TGL – It’s not even winter yet, but you’d be excused for thinking it was given the number of chaps sprouting facial hair that could protect them at the South Pole.

Timewaster options:

Hanoi:

Thurs 27 & Fri 28 Oct: Hanoi International Choir, Vietnam Opera Ballet and the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra perform the opera Pagliacci at the Opera House with soloists from the UK. A story of passion, love, betrayal and murder. (so what do you expect - it's an opera)

Thurs nights Thanh Long String Quartet play classical music and show tunes at the R & R, 47 Lo Su. Friday night is Rock and Roll and Saturday night is open mic.

The Bookworm - 15A Ngo Van So has English Books (also some 'talking books'). Open from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm (closed Monday) New selection of children's books.

Get your winter reading materials now!

In retrospect:

Pictured: Dodgy ‘tache: mucho self respecto.

Noted: As pictured every expat chap worth his salt seems to be cultivating some sort of creative facial hair this season. From one sublime Victorian explorer look to the next conquistador arrangement, one thing is for sure – the ‘tache is all about self respect.

Quoted:

“It just had to go… I felt like a total letch with that nonsense sprouting from my face.”

Anonymous facial hair cultivator explains why the sudden switch back to shaving.

TGL