I went to my first photography meetup the other day – a macro shoot. I had a Sigma lens I’d bought second hand which I thought would work with my camera and it did, but only when the camera was using 2.8 f stop. Not ideal. So the shots below are using that aperture, and I’ve thrown in a couple of others with my 24-70mm Canon lens too (my favourite lens).
Am trying to do my bit about getting out more to take photos. So much to learn.
For Wordless Wednesday.
The main problem I have with websites are the ones that are created and then not maintained.
Like the truck in this photo they might be used for a while but then put out to pasture without a maintenance plan. Too soon it’s passed its use-by date, gathered dirt and rust and without a major overhaul, no longer useful.
As I mentioned in a recent post, there are questions you must ask yourself when you create a website.
Maintenance must absolutely be a part of any website creation.
If you’ve got a small website then a quick read every couple of months should be okay.
If you’ve got a larger website, put the pages that need attending to in your editorial calendar. Is there a page that links to an annual report? Make a note to update it when your annual report is updated. Does your organisation have an annual calendar of events? This will impact the content on the website so make a note of that. Content updates could include changing sliders on the homepage and the content that it links to with further information like news and events.
Some content management systems have a system where content owners can be reminded by email to review their content. Use this if you have it.
If not, put a note or reminder in whatever diary system you use.
Make checking for broken links part of your content review. This is essential. Again, some content management systems have this built in. WordPress has a broken link checker plugin. I haven’t used this so I don’t know how effective it is.
I used to be an advocate for keeping website information going way back and sometimes this is useful, but think about whether you really need it or not? Do you need all the details of an annual conference you held ten years ago? Think of the search engine consequences of this for people searching for such and such a conference. It’s annoying to more easily find a conference from years ago than this year’s conference.
Don’t replicate contact details on many pages because if you have a person’s details across many pages and they leave you’ve got to update many pages. Put contact details on one page and link to that page then if someone leaves you’ve only got one page to update. Saves heaps of time.
You need to know who has ownership of the web content. This could be page by page, or for a whole website. It has to be recognised that this person or people need some time to put aside to check content. If I had ten dollars for every time someone said they didn’t have the time to review or contribute content I could retire now.
And who is responsible for updating the content on the website? This and the content owner may be the same person. And please, please, if this isn’t the sole responsibility for this person, please give them adequate training and time to do these updates. I don’t think responsibility for web updates should fall on someone’s shoulders who doesn’t have web experience or the desire to do it.
Would you add anything?
I wanted to share this here as a bit of a mummy brag, and to keep it for posterity. It’s a poem my son wrote for a school project after reading a book by John Marsden and illustrated by Shaun Tan called The Rabbits.
I think by reading the poem below you get an idea of what the book’s about. The reviews on Good Reads (link above) are divided. I’m in the I loved it camp. I thought the illustrations were superb and I enjoyed the narrative as well.
He was awarded 6/5 – yes he got a bonus point for excellent work. Well done JJ.
Century in the past the rabbits came
Some were friendly some were a pain
The Elders warned us what evil they had within
The elders said they would have many sins
They came from sea
Without the key
They destroyed our land
But not with their hands
They brought terrifying machines
And ate our beans
They brought terrifying creatures
With terrifying features
Nothing could stop the rabbits
With their hostile habits
They killed us because we were different
They took our kids in a shipment
They stole our food
They were very rude
Took our young
Just for fun
And they kept on coming
They were very cunning
Nothing could stop them
They destroyed us
Who will save us from the Rabbits?
I’m not a fan of baby showers. When I was pregnant I was asked if I was going to have one but as I’m not a fan I also decided not to be a hypocrite and therefore decided not to have one.
I’d already been overwhelmed with the generosity of people and had most of the stuff I would need so I thought it would be greedy of me to also have a baby shower. If you’ve not been pregnant and decide to have a baby, those wanting to get rid of their baby gear are usually more than happy to do so. Keep that in mind before you go and buy all brand new stuff.
Once my son was born I was given even more things for him, including some gifts from people I rarely saw, and I was really appreciative of all of them. And during those first few months of his life I hardly had to spend any money on him as I was able to breastfeed and I mainly used cloth nappies.
A couple of friends have had babies in the last year and both of them had a baby shower. Due to other commitments I wasn’t able to make either of those functions but I did pop round to their places after they had their babies with a present, and food for the parents.
If anything, I think that’s more useful, friends bringing you food after you bring the baby home. A couple of friends did that for me and it was great. I also had two friends come over weekly and bring us all takeaway. That was my weekly social event sometimes. Being a new mum, especially a single mum, can be quite isolating.
I recently read about a poem a woman who’d just had a baby shower sent to those who didn’t attend trying to guilt them into buying a gift for the baby. Read it for yourself. It has to be seen to be believed.
I hope it’s a hoax, but unfortunately it’s probably not.
If, god forbid, one of my friends or acquaintances did something similar to me they wouldn’t be on the friends list any more. Some of the commenters were suggesting sending an equally passive aggressive poem back but I would just ignore it and fade out of their lives. If that’s all they saw me for, a present giver, then they’re not worth it.
What’s your thoughts on baby showers, and/or the supply of food when you’ve got a new baby?
A few weeks ago I had a childfree weekend. I spent it with 20 other women for three nights and it was just what I needed at the time.
These photos have nothing to do with that weekend except that the photo subjects were in the yard of the farm house that we stayed in.
I can’t express how fantastic it was to spend a weekend with some really good mates – no men and no children. If this isn’t something you do – THEN YOU MUST DO IT.
Going to Womadelaide this weekend was the perfect antidote to a bloody busy and stressful week.
A few weeks ago I happened upon a house I liked, went to see it, made an offer and the offer was rejected. I looked back at that house and missed it even though I’d only visited it once. I didn’t dwell on it heaps but just over a week ago the real estate agent contacted me to ask if I was still interested.
I was, so I went back to have another look. I took a friend and she and I both noticed a few things that would need fixing.
I stayed with my offer and a few days later it was accepted.
I contacted a building inspector who I’ve used before who just happened to have already inspected that house so he briefly told me his findings and when my offer was accepted sent me the report. As he didn’t have to physically do another inspection I got a cheaper rate for his report.
After evaluating the report, speaking to him, speaking to others, I pulled out of contract during the cooling off. Besides what needed fixing in the house I would have had to rent it out for up to a year while my house is sorted out. There’s some council stuff happening at my house which could affect me, and affect a sale until I know one way or the other.
While all this was going on I had a job interview to prepare for, and my son to get ready for a scout camp this weekend. So by Friday night I was physically and emotionally exhausted.
I always love the atmosphere at Womad and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a well-oiled machine – the organisation of it all.
I had a massage not long after I got there and that helped set the tone for the rest of the day for me. It was a bit warm but there’s plenty of shade and free sunscreen near the first-aid tent if you forgot to put sunscreen on your feet like I did.
Sunday night is parade night and it’s a sight and sound spectacular.
There were definitely some music highlights too. We left there 12 hours after arrival feeling very satisfied.
