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Some of you may have wondered what’s happened with me in recent times, especially as I was aiming and managing to post weekly and did so for a couple of years. Well do not worry this blog is still very much live, I just tend to be busier these days.

The blog came about during the COVID lock down period and post Penultimate Dave publishing the video of me interviewing Luca Baglione of ScriBo prior to the launch of the Feel (when he brought two prototypes to the 2018 London Pen Show).

As I have mentioned before I had been contemplating a pen related blog, either video or using this WordPress site which had become the host for my personal holiday write ups (previously having been on Livejournal). Still took me over a year to pull my finger out.

I cannot remember the reason for the move across, I think it was a change in subscriptions for Livejournal and a possible rumour it was to close.

Lock down meant I had plenty of time, even with playing lots of computer games (more on that later) so creating and reviewing a post on a Wednesday/Thursday then doing photos, final review, and posting on a Friday worked for me.

Strictly speaking this was gear set up by a photography friend of mine for a shoot, I actually use my kitchen table and four to five LED lights.

The initial slow down started as a result of my volunteering and working one day per week in the offices of Hertfordshire Freemasons, with the work I do actually keeping me semi-busy away from there (varies week from week). Also over time my number of invites to friend’s Lodges have increased (and the dining bill to mine as well as I invite them back). All takes time.

Then there are computer games, and I can blame that a lot as I do play too much and that recently has been a big cause in my slow down, after all if I’m playing games in the morning that is also my inspiration time for the blog. I would suggest I lack self control but I think that is a comment about most fountain pen collectors 🙂

I actually stopped playing Elite Dangerous a long time back, since then there has been much Cyberpunk 2077, some War Thunder, and now I am playing World of Warships again.

For the new year I do have 4 or 5 pens lined up for review, a number new to me this year, a number of older ones which will be of interest to you (such as my Nakayas) plus there is the potential of a few loans from makers.

So I may have slowed down but this blog is still very much alive. I should really give a thank you or two as I have never done so before. I would say to Penultimate Dave, after all without his original video upload (above) and the constant pushing I probably would have still bee procrastinating. Second Joe Crace from The Gentleman Stationer, Brad Dowdy from The Pen Addict, and Ana Reinert from The Well Appointed Desk who often (especially Joe) list me in their weekly round ups. Also to Ant, Rupert, John, Ania, Jackie, Bernardo, Scribbles, Andrew, Henry, and many more from the various pen clubs I have and do attend, from the pen shows, and from a number of on-line meeting places.

Here is to 2025 and me trying to pull my finger out and play less computer games. Merry Festives to all of you and a Happy New Year.