This is my Homage to the humble, elegant and ever-faithful Pen.
I am proud to say, in this light-speed and soulless age of internet communication (e-mail, Whatsapp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, etc.), I have not lost the ancient Art of Hand Writing. Where messages, sometimes hurtful, are sent off without a moment of re-think and reflection of the regretful hasty words, oftentimes with typos.
I love writing with my pens, it slows me down and brings me to a serene place to contemplatively jot down my done-deeds for the day, or simply write down certain words of inspiration that I have read from inspiring books.
Being left-handed, fountain pens are too smudgy for me.
My favourite and sentimental pens – from over the years and presently (above image).
Amidst the heavy weights like Mont Blancs and Faber Castells, my daily go-to pen is my trusty Pilot BLS-G2-7-BB Roller Pen (left of image) with fountain-pen-like gel ink flow. These days I only need to buy the refills (S$1.20 each) instead of the entire pens (S$1.70 each). The delightful Uni-ball Signo Broad silver pen is used when signing my rock photography books.
I see my old pens from my corporate management consulting days – Mont Blancs (gold and lacquer pencil), Parker (PA Consulting Group). Such sweet memories! There’s the cool Disneyland Hotel, Tower Records and Swatch pens.
Then there’s the brass pen with fun inscription – “Those Who Say Money Can’t Buy Happiness, Are Buying The Wrong Toys”.
In my many drawers of pens, there is one just for my signature pens for signing my rock photography prints and books (above image). Sharpie (black and silver inks) Fine Point, ZIG photo signature 5 pens, Sakura Pigma Micron 08 black nib.
And plentiful of refills for my well-used BLS-G2-7-BB Roller Pens. I rapidly go through a refill every few weeks.
My other “pens” (above image) – highlighters, iPad pen, mechanical pencil. Sometimes I will use my mechanical pencil because it’s an old pal. Although I read mostly e-books, I will buy certain meaningful and inspiring books. I make it a point to highlight the important bits so that when I re-read the books, I will only read those highlighted sentences.
The pink highlighter is from my MBA days four decades ago, I’m still using using it as it STILL has ink in it. Seriously.
The Lightsaber is placed there to remind me that the Pen is mightier than the Lightsaber … or Sword.
Tomorrow (7 December 2024) I am invited to a two-day major annual Comic and Toy Convention at the iconic Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. I have left that page of my Filofax blank (above image). I will fill the page with eager anticipation when the day’s done and happily remembered. Witten on my trusty Pilot BLS-G2-7-BB Roller Pen. 7 for 0.7 thickness of nib, BB for Blue Black ink.
I know merry Christmas is soon approaching when I get Tony Gilbert’s UK Christmas card in my mailbox, arrived days ago (above image). Tony is my dear colleague from my glorious management consulting daze. Reliability and Consistency are a management consultant’s currency. Thanks so much, Tony! As you know your friendship means greatly to me.
There’s A Write Way or a Wrong Way.
