And just like that, here we are. Today marks 10 years since this little blog was launched. And what a fun and life-enhancing decision that was – to share a passion for fountain pens with the online community and become a part of it.
First, a few statistics: a relaxed approach to posting has resulted in 314 posts so far, generating over 1.2 million views and over 700,000 visitors, all of which I find staggering. My administrator’s menu allows me to see on a world map from which countries those views have come, for any given period or in total since the blog was born. The graphic for the latter shows that there are very few countries left which have not yet heard of Fountain pen blog: the Central African Republic, Western Sahara and the area of Turkestan. Perhaps next year, someone in the Western Sahara may search online for information on the Sheaffer NoNonsense and land on this blog, thus putting the country on the map (as it were).
For all these views and visitors, I am indebted to the good people at The Pen Addict, The Gentleman Stationer and The Well-Appointed Desk for often mentioning my latest posts in their weekly round-ups. These mentions always make a big difference to my viewing figures.
It almost goes without saying that when starting the blog on 5 November 2016, I had not envisaged that I would still be posting 10 years later. This year I have found myself posting on average once or twice per month which I enjoy without it being onerous, this being the leisurely frequency with which I have anything blogworthy to report.
I still remain as interested in fountain pens as ever. (For “interested”, read obsessed, passionate fixated or addicted but in a nice way). The hobby provides me with a great source of happiness, particularly now that I am retired from work with more free time on my hands. This remains true notwithstanding that the last year or two has seen a blossoming of my sketching hobby which leads me down a whole new rabbit-hole. (Some of the skills are transferrable, such as penmanship, scrolling online and gear acquisition syndrome).
As a means of taking the pulse of a fountain pen addict, one might question not only how many pens he or she has – which sometimes seems a bit rude like asking someone how much he earns, but how many he has inked in his pen cups at the moment. In my case it is 22, thanks for asking. A quick glance at these gives an indication of how broad my tastes have become, since these range from some of my most special pens (the Scribo Write Here Africa, the Aurora 88, the Montblanc 145 Classique and the Pelikan M800) down to a couple of TWSBI Ecos, a Waterman Kultur, Wing Sung 601 and an Osmiroid 65 calligraphy pen rescued from the karma table at the Pelikan Hub.
Part of the reason I have so many pens inked is that I had filled a few extra for the Pelikan Hub and try not to waste ink. Those piston fillers take a lot of use to write them dry. As well as the Hub, there has been the recent London Autumn Pen Show last month with new acquisitions to play with, and my regular monthly pen club meets.
On one hand I would like to be a person with one fountain pen on my table, which I can use for everything. But I am also a person who likes the variety of being able to choose from a wide range of pens for any particular purpose as the mood takes me. Thinking about a particular pen and an ink which might work well in it, takes me to my happy place.
November is the month for NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writing Month. This was a challenge requiring 50,000 words to be written in the space of one month, supposedly the first draft of a novel. I only tried this last year for the first time, learning that the scheme was no longer running and supported but decided to do it on my own anyway, (NaNoWriMoByMoSelf). My challenge (and it was by my own rules this time) was simply to write at least 50,000 words with fountain pens over the month. I did so not with a novel but by following from a list of writing prompts, or daily headings which I could pick and choose from each day.
This year I fancied doing it again. The particular notebook that I had enjoyed using for this project last time was no longer sold in Rymans. It was a Rymans own brand B5 book with lined paper, 100gsm and 8mm row height, 240 pages and 27 lines per page. It was lovely to write in and I do not know why Rymans do not sell them any more. So this year I had a look around in my stash. Although there were plenty of notebooks, it was not easy to decide on one which was best but I settled eventually for an Eccolo lined journal with 256 pages, 7.8mm row height, gsm not stated, that I had bought in TK Maxx. So far I am five days in to this project. But unlike last year I do not have a list of writing prompts and so it is basically an exercise in journaling and morning pages. Nevertheless, I enjoy using my pens, practising my handwriting and trying to write some pens dry.
Recently I did some penabling. It was at a family home for refreshments after a funeral service. In speaking to a lady I met, after stating that I was retired I was asked how I spend my time. This blog and Fountain pens came up and I was able to illustrate this by showing her my Lochby case with about four different pens in it. She wanted to test them all and then announced that she liked the vintage Waterman Laureat the best. I had bought this, and the Lochby case, both of which I love by the way, at the recent pen show. She asked where she could buy a Laureat. I explained that they were an old model no longer made but suggested eBay. A couple of weeks later I happened to see an identical red one on eBay, messaged her with a link and got a reply within minutes saying “I bought it!”
Looking ahead, but only to tomorrow, we have Fountain Pen Day on 6 November 2026 – an opportunity to indulge and perhaps take advantage of some offers. Personally, I do not feel that there is any particular pen that I need to buy. If I am tempted, I shall ask myself how it is better than any of the pens that I already own and, if I am honest with myself, it probably will not be. But it is still fun to check online, just in case. Thanks as always for reading and to those of you who like, comment and subscribe to this blog.
