From hairlines to headlines! I’ve recently made a life-changing decision…

I’ve just frightened my neighbour. Unintentionally, of course. “I didn’t recognise you without your cap on,” she laughed, her face a mix of surprise and amusement. Yep, for the first time in more years than I can remember, I am ‘cap-less’. Why, you might wonder, would I choose to go bare-headed when the weather is getting noticeably colder? There’s actually a very good reason… I’ve just had a hair transplant. That’s right. After years of procrastination (and, quite frankly, being too tight to part with the cash!) I’ve finally gone under the knife. I started losing my hair when I was seventeen. But it wasn’t until a few months ago that I decided to do something about it. So last week I made my way to a clinic in London.

It’s the same clinic, I’m reliably informed, that is frequented by countless celebrities (unfortunately none of whom I can remember to name!) It was here that a team of specialists spent eight hours painstakingly punching 3,000 tiny holes into my head whilst I paid for the privilege. All on the understanding that “the results would be worth it”.  As barbaric as it sounds, the procedure was surprisingly tolerable. In fact, I was answering work calls before I even left the clinic. The worst bit didn’t come until a couple of days later… the saline solution they’d injected into my head caused my face to swell.

Apparently I looked like a character from Doctor Who! As you’d expect, there were strict post-op instructions. I was told not to wear any form of headwear for twelve days to ensure the newly implanted grafts weren’t dislodged. As difficult as it was, I dutifully obeyed. Every hair is now more valuable than my car, and I intend to treat them as such! he timing of the procedure also meant I wasn’t able to attend a hotly-anticipated event at Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub, which I’d booked tickets for as a treat for staff and clients. By all accounts (and judging by the photos in the Daily Mail), it was a brilliant evening.

Jeremey was in fine fettle, cracking jokes and mingling with guests while the Amazon film crew captured every moment. The Corrs provided the evening’s soundtrack and the guest list was a who’s-who of familiar faces – James Blunt, Ellen DeGeneres, Natalie Imbruglia… oh, and Scott’s wife, of course! She even managed to snag a photo with the legendary Kaleb Cooper (and we all know he’s the real star of Clarkson’s Farm!)

Unsurprisingly, Jeremy’s new pub is proving hugely popular. I only hope that Mr. Clarkson takes his staff training responsibilities a little more seriously than his infamous antics on Diddly Squat Farm. However, it turns out that it is not just Jezza who is potentially falling short of the mark on staff training in areas that could prove desperately important… This week an undercover BBC investigation revealed significant failings in the “Ask for Angela” safety scheme, an initiative that allows individuals to discreetly request assistance at bars and pubs.

The scheme relies on a simple code: if you feel unsafe, you ask for ‘Angela’ at the bar. Staff are meant to be trained to respond appropriately. Yet the BBC uncovered cases where training is falling far short of what’s required. “Some employees didn’t even know we were running [the scheme],” one whistleblower admitted. “If someone mentioned Angela, they wouldn’t have had a clue what to do.” To say this is disappointing is an understatement. Initiatives like ‘Ask for Angela’ and its counterpart, ‘Ask for ANI’ (designed for use in shops and pharmacies during the pandemic), are crucial tools for protecting vulnerable people.

But their success hinges entirely on proper training. At Advantage One, our security officers receive comprehensive training on all of these types of schemes. We also provide ongoing access to an online portal where they can refresh their knowledge whenever they need to. The BBC’s investigation isn’t the only troubling news that’s caught my eye this week… You may have seen reports about the smash-and-grab incidents plaguing businesses on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Staff say the area has become “lawless” and that despite reporting thefts to police, nothing has been done.

Based on our experience of working in stores in Edinburgh, I can’t say that I’m surprised. Drug use is rife in the city and, as we all know, crime rates and substance abuse are deeply intertwined. If we want things to improve, we must take a new approach and address the root cause, as well as tackling the Shoplifting head-on. I’m not saying it will be easy. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few months, it’s that unless you take action, nothing will change. My new hairline is proof of that!