Anne was a superb apprentice, always a smile and boy could she pull in the Gent's to the salon, all her school mates, infact everyone wanted Anne to do their hair - it was January, cold and the snow was thick on the ground, but this made no difference as it was her 18th Birthday, also it was Karen's 21st on the same day, (Karen was my other staff member), so I decided to give them a 'treat' on their birthday! We had been out the previous night to Riley Hall as there was a Disco on, so we were all a little delicate the next morning, Gemma was honking in the toilet, Karen as green as her uniform and Janet, the senior was trying to keep all customers happy on the shop floor - "They will be with you shortly" I could hear - we were all out on the salon floor, this was my Cue to open the window - "It's a bit hot in here, I need some fresh air" I got some strange looks but my plan was working, he was here, Nick - the Milk Tray Man, dressed in black, with ropes accross his shoulder, a balaclava on and he had the chocolates under his arm, he mounted the ladders and jumped in through the window and all because the ladies loved Milk Tray - screams, laughter, amazement and joy, the girls and customers loved it, he then left via the window (with his small payment) This was me at my best, trying to surprise the staff, I was so greatful of their contribution to the business that I was always looking to stretch surprises to the full, infact even customers used to say, Angela how can I pull off a surprise and I was away.
Towards the end of Anne's apprentiship, she once said "I can now cut any style, anyone, nothing phases me" - haha I thought, as you are coming to the end of your apprentiship I will make you eat your words...........so..........I arranged for our local farmer, Brian to bring in a sheep for a 'haircut', the nod and wink was on, Brian got the sheep in to the salon (ground floor) and Anne was in the staff room, I shouted "Anne, your next customer is here", so she picked up her scissors and opened the Barber Shop door to the biggest shriek, Dolly faced her, we all descended on the Salon and said, go ahead Anne, you can do anything now - she giggled and giggles to our sides hurt, but Brian plugged in the clippers and made her trim Dolly, and she did, by this time, the press had arrived and we got maximum coverage for a great fun day celebrating Annes completion of her apprentiship.
Then one day, the sad news arrived, Anne's father bought her or arranged the purchase of a Salon in Leeds, this was such a shock to me, it hurt so much as we were such a great team and I felt I had been used, but it was her choice to move in to the very undesirable area of outer Leeds, I was concerned for her, but knew she would survive - but not for long, I think a couple of years and then she went to Australia with her husband to emigrate.
Lesson learnt - I would not give as much to the next one, I even thought of selling the salon, that was how hurt I was, I took it personally, which since then and many years later, I realise that you must have a 'them and us' policy.
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