Pam Alison Knits

Time has passed and my desk has gradually evolved from the initial set-up last summer. There was a brief spell of glam and glitz over Christmas but now it is readying itself for some serious work. Despite the changing landscape, the desk continues to be one of my favourite places. I am happy to report that I’ve had no regrets whatsoever at replacing my beloved old school desk. This feels like home, whether I’m typing on my MacBook or hand-writing with pens, ink and paper.

One significant change has been finding the perfect lighting. I had tried various lamps from around my flat, but none of them were exactly right. Mostly, it has to be said, too tall or too wide. A trip to the Futon Company to find storage for bedding and handbags unexpectedly netted me the perfect lamp. It fitted the purple theme I’d already adopted; it was shorter than other lamps I’d looked at; it would easily adjust to provide some light for my settee if I wanted it at any point. Perfect. Sold. As with anything that’s right, it fitted in immediately and feels like it has always been there. Funnily enough, I’d looked at these whilst browsing online and would never have purchased – sometimes you just have to see something in the flesh to be sold on it.

Just this week, another key player has arrived in the shape of a fantastic wooden desk set made specially for me by one of my very talented workmates. Well, ex-workmates now I suppose. I love a good bit of wood so he was onto a winner straight off. The tall and short pots are perfectly configured to hold a few pieces that I like close at hand. They are recessed into the wooden plinth for stability – a clever design feature – and the whole set is made from unwanted furniture so it’s giving new life to something unloved. When I brought the set home and put it on the desk, it looked just lovely. What a lucky lady I am.

At the same time as replacing the lamp, I discovered a Semikolon box in Jarrolds’ winter sale. I like the fit of this one slightly more than the original box I’d put there which was taller and a little narrower. I feel this one is better suited to the proportions of the space it inhabits. Plus, lilac – do I have to say more?

As well as the decorative items, there have been a few changes around the practical accessories on my desk. I’ve tried three different diary inserts in my personal Filofax since the end of 2025, but my fountain pen inks are being sniffy about all of them. In desperation I’ve resurrected the William Hannah to be my everyday planner. It’s not as portable as the personal Filofax, and I still prefer rings over discs, but the paper quality is undeniable. Now that I finally have some free time, I’m going to see if I can find some variety of printable insert that pleases me so that I can go back to the Filofaxes.

My morning journal notebooks have stayed the same and they have also changed. Silvine lined exercise books remain my go-to. Cheap, cheerful, and paper that copes admirably with inks. Can’t fault them. Now, though, I am using some date stickers I found at Flying Tiger together with day stickers I’ve collected from various places. The date stickers are printed on a thin, washi-style paper so they don’t bulk the notebook out too much. I’m now two months into this way of dating my entries and I can happily say I haven’t got many stickers on straight. It doesn’t matter, I think it’s charming, and I won’t hear anything to the contrary.

I’m looking forward to spending a lot more time at my lovely desk this spring. It all kicks off today as I am taking part in a month-long writing challenge throughout March. I’ve also set myself the task of getting to grips once more with blogging, both here and on the writing blog which I’m keen to refresh and re-launch. It’s full steam ahead now.