16 December 2011

Free For All Friday No. 161

Just over a week to go to Christmas. I've found it quite hard this year to think of ideas for Christmas presents, fortunately we don't exchange presents with many people these days.

I think next year I will make a point of having a list in my Filofax to make a note of presents for Christmas and Birthdays throughout the year. Do you do anything similar?

However, as it's Friday you are free to discuss anything Filofax related... have a great weekend.

34 comments:

  1. I have a list of birthdays and a list of gift ideas on two sheets in the Family and Household section of my everything-Filo. This year, I also emailed the older folks and asked them to give me ideas for presents..and they all did. :) My grandmother has asked us for Christmas lists every year for years - this year I made her give *me* a list! Most of the other people gave me general ideas (I like these things...I need this...etc). It was quite helpful.

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  2. One thing I kept from reading the Getting Things Done books was to have a sheet or file for each person on which you could make notes of sizes, possible gifts as they occur throughout the year. Even items you want to discuss with them or give them when you see them. I didn't implement this in its entirety but I had made notes on gift ideas for some people as they mentioned things they liked. I may do this more formally in 2012.

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  3. I have huge family, so I have list of presents every year. And I have to go throu old lists, so I don`t buy same gift again :o)

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  4. Gift-O-Fax.... rushes out to use another Filofax!!!

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  5. @Steve
    LOL!

    I have a list if presents given/received for the last few years to make sure that i don't always give the same present to the same person (unless they really want it of course!). I like Alison's idea of having a sheet per person with sizes and info etc (though maybe just half a side might be enough?). I have just got a new Cavendish with 33mm rings (personal size!) so I will have plenty of space for a sheet per person!

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  6. I know Amanda... but I'm sure there might be a mini that could be used for such a need...!!

    Can I just dispel a few myths...

    Ring sizes should always be measured on the internal diameter not the external diameter. I've been asked about a few odd sizes in the last week, but people were quoting the external size not internal size.

    Steve

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  7. Has anyone noticed they dont have the time management dated refills on their website anymore does this mean they are not doing it anymore?
    I put a question on my blog but nobody has answered it so far, personal or pocket sized for going out and about? I have a5's at home that hold all my main stuff so this will just be for info needed while im out. The details of what i have in my personal are here http://lovingmyfilofax.blogspot.com/2011/12/filofax-dilemma-personal-or-pocket-size.html but i dont think i need it all, does anyone have advice or experience on downgrading from personal to pocket & how easy is it to write in them?

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  8. Yes I do! I have a section dedicated to Gift Ideas. Everytime somebody mentions something they like or need I jot it down. I then don't have to stress around xmas time as I usuallyy have a big list for everyone! I also love the look on people faces when they say "but I saw this back in February! How did you remember!" Filofax dears, thats how ;)
    I'll be doing a little show n tell of my setup for 2012 on my blog next week - which is here Join me for a wee tour of my beloved Baroque!

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  9. Just to let you know, Filofax Sweden are selling Chameleons and Adelphis for half price.

    http://www.filofax.se/store/specials.asp?OID=262

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  10. I have my A5 Finchley for wedding planning, home maintenance & Christmas lists! Lists of cards to be sent, addresses to collect, gift ideas, gifts to buy, event details, etc.

    (Also, managed to buy two filofaxes as gifts this year! A personal Botanic for my mother, who's just started a new job, and a Pocket for my little sister's first year at university! All in the Sweden 90kr sale, so good!)

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  11. Christa
    1. Your blog post is included in tomorrows Webfinds... so expect lots of visitors and hopefully some suggestions.

    2. Time Management stuff. That is bad news if they have discontinued the Dated Range.
    Try this one instead: http://www.filofax.co.uk/store/diaryrefillsdetails.asp?productId=2402 It's A5 but page per day.

    Regards
    Steve

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  12. Thanks for the suggestions steve, i have my set up for 2012 but am thinking about alternatives for 2013. It was the week on two pages time management i need a replacement for it had the perfect set up for me :0( and i use the business page on one day in addition to this.
    I wish they did lined options for a5 week on two pages
    Thanks for the web finds add.

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  13. At Thanksgiving this year I had each of my six children (and their significant others)fill out a "profile." I had them list favorite colors for clothes and household items, sizes, likes, dislikes, favorite books, food, restaurants, candy, etc. I know, I should know what my kids like, but four of them are out of the house and their tastes have changed.

    Anyway, I put all of this info under my family and household tab in my pocket Finchley. I take this with me at all times, so I will always have the info for future reference.

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  14. I have a sheet per family member in my pocket filofax wallet, where I note what he/she needs in terms of clothes or school supplies, plus an ongoing list of gift idea's. I buy those gifts early on, so I'm all set in October and start the holiday season as stressfree as possible.
    Love Scoot's idea of having a list of Persian preferences of pp other than direct family. Very thoughtful!

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  15. Persian = autocorrect for personal ... (oh dear!)

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  16. As I got my first Filo in Nov. 2010, this is my first "real" Christmas season with the power of a Filofax. I've gotta say, I'm a bit disappointed with myself!

    I did start a list page in November, with who I needed to send cards to, and who I needed to buy gifts for with little check boxes next to the gift ideas. But due to an extremely hectic season, I didn't get started planning until after Thanksgiving, which means I'm STILL buying last minute gifts!

    Hopefully I can use some of the great suggestions here to improve my holiday planning in 2012!

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  17. I am so far out of the Christmas/holiday loop this year - I was trying to figure out how I could finagle not working my contractually-required 8 hours next Tuesday to attend something with my husband. I thought, "no prob, I'll just make up that time on Sat/Sun". Yeah, Xmas Eve and Xmas Day. D'oh! Not going to happen. I mean, I write the date all day long, but it wasn't connecting in my brain that Dec 15th was only ten days until Christmas.

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  18. fyi, I used to show up here as @plaiditude.

    I posted a question on the tuesday free for all asking about the Holborn, if anyone has one. For some reason it got marked by spam and only got released today, but I figured I'd post this news on the current free for all page. I ORDERED ONE! I gave in and ordered my first filofax (umm, errr, first one since last March actually) I ordered a black A5 Holborn, yet another attempt to upsize to A5, I really know it will work this time.... Now for the long wait - sometimes takes three weeks or more to get my orders.

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  19. http://www.filofax.dk/store/personalorganisers.asp?tn=1&control=processrequest&orSizeId=3 Filofax Denmark are having a little pre-Christmas sale as well.

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  20. AMS aka Pladitude - i've been looking at the holborn- particularly the holborn zip. it looks awesome. it has those full length outer pockets - at least on the left. on the right it looks like it may have a zipper pocket. the regency also has those pockets. i think time mangement or one of those other brands makes full use of these pockets similar to the flex. the description says it's made of buffalo leather. i'm wondering if it would be like the malden. PLEASE post pics of yours in flickr when you get it! (by the way, i also have a kendal. nice! and i can see your concern) as for myself, i decided to get the girlier osterley compact in plum and i love it. eventually i'm sure i will get the more masculine regencey but for now, i'm enjoying the osterley.

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  21. @elizabeth - on that Filo Denmark site, they list the A5 Holborn as having 38 mm rings? ::hyperventilating:: That has GOT to be a typo. Anyone? If not, I must move heaven and earth to get my hands on one.

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  22. We heard recently that there were some quality control issues with the Holburn Zip which is why it disappeared from the UK site. The new products should be coming back in to stock fairly soon.

    The A5 Zip has 30mm rings... the Personal Zip has 23mm rings.

    Steve

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  23. I've emailed FF Denmark and pointed out the error on the website regarding the 38 mm ring size!

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  24. @Steve - that sound you heard? Yeah, it was my heart breaking at the realization there were no 38 mm rings. :-(

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  25. Well I would hate for someone to order one and pay for all the shipping only to discover that the rings are no bigger than one they already have.

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  26. Hi everyone. Long time reader, first time poster.

    I hope this question is ok to post on Free for all Friday. I had a question about a newly acquired Personal Kensington.

    I received it today after being the winning bidder on eBay. Everything about the binder is perfect, but I noticed the front cover tends to lean further back, than the back cover. The edges don't meet up.

    I've included a link to the original auction, which has clear pics.

    I thought the binder was doing this because it's a soft cover, and was pretty much empty of pages.

    I was wondering if this is normal for the Kensingtons.

    Any opinions are welcome.

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  27. Sorry, forgot to include the link to the competed auction:

    http://www.ebay.ca/itm/190606200796?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

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  28. @Paul - I have the same problem with my new personal Malden. The front seems to slide more toward the left and the edges don't meet when the binder is unsnapped. Maybe it is the softer cover. Anyone have any thoughts?

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  29. I have a Kensington that behaves identically. If Maldens do it too, I can only suppose it is because the softness of the leather tends to let gravity have its way and allows the ring mechanism to rest more comfortably than a more rigid cover would.

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  30. The 50% sale got the better of me and I have ordered a pocket and a mini. Can someone who uses these tell me what sorts of pens fit in the pen loop?
    Thanks!

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  33. I meant to add that I don't mind the Kensington's slight tilting at all.

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  34. @Kelly
    @Ray

    Thank you for the quick responses.

    I assumed it was a defect, but if this happens with more than one model line, and with Kensingtons that others have, clearly not an issue I need to worry about.

    It's a great looking binder. I wanted one for years, but couldn't afford it. They were $150 here in Canada. When I could afford one, none could be found in Canada, because they were discontinued. The joys of eBay 8^)

    I currently have the binder closed edge to edge, with a thick piece of material over the cover, and a spring clip on each end to try and reshape the leather. The thick material is to avoid indentations from the clips on the leather. It appears to be working.

    Thanks again, everyone.

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