Printer Labels

Printed media is common to all types of industry, in fact it is virtually impossible to think of an industry that doesn’t utilise and rely on labels. Where I work, we have recently begun to manufacture products, and labelling is a key part of the manufacturing process. Some packaging labels are easy enough to produce with standard Printing Labels, but for some of the instrumentation we produce, we will require additional thermal labels, bar-code labels and waterproof labels for essential labelling tasks. Online labels can make the ordering process far quicker; few people want to be bothered trawling through a heavy catalogue with a bewildering array of products, or spend time discussing their requirements with a sales representative, when a quick online search can get you what you need in next to no time. In manufacturing, you quickly realize that an unlabelled or incorrectly labelled product can lead to all sorts of problems, especially when the labels indicate the operating voltages or carry warnings for operators. Before we started manufacturing, we were distributors of products from various different suppliers, and our labeling needs were just as vital then. We have document shelves full of brochures for ranges of products from countless suppliers – only by labelling them correctly can we easily identify the brochures that we need. Our list of products and suppliers is ever-changing, so re-labelling is a frequent requirement. The ideal source for online labelling products is a one-stop shop that can meet all your requirements in a single order. When you're looking for your ideal supplier you will see products here that cover your complete range of needs from thermal labels to sheeted labels, and maybe even printer inks. The ideal stockist will also be able to support your equipment and software requirements to print the labels you need, in order to meet your labelling needs.

Latest

Having got my new 0% credit card deal sorted, I am determined to try and track down as much online income as possible. I have also designed a spreadsheet for tracking credit card transactions/statements that I think I will make publicly available via another blog. My idea is to use this to track my current credit card debt, maybe even post updates, and when I have debugged it all, offer it for a free download. I am using OpenOffice to design it so that it can be used without having to have MS Office installed on your computer..
Next steps are to update all the sites I need to update and develop some new ones, but the new ones will have to take a back seat. I am determined to be disciplined both about curbing spending and about developing income - this last year has been a bit of a low in terms of tracking spending and borrowing, so I am tendering my New Years Resolution now just in time for the new Financial Year.....

Dry Ice Blasting

Now, I am fully aware of the well established technique of 'sand-blasting' to clean stubborn surfaces, and the problems that come with it. I am also aware of the techniques involved in a dry ice maker for completely different purposes. I had not heard, until I Read more in an online article, about combining the two to create 'dry-ice blasting'. This relatively new procedure can be used to clean all type of surfaces, yet because the medium is tiny particles of ice, the only residue left after the blasting, is the removed layer which can easily be disposed of. This method is not only preferred to traditional sand-blasting or glass-blasting, but in many cases can be used to replace other cleaning methods that might use large amounts of solvents or other hazardous materials. The ice vaporises on contact leaving a dry surface behind, and can be used to remove layers of oils and greases, varnish and even bitumen along with many other types of unwanted surface contaminants. There is already a long list of industries that already benefit from using dry-ice blasting, from the aerospace industry through to the food and beverage industry and even the electronics industry. This method can be used with large components such as large vats and mixers used in food and drink production right through to cleaning small PCB components in the electronics industry. Accordingly, a comprehensive range of machines is available to match the varying demands of the vast range of industries serviced – from light duty ½ “ blasting hose models, ¾” Medium and Heavy duty models through to 1” Extreme Heavy Duty versions. The environmental benefits are obvious with the environmental impact being minimal – no hazardous run-off, no chemical hazards for the operators or passers-by. The cleaning medium itself leaves no residue as it vaporises on contact. You can Read more about dry-ice blasting via internet articles

Keeping it frugal...

I have allowed credit card debt to get out of control before and I find myself in the same position again - luckily I know how to solve the problem, sadly I lack discipline once the hard part is over and show a tendency to relapse...
The last time that this became an issue for me, I was tracking my credit card balances on a spreadsheet with graphs to give a visual indication of the debt reducing. It is significant when going over these spreadsheets to bring them back up to date, that when I stopped monitoring on a monthly basis is exactly when the debt started to rise. The conclusion is of course that the monitoring works as a tool to bring down debt - many people do not monitor their debt effectively which is why there is so much debt about.
I must resolve to continue the monitoring of debt even when I think I have it under control, one problem is that the monitoring is manual - I need to manually link the end of month figure into the spreadsheet, if there was an effective way to automate this procedure, I reckon this would help to resolve the problem of losing focus on the debt graph. In fact I reckon if I could work this out, I should probably make the resulting spreadsheet readily available to anyone who needs help in tracking their debt....
Basically, implementing frugal living starts with perception - if I perceive that I have sufficient funds, I will spend money - on the other hand if I am aware that my debt is growing, this should curb the tendency to spend. In economic terms, this is call 'propensity' and describes an individuals willingness to consume - propensity to buy is based on a state of mind, so this is where our quest for frugality begins.

Native instruments maschine guitar center

I have been thinking along the lines of setting up a small recording studio at home which is why I recently bought a mixer and some microphones. To be fair, I don't really know why I want to do this as I am no great musician although I do love music.

I came across native instruments maschine the other day,and am now wondering how much I could pick one of these up for and how I can integrate it into my existing equipment. The maschine is a mutli-functioning music composition and sampling tool but above all, it looks soooo cool

Boat covers

It's probably the time of year when you are starting to think about removing the boat covers and getting the outboard ready to take her for a spin.

The humble cover protects your pride and joy through the inclement months, keeping her in pristine condition. A boat cover is a great investment, and this season when you carefully remove the old cover, maybe give some consideration to replacing it, if it is getting a little tired or frayed around the edges.

Replacing your cover, keeps your boat in better condition for longer, increasing the enjoyment you get from it, and also it's re-sale value.

New Credit Card

I have been pretty bad at sticking to the 'frugal living' plan lately having bought myself a few toys and treated the family a few times without worrying about the cost. This has resulted in a growing credit card debt rather than a diminishing one. I need to get back on the wagon again, and found that there are still loads of 0% credit card for transfers available. Of course the credit card won't pay off my debt, but at least I won't be paying huge amounts of interest. I am hoping to be a bit more diligent regarding expenditure, and am really hoping that my income will rise a little in the coming months. Online stuff has not been very fruitful lately, but then I have not been maximising because I have so little spare time (spent 24 of the last 48 hours in work..). The previous 0% deal that I had has now expired, I had brought the principle down considerably on this card because I don't spend on it - however the card I DO spend on has taken a hammering, so I have had to transfer a stack of debt from that one onto the new 0% deal. I am a repeat offender and I know it....

The Equestrian Corner

There is a local council-run riding stables quite near to where we live and I have always thought it might be nice to see if my little one would like to try it out. It would be a hobby that is a little different to the norm, and being a stables run by the local authorities, I imagine it wouldn't be too expensive. Of course, getting all the gear CAN get expensive, so I have been running my eye over the The Equestrian Corner online store so I know how much I might be letting myself in for. I think we are about to draw a line under swimming lessons next term, so maybe that would be a good time to see if there is a slot in the riding school...

Yamaha HS50M

It's about a year or so since I bought myself some studio monitors to use primarily as speakers for my PC, but also with the idea that I might get some more serious usage out of them. I haven't lost interest in studio monitors and just love these affordable yamaha hs50m monitors as they would have been ideal for me.

The primary features that would have appealed to me are the fact that they have balanced inputs - a mark of professional kit, they are 70W which is the same as the ones that I have - just the right amount of power - not puny, not ridiculously overpowered... The added feature that I don't have on my monitors is that these have room control and frequency response switches - which are not a deal-breaker for me, but nonetheless a nice feature to have included at this very reasonable price-point. Oh, and let's not forget, they are Yamaha so would not look out of place wherever you take them...

Update March 2013

As the end of the financial year approaches, I have yet to update my earnings for the last few months, but I am aware that they will be lower than the last couple of years. There has been a noticeable drop in paid blogging opportunities, but to be fair, I haven't had the time to pursue some of the avenues that I would normally use, and some opps have lapsed before I have been aware of them. This is mostly due to the increased pressure of day-time work and is no bad thing as I have been paid to reflect those demands on my time.
I am pretty much decided to let go of one of my blogs, and am prepared to cut back on posting to others - I expect to maintain munny4hunny as the 'flagship' of my blogs and the regular earner. I am also aiming to do some WordPress work when the opportunity presents itself.
On the frugal living front, I have let the credit card run away with me and really need to start looking at ways of curbing spending - I have asked for a raise at work, so hopefully there will be an improvement in disposable income which will allow me to pay off some debt. I am currently looking for another 0% interest credit card, as my last one has just run out and is starting to charge interest again.
I am also considering buying the company car that I use, this will save me a load of tax, but will also incur a lot of running costs. We really like the car as a family vehicle, so this would be the only way we could afford to buy a car like this realistically.
Also have a few 'toys' to put onto eBay including one of my refurbished laptops - this has been hanging around for ages, just need to get motivated, and I am hoping that I will be able to get it done this weekend.

patio umbrellas

Judging by the recent weather locally, it's going to be a few weeks before I am ready to take advantage of free shipping on patio umbrellas. I seem to be buying new patio umbrellas at fairly regular intervals, so I really want to look for a quality umbrella that will last for more than one Summer this year if possible.
Once, we even bought one of those hanging shades, but it was useless and kept falling over in the slightest breeze. This year, we are thinking about a fixed 'sail shade' as an alternative, but I prefer the flexibility of an umbrella that I can move around the patio and even the rest of the garden.

Computer Issues

Had a very frustrating weekend with my sister-in-laws computer... fitted the new motherboard and couldn't get it to start up - messed around with the board re-setting jumpers where I thought they needed to be... no joy - took the board out of the computer again and rigged it up (in case the board was 'shorting' in the case).. no joy - reset the jumpers to where they were when the board arrived.... finally started up!
Phew, should be all plain sailing now... set the BIOS to load from the CDROM, started the system ready to load Windows.... starts to load, then just hangs doing nothing - tried this about a dozen times on Saturday - nothing doing...
Looked around in the loft for my box of PC spares (really should throw some of this stuff out) had an idea that the CD drive might be the problem (have seen this once before) - pulled one of about 6 spare CD drives out of the box - fitted it onto the motherboard - hey presto - starts to load Windows without stalling!!
I really thought that this was going to be straightforward having had quite a lot of experience with loading operating systems onto laptops when I was going through my laptop refurbishment stage (money making idea that doesn't actually make much money!). Think again... PC installations can cost you hours of time even if you are relatively experienced...
Anyway, I thought I'd share my experiences in case it helps anybody - the upshot is that now I have brought the box of PC spares out of the loft, I will work my way through them and see what bits can be discarded. I even brought down an old CRT screen, plugged it in and it worked fine for 3 minutes after which it faded into oblivion never to return, so that's going straight down the tip next week!

stage lights

Years ago, I used to be involved in stage lighting with an amateur dramatics company, they had their own theater which was quite well equipped with lights and a lighting desk. It was only recently whilst browsing stage lights at music123, that I realized how much LED's have had an impact on stage lighting. I remember how flimsy (and expensive) 'old school' lamps were, and can see how the introduction of LED technology not only gives a more reliable light source which doesn't 'blow' every five minutes, but also provides a much more cost effective system. Not only that, but the number of LED's of different colours that you can cram into a light makes a flexible system ideal for DMX digital control - with no need for lighting gels.

seat cushions

A few years ago, we had a window seat made for one of our bay-windows, and we decided to make the seat cushions ourselves. It's no too difficult if you're OK at cutting foam to a plan, but even if you're hopeless at it, you can just order seat cushion specials online to match your project. We covered the seats with the same fabric as we have on the dining chairs as we had some spare. It worked out pretty well, and we made throw cushions in a contrasting material. I say 'we', but to be fair, I didn't have a lot of input myself... apart from attaching the seat cushions to the seats.

Saturday

A busy day ahead - today I am fixing my sister-in-laws computer. The motherboard has died and I bought a replacement on eBay - annoyingly it was advertised as 'new-other' - turns out it's more 'other' than 'new' as it has clearly been well and truly used. On the upside it came with a spare processor and memory, and considering the price of the total package (30EUR), it's a pretty excellent bargain. I reckon I may be able to sell the processor and a spare stick of memory) adds time to the process because I will need to show that they are working...
After the usual frustrating prodding and poking of the replacement motherboard, I managed to get the thing running - seems like the operating system won't load from the original hard-drive, so I am wiping the drive and will install XP pro (was originally Vista) - I expect more frustrations along the way, as these jobs are rarely straightforward, but with the experience of repairing plenty of laptops, I am relatively relaxed about it. If all else fails, I will just split the computer up into it's component parts and flog it on eBay....but hopefully it won't come to that - I still find it very satisfying to complete a fresh operating system install.

The hard-drive wipe (done with 'BCWIPE' free software) has two hours remaining of the 12 that it takes to do a 'standard' wipe of all free space (already formatted the drive). I am doing this by attaching the drive via USB to another computer.

I also have to take my daughter to an all-day choir event, and then squeeze in a game of football and a visit to the library....

IM creator

Just came across IM creator the other day, this is a new 'create your own website' service, but with more of an artistic edge than some of the conventional business services that you may have seen. The templates and example sites in the portfolio have a definite bias towards the artistic world whether they promote music, art or even architecture. Of course, you don't have to be an artist to appreciate their style, but if you are looking for a website builder with some artistic flair, you can try out their templates and get a feel for how your new website might look.

March Update

It's March already, and whilst off-line life has been as busy as ever, on-line seems to have slowed down quite a bit this year. I haven't even worked out 'earnings' for the last few months, but I'm pretty sure I have spent far more than I have earned...
I am expecting a payout for contextual ads this month, and some of the regular stuff has continued, but it has been a while since I did a tape conversion. Bearing that in mind, it is probably time that I concentrated my efforts on WordPress as this could be a potential earner for me if I can set up easy-to-edit websites for a few local businesses. I need to get my Livewyre.NET brought over to WP, and then maybe create a few more examples to form a portfolio - I have an idea for updating an old site - which could involve building a 'sister' site. Of course, once I have created one, the sister site will be relatively easy to set up using the same or similar WP theme.
All these things take time and I am deep into another DIY project at the moment as well as being tremendously busy with the 9-5. There's still nothing quite so satisfying as making a bite of extra cash on the side doing on-line stuff, so I'm not ready to give it up yet...

L clamp

The l clamp is just about the most useful tool in the 'advanced' home maintenance tool-box. You can wait forever for someone around the house to give you a helping hand, or you can reach for the handy-mans friend - the clamp that do the holding for you.
I have several of these in a variety of sizes and made from a variety of materials, and they turn out to be useful for almost every job going. Whether I am looking for something to secure a paint pot whilst I am decorating, hold some wood for gluing, or even keep the rest of the toolbox in one piece... this handy clamp is the master of many tasks.

Happy Valentines

I managed to forget my wallet yesterday, so had no flowers to greet my wife with this morning... However, I was still presented with a very large bar of chocolate despite my error. I will of course be purchasing an extra large bunch of flowers on my way home this evening....

To be fair, we don't really buy into 'Valentines' as it seems to be just another of those dates made up by manufacturers of greetings cards. It may be fun as a youngster, but when you have been married a few years, just to select one day of the year to demonstrate your affection for your spouse seems a bit pointless, unless of course you are in the sort of relationship where demonstration of affection once a year is actually an improvement on the norm...

Essential oils perfume

Now the 'busyness' of Christmas and the New Year has died away, I am once again on the lookout for presents for the next few months. In April I have several birthdays and other events that will demand gifts of some sort. I have been looking at some essential oils perfume as a perfect inexpensive gift that would most likely be welcomed by any of the female persuasion...

It is not always easy to find lady-gifts that will be readily welcomed, yet are not too expensive (!), so I am really hoping that these will hit the spot....

Snow in the UK

Winter has come a little later this year with snow bringing the usual chaos and mayhem. The UK is famous for not being able to cope with snow and I have two observations to offer that might be used as mitigation for this failure to come to terms with extreme weather.
The first is that for us, snow is fairly extreme and relatively rare - up until the last two years, I can't remember how long it has been since we had proper snow that has been good enough to build a snowman that would last more than a day... Hence, to invest in tonnes of hardware such as snowploughs and heavy-duty gritters is hard to justify in our relatively mild climate. Before we bemoan the local councils inability to cope with snow, we should ask ourselves how much more we would like to pay in taxes for this hardware to be purchased.
Secondly, in the last few decades we have become a country that loves to take action in the courts. I spoke to a teacher friend this week, he works at a school where the school caretaker used to grit and clear the snow from the premises in order to keep the school open. I say 'used to' because one year he did so and a pupil slipped and fell on some ice on a step. The parents of the child took the school to court over the 'inadequately' cleared snow, and as a consequence, the caretaker has been instructed NOT to clear away snow, and the school remains closed for 'health and safety reasons' when the snow falls.

The knock-on effect is that the local council/education authority ends up paying (from our taxes), and consequently instructs all schools to adopt the same strategy - tax-payers lose out in that they either have to foot the bill for compensation or accept a lower standard of service (more school closures). Either way, it is this willingness to sue that ensures many places stay closed when in all honesty there is no good reason why they shouldn't stay open. The parents of pupils affected by closed schools must then come up with a strategy which usually involves them having to take time off to look after the kids for at least a day until suitable arrangements can be made with family or friends - this in turn affects all types of industries that that parents are engaged in (unless they are teachers who are also off work of course...).
In the 'good old days' when we use to have 'accidents' and didn't have to sue the council because we fell over on the pavement, schools remained open - the only time I can recall my school closing was when there was no fuel for the boilers and the school heating system could not be operated.

In conclusion then, I don't suppose things will improve in the sense that firstly there is not the money to invest in snow-clearing equipment, and secondly, 'ambulance chasing' is a growing industry. I have however sensed another reason why snow closes us down, and that is simple acceptance that 'it is snowing and therefore I need not work'. It is one of those self-fulfilling philosophies in that if only a few people attempt to get to work, then there is little point going to work at all... This is the most concerning development, personally I will do whatever it takes to get into work when it snows, either by motoring through the drifts or by getting the waterproof trousers out and walking. I have noticed that there is a growing tendency to make plans to stay at home at the first sight of snow as if it were a foregone conclusion that it will not be possible to get to work - this is of course true for many who will have to look after school-age kids, but I notice this attitude equally affects those who don't have kids, and who frankly (it seems to me) can't be bothered. In fact there was a news report the other day and the interviewer was talking to adults who were 'skiving' off work and playing in the snow - some had even driven to snow-covered hillsides with their sledges having first rung into work to say that they were snowed in and wouldn't be able to drive into work.

At least this kind of weather is sufficiently rare for it not to be too big an issue, but with the current harsh economic climate, people should probably be trying to protect the businesses they work for, by keeping high ethical standards when it comes to attendance and work-rate.

Back in the saddle

After a reasonably relaxing Christmas and New Year, I am back into the swing of things and working long hours at my day job once more. More deadlines and a huge work-load are keeping me particulalry busy. To be fair, the last 12 months have been manic, I was hoping that it might have levelled out a bit by now...

It's always good to be busy, so I don't want to moan, and in fact I enjoy having a lot to do, but what is missing is a bit of balance.

I beleive all humankind needs balance in all areas of their lives including work-time and home-time. At home, it's nice to balance family-time with a time to do tasks and time to yourself. At work it is good to have a variety of tasks, and a little time to relax in between. Right now, I need to be able to get a bit of balance into both work and home life.

Karaoke

Whatever you may think about Karaoke (personally I pretend to look down on it, but in reality I think I really want to have a go!), there can be little doubt that the choice of karaoke system available nowadays is mind-boggling. There are an increasing range of systems at very affordable prices, with a surprisingly high level of sophistication.

At one time, you could only get full-blown professional systems and very poor imitation systems for home use. Now the gap between the professional and the home systems has narrowed considerably whilst systems across the board have become more affordable. Home systems of today (costing less than a cheap Hi-Fi of 10 years ago) have functionality that would have been reserved for expensive professional systems of only a few years ago. In fact, some home systems would put some karaoke pubs and clubs with older equipment to shame.

Whiteboard mounts

It's back to work time, and it's almost as if there was no Christmas break at all.
I am fully back into work mode and desperately trying to catch up with tasks that were beginning to go into 'overdue' status at the end of last year.
On the plus side, there are some great deals around in end-of-year clearance sales for office-related equipment like whiteboard mount deals and deals for printers etc. I have already bought some office storage for my home office in the January sales and some sundries such as printer paper.

English Language

15 reasons why English is hard to learn...

1. The bandage was wound around the wound
2. the farm was used to produce produce
3. the dump was so full they had to refuse any more refuse
4. we must polish the polish jug
5. he could lead if he would get the lead out
6. he decided to desert his dessert in the desert
7. there is no time like the present to present your present
8. I do not object to the object
9. the insurance proved to be invalid for this invalid
10. there was an almighty row about how to row the boat
11. we were too close to the door to close it
12. a buck does notice when does are present
13. the farmer taught his sow to sow seeds
14. the wind was too strong to wind the sail in
15. I shed a tear when I saw the tear in the curtain

This is just a small selection of the many anomalies in the English language, once again I marvel at the ability of others to speak my native tongue, and am embarrassed at my lack of competence in other languages.

Wireless POS system

The wireless pos system is fairly well-established as a vital piece of kit for restaurants and markets etc.
most electronic developments, the portable POS is available in many different forms, has been developed to run a wide variety of software, and has, along with mobile computing in general, become a lot more affordable even for smaller establishments.

You can buy specific systems  with pre-loaded software, or buy software that will run on your existing portable devices. For security reasons, a purpose-built POS system is probably a better option especially when using wireless networks.

Blu Ray Player

I love to browse the bargains in the January sales, but to be fair I really shouldn't be spending money at the moment.
Nevertheless for a long time I have been looking to get a flat screen TV  with surround sound and a blu ray player. I can't really justify the expense right now, but I think it would be a nice family gift that we can all get something from.
Although I love new technology, I am not a 'first adopter' as I prefer the prices to come down before buying the latest gadgets, Blu Ray players are certainly very affordable right now, and the disks are often only a little more expensive than DVD's

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.

Update

I am not looking anywhere near on target for getting all my content from 'Livewyre.NET' transferred to a Wordpress platform. The end of November deadline is looming, and I am no further forward than I was a month ago.
However another WP project I had using a 'co.cc' domain has collapsed because the domain has been withdrawn - it was a free domain, and it is no surprise that it has diasppeared to be honest. I had tried to revive it using a '.tk' domain, but whilst editing the domain settings, the whole WP database threw a wobbly and I can't log in at all now...!
It's not exactly a huge problem as it was an experiment that is not really vital - lesson learned though, first lesson on free domains, second one on making too many changes to a WP site in one go...
The 'End of November' deadline was a self-imposed one, so I can just put it back, life in general gets very busy around this time of year and I have another hefty batch of cassettes that I am turning into CD's for a client, so that comes first.... Work is still very very busy ('normal' 9-5 work that is), so all things considered, it is better that I look after 'real' work before progressing with the online stuff.
I still hope to find time to develop the WP site, but will have to set a new dealine...

Fender Pawn Shop

I have been interested in music and hung around with musicians for a long time, but it wasn't until I saw the fender pawn shop mustang from guitar center that I was even aware that Fender had a 'pawn shop' series. It's a brilliant concept summed up by the description 'Guitars that should have been, but never were' a range of guitars made up of a variety of Fender parts which were not originally meant to be put together. Some are even deliberately built to look like modified 'left-hand' guitars. I have to say,  I really love this concept, and admire Fender for their 'off the wall' thinking.

Shanghai Translation Services

The economic world grows smaller by the day, and at a time when China is becoming more of a major player. China has, up to now, had a fairly insular economy plenty of exports, but little in the way of imports - this is a trend that is destined to change, and has already done so in many sectors.
I am sure that many UK, US and other Western companies can see the value of translation services in Shanghai in order to make sure their products are properly promoted above their competitors.
Already, car companies such as BMW and Jaguar/Land-Rover are finding increased demand for their products, so much so that TATA, the Indian owners of Land-Rove/Jaguar are planning to build new factories in China solely to meet local demand for their luxury products.

Particularly since the Olympic Games were held in China four years ago, we have seen a new market opening up and becoming more accesible to Western products and commerce. Dealing with this emerging 'new' China will mean that is will be necesarry for a new understanding of language and culture to be absorbed by those wishing to enter trade agreements.

Companies that can build bridges between the two cultures in terms of translation and mediation services will become more prominent as relationships are forged over the coming years

Phishing emails

Unsurprisingly, the more online activity you get involved in, the more your email address gets abused by fake emails. Personally I can receive up to four or five a day - at work we get dozens every day. Some are relatively easy to spot, for instance the 'legacy' scam where you are told a previously unknown relative has left you money in a will - or the 'cash movement' scam where you are invited by the relative of a deposed dictator to help move millions of dollars with the promise of a cut... These are designed ultimately to get you to pay a charge for the transaction which will never actually happen... Frankly if you fall for these, you shouldn't be allowed to have a bank account in the first place.
More worrying is the scam mails supposedly from your bank or from Paypal etc.. Some banks may actually use email communications, I know mine does, so people can be drawn in - the things to look out for here are:

• Are they using an email address that you have given to your bank? 
• Do they use your name in the email? 
• Is there a link in the email asking you to 'log-on' to change your settings or contact the bank? 

Use these questions to test the validity, and email that starts, Dear (blank) or Dear User/Dear Customer... can be ignored, if they don't know your name they are NOT your bank. Naturally many of us have multiple email addresses, is the email address used the one you gave to your bank or to Paypal? if not, you can ignore/delete it.
Pretty much all of these scams will use a link to get you to click on something that is designed to get information for you - NEVER click on a link in this type of email. If you think you should log-on to your bank website, by all means do (via your normal link in your 'favourites'/'bookmarks', or by typing the URL directly into your browser), but NOT via the link given in the email - whatever it looks like, it is certainly not directing you to your bank.
If you are still uncertain, before taking any action, simply forward the email to Paypal or your bank using an email address provided by the bank - they will be able to tell you if it can be ignored. You can use 'spoof@' for suspected bogus Payal emails, each bank may have it's own reporting procedures.
Don't be caught out, treat every unsolicited email as potential spam, and a few you were expecting may catch you out. I have seen loads supposedly from credible courier companies asking for payments before deliveries are made - again, treat these with the utmost caution, even if you are expecting a courier delivery.

Aluminum Bleachers

Somewhere for your spectators to sit or stand makes a nice addition to any sports field, but it's not often that you see aluminum bleachers for sale in your local hardware store! Check out the deals on line for your local sports field whatever the sport. Available as simple benches, full blown 15-row elevated stands, these aluminum bleachers are practical, safe and good value.

Improve the view of your spectators by giving them pride of place on your sports field.

Tourmaster Transition 3 Jacket

Here is maybe the perfect present for the biker in your life - available in both women's and men's sizes, the Tourmaster Transition 3 Jacket makes a great statement especially if you both have wheeled steeds and can go out together as a matched pair...

This top-line motorcycle jacket comes in five different colors and frankly looks great in all of them - this one matches my new blog color-scheme...

You can't skimp when it comes to safety, but this bit of kit not only ticks all the boxes, but comes at the right price too - consider one of these for keeping your loved ones safe and looking dapper at the same time this Christmas.

November Update

To be honest, it feels like December already, I'm already making plans for Christmas - have got my daughter's present and the diary is filling up with Christmas commitments...
I usually take a few days off to help out with some school Christmas events, so I need to get that sorted soon, we are also intending to travel to my home town for Christmas, so there is a hotel room that needs booking for Christmas Night (maybe boxing day if I can persuade my wife..)

My 'day job' is still hectic at the moment, so very little opportunity to get much done with websites and blogs and the like. For some reason, I have found myself drifting back towards 'MyLot' recently. It's like a question and answer forum where you can earn a few cents each time you participate. It takes a while to reach the $10 payout, but you can make freinds (and enemies!) doing so...

I am still finding blogging opportunities, and converting cassettes into CD's so will have some extra money for Christmas if I keep working at it... I have always been a great advocate of the idea that 'saving' money is every bit as good as 'making' money, and I have just clinched a great deal for a bike for my daughter from eBay. I was thinking of spending about £120 on a bike, but found a used one better than I could have afforded (if it were new)  for just £30 on eBay from a local seller. The bike is in really great condition too, and has even been recently serviced.

So the preparations for Christmas are coming together, it'll all be over in a few weeks!

where to buy indoor fountains

Now I'll be honest, I didn't think there was room in my humble dwelling for an indoor fountain, however I do know where to buy indoor fountains because I found this one... and discovered that even the most compact of homes can have a fountain and bring tranquility and a peaceful ambiance to even a modestly-sized room.

The perfect gift for someone who loves the outdoors, and needs a little of the outdoors bringing into their home, these indoor fountains come in all shapes and sizes to suit everyone. Ranging from tabletop affairs like this one, up to full floor to ceiling sheets of cascading water, these indoor water features can be subtle shades of Feng Shui or just full-blown bling!

How you are helping Facebook scammers

'How many faces can you see?'

'Like if you see the monkey'

'Type 'jump' and see what happens'

Hands up if you have seen these updates pop up on Facebook and wondered what their game was? Well, I'll tell you.... selling Facebook pages at $200 a pop is what it's all about - if you can come up with one of these a day, you could clear $1000 for a five-day week.

Let's face it, if you think about it, typing 'jump' in a comment is not going to do anything on a Facebook page - if you read the comments, half of the them are from disgruntled people complaining that it didn't work, I have news for you - it works perfectly.

It works perfectly if it is your task to build up likes and comments on a Facebook page, these are Facebook 'currency' making page updates appear higher in news feeds. When the page gets tens of thousands of 'likes' and comments over a few short days, the details of the page are changed and someone buys a ready-made highly-ranking fanpage. By clicking these links, liking and commenting, you spread the net around your friends aiding and abetting cyber-criminals in their quest for easy money.

The worst of it is that, while some of the pictures are funny, such as the bear creeping up on the man.. others are emotive pictures and statuses such as 'like if you want to fight cancer' or a picture of a disabled child, a disfigured person, an injured animal - imploring you to click, comment and 'like', exploiting the picture, and exploiting you the Facebook user.

OK no-one gets hurt, but if you are one of those that complains about unwanted news feeds and invasive Facebook activity, just make sure you are not falling for this scam. If we stop clicking, it stops happening, as simple as that!

Linking in with Twitter

I have started my quest in earnest to properly link in with Twitter, embracing the social phenomenon that many of us just don't 'get'...
My first step was to dust off my old (largely unused) Twitter account and give it an overhaul in the form of a new background in keeping with my new colour schemes, and a new description in my profile. I have linked the account in with a Facebook account and am in the process of signing up to various Twitter directories.
My aim is to twitter a link to a well-written article and see what response is forth-coming. The article will be about something I have noticed about Facebook - that should at least be a subject close to the heart of the twittersphere. I haven't actually decided where to place the article yet, but it will probably be either on this blog or possibly as a Facebook status update - maybe both??
I have about 14 directories to sign up to and am currently about half-way through. I am not sure that I can make a big enough impact straight 'out of the blocks' so to speak, but I have seen great results with other sharing services such diggit etc.. so maybe if I get it right, the traffic will follow.
I am also halfway through an overhaul of Livewyre.NET (all part of the plan) - I have brought about half the content over to a Wordpress platform, and will be looking to have this completed by the end of the month - not only getting all the content across, but re-writing 'tired' articles to make them more punchy and relevant. I only wish I had more time to devote to this - it would be nice to think that I can just sit back when it's all done and watch the traffic build up - but experience tells me that it is not usually THAT easy!

Popcorn!

Popcorn is fun – everyone in the family from the smallest child to your Grandma and Great-Grandpa, knows that popcorn is fun, and nothing is more fun than making your own popcorn at home. The trouble is that making your own popcorn the old fashioned way can be messy, and to be honest the results are not always as great as you anticipated. When that germ of an idea started to form in your head, you were thinking of buckets flowing over with creamy light sweet popcorn, and what you got was tough hard kernels...not sweet enough, not buttery enough. What you and your family need (Christmas IS coming you know..) is your very own 'perfect results every time' professional popcorn popper machine. Light, fluffy, sweet, buttery popcorn while you sit down in front of the TV with the family, or snuggle up in your own private home theater! With your own popcorn, you can even make a TV movie feel like your own private theatre without all the expensive additional equipment. If you are lucky enough to have a room dedicated to movie watching, a popper popcorn is every bit as important as the 7.1 surround sound system, the state-of-the-art Blu-ray player or the high quality speakers. If you want to create a real cinematic atmosphere in your own home, you will be able to wow your friends and family with perfect popcorn to accompany the show whether it be the latest blockbuster, or the premier of your own home movie. There are products available for small kitchens ranging to products for full-blown cinemas, whatever the size of your venue, you can get a popcorn machine that will suit your needs and your pocketbook. If you are considering a popcorn machine for your home or business then Click here for more products.

October 2012

2012 is fast coming to an end, November and December always seem to be really busy months with the build up to Christmas - This year I have been dragged into a couple of projects at the school my daughter attends, I usually do the PA sound for the Christmas plays, and have also committed myself to do sound for the school pantomime too - this is usually a fairly hilarious affair with parents and teachers making fun of themselves and each other.
October was a good month in terms of online income, I had a large cassette to CD project to carry out which brought in nearly £200, about £50 of which had to be re-invested in blank CD's and CD cases. There were a couple of other smaller orders, and a few other revenue streams that yielded a few pounds here and there giving me £162 profit overall. My contextual-adverts earnings are up significantly this month too, not sure why, but not complaining!
I have been really busy getting to grips with Wordpress and finally feel I am making great progress - not enough to switch this blog over, but enough to consider it very seriously for lots of future projects. I have also been extremely busy with my 'day-job' too and have been promised a bonus for all my hard work - all very handy for Christmas, but also need to get that credit-card balance down too...

ceramic beads

Always on the lookout for unusual and beautiful gifts (especially this time of year), I came across some ceramic beads recently. As far as I can see, these could be used either as a gift for the crafter amongst your family and friends, or if you are a little crafty yourself.. as part of a special individual gift for someone important in your life.

Individually crafted gifts show thoughtfulness and are completely unique (unless you are churning them out on an industrial scale).
In these financially austere times, an individual crafted gift indicates how much you think of someone without breaking the bank.

Catching up

Lack of activity on Munny4Hunny over the last few weeks is for two reasons:

1. Have been busy moving my Livewyre.NET web site over to a Wordpress platform - this has meant a complete reorganisation of the entire site which is packed with stuff... I am really pleased with the way it has gone so far - quite challenging, but in a good way. I have had to give some thought to how I want to organise the information in terms of 'categories' and 'tags' - I ahve not had to think in these terms before, so it has been quite a challenge to make 'sense' of this way of categorising information. In addition, the use of both 'pages' and 'posts' has made things both more complicated, and yet easier to handle. I really love the idea of a featured image which can either just be a picture for a snippet of the post, and/or an illustration within the post itself. I am using mostly images from 'dryicons' (great free resource for small images and backgrounds) which has given a kind of uniform feel to the site.
2. The 'busyness' of 'real life' has meant that I have had little spare time to pursue extra-curricular activities - I have worked two 12 hour days this week in order to meet a major deadline. I am hopeful that next week will not be quite so frantic. There is plenty to do, so I won't exactly be taking it easy...

I really want to get this Wordpress project to a state where I can re-launch Livewyre.NET, and am going to set a deadline of the end of November - this will entail getting all of the content from the old site onto the new platform, then editing each page and post to ensure the content is easy to follow and up to date. I have an 'SEO plugin' to help me ensure that the pages will maximised for SEO. The next stage will be then to tie in with twitter and use it to promote some of the content - I'm quite excited about finding out if this will prove a fruitful way of promoting the site.

wrestling singlets

Wrestling is one of those sports that is considered more highly in the US than here in the UK. Over here, the reputation of wrestling as a sport has been spoilt by the TV version of years ago which was little more than a rather physical pantomime. However in the US, wrestling is taken seriously at college level. I believe it is fairly well-documented that Tom Cruise was into wrestling as a youngster, so he probably has a good collection of wrestling singlets. In fact, wrestling is an ancient sport, much-loved by the Greeks, and one of those Olympic sports that has seemlessly transferred from Ancient Greece to the modern Olympic stage.

September 2012

September has been a decent month for me compared to others recently. I took a little over £100 last month, largely due to a contextual adverts company payment (shouldn't mention them, but they payout at £60). I also had over £20 for affiliate payments this month, so the bulk of the months payments were from passive income. I am doing some cassette to CD jobs at this moment which will take me over double last months total already for October, so income has been coming my way lately.

I hope my proposed plans for my website development will drive more passive income my way, but this 'passive' income sometimes needs a lot of frenetic activity to bring it to fruition. The yearly totals are low for  the 'half-way' point in the financial year, but I'm hoping for some increased activity for the remaining half-year.

Wordpress

I have just started 'updating' my main website 'Livewyre.NET' by attempting to put all the content onto a Wordpress platform. So far, it is going OK, I have 'played' with Wordpress before, but this is my biggest WP project to date, and one that I really want to get right. I am finally getting to grips with 'Categories' and 'tags', and although the site is not really a blog, I think this kind of structure will work well.

This is all part of my fresh strategy to harness the power of twitter and see if it can bring traffic and maybe even a bit of income. Also included in this strategy is a bit of 'rebranding' using some of my favourite graphics from the past, and updating them whilst lining them up with the theme I have chosen for the site - I may eventually bring this new branding into Munny4Hunny too...I'm going to be black and blue all over... watch this space!

cushions

We had a window-seat made for our dining room years ago, and we finished it off with some home-made cushions for which we had foam cut to fit the dimensions of the four seats.
We covered the foam with the same fabric that we had on our dining chairs and made frames which fitted onto the seats. More than ten years later, and those window seats still look pretty good, even if I say so myself, and they cost us only the price of the materials.

wine making kits

Anyone who reads this blog will know that frugal living is second nature to me, however I do like a few luxuries and the odd glass of wine is always welcome.
So I have decided that I am going to ask people to buy me wine making kits for Christmas so that I can eat, drink and be merry whilst still being frugal...

I may even start a new blog charting my wine-making progress, the triumphs and disasters in full technicolour.. I like full-bodied wines from the New World regions, but seriously doubt that my home-grown efforts will be able to rival my favourite tipple.