Anyone for conkers?

Not if the tree at the end of our street is anything to to by...

Do children still play conkers? For anyone not familiar this is how it works. You collect the best specimen of a conker you can find (the fruit of the horse chestnut tree). You take it home and get a responsible adult to bore a hole through it, and then thread it on a  piece of string. You possibly undertake some strengthening activities; in our house soaking in vinegar and lightly baking. Then you challenge a fellow competitor. One player holds their conker still as the other lines up to whack it as hard as possible. Points are awarded for damage and ultimately destruction. A 'niner' would be a conker that had annihilated nine others.

As children we used to form hunting parties going out with tubs and buckets to collect conkers. Now the tree at the end of the street has its bounty left on the pavement to be squashed or eaten by squirrels.

Bye Bye iGoogle

Google, continuing the trend from Reader of shutting down loved institutions is saying goodbye to iGoogle.

However, there is a new kid in town. Log into any Google service and you will be introduced to the new home of Apps.

That tiny box of 4x4 square hides quick access to a selection of Google products (non-customisable).

If you use Chrome it gets better though. You can attach a little button to your task bar - the same 4x4 button (now in Google/Chrome colours).

This time it is customisable.. you can choose your contents.

You also get the same choices on a new tab inside the chrome browser. Assuming that, as this is attached to your Google profile, this somehow crosses into an Android phone (I'll let you know next month when I get one) this could be a step change in the way we interact with Google.

Sunday Social (70)

 

Linking up with Ashley and Neely

 So, back to our (long forgotten) youth this week!

1. What were you like in middle school and high school?

As far as I can tell middle school is roughly equivalent to being a junior at Secondary school (the first three years) and high school a senior (GCSEs and A-levels). What was I like? Shy, very quiet. I spent most of my free time in breaks at the Animal House where we bred mice and rats and kept a heap of other pets (rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, birds and even a terrapin). I had a few very close friends but they're friends for life as we still are friends 20 years after leaving school! I was an average student, could do better was the refrain of my report cards. I loved music and belong to the choir, I loved reading and ended up as a library prefect.

Above first day as a senior (left) and last day of school (right) - happily have no photos of me as a junior.

2. What were your favourite pastimes?

I loved music (and still do, although my useless fingers mean I don't play much now). I played piano, guitar and violin (sometimes in the village orchestra!) and also sang in the church choir. I also spent time with my friends; I used to cycle to their houses when I couldn't get a lift from my folks!

 
3. What songs were you obsessed with?
I didn't actually listen to pop music much at all; my tastes were far more towards the works of Mozart and Beethoven or the soundtracks from stage musicals. I did have, for several years, a total obsession with Andrew Lloyd-Webber's "Phantom of the Opera"; to the extent I could pretty much recite the entire libretto... when I watched the anniversary concert on DVD I found I still could! I do remember that my French Exchange partner adored 'Hazard' by Richard Marx and (in the days before internet) we listened to it about 20 times to get the lyrics down!

  4. What fashion statement do you look back at and cringe?
Umm... all of them. I didn't know who I was at that age, and spent a lot of time trying to find out... and unfortunate amount of which seemed to involve dyeing my hair. Also half of that time was in the 80s... oh, dear - bright colours and no coordination! 

 
5. Who was your celeb crush?
Christian Slater (we're talking the 'Heathers' era here). I had his picture on my 'rough book' (school exercise book for note taking, customarily covered in magazine photos and sticky back plastic!).

Image from Filmbug.com

6. What was you favourite movie?
Without question "Dead Poets Society". I am fond of poetry and Robin Williams, and dramatic stories - so that ticked all the boxes. 

Robert Sean Leonard as Puck

    "If we shadows have offended,
    Think but this and all is mended,
    That you have but slumber'd here
    While these visions did appear.
    And this weak and idle theme,
    No more yielding but a dream,
    Gentles, do not reprehend:
    If you pardon, we will mend.
    And, as I am an honest Puck,
    If we have unearned luck
    Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
    We will make amends ere long;
    Else the Puck a liar call:
    So, good night unto you all.
    Give me your hands, if we be friends,
    And Robin shall restore amends." from A Midsummer's Nights Dream

Google UK

Google+ is getting local! This is the UK's own page. I suggested (I'm sure I'm not alone) the

London Eye, Forth Bridge, Angel of the North and Stonehenge. I tried very hard not to be too London-centric in my views!

Sunday Social (68)

 

Linking up with Ashley and Neely

1. What is your favourite handbag you've ever owned?

I'm a handbag junkie; so that is a very hard question for me to answer!! As my long suffering husband will attest I am on the eternal search for the perfect handbag. Right now (due to my walking difficulties) it has to have a long strap... a zip pocket and easy access to the main bag which needs to have some pockets (preferably one zipped). I have one that fits the bill at the moment but it is synthetic not leather and means that it won't last forever.

 
2. What is your dream handbag you lust over?

I would love to have a Radley. They are classic and quality; but way beyond my budget!

 
3. What are the daily essentials in your purse or work bag?

Wallet, phone, iPad, keys. Everything else I have at work if I need it!

 
4. What's in your purse (with pictures)?

I famously carry way too much around with me... although people are always glad of some of the extra bits when it is something they need!

Phone - don't move without it!

Mobile 'tangle-teaser' hairbrush

Longchamps purse - cherished gift from
someone who know me very well (it's pink!)

Power equipment for iPhone. Soon to be replaced.

Pens and styluses

Decaf green tea bags for Husband

Fan in case it gets too warm

Sunglasses (just in case)

Shopping bag (again, just in case)

Manicure set. Currently redundant with my ruined nails.

Headphones. iPhone5 only because they hurt my tiny
ears less than most.

Contacts. Recent addition after a lens disaster the other week.

Tissues - always

Personal toilet paper for nights out where the facilities lack

iPod as other devices too full for music!

Another cherished gift (from same friend as the wallet)
Bus pass and Taxicard

Mints and energy sweets

Pretty tin for feminine hygiene products

Personal business cards (no longer have work ones)

Gloves for hand protection on crutches, etc.

Rain hat - walking aids make umbrellas impossible

iPad - of course

Parking badge

Medicines, tablets, unguents and the like

 No wonder my bag is so heavy! This is the 'lite' version; I used to use a laptop sized case... imagine what I could fit in that!!!

 

iOS7

iOS6

iOS7

iOS7 has landed. You can visit Apple's page to find out what's new... not anything that other phones weren't already offering you I suspect...

I wasn't going to bother as when my contract is up in 2 months I'm jumping ship to Samsung and their Android system. Then, this morning, one of my Scottish colleagues rang me with the "You're and Apple girl, will (something or other I'd written instructions for) still work with iOS7. So I added another 800MB to over over the ASDL cap download woes and updated.

Does't it look pretty? Spot the non-Apple apps (Twitter here) who haven't updated their logos to match the new style. 

It is easier to use (once you get the hang of everything being different) and zoomy and accessible... and so very Android (but not as customisable) and not original.

I'm busy at work, so I've only had a moment to look at it - but so far I've fallen out with the Control Centre, the Notifications Centre, the Camera (Instagram anyone) and the Photos. Wait until it hits the iPad which has many more Apple products!

Mindfullness

When I was visiting my Mum last year I noticed a book on her bookshelf. I asked if I could borrow it, as some friends who work in the field of psychology had mentioned in passing that I might find this a useful technique.

I then forgot about it. Until one of the hospital visits when I bumped into a PhD student doing a study on the use of Mindfulness to treat aspects of life for people with MS. I gave my details, we did a telephone interview, and the lady conducting the study said that I didn't qualify as I was too 'mentally well balanced' (I asked if I could have that on a certificate!).

Then I remembered the book and read it. Quite a few of the concepts I had coincidentally been trying to incorporate into my life; so this just helped to give me some focus.

I'm but an egg in this field; but as far as I can tell it is about being 'in the now' and letting life go by without judgement on self and others. You can read the book or go and study the Wikipedia article for some more coherent, expert writing.

I am working on trying to use the techniques to improve my world. Having MS and its attendant irritations can take your head to bad places. Changing you working world and job so that you aren't doing the job that you trained years to do and spent 15 years doing and doing the new job in three days which leaves four days of nothing can take your head to bad places too. Getting married this summer took my head to good places, I like that and want to keep it.

Aspirations on the bedroom door

Observation on the back of the door

My world (at home)

My world (at work)

On my pin board; it came with the leather strip

I wear this most days to keep reminding me

One of my favourite things is the idea that when something is stressing you out, or vexing you... you take a look at a globe. You consider the size of the world, the global view... and then reconsider your problem. It really works!

I'm learning meditation. Mindfullness doesn't require you to clear your mind - just to be still and think. There are even apps for the iPhone that can help you with this. Or you can go the traditional route with some Tibetan beads.

I particularly like Headspace

Or go old-school with the beads