Happy New Year

Unsurprisingly, we seem to have survived 2012 despite predictions to the contrary... I have also had a reasonable month of online earnings at almost £170, the best of the year so far. I was hoping to have another cassette job that would have taken me well past £200, but it didn't happen in the end.. There's just a few months left until the end of the financial year, but I am not expecting to reach the levels of the last few years.
Last year, for instance, by this time, I had a profit of £1100 on a turnover of £1300, this year in contrast I have only a profit of £600 on a turnover of just under £900.
I tend to split income into three main categories:
1. blogs
2. passive (including contextual adverts)
3. Cassette conversions
Each of these categories are showing a significant reduction in turnover, so there is not one specific area which is suffering. It's a little disappointing, but as it is just income that I am earning in my spare time, I guess I am having more spare time to myself... although I am spending a lot more time and effort on my 'day-job' this year, and have had significant bonuses to show for the effort.
I still have a few more projects (mostly Wordpress) that I want to explore, and have just come up with a new idea for a website - not sure whether there is any great way to monetise it, but the idea tackles a subject I am interested in, which is the key to seeing a project through in my opinion. I am going to use a WP theme for this which gives me three projects currently on the 'front burner' (plenty more on the back burner..). I am still working on getting Livewyre.NET onto a WP platform, it is looking really good, but I still have a lot to do. I have another site that I want to transfer onto a WP theme (tricky client though, it's for my wife!), and this new project that just occurred to me.
It's good to keep busy, and they always say that there is no rest for the wicked, in which case I must be particularly bad! If you are kind enough to read my posts, then Happy New Year - and to those that pay me for posts, Happy New Year to you too!

Lakland

Many years ago, I started to learn the bass guitar, and actually bought myself a cheap one to learn with. When I moved house, I loaned the bass to a friend with the idea that I might collect it at some point, but I never did.
From time to time I wonder whatever happened to that guitar, and when I see bass guitars on sale such as the lakland at Musician's Friend I hanker after buying myself another one and devoting myself to learning the instrument properly this time - A New Year's Resolution maybe?

All over bar the shouting

Well it's all over now, Christmas Day and Boxing Day have gone and life reverts to 'normal'. Thankfully the holidays passed without too much shouting, but nonetheless, it is all over.. We actually passed a pleasant few days away from home, Christmas Day was spent in the traditional family gathering, but we had Boxing Day to ourselves. I got a good deal on an 'executive room' in a hotel over the Christmas break, so I booked an extra night and my wife and daughter and I had the extra day to ourselves yesterday. We started with a swim in the hotel leisure complex, a walk in a local park, lunch in a diner, a film at the cinema and home in time to have dinner in the hotel. Remarkably few arguments, and money well spent on a small 'suite' comprising two rooms (each with an impressive flat screen TV) in the hotel - an experience which I will be only too ready to repeat in the future.

Capo

A capo is a true guitarist's friend, enabling the musician to transpose on the frets of his (or her) guitar. There are a great variety of capo available, but few outlets can boast the range of capo at Musician's Friend.

As well as different models to suit different types of guitar, the range of designs available is quite outstanding. Whether buying for yourself, or for a friend or relative, you will be sure to find a design that suits your guitar, your personal taste and your pocket.

Knee scooters

If you are planning a vacation or special event, but are inconvenienced by a below-the-knee injury, you can rent knee scooters at rentakneewalker.com. There is no need to be inconvenienced by a lower-leg plaster or foot injury, as these scooters can take the strain and allow you to partake in many activities that would not be suitable for someone using crutches or a wheelchair.
Regain your freedom and comfort by renting a scooter for short or long-term, for the truly long-term patients, purchasing a scooter maybe the best solution.

Merry Christmas

The parcels are wrapped and ready to be opened, the bags are packed ready for the Christmas trip to see family and friends, there is the sound of sleep from the little one's room and all is calm ready for the excitement of tomorrow. I have a glass of wine, a ready supply of mince pies and a huge box of chocolates. We have each opened one present early, and mine was the chocolates...
The next two days should be relaxing and revitalising, I really hope that's how it turns out! All that remains to say is Merry Christmas, or as we say in this part of the world 'Nadolig Llawen'.

Cigar deals

If you have been tasked to find a special gift for the boss, or for a special client then you might be glad to hear about cigar deals at cigarmonster. Buying cigars online gives you huge choice that would be difficult to find in the high street. Not only that, but you can make huge savings and you don't even have to step out of your home to do it. You don't get cigar shops on every corner, so why not treat yourself with the biggest selection at the lowest possible prices.

Web 2 print software

Helping you to set up your own online printing shop, eoncode.com web 2 print software is a great example of how you can present a really professional online 'face' to your clients even if you do not have the in-house expertise to generate your own software.
All types of industries can benefit from ready-built self-customising software that is tailor-made for your business model. There are hundreds of online solutions that can be accessed by one-man businesses and multi-nationals alike. In the online world, you can have the same online facilities as the biggest players enabling the small business to compete on a level playing field.

Relaxing at Christmas

I am not good at relaxing, I find it really hard to switch off even when it is holiday time. I have however recently realised that I do have a method of unwinding that works quite well for me.
I have always been keen on reading, and it does force me to sit down and relax with a coffee or glass of wine. My favourite writer is Charles Dickens, I have read pretty much every book he wrote, and I am now starting to read them again.

I recently picked up 'Nicholas Nickleby' and have been reading it at odd moments over the last week or so - I firmly intend to find more time over the Christmas break to read more, when I finish that particular book, I have a whole host of other Dickens books that I can re-read. When I originally read the Dickens books, I read them all one after the other, so consequently I find it difficult to recall what happened in each book.

The main purpose of re-reading is to see if I can better remember the books and the characters afterwards.
I also read most of Thomas Hardy's books, but am not as keen on him as a storyteller, as his stories are generally darker and depressing. My modern favourite is John Grisham, I enjoy all of his books and notice that there is a new one out in time for Christmas...

Vegan snack bars

As a society we are becoming more aware of what we are eating, and more aware of environmental issues. There is a growing awareness and a growing market for products that fit into a particular 'niche' that we haven't seen before. These include a variety of foods that are free of sugar, fat, gluten and dairy, but also include fun foods like vegan snack bars.

There are new markets growing around these products and food manufacturers would do well to invest in products that supply these niche markets. Some are driven by life-choices, others by medical conditions, but the consumers for these products are starting to demand more choice in the variety of goods that they are able to buy.

Holter System

Medical aids are more readily available in portable format now than ever before, and I'm talking sophisticated equipment, not pharmaceuticals... For instance, I recently discovered that you can actually get the next best thing to your own ECG unit, a holter system that can monitor your heart as you go about your daily routines. Having portable systems means that your doctor may be able to supply a unit so that you can be assessed without having to take time out to have a hospital appointment - it's a system that can work to take workload off the hospitals, and also to fit into the daily routine of the patient.

The End of the World..

As Christmas is looming, we are faced with the prospect that we have wasted our money on Christmas presents because the world will end tomorrow. However, it turns out that some New Age hippies thought that the end of the Mayan calendar meant the end of the world - the few thousand remaining Mayans themselves are not remotely concerned that this might be the case, but the Mexican tourist board is careful not to point out the obvious flaws in the belief as it is currently quite good for trade.

Thousands of misguided believers world-wide (especially in China) are preparing for the apocolypse that will never happen, many flocking to what they beleive will be a safe haven, some to France, others to Slovakia - hopefully they will have a nice holiday before rushing out to buy their Christmas presents when they suddenly realise Christmas is going to happen after all.

Scrubs online

Uniforms are an important part of the face of modern business, an integral part of the image presented by the company. The dull predictable uniforms of yesterday can now be consigned to the bin due to the vibrant choice of uniforms and scrubs online.You can kit your staff out with colorful and fun uniforms in a wide variety of styles and fabrics - no need to look like the crowd, make your employees stand out with individual workwear.

Balance cushion

Here's an idea for a gift for the fitness guru of the family, a balance cushion to help with balance and core fitness. This balance cushion is a manageable 14" in diameter, the sort of prop you can stash away somewhere and grab for a quick exercise stint in the day or evening. It has many different uses and would be a nice addition to the kit of the keen fitness fanatic. This is bound to help your friends keep up with their New Years Resolutions...

December Update

December is set to be a decent month with a couple of decent cassette to CD jobs and an above-average quantity of other on-line tasks. It just would have been easier if there wasn't so much other stuff to do in December too. My 'day-job' is still extremely busy, and Christmas time brings it's own commitments and obligations that seem to steal away any spare time you might have otherwise enjoyed.

On the whole, I don't think I am on target to match last years earnings for the full 12 months, but you never can tell what will come up. I still have a quantity of laptop parts that need selling, including one complete laptop that I have just refurbished - If I had done it earlier, it might have made a good Christmas present for someone, but I shall try selling it on eBay after Christmas.

The whole laptop refurbishment idea turned out to be not very profitable and quite time consuming, so selling the remaining parts should ensure that some small profit is forthcoming. I have quite enjoyed breathing new life into old laptops, and learnt a lot in the process - so have no regrets.

scalpel blades

Well you might think that scalpel blades are a strange thing to buy for someone who isn't a surgeon, but my Dad is one of those people who uses cutting implements like this all the time.
My Dad is a keen modeller and uses a lot of balsa wood which needs cutting into precise shapes, hence his need to keep replacing the worn blades with brand new ones.
Cake decorating or any other intricate work may also require the use of these sharp fine blades.

Car magnet printing online

Out of the ashes of recession and financial disaster, I have seen emerging a number of small home-businesses. In these days of internet-driven business, it is far easier to reach a wide local 'audience' online than it was previously through more traditional types of advertising.
That's not to say that physical advertising is defunct because backing up your web presence with something physical like a traditional business card helps to create just the right impression. If you want to go a step further, using a car magnet printing online service to make professional-ographics for your car is a great idea. Easily removeable magntic advertising can effectively double up the family car as a business vehicle.

Spare a Thought...

As we build up to Christmas, the parties and card-sending has started, the festivities are starting to get under way. It's a time of year when we remember old friends, have a kind word, a card, or even a gift for neighbours that we barely bother with during the year. This time of year encourages us to look inwards into our circle of family, friends and neighbours, yet it is those who are outside the circle or perhaps need our help more. At this time especially, set yourself the task of making someones day, or week - drop a banknote in a beggars cap, do something nice for a lonely neighbour who you don't know - take food out with you purposely to give to homeless people you may well meet in a bustling city centre think with shoppers getting expensive gifts for their nearest and dearest. I am going to try and look outside the circle this year - a pounds spent on a fmaily present may have little real impact = the same care an attention spent on a stranger may make all the difference to them.

Felt Cowboy Hats

Now, here's a fetching look for your 'difficult-to-buy-for' friend or relative at Christmas time. An Indiana Jones style fedora is one of a range of Felt Cowboy Hats available to buy on-line this winter. This stylish item is a winner on several counts. It's a real head-turner with it's obvious link to the film world, and yet it is a practical defense aganinst the colder weather.
Headgear like this is timeless and oozes class - I can't think of any head I kow that would not be enhanced by such an item...

Comfortable church seating

With most churches more than likely planning to open their doors to the public over the Christmas break, it is not a bad time to be thinking about comfortable church seating. We have moved on somewhat from the hard pews of the past, and many worship areas are more like up-market lecture theatres with plush upholstery and modern lighting and decor. In fact the technology now installed in churches such as the PA system and projection facilities would put a few lecture theatres to same. I know of churches that have in-ear radio foldback for each of the musicians involved in the service, to compliment the multi-media installation which is becoming the norm nowadays.

Getting into December...

We are now entering that crazy winter period when there are shows and activities, rehearsals and parties taking up all the spare days, and all at a time when the kids and adults are at their least healthy with sniffles, colds and far worse ailments flying around...
It's pure mayhem... I had this week off because I have so many other activities on this week, I have sat in on two carol concert rehearsals already, and then dashed home to look after my daughter who is off school with a high temperature and headaches (ironically I am involved in the rehearsals for her school concerts even though she is not well enough to attend herself..). I have also been to a works Christmas party this evening, so that's three events in two days, plus I am also trying to gear up to get some decorating done... In amongst all this, I have done some cassette to CD conversions and am trying to finish off the Christmas present shopping...I haven't yet caught any illness myself, but I swear that's because the bugs are not quick enough to catch up with me yet. Come Christmas Eve when I finally put my feet up - THAT'S when I'll start to feel ill - guaranteed!

How to make my computer faster

It is surprising how quickly we manage to clog up our PC's and laptops with stuff that seems to make them run slower and slower. We all want to know the secret of how to make my computer faster, and a quick search of the internet forums and advice sites will give you some good answers. The most effective (if a little dramtic) method is to re-install your operating system - but this is not a step for the faint-hearted or technologically challenged... One of the most often heard complaints is about how long it takes to operating system to initialise. Typically it starts really fast when the operating system has been freshly installed, but once you start adding software, many programs like to get themselves into the start-up menu and be running in the background even when we don't really need them. Searching for the programs that initialise at startup can be a bit of a headache, but a quick internet search should pop up some software that will be able to do the job for you.

Custom Valances

Finishing touches such as custom valances are what turns a room from being cold and soul-less into being the space that you have created for you and your family to enjoy.
I am about to embark on a bit of Yuletide decorating with my paintbrush in my hand. The transformation will take place in the hallway, the stairs and the landing. Having been recently plastered, the walls and ceiling will get their first coat of paint (I meant to buy white, but accidentally bought magnolia! ooops - back to the shop tomorrow morning methinks..).
The finishing touches in this space will not be curtains and valances, but will be reflected in the woodwork where nicely matched architraving will be the outstanding feature, along with some well-chosen prints and frames.

Blogging in the Dark

I have been blogging for several years now and have posted on just about every topic that interests me, both here and on several other blogs that I have used over that time. In the beginning (which was about 5 years ago for me) it was more of a social thing and I was linked up with quite a few like-minded individuals all interested in blogging and paid posting and getting traffic.
Nowadays I feel like I am mainly ploughing (plowing for our transatlantic cousins) a lonley furrow, (Blogging in the dark) having progressed to the point where I have found a niche and continue to mine away for nuggets in my own little income 'seam'.

The early days of experiment, social linking and the free exchange of ideas seems to have pretty much dried up. Each of those whom I was in touch with in those early days has pursued their own niches with varying degrees of 'success' depending on how you measure it...
I definitely do things differently now, I have got into a groove and continue to repeat the formula and collect the income. However, I am not closed to new ideas, and one of the enduring truths about making money online is that the goal-posts are always moving, so you need to keep moving to stay in touch.

I am certainly guilty of resting on my laurels simply because I lack to time to keep trying new ideas at the rate that I should. I have come to terms with that fact, and it would probably need a disaster such as losing my regular full-time job to force me into 'upping my game'. So as long as I don't actually NEED to make a living wage online, I guess I will continue to keep blogging in the dark...

Scott Kay

This is the time of year when you may well find yourself browsing the scott kay website either for that special Christmas gift, or because you are planning to get engaged at this special time of year. I remember that I proposed to my wife on New Years Eve/New Years Day, and I am sure many will follow suit this year either at New Year or on Christmas or Boxing Day. Of course, you have to have the ring before you pop the question, so a visit to a jewellers or an online store is an essential part of your planning. The rings offered by Scott Kay combine the natural beauty of precious metals with the skill and artistry of a master craftsman.

Inetsoft report designer

If you have a boss like mine, who constantly needs 'feeding' with stats and reports, you may well see the benefit of taking a look at some software like the Inetsoft report designer. Delivering a good report means that you can effectively communicate your results in a way that can be quickly understood. Visual diagrams, flow charts and graphs can get the message across far more effectively than a dry text report. Visual illustrations stimulate ideas far more quickly that written reports, and provide a focal point so that all parties can be clear about the central themes under discussion. Forecasting using diagrams and graphs is also a good way to dynamically demonstrate your arguments.