I have a couple of Okay Pens

[roaduck]

TITANIUM MINI PENS 1
TITANIUM MINI PENS 2

First - quick bio -

I`ve been writing since the late sixties and have been told that I have beautiful, legible, all- joined up writing - I think it`s okay but certainly not calligraphy !

At school I was neater than all the girls at seven, in 1972 ; with an adult joined-up style and very few spelling mistakes - I had a 1930, 20 volume Oxford English dictionary at home plus a few antique Roget`s Thesaurus editions to check words, definitions, derivations, roots, synonyms and antonyms etc.

In the mid nineties I had an IBM Model M keyboards and early desktop PC but I was a 30 w/pm one finger, hunt and pecker so I preferred longhand in ballpoint - usually a Parker jotter or a green Pentel medium nib blue rollerball.

I have a couple of brass fountain pens, a solid brass rollerball with screw top and a few vintage Parkers and Paper-mates from the seventies to nineties onwards.

I`m much faster with a fountain pen or rollerball; more fluid, but prefer my two lacquered brass fountains.

I had some cloisonne 19 Century Cross pens but they got pinched in burglaries and never replaced.

Obviously I use ballpoints most of the time.

All my good-ish pens fit in a spectacle case !

Also I have a few titanium mini pens on keyrings - I`ll have to fish out to show you.

I have no room for a big pen collection; even if I wanted one `cos I collect other junk.

I might get a couple more razors - then that`s it - got plenty of soap, scents and blades now.

 

[blethenstrom]

View attachment 1928912
TITANIUM MINI PENS 1
TITANIUM MINI PENS 2

First - quick bio -

I`ve been writing since the late sixties and have been told that I have beautiful, legible, all- joined up writing - I think it`s okay but certainly not calligraphy !

At school I was neater than all the girls at seven, in 1972 ; with an adult joined-up style and very few spelling mistakes - I had a 1930, 20 volume Oxford English dictionary at home plus a few antique Roget`s Thesaurus editions to check words, definitions, derivations, roots, synonyms and antonyms etc.

In the mid nineties I had an IBM Model M keyboards and early desktop PC but I was a 30 w/pm one finger, hunt and pecker so I preferred longhand in ballpoint - usually a Parker jotter or a green Pentel medium nib blue rollerball.

I have a couple of brass fountain pens, a solid brass rollerball with screw top and a few vintage Parkers and Paper-mates from the seventies to nineties onwards.

I`m much faster with a fountain pen or rollerball; more fluid, but prefer my two lacquered brass fountains.

I had some cloisonne 19 Century Cross pens but they got pinched in burglaries and never replaced.

Obviously I use ballpoints most of the time.

All my good-ish pens fit in a spectacle case !

Also I have a few titanium mini pens on keyrings - I`ll have to fish out to show you.

I have no room for a big pen collection; even if I wanted one `cos I collect other junk.

I might get a couple more razors - then that`s it - got plenty of soap, scents and blades now.

Thank you for sharing your pen collection with us.

 

[roaduck]

Thank you for sharing your pen collection with us.

Haha Thank You blethenstrom - it`s nothing to write home about - just a few pens in a spec case!

Now with phones and `puters I don`t need to do two or three penpal - 20 sides of A4 letters a week with stuck on pictures and photos incorporating jokes, short plays and children`s stories, anecdotes, theories, puns, rhyming poetry in quatrains and stanzas, pen&ink and watercolour sketches, parapolitical utterances, scientific and mechanical diagrams etc.

But I love receiving a hand-written letter especially with crossed-out mistakes because that shows the thought train of the writer - like working out with maths and algebra - to err is human, to forgive is divine - from Pope.

With a special letter I prefer to do a plan and rough draft first but usually I edit on the fly in my head (like using an old manual typewriter) but rarely have the time - like shaving with my two cut-throats; I only manage about 2-3 old-fashioned shaves a year now - not enough hours in the day or arms and legs haha !

 

[blethenstrom]

Haha Thank You blethenstrom - it`s nothing to write home about - just a few pens in a spec case!

Now with phones and `puters I don`t need to do two or three penpal - 20 sides of A4 letters a week with stuck on pictures and photos incorporating jokes, short plays and children`s stories, anecdotes, theories, puns, rhyming poetry in quatrains and stanzas, pen&ink and watercolour sketches, parapolitical utterances, scientific and mechanical diagrams etc.

But I love receiving a hand-written letter especially with crossed-out mistakes because that shows the thought train of the writer - like working out with maths and algebra - to err is human, to forgive is divine - from Pope.

With a special letter I prefer to do a plan and rough draft first but usually I edit on the fly in my head (like using an old manual typewriter) but rarely have the time - like shaving with my two cut-throats; I only manage about 2-3 old-fashioned shaves a year now - not enough hours in the day or arms and legs haha !

I did not use to write much by hand up until probably 5 years ago (I was about 47 then). When I wrote I printed everything. I did learn cursive in school, but I really never used it to any capacity. I am an Electrical Engineer by trade so I work on computers constantly and as time has gone by I realize more and more that we have come to loose the personal touch between people. this is so important. We need to go back and be more what I call tactile.

Writing on the computer started to get to me and I attempted to rejuvenate my cursive writing and I was surprised how easy it came to me. I started taking notes and writing everything by hand instead and of course soon after that I got my first fountain pen. I started journaling and writing as much as I could and yes to your point receiving a hand written note or letter is something special even if it may have some crossed out words and mess ups. It is the charm in it. Over time I developed writers-cramp in my left hand ( I am a lefty) and it started to be very difficult/impossible for me to write with my left hand. My hand contracts to a point where I cannot write with it. It is a neurological thing and they do not know why it is happening. My dear wife one day suggested that I try to use my right hand to write. I kind of laughed at that, but she was serious about it so I gave it a shot and it is amazing what you can adjust to. After just a few weeks of stumbling around I was able to write fluently with my right hand and actually I now have the best cursive I have ever had in my life.

Of course during this time my fountain pen AD has kicked in and now I have more pens and ink that anyone can use in their lifetime. I have even been to two pen shows and let me tell you those places are dangerous! I love writing by hand. It is a lot of fun and I try to carry a notebook with me where ever I go instead of taking the notes on my phone.

Thank you for sharing
-Boris

 

[dojpros]

You look like a player to me!!!

 

[roaduck]

You are so so right blethenstrom - I totally concur - I swapped the mouse pad to my left even though I was a rightie and became more ambidextrous driving abroad and doing some WRC rally driving and riding big 2-stroke motorcross motorcycles (I`m in Manchester - UK) plus playing my tenor sax.
We must unplug - get more tactile definitely - see the body language smell the hormones - not virtually hehe.

Knives, scissors, razors, puters, phones are really just tools - to me;; although I collect some things - but, but, but a pen, a paintbrush are artistic instruments like my woodwind .
I have avascular osteo-necrosis (bone gangrene of full skeleton) since 1982 - which is arthritis with knobs on - but I don`t care I still, drink, smoke ride my 50 lbs Dutch bike uphill for 40 miles and go clubbing - I`m a Ruskie Party Animal - 59 next week.

My careers were parapolitical journalism/copywriting, Worldwide Hi-Fi sales and medical herbalism/phytopharmacology - I like a few strings to my bow - to stifle boredom and be more versatile.

Plus I did landscape gardening, hot-water extraction carpet cleaning and carpentry plus forged knives - I like different hobbies - like shortwave, fixing PCs since 1980 etc plus building my own radios since i was eight.

Oh yeah I cook for the homeless - hence 500-600 kitchen knives and scissors haha ! - hoarding heh - it`s worse than gambling haha !

 

[blethenstrom]

You are so so right blethenstrom - I totally concur - I swapped the mouse pad to my left even though I was a rightie and became more ambidextrous driving abroad and doing some WRC rally driving and riding big 2-stroke motorcross motorcycles (I`m in Manchester - UK) plus playing my tenor sax.
We must unplug - get more tactile definitely - see the body language smell the hormones - not virtually hehe.

Knives, scissors, razors, puters, phones are really just tools - to me;; although I collect some things - but, but, but a pen, a paintbrush are artistic instruments like my woodwind .
I have avascular osteo-necrosis (bone gangrene of full skeleton) since 1982 - which is arthritis with knobs on - but I don`t care I still, drink, smoke ride my 50 lbs Dutch bike uphill for 40 miles and go clubbing - I`m a Ruskie Party Animal - 59 next week.

My careers were parapolitical journalism/copywriting, Worldwide Hi-Fi sales and medical herbalism/phytopharmacology - I like a few strings to my bow - to stifle boredom and be more versatile.

Plus I did landscape gardening, hot-water extraction carpet cleaning and carpentry plus forged knives - I like different hobbies - like shortwave, fixing PCs since 1980 etc plus building my own radios since i was eight.

Oh yeah I cook for the homeless - hence 500-600 kitchen knives and scissors haha ! - hoarding heh - it`s worse than gambling haha !

You certainly have a mixed bag of hobbies that is for sure. I have a mixed bag myself, but not as diverse as yours that is certain.

WRC rally oh yeah! I grew up in Sweden and the Swedish WRC rally went by just a few miles from my house, where I grew up. I used to load up the snow mobile with firewood and hot dogs and other goodies and head up to the road where the rally was going by and make a fire have some food and enjoy the rally. The Swedish rally is usually held in February.

For those who are not familiar with WRC rally it is only the absolutely most NUTS PEOPLE in racing business that do that. Going 100 miles an hour on a snow and ice clad dirt road with trees close by on both sides, drifting through the turns. Exhilarating stuff! I am sure you had your fair share of excitement doing that and your fair share of crashes too. You cannot be doing that without being in crashes here and there.

I will be out of commission for a few days so no worries if I do not respond for a bit. I am heading to western North Carolina where hurricane Helene hit a few weeks ago to do some clean up work. I get to be a lumber jack for a few days. I should be back on Monday.

 

[psfred]

Nice pens!

Rollerballs are OK, ball points I'll tolerate but not for long.

I started using Sheaffer school pens in 3rd grade I think, and have always preferred fountain pens. I have a forest of them (just like I have a forest of straight razors), but my main ones are a Sheaffer Statesman Snorkel and a 1945 Parker "51". For moderm pens I prefer Chinese ones as they have very nice very fine nibs -- most of my user pens are Accountant or Extra Fine nibs, I cannot read my handwriting if I use anything wider than a Fine nib!

Glad you enjoy them.

 

[roaduck]

You certainly have a mixed bag of hobbies that is for sure. I have a mixed bag myself, but not as diverse as yours that is certain.

WRC rally oh yeah! I grew up in Sweden and the Swedish WRC rally went by just a few miles from my house, where I grew up. I used to load up the snow mobile with firewood and hot dogs and other goodies and head up to the road where the rally was going by and make a fire have some food and enjoy the rally. The Swedish rally is usually held in February.

For those who are not familiar with WRC rally it is only the absolutely most NUTS PEOPLE in racing business that do that. Going 100 miles an hour on a snow and ice clad dirt road with trees close by on both sides, drifting through the turns. Exhilarating stuff! I am sure you had your fair share of excitement doing that and your fair share of crashes too. You cannot be doing that without being in crashes here and there.

I will be out of commission for a few days so no worries if I do not respond for a bit. I am heading to western North Carolina where hurricane Helene hit a few weeks ago to do some clean up work. I get to be a lumber jack for a few days. I should be back on Monday.

Peter Hickman - On board - 2024 isle of Man TT

Sounds brilliant there blethenstrom - nice one !

Rally cars are for normal sensible people - when I was six I used to live in Port St. Mary in the Isle of Man and many years later I went back to do a few laps on my triumph Bonneville Jubilee 750 from `77 on Mad Sunday in June at the TT - it is quite hairy !

Also my Dad was a Grand prix driver in the sixties and when i was 18 he took me to Kielder Forest in the English Lake district and we had a good blast and a mano-a-mano.

At 1am we were sat drinking 2 bottles of brandy each in a Suburu Impreza 400 HP WRC in November - it was minus 5 and snowing and I remember Dad saying `Avoid the big branches, steer into the skid, double clutch, cadence brake and the little branches don`t matter - and pray boy`

Luckily there was no dog walkers around and we didn`t hit a deer - I was driving because Dad wanted a big montecristo cigar with his Remy Martin - got upto 135 in the ice and snow - in the dark - drunk - Well I`m Russian - I`m allowed.

Oh yeah I met a Norwegian girl at uni so i moved to Haugsund for 6 months - loved it - had to come home cos mum was really ill.

 

[Fordfather]

Also my Dad was a Grand prix driver in the sixties and when i was 18 he took me to Kielder Forest in the English Lake district and we had a good blast and a mano-a-mano.

At 1am we were sat drinking 2 bottles of brandy each in a Suburu Impreza 400 HP WRC in November

The Impreza WRC didn't debut till '93....

And they never had more than 300hp....

Too much brandy, perhaps????

 

[roaduck]

Oh course, my mistake Fordfather ; it was a Mitsubishi Starion group B prototype car - my memory after my stroke has suffered a lot.

Dad had a LOT of motorsport connections and we both imbibed far too much in those days - not just brandy - we`re Russian so love vodka too

 

[Fordfather]

Oh course, my mistake Fordfather ; it was a Mitsubishi Starion group B prototype car - my memory after my stroke has suffered a lot.

Dad had a LOT of motorsport connections and we both imbibed far too much in those days - not just brandy - we`re Russian so love vodka too

Beautiful car, especially the model portrayed in Cannonball Run 2 and driven by Jackie Chan

 

[roaduck]

Peter Hickman - Lap record - Isle of Man TT - 2024

Yep deffo Fordfather - that was a goodie and so was the film !
I love sleeper cars and unusual customs - I had a 1000 cc 42 HP 1959 Morris Minor in my mid twenties.
But after breathing on it for nearly five years - on and off in a crumby job I managed to put a small Chrysler 4 litre block and an old but good supercharger in it; looked a bit like the 1930`s Ford Pop custom in the mid 80`s ZZ Top videos - it was scary cos of insane power to weight - did wheelspins at 80 mph - not huge top end - 150mph odd cos it was tall and not lowered - It had flared wheel arches and big pipes with wide wheels but looked fairly stock - with original black paint colour.

Never put it on a dyno but it was well over 300 brake.

That was a Porsche eater but very thirsty in rip-off petrol prices Britain in the late nineties - fun car - girls loved it as much as I did !

I lived in the Isle of Man, in a tiny fishing village called Port St. Mary in the early seventies - where the TT happens every June - mad place - sometimes 3-4 motorcyclists are killed in one year ! As a kid I couldn`t see the bikes coming - 11 foot wide roads, blind corners and stone walls - but I sure could hear `em - during Tourist Trophy week I had to run across the road a lot more - see above - it`s quite hairy !

No room for error there whatsoever - most dangerous road race in the World - since 1907 I think - makes indy car ovals and rallying look safe in comparison.

Also had a Triumph Bonneville 750cc Jubilee from 1977 - very good tourer - not really a cafe racer - I took it to the Island 3 times in the nineties.