bookmark_borderAlmost, but not quite…

Still got a couple of things to sort here, I tried to add a stylesheet switcher but couldn’t get it to work, initially it’ll only offer the same look but with a bigger font size (for my visually challenged readers). I’ve shuffled a few things around, and you may need to refresh the page to get the banner (above) to display properly, but I’m quite happy with the results – I’ve still to go through the rest of the site but it all works. One ‘funny’ is just how different it looks here on my work laptop as opposed to my home LCD. The colour tweakage may continue…

Ohh and there is a slight glitch with the Show/Hide Blogroll, in that you have to click it twice to get it to work but that was a fudge at best so it’ll need to do. And no, it doesn’t ‘remember’ it’s settings, but I’ve hidden the archives by default as I’m guessing most people will use the blogroll a lot more than the archives? Right?

Now, can anyone say Scottish Blogs BETA? Or, My Kinja?

UPDATE: The Scottish Blogs BETA isn’t fully operational – there are only 8 or so sites in the database, the “Add Your Site” form doesn’t work properly as yet, and the member login isn’t in place and… a few other things I can’t remember. I’m posting the link to try and put some pressure on myself to get it finished.

bookmark_borderAlready?

Zip whoosh clang kerplunk

The past couple of days and nights have been a bit of a blur as I bury my head in a. work and b. Scottish Blogs.

Work is work, and we don’t talk about that here in any depth so I’ll just say PPFFFFTTTTTT!!!!! and be done with it.

Scottish Blogs is almost there… and then not quite. Two steps forward, one back at the moment, but I’m enjoying getting my hands all mucky with PHP. Ohh and the domain has now been transferred, after all my ranting it was pretty simple.. but could’ve been a lot easier.

Ohh and whilst I remember, thanks to everyone for their hosting suggestions. I’m already sold on 123-reg.co.uk for handling domain names (cheaper than simply.com by 50p!!) and will either head to 34sp.com or Hosting Unlimited for hosting but I’ll decide on that later.

Now, roll on payday and I’ll reveal the .com, .co.uk, .net decision.

Right, I’m off for a Guinness. Sláinte!

bookmark_borderReady for my closeup

How this came about.

An email pops into my inbox. A lady at the BBC would like to speak to me about an upcoming item for Radio Scotland. Me? Really? Finally! I’ve been found, plucked from the masses to be elevated to the higher echelons of society. It’s art you see, well the “Arts Show” sweetie, darling, mwah mwah (sorry J Mo!)

So I call Vivienne from the BBC and she tells me she’s a researcher and wants me to talk about influences, Scottish Blogs and read a few snippets from my site. Excitedly I say “Yes of course!” whilst leaping up and down like a demented Jack Russell. Fame! Infamy? (they’ve all got it…).

We chat a bit about Rebecca Blood, Scottish Blogs and why I started. She’s delighted and says she’d love me to come into the studio to record a few bits and bobs for the ‘piece’ (unlike American movies this is not a gun, nor like Scottish lunchtimes is this a sandwich, it is a radio term for filler content… I think…). We agree times and she says she’ll confirm by email.

A couple of days later another email from Vivienne at the BBC arrives. Alas my inner gadget freak is to be disappointed, I’m not required to come to the studio, I can just phone her and she’ll record it that way. Slight disappointment is replaced with a small knot of anxiety… What if I sound terrible? What if I muck it all up and they can’t use any of it? Deep breaths now. Relax. You’ve done this before, admittedly on a smaller scale but it’s hardly a life altering event. There, you look much better now you’ve stopped dragging air in and out of that paper bag.

The day arrives. I’m surprisingly calm. I’ve read (ok, AND edited) the posts to be recorded. I’ve a rough idea what to say having gone over some of the other questions we chatted about. Everything will be fine. The phone rings. I pause, letting it ring twice then answering on the third ring (no I dunno why either but I do remember making a conscious decision to let it start it’s third ring.. weird, no?).

And it starts, everything goes well, I only stutter once, and know to pause before restarting to make it easier to be edited (old pro that I am). The main pieces done, the ‘interview’ bit starts and I talk about Scottish Blogs, why I started and a couple of other things that weren’t broadcast.

Then she asks “And does your wife read the site?”. Unrehearsed! Cold panic.

Hearing it back it should be fairly obvious that I stumbled through that part, it sounds clumsy to my ears anyway, but then everyone is their own worse critic. I’ll clarify what I was trying to say at a later date I think… someone remind me.

Then all of a sudden, well twenty minutes later, it was all over. Done. Finished. In the can.

“Ohh that was brilliant!” she enthuses. I blush slightly, but it was nice of her to say it (now if she’d only remembered to tell me that it would definitely be broadcast LAST Tuesday but she was on holiday so I’ll forgive her – hey, I’m a sucker for a cute voice..).

Note – in case you can’t be bothered listening to my drone – this is an ongoing ‘series’ of pieces about blogging, Tom Watson MP will feature and you’ve already missed a blogger from Chicago.

Impressions? Well I’m not sure how interesting it is to people who don’t have a blog and don’t ‘get’ why people would even want one (my wife half falls into that category – tolerant understanding I call it) but it’s good to see the phenomenon noted and given some space. Only suggestion would be to allow the blogger to choose the pieces to be broadcast, within agreed limits or something, or at least allow them to put forward 3 or 4 to be considered, if you are having an unusually bad, or good, week then it almost seems like cheating as people may visit your website expecting one thing and getting the other… but then what do I care? It’s my website… right?

Still, it was fun while it lasted but now the spotlight is swivelling away, searching out the next shining star to highlight. So what next? I’ve been in a magazine, in a book, and on the radio… TV is the last bastion of blog-related fame left to me!

I’m off to call my agent.

bookmark_borderHosts

[insert stream of vitriol]

I had/have four domain names managed by my current host. I’ve cancelled two of them recently as they were just a bit of silly fun (if you want monkeybombing.com or galactictossmonkeys.com they will be available soon), the other two are for this site and scottishblogs.co.uk. I also use the same company to host the content for both of these sites.

I’ve managed (well I was very generously offered) some server space and decided to move the Scottish Blogs site there. So, I thought to myself, I’ll just get the domain name pointed at my new host (this consists of changing something called a nameserver, at the moment scottishblogs.co.uk will be pointing at nameserverABC, I want to change it to point at nameserverXYZ – the nameserver then processes requests for the domain name and points them at the actual files that make up the site… still with me?). Sounds simple enough – change ABC for XYZ – yes?

Seemingly, and I’ve yet to get an answer to WHY, my current host can’t change nameservers for .co.uk domains. Arsebuckets.

So I’ve signed up with 123-reg.co.uk and cancelled the contract for Scottish Blogs. If the following means nothing to you let me summarise.

I own the domain name scottishblogs.co.uk. If I want to change it I should be able to. Nominet agree, my host 1&1 don’t. I’ve written to both parties to get more information about this, and I will be hitting the forums soon.

I’m majorly pissed off about this. I’ve been happy enough with 1&1 but now want nothing more to do with them, I’ve had several emails and phone calls with their support staff who have been rude, and completely useless. Yes, there prices and packages are very good but if they don’t have the support to back it up then I’ve no choice but to look elsewhere, and if they can’t even manage to change a nameserver… well it looks like I’m looking for a new host for this site.

Any suggestions? 123-reg.co.uk offer a hosting package which I’m considering. All I need is PHP support, and a couple of email addresses, space and bandwidth aren’t too much of an issue.

bookmark_borderMental Ants

(blame that GreenFairy wummin)

I hardly know where to start. Zip, whoosh, zoom. I’ve got a million and one thoughts flying about my head at the moment. A couple of things have cropped up that are demanding my attention, and they’ve kicked off the old ‘what if’ mindset again. Awaiting a phone call, but I’m doubtful it’ll pan out… but ohhh the possibilities.

One thing that is a constant drain is our financial situation. It’s not too hot at the best of times, still paying off some bad advice from several years ago and …. but I wasn’t going to moan was I.. ohh had I told you that? No I don’t think I had.

Yes, Happy New Year. My resolution is to try and be cheerier, more positive etc etc. I enjoy being a moody bugger most of the time but it’s really not too productive.

A quiet weekend ahead, which may not be a good thing to be honest as we’ll end up doing… well… not much, yet again. It was only when I phoned my Mum last night that I realised how little we do. I vow to get out more, go for walks, get to the cinema and all that. As long as it doesn’t cost money.

In a similar vein, and I remember feeling the same way last year, I’m looking forward to spring in our garden. There is still a lot of heavy work to do, hang the garden gate we bought when we moved in, landscape the front garden ready to plant up the conifers and heathers we’ve been accumulating, clear out the rubbish behind the garage (we never see it but I noticed the neighbours have tidied up on their side so I guess we’d better make the effort too). Of course looking forward to something is one thing, doing it quite the other.

I also have some personal news that I can’t mention here because the person involved wants to keep it quiet for the meantime. Louise is heavily involved and we are both delightfully happy for her but… well I’ve said too much already. It does add a little pressure to the whole diet thing mind you, but may just be the kick up the arse I need.

Scottish Blogs has stalled, but is beginning to pick up speed again. Ohh and that ‘item’ I mentioned – more on that over the weekend.

So, that’s the State of the Union of Me. Now I’ve just got to figure out what prompted it…

In the meantime, don’t miss what may possibly be the final ever cocktail session at Uborka.

bookmark_borderShush

Working from home has bonuses, I’m finally making in-roads to a business case I’ve been at for the past two weeks and getting some peace and quiet to read some specifications (yawn), it also means I’m not spreading germs about the place… yes that annoying phlegm has ganged together to become a cold.. how nice…

Downside is the impromptu meetings and conversations you miss meaning I’ll spend Monday morning wondering what everyone is talking about.

Other things ‘to be done’:

  • Recovering my music files from iTunes ‘reorganisation’.
  • Reworking existing playlists (and adding a few more)
  • Hospital Radio Lennox re-design (as I’m getting content for it now)
  • Scottish Blogs re-design – aiming for more of a directory with the webring taking a back seat I think… think… suggestions welcomed..
  • Myowncdrom re-design – never was happy with that version.. but then I didn’t really design it…
  • Tidy this office (it’s a pit!)

Just as well we don’t plan on going far this weekend.