So I wasn’t going, then I was. Next I was getting a table again, but this time by myself. So how did it go, what did I see, did the table work again, will I go for another. All these questions and more to be answered. Maybe.

So yes change of plans. I was heading up north for a number of reasons when a family related stone setting came up for the Sunday. As I had planned to travel on either the Saturday or the Monday this meant I could attend, however it also meant I would not make the show. Then the gravestone (not yet carved) got stuck somewhere in transit between India and the UK and the stone setting was delayed by two weeks. It meant I could attend the show though with the caveat I would head straight to Southport after with no trip back home first. Would be along day.

Being a late booker I was worried about the only free available table as it was midway along the wall side of the first row on the right when you enter. Most people head to the main area, Cult Pens, or the nibmesiters so potentially a bad place for footfall.

As I was looking at potentially an 11-15 hour day (1 hour to get to the show, 6 hours there, then a 4-8 drive after) I only arrived for 9 am to realise all the early bird people were already about to enter and I had not yet set up my table. Woops. If ever I take a table again I must remember to aim to get to the show for about half eight at the latest. Still I was soon set up on my new table. I had been moved to the first slot, allowing another vendor (Janse van Vuuren) to have a double table.

I was nervous again how I would do. The table costs had increased from £90 to £100 and based on the previous experience I treated myself to the cheapest card reader Square had to offer, so just under £120 all in (I got the reader as a ‘good as new’ from Amazon for £18, meaning someone had opened the box then returned it).

Not long after the start a bit of amusement. A couple of young women headed my way and I beckoned them over. One commented that they were happy to look but they had plans else where and wanted to look around. There was a sudden squeal of delight from the other as she saw my Pokemon Lamy Safari set. Despite having owned it for close to five years it had only ever been a decoration. The actual pen still had the original cardboard ring on it to prevent a cartridge being pushed in to the section (though the pen did come with a converter pre-installed). I had even replaced the battery and the second one was now flat. Still it is now with an owner who will probably get more enjoyment/use out of the set.

By lunchtime I had made a second sale and was in profit! remembering last time I had sold but one TSWBI Eco by that same point and had wondered if I had made a mistake. Early afternoon and Ania, who shared the table with me last time, covered for me while I had a wander round and may have made a purchase or two… I returned in a hurry to a phone call from her as I had a new buyer. Woot.

Over all I managed to sell seven pens, so less than last time (eleven) but actually left with more money as this time a couple of my more expensive ones were bought. Highlights for me included:

• The couple on the table next to me who were really nice people to chat with when things were quiet for both of us. In addition Justin identified that the problem with the cap on my late father’s Parker New Duofold Senior was not cross threading but a know issue as they age. If you guys read this I hope you had a great time in Paris (or will if you have not yet gone).
• Chatting to a few of you who came over and said hi. And to a number of you who even bought pens from me. I only feel a little guilty (very little) for talking an already over spent Sebastian into buying my Magna Carta Denima at the end of the day (his YouTube video on his purchases is at this link).
• The amusement over the woman wanting to buy my Pilot Nippon Art pen but resisting as she was due to get married later this year, only for her fiancée to insist she did buy it.
• Getting to chat with the guys at Scriveiner Pens. This was particularly important to me as the way they are marketed smacked a little of a Chinese pen company trying to fake things. I am happy to say that most certainly is not the case (I did actually tell them this had been my fears prior to chatting with them at their table). Great to meet and chat with you guys.
• Chatting with the couple behind VitStyle and discussing Hong Kong tea houses (as you do). Turns out one I used to go to in Mong Kok (The London Restaurant) is where the Hong Kong Pen Club used to meet. Found out they do occasionally look at my blog as they confessed to checking if their supplied converters fitted every one of their Sailor Pocket Pens after I wrote about how the present converters were too wide at the metal band for the 1960s pen. (note while I was tempted to risk moving to HK in the late 1990s, I have only ever been there on holiday, but so many times that even after a 10 year gap I still averaged once in every three years when I was last there).

So on to my purchases, two of which will be reviewed, the third may be re-visited.

• Copper Scriveiner EDC. This actually had to be posted to me as the couple they had on display showed too much wear from being abused at various pen shows. Now filled with Diamine Strauss and squeezed in to the pen loop on my Midori Traveller Passport journal.
• Pilot Short from Vitstyle. Really interesting pen that not only posts for length but also extends as part of the uncapping process. Now filled with Lamy Black.
• Aratrum Calamus from Papier&Stift. I had procrastinated over buying one of these since I wrote my review, then when I decided to go for one Anja stopped exporting to the UK. Soon after she restarted I found she had sold out of the pens, which I believed to be a limited edition. Turns out not. Also I need to thank Anja for the bottle of A Night in Jodhpur, which is a Diamine exclusive for here store. The Calamus is unsurprisingly filled with A Night in Jodhpur.

I’m caught on camera, care of Penultimate Dave, at the 5’30” mark: