I went shopping today.
I needed some decent sandals I can walk to work in and I hate shopping — especially for shoes.

So while I was in town (Most of the day) I obviously had to treat myself. I did. I bought a new fountain pen.
I love fountain pens, and calligraphy ones especially.
I’m actually appalled at how few fountain pens there are for sale now. Everything is a ball point or a gel pen. While gel pens are nice… nothing beats fountain pen and ink.
When I was about 14 or so, I persuaded my dad to let me ride a race. A horse race.
We came third and I won a nice Parker ballpoint pen and fountain pen.
Unfortunately I seem to have lost the fountain pen somewhere in the moves, but I still have the ball point and it’s my favorite pen, because it’s really good quality.
Naturally, I wanted a fountain pen again, and while I like the Parkers, I love the Cross ones more. They just have something… something. You know what I mean?
However… you cannot get one for love or money in this damn town. I settled for a nice Calligraphy Parker instead.
Naturally, I need something to write on, too. *whistle*
I picked a Paperblanks Charlotte Brontë wrap cover journal. Not my first choice, by far. I want the “Fragment of a Speech” one (Abe Lincoln) but no one bloody sells it in the UK and all the sources I found online don’t ship to the UK. ARGH.
Nevermind.
My other choice would have been the “Book of Kells” hand-stitched ones. I WILL eventually get them, but damn…
Also… I’m eyeing several Parker 51’s on Ebay. I’ve always wanted one. I WILL get one. Maybe.
I’m also eyeing a gorgeous Waterman Carene and a vintage Schaeffer…
*starts to drool*

Can you tell I love pens, paper and journals?

I know most writers love to write, but my handwriting has become appalling over the years, so I decided to keep a journal, with a decent fountain pen. Perhaps I can fix the atrocious hieroglyphics I use these days and turn them into pretty, flowing prose again.

Tags: Diaries, Diary, Journal, Pens, The Written Word