Hardware versus Software

Give me hardware any time. I have always been partial to hardware shops and all the interesting stuff and the aroma that goes with it. 

Now, software is another matter altogether. I am partial to the gloss and sparkle of a new piece of technology, but using it is a different matter. Hardware is so concrete and get-at-able. Screwdrivers and torches, buckets and brooms, wrenches and glue. You can pick them up, smell/hold/ponder/ask questions, and have a reasonable idea of what you can do with them; buy them; take them home - and USE them, or not. 

As soon as you lift the hardware-ish lid of a new laptop (?) then you're in software no-go land. There's definitely no-one inside who can tell you what you should be doing or how to begin doing it. Yes - there is that little help up in the right hand corner and then a long bulleted list, which only very occasionally solves my issues - usually very simple. 

Desperation has led me to either google my question or find an enthusiastic, fast-talking American on youtube (to provide an answer, in case you're wondering). It is reassuring to know that other people have the same issues. If or when that fails, I go back to one of my four reference works: 

(1) the 72 page downloaded guide (on kindle, phone and Mac - just in case)
(2) Mac Basics - Easy to follow - Step-by-step tasks - in full colour (yes - if a vital instruction isn't left out...grrrr) (on p.134 select the pics first or it doesn't work!)
(3) Teach Yourself Visually Macbook Air - The fast and Easy Way to Learn (ha!)
(4) MacBook Air Portable Genius - I don't need a genius.

I've had more picture chasing around and uploading trouble today and if you only get to see the hardware museum from the recent outing to Chagford, then I'll be happy for today. 

The hardware museum in one of the Chagford hardware stores

I know - some of us are living museums! 

On a final note, I didn't get the super huge vehicle stuck in the little roads of Chagford, otherwise the story would have headlined today. The organisers of Chagword, Dartmoor's Literary Festival, knew I was coming and I ended up having a large chunk of the primary school playground for parking. 

Water and technology

Loads of water and trouble with technology. So perplexed with managing photos in 

i photo that I went out and took some more...instead of rounding them up. Got wet and still working on it.

A Watery Scene

Hope tomorrow's an improvement, when the super huge vehicle takes to the tiny roads of Chagford for Chagword www.chagword.com

Popping out

That's the great thing about living in a village - you can pop out at any time of the day or night, without a thought for the bus pass or the forward planning required to park Sylvia (super huge silver vehicle). An extraordinary bonus, is that I can pop out and admire the beach whenever I feel like it. 

I recently popped out on a dark, freezing cold evening to attend a meeting in the village hall. It was early in the evening and all was quiet and very still and exceptionally cold. I couldn't resist taking some pictures on the way.  

 Popping down the hill with glimpses of the church lit by a full moon

 Nearly there

 Very quiet, still...

...and chillingly cold

Parking and Murder Mystery

There was no particular theme to yesterday. I ditched the bus pass in favour of our super huge, Land Cruiser. The size is relevant because of the narrow, high hedged road out of this village and the need to park it somewhere when you arrive at your destination. The narrow road is potentially problematic when/if you meet the big red double decker bus, particularly on the steep hilly bit. I'm a fabulous driver going forwards, sideways (?) and parking BUT I'm not brilliant at reversing, especially down steep hills, synchronising with a row of other dubiously reversing drivers - and usually one who refuses to cooperate. The same applies to reversing up the steep hill. 

For some reason, dark windows in vehicles seem to be in vogue and ours is no exception. This adds a sense of 'reversing in the dark' to daytime experiences. There is also potentially very helpful visual guidance in the form of a little camera out back, showing the not so interesting film on the sat nav screen - which most people have been using for years. I find it difficult to relate what looks like three inches on the screen, before you hit something, which is a whole different measurement in reality. The beeping sound adds to the trauma, especially when it begins to shout.

You'll be disappointed to know that I didn't meet the bus and all went smoothly, even down to parking in a tiny space in an Exeter car park. I say 'Exeter car park', because it's not Los Angeles or somewhere with realistic parking spaces for super huge vehicles. I managed to squeeze between two cars, one normal and one huge, with the bleeper getting more frantic with every movement. Having assessed the situation beforehand (which the vehicle doesn't seem to be able to do yet), I chose a spot where the other drivers' doors were accessible. I had to hold my breath to slither out of a small opening in the door to get out. 

I was quite pleased with myself but not so pleased that it felt appropriate to take a picture - darn! To lighten the mood, I headed for a bookshop - and the crime and thriller section. This is what happened next...

 Like a true fan, I got stuck in with my camera

And some more

This is similar to a picture I took yesterday

 These girls are debating the probability of murder - ha... I know what happens!

Will she push him?

Take care Philippa!

Dodging the showers

Yesterday was one of those days when us plucky Brits play the traditional game of dodging the showers. The showers are accompanied by very dark depressing skies, followed by dazzling yellow sunshine and enthusiastic bird song. The former require umbrellas and waterproofs. The latter demand the re-opening of windows and doors, accompanied by tuneless whistling and overwhelming feelings of wellbeing - until the next shower.

Went out in the afternoon to find out what the birds are singing about. I used the tried and tested method of stopping the showers by wearing waterproof gear from top to toe. 

This is what the birds must be so happy about. The sea doesn't actually tip to the left, but I haven't the patience to straighten it.

Can't believe this is only a two minute walk from home. Maybe that's how the birds feel?

A dash of woodland for good measure provided some variation in the birdsong. My bird list is somewhat unorthodox as I didn't see or hear everything on it, but I KNOW they are there. It includes a pair of Ravens on the cliff, Rooks, Jackdaws, 2 Black Redstarts, a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail, Fulmars on the cliff and a hoped for Tree Creeper. Not bad!

Note the red collapsing cliffs. A dark cloud swung into action here.

Popped into the local superstore, which is a stone's throw from the sea and couldn't resist sharing a flavour of the local entertainment which is on offer, rather that consumables. There's something about the words curry and ferret together, which make me feel more than queasy. As for the Whole Lotta Led...

Final glimpse before heading home - still whistling and dry

Pensioners and Piglets

Something life changing has happened to me since I appeared on these pages in 2011. I have a bus pass. Surprisingly, I am excited by the opportunities it provides - apart from free transport. Yes - FREE! Entertainment is also included when the bus encounters vehicles on the narrow road leading out of the village.

The downside is that I am no longer a girl, woman, writer, student, mother, ornithologist, university lecturer, wife, teacher, traveller, photographer (this is good fun!) - I'm a PENSIONER! I've written it in capitals because I'm shouting. I am not afraid and am embracing (so far) the new situation. Why I should be afraid will be mentioned on another day as it's a very long and ongoing topic. 

Yesterday was my third journey - I know, I've got a lot more miles to do before I get my regular bus travelling pensioner accolade. On the return journey, it occurred to me that if I had paid a large amount of money to be hauled around in a tour bus in, say South America or India, I wouldn't just be sitting and not paying attention to the outside (and inside). It's an interesting thought, but because I haven't paid, does it mean that I don't bother with anything other than getting there and back? 

Well, I DID bother and I took some pictures with my phone on the way back - through dirty windows and travelling too fast through the scenic bits. 

 This was my first tentative picture, taken swiftly through the bus window. Note the gull deterrent on top of the sign. This is also Philippa's arrival stand next weekend - yippee!

 The hop above was motivational

Note the RSPB sign on the back of the bus - more birdy stuff.

 Why are bus stations so gruesome?

 Pretty pastoral scene

 A glimpse of chocolate box country at Newton Poppleford

 Rolling hills and hedgerows

And finally, pigs and piglets! 

I'm Back...

Yes I am... 

It's been so long that 'posting' is in the distant past, which I'm having to get to grips with again. 
Where have I been? 
What have I been doing? 
Or, more to the point - what story do my pictures tell? 
Do I have pictures? Of course - everyone has pictures - gazillions of them. 

If there is a follower out there, you will be relieved to know that I don't intend to share too much from the missing period (2011-2015). I'll try and focus on the day of writing and only fall back on the archive if I necessary. We'll see.

As the focus here is meant to be on my everyday life - in pictures, I'd better get cracking. Not too difficult actually, as I've been reading this since dawn (my idea of dawn - with tea), unconsciously attracted to the 'disappearing' theme. I don't know whether there's any return, as I haven't got that far.