I was so excited at the prospect of being pampered and spoilt because there was no ways I would have afforded to spend time at a prestigious establishment such as it was under normal circumstances. The only drawback was that I did not want to go on my own. I approached my BFF, Sonja, and she jumped at the opportunity but took it one stage further. If we go why dont we stay the night. Why not indeed!
The day dawned bright and freezing cold! There had been snow on the mountains over the past two days. The Mills voodoo does it again. Our Motto is 'wherever we go we take the weather with us.' The prospect of donning bikini (dont laugh that is what was on the requirement sheet!) and heading out into the bush on a landie to a boma to have a full body massage was to say the least -daunting!
We packed scarves, tracksuits, socks, beanies and lots of coats just in case and meandered our way through the Midlands. Our booking was for 12 noon so a very pleasant morning was had moving from one fireplace to another as we visted establishment after establishment.
The most beautiful little Hathaway cottages nestling in fields of lavender greeted us as we rounded the bend in the road. The hotel was bathed in brilliant noonday sunshine. We were welcomed enthusiastically and shown our suite. Luxury suite! We had two double beds, one in a mezzanine loft room above the lounge. There was underfloor heating and a wonderful heater in the ceiling of the bathroom. So cosy and warm.
We were escorted to the dining room where we had an exquisite lunch of caramilized onion and blue cheese tart with salad and fresh olive rolls, piping hot and dripping with real farm butter. Champagne was offered and very welcomely received!!! This did not bode well for things to come.
After lunch we were advised to return to our rooms and change into our bikinis. Fresh white towelling gowns were laid out on the beds together with taupe coloured hooded ponchos made of thick polar fleece. Sonja was the first to dress and nearly drowned in her gown. I put mine on and it could not even meet in the middle so we had to swop. By this time we were screaming with laughter. I am 6osomething and Sonja much younger, bikinis were something from our very distant past. Luckily were are best friends!
When dressed in our hoodies we looked like two monks escaped from the monastery. Added to this we had on tracksuit pants, socks and shoes. What a sight!
We were escorted to the rooms where the steam bath and jacuzzi were. Two lovely ladies greeted us and requested we sit down and take our shoes and socks off. These were prized off our feet as it was so cold. Luckily they were placed in bowls of warm water with hundreds of orange petals floating in them. Our feet were washed thoroughly clean and dried carefully. Then we were taken to the steam bath. The tiles on the floors were ice cold but once we had disrobed and climbed into the fibreglass steam room we started to thaw out a bit. I began to get claustrophobic when the steam started pumping out but the thought of going out into the cold air held me back. Champagne started oozing out of every pore in my body. I was scared Sonja was going to get more drunk on the smell of it! Luckily the ladies rescued her by calling us to another treatment room after ten long minutes in the steam. We scuttled down the frozen passage with just our towels wrapped around us.
The next phase was a salt scrub. Kilos and kilos of salt mixed with lavender oils were poured over us from top to bottom and our skins were brushed this way and that to exfoliate. It was an amazing sensation and each time the cold salt was poured over me I screamed and hissed at the chill.
Eventually we were whisked back to a steaming hot jacuzzi and we gratefully slipped into the welcoming water. What a treat! To make matters even more pleassant we were offered more champagne! I have never really enjoyed a jacuzzi before, it seemed such a pointless exercise just sitting in one place, but my eyes were opened. This was pure and utter luxury and quite decadent to be sipping champagne in a steaming hot jacuzzi in the middle of the afternoon in the middle of the week was just too marvelous!!!!
Too bad it had to end. Pickled like the proverbial prune we valiantly dried ourselves, tried dressing as best we could and made our way back to our suite. Note I did not say room because this was hardly a 'room' it was much too elegant and luxurious.
We got out of our wet bikinis, quite chuffed with ourselves at being able to pull this one off at our ages and not really looking too bad. You must realise we had had quite a skinful of champagne by this stage!
Dressed like the escaped monks again were were offered hot water bottles, climbed onto a open sided landie and driven down into the valley, past fields and fields of lavender, to where a river runs through. The landie dropped us off and there in the middle of the bush were two deck chairs where we had to wait. It was so peaceful and quiet and I really was most grateful that it was not raining. We could see a curl of smoke rising from the tree tops further in to the bush and looked forward to being close to a fire wherever we were going.
The real treat of the day then took place. A full body massage, which took one and a half hours, in a cosy boma with a beautiful log fire burning away and the only sounds we heard were the river running gently past and the cattle lowing in the distance. All the cares resting on our shoulders were pummelled and pushed and gently rubbed away.
The experience moved me to write a poem:
INDIGO DREAMS
A thoughtful voucher graciously given
to experience a little bit of heaven.
My bestfriend and I set off for a day
to be pampered and spoilt.
What can we say?
Steam baths, jacuzzis, salt scrubs,
champagne and amazing food.
Hoodies and gowns, hot water bottles,
snow on the mountains
and a ride in a open landie with a hood.
A place in the bush where a river
runs through.
Healing hands that pummelled and pushed,
pampered and soothed.
Truffles and Amarulla -
what more can we ask?
We are so blest to have been given this rest.
No work, no cooking not one little task!
Lavender hues, lavender perfume,
acres and acres of Indigo fields
sets the scene for
INDIGO DREAMS!
With hair standing on end we looked like trolls in our outfits but rubbed warm and glowing all over we had not a care in the world. Dinner in pyjamas with lots of red wine. Decadent food, delicious puddings and Amarulla ands truffles finished the day on a high and bed was a welcome retreat.
Who says a day at the Spa is gruelling and tough?
Who says you have to exist on a lettuce leaf?
Who says it is a boot camp of note?
We are so lucky to have on our doorstep
Our Midlands Meander -
the best Spas in the world and
Our Midlands Meander -
the best Spas in the world and
my Indigo dreams.
