Category Archives: General

A change of outlook

A Pipe and a Keyboard Posted on by

I always felt I had a small problem with the theme for this site.

old_theme

It was a lovely theme, but I always had a feeling that because it was so good, it somehow got in the way of the content.  Was the site here because I liked the look of it, or because I had something to say?

I have decided to switch to a new theme.  I’m not saying that this theme is any worse than the last one, but I feel it concentrates more on the content, rather than just shouting “look at me, amn’t I beautiful”.

I have a few tweaks to do to it yet.  I have already darkened the text, and I want to increase the font size a little.  I had an interesting time setting Windows Live Writer to reflect the new theme as it is a complex one.  It is essentially two themes – the base theme is Desk Mess Mirrored, but there is a child theme installed on top of that – Desk Mess Multi, which provides one or two extra knobs.  I had to revert to the base theme before I could get WLW to reflect the theme, and then set the site back to the child again.

So far, I like it, but then it has only been up for a couple of hours.  Time will tell.

Any thoughts?

Hi tech holidays

A Pipe and a Keyboard Posted on by

Driving through Sarlat in France the other day, it occurred to me just how much technology has changed holidays.

First and foremost, satellite navigation has changed things dramatically.  Part of my preparation for holidays used to be the frantic gathering of maps and then plotting out routes.  Of course if I was going to some new area, this would mean ordering maps for the destination area too.  I would spend hours plotting out the best route to take, frantically jotting down notes to keep by me as I drove.

All that is done away with now.  The first time I took out the maps was the day before we left.  I took no notes and although I brought all my maps with me, I haven’t used them.  I have no need, as if I want to go to a particular spot, I just program the SatNav, and off I go.  Of course there are side benefits too.  If I am running low on petrol, all I need do is ask the SatNav and it will happily list all the nearest petrol stations and how to get to them.  That has been a life saver on more than one occasion and, what’s more, that is something even the best maps can’t do.

The mobile phone has also changed things.  Up to a decade or so ago, if I went on holiday, I was incommunicado for the duration.  No one could contact me, and if I wanted to contact anyone, it meant finding a phone box and making a trunk call.  Now I can instantly text anyone from anywhere.  Apart from that, it makes exploring a town a little easier.  The two of us can separate and go our different ways, and then meet up again after a quick phone call.

The Internet has had a big impact this holiday.  The place where we are staying has high speed wireless access and this has been a tremendous boon.  I have used Google Earth to find the best car parks in a strange town and even found the best areas within that town to visit.  I have used it to find out the opening times of the various shops around.  I have used it as a gazetteer to find out a little more about the places we intend visiting.  Naturally I can use it to keep track of the bank accounts and how the spending is going.  I can even use it to top up my mobile phone.

There is one thing that technology has not replaced though.

I still send postcards!

Decisions

A Pipe and a Keyboard Posted on by

I sometimes wonder why I started writing this blog.

I never seem to have that much to say, as the life of a retiree is not exactly full of parties and hectic socialising.  In fact, life is quite quiet, and that is the way we like it.

I started it originally as a counterpoint to Head Rambles, as a way of clearing my name and trying to prove my sanity to those who have read the other site.

However, since I started it, posting has been very sporadic.  The big question is – is it worth it?  Is it worth any time and effort, or should I just let it die the peaceful death?

Decisions.

Decisions.