Mont Blanc vs Kilometrico

It was 1 am and I was just coming out of the bathroom when I saw my husband sitting on the floor, rummaging through piles of papers and stuff from the drawer of our dressing table.

"You buat apa tu yang?"

"I’m looking for my pen."

He has been searching for it since last week but he can’t seem to find it.

"Alah… give up je lah the search. You’ve already bought two new pens recently, kan?"

Every fasting month, my husband would have a penchant for collecting something new. Last year it was kain pelikat. Kemana pergi cari kain pelikat. This year, it’s pens.

He would go out with his office colleagues during lunch break (if he was not sleeping) and visit some old stores like P.Lal or G.S Gill to browse for unusual stuff. That day, he brought home this pen which he just bought from P.Lal for RM300.

The next day, another pen from I-don’t-know-what store for RMx00 “It’s transparent, yang!”, he said excitedly.

Over the weekend, he bought another pen. This time, it was a fountain pen with a proper ink in a bottle. Then as we sat down for coffee, he started reminiscing about his younger years when he first learnt to use a fountain pen.

Remember that time? I remember I was in Std 4 when my teacher taught me cursive handwriting using a fountain pen. It was hard at first, must write very slowly because all the alphabets must be connected to one another. But once I got the hang of it, I loved it.

It’s really nice, actually. I especially like the part when I had to refill the ink. Dip, squeeze, let go – voila! But one must be careful not to dabble in it too much coz otherwise, you’ll get blue marks all over your fingers!

Unfortunately these days, I notice schools do not teach cursive handwriting anymore. Nadim told me there is no such thing in his school, he never learn cursive handwriting. No wonder his handwriting is still sebijik2 even though he’s now in Form 3!

I think, my husband managed to find one of his lost pens last night coz he seemed happy this morning. Already last night I overheard him talking to his buddy at work, “So esok lunch time, apa project kita? Nak cari pen lagi ke?”

At first, I couldn’t understand his fascination with pens. To me, a pen is just a pen. I wouldn’t pay more than RM5 for a pen, which I use for taking down notes, mostly. But as for my husband, his signature is very important, hence he must have a very good pen to sign with.

It’s a status symbol too, I guess. Having a good quality pen tucked inside the pocket of his shirt exudes superiority and class. Just like what handbags do.

Compare a Prada and non-branded handbag. See the difference? You feel like you’re walking on air if you’re carrying an original Prada on your shoulder than if you’re carrying one with no brand name.

For a non-fussy person like me, any pen will do. As long as I can sign my name, the pen has served its purpose. But for my husband, he may have his reasons when choosing his precious pens.

Last time, I used to roll my eyes whenever my husband brought home an expensive pen. But now, I'm thinking, if that's what he likes, let it be.

What can I say.... he's a Mont Blanc man while I’m just a Kilometrico girl.

Comments

KG said…
he he...am drooling over this Tiffany diamonds by the yard in sterling silver chain and LV neverfull damier available in KL store.....
Cilantro said…
OMG! I totally agree. Having a branded item is definitely a “status symbol”
To me buying a branded items is “why not” if you could effort one and if its makes you feel good, superiority and class. As long as you don’t go overboard with it.

Selamat Hari Raya and happy baking!
MA said…
I love fountain pens! I remember masa dulu-dulu you can only start using a pen bila masuk drj 4.


My dad gave me my first Schaeffer when I was 12! Sebelum tu dok pakai pen pilot memanjang..


Now - I just used complimentary pens yang dok cilok from hotels and conferences. Jenis yang tak berjenama...


I agree bab cursive writing. Masa my time dulu from drj 1-3, we have a subject for Writing/Tulisan - where we practice our handwriting on a 3-lined book.


Kids nowadays doesn't write as well. I blame the computers. They spent time typing on the keyboards than writing on a paper.
DadaIQ said…
BJ
Come to think of it, I remembered buying cursive handwriting exercise books every year without fail for the kids. Sampai tahun 6 pun ada buku tu!!! Tapi budak2 tu tak pernah pun guna and by year end, jadi buku conteng!

I have a mont blanc given to me as farewell gift when I left KUB. Tapi sampai sekarang I still sign using Pilot G-1 0.7! The ink dried inside and it cost me more than RM100 to send the pen for service. The pen is still stuck in the box inside my drawer!!!
MrsNordin said…
KG,

You and your LV! Who wouldn't want it, right? Esp if it's from the store across Pavillion tu, not from PS Butik!

Drool... my dear.... drool...!
MrsNordin said…
Cilantro,

I agree. If you could afford it, why not? I would!

My branded handbags are mostly bought by my husband. I don't indulge in these things. As a matter of fact, I don't indulge in anything! Gee... maybe I should!
MrsNordin said…
MA,

Cerita you dengan cerita MrN sama saja. He told me about the 3-lined book, too.

I think I also had that exercise book to practice my handwriting.

Perhaps you're right. Kids nowadays don't write well. All my 3 kids, tulisan macam cacing. Our handwriting, bulat2 dan besar. Theirs ~ too small (at least mine lah). I don't know how the teachers can read their writings!

That's why dulu orang banyak bagi pen sebagai hadiah. Now if you give a child a fountain pen, they probably don't know how to use it.
MrsNordin said…
Dada,

Why you tak ajar they all buat tulisan tu? Last2 jadi buku conteng! Hee.. hee... I like!

Hey, you should start using your Mont Blanc lah, my dear friend. Baru ada style sikit bila sign documents tu! Sayang if you don't use it.

Handbag dah upgrade to DKNY. Pen pun sekarang tukarlah ke MB! Hee.. hee...
DadaIQ said…
Sorrylah BJ, but I'm back with my Bonia that I bought when I joined the Bank! Lepas kena snatched hari tu, I'm more cautious. So, macamana nak upgrade to MB.After all, you know me, manalah reti pakai branded stuff...hehe

Leaving tomorrow for Kelantan. Have a safe journey back and enjoy yourself.
MrsNordin said…
Dada,

Have a safe journey too. Tell IQ to drive carefully. See you again after raya!
wanshana said…
BJ,

I have 2 Mont Blanc pens, both Haizal gave to me. He got them as tokens for his involvement in talks/conferences, etc last year. Haizal pun very loyal to Pilot G-1 0.7 - just like Dada. I don't think a Mont Blanc pen will mean anything to him :)

For me and Haizal, if sendiri nak beli Mont Blanc - most probably not lah kot...Tapi, bila dah dapat free, kecil tapak tangan, nyiru kami tadahkan. Hehehe!
MrsNordin said…
Shana,

What is this Pilot G-1 0.7 pen? Now I'm curious to find out which one it is. I may like it too!

Selamat Hari Raya my dear friend!
Anonymous said…
My dear Mrs Nordin

Honestly, its not all about the brand but the enjoyment and fulfilling feeling you experience whenever you write or sign using certain brand of pens. The nib (I prefer Medium size ones for signing and the Fine size for writing) of a fountain pen is very important because in due time it will blend with the way you write. So the nib is personalised to the owner of the pen. Then there is also the ink, not all ink is the same i.e. certain black ink will turn shades of grey on paper and the same goes with the different shades of blue ink. Then there is the feel of the pen i.e. where your thumb and index fingers grip the spot on the pen whilst the side of your middle finger supports the weight of the pen when you write. Next is the general outlook and design of the pen. Well enough said about pens..

The name of the shop is not P. Lal store but Sykt K.S. Gill S/B (dia nie adik beradik dgn Sykt G.S. Gill S/B which specialised in sports equipment and agent for Adidas sports) and this shop speacilised in pens and servicing them. P. Lal Store is by the way used to be located along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (a few shops away from the equally famous S.A. Majeed textile shop). This shop is famous to those of us who frequented Jln T A Rahman in the 70s and early 80s looking for English imported clothes and more importantly imported English shoes. This shop became well known to those who loved imported English stuffs when Robinson (along Jalan Tun Perak) closed in the early 70s. Hmmm... on second thoughts I think I should refrain from going any futher... its like the type of songs you like to sing or hear will show your age sort of thingy mingy...

Anyway, I brought along some of my old pens to the shop this afternoon and had them serviced and changed certain parts - its not cheap though but the pens are worth it because they still write beautifully.

I should take my leave now and head out to the jam...

Mr Nordin
Kak Teh said…
Mrs N,I have someone not 100 miles from me here who used to collect all sorts. Once it was old typewriters, old books tu jangan katalah, penuh almari! then it was phonecards from serata dunia. Tak apa, asalakan bahagia.

I used to have a Mont Blanc, but since i am the kind of person who leaves pens at press conferences and meetings - I stopped using them. Mine was a gift from a dear friend. and I lost it.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA TO YOU AND YOURS. MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN>
I used to hate writing with pens when I was first taught to so at school. Since I'm left-handed, my books will also be so comot because of the smudge made by my last finger as it was dragged over the newly written inked words. Habis tepi palm of my hand to berwarna biru. So lefties adapted well, they would turn the book upside down or in a peculiar way so that the writings won't get smudged. I was less adaptable, unfortunately. :-(
Anonymous said…
Mrs N

My kids are in a Chinese shool where they still learn cursive writing from Std 4, but during BM, as in Tulisan practice. I wonder why BM, though. Nonetheless, I'm glad they are learning it, someway or the other.

Salam Aidil Fitri

Fulltime Mom
MrsNordin said…
Dear Mr Nordin,

Sorry for the misquotation. I didn't know P.Lal sells shoes! Hee.. hee...

I've never been to any of the shops that you mentioned. Be it P.Lal, G.S or K.S Gill. Thus I don't know what they sell. Maybe you should take me there one day.

Now I understand better why you prefer those pens. Well said! After all these years, there are still things that I don't know about you, huh?

Thanks, yang... see you later, alligator! *wink*.
Unknown said…
BJ,

Ur Mr can join my daddy.... he's got a whole load of old pens and new ones too and further more suka betul collecting stuff.

Kalau org break into this large vault, sure disappointed cos ada antique cameras, watches, pens and coins.... not easy to hock for fast cash. Instead of hunting around in Jln TAR or in my dad's case, Campbell shopping centre, he's now hunting on ebay. hehehehe

Selamat Hari Raya to u and the family.
zaitgha said…
Mrs.N,

I used to frequent G.S Gill coz dulu2 i nih sport freaks...and P. Lal tuh ada gak pegi when i worked around that area... my cursive writing is very nice but like yours my children pun tulis mcm cacing ....btw mam...Selamat Hari Raya and Maaf Zahir Batin.....
Spices of Life said…
hello Bj.
so comel..yes i can see the difference..prada and petaling prada.
i dont see it as status symbol but more of a pride.. syok gitew..
MrsN, my first pay ni i nak p beli a very branded handbag, i tak peduli, biar la abih my salary tu..I nak jugak!Hehehehe..

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