Suggestions for 2021

Messages
239
Location
Haywards Heath
Hi everyone, I would like to submit to you my little dilemma for 2021. I have been extremely satisfied with my Moleskine daily planner (1 day per page) as for the writing experience and the overall feel and look of the diary. However, I do frequently find myself taking notes at work. Some of them are just to keep track of what I'm doing, some others are to be rewritten (although you won't like it, but for this task I'm using my iPad as I've lost so many notebooks in the past while moving from one place to another that I'd rather keep everything safe in the cloud). Of course my daily planner is not meant to be a notepad. I am quite undecided as to what is being offered on the market. I don't like small and thin notebook as they won't last very long (mind you, my writing is far from being organised). At the same time, £20+ of notebook for such task may be a little over the expensive side. I was fascinated by Atoma but, unless you buy their refill, the hole punch to make t shape cuts costs a fortune.
Anyway, any suggestion will be considered and surely appreciated. ;)
 
Probably not what you want, but when my free office notepad supply dried up I bought a few of these https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/RH25273/rhodia-classic-stapled-notebook-a5-(148-x-210)-black with squared paper

Not luxurious, but do the job just fine and not too expensive. You don't say how much you jot down, but 96 pages would last me quite a while.
Thank you. You are right, i didn't specify how much I jot down. I would say about a page or 2 per day on average (sometimes more sometimes less). Hovewer, if the quality of these Rhodia is acceptable (i.e. the paper is not too rough) at that price point I won't mind getting 3/4 per year.
 
Thank you. You are right, i didn't specify how much I jot down. I would say about a page or 2 per day on average (sometimes more sometimes less). Hovewer, if the quality of these Rhodia is acceptable (i.e. the paper is not too rough) at that price point I won't mind getting 3/4 per year.
The paper is quite smooth. Hard to describe things that are relative, but if I run the pad of my finger over the sheets, there's a tiny amount or friction. I also bought a couple of these as I wasn't sure which I'd prefer and the Clairefontaine paper is even smoother, there's hardly any resistance, so if that's your main criteria then could be worth spending a little bit more. The cover on the Rhodia is plastic (I think) while the Clairefontaine is textured card, so the latter definitely feels more expensive.
 
These people are good to deal with - and carry a huge range - I use Rhodia and Midori notebooks mostly - the Japanese paper is superb - but not excessively expensive - I used a Traveler's notebook for years - as diary and notebook - it is essentially a leather cover - and you can load it with whatever inserts you need - the set up cost is fairly high - but they will last a lifetime - the leather ages beautifully. Cheers - I

 
These people are good to deal with - and carry a huge range - I use Rhodia and Midori notebooks mostly - the Japanese paper is superb - but not excessively expensive - I used a Traveler's notebook for years - as diary and notebook - it is essentially a leather cover - and you can load it with whatever inserts you need - the set up cost is fairly high - but they will last a lifetime - the leather ages beautifully. Cheers - I

Great link Iain, they have some lovely pads and paper ect, some quality stuff. P.
 
These people are good to deal with - and carry a huge range - I use Rhodia and Midori notebooks mostly - the Japanese paper is superb - but not excessively expensive - I used a Traveler's notebook for years - as diary and notebook - it is essentially a leather cover - and you can load it with whatever inserts you need - the set up cost is fairly high - but they will last a lifetime - the leather ages beautifully. Cheers - I

Iain,
I have taken your advice yet again and have purchased a brown Traveler's note book in leather to be used as a diary / note book to bolster my poor memory and as you say it will last a lifetime. Purchased from The Journal Shop, l also purchased some quality writing paper with envelopes because I want to get back into the lost art of letter writing, this will help my hand writing no end and bring pleasure to my elderly perents who I'm sure would love to receive a letter from me rather than a email or phone call.
The pen I will be using is the Pentel Stylo which I find to be a fine writing tool.
I am currently using a Rhodiarama note book and I find the paper a joy to write on.
Any further infomation that may help me would be greatfully received .

All the best,

Paul.
 
That's way beyond my paper budget, but looks very nice. I like having a nice pen, but not so fussy about what I use it on
I understand you balking at some of the prices of paper but for you to get the best out of a really nice pen it needs paper to match IMO , even a pen of not so high quality would benifit from good paper stock, but as in the shaving game YMMV ect....:) P.
 
I understand you balking at some of the prices of paper but for you to get the best out of a really nice pen it needs paper to match IMO , even a pen of not so high quality would benifit from good paper stock, but as in the shaving game YMMV ect....:) P.
You're right on the pen complementing the paper, maybe I should rephrase. I like a nice pen barrel as have one of these as a daily driver, which contains a pretty normal Parker style refill.
 
Any further infomation that may help me would be greatfully received
Nice one P. - I'm sure you will be delighted with it - they are such lovely objects - I don't know why - but the Japanese just do stationery better than anybody else. As I said I've had mine for years - the only reason I'm using a Moleskine diary currently - is that I forgot to buy 2020 diary inserts before they sold out - at any reasonable cost. Be aware of this - get them as soon as they become available from the Journal Shop. It is worth picking up the pack with replacement elastic - the bands do wear out and lose their stretch - also you can do various tricksy things with them to load more inserts into the cover - rather than the standard two. If you look on YouTube you'll find instructions. I find the pocket/zipped pocket insert invaluable - left side for stuffing receipts in and the secure one on the right will take a couple of British passports comfortably - should we ever get to travel again. I treated mine with neutral boot polish - to keep the leather supple - this will darken the cover - depends on how you want it to look - in its natural state it picks up all manner of scratches, nail marks and scuffs - which looks quite cool. You can use saddle soap on the cover too. I have sticky post-it notes stuck on the front of the notebook - extremely useful if you need to take a quick note - pass a phone number on or just as place markers within the inserts. Enjoy - I.
 
Nice one P. - I'm sure you will be delighted with it - they are such lovely objects - I don't know why - but the Japanese just do stationery better than anybody else. As I said I've had mine for years - the only reason I'm using a Moleskine diary currently - is that I forgot to buy 2020 diary inserts before they sold out - at any reasonable cost. Be aware of this - get them as soon as they become available from the Journal Shop. It is worth picking up the pack with replacement elastic - the bands do wear out and lose their stretch - also you can do various tricksy things with them to load more inserts into the cover - rather than the standard two. If you look on YouTube you'll find instructions. I find the pocket/zipped pocket insert invaluable - left side for stuffing receipts in and the secure one on the right will take a couple of British passports comfortably - should we ever get to travel again. I treated mine with neutral boot polish - to keep the leather supple - this will darken the cover - depends on how you want it to look - in its natural state it picks up all manner of scratches, nail marks and scuffs - which looks quite cool. You can use saddle soap on the cover too. I have sticky post-it notes stuck on the front of the notebook - extremely useful if you need to take a quick note - pass a phone number on or just as place markers within the inserts. Enjoy - I.
Cheers I, I shall check out YouTube and see what's what and be sure to buy a 2011 diary as soon as thet become available plus the pocket insert., oh the spare elastics too :) I may be in touch for further info as I get to know it if that's ok. P.
 
Cheers I, I shall check out YouTube and see what's what and be sure to buy a 2011 diary as soon as thet become available plus the pocket insert., oh the spare elastics too :) I may be in touch for further info as I get to know it if that's ok. P.
@Blademonkey, Paul you really do have a flux capacitor , I thought you were only joking. Or was this just a typo, hope not. Stay safe and i'll see you in the past or the future :cool:
 
Last edited:
A less glamorous option but British and inexpensive and with really beautiful paper are the Oxford Campus and Oxford exercise books. The 48pp exercise books are light to carry and cheap to buy. You can get 10 for £7 on Amazon. The paper is smooth for use with a fountain pen and I love the whiteness of it. I was converted after using Lechtturm 1917 and Clairfontaine. I think the paper is the nicest and the value for money is extraordinary. I love stationery and think for me this is the best. But as ever YMMV.
 
Rhodia & Clairefontaine paper both great for fountain pens. Tomoe River is probably the gold standard, and really shows off any sheening in the ink. As an everyday paper, the Oxford Black and Red (if it uses Optik paper) is excellent value and great for FP's.
 
Back
Top Bottom