what's in my bag #23: a new addition!

I bought this Kate Spade bag in the sale earlier this month. It's perfect - small enough to fit the essentials, not too big for me to stuff it with everything and the kitchen sink and can be worn as a grab bag or with a detachable shoulder strap. I don't actually own many black or crossbody bags so this is perfect to cover both bases.

The bag has an outside slip pocket which can fit a few slim things.

And the contents of the bag itself:

With the contents of the slip pocket in the bottom row:

Contents (top left, clockwise): water bottle, stethoscope, make up bag with basic medicines and make up, a Katie Leamon notebook, portable charger, tote bag, hand cream, pocket tissues, chewing up, lip balm, a Lamy Al-Star fountain pen, another lip balm, more chewing gum!, dried fruit and nuts, glasses (just in case as I tend to wear contact lenses!). 

I still think I carry a bit too much! Sometimes, my shoulder does ache from carrying all of this around. In those instances, I whip the tote bag out and transfer the heavier items into it and sling it onto the opposite shoulder. I've found it hard to whittle down what to carry though - I think all of these are essentials! In the summer, it's even more difficult as I sometimes cram a few of these items in my coat pockets (Barbour jackets are amazing for extra pockets) and of course, no coats are worn during the summer (but this is the UK so anything could happen!).

This has become my favourite work bag on the days I am on site where I have a locker. Otherwise, I use my Longchamp as this one is a bit too precious for me to not leave locked up. Anyone else do something similar? 

book reviews: books by people in comedy (Joe Lycett, Sarah Millican, James Acaster, Aziz Ansari)

I've been reading solidly this year (twenty-one books so far!) and thought I'd return to doing a few brief book reviews. This year, I thought I'd categorise them a bit so in this first instalment: books by people in comedy. I watch a lot of comedy on TV and have yet to go to a proper show in person. It's actually one of my goals for this year and once I start my new job in August (which is purely Monday to Friday, 9-5, no weekends/nights/antisocial shifts), I am hoping to head to one then. Especially as one day a week is spent in Central London!

Anyway, there are many comedians I have found funny over the years. Some I didn't think were funny to begin with but seeing them on a programme they wouldn't usually be on changed that (James Acaster is the perfect example here: I didn't find him hilarious on Mock the Week but when I watched an episode of the Great British Bake Off: Stand Up to Cancer where he was one of the bakers, I found myself belly laughing at every quip he came up with!). This post features books from Joe Lycett, Sarah Millican, James Acaster (of course) and Aziz Ansari. I was going to put Adam Kay's This Is Going to Hurt in here too but I have saved that for a more medical/science edition!

Parsnips, Buttered: How to win at modern life, one email at a time - Joe Lycett

If you've ever seen Joe Lycett on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, you'll know that he loves writing a complaint email or two. And he does them extremely well! This book just expands on that and how he manages to create hilarity out of even the most mundane of situations. His drawings in it also add to this hilarity and I found myself laughing out loud at least once every five minutes - good job I live alone, eh! 

If you love a book that is full of anecdotes of situations where Joe capitalises on the opportunity to write a sassy email or two about something negative that has happened to him, this is the book for you. You'll tear through it in no time. I found myself finishing it in two evenings! 8/10

How to be Champion: My Autobiography - Sarah Millican

I love a strong female comedienne and Sarah Millican is definitely one of those! Her book has done a good job of transferring her Geordie humour onto paper, whilst still maintaining a moderately serious tone with her tips at the end of each chapter on 'how to be champion'. She writes about romance, friendship, being bullied, each career she's had and also about family. Though not an autobiography in the chronological sense, it touches on each part of her life and how it has made her the person she is now. And with plenty of humour too. 

And I also like how she writes about not having kids. I think too many women are judged on whether or not they've given birth, and if not, when they are planning to have children. In this day and age, why can we not just be career women, or a someone who likes their life the way it is? For me, this was the best message she could have conveyed in her book and I would urge all young, strong women read her book just for this alone. 9/10

James Acaster's Classic Scrapes - James Acaster

Having seen James Acaster on Would I Lie to You?, I knew the stories about 'cabbaging' and him sleeping in a dress would come up. And I was not disappointed! These are just two of many funny stories of situations James has got himself into. I'm sure if we all looked back on our own lives, there would be stories similar to his but he manages to tell them all in an endearing way. I think he's a comedian who has grown and got funnier over the years and this book is evidence of that.

If you're after a light-hearted read or have had a spate of bad luck recently, this is definitely the book to get stuck into. 8/10

Modern Romance - Aziz Ansari

One of my friends from medical school actually recommended I read this a number of years ago. With the rise and success (if we can call it that) of various dating apps worldwide, this book writes about how romance and dating have changed to the state it is in now. If you've ever used a dating app, it actually makes a lot of sense! Our generation meet people very differently. I've met patients in their 80s and 90s who have been married for 50/60/70 years and met their partner at a dance or were neighbours, etc. Now? We meet people through jobs, through friends of friends, through apps! And we're very much an 'instant' generation which makes it enticing to swipe for a date. Aziz backs up his observations with studies and expert opinions too so it's not just a bloke who's opinionated about dating!

Definitely worth a read. I'm not ashamed to admit I've used a dating app or two and it's interesting how much of it you can relate to if you've ever gone through all of that! 8/10


** all book covers from Amazon.co.uk **

the parker IM special edition in midnight astral

A Parker fountain pen was my first ever fountain pen and at school, I used various models. My mum's Parker 45 was my absolute favourite and as a result, the Parker 45 will always have a special place in my heart. Parker have slipped off the fountain pen radar somewhat in recent years. I would say that their popularity ebbs and flows with their vintage offerings more popular than their modern counterparts. However, it appears they are trying to change this with the introduction of a Special Edition IM line. 

Here, I present to you the Parker IM Special Edition in Midnight Astral with a medium nib. The rest of this post is pictorial so sit back and enjoy!

*** Disclaimer: This pen was provided by Executive Pens Direct for an honest review. It has been reviewed as impartially as possible and all views are my own. Thank you to Executive Pens Direct for working with me.***

introducing the pilot lucina yellow fountain pen with a fine nib

Yellow is a colour I often overlook for fountain pens (not quite sure why!) so when I saw this Pilot Lucina, I knew it would be a perfect addition to my pen collection. The yellow was the first thing drawing me to it and knowing that I would more than likely get on with the nib instantly, I knew this pen would be a winner. And I wasn't wrong.

Design and Usability

I love the bright yellow barrel with the black and gold coloured accents. To me, it's a cheerful pen which will always raise a smile each time it is used. The only thing I don't particularly like is the word 'Lucina' across the black band on the cap - but that's such a minor thing, I can overlook it.

Made of plastic, it is lightweight in hand and ensures an even distribution of weight whether or not the cap is posted when in use. Honestly, I have found this pen a pleasure to write with during long periods.


Nib

As always, not a bad word to say about the nib. Pilot really do know how to knock it out of the park with excellent nibs. Predictably, I went for the fine nib and it writes a true fine line with no feedback, no scratchiness and excellent ink flow. With finer nibs, we often say that inks with sheen don't show off this property as much as it could; however, I have inked this pen with Diamine 'Robert' and there was sheen aplenty.

Price

I ordered this all the way from Japan for around £40 including postage and I definitely would pay that again. But I would say that for many of Pilot's fountain pen offerings. The main selling point would be the nib and I guess you could say that the Pilot Metropolitan would be just a good a pen for a fraction of the price.


Overall

I bought this pen because I wanted an affordable yellow fountain pen. This one came within budget and was from a brand I trusted. The nib was pretty much guaranteed to be perfect for me and I knew that the build quality would be decent.

However, for the price, you might be better off going for a Pilot Metropolitan. If, however, you're thinking of this or a Pilot Prera, I'd probably recommend the Pilot Lucina. The Pilot Prera is a short pen whereas the Lucina is more 'normal-sized'.

In my opinion, this pen is perfect for students, essay writers, story writers and just anyone who writes for long periods of time. The lightweight pen is perfect for those long sessions (precisely what I need for those long ramble journaling sessions or study sessions) without inducing severe hand cramp.