The Alwych: the garden writer's notebook of choice?

My sister always has a laugh at my expense at my obsesssion with notebooks, which dates back to childhood. But now - ha! - notebooks are deeply cool, and fellow notebook obsessives blog about the best pads and pens they've tried.

I am never short of notebooks for different purposes, but a notebook for taking along on garden visits has been a bit of a dilemma over the years. I've rather fallen out of love with Moleskine after my address book fell apart after light use - no good for something that needs to be toted around in all weathers, and probably dropped in the mud. And I have a lovely purple leather Aspinall notebook for my desk, but it is too chunky for the pocket, and looks rather like a teenager's confessional secret diary when carried under the arm.

So my heart leapt when I read an old Christopher Lloyd column that recommended the Alwych notebook (A38/90 feint) with its all-weather cover. Perhaps I am way behind the curve and all the cool gardening journalists already use these, but I'd never heard of this brand before.

Anyone else got a suggestion before I splash the cash on an Alwych?

Comments

[emma t]

I am deeply grateful for this tip off, I'd never heard of them.
My new year's resolution is to keep better notes on EVERYTHING. I feel like all the facts have fallen out of my head because of all the trivial fact-internet-surfing i do, and I have possibly vain hopes that a notebook might remedy this

[Woody Wilbury]

I'd never heard of them either. I confess I'm a Moleskine man myself, altho not for the allotment. I've a Moleskine Notebook for genral notebookery and Moleskine Diary (soft-cover, diary & notes) for, well, life really.

But for the allotment I prefer soemthing more sturdy. I've just filled (2002 to 2008) an A6 hardcover and have an A6 Pukka Pad lined up to replace it. I fear it won't be as sturdy but I have a soft spot for Pukka Pads.

Is this a nerdy post or what?

[Notebook Stories]

Have you heard of the Rite in the Rain notebooks? I haven't actually used one but I'm sure they'd do very well in muddy conditions!
Thanks for the link...

[jp]

Merry green Christmas
in your garden
Jane

[Scott]

I use Rite in the Rain and love them, though do recommend either buying on of the waterproof pens they offer or use pencil. Regular ink will still run and smudge as it washes off the page. I like the feel of a 0.7mm pencil scrawling across the pages so use generic Bic #2 mechanical pencils. I have never had a problem with it becoming illegible and use my notebooks while taking notes wild-harvesting edible plants in some less than ideal conditions.

For collecting articles, printouts, calendar pages and notes, I like the Circa system from Levenger. It is a binding system that uses specially shaped rings to hold the paper yet you can easily add, remove, and move pages around.

[Matron]

Did you see Laura's notebook in the Christmas episode of Lark Rise to Candleford last night? Perhaps you could embroider one!!

[Jane Perrone]

Matron, I have so many craft projects unfinished I don't think I can take on another one, though I like the idea! No, I think I am going to buy an Alwych with some of the money I got for Christmas from my folks. That and some plants, probably!