I was invited to carry out the official opening of a new hairdressing salon in the Broadway on the 7 March and so I walked up from the Town Hall to arrive there at 6 p.m. Number 10 used to be a newsagents and I recall it had a rather rundown look and feel about it. When I did arrive, the premises had undergone a transformation. The interior was now bright and cheerful, with gleaming white sinks and comfortable chairs, with bright energy efficient indirect lighting with modern pictures on the walls and a tiled floor. I met the owner, Koulla Swan who walked me around the salon. She took me through into the back room of the salon which had been equipped with a massage bed which was used for that and other beauty treatments. Taking me back into the main salon, she explained that all the products were environmentally friendly, organic or natural products which had come from one of the Nordic countries. She was very conscious of the environment and I gathered that for every 10 customer coming into the salon, she would fund the planting of a tree.
I made a short speech, commending her for her courage in opening another salon when there were so many others in the town; I also said that she would be successful with her use of environmentally friendly products. Having cut the ribbon, we re-entered the salon for a glass of wine and I then chatted to the staff and potential customers. I met Koulla’s husband who was in the computer business who was very positive and upbeat about their new project. I also met her mother and other relatives who had come from Cyprus for the launch and having spent many years there in the Army, I managed to get a short update on the situation there. I met the Bank Manager of Lloyds TSB who had financed the project and two of his staff, both of whom
were from Eastern Europe. One had been a manager in a bank in her own country, while the other was a trainee. Both spoke excellent English.
I was invited to have a hand massage which I declined but one of the customers who had one said it was a great experience. Such experiences pass me by; it must be my age! I had to leave but I did wish them all the best of fortune in the future.
I made a short speech, commending her for her courage in opening another salon when there were so many others in the town; I also said that she would be successful with her use of environmentally friendly products. Having cut the ribbon, we re-entered the salon for a glass of wine and I then chatted to the staff and potential customers. I met Koulla’s husband who was in the computer business who was very positive and upbeat about their new project. I also met her mother and other relatives who had come from Cyprus for the launch and having spent many years there in the Army, I managed to get a short update on the situation there. I met the Bank Manager of Lloyds TSB who had financed the project and two of his staff, both of whom
were from Eastern Europe. One had been a manager in a bank in her own country, while the other was a trainee. Both spoke excellent English.
I was invited to have a hand massage which I declined but one of the customers who had one said it was a great experience. Such experiences pass me by; it must be my age! I had to leave but I did wish them all the best of fortune in the future.
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