Another lockdown it is for Turkey. It has been in force for exactly 42 minutes as I speak; it will remain in force until the much-awaited and already eagerly anticipated 17th May, at 5:00 am.
That’s 17 days counting from tomorrow.
But let’s be positive. Let’s consider some techniques to mentally shorten the lockdown.
Since there were weekend curfews before the lockdown (the last was a 3-day long weekend), certainly there’s no need to count the weekend. This immediately makes the lockdown 7 days shorter (one long + two standard weekends). What’s 10 days in lockdown? Surely not as bad as 17 day lockdown.
Today, the mood was decidedly festive. The long spell of cold weather finally yielded to splendid warmth and sunshine. All of Istanbul seemed to have flocked to the beautiful seaside on the Asian side. Time to get those skates on. Roller-skating, picnicking; dancing, chatting, hugging each other, admiring the view of the Princes’ Islands, Istanbulites did their utmost to enjoy themselves as much as they could, as long as they could. Among the most impressive display of fitness was this of a couple, a gentleman lying on the ground with his legs perpendicular to his body, balancing a perfectly calm and unperturbed lady on the soles of his feet. Hats off to this.
What are some things that we might want to get out of the way before a lockdown? Surely some have considered a last-minute trip to the hairdresser / barber. Long overdue, but can it wait another 17 days? Absolutely not. Others might have finally decided to have it out – that wisdom tooth that has been no trouble and had been waiting patiently for years. Long overdue, but can it wait another 17 days? No, absolutely not. The impending lockdown bumped these right up on my list of priorities and so I set about crossing them off my to-do list.
Truth be told, I don’t know which one was worse.
Visiting the dentist probably fills most with a certain amount of anxiety and apprehension. When visiting the dentist, I expect to suffer. Is it normal that a visit to the hairdresser should trigger the exact same feelings? With the notable exception of my fabulous friend John – the only hairdresser in the entire galaxy whom I trust, and to whose services I would have definitely resorted but for the couple of thousand miles between us, I, like many others, have a deep-seated phobia of hairdressers.
Hairdressers should have a vision. They should take one look at a client and visualize what would suit that client. They should never ever ask ‘Would you like layers on top?” What does this even mean to the layperson? How many layers? What is the specification of these layers? How would I look with layers and would I be more attractive without layers?
Having gotten into the habit of postponing visits to the hairdresser because of my (perfectly justified) feeling that they will be unpleasant and uncomfortable, I debated with myself for a while before deciding to take the plunge today. I figured, if it all goes terribly wrong, I have 17 days to get over it. There’s no shortage of hairdressers in the ‘hood, and, as usual, it was just my luck to pick the one that resulted in just this type of experience.
For whatever reason, the gentleman in question just could not concentrate on me. Strangely, some other patrons had chosen to bring their dogs with them and there was a fair deal of distracting barking at some point. The gentleman also seemed to be the big boss, and all staff and customers had questions that he had to answer, necessitating errands only he, himself, could perform – mixing dyes, making coffee, etc. I cannot be sure that he picked up with my hair where he had left off when these took him away from it.
One thing that happens to hair if it’s not regularly cut, is that is gets terribly knotty. This makes it difficult to comb. Did he struggle, did he pull and ran that brush right through my scalp (it still hurts; uncalled for, worse-than-the-dentist, suffering). One thing about Turkey is that people tend to have little patience; if that’s the last day your business is open, then you probably have less patience than usual; knotty hair gets in the way and slows you down from attending to the next customer.
Long story short: if there were ever one experience to firmly affirm my strong dislike of getting my hair cut, that was it.
If there were ever one experience to make me miss more than ever the one and only, the best hairdresser in the galaxy, the magician – John – that was it.
If you live in the north of England, count yourself very lucky. John is reopening his salon in Dunkinfield, Manchester, on the 17th May.
Getting a hair cut at John’s is an experience. He puts everyone at ease. You can chat to him about anything – from interesting books to truck driving. He has taught hairdressing in some local colleges and started to give haircuts to his family at the age of 5! He is currently training to be a paramedic, so appointments are limited – I’d snap one right up. Miss you, John.
With love,
My irritated scalp and I
Purple Travel Path 