Hacked off

My blog was hacked on Sunday, and all the pictures disappeared.  Since I didn't want anything else to disappear or change, I've taken the somewhat drastic step of closing it down and starting again with different software.  Those of you who know me will be aware of how long it takes for me to get to grips with website design,

so please be patient - normal service {and what passes for normal appearance} will be resumed as soon as possible!

First thing I want to change is random hyphens.  Sorry about those.

Public Image

There exist only 4 photos of me that I really like - I hate having my picture taken - actually, that's wrong; I don't mind being photographed, it's the results I don't like.  I'm perfectly comfortable with how I look in the mirror, but as soon as my features are immortalised in print I'm transformed into a squinting, lopsided maniac.  Now, though, I have to come up with a stunning image of myself to go on the back cover of Lost Prinsipels (Available soon! I promise!) that will complement the fab picture on the front by the highly skilled and scarily insightful Jon-Paul McCarthy.

 I do actually have a good, recent photo of myself.  Trouble is, there are people in the background, and I have no idea who they are.  I tried blocking them out, but I can't get the shading right.  Also, the colour of my scarf looks terrible with the cover colour.  {I tried making the picture greyscale, but it just didn't look right.  And the aforesaid strangers were still there, so I gave up on that idea.} 

The other picture of me that I really love is of when I was 16.  It's on my facebook page but, sadly, the quality is too poor to work in print.  I rather like my old school photo too, but that's one of those great long ones that, allegedly, people run round the back of and appear in twice.  If I can't remove a couple of strangers from a restaurant, I'll never manage to block out an entire school.  Also, it is too big to fit on the scanner.

That leaves me with my final photo.  I'm very happy with how I look in it, even if it is rather an odd pose, and the quality of the original image is quite good.  However, it was taken some time ago, and I don't think it really conveys much of my character now.

I suppose I shall just have to be brave and have a new picture taken.

Filing Systems

The trouble with being an untidy slob with OCD tendencies is that I tend to be inconsistent when it comes to my filing system.  Or perhaps I should say, 'systems'.  I currently have at least four.

Several years ago my daughter gave me a lovely set of 3 lever-arch files, complete with covers.  I use one for paid bills, one for my pay slips and employment records and one for anything to do with income tax returns.  I filed every document straight away, into plastic pockets in the relevant file.  After a while though, the 'bills' file was full to bursting, so I removed a whole load of the older papers, stuffed them in a carrier bag in my wardrobe and started again.  It has now reached that stage once more; the 'bills' file is too fat to go back in its cover...

....but my wardrobe is full.

My second filing system is what I like to call my 'open archive'.  This consists of all types of documents, filed in date order of when they were received.  It also incorporates documents relating to my family history research, and notes about current writing projects.  It actually works quite well, as I can usually remember more or less when I've dealt with particular things, and it has the added bonus that I can easily keep current items on top.  This is a very flexible, easily accessible system, that I highly recommend.  Its superficial resemblance to 'a pile of old papers' is merely coincidence.

An extension of the open archive, which has become a sort of micro-system, is a black leather briefcase that I bought for 1 Euro at a French boot fair last year.  It sits on the floor next to my desk, and contains any papers relating to my day job.  These, I have to admit, are not in any particular order but, since I never have to look at them, it doesn't really matter.

I have now, though, discovered what I believe may be the ultimate filing system.  It's neat, unobtrusive, easily accessible and ordered.  It has all the advantages of both the files and the piles.  Everything goes in on the day it's finished with, and I can satisfy my inner control freak with a thorough review and re-filing of the contents once a year.  Readers, I give you....... The Box!