I didn't make it to the Bristol Pen Show this year, or Newcastle. Due to an unexpected business trip I won't make the London Pelikan Hub next week, alas. So the LWES in October will be my only pen show of the year (gasp!) and there's a lot riding on it. To say I'm looking … Continue reading Looking ahead to the London Writing Equipment Show
Travels with pens: Austria
I spent the past week in Austria, surrounded by mountains, forests and lakes. It was a proper family holiday, but that didn't mean I left my pens behind. As usual before a trip, I spent more time planning which pens to take than anything else. These five made the cut. Left to right: Pelikan M400 … Continue reading Travels with pens: Austria
The London Fog has taught me that it’s OK to meet your heroes
They say never to meet your heroes — they never live up to your expectations. Well, the Visconti London Fog limited edition has been one of my pen heroes since it was released a couple of years ago. The swirly grey and blue just did it for me in a way that the red Chiantishire, … Continue reading The London Fog has taught me that it’s OK to meet your heroes
Four reasons to love broad nibs
A while back I wrote a post mentioning that I'd gravitated toward fine and even extra-fine nibs, and the many reasons to do so. But it seems I've... diversified my collection. My 15-pen collection now has a good mix of nibs ranging from UEF to BB, but if anything I have more broads than fines. … Continue reading Four reasons to love broad nibs
The state of the collection (or why it’s good to stop and appreciate what you have)
One thing I probably don't say often enough is this: I am bloody chuffed with my pen collection. Sure, it's always waxing and waning. There's a gradual shift in emphasis from manufacturer to manufacturer, big to small, fine to broad, bright to monochromatic, and back again. Life would be boring if we weren't always pursuing … Continue reading The state of the collection (or why it’s good to stop and appreciate what you have)
The Pilot Prera kinda makes me wish I had smaller hands
I knew from the moment I opened the box that the Pilot Prera was way too small for me. This is not a big pen. It's not heavy either. It's all plastic, and with the included Pilot Black cartridge inserted, there's not even the extra couple of grams of a converter to help add a … Continue reading The Pilot Prera kinda makes me wish I had smaller hands
I hate the Rotring Newton
I love the German Bauhaus, utilitarian aesthetic. Braun, Junghans, those kinds of brands have built timeless, minimalist products that I covet. I would put r0tring in that list, too. I have a 600 mechanical pencil and ballpoint and I love them, with their matte hexagonal barrels, grippy knurling, precise manufacturing and no-nonsense attitude. And, although it … Continue reading I hate the Rotring Newton
Review: Made by Foyles terracotta red notebook
I'd wager that most stationery addicts are also rather into books. For me, the joy of travelling to a city and discovering a new pen shop is squarely matched by that of finding a good bookstore. I used to be a bookseller, back in the day, so I feel somewhat of a connoisseur of good … Continue reading Review: Made by Foyles terracotta red notebook
The Galen Writing Box is a warped wonder
Update 13th July 2018: Galen got in touch with me after I posted this review. They've painstakingly redesigned the box, again, and are going to send me a third one. I'm impressed both with their transparency and their commitment to standing by their product: Just read your review again. You are very right with all … Continue reading The Galen Writing Box is a warped wonder
Selling a few non-pen items…
The shortest of posts as we head toward the weekend. I've updated my for-sale page with a few pens and a few non-pen items too: knives, flashlights and multitools (hey, didn't you read my post about EDC?). I have plenty more items to add, but figured this was a good start. I'm keen to raise … Continue reading Selling a few non-pen items…
