h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Got up very early this morning to have a bath, using the end of the VERY classy bath salts one of my daughters in law gave me. (Once you start paying a lot for such presents they do seem to be very nice= hint for others with elderly mothers)
Toe nails still impossible to cut and there were still the vestiges of old nail varnish when I splashed through the rain for my pedicure.
Bubbly foot spa thing, then varnish removed and about a quarter of an inch (!) off my right big toe nail. Nails cleaned up and buffed. Skin scrub rubbed in. Then foot cream. Very, very gentle. Slightly tickly but bearable.
This is in stark contrast (funny how that's a fixed phrase) to the pedicures I had in China for years. These were always done by young men with very strong thumbs. Very deep massage, sometimes hot wax treatment. I used to take visitors for a "treat" to see if they could get through 40 minutes without a murmur. I always managed without kicking anyone and now my knee joints are so locked it would be a major effort.
Not much difference in price. I paid £24 today but that included a full manicure with varnish. Hope this helps, Sho.

My Mum has a visiting chiropodist who charges £23 for toenail trim (and fingernails if requested). This doesn't include footbath (I do this for her) or massage. Her calling card says "£40 a couple" but I can manage my own toenails. I'd love a foot massage though

wow, thanks WS - that sounds absolutely wonderful. I'm working up to giving it a go over the summer.

Always remember to take a pair of sandals with you when you go for a pedicure. There's always a chance that the varnish is not quite dry when you've finished (even if you stay to finish your cup of tea) - so you don't want to pull socks and shoes back over them. In fact, I usually stay barefoot if I've gone there by car. Once I got my husband to come and fetch me, bring the car, and he rode back on my bike, while I drove home. (Just across the village) This sort of thing can make you quite devious!

Most of the time though, I am there on my bike and just slip my sandals on and cycle home. Since having an accident as a child whilst riding my bike barefoot, I refuse to do that.

Sometimes it's a job to stop the pedicurist sticking little pictures and stuff on your toenails. She tries hard to persuade ("Look - I've just got these lovely little sunflowers in. ... How about a teddy bear?")

I'd love flowers, not sure about teddy bears.
But that's a great tip about the sandles - thanks. I'm working up to making an appoointment.

Sandals mandatory here. It's taking about ten minutes to get socks and shoes on and we won't even think about stockings or tights. The diabetes nurse did shoes and socks for me last time I visited and suggested I got a grandchild's help while I was in Ireland. The 5 year old was very good at tying shoelaces.
Suggest looking for a Chinese masseur. They seem to be in all the major towns now and are brilliant if you want a massage rather than a pedicure. (I once had gold dragons painted on my toenails and Father Christmases on another occasion)

I've just typed a reply and it's got lost!

Try again.
Sandals are mandatory. It takes ten minutes to do shoes and socks. The last time I saw the diabetes nurse she did them for me and suggested I get a grandchild to help while I was on holiday in Ireland.The five year old was brilliant tying shoelaces.
I suggest Chinese masseurs if you want a massage rather than a pedicure; they seem to be in the major towns these days.
I once had gold dragons on my toenails and Father Christmases on another occasion, but the days of painted feet may be over.

GREMLINS.