Stationer

Hmmm My finger fell on the word “Stationer“ in the dictionary.  Every word it seems is challenging in its own right, and this one is no exception.
For sure I have bought stationary from a Stationer but I do not think I have ever known one personally.  I have never asked someone “and what do you do?” and had the response, “Oh I’m a Stationer.” Or even a Newsagency proprietor for that matter.
Newsagents and specialist stationery stores are where I have tended to get stationery.
Rarely biros though.  It almost seems there is an endless supply of biros in the world.  It is incredible.  I know if I take a biro somewhere I run the chance of losing it forever.  It almost seems like biros are seen as common property.
I do not know anyone that sets out to pinch a biro but if one is needed, and seen, it is used and more often than not, kept.  So often it makes its way into the pocket of the user.  Then at the end of the day when pockets are being emptied, a biro is discovered and makes its way to a desk or something.  Only to go into circulation again when it is needed and accidentally discarded and someone else starts the cycle.  I know someone who actually puts their name on biros because of the disappearance habit.
And paper.  It either gets used or discarded.  Particularly photocopy paper.  If I do a printout and it turns out to be not what I need I either discard it or put it in my draw for writing notes on the unprinted area.  I scribble on the printed area to show it is not needed.  I have lot of paper waiting to be used this way.
In the last few years I have tended to get rid of duplicates or printouts that only confuse.  I have determined that if I have what I need anything else I avoid keeping as it will only make me wonder “do I need this?” and keep it.  I can end up with many copies of the same thing.  I don’t want or need that.
So there we have it.  I so did not expect to be writing about biros and paper today. but nothing surprises when picking a word from the dictionary is so random.