Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole?

[Truffle Finder]

Could you be a bit more specific than that Ghost Plane!?

Truffle Finder.

[esterbex]

She means this....

 

http://youtu.be/ilW5mOV61a0?t=3m51s

[Ghost Plane]

No money or time to get there. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! (Insert Lucy clip here)

[Truffle Finder]

All, has been made clear!!!

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

A couple of month's ago, I was commissioned to make some filigree cap bands to fit some Conway Stewart 100's, to commemorate the 100 years of a stationery shop here in the UK.

I made the 'master', and ordered the casts to be made, and I asked the gentleman who commissioned me to do them, if he would object to my having a few of the completed pens for myself. He seemed delighted that I wanted some of them, and granted permission to make them.

I am now at the stage where they have been 'finished', and are now waiting to go to be Hall-Marked, at the London Assay Office. Then they will be sent off to Conway Stewart, to be made up into completed pens.

I am hoping that they will be done in time for me to take my ones with me to the Little Rock Pen Show. It is always nice to show something off which is still 'hot off the press'!

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

I had a surprisingly good day up at Portobello today, the tubes were running well, and the weather was feeling kind to everyone, and quite a few collectors of fountain pens, and users turned up to see me.

The first sale was to a husband and wife team, who settled for a vintage Sheaffer, and a Parker Duofold Senior deluxe in black and pearl pattern plastic.

Then I had a small run of punters who were either wanting to sell some old pens, or some users of F.Pens, who tried, and then bought some of the pretty coloured pens.

Then a couple came with their daughter, who I hadn't seen for quite a few years, [2000, or 2001 I think!] when they had bought one of the silver Snake patterned pens from me to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary! He decided to buy one of my silver overlaid pens! Which absolutely made my day! They were such a lovely couple, and their daughter was equally charming too!

So, all in all, it was a very good day!

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

Busy little Bee that I am, I'm off to visit my old school to attend a Careers Event that they are holding there between the hours of 1.00pm until 7.00pm this evening.

I phoned the organiser this morning to ask him if it would be alright if I brought with me some tools and general 'kit' so that I could do some demonstrating of my craft while I was there for that many hours. He came back to me that he would be delighted to see it himself, and he felt that it would be more than a welcome contribution to the proceedings!

So, I'm now all packed up and ready to go, and I'm really looking forward to doing it.

I'll keep you posted as to how it went.

Truffle Finder.

[Ghost Plane]

Pictures or it never happened!

 

Had a good day with my accountant yesterday. First time I've ever gotten an "I'm proud of you" and a hug!

[Truffle Finder]

Well GP, what happened to the Pictures of you and the accountant then?!!!

Truffle Finder,

[esterbex]

So Truffle...you escaped early and in one piece....Well???

[View from the Loft]

Wow Truffle, didn't realise you were going to be at the careers fair today. My daughter attended and told me that there was somebody there doing clever things with pens. The look on her face when I said that I have bought a pen from you ... (no, she doesn't attend that school, my employer doesn't pay enough).

[Ghost Plane]

Well GP, what happened to the Pictures of you and the accountant then?!!!

Truffle Finder,

Redacted as need to know in case a whistleblower...or an agency...or a reporter...or someone nefarious actually blows up the pics and looks at those dratted numbers!

[Truffle Finder]

The Careers Event at my old school, went off very well. I had a buffet lunch before I set up at my table, which was quite pleasant.

Fairly shortly after I had put everything out, the gymnasium seemed to fill with young men and women walking around, and looking at the stands.

As had happened last year, it seemed that some of these young people were a little nervous about approaching my stand, [or any others, I might add!] but after one of them had done so, a small group gathered around behind those in front, looking on at a safer distance! Thankfully, once they realised that I didn't bite, they appeared to genuinely listen to what I had to say to them.

Very few of them actually seemed to be sure what they wanted to do when they finished their education, so I told them to think in terms of whatever they 'enjoyed' doing as a pastime or as a hobby, or even their favourite subject at school, and to follow that path, until they became 'good' at it. I kept on telling them, that because they 'liked' doing it, then it would not be a hassle to practice whatever it was that they were doing, and that consequently they would become very good at it!

I hope that just a few of them who approached my stand and listened to what I had to say, realised just how important it is to end up doing a job that that you 'enjoy' doing as opposed to doing something that you are 'obliged' to do.

Much later in the afternoon, a young lady came to my stand, and stood slightly to one side, as I was talking to two other young people when she arrived, but she was listening to me. When I had finished talking, I turned to her, and she said:- "You're the Pen Man!"

"Yes, that's correct!"

"My friends outside said that I ought to come and see you, you are so inspirational!"

"Really?" I said, genuinely surprised.

"You've just made my day!" I said, and I really meant it!

We talked for quite a while, mainly about her interests, and by the time she was about to leave, she handed me one of my pamphlets, and asked me to sign it!

Her visit to my stand really had 'made my day!'

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

Sorry 'View from the loft', but I hadn't noticed that you had posted on here when I wrote that last 'posting!'

I'm so pleased that your daughter mentioned to you that I had been there, but I suppose I was quite 'different' from the others that had stands there, in fact quite a few of the stand holders did come over during the course of the day, to see what I was doing. I just hope that your daughter didn't think that I was just the rather 'odd-ball' man who was doing funny things with his pens!!!

Forest School is as you have said a 'Public School', and I dread to think what the fees are nowadays, but I'm sure it would be a lot! But I was very pleased to note that there were going to be students from other local schools there this year, so the atmosphere was actually very balanced.

The things that I had to say to the students was the same pretty well throughout the day, and I was aware that the two stand-holders on either side of me must have got a bit fed-up with hearing the same words of advice again and again! Although both of them did come round to actually see what I was doing, so I couldn't have been that boring!

I was surprised how tired I was when I got back last night, similar to when I did the Goldsmith's Hall exhibition a while ago. One wouldn't have thought that it would be so tiring, but it is, or perhaps I'm just getting old!

Truffle Finder.

[Ghost Plane]

Good advice. So many drift as they're chased off from what they really love doing to follow "steady" pay, never realizing how little one needs to live on when following their passion or how valuable people are who know what to do with their hands & bits.

[esterbex]

Good report Truffle! Maybe you could sideline in guidance counseling in your spare time?

[Ghost Plane]

Excellent way to keep young people off the substances. Hand them a vintage pen, pretty ink and send them round to our Truffle to have a good wallow down bottom of the garden, eat some worms and come out sorted and raring to go.

[esterbex]

GP....where's that head-shaking emoticon....

[View from the Loft]

Truffle Finder, I think it is wonderful a) that schools no longer push towards the professions stereotype so much c) and that you are able to give so much practical advice to students.

 

Personally, I feel it is a shame that so many are dissuaded from developing their natural talents and skills. All of our three children will follow very different career/life choices (one heading for the military, one training as a heavy vehicle mechanic, and one possibly going to uni). Too many are pushed into higher education, hence the high dropout rates in some universities.

 

We need people who are skilled with their hands, not just an ability to think.

 

I went to an independent school in Scotland, and they frowned on my choice of career. Funny how I was invited back to attend their careers afternoons once I had obtained an MA in Transport Policy and Management.

 

Sorry for the rant, but I feel strongly that people should be able to reach for their dreams.

[Ghost Plane]

I'm with you. Still remember my headmaster refusing to write a recommendation for the college I wanted here in the States (attended a few UK based schools in my day). Said all I really wanted was a husband & children, not a higher degree. Here I am X years later with a doctorate, no husband & no offspring. So much for educational experts!