25 January 2013

Free For All Friday No 219

January the 25th marks the annual celebration of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns. I was wondering if any of our Scottish readers will be celebrating Burns Night? Maybe you could have some of the poems ready for a recital at supper printed in your Filofax...

And as it's Friday, please feel free to discuss anything Filofax or ring bound organiser related.

50 comments:

  1. Hellooo!!! I unfortunately dont have poems to share :-/
    But I have a question thou :)
    Does anyone have suggestions on how to clean the fabric Filofax? I am thinking specifically the Botanic and Songbird.
    Thank you all awesome peeps!

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    1. May be a foam carpet cleaner, these generally don't require water, but 'lift' the dirt from the fabric.

      But as always with any cleaning agent. Test it on a small area first. There might be solvents that alter the colour in the fabric

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    2. Mmmmm foam carpet cleaner.... Will see what/ where I find it . Thanks Steve!

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    3. You might try some Ivory dishwashing soap - if you can get that. When we got our microfiber furniture, they recommended Ivory for any clean ups. It's very gentle but does a good job.

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    4. Hi Homemakersdaily! By Ivory you mean the brand? Or is it a kind of dish soap? Sorry I am not good with those things :p
      With your furniture, how did you cleaned it? In a sponge a bit wet? or just dabbed the soap,and let it dry?

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    5. Yes, Ivory is the brand. Wet a rag, put a little soap on it, and rub it on the item to be cleaned. You could also just try water - sometimes that actually works quite well. You might want to test a small spot to be sure it doesn't do any damage. I never do that but they always tell you to.

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  2. I also have a auestion - family organiser packs - any way to get them in the EU?

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    1. Find a friendly Philofaxer in the US and ask them to ship one to you..

      But a word of caution.. As well as the postage cost you will possibly have to pay VAT and Import Duty on the package when it arrives in the EU.

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    2. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Filofax-Calendar-Refills-Family-Organizer-Pack-2013-A5-/350613604556?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a23308cc#shId They post internationally

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  3. Phased anyone found an expanding handbag (like Dr Who's) Tardis so I can get my stuffed Filofax into my travel handbag?

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    1. Migrate to personal ;)

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    2. Hi Alison,

      I use Kipling bags for work and when I travel. They are regularly described as being like a Tardis because of the sheer amount you can fit into them and they are very light so you don't have the additional weight of the bag itself weighing you down. My favourite travel handbag is the Kipling Erasto L. It will easily take an A5 Filofax plus anything else you need. Although I know the style of Kipling bags may not be your thing :-).

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    3. David - it is a personal

      Lady T - yes I must look at Kipling!

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    4. I didn't know you'd moved to personal! Good luck in finding a bag :)

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    5. Alison! You using personal? Wow! That's a big change. I always saw you as a very enthusiastic and passionate A5 user :)

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    6. I was Lime Tree - until I started to have to travel a bit more - and I like to travel light! Got used to it now.

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  4. Oh that post gave me an exciting idea! I have a use for one of my (currently unused) personals ... a receptacle for favourite poems. Haven't commented here before; I'm a recent Filofaxphile. Love this site.

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  5. Just wanted to say how I am loving my a5 Chameleon setup! I do think this one is for keeps! :-)

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  6. I was never that taken on Robbie Burns... Kipling was more my sort of thing at school... he also makes exceedingly good cakes.

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    Replies
    1. I agree with you, Steve, about the poetry & cakes! :)

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    2. Well, I can relate to these lines....

      ......
      The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
      Gang aft agley,
      ......

      However, never had Mr Kipling's cakes on this side of the pond....

      ;-)

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    3. I hate poetry. I'm really practical and very literal. Poetry tends to be mushy which I don't like. And frequently it uses imagery which I never get. I have to be really careful reading headlines in the news because I take everything so literally. Sometimes it takes me a minute or two to figure out what the heck they mean. Taking it "literally" doesn't work!

      Just my 2 cents.

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  7. Hi guys!

    I was wondering if anyone could tell me if the Field Notes notebooks fit into any of the Filofax Flex sizes?

    I think those covers would be great for putting the little memo books in but I don't know if any of them would be the right size.

    Thanks!

    Danni

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    1. What size in mm are the Field Notes?

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    2. Er... About 89 x 140mm I think?

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  8. Happy Friday everyone!! :D
    Does anyone else think that the pen loop placement on A5 Osterleys is really strange?? http://www.filofax.co.uk/images/products/image_gallery/fullsize/021673_2788858606.JPG

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    1. Same as the Adelphi and my M2 Cross... doesn't clash with the Tabs having it there.

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  9. Another wonderingment from me: Why oh why didn't Filofax make an A5 Aston in Orchid?? I would have LOVED that!! It's such a gorgeous colour!!!!

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  10. Hi Peeps,
    Coming from a Scottish family Burns Night is always remembered. My parents got married on Burn's Night,my dad is now a widower though. My paternal grandpop, like me was also a musician and a world expert on the folk songs of Robert Burns. His published song book is still in The British Library and was the main subject for his Music Doctorate. I am being a bit different this year and having mince and tatties tonight...!!! Whayy Hayyyy!!! Dad phoned me this morning to say the USA have banned the import of haggis... which has caused uproar within the Caledonian Societies over there apparently... as no haggis for the Burn's Night Suppers!!! There was a super Scottish firm produced the most gorgeous hand crafted leather binders mentioned on Philofaxy a while back. So wish they did an A5!!!

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    1. I believe haggis is made locally in Toronto. I'm surprised they don't make it in the US.

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    2. apparently it is a banned food in the US due to the use of stomach line and other ingredients.... so I have been told.....

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    3. Given the number of American citizens identifying as Welsh/Irish/Scots/Anything-But-American that's rather bizarre.....

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    4. I think I saw a show with Guy Fieri where he visited a US restaurant that made haggis. It didn't look very good. I think he was even nervous about trying it.

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    5. Having a dad who was a proud member of the Burns Club in my hometown of Canberra (think he may have also been president for a stint or two), I have attended many a Robbie Burns commemoration nights! could never quite muster the courage for Haggis. So,I much prefer celebrating our national day - Australia Day - which is 26 January.

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    6. Oh the joys to live in "the land of the free" where we aren't free to eat whatever the hell you want... Unless it's ultra-processed junk food.

      I heard that California has now banned the sale of foie gras?! But you may freely carry your gun with your wherever you want...

      Oh well. I believe people do find haggis here but I'm not sure if it is the real deal.

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  11. Which is the scottish firm who does the leather binders?

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  12. Discovered something new about my Personal Hampstead when in Cardiff on Tuesday.....if you drop it in the snow/slush, the pages all stick together.....

    Cue *another* trip to Cardiff today, major expenditure on new refills, and a complete rebuild of the innerds.

    I may be some time.....as someone once said

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    1. Would have been much worse if you had dropped an iPad or laptop!

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    2. Should have had a Zipped Filofax!! Keeps the weather out!

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    3. Alison.....*very* true. In fact, another reason for staying low-tech.

      Steve - a *very* good point sir, and duly noted! I'm no expert on zipped binders, which Personal binders have the largest ring sizes?

      The cost of buying new cotton cream inserts was nearly as much as a zipped binder...if anyone has any 1-6 cream index pages, or blank index pages, which they'd be willing to sell I'd be interested......

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    4. Personal have 23mm rings, except for the Personal Cuban Zip, and Personal Guilford Zip : 30mm rings !

      Steve featured his Cuban Zip here :
      http://philofaxy.blogspot.fr/2012/01/cuban-zip-review.html
      http://philofaxy.blogspot.fr/2012/10/cuban-personal-zip-training.html

      It does look like a beast, though, albeit a dapper one !

      And... Filofax France is having a 50% sales, including on the Personal Cuban Zip in red : only 54.50 euros :
      http://www.filofax.fr/store/organiserdetails.asp?sizeId=3&rangeId=120&dsizeId=3

      Cuban Zip also exists in Brown, and the Guilford Zip exists only in Black.

      Hope this helps !

      (But now, I'm tempted about the Red Cuban Zip, damnit :))

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  13. I have personal size week on two pages, financial sheets, address sheets, and a black ruler if anyone is in need of them. Contact me at alondrasilva10 @ yahoo [dot] com

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  14. Is the quality changes between old leather Filofaxes and the newer ones very evident to everyone?
    My dream is to have a personal ochre Malden. I've heard people say newer Maldens are stiffer, etc Also, how common are the ring mechanism issues?
    I'm leery of investing in modern Filofaxes if they aren't wirth the investment. :)

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    Replies
    1. My new personal Malden is very soft and beeeeautiful! I have a few new filos and don't have a problem with any of the ring mechanisms.

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  15. I'm here in Scotland spending Burns Night...at home on my couch with the flu. :( Oh well!!

    I've had good haggis and I've had bad haggis, and when it's good it's really good. Still, it is hard for me to get my mind around some of the ingredients!

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  16. Does anyone know whether there is a Filofax archive on the internet, where you can see all the models, dates and colours?

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    1. From our links list...

      http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~m-task/index.htm

      Not sure how old or new you are looking for, it certainly has a wide selection of models and colours on that site..

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    2. Hi Steve, thanks for the reply. It is not exactly what I meant but certainly for the older models this is a good but very dated site. I found my vintage Winchester with iguana-print :-)

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