Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

[alexsarll]

Where have all the barbers gone? There was a really good one pretty much opposite the House Beautiful, but it seems to have closed down. And even in Pimlico sidestreets everywhere is a 'unisex salon' or 'hairdresser', awash with exotic Product and only a freshly-trimmed hair's breadth from either Sloanery or Barleyism. Hairdressers are like guitarists; nine times out of ten, anything more than basic competence is pernicious. And though most of the brilliant ones are bad enough, nine times out of ten, the ones who think they're visionaries actually aren't, and they're even worse.

Curses! France is in the grip of a one-day general strike, just as Paris hosts a team of inspectors from the International Olympic Committee. Why couldn't our useless bloody transport system have managed one of its periodic spasms during their visit here?

John Moore wants to make sure that Google places his site's shop top of their results when people want to purchase his album Half Awake. Given it's rather good and he's a lovely chap, I'm happy to do my bit.

More answers:

Sparky: Well, presuming you're one of those crazy monogamists, can't you just tell them that you like them but Not Like That, and point out that you are happily taken? I mean, there are bad ways to let someone down (telling someone you don't date friends, and then within a month embarking on a long-term relationship with another friend, as happened with some people I know) but 'I am already happily spoken for, but still like you as a friend' seems pretty irreproachable.

Fidelity Wars: The matter is in hand.

Comments

[london-imp.livejournal.com]

Sir Ian McKellan is joining Coronation Street apparently, playing a dodgy novelist.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Yes, I just receieve mail to this effect from dr_shatterhand and was about to edit the post to that effect. Blimey!

Details on Ananova, kids.

[beingjdc.livejournal.com]

Hur hur 'in hand'. Isn't what you've just done there increase the chance of someone getting John Moore's site when they google for 'his site' rather than for 'Half Awake'

Hoorah the French Unions.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Oh I don't bloody know, do I? Someone get me a Republican, they're the experts at rigging hi-tech stuff after all.

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

When I worked in the areas, I went to a good hairdressers and beauticians, er, somewhere round the back of Vauxhall Bridge Road, near some markets, god knows the streetname. I talked to a nice old lady for a long time about goats cheese, and there was a rather good vintage shop nearby actually, which perhaps I should try and visit again...

I've been meaning to link to John Moore since his Rock Around The Bunker post, but keep forgetting like an idiot - I'm probably enjoying his blog more than the majority of other things I read these days. The fact he isn't talking about "whot I downloaded offa slsk" probably helps.

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

-s. MAN why doesn't LJ let you edit your comments. I'm sure it's not hard, can any of Barry's technical readers clear this up?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

It's because if you were to comment saying eg 'Isn't 'I Want To Love You Like A Robot' ace?', and I were to reply 'Yes, I quite agree', you could then go back and edit your comment to read 'Alex smells and wants to challenge his entire friendslist and anyone else who reads this to a fistfight'.

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

I re-iterate, etc etc.

[culturedgoat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have to rely on people responding 'Yes, I quite agree' to my main journal entries when I want to roll out that old chestnut.

xxx

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Yes, I can pretty much see said street from my window. But dammit, while they may indeed be a very good hairdresser and beautician, that is still a broader focus than I'd like!

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

Give up, grow your hair to your ankles and eat goats cheese then, that appears to be your only option. Why not try growing a nindie fringe, then you can join nindie_fringes with the rest of us. Anyway, doesn't Jodie cut everyone's hair anyway? Home haircutting is killing barbers, or something.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

oh no! do i haf to leave nindie_fringes now i've had a haircut?

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

You still have a bit of a nindie-fringe, a nindie precipice if you will? Nindie slight overhang?

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

i still enjoy nindiefringes, will that do?

i'm sure mine will grow back soon enough anyway...

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

Hahaha I have added "haircut indie" as an interest - it's still unique, apparently we are ONCE AGAIN head of the times, comrade Hewitt!

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

HOLD ON, has ian watson not got an lj then?

i suppose he'd be "anti-haricut-indie (see also rockist)" though...

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

HEH HEH see update: I've even added one for Matt DC in there - rubbish nindie clubz0r R us!

[(Anonymous)]

"the matter is in hand"

worst.
answer.
ever.

dosn't even answer my question

assuming I am to who it is intended

and I thought you were good for advise

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Worst.
Anonymity.
Attempt.
Ever.

I know it's more Magic 8-Ball than Just 17 but the maths answer in the first batch should have given you some idea what to expect...

[p-dan-tic.livejournal.com]

I never cared about anonimity.....

I was offered advise.... I feel like I've been cheated.....

trade discription act or sommat

"i am good for advise"

barry sarll

Barbers

[(Anonymous)]

My hairdresser, does admittedly do both genders but given that he is enormous, wears a big white apron, has shaven hair and looks like he would be happier breaking chickens' necks, certainly looks like a barber.

However, he is a very kind and gentle man who is an ex-Marxist political prisoner from Turkey and is the best hairdresser I have ever had.

He is right at the southern end of Blackstock Road, just as the hill starts and it becomes Highbury.

If you want to know the name, ask, and I will try to do my best to remember.

Robin

Re: Barbers

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that does sound quite promising. I'll probably be able to find it based on that but if the name does come to you, do let me know.

[thermaland.livejournal.com]

Why couldn't our useless bloody transport system have managed one of its periodic spasms during their visit here?

Because it's saving that for the actual olympics?
Today I read the first article by Parisian opponents to having the games there. They are even more depressed about the whole thing than you and I are...

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

How is that even possible?

[thermaland.livejournal.com]

Coz Paris is the favourite.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I thought we were neck and neck? I do hope that's just London propaganda.

GO PARIS! GO PARIS! GO PARIS!

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

I like you but Not Like That, barrysarll. I'm happily taken, you know.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

[weeps bitter gothic tears]

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

The old-fashioned Gentleman's Barber still exists in the Square Mile. Avoid the tourist traps in Leadenhall market, and wander the backstreets around Cazenove's place; there is a particularly good one in a poky little upstairs shop on Telegraph Street, an alley leading off Moorgate to Copthall. You will be relieved to know that some of them keep a pudding bowl for longstanding customers from England's more traditional public schools.

Also, that last holdout of the True Fogey, Jermyn Street, boasts several fine Gentlemens' barbers. Try Briggs in Ormond Yard, avoid Truefitt & Hill: overpriced, too mach a tourist trap and a 'mens grooming products' supplier.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I distrust the City, and always endeavour to visit it only to walk through. I fear that any purchase might bind me to it as Persephone was bound to the Underworld.

[johnmazzeo.livejournal.com]

City Barbers (I think that's the name) off of Victoria Street is very nice. Plus they have a gorgeous woman in there who flirts like crazy.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, that would be very handy for lunch hours. Off of Victoria Street whereabouts?

[johnmazzeo.livejournal.com]

A side street just about opposite New Scotland Yard. Army & Navy is on the same street. If you get the gorgeous long-haired vaguely gothic looking woman tell her how wonderful I am and remind her she scalped me last Tuesday...

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

In one of the previous haircut establishments I've used, liked and had close down on me there was a gorgeous but incompetent girl who always worked directly behind my preferred cutter. This was ace, as I could legitimately stare at her in the mirror while remaining well within the bounds of haircut etiquette.