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#4/52 Weeks: Grandma’s LiMoge

Lorrie — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:11:54 +0000

So, I missed last weeks entry for the 52 Week Project because Orla wasn’t well, and I simply didn’t have time, hadn’t gone anywhere or done anything other than look after her and simply didn’t feel up to it. However, I was playing with my HTC one afternoon seeing what it could do, and took a shot of my Grandma’s Limoge ornaments and and used one of the Android filters to create a vintage effect. I am always amazed

As for the Limoge. I am very fond of it. Gladys collected it over two or three trips to France many years ago. I think on the last she made to the continent I was went too, I was 13. In fact, there were two of the miniature vessels with the handle, but sadly she knocked one over in the Nursing home one night and broke it. Gladys always wanted me to have her ornaments as she knew I was fond of them, and indeed…I am very glad to have them.

Correct me if I’m wrong…

Lorrie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:36:39 +0000

But should not an ‘ebook’ cost considerably less than the printed version? Really? No? Well, I ask this because around Christmas I toyed with getting a Kindle. However, Luke pointed out that it was an unnecessary expensive when I could have the Kindle app on my iPad. So, I bowed to pressure (always pays to take the line of least resistance where my husband is concerned) and I did indeed install the Kindle app on my iPad. I was very excited to discover that many of my favourite classics are free. I downloaded many. I also decided to buy some of the ones available in the Kindle sale. I was rapidly getting carried away with it all, when my excitement and enthusiasm was brought to an abrupt halt!

Now, I love history, really love history and have many, many history books. So many in fact, that I am now prohibited from buying any more due to lack of space. I am not interested in historical ‘novels’, though these are cheap as chips. I read factual history books based upon a solid body of research and evidence. I decided therefore to go and check out some of my favourite historians to see what their bestselling works were going for. My first port of call was Barry Cunliffe, well known historian whose specialist field is the Celts. Imagine my consternation when I discover that his best selling work ‘The Celts’ published in 1997 is £10.99, and the paperback version (wait for it), £10.99. Another of his, ‘The Ancient Celts’, also published in 1997, Kindle version£11.63, paperback edition £12.92.

I did some research and discovered pretty much the same situation for most of the history books that interested me. I am at a loss to understand how the publishers can justify this pricing policy when there are no printing costs or other related overheads? I appreciate that there is the royalty payment to the writer…but still!!! How is this mark-up justified?

So, my Kindle experience thus far? Disappointing.

ETA: Having said that, reading the books I have downloaded thus far is an enjoyable experience.

#2/52 Weeks: Lay-ins and Toys

Lorrie — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:03:17 +0000

I had a lay-in yesterday morning. One doesn’t often get lay-ins when one has children. But, this Saturday having managed to shoo the child and husband away I had the bed to myself. In this situation, I make sure I am surrounded by my ‘toys’, usually consisting of my laptop, ipad, phone, diary, sketchbook and books to read/look at, and I stay there for as long as I possibly can, which means until I am nagged to rise, or my back starts to ache. I don’t get to read as much as I used to, and reading at bed time sends me to sleep, so it’s a real treat to be able to read undisturbed and not on the point of physical collapse! Anyway, to illustrate here is my entry for week 2 of my 52 Weeks Project.

All I got for Christmas…

Lorrie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:59:06 +0000

Were some FABULOUS things. Too many to list all, especially from my lovely hubby who tells me every year that ‘he didn’t get me much’ and then outdoes himself. Bless him he bought me some great dvds; ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ collectors edition complete with ‘Death Eater’ mask, ‘Hello Dello’ and ‘Night at the Museum I & II’. Here are a selection of the fantastic books he gave me, all about photography and as reference/inspiration for my art. He has also bought me a macro lens and a wide angle lens for my camera. Bless his heart. Can’t wait to get out and about with my camera in the new year…

Books for Christmas

And below were all carefully chosen by my lovely little girl, Orla. The green book in the middle is a lovely embroidered journal with indian Khaddi paper in, and the little pink square item on the right with a littlebutton in the middle is a tape measure, there is also a large slice of ‘cake soap’ and the bag behind is illustrated with Kokeshi dolls. The bag was bought by Luke, but everything else was chosen by her with some help and encouragement. She loved handing me my pressies and the ones she got her Daddy, and this is the first Christmas she has actively participated, and it was lovely to watcher her excitment, not only opening her own pressies, but in watching us open ours too. Hope all my friends had a wonderful Christmas. xxx

Pressies from Orla