Typecast

It's that time of year when I start mulling over which diary format is going to work best for me next year.  For the majority of this year I have used an  A6 size Hobonichi Techo with an yearly spread, a monthly section and a 'page on one day' for the main diary part.  And I started out with all good intentions but most of the diary has gone unused for obvious reasons. I have found out that I like space to plan ahead (birthdays, appointments, events) but I have noticed that I'm jotting down more reminders on post-it notes - not because my aged brain is forgetting things but more research notes for my weekly radio show.  First, a couple of recommendations.  These are old favourites that have been tried and tested and I hop in and out of from time to time.   1.  A Travellers Notebook system .  These are brilliant! It is generally a soft leather cover with elastic inside designed to hold multiple notebooks.  You choose which notebooks go i...

Finding gifts for family and friends this year is proving difficult due to the limited opportunities for browsing in shopping centres, so I'm turning to finding unusual and useful gifts online instead.  One of the nicest gifts I've found is a "hug in a box" that brings positivity to people's lives from PositiveParcel , especially as a survey has found that 40% of adults in the UK are concerned about their mental wellbeing ,  The parcel is full of handpicked treats to put a smile on your face, to encourage self-care and to spread positivity as we cope with the current lockdown and restrictions and very little sunny weather in these winter months. My box included a luxury candle, some Belgian chocolate, organic tea, some post-it notes, an adult colouring sheet, and a "Happy News" newspaper. This would be a perfect gift for a loved one, a friend or a neighbour - or anyone who needs their day brightening up.  PositiveParcel is donating a percentage of the p...