Texturised

My new very expensive 'texturised' hair

Today I had my hair texturised for the first time.

The idea was to get rid of the Afro frizz that usually surrounds my head when I wear my hair down.

I'd avoided having it done before before I was worried about having chemicals put on my head. So I chose a hairdresser who specialises in Afro hair. The end result wasn't as dramatic as I'd hoped but it's still an improvement.

The worst thing was it cost a small fortune, double the amount I'd expected. I hadn't reckoned on all the hair products I'd have to buy as well, or on having my hair cut (although the ends were very straggly).

Will I have it done again?

Well, the treatment lasts for around five months so I've got time to save up.

Only next time I'll double check the price before I agree to have anything done.

And I'll stock up on hair products.

Art Adventures in Norfolk

Sculptures at the Pink Foot Gallery in Cley

The Pink Foot Gallery at dusk

Joe in Cley high street outside another gallery.

Me outside St Jude's Gallery in Itteringham

Just before Christmas Joe and I went to Norfolk to St Jude's Gallery in Itteringham http://www.stjudesgallery.co.uk. Ittering-where? we wondered as we drove through winding country roads and ever more obscure little villages until we finally came to a sign that pointed towards the gallery. Blink and we'd have missed it.

We went to St Jude's because it's Angie Lewin's gallery and we both love her art. We'd seen it in the CCA Gallery in Cambridge and joined the mailing list, so we knew she had a gallery in Norfolk. When the invitation came through to go to the Christmas opening, the offer of seeing her art first hand while sampling homemade mince pies and mulled wine was too good to resist.

The art was beautiful, the gallery tiny and you couldn't swing a proverbial cat as so many people turned up. It was hard to get a good look at anything. Add to that lots of toddlers who were left to their own devices (which usually involved getting under everyon'es feet) and you had a recipe for chaos. I've nothing againt children at all, but you'd think the parents would have had the sense to realise that cramming them into a tiny space with lots of noisy adults and precious art wasn't a great idea.

However, we did like the art and we did like the gallery. Only next time we'll make sure we go when it's quieter. We didn't buy any paintings, but we did come away with some beautiful sketch books and cards and some ideas about what we might like to buy in the future, when we've saved enough money. We also met Angie, if fleetingly (I managed to say 'hello') and her husband Simon who said he recognised me from Facebook (I'm a 'fan'). Oh the power of social media! After the crush of the gallery we both wanted some space and fresh air so we drove out to Cley next the Sea (I love that name) and went for a walk through the village. We found a lovely hotel where we had lunch, getting there in the nick of time as the last sitting was about to come to an end. We took our seats next to the log fire and the Christmas tree and had the best bacon sandwiches ever.

We then went to a gallery called Pink Foot http://www.pinkfootgallery.com which was a real find. It not only had beautiful paintings but some amazing sculpture. Joe and I fell in love with some startlingly original bronzes which were way out of our price range but mesmerising in their simple beauty. Joe bought a small sculpture of a heron by Anthony Theakston and we both had that warm glow of satisfaction that comes from knowing you have acquired something truly beautiful and unique.

Before we drove home, we went to the local delicatessen, a cornucopia of homemade delights where we bought cashew nuts in soy sauce and thick slabs of chocolate tart that stuck to the roof of your mouth.

Norfolk is a very atmospheric place with a wildness and bleakness that appeal to the artistic soul. It was especially dramatic in the winter light. Who knows what it will like in the spring? Joe and I plan to find out when we go back to St Jude's in March.