New Member - From Bendigo, Vic, Australia

[teengkoh]

Hello to all from Bendigo - a regional centre two hours from Melbourne, where the local OfficeWorks does not sell bottled ink, and where most people use disposable ballpoint pens! I love my small collection of pens, and hope to gain more knowledge about ink / pen types, as well as where to source them. Just like my Pandora bead collection, I believe in quality over quantity

[jrweaver]

Welcome! Im in the states but also live in an area where I cannot find so much as a drop of ink in any local retailer. Feel free to ask questions and join in on the conversations, as the folks here are most kind and helpful! What pens do you have in your collection?

Edited February 20, 2012 by jrweaver

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you join us!!

[Lalique]

Aloha, teengkoh:

 

Welcome to FPN!

 

You've certainly come to the right place to learn all about pens, papers and journals, inks and writings skills and styles and where to source pens, papers and journals and inks, including from the FPN store here : ) I am exactly with you when you say you believe in quality over quantity, and I'll mention the importance to me of the art in pens, papers and journals and inks too and how all of those together are able to produce gorgeous writing : ) .

 

I am happy you've joined us : ) .

 

Happy pen trails to you : ) .

[teengkoh]

What pens do you have in your collection?

 

At the moment I have a tiny collection! I had a silver Pierre Cardin pen and a Mont Blanc Noblesse Oblige pen (both of which went missing at work but how ironic w.r.t the MontBlanc); at the minute I am making use of my Lamy Safari in hot pink, and have just ordered a Noodler's Ahab flex pen off eBay. Along with a couple of bottles of ink.

[phrenzy]

Welcome to FPN! I know as an Aussie, where other FP users are thin on the ground, this place has been both a wonder and a lifeline ( also a terrible source of inspiration to spend lots of money .

 

Quite frustratingly local pen stores prices don't seem to at all reflect the current exchange rate, this is probably partly due to pen companies not changing their RRPs since the AUD was closer to 50 US cents, but it's meant that ive been buying most of my pens online. Combined shipping is an Australians best friend! We have one pen shop here in Adelaide and I try to do as much if my ink and supply shopping there to support them but some of the prices on pens are...well, not favorable to the average consumer anyway.

 

If there's ever any Australian centric questions I can help you with, feel free to pm me!

[Yuki Onitsura]

Welcome aboard from a fellow Aussie!

 

Yuki

[jrweaver]

At the moment I have a tiny collection! I had a silver Pierre Cardin pen and a Mont Blanc Noblesse Oblige pen (both of which went missing at work but how ironic w.r.t the MontBlanc); at the minute I am making use of my Lamy Safari in hot pink, and have just ordered a Noodler's Ahab flex pen off eBay. Along with a couple of bottles of ink.

So sorry about you missing pens. Maybe you could put up a ransom for their return. I'm sure you'll still enjoy writing with the Lamy and your new Noodler's! Did you get Noodler's ink as well?

[youstruckgold]

- Melbourne here!

[electricpowerman]

Welcome to FPN from Geelong! You'll find quite a few Aussies here among the many interesting people from around the world that use fountain pens and this forum.

It's a shame your OfficeWorks store doesn't have bottled ink! The Melbourne store certainly has it, and I thought all the others would too. If you're down this way, the Geelong store always has some Parker Quink bottled ink in stock.

Have you tried Myer? As soon as there's a sale on I make sure to drift past the pen counter. It's usually possible to pick up an $8.00 bottle for about $5.00 if the sale extends to pens and related items.

[Epictete92]

Welcome here from France ! We hope you will find what you are looking for...

[teengkoh]

We have one pen shop here in Adelaide and I try to do as much if my ink and supply shopping there to support them but some of the prices on pens are...well, not favorable to the average consumer anyway.

 

Thank you for your welcome!

I actually did buy a couple of bottles of Noodler's ink from an Adelaide-based company called "pendamonium". I think they had a retail shop which was closed, but they maintained their online store.

 

The service I got was very poor, so I would not buy from them again (plus the ink smells odd and clogs my Lamy Safari...) but I hope they are the exception rather than the rule.

[teengkoh]

At the moment I have a tiny collection! I had a silver Pierre Cardin pen and a Mont Blanc Noblesse Oblige pen (both of which went missing at work but how ironic w.r.t the MontBlanc); at the minute I am making use of my Lamy Safari in hot pink, and have just ordered a Noodler's Ahab flex pen off eBay. Along with a couple of bottles of ink.

So sorry about you missing pens. Maybe you could put up a ransom for their return. I'm sure you'll still enjoy writing with the Lamy and your new Noodler's! Did you get Noodler's ink as well?

 

A ransom may work. Or a reverse ransom -- "give my pen back or I will kill you". :ph34r: That could get interesting. Hehehehehe.

Yes along with the Ahab pen, I bought a bottle of Noodler's La Reine Mauve and a bottle of Noodler's Red-Black ink (I love the combination of red and black). It will probably be another couple of weeks before it arrives from the States!!

[teengkoh]

Welcome aboard from a fellow Aussie!

 

Yuki

Ah! Someone in Sydney! Hello! My cousin lives in Sydney

 

- Melbourne here!

And Melbourne, I know Melbourne fairly well

 

Welcome to FPN from Geelong! You'll find quite a few Aussies here among the many interesting people from around the world that use fountain pens and this forum.

It's a shame your OfficeWorks store doesn't have bottled ink! The Melbourne store certainly has it, and I thought all the others would too. If you're down this way, the Geelong store always has some Parker Quink bottled ink in stock.

Have you tried Myer? As soon as there's a sale on I make sure to drift past the pen counter. It's usually possible to pick up an $8.00 bottle for about $5.00 if the sale extends to pens and related items.

Geelong! My husband comes from [around] Geelong. Very good.

Yeah, our OfficeWorks is a bit short, I think Bendigo can be somewhat lacking in the culture aspect of things I am sure I can order it online and get it delivered to the store or something so I can pick it up.

I haven't actually tried Myer. Working full-time means that I can only plot and plan weekend excursions, which don't all get done because my plans are bigger than my time allows. I should. Our Myer, despite being the original Myer store, is also quite small, so I would try it but would not hold my breath

The enchanting prospect of writing in not-black Noodler's ink is too much temptation for me ...

[teengkoh]

Welcome here from France ! We hope you will find what you are looking for...

Thank you! So far so good lots of information and lots of topics to browse.

[jrweaver]

I truly hope you enjoy yor Noodler's pen and ink. Just ordered my first bottle of Noodler's and it's set to arrive this week! Oh and I like that reverse ransom idea of yours!

[Chris Chalmers]

Welcome from the south of Tassie!

 

There are many international places to buy pens and inks and even paper........ and the prices knock the Aussie prices into cocked hats!!!

 

So sorry to hear about your 'lost' pens............and I agree with both options - reward the thief with life.........if they return your pens!

 

Take your time and enjoy FPN where you will find information on inks too........and which goes well in what pen - if you get my drift!

 

[prague23]

[phrenzy]

As far as. Can tell pendamonium is in the process of shutting down so it's not completely surprising they aren't onto of things disappointing though. Our other store, pen craft is really quite nice though.

[teengkoh]

Have you tried Myer? As soon as there's a sale on I make sure to drift past the pen counter. It's usually possible to pick up an $8.00 bottle for about $5.00 if the sale extends to pens and related items.

 

Finally got time to go to Myer last night after work -- and oh look, there's a range of Sheaffer ballpoints and a couple of fountain pens! Also three bottles of ink on the counter - Quink black, Quink blue/black, and Waterman black. Ahaha. Thank you for the tip. I will know now to look out for their sales if I need some basic go-to black ink!!