Tag: pedicure

Primped and preened

There’s Mum with her new haircut, and a pedicure underway. There was a ‘gel pedicure’ on offer with colour, but Mum requested just a cut and file, thanks!

When I came back to collect her, there were two other customers one on each side of her. One had foil on her finger tips – waiting for some nail work to cure, I suppose, while she had a pedicure. She was young, with lovely olive skin and no need to go to so much trouble, in my opinion. I look sideways into these ‘beauty’ salons as I go past and wonder at the expense and effort of manicures and eyebrow enhancements. And what is it with the false eyelashes young women are wearing lately? And how can you do anything useful with long, lacquered nails? Who is it for, anyway? I haven’t noticed men being impressed – unless drag is their thing. Perhaps it’s just for the women’s own amusement; a happier thought than suspecting it’s due to a crushing lack of confidence.

Some of my happiest times as a young woman were spent tramping in places like Rakiura Stewart Island, and the walks around the South Island. You relied on your fitness and appropriate gear to keep warm and dry. No mirrors or make up for days. A wonderful freedom with life in perspective.

Top to toe

Looking after Mum today included a haircut and a pedicure. We found The Palms mall very convenient for both of these without booking in advance. Today we returned the bath board to Burwood Hospital – another step in the recovery process. We had hoped the hairdresser at Burwood (‘Walk-ins Welcome’) could cut Mum’s hair, but no luck, hence the choice of the mall which was on the way home. It was a good choice: there was only a brief wait for the haircut and, as we’ve struggled to find someone to ‘do the toes’, were pleased to discover a few nail places to choose from at the mall, and no waiting. Mum sat in a massage chair with her feet in a little spa bath, then her nails were cut and her toes buffed, oiled, massaged and moisturised.

The outing was an opportunity for Mum to get some walking exercise. She managed well with just her stick and it helped that we were able to find a mobility park close to the entrance of the mall. At home, her walker is often parked somewhere and she is able to walk about independently.

I enjoyed choosing some cuddly flannelette sheets for Mum a couple of weeks ago to keep her warm on these cool autumn nights. The temperature was forecast to drop to 2 degrees last night, so I put the new sheets on the bed yesterday. She found them very cosy. Aren’t they just the ticket!