A Timex watch in a digital age.
While browsing Amazon a couple of weeks ago I came across the Bezend pocket planner and as this is the time of year for new diary’s I decided to spend a few pennies and see what it was like, not having used a landscape diary since the days when Filofax dominated the world of diary’s. Continue reading “Bezend Landscape Pocket Diary”
A couple of weeks back I found myself in Warwick; which for anyone not familiar with that part of England is a delightful little town to spend an afternoon in. I recommend, if you can get a slot, parking at The Butts carpark at the back of St. Mary’s Church. Then walk through the church gardens and follow the pathway through the churchyard out on Church Street and follow the road to Old Square and finally on to Market Place.
Following this route I soon found myself outside the Relate thrift shop and decided to go in just to see if anyone had donated some unusual stationery or desktop novelty; instead I came across a pile of notebooks, eight in total.
But not what you would expect! The pile (which went home with me) included Midori, Endless, Blackwing; so not your average thrift shop stationery this was a collection of notebooks bought by someone who knew what they were buying.
As I wanted to review them all as a batch I decided to list the key points that I consider when buying a notebook and use that to give a pocket overview of each of the notebooks.
So, make yourself a comfortable this might take a while.
Appearance: Stone grey linen cover
Size: A6
Number of sheets/pages: 60/160 100gsm
Paper colour: White
Line spacing: N/A
Line, grid, dot, plain: Plain paper
Type of binding: Stitched
Lay flat: No
Bleed through: No
Ghosting: Yes
Other features: the GVFC website only offers this notebook in A4 & A5 and this has a dedication so it may have been a sample?
Recommended: Yes
Size: A6
Number of sheets/pages: 152/304 100gsm
Paper colour: Cream
Line spacing: N/A
Line, grid, dot, plain: Plain
Type of binding: Stitch
Lay flat: No
Bleed through: No
Ghosting: Yes but light
Other features: Double marker ribbon, Elastic closure and pencil loop, pocket sized pencil, rear pocket & world map.
Recommended: Yes
Appearance: Similar size to the average cell ‘phone.
Size: 3” x 6.25”
Number of sheets/pages 80/160 80gsm
Paper colour: White
Line spacing: 5mm
Line, dot, plain: Available in all three.
Type of binding: Wire
Lay flat: Yes
Bleed through: No
Ghosting: No
Other features: Elastic closure.
Recommended: Yes, ideal pocket notebook.
Appearance: Small pocket notebook.
Size: A7
Number of sheets/pages: 24/48 80gsm
Paper colour: White
Line spacing: 5mm
Line, grid, dot, plain: Grid
Type of binding: Staple
Lay flat: No
Bleed through: No
Ghosting: Very light, barely noticeable.
Other features:
Recommended: Yes
Appearance: Discreet black notebook suitable for use anywhere.
Size: 5.1” x 7.5”
Number of sheets/pages: 32/64 68gsm Tomoe River Paper
Paper colour: White
Line spacing: 7mm
Lined: Ruled also available in plain and dotted papers.
Type of binding: Stitch
Lay flat: Yes
Bleed through: No
Ghosting: No
Other features:
Recommended: Yes
Appearance
Size: A5
Number of sheets/pages: 100/200
Paper colour: White
Line spacing: N/A
Plain
Type of binding: Thread
Lay flat: Yes
Bleed through: No
Ghosting: Very light
Other features
Recommended: Yes
Appearance: Black cover with silver gilder edges and the word ‘Journal’ stamped into the cover.
Size: Slightly smaller than A5
Number of sheets/pages: c.100/200
Paper colour: Cream/White
Line spacing: 8mm
Line
Type of binding: Stitch
Lay flat: No
Bleed through: No
Ghosting: No
Other features: Decorative flyleaves
Recommended: Yes, but sadly no longer available since Paperchase closed down.
Appearance: Solid black notebook with black edging.
Size: A5
Number of sheets/pages: 128/256 120gsm
Paper colour: White
Line spacing: N/A
Grid: 3.5mm
Type of binding: Stitch
Lay flat: No
Bleed through: No
Ghosting: Yes
Other features: Elastic pen loop, page numbering & recycled leather cover.
Recommened: Yes
All ink tests were done using a Medium nib and Tom’s Studio Marmalade ink.
Disclaimer: All of the notebooks were purchased with my own funds at retail price. The opinions expressed in this review are my own; and I am not connected with either the retailers or manufacturers in any way.
The Indian Marmalade Company 
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