I posted a few months back about someone flicking the winter switch, and how the weather flipped over night.  The same thing happened last night.

Yesterday was a cool and comfortable 26-28 degrees Celcius, and there was a decided nip in the air sitting outside in the evening.  About 6pm we had around 30 seconds of the faintest hint of rain – I actually thought Number One Son was playing with a water pistol it was so insignificant.

But, nope, rain it must have been, because today the temperature surged to the mid-30s Celcius and the air is most definitely muggy – a sure sign that we have moved from winter to spring, albeit a month later than usual.

Spring in Chiang Mai usually arrives around the third week of January following the Mango Rains – a week of short downpours in mid-afternoon during the second week of January (traditionally) – but they never materialised this year, and haven’t for the last couple of years.  Worrying for the fruit farmers I’ll bet.

So the muggy weather has started and it’ll get more humid and hotter each week from now until late May, then cool a tad before the arrival of the summer monsoons in July sometime. This morning’s temperature was a cue for me to visit the shearers and lose my shaggy winter mop.

Although I only see him three times a year, sometimes four, the gents’ hairdresser that I go to is a cheerful soul of the old school barbershop type.  No flouncy blousey assistants, no latte and cheesecake while you wait, just a straight in, head mowed, face shaved, neck massaged, then pay and out.  That’s not disparaging his workmanship or the quality of service – he’s great and I get exactly what I’m seeking with the minimum of fuss at low, low prices. Eighty Baht it cost me (around $2.50 at today’s rates) and worth every one of them, although its up twenty since my last visit in late summer.

I particularly like the banana shaving cream he uses – it leaves me feeling “fruity” and refreshed for the rest of the day – I really must find where he gets it and add it to the store here at GazLanNaThai.

The only perturbing thing is the rear-view mirror system he has fixed to the walls – as he sheared off my winter thatch, my tonsure became ever more prominent.  It’s bad enough that I have a forehead hairline to make E.T. look like a hippy, I’m also developing a full moon at the back too.

I guess pretty soon I’ll have to go for the Jean Luc Picard or Telly Savalas style just to avoid worrying about when my forehead will meet the crown of my head?

Garry

p.s. Before you ask, no I’m not going to give away the location of this gem of a service – if too many of you start going there, the prices will go up and the service will go downhill.  Must maintain standards, what?