In this age of handheld, electronic PDAs and all that jazz, I think it's worth taking a step back and thinking of the Post It note. I mean, can you stick your all singing all dancing phone that is actually an organiser, diary, calendar and probably picks your outfit for you (with matching shoes) each morning on your computer monitor so you don't forget to send that really important email? In your pocket? Bottom of your hand bag? No, you can't. Well, you can, but it probably needs a protective case.

Technology is all well and good, but I like to write lists. Actually write, with an ink pen. You remember, right? Not only that, but Post It notes come in all colours, sizes and even shapes, so you can even express your creativity (or lack thereof). From the standard yellow squares, to Z shaped, fruit shaped, bright pink, blue, the list goes on. No desk is complete without these little fragments of a busy mind scattered about.

They are very simple, being held together by the very adhesive that allows you to stick them to, well, anything you like really! On the back of each sheet, along the top, is a strip of this adhesive; each sheet sticks to the one below it until you get to the end of the booklet where there is a simple cardboard sheet. Just pull the top sheet off once you've added your note and stick it where needs must. I feel I should mention that I don't encourage 'Kick me' notices on peoples' backs though, however amusing they are.

They're so handy. I have a pad in the kitchen which I use to write my shopping list and also messages to the other half, if I'll not be home when he gets home. I must admit I have even wrote a message on them and popped it into his jacket pocket, to be found later. Ahhh. They're also the perfect size to pop in your purse unfolded for a reminder when you're out and I've even used them inside the fridge, if I've made something for my partner to take away to work for lunch that doesn't fit on the shelf beside his usual lunch box - otherwise he would probably not notice it and leave it behind. My partner has a pad beside his desktop computer too and I frequently clear away many crumpled up and spent little notelets.

They can be bought so many places offline, including newsagents, supermarkets and of course stationary shops. I always see them in pound shops and those random shops that sell a bit of everything as well. Prices vary with styles and sizes, and of course there are cheaper alternatives around. The pads we have in the house currently have been kicking around for some time now, as we bought a multipack a few years ago. On that note, I have also found them to be really rather durable - many's the time I have found an old Post It in a drawer, or a rarely used handbag, with nothing more than some faded writing and maybe a few creases. They don't rip when you remove them from the block either, even if you pull them off quickly and roughly as I often do in my (apparently) usual hash-bash fashion. I say, hash-bash?!

Obviously, Post It notes aren't huge, even the larger sizes, so you can't fit heaps and heaps on there. But I think they're plenty big enough for a shopping list of things I don't ordinarily buy (I don't need a list for the usual shopping), phone messages and reminders to other family members and such. In all honesty, what house, office, handbag or car would be complete without some Post Its? They're so useful, I think everyone will have several Post It moments in life.