I have a Moleskine notebook. I’d wanted one for years, and I could never justify the fact that they are so much more expensive than anything else out there in that category of product.
But once I actually bought one in a moment of self-indulgence, I realised what the cost factor was. Moleskine notebooks are three times the price of other notebooks because they are five times as satisfying to write in.
I love it to bits. Really seriously love it. My £10 pocket sized unlined Moleskine notebook is a prized possession on a par with the Macbook. I lost my phone and wallet last week (on the way back from a whisky tasting in Stourbridge, as it happens) – and the first thing I checked when I noticed that things were missing was that I still had the Moleskine.
Of course, it has something to do with the things I’ve noted inside that I want to keep and remember, but it also has to do with the artefact itself. Hard to explain. If you feel anything for stationery, you’ll know what I’m talking about. I know it’s not just me…
What’s more, as a result of the Moleskine, I’ve rediscovered the joys of writing in pencil.
I’m a bit of a stationery nerd, and I love a good pen. On special occasions, I’ve been known to drop quite a hefty sum on a good Cross pen, and even for day to day use, I’m fussy about my writing implements. But purely by accident, I found myself with an HB and my Moleskine one day and haven’t looked back.
I’ve since graduated to a cheap retractable, and I’m on the lookout for the right mechanical pencil for the feel and the writing style. I don’t know much about good pencils, though I guess the brands will be much the same as the higher quality pens.
But in the meantime, for someone who spends most of his time tapping into the computer, I’ve gone retro for notetaking. Ink is out – graphite in.
And one of the great things you can do when you have a pencil and a notebook with you at all times is you can pull it out and make notes about whiskies that you try. My own notes are meagre, and contain just brief impressionistic notes like:
“caramel / berries / paint stripper”
But now that I have more of a reason to be more thorough – so that I can report back in full here – I have another reason to experience the geeky joys of nice writing implements. Your advice and suggestions for the best whisky notetaking tools would be much appreciated.
If only I had attractive handwriting. Does anyone teach remedial penmanship these days?