Where: 2020 Archery nr. London Bridge
Who: Me,
When:
Why: I want to be Robin Hood.
PS. If anyone does want to come, drop an email to enquiries@2020archery.co.uk to see if they have any places left. Cost is £20 for the Have-A-Go archery session.
Friday 7 October 2011
Hey, that dude was shot with an arrow! Let's go that way.
What: Archery
Where: 2020 Archery nr. London Bridge
Who: Me,Will (out due to injury) Sian & anyone else who fancies it (book in advance, info below)
When:Saturday 15th October @ 10.30am EDIT - now moved to Saturday 19th November at 4.30pm
Why: I want to be Robin Hood.
PS. If anyone does want to come, drop an email to enquiries@2020archery.co.uk to see if they have any places left. Cost is £20 for the Have-A-Go archery session.
Where: 2020 Archery nr. London Bridge
Who: Me,
When:
Why: I want to be Robin Hood.
PS. If anyone does want to come, drop an email to enquiries@2020archery.co.uk to see if they have any places left. Cost is £20 for the Have-A-Go archery session.
Sunday 2 October 2011
Fish Pedicure
I had some company for this new venture, in the form of Helen! A bit of a pamper and the prospect of a good chat were too tempting to refuse.
The Garra Rufa fish has many names - doctor fish, nibble fish, physio fish, reddish log sucker... They live mainly in the river basins of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran and are particularly popular for treating skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis, as they only consume dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow.
It was only in 2010 that the first fish pedicure spa opened in the UK, in Sheffield's Meadowhall shopping centre. London now has several fish pedicure treatment centres; I found this one through a simple Google search. Malika is on the bottom floor of the One New Change shopping centre by St Paul's. It's only a small shop with glass frontage onto the rest of the shopping centre - I'm not sure it would be as pleasant on a busy day with shoppers bustling everywhere, but on a quiet Sunday afternoon it was nice and peaceful.
The way the treatment works is you sit with your feet in a big aquarium containing lots of the gentle Garra Rufa fish. Once the fish notice that lunch has arrived, the pedicure begins! They swim about and nibble their way around your feet and toes. The sensation is the first surprise. It tickles, it's a bit like light pins & needles, or tiny electric shocks. The fish don't have teeth, so they can't bite you, but you can still feel them munching away, which is a little disconcerting, especially because they seem to really enjoy swimming between your toes!
Without any hesitation, I would recommend a fish pedicure. The treatment is relaxing, cooling and perfect for the morning after a night in stilettos or after a long day at the office. We had a 25-minute session - I don't think anything shorter than this would really have any demonstrable benefits - and it was nice to sit, chat and have my feet tickled by the fish. My feet are normally in a terrible state - I abuse them with everything from ridiculous high-heels to covering miles in hiking boots. Are they any better after the pedicure? They definitely feel good and do look better, although I think it would take many more sessions to make them perfect. It's a very gentle pedicure and I think my time and money would be better spent on a good podiatrist. That said, I will definitely be going for another fish pedicure at some point!
However, I won't be going back to Malika. The place does have some positives - free champagne or wine for treatments of 25mins & over (although we settled for a comforting cuppa) and there is a discount for groups (20% off for pairs, 25% for three/foor people). While it is conveniently positioned for the City, our experience was that they seemed unsure of how to provide a truly complete service. It is advertised as 'up to 100 fish' but I would estimate we had maybe 30 each... At the end of the treatment session, as other people came in, we were pretty much forgotten about. There were no towels provided or anywhere to sit and put shoes back on.
This is for you if...
You have sore, tired feet which need a bit of TLC. Those with ticklish feet, beware! Just perfect for a mid-shopping break to take the weight off your feet.
Recommendations
I think this is something that everyone should try at least once, if only to enjoy the sensation on your feet. It is relaxing and great to go to with friends; if you go alone, take a book or magazine.
The Garra Rufa fish has many names - doctor fish, nibble fish, physio fish, reddish log sucker... They live mainly in the river basins of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran and are particularly popular for treating skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis, as they only consume dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow.
It was only in 2010 that the first fish pedicure spa opened in the UK, in Sheffield's Meadowhall shopping centre. London now has several fish pedicure treatment centres; I found this one through a simple Google search. Malika is on the bottom floor of the One New Change shopping centre by St Paul's. It's only a small shop with glass frontage onto the rest of the shopping centre - I'm not sure it would be as pleasant on a busy day with shoppers bustling everywhere, but on a quiet Sunday afternoon it was nice and peaceful.
The way the treatment works is you sit with your feet in a big aquarium containing lots of the gentle Garra Rufa fish. Once the fish notice that lunch has arrived, the pedicure begins! They swim about and nibble their way around your feet and toes. The sensation is the first surprise. It tickles, it's a bit like light pins & needles, or tiny electric shocks. The fish don't have teeth, so they can't bite you, but you can still feel them munching away, which is a little disconcerting, especially because they seem to really enjoy swimming between your toes!
Without any hesitation, I would recommend a fish pedicure. The treatment is relaxing, cooling and perfect for the morning after a night in stilettos or after a long day at the office. We had a 25-minute session - I don't think anything shorter than this would really have any demonstrable benefits - and it was nice to sit, chat and have my feet tickled by the fish. My feet are normally in a terrible state - I abuse them with everything from ridiculous high-heels to covering miles in hiking boots. Are they any better after the pedicure? They definitely feel good and do look better, although I think it would take many more sessions to make them perfect. It's a very gentle pedicure and I think my time and money would be better spent on a good podiatrist. That said, I will definitely be going for another fish pedicure at some point!
However, I won't be going back to Malika. The place does have some positives - free champagne or wine for treatments of 25mins & over (although we settled for a comforting cuppa) and there is a discount for groups (20% off for pairs, 25% for three/foor people). While it is conveniently positioned for the City, our experience was that they seemed unsure of how to provide a truly complete service. It is advertised as 'up to 100 fish' but I would estimate we had maybe 30 each... At the end of the treatment session, as other people came in, we were pretty much forgotten about. There were no towels provided or anywhere to sit and put shoes back on.
This is for you if...
You have sore, tired feet which need a bit of TLC. Those with ticklish feet, beware! Just perfect for a mid-shopping break to take the weight off your feet.
Recommendations
I think this is something that everyone should try at least once, if only to enjoy the sensation on your feet. It is relaxing and great to go to with friends; if you go alone, take a book or magazine.
Saturday 1 October 2011
Gone Fishin'
What: Fish Pedicure
Where: Malika, One New Change shopping centre
Who: Garra Rufa fishies
When: Sunday 2nd October 2011 at 2.30pm
Why: To give my feet a bit of love and the fishes some lunch
Where: Malika, One New Change shopping centre
Who: Garra Rufa fishies
When: Sunday 2nd October 2011 at 2.30pm
Why: To give my feet a bit of love and the fishes some lunch
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