Down the Barber's

Just come back from having my haircut (my sidies were getting a bit bushy). I tried going to Steps, but they couldnt give me an appointment til 4pm and I have to leave for Niigata around 5pm. So I tried Kom, the place behind my apartment. There was a bit of a queue in there; a man had brought his daughters in for a haircut. I sat down beside him and his youngest daughter (two-ish and super-kawaii) while they were waiting for the older sister (five-ish) was having her hair cut. There was also an old lady having her hair cut so I was in for a bit of a wait. Luckily I had my book with me so rather than waste an hour on the web I got further into William Gibson's 'Pattern Recognition'. Eventually it was my turn and did the usual 'point-to-back-and-sides-and-say-mijikai' followed by 'point-to-top-and-say-chotto'. He seemed to understand me enough and set to work. To my surprise he tried to have a conversation with me and between his broken English and my limited Japanese, we managed quite well. He even shampooed my hair before and after the cut, as well as chipping in and thinning the hair as required. The cut cost a measly 3,000 yen, £15. Cheaper and more friendly than Soin, I think I might come back here again. Right, time to drive up to Ryan's place in Nishikawa, near Niigata. The ALT footy team have a tournament to play in tomorrow and the first match is at 9am. Sooner I get up there the sooner I can be watching the Premiership.