From Where You Are Lifehouse

Lifehouse spa: The new luxury retreat doesn't do self-denial...well, it is in ...

A am afflicted by sludge. Not the sort caused by a long, cold winter followed by relentless rain, but a more spiritual sort. Moon says so. She's the shamanic healer at Lifehouse, a new destination spa in Essex. The idea of Essex having a top spa? Well, it's like Katie Price becoming a nun; perfectly possible though not exactly likely. But, after spending £30 million on new buildings and importing therapists from Chiva-Som - the celeb-centred spa in Thailand - Lifehouse opened late last year, a brave attempt to bring the destination spa to England's most derided county.

Lifehouse is like a very groovy Scandinavian school, all clever chairs, high-minded lights and witty textiles. all in all, it's very modish, especially when you realise it's just down the road from Frinton-on-Sea, the town so quiet that it got its first pub only in 2000 after much public opposition.

Built around listed gardens previously visited by Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling, Lifehouse may lack the tropical temperatures of Bali or the glorious beaches of Thailand.

But instead there's plenty of fun to be had along with the thalasso-therapy pools, the reiki treatments and four-hour Oriental Bathing rituals.

'You can come to dinner in your dressing gown but most people like to dress up a bit,' says Lesley, my nice waitress. Of course they do.

This is Essex. Every single waitress sported superb manicures and perfect make-up. As a guest, it gave me something to aspire to.

And the very nicest thing about Lifehouse isn't the treatments or the superb nail art of the staff. It's the fact that Lifehouse turns out to be the most cheerful spa I've been to. The guests aren't into starving themselves or navel-contemplation. They want to have a nice time.

Even though it's been open only since December, it's packed and everyone seems to be bathed in a sense of contentment. It doesn't do guilt or self-denial. Lifehouse may have its own spring water but there's also a fine selection of champagne on the menu. The chef, Paul Boorman, was voted Essex's chef of the year.

Which causes me to raise my eyebrows in a superior metropolitan London sort of way until I taste the food - delicate but fun with Heston-like touches, such as popping candy in the sorbets, all accompanied by a superb cocktail and wine list.

It ought to be pretentious in the extreme but it isn't and nor is Moon. 'Am I tricky?' I ask her at one point.

Miles Behind Me: From Where You Are

We discussed a few things and a little bit about "us" and our future, something we do and we make plans. Sure other girls when they go on dates they get all dolled up and get taken perhaps to a dinner and a movie. But my dates, our dates, occur over a computer. I am in comfy clothes and no shoes laying on my bed and Fox is either in ABU's or PT gear laying on his bed. We talk about anything and everything. I have been through several deployments through friends, worried about them getting shot at because they have been in dangerous situations and heard the horror stories after they returned home. I have several deployments under my belt and quite frankly so does Fox. But this is our first deployment TOGETHER. And to be frank, and honestly you all should know this by now, we met while he was on deployment. I am lucky to have Fox. This man is thoughtful. He wakes up early on the days he doesn't have to, earlier on the days he does, just to Skype with me. He rushes home when he is done for work and calls me the minute he walks through the door. I have seen this man rip off clothes changing into PT gear to get comfy. If I am at work he'll stay up later just to get a few moments with me on Skype, even if he has to wake up at 5am. He, no we make our relationship work. It wasn't like that in the beginning. I knew Fox was deployed and hours ahead. But with no regards to time I would reply to emails from him when I could. But at some point things changed and I have pointed to Fox when this occurred. This man just captured my heart and it went from "hi, how are you?" 's to let's get to know each other and feelings... I can tell you when my man has had a hard day at work. I can see it written across his face. I actually know him very well and can tell when he isn't paying attention cause he's playing on FB. And I can tell when he wants to say something he doesn't want to just by the look on his face. I also didn't realize I did this thing with my eyebrows until he pointed it out. He notices the little things to. And he'll ask what's wrong and I just say thinking and he makes me spill and pokes until I do. But you see this is what Fox and I know. This is all we have really ever known. Well after I found out the time difference and saying he was in Finland, oh how I wish he was in Finland. And now we coordinate with each other. I tell him my work hours in advance so then he will know if yes we can Skype his morning or his night or when.

Lifehouse Songs, Hanging by a Moment, Broken, First Time, Whatever It Takes, Everything, Halfway Gone, You and Me, Blind, from Where You Are

The Lifehouse Songbook, Piano/Vocal/Chords

The Lifehouse Songbook, Authentic Guitar TAB

Lifehouse

Amazing Journey, The Life of Pete Townshend