29 June 2012

Free for All Friday No. 189

How often do you change your Filofax setup? Do you frequently do little tweaks, or one big housecleaning per year?

Of course, since it's Friday, we can talk about anything Filofax.

73 comments:

  1. Yay! Free for all Friday!
    To answer the question posted, I think I am finally settle with my set up. Hopefully won't be changing it any time soon! But the Filofax on the other hand....hehe

    Does anyone has a compact Holborn? Are the cc slots just like the one on personal or are they vertical?

    On a side note, I LOVED the Meetup in Chicago! Hopefully will get to write something about it this weekend. I can't wait to my next one! I will be in NY August 3-6. Anyone up to a tiny-mini meetup? A coffee in the afternoon would work, doesn't need to be super-super, just to meet other philofaxy peeps and talk Filofax. Anyone? Anyone? *blink, blink* :)

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    1. I may be in the U.S. around that time staying in CT while DH works and would love to catch up with fellow philofaxers for a mini meet up. It is not 100% yet but is looking positive. If it does happen is there anything I can bring from the U.K. for you or anyone else who may be available?

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    2. I'm in the US too till August 10th, but will be in California mostly. Wish i could go to New York, or better yet, Connecticut, where I've never been. The meet-ups I've seen photos of look like so much fun -- how can you go wrong with coffee/tea/wine, food, and "Filofaxes" (sorry Steve!).

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    3. Hi, Doris - Where in Cali will you be? I'm in Southern California, Los Angeles/Hollywood area specifically. If you have time to meet, let me know. I'm a full-time grad student, own 5-ish Filos, and am currently in midterms. :o)
      -Stephanie

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    4. The compact Holborn has vertical card slots. Also no Zipped pocket, which I prefer for it to be truly compact but others might not.

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    5. @mstraat thank you for the info! So it's not like a the personal layout. Hmmm . Do you happen to have a pic of the inside?

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    6. @Lime Tree email me at mstraat@neb.rr.com and I'll send you a photo

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    7. @mstraat great! Just emailed you!

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    8. I'm in new York and can maybe meet that weekend, depending o n what is going on. Email me offline and we can discuss. Email is kanalt17 at gmail DOT com. :-)

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    9. @Stoko77: I'll be mostly in Sacramento, and don't know if I'll get to LA. I'm sure you use your filo for school. A lot of gals on here are in uni/college as well.

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    10. @kanalt yay! Email right on your way!

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  2. Hi there, I've been reading for a few months and was recently checking out the flickr photos and love the look of the red malden. Does anyone know if there's an english speaking site I can order a new personal sized one from? I've found them on the french and danish filofax sites but would prefer english inserts.

    Also - does anyone use a personal malden as their wallet? If so where do you keep your notes?

    Thanks!

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    1. Have you tried filofaxusa.com and the mothership filofax.co.uk? There is also pens&leather in USA and I heard City Organiser rocks in UK! :)

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    2. City Organiser is great but they don't have everything and last I checked they didn't have it in red but all the others were 30% off... plus if the philofaxy discount code is working it may be worth compromising on the colour!

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    3. @Lime Tree - I've tried all those sites, I'm thinking I'll have to order through the French site.

      @Clareio - I had been thinking about the compact zip but the ochre and purple just didn't do it for me, and then I saw the red personal on flickr and knew it was the colour for me. It's a shame because I really like the city organiser site.

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    4. Hi Java! I have the personal crimson Malden, I ordered it from the US, and I use it as a wallet!

      I got my Malden from Pens and Leather, but looking again I see they don't have the crimson anymore!!! I'd definitely say it is worth ordering from the French site- is is an amazing color.

      As for the wallet part, I use a simple Day Runner insert to hold cash and coin- I actually ironically just wrote a blog post about it. Read more here: http://thecrazylifeofj.blogspot.com/2012/06/does-it-all-malden.html

      Good luck!!!

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    5. @java's mum: If you can't get hold of the crimson Malden, another option may be the red Chameleon. It's currently half price on the UK site at £32.50 with free delivery until Monday. It looks a lovely deep, rich red. Just a thought in case you didn't want to bother getting the Malden from France.

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    6. I've looked EVERYWHERE for the crimson Malden--in the US, UK, French sites & all the discounted stores like Goldspot, Pens & Leather, Pen Boutique and EBay--no luck. I've got friends keeping their eyes out for me! But I don't think I'm going to be lucky this time.
      BTW - The description of the personal Malden says Exterior has "wallet" pocket. Does this mean there is an outside pocket on the back of the personal size Malden?
      Also-does it stay open when paper is balanced?
      Thanks y'all, from Austin, Texas!

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  3. It all depends how you distinguish between a 'tweak' and a change of setup. I suggest this is largely a matter of degree.

    I've been settled in my GTD setup, running out of my ochre Personal Malden, since before the beginning of the year, and I susbscrivbe to the principle of 'if it isn't broken, don't fix it'. Also, too much 'improvement' can really mess things up (just look at so-called 'enhancements' to MS products!).

    All of that said, however, I did change binders this week, from the Malden back to my vintage oiled leather Hampstead. I love this binder (as well), and the simple reason for migrating is that the Hampstead has two pen loops - quite unusual on a Personal. So now i can carry a pen *and* a pencil.

    I don't see the internal setup changing any time soon, since it 'just works'.

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    1. I just changed binders this week as well...from the Cuban personal to the Osterly personal. The Osterly also has two pen loops, which was a pleasant surprise. I think I just found the perfect pen, a Foray Stylemark with a fine point and BROWN ink. Now I just need the right pencil

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    2. I too now have what is for me the perfect pen...a Parker 45 vintage ballpoint from around 1980, which has come down to me through my late father-in-law. £3.50 for a new refill (I don't think it had been used since 1980-ish) and it's perfect.

      Pencil-wise I'm using the generic silver FF pencil which i bought from the shop in Conduit St after I lost my other Parker pencil. It's a bit small for my hand, but it's OK. I might try and get a pencil to match the Parker 45 pen......that would be 100% a result!

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    3. I've been also using a GTD setup since my first filofax & overall it doesn't change very much. I never did settle down properly into my A5, so am in the process of setting up my purple Malden & will stick to the sections I had in personal size before. I find it very easy to have 'setup envy', but I don't tend to do anything about it apart from the occasional minor tweak.

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    4. Hi Anita

      Best of all, you can run a GTD setup entirely on lined paper, apart from the diary.....so no masses of different inserts. Result!

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    5. Hi David, I agree! I only have lined paper in mine & use the calendar on my iPod touch, so very simple :)

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  4. I am currently in mild Filofax setup panic/flux. This seems to happen frequently, when I have periods of uni when I have very few appointments, i.e. research periods. I rarely need to write down my daily planning because I have few appointments and not many to-dos; however, then my to-dos start adding up, but because I'm out of the habit of writing them in my filo, I don't do it and I forget the important things I need to do! Because I don't have that many to-dos, I don't use my DPP inserts well, so I stop using them, but then I can't use WO2P either!! The A5 vertical WO2P insert plus a post-it for to-dos is OK, but then the A5 is too heavy to take around with me, and the pocket doesn't work for me!! Grrrrrr!!! Currently trying to make a new format with DIY inserts!

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  5. My big tweaks are usually between using dividers labelled as diary, actions, projects etc or using alphabetic dividers abd filing by initial letters. Only changed system once this year.... but I've tried 4 folders on the way!

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  6. I haven't made any major changes to my set-up since I moved to a Personal from a Pocket. I have customized my tabs though, but the overall contents remain the same. It's been mostly adding, adding, adding (tabs and pages), and my Filo will need a major overhaul after my vacation since it's full of lists and phone numbers at the moment.

    That said, moving to a Dodopad diary after using Filofax diaries for years is pretty major to me.

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    1. I would LOVE to try a Dodopad for my personal but the teeny boxes make me nervous. Just not enough room. Would have more seriously consider if they stretched the height of the grid. I really would love to try Dodopad. :-(

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  7. I've not been using Filofax that long so mine is an ongoing thing, I don't have time to sit down and do a major set up for much of the time, so it's kind of a blank canvas that I add to when I have time, I find this works well for me, this way it gets thought through properly and I'm not keep swapping and changing, as yet i've not named any dividers, want to wait until i'm completely happy with the set up first.

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  8. I'd love a meet up in the North of England, i'm in the North West and wondered if there's enough of us for a mini meet up!!

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    1. Ohh Alison, I am in the North East (near Durham)I would love a meet up, but not sure where would be appropriate seeing as the "best" Filofax shops are in London.

      Yesterday I took a trip to Newcastle, they seem to have a few places that sell Filofaxs.....The Pen Shop, John Lewis, Fenwicks, WHSmiths, Rymans and Paperchase. (The paperchase shop is huge).

      John Lewis had a really good collection in and a lot were in their sale too. It would be great if us "Northerners" could meet up too!

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    2. I'm going to be in Liverpool until October!!

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    3. Yeah it's usually the case Gail, all the best shops are in London, that's why I always order online, i'd love a London meet up, but it makes me nervous travelling alone, I just thought a mini meet up where we could have lunch and talk Filofax, it would be nice to meet in real life.

      Preston is rubbish for Filofax, WHSmith, Ryman and Staples is about the only place and they don't have much variety and are overpriced compared to City Organiser. We don't even have a Paperchase here in Preston.

      I'm hoping to go Stationary shopping in Manchester soon with my mum, anybody know if there is anywhere in Manchester for Filofax?

      TPS - maybe we could meet up while your still in Liverpool, what's Liverpool like for Filofax & stationary.

      The best way is see who would like a meet up and then meet at a central place, if there no Filofax shop to go to, we can just compare set ups and have a chat etc

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    4. What about the Trafford Centre in Manchester or Meadowhall in Sheffield? I know the Trafford Centre has a Pen Shop and the Paperchase shop in Meadowhall is fab. I'm in West Yorkshire x

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    5. I'm in the north east Alison where abouts are you in the north west? x

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    6. Preston, Lancashire.

      I'm off to Trafford Centre tomoz for daughters birthday shopping, I'll check out what's there

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    7. Hi Alison! Liverpool is quite good for Filofaxes, John Lewis and Paperchase stand out! But of course there are loads of lovely cafes here... ;D I'd love for there to be a meet-up here, or somewhere relatively close like Manchester or Birmingham!

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    8. Hi, I am North West as well. Chester is also very good for filos, Debenhams has a pen shop, WHsmiths is surprisingly good and paperchase. The Traffford Centre also has Selfridges and John Lewis with good filos too.

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    9. Just flaggig-up another guy living in the north of England. I'm based in The Yorkshire Dales. I worked for several years in London but now manage to avoid going there. The Olympics in August will be my first time in ages! Unfortunately, I work in the hospitality sector so would struggle to get to a weekend meet, even in the North, but would try!

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    10. Liverpool as well... Is that enough for a meet? Let me know when...

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    11. Hi Alison
      I'm in the Greater Manchester area would like very much to have a mini meet up. John Lewis had some Filofaxes. In Market Street Manchester there's a large branch of Paper Chase, pens, hand made paper, card etc. Lots of Places to ate in the city centre you're spoilt for choice. Est Cafe in the Arndale Centre, Debenhams Restaurant both tried and tested of course there's lots more too numerous to mention. The Trafford Centre have or had The Pen Shop great just browsing in there. I too dislike travelling long distances alone. Looks like we could arrange a meet what about it?

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    12. I'm in St. Helens and potentially up for a NorthWest meetup If the time is right.

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    13. @Tim: I was playing on the bandstand in Ilkley last Sunday...!!! Small world!

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    14. YAY! a northwest meetup would be fab! i am in Widnes so manchester/Liverpool/Chester would be great!!! LETS DO IT!!!!!!!!!

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    15. @Alison
      I think we have quite a number of members interested in order to organise a mini meet up, if we can't visit a store we could just have lunch, chat, exchange ideas and views. We need to co-ordinate things where's the best place to meet etc. What do you think?

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    16. Hi Everyone.
      I hope someone steps forward to be the co-ordinator for this meet up. I know it might seem like a lot of work at first but it will be worth while.

      You might find my meet up notes useful to help you get organised.

      http://www.philofaxy.com/files/PhilofaxyMeetUp.pdf

      I will look in to updating them if there's anything I think I've left out.

      I know when Kate and Hannah and I met up in Liverpool in April we found a few stockists in the city but nothing quite like City Organiser!

      If you need any help, just ask
      Regards
      Steve

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    17. OK, sorry had a really busy weekend, maybe this is a good time to move out of my comfort zone and try to get this set up, Manchester is looking favourite!! I'm happy with either Manchester or Liverpool. Email me at alisoncarroll5 (at) btinternet (dot) com

      I'll also do a blog post, hopefully later tonight, so you can also contact me via that too, really looking forward to this now. Hopefully if it comes off and we have a good time we can make this a regular thing!!

      Thanks for the info Steve, i'll have a good read through it.

      I went to The Trafford Centre on Sat for shopping for my Daughters birthday, managed Paperchase, but didn't get in the pen shop or to look at any filofax's as dear hubby kept reminding me it was my daughters day haha, so would love to visit some of these shops.

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    18. See Alison's post: http://filo-obsessed.blogspot.fr/2012/07/philofaxy-north-west-meet-up.html

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  9. As the diary section of my filofax only started on monday, and I didn't have a whole lot to do before that anyway, I have found that the set up I had didn't work for me at all. I had separate work/home diaries but it just made things complicated so I've already taken out the day per page in favour of using a WO2P for everything. Now i've hit a problem, my filofax is pocket sized and i'm filling up the space I have daily (including rubbing things out that i've done... or indeed not got round to in order to make space... and i'm still using extra paper most days!! so this weekends mammoth task is to reorganise, make some tabs that might work (temporary ones for now) and maybe try and use separate to do lists more often!

    Or I could just wait until I get paid and buy a personal...

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    1. Clareio I just can't imagine using anything smaller than a Personal - I have enough space issues with that! If you *really* want to continue with small formats, I don't know if you can get the 'day planner' sheets for your size (you can certainly get them for Personal), but that might be an idea. Otherwise, if my Wo2P diary gets overloaded I just add a sheet of lined paper in between the two leaves and overspill onto that.

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  10. Just got my first Filofax! I spent about 2 hours setting everything up in the pocket. I'm not sure how long it will last before I change it though.

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  11. Hi all,

    Been a very happy A5 Cuban user for a while now. A5 is definitely for me as it allows me to achieve the "life in one Filofax" ideal. However, I am now reverting to an A5 Identity. This is such a shame but its Ring size! As I am wanting a "nice" filo does this mean I am now into the regular trap of "do I need a Malden?" or even worse "which is it to be? Malden or Holborn?". I now see why these questions arise so often! Ohh Filofax your customisation and choice is your finest and worst point!!! :) . Any help for me?

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    1. Would the A5 Kendal help - that make's been discontinued but you can still find them on e-Bay, it has 3cm rings and is GORGEOUS.

      It's got 2 pen loops like the Identity, they have a small elastic insert hidden away to mean they stretch, holds up incredibly well to damage, scratches just fade away like magic...

      It's the Filofax of the Gods imho... ;o)

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    2. In the last fortnight, I have bought the A5 Malden and the A5 Holborn. The Malden has bigger rings and holds loads but the Holborn has more pockets and you can easy slide a A5 notebook in one of them.

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    3. Thx for the advise! The Kendal was not in my thoughts so I am off to investigate. I thought the Malden & Holborn had the same size rings do that's also great to know. Seriously, thanks!

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  12. I've today started trying to track down the Parker 25 (not 45 as previously stated) pencil to complete the fountain pen and ballpoint set I was recently given. I Googled Parker Pens and duly emailed off to sales@parkerpensuk.co.uk. In return I received the following reply:-

    Hi David,
    Parker Pens UK is part of the Cutting Edge Promotions group of companies and is not directly related to the manufacture of Parker Pens. For all enquiries regarding repairs, complaints please contact:

    They maybe able to give you the information that you require.

    CUSTOMER SERVICES
    Newell Rubbermaid
    Consumer Services Dept & After sales
    Halifax Avenue
    Fradley Park
    Lichfield
    WS13 8SS
    Telephone 020 3027 6892 Email SAS.UK@newellco.com


    Kind regards
    Alan

    So there you are....Parker Pens don't make Parker Pens, and can't advise about them. but a company with a name sounding like a fetish organisation 'maybe' (sic) able to.

    So is it me? Or is the entire world mad now?

    No wonder I'm always grumpy......

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    1. David
      I think you will find that this is the correct address for Parker Pens, they used to have a place in Newhaven, might still be there not sure.
      http://www.parkerpen.com/#/en/ingenuityHome

      Steve

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    2. hi Steve

      Thanks...that's much appreciated.

      I followed the links through and ended up with the same address as the one given to me by the Mythical Parker Pen Company. I've emailed them, so we'll see if they reply. I'm not holding my breath at the moment - I might post to the Fountain Pen network over the weekend....

      Thanks again

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  13. I'm frequently tweaking my setup because I find it soothing. My daily Filofax at the moment is the special edition Swarovski. It's a bit small and I keep trying to return to my personal size Deco but I love the special edition glossy leather.

    My current problem is a work Filofax. I've been using my A5 Finchley in purple which us gorgeous but I find I'm being too precious about it when I'm actually quite messy and throw things in y bag or drop them on the floor etc. I'm thinking if changing to the domino in A5. How rugged is it? What about the chameleon? Any help gratefully received.

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  14. I've given over bothering Kate, was gutted when I got my first scratch on my pocket finchley, but a Filofax is there to be used, what's the point of it looking pretty when it's meant for use, in time they do get shabby looking but I think it adds to the effect a much used and loved Filofax :)

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    1. Thanks for tat, Alison. I think you're right and I just need to relax a little!

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    2. This 24 year-old Filofax is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen: Fountain Pen Network Forums: Filofax pic.

      My Kendal gets better with age as well, but that one above is just BEEEOOOOTIFUL!!

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    3. It's not easy Kate, i'm a bit of a perfectionist, but i'm trying to change the way I think, it's not healthy lol :)

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  15. Forgive me if i didn't comment right.
    This is my first one....

    I have bougt on ebay the filofax finsbury in black (I have recieved Yesterday) and I have set it up so far. But my and my Boyfriend also bought A Filofax classic in brown. What do you think what i shall pick. The classis is in the mail so It hasn't arrived yet. What is the preferencs for you. Because one is for me and the other for my boyfriend. (Yes I have confinced him to get one too) but i can choose with one I like!!!.

    I stil have my A5 for my desk where i keep the loggingcodes that i don't use outside the house. The A5 wil more become my householdmanagment book that is still in progress.

    Gr. Rianne

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    1. It is a very personal thing, but just to say, I adore my A5 black Finsbury. Many folks may regard it as boring, but to me it looks business like and professional, has the right lay out of pockets, is durable and because it is in black never stains and never shows wear and tear. Have also got the raspberry Finsbury in A5 and I don't know why, but I keep gravitating back towards the black each time. I think it just looks smart!! I'd keep the one that YOU know you love the best and would use the most often.

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    2. Differing opinion here, I love the Classics and never warmed up to the Finsbury. Maybe the A5 is softer and lies flat? (:

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  16. I clear out my Filofaxes (work & personal) every few months: everything out, polish the mech, careful spritz of perfume on the fabric, etc - sometimes it's obvious one needs a new arrangement, sometimes not.

    But I try to have a rule not to make dividers until there's a clear need and the "Misc" section is getting too full with one particular thing, which saves me then ending up with redundant sections.

    Speaking of perfume, does anyone else here use those tiny fabric squares with perfume samples from magazines to scent their Faxes? I love doing that, I'm strictly a one-perfume girl for myself, and absolutely hate "air fresheners" and heavily scented things, but I do like to use those for my books...

    Btw @ Joseph, Barry and a few others, have you seen this link: Bible Design Blog - Filofax Meets Bible - I posted it in Tuesday's FFA but it might have got missed.

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    1. Thank you so much for posting this, Shanti. I am on of Mark's regular readers at Bible Design Blog.

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    2. Super! :D - I'm not a regular reader so didn't spot you on his blog, but I did bookmark that post because the pics are stunning, and inspired me to print out some poems and get a similar visual effect.

      There was an old Bible in my family's possession when I was young that had flowers and scented leaves from wedding bouquets pressed in, and also dates of births, deaths and marriages entered in the front, and I think that was a common custom dating back to when many households had very few books, usually only that one in fact: it's an interesting piece of folk history, and makes the link to Filofaxes even more neat!

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  17. I am very happy with my setup as it is now, so I probably won't be changing it unless something new comes along. As for the binder, I've been in the compact regency for about 9 months now and low it. But I am eyeing the compact osterley in plum for a little bit of color. I'm pretty sure I will end up ordering it in a couple f weeks. Stay tuned...

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  18. I am so happy with my WO2P Philofaxy diary, that I can't see myself changing that layout EVER!!! Thanks Steve and Ray. xx

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  19. Domino owners:
    I'm considering buying a Domino or an Apex. I know two lovelies answered my 'how does the Apex wear' (apparently not that well) but does anyone have an Apex and a Domino and can you tell me which one handles scuffs and scrapes? Basically, I want to make sure their worth the $38!
    Thanks so much for your help!

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