Yesterday I was talking to one of my work colleagues, and this hobby of mine came up. He is not a fountain pen user, and he, like most normal people, thinks it’s crazy how much I’ll merrily spend on a single pen. His favourite and most luxurious rollerballs are £4. I was waving around a … Continue reading Building an interesting pen collection without breaking the bank
buyer’s guide
How to buy a fountain pen without screwing up
This is not a guide to choosing a fountain pen. There are plenty of those out there, several of them on this site. No: this is a guide to actually buying a fountain pen, from the moment you've decided on which pen you think you want, to the moment you happily lay it in your … Continue reading How to buy a fountain pen without screwing up
The UKFP Holiday Gift Guide 2019
We're approaching that time of year when we give each other (and ourselves?) presents. So what do you get for the fountain pen addict in your life — or if someone asks you what you want, what do you tell them? Here are some ideas across seven categories. Every item on this list I have … Continue reading The UKFP Holiday Gift Guide 2019
A new buyer’s guide, part 2: pens £50-100
It's taken me a while, but here's the second chapter in my attempt at a revised buyer's guide. The £50 to £100 category is incredibly competitive, and also one segment of the market where promotions can make a huge difference. Shipping and customs can hit too. For instance, Tactile Turn's basic Gist is $99. But … Continue reading A new buyer’s guide, part 2: pens £50-100
Time for a new buyer’s guide? Part one: pens under £50
My UKFP buyer's guide page gets consistent traffic — clearly a lot of you out there are looking for recommendations as to which fountain pens are worth spending your money on. It's been a while since I wrote it, and I think it might be time for a new list. Let me know what you … Continue reading Time for a new buyer’s guide? Part one: pens under £50
Desert Island Pens: my controversial top 5
I struggle with a top-5 list of pens. Even more than you're supposed to. It's a crisis of definition, really. A top-5 for who? A student with a £20 budget just starting out is in a very different position to a wealthy retiree who loves vintage Italian pens. And how do I productively compare a … Continue reading Desert Island Pens: my controversial top 5
Choosing a notebook for work
Most office workers do their daily writing in whatever notebooks or notepads happen to be in the stationery cupboard. Conference freebies, cheapie Staples or Rymans wirebound books, or maybe a Moleskine if they're lucky. When you start to take an interest in writing with fountain pens, you discover that a great writing experience depends on … Continue reading Choosing a notebook for work
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