STATIONERY STREET

The slots aren't the only space thief. Check the inside width at the narrowest point, since a chunky zip seam can leave two pens sitting awkwardly side by side.

I keep reaching for a fine-point click ballpoint for quick lists and labels. I thought I'd prefer a broader, smoother line, but the finer one fits better in small spaces, and not having to fuss with a cap is handy.

I'm trying to find a small case for a couple of pens and a short pencil, but the inner slots keep making the usable space awkward. I don't need every tool held in its own place; one plain compartment that opens wide would be much less faff.

GSM is easy to compare, but it doesn't tell me how a particular ink will behave. I'd use the same nib and ink on each sheet, write a few lines, add a swab and note feathering, show-through and drying time. Paper weight still tells you something about bulk and feel, but I wouldn't use it as a proxy for performance. What do you include in a paper test?

Putting on something familiar isn't a failed search. When you're knackered, the point is to unwind, not find the perfect programme.

I like the idea of carrying a small notebook, but I overthink what to put in it, and it starts to feel like another planner I have to maintain. My plan is to use it for quick things I need while I'm out—an address or something to pick up—then transfer any notes that still matter to the right place later. Does anyone use a simpler rule for deciding what belongs in a pocket notebook?

That clarifying-versus-looping check is useful. When I catch myself circling, I write one line about what can wait, then shut the book. No need to submit a polished report on a bad day.

I don't need a pen to have a long list of features to enjoy it. The way the barrel feels in my hand and how the ink goes down can be enough to make a simple everyday pen worth choosing, especially when I'm trying to keep stationery spending reasonable.

I've got phone photos from a recent day out and a few paper bits, but I don't want the page to become a tiny contact sheet. I'm leaning towards printing just a couple and letting the tickets and little notes fill in the rest. Do you choose photos that show the day in order, or the ones with a story attached?

I keep a shortlist of three things to watch next, so when I'm tired I can pick from that instead of trawling the whole catalogue. Any longer and the shortlist becomes another catalogue.