After lunch the pampering continued and following her eyelash tint and manicure, Suzi joined me by the pool looking like a different woman.

We spent the next hour soaking up the heat in the aptly named ‘Saunarium’, a combination of dry sauna-style heat and the light effects of the sunshine over a beach (without the harmful rays of course).

After a refreshing and much needed awakening shower, it was my turn.

I had heard all about the new fitness phenomenon sweeping the country - Body Combat - and that one young man in particular was rather skilled at motivating new members in his classes.

Louis Mackay, 25, is originally from South Africa. With a BA in Human Movement, the qualified sports masseuse and keen rugby player has a strong knowledge of fitness technique, and certainly has the personality to bring out the best in you.

The class involves a mix of martial arts skills, boxing techniques and dance-move combat, without actually touching another person.

Short routines are taught to motivating dance music and, such is the pace and enthusiasm of Mr Mackay’s workout, that an hour’s class - with a lot of sweating and jaw ache from laughing so much - is over in what feels like half the time. Even though I felt thoroughly ‘worked-out’ I also felt like I wanted to carry on - and that’s a first for me!

Louis also teaches Kickboxing class - which sounds equally invigorating.

There is also ‘spinning’ (work out on static bikes) Body Pump aerobics, Step and of course Aqua aerobics - made easier as the large spa pool is all at one depth so you get lots of individual space for your watery work out.

As Suzi and I were staying over in one of the contemporary lodges in the grounds of the Langdale County Club, we went on to enjoy the late afternoon with a wonderful fell walk, filling our lungs with all that leafy fresh air. We then changed ready to head to one of the bars at the hotel, before eating in the main hotel restaurant. The food was delicious and I was happy to find that Suzi had regained her appetite.

How to sum up this spa and fitness break? Perhaps in the lovely, unexpected card that my friend has sent me with the words ‘thank you’ written about 100 times inside!

For information on the Langdale Country Club Spa & Fitness breaks and autumn membership deals and class timetables, contact 015394-38053 or 015394-38055 www.langdale.co.uk