This summer we have several guests coming to stay with us, and I'm finding my Filofax useful to help prepare for their visits. In addition to scheduling their stays I have lists of things to see and do in our area that they may be interested in (castles, nature walks, restaurants etc.) and lists of DIY projects for my in-laws when they come for two weeks next month (they like to be busy so we'll put them to work!). I also want to empower our guests to do things independently so I'll give them instructions on how to use the bus system and our contact numbers and let them go explore.
Do you have guests coming to stay with you this season? How are you using your Filofax to help you prepare for visitors?
And as always on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything Filofax or ring-binder related.
Happy Friday!
I would like to ask a question if I may...
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone in this community who used to use a computer for all their planning, goals, schedules, to-do lists, etc., but now successfully uses a Filofax for all of the above?
I have always been a keen user of technology but I am starting to see the advantages of a paper-based system e.g. no electricity required, portability (I refuse to buy one of those dreadful anti-social iPad things, although I do use an iPhone), speed (no booting-up required), etc.
I tried using iPhone-based apps for planning, scheduling, and journalling, but it seemed to take three times as long to do anything compared to using a pen and paper.
My objective is to have everything I need in one place so, along with my iPhone, I can go anywhere and have everything to hand instantly.
A couple of years ago I bought an A4 Metropol but I gave up using it after a couple of weeks because I found it too cumbersome to carry around, so I am looking at the A5 size Filofax.
I would be very grateful for any advice regarding the transition from a computer-based system to a paper-based system.
Many thanks and also thank you for such an interesting site.
Hi Seamus
DeleteI've used technology in the past (Lotus Notes, Outlook, Time Manager for Windows, etc.)but I've always come back to paper in the end, because I honestly think it is better, for all sorts of reasons which I won't bore the community with (ahain!) here. If you'd like to email me I'd welcome the dialogue..... davidpopely (at) googlemail (dot) com
Hello David
DeleteThat would be great and any advice will be received gratefully.
I've just emailed you.
Seamus
I would like to say thank you to David for his help.
DeleteWhat a great community this is.
We *never* have friends to stay - our cottage is too small - but I do love the fact that with Filofax you can create a list for anything at all - the only limit is one's own need and imagination!
ReplyDeleteI have been planning to set up a slim line or a cheaper organiser like the Olympic binder I picked up for around £7.00 last year as a visitors info guide.
ReplyDeleteIt would be based on what to see and do from my house and include Tabs/topics such as Day Trips, London, Shopping, Local National Trust visits, Walks, etc.
I plan to also include things like lovely little villages worth a visit and places like Jane Austen’s house which is only about a 20-30 minute drive and has a tea room opposite where you can enjoy a “Cream Tea”. I have done this on a few occasions when I have had visitors come and stay.
Those little personal touches can sometimes be nicer than all the overload of information in travel guides.
Last year a friend of mine visited Melbourne so I printed out the addresses of a few shops I thought she might be interested in with a few notes on their particular specialities. I used a word document and set the page up for personal sized paper and printed directly onto blank filofax paper. She popped the sheets into her own bargain Olympic binder for the trip and when she returned said the information was very helpful and did visit the shops that weren’t too far out of the way.
Of course we can all access the internet with ipads and smart phones but I find it easier to have the relevant info on paper rather than hope my iphone will actually work when I need it to.
This is also very useful for those who house swap during their holidays.
I love this idea! What a wonderful tool. So is the though that guest/friends could carry the binder around with them while they are out and about? And how about adding a section at the back where they can leave a comment about their stay/trip? Similar to what B&Bs tend to do. Would be a nice keepsake for you!
DeleteMy parents are about to visit a holidat flat in Bath we use frquently so I used an empty compact Luxe I happened to have lying around ( ahem!) and wrote out lists of places to eat/ shop/ visit/ opening hours etc for them and also printed out a series of google maps and marked all the places on there for them and added business cards with discount vouchers for my favourite cafe etc in the pockets. I am also planning a tour of Italy to inlude war sites involving my Granddad for them and will use an A5 for this to put together all the options for them to choose hotels/ itinnery / travel options and all the family history research etc before I book for them.
ReplyDeleteHelen, what a lovely idea! I hope they like filofaxes & I think it's very thoughtful of you.
DeleteI am super impressed! What a great idea and effort on your part. Very thoughtful :)
DeleteHas anyone ever made the successful switch from an A5 to a Personal and stayed with the Personal? I have always used an A5 size Filofax to run my life, but after seeing Adam Blaine's video on his personal and pocket Finsbury combo, I am tempted to see if i can make that work for me. I am leaning toward the Chameleon in brown.
ReplyDeletehi Joseph
DeleteI have! Or at least I've switched from Time Manager to A5 (which I just couldn't handle for lack of portability) and now to Personal, where I've been, with only minor angst, for the last couple of years. One binder, everything on board. If you'd like to discuss, you know I'm always happy to hear from you! davdpopely(at) googlemail(dot)com. Or Skype davidpopely1
could you please tell me where to find this video? I"m currently trying to use the same pocket/personal combination and would love to see how others are doing it.
DeleteThis one http://youtu.be/ot_M0wyKqeY
DeleteI believe that Lynn from Cloudberry Musings has made the switch from A5 to a Personal and it seems to be working very well for her.
DeleteI'm in the process of making the switch, although not entirely - i'll have an a5 as a type of fly lady control journal but everything else will be in a personal :-)
DeleteThanks DEM, indeed I have! I love A5, but the weight meant it was left at home while travelling with my job. I never found a Personal size binder that sang 'must have / buy me' until I saw DEM's ostrich and the rest as they say is history! For me, Personal is a compromise, but it's more practical on a day-to-day basis.
DeleteBit of a random question but here goes, I am swapping from filofax a5 to franklin covey classic /day-timer desk 7 ring binder. Can anyone recommend supplies that are compatible in the uk please?
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't already found the Franklin Covey UK site, it is here: http://franklinplanner.fcorgp.com/uk/
DeleteThanks Laurie x
DeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteI'm just starting a eat healthier and exercise life style change.
I want to keep track of what I eat every day, and also how many steps I take and any other exercise I do.
I've had a look at the Diary and the Files section and can't find anything that like what I need.
I'd be using an A5 Malden filofax, does anyone have any pages I could print out?
Thank you, Susan
I have some food journals available for download on my site. The link is:
Deletehttp://homemakersdaily.com/4-food-journals-to-help-with-weight-loss-andor-healthy-eating/
Maybe one of those will work or give you some ideas.
I don't currently have any plans to have house guests this summer. I'm the one who is getting out of dodge! But my Filofax has been coming in more than handy to help plan my big summer adventure. More to come on that in the near future...
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering about using an Evernote Moleskine to integrate my notes and my web stuff.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any experience of these?
Also, is it possible to have commenting with a name/URL combination please?
ReplyDeleteI have a friend with loads of questions and he can't comment here because of the limitations on sign ins for comments.
I know it's available for blogger, so it shouldn't be hard to add to the list?
We don't allow anonymous comments and there is a whole selection of log-ins available that Blogger accepts: Google, Livejournal, Typepad, WordPress, AIM and OpenID, please tell your friend to register with one of those services.
DeleteSteve
My mother is here in the US visiting me. I have a section on my Filofax just for her called ( MOM IN US ). Her section includes travel schedules; shopping budget; list of medications she has to take for her condition ; her daily plans with her friends and family and the list of foods she can and can't eat e.t.c. Having that section in my Filofax has been very helpful in helping me plan my work and life around her schedule.
ReplyDeleteSilly, really, but I do have a friend and former coworker coming to stay for a few days in early August. She is coming back to Michigan where she formerly lived, from Miami, to go to a concert with me. Yes, you heard that right. She and I are huge Keith Urban fans (This will be my 13th or 14th concert) and she half jokingly said the next time he toured through MI she would fly up and see him with me. So she did. It also happens to be my daughter's 30th birthday the night of the concert so she is coming with us (big fan as well). We're getting a limo, etc., and so have been using the Filofax to plan this event and a party for her on another day. I also have several short trips planned this summer so those plans/notes are in the Filofax as well. And, with company coming, its time to finally paint and spruce up the guest bedroom/bathroom so the Filofax is handy as I'm hiring the work out. But I'm super impressed with Helen's 'visitor's' Filofax for her guests. Wow! That is something special!
ReplyDeleteNo guests for me but I will use my filofax for planning the summer holidays for the children with details of all the places we hope to visit, sat nav details, prices, lists of things to take etc. I'm hoping to go away with the children this year with my brothers and their families and my mum and dad so i'll also use my ffilofax to plan this.
ReplyDelete