Reader Under The Spotlight - Alice

We had to get a new 'low energy bulb' for our 'spotlight', but Gromit found one on the interwebs, whilst I was persuading some willing victims, sorry I mean volunteers to stand under it.... and this week I would like to introduce you to Alice. 

I'm Alice and I have just turned 21. I study Aquatic Zoology at University and I live in the UK. I have a menagerie of pets including snakes, spiders and insects and I am very family and friends orientated.

I have a passion for....stationery, Filofaxes, organic make-up etc as well as animals. My hobbies are reading and studying and spending time with my multi-species family!

1. When did you buy your first Filofax and what was it?
It was an organiser from Paperchase - not strictly a Filofax but the are just an unbranded version, it was in 'Spring Scene' and had fruit, flowers and animals all over it, very colourful! It is the equivalent of pocket size but had quite small 14mm rings. I got loads of inserts for it....kraft paper, dividers and stickers and soon filled it with a lot of Filofax bits and bobs too!!

2. What other brands have you used or considered using?
I use anything which will fit in it, from Paperchase inserts to Filofax and with a lot of custom dividers etc which I added. The motto is; 'if it fits and I like it, its going in the Filofax!'. My boyfriend thinks I'm obsessed, maybe I am a little.

3. Out of the organisers you own which is your current favourite (Style and Size)?
My favourite is my Pink Pocket Baroque which was given(!) to me by a lovely lady called Andrea. I donated some money to the Philofaxy charity in acknowledgement of the gift she gave me.
It has such lovely big rings - 19mm I believe. I can fit so much in her, and she is so soft and squidgy and supple. And her pattern is gorgeous!!

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?
I am ashamed to admit I have only got (and have only ever had) the 2 Filofaxes in Pocket. I have had school planners for most of my life or just simple 'week to a page' diary's from WH Smith for 6th form etc.

5. What do you use your Filofax for?
Everything!! For things to do, appointments, birthdays, University, to record my life generally. I don't write anything personal in it like feeling etc - just bits and bobs i need to remember to get on in life.

6. What was the feature about Filofax you like most?
If you do something wrong you can just rip out the page and start again! I was always the person who would write perfectly to the end of a page and then make a massive mistake on the last line and then have to rip it out and do it again. I hate things looking messy so the changeability of Filofax really appeals to me.

7. If you could design your own Filofax what would it feature?
Soft leather, big rings and most of all COLOUR!! I have found that Filofax colours are just so...plain/boring. There is no pattern, no colours just muted, understated chic leather Filofaxes and the odd 'special' ones they bring out like Swift - which do appeal to me but feel so......hard and fake!
It would also have a sort of thread through fastening - like the Baroque appears to have - instead of a popper/magnetic one which so many feature. I quite like the idea of an elastic one like the Domino but made a bit better perhaps (if that is possible) and on a leather diary or just something a bit less...plastic?

8. How do you carry your Filofax?
She goes in my handbag with all my other junk - she gets bashed around a fair bit and gets bits of crap in her pages when i don't clean my bag out for a couple of days :(

9. Which Filofax in the current range do you like the most? Are you going to buy it?
Hmmmmm....let me look at Filofax UK. The Pocket Zip Pennybridge in purple was one of my 'ones to consider' before my Baroque came along....but she is so...plain, even in the purple. I like the material of the Osterley but at that price I have no chance - more chance that little piggies start to fly than me possessing that one!! It has the wrong fastening for me too.

10. What is the most you have ever spent on a Filofax? Which model?
Erm...nothing I suppose. My first was a gift from my boyfriend and the second cost me a donation to charity of £20 - so I guess its the Baroque at 20! But the amount I've spent customizing them is a lot more than the actual diary's ever cost!

11. Turning to Philofaxy, what do you like the most?
That there are geeks like me who love stationery!! And lots of lovely people who are really helpful and generous with their time. And so much information is available!

12. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?
I have noticed no-one ever puts anything here!! Maybe more posts would be good - but then you don't all want to be tied to your computer/Filofax blog!

13. What was the last music album CD you bought or downloaded?
Dear lord....Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday Reloaded. Cringe.

Please visit my blog if you want to see my lovely little colourful Baroque!!


Thank you Alice for standing under our new 'cool' spotlight.