Alright so it rained today. What's the big deal? Well when it rains here it rains properly and this was proper rain. In my old school proper rain had to be approved by one of the deputy-heads. Seeing himself as a blend of Michael Fish, a dictator and a coffee machine he would decide when rain fell whether it was proper, official rain. If it was proper rain children were allowed inside and staff had to forego their break time hot drinks to supervise in classrooms. It is safe to say that rarely did it rain properly.
However today the heavens opened after school finished so there was no need for anyone to pass judgment on the legality of the precipitation. Thunder boomed, lightning flashed and sheeted and the rain it did pour. I had parked my car approximately four metres away from the nearest under-cover section of school and yet I got soaked dashing from one to the other.
My normal 15 minute drive home took nearly an hour and a half this evening. There were huge hold-ups on the road as it appeared that the whole of KL had decided that it was time to go out for a drive. Where had all the cars and motorbikes come from? It was nutty.
Fortunately I did arrive home eventually, just in time to take Edwin to a rearranged piano lesson. While he was there I sneaked off for a quick haircut. I don't find haircuts relaxing in anyway whatsoever. Most places here like to shampoo your locks first and, in the process, give your head a good rub too. I really don't like being fiddled with by strangers and so this is something that has to be endured not enjoyed. Next I had to face the big question: what do you want doing? The answer to me is obvious and always the same: please cut my hair so that I look tidier than I currently do but don't end up looking like an arse. This is quite tricky to communicate, so this evening I tried "Please cut it all the same length." And it just about worked, I think. The usual cut for men here is to leave the top long and sides very short. I don't have much top so I have often found that barbers simply prune around my ears and leave the rest, somewhat hopefully. Tonight though the results weren't too bad. In fact they were passable enough that I might go back there when the need arises.
In auction and hair related news my school is auctioning off some prizes left over from Mufti Day, a superb charity fundraising day held each December. Bidding for iPads is not my style and I did not want a hamper from somewhere I had never heard of, nor did I require a beauty package, whatever that is. However the chance to bid for a decorative hairband could not be turned down. As of 4.30pm I was the winning bidder, but I did note that there was one other bidder. A fellow teacher who has marginally more hair than I do. Will there be a fight of the follically challenged I wonder?
JLS are apparently splitting up. I hope my JLS pencil tin does split up in sympathy.