Does your hairdresser caress your ear?

I kid you not.

So I decided to take a stroll to the hairdresser around the corner. My regular hairdresser went on MC today and will continue to be away for the Chinese New Year. Well, I do need to look decent for the New Year when visiting relatives. Also, there is this cousin's wedding coming up and I really do not want to turn up at his wedding with the newly shorn look. Today would be a good day to cut hair.

Gone are the days when I went to ethnic barbers to have my hair cut. When I mean ethnic, I mean barber shops with chairs in a row manned by either Malays (always known as Sri Dewa), the Chinese (known for using a blade to scrape your neck after the cut, and also provide ear digging services), and the Indian barber. A haircut will set you back no more than S$10 for an adult male. I have given up on those days. Being converted whilst studying overseas, I have since moved on to professional hairstylists who actually wash your hair before the cut (ok, ok, it took me that long to progress). But progress I did! I have had my hair cut in New York City, Toronto, Melbourne, etc. Some of them are pretty good stylists. My all time favourite -- Jack Giordano, an Italian who emigrated to Burlington, Ontario, Canada. He rocks!

I entered the hairdresser that was around the corner, for the first time. I was attended by a gentleman who resembled someone just released delinquent school. But then, judge not, I must. Because Chinese New Year is around the corner, it is a practice that hairdressers and barbers impose a mandatory self declared tip, on top of the regular price of a haircut. I shrugged it off. Where else would I go? To the military barber? God forbid!

I must say that his scalp massage was pretty good and decided to relax and enjoy the hair wash.


When it was time to rinse my hair at the sink, I lay back and let the water do its job. Well, looks like the water was not the only thing doing its job.

I realised that the male hairdresser was caressing my ear!

(I pause here to choke)

And he did it while washing my hair and ear and cupping it ever so tenderly....arrgh!

I need a cold shower.

Ok, so maybe I was overreacting. But honestly, the way he did it and the amount of time he took to wash my hair (and ears), I am really intrigued that his lady boss (sitting outside reading a mag) did not even complain about the huge amount of water he had wasted. Honestly, I have never had a longer hair wash in my life! And while my gay-dar was on (ya know, radar for a different sexual orientation), right in front of me was a promotional poster for a hair product where the model was topless save her hands cupping her breast strategically. I guess the Yin and Yang of things are balanced here. But hey, that dude is still cupping my ears!

Yes, I may have been over sensitive. But going by my track record, a white guy tried once to pick me up; my very gay colleague would only complete the work if I allowed him to grope my chest; and was once winked at and air kissed by a transvestite at a supermarket....I think it is wise to be a little more alert.

I have nothing against gays per se. It is just those who are the desperate ones who are trying hard to 'get to know you', them I detest. Much like a creep who thinks he is god's gift to women, harassing every skirt that walks by him.

I suddenly am gaining an insight into a woman's violation...

After the haircut was done (which was done quite decently), and the payment made, hairdresser gave me his sweetest smile and waved effeminately, while leaning on one leg and making limp the other.

I'm going back to Agnes next time round.

Disposed accordingly...For the want of a better phrase

It is an extremely curious thing to find an ad in the classifieds asking for the next of kin to contact a certain hospital to reclaim the remains of a patient who passed away.

Why curious?

The ad was located in the most obscure of locations in the classifieds (in between the project tenders page and the Jobs section). Honestly, what are the chances of your next of kin flipping through the classifieds and finding out that your remains need to be reclaimed?

But well, this is hospital procedure...yes, we have to inform the public...we have made reasonable effort to contact the next of kin (really depends on your definition of 'reasonable').

I mean, come on, can we try a bit harder? Like placing a notice on the home page of your hospital web site? That would not cost a cent! Or, if your corporate communications department had a little more creativity, talk to a journalist and persuade them to place a regular column in the main spread for unclaimed bodies. They regularly write stories to inform the public about missing persons in the custody of the Police. Why not human bodies?

Doh! But of course! Because they are DEAD!

But the other thing I noticed was the concluding paragraph where it states "Please note that the body of the deceased will be disposed accordingly..."

I know it is a medically accepted term to say that a body is to be disposed of. But oh such cold, heartless and distant language it exudes!

"the body will be disposed of accordingly..."

Yes, our remains are disposable but surely we are not akin to diapers or styrofoam cups or scrap paper. Could we at least try to show more compassion even for the deceased?

English language teachers, save our societies from further coldness.

Junior's grown!

Well, well. Looks like Lim Junior is doing well in the water bag of The Wife's womb.

Yes, a visit to the Gynae confirmed that the Lim offspring is doing well, thus far.

You can actually make out the head from the picture on the left and upon magnifying the picture at the Gynae's, you could actually see the area where the brain will be formed; and the tiny heart beating away!

Wonders of nature isn't it?

Which quite naturally brings to mind the position that Pro-Choice proponents push --- that life does not begin at conception (I stand corrected if this statement is errorneous). So how does one explain the tiny dot pumping away in the heart chamber of the foetus?

Work hard to get ahead in life...Truth or lie?

I know that is a hotly debated topic and a monkey that is constantly on the government's back. But the stark reality is true --- there is a substantial number of middle aged people in the work force who are out of jobs and the numbers are set to rise. I do not have the numbers to back me up but do bear with me as I take you through my thoughts.

Asian kids will hear this familiar refrain: Study hard and work hard to succeed in life. Truth or a lie?

Very recently, I had opportunity to assist at a recruitment agency and the number of resumes you receive from middle aged persons seeking employment is just overwhelming. Mind you, when I mean middle aged, I do not mean person in their 50s. What I deem as 'middle aged' are those 38 years old and above.

I am not the least bit joking.

Take for instance an ad for a managerial post in Marketing in the FMCG (Fast moving consumer goods) industry was seeking an individual with 8 years of relevant work experience. As I sifted through the resumes, my colleague helped me by 'shortlisting' them.

Too old (candidate was 38 years old??!!!); Non relevant experience (candidate had extensive marketing experience in food products and dried milk powder and the job post was for fresh dairy products. Am I missing out something here?); too highly qualified (candidate had a Masters in Marketing).

At the end of the exercise, I shortlisted 2 probable candidates but my colleague decided against them. Why? For the very reasons I have stated above.

And so, when seeking a middle to senior managerial position locally, you must not be too old (35 years and below) but have enough RELEVANT experience and cannot be too highly educated.

As I looked through some of the resumes sent in, I could not help but sympathise with many. There were those in their 40s and were previously in Senior positions heading companies. Now, they are just satisfied with a middle management post. Some are even willing to take entry level positions.

I have the stories of 2 friends to share with you.

One is a father of 3 daughters with the eldest in her 1st year at university and the youngest is 16 years old. A couple of years back, he was CEO of an IT company and had enough money to live in a landed property at a prime location. Then he was retrenched and has never found another job since. He is in his late 40s to early 50s.

Another friend is 40 this year and is a Country manager for a foreign company. He fears that if he is made redundant, he will not be able to find another job again. He has no children but is married.

We have been told to work hard in order to get into premier schools and that would get us prestigious scholarships at premier universities that would lead us to a career with bright prospects.

The reality? Hit 35 years and above and I suggest you think of a backup plan when you are out of a job. Yes, not 'if' but 'when' you are out of a job.

The Straits Times recently did an article on this issue of middle age joblessness. Even top government scholars were not spared and these were considered Singapore's brightest who were trained at top universities worldwide. Come 35 to 45 years of age and you will have to make way for the just-as-bright scholar but is 30 years of age to replace you.

I am not discounting the virtue of hard work. I am all for hard work and I am a hard worker myself. My point is: Will pure hard work get you to your goal? Will it assure you of your job in your mid 30s, 40s and 50s?

I would like to hear your thoughts.