Retreat
Posted by dulwichmum on Tue 26 January 2010
January can be soul destroying. The New Year commences with an effervescent fizz and a plethora of ambitious New Years resolutions, but the dank, dark evenings and general air of cheerlessness and despair inevitably take their toll. My dedication and reserve soon dissolves – like a Disprin…(looks up sadly from under eyelashes).
By the time one reaches mid-January, the juicer has been tossed into the garage, along with the Pilates ball and the Slendertone shorts. The qinoa, green tea and decaffeinated coffee are piled high on the compost heap, and the phone is not being answered to the dreaded personal trainer. It goes without saying that all across Dulwich, dog walkers are, once again, doing a brisk trade and urgent bulk orders are being processed by Majestic Wines online. We are so familiar with the routine by now (runs perfectly manicured talons through glossy locks).
This year, myself and darling chum Caroline, Frog in The field, arranged to take an inspirational Best of Life Retreat at The Grove. The word “Retreat” means something entirely different to my mother, but I can assure you that there was not a splinter of The True Cross or Holy Water Font in sight.
What a complete breath of fresh air our luxurious break turned out to be (straps on Slendertone belt and pours glass of fresh pear and watercress juice)!
Two nights, people watching, in sumptuous surroundings. Two group sessions with celebrity life coach Nina Grunfeld. Luscious food, pampering beauty treatments and unlimited access to the Best Spa in the World – Telegraph 2009 and we all know that The Telegraph NEVER lies, have strengthened our reserve to plough on and stick to our resolutions. What a hoot!
I was, I must admit, a little fearful that I would feel too exposed to take part in the group life coaching sessions, I don’t even use public transport for Gods sake, but I actually found that discussing my issues to a crowd of complete strangers came quite naturally to me, who would have known!
Feel free to seethe with jealousy at the slide show below.
Top tip guaranteed to improve self esteem: There is nothing quite like taking an inspirational spa break with a chum who happily trots about the cocktail bar in front of the dishy Italian waiter, oblivious to the fact that a metre length of toilet paper is stuck to the heel of her shoe (smirk).
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Frog in the Field said,
Who is that gorgeous lady in the jacuzzi..oh! It’s me!
Regarding the toilet paper…..How very dare you!! It was Bea a everybody, she had far too much to drink!
Oh Sweetie when are we going again?
Mwah!
dulwichmum said,
Frog darling,
I cant wait for us to do it again. I feel like a new woman! I love your dressing table shot, what a scream! Actually, you don’t think that mine makes me appear self obsessed do you?
Rosie Scribble said,
Well it all looks gorgeous, too gorgeous in fact, apart from that odd picture with the giraffe in it, that just looks odd. And I understand the wine was good too, judging from your various tweets!!
Signing off, sick with jealousy.
Chic Mama said,
I have to say I am mighty envious….world class spas and world class hotels were part of my everyday vocabulary once…sob sob….
Looks lovely, so pleased you had a fab time….;0) x
dulwichmum said,
Perfect Rosie,
The art was actually rather fabulous, it was my housekeeper, zipping around with the camera that did no justice to it. I may just fire her…
Dear Chic Mama,
Next time you must join us sweetie. You have been treated so cruely. You need Nina Grunfeld to come and help you to kick that man in the pants.
nappyvalleygirl said,
I’m very jealous of you both- loved the Twitter updates.
I was at the Grove on a press trip about 6 years ago, the pool is utterly fabulous and I had a wondrous massage only spoiled by the fact I was too hungover to enjoy it….all seems like a million years ago now as I listen to the dulcet tones of Thomas the Tank Engine behind me…
Daddy Papersurfer said,
I thought that Dulwich Mum was looking and smelling even more delicious …… I do hope the other people on the building site have noticed …..
Gill said,
so now back to reality…….was there anyone well known staying there, other than yourself and your friend????
One day when I am rich and famous I too will “do the Spa thing”
Gill in that cold and snowy country called Canada, who would dearly love a spa break, but needs to put in new basement windows so poof goes my spa money………..
emmak said,
insanely jealous I can smell your expensively perfumed self from here. my daughter gives v good massages but she charged a dollar. My husband says that is encouraging her to go into the wrong line of work massage for money, rocky road etc etc
Potty Mummy said,
And did the lovely Frog bring any of her pigs with her? Or would that have lowered the tone too far? Looks great, anyway – I’m very envious (especially since I imgaine that the outside temperature was above 0…)
babieswhobrunch said,
wowowow. can’t quite believe you got to there that. of course it’s only because you’re worth it, darhling!!
Domestic Goddeque said,
I doubt I’d have made it past the cocktail bar and scrummy waiters……very envious of the nice nails too. [note to self: become shining beacon of glamour like DM and I too will get the Retreat-ment!]
kitschen pink said,
and after all of that they let you out again?! .xx
Emily said,
So glad you enjoyed the retreat! Nina’s coaching is really very powerful. If you (or your readers!) would like more of it, pop along to the Life Clubs website (www.lifeclubs.co.uk) – there are Life Clubs all over the country, all meeting weekly, and all using Nina’s materials to make the most out of life.
Emily said,
Ooh, I forgot to say, we have a Facebook group now, too – http://www.facebook.com/lifeclubs. Come over and join, it’s really fun.
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