I signed up to a book review service recently. I loved the idea of getting free books to review and I thought why not? Trouble is when I did, my brain was still in 20th century mode and I was thinking of physical copies dropping through the letter box like literature confetti. Wrong!! Naturally virtually all the review requests I got were for electronic copy. Which made me think.
Some time ago, I decided I wanted an iPad. But the more I thought about it, the more bamboozled I became. Look - I'm fifty seven in less than a fortnight! I'm allowed to be bamboozled by electronic gadgetry, okay! And being bamboozled by electronic gadgetry is nothing new to me. I think I have mastered this laptop now. And I think I am half way there with my camera and my android phone. But if I got an iPad what would I actually use it for? What do they actually do?
And once I realised I was going to need something to read whatever books I choose to review, maybe what I needed was a Kindle? I could not make up my mind one way or the other. I spoke to a few people who had iPads and they said they didn't know how they managed without it. Then I spoke to some Kindle readers. Their argument was that a Kindle would be better because it is designed to hold books, and, since that was mainly what I wanted it for, that made the most sense.
With my birthday creeping ever closer, hubby Steve urged me today to make up my mind. And I plumped for the Kindle Fire HD. It can be used for other stuff as well - emails, Twitter, internet, movies etc. I wouldn't ever use it for movies I know that but I will definitely use it for Books. So we got it and brought it home and an hour or so ago, I got it all out. The guy at Currys had set up the account and everything for me - and I have linked it to my email and Twitter accounts. But after playing with it for an hour, I am still completely in the dark about how to use it. I have no idea if I am connected to wi-fi or not. On one screen it said I was. On another it said I wasn't. On one screen it advised me to use free wi-fi - on another I was told I'd need to buy it - £4 for an hour or £35.00 for a month. I am sure that can only be one option. I can't believe it is going to cost £35 a month. My almost-nine year old grand-daughter has one and I am pretty positive her mum doesn't pay £35 a month for that. Or for her own one either.
In the end, I noticed it was only 40% charged so I have plugged it into fully charge and I will have another play with it tomorrow. I am quite positive I will eventually get the hang of it because I eventually got the hang of the laptop, digital camera and android phone. But that doesn't stop me wondering how. Watch this space. This could be a new saga.
Coming away from the electronic highway for a minute, the Young Writers had an excellent session yesterday morning. I had seven regulars and one new member turn up and afterwards had two separate enquiries for potential new members. One man has five children aged between five and ten that he is thinking of enrolling. This means our numbers could double by Christmas which would take us back to where we were first time round when I regularly had sixteen youngsters turn up to a session. When that happens I might need to find another local writer to help me run it. But we shall see.
So with all this going on I am still managing to find some time to write what I can, when I can. I am just about keeping on top of everything, although I often wish - as do most of us girls - that there were more hours in a day sometimes. Because there's still running the house, visiting my old mum and maintaining a full-time job to consider. And of course I have to save precious time to spend with Steve whom I love more than the entire universe! So a lady of many facets I have become.
If anyone reading this can give me any advice on how to get the best out of my lovely new Kindle Fire HD please get in touch. Nobody ever does but I promise I don't bite. I think we'd get on just fine! And between me and you I sure could use some advice...
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