OMG ! Hair colours and cuts!

What I thought I was getting: Saint Karl Coiffures

A male French non English speaking hairdresser , young - mid to late 20's, trendy metrosexual or possibly Gay, tight jeans, olive skin, tattoo's on his arms, jewelry and a piercing. His hair styled in the messy just got out of bed look. I thought he should be the man or 'boy' for the job! Specifications below all translated into French by Google translate, the price sorted and supplied on a docket.

• All the roots touched up
• Foils, sliced through the top section - 2 colours - natural brown alternated with natural ask
• Toner- to take away the yellow tinge on the ash foils.
• layered hair cut , length to remain the same and long sides
• blow dry- straight ( they don't use hair straightners here in Coutances
  
• cost quoted for - $64 Euros , minus 20% discount on colour on a Thursday

What I got!
A male hairdresser, French, no English , ( that's where it ends) ...... middle aged to elderly; late 50-early 60's, Albert Tatlock ( Coro Street) dress no style ie , half a head of hair almost a comb over , trying to colour my hair , and another ladies as well as cut and blow dry the hair of an older woman with a blue rinse. Too late once it all started to unfold ........

• roots - some grey remaining ! 2-3 colours now !
  
• huge chunks of hair picked up, coloured and crushed by tin foil which he fumbled, dropped and placed half way down the hair shafts. This is called meches papier ( 50 euro's thank you !)
• two colours- brown with a copper tinge and yellow ash brown!
• no toner, although in saying this he did put 'something' in the foils at the half way point, whenever that was in the colour processing time ( no timer and he was darting between me and 2 other clients) and again at the washing stage- no head massage!
• mousse- a large squirt on the hand, kneaded into the hair - a mere 7 euro's ..what a bargain. No other product used .
• a quick layering of the back and frayed scissoring of the fringe.
• blow torch hair drying , my bottom lifting off the seat as he pulled on the curling brush- curls!!!!
• Voila! fini!
  
• 121 Euro's minus 15.40 euro's discount- Merci beaucoup! Au revoir!
  

I'm needing to breathe into the brown paper bag by this stage , or cover my head with it ! The defib machine is on stand by - 1,2,3 stand clear - paddles on chest ! Do we have a heart beat! No...she's gone..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This might have been a kinder way to go.


I am not going to look at what they have done to my hair colour.

Look at the back ! So much for fine streaks / foils!


Mark and the dog went out in sympathy with me!

The water garden and the lilies

Monets Garden - The famous water garden

Giverny- Monets Manoir and Jardins

Claude Monet and his family lived in this village . He and some of his family are buried Giverny's little churchyard. The gardens were initially established and tended by Monet and his children until the number of visitors grew so they hired gardeners . You can see where the inspiration for impressionists painting came from when you walk around the gardens and the village . Little streams, bridges and gardens with cottage garden plants, wisteria, trailing climbers ( clematis) rhododendrons, roses and carpets of small flowering plants , and of the course, the famous water garden with lilies which was made by diverting the Ru river a tributary Epte . ( this garden inspired over 48 Lily paintings )

A meander around the gardens , bench seats to sit on and ponder. People sketching and taking numerous photographs. What a fantastic place as you will see by the photographs ( next few blogs).

Wandering through the house with its pink facade and ivy green shutters ( no photos allowed) you experience one of the largest collection of Japanese art on all the walls both upstairs and down. Apparently exactly as Monet had hung them.

Bright yellow kitchen where he also loved to cook ( food being another of his passions , aqua and lilac bedroom bedroom . Spectacular views overlooking the garden from the top floor windows.

Walking down Rue De Monet you see quaint pretty little houses where artist's sit and paint ( neo impressionists ).

Sewing

I have spent a few hours in front of the sewing machine creating : gingham table runners, and numerous napkins to match . Traditional french style for the first wedding .
Jon then went to the depot vente and purchased two old curtains with braiding. I cut them down to make more table runners and place mats for the wedding in September.

The sewing machine was set up in the study, TV on and I was supplied with regular cups of tea. I have consequently watched many episodes of Super Nanny, Come Dine with Me, A house in the Country and DIY rescue . I have watched more TV in France than in a year in NZ .


PS : Guess what you are all getting for Christmas this year ? ( Mark and I are planning to have a Christmas where you give a gift that is hand made , re-cycled or even re gifted !

Chateau Reicheux- Cancale

The restaurant that Jon took us to for lunch following the wedding. Another beautiful chateau looking out in the distance is Mont St Michel.
The cheese trolley was wheeled over to you and you could choose from a vast selection of local and traditional french cheese's. Normandy is famous for Camembert , Neufachel, Livrot,Tom and Pont Leveque to name a few . You eat cheese after your main meal in France but before dessert.
Then a dessert trolley with so many sweets. There was a rather large man sitting next to us and he had a piece of every dessert on the trolley. His plate was larger than a large dinner plate!
A wonderful relaxing meal over 2-3 hours. French wine, a walk around the garden and along the beach front and home again...very full and content. Thanks Jon

http://www.maisons-de-bricourt.com/les-Maisons-de-Bricourt/chateau-richeux.php

On your marks, get set.....GO! Cycle race Montpinchon

Over the weekend of the 8th of August to the Tuesday a 3 day cycle event - St Laurent, was held in Montpinchon. There were 3 main cycling events depending on age and ability. Apparently the last event on the Tuesday is where talent for the Tour De France is spotted. Camera's everywhere and loud speakers and excitement on the faces of locals who earn most of their income for the year from this event possibly ! A whole lot of good looking people in comparison to the local villagers( Jons words not mine but I could see how he arrived at this observatio ) and young athletic men in lycra ( Jon again...tisk tisk! ) . Parents and Nana's coming up to the young men on the start line giving them the customary two kisses, one on each check and pats on the back from the men. Embarrassed young men! A 3 day carnival, saussie and frites stands everywhere, second hand goods line the streets ( the french have a term for this which in English means 'empty your attic' and they literally do! On the Sunday night a fantastic fireworks display, an amazing spectacle for a small village. Most enjoyable weekend.