Digital library lending

Interesting to see that Americans still like to borrow a printed book from a library, rather than a digital version. I have to admit to carrying my Kindle Fire HD everywhere I go now. It takes the boredom out of waiting rooms, that's for sure. I still have boxes of paperbacks to read though. I will never get bored of the feel of a real book.

Here's the stats from the Publishers Weekly survey: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/68811-new-study-finds-low-levels-of-digital-library-borrowing.html

Beautiful libraries

Check out these beautiful libraries around the world!

http://www.garymclaren.com/20-beautiful-libraries-of-the-world/

Like Gary Mclaren, I spent a huge proportion of my childhood and teen years in our local library and in the school library. I would often have 10 books on the go at once. Ah, Life was so much simpler then...

Originality

Something to ponder on this Thursday morning...

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. HERMAN MELVILLE

I've been watching a lot of detective shows recently and besides the great story lines and trying to figure out whodunnit, the one thing I've noticed is that all the leading Chief Inspectors stick their necks out to get to the heart of the murder case/s. They put themselves, their reputation, their life and their career on the line when they get a hunch. Most of the time they get away with it (of course, this is fictional television) and it leaves me with the feeling that to get anywhere, you need to be gutsy. You need to push the boundaries. Dare to go where no man or woman has gone before kind of stuff.

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things with your writing. Be a leader, not a follower.

Literary coffee

I really like this! Which coffee would you choose to kick start your day?

Reindeer in Croydon!

Live photos on iPhone 6S

Woo hoo I have finally upgraded my iPhone 4S to the 6S and I can't wait to shoot some live photos - whatever these may be....

Apparently the 6S camera has a new feature which is the ability to shoot a "Live Photo" - a mix between a still image, an animated GIF and a proper video. It captures the moment before and immediately after you take the pic in Apple's camera app. You then view the photo as normal in the Camera Roll and press down on it. 3D Touch (whatever that is...) brings it to life.

I will have to try this! I'm also interested to see if the camera is a lot better than the 4S. I'm hoping so.

The Boy Next Door

 

I found this book up in my mum's loft. It's the first ever Enid Blyton story I read. After this one, I was hooked and it became my mission to read all of The Famous Five and The Secret Seven books. Whilst we were at school, my mum used to visit the local library for us and bring me home four at a time. Children were only allowed four pink tickets and we renewed our books or swapped for something else every couple of weeks.

Down to Margate!

I was in Margate in Kent on Saturday celebrating my Great Uncle's 95th birthday. We hadn't visited for 5 years, so it was interesting to see the redevelopment along the beachfront. Also, the funfair Dreamland closed its gates in 2005 and re-opened 10 years later this year after an 18 million pound restoration. A lovely day was had soaking up the last rays of summer.