With the global downturn forcing many expats to say ‘andieo’ to their life here on Zakynthos, hairdresser Donna MacLellen-Hariati prepares to sit tight.  It is not the first time she has weathered asperity and she doubts, though hopes, it maybe the last.

Donna, originally from Invegordon had been one of the youngest students to enter the Inverness School of Hairdressing; under sixteen years old, she was granted approval from the State secretary to leave school early.  Two years later Donna qualified and immediately landed a stylists position at The Lavender Box, a small salon run by two sisters.  They paid well but after a while, Donna sought more creative stimulus.  Leslies Hairdressers in Inverness proved a good career move and with a flat in the city, Donna felt she had made the right choices but a few years later out of the blue, a friend produced a newspaper advertisement recruiting experienced hairdressers for a cruise ship on the Red Sea.  Intrigued, Donna made a call that would take her into uncharted territory and later require all her resilience.  In just three days the job offer came through and when the Epirotiki Shipping Line confirmed her flight to Athens within the week Donna found herself buoyed along on a heady mix of excitement and anticipation.  She broke the news to her family who were suprised but supportive though her bosses insisted she work as much of her notice as possible.  She had appointments booked until Saturday lunchtime, leaving the salon she travelled to London the same day boarding a flight bound for Athens that night.

On her arrival at Sunio, Athens where the Epirotiki Group had offices and hotels she had to await the returning ship.  In the interim the agency suggested Donna work in one of the hotel salons.  She made such a positive impact with the clientele that they  asked her to stay on and join the cruise ship next season.  The following year she toured the Eastern Mediterranean aboard the Argonaut cruiser where she met her future husband, Zakynthian Spyros.  Shortly after they were married Spyros was conscripted to the navy, they moved to Athens to start a family.  Donna returned briefly to Scotland for the birth of Nicolas, and Christopher was born in Athens two years later

The newly built Athens Ledra Marriot hotel was setting up an exclusive hair and beauty boutique.  It was a very desirable opportunity and competition for the placements was high.  Without hesitation, Donna applied and after an intensive selection process, her talent for colour and styling won through when she was offered to join the international team.  The Marriot boasted a rich, famous and fashionable clientele; Donna recalls a sparkling list of foreign celebrities and sports personalities that were regulars to the salon.  Her chance to acquire the business came six years later when the owners were looking to consolidate their other business interests.  Donna and a colleague formed a partnership and bought the salon.  Donnas’ father flew out to care for her two young sons while Donna and business partner Dina, worked hard on expanding the clientele.  The salon continued to prosper but when Dina wanted to use her share to finance a new business venture, it prompted Donna and Spyros to consider trading the rigours of city living for a better family environment on Zakynthos.   

With the salon sold, the family moved to Zakynthos in September 1997.  Donna, the first foreign proprietor of a salon on the island opened for business in November of the same year.  In the throes of establishing the clientele and adapting to island life, Donnas’ marriage came to an abrupt end, the timing could not have been worse.  For many this would have signalled a return to the nest but Donna was motivated to stick-it-out  for the sake of her sons.

Without any financial support, she had no alternative than to work six days a week, often doing a gruelling twelve-hour shift.  Looking back Donna recalls times when the stress, loneliness and homesickness were overwhelming.  With a patient attitude and taking each day at a time Donna managed to establish her business, master the Greek language and bring up her sons- singlehanded.

In 2004, she overcame another setback when she was involved in a car accident and broke her shoulder.  It was a disastrous start to the New Year that saw her fully booked appointment diary erased overnight.  It has taken her a long time to turn her fortunes around, only recently, she took a holiday to Scotland, her first in a decade, and she has reinvested in a stylish refit of her salon in Saint Lukas Square

 It certainly has not been plain sailing but Donna is still standing.  Rather than look back at her past trials and tribulations Donna prefers to talk about her sons futures, she is justifiably proud of her sons, her eldest Nicolas, followed in her footsteps, qualified from Inverness School of Hairdressing, and now lives in Scotland.  Christopher is a professional footballer currently signed with Erani Filiatron on the mainland.