I meant to type this up yesterday, but I didn't. so there 😛
I went to the Clover Spa on Friday night as a direct resut of joining this forum and chatting to a couple members that were planning a jaunt there of their own.
I decided piggybacking it would, potentially, be a great opportunity for me to find out if naturism was my 'bag' and that I would feel comfortable enough in the company of others whilst donning my birthday suit & also to meet other members of this forum.
Being a casual closed door nudist, and being comfortable being nude in a professional environment suggested to me that I may enjoy the lifestyle, but the social aspect had formed a few barriers in my head.
I wasn't disappointed. I'm not going to wax lyrical about the spa itself as Simon's Review http://www.naturist-corner.co.uk/reviews.html covers pretty much everything I would have said.
Upon arriving at the spa, I promptly undressed and joined a few other guests downstairs in the bar area.
I will admit that I felt quite uncomfortable at this point. Not because I & the other patrons were nude - that didn't enter my head (surprisingly) but rather because I didn't know the guests and I am not a brilliant conversationalist.
I didn't feel that way for too long as Simon was there and I had built up a friendly relationship with him previous to this visit. However, had Simon not been proactive in that contact, I believe it would have taken me longer to integrate myself (if at all). This is my fault, not the fault of those that attended. I'm just shy!
A big thank you to Craig (a staff member) who made conversation easy.
One tiny niggle for me was that one staff member was under the impression that I was booked in for a massage. I wasn't, and upon telling her so I received the answer "it must be someone else with the same name. You are James, right?"... a level of sarcasm I dont need in an environment I am trying to involve myself in! But as I say, tiny niggle. I was only made to feel uncomfortable for a period of 30 secs. I can take it!
As the night progressed, I was able to engage in conversation with a couple that had attended too. This was particularly nice for me as the stigma attached to single guys (intended or unintended) is quite evident when I read various forums or read various club rules, but i was not made to feel like an outcast at all. ever.
All in all, I bloody enjoyed my night. Thanks to NC to brining this place to my attention. Thank you Simon for making it easy, thank you Tim for having a great place. Thanks to the staff for being awesome (and i will bring more JD next time!). Thanks also to the other forum members that I know the names of but not your 'handles' so not going to type, barring chuzz... see there again soon I hope! 🙂
J
A fairly typical first time, in my opinion.
All the problems were ones you would have had in any new environment and nothing to do with naturism, per se.
As for the stigma attached to single men, it is an unfortunate side-effect of women often being uncomfortable in any predominantly male environment, compounded by the protective attitude most men find it necessary to exhibit.
I don't know the answer to this but is I ever find it I will publicise it to the entire naturist world.
JOhn
Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionaries
Well done Jay ! Glad you enjoyed your evening. Sorry I didn't get to chat more, but A Friend of mine from Telford was there and once we got chatting, there was no holding us. Hadn't seen him since last Sept. But please let me know when you are visiting the Spa again, I will try and be there. The problem with single males is a common one, and for lots of reasons we are looked upon with grave concern. Little do these narrow minded people know. Lots of us have reasons to be at Naturist Venue on our own.
http://www.telfordnaturistclub.com/ If you are interested Jay Telford Naturist Club have single members be it male or female and make all very welcome.
And again well done with your 1st sociable naturist encounter you seemed to fit right in, and looked to be very comfortable with it.
Hope to see back at the Spa soon
Chuzz 😉
Hi Jayob, Mrs smoothie would never have known it was your first time, she thought you was relaxed and she enjoyed her chat with you in the hot tub, we hope that none of the little niggles have put you off in anyway, well done and hope to see you again sometime.
Mick n Alva x
Life isn't surviving the storm, its learning to dance in the rain.
Hey James, We've chatted offline but i thought i'd come by and say for the record that it was a great evening and was great meeting you at last. I can't wait to do it all over again. Glad it was your 'bag' ;D
www.twitter.com/nudeweatherman
hello all and thanks for the comments!
Chuzz, cheers for the link. something i may look into some time down the line, certainly.
in the meantime, and until something better this way comes, Clover will be my hangout of choice (bank balance permitting!).
I'm going to try and go late Feb, early march but I have quite a hectic social calendar coming up..... mr. popular that I am! ;D
If not, definitely mid-late March.
J
Glad you enjoyed your first time, it must have been good if you're going again 😎 Don't worry about what people think about single guys, we've met and chatted to lots and don't have a problem with them at all. Just have fun 🙂
S x Live, Laugh, Love. Want to chat? Why not try Naturist Chat with Peter and Shiraz here
Hi Shiraz that's good news to me to ,
I'm married with kids dut my wife isn't too interested to go nude and have talked to less tolerant people , who have said to me if my wife isn't interested I shouldn't want to ether
Tosh I say we are all different and she doesnt mind if I do go nude she is as you understanding is there more like you out there
Thanks have new heart to keep going in my new nude quest