I've been enduring enforced lurking for a couple of weeks now. Somehow I'd got hld of a slightly iffy address for SRP and I could join but it wouldn't let me look at any more than the first page of any forum and none of the assorted clicks to move around wouldn't work. VERY FRUSTRATING!

Anyway, I've found the proper site and I'm in!

I'd like to introduce myself. My name's Gareth and I've come here from the dark side, Badger & Blade! Been wet shaving with a DE or injector since I was 16 which was 38 years ago now. Had a long time off in the middle with a beard though. I needed the extra minutes in bed.

Straight razors seemed a natural addition to the DE so I picked up a cheap shavette and played with it for a few weeks before deciding to go for it and get a proper straight.

Looking through the bits of the forum I could get at during my enforced lurking, I came up with a selection of names of quality blade dealers. I found one I liked the look of (and could afford with the other extras like strop and hone!) at John Crowley's Shavingshop.com. For the princely sum of $54.95 + $20 for honing,he's supplied me with one of his budget 6/8 German Hoppe razors. It arrived a couple of days ago. A very nice bit of steel and plastic and much better balanced than the shavette! I had my first go with it tonight as it's the first night I've not been out playing my squeezebox at a pub session or morris practice!

Not a brilliant shave but I know it takes time and practice and I'm looking forward to tomorrow night when I'll have my next go. Got a half decent shave on the cheeks, useless under the chin! Finished it off with the old Futur! That's my intention from now on, start with the straight and see how far I get and clean up with the DE. Eventually I should just use the straight

Thank you John if you're reading this. I'm well pleased with my first straight.

I also bought an old razor in quite decent condition at a car boot sale in Gloucester for £1 the other day and I'll be practicing honing on that. It was pretty sharp when I got it and it takes the hairs off my arm just after a quick strop. It may even turn into a good user. It doesn't have a make on it, just the shop name in Wales.

Anyway, I'm going on a bit with the excitement of actually being able to post here so I'll finish.

Hoping to get lots more good info and maybe even contibute a bit myself when I've been at it long enough!

Iechyd Da!

Gareth