The Standard Diary

My sister purchased these diaries from an estate sale in Seattle and sent them to me. They are in excellent condition considering they were used in 1955-1957. Each measures approximately 2.75 by 4.25 inches. 

The calendar consists of one week on two pages, Sunday through Saturday. In the front, printed information is provided for Rates of Postage, Public Holidays (by state), Railroad Distances Between Cities, Church Observances, Wedding Anniversaries and Birth Stones, and Population of Principal Cities. In the back, there are pages to record addresses, cash accounts (by month), and telephone numbers.  

These diaries belonged to Thor Henrikson and it appears he used the calendars for his business travels and personal commitments. When he wasn't traveling for work, he was usually fishing.

In a Google search on the Internet, I found that Mr. Henrikson was an inventor of several patents between 1954 and 1961 relating to railway cars.

I also learned from death records that Mr. Henrikson lived from 1898-1971. I was able to find an obituary for his daughter, Rita. She passed away in December 2013, so the diaries were likely part of her estate since her parents had pre-deceased her.

It makes me wonder where my own diaries may end up and whether anyone would be interested to read them.

Computer Circuit Boards

I found this computer circuit board organizer in a thrift store today. At first I wasn't sure what it was, but upon opening the cover, I was surprised to see that it has personal size rings. It held a calendar from 1996. 

I shared these photos on the Filofax for Philofaxy Fans Facebook group. Comments included suggestions to keep passwords for computer sites and to steampunk it up. One person even has the same binder.

No leather here!

Front and spine view

Inside view

4 Rings

These two Filofax organizers in pocket size have FOUR rings. 

The red one appears to have been purchased around 1989 and has a few inserts with only four punched holes. It has 11 mm rings. 

The burgundy Windsor has a full set of inserts with a 1995 diary  which is marked as able to fit 4 or 6 rings, and includes 6-hole inserts dated back to 1989. It has 15 mm rings.

The Filo-nerd in me finds it interesting.

Front View

Inside View

Red Pocket with 11mm rings
Marked 'Filofax Made in England'
Left: Secretarial pocket
Right: Full length vertical pocket, three card slots, and pen loop

Burgundy Pocket with 15mm rings
 Marked 'Filofax Pocket Windsor Real Leather'
Left: Two full length pockets
Right: Full length vertical pocket, four card slots, and pen loop

These 4-hole inserts are dated 1988 and 1989.

A-Z dividers (Ref. PAZACEGY) 1989
Addresses (Ref. P194) 1988
Yellow lined paper (Ref. P5B) 1988
U.K. Rail & Motorways (Ref. PMO2) 1989

1995 Diary Week on a Page Monday-Sunday (Ref. 380795) 1993
Marked 'Made in England' and 'Fits 1 or 6 Rings'

Subject dividers (Ref. 211633) 1989
Lined paper (Ref. 213008) 1993
A-Z dividers (Ref. 211632) 1989
Telephone Numbers (Ref. 210207) 1993

These plastic inserts were found in the Windsor.

Flyleaf (unmarked)
Today ruler (Ref. 213609) 1993
Top loading envelope (unmarked)
Two pockets holder (unmarked)

Extras in the Windsor

Magnifying Page Marker (by LeFax)
Mirror (by Filofax)

Exotic Filofax

I heard some news recently that Filofax USA is discontinuing their exotic line of organizers; including the genuine lizard, ostrich, and alligator ranges. 

I don't own one of the alligator organizers because it's by far the most expensive Filofax organizer made. However, I do own the more modest pocket sized lizard and ostrich organizers.

Here they are perched next to my Gigliodoro and Gillio organizers:

Gigliodoro Medium Compagna in Dark Blue
Filofax Pocket Lizard in Red
Filofax Pocket Ostrich in Buttercup
Gillio Medium Compagna in Dark Blue

Front View

Inside View

The colors, textures, and details are amazing! Very special indeed - the beauty and quality of these organizers is undeniable!

Dark Brown

Medium Gillio Compagna in Dark Brown

Inside Left (silver rings)

Drawing (by my daughter)

Inside Right

Back View

Top View (including full width pocket)

Bottom View

Side View

2 0 1 4

Happy New Year!

Gillio Siblings

The stars smiled on me and I was able to adopt a medium Gillio Compagna in dark brown. Although I already have one in dark blue and the size and layout are the same, there are some differences between the two.

The dark blue has textured pebbled leather; the dark brown has smooth buttery leather.

The dark blue has gold rings and popper; the dark brown has silver rings and popper.

The dark blue is marked "Gigliodoro Compagna" on the inside left, "Agenda Organizer" on the flyleaf, and "Genuine Calf Leather Made in Italy" on the inside right; the dark brown is marked "Gillio Ferenze" on the inside left.

I purchased the dark brown Compagna from a fellow Gillio Facebook member, Deborah, on December 22 and it was quickly shipped 2-day priority on the following day. The expected delivery date was December 26. However, it decided to take an excursion to San Juan, Puerto Rico for two additional days. Deborah joked that the planner was working on its tan.

At first I thought I would swap between the blue and brown planners, such as I would with purses depending on my preference at the time. But now I think I will use both of them concurrently. The blue will continue to hold important information and the brown will hold my calendar and tasks.

Every Day

I own so many Filofax organizers, so it may be surprising to know that my every day planner isn't a Filofax. I am more of a collector when it comes to the Filofax brand. 

Since August 2013, the only planner I have used is a medium Gillio Compagna in dark blue. It has lovely gold rings and popper. I adore it.

Disappointment

I ran into some disappointment only days after my last post so I decided to step away until the end of the year. I had learned that I was banned, without any mention, from a Facebook group. It knocked the wind out of me to say the least. I try to treat others with kindness and empathy, so the experience was hurtful to me. I had put myself out there and participated, which isn't at all easy for me since I'm an introvert and am wary of vulnerability. I still don't know what happened and truly don't think I did anything wrong. It had to be a misunderstanding, but the group administrator never would reply to my private messages. It's as though I don't matter.  Well, all I can do is take a deep breath, take two steps back and one step forward.



UPDATE March 2014: Funny thing, I was talking with a friend on an unrelated topic and I mentioned that I had been removed from this other FB group. Come to find out, he became an administrator of that group earlier this year and was surprised that I had been removed. No one seems to know why it happened. So, we chalked it up to some mysterious mistake and I'm once again a member.  Two steps forward!

Compact Brown Regency as a Wallet

I recently set up a compact brown Regency as a wallet and it's working perfectly for me. I'm impressed with the durability of the Regency.  I throw it in my bag with my keys without worry.  I also like that it lays flat when I open it and the smaller ring size is less cumbersome on the go.

I'm keeping it simple with three divided sections: 

1) Receipt holder, calculator, and finance sheets; 
2) Card holder inserts for store, gift, library, and voter cards; and 
3) Notepaper

I use the notepaper section for shopping lists and to jot down things I don't want to forget before I can get them into my main planner.  

My most-used cards and cash are kept in the front pockets and my medical cards and contacts are placed in the back pocket.

The only drawback for me is that the Regency doesn't have a zipper pocket for change and loose bits.  However, I usually empty my coins into jars at home because I don't like the extra bulk and weight.

I added a cute piggy bank charm that has a Lincoln penny with the words, "penny saved…penny earned."  It hangs from an adhesive pen loop attached to one of the card holders in the middle section.

I'm very happy with how it turned out!


UPDATE: In January, 2014, I received and moved into a compact Cavendish in black.