Next door to Unique Nails is an interesting Somali business, which describes itself as an internet cafe, but which is not just about making internet connections (web cams, fax, printing and headsets available) but also repairing and unlocking mobiles, fixing computers, enabling cheap international calls through phone cards - something they quaintly advertise as a 'calling card' -which conjures up images of Victorians placing cards on a silver tray held out by a butler- and shifting money electronically, by Western Union and Wakiilka Xawaalada Global. They will also do photocopies for 5p. Oddly, for a business at the technological forefront of the communications business, there is no indication of a phone number or web address anywhere among the copious advertising which sometimes obscures the view into their shop-front. This seems odd to me in an industry as keenly competitive at the internet cafe and telephone communications business is locally. There are rivals spread out all along the High Street up to Gul Enterprises at the top who are looking for an edge in taking a slice of these markets.
Outside the shop there is a cash machine, which I noticed today had a sign on it saying it was a free one, hence the queue.
[Updated 9 January 2009]