It’s that time of year, when a few of us Trainers get together for a weekend of culture, food, drink and whatever else comes our way! In previous years we’d been to Stratford-upon-Avon (2012), Bath (2013) and Birmingham (2014). This year it’s Liverpool and a ‘Staycity Serviced Apartment’. Coming along for the experience this time around …
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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!
Computer Coaching: Managing and Filing your Data (Part 2)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we continued to look at understanding how to ‘file’ data according to your personal requirements. This included looking at disk labelling. Filed under: Delivery, Design, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Staff Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 …
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Computer Coaching: FAQs
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we had an open session for the class, dealing with their individual queries and questions. 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 …
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Computer Coaching: Managing and Filing your Data
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we looked at how to manage data on your PC. This included copying, moving and renaming files; creating and renaming folders. 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 …
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An Unexpected BBQ
We don’t normally do ‘spontaneous’, but this afternoon was a very enjoyable exception! Tom and Julie invited us round for an afternoon, ‘first sitting’ BBQ in advance of their son, Lewis (and his legions of loyal followers) arriving later for the gentlest of invasions – and also food! Lewis was DJing at the local Aqua …
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XKR and a Spitfire
It was off to Gill and Chris’ tonight in Northampton – that’s TWICE we’ve been out in the XKR this week, and I think that’s a record! Abi was there too and it was good to catchup with news of her new job. The evening got off to a great start (for me!, anyway), when …
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How English!
We tottered off to Cranford Hall this afternoon, where they hosted local Craft Fair. Only £.50 each to get in – how very English! There was plenty of stalls plying their wares – Ann ended up with a scarf, and I bought some special cream called Sparklebright that you put onto glass and it stops …
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Gambles in The Feathers
A family day today, as Ann and I blew the dust of the XKR and drove down to Roger, Jane and Oliver’s for lunch and to catch-up with Denis, who had been staying over. A very reasonable 28.8mpg on the way down including some lead-footed ‘magic moments’ to check that the car still accelerated as …
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Computer Coaching: From Camera to PC
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we looked at how to transfer photos from a digital camera to a PC. Smile please! 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 …
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Computer Coaching: Recap – Word Processing (Part 2)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we covered different ways to embellish a word-processed document using bullets and numbering. 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 …
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Eastbourne or Rust!
After the torrential rain on the south coast last week, it was good to learn that we wouldn’t end up rusting this weekend as the weather forecast predicted a heatwave! So, we left home just before 9am, in the direction of Eastbourne, with a plan to stop of along the way, somewhere, and enjoy a …
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Computer Coaching: Personalising your Desktop
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we looked at different ways to customise the look of your PC’s Desktop. 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 …
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Tablets: A Tour around ‘Settings’
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we began a detailed discussion explaining the various functions within the ‘Settings’ menu on an Android tablet. 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 …
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Computer Coaching: Keyboard Skills
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we took a tour round the keyboard of a typical PC and applied it to some word-processing tasks. Filed under: 1-to-1 coaching, 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! …
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Friends for the Weekend
This is what it’s all about! Having time to spend lots of quality time with friends! This weekend we played host to Nick & Celina and Ralph & Karen. Everyone arrived together and after a fab lunch (seafood risotto followed by lemon trifle) courtesy of Ann, we boys (together with Celina) disappeared to play with …
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The Future of the Petrol-Head
We, I think this self-confessed petro-head will soon be changing his name – to electric-head! As part of this weekend with friends, Ralph and Karen introduced us to their latest acquisition – the all electric Tesla P85D. The rather boring sounding name, hides the fact that this is the most advanced electric car to date. …
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Computer Coaching: Browser Essentials
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, in the second of our ‘Tuesday Classes’, we looked at the essentials of using an Internet Browser. 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 …
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Computer Coaching: Recap – Word Processing
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: A small class today (due mostly to holidays), so everyone got a bit more personal tuition. We concentrated on recapping on a previous module covering Word-Processing. Specifically, understanding and using the various toolbar icons in Word and Wordpad. Filed under: Design Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in …
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Walkies!
Another perfect day for sitting having a beer and generally doing nothing – so we met up with David and Valerie and went for a mega-walk. And when I say mega, I use the term in a relative way – it was mega for me!!! We started by walking down across the meadow, passed The …
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A Very Pheasant Evening!
After what felt like a very busy week (not bad for a retiree and a senior manager ‘between projects’), it was a perfect evening or a quick drive to one of our fave and local(ish) pub/restaurants – The Pheasant at Keyston. It was a beautiful evening and we even managed to bag a table outside. …
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Computer Coaching: A Tour Round your Laptop!
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today was the second in my series of ‘Tuesday Classes’. I gave the group a tour around the outside of their laptop, explaining the various sockets, lights and buttons. We also discussed how to keep the exterior in good condition. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve …
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Tablets: App Stores
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today was the second, in my occasional Monday afternoon classes for Tablet users. We looked at the App Stores and how to download and use apps. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until …
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Computer Coaching: Music on your PC (Part 2)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we concentrated on the theory of sampling music to your PC. 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 …
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Resurfacing the A14
We met up with Geoff, Rhonda, Paul and Sue today for lunch at The Vines. Unusually, the place was nearly empty when we arrived just before 12.30 but I guess it’s that time of year and lots of people are away on holiday. The weather was gorgeous – so much so, that Ann and I …
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Computer Coaching: Tuesdays are Go!
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Yay! The Monday class in Rothwell became so popular that now, here we are on Tuesdays too …and that was just through word of mouth! I have a fresh set of Learners all wanting to improve their PC skills. Today is the initial TNA and in the weeks that …
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Computer Coaching: Music on your PC (Part 1)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we began looking at how to listen to music on your PC. This introductory lesson looked at the difference between ‘streaming’ and ‘storing’ and we also discussed various music sources such ‘sampling’, ‘using iTunes’, ‘Amazon Music’ and ‘Google Music’. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve …
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Denis at 86
Lee had double-booked herself, so Ann and I drove up to Heckington for a celebratory lunch for Denis, who was 86 today! Happy Birthday Denis!!!! Bev had done all the hard work, and we tucked into a chicken salad – enough to feed the whole town – and it was all delicious! Ann sorted out …
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Computer Coaching: Maintaining a Healthy PC (Part 3)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we looked at the vast choice of AV programs for the PC. We also discussed the pros and cons of ‘free’ vs ‘paid for’ AV programs. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post …
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ATM Alert!
These days, the abbreviation ‘ATM’ is an everyday part of our lives (and maybe even bigger in Greece, at the moment!). But, ‘back in the day’ (and what now seems like a lifetime ago) when I was working full-time for Sainsbury’s, it meant something quite different – Area Training Manager. In my duties of looking …
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Planned Spontaneity!
Those that know us, know that we don’t ‘do’ last minute – but this week was an exception! The original plan was that Ann was due to attend her five-day Prince2 Course in Northampton beginning on Monday (yesterday) through until Friday, but 3 hours later she was back home! The reason? they’d cancelled the Course, …
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