I don't know if these count as essential but.........
At the moment I have only one interesting item that I carry everywhere, this being a small transformer (toy). I find it very handy when waiting around or sitting in lectures so I can play with it to avoid death by boredom. It is also very useful for getting kids to shut up (I just have to make sure they don't swallow it). In the past I have also carried round the following for extended periods.
A bouncy ball- similar reasons as the transformer but I lost it down a drain. Also bouncing a ball against a wall doesn't make you as cool as Steve McQueen, it does annoy the neighbours though.
Books of matches- I don't smoke but they're very handy for writing phone number etc. down on.
A copper band- it turned my arm green, but it made me feel better about cracking my knuckles.
A multitool- the scissors kept stabbing me in the leg so I don't carry it anymore, piece of junk.
An old 50p coin with a Christmas scene on the back- no idea where that is now but I spent many an English lesson doing rubbing of it.
A lingerie catalogue- not for the obvious reason! It actually had names and e-mail addresses of people I met.
I think that's enough to have me certified, sorry about the length but I've been waiting to do this for 4 days (it really should be funnier shouldn't it).
(penguinitis, Tue 1 Nov 2005, 10:30, Reply)