The new iPad...

It was eventually going to happen... my heart would rule my head and my purse-strings and I was going to weaken.

So I decided not to fight it, and just go with the flow, and join the millions who are all sitting cosily together on the rather crowded apple iPad bandwagon.

Yes, yesterday I picked up my new iPad. I had to go and collect it from the courier as I missed the delivery while I was at work on Friday, and I was not alone. When I arrived at 8:20am, just 20 minutes after the depot opened, there was already a queue. Thankfully it wasn't too too long to wait, and thankfully they found it easily and I was on my way.

Some were not so lucky... being told their delivery could not be located and they would be contacted when the item was found. Most likely on Monday. Yikes. I would not have been happy about that.

And, as if I needed confirmation that I was not alone in my eagerness to purchase the latest apple 'it' thing... apparently the couriers delivered over 4,500 devices on the release day.

WOW! Four thousand five hundred - just in Melbourne. Incredible!

Facebook. Love it or hate it, it sure is funny sometimes...

This was posted by a friend this week on facebook... you may well have seen it already, but I just HAD to share it here. Totally hillarious!

Oh, and to the moron who accused the "Words for Friends" FB page of being Big Brother because they asked a question about how often you play the game... I think you're a little late with your concerns. I think you joined the Big Brother network the day you signed up for FB.

Don't want Big Brother watching you? You might want to stay off the internet all together. Aye aye aye.

Come fly with me, come fly, come fly away...

Feel free to join me on my journey.

Just as a warning though, I think any spare space in my suitcase is already taken!

As an alternative, you can come fly with me on my journey just by sitting down at your computer! I have just bought a little 10 inch netbook, and whilst I am struggling with working a pc and not a mac, it is a little beauty! And I know I bitch and moan about technology when it all goes wrong (when my eyes glaze and I whine until someone comes to my technological rescue), but this is very very cool.

It means I will be in touch throughout the trip (as long as I have internet access of course). It uploads photos direct from my camera memory card, I can log onto the internet wherever there is WiFi and I can make video calls via Skype! I even have a twitter account!*

And of course I WILL be blogging.

So drop by when you can and I'll try to keep you well traveled, all from the comfort of your own home.

* My username is onelittleacorn, though I have yet to use it and I have absolutely no idea how, so I make no promises on this one at all!

Back in 'my day' it wasn't this complicated... was it?

I traveled extensively in my 20s. India (briefly) and Africa at the innocent age of 21, followed by countries across 3 continents. I look back and wonder at my bravery. I had a few close calls... and a lot of luck along the way. I certainly never considered myself brave, and truth be told, it was probably more naivete that got me through (and may well have been my salvation)!



And whilst things were not always easier, all in all, they were more simple times.

In those days there were none of the complications of todays techno travel...

I said my farewells at the departures gate, not knowing when I would next speak to my family. 

I had a passport pre-stamped to allow my entry into foreign countries. 

I used a backpack and carried it like a turtle carries it's home - on my back. 

I carried a money belt packed with my airline tickets, travelers cheques, some local currency...

and a swiss army knife!!!

I had a list of post offices where I would collect post... a service referred to as poste restante.

I had a camera and a spare battery.

16 rolls of film in a lead lined bag to protect it from the xray machines.

A dog-eared Lonely Planet filled with circled cheap deals and places to stay.

Adventure waited around every corner.

There was no internet.

No email.

No mobile phones.

No quick way to call for help if the going got tough, or book a hotel from the train before arriving in unfamiliar territory.

Luggage did not come with built in wheels.

As I said, they were simpler times.

This time around, it feels like an exercise in technological warfare.
Passport with electronic chip inserted.

Electronic visa.

Home printed tickets with barcode for electronic check-in.

Mobile phone.

Charger.

Camera.

Charger.

Memory cards.

Netbook.

Charger.

Cords.

Cables.

Converters.

Adaptors.

Credit cards.

Pin numbers.

Cash passport with US currency.

Pin numbers.

ATM card/s.

More pin numbers.

Surely our simple, more advanced life, is actually more complicated than ever? My luggage is going to be chock a block full of cables and electronic goods. And I haven't even started packing yet. And I am definitely suffering from a major case of pin number fatigue.

Mosaic Magic...

1. Frangipani 2, 2. Wall Painting, 3. Lily, 4. Pencils, 5. CuriousCow, 6. Beach, 7. JewelleryBox, 8. More Note Books, 9. View

Thanks to the lovely from Melanie from Kimono Reincarnate and from Leni & Rose who helped me with the technological challenge of adding links to my mosaics. It worked! What wonderful people you all are with your comments and assistance. Thank you!

Melanie has also been so good as to add instructions to her blog so you too can see how it's done. Go check it out.

Thanks everyone - have a lovely day!

Which dot are you?

In September last year I added a link to Clustermaps on my blog. This little addition tracks how many visitors I get to my blog and it also indicates with a red dot where they are in the world. It's a great tool, and whilst I don't have the high numbers of visitors as some, I am still amazed at the regular readers I have and the blogger friends I have made from all the corners of the world.

Many of you drop by to say hi on a regular basis - Brandy from Canada, Just Run from Colorado, Smiler also from Canada, Alyndabear in London... to mention just a few. And that doesn't include any readers from all over Australia.

Since September I have had nearly 6000 visitors! Many are you (who are fellow bloggers) are on my faves list (which is due for an update sometime soon!)

But for all the people who leave comments, there are many mysteries... who is it in New Zealand, and who visits from South Africa. There are lots of readers from the UK, the USA, and Canada, Europe, China, Japan, India and other parts of Asia. I have a number of regulars from South America and even someone in Iceland! Wow! Is that you? Are you in Poland? Venezuela? Peru? Denmark? Iran? Korea? Do you come from Iceland or Alaska? The UK?

Where are you? Who are you? Do you drop by, but don't leave a comment because you don't know what to say? Well now's your chance. Come say hi! Indulge me. Leave a comment and wave you arms wildly. I know you're out there. And if you like, leave a link to your blog, I'll come and say gidday... or bonjour, or hallo, or ciao, or 여보세요, or こんにちは.

And not a moment too soon...

Last night I had some time where I gathered my thoughts and refocused on a few things I knew HAD to be done. The sort of things I hate to do, avoid like the plague and then, once complete, I wonder at why I have taken so so long to do it. It wasn't as bad as I had expected and the weight released from my shoulders was a relief that far outweighed the effort.

I did a mini tidy up. I collected my paid bills and filed them away. I read and then threw out all the junk mail and uninteresting mail I had collected to "read when I had the time". I answered a few emails, archived what I wanted to keep and deleted the rest. I tidied my desk. Removed the obstacle course that surrounded my mouse pad and made some space for myself again.

I work better in space and without mess. I find it a more calming environment. It causes me far less agitation.

***Nothing groundbreaking and hardly worthy of a post on a blog... (but it's early and inspiration is a little thin on the ground).

All the while I copied files from my old faithful laptop to my new iMac. I transfered all of my personal files and a collection of select music from itunes, I deleted what I could and did a shut down. And not a moment too soon... It was at this point that my little laptop, my trusty (if rather slow) assistant for the last few years, spat the dummy about my new companion and refused to do as I asked.

It didn't shut down. It wouldn't reboot. It put it's head in the sand and refused to respond to my direction. And then it rolled over and lifted it's feet to the skies and died. It's time had come.

Regardless of the fact I have a new computer (that I am very happy with by the way) I feel a little sad at my little i-book's passing. But here's the thing. What do I do with it? It IS possible there is still life, that this is merely a technological tantrum. I do hate to discard it, but then I also don't need it. I had planned to sell it, but in it's current state there hardly seems any point. If it were a horse I would put it to pasture and not send it to the knackery. It would only be fair! But it is a computer afterall.

Any advice?

Technology la la land

It seems to me, in all our definitions, there are 2 different types of people in the world. Those that care (and understand) about technology, and those that do not.

I most definitely fit into the second category. I once took on a role in the tech dept of my company, and it was the worst thing I ever did. I'll never make THAT mistake again (and I suspect, neither will my boss!) Don't get me wrong. I LOVE technology. In so many ways it makes my life more interesting and creative. The internet alone opens up my world. HOWEVER. What makes me sit very happily in the care-free zone is my inability to understand pretty much everything of a technical nature. I suspect I could if I made the effort, but in truth, I am just not interested.

I just want to turn things on and have them work! No explanation as to why or how it is working - I JUST DON'T care. Tell me it works and how to make it do what I want it to do, and I am happy. No flowery descriptions, no "or you can do this..." LISTEN Carefully - I DO NOT CARE.

If one day you take it upon yourself to give me your enlightened view as to how and why technology is so great and your latest discovery, be warned. I may look interested. I may even nod in all the right places, my eyes may be looking at you (or the said revelation) but in my head I am singing. Probably some song from the eighties - "Wake me up before you go go", "Don't worry be happy", "Tainted Love". It is keeping me entertained. I am nodding to the beat. Leave me to my tunes.