I try to avoid using this blog as a diary for all the stationery-related goings on in my life. But it's been a pretty big week, and I have some stuff I want to share. Monday: start your engines I spent the day admiring my new BMW 146, and couldn't resist posting about what a … Continue reading Snippets: the week in stationery
editorial
Who’d have thought BMW would be the cheapest place to buy a Montblanc 146?
A few years ago I had a friend who always wrote with a 146 and a Starwalker, and drove a BMW Z4. One year, for his birthday, I found the perfect gift: the newly launched Montblanc BMW Blue ink. Except he only ever wrote with black ink. Oh well, nice idea. Roll on to more … Continue reading Who’d have thought BMW would be the cheapest place to buy a Montblanc 146?
12 inks for 2019
What does an empty ink bottle look like? I watched in amazement in 2018 as people on my Instagram feed actually finished bottles of ink. The #emptyinkbottlechallenge seemed to me as crazy, admirable and impossible as running an ultramarathon. As of today, I have 166 full-size bottles of ink (excluding sample vials and duplicates), and … Continue reading 12 inks for 2019
Words and time: a tour of my watch collection
Words and time, pens and watches — to me they have the same attraction. I wonder if you readers feel the same? Just as a pen captures and makes real otherwise ephemeral thoughts and ideas, watches pin down the imprecision of time. They're acts of craftsmanship, engineering and heritage, and a visible expression of personal … Continue reading Words and time: a tour of my watch collection
Inside the maelstrom
Back in the early days of this blog I did a lot more 'editorial' style posts, about topics and themes rather than just reviews of products. So if you scan down this post and don't see any pictures, don't be alarmed: this is meant to be just words! The oxymoronic attainable grail pen? I read … Continue reading Inside the maelstrom
The great uninking
I'll admit it. Things had got a little out of control. I had eighteen inked pens this morning. It's not the first time I've had more pens inked than I know what to do with (when new inks and new pens turn up, they get added to the pile), but I don't think I've ever had quite … Continue reading The great uninking
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)
