Music, Reading and Fountain Pens/Ink are the current three ‘passing the time’ themes to end this year. Two choices regarding pens and guitar involve activity, learning and investigation of a gentle kind. The third, books, are simply the act of escaping. Blogging could be considered a fourth. But that is like the simple act of writing diary entries. Ergo…..Reflections and bad grammar.
Reflections from the past year’s successes and regrets of dismal weather, determining up/down mood swings, will change. So, in a day or two, self promises for the next year’s future hopes are to be considered. Already in situ in reality, it will be extended to planning those promises. Reality will bite from January.
To be pursued?
A new drummer for The XCerts. Writing in a focused manner to finish new songs. Finding some small live open mic performances locally to prepare for next July and the bigger Festival gig scenario with the XCerts. Planning some studio time for recording songs. Journal considerations and theme choices. Gardening interventions with vegetable growing, which has to be regarded as a relaxing endeavour. More social time and less of being a hermit. Oh! And chair yoga taken up for getting healthier. A book for a Christmas gift I bought for my wife. She had been attending yoga classes over last summer. After damaging her knee badly, it came to a stop. So, she was chatting about this method as an alternative. I’ll be having a go too!
To be honest, the weather has been atrocious over the last three months. The reality in the fact that a high percentage of days, upon waking up, involved witnessing rain and dismal darkness. As I type now, wind and rain howls outside. It’s been a challenge mentally. You guys here in blog-land have been fantastic and your positivity, which is/has been thrown this way to Summers-land, has helped so much. So a huge thank you.
Also. I haven’t been out on the road in the VeeDub Bus, not even once, since picking her up from the workshop last September either. In fact, I have seldom been outside for proper activity at all. Next year certainly needs motivational changes. The year has passed in a flash.
So. A few photographs below of pen and ink writing. Also my fave rooms for relaxation experience.
Please tap on the smaller photographs below and they will blossom.
Gray Summers 
Reflections and planning perfectly sums up what I’ve been doing too! It’s definitely that time of year. Looking at your images of your writing, I still love the dragon but love that fish too. Particularly its tail
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It’s good to have time to do this too. I like to doodle little inclusions with pen and ink. Ink flows easily from a fountain pen. You were using your own fountain pen earlier this year too I believe Brenda. Cheers and best wishes for the New Year.
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Yes, I’ve about 5 fountain pens. One was given by mum, so that was the one I’d been trying to find out about and what ink to use. It turned out to be an Italian brand but it uses pelikan ink
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Pelikan do their own cartridges or ink converters for using bottled ink Brenda. They aren’t bad prices either. I have a bottle of Pelikan ink which, when I read up about the make, a lot of people really like. If it already has a filling method inside, like a squeeze or piston mechanism, it can use any fountain pen ink. Be careful with Pelikan art ink though. It will be like a permanent India/China ink and should be avoided. It can clog up your pen’s nib and ruin it. I have a couple of Pelikan drawing/draughtsman pens which are specific with this art ink. Just ask Danny. He’s the knowledgeable one re: this subject. Be nice for your writing experience. They are so nice to write with for ease and comfort. The flow of fountain pens on decent paper is joyous. 😊
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It’s not my favourite pen – a bit too bulky and heavy for me. I tend to prefer smaller, slimmer pens
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I tend to go for mid range pens. But not the larger bulkier types. So unaware of any other slim choices that are great to use. Danny would be more insightful. Cheers Brenda.
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blown away as always by your calligraphy. and your setup of ink bottles and writing instruments is other level. so is though your positive + hopeful essence, which I feel from the tone of your voice and your songs to the warmth of the rooms of your home. wishing next year will bring all good things.
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Thank you cookie. Let’s both wish for a productive time musically. Onwards and upwards to writing our songs. The weather here has been gusts and raining for quite a while now. Weeks to months. So the rooms are very welcome for comfort. However. Need to get the VeeDub Bus (camper van) back into my life again and sit on a dune beach with the kettle on and a guitar in hands, sitting strumming out in the open air. 😊 Cheers cookie. All the best.
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Love all of your photos, Gray! You are truly an artist (with music and pen)! Your ‘Diamine ink choices’ image is remarkable for its balance and artful penmanship! Or should I say inkmanship? Serene. And yes, four escapes, or ways to focus your time—all worthy pursuits one can get lost in. Beautiful.
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It has serenity attached when simply sitting and writing for writing’s sake. However. Considering the fact that we are our own worst critics. I see the simplicity and naivety of my writing. I don’t study calligraphy at all now with its restrictions and poor skills in achieving decent results. So freedom exists to sit and simply go with the flow. If people say that they like the penmanship, then it feels nice, yet humbling. But in reality? It’s just enjoying the, as said, flow of where a letter can go. Albeit consistently in the same patterns for quite a while, until the letters get bored and escape to different shapes and spaces within the words. A slow process of working in limitations and then finding those fanciful moments with a wish to explore another new journey. 😆 Cheers Sheila.
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I love the ease and flow of this, Gray. Especially “slow process of working in limitations” and isn’t that what life’s all about?
p.s. Yes, I do think most of us are our own worst critic. And that’s why my writing coach told me to stop at “good enough” when I got stymied writing my books.
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It’s when you have produced something and it’s been in existence for a while. Then, when revisited in a year or two, you feel differently and realise it was actually pretty much okay.
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I think I’m shortening that span of time, Gray. Thank you for your words, always.
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Gray, your calligraphya dn artwork are amazing as always. Reflection of the past year’s successes and regrets is healthy. As depressing as foul weather is, it is beyond your control. Amor fati
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Thank you Danny. I have never heard of amor fati. So looked it up. Spot on observation that. Seeing positivity (love) in one’s fate and seeing the benefits to your life from/within all experiences. It has been a very positive time blogging. And it keeps the mind alive too. Wishing a great new year to you and your family. All the best.
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Thank you. An interesting phrase told to me years ago. Best of wishes to you and yours, now and in the new year. All the best.
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