On Friday, I picked up a giant package from the post office, containing materials for the diploma of massage course I’ve enrolled in. Upon opening said package, I felt a steady and definite sense of nausea creeping from my stomach up to my throat - nausea representing one of my least favorite things … reality.

I spent the next thirty minutes in a stupor, shuffling through text books, manuals, DVD’s, CD’s - and the groovy lucite pen with the flag of Australia on top of it, then decided I’d better do something constructive. So I started the reading for the first unit - Clinical Aromatherapy.

Within the first couple of minutes, I realised the course is fantastic, in part because it touches on things I’m already interested in. I’ve loved aromatherapy for years, now I’m studying it. And, just to really freak you out (Josh and Ria, especially you), the first day I read the manual from cover to cover and yesterday I took re-read and took notes on the first twelve pages for an hour. After this post, I’ll read/note take for another hour, since James and Miss M have gone into the city to buy Lonely Planet guides and protein powder - for James, not Miss M.

Let me display my new found knowledge with some random aromatherapy facts. The term aromatherapy wasn’t coined until 1937, by a French cosmetic chemist called Gattefosse. He became interested in therapeutic qualities of oils after an explosion in his laboratory left him with gangrenous wounds. He applied lavender oil (angustifolia - derived from leaves), and recovered remarkably quickly. He then worked with many people, including soldiers injured in WW1, mainly using thyme, lemon, clove and chamomile oils to treat, and also disinfect instruments.

The first English language book dealing with aromatherapy wasn’t published until the 1970’s, although documented use started with the Egyptians, who embalmed their dead using cedarwood and myrrh. My favorite thing is Cleopatra, scenting the sails of her barge with oils so her subjects would know their queen was passing. She also seduced Mark Anthony with her lavish use of rose oil … but I think she might’ve had a couple of other tricks up her toga sleeve as well.

So there you go - I’ve retained some detail, you’re a little more knowledgeable - we both win. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a date with my manual and index cards.

Today I’m loving: Pilchen’s love of Ultimate Fighting, and decision to come on dog walks. If only she wasn’t so well camouflaged in the dark.