Thank you triibeard for your encouragement. A new year is at bay and I have decided to let the beard grow out for the coming months. I wonder what the result will be. I am a slow grower, the hairs of the beard are rather thin and I have to do with that. I used to go to a barber but was never satisfied with the result. So I maintain the beard myself and think I will not have to do any maintenance at all if I let it grow out. I may need the barber's skill one day just to balance what I have had grown. I will see in the future. Cheers