Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we spent time looking at how to look after your laptop and stay safe online. Filed under: Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology …
Read More
Author:Steve Palmer
I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 - well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I'm no Samuel Pepys! If you're looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you've arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it's all done with love!
I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!
Lent Boy 2016: How Did I Do?
WARNING! Please read responsibly. This Blog contains large amounts of smugness! So, that’s my Lent event over for another year. What began in 2010 as a small challenge, has now grown into a much bigger test of will-power! I began the challenge on the first day of Lent this year – 10th February and finished …
Read More
The Canterbury Rails
Wednesday, 23rd: ArrivalIt’s Ann’s birthday on the 25th, so we thought we’d slip away for a few days. The destination of choice this time was Canterbury – and we did it all by train! (me, on a train, what, for ALL of the journey? – some mistake surely!). Actually it was a bit of no-brainer. …
Read More
Computer Coaching: Using Skype (Part 2)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we continued to learn more about the features and benefits of Skype. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication …
Read More
Computer Coaching: Word Processing (Part 2)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: We continued our look at the features of word-processing. Today we covered how to embellish text. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer, Writing Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love …
Read More
Fish Natter!
Jo and Janet popped round for a Lent-friendly fish-supper whilst we all watched The Martian on blu-ray DVD. Ann went l fishy’ and prepared Crab Cakes, Mackerel Pate, Salmon poached in coconut milk and Spicy Prawns. We nattered the evening away and in the case of Jo and I, this was helped with assistance from …
Read More
Catch-up with Ian and Mags
For various reasons, our normal three-monthly get-together had got out-of-step and we hadn’t done this since September last year). I drove over to Ian’s and picked him up, and then we headed for The Red Lion at Claverdon in Warwick (just a short drive from Stratford-upon-Avon) to meet up with Mags. The restaurant was very …
Read More
Our Nephew Frankie: Live!
Not sure which side of the family he gets it from, but he’s very talented on the ivories! https://youtu.be/AWX8ktun92Y ..and I just realised he’s not reading it from a music-score either. Not bad for just an – almost – 17-year-old. At that age I think I was ‘skilled’ in changing spark-plugs on my first car! …
Read More
Computer Coaching: Using Skype
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: With only a few more lessons left with this group, today we began to look at some of the advanced software available for laptops. We began by explaining the features and benefits of Skype and gave the group the opportunity to make their first call. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation …
Read More
Tablet Coaching: Core Apps (Part 2) – Managing eMail
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we continued our look at common apps across ALL Tablets. We specifically took a closer look at managing eMails. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer, Writing Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my …
Read More
Computer Coaching: Word Processing (Part 1)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we began a series of lessons covering the essentials of word-processing. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer, Writing Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication …
Read More
Catty Birthday!
The Cats turned 11 today. Various advice seems to suggest that makes them around 65 in ‘human years’ – One of us here is catching them up though! Biscuit at 11 Bon-Bon at 11 Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! …
Read More
Computer Coaching: The Perfect Pa55wOrd!
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we covered how to create a memorable password that’s different for every website – and is virtually uncrackable! Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My …
Read More
Computer Coaching: Keyboard Essentials
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we concentrated on the PC’s keyboard and practised using shortcut keys. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in …
Read More
Website: Active Development Ltd
Just finished adding a few enhancements to the Website for Active Development Ltd – take a look! It’s ‘mobile-friendly’ too, so give it a go on your smartphone. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and …
Read More
Kettering Citadel Band – In Concert
We popped over to the Holy Trinity Church in Rothwell tonight to see the Kettering Citadel Band (supported by the Kettering Citadel Songsters) in concert. It was in aid of the Rothwell Corps and Community Project and there were over 100 people there. Typically for Rothwell, parking was a ‘challenge’ with the main car-park in …
Read More
Computer Coaching: Google Maps
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we looked at using Google Maps on a Laptop. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its …
Read More
Tablet Coaching: Core Apps
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we re-visited the apps that feature on most Android-powered Tablets. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all …
Read More
Computer Coaching: TNA Results
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: I spent most of today’s lesson presenting back the proposed Lesson Plans to the Group. Filed under: Delivery, Design, Feedback, Salvation Army, Skills Development, TNA, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong …
Read More
Tourist Times – London
Occasionally, we leave the ‘wilds’ of Northamptonshire and head for the capital – as Tourists. We’ve always found it’s amazing what you see when you are on foot, especially in a big city like London. Thursday We caught a leisurely 11.26 from Kettering and headed for our home for the next two nights – it’s …
Read More
Computer Coaching: Search Me!
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we looked at Cortana, Bing and Google. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together …
Read More
Computer Coaching: Assessing Needs
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: With the new class starting only last Monday, today, we continued to assess individual learning needs. Next week we’ll present their personal lesson plans. Filed under: Delivery, Design, Salvation Army, Skills Development, TNA, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until …
Read More
Tuesday Class Restarts
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: The Tuesday Class returned today, and it was good to see them all again. It was soon ‘business as usual’ after a short recap with everyone realising they remembered more than they thought after the Classes closed for Christmas. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, venue, Volunteer Steve …
Read More
The Tablets Return…
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: ..and luckily, with their owners too! Today, the fortnightly Tablet Class resumed. We initially spent some time recapping on the key functions of most tablets before reminding everyone how to download an App. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, venue, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late …
Read More
Let the Coaching Begin! (again)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog We re-started the Monday Class today. Mostly all new people – and new to their laptops too, so we spent time with an external tour explaining all the buttons and lights and then discussed their individual needs. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, venue, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got …
Read More
Valentine’s Meal 2016
David and I donned our whites (red in my case!) and cooked the girls (Ann and Valerie) a special Valentine meal tonight. We’d dropped into Mr Tesco the day before and sourced the majority of the raw ingredients, carefully trying NOT to compromise my Lent List for this year! Lee joined us, but with a …
Read More
Test Schedule Blog
I’m one of the Testers for the Open Live Writer (OLW) blogging tool. I’m using version 0.5.1.4 and this is testing the SCHEDULING function. It’s 14.20, so I’m setting the scheduler for 15.30 local time here in the UK to see if it posts to Blogger at the correct time. Steve PalmerI got into blogging …
Read More
Lent Boy 2016
Here we are again! It’s Lent – and time for that willpower test! This year it’s 42 items that are banned from Wednesday, February 10th until Saturday, March 26th. What started in 2010 as a bit of a simple test of willpower (could I give-up just 13 food and drink items that I love?), has …
Read More
Essex Girl (and Boy!)
WEDNESDAYWe took a few days off and headed back to where it all began – Essex! Ann has a job interview in the area on Thursday, and we decided to make this pilgrimage to where we’d spent a big chunk of our life working for Mr Sainsbury. The time was the 80s, and it seems …
Read More
Technology Classes: 2016
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: I’m restarting my technology classes in a few weeks. Monday, 15th February: NEW Monday Class (A few spaces left) Tuesday, 16th February: Existing Tuesday Class from 2015 (Full!) I’m also carrying out some 1-to-1s over the next moth covering Laptops and Android Tablets. Filed under: 1-to-1 coaching, Delivery, Salvation …
Read More