My personal trainer, my eyebrow lady, my weight trainer, my hairdresser are all abandoning me.

[LeftBereft]

Last year I started a thread because I had a mild panic that my personal trainer was about to up and leave the city we live in. Here's the thread. She didn't leave. Good news and all has been well since.

But now she is actually going. And leaving the fucking country this time. So deja vu. But worse. I'm absolutely gutted. But I'd kind of mentally prepared myself last year so I can just about handle it.

This was about a week ago that she told me she was leaving.

In the seven or so days since:
My eyebrow lady told me that she's moving away to be closer to her parents.

The chap that leads the small-group, women-only weightlifting sessions that I go to said he's taking an undetermined break to restructure his business.

My hairdresser text me to say she's having another baby so after my next appointment, she won't be around until late-2025 if she comes back at all.

The fuck?! What have I done to all these people?!

I've tried venting to DP, he doesn't get it. Can you let me vent and wallow a bit, MN?

I was kind of motivated to seriously start exploring a new PT. But then I lost all will when I also realised I'd need to find a new eyebrow lady, weightlifting instructor and hairdresser. Or I could not bother, just let myself absolutely go to seed. It's clearly what these abandoning bastards want 😭😭

Thanks op. Haven't laughed at responses to a thread for a while. This is peak mumsnet. Isn't it wonderful that there are people using services. Yes, it is a privilege to be able to afford it. But those of us who can, isn't it great we support our local entrepreneurs? I also dont think you need to be acknowledging your privilege all the time. If we go down that route then there is someone always less privileged. And MN is full if first world problems. That makes it fun.

And yes. Men get their eyebrows done. My bf, brothers and dad have theirs shaped at the barbers.

what? They're not servants, they're people delivering a service they are paid for. You might not think it's necessary (I don't, I wouldn't pay for any of those things) but servants they certainly are not. So for you and I, eyebrow tinting, hair cutting/styling, weight training by others are not services we want; so we don't pay for it. If others want to spend their money on it then they are more than welcome to do so.

Are you on Facebook op? Like a local community group? Type in eyebrows and someone will have asked the question, you'll find a new brow person, same with the hairdresser and weight lifting class.

Was fat, had shit hair, had shit eyebrows

I feel your pain. I have an eyebrow lady. I always thought they were pretty much all the same, until age starting sound them for me.

I also have had the same hairdresser for years. I have "difficult" hair and you can just tell that lots of hairdressers don't like doing it. I'd be gutted if she was to up and leave.

Was fat, had shit hair, had shit eyebrows
Same as me then

OP, you can wail to me! I remember your first thread because my beloved dance fitness instructor had just announced that she was leaving town and I was devastated. All of us in our group were. I felt like I was in mourning for months and I didn't think I'd ever find a fitness hobby I loved as much again.

Then at the start of this year, after trying lots of things, I found an amazing personal trainer who does small group classes, and I've been a devotee of hers since. She has totally transformed my relationship to fitness. And now she is going off to have a baby 😭 it's not quite as bad because I know she'll be back, but I'm still staring into the void again.

And last year my brow lady went on maternity leave (still not back) and my stylist moved away! Those aren't as bad, but in a one-week period I couldn't have coped with all that!

My eyebrow and nail lady is irreplaceable!

I bet they have all got together and conspired to ruin your life. Maybe they are in the pay of your enemies… have you upset someone recently? Possibly The Mafia?

I have all these things too and I wouldn't consider myself high maintenance! I have never had my nails done in my life, for example. I have a lot of difficult hair and a body that's prone to lard. I would be upset if they all quit on me at the same time, too.

😂😂

Hello @renthead I wasn't sure if anyone would remember the first thread

I'm so pleased you found another PT that works for you even if she is terrible enough to go and have a baby

I'm starting to suspect this is the case.

I don't remember any run-ins with Mafioso but you never know.
I called a dog-walker a "selfish twat" the other day when he didn't pick up a turd. He definitely didn't look like how you'd expect one of them to look, but maybe he was Coventry's(i) answer to Vito Corleone and has them all in his pay.

(i) I don't live in Coventry.

Good question! They didn't at first as I didn't want to upset the hairdresser/beautician, but when she came to do a facial and I still had no roots showing after six weeks, I felt I had to tell her, even though she didn't say anything. She seemed a bit taken aback but now I think she also feels less pressure. EG, I am going to a wedding I August and will definitely need to get my hair done. She's away on holiday then, but luckily the other one is available!

I used to get my eyebrows threaded until covid and then got a little electric razor thing and so do it myself now. It isn't quite as good but is good enough.

My hairdresser had a baby and stopped working, or at least at my salon, but I found another one. I don't think she does the colour quite as well but she cuts well.

My PT gave it up to change career and I found an outside exercise class instead (and have since found one I like even better).

Have you googled "ladies who lift" to find another lifting group locally?

There are also loads of good exercise apps. You could look at Strength with Claire, Elevate Fitness with Charlotte, Studio 44 Pilates, Fluidform, Form, and even Deliciously Ella who has recipes and loads of exercise videos for the princely sum of £28 a year!

I get you, I was gutted when my PT decided to move on. 😞

Yebbut that doesn;t mean you need a specific person. Any brow lady will do.

No, it's like anything else. Some are really skilled at shaping them to suit your face, some aren't. The difference can be amazing.

Nope, a good brow lady makes a huge difference. Really truly. And not just shaping - mine barely causes me any pain, whereas others leave me with streaming eyes and nose.

Threading is a real skill.

I was gutted when my eyebrow lady left. I turned up for my appointment and she'd left the salon. I actually felt personally insulted as she'd done my eyebrows for about 15 years and never mentioned she was leaving. I sort of felt like she should have text me or something

I was also pissed off when my spin instructor left my gym as he was miles better than anyone else. I stopped going to spin when that happened.

OK, I believe you all. But I want you all to stop telling me this!

I don't want an excuse to get hung up on the hunt for a perfect eyebrow lady.

I followed my threading lady when she left the salon.

I don't mean stalked! I mean we kept in touch so she could still do my eyebrows. She's that good (and the newly trained ones take the skin off)