07 February 2012

Free For All Tuesday No 53

Tuesday the day for Filofax questions and answers...  Go on..... I know you have been stood at the back whilst everyone has been in the spotlights... time to step forward and ask your question.

52 comments:

  1. Does anyone here have the cherry Finsbury Zip? I am thinking about purchasing one but I'm wondering if the red is a bright true red, or more the dark burgundy red ( as with the finchley). I would hate to order it and then have it be the burgundy tone I don't want. I've been misled before by what looked bright red in a photo being a lot darker in person. So any advice would be appreciated! Thanks,
    Diane

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  2. Loving my Hampstead A5, and cannot move to a personal, I find the pages too narrow, but does anyone have suggestions for a more lightweight binder in A5 ??

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  3. Nikki the A5 Domino binder is very lightweight, but the rings are large so it may or may not be what you have in mind!

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  4. Speaking of Domino binders, I had a thought: I wonder how cost prohibitive it would be for Filofax to do custom screen-printed Dominos?? You could upload your own image, they print it onto the binder! Would be amazing to have custom-printed Filofaxes, but I have no idea what that would involve.

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  5. Speaking of Domino binders, I had a thought: I wonder how cost prohibitive it would be for Filofax to do custom screen-printed Dominos?? You could upload your own image, they print it onto the binder! Would be amazing to have custom-printed Filofaxes, but I have no idea what that would involve.

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  6. @Nikki - as a left-hander, I've never been comfortable with Filofax personal pages. Working my writing hand around the binder mechanism leaves little paper on which to write! I always end up back with A5 and the extra writing space, but find A5 binders too bulky.

    As you'll see from recent posts, 20mm ringed A5's are coming later this year. These should be slightly smaller. Not sure about the Hampstead but an A5 Cuban is 235mm tall x 210mm wide, whereas the Adelphi (the only UK 20mm ringed binder of recent times) is only 185mm wide. 25mm difference may not seem a lot but with less pages inside making for lighter weight, it will be very noticeable.

    The only way I know of of getting any smaller/ lighter is to fit a small binder ring inside a Flex cover. I've done this with great success using an old 13mm Time Manager mechanism. The binder will hold around 100 sheets of essential pages and brings the dimensions down to 223mm x 170mm (x 23mm thick) and weighs (fully loaded) barely 400g. As you'll know, a fully laden A5 can easily top 1Kg. I have to be very disciplined on what I carry around, so it won't work for many Filofax fans who like to fill theirs with lots of stuff!

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  7. Hi,

    Just wondering if anyone can help? In an effort to organise my filofax i'm thinking of changing to a slimline, in hopes that it might stop me from carrying around so much rubbish and just carry whats essential. My options are a bit limited, as I cant afford a brand new organiser, so i'm watching 2 on ebay (a cuban and adelphi). I've checked the ring size guide on here and I know the cuban has smaller rings but I think I read somewhere on here (or I might just be making it up lol) that the Adelphi binder is bulky and sort of defeats the object of having a slimline.

    At the most I would want to put in a week on one page with notes, a few normal dividers, month on two pages and about 30 sheets of paper. Does anyone who has or has used a slimline know if that would even fit in or am i just wasting my time?

    Thanks xx

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  8. Just wanted to say a big thank you to Steve as well for helping me out with some printed shopping lists.

    It so nice how kind and helpful people are on this blog

    Thanks again Steve x

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  9. Has anyone set up a slimming world binder? I'm thinking of doing one with a food diary, list of favourite syns etc. Just wondered if anyone has any tips?

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  10. @PrincessK - I have both the A5 and the personal slimline Adelphi. The personal slimline is much slimmer than the usual personal one, but has a large pocket on the front, which if course be useful for receipts, tickets and so on.

    The A5 also has a large pocket - I don't think the A5 is that much slimmer/lighter than other A5s because of this pocket - what were filofax thinking when they added that? Nice binders though. I'd love to see a TRUE slimline A5.

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  11. I have a ring size question, what is the current binder(or binders) with the largest ring size in personal and in A5? And also does anyone know what was the binder(s) with largest ring size filofax had in the past in a5 and personal?

    Tracy

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  12. I'm wondering, has there ever been a Filofax with a wrist-strap, so it can be carried as a wallet wihout fear of it getting knocked out your hand? I can't remember if I saw such a thing in the '80s, when I wasn't really interested in the topic...

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  13. @Princess K - I am a huge fan of the slimlines. I would go for the larger ring size though. I don’t have a Cuban but do have the Adelphi, Classic and Amazona. I weighed the empty binders and the results are interesting, of course I presume my scales to be accurate?

    Adelphi = 150g
    Amazona = 124g
    Classic = 163g

    To look at them you would think the Adelphi with its front pocket would weigh the most and the classic the least.

    I did not find the pocket on the front of the Adelphi to be a problem, if anything it helped keep the binder closed.

    With what you want to keep in the binder probably all will fit but you may have to only carry around 4 months of the weekly at one time.

    If you live near a Homesense they had heaps of Filofaxes on sale and quite a few slimlines.

    Hope this helps.

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  14. Hi Laurie, thanks for the suggestion of the domino, I am sure it would be so pratical for me to throw in my bag and have with me, but I am so sold on leather!! I love the feel of high quality leather. I have been so spoilt by my pocket waverley, that is such gorgeous leather, but now my life is way to busy to use a pocket :(
    Tim, thanks for such an informative post! You are plainly on the same wavelength as me! I have not handed the flex, but Steve did say it have a quality feel to the binder itself, however, I think the slimline A5 maybe just the thing I am looking for.
    I like you am left handed, and I hate the way my writing turns into a complete scrawl on the left side page in a personal binder. I do need the A5 size paper I think! I shall wait til later in this year for a high quality leather A5 in slimine I think :) Thank you so much for your insights
    kind regards, Nikki

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  15. @Tracy - Steve must be busy today, as he would have replied to your question straight away! There is a pdf document under links or www.philofaxy.com/files/Filofax.pdf that lists all the current (or at least recent) models and their sizes. I don't think there's now anything bigger than 30mm in either Personal (Cuban Zip) or A5 (various binders). Certainly the A5 Finsbury Zip was 35mm. The smallest A5 I believe was the Executive at 19mm. Not sure if there was ever a binder sold as Personal smaller than 23mm. Others will know for sure!

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  16. @Nikki - despite what Steve said about Flex quality (he could hardly be rude about a free sample!) you WILL be disappointed by the Flex cover. I'm looking at mine now, sat next to a Holborn. The Flex is plastic and looks like it! Wait for the slim leather A5, or leather Flex cover would be my top tip.

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  17. @Diane: the Finsbury red is as red as red can get! True Firemen's red, nothing like the more burgundy Finchley!

    @Nikki: I have the A5 Adelphi, it's definitely smaller than e.g. the Finchley or Finsbury, much thinner and also lighter. Still, I hope they will present an A5 with 20mm rings, without useless pockets like the Adelphi has. All my hopes are up for the purple A5 Luxe or Pennybridge ...

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  18. Hi Everyone. Yes I'm about but been busy today..

    Here's one of the prototype diary inserts I've been working on with Ray:

    http://www.philofaxy.com/weekview.jpg

    Tasks can be associated with the days or just as a list.

    I'm testing this layout for the next few weeks, so it's not finalised yet.

    Steve

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  19. @Nikki, there are some Compact A5's due out this year with smaller rings:

    http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2012/02/a5-compacts.html

    @Tracy, the largest rings are 30mm these days in A5, and also Personal Zip got 30mm. In previous years I've seen larger than that. I think as big as 38 mm in one case, or may be 33 mm

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  20. @Steve, I like the page, I usually note any scheduled events that are likely to slip my mind - giving blood, 30-day auction ending on e-Bay, stuff like that - at the bottom right of the week-to-view A5 I use at home, so I wonder if 2 lines at the bottom of the "Tasks" column dedicated to "Next Week" or "Coming Up" would be useful to anyone else?

    Possibly not :o) but it helps me to have a shout-back from anything forgettable from the coming week, especially if it's on a Monday or Tuesday.

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  21. thanks for the help Tim, Steve and Jotje :)
    I am gonna hold out for the A5 compact, or maybe look at a flex if they come out with a leather one.

    I am so close to getting a chap near me to MAKE me a custom binder. Then I could choose my skin/colour design etc. but I am thinking it would probably come to around 200 euro or thereabouts, but it would be A M A Z I N G lol
    He has made me a handbag before, and a couple of smaller items.

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  22. @ Alison

    Thanks for the info, I dont know maybe the fact that im unsure of the Adelphi probably means I shouldnt bid on it lol. Im unsure of the cuban as well because of the smaller rings.

    @ Saffy

    Thanks for all the info. I have the red amazona in the personal size and love it. I would love the slimline version it would be my ideal! I've found it on sale on the Denmark site but at £39.00 its still abit too much for me at the minute. I've got a mini Amazona in Almond and im thinking of selling it on Ebay and just going for the slimline Amazona becuase I never use the mini.

    I dont know decisions lol x

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  23. Might be a bit late in the day to get an answer... but does anyone else here use the old Pak Filofax?

    From that weird era just around the millenium, when even watches and Filos had bumpers and roll-bars? :)

    Just curious... I gave mine away, and bitterly regret it to this very day!

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  24. @Sari. Would you be so good as to tell me how your pocket Glenroyal is working out for you. I have about decided to order one and a briefcase from them, and I am interested in your feedback in advance. Many thanks in advance.

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  25. BTW Steve, I really ike the week to view pages diary you are working on right now :)

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  26. @Shanananana Thanks for your feed back I've added in 'Coming Up' at the bottom of the page.

    Same link

    http://www.philofaxy.com/weekview.jpg

    Steve

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  27. I am an international student in UK and I bought a filofax personal last month. I am sorry if my question is not clear. After reading philofaxy, I have got a lot of wise use of filofax. But everytime I saw that some user have many colorful inserts and refills and I really want buy some. So my question is what's the exact brand and size of the inserts from other brand could suit persoanl size, such as Dodo, I alway saw this name but I don't know the whole name of this product. Thanx a lot if anyone could answer my question.

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  28. @Steve. I'm very interested in the planning pages that are being developed. Can you tell me what the current size for these is...A5? I'm guessing it would be hard to have this in a personal layout...which would be simply lovely!

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  29. @Steve - Love the WO2P format you've been working on. As a keen Time Management user over many years, I would say it is already even BETTER than the proprietary version! It will look great on cotton cream paper! Well done!

    I think the layout and balance is good. I like the "Notes/Reminders", the generic "Communications" (rather than "Phone, Write, Fax, E-mail" and the "Coming Up" as suggested.

    My only tiny niggle is the lack of a purpose to the week. The Notes/ Reminders isn't quite enough! On Filofax Time Management this is at the top of the page and called "Main Goals". It gives an opportunity to write THE one thing you really want to achieve or must be your top priority this week. The Flex WO2P has the same thing but calls it "this week". This is a more subtle, less driven way, of achieving the same thing. It should (in my view) be there as a distinct reminder of the most important thing about this week. eg: "Write-up project notes","School Arts Week", "Submit Tax Return", etc.

    If your monthly calendar could just show the current month (rather than showing two months - only really needed when a week crosses into two months) this would free-up space for "this week" at the top of the other page.

    Hope this is helpful. Tim

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  30. Steve absolutely brilliant weekly format, that is excellent. I love the organization of it!

    Nikki I haven't seen an A5 Aston in person, but I can tell you my Personal Aston is the lightest of my leather personal size binders. If you have any way of seeing one in person I highly recommend checking out the Aston.

    Lulu the Dodo insert you mentioned is from www.dodopad.com. I reviewed one awhile back, you can see photos of what it looks like in this post:

    http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2010/05/dodo-acad-pad-personal-size-filofax.html


    There are also other brands of diary inserts that fit the Personal size Filofax, Steve did a post on them here:

    http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/09/diary-inserts-for-2012-part-1-of-many.html

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  31. Shanananana
    What is the old pak Filofax? Never heard of it.

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  32. Hi Steve.... like the coming up bit in this planner. Seems a great layout, as it looks flexible.Is Jan, Feb etc going in the day columns under the days?? Just to avoid confusion when one flips into the diary at speed. Must say, I like this kind of format. Must take yourself and Ray ages. Am full of admiration for all you CAD boffins out there.

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  33. Like the idea of lines for goals, as Tim says, but also maybe a few lines at the top for writing in Birthdays/Anniversaries/RemembranceDays in the week?? My current DPP has Today, instead of goals, and that's where I write any birthdays or anniversaries. Handy at the top, as you see that first, so can't miss it. Am just so darned forgetful otherwise, so a handy feature.

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  34. PS Agree wholeheartedly with Tim. This is already BETTER BY FAR than the shop bought versions. xxxx

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  35. PPS- Would prefer a WO2P, as you've made, to a DPP which I now have, but don't really like Filofax's current format.Would much prefer your new Time Management design prototype.

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  36. I'd love to know what pens you all use in your pocket sized filofax.

    I have just bought a pocket Malden (yay), and while I'm waiting for the package to arrive I'm considering buying a nice new pen to celebrate but I've heard the Malden pen loop is a little stiff? Any ideas?

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  37. @Filofreak - search "Filofax Pak" - you'll see a nylon beaut with extra bumpers (well, bits where the zip wrapped round anyway!) which was released about 2001, or thereabouts - it's a silly Filofax back from a fun era!

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  38. @Jotje Thanks for the info on the color of the red Finsbury! You gave me the last nudge I needed to go for it!

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  39. @ Laurie
    ha ha, it is funny that I have always admired the Aston, and I think it would be my kind of binder :) I will see if there is a way to "meet" the A5 version in the flesh :) Thanks for the insight :) Nikki

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  40. Hi Everyone
    Version 3 or is it Version 4 of the Week View template is now for previewing here:

    http://www.philofaxy.com/weekview.jpg

    I've added in the Main Goals/This Week at the top.

    The two calendars vary during the month so at the end of one month and the start of the next month say Jan/Feb you will see Jan on the left and Feb on the right. Then in say the first full week of Feb you will see Feb on the left with March on the right. And again at the End of the month you will still see the same Feb then March. Once in to March it then becomes March/April.

    It will make more sense when you see it. But it's Ray's clever formatting that sorted that out!

    I'm testing four weeks worth of this myself at the moment.

    Regards
    Steve

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  41. Gentlemen, it looks fantastic. Well done both

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  42. This looks great Steve!!! You could almost fit another line in the this week, or make them narrower. I notice the original has 4 lines in the same space. What do you think??? Great idea to make it this week........ as it covers goals, birthdays or anything. The more flexible the better. xxxx

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  43. @Shanananana
    Cool, I'll check it out. Thanks!

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  44. that looks really great Steve and Ray... well done!!

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  45. @Steve - looking really good! Thank you for listening to the various suggestions. Being able to include "this week" and TWO calendars is even better!

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  46. I have an A5 paper question. I ordered a ream of A4 and A5 paper from Empire Imports. The prices were very reasonable but because they shipped it UPS, I had to pay almost $20 for a brokerage fee to UPS. Does anyone know of another source in North America for A5 paper?

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  47. @terriknits. You can get A4 paper (cut in half to make A5) from Staples On Line. Takes less than a week to come in.

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  48. @cgarsnrealest8 - thanks for the tip, but unfortunately Staples.com won't ship to Canada, and Staples.ca doesn't carry A4 at all. :-(

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  49. thank you Steve and Ray for creating such a perfect WTV template
    We all know how much time and work this involves :)

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  50. @Steve and @Ray: I love you guys!!! I have been looking everywhere for this layout (it looks like the weekly Timesystem pages, but those are not available in Europe ----- ANYWHERE).

    Steve, can I join you in testing this layout ... ? ;-) I'm totally impatient!!

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  51. OK just fine tuned the design for the Main Goals lines, so there are four spaces with three lines the bottom line being the top of the calendar bit effectively.

    http://philofaxy.com/weekview.jpg

    Going to try my hand at designing a Personal Week on Two Pages and Day per Page design.. not sure how successful it will be yet. I will share them with you soon.

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