Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole?

[Truffle Finder]

I'm just back from a really quite busy day up at Portobello Road.

Most important, was my Japanese gentleman friend, who came to see me last week, [and the week before!] and I had promised him that I would bring along my treasured collection of vintage fountain pens to show them to him. He seemed very pleased to be given the opportunity to see them, and he fully appreciated the near mint condition of some of them. He took a few photographs which he has said he will post on this thread after he gets back to Japan on Wednesday.

I bought a few pens that I was offered, which included a Vaumatic Maxima in silver-grey striped pattern, and a Conway Stewart single fat banded No:100.

Amongst the other customers, was a very nice chap from China, and another middle aged gentleman from Israel, who obviously is a collector of vintage fountain pens, so they both had a look at my personal collection too, and the Israeli chap was 'flabbergasted'!!! He has promised to come back again the next time he is over here in the UK.

All in all, it was a really good day, most pleasurable.

Truffle Finder.

[esterbex]

I'd say you are definitely winning!

 

Did the Japanese fellow go away empty-handed?

[Chris Chalmers]

More...............more!!! We need more!!! News of sales, news of projects, news of exciting trips and meeting...............more I say! Give us more please..............

 

Here the patio door is open to let in the sunshine and fresh air before it starts raining again - and part of my mind is planning fish pies that will be made later in the day! does anyone else just let loose in their head a few ideas and then ignore it until something pops up as if by magic - all ready to do? I used to do this with reports that were due to be written for Court many years ago when I lived a productive and busy life.............just feed in the detail skeleton and wait until I sat with pen poised.............and never had to edit - ever!!! Doubt I could do that now though - so cooking is the next best thing!

[Ghost Plane]

That's how my books get written. I'm a pantser, not a plotter. If I have a clue what's going to happen, then it's dead as I write to find out what's happening. :embarrassed_smile:

[Truffle Finder]

So, have I understood this correctly?

Both you Ghost Plane and Chris sit down and write down the 'seed' of an idea, with no real idea how the end will 'end'? :hmm1:

It sounds a bit like some sort of 'out of body experience' to me!!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the idea, but then I've never written a book, or for that matter, have I ever written a report for a court! But it does sound really interesting, so in a way you are both reading what you have written to find out what is coming next!!!?

I wonder if this has something to do with the left hand side of the brain, and the right hand side, one writing, and the other reading? :hmm1:

 

"Veeeery interesting!" [Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Circa 1969/70!]

 

Truffle Finder.

[esterbex]

Back in the days when I dabbled in short stories, that was pretty much the process....

[Truffle Finder]

"Soooo! There are three of you out there?" :blink:

 

"Veeery interesting!!!"

 

"But stupid!!!"

 

Truffle Finder! :hmm1:

[Ghost Plane]

That's it! When I sit down to write, it's like I'm watching a movie only multi-sensory. My job is to write down the bits of what I'm watching that will move the story forward. But I can tell you what soap my character's using, how their skin or hair feels, which way the wind is blowing, ambient air temp - everything. It's that real.

 

Or as my writers' group likes to say, "We depend on the voices in our head for a living."

[esterbex]

Spot on, GP. I think many good writers are just so....unless they are the formula-type....

[Truffle Finder]

The UK, [as everyone who lives on this side of the herring pond knows] has suddenly started its summer weather, and I couldn't wait to get the lawn-mower out! The thought of mowing lovely straight lines up and down the garden was irresistible to me! But, when I tried to start it up, it ran for a short while, and then it just died on me!

I telephoned the local place where I get the machine serviced, and the very kind man told me that petrol now has an added ingredient in it which causes tiny crystals to form in the carburettor, if the motor is not turned over regularly, and as a consequence it can 'cut-out'!!! :hmm1:

The man suggested that I could take the mower over to his workshop and he would be able to have a look at it, but he is inundated with mowers needing attention, and it might be a while before he could get on to it! So it looks as though I will have to take the carburettor apart, and scrap the offending crystals away before I can mow the lawn!

Of course if this was a fountain pen that had a problem, it would not present such a dilemma!

So it looks as though I will have to dismantle it, and sort it out myself! :embarrassed_smile:

Hey-Hoo!!!

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

For those amongst you who might care less about my escapades with the lawn mower, I can report back to you, that I have succeeded in sorting out the machine [with the telephone help of the mechanic at the lawn mower service place!] and I have done both the back, and the front lawn!!!

Although I feel a bit tired from the exercise! I am feeling very pleased with the job, as I think I have mentioned before, I find lawn mowing very therapeutic. In a way, it is a bit like the writers amongst us with the LHS and the RHSide of their brains, one reading and the other writing, except that while I am mowing the lawn, one side of my brain has closed down, [or perhaps is in 'auto-pilot'] and I just go up and down...... up and down........ up and down......... up and down........

 

!!!

 

"Everyday, I am getting a little bit better!!!" :hmm1:

I think!

 

Truffle Finder. :blink:

PS. Sometimes, I just sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits!!!

Edited July 25, 2012 by Truffle Finder

[raging.dragon]

For those amongst you who might care less about my escapades with the lawn mower, I can report back to you, that I have succeeded in sorting out the machine [with the telephone help of the mechanic at the lawn mower service place!] and I have done both the back, and the front lawn!!!

Although I feel a bit tired from the exercise! I am feeling very pleased with the job, as I think I have mentioned before, I find lawn mowing very therapeutic. In a way, it is a bit like the writers amongst us with the LHS and the RHSide of their brains, one reading and the other writing, except that while I am mowing the lawn, one side of my brain has closed down, [or perhaps is in 'auto-pilot'] and I just go up and down...... up and down........ up and down......... up and down........

 

!!!

 

"Everyday, I am getting a little bit better!!!" :hmm1:

I think!

 

Truffle Finder. :blink:

PS. Sometimes, I just sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits!!!

 

Sounds like your brain can stop thinking and relax while your body mows the lawn on autopilot!

[Chris Chalmers]

Well done Henry!!!

My brain does that when I drive long distances sometimes.......the bit that is needed does the driving, the rest just disappears! Don't all jump in at once and tell me............I know!!!! :embarrassed_smile:

 

:blink:

 

For my yoga for the mind I like to get busy with lots of chopping in the kitchen............ heaven!

[Truffle Finder]

I have to confess, I was not an enthusiastic follower of all things Olympic over these last few months, but my mind was definitely changed as I watched the opening ceremony on the television at 9.o'clock last night.

Of all the things that should make us Brits feel proud, from the Industrial Revolution, the National Health Service, and Mike Oldfield's music, even Mr Bean's comical appearance in Chariots of Fire was delivered with typical dry sense of humour and understatement, I was surprised that they hadn't included a Rolls Royce motor car!

It made me feel very proud having watched it, even with the Queen making an appearance!

I think it was a wonderful spectacle!

Truffle Finder.

[Chris Chalmers]

Hi Henry! I loved the bits I saw too - The Queen and Rowan Atkinson in particular, and even David Beckham has a certain something......... I've always liked him - since he first started playing football.

 

How was Portobello? Are you home yet? Did the Tube run on time, and could you get a seat?

I have mental images of you still on the darned thing, trying to direct half a million foreigners to where they think they want to be.............. and dying to get home again!!!

 

Sunny and cold here, rain and a bit of snow on the mountain - and I am oblivious because I have a new iPad............. yes, the old girl has joined Apple and am loving it! I played with it all day yesterday, downloading free books etc., even managing emails........and Solitaire! It is a steep learning curve for me because Ray doesn't know much at all about Apple.........he's a PC man and has been since before MSoft.......... but I am learning and enjoying it. Right now it is being charged for the first time, I wore that battery out yesterday.

[esterbex]

Hi Henry! I loved the bits I saw too - The Queen and Rowan Atkinson in particular, and even David Beckham has a certain something......... I've always liked him - since he first started playing football.

 

How was Portobello? Are you home yet? Did the Tube run on time, and could you get a seat?

I have mental images of you still on the darned thing, trying to direct half a million foreigners to where they think they want to be.............. and dying to get home again!!!

 

Sunny and cold here, rain and a bit of snow on the mountain - and I am oblivious because I have a new iPad............. yes, the old girl has joined Apple and am loving it! I played with it all day yesterday, downloading free books etc., even managing emails........and Solitaire! It is a steep learning curve for me because Ray doesn't know much at all about Apple.........he's a PC man and has been since before MSoft.......... but I am learning and enjoying it. Right now it is being charged for the first time, I wore that battery out yesterday.

 

It will soon become the Apple of your eye. Nice to hear you and Ray are on even ground for a change....Enjoy your toy!

 

I was quite moved by the history lesson the opening ceremony gave....and the music was sooooo beautiful. Do you think they'll make a soundtrack for purchase? I recorded it all....I was spellbound. Mr. Bean is one of my favourite comedians. He doesn't have to say a word to bring the house down....

 

But the newest, or oldest depending on perspective, Bond girl caught me by surprise....You go girl!!!

And that Daniel Craig.... Bond hasn't been that scrumptious since Sean Connery....

 

Oh....How was P'bello Truffle, dear?

[esterbex]

I wouldn't mind being Moneypenny....

Has anyone done a Bond or 007 overlay/pen?

 

 

 

 

 

[my63]

Hi Henry

Would you mind if I asked how you store your fountain pens.

I imagine some sort of vault with all of you precious metals and pens stored within.

Regards

Michael

[Truffle Finder]

my63,

I am pleased to say, that I fortunately don't have a huge number of my overlaid pens in stock to store securely! Certainly not a 'vault'! I have a reasonable sized safe in my workshop, where I keep my vintage pen stock, [in suitable sized folders] as well as a 'cutlery-box' which I converted into a display case to house my basic stock of o/lay pens, which I take up to Portobello each week.

Every now and then, when I have sufficient scrap gold to do a 'melt', I take the scrap-pot up to my friend in Hatton Garden, and he melts it into a 'button', after I have accumulated a few buttons, then I get them rolled into sheets, which I can then use to make more overlays. I carry a fair amount of sheet silver, but obviously it would be unwise to keep large amounts of gold in the safe, but it is always nice to know that I have got plenty enough to make a complete pen if it is required.

I keep a basic stock of O/laid pens in my booth at Portobello, but they are all silver O/lays, but the Arcade is well protected, and burglar alarmed!

Fortunately, my pens sell pretty quickly after they are made, so I don't have an excessive amount of complete pens to store!

Truffle Finder.

[my63]

Thanks Henry I am currently converting a writing slope (bought as a wreck) do you have any hints as my next project is even more of a wreck if that is possible.

Any chance of a picture of your cutlery box?

Forgive my ignorance but does gold and silver work in the same way as say brass or aluminium sheet I would love to have a go at working with these materials.

Thanks

Michael