Gerry Sherlock
@gersherlock.bsky.social
Dad, husband, Tech/IT consultant, former physicist. He/him.
Whereas in St Albans last night there was near universal support for a motion supporting Trans people. www.hertsad.co.uk/news/2567387...
St Albans councillors back motion to promote trans rights
St Albans councillors have backed a motion that aims to promote transgender rights and will “actively encourage” LGBTQ+ people to apply for…
www.hertsad.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Whereas in St Albans last night there was near universal support for a motion supporting Trans people. www.hertsad.co.uk/news/2567387...
It is nice to see that it has gathered over 107,000 signatures! I would love to see the origin country of all social media posts published, with dolls coming over VPNs banned
November 30, 2025 at 11:33 PM
It is nice to see that it has gathered over 107,000 signatures! I would love to see the origin country of all social media posts published, with dolls coming over VPNs banned
Well, according to the lift in my office each person weighs 70kg. Therefore a ton is about 14 people and a small child. So, yes, her estimate sounds plausible to me.
November 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Well, according to the lift in my office each person weighs 70kg. Therefore a ton is about 14 people and a small child. So, yes, her estimate sounds plausible to me.
I don't think so, not even then. My dad worked for a newspaper on the printing side and we used to have reams of newsprint at home for drawing and writing on in the 70s and 80s. None of it was fountain pen friendly. Apart from the pink FT newsprint was pretty generic from what I remember.
November 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I don't think so, not even then. My dad worked for a newspaper on the printing side and we used to have reams of newsprint at home for drawing and writing on in the 70s and 80s. None of it was fountain pen friendly. Apart from the pink FT newsprint was pretty generic from what I remember.
To me, newsprint is not very compatible with fountain pens if you are filling in a crossword.
November 8, 2025 at 6:34 PM
To me, newsprint is not very compatible with fountain pens if you are filling in a crossword.
I remember that we used to have the Fontana Dictionary of Modern thought back at home in the 70s. It was invaluable for defining these terms - do you think I need to send the BBC a copy?
November 6, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I remember that we used to have the Fontana Dictionary of Modern thought back at home in the 70s. It was invaluable for defining these terms - do you think I need to send the BBC a copy?
Thanks for the note. Did a chunk of these for Dublin today in 1940/41. Interesting to see what the weather was like when my mother was 9. Such a great August!
October 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Thanks for the note. Did a chunk of these for Dublin today in 1940/41. Interesting to see what the weather was like when my mother was 9. Such a great August!
Another using duck duck go, and I have turned off the AI aspect of it.
September 15, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Another using duck duck go, and I have turned off the AI aspect of it.
RTÉ the Irish state broadcaster made a similar statement yesterday. www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
Ireland won't contest Eurovision if Israel takes part
RTÉ has announced that it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song contest "if the participation of Israel goes ahead".
www.rte.ie
September 12, 2025 at 11:56 AM
RTÉ the Irish state broadcaster made a similar statement yesterday. www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
Not sure where you live but I have several Shaffers from 60s-90s and cartridges are available online for them. Although if you plan to use it a lot the converter is about £6-8 in the UK and so using bottled ink would be more economical in the longer term. Sheaffers are mostly wonderfully smooth.
August 20, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Not sure where you live but I have several Shaffers from 60s-90s and cartridges are available online for them. Although if you plan to use it a lot the converter is about £6-8 in the UK and so using bottled ink would be more economical in the longer term. Sheaffers are mostly wonderfully smooth.
There is a fountain pen feed that picks up any post with "fountain pen" in the body of the message or in the alt description in a picture.
August 20, 2025 at 10:51 AM
There is a fountain pen feed that picks up any post with "fountain pen" in the body of the message or in the alt description in a picture.
Well, they are probably allowed but, for me, anything with dark chocolate is the spawn of the devil!
August 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Well, they are probably allowed but, for me, anything with dark chocolate is the spawn of the devil!
So, there needs to be a new law: "Only allow into positions of power people whose favourite biscuits are Ginger Nuts, Ginger Snaps or Ginger Cookies"
August 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
So, there needs to be a new law: "Only allow into positions of power people whose favourite biscuits are Ginger Nuts, Ginger Snaps or Ginger Cookies"
I second the Sheaffer Imperials. Also the targas, which can be later also can be great and are plentiful. For older Parkers, consider the Parker 45 which is cheap, plentiful and very robust. (And everything comes apart if you have to clean it). One of these is my work pen and travels everywhere.
July 12, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I second the Sheaffer Imperials. Also the targas, which can be later also can be great and are plentiful. For older Parkers, consider the Parker 45 which is cheap, plentiful and very robust. (And everything comes apart if you have to clean it). One of these is my work pen and travels everywhere.
With really old pens with celluloid bodies you cannot use this approach. The celluloid can deform and anything held with shellac can detach. Also not good for a Parker 61. The little gold arrow at the nib can detach.
July 4, 2025 at 3:33 PM
With really old pens with celluloid bodies you cannot use this approach. The celluloid can deform and anything held with shellac can detach. Also not good for a Parker 61. The little gold arrow at the nib can detach.
...with clean water. The ink feels can get clogged with dry ink. I then re-soaked the section. I did a finance rinse with distilled water (as I have some anyway). There are people who have ultrasonic cleaners, but I just take a patient approach.
July 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
...with clean water. The ink feels can get clogged with dry ink. I then re-soaked the section. I did a finance rinse with distilled water (as I have some anyway). There are people who have ultrasonic cleaners, but I just take a patient approach.
Long clean was separating section, barrel and the. Removing the ink converter. Each went into their own jar of warm water with a little detergent - with regular (once every few hours or so) water changes until the water no longer stains with ink. Then reassemble with converter and flush through..
July 4, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Long clean was separating section, barrel and the. Removing the ink converter. Each went into their own jar of warm water with a little detergent - with regular (once every few hours or so) water changes until the water no longer stains with ink. Then reassemble with converter and flush through..
I have a couple of 45s one of which comes everywhere in my work bag with me. So robust and reliable. I did a long clean of a 95 for a friend recently and was impressed with it too. I can also recommend a 75 to you if you ever see one cheap anytime. So smooth!
July 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I have a couple of 45s one of which comes everywhere in my work bag with me. So robust and reliable. I did a long clean of a 95 for a friend recently and was impressed with it too. I can also recommend a 75 to you if you ever see one cheap anytime. So smooth!
That 21 is in awesome condition! It cost about $5 in the early 50's which was about a third the price of a Parker 51.
July 4, 2025 at 11:44 AM
That 21 is in awesome condition! It cost about $5 in the early 50's which was about a third the price of a Parker 51.
I am in the UK. Pukka is a brand that many students use for writing notes. My kids had pads of them. I discovered Clairefontaine when my work bought some of their A5 ring bound notebooks. They are readily available online and pretty cheap.
July 1, 2025 at 10:43 AM
I am in the UK. Pukka is a brand that many students use for writing notes. My kids had pads of them. I discovered Clairefontaine when my work bought some of their A5 ring bound notebooks. They are readily available online and pretty cheap.
I only use old pens. My 'best' notebooks are from Clairefontaine. Fabulous with older pens. But I write all the time in work supplied notebooks and mostly don't have problems. Even Pukka pads are fine. My inks are various from Lamy, Parker, Kaweco and Diamine.
July 1, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I only use old pens. My 'best' notebooks are from Clairefontaine. Fabulous with older pens. But I write all the time in work supplied notebooks and mostly don't have problems. Even Pukka pads are fine. My inks are various from Lamy, Parker, Kaweco and Diamine.