A Day Spent In Bliss

There are some days that just flow, somehow. Not necessarily special days, not birthdays or anniversaries, but just some days when you wake up, and everything just seems right. I was going to say that it is the kind of day where the sun is shining, but while there has been sunshine, there has also been torrential rain, and even that has been just right.

Firstly, I went to the Clarins Spa which is actually situated within a Debenham's Department Store. Now when I first visited last year I was a little hesitant about the location, but oh my, you soon forget you are in the middle of a shop. To be fair, you are in a room within a shop, and a proper one at that, not just a partition, but still, it is hard to remember there are people shopping just yards away. With the lights down low, tucked up in the cosy bed and soft music playing whilst you are massaged and pampered, it is easy to float off to a place of bliss. This Triactive Facial was a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law, and I had been saving it up. I have had a facial at the Clarins Spa before, but this was my first Triactive one. I have to say that for me it was really effective, the products smell divine, the emphasis is on personalisation to your needs, lots and lots of massage and relaxation. I enjoyed the process very much, from the eye mask at the beginning, and being asked to breathe in deeply the scent of lavender to the scalp massage at the end, but I think my skin was more glowy after the facial I had there previously. After that facial, I had lots of friends at work stop me and ask me what I had done to my skin because it looked so good, which was really lovely. My skin did feel really smooth though, and it was a lovely way to spend an hour.

After that, the train to Witham, with the rain tapping lightly at the windows. Happily it held off while I walked to my destination, which was lunch with the lovely Angela and my goddaughter Lucy. We had a veritable feast - grilled halloumi, lamb koftas, falafel, salad, houmous and toasted pitta bread, washed down of course, with pots of tea!

Then back to Chelmsford where I ordered us Sky tv at last, at last! We have had no tv at all since we moved, and whilst on one hand it has been nice having a break from it, we are ready once again, I think. I ordered the package that gave us TCM as I love that channel and am looking forward to black and white films already! I had a voucher from Grazia magazine for a free trial set of the new skincare range from Benefit. It said that it was worth £10 and to be honest I was a little cynical, so imagine my delight to be given a little box that opened to reveal three samples in minature bottles big enough for at least a weeks use! I have taken a photo, which I will share when I do a review of the products. They are meant to boost radiance which is my main skin care concern at the moment. I will report back!

Then I walked home where I read a back issue of The Lady, painted my nails bright red, then poured a long bath where I soaked reading The Debutante by Kathleen Tessaro which is just delicious. It reminds me vaguely in atmosphere of The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, and I am enjoying it very much.

Next, a little light cooking for supper. One of my standby recipes, for tomato and lentil soup, although I seem to have overdone the dried chilli a little bit, so I am alternating sips of soup with dabbing of my nose!

I cannot remember if I have shared this with you yet...but I have a job interview on Friday morning, for a job within libraries. I am feeling strangely calm....I was before the last one, and that didn't work out so well! I am not sure if it is a good sign or a bad sign. I am in the same room as the last interview which I don't like, although I know it doesn't have anything to do with anything. Oh well, we shall see!

Love, Mimi xxx