Friday 19 July 2024

Another cracking simmer's day today. Lady P ‘suggested’ that Flashy mow the lawns on the next cog down on the mower. Afterall, she did them all the other day. ‘Make it look really good.’ So he did. Cross mowing against the grain. Fred would have been pleased.

No time to have a refreshing beer, we were off to Saints. A Gaulic–Roman town, half an hour down the road. Primarily built on the left bank of the La Charente River, Saintes became the first Roman capital of Aquitaine. Later it was designated as the capital of the province of Saintonge under the Ancien Régime. It is a beautiful city and well worth the visit. But why were we there?

Lady P had determined that Flashy needed a haircut. Well, there are lots of barbers in Saints, that’s for sure. So, in we go to the one she had found on the internet. Pretty flash place and €25 for a buzz cut! Nobody waiting though, so…. “Numero deux, SVP.” Deux?. Oui! Two fingers in the air to be sure.

Sit down. Fiddle with the trimmers. Nice neck paper in place. Woosh! Right down the middle with a number zero. Er, he looks a little embarrassed. Flashy is speechless. What to do? Carry on my good man, there’s not much else you can do.

After a few minutes the new look Flashy emerges, looking like a cancer patient. You know, they say there’s only two weeks between a good and a bad haircut.  He’ll just have to wear a hat. The embarrassed barber refused to charge for the cut. OK, ahead by €25 already!

After that, it was a walk around the old town, a refreshing beer at last at a little bar and some shopping at the Bio Coop and Carefour. A visit to the Roman Amphitheatre was also enlightening.

Only when we got home and after a shower, does Flashy discover that he’s almost bald!

Oh well, refreshing gins on the terrace and Lady P is cooking fish and chips. Tough life in les Petites Riviers.

Just a haircut!