Guys, it's time for your facial

Can you say spahhh? Men may find a footrub and pedicure is good for the Sole

Irene Lee's new spa on Pacific Boulevard, called Sole Room, offers treatments for men -- and women too.

Every so often I surprise my husband with some item I've picked up at the health store -- a foot bath that vibrates at three different levels, a hand-held Swedish massager, a device made with rolling wooden balls, all intended to get me off the hook in the foot rub department. And every summer at our annual garage sale, I discover these rolling, buzzing, vibrating things on the Make an Offer table. He says it's because there's nothing like the human touch, that I have healing hands, the divine gift for foot rubs, and so on. I point out to him that it was Anthony who rubbed Cleopatra's feet during feasts, not the other way around, but he lays it on thick, trying to convince me that not to use my unique gift would be a sacrilege. It would be turning my back on a God-given opportunity to make the world a better place, and before I know it I'm talked into "just a little foot massage, just a touch around the sole, just for one minute ...."

The story always ends the same way. He's reclining and I'm doing all the work. Well, now I'm happy to say that the proprietor of the madly successful Pure Nail bar on Pacific Boulevard has decided to make the world a better place, and give us gifted (and gullible) wives a break. Irene Lee, the brains behind Yaletown's high-concept, low-cost Pure Nail has now opened the Sole Room right across the street. Pure has taken off as a hip hangout for girlfriends, brides-to-be, and moms and daughters, making it, Lee says, a little intimidating for men who need a treatment now and then. So she brainstormed and came up with the Sole room. "Guys need a place to go to get their feet taken care of," she says with a laugh, "but it's for women too." Unlike Pure, the Sole Room focuses on feet -- the more stressed, squeezed and sensitive the better -- specializing in both pedicures and reflexology. And this isn't any old foot massage. Reflexology is a "zone therapy," and is considered one of the healing arts by natural health practitioners. Many believe reflexology can cure a variety of ills, from migraines to digestive problems, by massaging corresponding reflex points on the foot. Others just love it because it feels good. The Sole room offers a mix of treatments -- mine started with a scalp, shoulder and arm massage, included a long, luxurious foot rub, and ended with a pedicure. All the while I reclined in the ultra-cool swivel bucket chairs, watching Sex and the City DVDs on the flat-screen TV on the opposite wall. (Isn't that what Cleopatra would be doing if she were alive today?) But Lee really wants the Sole room to be a place guys like to hang out, and she plans to have a whole DVD library of action flicks, TV series and even sport movies to keep them happy while they're getting their feet rubbed. So the next time my husband tries to butter me up with flattery about my healing hands, I plan to slap a gift certificate to the Sole Room in his hands and be done with it. Or better yet, we'll go together so he can see what it looks like when another man is kneeling at my feet, catering to my every need. The Sole Room, which Lee designed, features her signature sleek, modern decor, and a wonderful staff (with healing hands). Sole offers guy-friendly facials, waxing, acupressure and manicures, and welcomes both men and women. By Denise Rayan

Antiques security

Are your belongings at risk? Beat the burglars and take positive action to secure your possessions, with our guide to protecting your antiques.

Documenting items: An inventory, or list of your antiques collection, will be invaluable for keeping a detailed record of each antique in your collection to prove ownership in the event of an insurance claim. New purchases should be documented in an inventory book, and photographed as soon as possible. Keep the receipts of anything you have purchased with your inventory. To begin an inventory of your collection make a list of every object you wish to include. Then, write down the following information, for each item:

Where it came from.
The date it was bought or acquired.
The price paid for it.
A full description of the item, including its size, what it's made from, and any decorative features.
A report of its condition, including cracks, chips, alterations or restoration. This should be updated whenever you have a piece restored.
Anything else you know about the object's history.

Photographing items: It's also vitally important to have a clear photo of all your antiques. You may want to enlist the help of a professional photographer to photograph your collection. However, if you observe a few simple guidelines it's quite simple to undertake yourself. It's best to photograph objects using colour film, outdoors in natural daylight. Choose a day when there's a light cloud cover, so the sunlight is not too harsh and the shadows aren't noticeable. To get the best results, stand with the sun behind you, level with the object, and close enough to fill the view finder. If the objects are very small, photograph them against a white background, unless the object itself is predominantly white, in which case a grey or black background. It's also useful to include a scale reference, such as a ruler placed beside the object. If the object is behind glass, stand slightly to one side to avoid reflections and glare. Take at least one shot of each object, as well as close-up shots of any identifying scratches, bumps or marks on each piece. These detail shots are especially important if the object is likely to be similar to many others. As well as taking individual photographs, it's also a good idea to take general shots of your room. This will help you remember any smaller items which may be forgotten. Remember to keep your photographs together in a safe place. Ideally they should be filed with your inventory entry for each object. It's also wise to store a copy of photographs somewhere else for safekeeping; for example, with your bank or solicitor.

Arts and Antiques Squad: Photographs of any stolen antiques can be logged via your local police office with the Art and Antiques Squad at Scotland Yard. This police department has a national database, which contains descriptions and photographic images of works of art stolen throughout the country. When stolen property is recovered, the Art and Antiques squad can identify the rightful owner - provided the object has been logged on their computer system.

Recovering your property: You can assist the recovery of any stolen property by marking your belongings with a security pen (available through the Crime Prevention office) which is only visible under ultraviolet light. However, many collectors prefer not to mark their antiques in this way, because the pen is indelible; should you want to sell the item at a later date it could deter prospective buyers. However, by far the best way of helping the police to retrieve your possessions is by supplying them with as much information about the stolen property as possible.

Large rug ANTIQUES CARE: CARE

Don't let your antique rugs get ruined. Follow our simple guidelines for their proper care, with tips and advice on how to clean and look after them. How many of us take the time to look at some of the wonderful hand-made rugs and carpets that we walk on? Have you ever turned over a rug or opened up the pile to examine the fine knotting used to make these pieces of textile art? The skill and time it takes to make these heirlooms should prompt us to follow a few guidelines that could extend their lives. General care Like other textiles, exposing rugs to rapid changes in temperature and humidity is not good. Open fires and treasured floor coverings don't mix. Direct sunlight may result in fading, so if your rug or carpet is in a sunny area, close the curtains at times of bright sunlight. Narrow diameter shoe heels (smaller than a two pence coin), no matter how high or low, cause a great deal of damage both to floors and carpets. Take care when moving rugs and carpets. There's less chance of damaging the pile if you roll them up with the pile facing outwards. Adhesive shouldn't be used with textiles. Glued patches do not help the stability of a piece and while underlay may be very useful, they shouldn't have adhesive on them. Don't use nails or staples to secure rugs or carpets either. Pets can inadvertently do a great deal of damage. Claws cause damage to the pile and urine stains are difficult to remove (as well as attracting insects). Check during the spring and summer for signs of insect infestation. If a piece has signs of clothes' moths or carpet beetles, isolate it from other textiles and contact a textile conservator immediately. When vacuuming your carpet or rug, don't scrub but use a gentle action with a regular rather than a rotary head and work only in the direction of the pile. If there is a spill, put some layers of white paper towel or clean towels above and below the stain and try to absorb as much liquid as you can. Change the paper or cloths frequently until no more liquid is coming out. Leave some clean layers above and below in case more comes out as it is drying. Don't lay anything heavy on the wet pile as it could crush it. Some rugs have had unethical treatments such as covering areas of lost pile with paint or felt-tip pins and these may run when in contact with liquids. If you see dye coming out contact a textile conservator immediately. Don't use foam cleaners or other chemical cleaners. These are only suitable for your modern wall-to-wall. Don't use remedies like salt, as this can cause more damage. Further cleaning or repairs should be left to a conservator. Information courtesy of Sharon Manita.