Hair today . . . and still here tomorrow

"Quite a lot happened in 1981. The Royal wedding of Charles and Diana, President Sadat of Egypt assassinated, The Pope and Ronald Reagan shot at.

"It was the year of Botham's Ashes, John McEnroe ended Bjorn Borg's Wimbledon winn-ing reign and Aldaniti and Bob Champion triumphed in the Grand National.

"Not that I remember any of it, of course.

"In fact my first memory is one of sitting in the hairdressers at about the age of four, watching my mom having her hair cut - and thinking 'I could do that!.'

"Now, all those years later, here I am - a hairdresser, albeit a trainee, now into the second year of my training course.

"I have to spend one day a week at college, but even so I find it hard to believe that I have made it this far, providing such a popular service for the general public.

"Hairstyles come and go - and I have come across a few in my time - particularly over the past three decades, from the punk to New Romantic eras, to sleek bobs and extensions.

"As hairdressers, we have to keep up with the times and follow the latest trends.

"When I qualify I would like to set up as a mobile hairdresser, or more exotically, working on cruise ships.

"And we've all got to start somewhere. Even Nicky Clarke and John Frieda probably started off in some tiny salon.

"However, if it wasn't for my boyfriend, family and my own self-motivation, I wouldn't be where I am today, starting the new Millennium enjoying my chosen career.