Life, Jim, but not as we know it

Time, perhaps, for a bit of an update on that back-to-school experience. Here's what actually made it to the chalkface...

Firstly, yes, the Life A5 notebook was definitely coming for a ride in the satchel. The paper is terrific, and there's lots of it too. Seriously, how is this brand not world-famous already? Nero has unfortunately sold out of the lined version at present but for those of a steady hand the plain A5 is still a huge treat which will play nicely with all your favourite fountain pens and, in all probability, prove the envy of your classmates.

But substantial as it is, the Life book is still a paperback, and that's not going to survive long unprotected, even in the senior common room. Which is where the mighty Lochby Field Journal comes into its own, offering just the right level of protection without adding a lot of weight. This one has been well-used, to the point that a bit of dust and mildew was making the cotton a bit smelly. Lochby recommended a surface wipe-down but that didn't quite do the trick, so into the washing machine it went. As the manufacturers warned, this did warp the internal boards a bit, but not to the point that it is much less usable - and of course the sheer mass of the Life contents will help to iron out the wrinkles.

Now, hang on a minute, what's that in the pen loop? Has a pedantic fountain-only obsessive gone over to the dark side and started packing a devil-stick? Well, no, not really. One's loyalty to Nero only goes so far. But if you have a friend or relative who still wants a ballpoint for some reason - we can't save them all from themselves, sadly - Leuchtturm's Drehgrefill is at least quite a nice one, with pleasingly snick-snack engineering and good availability of alternative refills, apparently. Never let it be said that we're anything less than inclusive around these parts.

By the way, Leuchtturm translates as 'lighthouse'. Just the thing for a bright spark, eh?