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As an author, I want to help aspiring writers, so I'll put up videos about my books: where they were written, what inspired me, how I develop characters, where I conduct my research. I'll have writing tips and ideas for aspiring authors, so do keep an eye on this channel if you're looking to write your own novel!
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This was an enjoyable video. Speaking of Rohrer & Klingner, my favorite ink of theirs is Alt-Goldgrün. Of Diamine, Majestic Blue and Autumn Oak.
Have you considered going into a carnivore diet? It´s helping me.
Sepia, traditionally, in art, photography, etc, only refers to the origin of the pigment (cuttlefish), not the intensity.
Thanks for the video. I like Rohrer & Klingner´s Sepia a lot. A new favorite of mine is Diamine Salamander, a greenish murky beige brown.
I do not have any ink listed as Sepia. However I have watched a number of films in what is called "Sepia tone". There are many shades of brown tint in the film so any ink marked sepia can be any shade from light to almost black and be correct. Personally I like light brown, brown and dark brown as a better description.
Always nice to hear from you, Michael. Do you have any experience with Jacques Herbin’s Caroube de Chypre? I find it to be a gorgeous shimmery brown.
Good explanation on lever filler systems. Many vintage ones had "wait 10 seconds after releasing the lever" in the instructions. (Most of my pens are vintage, many lever filler ones.) Nice review of the Roher und Klingner ink!" I fully agree that there's definitely a range in "sepia." A similar color I've become a fan of is vintage Parker Quink washable brown. It's very much in the "sepia" range. Will say that my experience with it is from around 1940s bottles (the ribbed Art Deco ones.) It's a personal favorite.
Thank you so much for the enjoyable video. I also like watching those dogs off yours going nonstop. I recently bought and am enjoying my first Michael Jacks book “A missed murder” Thanks again!
I love Platinum Sepia Pigment ink. I offered you a sample, would love to know you views on it?
I was diagnosed as T2 D with an HB A1C glucose reading of 107. 6 months later my next HB A1C was only 43. I have regained all cognitive awareness and started to reverse the damage done to the skin on my legs. How did I do it? I went carnivore. I excluded all carbohydrates from my diet, including fructose, lactose and glucose. I lost 3.5 stones in the process. I REVERSED T2 Diabetes.
Some timely reminders in this, thank you! I would love to hear the story of how you were first diagnosed. Strikes me that there couldn't have been many signs. You seem to be a moderate drinker, with an okay food intake, and a pretty good weight. Additionally, you regularly went out on some pretty long walks, so I don't quite understand what happened? Was it really "just" genetics? Apologies if this is too personal, but I do appreciate your frankness and helpfulness in sharing your journey!
Great suggestion and no, not at all intrusive. I'll be looking at that very soon.
Hi Michael. I would love to hear more about your experience with the Fast 800 diet.
No problem. Thanks - I'll attack that next week!
they need to redo that food pyramid thing too
Yup. There are lots of people doing just that. Trouble is, as always, which is the best website to go to. I think the Australian university os probably the most advanced study into GI.
we need some kind of conversion factor.. Hba1c under 5.5 was the target I was told
If you look at this site: www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html#google_vignette down towards the bottom of the page there's a useful conversion chart. The US percentage system seems to mean 6 is around the 42mmol/litre mark. It's a handy website for anyone who's diabetic.
I looked at the GI.... weird, turns out that mash potato is the satan, but if theres fibre in it, it buffers the rise of glucose, why are we not told these things?
I think honestly it's all new to the doctors. Research has developed and helped a lot of people in the last ten years.
hba1c is lower than 6?
It depends on your measurement - in the US they use a percentage, I think, which means below 6 (again, I think). In the UK we tend to use mmol/litre, which means below 7.8 on blood glucose on finger tests; the HbA1c is based on mmol/mol - and for that my last one was 39, so all good.
from what I've read, its carbs. so if you went off, and had a kebab, but lost the naan bread, you'd be ok, which is opposite from what they told us
It's not quite that easy. For example, if you have a curry, a poppadum will not be too bad - the flour is gram from crushed chickpeas, not wheat. But if you have a wholewheat naan which used sourdough, that may be better than the poppadum. And that is the issue - everyone's body, everyone's gut health, everyone's ability to absorb sugars, is different. It's really a matter of trying everything. But yes, in general, cutting out carbs is good (but take a look at my video on glycemic index and how the different types of food affect people) - trouble is, cutting carbs means no bread, rice, pizza, pasta, beer, or other things with highly processed wheaten or rice flours. Other flours, such as gram, buckwheat, rye, coconut, oats are a lot better, as are those such as almond flour.
damn, i have enough trouble with the drops
I wish I could survive with just drops!
sounds a lot like gremlins
Too ruddy right! Engineer was here again today for the cooker, and it appears to be working again ... fingers crossed!
what was you Hbac at?
When I started out on this horribly journey, the UK advice was, up to 40 is good, from 41 to 48 is pre-diabetic and not good. I was at 114, which you could say was not at all good! Now, cutting carbs, it has been 38 or 37 for the last few months. Which reminds me, I must book another test soon!
problem is the doctors don't want to actually tell you, I think they belive you'll be offended
I think you could be right there. And also, a lot of doctors don't want to have to tell you all the risk factors. Mine was good - but as soon as I was diagnosed, I was passed on to the practice diabetic nurse, who was apparently the specialist in the practice. And he was fine, but didn't give me any paperwork, only a series of websites which were frankly crap!
Very interesting Michael, thank you for these diabetes videos. I'm a long time subscriber to the channel (for the pen content mostly) but I was diagnosed earlier this year with Type 2. A shock but not a surprise, as I had been very overweight for a long time. Since then I've lost 25kg (with another 20-ish to go) and I'm feeling so much better. I had a very prompt eye screening (God bless NHS Cymru) and thankfully no deterioration. I must say, in terms of advice for weight loss, the NHS is still pretty shocking. All very vague advice about "fist size portions" and " smaller plates". It wasn't until I started religiously tracking my food on an app did I succeed in losing the weight. Anyway, keep up the good work (and I really must try out your books at some point!)
Thanks so much for the positive comments. It really helps to keep me motivated. One thing I entirely agree on is the NHS "advice" on diet. It was only when I picked up Michael Moseley's book "Fast 800" that I really started to get to grips with things. Trouble is, so often medics will expect us to go straight to the internet to look things up - and the problem with that is, which websites are genuine, which are scams, which have researched information, which are designed by snake oil salesmen? And then, if you're like me, the sight of a bunch of adverts just puts me off. I have a functioning attention span - short summary pages don't work for me. I need long form information!
@@writerlywitterings yes, exactly this! I'm a grown adult who has numeracy skills, I am not afraid to keep track of what I've been eating haha! I too was inspired by Moseley's book 'The Fast Diet' and that really has shaped my attitude to a lot of things.
Well said. Diabetes is very individualized, but you do, with due diligence, end up knowing more of what works for you than many health care professionals. (There's a reason why what they do is called a practice. They are still learning.) "Cured" does seem to be a catchphrase with diabetes. Living with it, you realize that it's still something to contend with. Eyesight, for me, isn't the best indicator. I've regularly needed new glasses (new prescription every couple years since I was 6.) This includes having blind spots (I'm a walking, talking birth defect.😂 I'm a calico. Seriously. Multiple hair colors in patches since birth. I have heterochromia. A blue patch in one eye. Born club footed. List goes on.) So, what works for me might not work for someone else. There's studies that indicate cholesterol levels or blood pressure could be more a genetic condition than anything else. The doctor looks at my sister's cholesterol level and starts talking statins and such. Then they notice her "good cholesterol" numbers, which negate meds, though they still try to get her to take them. Me? I'm on all sorts of stuff. Basically because I'd had a stroke and back to back (within a week) heart attacks. Dosage regularly changes, as my body adapts. I seem predisposed to just have high blood pressure. Good for you, getting off meds! I'd been almost there, several years ago, but things interfered in my life. Hope I can get back down to minimally pre diabetic again. I'm currently on Ozempic and Lantus (a long acting insulin) but about to drop the Lantus, as I've needed to significantly increase my carbs with the combination of it and Ozempic. With increase in weight... Well, drop one of them, at least. Then start weaning myself off the other by diet. 😉
Ugh, my friend, you have been through the wars with that list! Yes, I'm not convinced that the GP nurses know as much as me when it comes to risk factors, cholesterol, blood pressure etc. I guess they have to work on the basis of what is most effective for the most people - but as we know, diabetes isn't something that a shotgun approach will necessarily work with. Anyway, many thanks for the positive feedback, and keep healthy!
Your a1c level is fabulous. I think I made 48 or 6.5 once. I need to keep on ny diet and more exercise. In the summer this is not so difficult. It is the other three seasons that give me pause. The medication you forgot is known here as Metformin. As for your gastrointestinal matters, I need to consume salad and fruits (pears and plums) provide the necessary "lubrication", if you know what I mean. I have removed my blood pressure medication about a year ago. It would cause me to be drowsy throughout the day. Removing stress was one major accomplishment (retiring) to reducing stress. Getting more than 5 hours of sleep per night was also beneficial. I am consuming less fatty food helped with my cholesterol. Keep up the good work, Michael
Cheers, Paul. Yes, I'm in the same position. Exercise fell off last winter badly, and with the new pup it's been tough to walk far (you shouldn't exercise a Berner while they're young and their bones are growing). Back in the mood for walks again now.
love the model58 and lever fillers are great: this is what my vintage Esterbrook modelJ uses, think the only thing that might cause me a problem would be CS’s EF nib which I suspect would not put down a fine enough line for my small handwriting; love the look of Diamine sepia: thanks for showing us this, suspect this might be on my shopping list quite soon!:)
Really glad you liked it, Angus. And do get the Sepia. I just love that colour - tomorrow I will contrast it with the Rohrer und Klingner version of Sepia.
@@writerlywitterings thanks, loved Rebellion’s Message: what would you recommend as my next read by you and where can I buy it that you actually don’t get shafted!:)
@@writerlywitterings have now got 30ml bottle sepia on it’s way: would be a help to have list of order of reading of your books and who to buy from so you benefit most, please:)
I find the 58 just a bit small. I prefer the size of the 100 but I do appreciate CS design. Other thing to note, my first William Hannah notebook was agave and orange - back when it was a bespoke combo. Quite battered now after 6 years of use.
I can easily understand why. I have to admit, I think it's about the smallest pen I could use without posting - but I do love it. The agave and orange, eh? That's what I have for my smaller WH notebook! I do love those notebooks!
Just love the CS 58, a terrific pen, and really looking forward to what you and Conway Stewart can come up with in a new pen! Any likelihood it might be available for the Christmas season? If so, I can start lobbying my wife for one, now. Cheers!
I am hoping it will be - no guarantees since I haven't seen a prototype yet, but I would think November it should be available, with luck!
Love the video, but why on Earth do you film on a slanted desk? It causes you problems the entire video.
I have to have a slanted desk for writing and painting - and with my income I can't afford multiple options! More recently I've moved away from this desk to my level one, but I can't fit the camera stand on this, sadly!
@@writerlywitterings have to make do with what you have! That's just how it goes sometimes
I use and refill short cartridges with my Kaweco Sport.
I have done that - I do find that there is a risk, though, of the mouth of the cartridge starting to widen and leak. I think it depends on the cartridge manufacturer.
Regarding Diabetes 2, being proactive and DIY-checking fasting sugar regularly is a helpful proactive thing to do. I discovered my Diabetes 2 in the pre diabetes stage. Slowed the progression with Keto diet - which persistently normalized the fasting sugar. Summers/vacations I went off diet, and it seems that might have made it progress quicker, because the peak fasting blood sugar values increased. But going back to LCHF still puts the blood sugar into normal interval, albeit a bit higher than a few years ago. My advice is: Take control over your food intake. You typically don't have that when eating in restaurants. It's not even certain they will understand e x a c t l y what you mean when you say you want keto food, and they might make stupid assumptions that give you a whole lot of surprise-carbs by ignorant accident.
Yes, Lasselasse, and thanks for the comment. I tend to find a lot of confusion with restaurants - it's not surprising. They have to cater for vegetarians, vegans, gluten intolerant, and now carb free/keto as well. I pity the poor chefs! I'm in your camp. I am very careful about my diet, and so far it seems to be working. No sugar, highly restricted carbs, keep an eye on the glycaemic index, and test regularly. It's not fun, but a lot better than the alternative! Keep healthy, my friend!
I really like Diamine Sepia. It is more saturated, orange brown than any other Sepia I've used though (including art supplies) so I was surprised by the colour. R&K for example is a more muted grayish brown, I think. But as said, Diamine Sepia is one off my favourites. Nice with sketching scene! But it went by a little quick. I imagine it must be a challenge to film. I think it's a challenge enough to film in my studio when I paint, lol. So I cant imagine filming my sketching outdoors.
Thanks for the comment, Mattias. Yes, it was too fast, but I'm playing and seeing how to make the videos work a little better. My issue is, Apple sets each time lapse ( I think ) to run for a set period, so the software deletes any more shots over a set period. Trying to work around that is a problem , but I will get there!
Diabetes-Sugar coat it ?
Don't swear! Hahaha!
@jppenandink Maybe you've seen this before... very useful 😉
Thanks for sharing!
What a great video. Maybe show us some live sketching and painting? I like this kind of stuff.
I will soon - just playing with the camera and how to paint so it's always in view! Thanks for the positive comment!
Can we swap a TWSBI Eco nib with a TWSBI Go nib?
It's been a while since I have tried, but I believe yes. It's what I did with my TWSBIs with a Go and an Eco, but I gave away the Eco, so I can't check right now! Still, I believe yes, and it's worth trying.
I have a 58 but it is cartridge/converter fill. A very elegant yet handy daily user.
Yes - I love the shape of these models!
My favourite pen but for one thing and I have to ask … does your pen leak into the cap if left on its side for a few days? I am trying to avoid sending it back …
No, I can honestly say I have never had any leakage from any of my CS pens. The #58 has always been entirely reliable. I think you ought to contact the company and ask - they really are very good at fixing issues, I have heard from other buyers. Sorry to hear that, but it should be easy enough to get it fixed.
@@writerlywitterings Thanks for that. I am contacting them ASAP.
I own two Conway Stewart pens now, both because of your videos. The pen presented here is a wonderful trip down and into the neo vintage style that I really like. I could see myself getting one of the #58 models. After all "The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword" right? The Sepia ink is also a winning color. Thanks
I have to admit, the #58 is a lovely little pen. I just love the feel of it, and of course it's a beautiful design, especially in the gold and black version. The Commander (I think it is) version is also rather lovely. There is a golden loop added to the three rings on the cap that is really clever. No idea how they put that in place.
The painting at the end was fantastic! I love sketching/watercolor like that, if i had that talent i would just wander around painting all day :)
Thanks so much! Really kind of you!
I am a fan of Jacques Herbin, Lie de The. I typically keep this in my brass Kaweco Sport medium, which works perfectly as a pocket pen…very durable and fun to use. No worries about it being scratched, etc. Another sepia I enjoy is Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia. This latter is bullet proof. Awesome painting, btw.
I do love the Kawecos. Superb design, really effective daily carry pens, and practical. I love Lie de Thé too, but I admit I prefer the Diamine Earl Grey. Personal choice, of course. I will have to have a look at the Noodler's. I haven't tried that (yet)! And thanks for the painting comment!
Thank you for the reminder about Diamine’s Sepia. I also have a problem with the lid on that particular ink which is likely why I have not gotten it out lately. It’s always a pleasant chat with you, Michael. And I enjoyed some delicious Tower of London tea in your honor.
Glad you had a decent cup with you to watch the video!
Love the pen. I hadn't realized that one needs to let a lever filler pen sit in the ink for a few seconds to get a proper fill. Also positioning the lever away from your shirt pocket is a good suggestion. As far as the ink goes, I am betwixt and between trying a shading ink. The ink usually dries slowly. Being left handed that is a disadvantage. Very informative episode, Michael.
Glad that the "leave it in the ink" advice was helpful. Yes, it's because the vacuum is a factor of the elasticity of the rubber or latex sac in the pen. It's fighting against gravity, so it takes a little time to work. On the ink - I have to admit, I find that this ink dries really quite quickly - it does depend on the paper, of course - and I thought, ooh, I ought to check that ... and it is pretty damp, to be honest, even after 20 seconds! I just scribbled a bit onto Tomoe River, and it smudged a bit after 25 seconds. So not perfect, but I would say, try it anyway. It's such a lovely ink, it's worth a try. And I don't get commission from Diamine, no!
@@writerlywitterings Of course not! Who would have thought that??
I'm not a great fan of brown inks, but I have mixed Ancient Copper with a black ink, which renders a beautiful effect. As for Conway Stewarts, I have two Dinkies and a 388, but I think that has the wrong nib, as the tines were crosses when I got it, and I haven't been able to sort them. 😞
Sorry to hear about the CS nib - you may well be able to get that mended at a good nib smith. If you like Ancient Copper and black, you should have a look at Rohrer und Klinger's Eisen-Gallus-Tinte Scabiosa, which is a lovely brown oak gall ink that dries to a deep brown.
@@writerlywitterings Thank you for the recommendation.
I'm a fan of Diamine in general. Especially their standard inks. Not any sort of special properties, plays nice with most pens and types of paper (except for Mead school paper, which rivals toilet tissue. ) And I have a soft spot for brown and sepia inks. Lever filler pens have been a personal favorite since the beginning, when I found my dad's old gray Esterbrook J and got a bottle of Sheaffer-Eaton era Sheaffer Skrip blue-black in my early teens. Over half I currently have in use are lever fillers. Currently 3 Esterbrook J series and a 1920s Sheaffer's 3. (I have an almost autistic obsession with vintage Esterbrook pens.😂) Have a question about your 58. What's the lever system like? Does it use a J bar or like the earlier Conway Stewart design, the same as the vintage Waterman's (though I've read that Conway Stewart came up with the lever system), is the pressure bar attached to the lever? I'd suspect that the ink sacs are latex, still. The silicone ones ink evaporates sooner. And if you're careful with cleaning several times a year, or between color changes, I'm not convinced that latex sacs only last for around a decade, like has been claimed. I've used 70+ year old Esterbrook and Waterman's still on the original sacs. They're still made on original equipment, with the same original recipe, to the same thickness. Really suspicious that the "only last around a decade" was started by some restorers, to encourage repeat business.
Many thanks, Paul - and I have to admit, I really like lever-fillers. I'm afraid I cannot confirm the details of the CS lever systems, and my mole inside the company has just gone on holiday, so I can't ask him, but you're probably right about the internal sac. I have my Sheaffer, a pen I bought back in the 1970s, which must have been latex, I think, and it still works fine with no leaks or issues. Which I think is astonishing! I do love lever fillers - and I'm very glad that CS are making them again in the model 58 and Churchill. Maybe they'll go and offer this on other models soon, too.
@writerlywitterings There's also the PVC sacs used in the Parker 51 Aerometric, but they've not really pliable enough for a lever filler. So, my bet is latex or silicone (which PenBBS in China proved works for a Sheaffer's style touchdown system.) Silicone is gas permeable, hence the evaporation over time. Basically, keep it in constant use. 😉
I salute your courage and positive attitude! I have glaucoma and lost part of my eyesight in one eye, it is bad, this is something that will never come back. I encourage everyone to be tested for diabetes and for high eye pressure!
Thanks for that. Yes, I am keen to use this channel purely to help drive people to go to their doctors and get checked. So many of these symptoms appear only very slowly and are unnoticeable to the victim until it's too late. I had ten years of damage, but no symptoms whatever. I hope your eyesight stays stable, my friend. Keep healthy!
R&K Sepia is also a great color. Very well behaved and even has some permanence.
R&K is another firm like Diamine - really lovely range of colours, and all, like Diamine, at a really good price. Excellent value for money - I adore their Blu Mare, Alt Goldgrün, Alt Bordeaux ... in fact, I don't know any of their colours I don't love!
I love sepia ink. It is a hugely underrated colour. I haven’t tried Diamine but I love Platinum pigment sepia. Very classic looking.
It's so good! I haven't been able to test Platinum's version (yet) but I just adore the Diamine version. It is light, fairly bright, dried moderately quickly, shades well, and ... well, as you can tell, I love it!
I could send you a sample if you like?
Not stupid dog but a cute adorable dog you have
She is ... and also the most destructive mutt I've ever owned, and I've lived with a lot. But when she comes and climbs into my lap and rolls over, and ever so gently takes my throat in her mouth, I tend to be really kind and polite to her!
@@writerlywitterings no matter what, your dog is still adorable and beautiful and she only have you and no one else so love her dearly
Thank you for your time to upload your treatment , and the discussion. Hope your eyes keep on a safe level ,without more treatement. Stay safe ,and wish you all the best of luck in the future.
Many thanks for that. Sadly, I think the treatment is going to be continuing - it's not an actual cure, it's a way of halting and slightly improving matters, but I'm resigned to injections for life. It's a good idea to get yourself checked and make sure that, if you are at risk, you catch it really early. Thanks for the comment - and keep safe!
Being another later diagnosed diabetic, I understand effects. Had one eye that had laser surgery for glaucoma related to diabetes, and I'm sure it'll happen for the other, soon. And macular degeneration in both. My stroke was also ultimately because of diabetes. Neuropathy as well. I'd been diabetic a long while before they caught it. Injections in my eyes would be pretty traumatic for me. I have a lot of difficulty with anything getting near my eyes. Drops alone can be a battle. Hence the laser surgery. Might have to be redone around some point, but still less trouble for me than alternatives.
Hi, Paul. I had laser surgery initially with a view to halting the oedema, but it wasn't effective, sadly. Amazing how lasers now can be used for so many different treatments! It does amaze me that there is not more effort to catch diabetes early. Sorry to hear about your neuropathy and stroke, but I hope you're on the mend.