SOTD: Saturday 29th September - Friday 5th October 2018.

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~SOTD~ October 2nd

Prep ~ Shower, Lavender Glycerin Soap
Razor ~ Blackland Blackbird
Blade ~ Personna Super Platinium Chrome
Brush ~ Zennith 28mm Manchurian
Soap ~ London Oatcake Soap ~ Lavender Melt
Post ~ Thayers
Scent ~ L'Occitane Edt

A fantastic shave with my favourite DE razor to date and the latest soap from London Oatcake Shaving Soap, Lavender Melt.
Shaves can't get much better! :)

P.
 
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~SOTD~ October 2nd

Prep ~ Shower, Lavender Glycerin Soap
Razor ~ Blackland Blackbird
Blade ~ Personna Super Platinium Chrome
Brush ~ Zennith 28mm Manchurian
Soap ~ London Oatcake Soap ~ Lavender Melt
Post ~ Thayers
Scent ~ L'Occitane Edt

A fantastic shave with my favourite DE razor to date and the latest soap from London Oatcake Shaving Soap, Lavender Melt.
Shaves can't get much better! :)

P.
Great to have you back, Paul - you've been missed, my friend!
 
Sotd - Saturday 29th of September -

Razor - Mergress (1.5)
blade - Aussie Spoiler (5)
brush - Maseto 30mm Silvertip
soap - Vreto Mandarin and Orange
post - witch hazel
a/s - OSP Orange and Patchouli
balm - Aloe Vera gel
scent - Hermes Eau d'Orange Verte.

Result - fantastic - really - fantastic.

Six days growth coming off. I'm a bit shit at shaving - not in the sense - he says modestly - of not getting a good result with each shave - but I really should do it more often. This was an exceptional shave - the scents of the software I used - dovetail wonderfully - outstanding - considering - they were made by three different companies. Vreto soap has as good a vegetarian base as any - once you get used to the amount of moisture you need to add to it in the lathering - thirsty - ne plus ultra. Superb face feel after - for me - onto the OSP tonic - orange top and bedded on a proper patchouli - serious longevity for an aftershave - where that finishes - the Hermes takes over - they match very well - just lovely. The Aussie Spoiler is well into its stride - like it wasn't there - as always - the Mergress - was the bollocks - I have learned not to turn it up too much in assertiveness - no matter how heavy my growth - like any of my adjustable razors - the Aristocrat or indeed the Rockwell for instance. Unless it is really serious - that's Cobra time. A great shave - enjoy yours one and all - yours - I.

Oh -

The scene - a late Victorian drawing room - a floor up - from the cobbles - one of the most recognisable - if not fashionable - addresses in London. An unusually tall and gaunt man is sitting in an arm chair - looking almost like he is collapsing into its fabric - the atmosphere is one of deep torpor - it is dark - his features lit only by the fire in the grate. An aquiline nose above a prominent jaw - which rests heavily on his chest. He becomes aware of motion on the stairs leading up from the street door - instantly familiar with the creaking of the floorboards - the rhythm - steps three, nine and eleven complaining under load. There is a pause - the visitor is straightening his garb before knocking - he doesn't have the chance to - ‘Come in Watson.'

Dr John H. Watson - late of the Indian Army - surveys his long-time companion - and the room - with dismay - it is rank with the smell of chemical experiment and black pipe tobacco - untouched breakfast trays on the dining table, papers and musical scores littered everywhere - an uncased violin.

‘What brings you - friend Watson?'

‘I came to congratulate you on your most recent - brilliant - success. I think that Sir Thomas has great cause to thank you?'

‘He doesn't have to thank me - just pay my expenses. Like any other client.'

Sir Thomas Claremont - the mining magnate - late of Perth, Western Australia - had made an unfortunate love match - involving one of the oldest crowned families in Europe - a scandal only averted after he sought the help of the great detective.

‘Holmes - you are too modest - Lastrade took the credit again I see?'

‘You know me well enough Watson - I don't undertake these things for adulation - it is the chase - the game - the pleasure is solely in the solving of the problem. In this case - quite trifling really. The official force needs all the help it can get - especially that buffoon Lastrade. Come sit with me by the fire. Tell me your business - how is Mrs Watson - good - I hope. Light a lamp - why don't you?'

Holmes falls back into glassy-eyed silence. Watson joins him by the fire - immediately noticing the Morocco pouch on the armchair - has he resorted to the seven percent solution so soon after his most recent inquiry has ended? Watson has long experience of this part of Holmes' character - out of concern as a friend and as physician - he tries to engage his prodigious intellect - the only antidote he knows.

‘Holmes - I was wondering if you could help me with an adventure we shared recently - I am writing it up for the Strand magazine - and couldn't follow the finer points of your reasoning.'

‘You are transparent Watson - but I will indulge your concern for me. Shall we have a brandy and soda? What is it that interests you?'

‘The nasty business up in Epping Forest - you remember? The Malay Lascars?'

‘Ah yes - the Black Civet gang of Hornbeam Lane? Nasty as you say - such villainy - our dear queen and empire have seldom been in such peril - as I recall - your trusty service revolver - and you - saved my life - not for the first time - or the last I'll wager. Let me recover the salient facts.'

To be continued…….
Cracking read, Iain.
The plot is thickening nicely. I look forward to hearing more on the fortunes of your adroitly drawn characters.
I know one thing - I'd not be trusting any Jokers that hang around the Epping Forest and are domiciled in Hornbeam Lane.
 
Tuesday 2nd October 2018
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Pre shave: Warm shower and Nivea face wash + Noxzema Shave Cream
Razor: iKon 103
Blade: NOS Gillette Stainless - Czech Republic (#2)
Soap: Musgo Real - Oak Moss cream
Brush: Mason Pearson Super Badger
Bowl: Korium
Post shave: Alum block, cold water splash and Thayer's Cucumber witch hazel
AS: Lab Series Balm
 
SOTD Monday 02 October 2018

Pre-shave: Warm shower, Wright's Cold Tar Soap followed by warm water splash.
Cream: OSP Eucalyptus and Menthol.
Brush: Simpsons The Duke 2 Pure Badger.
Bowl: Little Wren Pottery.
Razor: Karve - C Plate.
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (Day 1).
Post: OSP Grapefruit and Menthol Splash.

I added far to much water when building the lather - it was just about passable for the first pass; useless for the second pass. I did not have time to start again and build a propper lather.

This is the first shave with the Karve loaded with my favourite blade: the Silver Blue :). Very smooth and efficient shave; no issues with the first pass - minor weepers with the second, as the lather was useless - totally my fault.

The weepers went after a few splashes of cold water; more burn than usual when the splash was applied - a timely reminder that preperation can be everything :)

The Karve with a C plate and a decent blade for me is a good daily driver - 2 passes gave more than a decent shave.

All the best,

Chris
 
Tuesday 2nd October

BBA Shave Cream
RazoRock 400
FatIp Piccolo
Old English Wilkinson Sword blade (1)
Pre De Provence No63 Balm
Yardley 1770 EdT

Irritation and a small nick on the neck marred an otherwise good shave - sloppy technique on my second use of the Piccolo.
The balm aided recovery and compliments my choice of EdT quite well.
 
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02/10/2018

Took a risk for tonight's shave and went with three new products.

Today I took delivery of the Vitos pre-shave cream, extra super coco shaving soap and tobacco after shave, amongst other new items to add to the shave den.

Heard very good reviews of the Vitos products overall and they are extremely cheap.

1. Warm water face wash with exfoliate.
2. Hot towel treatment.
3. Vitos pre-shave cream.
4. Vitos extra super coco face lathered with a Semogue 1305 boar brush.
5. iKon Tech with a perma sharp blade on its fourth use.
6. Cold rinse.
7. Vitos tobacco aftershave.
8. Wickham's 1912 aftershave balm (unscented)

I was extremely pleased with the performance of the Vitos products. If subsequent shaves are the same, they will definetly be included in usual product rotation.

Got a nice but not overly powerful hit of menthol from the pre-shave cream.

The soap was very easy to lather and provided plenty of slickness and protection.

The aftershave is not too strong which I like since I shave at night before bed. I was pleasantly surprised at how moisturising it was despite having a high alcohol content (1st listed ingredient). I felt like I could get away with no balm, but decided to use some to be on the safe side.
 
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