DaveWave94

Ah, that clears everything up! I'll try to partake this month then. Is it on Christmas Eve/the 24th?

Don't worry, there's no winning against the lack of care of postal services. They squeeze letters in really tight boxes without second thought. Maybe necessarily so, but this isn't ideal for shaving soap samples. There's still enough soap for at least 6 passes and I actually got a very nicely smelling letter from you this way 😉

I really appreciate the standard CFG base too (I am totally unfamiliar with the Silk soaps and have heard mixed opinions). Especially GTB is great to use. I'd compare it to Stirling: artisan soap without fancy sounding ingredients, totally easy to whip up a slick lather. Or in short: solid performers who get the job done fast and good.

My five days off where filled with one job interview and two days of work trials. But it paid off - on Tuesday, the hospital in the Thuringian forest with the high reputation was quite eager to hire me, so they already gave me a verbal agreement followed up by an email. Yesterday I followed up with a phone call since I needed a written document by them to apply for an extended police clearance certificate ("erweitertes Führungszeugnis" in german - basically a background check if you have a criminal record that most reputable jobs need if you're working with minors or disabled people, both could be possible in a hospital setting). The HR lady on the phone as well as the receptionist were so friendly and helpful that I felt - and still feel - like I've made the right decision. The written contracts will be sent to me and I will need to bring them on my first day, but now I at least have some security in this written document confirming their intent to hire me. It's quite unusual, even for them as HR admitted - but nursing is a bit unusual in general.

I'm looking forward to a new challenge and leaving the nursing home behind me. It seems like my potential would be wasted there, since there are simply not many tasks to do that required a high skill level. The work trial day at the hospital was quite stressful, but it was different stress than what I am used to and dread. There's less of a race against the clock to get things done. There are difficult patients too, but most only stay for 5 to 10 days. And some are really thankful for any kind of help, even if it's just a short chat.

However, it'll be a totally different setting to what I am used to and I need to expand my medical knowledge by a substantial amount. I already ordered a book, but theory alone won't be enough. On the one hand, it's kinda like my teenage dream job came true (I wanted to be a male nurse thanks to watching Scrubs - yeah, very original, I know). On the other, it's a very demanding job with lots of responsibility. But since I come from my nursing home background (have worked in 3 different ones, 1 just as an OT, 2 in nursing) and a few other colleagues on my future station also have that background, why shouldn't I be able to master that? I'm only 31. I was, together with a classmate, the best of our year in nursing school. And said classmate now works at a big hospital in Leipzig on the graft surgery station. I know I should be able to do this while even finally enjoying the work that my RN degree brings, but there's still that voice of doubt in the background. But I'm determined to shut it up. Actually, it should be a time to celebrate - I found something new and possibly very fulfilling for my future career in very short time!

I got a sample by you for... January edition? A soap by Wooly Wash Soapery. I mean, December wouldn't have worked out anyway for me, but I'd still partake in January. So thanks for the sample! Unfortunately the soap got squeezed out of the foil and has stained the letter considerably. But don't worry, it's still enough for one good use!

Thanks 👍🏻 Everything still feels very surreal and there's no written contracts yet except an email confirming their intent to hire me on January 1st once the paperwork arrives. Still, I feel like I achieved a huge success and that's kinda great atm.

Thanks, it really went great! After extensively talking to the head nurse of the station and the head of nursing services at the hospital, I got a verbal agreement that I can start there in January. Since it's ~500€ more per month than at the rehabilitation centre, I agreed without hesitation. That's a once in a lifetime chance to change for a way better career. The path they have in mind for me seems to be well thought out and concise, in comparison to the awkward conversation yesterday at the rehabilitation center.

Thanks! It was better than expected - I got a verbal agreement/job offer to start in January and I said yes without hesitation. 😅

15. December 2025

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium half-DE
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man
• Post Shave: HAGS - Barberwood toner
• Post Shave: Alterra Men Sensitive ASB
• Fragrance: Bentley For Men Intense EdP

2-pass head shave, smooth and rather comfortable. One tiny weeper who always seems to appear on the left side, otherwise no irritation.

I couldn't get a shave in before my job interview today, mostly because I thought it wasn't needed to rush a shave and risk getting cut. I did this slow, calm and methodical and it paid off - a really smooth, shiny dome. Used the same soap as yesterday, just a different aftershave. Unfortunately, this sweet toner clashes with the mature tobacco notes of FMoM quite a lot. Wouldn't want to repeat that combo.

As for the interview, it was rather lackluster compared to the fancy hospital. Today it was at a rehabilitation centre for cancer and lymphology patients where my mom works at (part-time, doing arts and crafts with the patients in the afternoon to early evening). They didn't seem very enthusiastic about adding a male nurse to their team; also, financially it's not as good as the hospital offer. I still managed to get another appointment for a one day work trial on Wednesday. So tomorrow I work one day at the hospital and the following day there. I can make a direct comparison this way, but even after talking to my mom I currently favour the hospital as my future workplace. Oddly, she agrees. Well, all the more motivation to give my best tomorrow! Already kinda nervous, but that's part of the trade.

The biggest downside is that I need to get up very early at 4:00 AM to be there before 6:00 AM. Hence why I shaved + posted earlier than usual. Have a nice time, folks - I'll let you know how it works out ✌🏻

14. December 2025

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: Stando Perun
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man
• Post Shave: OAM - Oli del benessere Sensitive Skin toner

single WTG pass + a bit of buffing on head and neck. Basically just a comfortable shave to calm down - not very close, but needn't be.

Currently I have a lot of stressful things coming up, like another job interview tomorrow and then the one day work trial at the hospital on Tuesday. I just needed to calm down a bit, so a nice mild shave was in order. Probably will need another one tomorrow before the interview, but this will be manageable since my appointment is at 13:30. I really hope that I can make a good decision for my future career in the upcoming week - last minute job hunting sucks the soul out of me.

FMoM was great as always and it seems like the skin on my scalp has recovered almost fully - some tiny blood spots, but no actual weepers or nicks anymore. They were all gone once the toner was applied. OAM is Officina Artigiana Milano (I'm almost sure I wrote that wrong, my Italian sucks) and their "wellness oils" smell very masculine. They are one of the few european manufacturers who do alcohol free toners though, great for my skin (prone to rashes/flaking). I think I'll wear a nice fragrance tomorrow, a good scent instantly makes me more confident.

Thanks! Yeah, it seems like everything's moving in the right direction 👍🏻

No worries DJ. If you're sick at home, nobody was bothered by your unshaved self but you 😉

Rare GEM - 11. Dezember 2025

• Prep: Aloe Vera Gel
• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Bullet Tip/Flying Wing
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: HAGS - Aftermath (Vegan base)
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Master

1 pass on the head as well as one each for neckline and cheek lines. A bit of a rough shave yet again, don't know how old this blade is.

One of my few rare GEM SE razor shaves. Especially with this gold-plated razor, it's probably getting the fewest uses out of the bunch. Unfortunately the head shave wasn't so nice, I thought one day off would allow my skin to heal, but nope. It scraped up a few of the old weepers. Thankfully, only a bit - so no alum block was required. The end result was rather close, but less comfortable. Same for my neck. Btw, by reading neckline and cheek lines you can probably guess that the henriquatre is no more. Actually, for a few days already. I simply obsessed too much about perfect straight lines and my short stubble allows me to appreciate imperfections much better. It's still kinda hard for my inner perfectionist, but hey, I rocked a job interview like this.

Speaking of the job interview, it went well. Really interesting workplace and they'd hire me on January 1st if everything fits. I have an appointment for a "hospitation day" next Tuesday, to see if I can get along with this kind of work and the potential colleagues of this station. So far, so good. The Monday before is yet another job interview, so I actually have two places to compare. I'll try to leave my best impression so that ideally, both places would want to hire me and it's up to my decision what I choose.