The Midnite Chronicles

Getting cash back when you shop!

midnite — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:19:34 +0000

I stumbled across Top CashBack a few days ago thanks to my brother and it’s a site which I feel like promoting on my blog. You get money back off your purchases which is great if you have to buy things. The best thing is that it doesn’t cost you anything – all you have to do is click through their link to the merchant rather than going directly to the merchant. The merchant then sees you’ve come from Top CashBack and credits you’re account with what ever percentage was stated when you clicked through. It’s as simple as that!

Why not take a look at Top CashBack and get money back from your purchases!

Walking, photography and a good clear out …

midnite — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:17:24 +0000

As you may have learnt from previous posts, I’ve made a commitment to walk to work a minimum of twice a week. Today is a bank holiday and thus no work. I still did a 2.6 mile walk at 7:30 this morning. I took my camera with me despite it being a somewhat rainy outlook. I have to admit my camera work could have been a bit better, but I ended up taking an unbrella as the rain was on and off and so I probably didn’t give my photography the total attention it requires.

Here is my favourite photo from today’s photoset;

I have used today to have a big clear out as I hate clutter! I have also bought a second screen for my desktop. I thought long and hard about it before getting one. I’ve been thinking about it since January(!) but for a developer having two windows makes a lot of sence. Obviously I won’t need it on when I’m just using my computer for emailing or checking facebook, but when it comes to programming it will be very useful!

I’m hoping to sign on to a photo course at some point, I just need to find one and at my level too. I’ve managed to get a 18-200mm wide angle/telephoto lens which is really good for an all rounder lens. I’ve had one of my photos already made up into a canvas and it really looks good.

Surprises

midnite — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:09:35 +0000

I weighed myself this morning in preparation for recording how exercise affects my weight and I was surprised to find I was actually lighter than last time I weighted myself! Albeit 8 pounds lighter, it’s a pleasant feeling! I didn’t quite manage to walk into work yesterday, but I made up for the fact I didn’t by going for a two mile, up hill walk and it did me the world of good.

My pledge

midnite — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:07:34 +0000

I am making a pledge to myself and the environment. From next week, I’m going to walk to work at least two times a week. I hope to increase this pledge to 4 times a week at some stage, but am easing myself in gently. There are two reasons for my decision to walk, firstly is to be more healthy and secondly to do my bit for the environment. I am strangely really exciting about walking to work, but it’ll be interesting to see how excited I am on Monday morning (especially when it’s raining!).

I like walking but really don’t to it enough. So here is to my new pledge!

Tis interesting!

midnite — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:10:50 +0000

Unfortunately, I’m writing this post at the end of the day which means that I can’t really give it as much time as I’d like to really. I have had some computer problems to deal with but they are now out of the way which means all is good once again on the technical front.

I’m trying not to install too much software onto the computer as it’s running quite nicely at the moment. I’m only putting applications on which I actually use. I think it’s easy to download many applications when in fact you rarely use them. I’ve only got one more big application to install then I’m done.

I’ve had a pretty good weekend even though it’s not really worked out as planned, even to the point of actually having spare time! I didn’t get everything done I needed to but I’ve made a start which is half the battle.

I took some photos on Friday which I haven’t blogged about yet. Here is a sample;

View the complete set

Look at the time!

midnite — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:09:21 +0000

Look at the time; I meant to go to bed quite some time ago but I’ve been fixing a somewhat mysterious computer. To start with I thought I had actually contracted a virus, despite having a really good anti-virus program in place. However, it looks as though it might just be that a worn out external hard-drive is to blame. No doubt I’ll get the joy of getting totally to the bottom of it tomorrow.

However, I have got a freshly formatted computer and I’m loving the fact that it’s fresh. It’s not cluttered with programs that I don’t need! I have only got three more applications to install which I need. Anything else will be applications I want and I don’t anticipate installing too much on to my fresh computer!

On a different note; I’ve been thinking about the design of my website (and yes I know I’ve blogged about this before and not really done much about it) – however I think I may have come up with a re-design concept for the site. I’ll have to get my pen and paper out and have a play about.

Anyway, it’s far too late to be blogging really (especially after a long day)! Blog soon (I hope)!

Not as planned!

midnite — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:05:06 +0000

My weekend has not gone at all as planned! I have been labouring under some kind of bug since the end of work on Friday. This came just at the wrong time as I have a fully scheduled weekend of events! It wasn’t made any better by the fact I’d bought tickets for two of the events and thus lost £45 in the space of 24 hours!

I’m feeling moderately better now and hope to be recovered by tomorrow, typically in time for work! I watched Dave (the film) this afternoon. It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen it and I do still love it.

Cloudy day

midnite — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:45:47 +0000

Yesterday was a particulary dark and cloudy day. This did not stop me going out with my camera but there was less to take a picture of. I’ve bought a photography book off amazon to help improve my photography skills. I recently had an experience of a low light environment without flash which causes it’s own set of problems.

Here is a sample of Friday’s photos;

View the complete set

Photos

midnite — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:29:25 +0000

I feel as though I’ve been very distant from technology recently. In fact I’ve not really used my computer at all in the last few days. It’s quite a nice feeling! I think sometimes we lose our lives a little to technology. I always try to make one weekend in every four to six a device free weekend. Not always easy, but I always try hard to follow through with it. It’s quite amazing the liberty it gives you!

I spent the weekend in Suffolk and on Sunday morning I took a long walk with my camera. I’m still relearning how to use a ‘proper’ (DSLR) camera, but am having fun taking pictures again. I wish I had a bit more time to devote to photography but I make do with the spare time I have. Here are some samples of my ‘Suffolk’ set;

View the complete set

I also took some garden shots recently. Again, I’m still re-learning all the settings to my SLR camera but I am having a lot of fun learning. Here is a sample of the garden set;

View the complete set

By the river photography

midnite — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:43:36 +0000

I took a wonder down to the riverside at lunchtime and using my new camera I took some pictures. Some I took manually, some semi-manually and some fully automatically! It was a very sunny and hot day. The conditions were pretty good and I was glad to have my hat with me as I didn’t want a burnt scalp!

View the complete set