Pamper and spa weekends - should we bother?

Pampering, shopping, culture and good food all add up to make a great weekend away, but are they really worth the bother?

Ready to be pampered
at the Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel

If your life is anything like mine, then it will be full, hectic and unlikely to provide many opportunities to really unwind and enjoy days with no agenda.  So when my parents offered me the chance of going with my mum and sister to a lovely hotel in Oxford, (their treat) there wasn't a moments hesitation, bar ensuring the suggested weekend fitted in with my family.  Naturally, our first attempt at confirming a date failed due to the afore mentioned busy life I lead but we were eventually able to settle on a date that suited everyone!


Although we have been to
Oxford before, eyes shut whilst
driving seems a little over confident!

Friday morning, shortly after dropping my son at school and getting a load of washing in the machine (to help shorten the 'to do' list I left for my husband), my mum and sister arrived.  I was poised to be whisked away from domesticity and onto Oxford for relaxation and 'me/girlie time'.  There were no traffic issues to threaten the stress-free, chilled out break we were seeking and in under two hours we had arrived at our Hotel; Oxford Spires Four Pillars.  We have stayed there before but this had not made us complacent - far from it - and our excitement and anticipation were not disappointed.


Waffle robe and HUGE slippers for the 
'connoisseur' guests 

Once again we had a comfortable 'Connoisseur' room, which included bath robes and (very large 'one size fits all, including Coco the Clown) slippers, high quality toiletries, tea and coffee making facilities - featuring a selection of different teas (no less) and full use of Willows Leisure Club.  As part of the Spa package, each of us had a 30 minute Swedish back massage and a facial scheduled.  Alongside our indulgent spa treats we had also planned shopping and taking in the rich heritage that makes Oxford a destination for tourists both in the UK and abroad before returning to the hotel for a swim, sauna, steam and Jacuzzi (you have to use everything whilst it's available!).  This would all be followed by a delicious three course meal in the Hotel's restaurant, Deacons.


All things connoisseur please.

The leisurely agenda that I have outlined will seem incongruous with the question posed above.  Surely it is all worth while - why even ask when the answer should be obvious, after all we all like a little luxury in our lives and being offered all things connoisseur don't we?  Bear with me however and allow me to offer an alternative perspective.  

Perhaps we should have opted for
the upper-lip wax rather than a facial?

I have made reference to my busy life and I know from my friends that I'm not unique in this situation.  Our lives seem to pass by rapidly because we have a plethora of activities to squeeze into each 24 hour day.  As a wife, mum and working part-time, I need to be organised and in doing so, our busy family life does run quite smoothly.  However, when something like a weekend away to unwind and forget my usual schedule comes along, I can't simply wait until the day of departure, grab my suitcase and disappear.  My husband and I are always happy for one another to have time-out (golf is more his thing than an Aroma Time Precious facial!) but there is an inevitable impact when one of us is absent.  Before I go, I talk through all of the activities that the children have coming up (I know it's only three days but a lot can happen).  My husband too has work to complete that needs to fit into the military like operation that is called 'The Weekend'.  Let's not forget that they all need moments of relaxation - it is the weekend and therefore meant to be a time of recuperation for all before facing the following week's challenges. 



A weekend that promises to be out of this world
but does it actually deliver?

In this instance, my son had a school trip to London Zoo on the Friday (note to self - exciting lunch required in a named carrier bag) and a football match to watch on the Saturday (pack-lunch number 2?).  My daughter had a rehearsal after school for their forthcoming production of Grease, followed by a party and sleepover for her friend's birthday.  My son needed collecting from school at a later time than usual following said zoo trip (any change would be advised through a group text to my phone - note to self, make sure I'm not having my facial during homeward journey so that I can text any changes to my husband who needs to leave work early for pick-up).  My daughter needed her sleeping bag delivered to the party venue prior to the Friday and party clothes dropped off to my good friend who would be taking her to the party.  Then there was the homework for school - a 3D solar system amongst other things and research on recyclable items along with physical examples in preparation for Cubs.  Meals need a little more planning as this is something that I normally do and school uniforms require washing for Monday etc., not to mention the hoovering that I ran out of time to do before I left.  Oh, and have I mentioned music lessons? 
 

I worked up an appetite each evening
in the Willow's leisure club pool,
ready for my delicious meal
 

So you see, there was so much to think about before leaving but when that moment came, any doubts as to whether I even needed time to unwind had vanished and it almost became a medicinal necessity to be pampered!  Then of course returning at the end of the weekend comes around so quickly and within minutes, I'm thrust back into the usual responsibilities and life continues as though I'd never been away.  So I ask again is it really all worth while?  The benefits of the spa weekend, unwinding and relaxing are now a distant memory and I'm thrown back into normal life as though I'd never been away.

Outside the School of
Moral Phylosophy!

My mum and sis in the grounds of the
War Memorial Gardens

Life is about contrast and living life to the full absolutely requires contrast.  I love the life that I have been given with its undulating landscape and the people that are in my life.  I feel grateful for all the activities and past-times I enjoy with family, friends and through my work.  So despite my slight rant about all of my responsibilities, I'm not wishing I can escape them (well, perhaps the hoovering!).  Nevertheless, I embrace opportunities to do something different and to re-charge my batteries.  I'm convinced that diversity is good for us, whether that be a spa weekend or a walking holiday in the Lake District.  The saying "a change is as good as a rest" is something that I believe to be true and all of the experiences we choose to participate in provide a healthy distraction from the usual day-to-day activities and enable us to add memories to our memory bank that we can draw on at any given time.  The ordinary and the out of the ordinary can each bring life to us, and our lives are made all the richer for the existence of both. 

Café Loco -
our favourite café in Oxford

Yummy Cappuccino from Café Loco

My weekend away was worth the bother - undisputedly.  The massage was sublime and made all the more memorable with the eclectic mix of instrumental music playing throughout (featuring Amazing Grace...that saved a wretch like me - message during a massage? hmm, will think on that but not for too long as it was juxtaposed with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!).  Oxford is a wonderful historic city with beautiful university buildings and charming cobbled streets that also offered delightful cafes serving cappuccinos and an excellent selection of shops for top quality retail therapy.  Reading more than one chapter of my book in one sitting is always a rare treat as is having all of my meals prepared and cooked for me.  The evening meals and breakfasts were first-rate and the joy of sharing all that the weekend afforded with my mum and sister made it a very special time and a great investment into my 'memory bank'.

So I encourage you to consider how diverse your life is and whether you should be adding more contrast to your life.  For me, I want to make sure my memory bank always has a healthy balance and plenty of new investments to come!


More photos for my memory bank:

Pan friend Sea Bream with a 'Petit Ratatouille'

Mum, Sis and I at Deacons





Mum and Sis in the Grounds of the
War Memorial Gardens



Christ Church College

Merton College