Good to hear from you

Back in September, when I started this blog, I sent out several emails to various tutors around the country. These were the people who had replied to me - all making encouraging noises - when I first made cautious enquiries about the computer tutoring business, so they were the first to know that my website and blog were up and running.

And as they replied, I added links to their websites on this blog...you can see them over there on the right.

Well, it's been some time since I heard from a tutor, but yesterday I had an email from Jane in Buckinghamshire.



Jane says she's top of the Google rankings for "computer tuition" ...and it's true, it's true! She also says that she gets hits from US, Australia and other faraway places. Happy travels, Jane!

On the same search criteria, I'm Google page 6 at the moment. But I fare better when people search for "computer tuition Hereford" and since I'm restricting myself to a 25-mile radius around Hereford city I'm pretty happy with that.

The last two posts were bereft of pictures so I've put together a collage of your websites. Notice that Juliet has a new one - very swish!

It's always good to hear from any of you out there. Do email me, or chip in here with comments.

Colin

Resolution

I know it's halfway through January and you might think it's a little late to make New Year's resolutions, but I've had this one planned since before Christmas.

I've been contributing to two charities, one for many years and the other for just about a year. This latest one was charmed onto me by a lovely young lady in the centre of Hereford. You know the sort of people - they're trained or chosen to be bouncy and happy - and they spend all day bouncing up and down in a city centre persuading people to sign a banker's draft for monthly donations to a worthy cause. Clic Sargent, Amnesty International, Save the Children...

Well, Amy saw me coming last year...and I saw her....and there were two people between us, so I hid behind these two...and Amy peered round one side of them, so I dodged to hide...and then she peered round the other side....and then we both laughed and it was the best flirtation I'd had for ages! And I admitted to her that I'd just come from banking some money for my new business - and I felt good about the way things were going - and I signed up for a monthly donation...and she gave me a wonderful hug!

So having got round my first year in November, and what with the 'turn of the year' when we all tend to review things, I thought it would be good for the business to make a regular contribution to some charity each month.

Trouble is, there are so many worthy causes to support. It's no good asking for suggestions because I know I'd get hundreds and it would just confuse me! But one has already appeared for this month. My friend Tim who sings with me each weekend is celebrating his 50th birthday this Saturday and has commandeered the local pub's bowling alley for the evening. He wants "no presents other than your presence" but would be grateful for donations to Acorns Children's Hospice

So that's where I'm starting...and I'll just let others suggest themselves as life goes on.

Colin

Snowed out!

Here in town I'm not exactly snowed in - but some of my country clients are! And that's making it tough for income...but there's always something profitable to do and so I take these snowy days as an opportunity. My Friday afternoon client phoned at 8 this morning to postpone today's lesson - he's a busy man with thousands of animals to feed and today he's got to do it all.

I've been preparing him one of my famous manuals of screenshots, explanations and directions - this one's about email, files and folders, memory sticks and that recurring problem of sending pictures by email - so the printer is grinding away as I write...and then there's the laminating to do. Oh yes, my manuals are all top quality!

Which reminds me...

Word & OpenOffice

For years I've been using MS Office 2003. As I met more and more clients with Vista and Word 2007 I had to get a laptop to practise these.

A couple of my clients have Open Office installed - I should say "OpenOffice.org" - and because they've needed help with it I've installed it for myself. Of course I had to get used to this as well...and I've started to like it!

It's quirky...
...but then so is Word 2003. What about that stupid 'Drawing Canvas'?
...and as for Word 2007, does anyone like that 'Ribbon'?

OpenOffice Writer has quirky text boxes - you have to write something immediately or else your text box evaporates! But I like the way you can Insert a picture straight onto the page and immediately resize and move it around.

I've now got to the stage where I'm producing manuals on 'How to Use Word 2007' but I'm using OpenOffice to do it!

Psst! Don't tell Microsoft!

Colin

PS OpenOffice.org is a free download. MS have got very greedy about their Office software.

As our US cousins would say..."Go figure!"

Snowed in?

Pretty, innit?

The snow...not the car!

But then again...it's a good little car and is doing very well for me.

Yesterday the temperature was -5°C as I drove off to Ross-on-Wye, but no snow on the roads. Luckily today my appointments were in Hereford within walking distance but tomorrow evening I shall have to brave a country lane.

And that's the nature of the business: if I don't make the effort to get to my clients, I don't get paid! As I said before, Herefordshire is a rural county and I bought the car to enable me to reach further into the county, so when you gotta go...you gotta go!

It's January, it's winter and this is when we should expect snow. Why are the British always so surprised by snow? "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" and all those shop windows dressed with cotton wool and spray-on snowflakes etc. etc. and yet the country grinds to a halt when we get an inch of snow!

I'm pleased that the New Year has got off to such a prompt start for lessons and I'm certainly going to make every effort to get to them whatever the weather.

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Hang on, I'll just brush some off the car...

That's better!

Colin