Floaty pen collectors are not 'floaters' in anyway. They are focussed, single-minded, and brutally determined. Constantly on the lookout for new pens, prepared to travel half way around the world for the sheer pleasure of getting their hands on a new floaty. They think they have it under control - they can give up any time they want. However, once a floaty pen collector always an addict. There is no cure. They are destined to a life of rummaging in flea markets, car boot sales and tourist shops the world over.

This is where the dealers come in - feeding their habit, with brightly coloured floaties, promising a taste of the ecstasy that can only be enjoyed when running your fingers over the barrel of a floaty for the first time. All is not however what it seems. These pens are highly addictive. Even worse than this is the effect floaty pen collectors have on their innocent naive friends. At first they are willing helpers, as scouts, on the lookout for floaties. Then, little by little, they themselves get dragged into the tangled web of life dominated by floaties. Before long, they are fully fledged addicts, guarding their own stashes of the little coloured objects of affections.

In the beginning it was all about the pleasure. Then, as surely as one bubble will become two, they take over the lives of those kind enough to reunite them after their long journey from Denmark. A collection is never complete - a 50 collector looks to the 100 collector with envy and admiration, the 100 collector looks to the 1000 collector with jealousy and respect. The spouse of the 6000 collector wishes they had the collection of 50. There are no winners.

Luckily, the world of floaty pen collecting is filled with people who take their collection seriously, but don't take themselves too seriously. We love floaty pens. We love the 100% Eskesen originals. We are always disappointed with fakes. We have an insatiable appetite for floaty knowledge. Every collector needs someone to look up to and to learn from. These are a few of mine:

Jean-Yves Arnoult is our first Real floaty friend. He and his family made us very welcome at their house in France. We made some excellent trades. I was humbled by his amazing collection of over 3,000 pens.

Stephen Kenneth runs The Floaty Pen Zone. My first floaty contact, and some great scanning and hosting tips.

Diana Andra is an amazing lady. She is a fountain of knowledge on all things floaty, she writes a regular floaty newsletter, and has some amazing trades. Her web site Floatabout.com is a must for all collectors.

Eskesen, the home of all genuine floaty pens. Without them none of this would be possible. Update-Pia at Eskesen has sent us a pack of sample pens- you couldn't imagine the deep joy as we opened the parcel, and seven wonderful unique designs dropped out. You can see these pens throughout the collection.

Nancy Nerenberg is the creator of FloatArt.com, an excellent floaty site - Nancy is actually a floaty pen designer! If you want to try your hand at floaty pen design, visit her 'Virtual pen designer' - hours of fun!

If you would like a vintage floaty or a floaty name pen, be sure to visit Dynapen. Ask for Russ, a really helpful person!