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I was asked today why I don’t want to use WhatsApp.

“The chairman of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar stated that Facebook played a ‘determining role’ in the Rohingya genocide”.

Why would you use Meta’s products?

Okay: middle-aged, middle-brow warning.

Here are some stationery opinions. I wanted to start with fountain pens and pencils only, but some ball pens crept in. There are other great writing technologies. This is not that list.

  • Good European fountain pen: Lamy 2000.
  • Good Japanese fountain pen: Pilot Capless SE.

Generally, Japanese nibs are finer that European nibs.

  • Good every day carry (EDC) fountain pen: Kaweco Lilliput. Consider a premium nib.
  • Good EDC ball pen: Fisher Bullet Space Pen. The titanium nitride pen is the best.

If you are after mechanical pencils:

PS, don’t leave home without:

  • BIC 4 colours multipen. I like the 4C 3 + 1 HB (3 colours and 1 pencil) - but you have choices.

For a moment there I thought I had run out of shichimi togarashi

I’m an impatient cook, particularly when I’m hungry. But you can never beat the mise en place.

Marks & Spencer, if you must put made in Britain Union Jack stickers on your aubergines, use ones that don’t leave unremovable glue residue behind

I spotted something curious in the world of planning. It’s as if there is one unregistered company, Banks Solutions, trading via a Gmail address, that provides the independent programme officer for, like, every single local plan examination in the south of England.

Mammals aren’t built for flight, unless you’re a bat. And do I look like a bat? It’s not easy wearing the wings. They are longer than you probably imagined, and major unwieldy. One time I crashed I broke my collar bone, and trashed the wing-pack too. Now when I try to fly, I try over water.