Hey Martinman:
You cannot call what you have the "ugly time". Beards don't have an ugly time. Your beard is developing nicely, and it is blond. The strange thing is that those who are not blond really would kill to have one, and those who are blond would do anything not to have a blond beard. It is filling in, but blond beards fill in slower. The lighting can be discouraging in the beginning stages. Turn the lights down, and your beard will look darker. Your beard is going to be nice. Keep growing. I like your updates. (Your DL shows you can grow something nice.) When it's all grown in, there will be less maintenance, and you will have a great look. Tom