Vacuum fillers are my favourite.

Yes. There are even more permanent inks but they raise the anxiety and maintenance.

Perhaps Platinum Carbon Black? It is permanent. Has particles but it isn’t nasty on most pens. I use it on lower end pens that are easy to disassemble n clean. If not used for a while it needs a bit of persuasion but writes beautifully.

Try a hooded nib

Perhaps because no one is buying? First cost saving before store closures, liquidation, ‘under new management’ sign…?

Wise. Who knows which side the US will support.

Perhaps pen a letter to him? He might feel that he has to write one back.

A Vector calligraphy set?

I have that exact same pen. A fantastic writer. Convenient for work where I am a quick click away. Always ready! Congratulations on a wise acquisition.

Dip, dip, hurray!

Always have, always will.

‘Drive over it’ I meant

Akkerman has some similar blues. If you can get to a physical store. Hard to tell from screen to paper. Even screen to screen. A store that has a large variety and sells samples?

Have fun!

A pun indeed!

I have a cheap plastic holder and 3 steel English nibs my dad had from the 1970s (sounds fancy but not at all). I have a stainless steel kakimori and wooden holder yes, fancy). I had a glass dip I gave to my sister (resplendently red, her fav colour). I don’t particularly like any of them.

And another typo. I need to be retired. Sorry. More advice: ink may flow differently on glass or dips. I like to use Parker Quink as a basic ink that is well behaved. Some other glorious inks may work better but maybe not. I don’t want to be presumptuous but you can get a cheap holder and nibs

I didn’t put that link in? Perhaps I when w didn’t space the full stop? I went back and put it in before posting, perhaps a BlueSky oddity?

A dip pen is a good place to start. Cheap way to find out and they can flex more. All part of the journey or painting our words. When I took that journey I found that I preferred the softness of gold nibs that produced some variation. I aim to try a Falcon nib. Who knows what you would like?

You could probably drive and then use a Kaweco brass sport. My 2000 cracked, my Dialog3 clip stopped receeding,,,

I bought my sister a left hander nib (oblique) on a Lamy Safari in the late 1980s. She loved it. She has many pens now, regular nibs. It may depend if you’re an over or under writer. I think a medium sized nib would be best so it’s smoother but depends on the brand.hopefully a leftie will advise.

Better your finger than the nib in your eye.

In so few words you captured what I believe many of us feel.

Lamy Safaris are quite reasonable and are iconic and good. I have higher end Lamys I wouldn’t buy again when compared to other major brands. Based on build quality, breakages. I love the 2000 nibs but not the other gold nibs. So much choice but be careful. Best to test and compare.

Kaweco make solid pens. The Lamy seems to be an interloper.

From ‘…needle felting dogs’. My wife got the colour Kobo for nonfiction. It seems good to me. It’s not fair to expect iPad quality. It is easier on the eye.

If all you are reading is fiction then no real need but…

Believing in State leadership/responsibility for social justice is hardly subversive. Hand-outs from the government for the wealthy is hardly a fair distribution of money. BlueSky seems organised to allow less harassment esp of minorities and I am all for that. If Woke means compassion, I’m there.

Straight to device s okay if on holidays but usually there’s a few books lined up.

I have the bricked 2nd Kindle that stopped being functional and an Oasis. No more $ for Kindle. The others have caught up. I read fat books a lot of the time and ebooks are easier.

It states ‘buy’ when it should state ‘license’. Unless they’ve changed it recently.