Enjoying Montblanc Pens — Broad, Oblique, Extra Fine, Le & Bespoke 2020-2023

[DrDebG]

1 hour ago, Tom Kellie said:

 

~ @DrDebG: Thank you!

 

Diji is 7.5 months old. He's extraordinarily affectionate.

 

Kissing, tail-wagging, pouncing on small toys — that's Diji!

 

Tom K.

Sounds like he is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing right now - being your best friend.  Well done, Diji!  

 

This is a bit off topic, but how did you come by this little charmer that loves Montblanc pens? 

 

[lionelc]

good to hear you arrived safe tom - ps beautiful dog!

[Uncial]

Lovely. Enjoy him.

[dascott]

7 hours ago, DrDebG said:

Sounds like he is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing right now - being your best friend.  Well done, Diji!  

 

This is a bit off topic, but how did you come by this little charmer that loves Montblanc pens? 

 

Ditto, well said DrDebG! 

[DrDebG]

My workhorses:  These are always inked and ready to go. 

 

From left to right:  

Montblanc Starwalker with F nib:  Montblanc Lavender Purple

Montblanc 146 LeGrand with M nib  (purple washi tape to distinguish from my other MB 146 with M nib): Montblanc Antoine de Saint Exupery Encre du Desert

Montblanc JFK with BB nib: Montblanc Royal Blue

Montblanc 146 Unicef with OB nib: Pilot Iroshizuku Murasaki Shikubu

Montblanc 14 LeGrand with M nib: Waterman Harmonius Green

 

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

 

Diji with Montblanc Meisterstück 149 M

 

 

 

Diji After One Week

[flaneur]

On 8/25/2021 at 8:26 PM, DrDebG said:

Montblanc 146 Unicef with OB nib: Pilot Iroshizuku Murasaki Shikubu

 

How much do you find yourself using the OB nib? Do you enjoy it?

[flaneur]

17 minutes ago, Tom Kellie said:

Diji After One Week

Tom, like many others I've enjoyed your variegated posts over the years - writing samples & photos. If it isn't terribly indelicate, may we know what happened to Diji's forebear?

[DrDebG]

8 hours ago, flaneur said:

 

How much do you find yourself using the OB nib? Do you enjoy it?

I love my OB nib!  It is my favorite nib size.  While I enjoy my BB nib, the OB is more useful for my work and my writing.  I also like the OM, but my preference is the OB.   

[Frank C]

On 8/28/2021 at 8:02 AM, Tom Kellie said:

Diji with Montblanc Meisterstück 149 M

I'm glad to see that you're starting 帝纪 out with a medium nib. That is where I started with Montblancs. Then fine, and then a broad, which is also a stub. It will probably be some time before he can appreciate an O3B or a bespoke nib. It took me about twenty years, 

[empliau]

Welcome Diji! It seems the Pekes and MBs go together!

 

I lost my dog April 30th, and have a puppy now too. May you and Diji have many happy years together!

[Tom Kellie]

 

Diji with Montblanc 149 M

 

[Toll]

Greetings, Tom and Diji. Plus, that looks like a Stowa watch! Looking good!

[Michael R.]

Yes, looks like a Seatime or Prodiver! Great watch. And such a handsome dog!

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[meiers]

Hi Tom, give Diji a big hug for me. It’s nice to see you again. Matt 

[DrDebG]

Hi Tom - You and Diji are looking good - the MB 149 as well.  

[Tom Kellie]

~ A heartfelt thank you to the many FPN friends who have reached out to express care and support in 2021.

 

At the end of January, 2021 there was an abrupt repatriation by the authorities in the country where I'd served as a professor for several decades. That affected about three dozen long-time expatriate academics.

 

At that time, the authorities made it clear that no export permit would be granted for faithful Yubi 御笔. The family of a former student (the collegiate men's singles tennis champion of Zhejiang province) graciously agreed to provide Yubi with a safe, clean, caring home in Hangzhou.

 

Regular videos and still shots assure me that Yubi is in a loving family.

 

Here is the final portrait of Yubi with me, at the moment of handoff.

 

 

Farewell Yubi...

[Tom Kellie]

~ On the day of departure disturbingly unpleasant events occurred within the security inspection area.

 

That resulted in the destruction of many bottles of ink, fine paper, and other items of value.

 

As it happened, the one small briefcase which was not treated with severe roughness was the one containing all fountain pens. They are now with me in West Texas, undamaged and writing well.

 

The extraordinary kindness and generosity of Fritz Schrimpf in Tübingen, Germany provided a large selection of their own superlative inks as well as the outstanding L’Artisan Pastellier Callifolio inks which are the mainstay of my daily writing. They also sent a wonderful supply of Fritz Schimpf Feinpost paper which is my writing paper of choice.

 

During a 3-day visit to Chicago in May I visited the Montblanc boutique on Michigan Avenue and Atlas Stationers on West Lake Street. From those visits I returned to West Texas with Montblanc inks, as well J. Herbin, Diamine, and Iroshizuku.

 

Despite having retired (I'll turn 68 on 4 November) I'm serving in a high school teaching 10th graders, due to the severe local teacher shortage.

 

Students have noticed and favorably commented on Montblanc 149s I use in class, which they describe as being cool.

 

Who knew?

 

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

~ Now 8 months old, Diji 帝纪 is an affectionate, enthusiastic, well-mannered puppy with a loyal personality. He's my loving shadow whenever I'm home.

 

A veteran AKC dog show judge (she's visted China 4 times to serve as a dog show judge) very graciously agreed to let Diji enter my life. Both of his parents and all four grandparents are AKC champion Pekingese.

 

He's adapting well to life with an older teacher, including the daily use of fountain pens.

 

The pen shown below is the original Montblanc 149 in my life, received as a gift long ago.

 

 

Montblanc 149 Connoisseur Diji

[Tom Kellie]

~ @Toll and @Michael R.:

 

Both of you are sharp-eyed!

 

I own seven STOWA watches, made in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg.

 

The watch shown is indeed a STOWA Prodiver Olymp.

 

The bezel is 18 kt gold, which shows up well in murky pools when looking around for amphibians.

 

The back of the case is engraved with a portrait of a male Leopard which I photographed in Sabi Sands, South Africa.

 

Tom K.

 

 

STOWA Prodiver Olymp and Diji