Enjoying Montblanc Pens — Broad, Oblique, Extra Fine, Le & Bespoke 2019

[thygreyt]

Thanks for the kind comments!

 

PoA= patron of arts, GC= Great Characters, WE= Writers Edition.
From left to right:

 

PoA 2011: Gaius Maecenas 4810

PoA 2016: Peggy Guggenheim 4810

GC 2017: The Beatles- Special Edition

GC 2013: Leonardo (da Vinci) 3000

WE 2010: Mark Twain

Meisterstuck Unicef

Meisterstuck Bourdeaux 144

[Tom Kellie]

Montblanc 149s — Bespoke Small Signature and 1959 BBB

[zaddick]

Wonderful photo and nibs Tom. I am envious of both.

[Tom Kellie]

OBBB Nib with Foliage

[Tom Kellie]

~ At the close of two years of Sunday afternoon English lessons (17 September, 2017 to 23 June, 2019) WANG Mingliang

presented a gift of a hand decorated card, four photo prints, and a traditionally bound set of two books of Xuanzhi paper 宣纸.

The paper grade is Shuxuan 熟宣, which is handmade rice paper which resists

both water and ink, being suitable for painting, sketches and fountain pen use.

WANG Mingliang's Gift

Traditional Design in Blue Silk

Fully Opened

Traditional Stitchery

Shuxuan Paper 熟宣

[Tom Kellie]

Golden Thoughts

[Uncial]

What a lovely gift.

[thygreyt]

Congratulations on the honor!

[Tom Kellie]

Clafoutis

[NotAWiz4rd]

That looks like a beautiful gift to receive!

[Tom Kellie]

Final Pen and Foliage Image from Central China

[thygreyt]

Wow!!! What a beautiful composition...! The pen, the nib's engravings, the leaf, the droplets of water... and as always, the soft and filling light...

 

Mesmerizing to watch.

[Toll]

Tom, that is an absolutely beautiful gift. I am sure that much kindness, love, and appreciation comes with the thoughtful gift.

[zaddick]

 

Final Pen and Foliage Image from Central China

 

 

This is one of the absolute best pen photos I have seen. Stunning work Tom.

[Cyrille81]

Tom, as always your photos are delight for the eyes! Congrats and nice gift!

 

Blue Hour skeleton cleaned up today and inked with the Blue Hour Twilight blue ink:

[Tom Kellie]

Shelf Life

[Tom Kellie]

~ Two weeks ago a 20 consecutive year period of serving in mainland Chinese universities as a life sciences instructor came to a close.

At age 65, I was 3 years over the mandatory retirement date. It's been an era of change in education here, which was a meaningful part of my career.

Yubi and I relocated to southernmost China where we're in a mini-studio apartment. Waiting for decisions from authorities concerning any future plans, we both sleep more than ever.

All fountain pens and inks arrived without any problems. Shown above are the ink shelves with ready access to ink, as needed.

The ever-reliable 90th Anniversary 149 Bespoke EEF is shown as it's the only pen which remains inked year in and year out.

Someday I might order a second Bespoke EEF, as it's a nib size in daily use for assorted tasks.

The flowers which graced the faculty housing where I lived in Central China for the past three years aren't present where I live now.

Fountain pen images will shift to accommodate the new living situation, with a different sort of luminosity.

Clouds from the nearby South China Sea pass by at a rapid rate, such that light shifts in intensity over a brief span.

I'm grateful for moderately robust health, generously supportive friends, and a Pekingese who is both affectionate and loyal.

The Montblanc fountain pens and inks remain an especially gratifying part of my writing life.

Tom K.

[Thymen]

Happy retirement, Tom! Hope you and your wife will have many happy years together!

 

Are you planning to remain in China?

 

My wife is from Beijing too, we have been married for over 32 years now. When I saw her for the first time, in the arrival hall of the old Beijing airport, 'she flashed her big brown eyes my way' and I was hooked. Was not easy, in those days, to start a relationship with someone in China, and it took a quite while before we even dared to confess our affection. But that shy little Beijing girl proved to have a tenacity that would shame a bulldog terrier. Despite of all the difficulties we finally got married, and live in the Netherlands.

 

We have two sons, and my wife's biggest joy is to show a photograph of herself with her boys to her friends in China. Her being half the weight and half the size of just one of the boys, it always makes people smile.....

[Kalessin]

Tom, I'm glad to hear your move went well. I'm sure the process of moving can be a little more complicated in China than it is in the USA.

 

Would it perhaps be possible to plant some flowers where you are now?

[empliau]

I hope you are happy to retire, Tom - and in that case, congratulations. I am also keen to know what the future holds for you, the wonderful Yubi, and your exquisite pens!