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Holland-America cruise July 23 2010

The one on the left is my old identity photo from work, so I have aged a little since then, but it is still recognisable as me.

However, for the cruise I was sporting a beard. To help with recognition I have painted in a beard with Paint Shop Pro in this image to show me in my Arctic cruising mode.

The beard was to save shaving, and might have helped to keep me warm, but it wasn't that cold anyway. I also thought I might break off and suck the icicles if I got stranded, to avoid de-hydration. In the event, the beard was just a nuisance. Not being used to one, it itched like crazy. I still had to shave my moustache. Nobody liked it. Still for a while I was able to enjoy being called Captain Haddock and Papa Smurf.