a great position!) between Dashiell Hammett's "Maltese Falcon" and Tom Harper's "The Mosaic of Shadows". I will keep looking :)

Then I spotted the book I would buy. A couple of years ago I bought a book called "The Three Miss Margarets" by Lauise Shaffer. Obviously because it had Margaret in the title. (This is a similar method to how I pick Melbourne Cup Horses). Anyway it actually was a great book and today I spotted the followup book "Those Garrison Women" I managed to read half of it already so am happy with my choice.

So on to the spa. It was called Lattouf and is part of a hotel on Philips Street (right in Chiffley square). I had a great day and so many treatments that I got them to highlight them in their booklet so I would remember but suffice to say that every inch of this body has been scrubbed, prodded, massaged, covered in some mudlike substance, subjected to hot and cold water treatments and generally made to feel smooth and silky. I did enjoy this part but had some concerns in regards to treatment of modesty, their idea of relaxing music, and access to the toilets. As they are newish and I am sure very eager to improve the perception of quality to their clients, I voiced my concerns and will be following it up in a letter. That way they can take steps to improve those little areas.

Then I had lunch. At 3.30pm!. As I had not had breakfast I was starving and had to show considerable restraint when allowed to order anything off the hotel menu. I chose the soup of the day and a club sandwich. The sandwich was gigantic and came with a football field worth of fries. I ate half the sandwich and 4 fries. Only 4 *pats myself on back*.

After lunch was the really fun bit for me. I got my hands and feet done. Same mud substance, massage, scrub, and polish. Lovely. And I got my hair done. The guy who is the manager did my hair and I think I am in love. He put a treatment in then blowdried my hair. Straight. I didn't realise how long it was and even as I type this I keep stopping to flick my hair or to touch it as it is so soft and because I can actually run my fingers through my hair. As the owner of curly hair this does not happen to me. I love my hair today and can't believe how much prettier it makes me feel. And as a side note as he was drying my hair I confessed that the last hair cut was self-done using a pair of nail scissors. When you have curly hair the bottom line is not really that important but after drying it straight it really was LOL. So the lovely guy trimmed me up a bit.

The product range is something else that really got to me when I was in there. As the owner of a little bit of knowledge as to the really terrible ingredients that cosmetics and body products contain I was scouring around reading labels to see if their range contain these things. They don't. I was so happy. I am sure their website goes into it but I was really impressed that they cooperate with a native tribe to farm organic ingredients that are then used to make the products.

I will go back. If for nothing else but to get my hair done. But I would like to try their spray on tan :)

Am going out with the family tomorrow morning. Train to city. Ferry to Manly. Anywhere that I can show off my hair. Hope it doesn't rain LOL.

Posted by Margaret on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 10:54:00 pm | Permalink