Birmingham Pamper Day

Saturday – Birmingham Spa Day

My sister is training as a Beauty Therapist. She has just finished Level 2 and has started on level 3. As a part of her course, she has got to work on “models” (guinea pigs!!) and she asked me to go with her to her college in Birmingham on Saturday.

As her college is in Birmingham, it was a 7.15am start on Saturday; this wouldn’t normally be a problem for me, but a late night the night before (due to Eddies Fifa night with his mates) meant for a tired Julie on Saturday when the alarm went off at 6 am!

Saturday was a freezing cold but bright day. The course is currently held in the old Birds Custard Factory on Gibb Street – now just called the Custard Factory and is home to Birmingham’s Creative Quarter. We parked up and the local area was home to some amazing graffiti art – these pics really do not do it justice, but here are a few I took on my iPhone.

Whilst waiting for my sister to set up her treatment room, I went to a lovely little cafe called Yumm it was lovely. Unfortunately, I only had time for a quick coffee, but if I get a chance to visit again, I will as the cakes looked delicious.

When I got to my sisters’ college I was actually really nervous. I had managed to get to the age of 45 without ever having a leg or underarm wax! In fact, I had not had a pedicure before either and actually only had my first manicure and facial as a part of her training, but at home a few weeks ago.

The Treatments

Despite the fact it was a college, it couldn’t have been better; spa music in the background and then the treatments. The pedicure was lovely and I would definitely have another. My sister did manage to find a sore spot on the lower leg massage. As I have started running again my right calf was tight so when she massaged it, I just about jumped off the couch! Luckily the other leg was better…..

Next was the leg wax – I am blessed with fairly sparse hair on my legs so didn’t really feel a thing, the underarms were not quite as easy. She used the hot wax (which you peel off) under my arms. It stung a bit but was fine, not as pain-free as the legs but I would definitely have it done again.

We broke for lunch, we just took a quick sandwich. Then it was on to the manicure – I went for a french polish, and facial (which was so relaxing I almost went to sleep a couple of times)

I didn’t get any photos inside the treatment room; for one thing, I was too relaxed and for the other, I didn’t think it was fair on the other models.

It wasn’t long before it was time to head off – we left around 4ish so it really was a full day. We decided to head straight off to avoid traffic as both Birmingham football teams were at home, so we stopped off at a dodgy shell garage for a Costa Express (which tasted nothing like a Vanilla Latte) and a toilet stop – where a man tried his best to get into the grotty toilet I was in whilst I was mid squat!!

Would I do it again – you bet I would!!

Sunday – Rugby Mum

As I was out all day Saturday, Sunday was always going to be busy playing catch up. I dropped Ewan at Rugby, then popped to Aldi for a food shop whilst Eddie was doing a 16-mile marathon training run. Eddie is vlogging his London Marathon training here they are getting entertaining to watch – he is raising money for The Ear Foundation so its all for a good cause.

I then nipped back to watch his match. When I got home it was the usual packing away of the groceries followed by cooking Sunday dinner and an attempt at a bit of tidying. Ewan and I took Luna out for a nice walk whilst we could – it was freezing but the crocuses looked lovely. Although, as I write this Spring is definitely not here as we have had snow all day with more forecast!