Whenever I go to the hairdresser, Steve always pays me a back handed compliment of sorts, by failing to notice. He works on the principle that if he hasn’t noticed, then it can’t be all bad. This of course is an absolute load of rubbish because the day I went from blonde to brunette he also failed to notice, but if it makes him feel better, so be it.
Today I had my hair done in Sao Paulo for the first time. Rodriguez was recommended by a friend and so with a certain amount of trepidation, I went along. Thank goodness my previous hairdresser had written down the formula for the colours that she used and when I presented them to Rodriguez, he happily went away to start mixing. In the meantime I was handed the smallest of robes and the girl pointed to a changing cubicle. Was I supposed to get undressed? I thought better of it and wrapped it around me as best I could. It covered very little so just as well I had kept everything on underneath. ( I did later see a man taking his robe into the changing cubicle and came out a minute later baring a very hairy chest – not a pretty sight).
Just before I arrived at the salon, I discovered that I had left my cell phone at home and so dispatched Marcelo to go and get it for me. Now, you have to realize that Marcelo only ever sees me glammed up and ready for the day. The only occasion that he has seen me without make up and dressed was the day he arrived at the house at 5.30 in the morning to pick up the car to go to the airport to collect Steve, only to discover that he didn’t have the car keys and needed the spares. He called on the phone to request the spares, and I couldn’t bear the thought that he would see me looking, well like I had just got out of bed. I almost handed him the keys through the window of the garage but thought better of it and so he (very) briefly saw me. Not sure who was the most embarrassed.
But back to today. By the time Marcelo came back with the cell phone, Rodriguez was well stuck in and there were bits of plastic stuck to my head. Not a pretty sight. Marcelo walked in, dark suit and not sure why he would wear them indoors but dark glasses as well. All that was missing was the ear piece thingy that you see in the movies. I would have given anything for him not to see me like this but a girl has to have her cell phone.
Okay, now here is a question that anyone living outside Brazil would struggle to answer. How many people does it take to do a woman’s hair? Well, it depends. I had two people doing the colour – both at once. I could see they were going to fight over the bit at the top where they were about to collide but seniority prevailed. Then I was whisked over to the basin and invited to lay stretched out while two more people removed the foils. A wash and condition later I was then invited into the massage chair for a quick five minute neck massage. I have to say that after having lain in what has to be the most uncomfortable of washbasins (clearly designed by a man); a five minute massage was just wonderful.
Then it was off to be cut and then two people to blow dry the hair. Rodriguez finished off, clearly wanting to be sure of the R$ 20 tip that he probably knew would be forthcoming from the “foreigner”.
The woman sitting next to me was having her nails and feet manicured so she had an extra two attendants. There were men coming a going, enjoying the same treatment so as far as I was concerned all dignity was lost.
The result, I have to say is not too bad. I actually felt reassured that I have found a hairdresser that did an okay job. Even better, I would go back to him.
But coming back to the original point, Steve paid me the usual compliment by not noticing.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Cockroaches. Thursday 10 February, 2011
There is a song with the lyrics “I don’t like spiders and snakes,” which, according to Google was recorded in 1974 by Jim Stafford. I remember it well – I was a teenager at the time and because, I really don’t like spiders and snakes.
One of the first questions I ask whenever we go to a new country is “what is the situation regarding spiders and snakes?” So far I have been very lucky. Lots of mosquitoes, geckos and large looking flies, but nothing that resembles a snake or a large spider. Quite honestly it would probably finish me off.
Cockroaches on the other hand are all too common in hot climes. The first time I saw one of any size was when I opened a kitchen cupboard door in Manila and one flew out at me. It was large, about 2 inches (5 cm) in length and pretty revolting. The scream that emitted from me alerted the maids and the guards and it was hastily dispatched with a deft blow from a flip flop. I knew there was a good reason why everyone wears flip-flops. They make the perfect weapon in the battle against bugs. I have even seen them mounted on the end of sticks to give an extra pliable whack.
In the United States there are screens on all the windows and doors to keep the critters out and they are surprisingly successful. We really didn’t have a problem although I suspect in hotter parts of the country there would be. One reason why I have always been nervous about visiting Australia is that it is said that there are more natural creatures that can kill you there than any other place on the planet. Note to self – don’t retire to Australia.
So far in Brazil I have been unaffected. The only snake I have seen was dead in the middle of the road. And as for bugs, well, not too bad. Until, that is, the other day. Steve had gone to bed early not feeling too well so I was creeping in the bathroom trying to keep quiet when an enormous cockroach ran across the floor. Suppressing a scream, I watched it climb down the drain in the floor so I quickly dropped a few heavy magazines on top of the drain and ran to get the bug spray. Maddeningly it didn’t spray – obviously it had run out. In fact it hadn’t but I didn’t realize that the arrows had to be aligned and in the dark subdued light didn’t see what was needed.
The next day I asked Marcelo what I needed to get rid of cockroaches. “High-dge”, came the reply. What is “high-dge?” I asked. “Spray”, came the reply.
Okay, I have no idea what I am looking for but after a further discussion I established that this wonder product can be bought at Wal –Mart.
Off we set and I duly went looking for “High-dge”. I got to the aisle where the bug spray is kept and the penny dropped. “Raid” is what I needed – “high-dge” being the Portuguese pronunciation. Silly me.
Now, it seems that there must be a big cockroach problem in Sao Paulo because I can honestly say there were shelves after shelves stacked floor to above head height offering a huge variety of different sprays. There was “extra strong” “extra reach” “extra effective”. You name it there was a superlative for it.
I mentioned my cockroach to some friends a few days later and it seems that part of the problem is all those magazines I keep neatly stacked by the side if the loo. They have to go, even though they make a really good weight to cover the drains.
So, magazine free I hope that the problem goes away. But, in the same way that I have a dozen pairs of reading glasses in every strategic point of need, I have a dozen cans of Raid, close at hand, - just in case.
One of the first questions I ask whenever we go to a new country is “what is the situation regarding spiders and snakes?” So far I have been very lucky. Lots of mosquitoes, geckos and large looking flies, but nothing that resembles a snake or a large spider. Quite honestly it would probably finish me off.
Cockroaches on the other hand are all too common in hot climes. The first time I saw one of any size was when I opened a kitchen cupboard door in Manila and one flew out at me. It was large, about 2 inches (5 cm) in length and pretty revolting. The scream that emitted from me alerted the maids and the guards and it was hastily dispatched with a deft blow from a flip flop. I knew there was a good reason why everyone wears flip-flops. They make the perfect weapon in the battle against bugs. I have even seen them mounted on the end of sticks to give an extra pliable whack.
In the United States there are screens on all the windows and doors to keep the critters out and they are surprisingly successful. We really didn’t have a problem although I suspect in hotter parts of the country there would be. One reason why I have always been nervous about visiting Australia is that it is said that there are more natural creatures that can kill you there than any other place on the planet. Note to self – don’t retire to Australia.
So far in Brazil I have been unaffected. The only snake I have seen was dead in the middle of the road. And as for bugs, well, not too bad. Until, that is, the other day. Steve had gone to bed early not feeling too well so I was creeping in the bathroom trying to keep quiet when an enormous cockroach ran across the floor. Suppressing a scream, I watched it climb down the drain in the floor so I quickly dropped a few heavy magazines on top of the drain and ran to get the bug spray. Maddeningly it didn’t spray – obviously it had run out. In fact it hadn’t but I didn’t realize that the arrows had to be aligned and in the dark subdued light didn’t see what was needed.
The next day I asked Marcelo what I needed to get rid of cockroaches. “High-dge”, came the reply. What is “high-dge?” I asked. “Spray”, came the reply.
Okay, I have no idea what I am looking for but after a further discussion I established that this wonder product can be bought at Wal –Mart.
Off we set and I duly went looking for “High-dge”. I got to the aisle where the bug spray is kept and the penny dropped. “Raid” is what I needed – “high-dge” being the Portuguese pronunciation. Silly me.
Now, it seems that there must be a big cockroach problem in Sao Paulo because I can honestly say there were shelves after shelves stacked floor to above head height offering a huge variety of different sprays. There was “extra strong” “extra reach” “extra effective”. You name it there was a superlative for it.
I mentioned my cockroach to some friends a few days later and it seems that part of the problem is all those magazines I keep neatly stacked by the side if the loo. They have to go, even though they make a really good weight to cover the drains.
So, magazine free I hope that the problem goes away. But, in the same way that I have a dozen pairs of reading glasses in every strategic point of need, I have a dozen cans of Raid, close at hand, - just in case.
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