That;s really good advice MMD re waiting 3 days to purchase a pen. Always important to look after your health and appreciating those closest to you. Thank you for sharing your answers lovely, enjoy the rest of your week :)

Since you asked, and because it's a community thing, I'm going to take the time and visit the 8 questions. 🤔 1. I think I must have been about 9. And that is about 60 years ago😄 How time flies . We got pencils in school as we learned to read and write, and were promised "ink pens" later, when we were good at it. Turned out that those ink pens were awful Bic ballpoint pens. The funny thing is that at this early moment, my interest was more aligned with values I hold today, than what has been mostly the case. I had this romantic interest in "real" pens and inks from watching B&W movies on TV. I nagged at my dirt-poor parents until they got me a cheap pen of unknown brand and type. It used Pelikan cartridges, what we today call "short international". So those existed already back then. I used only that pen until I dropped it in a park, two years later. I searched for it until it got dark, even returned the next day, but I never found it. But for a time, it saved me from Bic's ballpoint pens. 2. In the beginning I was limited to Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue, Blueblack and Black, because those were the only inks obtainable in cartridges. Later, as I replaced my lost pen with a gift-pen that my father didn't use (he considered fountain pens obsolete), I used Parker Quink Royal Blue from a bottle. My main, favorite, serious utility inks today are Noodler's Black, Baltimore Canyon Blue, 54'th Massachusetts, because they are extremely permanent, yet still well behaved and low maintenance. My main leisure inks, oh, that's a long list, basically anything that easily washes out of the pen, neutral pH and don't fade quickly in daylight. There are a number of them that I have formed a special affinity for. Let's mention 'Lie de The' (JH), 'Autumn Oak' (D), 'Rohrer & Klingner Permanent Blue' (RK). Shimmer/sheen inks are not my thing. I would only ever use that for cards and such. I like all Iroshizuku inks. They're very high quality, worthy of their price tag. But they're not pH neutral, so you have to think about which pen you put it in. I suspect they're on the alkaline side. 3. Only as much as that I'm not quite as comfortable with slim pens as I was when younger. An ageing hand thing I guess. 4. Well, probably. But I'm not jumping up and down with anticipation. If I never purchased another pen or ink again,.. I'm quite comfortable with that thought. 5. I don't think I have any. It used to be a Nakaya Writer Standard, but due to that those pens are made by old, semi-retired craftsmen only when they feel like it, that particular model I wanted is no longer available. I'm not hurting. I'm good at letting go of things. 6. I don't know. In excess of 200 for sure, maybe approaching 300. About three dozen of them are shamefully expensive. My only excuse is that I have no debts and I have the money. 7. No. I currently don't have any bottle of an ink that I don't want to use. I hope to keep it that way. I do have many pens that I don't want to use though. And I don't want to give them away either. I only want to give away pens that I think are good. But that is what I do to sometimes to cull the herd. Give them away. 8. Probably nothing. Watch MMD's video on the ink? Watch sbrbrown's video on the pen? Eventually I might form the opinion about if I'm seriously interested or curious enough. Mostly not.

I really enjoyed this! Great advice about not buying a pen unless you wait! I'm a flex lover also!

Glad I’ve been on this journey with you since you started

Nice video! Wise words to wait 3 days before purchasing ink/pen. I own J. Herbin's Lierre Sauvage ink. A pretty grass green ink.

Wonderful video as usual! 😍I think your "3 Days" rule is a great one to help with impulse buys, and I can 100% see myself implementing it. Plus, it was lovely to hear how you got into the whole fountain pen and ink hobby!!

😂😂😂😂😂hysterical ... loved you counting your pens...now I don't feel bad.. thank you for that!!!!! Now I can go out and buy another 1 and not feel bad

This is very nice Fountain Penmanship....wow. This is a fun Pen Query video .... 1:07 ~ #1 .. *_When or how did your Fountain pen journey begin ?_* I had a super expensive fountain pen , but it got missing (5 finger digit discount is my guess)..i did the ballpoint , then the gel pens...but I started collecting fountain pens, recently , back in Jan 2024 (2 months ago 🤩👍) ..Similar to Miss Marilyn Darling, I started out with Dip Calligraphy pens, back in the 70's...then I moved into Manuscript brand and traded that in for the Rotring art pens for decades till they went out of business...I've not been able to find a similar brand like Rotring , and have settled with Chinese calligraphy fountain pens. 2:38 ~ #2 .. *_Favorite inks in the Beginning ?_* *_What are your go-to inks now?_* I went budget inks...I started with Parker Quink ink , for it's availability in my area. I love black inks .. Platinum carbon inks, cause its water proof ..but I am aiming at affordable inks. Since discovering Miss Marilyn Darling channel and others...I am exploring more earthly colors, like _Diamine_ Green-black and Diamine Writers blood..I am looking for brownish & gold inks now. 3:48 ~ #3 .. *_How have your pen/ ink tastes changed over time ?_* I started with the budget pens . ex: "Kakuno , Amazon basics" and "Parker pens" but now I am aiming for more clear barrel (demonstrator body) pens , that hold a good amount of ink...I like seeing my ink levels diminish ,as I write with my fountain pen. I don't know why, i am not attracted to the fancy barreled pens, like my friends are... I love my _Kakuno_ fine and medium fountain pens , and use these the most. The 'stinky' Noodlers flex nib, (I need to practice with this nib) couple of Lamy fountain pens (my partner loves her lamy) a Twisbi go fountain pen (great ink reservoir) a Few of the Jinhao fountain pens (great prices) Amazon basics fountain pen (budget but not my fav) Parker vector fountain pen (feels like a pencil sized pen) Staples office, General supply fountain pen (looks good, a bit on the heavy side, too small of an ink cartridge) A set of platinum preppy colored fountain pens (fun colors to scribe with) A bunch of Pilot varsity disposable fountain pens (for gifting to family/friends) and a Bunch of Calligraphy dip pens and calli fountain pens. (my bujo work horses on titling entries and making Language lessons with.) 6:51 ~ #4 .. *_Are there pens & inks that you have not yet tried ?..but would like to ?_* I started with fountain pens under $25 cad...but now I am changing it to the budget pens $10- $70cad. Eventually I will look into affordable gold nib pens, after a year of playing around and having ink fun. 9:17 ~ #5 .. *_What is your Holy Grail pen ?_* I don't believe in a Holy Grail pen✒🏆🖋, cause it would end my fun collection..lol. 😎👍 9:36 ~ #6 .. *_How many pens ,do you own ?_* in 2 months (since jan 2024) I have purchased 16 budget fountain pens & 6 disposable pens & 17 calligraphy pens 11:38 ~ #7 .. *_Do you have a limit on pens / inks for your collection ?_* *_Is it a feeling ? When do you know, you have reached your Maximum ?_* No limit for now...I am guessing , when I fill up my fountain pen case of 50 pens, i've reached a limit, and will stop, and work with the ones I keep. 12:40 ~ #8 .. *_Consequently, what would you do if another Pen/ink came along?_* Depends on the pen, and the ink and it's price.. LOL 😂 🤣 I like to explore new pens and inks...if it fits my collection, i will take it

Thanks for sharing. I had to pause to look up a swatch of Golden Ivy and it is lovely.

Love your wish list of inks!

Hi friend!!! This was fun!!! Wow you are so organized with your phone lists ... I love you ink wishlist! :) I can actually remember back when you were first getting into the hobby!!! LOL I was like ... oh cool ... someone to send ink to!!!!!!

Hey MMD, thank you for sharing! You have such lovely handwriting! I just looked up your grail pen, Loft‘s Jelly Bean 3 and it’s beautiful!

Love the inky fingers. Always interested in hearing the origin story. I love Monteverde inks too, as I got Caribbean Blue very early in my start as well. Very nice video.

I am so impressed with your ink wish list, I’m inspired!

If no one's offered to send you Aurora Purple yet, let me know - i can send you the ink flight sample I got!

I have a large bottle of Diamine Wild Strawberry if you would like a sample. Unfortunately I don’t have any others on your wishlist but happy to send you inks that I have. I have much more than I will ever be able to use!

Great advice about adding a pen to your cart and waiting three days. I love that you keep a list of inks that you want to try! I’ve never tried Wearingeul inks, but they look gorgeous and I love their names.

Thx for your video! Did you come across the Ebonite feed for the Pilot Custom 912 from the Flexible Nib Factory? Since I have changed it, the pen works like a dream with a great ink flow! (Found that info at the channel of @PensandTea - thx Kerri)

When hearing your ink wishlist, I will try tempt you with Diamine Leap of Faith (ultraviolet sheen ink,) a Phidon Pens exclusive from Canada. Saw a swatch in-person, and got a bottle. Gourmet Pens did this review - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pNB7pKh6q5u9oYU.htmlsi=159UfopkG27-sdmd