A Day in the Life of Gilbert the Purple Medium Gillio Mia Cara

I don’t usually name my Filofaxes but this one is the colour of a grape so I think of Gilbert Grape every time I look at it!

I use my Filofaxes all day every day. They are my calendar, to do lists, wallet, key ring – you name it. So here is a visual record of my day today.

My Filofax is always next to me on the nightstand when I sleep.
My Filofax is always next to me on the nightstand when I sleep. Under the binder is the Gillio dust bag it came in.
I check my email and calls when I wake up and today I had one new booking and one change of time when I woke up so I wrote them straight down in my organizer as I had my tea
I check my email and calls when I wake up. Today I had one new booking and one change of time when I woke up, so I wrote them straight down in my organizer as I had my tea. This morning I woke up at 6am but because it is heading towards the time of the  midnight sun in Sweden, it is never dark – no matter how early I wake up!
As I was getting ready I received a text message about a new booking and a request for a translation
As I was getting ready for work, I received a text message about a new booking and a request for an urgent translation.
Gilbert in my brown Charleston handbag. Today is casual Friday so I am wearing Hudson Jeans and a plaited Fat Face belt with brown cashmere t shirt.
Gilbert in my brown Charleston handbag. Today is casual Friday so I am wearing blue Hudson Jeans, a brown plaited Fat Face belt and a brown cashmere t-shirt.
Charleston and Gilbert waiting for the bus
Charleston and Gilbert waiting for the bus.
On my lap waiting for the bus. I had a cancellation while waiting for the bus so I could strike through the booking immediately
On my lap waiting for the bus. I had a cancellation while waiting for the bus so I could strike through the booking immediately. Wearing brown Frye biker boots today and a brown pashmina.
Wear this ring every day
I wear this ring every day.
At the underground station I put my whole binder over the travel card reader. Don't have to remove anything from the binder
At the underground station I put my whole binder over the travel card reader.  I don’t have to remove anything from the binder.
First three hour meeting. My student has a Mulberry organizer. I write notes for things to add to the dictionary I create for each student.
First three-hour meeting. My student has a Mulberry organizer. I write notes for things to add to the dictionary I create for each student.
Lunch - toasted chicken bagel and large latte extra hot extra shot. I took the time to make shopping lists and a to do list for the weekend.
Lunch – toasted chicken bagel and large latte extra hot extra shot. I took the time to make shopping lists and a to do list for the weekend.
Next week does not look too bad yet.
Next week does not look too bad yet.
Buying a bag which just fits my Mulberry binder (post to follow) at H&M
Buying a bag which just fits my Mulberry double binder (post to follow) at H&M. Both the ladybird bookmark and the flyleaf were RAKs.
Buying my weekly gossip magazine at the local newsagent
Buying my weekly gossip magazine at the local newsagent. You can see the sleeve of my brown leather pilot jacket here.

photo 5-2

Up the escalator to the next meeting (I walk between 10 000 and 25 000 steps a day)
Up the escalator to the next meeting (I walk between 10 000 and 25 000 steps a day).
Next student - discussing austerity policy. She is using my white Gillio pen while I use my pink one.
Next student – discussing austerity policy. She is using my white Gillio pen while I use my pink one.
Doing blog notes on the way home
Doing blog notes on the way home. I usually do all my blog posts over a weekend and schedule them for the coming week.
When I got home I had a parcel slip so I just had to go and get my parcel! Didn't take a bag, just Gilbert.
When I got home I had a parcel slip so I just had to go and get my parcel! Didn’t take a bag, just Gilbert. As you can see it is raining but I am not precious about my binders. They need to work for me and tend to recover from small spots of rain pretty quickly.
Swiping my binder against the card reader on the bus
Swiping my binder against the card reader on the bus.
Identifying myself at the postal agency. I have to show ID about seven times a day. It is also in my binder
Identifying myself at the postal agency. I have to show ID about seven times a day. It is also in my binder.
My parcel which was a RAK from a wonderful, kind Facebook friend. (Post to follow)
My parcel which was a RAK from a wonderful, kind Facebook friend. (Post to follow).
Going through list of calls I need to make before the working week ends.
Going through list of calls I need to make before the working week ends.
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Gilbert next to me as I type this post.

Author: Janet Carr

Fashion, beauty and animal loving language consultant from South Africa living in Stockholm, Sweden.

21 thoughts

  3. That’s a great perspective on how useful and versatile Filos/Gillios can be. I absolutely agree about not babying planners; I can’t see myself using something that I would be worrying about. Great colour too.

    Reply
  4. Pingback: Successfully downsized from personal to pocket size ring organiser – Janet Carr @

  5. A fun day in the life post! I noticed you using an iPad with an external keyboard. Has this replaced a laptop for you, or do you vary what you bring each day depending on your schedule? And which keyboard are you using.

    Reply

    1. I use a Logitech keyboard which doubles as an iPad cover. It works brilliantly. The only time I carry my laptop instead of my iPad is when I have to work on long translations, because then I much prefer to use Word. Otherwise the iPad goes with me everywhere. That Logitech keyboard is the best thing I have ever bought. It holds a charge for at least six months.
      https://thisbugslife.com/2013/09/10/logitech-ultrathin-keyboard-cover-for-ipad/

      Reply

    1. It is heavier but not much more than a Filofax personal. The weight of my planners is mainly caused by my tendency to overstuff. What you do notice more than the weight is the bulkiness of the Mia Cara – in all sizes they are bigger and bulkier than Filofaxes of the same size. Due to the double cover and the full length back pocket.

      Reply

  10. Great post, Janet. Purple is my favorite color, and it looks particularly good in the form and shape of Mia Cara, no?
    I wanted to ask what insert do you use in the Mia, the weekly inserts, vertical. Do you know which company offers vertical version with Sunday as first day of the week?

    Thanks,
    Michal

    Reply

    1. The weekly vertical I use are either Burde, Filofax or Qimmis. I am not sure which company offers vertical with Sunday first but you could have them made by Etsy sellers. I think that mylifeallinoneplace and Philofaxy offer printable inserts with variable starts to the week.

      Reply

      1. I love this post!
        It is funny that you call your Gillio a Filofax at the beginning of your post. Many people do the same though l prefer to call mu binders by their real brand names rather than giving them the generic name of Filofax.

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