Filofax Lifesavers #2 - Lest We Forget!

If you're like me, your Filofax contains so much important information that you really can't afford to lose.

It may one day happen that you lose your planner with EVERYTHING inside!

I know of someone whose bag was stolen from their car with their planner inside. The bag had only a few dollars value, but the loss of the binder devastated her.

So, all you need is 30 minutes.

Just 30 minutes!

A mere 30 minutes to take the time to safeguard your binder's contents.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE BUT ESSENTIAL.....

Use a camera, smartphone or iPad and photograph every important page you need to retain.

You won't need to capture everything, but make sure you photograph the vital pages.

Make a time every one, three, six or twelve months to do this.

Make it part of your planning routine - write it in your diary!

It is a personal insurance policy to safeguard your hard planner work.

Set this time aside - it is a worthy investment

Keep two or more different sets of records of your photos and make sure these are held in a safe place and are easily retrievable in an emergency - a friend, iCloud, your accountant, USB or file a hard copy in your paper files.

Keep the photos secure - they contain your private information

Find out if your insurance policies can cover your Filofax - some are worth hundreds of dollars - the content may be priceless - you never know.

Imagine the scenario of losing your binder - never to get it back.
How would you FEEL?
Do you want to ease the pain of losing your binder by having a back-up?
Would you regret NOT keeping copies?
How many hours would it take to redo important lists, addresses, birthdates, appointments, calendar items etc....?
How disapponted would you feel?
How traumitised would you get?

It could happen - hopefully not - but it IS POSSIBLE.

Take a few minutes to make a list of what you need to record and preserve and image of?

Now take the photos.

It takes only 30 minutes

Do it today!

Go on.....

What are you waiting for?

Filofax Lifesavers #1 - A Breath of Fresh Air

If you're like me, you may use your Filofax at work.

I am constantly interacting with others and there's nothing worse than needing a little 'freshening' before a meeting or when working one-to-one with someone at close quarters.

I found these metal pen holders at Officeworks (Australia) which works great as an instant holder for larger pens, whiteboard markers or, as I now use it for - breath freshener.

You never know when you need a little minty fresh squirt!

 

Cheers from 

 



For The ladies

As a male, a husband and a Filofax user, I feel I can speak with authority on what you are about to read.

Planners are like HUSBANDS! (insert partners/boyfriends or significant male others here)

They really are.

Here's a few comparisons that will prove my point....

• They are precious to you, continually needing modification, work best under your total control and some come with a leathery exterior.
• Most husbands need a good clip!
• Your love affair with them may involve a ring (or two!).
• They are full of information - albeit useless and redundant.
• Sometmes they can get a bit full and you can't get them to do anythng!
• Press too hard and they bleed.
• They either smell really good or really bad.
• After a few decades they get wrinkly and floppy.
• When they are not performing to your satisfaction, you may look around and want to replace it with something 'bigger' perhaps?
• And when you finally drop them - they fall to bits.
• Some days it's really hard to get them to open up.
• They are the love of your life and the bane of your existence!
• When the zipper is left open - everything falls out!
• Size isn't everything - well except if yours is a mini.
• They may look plain and boring on the outside, but can be so creative and wonderfully beautiful on the inside.
• Leave it too long in a cupboard and they get mouldy.
• You spend hours and hours thinking of ways to change them inside and out - and when you do - you are never really happy with the result.
• Let's face it - some of them are just plain thick!
• There are days when everyone else's looks so much better than your old thing.
• They are the first thing you look at in the morning and the last thing you check before sleeping.

And, if we are really honest - they have changed your life for the better, and are something you know you could never live without.

That is all!

Coffee, Blogs and Philofaxy

http://philofaxy.blogspot.com.au/

If you haven't heard of the amazing Philofaxy blog - you need to.

I owe a great debt to this website.

It is run by Steve and his excellent admin team.

Captain my Captain! - Steve Morton

Started by a guy who called himself 'Philofaxer', he handed the reigns over to Nan around 2006 who kept things running for another couple of years and then Nan eventually invited Steve and Laurie to take over the helm in 2009.
Today, this humble blog is read by thousands of people around the globe.
I would guess that there are at least 100 people reading it.at any given moment.
It really is THAT good.

It is THE hub of the Filofax universe.
It is a overwhelming source of ideas, facts, profiles, review, tips, commentary and humour.
The place to hang out with other Filofaxaphiles and not feel like a GEEK.
It is my weekly fix and my cyberfriend.

The Adspot section is fantastic.
You can buy and sell from and to serious Filofax users.
I have obtained my dream Filofaxes through this service.
And I like the idea of supporting the Chimwemwe charity in the process.
Well played Philofaxy!










Each week I schedule (in my A5 Balmoral!) at least one hour to peruse and read through the Webfinds and videos.
I make myself a cup of coffee (in my Philofaxy cup, skinny latte 2 stevia)
Put on my White-Noise headphones (to block out the kiddlings and family house noises),
Ease into my chair
Laptop on knees
and work my way down each blog post and video.

I am in Filoheaven.

My little oasis of Filo-education.
Learning new tips
seeing the latest ideas
admiring other's setups
following comments and blogs
gleaming ideas on how to plan better
laughing at the craziness of enthusiasts
lusting over a new binder I haven't seen before.

It keeps me connected.

They even do Spotlight interviews of crazy people from the Southern Hemisphere!


 
















So thank you Philofaxy
You are an important part of my life
You are a positive influence in the binder world
and you never fail
to always make my day.

 

Dear Kent from Oz......

I am so inspired by the many people who read my blog and watch my videos.

It is humbling and exciting all rolled into one.

Every day I receive emails and messages from around the world from people who are interested in what I do.

There have been so many amazing questions, comments and suggestions. It has provided me with so many ideas to video and write about.

I often cut and paste the best ones into a Word document to keep.

Sometimes I get some really 'different' comments from people who I am sure are well-meaning.

I thought I would share a few that either made me chuckle or made my day.

• I love the way you talk with your fingers!
• I know the left one is a wedding ring - but are you married to two woman?
• I'm glad to see the wart on your thumb has healed!
• I know your Australian but you sound smarter than that!
• You and Russell Crowe must be twins            (I like THAT one KfO)
• Great video Kent. Does being mentioned in a Kent from Oz video mean I am now famous?
• When can we see you FACE!?!? Is there something wrong with it?
• You accent and voice are like mellow chocolate!
• DON'T OPEN THE FILOFAX BY THE RINGS YOU AS%$#!!LE!!!!!!
• I thought I saw you at Office Max. I wasn't sure. Do you live in the US? They had the same Filofax as you. The same hands. They had the same rings. Then she turned and it was a woman.
• If you call that Franklin Covey a "Filofax" one more time, I'm unsubscribing!
• What happened to your wristwatch?
• Are you really from OZ? What's it like?
• Please talk more slowly, I can't understand you!
• How much gold did you use to make the words in the title sequence?
• Your arms are not hairy. How come? Do you shave them?
• I really liked your video, I really did. Then I watched it again and I changed my mind....
• I can't get my head around your Spiralsex!
• I'd use your Spiraldex if it wasn't so curved.
• You are so funny. I laugh even when you are being serious.
• What part of Australia is Oz?
• We never see your face! What are you hiding? Are you in hiding? I'll pray for you!

and the best most flattering one of them all......

• This video is the BEST. I have learnt so much. We make babies yes?

 

 

 

 

 

Filofaxes and Souffles!

To quote Clara Oswald:
"The soufflé isn't the soufflé. The soufflé is the recipe."    

In a strange sort of way, the same goes for planners.

It isn't so much what you use - it's all about how you use it.

There can be a tendency for us plannerites to take sides like an interdenominatinal gathering.

"I'm a Franklin Covey!"
"Filofax here!"
"Gillio all the way"
"DayTimer is the bomb!"
"Midori Travelers please!
"I use a 10 cent exercise book!"

We can tend to gravitate towards the outer covers of our planners and get all excited about the brand, the colour, the texture, the leather/pleather/vinyl....yet it really doesn't matter.

I have seen many expensive, name-brand planners kept in pristine condition and be hardly used at all.
Oh the shame of that.
And,
I have also seen the generic, well loved binder, rough and ready, pen and war wounded, stuffed and embellished and loved to bits keeping its owner on top of their game, organised and efficient.

I confess myself to a little filo-envy.

..but really,
deep down,
we know the truth.
It really DOESN'T MATTER!

Indeed,
The soufflé isn't the soufflé. The soufflé REALLY IS the recipe!

or to place it into a more familiar filofax vernacular...

"inner planner beauty is always found between the rings".

 

Merry Christmas from Kent from Oz!

Not much going on this week being Christmas and all....but I did dabble in a tiny bit of decoration with some washi tape and a cutout from some wrapping paper. 
Merry Christmas everyone!

Hunt for the Black Balmoral

It's Chrissy McGann's fault!
It really is.

I stumbled upon her YouTube video* way back in March 2013 where she showed her Black A5 Balmoral to the world.

I liked it.
She was over the moon about the luscious aligator-style print on the cover.
I really liked it.
She showed all the generous pockets and clips.
I really really want one.

And then.....she opened it up to reveal the HUGE full-length back pocket...

MY BRAIN EXPLODES!!!!!!

I had to have one.
I really HAVE TO HAVE ONE!

The glorious A5 Black Balmoral

But like anything worthwhile that is out of reach - I had to wait.

A few months later, I saw one on Adspot.
I tried to contact the seller,
but OOOOMPH!!!
it was snapped up by someone else.

I searched eBay.
Nothing.

Months rolled into months of patient waiting.

Then, out of the blue a Philofaxy member contacted me to see if I wanted to buy hers.
HALLELUJAH!! Of course.
We bargained and dealed.
Done!
I waited eagerly for the package.
Waiting, waiting. Always waiting.

Then it arrived.
My search was over!
I ripped open the package.

Black? CHECK!
A5? CHECK!
Shiny? CHECK!
Large pocket? . . . . . . . . . Noooooooooooooooooo!

I was devestated!
My dreams shattered like a crushed lightbulb.

I was so, so, so upset that I immediately wrapped it back up again -
and there it sat on my desk.

I was also so upset with myself for not asking about the pocket!
How could I have forgotten THAT?
I assumed they all CAME with the POCKET!?!
Not so it seems.
I learned the hard way.
Caveat Emptor!

I took it out just once more that day to photograph it and placed an ad on eBay to quickly sell it.
I couldnt bare to even look at it.
I was so upset.
Filomourning.

But eBay did what eBay does best!
It was snapped up fast.
I made sure I told the buyer it was sans pocket.
She didn't mind.
She just wanted a top quality binder.
I posted it away
and shook the dust from my shoes.

I was Balmoral-less once again.

I waited. I hoped.
The Balmoral drought was long and agonizing!
Months went by.

And then, another friend told me she was selling her brown Balmoral.

Not a black one, but a Balmoral nonetheless.
and it DID have the wide pocket.
I could live with that?
Couldn't I?

Absolutely!

We did the deal.
I was happy - even if it was a brown one.
Yes - happy to get one.
Bitter-sweet contentment.

It arrived a few weeks later.
I was SO hesitant to open the package.

Balmoral? CHECK!
Brown? CHECK!
A5? CHECK!
Shiny? CHECK!
Back Pocket? Yeeeeeesssssss!

I was in heaven.
I really was.
Once it was in my hands.
The colour was not my first choice but it was such a good looking binder.
I quickly knew I could love and use this Balmoral.
The deep rich chocolate colour was stunning in its own unique way.
I finally owned one after all this time.
And it was mine.

I quickly set it up as a work binder.
It was going to be put to good use.
I had plans for this new fellow!

The pocket seemed to go on forever.
It held so much and never seemed stuffed.
It was (and still is) so wonderful to use.
Each morning it came with me to meetings, classes, lectures.
I paraded it around all day.
It won the admiration of many.

The large pocket was EXACTLY what I needed for my work.
Plenty of room to store larger papers and the leather was so sleek and strong.
I was a happy camper.
I had my Balmoral.
I loved my Balmoral!
I could even say I had Planner Peace.

And then,
And then,
And THEN.......

My friend Anamarija messaged me on FaceBook: There's a BLACK one for sale in Sweden!

I couldnt breathe.

Did it have....?
Did it come with a.....?
Has it got the.......?

I could hardly ask
swallow deeply....Does it have the large pocket?

'Yes!' came back her reply.

Keep calm. Keep calm!

Should I?
Could I?

Self face slap!
OF COURSE YOU MUST!!!!!!

The race was on!
I tried to bid on it, but the site only registered Swedish nationals!
I live on the other side of the world!!!!
Aaaaagh!

I sent out an SOS to the Philofaxy family.

Can anyone in Sweden help me?

I had an overwhelming amount of replies.
Everyone there is so sweet.
I was humbled to see so many people wanting to help.
Many of them had shared my journey over the last year.
And were there for me to complete my quest.
Of course we will help!
We're a family. That's what we do!

I chose one person.
The wonderful Janet Carr.

She would be happy to bid and pay and post it to me if she won.

Fingers crossed.

I had to wait 7 days.

Torture!!!!!

and then.....tick, tick, tick.
I watched the timer go down to 0.
Only one bidder!
WE WON!!!!!

I yelped with excitement.
I woke up my dogs!
I had won the Filo-lotto!!!!

We did the money exchange and soon got word it had arrived and was reposted to me.

Wait. wait. wait. wait. wait.

I arrived home one afternoon.
A travel-weary parcel sat on my doorstep.

I couldn't breathe.

I sat down and slowly unwrapped the heavy package.
You tug at paper and tape.
You know that feeling?
Excitement with the tinge of fear?

I finally got down to the last layer.

It was there!

My beautiful, perfect, deep, six-ringed, wide-pocketed, black A5 Filofax Balmoral.

Mine.
All mine!
MINE!

I just sat there
smoothing my hands over the near perfect shiny cover.
I checked every inch of it.
Opening and closing the double strap catches.
eyeballing the rings for gaps and scratches.
Smelling the almost new leather smell.
Enjoying the end of the search.
Taking in the moment.
Breathing.

It was mine.
Really mine!

Some people say God honours those who wait.
I don't know about that.

All I know is that I had a dream come true last week.

I am looking at it now as I write this.
We are going to become good friends - this Balmoral and I.

This long awaited filofax from across the sea.

Today I am happy.
I really and truly now know the meaning of Planner Peace.
My search is over.



And I am grateful!

* Here's Chrissy's YouTube video that started the ball rolling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOaC0DnW3JQ

and my video about the Brown Balmoral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0zmX8fZpF8

and the new Black Balmoral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7b03QaUSYE

Merry Christmas from Kent from OZ!

Hang on a bit.....
Whoosh, whoosh.
Just blowing away a few blog cobwebs.
For my devoted readers, I haven’t posted here for a while.
But now I'm back.

Can I start by saying - I really love using a Filofax!

Simple but true.

It is such a positive part of my life.
I enjoy getting it out each day and adding bits and pieces
Writing ideas and notes
Coming up with ideas to make it work better
Getting ME to work better
Keeping me organized
Keeping my extraordinarily busy life in some semblance of sanity
I like the feel of the binder
I like the 'click' of the clip.
I like the shade of the cotton cream paper
The sturdiness of the laminated dividers
The way it looks on my desk
The smell of leather that never diminishes
The notion of safety and security.
I just love it.

In this busy Christmas season,
Enjoy your time with family and friends
Enjoy some extra time to snuggle up with your binder

Be happy.

Kent

Make Your Own Amazing POP-UP Christmas Tree for your Filofax

I am trying to make a little money to fill my Christmas Stockings.

If you would like to buy (very cheaply) a template, you too can have a little Pop-up bit of Christmas for your FIlofax.

Decorating is optional but very much encouraged.

Send me some pics so I can see how wonderful and creative you are.

To purchase the PDF file - go to my Etsy store at 

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/169434208/kent-from-ozs-amazing-pop-up-christmas

There's a COLOURED version there as well
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/169515706/kent-from-ozs-amazing-color-pop-up?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Here's a quick video of what it looks like.....

http://youtu.be/4C9lt3A7hrM

and a step-by-step instruction of how to do it.

 http://youtu.be/X7l8ZiAMgZc

So why not have a go and.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Kent from Oz


Here's some other wonderful Pop-Up trees made with the template.