Archives for October 2013

Where we welcome our newest family member – Phoenix

October 31, 2013 by Jen

Phoenix

We’ve gone and done it. Adopted a dog that is. It’s seven months since I had to get Monty put down and we knew that we wanted to get another dog but didn’t want to rush into it.

I also knew I wanted to get a rescue dog. I will never buy a dog from a pet shop and I’m not a particular breed kind of gal, although I obviously like black dogs with a bit of white.

I enquired about a dog a couple of months ago but I never actually got to meet the dog. Not quite sure what happened there. Anyway, I registered with a couple of dog rescue websites and enquired about one. The reply said that he needed some more time in foster care before he was adopted out and I might like one of these two. One of them was our new dog – Phoenix. We renamed him a few days into the trial. Actually my son came up with the name. I wanted to call him Flynn but that wasn’t approved. I said for him to come up with a name I like so he did.

Phoenix and Jules

When he first arrived at our place we all went out to the backyard and he did a big shit near the back door. JJ sat on the trampoline, his foster mum was nearby and I knelt down and called him to me. He went straight to JJ and sat down near him. Good, they’ve bonded, I thought.

He wouldn’t come to me – he was very timid.

Despite the big poo and the timidness, we agreed to a two week trial. That’s how it works for the few dog rescue organisations I had my name with. If the trial doesn’t work out for whatever reason, the dog goes back into foster care.

Ours didn’t. We love him. One week in, JJ said that he was falling in love. And so was I.

Phoenix is ten months old but he doesn’t act it. He doesn’t chew up things he’s not supposed to. And so far he hasn’t dug any holes. It’s like he’s on his best behaviour so we keep on liking him.

He ended up in dog rescue because the family that originally had him apparently didn’t do anything with him so they surrendered him. So he hasn’t been mistreated at least. He was then in foster care for a few weeks before he was suggested to us.

The only thing is that he gets car sick. The day after we got him JJ started playing baseball. The car trip there was okay apart from the drool (the dog only drools in the car) but I had to head back home to get JJ’s hat. On the way back to baseball Phoenix threw up. I had to leave the vomit in the car covered by a sheet until we got home a couple of hours later.

He’s thrown up again in the car since then. Both times was an hour or two after breakfast so I’m hoping it’s something he will grow out of as he obviously gets anxious in the car. Luckily we haven’t had to do any really long trips yet and all the car rides we’ve had have had good things at the end of them, like walks.

Since we got him I’ve been getting up early to take him for a walk before I head to work. I haven’t really let him off lead at the oval yet because he needs a bit more socialising with other dogs. Although he has met The Surfer’s dog and they play and play and play and wear each other out.

Since we got him I feel happier. I don’t think I was unhappy before but even though having a dog makes my life that bit busier, I love the love he has for us. That makes me happy. And he makes my son happy too.

If you’re considering a rescue dog in Australia, there’s a few organisations where you can find them:

Pet Rescue – lists a number of dogs (and cats) from different rescue organisations
Australian Working Dog Rescue
SA Dog Rescue – also has cats.

Wrecked

October 30, 2013 by Jen

A few weeks ago we went camping and on a near-ish beach there was this washed up fishing boat which provided some great climbing (for the kids), and photo opportunities.

Just to say how small this world is we were walking along the beach and I could hear someone calling out my son’s name. It turned out that one of his after school carers was sitting on the beach. There’s no hiding from anyone I tell ya!

Doing the Wordless Wednesday thing.

My favourite tools to consume digital content

October 24, 2013 by Jen

When I was a kid eating breakfast I used to read the writing on cereal packets. That’s after I’d taken out the little toy at the bottom of the packet. We’d go on family holidays and I always had my ‘nose stuck in a book’ according to my parents. I’d read anything.

Nothing’s changed except the mediums I read from.

I’ve moved on from Enid Blyton books and cereal packets but I still consume a heck of a lot of content.

This is how I consume content now. Or more specifically how the content I consume comes to me.

RSS feeds

When I first started blogging nearly a decade ago I found a bunch of blogs I liked, linked them up on my blog and every day would click on the link to see if they had anything new. Imagine my joy when I discovered RSS feeds would deliver them to me.

Yes, Google Reader is no more, and neither is The Old Reader (my Google Reader replacement).

Since then I’ve been using Digg Reader which has many of the Google Reader features that I was used to and liked.

If you’re new to RSS (Real Simple Syndication) then read this little RSS guide by Problogger. Remember though that Google Reader is NO MORE. If you’d like to subscribe to this blog, then use this link http://contentis.co/feed once you’ve set up an account with an RSS reader.

Twitter

People I follow are always adding interesting links and if I’m not subscribed to them with RSS then hopefully I find them on Twitter. Naturally if I do discover an interesting website that I want to keep reading, then I’ll subscribe via RSS.

Because of the immediacy of Twitter the interesting content can pass you by without you even realising it especially if it’s posted by someone in another timezone. But of course, you can create lists in Twitter to see what that cohort’s saying and talking about. I’ve created an editors/writers list which is pretty broad and encompasses content strategy people too. My only problem is remembering to add people to it. I try to remember to add people to lists as soon as I start following them.

Similarly, there is quite often interesting content posted to LinkedIn whether it’s directly from connections or from groups I’m a member of. It’s easy enough to search for groups, join them, and participate in discussions and read what’s posted to that group.

Swayy

This is fairly new in my consuming content arsenal. I’m still trying it out. In fact if you want to try it out using this link I’ll get advanced scheduling priveleges from them. It uses a Freemium model – free up to a point and if you want more you pay. You can connect Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn accounts – or all three and you can also define which topics you’re interested in.

One very handy aspect of it is that you can easily share content from within, and there’s some analytics as well.

How do you consume your content?

Recruiters and real estate agents – my relationship with them

October 22, 2013 by Jen

A couple of weeks ago I had a message from someone on my phone so I called them back. It was a real estate agent contacting me to see if I was still interested in buying a property as I’d viewed one with them.

I stopped going to open inspections when I bought an investment property over a year ago. I told him this and he said it had taken a while to get the database sorted, or something?

Glad he wasn’t my real estate agent. Although I dealt with quite a few when I was house hunting and NOT ONE contacted me to say they might have a house I’m interested in.

When you go to view a property, you’re usually asked for your name and phone number. I really wonder why because as I mentioned, NOT ONE contacted me except for the recent one that was way too late.

I’m not a real estate agent so I don’t know how they operate apart from what I’ve seen first-hand, but surely you would acquaint yourself with potential buyers and try to match them up with a house they’re after? Wouldn’t you?

Obviously I never met such a person, or they just sell enough houses and make enough money not to bother.

Which brings me to recruiters. I’ve been contracting for over two years now so I’m nearly always on the lookout for my ‘next opportunity’.

I’ve had the recruiter who I’ve spoken to about an opportunity to only find out that it’s been withdrawn. This has happened more than once.

I’ve submitted my details with agencies only never to hear from them – ever – as a follow up!

I’ve had recruiters submit applications for jobs for me only to tell me that the employers are now no longer accepting applications from recruiters.

I applied for a job with a recruiter once, and was then contacted about a completely different job which was fine. But the job really wasn’t suited to my skills and I mentioned this. I followed up and was told that the contact was on holiday. I never heard anything after that. Oh, and I didn’t get the original job I applied for.

My last two jobs have been through agencies and once I’m in the job, I rarely, if at all, hear from my contact at the agency again. Apparently I’m supposed to call the agency when I’m sick, but I don’t bother any more as I kind of forget they even exist, apart from sending in a timesheet every week they may as well not. Oh, and the one time I did call to tell my agency person I was sick the receptionist wouldn’t even put me through. Way to make me feel valued, especially when I’m bloody sick.

I don’t understand the lack of contact. What’s wrong with a courtesy phone call every few weeks from your agency to see how you’re going? My last contract was supposed to last for a month or two and I got the agency nearly two years worth of work from them in the end because the employer wanted to keep me on. Sure I’d get a little pressie at Christmas time, but that was the only positive acknowledgement from them.

I can only hope they treat the employer with more courtesy – but I’m guessing not judging by comments I’ve heard.

When I temped in London I worked through the excellent Australasian Temp Agency I was made to feel like a valued employee with them, and with the company I worked with – a double whammy. I’ve never had that here. It’s not that hard to build relationships with clients. And I’m a client just as much as the person paying them.

I know it depends a lot on individuals within the agencies and I have met some nice ones who do maintain some contact so I reciprocate, but they are few and far between.

How about you and your experience with real estate agents and recruiters?

Gone camping

October 21, 2013 by Jen

A couple of weekends ago we packed up and went camping. Actually The Surfer did the camping packing and the food shopping. I just had to get myself and JJ organised. We didn’t get to leave Adelaide until about 4pm and as the ute was being backed out of my driveway I saw water leaking out from the luggage. It turned out to be a water container leaking which meant our mattress got a bit wet but luckily I noticed it as it could have been wetter and we could have been minus some water.

We arrived at the campsite around 10pm and setup the two tents. The two boys did really well considering the late hour and we eventually got to bed. We had stopped for dinner on the way at a pub which delayed us some more.

See the flies on my son’s hoody? He had it done up like this to keep them off his face. Next time I go camping in the country I’m getting some netting to keep the flies off my face. They were way too high in numbers, and way to friendly.

But, that and the sad state of the camping toilets aside, there’s something to be said for camping. I like the change in routine. I like not being around home where I feel obligated to be doing something. There’s always something.

I had a great time catching up with friends who came away with us and friends who live nearby and nearby-ish. It’s great when you introduce friends to other friends who’ve never met but they get on very well.

The lad tried some fishing. No bites, but it was worth a shot.

There’s always some shy wildlife around the place.

Look at the holes in this. There were bees nesting in there.

I can’t help myself. I’ve got to take photos of the flora.

Apart from the flies I had a great time but we only had two full days there and it was time pack up and head back to Adelaide.

Until next time ey?

So, another year older

October 15, 2013 by Jen

The older I get the quicker the birthdays come around. One minute it’s six months away, and the next minute it’s my birthday. Where did that time go?

A couple of fellow Librans thought it would be a good idea to go to a Mexican restaurant that’s pretty good so between us we got about 20 people together to have a Luscious Libran celebration.

The photo above is of me pre Luscious Libran dinner wearing my two day early birthday present dress that The Surfer got for me.

You could say he has good taste or you could say that I give good hints. By the way, it’s from Surface Art incase you’re wondering. It’s not something I would have normally bought for myself because I rarely spend that much on a dress but for The Surfer and my sisters chipping in to help out it was achievable.

And my actual birthday coincided with the first day back of the school term which also coincided with a pupil-free day. So mother and son both had the day off to laze around a bit, see a very kiddy movie – Turbo – and go out for dinner with my sister.

I actually have another birthday present I’m trying out but will talk more about that if all goes well in a couple of weeks.

Updating a website – where to start

October 14, 2013 by Jen

A colleague emailed me recently saying that she was overwhelmed with her task of updating their website. However, she kind of knew what she wanted and realised that what they currently have has become out of control and unfriendly to their users. She’d started by making a plan on paper but was a bit stuck. As hiring me wasn’t an option I gave her a few steps as a guide.

Make a plan

Making a plan is a great idea. Long gone are the days of just jumping into creating a webpage and adding content. This is how I begin. Know what you already have (do a content audit). You’ll then have to have an idea of how you want it to appear, and by that I mean the navigation and structure of the content.

This will help determine what can be removed and what needs updating or consolidating.

I usually do my plan on a Word document so I can rearrange things easily there before I get my hands on the content management system.

Know who the website for

Who is the main audience of the website? There might be a couple of different audiences you need to cater for. If so, organise the information logically so people aren’t confused.

For example, their current website’s homepage had information for students and employers. It also had a list of services and programs available. This immediately confused me because if I’m a student, do I start with the information for students, or the services and programs. Therefore remove the ambiguity.

I still keep asking myself the question, what’s the website for? And what’s this page trying to achieve? Do you want the user to do something specific or is it strictly for information?

Compare your site with what’s out there

There’s usually an organisation that’s been there before you and as we’re in the higher education sector there’s plenty of university websites to look at. Some need work, but others will give you ideas. It’s a matter of trawling through them and checking them out and sparking ideas for what you can do on your website.

Don’t worry about the design

I only say this because unless you’re beginning a website from the very beginning, there will be templates available to use. Most websites are built using content management systems which only allow you to edit certain areas of a webpage. Yes, you can go crazy and use different font colours and styles, but it’s best not to. I found a page recently where ALL of the text was red. Yes, all of it. Hideous. Not only that, but it hadn’t been updated for over a year. The same website wasn’t consistent at all in their design elements plus they used lots of tables to lay out information that were unnecessary.

Focus on the content

Following on from the above, not having to worry about the design leaves you to focus on the content. I gave my colleague a web writing guide I’ve been working but as I can’t share that here, there are others you can look at. This one by Website Criteria is pretty good. If writing for the web isn’t your strong suit, familiarise yourself with something like this.

Also, you need to think about what you want people to do after they’ve read a webpage? Maybe you need to include a call to action, eg call us, apply now, register here. Or is it just for information? Is the content easy to read and understand?

You can also use house style guides, and be consistent with them. A few things I picked up for my colleague with existing content, but apply to many websites I see, were:

Use ‘and’ instead of ‘&’
Use a single space instead of a double space after a full stop
Use minimal capitalisation.
Use heading styles within the CMS, not all uppercase or bold.

Is there anything you would add?