A luxurious pampering inexpensive retreat (with raw food!)

I'm head down in meeting my new book deadline this week so off work. I'd wanted to go somewhere just for 24 hours to write (cos quite frankly with 4 kids and constant distractions its impossible, every time I sit down to wax lyrical about non toxic shampoos et al I remember that I simply must ...load the washing machine....prepare some raw snacks for the kids....hoover the ...you get the drift...Then an important email comes in that simply MUST be answered and so it goes on, however I didn't have the luxury of travelling far or spending much cash. SO - what did I do ? Stayed in my own patch and did a B and B in Hertfordshire, but let me tell you this is a holistic 'hotel' with a difference.

I've been to veggie b and b's of course and they're very nice but you still end up eating way too much scrambed egg and toast and still need to get out of your room by 11am. Big hotels I find a bit anonymous, so anyways let me tell you where I went - The Taymount clinic - don't be put off by the name - theres nowt 'clinical' about this - the rooms are beautiful and theres pampering on hand - literally. I had a wonderful healing massage by the lovely Debs when I arrived (she also offers angelic reiki) and if you want it you can book a colonic, an organic chocolate wrap or any of the other treaments they offer (by the way theres a ten per cent discount off all their treatments if you mention janeys tips this month - their prices are rediculously reasonable anyway) You can stay without having any treatments of course too.

The huge en - suite rooms are gorgeous, towelling robes and slippers all there for your use and best of all the refreshments - omg - I had a tray of vanilla tea brought to me at my agreed wake up time with a some Chai honey sticks on the side and forget the usual hotel brekkie, I had a fantastic Green smoothie followed by fresh fruit and organic yoghurt. I was also plied all day with hand made raw chocolate snacks and offered a fantastic bean soup for lunch with raw almond breads and Enids very own recipe raw almond 'cheese' Honestly its so long since anyone has looked after me I felt like crying - us mums do lots of everyone else but forget to look after ourselves.

So I can't recommend it highly enough, also as I sat typing away there was the most amazing sun-set - apparantly that wasn't only for me - they get it all the time !

This is a perfect retreat if you want to hole up and have a few treatments, or just use it as a base for a little trip to Herts (we do have some nice places to go you know !) Theres nothing of the usual impersonal thing of hotels and its very different to any b and b or even independent hotel I've ever been to, totally holistic but very 'normal' too, I daresay if green smoothies and raw food aren't your thing, they'd be delighted to rustle up something else.

Contact them at Taymount clinic and say I recommended you, don't worry I'm not on commission !
http://www.taymount.com
Theres a chance to win their organic chocolate body wrap on my latest ezine too, well couldn't go there and not persuade them to offer my lovely readers a treat !

Off now to present The Green Awards, looking forward to meeting Jo Wood, the lovely Lynne Franks and unsure if he'll show up but we can dream ....(I'm talking Colin Firth of course)
http://www.imperfectlynatural.com/celebs-support-green-awards

meeting Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams with us on Steve Wright in the afternoon yesterday was SO nice, and vulnerable...I like that in a guy, admitted that he wasn't in a good place for a few years but now hes feeling ay Ok, I reckon he could stick with his girlfirend Adia ...american actress right ? he acknowleged he's a committment phobe but hey at least hes honest.!

I invited him to the Green Awards (greenawards.co.uk) - well I am hosting the event and of course he can't come but he was polite enough to say he'd have loved to !

I didn't remind him of the tour that he supported me on though - yes read that again - Robbie Williams - well Take That supported my band Cola Boy (pic above) on a UK club tour back in 1990 when we were number 8 in the charts and they were a brand new boy band doing the rounds trying to get a deal - theres a claim to fame !! but of course I can't claim the subsequent success !!!!

I'm coming out of retirement by the way for one night singing BV's with The Ronnies (a fantastic Rolling Stones trbute band with the most amazing Mick lookalike) this sat at their gig in Herts, See the newscreen on imperfectlynatural.com for more info, I'm doing the Mariane Faithful tribute bit, just gotta learn the song and find a pointy bra to wear under something sixties and demure.....

Meeting Micheal Buble ....,..and

Isn't it funny how some people are just so different in real life to how they appear on photos / TV etc ? We interviewed Micheal Buble today (you know crooning jazzy boy) and he is just divine. Such a nice guy and not at all lost in showbiz, great voice too, such a shame I'm not a jazz fan but then he does mix it all up kind of styley.

I told you we interviewed Cheryl Cole too ? or maybe that was on one of the rare occasions I remember to twitter or facebook or whatever the hell techy thing I can never find time to do...anyways the boys got the eye candy there, she is gorgeous, in truth I thought I was going to have to send Tim Smith and Steve Wright off for a cold shower before we could continue...might have been a good opportunity to offer up some natural shower gel....I've got some nice masculine Flint Edge and some Green People for men they might like...

Deadline beckons for my new book and I'm desperate for contributions, anyone got any natural beauty secrets....and aspirational dreams ? if you'd like to contribute send me an email and how you'd like to be credited of course, can't promise, editors decision is final and all that but hey ho....I'd love your input dear blog readers....
email janey at imperfectlynatural.com

back on my head then....

Settling in...

Still climbing over boxes but settling in. I love this community - yoga on my doorstep and happy kids.

I'm de-stressed at last thanks to my latest Turkey Juicemaster retreat, pics to follow, I had an amazing time yet again, wonderful yoga with Ken Ryan, rebounding at sunset, kundalini yoga (barking mad but fun) long mountain walks and of course the best juices and smoothies made for me ! Its hard to beat Jasons infectious energy too, he so inspirational . I am oh so lucky I know, its a life changing experience. Steve Wright takes the mickey of course but I think perhaps hes just slightly jealous that I lost a few pounds in weight without trying and have a certain 'glow' !!!

Back at my local deli I'm trying to persuade them to offer fresh juices, its a bit of a battle, but I'm nagging them to do just one to start, apple, carrot, lemon and ginger, talking of which my 9 year old has a barking cough and his treament ? fresh ginger shots, its doing the trick I think.

Off to try out the local dance class tonight, not just any old class I'll have you know, this is Nia - see the website
niamichelle I think - a bizarre rather joyous mix of dance, tai chi, and eurythmy....worth a shot !

Hubby meanwhile has toddled off to a certain swedish furniture store for all things clips and hooks, very glad I got out of that one....

Movin on up !

I've been hideously incommincado, missing in action, I do apologise but moving house they do say is second only to divorce in the Stress stakes. man alive has it been a nightmare, I'm not organised at the best of times but this has flawed me. Anyways we're installed and surrounded by inordinate amounts of boxes that we'll probably never open and may not miss.

In Imperfectly Natural Woman I have a chapter on decluttering but have never really done it properly before now (told you I'm imperfect) for my book I'll be able to speak with some authority. I have however managed to complete a wonderfull space clearing session in my new home and I swear I can feel the difference, its good anyway, the walls are treated with Tachyon paint and now under the guidance of the fabulous Davina Mackail (feng shui / shamanic healing consultant) I've given it another boost of great energy.
I've also had a brand new decorating job using natural eco paint, we chose the natural paint company Nutshell paint (nutshellpaint.co.uk) who are on my directory on imperfectlynatural.com and it looks great, the deocrators were amazing too, I can highly recommend RMB decoraters if you're in the midlands or south east area, not all painters are happy to work with natural paints, it can take a few more coats as its thinner but the results really are worth and with no scary chemicals its inert and theres no awful whiff to give you a headache for days.

Back to the 'grind' now, my Wright stuff date has been changed to this Friday 18th approx 10.30 on the couch with Matthew Wright so gotta search through those boxes for some interesting eco / natural stuff to talk about....gotta find something to wear too, the most things are missing, had to borrow a pair of hubbys socks today, not the best look!

Hanging out with Bono - U2 360 tour

You can't say I don't have an exciting life, Bono and Adam Clayton from U2 came in to Wright's show - great interview, Bono has definitely mellowed ! anyways we got chatting afterwards cos I am mates with U2's incredible lighting designer (well hes much much more than that) Willy and its his 'big' birthday around now so Bono personally invited me to the gig in Sheffield last night, travelling with the band and all - crikey a girl can't turn down an offer like that !

So off I went and man alive what a show, if you haven't seen this tour you've got Sat only to get to Cardiff (no idea if its sold out) but it was SENSATIONAL, can't even begin to describe how cool The Claw is - almost like 4 seperate shows depending on where you stand in the arena, I had the luxury of standing on the platform in front of the mixer desk but the view from immediately in front of the stage is very different and very exciting as the guys rush acorss bridges next to you, as is the view from really high up in the stands where you kind of look down on this incredible light show.

As for the music - what can I say, they did so many of my favourites including Still haven't found what I'm looking for, Sunday Bloody Sunday, One, Vertigo...the list goes on as well as the great new ones.

I was well and truly looked after, had the fab backstage catering, and backstage hospitality, saw some old mates and then was taken right back to my days backing singing with Wham and George Michael as I was bundled into a big car and we sped off in a long convoy of about 8 cars behind flashing police escorts and overhead choppers - very exciting !

When I've come up for air (still reeling from it all to be truthful) I'll tell you more including how bizarre that Adam Clayton and I were wearing matching rings - mine is a beautiful blue heart from WDlondon - Thora Walton collection, never quite sussed whether Adam's sapphire was real.....somehow I'm guessing it probably was.

Back to reality, gotta jack up some fabulous comps for the next ezine, and Imperfectlynatural.com, get sorted out for Greenbelt festival next weekend , oh and did I mention I'm moving house......back on my head then....

Glamping...and raw choccy truffles...

You may have heard me waxing lyrical on Radio 2 but this was a fantastic family holiday, camping without the hassle, no cold baked beans or horrible nylon sleeping bags, no trekking down the motorway with a trailor or roof rack only to find you've forgotten the tent poles, no you just show up at Jollydays in Yorkshire and open a bottle of wine, yes we're talking glamourous camping or 'glamping' Our huge lodge tent had a four poster bed, proper beds for the kids and chandeliers (yep) rather like being at boutique hotel in the woods.

Jollydays is about 20 mins from York - set in huge woodland, the kids were free range and came back only for food whcih we cooked on the barbie, in the evenings we sat around the communal firepit or lay in the hammock and looked at the stars, if it all sounds a bit idyllic its cos it was.

Total luxury - proper flushing loos and in our lodge tent a proper vitorian freestanding bath but all by candlelight - SO romantic.

Cos of the wood burning stoves in the tents they're toasty warm so I'm planning another trip for the autumn, if you're into Kath Kidson prints, pretty fabrics and vintage furniture you'll love Jollydays

Crikey I should be on commission !!!

http://www.jollydaysluxurycamping.co.uk/

On an entirely different note have I told you about the wondrous Geidre from Lithuania ? I introduced her to the concept of raw foods and she has overtaken me in leaps and bounds - her latest offering is spectaculer - Raw choccy truffles - basically cacao butter, powder, some advocado and some sesame seeds, you get the drift, email me if you want the recipe, I may put them in my next book....won't be out till next Spring...