#filofax, #fountain pens, inks and paper

Vintage Filofax for a Diary Consideration. Perfick.

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This January a new diary is required. I had a student year and a half one for July 24 to end of 25. A really nice inTEMPO Firenze Italian soft leather cover one. Angie needed one for work so best used there really. I’d written three entries in it since July! I decided that a lovely Italian made Legami day to day blank dated A5 sized journal/diary would be fit for 2025 purpose instead. It would ideally suit the Mle 35 Musette Man Bag size I carry around daily. Well, not so much ‘carry around’ nowadays as I have become ‘Grand-F-Rather Adopt the Recluse Role’. Okay, having said, ‘when I used to carry around daily’, an A5 format would have been ideal for the amount of day to day thoughts I could write and include. Now it is just a dip into the bag to get certain familiars still. So grabbing the A5 full page day to day diary and beginning to write would have a blank stage staring back at me with nothing to put down in earnest as a play/performance blossoming. ‘Got up, did stuff around the house, went to bed’.

A diary is based on daily activity or future planning. A journal double up? Well not really. I may write a weekly one off journal inclusion on a thought or three. But most thoughts go into my blogs nowadays. And any planning for the year will go into My Dream Map journal. Blog write ups are not for journal inclusions. Like this written now. So A5 size is not really practical. Top of page? Angie at work, Angie off. Me? Indoors. Me? Still indoors. Breakfast? One of three choices. Porridge, toast, muesli. Lunch? One of two choices. Emmental cheese sandwich, Cheddar cheese with Branson pickle sandwich, Dinner tonight?…Blah, Blah…. You get the picture. Nothing to write about.

And so. Back to the Musette Mle 35 infantryman bag. The most visited blog of mine, hundreds on hundreds of visits every year since 2018, very high on the Google find list and…. Not one single comment on the post. Visited by the fans of the bag, not WP bloggers and therefore probably don’t read my blog at all. Have to laugh. At least visitors get to identify the bag from the film. I read much discussion on it in various fan threads. People are fascinated with Dean Corso and the contents of his bag.

Johnny’s Bag.
My Bag.

The Ninth Gate bag which is, as said, carried by Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) in the film, is a French Infantryman bag from WWII. It is now considered both cult and iconic. Very rare indeed. And I have owned four. Two I gave away (brother and son in law), one is falling to bits and the other is my daily bag as mentioned.

Iconic ownerships. #1 The Ninth Gate Bag.

So, due to its rarity status, it got me thinking. Why not put a vintage and equally as rare Filofax diary inside! So, I thought ‘Aaaaah! My Filofax OC7/8’. I saw my Filofax once on the internet at £180. Shockingly expensive. I paid 50p from a charity shop. You can’t do that nowadays. Charity shops have internet sites now with rare items. Anyways…I can buy a new diary cheap insert again. One with half a week’s view in a tiny 9.5 x 17 cm space. ‘Perfick’ as Pop Larkin would say. ‘Life’s Perfick wherever you go’. The small little daily space can have Porridge, Cheddar Cheese and Branson Pickle Sandwich in it all year long.

A 1985 UK Map.

PLEASE TAP ON PHOTOS BELOW TO ENLARGE. CHEERS.

Filofax was a very important part of life to those that owned them back when. Still are I suppose. In my case I am a huge, but not now committed, fan of the Filofax format. It was important to carry a small 12 x 8 cm pocket sized one all through my nursing career. Loads of relevant information inside. A similar sized medication pocket prescriber book went with it too. Bound together with a stretched elastic Velcro band.

MY OLD NURSE DAYS FILOFAX. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY…….SUMMERS THE CONDENSED MILK FED ‘BABBY IN A BONNET’ CAN BE SEEN. BABBY WAS MY NAN’S NORTHERN IRISH WAY OF SAYING BABY. THAT’S MY DAD CARRYING ME.

So, the old vintage vibe that I love and cherish can be 2025 revisited. This past year feels all techno with recording my songs on the Apple Mac system. Could never use a techno diary system either. Pen and squint when writing with ink is Perfick. So, it will be good to go and get all old fashioned again.

Journals chosen as have been used over the last year to two now. However. Still lots of pages to use. Not as avid a writer as was. Mostly music recording this year. Right side…Filofax diary.

19 thoughts on “Vintage Filofax for a Diary Consideration. Perfick.”

  1. that’s a priceless collection, Gray. I think the things we save reflect both who we were and who we are. they bridge past and present, grounding us in an endless narrative, reminding us we always carry echoes of our earlier selves.

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    1. That is exactly right cookie. We had old friends around this afternoon. Just before they arrived, some visitors from your side of the pond called in. They were from Tennessee and their grandfather used to live in our house. So we invited them all in. Three generations of the family. We live in an old 1860s school house. They had lots of photographs from the past with their family around our house outside from the past. We exchanged emails, so can look at them with leisure later on when they send photos. They were so pleased we let them have a look around. They found initials that the children used to carve into the slate window ledges. They knew who they were from the dates alongside. Small world!

      Then our friend brought her son along. We haven’t seen him for a fair few years. Decade plus probably. He plays and collects melodeons and showed me a Hohner one he had just bought. I thought of Ol’ Shep (Harmonics Riff Raff) and how his knowledge would be of use. He also plays various tin whistles too. Quite small to larger bass tones. Played me a few jigs. I asked him if he would play on a couple of my songs and he was keen. He remembers my past musical days with guitar playing in the house. And here he was playing really great tunes himself. He plays in pubs and goes down well.

      So, as you say, who we were and who we are. The endless narrative. Once again cookie, you have produced a really insightful comment. So apt for today of all days. All the best cookie. 🙏🏽

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      2. Nice to actually be on the Mac again Sheila. Jac was keen to see how Apple worked. He uses Windows. So he has lots of interest in my experiences. Haven’t touched it for weeks. So, took a while to remember certain aspects to show him stuff.

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      3. I hear you, Gray. Richard still uses his old Mac everyday, which actually surprises me. We ventured out today, our first walk in 31 degrees weather. Some snow and ice on the ground but most of it is cleared and people have put some dirt down too, on the sidewalks, along with a blue green salt of some sort. We had to go to the post office so we also got lunch at the local restaurant. I’ll post the picture tomorrow—what I am calling our Christmas picture. Living next door to my daughter one would think I would have had one from someone else, but no! Haha!
        I was going to say, how did I miss that you an Angie live in an old schoolhouse?!? I must have missed that in previous posts! But it sounds incredible! I don’t know how you sleep because as it is I have experienced dreams (had one just the other night in fact), about hearing school children! The one I had the other night scared me! Now I am beginning to think something is going on here, psychic-wise. I told the kid, “go away, I don’t accept you!” Creepy! But then, after waking up, I was okay and just believe it was old energy built up in this house. I will sage it when it warms up. No idea why I didn’t sage it when we moved in! Oh well. I don’t think of everything (when I need it), though I know it! To come full circle to cookie’s enlightening comment.

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      4. Richard is a trooper. Always admirably active. Great to hear you got outside to experience another view point. And get to eat out too. Can’t beat that experience. We do not take many photographs of ourselves Sheila. I truly am camera averse with my own visage. I feel uncomfortable. Hence my introvert nature. Very much a loner nowadays.

        I didn’t want to live in the schoolhouse. Angie found it on a visit to the friend from yesterday’s house visit. The headmistress of the school next door was chatting to Angie and when Angie spoke of moving to Wales, the headmistress asked if we had children. Of course when we mentioned our two at 4 and 6 years old at the time? She got excited because two more children would mean the school would stay open with the target of 18 children required. They had 16 children attending. I wasn’t keen as a guy going to live next to a school! But fears were not really an issue. I moved into a full time job, so school was open during my time at work and closed when I returned home. We lived in the headmaster’s house next to the school. But it was actually called Ty Ysgol. School House in Welsh. The school is now an antique centre. But closed down a year or so ago. The owners still live there. Probably sell online. I now want to move to somewhere smaller. It is an imposing house regarding upkeep.

        So your story of ghosts are not so relevant. The scrawls of scratched initials were from children who had lessons with the headmaster. Two other teachers were in the main school building apparently. A few of the locals attended the school and the headmaster scenario was spoken of. I suppose it was his hierarchy status that made his lessons ones of importance. Or maybe age was the situation. Taught older age groups possibly. My two children went ‘next door’ into the main school premises and had all their lessons in the medium of spoken Welsh. My son is still very fluent as a Welsh speaker. My daughter retains some, but now lives in England. So is losing the skill.

        I don’t see ghosts Sheila. I had a friend that did see them regularly. She went on a regular walk with her very young son and often passed an ‘old man’ on a quiet lane in the same place. She knew him to be a ghostly presence. One day her son asked her ‘Why do you never speak or say hello to that old man Mummy?’ She then knew her son possessed the same abilities as herself. Sixth Sense land!

        And yes, smudging is a valuable idea if ‘creepy’ is your explanatory word!

        And yes…..cookie is a poetical star. 💫

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      5. Ah, such a great story, Gray, about how you and Angie (and children) came to acquire and live in the school house! I hear you about ‘no ghosts’ there. And that real children did the scratching. I think what got me going down the path of ghosts was in regards to having insomnia and that there could be ‘ghosts’ of stored energy in the space. Even energy from happy children could produce, or rather leave rambunctious energy behind. But now that you have me thinking about the scrawls again… ha! My mind can conjure a whole other fiction about children characters doing such!

        I understand about you being a loner and not interested in pictures. Wasn’t it a cultural thing in India many years ago too, where they didn’t want their pictures taken because it would capture their souls? I vaguely recall something like that. Anyway, I don’t mind photos. I like to look back at my younger photos and forgive myself for all the antics! Ha!

        And yes, it was great to get out of the house yesterday, but it wore us both out! We went to bed a few hours earlier last night just because of the extra exercise!

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      6. The school facilities were amazing for the children and our nieces/nephews growing up. We also started a youth club with a few other parents in a village hall next to the school. So all the children had years of activities alongside skateboarding, football, tennis, basketball, bikes, frisbee, boomerangs, etc…etc. on the school grass playing field and hard surface playground. It was never out of bounds for us as a family, even over the school holidays. The youth club, where our family visits were involved, would mean a great vibe with social gatherings. There was always the local woodland, riverside and beach visits too. So a fantastic experience all round.

        So I have seen the reality of school grounds positivity. Although the older days may have been more austere.

        I first believed soul capturing was part of many suspicious cultures. Indigenous culture like Native American views in the early days of photography. But then read about deity and graven imagery. But that is more appropriate outside of the ‘Common Man’ being captured really. So couldn’t see why that came into the equation. I simply hate my photogenic quality. Not pride, but more something that can bring you down. It’s because I can often look ill at ease and also ashen ill. So why bother. I imagine that people do not want to remember me like that.

        I understand your earlier to bed scenario. But after a gig for example, you never get to bed until early hours. Excitement kicks in. Working your socks off with physical activity brings an early to bed scenario as tiredness overwhelms. But even that can be counterproductive at times. Your mind is invaded by reflecting on the event. Cheers Sheila.

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      7. Ah, ‘photogenic quality’—I understand better now, Gray. As for suspicion, that’s a lens I look through since both of my parents and at least one grandparent looked at many people and things in life with suspicious minds. I have worked hard no to be suspicious of people, but some keep proving my suspicions correct! So, there’s that. I certainly didn’t mean to cast any suspicions toward you!

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      8. I know you did not suggest I was suspicious Sheila. 😊 The nurses always tried to get photos of me so they could put those weird effects on them. Distort your features, etc. No one ever did take a photograph because they knew my views. But they would always laugh and say ‘Come on Gray! We’ll delete it afterwards’. Nope. I wasn’t suspicious because they were colleagues. But when someone knows one’s wishes, why don’t they just simply accept them. Always puzzles me. Mind you, there is a lot to be suspicious nowadays regarding agendas from many of those that can impact and change our lives completely. Cheers Sheila.

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      9. Oh, good, Gray. I thought I had said something wrong.
        I wouldn’t have trusted them either (knowing they used distortion filters on photos). Good call.
        I didn’t mean to imply you should take more photos of yourself. In fact, I have stopped telling anyone they ‘should’ do anything. I suggest, or share, but no more using if the word, ‘should.’

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      10. I never, ever regard your feedback other than positive Sheila. So never worry. We’ve known each other so long. Interestingly, I puzzle over my replies at times because of the narrow interpretation of typed words. Especially in expression of support. I often wonder if people receive it as genuine. Or sycophantic. I would hope genuine, because it comes from the heart. The same as your own replies. If it didn’t? I would close my blog in a heartbeat.

        Hearing voice interactive conversations is a whole different experience to word format. Weird isn’t it! Yet even they can be misinterpreted.

        Angie said tonight that I was ‘TELLING her what to do’. She was trying to enlarge a photograph image. I said, ‘You need to go to the left of the image and enlarge the whole page with your two fingers. Not tap on the image’. Her response was to the word ‘You NEED to….’. She took umbrage. I suppose I should have said ‘you HAVE to’. You can see and read a whole gamut of interpretations into that small insignificant scenario. That is what I mean. The slightest misunderstanding is amplified into somewhere it did not even need to go. It was never intentional. Strange world this new ambition to communicate with internet ease. You think words and phrases that do not translate well when read.

        Cheers Sheila.

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      11. Oh, I good, Gray (that we cleared that up)! And yes, I can see why Angie would think that too because Richard and I do the same kind of thing, especially because he was a graphics professional for all those years (decades). And I got a degree in visual communication but you know! He had the stroke which means he is challenged and I am getting older too, with a variety of aches, pains, irritations/irritability. I have snapped at him lately and never have before in over 20 years! He told me not to do something just earlier tonight in fact! Now, I have forgotten what, but in the MOMENT it aggravated me. Ha!
        This is another reason I tell people that I am not one of those “love and light” types. I am more of the shaman mystic that knows the truth can hurt. Of course I prefer peace, balance, etc. But lots can get lost in translation.
        I admit you have certain phrases that stump me sometimes but I chalk it up to our differences in countries/culture/language usage and such.
        It’s all good. Mostly! Haha!
        Cheers, Gray. To you and Angie.

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      12. Both our lives, yours and mine, have been very challenging in 2024 I suppose Sheila. Lots of changes. But changes for the better. Your huge moving house for example. But maybe they have left us a bit exhausted. Maybe 2025 should be far slower.

        Love and Light? I have met many of the jolly ‘isn’t life always wonderful’ characters who always look on the bright side of life. I admire how their positivity has no bounds. But do not envy the constant application they need to see brightness in everything. That must be equally exhausting. And yet, they do give a fantastic lift when you are in their presence.

        I remember an older lady patient once who pulled a negative face at me and said ‘Oh! It’s you’. I had gone in with my medication trolley into the four bedder. Thought she was expecting a favourite nurse or was reluctant regards her meds. But no. She said ‘You’re always positive and happy. It’s about time you got real!’ I laughed. That told me didn’t it.

        What was ironic was it was a facade I wore most days on the ward in normal interactions of social exchange. The serious, and sometimes distressing chats I had to deliver sometimes, required balance. Horses for courses I suppose.

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      14. I did/do admire your tenacity in all of this year. I couldn’t imagine taking on such a task. So it was really well done, because it wasn’t just an upload of a song. It went further.

        I actually think I couldn’t quit blogging because of the positivity everyone gives. I also prefer to keep my blog under the radar too. Not that I would know how to rise above and into the beams anyways. Those with thousands of followers! I like the camaraderie as opposed to living up to impossible expectations. And my style of writing, as you say, is very quirky at times. So wouldn’t appeal to a lot of people. So, 2025 will remain Summers in status quo.

        Be interesting to see where your blogs are going to go now.

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      15. Thank you sooo much, Gray. Yes, you’re right and me too! I am here to build real connections. Develop relationships. Even though it hurts when some end. That’s life! If we hide from potential hurt we miss the opportunity for bliss!
        I don’t want thousands of followers either. I only have so much time/energy now.

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