The Mill Street Journal

As the French would say, ‘Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans la trousse?’ Below, ladies and gentleman, is a sacred list that answers this question we were so gravely bombarded with as 13 year-olds in French;

1. BIC Pens (The 4-Way yoke and the purple one)

There are no words to describe the practicality of these. The transition speed from one colour to the next broke all sorts of records, The only issue was that you were left with a load of ones that empty except for the green. Also chucked in the purple one which is a bit of a Grosvenor languages department hero for some unknown reason, and when I got a photo for this the company page was called ‘Grosvenor House Papers’ which made me laugh.

2. Tipp-Ex Pen 

Quick shake and a squeeze and all mistakes were forgotten about. An iconic utensil with an even more iconic smell. Also one of those brands so strong that said item is never referred to as a correction pen. It’s just Tipp-Ex, even the off-brand ones, like the whole Hoover vs vacuum cleaner thing or the more recent speculoos vs Biscoff. 

3. Staedler Noris Pencil

The Rolls Royce of pencils, they were so slick. And there was no better feeling than finishing one, always that one dude writing with one that was 2 cm. If you were cheeky you used the bottom of it as a red pencil to mark your work too. Or you could sharpen the back end and go full Darth Maul. So versatile. Also a bit rogue from me but I preferred the darker 2B shade over the classic HB not sure if anyone else is in agreement? A couple of you sickos rocked a 4B as well.

4. Casio fx-83ES

Simply the greatest calculator there was, look at the beautiful colour scheme, unfortunately mine packed it in and now I have to roll with the fx-85GT PLUS but it’s just not the same. Casio as a company is so precious on this earth, a true problem solver and they can do it all!

5. Fish Sharpener 

Never seen a something munch a pencil like it. This thing chewed up pencils and spat them out! The spitting them out was the fun bit when you got to open its mouth and give it a wee shake into the bin lol. Then you had to give it a bit of a floss to scrape all the bits stuck in its teeth with your newly sharpened pencil. Great bit of kit. The Staedler Norris sharpener nearly made it on to this list but that lid on top of those sharpeners always seemed to be broken off… did anyone have that sharpener without the lid broken off? Enlighten me if so. Weak. 

6. Bẽrol Handwriting Pen

Quick shoutout to these little fellows as well. I was reminded of these when a client pulled one out recently, phenomenal. If Winnie the Pooh used a pen it was definitely this one, that’s the only way I can describe this pen to be honest. So softly spoken.