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
experiences
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
Behind the scenes: storage, travel and writing desks
When you're a pen freak like me, you spend as much time organising your stationery (and other hobbies' detritus) as you spend using it. My setup is not fancy. I don't have a huge house, I don't have a dream home office or desk setup. I have a beaten-up Ikea desk and office chair that … Continue reading Behind the scenes: storage, travel and writing desks
The frustrating pursuit of a functioning nib… is it too much to ask?
I buy a lot of pens. All kinds of brands. All kinds of price ranges. Steel and gold. Fine and broad. From many different pen shops. I assume that most of the time, the pen arrives ready to write. But sometimes the nib lets me down. And that "sometimes" is starting to feel like "too … Continue reading The frustrating pursuit of a functioning nib… is it too much to ask?
Magnificent seven: Black Friday edition
I swore to myself: no new pens before Christmas. But (predictably) I failed. The Black Friday discounts got the better of me. I'm undecided how I feel about this ultimately consumerist holiday, and what it means for the small retailers and brands that I try to support. But my actions speak louder than my words. … Continue reading Magnificent seven: Black Friday edition
The magnificent seven: week two
Last week's seven turned out great. I used every pen heavily, with the exception of the Pelikan M400. At last I managed to gel with the Pilot 823, although it still doesn't feel 'right' to me every time I pick it up. The Montegrappa Extra and Montblanc 1912 proved deliciously smooth for evening journalling; the … Continue reading The magnificent seven: week two
The magnificent seven: week one
Today I laid my collection out, all together. It didn't fit in my pen drawer. I had to leave three pens out of shot. Left to right: Montblanc 1912, Montblanc 149, Pelikan M805 Ocean Swirl, Pelikan M400 white tortoiseshell, Visconti Wall Street LE, Visconti Homo Sapiens London Fog, Visconti Homo Sapiens, Visconti Van Gogh Room … Continue reading The magnificent seven: week one
Snippets: epic mail call and more travel
I haven't posted a blog since 22nd October, 17 days ago. It's been a busy couple of weeks. At the end of October I took a long weekend with the family down to Fowey Hall in Cornwall. It was a chance to get away and unwind from work. I took just four pens with me: … Continue reading Snippets: epic mail call and more travel
The UKFP holiday gift guide 2018
What do you get for the fountain pen lover who has everything? It can be tricky. Your first thought might be... well, a pen. But if they're a hobbyist, they're probably past the 20-quid Parkers and Lamys from your local Rymans, Smiths or Paperchase. And you probably don't want to spend 500 quid buying them … Continue reading The UKFP holiday gift guide 2018
2018 London Writing Equipment Show: success!
I nearly didn't make it to the London Pen Show this year. After being in my calendar for months, a family situation threatened to derail plans. But I made it — and it was a great show. What was different this year? Well, for me, it was having my six-year-old daughter along. Crazy idea? Well, … Continue reading 2018 London Writing Equipment Show: success!
