Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

Better_Days

Goodness LFS, your tummy must be very sore. You don't realise how much you use those muscles until you hurt them.

Here's hoping for a swift and as far as possible pain free recovery.

Boredom is probably going to be a bit of a challenge. When I first had to start resting a lot I found audio books and Radio 7 (now Radio 4 Extra) to be excellent way of resting quietly. Our county library has a website through which you can order audio books and DH just pops to the nearest library to collect them when they arrive. I tend to go for the full lenght audio books rather than the abridged ones, as I think the abridged ones don't do the story justice. Remember that even the best book can be ruined by a dreadful reading. For thrillers and the like (eg Dan Brown, Lee Child) Jeff Harding reads very well. And there is always Bill Bryson's books for some gentle humour. Lorelie King does and excellent job of reading the Janet Evanovich books. All depends what genre of books you like in the first place though.

If you do like plays and narrations this website has a massive selection, many from the BBC - where the standard of the output is high and you can search via name or genre
http://radioarchive.cc/index.php

Daytime TV can leave you with little will to live, but if you are interested in current affairs the Democracy Live website is worth browsing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/
and it can be entertaining watching MP's and the bosses of Amazon, Starbucks being grilled (or lightly poached) in front of select committees. It is especially interesting watching MP's when they no longer have sound-bites and carefully crafted messages to rely on.

I also watch DVD's on the laptop while lying in bed (again lots to borrow from the library, I tend to go for series to while away the time resting) - and if you want a real blast from the past ER is just starting from the beginning on Channel 5 in the day. George Clooney looks sooooo young

If you don't have an e-reader it may be worth considering one. Loads of free books on Amazon if you have a kindle - very customisable search
http://uk.freereadfeed.com/
I love e-readers as you can increase the font size which makes reading a lot easier on the eyes. And you can prop up an e-reader and they are not so heavy as a book. Recently Nook's were selling for £29 - just the basic ones but perfectly functional and you can borrow library books on them too (although check your county library website to see what sort of selection of e books they have).

Do rest as you have been advised. You will recover the better for it in the long run. And as alfie says - learn to point! If I am having a bad day and need something I sometimes ring Mr BD up on his mobile phone from the bedroom as I don't want to, and don't have the energy to call across the house:D:D

COOLTRIKERCHICK

OMG, how do you feel emotionally have you 'bits' taken away??? Don't try and rush things an start doing stuff, and you en up straining or rupturing something...

BD... I must admit I am a book person, BUT I am sooo tempted with getting some sort of kindle thing, how many e-books can that 'nook' hold?? is it easy to down load free books on them? My sone has an ipad type thing ( not actually an ipad make) would I be able to down load e-books on that?? ( if so that would save me money)

I must admit I would download the free factual books etc, easy reading books, as I haven't read a 'story' book for a long time, even though I have had a copy of 50 shades of grey here for yonks..

Alfie.... This could the calm before the storm, so to speak, with your LL etc... don't forget to try and keep a picture diary if poss, just incase... and I would also start oing this with other things that need doing, before and after pics. as this can be a reference to bad or potential hazardous workmanship etc, can you set the date on your camera??? so then there would be no disputing any dates/times that the pictures were taken.. etc

Davesnave

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Alfie.... This could the calm before the storm, so to speak, with your LL etc... don't forget to try and keep a picture diary if poss, just incase... and I would also start oing this with other things that need doing, before and after pics. as this can be a reference to bad or potential hazardous workmanship etc, can you set the date on your camera??? so then there would be no disputing any dates/times that the pictures were taken.. etc

All modern digitals record date, time, exposure settings etc etc in what's called the 'Exif data' which you can usually see in most picture viewing/organising programs. That's useful, especially as setting up/turning on date and time is often a faff when you wouldn't normally want it on your photos.

LFS, I hope your recovery is quicker than 12 weeks and that you get all the back-up you'll need to help make it as short as possible. :A

Better Days, positive news today, I hope!

Better_Days

CTC - this is the wiki on the Nook Simple Touch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nook_Simple_Touch
You can store about 1,000 books on it but you can also expand the memory easily so you can store much more. Not sure if you can still buy them though as I think the range has been upgraged to the 'glowlight'

I love my e-readers. They are both 'bottom of the range' but still great for what I want from them. They are so easy on the eye as they don't have the 'backlighting' that computer/laptop/tablet screens have. You can easily read them out in the sun in the garden and change the text size to suit your vision.

My kindle is an elderly keyboard version which isn't touchscreen, but it is perfectly functional for what I want it for. The Nook is touchscreen and was really a treat to myself so I could download library books. Mr BD liked it so much he kept snaffling mine, so I go him one for his birthday. It's great if you go on holiday, or sitting in a waiting room for appointments etc. I had to stop reading due to eye problems, but e-readers mean I can access books again.

I had a quick search and couldn't find any Simple Touch for £29 but you can get the Glowlight for about £49 http://www.johnlewis.com/nook-simple-touch-glowlight-ereader/p231759497

And the basic kindle is £69 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007HCCOD0/ref=amb_link_147023707_1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-banner&pf_rd_r=1YCJ59KH4R7WG0NQDDYF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=438382327&pf_rd_i=341677031
It is incredibly easy to download books onto the kindle. The wireless just needs to be switched on on the kindle and then you buy the book on Amazon. Voila the book downloads to the kindle and appears in the homescreen in seconds. Or you can buy the book directly on the kindle.

It is a bit more a faff downloading library books onto the Nook (you can't use the kindle for library books) - you need to have software installed on your computer but it isn't difficult to do (although it is easy to download purchased books directly from the B&N Store)

If I only had one I would probably just have the kindle simply because of the massive choice of books and more free books than you could ever read in a lifetime. Like the rest of the Amazon store the prices of e-books do fluctuate and free books may not stay free for long. There are other e-readers too - Kobo and Sony do one - lots of reviews and comparisons if you google.

Do have a look at the link I put up for LFS so you can see if there is a good selection of free Amazon books in the genres you like to get you started. PDF's pictures and diagrams aren't that good on e-readers, but if you just want the written word they are great.

You can download a kindle and nook apps for android and mac (just google) and you can then read e-books on your son's tablet. Just remember you wont get the full e-reader 'experience' as the tablet wont have the e-ink screen which is what makes them so easy on the eye. Still starting off with a tablet will give you an idea of how it all works.

I think you can also download audio books to e-readers but I have never tried this. My kindle does have text to speech but it is pretty dire. The e-readers can be 'rooted' to turn them into low spec black and white tablets, but I haven't bothered.

As you can tell I am a massive fan of e-readers, it was wonderful being able to read books again. When I first got one I felt like I was on Star Trek wandering round the house with tablet in hand :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Any more queries - just ask :D:D:D

lostinrates

Cold, cold, cold, cold cold.



Woke up through the night with cold. Have medication side effects from the cold. My joints are a him in the cold.

But its such a beautiful day who can really complain!

Rummer

It is super chilly this morning :snow_grin

I am another e-reader fan initially I was sceptical as I am such a huge book fan however it is handy and light to carry about and can be worked one handed and there is no glare which is a bonus.

On my Kindle are oodles of the classics and plenty of factual books which have all been free and I think it is well worth buying if the free selection of books appeal to you. I have recently topped it up with books as it will be good to use when feeding the baby!

Thanks for that radio link Better Days!

Well after a busy week I am taking today to get back on top of all the glamorous things like hoovering and toilet cleaning! If I am really good I will also get to do a few tonnes of laundry :j

Tonight we have another family meal for a special birthday so that will be lovely and I am looking forward to oodles of delicious food Mind you what I would really like now if for Costa to deliver me a coffee and a brownie to give me a wee boost before I continue with the cleaning :coffee:

Rummer

lostinrates wrote: »

Cold, cold, cold, cold cold.



Woke up through the night with cold. Have medication side effects from the cold. My joints are a him in the cold.

But its such a beautiful day who can really complain!

Sounds like here! A perfect day for enjoying the day out the window from the comfort of a cuddly blanket on the couch

lovefullshelves

Davesnave - it would have been quicker but the surgery was more extensive than normal! I never can be normal:D
Cooltrikerchick - was a bloomin surprise to be woken up to that news when i thought I was having keyhole appendectomy!! Instead a full zipper of staples and no girl bits left. I wasn't planning on any more kids (I'm 46) but still quite a shock!
Better days - thanks for the advice x I have 4 bookcases full of books:D so I'm prepared for a bit of a sit! And there's an old box set of buffy that is in need of a revisit! (Mmm spike) and I've just put a load of cheap music on my mp3player so I can wiggle (gently)
Rummer, lucielle, alfie - thanks xx
OH is doing a sterling job of being me! Very funny this morning..I laid in bed, cup of tea by my side which OH had made and the radio alarm turned off. I've never been in bed when its done that! I'm always up and gone after 15 minutes. Normally OH listens to it till it goes, TOTAL role reversal:D
So..seed catalogue in a bit then with a big cup of coffee and dreams of spring:D
Thanks everyone, you may be the saviors of my sanity!

Davesnave

I'm going to be down in the barn today, helping to put in the double doors, but as that entrance is sheltered and faces due south I expect we'll be warm enough.

It's Friday though, so the dogs will be barking non stop for a good few hours.

lostinrates

Lfs, you listen properly about the no lifting. I know its tempting, but its serious.

You're still full of girl bits in your DNA, where it really counts. Its the tail that makes ours an X and theirs a 'why?' That makes all the difference, not anatomy .