Gentlemen,

First thing in the mornings I strut to my shaving kingdom in the bathroom with a kettle of boiling water.

"Where are you going with that," my wife says, "to fill your hot water bottle?"

"My dear," I say, "the scuttle awaits."

"We have plenty of hot water from the faucet, you know?" she reminds me.

"Oh, I know," I declare, "but what's the fun in that? After all, Charles Dickens might have started his morning by strutting along with his kettle of boiling water for the gentleman's shave."

So yes, gentlemen, a good soap or cream, a warm brush, a fine straight razor and a fragrant aftershave — it's a lovely way to start the day.

Regards,

Obie