Eleven years to like a fountain pen

Does a nib need breaking in? Well, its not something I've really considered in the past. I think pens can get smoother as you write, though some are beautiful straight out of the box. They gradually wear to your own particular way of holding it and the tip can be polished through lots of use. But its takes some time. Certainly, I don't think you should ever be worried about someone using your pen, though many people appear to do so. "Oh, its a fountain pen, I can't use that, it's tuned to how you write and I wouldn't want to alter it". Anyway, today one of my colleages made me smile. She turned round and said I've noticed I have the same pen as you (a Lamy Safari), and "Do you know its taken me eleven years to like this pen, its only now that its smooth". Now that's dedication to using a pen.

Getting things done

I’ve been in work for about twenty years now – marketing to be precise. Office bound, lots of meetings with clients and suppliers, multiple projects on the go along with lots of planning and endless lists of things to do. Everything has deadlines looming. Yet, I still seem to lack commitment to a time and task management system. This is a great cause of consternation. Particularly, as my wife points out, I don’t seem to have the best of memories. Though, it does seem capable of remembering lots of obscure facts about fountain pens. I’ve been through lots of phases; I’ve used nothing, day books, Time System™, PCs, a Palm VI, an iPaq, a Blackberry (currently mandated by the company I work for), Black and Red. I’ve read '7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey and lately I’ve even read ‘Getting Things Done' by David Allen to see what all the fuss is about. It has helped, but I’m still not there. For most of the last ten years I have used a black, rubber Filofax type thing (supported by the various gadgets). But the way I use it does change too. Sometimes it contains a written to-do list, sometimes the to-do list is on a ‘device’ and sometimes, like now, that to-do list is printed out and in my organiser. I use it with Filofax pads, and the paper seems very fountain pen friendly. The thing is, I want to write. I want to use my fountain pens and a great note pad. I want to look back and see what I’ve been doing. It works for my personal life, so why not at work. Maybe as David Allen says it comes down to confidence (a huge abbreviation on my part of David’s writings). Confidence in the system you use. Its pay-day today so maybe I am going to take a trip and by myself a Rhodia pad. What a great excuse. Now where was that book on Procrastination I said I would read.