Tom72 - thanks for commenting, I'm well used to how my hair is on its own, but now there is something precious on my chin I'm wary of taking the clippers anywhere near my head. I suppose anything I do will grow back fairly quickly, so I should just get on and cut my hair. I almost went into a barber shop yesterday, but I decided I didn't like the look of the guy! I'm suddenly paranoid that every barber is out to get my beard!!
So I still haven't done it, but I hope to on Wednesday - there's a classy old barber in the next town with a long standing reputation. Not particularly with beards as far as I know, but all the city gents seem to go there so they must be doing something right.

mpernest - Thanks. Reading other threads - not least like Tom72's - I realise how very lucky I am to have a supportive wife. Knitting is her life, so it is a tremendous compliment to receive the hat. In fact she's since made me another (they take her just a couple of evenings to do) and wants to try different styles on me to get my 'look' right (probably because it gives her an excuse to knit more stuff and buy more yarn). I love her for joining in rather than just tolerating my weird beard - I guess I knew it had been accepted when she knitted me a beanie, and not a balaclava!!