Planning

So I have had an excellent few weeks using eBay. I have really decided to use these last few weeks to become less cluttered.  I also didn't want to be looking at a pile of things I have no use for in 2014.

The first things to get put onto eBay were my Filofaxes, I love filofax but I had too many plus I had moved to tech planning at work and that in itself had led to me really looking around for tech to help my private life organization. I found an app called informant which is an electronic version of a filofax and I have been using this alongside paper planner for last few months with no issues. Last week I finally got him indoors to go electronic and added a joint calendar to all our devices which then made the filofax in the kitchen redundant.

I am sad to see some of the Filofaxes go, I had some gems in my collection but although they were loved they were redundant and I thought it would be about time they went to a loving home whilst I make a few pennies for myself.

I am still using the staples Arc system and I have the filofax flex system still in place, I can never move completely away from paper.

We went to see Hunger Games - Catching Fire today, we were a bit late getting on the bandwagon but it was the first Sunday we were free of other commitments. So glad we went as it has remained true to the book, the first film cut lots out but the 2 1/2 hours of Catching Fire held true to the second book. It was a fantastic film and I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.

The shopping centre was busy but we had time it have a look around before the film and I think for the first time in years I felt truly festive. I guess it helps knowing I am staying home this year and that the 2 weeks off work will be restful and I can spend plenty of time with my loved ones.

I have tried a new varnish out, another OPI "peace & love & OPI" a two tone, plum/grey/lilac depending on the light, not very Christmassy but I like how it goes with everything and I know it's going to match a Christmas gift I know I'm getting!

There are just 2 weeks of work left, the Christmas dinner is this Friday and I really think the students are looking forward to it as much as the staff.

I hope all your festivities planning are going well, don't forget to take some time out for yourself.

Overcoming nerves and being busy

Its been a whirlwind two weeks since my last post but I am glad to say that half term is upon me and its time to regroup and recharge.

Since my last post I have been lucky enough to escort the year 7's to see Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Festival Hall with music from London Philharmonic Orchestra, thanks to the BrightSparks series http://www.lpo.org.uk/education/schools_brightsparks.html#ks3.  It was an amazing morning and by and large the students behaved really well considering most have never been to an event like that.  It was a morning that will stay with me for some time as it was captivating to watch and listen to.

I have also had to help lead a CPD session something that I was totally dreading, I hate standing up in front of my peers (who are amazing and well spoken and very clever) and deliver a presentation.  Ever since I had been told I had a strong Essex accent I have hated public speaking.  The session went well and has provided me with grounding for the big one that I have to lead on the 25 February, now if I can combat the nerves for that I can do anything.  I am looking for hints on how to combat nerves and awkwardness when public speaking, its different when in front of a class as I just get on with it but in front of adults feels much harder.  if anyone has any good tips for overcoming nerves I would be grateful.

I also had to cover for one of the PE teachers by accompanying the year 7's to a swim gala.  The pool was where I had first learnt to swim all those years ago and where I did my first mile swim and five mile swim.  I also saw some of my old colleagues and students (who still called me miss).  The girls swam really well and despite it being a very long afternoon they behaved very well and I got extra brownie points for taking them.

Work has been very stressful these past few weeks, it would be a lie if I said otherwise.  The hours are long and although everyone is great some are nicer than others I am finding it hard to ignore the trumpet blowers.  I cannot stand those who feel the need to blow their own trumpet every five minutes or take credit for work they have not done themselves.  That happened to me this week, after working hard to put together a lesson for another member of staff that member of staff took the credit, I wont allow that to happen again.  There are members of staff who are so supportive of me and others are they are fantastic and they don't feel the need to trumpet blow every five minutes and I hope these people get the rewards they deserve.  I was observed this week ofsted style and I passed with an outstanding, but its not easy being watched closely and I do strive to do a good job, I am there for the students and I don't want to let them down.  It is thanks to the supportive staff that I can do my job as best as I can and I know I don't need hand holding.
I was also shadowed for two days this week, something I absolutely hated as it was hard enough to do my job plus look after this person and make sure they were OK.  This person wants a job at my place but I am not sure it would be a good move due to lack of experience but who am I to decide on that??  A nice person but they were not sure what they wanted for a career, until they are sure then surely its best for the students to keep clear until they know?

The weight loss journey is going slowly, I have reached my first mini target this week and it has provided me the push to keep going but it is very hard when having to eat at certain times, not when I am hungry and hard as I HAVE TO eat the school meals as nice as they are they are energy rich.

I am sticking with my Filofax systems for the time being but added to the Arc system at work, I am using 2 A4 pads one leather and one normal and A5 leather.  The three pads are doing a fantastic job and have organised my clubs, day to day, lesson plans and calendar in a way that I can keep up with.  Disc bound systems are amazing and I keep thinking in the back of my mind that's what I should be using instead of a Filofax but I am hanging on with the Filofax system for a while longer as its not actually failing me right me but we are only in month two of the year so it is still early days.  It would not surprise me if Filofax branch into a disc bound system at some point as the Arc seems to have become popular with those who like organisation without the failure.  Youtube show some great sets ups for both Arc and Filofax, worth looking at over the week.  Any comments regarding Arc v Filofax set up would be gratefully received.

Have a great week

Time to move away from Filofax?

As this year ends and 2013 appears on the horizon like most I turn to thoughts of how to be organised for the next year both in a personal way and professionally.

This week I was almost tempted away from the trusty old Filofax by a new system made by Staples called Arc (click here for product details).  I started using an A4 Arc file alongside my flex for work, the flex contains my work diary, year planner and notebook but the A5 flex system although great is too small for everything I need for work.  I needed something that was flexible and could be changed around but also A4 size to take lesson plans, support plans and other printed material that I need to carry with me neatly whilst looking professional.

After reading some tweets and looking on you tube I started to investigate Arc for myself and once seen in the flesh I was taken with it. I rolled the A4 system out this week at work and I was very impressed as were my colleagues.
Filofax could learn a few things from the Arc folder system due to my initial impressions and recent gripes with Filofax.
Firstly, the paper quality with Arc is fabulous, I can use fountain pen, gel pens, felt tip etc with no worry about bleed through.
Secondly, there is a good quantity of paper in the folder when purchased and also in packs available to purchase and the price of the paper pack is reasonable, a choice of graph and lined paper (there may be others I didn't see).  However if you purchase the hole punch for the Arc system you can also use your own paper.
Thirdly, no matter if you go for A5 or A4 size Arc folder the hole punch required is the same if you wish to add your own pages into the system.  This means a greater option to swap between sizes for those who need that versatility and A5 sheets can slot nicely into the A4 folder all with the use of the one size punch that is robust.
Finally, the ring size (or discs) can be enlarged or reduced according to the needs of the individual.  Meaning that the Arc folder can be beefed up at key times with 1 inch or even 1.5 inch discs and then trimmed down in a new year diet to normal size.

I have always been a huge fan of Filofax and have used different sizes and styles over the 20 odd years but recently I have become frustrated.  Filofax quality has gone slightly downhill, I have myself suffered from rings not meeting nicely and leaving a smooth join as a consequence paper gets caught in the gap and worse still fall out of the binder.  The paper quality and choice is shocking, again I am not alone in wanting cotton cream for my A5 and I really do not want to print my own diary pages onto cream paper, why can't Filofax print diaries etc onto cotton cream if the demand is there?  I also love writing with a fountain pen and the Filofax paper really does not like fountain pens.
Secondly, having moved from personal size to A5 I have had to purchase a new hole punch, not very versatile at all moving up or down sizes appears to be more of a faff.
The choice of quality binders (step back Apex) is limited with Filofax especially with A5, the really nice binders also come with a price tag that is not so nice and for those on a limited budget but want a well made good looking professional binder (professional doesn't always have to be black or brown) choice is limited unless there is an ebay bargain to be had.  I am also concerned with the new styles that Filofax seem to think we need, the mash up (click here) is funky and I can see it suiting some, mostly us crafters and those who wouldn't take it out of the house but I am concerned that the patches would come apart after a small amount of usage and it is only available in one size.  Also any Filofax that needs to be priced at over £300, Temperley I mean you, is not for those I know who use Filofax for the practical things in life and I also think the Temperley range is ghastly (sorry to those who like it but its not for me).  Aimed more for the posh fashion victims I think, not suitable for me to chuck into my bag as I run out of the house in the mornings.
My last gripe with Filofax for now is the pen loop, I love my pens some were gifts from loved ones and I love to use them but the pen loops with Filofax are limited in size, there are only a few binders that can expand to take pens of any size and I hate having to try and push a beloved pen into the loop of a beloved Filofax.
All this means that at the moment Filofax have had a reprieve all because my 2013 diary has already been set up into my A5 Holborn and Staples have not as yet released a diary system for their Arc (but they will soon as its available in the US), as soon as they do and if Filofax does not improve their quality I may consider changing over.
The Filofax customer service have always been great when I have dealt with them and happy to help, maybe the design team need to start to listen more to the customers whilst also seeing what else is now coming out that could pull people away from their brand.

A week of arranging

Its half term which means lots of lesson planning, studying, arranging the study again as it looks a tip, ebaying my items and hopefully back to the gym.

First I have a gym fail, I was booked for a training session but I had a bad night and my back and head were hurting this morning so I cancelled and will go later this week, a shame but I have to listen to what this (failing) body is telling me.

I have reorganised my study and hopefully made it more streamlined, meaning I have my OU study books nearer to hand, books for work elsewhere but not too far for lesson planning.
I decided to use my A5 red domino as my book review and blog ideas filo. I have to submit book reviews for work to help the students decide what to read. My school actively encourages the students to read and us adults have to lead by example. Not that I have a problem with that as absolutely love reading but the issue I have is keeping tabs on what I have read, views on what I have read and what I want to read. So using the kindness of Philofaxy I printed off some of their files, if you are interested in some of their templates please click here these pages have now been added to my Domino, the reviews will be filed there to help me with keeping my views updated.
As much as I love the A5 size I find the inserts from Filofax sadly lacking by A5 is a good size to print out and therefore customisation is an option.  As a result I have also designed my own study planner page to fit my daily A5 that will sit alongside my week on 2 pages diary within my filofax.  I am seriously considering getting a zipped Holborn A5, there are not many about now in the colour I want but I love the Holborn range so much I will investigate my options there.
I have split my current set up between work and personal under their respective tabs.  Right now I have the following tabs:-
To do Personal
To do Work
Diary
Projects Personal
Projects Work
Information Personal
Information Work
Financial
Notes
Contacts

The tabs are currently blank whilst I consider this set up, if I am happy I will ink the tabs.

With the clocks going back and the cold weather settling in my thoughts turn to the next year and goals and aspirations that I may have for 2013.  I hope that my degree will be complete in 2013 and I can turn to some different study that isn't against the clock.  Tomorrow is a big study day and as I don't want to get distracted with things around the home I am camping it out at the local library, I hope its warm in there.

My Pennybridge

My red A5 Pennybridge was finally collected from the Post Office, I was so excited to get it home and set it up.

Out of the box first impressions are that it is a nice filofax/ipad combo but there are a few little niggles with it.
Firstly, although the filofax part comes apart from the rest of the cover the back cover to the filofax is ugly and for that reason I would not want to carry it around on its own.  The front is lovely as is the rest of the case but this back part is just too unsightly.  It is like a black glossy card that does not blend well with the red on the front and spine.
Secondly, the pen loop is attached to the case not to the filofax so if you did want to carry around the filofax on its own you need to carry a pen separately.
Two niggles so far.

I like the idea that it can be separated out and have the filofax on its own when needed and if there are other models that do not look so ugly when separated I would be interested.
When the ipad is in, the whole thing is big and heavy but I guessed that would be the case anyway.  I don't always want to carry the ipad everywhere but to be honest because of the back cover issue and lack of pen loop I am not happy about using the filofax on its own when I don't need the ipad.
The ipad sits in it very nicely and feels very secure and it is nice to have it alongside a paper diary.  So I may have to change the usage of it to being desk based permanently and think of another carry round filofax that is A5.

After next week I hope to update how I have finally set up my new friend and will be able to post some pictures (I hope).

I like the A5 size, to me it means I can now join together my study diary and personal diary and not have to carry to personal sized filofaxes around, means I haven't got to write things out twice either.  I like the space you get with an A5, plenty of diary room and the note pages are a great size.  I have even been able to slot in a Livescribe pad into the set up and use that for study.  I am concerned that there isn't as much available refill wise for the A5 filofaxes, but being A5 it is easier to print things out and keep them unlike the personal.  The A5 is great for multi tasking and to be honest it isn't much heavier than my personal when the ipad is at home.

I just need to look at the other A5 filofax styles to see if there is something that suits.  I love my personal Holborn (wine colour zipped) and Holborn (personal black slim) so maybe another Holborn but in A5.

Over these past few weeks I have realised how essential it is to be organised, I don't just mean with study and personal life but with work too as it is so full on.  I still like the flex system for work and I love the A5 size for that.  It is slim to carry about and it is so versatile.

I will be ebaying some of my filofaxes soon, Cuban zipped personal size and a personal size Malden are to go I will post when they are up.

I am back in the gym again tonight, spin class and I am hoping now work has calmed a bit I can get back in even more.

Flexing my organisational skills

It’s been a manic few weeks hence the silence on blog.

The new job although absolutely amazing is also full on and very tiring and as a result I had been left with little time to do much else.

The school is what I had hoped it would be, fully supportive to the students and staff alike and if I had a child I would want them to go there as the system is so great, everyone gets a chance and no labels! I felt very strongly in the past about a child being labelled throughout their school life, sometimes a student cannot help themselves and will always be off track but others make one mistake and they are labelled for the next 5 or so years.

My penultimate Open University course is now over and I am on the final module with a big sigh of relief as its back to literature now. I have finished reading Harry Potter today and ready to write my first TMA for EA300 and I hope now I have made this good start I can keep it up for the whole course.  I have looked at what to study in the future, fingers crossed this time next year I will have  degree in English Language and Literature but I want to progress on and make sure I don't become stale.  I will want to study for another degree that holds professional interest as well as private like Psychology

I went back to the gym for the first time in a few weeks too, it was hard work and I am so aware (if I wasn’t before) on how I have let things slip so much there. I was slightly annoyed with my gym, nobody’s fault really as such but it has led me to stop my personal training sessions. I liked training with Mike and my stopping my sessions is no reflection on him but a reflection on the expenses heaped on by my gym. The gym without PT sessions is expensive enough and the price increased greatly this year for nothing extra, in fact some things had been taken away from my membership. When I got a text to say that Mikes fees were going to increase I knew I couldn’t go on any more paying these sums of money out. On reflection I did like having a personal training but I can achieve the same results by classes and focus myself. I just need to make sure I factor my gym sessions in with study and work and everything else.

I feel that I have not had a great balance for the last month and I have also allowed other negative things to creep in, but now that stops. These last few weeks I have had numerous headaches and migraines, some so crippling all I can do is crawl to bed. This was a wakeup call to my mental and physical health and has put me back on the right path. I hope that I now become mentally strong and able to hold down my lovely job whilst continuing my studying and physically strong to cope with the day to day trauma my job can bring whilst getting back to the gym.

With everything that’s been going on I have had to review my organisation. I used to use an A5 Domino filofax for work, I have found this to be slightly impractical on a day to day basis in my new role but I have found a saviour, an A5 filofax flex. Who would have thought it?? I was anti flex when it first came out, but looking around for organisation ideas I revisited the flex system and wondered if this could be the answer. Found one in a sale a pink one (although they call it magenta) and I have not looked back since, used daily I make notes with regards to the students or lessons I am in, I slot the lesson plans for the day inside the note book and the calendar is there for the daily briefing. Then once a week if I want to, I move what I need to my Domino. The jot pad is my to do list as well as other things I need to focus on, e.g. book recommendations from the students or ideas for merit giving. It’s slim enough to pop into my resource folder (as I don’t carry my handbag around anymore) but easy to get to when I need it.

I had a major organisational issue with my personal diaries/work diaries/study diaries that cause many an issue for me that took ages to resolve. It was down to an electronic organisation; thank goodness I had my personal Holborn to fall back on. Basically in a nut shell I started to use Google calendar for study as that’s what the OU used for a study diary and decided to use that for the work diary when desk based with the flex as a carry round. Trying to link my Blackberry to the Google diary meant I lost everything everywhere, I was in bits and it took hours to get back. It meant that I realised that no matter what the humble filofax can never be replaced. However, I wanted to embrace new technology, after all I love my Blackberry and Ipad, how to amalgamate them all I wondered? Luckily for me the filofax website had the answer, I saw the Pennybridge A5 it’s the best of all worlds. I collect the parcel from the post office tomorrow so I can’t blog about the set up yet but I have high hopes. At this point I would like to thank Parcelforce for the limited ways of getting my parcel from Filofax. Parcelforce tried to deliver during the week, I wasn’t in (at work) so they took it away instead of trying a neighbour like my postman or yodel do. Parcelforce don’t redeliver if they have taken the parcel at a local post office and the local post office isn’t work hour friendly. It has been rather frustrating getting my parcel and for me to get it tomorrow means I have to leave work early just so I can get there before the post office closes. Annoying and not my fault but I have to take the time out to get something I have paid a lot for. Maybe Parcelforce need to review their delivery options or Filofax UK need to try other methods of delivery.

Back to the Pennybridge, I will have the option of just having the filofax or having the filofax with the Ipad and my phone is always with me anyway, so the best of everything. I cannot wait to set it up properly tomorrow evening. I will be moving from personal size to A5 and I am not sure who that pans out and I love my Holborn and I am very sad that won’t be in action. However, upon reflection the Pennybridge although used day to day could be left at home a fair bit so the Holborn will still be used on the days when I don’t need the Pennybridge. Maybe Filofax need to make a Holborn version that also takes the Ipad, if they every do I will be first in the queue!! I am keen to know of anyone else who has successfully switched from a personal size Filofax to A5 and if it was worth the extra weight and size.

Clear out time, everything must go!

I have more fitness gadgets than Dixons or my local gym, however I am now having a clear out as I have been very happy with the Garmin and fitbit.
So over the next few days I will be setting up some eBay sales and hoping that my Polar items will be going to a good home as they have served me well.
Up for sale will be a Polar FA20; Polar FT80; Polar CS100 and a speedo watch that measures laps in the pool.

I will also be going through and clearing out my Filofax collection, certain inserts and binders will also be added as the weeks go on as I am happy with the Holborn zipped daily and slimline weekend right now as well as the Apex for the gym, Domino for study and Domino a5 for work.

Its time to clear out what is not needed and start the new school year with a clear desk!

I have made some changes to this blog, it is thanks to Steve Morton who writes on Philofaxy a great blog about organisation that is worth a read http://philofaxy.blogspot.co.uk/ who pointed out there was a problem with viewing.  I decided that a new page style was in order and have tweaked.  I hope it has ironed out any problems.

Thank you for reading.