31 August 2012
FFAF No. 198
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all our Guest Posters, they have contributed some great posts in the last couple of months. I had to check back and the last real post I did was about 6 weeks ago! I don't count FFAT, Web Finds as 'real posts', they are sort of mechanical in a way... I mean a post that has a lot of thought and feeling put in to it, some photos, some mock ups etc
The 'time off' (if you can call it that) has not been wasted, it's given me time to look at other things on the site. I've had time to update some of the templates, which is a bit like painting the Forth Bridge. They require continual checks and updates as there are so many now on the Files page and I've also been adding some new ones as well.
Thank you to Gerard and Ray for their help on this task too. It's good to see people making reference to our templates or 'Ray and Steve' diary inserts in many places, great to know the long hours are being put to good use.
With September arriving tomorrow I hope you have enjoyed your Summer (Winter) break and you are mentally prepared for the last 4 months of the year.
So have you made any changes to set up of your Filofax organiser recently? But as this is Friday you can of course discuss anything Filofax related.
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I was curious about the Compact Zipped Malden so I went to CO website and it says 'end of line' and no more expected. Didn't these just come out a few months ago or am I mistaken? Wow, things sure come and go fast in Filofax world. Plus, I never saw these on the US or UK website. Is anyone currently using one and what are the pros/cons? It may be a moot point asking if they are not available any longer but I am still interested in knowing more. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl
DeleteYes they are quite rare beasts. They have been spotted in shops in Germany in the last couple of weeks. But I've check on FF DE and FF FR and they aren't on the website at all.
They were never intended for the UK market, but CO managed to get hold of a few. I bought mine in May, and it's reviewed here:
http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2012/06/filofax-malden-compact-zipped-organiser.html
I love the Ochre colour and the leather, Capacity wise it's the same as any other compact. Layout is the same as the Pennybridge, except it's in leather. If you put too many coins in the zipped pocket it can get a little bulky and heavy a slim pen is a must if you don't want issues with closing and opening the zip.
It has an outside slip pocket which is useful for putting your car park ticket in so it's handy when you come to get out of the car park.
It does lay flat after a little training so that isn't an issue.
Steve
Thanks, Steve, for the great comments and review. I like all the features (all those credit card pockets!), the gusseted section and the slip pocket in the back. Too bad I missed this one but I'll be checking around the web just in case luck strikes. Either color would work for me but I'm kind of liking that purple one to go with many items in the fall wardrobe. Enjoyed your review...thanks!
DeleteOh, and yes, I'll be doing a new set up when I receive my Compact Chameleon (due Saturday), mainly out of necessity since its obviously smaller ring size. So paring down is the plan and we will see how that works still using WO2P.
ReplyDeleteI am love love love loving my Campact Chameleon - I just tweaked/finalised my set up yesterday. I currently have September to January month view on 2 pages (printed from Philofaxy), WO2P June - Dec, and then various sections behind for lists and other bits and bobs. I don't use dividers but instead have used a stash of the Martha Stewart Home Office Avery tabs. I also use it as my wallet and that works wonderfully.
DeleteI'm so in love with it!
Thanks for the info! I just got mine an hour ago and am playing around with it. Its going to take alot of training to lay flat...it almost looks like it wants to resist laying flat which wasn't the case with my regular personal chameleon. Other than that I love the size. I definitely have some paring down to do and since I do have alot of dividers, I think you have the right idea. I just picked up a bunch of the MS Avery tags at Staples last night so it looks like getting rid of the dviders is the key. Thanks for the tip!
DeleteI start full time for 2 terms as a Reception teacher and I have a problem. Do I use my lovely wine red zipped A5 Holborn and risk the stains and paint or use my less beloved spare Domino and change my A5 to a CPD journal where it will be safe? Advice please!
ReplyDeleteTaking a Holborn near Reception children sounds to me like murdering the Holborn... Unless you keep it in a drawer whenever anything messy is happening... I'd use the Domino if I were you!
DeleteWhat size is the Domino? It sounds from your question as if it may be a personal.....is that going to work for you, in a work environment?
DeleteHow about a splash-proof cover or pouch for the Holborn when not in use?
How much will you *actually* need to deploy the Holborn (or Domino) while in class?)
Just a few thoughts........:)
I use an A4 Strata in the classroom... in black. Easily wipeable down. I decant this week's plans, timetable meeting notes etc..... just this week's stuff I use to plan at home. The huger policy folders etc stay at school and again I decant if needed.... eg marking policy. That way not lugging great big folders to and fro. I have an A5 black Finsbury too.... with diary and personal admin. I don't keep separate work and home diaries, as it is all too easy to double book. The reason for A4 is that all school handouts are given in A4 size... but diary wise I can choose my own size!!
DeleteI use an accordian pull out calendar with little boxes, to colour code school holidays, the rare sickness absences and INSETs. On the back I write the name and short details of the INSET course.
Angel If you absolutly want to use your Filofacx in class then tell the children that your desk is a NO GO area. I was a TA in year 1 class and the teacher told the Children, what ever was on her desk was hers and no one should touch it...ever! It worked, nothing was ever taken from it.
DeleteDoes anyone know if the Malden purple a5 will ever be available in the U.S.?
ReplyDeleteLast I heard was end of September...
DeleteGlad to hear! Thanks
DeleteI am in the US (Hawaii) and wondering if anyone has purchased from the filofax websites in other countries? I can see domino snakes on sale in germany but have no idea how to get them to my mailbox...
ReplyDeleteJes,
DeleteSee this post about who delivers to where in the world. But I know City Organiser will deliver worldwide at very reasonable delivery rates. There is a link on this page:
http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/04/filofax-delivery-options.html
Steve
Hi Jes, I recently received an A5 Domino snake from Filofax Germany & it was all very easy. Ordered on Sunday & it was delivered on the following Thursday! Unfortunately they don't deliver outside of the EU, but a friendly Philofaxer may be able to help you out if it was that specific model you were after :)
DeleteOoohhhh....friendly Philofaxers!! I swear every single model of filofax I want is available every except the US!
DeleteHi Anita, I was just wondering how you ordered from Filofax Germany re my comment below? Thanks!
DeleteMy task for this weekend is to design me some inserts for my A5 Finchley which needs setting up as a 'House' Filo. Much of it will be for managing various renovation projects but I also am going to do inserts to assist me with my good intentions (which never quite seem to get into practice) to work through my collection of cooking and baking books and try some new receipes and breads each week. I am not thinking of a daily meal planner ( becuase I hate having to decide seven days in advance what I am supposed to feel like eating!) but more a weekly overview with spaces for my choices of new stuff for that week and what ingredients are needed. It should help coordinate my plans to cook and eat with my husband's task of doing the actual shopping! (Yes, Ladies, I trained me a Stepford Husband!!) I think the lack of coordination there is why I never actually implement my intentions - I love to bake but not if I have to schlep to the supermarket for the one missing ingredient first! I will give Steve the files when done in case it suits anyone else but I wondered before I do them if anyone else is doing anything similar and if you had any tips?
ReplyDeleteI'm sat here working out whether to change my set up, it's still quite new but needs some tweaks, it's getting kinda full and heavy (a5 Holborn zip) but its my preferred size, debating whether to split into two A5 or trial a slimline personal to carry around, was determined to be in the "one true Filofax" though, decisions, decisions!!!
ReplyDeletewhats the current set up and whats in there to split? the one true Filo thing I personally think only works if you do pared down planner only.
DeleteI would say don't make any major changes until you've tried the set-up for at least a month. You may want to put a pencil mark on pages you look at in that month to see whether you need to carry them around or not - maybe even a different mark to indicate if you looked at them at home or out and about.
DeleteMost habits take time to become habits so changing too quickly might not actually be helpful.
Hope that helps.
Thanks, I'll hang on for a while, most of what I use is at home, I don't go out much and if I do it's not far, I don't use a Filofax for work so I can manage lugging my A5 around or leave it in the car if I don't want to carry it shopping etc.
DeleteI just got my personal purple Malden!!!! :D :D :D Oh it's so great! The leather is soooo smooth, my (older version) A5 purple Malden is really wrinkly in comparison, and I thought that was smooth in comparison with the 'extra creased' ones! It doesn't lay flat quite yet, but I imagine it will very soon! I'm going to put pictures up on flickr soon :) I think it is relatively easy to scratch, so I'm going to have to be careful with it, but it's just about to have a moisturiser bath so I hope that will help :)
ReplyDeletewoohoo! Congrats!
DeleteHas anyone else had their ochre Malden crease on the front near the spine? Kind of drives me crazy. I am thinking of getting a purple a5 Malden too, but I am afraid it might happen to that one too.
ReplyDeleteI have the ochre Malden A5 and so far no creases!!
DeleteYup! On my personal, not on my former A5. Makes it look like it's reaaaally old even though the filo got it when I was setting it up! Brand new from box and all. :(
DeleteMy personal ochre is creased as well, from use. But I don't mind it. (: The ochre seems to have softer, 'thinner' leather.
DeleteI've been using the same main set-up for over a year now with only small tweaks here and there. The main change for mine lately has been the addition of more tabs and sticky notes. I'm planning on doing a post on it soon on my blog.
ReplyDeleteAre the 'Steve & Ray' source files easy to amend? I've recently moved to the A5 week per page with notes - I don't get a lot of appointments, so I can put those in the diary page and the facing notes page holds all my tasks (I split the page in two with a red line and put all work tasks on one side and personal on the other). I would probably want to edit the layout of this facing page a little from the current S&R version.
ReplyDeleteIn addition I would like to create a similar spread which would accomodate a diet diary/meal planner and exercise planner. I think this spread would work well for this (i.e. divide the dated page into three for meals and use the 'todo' column for smacks - then the exercise stuff could go into the final column.
I'm pretty adept at Word so that is no problem, it's the merge etc that is bothering me!
Naturally I'm going to say they are easy to amend!!
DeleteBut if you fancy a bit of one to one tuition via Skype one day just let me know and I can take you through it.
Have you watched the video on doing the merge?
It really is quite easy to do.
Thanks Steve - I'll check out the video and will give you a shout if I get stuck!
DeleteSo if you could choose only one filofax forever, what would it be!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I love my Maldens and Finchley, I think I would choose A5 Holborn becasue of all the pockets!
Ochre Malden Personal, cotton cream inserts.
DeleteExactly what I have right now......
An older model Winchester, make your own inserts with Clairfontain or Rhodia paper.
DeleteThink mine would be my brown A5 Holborn Zip but the Ochre A5 Malden is a very close second :)
DeletePersonal Ostrich!
DeleteI'd like an A5 Amazona in Almond - shame they never made that colour! I have the black one which I really like.
DeleteActually, I'd really like an A5 Ascot.
DeleteThere was one on Ebay I was going to bid on, then the owner took it down and put it back up with a starting price of......... 95 pounds. I couldnt believe the jump. There is optimistic and then there is unrealistic!
DeleteWhat would be the best paper to print out the A5 Diarys that Steve and Ray did? I love the page on 2 day so it's going to take up some room in my A5 Filofax, but I would like it printed on good quality paper, would 80gsm be too thin, would 100gm be too thick? I would prefer not to see the other side through the front?
ReplyDeleteGail, Staples do a multi copy 90gsm paper which is very good. Great if you want to use fountain pen with no show through.
DeleteOhh that sounds ideal, thank Alison.
Delete80gsm would be fine. I've used 70 which I found just right. Forget 100 unless you have huge rings.
ReplyDeleteWell I printed the remainder of the year out on 100gsm and wow it is thick, I didn't realise how thick it was till I was writing on it and there was no bleed through.
DeleteSteve
ReplyDeleteKudos to you and all the other posters for ALL of your hard work on Philofaxy! It's wonderful and definitely a labor of love and it shows in the care and attention you pay to the website.
Erin
Thank you Erin, I value and appreciate your comment, thanks.
DeleteStill a few more guest posts in the pipe line... and some from the rest of the team of course.
Steve
Here, Here - there has been some really interesting posts in the last few months. I know they would have taken quite a bit of time and thought to write.
DeleteYes.... Here Here!! Erin's comment is spot on!!
DeleteOk. I got my first Filofax - a personal Malden vintage pink. But I'm disappointed. The Filofax closes funny so the edges don't line up. I keep trying to train it to line up but it won't. I can live with that, but the pen loop is so narrow that I can only fit a pencil or a tiny pen. I'm really unhappy about that. I use a fatter pen that I love and it won't fit - not even close.
ReplyDeleteI got 2 pages per week and I actually like those a lot. But there are no monthly pages and nothing has tabs like I'm used to with Franklin Covey. Haven't decided if I'm going to use it or just stick with my Franklin Covey compact.
I was thinking my Franklin Covey pages would fit the binder but they don't. When you try to close it, the tabs hit the pen loop.
Oh, one more thing. What do you do about the strap? When I'm writing, the strap keeps getting in my way. I've tried tucking it under the pen loop and folding it back but it won't stay. It's in my way!
Sorry to be so negative. Change is hard and it wasn't quite what I was expecting. You guys all make Filofax seem so awesome.
Patty
Hi Patty. I think the malden is like this because it is a more informal type of binder, if that makes sense. I have the same one as you and all the things you don't like I love!
DeleteTerri
Hi Patty,
DeleteI'm one of the few Filofax/Franklin Covey combo users out there- I've really made the systems work for me! I can't make any promises, but here's what I'd do.
Don't use the pen loop. Instead, get one of the elastic pen loops on a sticky back- I found mine for $2 at Staples. Voila! Any size pen you want, without any interference.
This also allows the FC pages to fit- when the pen loop lies flat, the pages lie right over them. I've been using FC inserts all year (I keep them at the back of my binder) and it works perfectly. So much so that I'll keep using them next year!
The strap should also loosen up with use, but if you want to train it, tuck it all the way under the binder while it's open on a table. It might become a bit floppy, but it won't get in the way!
Hopefully these ideas help you out a bit. I promise, the amazingness of the Malden combined with the FC pages is worth it!!!
I bought the FC inserts after looking at your set up J. I love it!
DeleteThanks, Terri! Definitely not conventional, but I love it! This system works better for me than anything else I've tried- it'll be sticking with me for 2013!
DeleteThanks. I'll give those tips a try J.
DeleteDay Timer has the four page a month tabbed calenar that are similar to Franklin Covey. The Day Timer pages are the identical page size as Filofax so this brand may be worth a try if you want more planning page options that fit appropriately with the Filofax binder. Ofcourse you can mix them in with the Filofax pages you do like. You can probably get the best price at Amazon.
Deletethere was a video on last weeks Web finds that showed how to use that 'edge not lining' up thing to your advantage. Can't remember how at this very moment but it may be worth a look.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see that video does anyone know which one it is?
DeleteI don't think it was a video. I think i t was Helen's post on her Personal Aston:
Deletehttp://philofaxy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/guest-post-helen-aston-personal-set-up.html
wait til Chicago so you can see them in person you may end up with something completely different..sometimes you need to see them live and get the feel of them
ReplyDeleteYou can wait until Chicago, but in living here I'd warn you that the selections aren't great. You'll typically see the Finsbury, a few Classics, and maybe a Chameleon.
ReplyDeleteBut, if you have time, I'd say wait and see if you find anything- just don't get too excited as in-store Filofax selection in Chicago is pretty bad!
In a word no but some things you need to see before you buy and a filofax is definately one of them or any other filofax store I was hoping the states would have better selection
ReplyDeleteThe Finchley line is discontinued, so if you like that one you might want to keep it or you might never find it again!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to order from Filofax Germany but the website won't let me enter my postcode in the 'zip code' box - every time I press the 'next' button to continue my order it asks me to enter my zip code. Does anyone know how to solve this? Thank you!
ReplyDeletei was unable to order from the germany website. they do not ship outside the eu. so you got farther than i did!
DeleteI had this issue, I put a zipcode in as 00000, and put my postcode in the normal address space.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi folks,
ReplyDeleteJust for your info, September's dates for your Filofax are now on my blog, Each Shining Hour. Just Google Each Shining Hour Blog and access my page. Apologies for the word heavy content. I will have some more piccies next month,otherwise reader tedium sets in!!! This is my first full blog post and I've realised I've not got the formula quite right yet. What no piccies..... Gromit will not be pleased Steve!!! I wanted to have a blog with something useful for Philofaxers and for my teaching work, with dates for assembly stories etc.The posts will be following at the end of each month, if you want to follow along. xx
I just ordered my first Filofax, an A5 Sketch as it was 30% off. I'm upset because I just checked the website, and there are now a ton of options 50% off. I haven't gotten a chance to get acquainted with my Skecth because I am away, but have already purchased quite a few accessories to get me started.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had found this wonderful resource prior to my purchase. I intend to read up quite a lot and select the Filofax my husband will (yes, he must) buy me when I finish up grad school in May
I just ordered my first Filofax too. I ordered a black A5 Cuban. I really hope they are worth all the hype. I've kinda been lurking around philofaxy for a few months debating about which style and size to order. Which acessories did you purchase in addition to your FF?
DeleteIt came with the week on 2 pages, that seems good for right now. I ordered the month on 2 pages to help with longer term planning as well as the horizontal year view. I'm not sure how useful that will be, but I thought it looked cool. I'm unsure as to how to organize my Filofax, I'm sure it will be a work in progress for quite some time.
DeleteDoes anyone know where I can order cheaper colored A5 punched paper? Also, what are some cheaper punch options. Ive read the posts on punches already, but I live in the states and shipping is way too high for the punches I've seen. Thanks in advance!
ReplyDeletejust incase you didn't associate my reply with yours. I think if you are unsure about certain filofaxes you should try seeing them up close and personal ie; in the shop not neccessarily in Chicago..I had a weird impression this was the only time you were going in a filo shop...I live near Reading Berkshire, or filo shop is in th Whsmiths and they don't even have all the filos on show just the boxes...but good luck in your search..sorry if I misled you in anyway
ReplyDeleteHave you tried John Lewis? They often have a good selection actually out.
ReplyDelete