New year, new you, new pen?

Piston-filling fountain pens are great. There's no faffing around with cartridges or converters - you just dip the nib into your ink bottle and twist the end cap to draw up the ink. Simple.

 

How on earth do you improve on that? Well, by introducing a lock!

 

Monteverde's MP1 incorporates a mechanism that prevents accidental ink loss by locking the piston in place once it's done its job. So you can get on with the job of writing without worrying about unintentionally illustrating your work with a pool of Purple Reign.

Nahvalur's beautifully simple Original fountain pen features a transparent demonstrator barrel, so you can see exactly what's going on inside.

 

, a pale and icy frost-blue. 

Dried flowers are perfect for people with a penchant for forgetting to water things. And their vivid colours and everlasting beauty are the inspiration behind some of Sailor's latest Professional Gear Slim fountain pens.

 

There's an ethereal Lavender, peachy Mimosa, pale blue Hydrangea and a pretty-in-Pink Rose, all trimmed in rose gold and fitted with 14 carat rose gold nibs.

Dried flowers are not the only pretty thing in Sailor's sights.

 

The

The Winter Sale is in full swing, with up to 20% off all sorts of things, from pens and pencils to paint pans and paper. And lots of other things that don't begin with 'P'. 

A diary is a wonderful thing. As long as you remember to write in it in the first place, you will never forget an appointment, birthday, special event or family visit ever again.

 

If that's what you want (if you get our drift). You can be selective in your notes, of course, and still be able to convincingly feign ignorance if you need to.

 

Get 10% off all 2025 diaries!

, so if you want a festive bah humbuggy bargain, now's the time to ignore the raised eyebrows of those less organised and go for it!

 

Just make sure you store them where you'll be able to find them in 11 months' time. And that you remember.

is a charity that - among many other wonderful things - engages in 'tree-cycling' and raises cash for charities and community projects as a result. Hurray!

Fun fact for anybody who likes these sorts of things (we do). 2025 is a square number. Multiply 45 by 45 and you get... 2025. The last time we had a square year was 1936 (44 x 44) and the next time this will happen (46 x 46) will be 2116.

 

Wonder what we'll be selling then, in 91 years' time? Imaginary ink? Virtual pens? Flux capacitors and hyposprays?

 

Hmmm.