My 2021 Filofax set up

I probably should have written this back in October when I first sorted out my 2021 Filofax, but it is June ( just about) and so not too late to be writing about my 2021 set up. 

This year I initially decided to change from a personal Filofax to A5 for my diary, notes and organisation, however I ended up using the personal size again. I use a separate Filofax for work and don't carry my home one with me anymore unless I really know I will need it. I carry a pocket flex with a notebook for taking notes and reminders through the day and I transfer to my main Filofax at night.

Despite selling and giving away over three quarters of my Filofax collection, I still have a few, but I do always seem to gravitate back to my personal size ochre Malden. The leather is beautiful and the pockets work perfectly for what I need. I bought this years ago on offer when they first came out and was lucky it was dramatically reduced in price. 

As you can see by the pictures of the inside front and the inside back, the pockets and sections are useful and the leather is soft and supple. The Malden lies flat very nicely which makes it easy to use. There is only one pen loop, but I do carry a very slim pencil case in my bag. Incidentally I know that Filofax did do a pencil case to match the Malden, but I don't think it is still for sale. (I use a Sainsburys one which was a present and is perfect.)

This year I decided to go with week on one page with a notes page facing as I find that the best configuration. I may have a list of things to do in a week that is not time specific and they can go on the notes page and actual date specifics can go on the diary page. As I have separate work Filofax it works to use this set up for home. 

I buy my Filofax diary pages from  Toad Diaries. I did find them on eBay but they do have a website too. www.toaddiaries.co.uk   You can choose from a big selection of Filofax compatible diary options and they have other diaries too.  I have definitely found the place I will go back to each year to get inserts. (This is my second year of using them.)

The picture above shows the information page which comes with the Toad Diaries inserts. To learn more about them please go to their website. 

Above are the to do pages which I use for lists of what I need to do long term. These ones came from a Kiki K planner which I bought a few years. Most planner refill systems include To Do pages and I like these because they are basic and not fussy.

Lastly I always have lined paper for any notes I want to scribble down. This is from Paperchase but I don't think they sell it anymore. They used to do a brilliant planner selection but have stopped it. I was lucky to get a few packs of this on massive sale at 50p a pack when they were selling it off.

I don't use decorative stickers so much in my Filofax, but I do like these indicator stickers. I will put a coffee cup for meeting someone for coffee, the scales as a weigh day reminder and the present stickers to highlight birthdays.  Walking is for going for long walks for exercise and the book ones I actually use in my book Filofax. (That is a whole blog piece in itself). These fabulous stickers all came from Hummingbird Planner on Etsy. They are good value, decorative without being fussy and really useful for highlighting things on the page.

My dividers are old Paperchase, Carpe diem and a handmade orange one; all well used and still going strong. My main pen right now is from Typo and was from a fabulous set which I got as a present. (Pictured in the pen loop in my Filofax below.)

I ignore the jibes about being stuck in the 80's which people so unsurprisingly make when they know you use one, because  a Filofax, to me, is the perfect organisational system. If you want to add sections you can and if you want to take them out you can do that too. I personally have a separate address Filofax but some people also keep them in their main Filofax.

Orangecoffee Instagram Page

If any of my lovely readers wants to follow my second Instagram page it is called Orangecoffee1969.  I started this second account a couple of days ago as my original account is private and for family and friends. 

I have already blocked two scammers today so don't follow unless you are genuine. Thank you. 🙈

You just have to laugh

If we look back to say November 2019 there is no way the normal person in the street could have seen how 2020/2021 was going to pan out. No one could have foreseen the death, the sickness, the sadness, the loneliness and the financial devastation the world has now lived through. On the other hand we have seen kindness, empathy and people helping each other. What we have also seen is humour; because sometimes the only way to get through a bad situation is to laugh.

The first person I always laugh at is myself because you can never take yourself too seriously and I do, quite honestly have a lot to laugh at. I really do think I am actually the lovechild of Laurel and Hardy with a bit of Harold Lloyd thrown in for good measure. This morning I dropped the packet of Rennies, picked them up and took out a tablet, dropped that and stood on it. Not a very auspicious start to the day you have to admit.

The winter has gone now but trying to wear a scarf, headphones and a mask did not work well. Add in my hair being too long and getting in the way and juggling bags and an umbrella and you have a slapstick routine right there.  I do love a scarf but I walk everywhere and they can get a wee bit blown about, as can my hair which, up until recently was suffering from lockdown growth. If you add in the tangle which is a set of headphones you are already in a state of disorder. I like the over the ear headphones which runners wear because my ears are small and I struggle with most headphones being too big. (I cannot consider ear pods, they are just too big.) My phone, which is attached to the aforementioned headphones, is in my bag and, if the bag strap gets tangled too I start to look like I am attempting a clown routine.  Of course throwing a facemask into the mix really hasn’t helped. Now, don’t get me wrong, I would always wear one as it is for everyone’s health, but they do bring their own little set of issues.

Masks make your glasses steam up and none of the anti-fog tips work completely. Then, while already attempting to perform a slapstick routine that Norman Wisdom would have been proud of, I have to push my glasses on to my head and therefore I can’t see.  Ok, I can see fuzzy things in the distance but that is about it.  I can only conclude that I must look hilarious to watch with my hair, scarf, headphones, mask and bag strap getting tangled so I am at least doing someone the service of making them laugh.

Now that summer has arrived, some restrictions have been lifted and a lot of people have had their vaccines, we seem to be heading on the path to normality. I miss my pixie boots and coat with the frills but the scarf is also now out of the equation so all is good.  I will say that sunglasses on, normal glasses off is a pain but needs must and it is surprising how many times you can do that in one short walk.  I do have prescription sunglasses as I would be a total menace if I added an inability to see into the mix.

It is nice to get out more and see a few people and now I have had both vaccines I am frequenting the odd coffee shop and the occasional shop. I have to say that I am very disappointed post vaccine. The anti-vax brigade clearly told everyone that Bill Gates would track us through our vaccines, but I spent a good hour walking round lost the other day and at no point did that tracker kick in. I think those anti-vaxxers were lying again. All my hopes of not having to rely on my dreadful sense of direction have been dashed.

Now I have invested in a new piece of equipment to help monitor exercise, I bought my son-in-laws' Apple watch off him. Sadly this little piece of apparatus is so dictatorial I have renamed it Mussolini.

It tells you to stand up, it tells you to breathe, it reminds you to move, it tells you your rings are not closed and it wants to know when you are walking and whether you are outside.  It’s a sad day when you realise that you have disappointed a piece of technology. The guilt trips are huge. It tells you how much you achieved the day before and hopes you will do better the next day. It knows how to crush your soul and it is already far cleverer than me.

I am sure this year will continue to throw up many a surprise but I am hoping they will be good and not bad. Unbelievably it is half way through the year already, and it feels like we are waiting for the year to start. However, we should be so proud of the people who have kept the country going on the ground and in the hospitals. I may like a good rant but we should be thankful if we have survived this year with any sanity intact.

Whatever you do and how ever you feel, please try to find something that makes you laugh and if it is watching a 51 year old woman wrestling with scarves, headphones and masks, so be it.