THE BEACH.......

Before I start the blog proper I just want to say a big "Thank You" to all our lovely customers who supported Independence Week, we had a great week and hope you all managed to get those yearned for things with 10% off!

The other week when Laura and I went up to the big smoke on the train to do a buying appointment we bought a magazine to read on the way back and this article caught our eye! So true! So enjoy......

Blasé on the beach...

I have just returned from holiday with two middle-aged female friends. It was gloriously relaxing, but perhaps the most relaxing aspect was that none of us cared a whit about how we looked. There were no frantic pre-holiday 'get bikini-ready' diets, no exhausting comparisons of 'Oh my god, her thighs are thinner than mine' and no planning for the perfect holiday wardrobe. As far as I was concerned, the only essential part of the perfect holiday wardrobe turned out to be a large box of PG Tips, because builder's tea is a luxury I simply cannot live without.
So there we were, slouching around in all our lumpy, bumpy glory. No make-up, no hair straighteners, no dressing for dinner - unless you call knotting a sarong getting dressed. It was so liberating that, for the first time in years, I climbed into a bikini, blissfully unselfconscious about my body, which, with the advent of children and the passing of time, is no longer as bikini-ready as it used to be. In fact, there was a time when the very idea of a bikini used to send it, and me, into a state of shock.
I guess we all know that the fastest track to unhappiness is comparing ourselves to others but when there are no comparisons (or rather, judgements) to be made, all our feelings of not being good enough fly out of the window or, in this case, out into the wide blue Caribbean yonder. Those friends could not have cared less that my tummy now resembles a tea bag after the rigours of pregnancy or that the skin on my thighs and arms is heading south, in a gentle slide that even the politest observer might describe as looking like crepe paper.
Despite the tea bags (a holiday preoccupation, obviously), nobody else on the beach gave a damn what I looked like, either, probably because, just as I had once been, they were more concerned about the way they looked rather than the sight of a middle-aged woman idling along the sea shore. But it did make me wonder why I had spent all those years fretting about the way I appeared in a swimsuit rather than enjoying the freedom of sand between my toes.
I fretted at 46, I fretted at 36 and I even fretted at 26, but now, when I look back at old photographs, I see an acceptable body - not perfect, but perfectly acceptable - and although I am a firm believer that regret is a pointless waste of time and energy, I can't help but mourn the fact that I did not enjoy what I had when I had it.
Now I am 56 and I really don't want to look back in 10 years' time and ask myself what the hell I was doing sunk in self-consciousness rather than wallowing in an azure blue sea.
My body, although ageing, is still strong and serves its purpose well. The element in which I feel happiest is water; after a childhood living overseas, I can swim like a fish ( my mother says I could swim before I could walk) so every day, I swam and swam. My body was happy and I was happy and if there is any greater bliss than the harmony of body and mind, I really don't know what it might be.
And although, apart from swimming and reading, I spent most of the holiday comatose under a palm tree, it was a proper wake-up call to enjoy what I have rather than mourning what I don't.
So, hello to imperfection and let those of us lucky enough to enjoy strong, healthy bodies celebrate them - lumps, bumps and all.

Thank you to Sally Brampton for her words of wisdom. Sally is a journalist, novelist and agony aunt. She has a column in the Psychologies magazine which this article came from.

So ladies I think we should all learn from this and celebrate our wonderful bodies!

Take care and don't forget next Monday we shall be opening at 9am as the Olympic Torch is in Petworth on that morning! Excited......

10% OFF EVERYTHING...........

Now you are asking yourself why we are giving 10% off everything!

Well it's something called "Independents Day". Have you heard about it? No! Well let me explain......

Independents Day is a national campaign aimed at celebrating the UK's independent retailers. Independents Day encourages the public to buy at least one thing from their local, independent shop on this day.

The campaign highlights the important role smaller, local, independent retailers play in the communities they serve, the local economy they contribute to, and in the retail sector as a whole.

Independents Day flies the flag for local retailers: the ones who help make our villages, towns and cities so special. It's about championing diversity on the high street and recognising the skills behind the shopfront.

This is the second year of the "Independents Day" campaign and once again the independent retailers in Petworth have entered into the spirit of it by celebrating it for a week. You will see all our independent stores decked out in Red, White and Blue in some form or another, so keep your eyes open! We at Therapy are giving our wonderful loyal customers 10% off everything for the week!! Yes you read that correctly 10% off everything for a week.

So if you've been thinking about treating yourself to a pair of La Badia pumps, that never go in the sale, come this week and get 10% off them! Or that pair of NYDJ or FDJ jeans you've been saving up for, the best jeans ever, visit us this week and get 10% off them. Or that Avoca blanket that's so scrummy, and would look good on your sofa, yes thats got 10% off too! Everything, all of it has 10% off!

Don't miss out. Make us your destination of the week. Help us celebrate Petworths' Independent Week.

I'VE NO IDEA.....

So here I am, it's Monday again and I just don't know where the last week has gone! I've been sitting here now for about ten minutes trying to think of what to write about this week and I'm coming up with zilch! I've had a busy morning changing everything in the windows and on the mannequins in the shop, then it was lunch and now it's 3 o'clock and my mind is blank, I think I must have used up all of today's brain cells. And on top of that I've got my first yoga class tonight, I just hope I don't fall asleep in it. Life is just too busy sometimes! Lets take a look at my coming week....

Tomorrow I'm into work until 12.30pm, then I have to dash home grab a bite to eat, catch the 1.20pm train to Portsmouth for an interview for my passport at 3.00pm, my very first one, as we are off to Rome and Florence in October. Hope it doesn't take too long as I have to get back home sharpish to cook tea early as my husband has got a group of 20 people for a talk and tour around the gardens at 6.45pm!!!!!!!!

Wednesday we are off on a buying trip to London at 8.30am,this is for Spring/Summer 2013!!!! When we get back later that afternoon I then have food shopping to do as my husband and one of my stepsons are off to the Goodwood Festival of Speed for four days. I need to be back in time for said stepson to arrive to stay for 3 days!!!

Thursday a brief respite of a day at work! Bliss! But said husband and stepson would have got up at 6.00am to get off bright and early to the FOS. So before work it's take the 3 dogs out for a walk and feed them and the 3 cats! Shower, dry hair etc. Take the dogs to the person looking after them for the day.

Friday is another buying trip to London with the added jobs of Thursday as second day of FOS!!!

Saturday is my day off this week but shall have all the house cleaning, washing, dog walking, food shopping etc to do.

So all in all it's no wonder the weeks fly by and I have no brain cells left.

But needless to say Therapy is still here and looking as wonderful as ever with loads of scrummy clothes, shoes, jewellery, handbags and gifts for you to buy. So while your husbands or boyfriends are at the FOS come and spend some 'you' time with us. Petworth has some fantastic shops and lots of fab cafes, restaurants and delis for you to refuel at. It really is well worth a visit. Petworth is the place to take life at a slower pace and relax.

Look forward to meeting you all.

UNDER STARTERS ORDERS........

So we are now in the middle of June and the season starts for the likes of Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley, Glyndebourne, Glourious Goodwood,Weddings, Parties and not forgetting the Olympics! So if you are looking for the perfect outfit, you need look no further than Therapy! We have some wonderful dresses in from Nancy Mac, who are based in East Sussex, which you will feel a million dollars in and really make heads turn! I have put a few of their wonderful creations in the window this week, just to give you all a little taster of what we have to offer, so come on in a have a little trying on session with us.......

Nancy Mac Trista 40's Dress in Poppy

 

Nancy Mac Ciara Butterfly Shift Dress in Indigo

Nancy Mac Evie Long Cardi in Rose

 

Nancy Mac Alessa 50's Dress in Rosetti

Nancy Mac Evie Long Cardi in Jade

IT'S RAINING AGAIN.......

Where oh where is the Summer? This is supposed to be 'Flaming June'! I'm really fed up with this weather now and I'm someone who doesn't like the Summer! Come on give us a break and let's have some sun and blue skies! And for longer than a week please! I haven't even put away my Winter clothes yet and the majority of my Summer clothes are wondering why they haven't seen the light of day yet! Well this week I am determined to get all my Winter clothes packed away and am confident that when I have done that the sun is going to show it's face for the rest of the Summer!!! So with that in mind here are some tips for those of you who will be doing the same job as me this week....


BEFORE YOU PUT IT AWAY......

BOOTS

Ideally any repairs that need doing should be done before you put your boots away for the Summer! Another good tip is to coat them in polish, but do not rub it off, as the polish feeds and protects the leather during the Summer months. Another must is to store them with wooden boot trees or stuffed with newspaper in the foot and plastic trees for the legs,as this keeps them in good shape and stops horrible creases around the ankles!


SHOES

Leather shoes that get a lot of wear will benefit from being stored for the Summer with untreated shoe trees. Untreated shoe trees will absorb sweat and dampness from the leather but plastic or varnished shoe trees are not absorbent. If your shoes have a watermark line on the leather, rub it with a cut potato and then polish to remove the mark. Hairspray will take pen marks out of leather items.


HATS

Hats can be stored one inside the other with the widest brim at the bottom inside a big hatbox. Be very vigilant for moths as they love felt and fur hats! If a hat gets out of shape, reshape it over the steam from a kettle.


KNITWEAR

Shave bobbles off knitwear with a sharp razor or buy one of those special battery operated de-bobbling gadgets. Handwash your cashmere before storing for the Summer, I find dry cleaning it can make it go hard! The best way to get excess water out after washing is to roll it up in a towel and press down on it really hard and then to dry flat. If you add a capful of vinegar to your final rinse for woollens it will make them more fluffy!


BRAS

Remember to put your bras inside the leg of an old stocking before you pop them into the washing machine, as this protects them from being twisted. Underwired bras are finished with little plastic caps, so don't wash or dry on high temperatures as the caps will melt and the wires will poke through the fabric!


HANGERS

If you store your clothes by hanging rather than storing flat, remember to use the correct hanger for the garment. It is always a good idea to store all knitwear flat, hanging will cause stretching and the shoulders to become misshapen, if you must hang then use a padded hanger. For coats and jackets use hangers with wide, shaped shoulders. For heavy skirts try and use padded clip hangers as these will not make horrible marks on the fabric. For suits always use a proper suit hanger with padded clips.

I know all this seems a lot of trouble to go to but your clothes will always look better if they are stored correctly. And also if you have spent a lot of money on something you want it to last!


So next week will be sunshine all round!!!!!! Here's hoping!!!! Fingers crossed!!!!!

PETWORTH........

So we've had the 'Diamond Jubilee' long weekend and may I just say wasn't it the most wonderful,uplifting,proud to be British, tear in the eye, wow moment we've had for a long time. And The Queen so deserved all the attention she was given, what a wonderful woman.


Petworth got into the spirit of the moment with every shop decked out in Red, White and Blue. We had two windows all patriotic with flags, bunting and all the mannequins wearing Red, White and Blue! If you missed us looking so good I'm leaving them in for another week, so pop along and have a look. The Party in the Square on Sunday was a great success and the weather even stayed fine. There was singing, dancing, children's entertainment,an old fashioned carousel, fun and laughter, Willie Austin and picnics galore! Where were you?


As we are now in the mood to keep this festive fun feeling going for the rest of the summer I have found a few things going on in Petworth that you might want to come and be part of......


Sunday 10th June, Petworth Park, 'Spot the Spaniel' this is an invitation to anyone who has a Spaniel to come and have a fun day in the park where there will be all things Spaniel going on, non Spaniels are more than welcome. Normal grounds admission price.


Sunday 17th June, 2-6pm, Petworth Town, 'Petworth Secret Gardens'. This is a must, if you haven't done it before you must. You just wouldn't believe the gardens that are hidden behind the houses in Petworth, some you wouldn't even think had a garden. They are stunning! And every time I've done it the weather has been glourious! Tickets are £5, and this price gets you into all of the gardens.


Monday 2nd July - Sunday 8th July, 'Independents Week'. This is a week for celebrating all the wonderful independent shops in Petworth. Last year was the first year it was held and it was a great success. With all the publicity that Mary Portas has had about independent shops please come along during that week to see what Petworth and ourselves have to offer!


'PETWORTH FESTIVAL' 12th July - 28th July. Not to be missed, but tickets are selling very quickly for all the various events that are going on, so get on the phone, the computer or pop into the box office. The Festivals reputation is growing each year and is definitely one to put on your calendar for next year!


Saturday 14th July, Petworth Park, 'Fete in the Park' this kicks off the Petworth Festival and is lots of fun.


Monday 16th July, 'The Olympic Torch' comes to Petworth!!!!! A once in a lifetime experience! Check out the local paper or the Olympic website to see the route and times. But Petworth is going to be buzzing. Get those flags out again and come and cheer, shout and have some fun. Afterwards there is plenty to do in Petworth and lots of lovely cafes to have a well deserved cuppa and a cake. And then lots of wonderful shops to look around!


So that's just a taste of what we have to offer for the next couple of months, I haven't even mentioned August and September! So let's keep the feel good factor going!!!!!


Next time you're in town do pop in and see us and have a good mooch about as we've had loads of fantastic new clothes in!


Take care.