Back To Notebook and Pencil In 2017?
By hereandthere
@hereandthere (45628)
Philippines
January 15, 2017 1:27am CST
Instead of scribbling on scraps of paper scattered (and forgotten) everywhere, I'm back to jotting quick notes and reminders in an old spiral address book with a short pencil.
The address book has empty pages from letter K to Z and is 9 x 6 inches, just like regular school notebook. I don't know why this pencil is broken in half, but I love the lead because it's dark. I don't mind using these odds and ends since it's only for home.
When it comes to pencils, I like it dark and not supersharp, but when it comes to ballpens, I prefer a finer point. My handwriting is quite big and I tend write with moderate pressure.
The yellow Mongol was the only brand of pencil I knew growing up. I think I was already in college when I saw the blue and black Staedtler pencil. I was already working when I became aware of Faber-Castell because of an officemate who draws and sketches.
I've never used a mechanical pencil or technical pen.
My brother once gifted me with a silver Parker sign pen with my name engraved on it. I used it to sign important documents until the ink ran out.
I had a boss who had a Mont Blanc ballpoint pen. When I searched it on Google Images, I see pictures of US President Obama, Indian Prime Minister Modi and Queen Elizabeth using it.
I'm sure I started kinder, nursery and grade one using a pencil, but I can't remember anymore what grade my classmates and I started using ballpens. There were two brands then, the yellow Bic and the blue Kilometrico.
What kinds of pencils and ballpens did you use from preschool to college?
Were the brands you grew up with still being sold today?
Do you know anyone who collects pens and pencils?
What was your worst experience with a leaking pen?
25 people like this
26 responses
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
Mongol too was th brand of pencil thati have used in my elementary days . Bic , was for the ballpen . but now i use MyGel .03 Fine Tech , green , for auditing and signing . I also have used Parker and i think it's a fountain pen. .
Until now , Mongol is the famus pencil being used inour company . Though , Fabrl Castell is now mostly used for the ballpen .
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
@hereandthere It's refreshing to the eyes . The other auditor has violet ballpen as her distinct ink .
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
i love green ink, too. when i had a retractable pen with black, red, blue and green, the green would run out first.
4 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
@SIMPLYD oh, i learned to love violet, too. does anyone use pink or orange there?
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502208)
• Italy
15 Jan 17
I never stopped using a notebook and pencil, it's the only sure way to have my notes all the time ready in front of me. I used (and still use) Caran D'Ache pens and pencils, they are Swiss made and I always liked them. I collect old fountain pens, some are beautiful. I cannot remember I ever head a leaking pen.
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
then you probably have retained good handwriting, too.
yes, this notebook will serve as a catch-all
i looked up caran d'ache. interesting how the name came about.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Caran d'Ac Industry Art and luxury goods Founded 1915; 102 years ago (1915)[1] Founder Arnold Schweitzer[1] Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland Products Writing instruments Website www.carandac
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502208)
• Italy
15 Jan 17
@hereandthere I took calligraphy classes when I was younger, I love to have a good handwriting.
1 person likes this
@almostoveryou (4954)
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
I love Caran d'ache pencils and the water-soluble crayons (Neocolor II). They're kinda pricey here in the Philippines, but the quality is superb.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
hmm, i wonder if slates (blackboard) and chalk was done here too.
i remember having to use a felt tipped pen once and it seemed like the ink was runny/watery and took a while to dry.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
15 Jan 17
@hereandthere At the time I first started school paper and pencils were in short supply due to WW2. As Britain is an island we relied on goods coming from other countries by sea, and Hitler made a pretty good job of bombing the supply ships. That's why we had slates and chalk because we could just clean them, then re-use them.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
Mongol pencil and Pilot ballpen... Yes, they are still sold today.
I also prefer darker pencils so I choose number 1(Mongol). I also like their bigger ones, for kids. Hihihi
I still kept the pencils I used in my board exam.
I used to collect pencils, and some were also those blue Staedtler pencils, ranging from 1B to 8B. I don't like their F and H's...
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
are the pencils your only souvenir from the board exam?
we have a blue thick pencil in the kitchen, tied to a small clipboard, next to the fridge.
i guess you have all kinds of pencils because you draw and sketch?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
@brokenbee you don't use crayons, colored pencils, watercolor?
3 people like this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
@hereandthere My calculator, too.. Hihi! But it's no longer working.
Partly, yes... Sketch... and collect... Hihih
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
17 Jan 17
i like how the pencil glides when the point isn't that sharp
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
23 Mar 17
I have not really used a pencil in yrs unless it is for drawing. As for pens most of the time I get Gel pens in various sets.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
26 Mar 17
@hereandthere Aren't you afraid of them fading over time and not being able to see or read what you once wrote?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
26 Mar 17
@KrauseHome just for the temporary things like food i put in the fridge/freezer, tape it, then remove once used
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
25 Mar 17
i seem to be using pencils more and more now to label things
@annierose (21977)
• United States
26 Jan 17
All I can remember is that I have been using a Mongol pencil since primary up to College days. When it comes to ballpoint pen, I used different brands. Sometimes it is Panda, sometimes HBW and sometimes Pilot and Faber Castle. At the moment, I rarely buy ballpoint pens. We have many sponsors of those things. 
1 person likes this
@annierose (21977)
• United States
27 Jan 17
@hereandthere Yes, we also have a chalk allowance. I hope they can also provide teachers with projectors. 
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
28 Jan 17
@annierose no more manila paper and cartolina?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
26 Jan 17
oh, yes, i remember panda and hbw too. it's good you have a supply so it's less expenses on your part. i guess chalk for the blackboard is provided too?
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jan 17
Good for you . . . I was thinking to do the very same thing . . . writing things the old fashioned way! 
I'm pretty sure I used crayons in school . . . then went on to pencils . . . and pens were maybe allowed about 6th grade.
Oh gosh, I don't really remember what brands I had growing up (didn't pay attention to that sort of thing) . . . but all the brands you spoke of in your post I do know (except the Kilometrico). Crayons were Crayola.
I used to collect pens and pencils! Not that I actively bought them . . . but I loved getting them as gifts or spending a little extra money to buy a cute pen. I liked Sanrio stuff at one time, which was a lot cheaper back then.
Leaking pen . . . I've had many incidents with them 
. I can't think of any specific incident, but it's bad when I write with a leaky pen . . . as I am left handed, the ink gets on the side of my hand and the ink goes all over the place as I write - wherever I put the side of my hand 
.
I'm pretty sure I used crayons in school . . . then went on to pencils . . . and pens were maybe allowed about 6th grade.
Oh gosh, I don't really remember what brands I had growing up (didn't pay attention to that sort of thing) . . . but all the brands you spoke of in your post I do know (except the Kilometrico). Crayons were Crayola.
I used to collect pens and pencils! Not that I actively bought them . . . but I loved getting them as gifts or spending a little extra money to buy a cute pen. I liked Sanrio stuff at one time, which was a lot cheaper back then.
Leaking pen . . . I've had many incidents with them . I can't think of any specific incident, but it's bad when I write with a leaky pen . . . as I am left handed, the ink gets on the side of my hand and the ink goes all over the place as I write - wherever I put the side of my hand .1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan 17
@hereandthere Oh my gosh, I loved My Melody too . . . and Kiki and Lala the Little Twin Stars!!!!! Yes, losing a pen cap is highly annoying - it has happened in my purse too. Lefties tend to better adapt to situations - because they have to - I've actually never really had a problem with seat spacing (but perhaps righties have had problems with me) or right handed scissors at school!
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
22 Jan 17
i'm really surprised that kilometrico is also available in other countries.
i loved sanrio, too, yet my favorite character was my melody and little twin stars.
when you lose the cap of your ballpen, your pencil case gets all 'inky'
it's hard when left-handers have seatmates to their left.
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
15 Jan 17
Mongol must be a local brand or something - I have never heard yet it seems very popular there judging from the responses here... My favorite is a mechanical pencil - I don't like writing with unsharpened pencils and I just hate sharpening a pencil.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
yes, it is. it has become a generic term like colgate for toothpaste, i guess. i don't want stubs, but with me, supersharp pencils tend to tear the paper i'm writing on. i like the small prism sharpener we put in our pencil case and the hand-cranked planetary sharpener.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search A manual prism sharpener Prism pencil sharpener made from cellulose acetate biograde, a bioplastic A pencil sharpener (also referred to in Ireland as a parer or topper)[1] is a device for sh
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
15 Jan 17
@hereandthere Yeah, my kids used to have a battery-operated one; you just insert the pencil, the sharpener automatically sharpens it and stops when it's sharp. I still hate sharpening a pencil using those too.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
@sishy7 the first time i used an electric sharpener, it's like it was so loud and powerful and would eat my pencil to a stub, and maybe my fingers too!
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
23 Jan 17
During my school years, I only get new set of pencil and pen at the start of the year, then I struggled to borrow from classmates.. But I learned to take notes in my mind and managed to stlii be on top 5 at the end of ever exams..
I now have a collection of pens and pencils and notepads and everything that lacked in my childhood ..lol..
I over compensated myself..
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
24 Jan 17
what a great way to cope! you developed you brain power! it would be nice to see your pen, pencil and notepad collection.
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
31 Jan 17
@hereandthere I will have to make a show and tell post about my pen collection .. 
.. but when I come back home from our holidays ..
.. but when I come back home from our holidays ..1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
17 Jan 17
i use pencil when doing crossword puzzles
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
20 Jan 17
Staedtler and Faber-Castell for pencils, and Kilometrico and Bic for ballpoint pens. And yes they're still around! In university I switched to using mechanical pencils, too lazy to keep sharpening pencils.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
20 Jan 17
really? i thought kilometrico was just a philippine brand. i break the lead or tear the paper the few times i tried mechanical pencils and technical pens.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
24 Jan 17
@hereandthere Oh Kilometrico used to be very popular here, almost all of my classmates back in school had at least one Kilometrico pen
1 person likes this
@almostoveryou (4954)
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
I have a huge collection of pens and pencils, no one would probably understand. LOL. I do a lot of journaling, letter writing, and sketching. Newest acquisition is a dip pen/pointed pen and a few bottles of drawing ink.
I generally use gel pens for journaling and waterproof pens for sketching. I also prefer saddle-stitched notebooks for journaling.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
do you still send letters by mail?
i didn't know there were waterproof pens for sketching.
1 person likes this
@almostoveryou (4954)
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
@hereandthere Yes, I still write and send handwritten letters. A few friends actually bother to write me back. :o)
You will find many brands of waterproof drawing pens at National Bookstore. I use Uni, Marvy Uchida, and Sakura Pigma Micron. I like the disposable kind because I'm too lazy to refill an ink cartridge.
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
20 Jan 17
Refillable lead pencils were pretty popular. I never paid attention to pencil brands, just knew that I better have a "yellow number two pencil" handy for tests because that was the rule. We had a lot of BIC brand pens because they were super cheap. In high school we were allowed the option of doing school work with pens as long as it was black ink. I can't even remember my worst pen leaking experience but I know it happened. I loved gel pens because they don't dry as quickly and they write more smoothly.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77084)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
Mongol pencil and pilot pen. But now I'm using a pilot prera fountain pen. These days I just love using fountain pens or brush pens. For brush pens I use two brands: the zig cocoiro pen and tombow. I buy them in Japan as I don't see any stores selling them in this city I live in.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
oh, i've forgotten about pilot! i think i remember tombow.
3 people like this
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
16 Jan 17
I have used the blue ones when we were making floor plans for a model house back in high-school, specially with electric connections. But after that I rarely used pencils unless we were required to draw something.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
17 Jan 17
you made floor plans for a model house with electrical connections in high school? what subject was that?
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Feb 17
the ball pens i use are marked Paper mate and Bic. they come from UK brought home by my brother. the black paper mate ball pen has fine point, and the Bic has the 4 colors in one pen.
1 person likes this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
25 Jan 17
Good Lord, I have forgotten how to use a pencil...except for an eye liner. I don't remember brands...what I do remember was that we made our own ID marks by scratching lines on it. But I do keep a pencil today as an emergency near the telephone book, just in case my pens will not write...as the ink usually dries up.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
26 Jan 17
i always have a pen, pencil and paper near the telephone. yes, we still have a landline.
i also remember classmates carving their names on the pencil using a blade or knife.
