A5 Aqua Malden first impressions

First day impressions of my A5 which arrived this morning.

I've taken a few photos outside now. Giving an idea of it's true colour has been more difficult than I expected. My camera interpreted it as more blue, even in natural light. I've adjusted it a little in Paint Shop Pro to try and give a more accurate idea but it's made a colour cast over the whole photo.

I know it's supposed to have a 'vintage' look with lots of creases, that's one of the features which attracted me. It has a lovely tactile soft and squashy padded feel to it. It doesn't lie completely flat but the leather's so soft I'm sure it won't take it long. I won't bother to go over the pockets except to say I really like them.

The diary that came with this Malden is 2014 Week on 2 pages. Nothing for the rest of 2013. That doesn't bother me as I don't like the vertical column layout and will make my own. Black Today ruler, nice A-Z indices and 6 blanks all on nice cream thin card. Some 'To Do' sheets, several lined sheets in different colours, address/phone number sheets and a plastic card holder with space for 4 cards.

I like the ready punched notepad in the slot at the back. I won't keep it in there though, it makes quite a lump if I try to write on a right-hand page. The rest of the inserts didn't seem to lie well on the rings when the binder was closed. In fact, I noticed just a tiny gap on one of the lower rings. When I took the notepad out, the gap closed up.  I don't think there'll be a problem unless I put too much stress onto the rings. Another reason for getting rid of that huge diary I won't need!

That does lead me to one of two thoughts. This is my first A5 binder. (My others are Personal and Pocket) It occurs to me now that these rings don't seem as solid, for want of a better word. Maybe that's me not being used to the binder and ring size. My others are also lightly used, mostly vintage.

The leather is very thin which makes it so supple. I also noticed that the leather on the front seems a little slacker than on the back and inside, with a few large shallow creases down the front. Differences in the pieces of leather used maybe, but I think the stitching on the inside pockets have a lot to do with that. It's all part of the look and it doesn't detract from it's scenic beauty in my eyes. With training I think they'll flatten out.

One thing to be aware of, be very aware: its scratches oh so easily. I've given it a few already and I have short nails. Some of these have 'rubbed' back out but it's going to need a lot of TLC.

When it arrived this morning I had a rather anti-climatic feeling about it. I don't now feel as excited about it as I do about my lovely blue Tejus, but I do really like it. I think I've had Filofax overdose this week. Once I get started putting my household stuff in it and make up my main address book I'm sure I'll appreciate it more!

Wellness planner

You may have noticed that I've changed the name of my blog. With changes I'm making in my life now I feel that my new title is more appropriate. Frabjous is a word made up by Lewis Carroll and is possibly a blend of 'fabulous' and 'joyous'. Fabulous being my filofaxes, and joyous being how I feel about them and how I hope to feel more about the future.

I've been thinking on how I need to improve my overall physical and mental well-being and outlook on life. I've made some changes to my diet and have been exercising more. But old habits die hard and I've stuck in the same old rut. I realise I really need to change my whole lifestyle to succeed. Kentfrom Oz recently gave us his Wellness and Weight Loss Planner appropriately named 'The New Me', which caught my attention. If you haven't seen it yet, you can find it on his blog Filofaxuations. As well as weight loss and fitness, there's much about mental health and lifestyle choices providing food for thought, as it were.

But I needed a binder to keep it in! I came across a post on Philofaxy from last year, by Helen. She had a Lineburst binder for her fitness and health information. You can read it here:

http://philofaxy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/guest-post-helen-health-filofax.html?m=1

What a good idea! And the teal/turquoise colours are among my favourites. I started looking around for one. A short while later I spotted one up for grabs - just a small charge to cover postage - on Adspot. I contacted the seller, who asked me out of curiosity if I had a special use in mind for it. I replied "oh boy do I have a special use in mind" and explained my idea. From her reply I found she was Helen! Moving on to other binders, she was now passing it on to another user. I'd come full circle.

It arrived a couple of days later and I didn't waste time moving the Wellness planner into it.

I like the soft feel of the vinyl inside the binder. Full length and smaller pockets inside the front and one at the back will be useful for a few papers and receipts. The elastic pen loop is a decent size and the closure band is still good and tight.

I have some more inserts planned for this binder, though they're not in place yet. I've completed a few pages and reading through the rest. I'm playing around with making my own diet planning sheets and sections with information on food groups, inspirational thoughts, etc. It's now a useful tool for organising and planning my ongoing journey towards the new me!

A Pocketful of Birthdays

Something I often lose track of until they're upon me are birthdays, I'm ashamed to say. (On the other hand I try to forget about mine, but have only succeeded twice) Sometimes I confuse the days with other family/friends whose birthdays are in the same month. I've tried to remember to put them on my calendar but ... !

So, time for a Birthdays/Anniversaries page for the Pocket.

I've made a blank template in Word to use with Pocket-sized blanks sheets.

I made up a simple table over 2 sides, with a box for each month in which I can write dates and names. I used Elephant font in size 10 in a dark green to match my binder. It's not the font used by Filofax but it's close. (If you know what it is, please tell me)

I've left it at that as this will only be a temporary insert in this binder. I'm saving up the pennies for an A5 binder for all household stuff, including birthday reminders. Meanwhile I'll continue trying to organise my haphazard lifestyle with my pocket Windsor.

 A few names in so far, more to add yet!

If anyone would like to use/adapt/amend it for your own use, please feel free to do so.  :)

Birthdays & Anniversaries Word file    (right click, Save As or Save Link As)

I've also adapted a 'to-do' list found on Philofaxy. Not so much as a shopping list but a general list of various things I want to get in the near future in case I find myself near appropriate shops.

Rather a humdrum post but I feel I'm off to a good start. Already I remembered to note a couple of appointments into the diary straightaway while on the phone, instead of my usual jotting on scrap paper, putting in on the mantelpiece and still mislaying it. Retraining my brain! :)

Return to the fold

I've read numerous blogs and journals but this is my first attempt at writing one myself. (I never thought I'd see the day) So, deep breath and here goes!

An increasing need to properly organise myself once and for all recently rekindled my long-dormant interest in Filofaxes. I have addresses and telephone numbers jotted down all over the place, random notes scattered about, lists of household details needing to be kept together for when (not if) I need them quickly ...
 
... and above all a memory which isn't working as well as it used to, to say the least!

I have an old Personal size I bought in the late 1980s, just before they became fashionable. The rings have sprung apart and though I managed to get them back in I was missing the tabs. It will take me a long, long time to find those and I need something meanwhile. After several weeks researching and thinking, I decided I need a smaller, more portable one I could carry in a handbag/backpack. I found just the thing on eBay a few weeks ago.

A pocket Windsor in racing green leather (one of the colours I was particularly looking out for).

Amazingly, I was the only bidder and happily got a great bargain! Though quite old (it has the old-style rings too) it’s in great condition. The rings are perfect. A tiny part of the button enamel has worn off but I like the copper tone underneath and it certainly doesn’t detract from such a well looked-after binder. I’m not sure what type of leather it is, though it’s quite soft.


The seller kindly added plenty of inserts including a week-to-page diary, ruled notepaper, indexed address book, some telephone number sheets and a ‘Today’ ruler. All I need to add was a pocket post-it note and tab sheet and some blank sheets.

The linings are perfect. The 2 full length pockets at the front will be very useful. There’s another full length pocket at the back as well as 4 credit card slots. These are all individually lined. The pen loop is perfect for the Filofax mini pen I already had and the strap is just the right length to allow for plenty of filling without overstuffing.

Now to get some address and phone sheets filled in!