De Villiers slimline organiser

I had a little nose around eBay the other day, as you do, and came across a binder with the title of 'red leather organiser 7.25" by 4.5" Well used Filofax inserts de Villiers'. I was a little intrigued and had a further look at the listing, laughing at the very honest 'seems also to have been used as a glass mat or coffee saucer' description! And I agree with their truthful statement...

However, the price was reasonable and it just struck me as having such character, that I found myself clicking on Buy It Now. 

Looking around online, I can find almost nothing about the De Villiers company (lots about the cricketer though), and all that comes up is an old Philofaxy post here and KateTPS has an A5 one, but also said she can't find much about them either.

On the inside left, there are a generous ten card slots (wow) and two full length pockets on the right hand side.

The Krause rings close with a healthy snap and it holds quite a lot for its size. I never feel very accurate at measuring ring size, but working on how to measure my Malden at 23mm, the De Villiers come up at a generous 17mm. 

It came with an interesting mix of inserts with different dates: 1997 world map, 2003 today ruler, some 2006 and 2008 pages and two 1999 maps of London.

Also, a De Villiers today ruler - showing fuel cost at 22p per litre!

I quite like the 1988 Lefax calorie guide UK, with some items that probably wouldn't be included on a similar list today, like caviar, roast goose or shelled lobster!

I don't know about you, but I love it when people leave little items behind in secondhand items, as it gives me a glimpse into what the previous owner might have been like. I found a receipt from Heathrow airport dated September 1999, and a slip of paper with the name of the luxurious Hotel Schatzalp, which is a former sanatorium in the Swiss mountain town of Davos. I wonder if the previous owner had it on the table next to them, whilst looking out over the Alps with a coffee?? Unfortunately the eBay seller knew nothing of the binder's previous history.   

I have tried out the slimline size before and as you can see below, it would be much slimmer to pop in my bag for when I'm out and about. However, I think I'm much too attached to my Malden and couldn't imagine using anything else as my main filo.

I'm not a fan of having filos that aren't being used & I really don't need another one, so I have decided to give this to Steve as a little gift to say thank you for all the hard work that he does for Philofaxy. Thanks, Steve! 

Web Finds 3 June 2014

I hope you had a good weekend? Time to enjoy a great collection of blog posts and videos from around the internet.

So here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:

1. Black Personal Kensington Filofax - This Bugs Life
2. My Everyday Filofax - Just Electically
3. Losing your best friend - The Crazy Suburban Mom
4. TV Catch Up - Roses in December
5. On the Way: Day-Timer Portable Malibu in Nautical Blue - Reflections by Cruz
6. June! - Filosophical
7. Filofax Gifts - Roses in December
8. Akiko Bronze and Violet Binders - This Bugs Life
9. Updated Filofax tabs. - Life of Kitty
10. Filofax Personal Diary Pages; make your own design - Billie's Craft Room
11. Ladybugs, Summer Fun, Flowers and Planner Goodies - Bits and Pieces
12. All good things come to he who waits! - This Bugs Life
13. Another Filofax Saturday! - En Vogue Pogue
14. Il planner della supermamma per Filofax, A5 & personal - The Last Eureka
15. Calendar cuties | june 2014 - I love it all
16. June 365/30 List (free download) - Break of Light
17. Velcro Binder Rings – more details as promised - This Bugs Life
18. Filofax Personal Cuban Review  - Filosophical
19. Il mese intelligente Filofax printable filofax personal! - The Last Eureka 
20. Ausgaben / Fixkosten (Personal) - Haushalts- Survival Blog 
21. Pocket Sized Paper Punch - This Bugs Life
22. Filofax Pretties: A5 Printables for Tomorrow - So Joey Creates
23. My 5 tips to tackle Planner Fail - Looking through a frosty window
24. Routine Planning Sessions - Well Planned Life
25. Cover Story - The Filofax Blog
26. Planner Love Revisited - Plannerisms
27. Calling all Pennybridge Owners – a question - This Bugs Life
28. Finding Filo Peace: A Mid Year Set Up Video - The Crazy Life of J
29. Free printable per la Filofax: tariffe delle "Poste Italiane" - Lucy Wonderland
30. Filofax Pretties: Free Printables - So Joey Creates
31. Pocket Update - Roses in December
32. "My Week" Links from Around the Web 6/2/14 - The Contemplative Belle
33. Filofax Focus - Steve Morton

• We monitor over 500 blogs and sites, your Filofax/Organiser blog posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list. 
• We can not guarantee people will read your posts, but we know there is a higher chance of people reading your posts and returning to read other posts if you make them interesting with pictures and good hints and tips. Do not forget to give your posts a title... 
• For some general tips on Filofax Blogging, please see this post

And here are a selection of the latest Filofax videos for your enjoyment.

1. My very first video ever showing my vanderspek but mainly my standard in gold croco with 24 int. - Toni Parker
2. Filofax Orange Original (Paradise Pens) - Lola Karwowski
3. My Adjustable Filofax 6 Hole Punch - Alexis
4. How to have a Minimal setup with the Compact Patent Filofax - Made with love crafter
5. A look inside my bullet journal - Nickie O'Hara
6. Gillio Medium Fuchsia Croro compagna review - Kerri Poulit
7. New Patent Pocket FIlofax AKCaraboo
8. Decorating my Filofax: Week 22 Mits t
9. Filofax decoration Week 8 - Stamping Songbird
10. Decorating My Kikki K Planner (Week 23) - Love4Creativity
11. Filofax Week 22 Decoration Tutorial - Sugarpandax3
12. Filofax Ranger set up for trip - 71Bluetiger

• For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post.  Also this video too Webfinds 
• Your Filofax/Organiser Videos could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list. 

Enjoy

Free For All Tuesday No. 174

London Meet Up - 31 May 2014

It had been a few months since the last London meet up back in November last year. So when Alison started talking about the launch of her next book (Successio) I wanted to make sure I was going to be free on a couple of the weekends for Philofaxy meet up events.

We started doing meet ups back in November 2010, I've lost count of the number I've attended of the years and in different countries.

If you have never attended a meet up yet, then you should add it to your list of things to do in the next 12 months. People are always friendly, although you might be meeting people for the first time or for the first time in over 6 months or more, it is just like meeting old friends. Their names will be familiar from comments on Philofaxy or you might have read their blog or watched them on You Tube, or any of the other numerous social media channels.

So on Saturday we all met up in central London at just after mid-day. It was dry and sunny and quite warm in the afternoon. As usual we did our usual introductions and then went in to the restaurant to occupy a table tucked away on the upper floor away from the crowded area of the restaurant.

Organisers came out and people started to share and compare their set-ups and diary layouts, there was a lot of 'organiser stroking' and 'leather sniffing' going on... now you know why we pick a remote area of the restaurant..... And of course lots of chattering and smiles and laughter.

After our meal we went shopping in John Lewis and Selfridges both stores had quite a reasonable collection of Filofax organisers and inserts. Selfridges also stock some of the up market brands too such as Aspinal of London.

By about 6pm we started to say our good byes and make our way home via our respective stations... and other stationery stores! It has been a great day.

Thank you for everyone who came along to support the event, it was great to meet you all.

Next week..... Glasgow!

Reader Under The Spotlight - Renae

Today, I would like to introduce you all to Renae. 

Thank you for allowing me to be the reader under the spotlight this week.  My name is Renae and I’m an American woman living in Seoul, South Korea.  When I was young I was always fascinated by my Father’s planners.  He had a giant A4, black leather zipped binder that he would allow me to play office with.  I remember how important I felt writing such an important book.

Today I’m just as enamored with binders as I was back then and I still feel  important when I open one of my Filofaxes!  I’m an English teacher so a Filofax is the perfect tool to keep me on top of things and to orgainize my life.  

1. When did you buy your first organiser and what was it?

I purchased my first Filofax in 2012 and it was an A5 pink Domino.  Unfortunately, I don’t own it anymore.

2. What other brands have you used or considered using?

I have used Franklin Covey in the past and may use them again in the future.  I have a Midori Travelers notebook that I use on and off.  Gillio and VanDerSpek orgainizers are beuatiful. If I ever win the lotto, they are on my wish list!

3. Out of the organisers you own which is your current favourite (Style and Size)?

My favorite orgainizer at the moment is my personal sized ochre Malden which I acquired recently.  The size is perfect and the leather feels and smells amazing!

4. How many Filofax or other brands of organisers do you own?

I currently own just 5 orgainzers as I recently gifted my pocket-sized black Malden to my father (who loves it!).

5. What is the oldest organiser in your collection?

The oldest orgainizer in my collection is a cheap compact-szed Frankln Covey binder that I use for storage.

6. What do you use your organisers for?

Currently I use three different Filofaxes; a red A5 Metropol, a raspberry compact zipped Pennybridge and an ochre Malden in personal size.  The Metropol holds teaching notes, student logs, notes for my Master’s dissertation and long-term projects.  The Pennybrige makes a perfect wallet and the color matches my bag perfectly.  My favorite Filo at the moment is my personal ochre Malden which keeps me orgainized and holds my journal important notes, and an A-Z section for my spiritual journal.

7. What was the feature about Filofax you like most?

Honestly, it’s the community that surrounds Filofax.  While most people in the world have forgonne the art of writing and paper planning, it is so lovely to have the support of so many.  The people that I have come in contact with through Facebook and YouTube are very special to me.  Sharing my love of all things stationary warms my heart!

8. If you could design your own Filofax what would it feature?

I want to own a Filofax that has a full-length back pocket like the one Kent from OZ has!  Because I’m a teacher I constantly need to keep track of loose paper and the inernal pockets are so small that I have to fold the paper, a full-length pocket would solve that problem.  Also, I wish Filofax would go back to putting a gusseted zipper pocket on the inside back cover to hold change and paper money.

9. How do you carry your Filofax?

My Metropol stays on my desk at work.  The other two are always with me, whether that be in my bag or next to my bed at home.

10. Which Filofax in the current range do you like the most? Are you going to buy it?

For now, I’m happy with what I have.  

11. What is the most you have ever spent on a Filofax? Which model?

My ochre Malden cost about $95.

12. What's your favourite Filofax tip or hack?

Rhomany from RhomanysRealm introduced me to making clear tabs from the packaging that the Filofaxes come in these days.  I like bottom tabs and the clear dividers seem just as sturdy as the card ones, but without the bulk.

13. Turning to Philofaxy, what do you like the most?

Again, I like the community.  My favorite feature of the blog itself is the WebFinds.  

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

Nothing, I think Steve and the other contributers are doing a great job!

15. What was the last music track you downloaded or bought?

I’m not a big music person, but I download books frequently.  The book I downloaded most recently is “Tripwire” by Lee Child.

16. George Clooney or Brad Pitt?

George!

Thank you Renae