A circular blue and purple tent, rather like a mini circus tent is set up in a secluded area near ATH. Nearby are flowering honeysuckle, wild rose bushes and a fragrant lavender bush. The flap is lifted so you can enter. In the small vestibule is a comfortable sun-lounger with unbleached cotton cushions. On the sun-lounger is a book of the choices available to you for your massage today. The first section deals with carrier oils.

• Sweet Almond Oil - Easily absorbed and gentle to the skin, blends well with all the pure essential oils. The only reason not to use this is if you are allergic to almonds.
  
  
• Apricot kernel Oil - Rich in Vitamins A and C and very good for the face. Facial massage on its own can be very...intimate.
  
  
• Comfrey Oil - A wonderful soft tissue healer, rich in allantion. Used in therapeutic and remedial massage with muscular aches and painful joints. If you over-indulged recently #ahem# or twisted your foot on a grassy tussock, this is for you! Duncan uses this quite a lot.
  
  
• Grapeseed Oil - Particularly good for weight loss. Overdid the marshmallows? Couldn't resist that extra slice of pie? Had one too many garlic mushrooms?
  
  
• Hazelnut Oil - Astringent, good for curing gout and swelling. Don't worry, you're in safe hands. This is another one Duncan likes from time to time....
  
  
• Peach kernel Oil - Very good for dry, sensitive skin.
  
  
• Safflower Oil - Good for tired and ageing skin. It is a well-proven skin rejuvenator. Methos buys the stuff off me by the keg.
  
  
• Sesame Seed Oil - Not just good for popping on top of hamburger buns or opening cave doors. I mix it with carrot oil which preserves the elasticity of the skin. Amanda got the recipe from me...for a price.
  
  
• Talcum Powder - You probably can't remember the pleasure of being rubbed all over with this by your mother or father when you were a baby. I use it on small areas, and I'm afraid it irritates hairy parts, but try some on your neck and shoulders.
  
  
• Creams - Again, these tend to clog up on contacting hairy areas, but a hand or foot massage might be just what you need......
  
  

All of the above carriers are more or less odourless, so you might want to choose a scent from the following. Use your intuition and pick one that appeals. Something like Black Pepper is going to tend to 'wake you up!' whilst Rose will be soothing.

Basil, Benzoin (good for colds), Bergamot, Black Pepper, Cajaput (asthma), Cedarwood (with care if you are pregnant), Chamomile, Clary Sage (no alcohol recently!), Cypress, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Jatmansi (relaxing, painful muscles, restores colour to dark hair), Juniper Berry, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Mandarin, Marigold, Marjoram, Melissa (bee and wasp stings), Myrrh, Orange blossom, Niaouli (lungs and bladder), Orange, Patchouli, Peppermint, Petigrain, Pine, Rose, Rosemary (stimulant, not for high blood pressure sufferers), Sage, Sandalwood, Sughandha Kokila (digestive system, rheumatism and joint pain), Tea Tree, Thyme, Xanthoxylum (lymph, circulation, mucous membranes).

Now you've picked your oil and fragrance, pass inside to the inner sancum. Xena guides you to the massage bench where a pile of fresh, thick cream-coloured towels await to cover your....embarrassment. Once you have disrobed in that cubcle over there and you are in place (face up or down) and decently covered, you will be asked which sort of massage you require. Those wanting just hand, foot or face massage can sit on the very comfortable padded wooden and velvet chair to your left.

For full body massage, there are several types:-

• Efflerrage :- Performed with the flat of the hand and the pads of the fingertips. This will be used in any case, as it is relaxing and prepares you for deeper massage.
  
  
• Petrissage :- Applied with the balls of the fingers or thumbs to the muscle which lies directly over the bone. Deep rubbing, in circles. Very good for stiff necks and shoulders. The light version is used on the face.
  
  
• Kneading - Ever wondered how bread feels? The same movement is used here, to stimulate muscles without bone underneath.
  
  
• Percussion - With the sides of the hands, cupping and plucking movements. This one will wake you up!
  
  
• Feathering - A gentle 'finishing' massage. This will either have you up and raring to go, or you'll have drifted off to sleep, depending on which massages came before it.
  

When you've surfaced, Xena will have prepared a nice long drink (non-alcoholic, for now) and if you a pleasing gentleman wanting further....attention, she may draw you into the skilfully hidden third chamber in this tent where you will have to use your imagination, charm and persuasion, but the rewards will be plentiful if you are successful.

Another satisfied customer!