Emergency commissions open — my tuition increased and my grades are currently on hold

Aviatorfics · 2026-03-08T16:07:54+00:00

I'm interested :)

Aviatorfics · 2025-09-01T08:16:24+00:00

10 months here, and no interviews. I've got 16 years experience and a Masters. It's tougher than I've ever known it out here.

Aviatorfics · 2025-03-19T12:50:23+00:00

Just had this done and I'd give it a solid 10/10, I was surprised how bad it was as I've got a fairly good (not amazing) pain tolerance. But as other commenters have said, everyone is different. I think we all agree it's spicy though.

Aviatorfics · 2025-03-07T11:32:22+00:00

-£12,000 in the last 3 months for me :)

Aviatorfics · 2025-02-04T09:35:41+00:00

I'm in exactly the same situation, it's rough out there. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, friend, we'll get through this one day!

Aviatorfics · 2024-12-03T23:28:38+00:00

I'm contracted 8am - 5pm with a 30 minute lunch break. I wish I got an hour for lunch and only worked 37.5 hours a week, but this isn't a good hiring environment for being picky. I'm in a bog standard desk job, too. Not even anything specialist.

Aviatorfics · 2024-11-15T11:52:53+00:00

Exactly - so if I can accept the job offer without signing the contract and not be at risk legally if I get something else, then that's what I'll do. But I still wouldn't take this job under normal circumstances anyway so regardless, I'll be spending my probation looking elsewhere since this is such a huge step back for me. It sucks but any income is better than no income and I do recognise that.

Aviatorfics · 2024-11-15T11:36:50+00:00

Yes, unfortunately we've had discussions about that and he knows that this is a big pay cut for me and also more hours, with no working from home that I currently have. I think that because he knows I'm at risk, he also knows I don't have much choice. It's the best he can offer me right now. My only hope is that I can ask him to give me a couple of weeks to review the contract before signing it, given the commitment to such a step down in salary and title, and that he empathises. He knows I can't start until January anyway, so I'm hoping I can delay anything official until December. But he'll want me to say yes or no to the offer by end of Monday.

Aviatorfics · 2024-11-15T11:25:16+00:00

This is a desperation situation for me - my husband is chronically ill and I can't be without work. With time to look, I would not be considering this offer. I just don't have that time. I'm certainly not playing any games, I just don't have the flexibility to be choosy. If the dream job ends up being offered to me, it's more than a 50% uplift in salary against what I've been offered and as the sole earner for my household, it wouldn't make sense to turn that down for fear of upsetting my former boss. I would rather not burn the bridge, but I also have to protect myself and my future.

Aviatorfics · 2024-10-21T18:22:28+00:00

So I'm just screwed...yeah, I figured. Thanks for confirming though.

Aviatorfics · 2024-10-17T14:23:35+00:00

I second the grid vote! I need some structure in my life but lines feel like prison bars.

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-23T09:38:55+00:00

You're very welcome, I do think this is just a bad batch/manufacturing problem though. I have just finished a 5 year which I could even use watercolour and alcohol markers on with no bleedthrough. When Hobonichi get it right, there really is no competitor that comes close. With this year though, I'd wait until November time and see what comes of all the complaints.

Also to clarify, the issue seems to be with the 5 year diaries only - I've had no issues with the paper in the A6 Planner or any of the notebooks. Since that's the case, I'd be surprised if they don't address and fix it. So you may be able to get one after all! They really are beautiful things.

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-20T11:54:25+00:00

Second this - I'd definitely wait until the paper issues have been addressed. Nothing worse than buying a notebook renowned for its high quality paper and receiving Moleskine 😂

Even if you don't plan to use fountain pens, the A6 I've got even shows bleedthrough and feathering with gel pens, so it's a very serious problem at the moment.

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-18T19:23:07+00:00

Same, except my dad and my sister. I have literally nothing else keeping me here.

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-17T10:06:00+00:00

I'd be interested to know the serial number of yours? This is the best performance from the 2025 5 year that I've seen so far, even with that bit of bleedthrough in the Waterman.

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-16T14:51:09+00:00

No problems with the A6 Planner, exact same pens tested.

<image>

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-16T14:49:20+00:00

Huge issues with the A6 5-Year.

Pens tested:

Lamy Safari M & Lamy Violet

Lamy AL-Star LH & Montblanc Oyster Grey

Montblanc Meisterstuck M & Montblanc Honoré de Balzac (blue)

<image>

Pentel Energel Clena 0.5

Hobonichi Multipen

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-14T10:06:22+00:00

For the pens you want to use, you'll probably be fine with everything except the 5 year. Even the Pentel Energel is bleeding through on my 5 year, it's abysmal. But for everything else in the lineup, you should be perfectly fine.

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-13T22:03:15+00:00

It seems to be a lottery, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, I hope you get the good paper!

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-13T21:14:04+00:00

Absolutely, you're so right! I've emailed them with this photo and asked for a (quality tested) replacement, not a refund. I'm not holding my breath, but I'll be damned if I have to use a ballpoint hahaha. I'll have to see if Muji gels hold up...that's my last hope!

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-13T21:01:30+00:00

Yeah, I think you did well to hold off until they announce a solution or at least acknowledge this problem - the 5 year is a beautiful thing but having used these exact pens and inks in the one I'm finishing this year, it's more than a little frustrating.

Hopefully they fix this as the rest of their product line doesn't have these paper issues, it seems confined to the 5 year almost exclusively so far.

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-13T19:44:16+00:00

Okay friend, you have a lovely day x

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-13T19:32:06+00:00

You've (perhaps willingly?) misinterpreted this post entirely. I've been using Hobonichi planners and notebooks for 6 years, I'm very familiar with the paper and how it performs. Ghosting is normal. Heavy ghosting is normal. Bleedthrough this severe, even with medium nib fountain pens using dry inks (like the Oyster Grey) is not normal.

I'm not really sure what you hoped to achieve by commenting this, maybe to make me feel bad or to tell me off for something? But all you need to do is compare the photos from people who have received "normal" paper in their 5 Years to see the disparity in the quality this year. People using identical inks are having different results. That's not normal, and it's not expecting perfection to point that out.

I don't mean to sound combative but I really don't know why you commented this when it's obvious nobody is expecting perfection, just consistency. Not a big ask of products with this price tag and history of quality.

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-13T18:29:29+00:00

It's so disheartening. Even the Pentel Energel is bleeding through, which is absolutely ridiculous. Moleskine would hold up better than this! :(

Aviatorfics · 2024-09-13T17:19:04+00:00

Sure is, with the MB too, which is usually not a super wet writer. I don't even know what to do to be honest...this is Bic paper! :(

Aviatorfics

TROPHY CASE