Guest Post - My Favourite Filofax - David

Thank you to David for submitting the details of his favourite Filofax Organiser. 

1. What is your favourite organiser?

A4 Durham Deluxe Leather, I had a couple of personal size faxes before this one. I had a very nice heavy black leather personal, I cant remembers the name but it had huge rings and I could fit tons of stuff into it. I still have it somewhere.

The written word has always been problematic for me as a dyslexic so at some time in the early 90’s as I was walking down the Tottenham Court Road in London I saw the Psion range of pocket computers. My first was the 3a, a wonderful thing that I could take notes with, on a proper keyboard (no touch screens then) and a diary with alarms and all the toys. This lasted quite well but eventually the hinge broke as they mostly all did so I went out and got the Psion 5mx. It was nice but a bit over complicated with an expanding keyboard, not as easy to use as the 3a buttons. A fault on these was the ribbon cable connecting the screen would crack and then that was that.

I went back to my Filofax personal with a landscape week to view diary and to take notes I flipped the book around so that the rings were always on the left.

2. How long have you had it?

Since 2001 and still used almost daily.

3. What is it that you like about it so much?

The A4 Durham was a gift from my mother, I worked in various jobs in the voluntary and charity sector from youth work, family support, advice, after school projects and centre and building management. All of this requires a lot of record keeping, accounts and client notes. Things that although my writing was awful was very difficult to keep on a computer so paper was the only way. It was the only thing that was portable and as it had no internet connection, private. (In 30 years I have only found 3 people who could read my writing so it was nearly as secure as a book code)

The personal size was easy to update, did not need batteries or break when things fell off but it used its own size of paper, was difficult to photocopy as a backup and most of all you needed lots of other folders, bags and envelopes to keep all the stuff together.

The A4 was a complete change, not only did I have enough space to keep a proper diary with the 5 distinct sections (client/building/account/personal/stuff) plus info on the person I was carer for but i was also able to print off my own topic specific papers. Add a cheep 4 hole punch and I could put anything I wanted in it. Even through job changes its nice to be able to use the same fax with minor changes to the interior. 

I loved that when sitting in meetings the topic of dates and bookings came up all of us analogue, paper diary people could work out dates and times faster than the e-organiser people, at that time it was palm pilots and now google calenders and ios stuff. With a paper year planner working out the dates for meeting on the third Thursday every month is so much simpler. (no doubt an unhealthy level of inverted snobbery)

If I have to write fast or for a long time the dyslexia will pop up and kick you in the head so a simple answer was to have a selection of pens, different body thickness and weights and to use fountain pens. It had been suggested that I use T-Line short hand so have been learning that, it’s made a world of difference, I would recommend anyone who struggles to learn a shorthand.

One of the greatest benefits has been nothing really to do with Filofax but hand written stuff in general. There have been many cases when colleagues have had their phone, e-organiser or tablet stolen but no one touches a paper book even when wrapped in expensive leather.

4. Do you use it all the time?

I do use it all the time and have done since 2001. This was through several jobs, being a carer where you have to admin that persons appointments and health care as well as acting as account book and journal of an amateur radio club I am treasurer for.

The diary I use now is the week to view printed from the Philofaxy site and each year all the pagers are covered and the 4 holes are used for a Japanese stab binding and are kept for ever.

All other sections are job, client or industry specific so I print them myself and the dividers are a simple multicoloured plastic 10 section that also serve as a storage space for stickers I acquire on my visits.

5. Do you think the design could be improved?

The improvements would be to fix the zip that broke in the first couple of years, I have had a spare in the draw for about ten years now but never got round to doing it. But from a Filofax point of view, the inside of the covers had a nasty plastic coating, over the years this has flaked away leaving the dark grey fibreboard visible looking a bit tatty.

I have looked at the A5 and in the past my mum had a couple of Deskfax folders but in the end the easy of use, the ability to print all my own papers make the size and not considerable weight worth it. It  is a shame that Filofax do not make the Durham any more as I would get another.

David. 

Thank you David

As you know we are always looking for new people to appear in our 'Readers Favourite Organiser' feature, you don't have to be 'well known' or a long term user to be considered to appear in this 'spot'.

My Favourite Organiser - Sally

Thank you to Sally S for sending her 'Favourite Organiser' one of my favourites too!

1. What is your favourite organiser (Make/model/size)?

My favourite organiser is the Filofax Holborn in compact size. I’m a fairly recent convert from pocket size. I prefer smaller rings and 15mm is pretty much perfect for my needs. The Holborn leather feels sturdy and hard wearing.

2. How long have you owned it?

I’ve owned this Filofax for a couple of years and so far it has been working well. I only have one planner in use at any one time and this fits the bill. I also have a Calipso and Saffiano zip in case I feel like a change.

3. What is it that you like about it so much?

 I particularly like the pocket configuration. Also the absence of a zip pocket and full length back pocket, both of which I never use. The ring size ensures I only include what is necessary. Above all I love the slim profile.

4. Do you use it all the time?

Yes, I have been using this organiser daily for about 18 months. It holds all I need. I occasionally experiment and swap it out for personal size but invariably get restless and am back in compact within hours.

5. Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

The only improvement I would like to see is a bigger pen loop.  Being part elasticated I had assumed that most pens would fit…they don’t!

Thank you Sally

As you know we are always looking for new people to appear in our 'Readers Favourite Organiser' feature, you don't have to be 'well known' or a long term user to be considered to appear in this 'spot'.

Your Favourite Organiser - Reader Series

At the request of the people on the Philofaxy Skype Chat (a.k.a. Round-table/Virtual Meet Up) last Sunday, we are going to revive the series 'Readers Favourite Organiser'. 

We haven't had any of this series of posts for a few years, it's therefore a good time to restart it. 

We are therefore looking for people to contribute to this series by answering the following questions: 

1. What is your favourite organiser (Make/model/size)?
2. How long have you owned it?
3. What is it that you like about it so much?
4. Do you use it all the time?
5. Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

Please attach a couple of photos of your favourite organiser, the outside and say the inside so people can appreciate the look and the layout of your favourite organiser. Phone camera pictures will be fine. Take them near a window in daylight if possible.

Please note that your favourite organiser can be any brand, not just Filofax. 

Send in your responses by email to philofaxy at gmail dot com and we will slot them in to the schedule as we can. 

You can view all of the previous ones by following this link. 

Reader’s Favourite Organiser - Anita

1. What is your favourite organiser (make/model/size)?

I’ve owned and sold many binders over the years, but I find that I always keeping coming back to a personal size Kensington.

The other day, I found a pros and cons list of some organisers that I used to own and in the cons side of my previous black Kensington, the only con said ‘colour’! I eventually donated mine back to the lovely Deb as I just couldn’t see myself only using a black Filofax, especially in the dark winter months.

My favourite is my recently acquired tan personal Kensington.

2. How long have you owned it?

I bought it from eBay in December 2018.

I have been quite content in my red Winchester since 2017, but have obviously had a hankering after a Kensington as I still had a saved eBay search for them. Funnily enough, on the day that I was going to delete the search, I got a hit and then realised that it was for a tan colour which doesn’t come up for sale that often. I had already decided not to buy, but once I saw the photos I was smitten.


3. What is it that you like about it so much?

• Soft, but hardwearing pebbly leather
• Slim profile
• I love the simple design with the square corners
• Light to carry when full
• Layout that works well as a wallet and a zipped pocket that’s easy to access
• Great colour which has faded to a beautiful orangey brown colour, with the darker original tan inside. 

4) Do you use it all the time?

Yes, I moved all the contents over from the Winchester and have been using it ever since. I am using the same simplified set up that I wrote about here before. I can’t imagine wanting to move back into the Winchester, so will be selling it as I’m at my happiest owning just the one. My Filofax is my external brain and houses lots of different notes about hobbies, books I’ve read, to-do lists and pretty much everything else. My A-Z section is a perfect way to store all the miscellaneous information that

I like having quick access to. Last year was a busy time with dealing with family commitments and my brain would’ve been leaking out of my ears without it!

5) Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

a) Bigger pen loop - the loop on my previously one was generously sized (fitting a Lamy Safari fountain pen), so I was quite shocked at how tiny the loop is on this one. However, I have found a way around the issue - using a metal Muji pen holder, which I have attached at the top of the slip pocket to house my Kaweco Sport fountain pen. This works well as the Kaweco is a short pen, so it doesn’t stick out when in the holder. I can then keep a Staedtler Triplus fineliner in the pen loop, so I have the best of both worlds as I use the fineliner with my Hobonichi stencil.

b) It’s not a deal breaker, but it would be great if it had a secretariat pocket instead of a full length one behind the credit card pockets. However, as the leather is quite flexible, it’s quite easy to get into the full length slip pockets.


Thank you Anita. 

As you know we are always looking for new people to appear in our 'Readers Favourite Organiser' feature, you don't have to be 'well known' or a long term user to be considered to appear in this 'spot'. 

So please contact Steve philofaxy at gmail dot com today.

My Favourite Organiser - Danielle

Thank you to Danielle who is a career counsellor and university administrator who lives in France.

1) What is your favorite organizer and why? 

My favorite organizer is a Gillio slim medium Compagna. This corresponds in size to compact personal in Filofaxes and standard with 13mm rings for Van der Speck organizers.

2) How long have you owned it? 

I’ve only had it for about 6 months, but after 25+ years of using an organizer of one kind or another, I know this is the make and model that suits me best!

3) What is it that you like about it so much?

First of all I love using rings, because they allow so much flexibility in what you can add or take out of your organizer. This is the best size for me, too, as it’s big enough to allow for writing more than just a few lines yet slim and lightweight enough to fit into my purse. To me, portability is one of the key aspects of an organizer!

Also, I think it has been thought through very carefully. The semi-elasticized pen loop works with any pen I have tried. There are reinforced pockets and slots for business or credit cards. And it is high quality: the leather has a lovely texture and is vegetable-dyed, the rings work well, and the strap is sturdy and doesn’t feel like it will fritter away in a few months.  I also love design elements like the fact that the strap is rounded, and that one of the inside pockets is slightly diagonal. Details like these make it feel like there is real craftsmanship behind this product.

4) Do you use it all the time? 

Yes! You know that question about what you would bring to a desert island? I think I would bring my organizer! I take it with me just about everywhere. And yet I have drastically reduced what I use an organizer for over the years and no longer weigh it down unnecessarily.

For me, the most important thing is being able to visualize my week and scribble down my most burning to-do items. Like many people, I use a variety of print and digital calendars and journals to keep myself on track: at work we use Outlook, I use a calendar on my phone for personal appointments, I use a bullet journal for my big weekly to-do (personal) list that I usually keep at home, and I have a variety of dedicated notebooks for different topics (financial, food planning, exercise, various personal projects and at least two for projects at work, etc.).

In my organizer, I’ll add work-related commitments that take place outside of normal work hours such as any evening events I have coming up, along with medical appointments, yoga classes, travel information, as well as social and family events. There is some overlap, in that some of these commitments are listed in more than one place, and it requires time to make sure my organizer and my electronic calendars are synched. But I now consider this weekly synching and planning time as a chance to think about what my coming weeks will look like and as a kind of mindfulness exercise as I take stock of how I am using my time.

My organizer is where I can tell at a glance whether I am teetering on the brink of overcommitment or if I can add some discretionary activities that week. Outside of the actual calendar function, my organizer is a temporary repository of information and I have to be very disciplined about transferring notes and other items out so that they don’t weigh the whole thing down. For example, I might write up some notes for a workshop I’ll be leading and then type them up when I get to the office, or if I find myself at a meeting or conference, I can take notes in my organizer and subsequently glue or tape those notes into the appropriate notebook or add them to a paper file.

The other thing I do that makes me a kind of dinosaur is bring a fountain pen with me. I actually chose the color of my organizer based on one of my favorite fountain pens, which is a red Waterman.

Of course when I quickly have to jot something down I use any random pen, or maybe type it into my phone, but if I am thinking about whether to commit to some opportunity that has come up or otherwise working through some options, using a fountain pen slows the whole process down, forcing me to write more slowly and think more carefully. It’s like slow food—slow planning! And I also am convinced that I remember things better when I have written them out by hand.

5) Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How? 

I would love to see a ring organizer where you could alternately open the strap either to the left or to the right to move it out of your way when writing, or even remove the strap entirely.

In this way, it would be possible to own straps in different colors to match or contrast with the color of the organizer. Gillios are expensive, so I can’t imagine having a wardrobe full in different colors, but I get frustrated using the same color every day and would love different straps to change up the look a little. For example, with my red organizer I can imagine a white strap, a purple strap, or even red, white and blue (#France #WorldCupChampions)!

Thank you Danielle. 

As you know we are always looking for new people to appear in our 'Readers Favourite Organiser' feature, you don't have to be 'well known' or a long term user to be considered to appear in this 'spot'. 

So please contact Steve philofaxy at gmail dot com today.

Readers Favourite Organiser ~ Amanda-Jane

Once again thank you to Amanda-Jane for her contribution to this series. 

1. What is your favourite organiser (Make/model/size)?

I have used a diary/organiser since I was about five years old (and that was very very...very... long ago) and have experimented with different layouts and binders, coils and bound journals over the years. I also have different organisers and notebooks for different things, separate work and home organisers as well as bullet journals for volunteer work, study and hobbies, art journals, creative writing journals and, I use a Filofax Topaz mini as a wallet.

My favourite of all the organisers I use, however, is my trusty personal sized Filofax Malden which is a gorgeous smooth purple shiny leather, has large strong rings, and useful pockets. I call it Little Purple and it is the shiniest gem in my Filofax collection.

2. How long have you owned it?

I have owned this gorgeous organiser since 2012, I bought it second hand for a teeny $50 (AUD) - for some obscure reason its previous owner did not want it! Their loss is my gain and Little Purple has been given a very loving home with me.

Prior to buying Little Purple I was using a purple Filofax Domino, in personal size, which was very basic and has now been relegated to being an address book and also holds postage stamps.

3. What is it that you like about it so much?

Where do I start! I feel like I should be writing a sonnet about how much I like this Filofax! Little Purple why do I like thee? Let me count the ways. It is aesthetically pleasing, compact and sturdy.

There are pockets to stash business cards and notes as well as a handy zipped pocket where I put some emergency fivers when I really need a coffee and have left my wallet at home! It is small enough to carry with me everywhere and yet large enough to carry all the information I need.

It feels really solid and as I tend to throw it on desks and carry it around in laptop bags where it has to share space with USB sticks, cables, RAM, screwdrivers, keys, portable hard drives and a writeblocker, it has proven to be very well made. The waxed leather finish gets better with age, and I do not have to worry that it will get scratched or have accidental coffee spillage on it, and this happens more than I would like to admit, as all the rough and tumble makes the finish even better. Little Purple has character.

4. Do you use it all the time?

I use this organiser all the time, but not always as a planner/diary. I print my own inserts using diary printables from Philofaxy as well as other page types that I have created myself. I print the inserts on Tomoe River paper so I can fit lots of page of information in.

When Little Purple is not being used as my primary organiser, it holds my lists, information, quotes and historical references, sketches and, brain dumps.  I have wish-lists, blog lists, information about the volunteer work I do, a list of N64 console games we own or want, lists of reference books I would like to read, snippets of information from books or magazines, vet and pet information, and lots of notes.

It has a large section in it as a ‘Commonplace’ book as well. I also have paper in it that I test different pens on and some Arches watercolour paper where I sketch or paint with a travel tin of watercolours. I have some music manuscript for when I want to write down some music, and I have crossword puzzles torn out of newspapers stashed in the pocket at the back for when my train is delayed and I need something to do.

Little Purple is my trusty sidekick and is carted with me every day.

5. Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

The only improvement I would make on the Filofax Malden is make the rings even bigger! Let me stash even more things in it! Little Purple is a fat file of facts!

Thank you Amanda-Jane. You can find out more detail about Amanda-Jane's favourite organiser in a recent blog post over on her blog. 

As you know we are always looking for new people to appear in our 'Readers Favourite Organiser' feature, you don't have to be 'well known' or a long term user to be considered to appear in this 'spot'. 

So please contact Steve philofaxy at gmail dot com today.

Users Favourite Organiser - Kate - Part 2

Continuing on from last week's post from Kate. 

Can you please tell us about your set up in your favourite organiser. 

This is my one and only main organiser, which I use. This is beautiful.

First I want to point out that I believe that the calendar should be clear and functional. Not necessarily beautiful. It is a tool for planning and time management. Therefore, I do not decorate pages and do not use stickers, stamps and washi tape.

The only thing I don’t like at the moment is a different pages size, which I use. By this interior it feels chaotic. But it will be only for the next two months. After purchasing a calendar for 2017 I want to adjust other pages of the same size. So I hope the whole will be more coordinated.

I write everything one color pen - the one that I have at hand (usually black or blue). Since November I use a simple color code system (highlighters):

• green - matters related to finance / expenditure, the date of purchase of a new public transport ticket, the date of payment for phone, cable, internet, electricity, car insurance,..
• yellow - work, eg. deadlines for reports, projects, training
• orange - sport, training, weightloss, fitness
• pink - private matters, eg. a meeting with friends, events, cinema etc.
• blue - unusual things that require attention - for example: doctor visits, beautician or hairdresser

The content of the organizer is a mix of pages print, cut to size and punched by me:

• annual calendar – photocopy of personal size calendar filofax 
• month on two pages - printed from http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/ 
• weekly calendar - cut to the size from the calendar attached to the newspaper; November and December are WP2P from WHSmith, which I got with Malden 
• notes, projects, information, contacts – cut of from old notebooks 

Readers Favourite Organiser - Kate - Part 1

Thank you to Kate for sharing with us her favourite organiser. 

Q1. What is your favourite organiser (Make/model/size)?

Of course my favourite model is a black pocket-size Malden Filofax.

Q2. How long have you owned it?

I have this one for a few days and I'm in love with this.

Q3. What is it that you like about it so much?

What to begin with;)

1. Made of leather – very smooth and luxury
2. Pocket size – this is enough to keep both my personal and business matters
3. Rings – 19 mm contain all pages I want and need
4. Zip pocket – for coins or other stuff
5. Mobility - I have it always with me, regardless of the size of the handbag I use
6. Wallet - no need to carry extra one
7. High quality – you just feel this, when you have it in your hands
8. Lying flat
9. Slot for a note pad in the back cover
10. A long pocket along the width of the back

Q4. Do you use it all the time?

I use this one everyday.

Q5. Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

I believe that the Malden model is perfect and does not need any amendments. But when it comes to other models Filofax (I have personal size Peru and Apex), I think that each of them should have at least 2-4 pockets for ID cards and place an additional note pad on the back.

And here are some photos of my favourite organiser.

Hello, let me introduce myself. I'm Kate, from Poland. And I am in love with Filofax ;)

This is my Filofax collection - personal size Peru and Apex, and pocket size Malden (which is my main planner at the moment).

Both personal size Filofaxes I bought in September 2015 in my local TKmaxx. They were at a great price – about 11 GBP per each. I used the Apex from September 2015 to May 2016. But then I realised that it was far too heavy to carry in my handbag. What was more important, too much space of every page was wasted. Peru has never served as a calendar, mostly due to the lack of any card slots. At the moment I use Peru as my journal / everyday diary. 

Besides, I have two non-Filofax brand pocket size organisers. One of them was my main planner since Apex was too heavy. Unfortunately, both pocket size planners have small rings (approximately 10-12 mm). I like size, colour and utility both, but small size of the ring was the main motive to seek an another model. I was looking for Filofax pocket size of 19 mm rings. 

I hope that I can buy some in TKmaxx. At the same time I checked prices on the Filofax page, hoping for a promotion. By chance I checked the offer on the local page with ads and I was very happy and surprised when I found one. Announcement was made a few days before, so when I called at the number listed, I was convinced that I hear that it is already out of date. I was very surprise when the girl who answered the phone said, that the Filofax is still for sale. Without thinking, even half a minute, I bought it from her. It was very cheap, I paid only about 20 GBP, together with the shipping. After a few days I pulled out of the envelope beautiful, in very good condition, pocket size black Malden.

I did not expect that I hit such unicorn.

Below are some photos of with the my setup    

Thank you, Kate, Part 2 is next Sunday with more details about Kate's set up.

If you would like to share with us the details of your favourite organiser, please contact steve @ philofaxy dot com

Readers Favourite Organiser - Gilly

Thank you to Gilly  for sharing with us her favourite organiser.

1. What is your favorite organizer (Make/model/size)?

I was so very lucky to find an A5 Ascot in red leather with crocodile print a couple of years ago, when Philofaxy regular Anita Lim was selling it (I believe it had previously been in Rebecca Bover’s care, and has starred in these pages before). I have been a collector of planners since my first Filofax purchase in the 1980s (a Winchester 4CLF Personal in burgundy which I still have), and own Personal and Pocket sizes too, but A5 is definitely the size for me. When the Ascot arrived, it was love at first touch!

2. How long have you owned it?

It’s been with me for just over two years, and there have been other planners on my desk in that time, but the Ascot is always there on the top of the stack. Having tried other brands (I have Gillio items and TN too), I feel you can’t fault Filofax for quality leather.

3. What is it that you like about it so much?

The dark red colour, really a true Burgundy. It’s my favourite colour so I was well disposed towards it anyway. But when I felt it in my hands, that really was a magic moment. The weight and quality of the leather is superb and it had been very well treated and renovated by Anita to a high standard of patina and shine. I like that it lies flat, and the cover is firm enough without being unwieldy.

4. Do you use it all the time?

Yes, it’s on my desk every day being updated, and it’s where I keep a diary of my life, commitments financial planning and lists. I actually have to have it within sight at all times! You’ll see from the photos that I’m not a manic decorator of the pages – I envy those who can do that – for me, it’s the outer appearance that’s most important, and the fact that I feel relaxed knowing all my arrangements and the things I need to get to quickly, are contained there. I write only in pencil so I can make changes without making a mess.

The Ascot used to come to work with me (surviving a very unfortunate incident with a tub of turkey gravy in my bag on Christmas Day!). I left full-time work just over a year ago to become a student again, and my colleagues laughed as I traced the countdown to leaving the job (a very happy moment) in a pull-out horizontal year planner insert, literally ticking off the days as they passed. The Ascot accompanied me on a very happy emotional journey at this time, and now it comes to University with me, sitting on the table to be admired at classes and tutorials.

At the moment, I’m keeping a numeric tally each day in the diary of the word count target for the novel I’m writing. Sadly, I’m short of the projected target and the Ascot, no matter how perfect, can’t help me with that!

5. Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

It’s pretty much perfect for me. I have zip-around Filofaxes which have their virtues and you can throw so much in there, but I don’t know that this one would work as a zippered planner. I think it would lose a really inviting quality it has. As if it’s saying, yes, I am totally gorgeous on the outside but look at what’s in here! Also, I have some Filofaxes with the bigger rings but find them a bit clumsy.

For my Masters in creative writing I’m using a number of notebooks/journals, and I also write on my laptop. Strangely, I can’t write ‘creatively’ in this, or any, planner. There’s something about the rings being there that means my hand is not comfortable enough on the page for the amount of time required to write extended pieces of my own. There’s a notepad in the back, but it’s a ‘top down’ one, and there’s no space for me to insert an A5 notebook there. If I could morph the A5 into an A4 without rings, that might be the answer. But I’m happy with it as is!

When I see new Filofaxes being released, I sometimes feel they’ll never quite hit the heights for me in terms of quality and classic design. I can’t imagine my life without this Ascot. She bears evidence of living, being used, recovery and classic beauty. I’d like to aspire to all of that myself!

And here are some photos of my favourite organiser.

Thank you, Gilly.

If you would like to share with us the details of your favourite organiser, please contact steve @ philofaxy dot com

Readers Favourite Organiser - Melania

Thank you to Melania  for sharing with us her favourite organiser. 

1. What is your favorite organizer (Make/model/size)?

Actually I am using a Gillio Compagna aqua croco, medium size. It was one of my unicorns and I am so happy to have found it.

2. How long have you owned it? 

I received it last week, I found a girl who sold it on Instagram and I could purchase it, because this planner is out of production

3. What is it that you like about it so much? 

I think I am really in love with pastel colors and aqua colors. Even before knowing Gillio, my unicorn was an aqua malden. I think it's because: I love light colours, I love H2O as chemical compound (I teach chemistry) and I love drinking cold no gas water (water is the english word and acqua is the italian word) :) Then our body is full of water and so......Then Gillio leather is wonderful....and the shiny croco is luxurious.

4. Do you use it all the time? 

I use as general planner, to fix appointments, things to do, lessons with students. In this planner I use the Cocoa daisy inserts that are perfect for my use. But it's not the only planner I use.

 

I have even another planner (a Gillio Amica aqua medium) that I use as diary. I have this extravaganza to write still the diary at my age :) But I think it's therapeutic and then....I love planners too much and I must use them...LOL In Amica planner, I have handmade inserts, wider of 1 cm to regular personal size. An Italian girl made those for me.

5. Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

Yes......Honestly I would like the Gillio Compagna was wider. It's very small as planner. You can't use the wider inserts (as I do in Amica) because they go out and the planner becomes fatter and it's not fine. And the strap is very short. Compared to Amica or to VDS TM the planner is very small.

Thank you Melania.  You can find her blog at: http://labottegadimelany.blogspot.com/

If you would like to share with us the details of your favourite organiser, please contact steve @ philofaxy dot com 

Readers Favourite Organiser - Elizabeth

Thank you to Elizabeth for sharing with us her favourite organiser. 

1. What is your favorite organizer (Make/model/size)?

This is the Filofax Gloucester with 1/2" rings, in brown.

2. How long have you owned it? 

I've only owned this for about a month and a half. When I bought it on eBay I thought it was burgundy, and was very disappointed it was brown. On looking it over, I found it to be a very nice shade, like cognac, or oak leaves in the fall, and I quite fell in love with it!

3. What is it that you like about it so much? 

It's a 6-pocket model. On the left are two stamp pockets, top and bottom (see those tiny things?), with a credit card pocket in between. Behind is a full-length slip pocket. I love the curved lines of these. It is such a surprise when you open it up and see such charm — like a secret, just for you. The design allows you to grab what you need easily and put it back almost without thinking.

On the right is a full-length gusseted pocket behind, with a second full-length pocket in front. Here again is a delightful surprise, to be able to store so much in the big pocket, and also to keep a couple of papers more securely in the curved-edge one. And all the curves are just so pretty!

I think that's what I enjoy so much in this planner. It looks so plain and utilitarian on the outside, then when you open it the design is so beautiful, yet so accommodating. It really is small enough to fit in a coat pocket, but it can hold almost everything you'd need it to. And — it squeaks like a saddle! That's so cute!

4. Do you use it all the time? 

Because I've only had it a short time, I'm still trying to see how I can use it best. I've tried it as my EDC, but I can't live in a slim-line. With a slight modification (mentioned below) it works really well when shopping. The rings are just big enough for lists and a few card holders, and the pockets for receipts. After I get home, I can then easily remember to clean it out and file them so they don't accumulate in a pile somewhere as they too frequently do. lol

5. Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

As far as design, I don't really know how it could be improved. It's meant to be carried in a coat pocket, or a small purse, yet hold quite a lot, and for that purpose, it's quite well thought-out.

I will say though, that it could stand a pen holder. A Leuchtturm attached to a plastic flyleaf works perfectly, but that just admits the need.

If I must, I will also admit that the stamp pocket design doesn't fit this era. I don't think even a sampling of washi-tape would fit there. But I wouldn't like to see it re-designed, so that maybe you could fit two credit cards on that side. Me personally, I like that it's a little bit of wasted space; I don't mind that, as 90% of the pockets in my planners don't get used anyway. And the stamp pocket's — well, I won't say old-fashioned — their un-modern quaintness appeals to me.

Overall, for a recent purchase, this organiser has fast moved up my line of categories, from a 'We'll see' to, not just 'Keeper' but 'Won't sell.'

Thank you Elizabeth. 

If you would like to share with us the details of your favourite organiser, please contact steve @ philofaxy dot com