Anyone planning a trip to Lytham for this year's Northern Pen Show?
Sunday April 20 - just 13 weeks away if my maths is any good.
(That's 13 weeks to save your pennies!)
Last year was my first one, and it was great to put faces to names from FPN -hope we can do it again this time!

Yes I will be going.

Use to have our annual Christmas lunch there for the Northern Section of the Rolls-Royce Club.

Think you owe me a drink dont you

Absolutely!

I may not be able to buy anything - but I'm going just to meet up with folks again!

I can't wait!

I'm not sure under what circumstances I would have pledged a beverage to a stranger, but you're more than welcome at our table! Casmi is still waiting for the whisky she ordered last year, so you might want to bring a flask . . .

I'd forgotten all about that!

I'll know better this time!

Don't worry Carol I'll be there, (in fact you'll probably fall over my tables as you come into the room!) and I'll have at least a couple of freebie bottles of ink for you.
The Midland Pen Show website is now up by the way you can find it here www.midlandpenshow.co.uk.

I'm looking forward to seeing you and the rest of the gang once again.

Ian
www.cathedralpens.co.uk
www.wesonline.co.uk

Hi Ian!

You KNOW I'll be spending a lot of time at your table.......but that's just because you and Ann are so much fun to talk to!

Hmmmm....are you recovered from your last meeting with 'the gang'?

I've already got the Midlands Show in my diary - it sounds like a dream weekend!

Yep, just about recovered - don't know about Ann though!

In said diary, see you all there

B

I'll be going again, this time though i will make sure i make the time to meet everyone, really looking forward to it and saving hard Carolyn (partner) and myself are booking a hotel spend the weekend.

Ian, Any free bottles for me as well

You bet, I always try and give my valued customes a little extra!

I'll be in the Clifton Arms Hotel from Saturday if anyones around for a drink and a chat.

The Writing Equipment Society is holding one of their meetings at the Clifton Arms on Saturday afternoon, these sessions are usually pretty good and this would be worthwhile attending if you can get to it.

DONT FORGET THIS EVENT

Not long now, see you all there
Ian, do you still have the leather pen cases? If so I might just have to get a new one from you at the Show. Then of course I'll have more room because I'll just have to fill it with new pens

I think this show will be the best Northern yet, certainly Alan has been putting a lot of effort into making it a great show, I can't wait, my hotel's been booked for weeks and I'm really looking forward to it.

Yes, Carrie I should have a full range of pen cases at the show, I'll also have the full range of Diamine ink - and you will be able to try the colours out at my table I'll also be giving away boxes of Diamine cartridges to my FPN friends but I only have a few dozen boxes to hand out.

Don't forget that the Writing Equipment Society is having a meeting at the Clifton on Saturday afternoon and also remember that there is a pen auction on Friday and I have it on good authority that there are some very interesting lots going under the hammer. All in all it should be a cracking weekend and I hope to see you all there.

Regards

Ian

www.cathedralpens.co.uk
www.midlandpenshow.co.uk
www.lwes.org.uk - 2008 London Writing Equipment Show web site now live.
www.wesonline.org.uk

You evil, evil man. Leading me into temptation like this, it's just not on How do I justify the need for more ink...

Heh Heh only 50 colours to choose from!!

Happy choosing!!

Ian

50 colours?!?!?!

And 24 days to wait........

See what I mean Ian, just look what you've started now. At this rate you'll be mobbed by frenzied women in Lytham

Is this a new take on "come up and see my etchings" - "come up and see my range of Diamine ink"

I'm gonna drive down from Scotland on Sunday morning, then back up at night.

Looking forward to it, cos I've never been to a pen show before.

PS I got a cartridge fill kit from you Ian... is that Diamine Umber you use to write notes on the invoices?......

Hi Robin, are you brave enough to meet up with all of us? We had a nice pen showing off session over coffee last year.

I'm after a few supplies myself Ian, including one of those handy looking sac sizing gauges. Looking forward to the "coffee morning" and to meeting everyone. I'm planning to bring along a case of my favourite pens to show and tell.

I am going to try and make it to the show,I'm looking forward to it as it will be my first.

Getting completely off topic here, are both of the dogs in your photos yours? I've always liked whippets. My Lurcher is a Whippet / Staffy cross.

Back on topic, what time are we all meeting up for coffee? Plus who needs to know contact phone numbers? If anyone wants my mobile, just PM me.

Carolyn and myself are going to stay in a local hotel Sat night (not that its a long drive from Oldham but good excuse for a treat) so after a leisurely cooked breakfast will probably be there 10.30/11ish.

Forgot to say Ian, you know what would be a great idea if you have time, a few words in a few of the Diamine colours on paper just to get a true idea of the shade. Be great if you could manage it

Silly question time, what time do doors open?

Probably about a half hour after I arrive and press my nose to the door and my eye to the crack in the door, trying to eye up Ian's inks!

I am going to go as well - It sounds like it will be a "baptism of ink", rather than a "baptism of fire" , but I have questions ,
questions

When does it start ? , and what kind of stalls are there likely to be ?

Do the FPN people wear pink carnations !

It would be great to have a look at a Vanishing point to see whether the clip is a problem or not for me.

I look forward to meeting everyone.

John

I'll hopefully be there as well - dragging my suffering other half behind me.

Staying at a friends in Lytham so should be there bright and early. I'll try and bring a few pens with me - just have to decide which ones.

Hope to meet up with some of you there.

Cheers

John

Okay, shall we say 12:00 in the bar area for meeting up, that should give us all time to make some purchases. Or do we just look for all the people who make a mad dash for Ian's stall as soon as doors open

John, I don't have a VP anymore, but I can bring my Decimo along for you to have a look at.

I've been putting money away just for this! I'm thinking of taking my rolling carry on luggage to take home all of the Diamine ink I'm going to be leaving there with!

12 noon it is!

Right, everyone should have had a PM with my mobile number if you fancy meeting up with us in the bar area, I've obviously got my organising head on tonight
Carrie

For those of us new to this how do we recognise fellow FPNers ?? Well apart from the 'child in a sweet shop' glaze on their faces of course

I'll be there, looking forward to seeing you all again! Carrie and Casmi, I've got both your numbers so me and the better half will catch up with you at the very least!
PenNut, last year we just kind of "sensed" each other . Although Casmi made me a FPN badge I probably still have!

Hmmmmm.......I may be able to attempt again this year......of course, none of us actually wore ours last year and we found each other anyway!

If folks would like FPN badges, PM me and I will see what I can do!

I think Casmi and me were actually standing right next to each other when we phoned each other last year. Hmmm, FPN badge, forgot to take mine with me last year and have no idea where it might be now. Thanks to everyone who has replied to my PM. Will have to sort out what pens I'm taking along. Who's going to be the first to be thrown out of the bar when one of their pens decides to deposit all of its ink on the carpet If anyone is looking to add a Duofold Mosaic to their collection then let me know and I might just bring that along with me too.

The temptation to take every pen I have to the show is great - I have considerably more than last year!

I'll try to be good though and restrict myself - though I will be taking along my FPN LE Bexley, barely used, should anyone wish to buy it - failing that it will be going in the marketplace afterwards. So this way you save on postage costs!
It's a broad steel nib, and has been used to the tune of about half a convertor fill.
Basically I thought I wanted broad, and really I didn't, but, hey, we all make mistakes!
It cost me £50 including postage, I'm looking for £40, or an interesting trade.
Or anyone can PM me if they want to bag it beforehand and I'll bring it for you.
And if anyone wants my mobile no. for the day and the Great High Noon Meet, PM for that too.



(Moderators, please move this to marketplace if you prefer)

Hi all, will of course see you all there... in the usual place

Annie, I would indeed be interested in the FPN Bexley. I assume it's the blue and white mottled one? By the way, how broad is it? so put a hold on it for me, if it's the right model.

I have a couple of new-ish pens that I could bring along that need new homes. But before I put up a list, I'll have a proper dig through what's here.

As I've skipped through this post, can I make a wee suggestion? if people are planning to put stuff up for potential sale, can we use this post for potential lists & pricing? It'd make my job certainly easier to identify what I might want before I arrive.

As an aside to my above request, I wouldn't mind actually seeing a UK sales board, that way, I wouldn't have to agonise over the time & customs dilemmas of our overseas pens. what does everyone else think?

regards
Bren

Oh god, this is going to be torture, a pen show and folks from here selling pens. Should I just empty the bank account now

One week from today.....that's only 7 days......165 hours.......9900 minutes............

Not that I'm looking forward to this or anything.......

If any of you are interested in ink swaps please say. I have a bottle of noodlers black (one use) i don't like, not black enough. Also full bottle of Diamine Dk brown, good but i prefer my watermans Havana. May have some others also, i am looking for a standard red, possibly skrip or Watermans. Pm me if your interested. Just a by the by, i will only have vintage pens to show and tell apart from a couple of Phileas's don't own moderns

Sounds like it might be fun, unfortunately I have another engagement (don't get North of Watford much anymore).

Hope you lot have fun and I look forward to a report (with photos) when it's all done.

Andy

Hey folks ! Once again, I have two tables at the show.
One will be dedicated to an eclectic mix of modern pens and the other will have a nice selection of vintage.
Lots of nice Sheaffer Balances and Parker Vacumatics on offer as usual.
Hopefully, I will have something that will appeal to you.
Please drop by and say hello. Don't forget to let me know that you are a FPNer, it usually helps with the haggling!

I should be able to drag my son out of bed on Sunday morning.
Better get started sorting and pricing !

Click to view attachment

Well, I'll be there, probably a bit occupied in the hall, but if you occassion to see someone outside, partaking of the dreaded weed, and a wee white dog (Jack the westie) in tow, I hope you'll say hello.

Eric

Look forward to meeting you Eric, addicted myself so we can share some sea air

THE PANIC HAS SET IN!
Only three days to go and so much to do - I'm really getting to old for all this stress!!!

I'll have the full range of Diamine inks for you to try and perhaps buy! INCLUDING A BRAND NEW COLOUR!!!! It does not go on general release until after the show but I'll have it on Sunday! It's a green (my favourite colour) called KELLY GREEN, it has been blended to match a specification put forward to Diamine by a fellow FPNer.

I'll also have lots of other bits and pieces including, for the first time, a parts box for you to rummage through you never know you might find that cap or barrel that you've been looking for. I'm also clearing out the remains of my Private Reserve inks @ £4/bottle and a load of cartridges @ £1.50/box, I think I've also got a couple of mixing kits knocking around as well.

Is anybody coming up on Saturday? I'll be in the bar of the Clifton Arms from around 6:30pm, for me this is when the excitement of the show starts, meeting up with fellow collectors and dealers for a bit of relaxed conversation and a few (or more drinks), there's never any time on Sunday.

There will be a 10% discount on all marked prices for any of the FPN gang so please make sure that you let me know who you are.

I'm really looking forward to seeing you all at the weekend.

Regards

Ian

www.cathedralpens.co.uk
www.midlandpenshow.co.uk
www.lwes.org.uk (London Show site is now live)
www.wesonline.org.uk

P.S. I had a telephone call from David Shepherd tonight, his new book on the Parker Vacumatic is now ready and being launched at the Chicago Show in the USA and at the Midland Pen Weekend here in the UK. He's putting a copy in the post to me tomorrow so I'll bring it with me if it arrives in time.

Hi Robin,

You'll love the Northern, it's a great show for a first timer (I know it was my first ever show as well), nice and compact and full of really nice, friendly people although it is only fair to warn you there is a bit of a mad element amongst the FPN fraternity (they know who they are - don't you Casmi/Carrie )

No, its Diamine Emerald. I'll have plenty of Umber with me on Sunday. Have a safe journey down and look forward to seeing you so please make sure that you say Hi.

Regards

Ian

I'll be providing the ink, the paper and the pen so you can try every one of the 50 colours yourself - have fun!

See you Sunday or even better on Saturday evening!!!

Regards

Ian

Hi John,
I use a vanishing point every day, great pens I'll have mine with me on Sunday so you can have a play with it if you come to my table (Cathedral Pens) its the first table that you see as you come in the door. I haven't any for sale unfortunately as I sold out at the London show in October.

Regards

Ian

www.cathedralpens.co.uk
www.midlandpenshow.co.uk
www.lwes.org.uk
www.wesonline.org.uk