I must admit that this subject in its entirety causes me great concern and mental turmoil as where to stand. Badgers are beautiful creatures, rarely spotted in the wild here and all too often seen decimated on our roads. There is a huge suspicion and evidence that badgers and many other animals are brutally treated but it appears than some organisations cross the line in pursuit of their own ends. The waters are so frustratingly muddied that it is difficult to see the truth. It is however, clear, that these wondrous creatures are suffering from disgusting, inhumane practices which is, alas, the world we live in. I really do applaud those who stick to their beliefs in the endeavour of creating a better environment for us all. Well done to
@Executive Shaving for taking their stance and publicising it thus. I've always had first rate service from them, I must say.
Turning to my own usage of badger hair brushes, my current favourite is a Simpsons Berkeley 46 with its 'Made in England' sticker and the reason being that this best badger hair offers greater softness than my newer Commodore X3. I wouldn't like to lose either brush and both will certainly give years of service. Then there is my absolutely splendid Chubby 2 synthetic which is a marvel of a brush. I also really like the large Omega boar knot in the hand carved Ash handle I made. The argument for boar versus badger has long been waged on pages such as these and I for one, would like a choice.
My choice is this: I will NOT buy another badger hair brush but at the same time, I will not sell any of my existing badger brushes except in the case of financial need to purchase something else or balance my upside down books. Perhaps a wee project to take good knots from poor handles and insert them into hand carved handles from locally and ethically sourced, natural green or seasoned wood. It would give me creative satisfaction and some mental contentment but the old resin/plastic handles would have to be recycled. We cannot and should not waste what we already have as to discard something on one principle has much potential to defeat positive objectivity.
Colour me confused as always. Decisive on one hand and paradoxically clouded on the other. What is wrong though is cruelty of any kind, be it to man, woman, child or animal and especially to our green and blue earth!
Matron, my head hurts and where's Brock the Badger gone? Eesh....
