I have a fetish for pens – namely fountain pens, but equally for ballpoint pens and pencils. I just love them, period. I feel missing something if there is just one pen in my car. I need to have at least two fancy writing instruments and one of them is a black-barrelled Cross ballpoint pen given by my brother John as a gift from Oman (where he used to work in a consulate). I have a couple Parker Fountain Pens, a Scheaffer calligraphic pen (which I use to sign cheques – which is now very seldom as I prefer to pay bills online, so I take it out it to write letters or cards which is also very seldom due to emails and ecards of all kinds and blogs of course that need just a keyboard), a collection of pens I’ve brought from airlines, hotels, companies etc. They all live in big enamel vase, all of them need ink replacement.

My dream pen is a Mont Blanc Henry Tate which is actually a luxury and will probably get a customized Karmena watch first before that pen. But since my buying decision now is based on the question – do you really need it? Can’t you afford it? So getting one will be so remote unless I win several millions on the Lotto and have paid off my credit expenses. Then I will probably get one which I will use for trivial writings like doodles, or just a piece to hold and admire for the craftsmanship. If I’m on the mall and no one is with me I always visit the PenShop to just admire those fantastic looking pens. They look very different from most crazy gamer’s keyboards. There’s been a saying in the days past ‘what made a man was a pen’.