The Joy of Shaving
Men aren't really supposed to take much notice of their toilet. Fostered by boarding school, the 'manly' approach is to shower and shave and throw on some clothes, and be ready for action within minutes of getting out of bed. Of course school wasn't like that anyway. The showers were in the cellars along with the tin baths that one took after games and in practice one dressed before shaving quickly in a basin to avoid the cold. A quick brush or comb of the hair was then all that was required before rushing down to breakfast. Men are now take more trouble over their toilet, although still far less than women. But we are creatures of habit and my morning regime has for years taken me 20 minutes from getting out of bed to going downstairs. Rising, I pull back the covers to air the bed and go straight into the bathroom carrying the glass from which I have sipped diluted lime juice through the night, and wash it. The bathroom is fortunately kept warm with a towel rail tha...