The Life's Way

Tuesday, 4 April 2023

New Year Resolutions - Week 02 Achievements & Failures in 2023 #TheLifesWay

Hi Guys,

This year is going to be a free flow as wherever life is going to take me I will go. I am not going to plan anything for as long as I can and experiment if this is the right way or if living with goals is the right way?

I am sure you all know the answer to this question already living with purpose is the best way to live your life because it gives you the motivation to wake up in the morning and work towards your goals. Anyhow, I will let my mind wander in search of some creativity so that it can gather a lot as I wander in different directions without any goals.

New Year Resolutions - Week 02 Achievements & Failures #TheLifesWay #2023

1. Entertainment - The second week was big on web series and watching some old movies along with new ones on the streaming platforms, especially Disney+. I started with watching the movies named Thai Massage, Phone Bhoot, Doctor G, National Treasure Part 1 and 2, and Brahmastra all in a single week. Along with them, I watched the National Treasure Web series that came on Disney+ and Trail by Fire on Netflix on Uphar Fire Tragedy. Out of all of them Phone Bhoot starring Katrina Kaif is the one I enjoyed the most and Brahmastra is on my big Samsung 65-inch TV with family with speakers on to enjoy the Kesaria and other songs in full volume. I learned a new hack on the Android TV box as I faced some audio problems with the volume not going higher because it was controlled by the android tv's inbuilt multimedia player app. I am using Xiaomi 4K Stick and the video is here for you to watch and buy it if you like it -

2. Data Transfer - Once you start this activity there is no looking back and you are in this web of mindless tasks that keeps sucking you in and in. You will get ideas as you start the transfers and then you get some more to arrange the data according to your preferences. Once you do this task, you will understand why all the books say that Boredom is a relative of the invention as well. My activity carried on and then I unearthed how and where my data is scattered I am not able to find the right stuff when I need it and that's the biggest problem.

My advice is to arrange the photos/videos as per the events ordered by the dates so that you know what you are looking for. You already know your birthday, your marriage anniversary, and the birthday of your spouse and kids so arrange all the data as per those dates within a single-year folder and then create another the next year.

3. School Travel - This time I hired a driver to leave Keisha's school as it was really hectic and traffic is too high in the high schools as compared to the primary schools. Reyansh is still going with me and that in itself is hectic but so is life so we have to do it all throughout the year. Thanks to getAbstract I can easily finish 2-3 book summaries depending on my concentration towards listening and understanding. It's really a great option to check out the main points of the books in a short concise 10-15 min audio format.

4. Maintenance - I got my car brakes changed finally which has been pending for many months. It took hardly 2 hours to get it done at TyreMart in Randburg where they did the skimming and replaced the old pads with new ones on my Honda Civic.

For the maintenance of the soul, I visited the Radhey Shyam Temple in Marlboro and felt so grateful that the Almighty Lord gave me darshan and called me to the temple after a long long gap.

5. Thank You - Chanting Thank You is the best find from Ken Honda's book Happy Money. I also did his Mindvalley course. I think I will have to repeat it every quarter to change my money belief system. I am sure we all need to work on our belief systems throughout our life. I did some 12000 Thank You during the course of this week. To keep a count I will add it to these weekly posts itself rather than going and checking them which I won't do ever also. Hence, 2023 Total = 12000

6. YouTube - I did focus on YouTube videos at the start of the year till this week to bring as many as possible so do give it a spin and let me know what you want to watch in the coming future.

I brought this weekly series back as I saw the reader's interest in Week 1 post as it remains the top-read post for this year. Thanks for giving all your love to my blog and YouTube channel. Your time is my only blessing. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Thanks for your time, Aashish

Cheers!!!

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the last 10 Years!!!

My First #Moleskine Monthly Notebook Diary/Planner! @moleskine @ExclusiveBooks @BenmoreGardens

Hi Guys,

I bought Moleskine Monthly Notebook Diary/Planner from an Exclusive Books store sale in Benmore Shopping mall where books and diaries were going for ZAR 50 or ZAR 100 each. I got this one for only ZAR 50 whereas the original price was ZAR 484. I would have never bought one myself at the original price because I can't afford the same. I actually can buy it but won't because it doesn't give me that kind of pleasure that my mind and heart agree on a regular buy.

I wanted to use it to check how is the paper quality and what's the experience like when you journal in Moleskine notebooks and diaries. You will find the internet and YouTube flooded with several influencers promoting these expensive brands and you always feel what's there in the same as the market has millions of options available at various price ranges in terms of writing instruments and diaries and journals.

I also was tracking these Moleskine diaries at various Exclusive Books stores, especially in Sandton City, Benmore and other shops as well. Somedays back, I saw a sale of ZAR 50/100 on various tables at Exclusive Books in Benmore Gardens Shopping Mall and immediately got attracted towards the RED SALE boards. Such is the impact of these SALE boards that you want to visit them even when you don't want to buy anything as well. My shopping tendencies have increased a lot in the last year or so.

My First #Moleskine Monthly Notebook Diary/Planner! @moleskine @ExclusiveBooks @BenmoreGardens

Finally, when I went there I came across this Moleskine 2022 Diary and Planner and on that day it was the only one available. When I checked the price at the billing counter it was going for only ZAR 50 which was not a difficult choice to buy considering that I wanted to use it once in my life for sure.

I brought the journal and it was lying there for some weeks as I went on holiday to Clarens. I went again to the store and this time I saw there are so many Moleskine journals priced at ZAR 100 even for 2023 as well. This led me to expedite the video for the same and here it is on my Youtube channel -

As you already know that I write mostly with Fountain pens so that is going to be my first pen to use on this Moleskine Diary. What I found is that for the fountain pens, this diary is not built for the same as you will see the ink behind the paper as it's too silky smooth thin paper. I tried several other pens as well including a clutch pencil.

The fountain pens I used in this diary are -

LAMY Safari Extra Fine Nib

LAMY LX Medium Nib

Jaguar Roller Ball Pen

Parker Roller Ball Pen

Pilot Metropolitan Ball Pen

Pilot C4 Gel Pen

Features wise the diary is awesome as it has silky smooth papers that are lightweight as well as neatly spaced. The touch and feel of the cover and the pages are awesome. The leather feel of the cover itself makes it worthy of the price it's sold at.

I am still in search of the right pen to use in this journal. If you know about the same, please do let me know. And that's all about my first-hand experience with the Moleskine Journals.

The next will be to find a Leuchtturm 1917 journal or A5 diary on sale which is also in the same price range and maybe 10% higher than the Moleskine journals. There is also a Bullet Journal version of Leuchtturm 1917 (ZAR 670) too which will be my perfect choice to buy if ever. Till that time...

Thanks for your time, Aashish

Cheers!!!

Monday, 3 April 2023

Replacing Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen Squeeze Converter With Parker Cartridge! #TheLifesWay

Hi Guys,

I bought a lot of fountain pens last year from several brands like Lamy, Pilot, Amazon Basics and Parker as well though I have been using Parker Vector Fountain pens for more than 20 years. I have had three in different body colours.

The Parker pens I had came with plastic piston ink converters along with some cartridges as well. I have always thought that the cartridges were as expensive as compared to the converters. But slowly and steadily all kinds of converters develop some kind of leakages etc and are no longer fit for use as it happened recently in one of my Vector Foutain Pens from Parker Pens. But it's understandable as I was using the said pen for the last 15 years so the quality has lasted a long time. Immediately I switched to the Parker Cartridges I have available with me.

My Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen I bought last year from a Stationery & Print shop in Sandton city came with a squeeze converter. I am sure most of the Pilot fountain pens come with the squeeze converter or the cartridge. When I bought it despite my gut feeling, I bought it with the squeeze convertor option though the cartridge option was also available at the store. I have had a long history during school time with squeeze converters as it has wasted my valuable time sorting them out instead of studying.

Since the time I bought the Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen, I have been delighted by my purchase and went on to buy some more branded fountain pens as well. Some days back, when the ink finished in the Pilot Fountain Pen, I saw that the rubber has contracted and joined at some places. I have never put the pen in sunlight and it's always under the desk where no light reaches. I have had the misfortune as the rubber expended or contracted and started touching the barrel of the pen. It led to the whole socket coming out of the tip of the fountain pen.

I tried to wash it and blow it up with air but it didn't bring the rubber back into its original state. I also tried to refill it but it also didn't work as now it was taking much less ink like 5-6 drops. I immediately went into some kind of experiment mode as I didn't have Pilot cartridges available with me and I have to use this pen daily for my journaling.

Replacing Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen Squeeze Converter With Parker Cartridge! #TheLifesWay

There were some options available to me -

The easiest option was to replace the squeeze convertor with the Pilot pen original fountain pen cartridges. I didn't want to buy the cartridges from the South African stores as it's costly here (ZAR 50) for 5 compared to ZAR 20 in India. Also, I will have to go to the store and get them from there. The pen cost me only around ZAR 200 and now I can not spend ZAR 50 for just 5 cartridges.

Second, is to use the empty cartridges of the Pilot Hi-Tecpoint 0.7 Cartridge System which fits easily into the fountain pen as well. This is a unique design for all fountain pens. If you are using any of the refillable rollerball pens from Pilot, that is definitely a fit for the fountain pens as well. I bought one in India and my daughter was using the same here. She finished the same and it was there in one of the giveaway charity bags I saw it there and immediately it was a brainer to use it. But then fountain pen ink will waste this pen as it can be refilled with its own cartridges and ink that's not available in South Africa.

Lastly, is to use the Parker pen cartridge using some jugaad that I did to make a cartridge that fits the Pilot pens perfectly well without any leakage. I did deploy this arrangement because this was the easiest one and can be done at the same time. I have empty cartridges available to me because Parker Fountain Pens come with a casing to keep 3 cartridges in a travel case that came free with the Parker Vector pens. I have had 2 of these cases for a long long time and somehow remained there till this time ready for the jugaad to happen.

The whole process is explained in the video I shot and available on my YT channel. The steps are simple take a knife or cutter to cut the blue portion out and then from the cartridge take the blue portion leftover ring out. Fill the ink with a syringe (1ml) that's available in the market for ZAR 2 only at Dischem. Push the cartridge into the fountain pen body and your pen is ready to write again as much as you want.

Let me know if you like these kinds of temporary arrangements leading to saving money as a whole. I have used these kinds of jugaads all my life so many things in life.

Thanks, Aashish

Cheers!!!

Sunday, 2 April 2023

Big Edutainment Value in Magformers Basic Plus 14 Set @Solarpopgoplay #Magformers

Hi Guys,

Magformers - Intelligent Magnetic Construction Set for Brain Development BASIC PLUS 14 SET is a STEM-authenticated educational product that helps kids in various ways. The 14-piece set comes in three shapes - triangles, and squares with square and circular holes. You can buy more such sets to create several new designs as showcased in the Idea booklet. The Magformers range of products has won more than 50 awards in educational toys worldwide. Magformers has big edutainment value.

Magformers gives you infinite possibilities of build and construction options.

Big Edutainment Value in Magformers Basic Plus 14 Set @Solarpopgoplay #Magformers

The toy is brought by Solarpop Go Play and is available at various stores online and in stores like CNA, Hamleys, Everyshop, Takealot.com and Toy Kingdom.

Magformers Basic Plus 14 Set is ZAR 299 on sale at Takealot - https://www.takealot.com/all?filter=Brand:Magformers

Basic Plus 30 Set is priced around ZAR 800 and there are a variety of different versions which you can buy as per your choice of the build!

Magformers will develop 8 essential mental skills in your kids -

Sensory development
Modelling
Creativity
Curiosity
Mathematical Thinking
Imagination
Scientific Thinking
Reasoning

Magformes opens up What If? which fosters curiosity and creativity. The kids do get the ability to reason and think logically. Also with magnets, you always know that the polarity (positive and negative) needs to be correct for them to join together and this is the biggest lesson in itself for kids.

The magformers are made from BPA free HQABS plastic and neodymium magnets. It gives hours of imaginative, creative and tactile play for your 3+ years older kids.

It's a perfect gift for birthdays, and Christmas stocks for your playschool, homeschool and classrooms. I am sure that the money invested in these Magformers is the best investment you can do for your kids.

Check them out!

Cheers!!!

Saturday, 1 April 2023

Zulzi - Groceries now now, not just now! - App, Promo Code & 15 min delivery! @Zulzi_SA #ZulziSA

Hi Guys,

I came across the Zulzi app at the Buy Local Summit and Expo as they were celebrating a lot of local talent and entrepreneurs. There was a lucky spin wheel where when I rotated I got to try again but they allowed me to spin the same again and got the goodies bag. I totally loved the app and ordered the products using the app and they came really fast to my home. I went to pick up my kid from play way school and by the time I came back the guy was waiting for me at the gate.

Zulzi - Groceries now now, not just now! - App, Promo Code & 15 min delivery! @Zulzi_SA #ZulziSA

The app has much better pricing and it's almost similar to what you get from any of the bigger groceries stores. On the other apps, you will see that the prices are increased by some margins and everything is expensive whereas on this one there is some discount that's offered on some of the grocery items. The category of products ranges from batteries to veggies to fruits to milk to pens to medicines and so much more. I really fell in love with this app and the delivery that's being told. I also enquired the ladies at the expo that it takes 15 min to pick up the random stuff I am going to order and by the thirty minutes' time, I had all the random stuff in my hands in the Sandton area.

I am also sharing an R100 code (PROUDZA) for you to order anything above ZAR 250 on your first order on the Zulzi app in various suburbs in Johannesburg, Centurion and Pretoria. Enjoy and let me know your experience! There is free delivery above ZAR 350 and otherwise the same is charged at ZAR 35 only.

The app is available on all three smartphone app stores mainly - Huawei App Gallery, Google Playstore and Apple Appstore.

As I told you about my random items, let me tell you about what I ordered - Energizer CR2025 coin battery, Baby Soft Toilet Rolls 2 ply White, Brut Deo Alaska, Brut Deo Original, Axe Deodorant, Mister Sweet Speckled Eggs, Bakers Mini Cheddars. I can't think of even me going to a store and coming out to pick up all these things in just 15 minutes.

I will definitely recommend the app for your first order at least using the code PROUDZA and then you can decide the future orders yourself.

Cheers!!!