Preserving the future

Now there's an interesting challenge.

I've been asked to restore some early edition paperback Enid Blyton books to "their original condition".

Restoration is a fraught, time consuming and a not at all profitable business. The oldest book I've worked on was a King James Bible family from the early 1600's, complete with handwritten family history until 1950's, and notes in the margins from 40 users.

That one left me well out of pocket, but the pleasure of the work was immense. And the smell, oh, that smell - I can't look at bible nowadays without it evoking that deep, rich, musty scent unbidden. Books, y'just can't beat em.

These Enid Blytons deserve no less care. Like the bible's I've done, their likely to be be well loved Famous Fives and Secret Sevens.

Dog-eared, and I suspect, 30-40 year old reprints that'll have the ink, crayon, and later felt-tip scribblings of ages, dates, and "with love from Aunty....." on the leader pages of a few generations of little girls, (and boys fascinated by 'George') read under countless blankets by torchlight.

The description 'early edition' is a bit of a worry. Early Editions in good condition, like matchbox toys, sell for very high prices. Mess with those at your peril. And there's the rub. Better the condition (for that read 'unloved') the higher the resell price.

I have strict rules as to how anything I've worked on is presented. The description has to include the fact I've worked on it - which invariably reduces the return.

I interview the person who wants a renovation. I won't for instance, replace missing pages. I can, but the pages in an aged, but yellowing book would be a stark white contrast. Quite deliberately. Then there's the research time needed to duplicate those pages if it's an obscure book.

It wouldn't be the first time I've been accused of using my work as self promotion. But no. I simply need to know that a restored or preserved work isn't passed off as an untouched original.

Golly gosh, it's it's a hard decision. The pitfalls versus the pleasure. But if another generation can enjoy a Blyton, and be loved, complete with crayon - hey, I'm all for it :)

Slave to love

You'd think, as a Goggle Slave, who puts up with the foibles of it's search engine (but blocks it's adverts), unsuccessfully uses Cloud Print, But has Latitude, Google Docs and Calendars and has a Google+ account, uses one of it's better inventions, blogspot, AND has a top-notch Android phone (Android is Google) a HTC Desire-S, that I wouldn't have to keep signing in all the time? But I have to, I do, I do. Sigh.

~~~~

I've actually discovered a use for the GPS (Global Positioning System) on my phone. As I'm not allowed out alone, for some inexplicable reason. Sorta. Apparently, part of the reason is that I have a tendency to wander off. I'm happy with that. No bugger else is :( Can you imagine not being able to trundle down to the paper shop alone? Have the woofler take you for a drag? Pah, I tell you. Not done that for years, and it fair brasses me off.

But I think (background music: The Great Escape) I may have found a solution. First, smart phone. Google Latitude. You can share your location with others. It doesn't have to be automatic, you can choose when to share, with whom, and the recipient can pick 'real time tracking' for about an hour.

On any computer.

The other is another Google dubrie called 'My Tracks'. It's really meant for cyclists or hikers, but, if you set it going before you go out, and let it run - it doesn't get in the way of anything else if you switch to something else - and cancel it when you get back, you can save it with a lot of options you can share with anyone you choose, and they can see where you've been.

Oh, Slave to Love. One of my favourite Brian Ferry Tunes. I'm off to have some Toast... :)

Loan Shark.

Bit worried about my Bear. She's sleeping up more than 12 hours at a pop, getting really scatterbrained - forgetting appointments, offering to lend people to lend money we haven't budgeted, making arrangements to meet people when she's supposed to meet someone else, offering to give people money for stuff without asking to them to pay back. I've fought off hoards.

I understand to some extent. I've also discovered that a lot of the people we know are in the grip of either a local loan shark, and a illegal cigarette seller or a combo.

Talk about interesting times. I hate Loan Sharks with a passion. I am sick to death of locals, including my eldest daughter, saying "Ooh, I've paid off a couple of loans, now I can get another one" or the most incredible one another neighbour said "I'm p**sed off I had to borrow £700 on clothes for a fortnight in Skeggy"

Wish me luck. I intend 'shopping' the bugger, when I can find out exactly who *she* is. Hope I have some windows left.

Wish me luck.....

Meanwhile, back of the ranch :)

I gave in and went to the docs.

Last time I went, they found evidence of macrocytosis. Otherwise known as larger than usual large blood cells. The main causes of these are alcoholism , liver dysfunction, and bone marrow disorders.

But the bottom line is vitamin B12, otherwise known as Thiamine deficiency. Our doctors - most doctors - see that mostly in alcoholism. Booze depletes B12.

The problem with oversized red blood cells is that their immature. They don't work properly, so they don't hold oxygen very long, leaving someone tired all the time, they decay very quickly, and being large, they block tiny blood vessels (capillaries) and can block blood supply and cause stuff like strokes and temporary strokes.

Which, I've had.

This caused a bit of a furore on my doctors internal network. More, you should be aware, it involved the local chemists (pharmacists) too. Their all network connected.

General opinion I was a BIG drinker. No I'm not. So I've had a series of blood tests. Liver function, kidney, cholesterol, blood sugars, urrhhg. All sorts. One result being no large blood cells. Impossible for an alcoholic.

Weight, blood pressure, no macrocytosis. All absolutely fine. So much so, they've offered their apologies, and their doing an in investigation into those macrocytosis results, and whether they have me mixed up someone else.....

Weight? I'm down from 85.5K to 80K. Lost 5.5k (12 lb 20z). Wooo, hooo :)

Riots

Well, my dear sweet 14 year old butter-wouldn't-melt daughter used Her Blackberry to send a BBM (blackberry message) to all her mates - and she has a heck of a lot - saying "All rioters are w**kers!" and they all agreed.

The first raised an eyebrow. The latter enabled me to wiggle both. In their opinion, they aren't what the BBC politely referred to as 'protesters' and 'disenfranchised youth'. They're "thugs, thieves and nutters".

Couldn't agree more.

So while we head into the political quagmire that will inevitably follow these events, it probably worth remembering that most huddy-wearing, number-one haircut 'yoofs' who talk a language all of their own, are very community minded, even protective of their communities, and a good hearted lot who don't wanted to painted with the same rep.

With that in mind, I've got a get together with some of them, some 'community leaders' and a community liaison officer lined up. The idea is to discuss how to turn the bad use of the technology on it's head and use it to to BBM and Txt a positive message to their personal networks to stop this spreading and quell it. Soz if that sounds like jargon. But it seems a good idea. I know. I suggested it :)

If your interested in my political opinion, such as it is, it's simple. I'm with the local kids. Not on our patch, not on our watch. It's not spreading to here. End of.

Meanwhile, if you're London based, I've had a request from a friend in London that you take a look at this site, 'Catch a Looter' noting the disclaimer :) Cheers....

Oh, I've just had a quick look at my Twitter feed. Quote @BendyGirl Pls remember to check disabled ppl, elderly ppl & those with young children are safe & supported #disabledriothelp #riotwombles.

Ta.

I'm deeply distressed tonight. 31 American special servicemen have died in Afghanistan in a helicopter crash.

31 fathers, mothers sons, brothers, children. Oh, heck. For those who understand, Way the lads eh? Way the lads :(

Dray xx

Sugar, honey, honey...

Inspired by Rare Lesser Spotted's post. He mentioned berry picking :)

Berries? Fruit? Aaargh! We live on a nondescript council estate, where they actually found a bit of hill they found they couldn't build on, known locally for some reason lost in time as 'Maggies Field'.

After a bit of a battle, we (I) were able to get it managed by the seemingly unlikely combo of the WildLife Trust and the Freegans movement. Why the freegans? Foraging. Using what you have around you to keep costs down. They're intertwined.

Besides. They look alike :) Combat trousers with LOTS of pockets, Camouflage maybe? Anyways, they've between them planted hundreds of windflowers on something the local council tried - and failed to turn into a skate-park. More, we encouraged people to grow fruit trees.

However, the local teens (10-15) year olds have found an ancient Rowan Berry tree, in a secret place that they use as a 'den'. (Do you remember doing that?)

Word has got around I do jam. As RLS has said, berries are out early, and I have 3 Kg of Rowan berries, 5Kg of blackberries, and 10kg of plums to turn into jam and wine. Darn, that's a heck of a lot of sugar......

I read a few news sites.

Tell you what tho'. Reading readers comments? I'd rather poke my eyes out with a pointy stick.

Why is it that people, even commenting on fairly sensible newspapers such as The Times or umm, I dunno, Telegraph, find the reporting is fine, but get into stupid anal discussions about about the presence, or lack of an apostrophe? Why do people feel the urge to be bitchy, catty, and just plain nasty?

Truth is, it's a downside of freedom. Freedom allows you to say what you want. Do what you want. But hidden behind the apparent anonymity of a screen, keyboard and router, some will say stuff that would get their nose punched, or socially excluded if they said it to your face.

That's not an exercise of freedom. It's an abuse of privilege, a provocation to abuse, and I wish more moderators got their heads together and realised that.

To me, it's simple. Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. And give the 'trolls' their own separate internet, and find a field where they can meet together on a regular basis with pointy objects.

Sheesh.