Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a barber in Bloemhof is like riding a rollercoaster. One minute you’re chillin’, the next you’re dodging drama like it’s a game of dodgeball. So, let me break it down for ya.
I roll into the shop on Hoofdstraat, right? The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be a breeze.” Wrong! First customer walks in, and it’s old Mr. Jansen. Dude’s like 80 but thinks he’s still 20. He wants a fade. A FADE! I mean, come on, man. You got more gray than a rainy day in Bloemhof. But hey, I’m not one to judge. I fire up the clippers, and we’re off.
Halfway through, he starts rambling about the good ol’ days. “Back in my day, we had real streets, not these fancy bike lanes!” I’m like, “Yeah, Mr. Jansen, but you also had no Wi-Fi.” He didn’t get it. Classic.
Then, outta nowhere, the door swings open. It’s Lisa from the bakery down the street. She’s all flustered, hair a mess, flour on her face. “Help! My oven’s on fire!” I’m thinkin’, “Great, just what I need.” But I can’t leave Mr. Jansen hangin’. So I’m like, “Call the fire department!” She gives me this look like I just suggested she jump in the canal.
Finally, I finish up with Mr. Jansen. He looks in the mirror, and I swear, he’s about to cry. “I look like a new man!” he says. I’m thinkin’, “Dude, you look like a man who just got a haircut.” But hey, whatever makes him happy, right?
Next up is Timmy, the kid from down the block. He’s got this wild mop of hair. I’m talkin’ a full-on jungle. He plops down in the chair, and I’m like, “What’s the plan, champ?” He grins and says, “Make me look like a rockstar!” I laugh, “You mean a rockstar who just woke up?”
As I’m snippin’ away, I hear this loud crash outside. I peek out the window on Kerkstraat, and there’s a guy on a bike, totally wiped out. I can’t help but chuckle. “Dude, you okay?” He just waves me off. Classic Bloemhof.
After Timmy, I take a breather. Grab a coffee from the café on Markt. Best coffee in town, no cap. I sit outside, watchin’ the world go by. Old ladies with their shopping carts, kids playin’ in the park, and the occasional dog walker. It’s a vibe.
But then, my phone buzzes. It’s Lisa again. “The fire department is here, but they need a hose!” I’m like, “What do I look like, a firefighter?” But I can’t leave her hangin’. So I grab my keys and dash out.
I run down to her bakery on Laan van Bloemhof, and sure enough, there’s smoke billowing out. The firemen are tryin’ to figure out what to do. I’m like, “Yo, just spray it down!” They look at me like I’m a genius.
Long story short, they put out the fire, and Lisa’s grateful. She hands me a loaf of fresh bread. “For your trouble!” she says. I’m thinkin’, “This is the best payment ever!”
I head back to the shop, and it’s packed. Everyone’s buzzin’ about the fire. “Did you see it?” “Was it crazy?” I’m like, “You guys missed the real show!”
By the end of the day, I’m exhausted but happy. Bloemhof is wild, man. It’s got its quirks, its characters, and its surprises. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just another day in the life of a barber, right?