Today was my ten week hair day…except it was my twelve week hair day because of various postponements and cancellations involving various trips to various parts of the world. I don’t know why I always book my haircut ten weeks ahead except it’s the same time lapse as the puppies, which Kate decided on. So I blame Kate for the fact that my hair timetable is at ten week intervals.
For that reason (and because I’ve been a bit slack with the trip to Oz) I spent yesterday afternoon colouring my hair in preparation. Otherwise, I’d have been really, really grey following the scissor action of today.
Of course I went to the gym first and, while I didn’t manage any PBs, I was very happy I’ve not ached at all following the two week break. I think this is the first time that’s happened. I usually have to suffer through a few days of painful muscle readjustment. I have no idea why this time has been different but I’m definitely not complaining.
In Starbucks I chatted with Andrew who, when I explained I was getting a much needed haircut, indicated this wasn’t a problem he suffered from. While not hairless, he doesn’t have a lot and the bit he does have is making itself scarce.
Sat in my Ruby Mane chair, having Cacheta work on my head is one of life’s little joys. Once upon a time I hated getting my hair cut but these days, the combination of massage, washing, attention and chat is hard to beat.
Today we talked about travel. After I told her about the joys of Japan and the woes of China, Cacheta told me about her experiences in Thailand and Jamaica. The two places couldn’t be more different.
In Thailand she told me about the first trip she made there with her husband. They had an absolute blast, mostly because of a young Australian couple on their honeymoon who introduced them to an amazing club in a cave. It was THE spot to go to when everything else closed and, by 6am the next morning, was still throbbing with tunes and drinking.
Fast forward a number of years and after having their daughters, they decided to take them to Thailand to share in past glories. Sadly, everything had changed (and not for the good). The people had become more greedy and racist. And the club in the cave had returned to the way nature had intended, a way that didn’t include decks and drinks.
The daughters were not enthused and wondered what their parents had seen in the place. They thought it was all a bit ‘meh’ and claimed they’d not bother returning any time soon.
This experience, I told Cacheta, reminded me of Bali. When I went in 1973 it was an unspoiled paradise. Ten years later it was an awful, over commercialised, island like any other island. We decided it’s important to remember the great things because they, obviously, don’t last forever.
Far more ‘fun’ was their experience in Jamaica. Cacheta was born there and had relatives so the dangerous countryside, while retaining an element of danger, was not a surprise. They knew the precautions to take and, in consequence, had an excellent time. Sadly, her uncles are rapidly dying off so, soon, there’ll be no-one left to visit.
As usual, I was very pleased with the results of my appointment and went home to two over excited puppies given my usual two hours away had magnified to almost four. So, of course, after lunch, we went to the park where Freya almost caught a squirrel.
To be fair it was the squirrel’s fault rather than any skill on Freya’s part. It was sitting in the middle of the Avenue of Trees, it’s back turned to Freya when it shuffled it’s bushy tail in an involuntary sweep of the path. The sudden movement spurred Freya into action as she made a mad dash to close the three metres between them in under a second.
The squirrel must have heard something because it’s little head swivelled quickly, spotting the white blur approaching and took off just ahead of Freya’s paws. They reached the base of a tree at almost the same time, Freya nearly slamming into the trunk while the squirrel raced up to the safety of a branch very high up.
Squirrels almost always spiral up trees except when in extreme danger of capture. I figure this is because they want to tease the pursuer. This time, the squirrel went straight up, not pausing for anything until it was safe in the crook of a branch. Freya’s tail swished as she tried to figure out where the squirrel had gone.
It was most exciting. Meanwhile Emma just chased her ball.
Meanwhile, for her birthday, Mirinda went on a two hour boat trip then had dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant.
