Before I moved into my current abode I lived in a detached house in deep southern Berlin with four others, all students, all in their mid-twenties. I know what noise is. Now, the folks with whom I used to share a home were, and remain, lovely people. But the art of quietly closing a door,…

The time is 2:30pm. About 45 minutes earlier I decided that the ungodly mess sat atop my head had been allowed its rebellious freedom for far too long. Today, at long last, I would bring it to heel. I have, however, walked past several barber shops and hairdressers, all perfectly respectable, the closest of which…