24 February 2012

Free For All Friday No. 171

It's the doldrums of winter for the northern hemisphere. What do you have planned to liven things up until spring comes?

Feel free to discuss anything Filofax-related!

33 comments:

  1. Hmmmm. Ordered seeds for the veg garden just this week, probably a bit late really.

    Trying to decide if I should try out an A5 for size. Looked at one in the shop and really liked it, but still worried it may be too big for every day carry.

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  2. I'll be setting back up my small beekeeping operation. Last week when down in Somerset we picked up a new, second hive for our garden, and all the necessary frames etc to recommission our existing hive.I used a GTD-style agenda within my FF for this, because it was a long trip, a major purchase, a long list and I didn't ant to forget anything as making a second journey would have been pretty much impossible.

    This weekend I have to clear out the outhoue to make working space to put the frames and supers together, and in 4-8 weeks (probably, depending on the weather) I'll make a second trip down to Somerset to collect our two new burgeoning colonies of bees (known in the 'trade' as nucs, short for nuclei).

    The FF is pretty useful for tracking forward dates for inspections, small tasks, and then the big task of taking honey around the end of July/beginning of August.

    Let's hope for a better summer this year!

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  3. Oh this thought has cheered me up. I've just bought a book 'gardening through the year' or similar by Ian Spence so I can extract monthly tasks for the garden and plan better as I've got a bit behind with it. These will go into my phone home fax.

    I've set up a spare fax as a diet and fitness fax - this will aid my weight loss and also the Race for Life I've signed up for (must be mad - but you can sponsor me here: http://bit.ly/y7QnSE - all proceeds to cancer research!).

    I'm also decluttering and selling off stuff - my Aqua A5 Finsbury has been relisted on Ebay, if anyone is interested, due to a non payer. It's so frustrating that someone can bid and not pay and there isn't much I can do about it - I can't even leave them any negative feedback!

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  4. Just another question - does anyone use Mind Mapping for planning, projects or task management? I used to use it a lot and didn't really load it onto my new laptop (which I have done now). Useful for printing out and keeping in the fax for reference hopefully.

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  5. Alison,
    How can i find your listing on Ebay - whats your id. Would love to try bidding on that Aqua A5!
    Thx.

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  6. @Alison. I used Mind Mapping a lot to help plan and organise my written assignments and dissertation for my Masters Degree a few years back. It was just such a useful technique.... and there are many internet sites to demonstrate different types of mind map and ways of using mind mapping techniques. I actually downloaded a mind map for PC which you recommended a while back. Passed my written assignments, though sadly not my dissertation, with distinction grades(passing the degree, but missing my longed for distinction by a squeak)..... mind mapping proved to be excellent for marshalling my thoughts and ideas though!! I still carry mind map blanks and pro formas in my work Filofax.Useful.

    Today, I am starting a gift ideas list and will add my final purchase to my gifts chart, which I keep on PC. I keep this to have a record of what I have given to whom for birthdays etc..... so that I do not duplicate ideas. My cousin has just had twin girls,yesterday. The girls, Lilia and Jessica, are so very precious, so longed for, and such a miracle really. Mother and twins(and indeed their daddy,) are both doing well. So..... it's out with the Filofax,over a glass of champers later, to write and stick in ideas of THE perfect present two times over!!!What a wonderful excuse to enable some shopping!!!! Heee Heeee.

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  7. PS- Wonder if anybody out there has a baby section, or family children section in their Filofax???? Just a thought........

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  8. Hi Everyone.
    Alison, there's a mind mapping template in the files area for A4/A5
    http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/p/files.html
    I've not used it myself, not sure who sent it in even!
    Regards
    Steve

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  9. @missfoc - here is the A5 Aqua I am selling: http://bit.ly/zeyYDu

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  10. @Steve - thanks - I may print some out for on the run. I tend to use software on my laptop for mine and print them out for the filofax.

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  11. @Alison
    Excellent! Thank you.

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  12. Just another thought. The sun is out here and it has warmed up considerably - showing up some areas where a little cleaning wouldn't go amiss! Does anyone make plans in their FF for spring cleaning or general cleaning routines? Would love to hear if you want to share!

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  13. @Steve
    It was me who sent that in! I use it for blog posts/ideas and some general brainstorming, but I guess it's not a real mindmap as such...

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  14. Hello all!

    I have a question. Some Filofaxes from the new range are being released in 'March'. Does anybody know when? 1st March? 31 March? It's my birthday in March so need I say more???

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  15. @ Alison. I recently stared to add some cleaning lists to my Filofax. I have currently only done a "weekly to-clean" list and I will simply tick it off when done and then use a new sheet the following week. This means that if I 'wipe surfaces' on a Monday (first day of the week) and then tick it off the next Sunday when I add the new sheet it may mean that I only wipe the surfaces on the Saturday (therefore meaning it could be nearer 2 weeks). I have only added chores that do not need doing daily like wiping surfaces. I have currently:
    -Vacuum entrance
    - wash dog toys
    - wipe sliding doors
    - brush balcony + mat
    - wash out trash cans
    - wipe inside bathroom cabinet
    - dust shelves

    I am really still in the experimental stage. but i would like to have a more long-term cleaning list so I can maybe list all the chores that only get done once or twice a year and then write the date it was done on a spreadsheet or year-planner and then I can see what needs doing.
    examples:
    - sort clothing + make charity bag
    - wash curtains
    - clean rug
    - sort books
    - polish floor
    - get windows cleaned
    etc etc

    what did you have in mind? I am interested for more input.

    SSA

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  16. @Lucy, I guess you'll have to keep a close look at Filofax.co.uk. I see they already have the personal BCC and the A5 Apex on sale. I expect the remainder of the new models will be introduced one by one.

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  17. @Alison Sun? Sun? What is this 'sun' of which you speak? :)

    Here in West Wales the default setting is Wet. Except for the odd day, when it is Very wet Indeed.

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  18. To those Deco owners out there.

    I recently started using a Ruby deco and after tossing it in my bag like I do all my other Filo's it now has a few nicks in the leather showing a pinkish-red colour where the leather should be. Has anyone else had this experience? I thought perhaps it would not be too bad on the Ivory. I did think it would be tougher leather and the only issue would be the clasp getting scratched.

    I now think I will need to keep it as a home/office filo and use a sturdier filofax for my handbag.

    Others experiences would be much appreciated.

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  19. @Alison,

    I'm trying to set up a Flylady control Journal (hence why im looking to buy an A5 Filo!) Would be good to hear if anyone else has one of these or similar home management-type system? Im too perfectionist to get started Properly - Which is why im always on here looking at others set ups... I have started a temporary set up though in my personal using the merged personal TM week to view. I also have my routines listed & use my flyleaf as a wipeclean board so i dont have to write the same jobs out every day/week.

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  20. Would anyone in UK be willing to help a reader in Germany.

    They want this item:
    http://www.hrsbshop.co.uk/filofax-songbird-personal-organiser-cotton-canvas-cover-stylish-graphic-print-personal-ref-027756-35534-p.asp

    But they will only deliver to a UK address. All you would be asked to do is to accept the parcel and post it on to them with costs refunded of course.

    If you can help please contact philofaxy[at]gmail[dot]com and I will put you in touch with the reader

    Thank you
    Regards
    Steve

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  21. @missfoc If you're on Facebook please join the Filofax and Flylady group. :) I need to start flying again...the CHAOS there is what it is.

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  22. @SSA - This is exactly what I am interested in. Somewhere I have some cleaning lists (i.e. spring, autumn) that I downloaded from I think the Martha Stewart site, and was thinking of doing similar to you. I'm a fan of flylady, but I find their constant emails a bit overwhelming. I'd love to be a one life one FF person but I can't fit it all in, so I have one work one, one for slimming / fitness and hopefully one for the home.

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  23. Hi everyone
    Thanks for the rapid response we now have someone to help our our German reader.
    Regards
    Steve

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  24. To the Flylady fans out there: have you seen Christa's post (it was in the webfinds from 4th February).

    I have just added the Zone work to my A5. The daily routines are on a selfmade huge wipeboard in the kitchen, together with the kids' chores. I was hoping to avoid all the nagging, but after 2 weeks the novelty of it all has surely worn off ...

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  25. I forgot to include the link to Christa's post ...
    http://lovingmyfilofax.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-home-binder-filofax-a5-now-pink.html

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  26. @Jotje - Yes I avidly read Christa's blog post several times! I'm awaiting the update with baited breath as she promised a post on her flylady routines and hope to see it soon!

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  27. It's all about the wedding planning for me this weekend...there's a wedding fair on at a venue we were considering so hopefully off to have a nose round.

    I'm using my A5 Malden in Vintage Rose as my wedding planner as it just feels all girly and feminine (and squishy)

    Apart from that I'll be setting up my work/study A5 with new pages from the print your own Philofaxy section (thank you Ray you are wonderful!!) so I'll be wittering on about that a lot I'm sure :)

    Plus planning my day in London on Tuesday as I'm off to a marketing/publishing show for work

    Lx

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  28. SSA (and anyone else interested in setting up routines) - take a look at Nan's post here.....

    http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2008/03/behind-routines-tab.html

    There are some excellent ideas in the linked images for condensing tracking information.

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  29. I've have converted my Moleskine into filofax (or should that be the other way round?). Anyway, I have quite a few filofaxes in use for various purposes, but this hybrid is the one that I use every day and, because it's rather unusual, I thought you lot might like to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEOhQlR4CeA

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  30. I received an email today that the Temperly for Filofax planners are now out. Wow, they are pricey! I wasn't even able to see what they really look like inside. Any chance there will be a review of them on Philofaxy?

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  31. @Sandra
    I've found the flylady & the Filofax group on Facebook but it's a closed group. How do I join or add it? I'm using my iPhone as I don't have a working pc.
    Thx.

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  32. @missfoc I guess the 'Ask to Join the Group' link doesn't appear on the mobile app.

    Email me at philofaxy at gmail dot com and I will forward your email to one of the admins of the group. I will need to know your name on Facebook and the email address you use as well

    Regards
    Steve

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  33. There are so many links for filofax and flylady...none of the ones I found are private groups...can someone post the links to them both please?

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