Memorandum Monday - A list of Firsts and Lasts

Sian over at High in the Sky asked “have you done anything new this week?” and I had to smile, because that is the very reason I have not posted here recently or visited blogs that I follow!

I have spent SO much time learning how to do new things that time disappeared and weeks have gone.  Is it February so soon?! 

But before I mention the new and the firsts, let me mention the old and the lasts:

Project 365

I just checked, I have taken a photo a day since 2010.  

Is it really that long?!  

Rather than feel bad about loosing momentum I think I should give myself a pat on the back instead, because that is something to celebrate and be proud of.  The only reason I am having a rest is because my photos are in such a mess.  Due to lack of time I stopped organising them into folders at the same time as downloading them from my camera.  This means I have hours and hours of work now to tidy up. It makes finding a photo hard when I want one in particular and it is something I need to prioritise.  And I will.  One day. 

Meantime I don't want to increase the strain by adding more photos.

Tree Following

Last January I decided to take monthly photos of 2 local trees. I enjoyed this but I have other things I want to do, so no more tree following this year. I will visit them though and enjoy the seasonal surprises and change.

Design Team Member

For the past 18 months I have been a member of the That Craft Place MDF design team and I decided it was time to step aside so that I can focus more on developing my own business and ideas. I enjoyed my time as a team member and it has been exciting watching Lisa grow from a small shop owner to TV presenter.

So - what about the new?

FIRSTS:

Number one has to be submitting accounts on line for the first time.  And of all the new things I learnt and have done recently this has to be the most taxing. No pun intended!

For weeks I fretted over figures, puzzled over questions I did not understand, and checked my entries again and again. And then because something didn’t figure I got a friend to check some more!  Five hours later we sat back, wiped our brows, and punched the air. Then we went down to her newly opened micro pub and celebrated with a glass of real ale.  This visit was another first for me.  Lack of time has prevented me going sooner.

Another new - I bought a Fitbit.  I hoped it would motivate me to move more and improve my sleep routine. It's like big brother watching what time I put my book down or pick up mobile up to check for messages when I should be sleeping!  Or rather, it would be if it worked. Sadly I have one of the faulty ones. 

So, another new:  an hour online learning how to reset it only to have it disconnect once I thought it was all sorted.  Urgh!!  

But a positive outcome was learning how to take screen shots to send the online technical support.  It seems I opened the website rather than the app which is why I couldn't find the button I was asked to press.  Okay - I KNOW I am not techno savvy!  But at least I now know how to take screen shot successfully and I've done that lots more since. I'm like a child with a new toy!

Talking of which, I also have a new computer.  My old one struggled through the second part of last year and 2015 will be remembered as being techno challenging. I installed Windows 10 on my laptop last year, however, there are lots of other changes when you transfer information from an old computer to a new. Thankfully I have clever son who is my life saver for anything technical and he spent hours tweaking and setting it up so it felt familiar again. Frustratingly my computer automatically upgraded yesterday and it has upset some of the settings. I sigh as I move on....

I mentioned earlier that my photos are downloaded to my computer. Often I choose some to print and then put them into small hand made books as a way of sharing and enjoying them. But I took over 4,000 photos when I went to the Shetland Islands last year, far too many to choose from and to print. So I decided to try something new. I would have my photos printed into a physical book using PhotoBox, and here it is! Fresh from the print!

I have a blog post planned but let me just say that learning how to create a book in this way was not easy for me!!  Oh no!

There have been other new experiences and learning, but I'll jump straight into my other main achievement:  MailChimp!

As some of you know, making hand made books is one of my passions and I love to share what I do.  I have been running workshops for the past year or so and I was keen to be more organised this year. And so I went on a days training course, learning how to use a new programme that would help me to send newsletters in a more efficient way.  Well, to start my laptop had a more up to date download of the programme than the tutor or other students in the class. That meant the lay out and functions were slightly different. Also, this was completely new to me - others had already used it for a time so had some familiarity with the design and how it works.  There's nothing like jumping into a deep end and not knowing how to swim! In fairness the workshop was advertised for beginners, but most of my learning took place when I got home. With my son close at hand!  It's not a programme he has used or seen before but he is able to transfer what he knows, and sometimes I could do this too.  Long story short - my son helped me with the initial set up then I spent several days learning how to create a newsletter and mailing list. Woohoo!!!!  My newsletter was launched this week and I am celebrating another achievement and first! 

If you would be interested in receiving a copy of my newsletter and finding out more about what I have planned please let me know!

Thanks to Sian for prompting this post. What have you done that is new or a first?!

5 in 5 - MELANIE - January 2016

Melanie is my friend who lives in Australia and she loves photography.  Every month, since the start, Melanie has taken

part in this monthly meme and we managed to find a way round

 her not having a blog by posting here.

I love that we have found a way for her to take part! 

So, over to you Melanie:

The first 5 in 5 for the year and I was taking my young grandson down to a local playground so thought how neat ‘Feet in Five on the fifth’ would be.  What I didn’t realise was how quickly those feet could move and how in five minutes he could pack in so many activities.  He is 21 months and saying quite a few words mostly proceeded by ‘See Look’  or ‘Look at that’.  We had not been to the playground since the beginning of December and he was delighted to be there again but what to do first?  The middle bottom photo is when we first arrived and he was running towards the play equipment. ‘See look steps’  and up he went on steps taking him to the slide far too quickly for a photo but the top LHS is as he reached the top and prepared to come down the slide.  Coming down the slide the camera clicked away but feet were very out of focus so next it was on to the rocker (a sort of horse on a spring).  He hardly rocked at all as he spotted a girl had just got off the swing and he was running over to the swing. Top RHS photo is on the swing.  

After a few to and froes he must have needed to relax and ran (he never walks these days but thankfully he runs at my walking pace) to a sort of short tunnel with holes in where he could lie with his feet up one side and his head up the other.  He once studied an older lad in this position and ever since it seems to be a favourite of his.  After the tunnel he latched on to two older girls who were playing a chasing game.  He wasn’t part of their game and they totally ignored him but he was running round after them for probably the next ten minutes.  Of course I was following as well but my camera had done its 5 mins work so keeping up with him was easy.

If this has inspired you to pick up your camera and take part in

 this challenge you have until 25th before this months link closes.

  It's great fun and you can see more posts and link up here.  

And if you want to know more 5in5 this post should answer any

questions and give other information that you need.

Hopefully Melanie will be back next month and I hope you will join us. Thank you for popping by, it is great to have your company!