To the Spa Batman!

Friday night I took mum as my guest to Nirvana Spa which I had recently joined on a 12 visits a year basis - joined last Nov but took me to end of Jan to get time to go for first visit! It had been mum's birthday - that reminds me, must look up exact explanation of how the beautiful piece of petrified wood came to be (that was her main present from me). She is mad about real things from the earth and also has a fab collection of crystal decanters etc. Time for a visit to www.howstuffworks.com

Right I'm back. "Minerals, such as the silica in volcanic ash, seep into the tree and fill in tiny pores in wood's cells. This changes the overall composition of the wood, turning it into stone material, while preserving its original structure. The variety of minerals in petrified wood creates striking vivid colors." I think it's wonderful. Wood into stone is better than water into wine but perhaps that's because I'm a visual person and I love seeing examples of petrified wood. I'm sure I bought it just so every time I visit I can admire it.

Mum really enjoyed the spa and said it was like going back to the days of the Romans. Robed individuals ambling, swimming, relaxing, etc. Even some columns and palm trees for good measure. We swam in all but one pool. The first one we looked in and I said "too busy". Mum was surprised as there were only 4 people in it. Last Friday night I had only to share any pool with one other person and this is precisely why I joined - that, the great facilities and that they use spring water rather than heavy chlorination.

We had lots of fun in the gigantic hot tub with various jet stations at various positions to massage various parts of you. There was one particular jet which near took my bikini bottoms off and it looked like the bubbles were going straight through my body and out my belly button which cracked us up. The foot jets are the most fun - if you try to stand over one it's like your being jet propelled into space. They also make your whole body feel relaxed instantly. Walking around that pool is like having had nine gins on the Titanic as it tilts more - the current is so strong in parts, one staggers like a drunk.

The sauna and steam rooms have pretty twinkly lights in the ceiling that change colour. There are monsoon showers which I couldn't see what the fuss was about other than they make a nice noise. The drenching is the same as my home shower.

Mum told me how gran used paraffin because it gave her hair a nice shine and everyone else a hernia worrying she'd go near a flame!