THE GREEN HAT

The bean vadai and the doughnut (“donut” when spelt the American way) vadai (1) was great as a quick brekkie.

It was about 8.30am in the morning. Didn’t know what it was like outdoors but figured the weather was sunny as the house looked brightly illuminated by the sun.

We, the Batik Influencer, Jeannie; and I were set to make our way down (or is it up?) to Amcorp Shopping Mall In P.J. (2) One of the reasons I was eager to get to Amcorp Mall was because I had made arrangements to meet with Mahmud, the hat seller. I met with him last evening and saw a couple of hats that I liked. He told me that he had an orange fedora hat, whether I would like to have a look at it first before I made a purchase. I love colours. An orange fedora? (1) – that would be something. I held my purchase back to today.

I tried the orange fedora on. It was a nice fit, with a wide brim. The bright orange was a clean and “happy” orange. It was nice. The only thing was the hat was rigid, firm. It was not as flexible as the two green hats or the hats that I already own. It would be mean more care in maintaining it. I can be quite rough at times, carrying as many things in both hands as possible so not having to make more trips. I need my hats to work for me. I like the soft hats where I can roll up, and tuck under my arm or in my bag.

My decision was now left to the two green fedora hats. Both hats were made of wool, which is natural for fedoras😉. The olive-green model had a thicker brim, the brim was not as wide as the other one. It had a custom made dark brown, thin leather band with a black and white feather, and a tinge of an orange feather jutting out from it. It looked absolutely cool.

Exceptionally elegant. Mahmud personally custom made this hat with a dark brown leather band, and a black & white feather with an “orange lead end”.

It did not take me too long to decide, really. Naturally, I consulted with my two world renowned fashion consultants, Jeannie and our daughter, Laura. Both of them chose the olive-green over the jungle-green wider brim fedora. I, too; decided on the olive-green model.

In the meantime, the Batik Influencer, Jeannie; was promoting the colours of batik and all its designs in its glory with her “JEANNIE’S OWN” label Batik Cape Creations.

Got chance to be a famous, glamourous movie star?

The many profile angles of me modelling this fedora olive-green mid-size brim, with leather band trim and a black & white feather with an orange accent that made the difference.

The jungle green wide brim fedora, had its attractive pull, too. However, it did not quite thrill me as its competitor did. I loved this hat, too. But only one had to be chosen.

I wonder if my new fedora hat is going to lead me to Indiana Jones type of adventures. The keys on the computer keyboards are being tapped / hit on at a furious pace…We will just have to wait and see.

NOTES
1. Vada, vadai, wada, bara, or bora is a category of savoury fried snacks native to India. In Malaysia, it is more commonly known as vadai (pronounced with the “i” ending [sort of third syllable] and dragging as thought there is an additional “i” or more like “vadai-ii”.
The actual name of the bean or dhal vadai is “Masala vadai”. It is also known as Chana dhal vadai or parappu (dhal) vadai. It is made of chana dhal, spices, onions and herbs.
The “doughnut” type vadai is a South Indian savoury snack made from soaked or fermented pulses moulded into balls or a doughnut shape and then deep fried. The resulting snack is soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.
2. Petaling Jaya or P.J. (as it is fondly referred to by many Malaysians and those staying around these parts.)
3. What Is a Fedora? (And How Is It Different From a Panama Hat?)The fedora looks precisely like the Panama hat when viewed at a passing glance. Both hats feature similarly proportioned crowns, bonds, brims, and tapers. The main difference between them is the material: a true fedora is almost always made of felt, usually wool. The fedora also has pinched sides and a lengthwise crease down the crown, creating its classic look. They can come in a variety of colors, with the band around the base often matching the color of the felt. Since they’re made from sheep’s wool, fedoras are a very eco-friendly fashion accessory to own.

Panama hats are made of straw.

THE BATIK INFLUENCER AND THE HATTED WRITER AT F1.02 THIS WEEKEND

Friday evening, 6.39pm.

Laura is at the gym, and we, Jeannie and I, that is the Batik Influencer and the Hatted Writer; we are at where the stars go (I presume), Star Bhavan for dinner.

Being the journalist in me, I tend to notice more than the average person. For instance, things are a wee bit slow here. I took note of this the last time we were here a couple of days ago. This is compared to all the other times when we practically did not have to wait too long for our food. They seem short-handedly. However, the food here is always good.

Why are we waiting?” in sing song fashion. 😁

Our food arrived just as I was writing / keyboard thumb-typing (on my Samsung Fold 5) the last line. Jeannie and I both ordered the same: Roti (1) Sardine and Nescafe ice. By just looking at our drinks, you would surely ask, “Is the milk drowning the coffee?”, as the coffee was struggling to have some semblance of its colour, “brown”. The milk seemed to definitely over-power the coffee.

Just before that, we tapau-ed (2) both the kacang vadai (3) and the doughnut (“donut” in American) version. Foreseeing that we…o.k. o.k…. more Iike I will be hungry later on this evening or night. Now, figure this out. I didn’t plan on being hungry later on, but then… the vadai were singing, “take us home” to the tune “Country Roads”. The Nescafe ice must have been spiked, haha.😁😂 Can you imagine the 6 vadai in the bag singing a song to the tune of Country Home? That would be hilarious.

Notice the vadai goodies in the bag, all set to be taken home? And the very light brown Nescafe ice?

We discussed broadly, what we plan to do at our booth in Amcorp Mall this weekend, that is tomorrow and Sunday. Yes, we will be mending a booth at Booth F1.03 Amcorp Mall. The Batik Influencer will be introducing her latest JEANNIE’S OWN batik cape creations.

The Batik Influencer has introduced, encouraged and helped people understand why batik. So, why batik? Come see for yourself.

Roti sardine, with spicy fish curry (on the left) and what seems somewhat like “dhalcha”.

The Hatted Writer (me, of course😉) will be there to talk about what’s next on the idea Sketchpad💡. One of the things that has caught my attention (amongst the many others) is that people are flaunting bombastic english words like nuance/s, exacerbate and stuff like that on talk shows and interviews. These people must be well-grounded in the language and may be seen as sesquipedalian. (4) Some people say that I am a logophile. (5) Really?

I guess in most ways I am a logophile as I find the English language quite fascinating. My interest in the language, to test its elasticity and boundaries, has only been quite recent. I find it more interesting to see if I can refrain from over-stretching the use of bombastic words. In fact, I try to refrain from such words if I can help it.

Come meet us this weekend at Amcorp Mall. This weekend is going to be as “fun” as ever. As everyday is. Looking forward to seeing all of you. 😁

The semi-visible vaadai, ready for home eating. Eating while in “relax” mode.

Amcorp Shopping Mall,
Booth 1.03, 1st Floor, West Wing,
8, Jalan, Persiaran Barat, Seksyen 52 Petaling Jaya, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date: Apr 6 and Apr 7, 2024
Time: 10.00am to 5.30pm (can be extended to 7.00pm)

NOTES:
1. “Roti” means bread in Bahasa Malaysia.
2. “Tapau” as in take-away or take-out, is used by Malaysians when they want to pack food. The “-ed” (past tense) is to add colour in the use of the word.
3. Vadai also known as vada, wada, or bara; is a category of savoury fried snacks native to India. Vadas are sometimes stuffed with vegetables and traditionally served with chutneys and sambar.
4. A sesquipedalian can be used to describe a person or something that overuses big words. People often assume that if someone gives a sesquipedalian speech, he / she was smart, even if they don’t really know what it was about because they can’t understand the words.
5. What is a “logophile”? A logophile is someone who loves words, enjoys learning new words, and has a deep appreciation for language. Logophiles have an extensive vocabulary and take pleasure in using and exploring words to express themselves effectively.

THE LAST WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY

Friday evening. The last weekend of February, 2024. Chap Goh Meh eve. Celebrations are on the way for many who celebrate the lunar new year celebrations, the last two days of it. More fireworks are expected to light and decorate the skyline tonight and tomorrow night.

In the meantime, the Batik Influencer has come up with some of her latest offerings, 5 of them at the beginning; However, before I could type “Jack Robinson” (and I type pretty fast; even faster still on my Logitech MX Mechanical linear (1), but not as fast as a bullet train…yet); two pieces were sold. She is working on more because we just confirmed that we will be running a booth at Amcorp Shopping Mall this weekend.

The Batik Influencer has come out with her latest creations. These are some of her newest creations and will be available at our booth this weekend.

There are a lot of ladies clothes accessories like brooches, bracelets and other items that are that are available on sale for those who want to add the bling to one or more of the Batik Cape Creations.

Like always, we; meaning the Batik Influencer, Jeannie; and I, Alan, the Hatted Writer; are excited to be at our booth where we will be able to meet all our friends and make new friends. It gives me the opportunity to meet with readers of leatherpotato, too. I hope to learn and get more input for my book that I am writing. You will be able to spot us easily. Jeannie, the Batik Influencer will be modelling one of her creations. I will be wearing my grey / white panama hat, with a red and black band just above the rim. It will be just dandy if everyone wears a hat over the weekend.

While I am creating this article and the Batik Influencer is miraculously coming up with more choices of her Batik Cape Creations under her own label, “Jeannie’s Own”, we are listening to some music. Right now, a vibrant song, “Nona Nona Zaman Sekarang” is on. This is the version sung by the super awesome Liyana Fizi. The music arrangement with acoustic guitar, base guitar and brushes on a snare drum, is superb. I have done a bit of research and found out that Liyana is based in Selangor. Hopefully in the very near future, I will be able to contact her, have coffee and perhaps do a write up on her.

On our way to Amcorp; we will stop at New Apollos and buy Nescafe ice kaw kaw. We will get the drink servers to fill our Hydraflasks with the Nescafe ice kaw kaw (2). Hydraflask does an excellent job in keeping it cold (or hot if you have a hot beverage in it) for many hours. We are expecting some sellers to offer a wide choice of snacks, cookies, cakes and sweets since it will be Chap Goh Mei. The meaning of ‘Chap Goh Mei is “the 15th day of the new year” which marks the 15th and last day of the Chinese New Year celebrations. (3)

We look forward to meeting with you all. We are gonna have fun. See you there.

1st Floor, Amcorp Shopping Mall,
Booth 1.16, Level 1
Amcorp Shopping Mall,
8, Jalan, Persiaran Barat, Seksyen 52 Petaling Jaya, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date: Feb 24 and Feb 25, 2024
Time: 10.00am to 5.30pm (can be extended to 7.00pm)

NOTES:
1. Logitech Mx Mechanical Linear keyboard comes with the red switches which is the quietest amongst the other variants of blue and brown (the most popular being the red) for its accuracy and performance.
2. Kaw Kaw means thick or extra strong.
3. This auspicious day is also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day. Traditionally, young single women write their names and phone numbers on mandarin oranges before throwing them into ponds or lakes, in hopes of finding a boyfriend or husband. Hopefully, they use permanent ink pens so that the water will not wash off the written information.😅

THIS WEEKEND WITH LA BATIK INFLUENCER AND THE HATTED WRITER

Sa..aaa..yyy, weren’t we at Amcorp Shopping Mall just, oh so recently? We are at the weekend already.

We are back at Amcorp Shopping Mall, “we” meaning the Batik Influencer and the writer / author / storyteller from http://www.leatherpotato.com, this weekend; starting tomorrow, February the 3rd. This weekend, we will be on the 1st floor on the west wing.

My wife, Jeannie; also famously known as the Batik Influencer, will be there, too; with a line up of her new creations. They are fast taken up as they are all unique in their on their own way, more so with the fact that they are usually one-of-a-kind, literally speaking, pieces. So… I would like to say “ladies,… However, many men have purchased these creations for their wives, sisters, friends, mothers. Yes, ladies…come early to our booth at F1.16, 1st Floor, West Wing; to secure at least one batik cape for yourself as pieces are very limited.

I, the writer / author / storyteller from http://www.leatherpotato.com is sporting a new look, going as the Hatted Writer; will be there to meet our readers, and make more new friends. Come find out how the “Hatted Writer” came about. In our last few “episodes” having a booth at Amcorp Shopping Mall; I have had the opportunity of re-connecting with many school classmates dating back to over 48 years ago, colleagues from the insurance and financial services industry and friends, too.

Two separate people from Penang, one an old friend whom I have not seen in 15 years, and the other, whom I have not met; both connected with me through leatherpotato.com, will be meeting me over this weekend.

People are very fascinating. I don’t have to think too deeply to try to understand them. Maybe, it is because I have become the writer or journalist where I try to view each person as completely different from another, just like there are no two sets of the same fingerprints. This itself, is intriguing.

Come share ideas with me for my upcoming book. I am very much at the start of the chapter, type, type type. Junk it. Start again. Can you imagine if I was working on a typewriter? Type, type, type, junk it. Type, type, type, junk it. I will have the waste paper basket full of junked ideas. HaHa.

I will be putting over 100 Hotwheels vehicles up for sale. These sport the dark blue blister packs, indicating there are from the year 2005 – 2010 era; many are probably rare. There will also be some Corgi, Dinky, Matchbox and other brands of diecast vehicles, some dating back 45 years ago.

There are two rare ladies Swatch watches in the form of bracelets, up for sale, too. As for pen collectors; there are some rare writing instruments like the 1998 Parker MDRT Duofold ball point pen in blue lacquer with gold plated finishing – a very elegant and must have for the discerning few. We have lots more things of interest that you can choose from.

So, we are looking forward to seeing you all there. Let’s make plenty of noise over the next two days.😁

1st Floor, Amcorp Shopping Mall (1),
Booth 1.16, Level 1
Amcorp Shopping lMall,
8, Jalan, Persiaran Barat, Seksyen 52 Petaling Jaya, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date: Feb 03 and Feb 04, 2024
Time: 10.00am to 5.30pm (can be extended to 7.00pm)