Further financial faux pas and even more disasterous decisions

Double_Trouble

Next time you need help with Welsh give a shout I know a bit and OH knows a lot

DTxx

moo2moo

Thanks DT. Its not lack of access to Welsh assistance thats the problem as most of the people at work are bilingual, its more the child that feels the need to leave everything to the very last minute that makes stuff far more difficult than it should be.

The saga of the cleaners continues. Yesterdays new cleaner showed up had a look round and left again. Apparently shes starting today and will be working the four whole days until the end of term. Will believe this when it actualy happens. Since we're now scrpaing the detritus at the bottom of the barrel we've landed deep in the dodoo. I've sure shes a lovely teenage (ugh) student (ugh) who really needs a job but that coupled with an inability to speak basic Engilsh could make life most interesting. I await todays installment with bated breath. Really I do.

Most of the events of yesterday came as a suprise. Took OHs friend to the shopping centre in search of a tie. Couldn't find anything horrific enough for his interview but did discover theres another book in the Belle de Jour series. Admittedly its not as good as the first but I would have been amazed if it had been. Its still a v. entertaining read and most excellent value at a mere quid.

Did the usual cheesy Valentines card and chocolate bar for OH so was rather gobsmacked to arrive home to a Kindle. More so in that I'd never seen one or even entertained the idea of one. Spent almost an hour trying to figure out how to get the sodding touch screen to work only to discover that it didn't have one....oooops. Have managed to transfer five free novels to it surprising the DDs with my technical ability. More of a shock because I still haven't figured out how to use the satnav after a mere two years of ownership.

mooomin

moo2moo wrote: »

Did the usual cheesy Valentines card and chocolate bar for OH so was rather gobsmacked to arrive home to a Kindle. More so in that I'd never seen one or even entertained the idea of one. Spent almost an hour trying to figure out how to get the sodding touch screen to work only to discover that it didn't have one....oooops. Have managed to transfer five free novels to it surprising the DDs with my technical ability. More of a shock because I still haven't figured out how to use the satnav after a mere two years of ownership.

Oooooohhhhhh!!!

I covet a Kindle....let me know what you think of it once it's up and running fully

Well done to Mr Moo for such a kickass gift!

(Think of the potential for decluttering if your books are electronic!!)

moo2moo

Mmmm I can see lots of potential but I'm still a bit outraged at the ridiculousness of the whole thing. In many cases its cheaper to buy the physical book, which I can then loan to friends or sell on if I don't like it, than it is to buy the instant download. That just doesn't seem right.

Consider the much coveted Terry Pratchett novel Unseen Academicals:
£4.15 new from Amazon, £2.81 used or a whopping £6.36 for the Kindle version.

Admitedly there are gazillions of free books out there but they're mostly free because the copyright has expired or worse because they're Mills and Boons romances. Great concept but pants if you avoid parting with the ridiculous publishers prices for books by buying them secondhand anywhere and everywhere or swapping them with others.

More concerning is the Kindle is linked to my Amazon account which in turn is linked to my credit card and via the wi-fi gubbins I forsee one or both daughters borrowing it to read something or other and then surfing and buying more without checking forst. It can be password protected but it appears to be an all or nothing thing. Equall annoyingly I forsee OH pointing out how handy it would be to take away on business rather than carting a couple of novels with him which would mean my entire library would disappear and I'm not entirely sure that if we had two Kindles we could pay once and have the same book sent to both for a single fee. So many negative connotations. I guess I'm just an old fart at heart but I'm sure I'll get over it. I'll have to because OH will be most cheesed off if it gets returned to its box never to see the light of day again whilst I wade my way through the unread contents of the bookcases.

I sound so thoroughly ungrateful don't I. Its a fab surprise just not a very practical one for someone who owns hundreds of unread books. To buy them all again so that I can bung them on a gadget is daft and yet to read my way through them will take years by which time the gadget in question will have been superseeded a gazillion times. Not to use it seems criminal but not to read the books I already have somehow seems worse however only one of these outcomes will result in a v. irate OH. Mind you if I download something and recommend it to him that should buy me a month or sos breathing space because hes the worlds slowest reader.

Why is it that something so nice can be so pants at the same time?

chevalier

because whilst 'nice' a shiny new bookcase would have been more useful:D

beanielou

I cant imagine not reading real books.

moo2moo

beanielou wrote: »

I cant imagine not reading real books.

V. eloquently put. To think I waffled for two paragraphs trying to say just that.

pennywisepoundstupid

I agree, there is nothing nicer than curling up with a real book, flicking through the pages with a glass of vino and a bar of choccie also how the hell can you read it in the bath at least with a real book you can stick it on the radiator to dry out, i'm not a fan of the electronic device either.

Pooky

I must admit I had to really make my dislike of Kindles known before Christmas, DH was enthusing about them and I knew he was thinking about getting me one, I'm more of a "2 for a quid in a chairty shop" kinda book reader so actually having to search for a book by author was going to be hell.

Sometimes technology just can't compete.

How's the kitten btw? Mine goes for degentlemaning next week - I might actually be allowed to wear my dressing gown again without a small fluffy thing attaching himself to it at the first oppertunity.

makeup

I totally hear what you are saying about reading 'real' books and the like but for me it would be great for travelling.

I'm always carting heavy bags on holiday full of books and I ran out of books :eek::eek: on a recent trekking holiday as my weight limit seriously limited my book carrying capacity!!!

I would have thought you download a book onto your pc and then onto your kindle? Kind of like when you download music so that you have it as a back up if you lose your kindle or it is stolen or something?? Therefore you can load it onto as many kindles as you own?????

I know that doesn't make it more practical for you Moo, from what I gather most of your holidays involve driving there so I guess the weight limit isn't too much of an issue.

What about having it in your handbag for those moments when waiting for the girls to finish pony club or tae kwondo etc??? Although again, I guess a heavy handbag isn't such an issue when you drive!