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

[Tom Kellie]

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:

 

~ Cyrille:

 

For various reasons in the area where I live many images have been blocked recently.

Finally today the splendid images of your Blue Hour Skeleton OBBB displayed.

What a fountain pen!

The handwriting samples show how crisply it writes.

I'm impressed by the quality of the pen barrel, the nib, and the strokes it produces.

Thank you so much for your kind comments above and for sharing such lovely photos.

Your pens and nibs exemplify why I enjoy writing with Montblanc fountain pens.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

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.....

 

~ Thymen:

 

While there's no wife or living members of my immediate family, I do share my life with a 1½ year old Pekingese named Yubi.

The retirement was less by choice and more to comply with the requirements of authorities here which stipulate that “foreigners” must retire at 62.

I turned 65 last November, enjoying three extra years beyond retirement thanks to the good offices of well-placed former students.

At present my age prevents my serving anymore in a university faculty here. Friends are negotiating with the relevant authorities to seek a means of my staying.

The result of their vigorous efforts won't be known for several weeks. If they succeed, I'll continue to serve in science-related education.

Your wife and sons must be a blessing after 32 years of marriage.

I hope that they might also appreciate the pleasures of writing with fountain pens, particularly Montblanc.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

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?

 

Potted Garden

 

~ Kalessin:

 

Yes, relocating from one region to another here has its challenges.

The process remains incomplete as final authorization from the relevant authorities is yet to be granted.

There's no soil plots anywhere near where my living quarters are located.

As it happens, I brought potted pelargonium with me, which brighten the doorway.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

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!

 

~ empliau:

 

Thank you so much!

As it's an unexpected, sudden retirement, due to a shift in local policy, there's been no time to feel one way or another.

As it happens, Yubi and I were helped by several exceptionally kind friends to relocate to the southern seacoast, immediately north of the border with Hong Kong.

Much remains unsettled, due to bureaucratic intransigence. If a favorable settlement is reached, I'll continue to serve here in both scientific and environmental education.

All of the fountain pens and inks are with me, in excellent condition.

The ongoing adventure of my career continues at age 65. Having fairly robust health is a considerable blessing for which I'm grateful.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

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.

 

~ Reed_thoughts:

 

Thank you so much!

It was the farewell fountain pen image from where I worked for the past three years.

As such, a poignant memory.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

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

 

~ zaddick:

 

Ten thousand thanks!

It's very generous for you to write that.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

That looks like a beautiful gift to receive!

 

~ NotAWiz4rd:

 

Thank you for your kind comment.

It was wholly unexpected to receive such a munificent gift.

My friend made a special effort to obtain it for me.

Tom K.

[Thymen]

 

~ Thymen:

 

While there's no wife or living members of my immediate family, I do share my life with a 1½ year old Pekingese named Yubi.

...

Tom K.

 

Got that wrong, didn't I? Sorry for that.

[Tom Kellie]

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

 

~ zaddick:

 

Both nibs are stalwart writers.

For such broad nibs, at the far end of the range, they've easy to use for ordinary writing.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

 

Got that wrong, didn't I? Sorry for that.

 

~ Thymen:

 

Pas de probleme, mon ami.

The long hours my research and teaching have required wouldn't have been optimal for family life.

Teaching the children from other families has been a great privilege and responsibility.

It's nice to know that you have such an extra-special tie to Beijing, my former home of 17 years.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

What a lovely gift.

 

~ Uncial:

 

Thank you!

It came completely unexpected, which added to the joy.

The high grade paper is exquisitely suited for fountain pen writing.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

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

 

~ Toll:

 

That's very kind of you to write that. Thank you.

The friend is the provincial martial arts champion, and as such interested in traditional culture.

He was well aware of my use of pens and ink, settling on the exceptional paper as a gift to express layers of meaning.

After two years of working together every Sunday afternoon on English, his gift was the ideal conclusion.

I've been richly blessed with exceptionally talented friends.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

“I Never Chew Montblanc Fountain Pens”

[Zdenek]

 

 

I Never Chew Montblanc Fountain Pens

Yubi, try Pelikans. Maybe they are more chewable.

[NeverTapOut]

Tom,

Just an idea...Is there a chance of you doing consulting/adjunct work for the university...maybe not just in a full-time capacity?

I still "work" maybe 10-15 hours a week (Book...The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss) and still keep an office however new priorities have found their way into my life...mentoring others, various Study groups, a Mastermind Group (Book...Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill)...studying the sweet science (boxing) one on one with a trainer.

The point is if you are "forced" into retirement...trust me other things will start to develop that you love to do however they will start to become the focal point in your life. It's hard to describe in an email so I hope this makes sense.

Regards,

David

[NotAWiz4rd]

@Tom Great to hear that you relocation went reasonably well.

And even though the potted plants aren't as nice as some soil-growing plants, they do look nice and I'm sure that you'll find plenty of ways to include them in your future fountain pen photographs.

[Tom Kellie]

Yubi, try Pelikans. Maybe they are more chewable.

 

~ Yubi to Zdenek:

 

Maybe Pelikans taste a bit like chicken?

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Tom,

Just an idea...Is there a chance of you doing consulting/adjunct work for the university...maybe not just in a full-time capacity?

I still "work" maybe 10-15 hours a week (Book...The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss) and still keep an office however new priorities have found their way into my life...mentoring others, various Study groups, a Mastermind Group (Book...Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill)...studying the sweet science (boxing) one on one with a trainer.

The point is if you are "forced" into retirement...trust me other things will start to develop that you love to do however they will start to become the focal point in your life. It's hard to describe in an email so I hope this makes sense.

 

~ JesusNeverTappedOut:

 

Thank you so much for your kind concern.

That's so nice of you.

Living where I do is as if in an alternative reality, on the other side of the looking-glass.

Almost nothing which might be reasonable in other regions applies in this exceptionally unconventional place.

I should have made clearer that far from lacking options, I'm overwhelmed with attractive possibilities.

My talented former students have made such great efforts to provide me with delightful choices.

The one and only obstacle may not be directly discussed, as it concerns official sanction by the notorious powers-that-be here.

That having been said, there's ample cause for hope...

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

@Tom Great to hear that you relocation went reasonably well.

And even though the potted plants aren't as nice as some soil-growing plants, they do look nice and I'm sure that you'll find plenty of ways to include them in your future fountain pen photographs.

 

~ NotAWiz4rd:

 

Thank you so much for your very kind words!

Bringing the potted plants on the 26-hour non-stop drive from north to south seemed like a madcap idea at the time.

In retrospect, it was ideal, as it provided a ready-made doorstep garden to brighten my door.

Over the past two days I've walked along sidewalks with the specific purpose of observing blooming plants.

They're indeed out there, although not as plentiful as the home gardens where I formerly lived.

The humidity and Summer temperatures here have fogged up camera lenses when I step out of the air conditioned house.

I'm adjusting to that so that an occasional Montblanc fountain pen and flower image might once again be posted here.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

https://www.theceomagazine.com/lifestyle/style-indulgence/montblanc-starwalker-space-exploration/

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