Sunday Snapshot - Paris

This weekend I booked a trip to Paris for November when my friend Hannah is over from Australia.

I have never really had any great desire to go to Paris, but now that I have booked my trip, I really can't wait! We'll be heading off on the Eurostar on a Friday, very, very early in the morning, staying right near the Eiffel Tower and coming back to London on Sunday night.

I have even bought some French language cd's and have been trying to learn some basic words that I am sure I'll forget as soon as I get there!

So this Sunday Snapshot is of somewhere I haven't been yet, but since I have had the flu and haven't been out much this weekend, it's the best I can do!

The Salon

The last time I lived in the UK, I did not have the best experience with hairdressers. Although, it has to be said, I had the best hairdresser I have ever had in the small town of Crieff, as soon as I moved to Manchester, the good hairdressers seemed to vanish.

There is a lot to be said for the recommendations of friends, and not knowing anyone in Manchester, I was left to blindly stumble on.

The first hairdresser I went to was one where you did not need to make an appointment, you just showed up and had to wait your turn. After two and a half hours, I got my turn and could not seem to make the hairdresser understand how I wanted it cut and left less than impressed. The second time, I went to a very well known salon chain, paid the premium price to a top stylist, and after the lovely head massage, the cup of tea, I was told that I could not have my hair cut how I wanted because it was not in their book of hairstyles! Yes, they had a book and were only "allowed" to cut the styles in the book. This was one of the very few times I have lost it in public, and I left with a style I didn't want and fumed all the way home on the bus.

After that, I grew my hair long and waited until I got home to Australia to have it cut.

This time, knowing I would be in the UK for longer, I kept my hair long and then, just a few months before leaving, I got it all cut off. I knew this was a risk due to my previous experience at hairdressers in this country.

I was not convinced that my experiences would improve when, just after I arrived, my boss recommended I go to the local Headmasters Training Academy to get my haircut by students training to be stylists. Students...I don't think so!

But I have since had my hair cut three times there and each time, although taking up to two hours for a cut, has been amazing. Yesterday, I went for a haircut and decided to get a fringe cut. I haven't had a fringe for at least 20 years, and that was the big lacquered one that all my friends had in year 12! I am very pleased with it and they did a fantastic job.

And it's really good value. Might be worth a look if your searching for a decent hairdresser.

Sunday Snapshot - The Aston Martin

Did you know...
That the Aston Martin is built entirely by hand? That five cows hides are used for each car interior? That these cows are sourced from Scandinavia, where they are kept in electric-fenced yards to avoid barbed-wire damage to the hide? That each car interior is stitched by one person to maintain the integrity of the stitching?

I had no idea of any of these things until this Sunday when I got the chance to have a ride in an Aston Martin Vantage, worth over 100,000 pounds. To say it is a very nice ride is an understatement, especially when you're travelling at 120 mph (yes, that's MILES per hour!) down the motorway. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What I know about cars can be counted on a hand with no fingers, but when it comes to the Aston Martin, I don't know, there's just something about it.

I think Handsome Rob is to blame...!

Seasons

This week so far has been pretty wet and miserable...for some.

I happen to love this weather! It is so nice to have actual seasons again. I was walking to Kingston the other day and was looking at the leaves that had fallen on the ground and it hit me. I am actually going to have an autumn and a winter this year. After living in Queensland, as much as it is a beautiful place, I have really missed the seasons. I don't mention spring, because, thanks to hayfever, it's not my favourite season, and summer, well, Queensland was just one long summer!

On Monday, I went shopping and it was bucketing down with rain and I finally bought a jacket, a new umbrella and wellies. Not just any old wellies, but bright blue ones!

I am now ready for all seasons, so bring it on!

Sunday Snapshot

Trafalgar Square on a sunny day