Hello there!

I've been lurking here for a while and thought it was time I joined.

I became interested in fountain pens as a hobby last year, though I have used them on and off since childhood. I have about 14 pens, both vintage and modern. I'm not buying many pens at the moment as I bought a lot last year. But there are lots more inks I want to try. In some ways I'm more interested in inks than pens. I've never got anywhere near using up a bottle of ink - it might happen one day!

I work as a computer programmer and live in Barnet, North London.

Finally, I love the dancing rabbit, so here goes:

:bunny1: :bunny1: :bunny1:

Welcome aboard Howard. Hope you'll enjoy the Network. I notice that you were member 599. Pretty impressive number. The next person, however will be a milestone. Too bad you just missed.

The rabbits are cute, aren't they. If you search, there's a post with them all dancing separately - I think Wim posted it.

Well, as I said, welcome aboard, and please post wherever your interest takes you. I'm looking forward to reading your posts.

Regards

Gerry

Hello, and welcome. We Europeans will soon outnumber the Yanks at this rate.

Ray

I wonder if you don't already, Ray. Has anyone done the numbers?

Hi to you, Howard. If you've lurked, then decided to register, you must have enjoyed the look and feel of the board. Good bunch, here. Enjoy!

Quick follow-up. The interest in FPs in Europe is understandable, since, from what I read here, most schools are still using FPs in their primary schools.

Contrast that with the U.S. where, not only are we no longer teaching the academics to the extent that we previously did, we're doing it without FPs! C'est dommage!

Welcome to our little home away from home... I can't think of a finer place to hang one's hat.

Well hello, Howard

welcome to FPN.

i'm feeling less-than-creative tonight so I'll just leave it at that for now. Look forward to reading more from you.

this is a great little group.

Ink Well!
KCat

A hearty welcome aboard from a Yank - but certainly not a Yankee, although I have nothing against Yankees (NY or otherwise). I look forward to seeing you around the boards and learning from a vet (newbie here).

Wow, another Brit! Where are y'all coming from?

But seriously, welcome to FPN, Howard!
Nice to have you on board. This is a great site for pen and ink information so I hope you'll find lots of useful info here (I'm sure you will).

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! Yes, I do like this board - it is very friendly and informative.

I'm a bit surprised actually, that children are still required to use a fountain pen at school. I was, 20 or so years ago, but I expected that to have died out. It's good that it hasn't, though the cheap, unreliable cartridge pens I used at school put me off fountain pens for a long time. I was relieved when I moved schools and was allowed to use a biro. I think many people have been put off fountain pens by similar experiences.

My first real fountain pen as a child was a Parker 25 Flighter. That's a great beginners pen - it's reliable, and the nib seems almost indestructible (I haven't tried though!). I don't think I ever used it for school but it's working well now

Howard

Welcome to FPN, Howard !

I always thought that lurkers are like fruits. They fall when they are ripe

Enjoy the site !

Denis.

Hi Howard,

Welcome to our little fountain pen nut house!

Here in the Netherlands kids are still required to use a fountain pen at primary school, so it hasn't gone out of the window yet. Over here people tend to buy reasonably reliable fountain pens for school use, the Pelikanos, Lamys and Watermans come to mind. Myself, I started of with a Pelikano, a yellow one with blue ink window (even though it was cartridge filled). Great pen, lasted me about 3 years. Then I got some very cheap piston fillers , which lasted till the end of secondary eduction . Smooth steel nibs, all, so none of the problems you mentioned...

BTW, been to Barnet once, for a week or so, to give a course, in programming. But that was some time ago, when I still lived in the UK.

Anyway, enjoy your stay here, and may it be a long one!

Warm regards, Wim