I can feel a hint of the autumnal in the off-shore breeze. It’s still summery and bright out my window,  but there’s a freshening edge to things. The trail through the back bush smells of the sweet death of leaves; sugary and brittle underfoot. 

This is when I start to think of sharpened pencils and new outfits and fresh clean pages. And this year, I’ll be doing something really different; I’ve signed on to go on a  five-day spa retreat in November.

By November the weather is pretty dreary around here. The twinkly lights of Christmas aren’t doing their trick quite yet and the last of the autumn colours will have been pelted down and mashed to a leafy mush by the fall monsoons.

So, it all sounded like a pretty good plan to shake up that dark month, until I realized that I’d agreed to a five-day juice fast. Oh my. 

And then they sent the two-week protocol that I’m supposed to follow prior to the stay. No caffeine.  No alcohol. It got worse from there.

Thing is, I do love a challenge. And trust me when I say that having no coffee will be a challenge.

And considering I’ve never missed a meal in my life, I’m guessing that even though the juice sounds pretty thick and full of great veggies and fruit, I will be ready to chew on my chair.

However, there will be no shortage of material and that’s why I sign up for anything…it’s all about a good story.

I would also like to point out, that any time I can go somewhere where I don’t have to do laundry, cook or clean, it sounds like a bonus already. Throw in the steam saunas and walks on the beach and maybe carrot juice will taste great.

Besides, I’m thinking it can’t hurt and maybe it really does work. Hey, I might even feel fabulous when it’s all said and done.

Wouldn’t that be better than sitting in the house wondering if the rain will ever stop?