Pilot E95S Fountain Pen

This is a long overdue gift for my lovely wife. When I started on my fountain pen journey, I started with Faber - Castell WRITink black fountain pen and pink ink purchased from their outlet in Sunway Pyramid. It was a nice, simple and elegant starter fountain pen. 

In time when my collection expended, my daughter and son wanted their own fountain pen. So I got them their own, however, my wife was left out as she found it complicated and cumbersome to write, refill and maintain a fountain pen. 

She preferred a normal pen. Mush for simpler to use with no sweet spots. 

To get her started on her journey and not left out, I got her this Pilot E95S. I have been eying this pen for a long time. It was not available in Malaysia at time and most online sellers were charging a lot excluding shipping cost to Malaysia. 

I found the nib of this pen mesmerizing which was what drew me to this pen. It was utterly unique and the color combination of pearl ivory and burgundy made the pen stand out.

Figboot on pens, goulet pen company and many others were singing praise for it, making it even more desirable to me.

One fine day, I had noticed that Pengallery has advertised their latest acumen and they had a pen which looked a lot like the E95S. Upon checking their website, I had realized that it was indeed the pen I wanted. 

Unfortunately, my wife still has not used this fountain pen due to her preference towards ballpoint pens. Who knows, in due time she may.

This pen truly stands out due to the color combination, exposed nib and petite size.

This would be my first Pilot pen purchased. 14K gold nib. It has a vintage astatic look and charm. Written on the nib Pilot (M) Japan. M standing for medium size nib. Sorry not my best picture

The pen came in this elegant case

As you can see, it is a small pen indeed, perfect for my wife

Printed at the back of the cap, Pilot Japan 

On the front is the letter E, Elite

On the clip is Pilot, prominently written 

Included was a really tiny converter. To me it’s great as I viewed it as enabling me to change the color of my ink more often. Changing ink color makes your writing experience, day, art work and journals or articles more pleasurable. Same pen, different inks. It is like you. Same person, different hair style or clothes or make up. 

Size comparison with a Montblanc Rouge Et Noir Coral. This Montblanc is by nature a smaller one compared to the others in their staple. 

This is how small the pen is. Small in nature but huge in personality and a delightful writer. You could post it but I found there was no need to, since I have small hands in general. Due to its pocket size nature, it is becoming one of my more used fountain pens. Don’t be fooled by the size. Is has some weight to it and a very robust feeling

Selangor Pewter Ancient Currency Pendant Coin

Greeting fellow readers. I purchased this at Selangor Pewter Visitors Centre, Setapak Jaya a few years back, during my avid numismatic collection days. 

In ancient Tanah Melayu times, tin currency was used in numerous shape and forms. They had crocodile, turtle, Elephant, cockerel, beetle and various other currency.

Although it does not corrode, Tin is a material that is fragile and easy to bend or break. 

This is a nice idea by Selangor pewter to promote and pay homage to our old ancient currency. The idea of tying coins around the neck or other parts of the body (in the form of a bracelet or waste band) was not new to them (Selangor Pewter) and was used by our ancestors to carry around currency. That is why old ancient coins mostly had holes in the middle. 

The pewter coin sold by Selangor Pewter is a replica of a Kelantan pitis from 1321 AH / 1903 AD, during the reign of Sultan Muhammad IV (1899 -1920). On the observe of the coin is inscribed in Arabic, Suni’a fi Jumada’l Ula sanat 1321. Meaning issued on Jumada’l Ula (5th month of the Muslim calendar) 1903 / 1904. On the reverse is inscribed, Adim Mulkahu Belanjaan Karajan Kelantan. Meaning, permanent be the prosperity of the currency of Kelantan. 

This single pendant pewter coin, model number 8713 retails below RM50. I forgot the price as it has been a purchase so long ago. 

They do sell the whole coin tree or money tree measuring 6cm x 12cm, model no. 7481 at about RM1000. Consisting 15 coins on a tree. Back in the old days these pitis or currency would be broken off from a branch and used for payment or purchase of items. 

To me, men need to be fashionable. Nothing is wrong wearing pendants. Why not something meaningful, different and even has a aura of mystic? A conversation piece, if you may. 

The packaging is simple enough

Comes with some basic explanation on the coin 

I purchased 4 in total for me, my wife and 2 kids, to signify solidarity among us and signifying we are one family. 

Later it dawned on me, that although Selangor Pewter produced a gorgeous flawless piece, it remains a replica. No matter how you look at it. Is is a replica. Albeit, a sturdy one. My personal thoughts on It is, since the original Kelantan pitis is still affordable. Purchase one that is in prime and mint condition, from a reputable dealer. Keep that in your collection and purchase one that is a tad not pristine as your pendant. Just be careful with the tin pendant as it is flimsy and not sturdy as the former by Selangor Pewter. You will then have something with historical value around your neck and a REAL conversation piece.

Roll on underarm deodorant and its after effect

Greetings dear readers. 

I am blogging today, 4 October 2020, 9.26am from Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.

It is a nice bright cool day this wonderful morning. 

On one of learning sessions on YouTube on men’s grooming, I came across a video regarding underarm deodorant and its negative effects. I could relate to the video in particular to the yellowish stains caused by the salt in our sweat mixing with the ingredients in the antiperspirant or deodorant, primarily aluminum.      

The other point the video touched about is the unusually musky stinking aroma of the underarm over prolonged use of the deodorant without taking a bath at the end of the day.

I do not know about other readers, but I can only relate to myself and I Totally agreed.

So now I have been underarm deodorant free for more than 6 months and what I realized are the following:

1. My shirts in the underarm section is no longer has yellow stains. 

Previously my shirts with such stains, I coated them with dynamo, baking soda or even lemon, prior to washing. Nothing worked, not only was that particular area still yellow but the stains over time grew bigger and the cloth in that area became harder compared to the other areas of the shirt where the material remained soft in nature.

What I ended up doing was throwing the shirt as it could not be salvaged. 

My working shirts are expensive and imagine having to throw it away. All the other parts to the shirt was neat, clean and top notch. Even the collar and wrist sleeve was crisp. The shirt was perfectly spot on. Except the ugly yellow patch in the underarm section.

What I realized was when I was in my cheap house clothes doing chores at home under the sun (at times), I sweat profusely and off course smelled but none of my shirts had yellow stains in the underarm section. Reason, when I was at home doing house chores, I did not use underarm deodorants. 

Hence, see the irony. Expensive work clothes where most of the time I’m in an air conditioned room and behind a PC, end result is throw due to yellow stains from deodorant. 

Cheap house clothes where I work like a dog and sweat. No deodorant. Keep and use until the shirt spoils due to wear and tear.

2. My underarm over time after total stopping the use of deodorant, reduced the unbearable musky smell.

No doubt when you use underarm deodorant initially you feel nice and smell nice  but in my case as the day goes by the underarm smell is amplified. Even after taking a bath and using loofah with soap to scrub, there is still residue of smell.

Now, with the complete stop in usage of deodorant, my natural odor is much more pleasant. I just frequent my bath (if possible). 

3. What I use now is powdered talcum. I smell nice and after prolonged period. I do not stink as before. 

4. I no longer incur cost in deodorant and the savings goes to purchase of talcum.

5. The talcum is also used for chest, stomach and also personal manhood area and butt. Hence, I now not only feel much more comfortable but I also smell nice for much longer periods due to talcum. 

It’s a win all around. 

This photo is used for illustration purposed only.

This is the YouTube video that had me started on this journey:

https://youtu.be/31ed421173k

Kindly note that this is my opinion and my personal results. Your results may vary 

    

GGK Fairbairn & Sykes Commando Dagger

The Malaysian Army has generally been overlooked. Dare I say unappreciated. They lay down their lives for our beloved country yet, how many of us would salute the arm forces when we see them pass by?

You would salute your immediate superior in the office by extending a smile and greeting, however you detest them. You may even waive a flag for your local politician or representative of your area to show your support. You even will utter the word “Tuan” To show respect, when face with a police officer or government bureaucrat, although they lack the position to be called “Tuan”. 

Yet, for our poor troops laying down their lives we ignore them when we see their barricades of vehicles passing us in the highway. 

We salute cool cars by giving a gentle honk and thumbs up when we pass them on the road.

Why can’t we do the same for our armed forces? Is there anything wrong when we see them sitting at the back of the army lorry with their tired faces, facing the heat and exhaust fumes, we gently honk and show thumbs up and cheer them when we pass by?

Imagine how they would feel with such support from the community they are serving?

There is a special branch of the army called Gerup Gerak Khas (GGK), a special forces regiment which are on a whole new level. They are the selected ones who made it through a grueling 12-week selection process to earn their green beret, living up to the expectations to be a commando. 

These elite troops are trained at Pusat Latihan Peperangan Khusus (Special Warfare Training Centre) at Sungai Udang Camp, Melaka. Training course is divided into five phases, the camp phase (five weeks), the jungle phase (two weeks), the swamp phase and long-range march (one week), sea phase (two weeks), and escape and evasion phase (two weeks). 

Oh did I mention that there us also a 160km march within the given duration of three days and two nights?

It is common to start off with over 200 participants at the initial stages of training but only 16 will be the last men standing.

Graduates are awarded their green beret, blue lanyard, and a Fairbairn & Sykes Commando Dagger. 

Every 1st March, the Malaysian army celebrates its Malaysian Army Day. This 2020 was 87 years. 

The public would probably not put too much importance on the date. To speak the truth, the general population would not even know such a celebration exists. Neither did I, until I did my research on the GGK Dagger.

The army is aware of our ignorance, but Major Nor Hasnizar Bin Nor Rashid, an elite commando himself states. “You don’t need to know what we do. We don’t expect respect from you. We don’t need your respect or command, but know that we’ll be there when you need us.”

And that my readers sums up our armed forces. Respect them. Not all of us can do what they do. They are always not seen but they will be there when needed.

The Fairbairn & Sykes fighting knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger, developed by William Ewart Fairbaim and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal Police Force in China. 

Made famous during World War II when issued to British Commandos, the Airborne Forces, in the Normandy landings in June 1944. 

It is now utilized by - United Kingdom, France, Poland and Belgium (Royal Marines & Commando), Canada (Armed Forces), Cambodia (Special Forces), Indonesia (Kopassus), Malaysia (Grup Gerak Khas & Paskau) and Singapore (Commandos).

Blade measures roughly 7 inches with an additional 4.5 inches for the holder. Designed exclusively for surprise attack from the back to penetrate the ribcage. As explained by Fairbairn in his book Get Tough! (1942):

In close-quarters fighting there is no more deadly weapon than the knife. In choosing a knife there are two important factors to bear in mind: balance and keenness. The hilt should fit easily in your hand, and the blade should not be so heavy that it tends to drag the hilt from your fingers in a loose grip. It is essential that the blade have a sharp stabbing point and good cutting edges, because an artery torn through (as against a clean cut) tends to contract and stop the bleeding. If a main artery is cleanly severed, the wounded man will quickly lose consciousness and die.

A demo on the deadly usage of the dagger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqgc_KLVtOQ&feature=share

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDGHKyB3T_U&feature=share