The Life And Times Of Platignumpete.

This is the first post on this blog, so I thought I'd clear up the question that most
people already ask; "Why Platignumpete??"

I use the name on many forums and with people continually telling me that I've
'spelt' the name wrong. They are of course thinking about 'platinum' the mineral,
whereas I'm talking about Platignum the fountain pen manufacturers.

When I was young, about eight or nine years old, my mother used to be a house-
keeper come cleaner for the 'posh' houses in our village.
I had always been a prolific writer and reader, which, when I'd tag along with my
Mum to these jobs, would become apparent to her employers.

Anyway, that Xmas, my mother gave me a present to go with the nuts, fruit and
other little goodies we'd get in our 'stockings' at Xmas.
We'd never get much, as we were a family of ten children in the mid to late 50's.

One of the ladies my mother worked for recognised my passion for reading and
writing, so she told her to give me this fine fountain pen as a Xmas present.
It was seriously the most beautiful pen I'd ever seen, with a real 'Gold' nib.

Of course, at that time I just loved it and used it as often as I could afford ink for it.
Or I'd 'snaffle' some from junior school when the teacher wasn't looking.
(Yes, we had the old wooden 'dippers' in those days, and we had to keep our
desk ink-wells filled, so naturally, a little now-and-again would get into 'my' ink bottle).

When I was Thirteen, I was mad about the thought of starting a band to be like the
Beatles or Stones.
Another older lad I knew had an old guitar that I had my eye on, so we struck a deal;
My 'Platignum' for his 'old guitar'.

Seemed like a good idea at the time, but the memory of that 'special' gold-nibbed
'Platignum' fountain pen will likely stay with me 'till my dying day now.

So THAT's why I'm called 'Platignumpete'.

This blog is all about recalling stories from my past
which you 'may' or 'may not' find interesting.

Please call back often,

Pete.