… I have to share my pre-booked slot with, it seems, about 10 other people .

You know those times when you’ve made the effort to call the hair salon beforehand and book a convenient slot.  Your day is planned with military precision, you’ve got lots to do including an hour set aside for a wash, steam and set at the hands of the salon’s best hair stylist.

You arrive on time, initially everything goes as expected: a pleasant greeting, your coat is taken, there’s the offer of a hot drink then you are led to the basin to begin the first of your treatments.  Just when your mind is drifting away with the exquisitely pleasurable scalp massage, you feel a gentle tap on your shoulder and the stylist asks, very sweetly and politely, if she could just quickly see to some other customer.  You smile back, just as sweetly, and say ‘that’s fine!’ or something similar – you’re sure she won’t be long, the other customer just needs the temperature of their hair dryer adjusted. (more…)