Trying to accomplish anything on a bank holiday is a futile task. I think the simple existence of bank holidays here highlights a major difference between the UK and the US. I’m all about them in principle- all people are entitled to days off from work and should have that right given to them by the state. What’s strange is how that right morphs depending on where you are.
Because Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, the public was given an extra ‘day off’ in addition to Boxing Day. For Americans, it’s a bit difficult to understand what Boxing Day is for and after asking pretty much everyone I work with its become pretty clear to me that that’s the entire point. In the same way that Labor Day in September doesn’t make much sense as a ‘holiday’ , Boxing Day has no other purpose than to be a day off for everyone in the realm. Again- all for that. Back to the point though- because of Sunday Christmas, an extra day was entitled to allow people to have their requisite two holiday days off. So the 27 has become a day off for no reason whatsoever. In some way it feels like one masterful plan on the part of retailers- enabling a public eager for a deal to extend their Boxing Day shopping. Its definitely worked, if the crowds I passed on my journey from my flat in search of a haircut are any indication. Sadly, the exact thing I need is not easy to come by on a bank holiday.
Now, in the states, hair places are pretty much open all year. Sure, the salons will be closed but the chain places are always open- even on bank holidays. That goes to the heart of American enterprise at the expense of American labor doesn’t it? If you need a haircut you’ll always be able to get one-period. Today that seems to be a bit of an impossibility. I’m in a Supercuts: waiting for one of two stylists to finally get to me so I can get a haircut I’ve been dying for for weeks. Part of me wants to just say screw it and get it tomorrow before work (if that would be possible, who even knows) because I have a feeling whatever I end up getting wont be all that satisfying for the money i’m spending. Then again, I’m probably just complaining because I’ve been thwarted by this random bank holiday. Who wouldn’t complain in this position, where I could spend thousands of pounds on retail crap but can’t even get a haircut?
Alright. Rant ended.
