A massage business without the internet!

Terrific! On Tuesday afternoon the broadband connection to my office went down. Completely. It had been playing up all morning, but then after one of those wonderful "power cycles" to try to solve the problem, the internet failed. Completely.

How can you run an internet-based business without the internet? Quite Tricky.

Why the phone line (on which the broadband is carried) still works is a mystery to me - and my neighbour - who had the opposite problem a few months back.

After a frustrating call routed via India and a guy instructing me on how to diagnose the problem with his voice over the phone, which involved a series of increasingly bizarre questions, a screwdriver and the BT socket, he gave up and transferred me back to the UK.

Eventually a nice man from BT was promised on Thursday morning who would come out to fix the problem on what the nice woman in Southampton called " a free visit".  Quite why she was so pleased to speak to someone else in "the south" I don't know.

True to their word a nice little man from BT turned up today, got out his screwdriver and laptop, fiddled about under my desk and the mass of wires there and eventually diagnosed a faulty filter. He then apologised and said he'd have to charge me for the filter. (That's fair enough I thought). Oh and for his time. So which bit of the this was a "free visit"?

Still, I am delighted that the massage business is back up and running again. Now to that backlog of emails....

When you shouldn't come for a massage

No one ever tells you this until it's too late - that is when you are with the massage therapist or masseur and you will have wasted their time and yours.

When you shouldn't come for a massage.

You shouldn't go for a massage if you have a fever You have a contagious or infectious disease You are under the influence of alcohol or drugs You had an operation recently You have neuritis Or you have a skin disease.

When you need to get a doctor's permission to have a massage.
You should get your GP's permission if any of the following applies to you:

Cardio vascular conditions (thrombosis, plebitis, hypertenion, hypootension, heart conditions) Haemophilia Pregnancy Medical oedema Osteoporosis Arthritis Nervous/Psychotic conditions Epilepsy Recent Operations Diabetes Asthma Any dysfunction of the nervous system (e.g. Muscular sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Motor neuron disease) Bell's Palsy Trapped/Pinched nerve (e.g. sciatica) Inflamed nerve Cancer Postural deformities Spastic conditions Kidney infections Whiplash Prolapsed disc Undiagnosed pain Acute rheumatism When taking prescribed medication Any condition already being treated by a GP or another complementary practitioner

When you cant have a full-body massage.
If any of the following applies to you, I will not be able to massage on or around the affected areas:

Undiagnosed lumps, bumps or localised swelling Varicose veins Gastric ulcers Bruising Cut or abrasions Scar tissue (2 years after a major operation and 6 months for a small scar) Haematoma Hernia A fracture within the last three months Cervical spondylitis Conditions affecting the neck Sunburn Hormonal implants You are in your first few days of menstruation Undiagnosed pain Inflammation Or you have eaten a heavy meal