Mo Day 12 - Salt & Pepper

So, here we are. Into week 2 of Movember and the urge to shave is actually getting less. I think this is mainly down to knowing just how uncomfortable that first shave is going to be. I am seriously thinking about going to a barber and getting a proper cut-throat shave for the first one.

On Friday the Mo prompted an ego boost followed by an ego deflation in the matter of a few seconds. A young girl in a coffee shop commented that she liked the Mo. Ego boost. She then went on to say that I reminded her of her Grandfather. Burst like a balloon.
Over the weekend I experimented with no shaving at all with the view that a beard would at least take some of the focus away from the Mo. This does make going out in public slightly less daunting, so I may keep a trimmed beard for the duration know.
D seems to be totally nonplussed by it all. There have been no scratchy complaints and, as far as I can tell, cuddling has not been restricted in any way. The weekend was the big test because weekends are Daddy days. My little girl clings like a limpet from Saturday morning until Sunday evening. I thought that, if she was going to notice the Mo and complain of scracthiness, this would be the time.
It would seem that a Mo dos not deter from my ability to do the important Daddy jobs such as reading Thomas books, playing 'comfy beds', playing hide and peep or putting pigtails in her hair.
I think that even my wife is getting used to the Mo. Over the weekend she has twice commented that it actually looks OK. However, she has stated that, when it starts growing over my lip, I need to trim it. So, no Full Lech then :-(

Mo Day 7 - 23 days to go

Movember, Day 7. Oddly enough, the itching has not been too bad. Maybe the moisturising regime has paid off after all. However, having to go out in public looking like something from the 80s is a different matter. I find myself constantly saying things like 'I don't normally look like this' or 'It's for charity you know'. December 1 or, to be more precise, the evening of November 30, is going to be blessed relief.
D has finally noticed too. After spending a few moments rubbing her finger over my top lip she commented that I was very scratchy, and declared that she did not like it. I told her that it wouldn't be for too long. Her reaction this evening, when she realises that I am still scratchy, could be interesting.

On the style front, I have removed the lower portion of the mo and, as  consequence, look less like Merv Hughes now. At the moment I am heading down the dangerous path of a Tom Selleck, This is not a place that I want to be. To make matters worse my advancing years mean that the Mo is not, shall we say, as dark as it would have been a few years back. Salt and Pepper is, I think, the phrase. Badger may be a better description.

The good news is that my West Brom hoodoo was broken on Monday night. Two goals from Peter Odemwingie secured a fine victory and 5th place in the Greed League. On the down side, maybe it was the power of the Mo that guided my team. Should I retain the Mo in search of a European spot? No is the answer. I will just have to support from afar. Maybe, if being Mo-less is detrimental to the team I watch, I should go to Vile Park more often? Just a thought.

Over and out Mo watchers. Until next time, stay safe and stay unshaven.

Mo Day 5 - Remember, Remember

Day 5 in the Mo calendar. It's getting hard to leave the house without putting a paper bag over my head. At this stage the Mo is starting to become noticeable from a distance and is now obviously not just a case of  designer stubble.
D has still taking very little notice of the Mo. She did pass a couple of scratchy Daddy comments over the weekend, but hasn't really made a big deal of it. Saying that, she was particularly naughty yesterday and, it did occur to me, that it could be a backlash at the Mo. We were due to go swimming yesterday afternoon but, during a shopping trip in the morning, D behaved so badly and disruptively that I had to say that swimming was out until she started to behave better. D cried and railed against this decision but was it really her way of making sure that she didn't have to be seen out in public with me?
If that was the case, it backfired. I took her out in the afternoon anyway, just not to swimming. Thinking about it, when we were in the garden centre she did keep walking a few steps in front of me. Pretending she didn't know me?

Anyway, the Mo is fast approaching the point at which it could be moulded and sculpted into a particular style. Currently, I am starting to favour the Merv Hughes. Not only does this require less grooming ( a godsend at 5:30 when I get up), but also would allow me an excuse to sledge my workmates.

Tonight, me and my Mo are heading for the Shrine or West Bromwich Albion FC as it is more commonly known.
A combination of falling out of love with Premier League football and wanting to spend time with my daughter has meant that I rarely go to matches these days. As a  former season ticket holder, I find it almost incredible that I have only seen around 10 live matches in the last 5 seasons. However, this may be a blessing in disguise to my team. The last time that I saw them win a match was August 18, 2007, the opening day of the season. Since that day I have watched a series of dull draws and humiliating defeats. So, if they do win tonight, will it be down to my Mo? If so, does that mean I have to make sure that I have a Mo every time I go to a game? Horror upon horror. Much as I love my team, I would have to remove the Mo and just never darken the doorstep of the Hawthorns again.

That's all for now. The next time I blog, maybe the full Merv the Swerve look will be in evidence. If so, I'll blog in Aussie slang as a tribute. G'day to you all.

Mo Day 2 - Itchy & Scratchy

Here we are then, Movember 2nd, and already some slight itching has started. The urge to shave this morning was quite strong. I wonder if you can get anti-shaving patches or gum?

D showed no sign of distress when she saw Daddy this morning. Obviously the lure of the WotWots was far too strong for her to notice that anything was different.

It occurred to me that D's love of gardening and growing vegetables could become an issue as the 'tache gets bigger. D hates slugs and snails with a passion. They nibble at her veggies and destroy the crops. When she sees a snail in the garden it is a major event for either Mummy or Daddy to 'sort it out'. What if she thinks that I am growing a giant caterpillar on my upper lip? Will I wake one morning to find D pouring insecticide over my face?

Mo Bro update - Team Wexham Walrus Wearers now consists of 6 Bros and 3 Sistas. You can check out their progress at http://uk.movember.com/team/658993

Until the next 'tachetastic update. TTFN.

Mo Day 1 - Stubble's a brewin'

Here we are then, Movember 1. Day 1 of the Mo month.

Last night I broke the news of the impending stubble trouble to my daughter, D. D took it in her stride, as she does with most things, and continued to send her toys into time-out for doing an imaginary poo.
Again, after a shower and beard shave this morning, I pointed out the contrast of smooth chin to stubbly top lip. D is now at the stage of thinking it is funny. I wonder if she will still think it's funny when she gives me a welcoming cuddle this evening? Tomorrow's update will tell.

I am still undecided about the style of Mo to grow. I suppose I have a few days to decide yet, so I am letting nature take over and going for a wild start to my Mo adventure. Once there is enough growth to fashion a style, I will have to re-visit my options and do some sculpting and trimming. Obviously, all ideas and recommendations will be considered. Thanks to all who have already expressed their ideas over Twitter.

I have already begun the process of moisturising my top lip heavily. After all, itching is the Mo growers second greatest enemy after ridicule.

Watch this space for mo' updates or take a look at http://uk.movember.com/team/658993 to see how my team is progressing.

Movember - The Pre-Mo

Against my better judgement I have been cajoled into forming an office team for Movember. For the uninitiated, Movember is an annual event whereby men refrain from shaving their 'taches for the whole of November. The idea being to raise money for Prostate and Testicular Cancer charity. So, a good cause that I felt I needed to make the effort for.

Here we are on October 31st, Mo-Eve so to speak, and I am already looking forward to December 1st when I will be able to remove the monstrosity that will have, by then, taken over my top lip.
It is with deep regret that I have to say this won't be my first upper-lip furniture. I am old enough to have been around in the 80s, when many a foolish youngster thought it quite cool to have a moustache. There is photographic evidence of this, but I tend to keep them hidden (having said that, at least one turned up on FB thanks to a 'friend').
This morning my wife came up with the idea of keeping a blog throughout the process. The reaction of our (almost) 3 year-old daughter may be quite interesting. Her normal response to me, even after only 1 day of not shaving, is 'Daddy, you are scratchy!'. I wonder what she will make of the cumulative effects of 30 days razor-free?

So, here we go. Trimming only for the next 30 days.

If you want to keep up with the Wexham Walrus Wearers Movember adventure or are just curious to see what an inquisitive child makes of Daddy's changing facial hair then keep tuned to this blog or follow the whole teams exploits at http://mobro.co/WexhamWalrus

Glassboys, Eagles and Grass Roots

Apologies for this being more of a match report than a blog. It's been a while since I posted anything and I really want to get started again. So here we go..
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Since giving up my West Brom season ticket and the demise of Bicester Town, chances to see a match have been few and far between. However, with Stourbridge top of the league and facing a tricky away match at Bedford Town, I got the all clear to have a night out at the footy.

I arrived at The Eyrie bang on time for kick off and was immediately impressed by both the state of the stadium and, more importantly, the standard of the playing surface. After getting my bearings I noticed that the small but vociferous band of Stourbridge fans were behind the far goal. I made my way towards that end of the ground and positoned myself next to 3 typical Black Countrymen (henceforth known as Bald Eagle, Yam Yam and Lino) standing between halfway and the Bedford penalty area.

Stourbridge did all of the pressing for the first 35 minutes, playing some neat football in the middle of the park but lacking any kind of penetration in the final third. Bedford were reduced to fairly hopeful punts down field, most of whcih were mopped up by the Glassboys centre-half pairing. All was looking good until Bedford were awarded a free-kick around 35 yards out. The kick was swung in and caused panic in the Yellows (yes, Stour were playing in their change kit) defence. At this point Yam Yam commented that although our goalie was close to 7ft he 'doh command his area'. A sentiment echoed by Bald Eagle. A minute or so later another punt downfield caused mild confusion leading to a corner.

When the cross came in there was more flapping and general panic before a Bedford player pounced to smash the ball home from 6 yards. 1-0 to the home team with their first strike on target.
Stourbridge immediately pushed forward and only some debatable decisions from the nearside lino prevented them from breaking through on a couple of occasions. These decisions were greeted by comments such as 'Yowm avin a laugh' and 'Yown saft as a brush' from Lino. The shouts from the Ultras behind the goal were less Black Country and more industrial shall we say. The lino in question didn't do what was suggested with his flag. Probably for the best, for him at least.

Half-time arrived and it was time to sample the refreshments. I fully intended to take a look at the club house and bar but, after chatting to a few locals and one or two away fans, I finally settled on a cup of tea. Very nice it was too.
During half-time the wonderful non-league ritual of fans changing ends happened. The Stour massive had to take down both of their flags, carry them underarm and re-attach them at the turnstile end.

Stour never really got going in the second half. A Bedford break away shortly after the restart produced a second goal and, from then on, the result never really looked in doubt.

Left-back Jamie Oliver did provide a small moment of entertainment when he got subbed midway through the 2nd half. Taking off his shirt whilst walking off, he proceeded to launch it at the bench in a display of petulance worthy of the Premiership. If only he had thought to wear a 'Why always me' T-shirt. I like to think that he was just peeved at being subbed because he wanted to continue to fight for the cause.

So, no points for The Glassboys on the night. It was still a reasonably entertaining game of football, played in the right spirit, with an appreciative and friendly crowd. A welcome and refreshing change from the top flight of the pyramid.

On a much lighter note, I did learn that 2 of the 3 things that make Bedford Town 'wonderful' are exactly the same as 2 of the 3 things that make Stourbridge 'wonderful'. If only Bedford had The Albion as well, it would truly be a wonderful place.