“WOULD you like a haircut, Sir?”

It’s not a question I’m asked too often – in fact not for the past 40 years or more – owing to an absence of natural thatch.

But Kenza, a smiling young hairdresser standing outside a New Road salon, was speaking to me. A prospective member of staff was under scrutiny and a live model was needed.

“There will be no charge,” she threw in by way of persuasion..

With such an offer, how could a gentleman refuse – especially a Yorkshire gentleman?

In the spotlight was Jawita, a petite, smiling 21-year-old, who came to England from Poland nine years ago and recently moved to the city from North Lincolnshire. She is already a qualified stylist.

For the next 40 minutes each hair was given loving attention it had never known. Cossetted is not too strong a word. And when Jawita announced she wanted to wash and blow dry it, this was the icing on the cake.

Since then I have taken to carrying a comb and checking my reflection in windows. The barnet looks fine but vanity can be so unattractive.

 

AN ancient leather boot plays an important role in the ventilation of the office of Oxford Playhouse IT manager Phil Smith: it wedges open the window.

“The boot gets lots of attention from the public as they walk past,” Phil told me when I peered through the gap, noting it was secured by a chain to the window frame.

This precaution had been made necessary after youngsters removed it and threw it down Beaumont Street. Fortunately someone recognised it and returned it to a grateful Phil.

How many of us could guarantee being restored to our loved ones if we had been tossed into the street?

 

OXFORD is not very wheelchair-friendly, a city guide told a sizeable group of visitors as they made their way from the Broad Walk along the path between Corpus Christi and Merton Colleges leading into Merton Street.

I felt this was a bit harsh. After all she was trying to get a full-sized folded chair through the narrow cage-like gate that has confounded and confused the fittest of us.

 

MINUTES earlier I passed several groups of young visitors each with their own guide. I heard one speaking in French, a second in German and a third in Chinese, all three pointing to the Christ Church façade.

I failed to understand all the Oriental guide had to say with the exception of two words common to all three commentaries: Harry Potter. I imagine the famed college, the unique cathedral and perhaps Alice Liddell might have merited a mention.

 

email: cabbagesandkings@oxfordmail.co.uk