Workflow
You know the kind of thing. We settle into a kind of routine and in a surprisingly short time, get used to it so much that we hardly think about what we are doing. In my professional life, I'd be referring to unconscious competence but here at home, I just think of it as doing what I do. From time to time though, I find myself a bit challenged when I need to make some changes.
A couple of weeks ago, I was looking at my blog and thinking it could do with a spruce up. It's not that I feel the need to go with any design trends, to keep up with fashion or embed any clever functions in it, but slowly, the programs I've been using are being discontinued or superseded by newer editions. Though I don't necessarily need the newest, latest program and frequently resist the continual pressure to upgrade, from time to time I'm reminded of the fact that I might be missing out on a useful improvement.
Of course, there is also the creeping realisation that by being resistant to change, I run the risk of being left behind and where technology is concerned, that's quite a big deal. I'm sure Bettine would not mind me citing her as an example because she agrees that, had she embraced the concept of the cash machine twenty years ago, she wouldn't have the problem of obtaining cash now all the local bank branches are closing. So settling into a comfort zone isn't always to be encouraged!
Remember this?
It was a conversation with the Microsoft chap in John Lewis a few weeks ago that kick started all of this. We were looking at new computers, seduced by the pretty amazing details of the birthday surprise which my Hero loves to bits, but originally, looking for ideas to replace my desktop eventually. We'd just bought a new smart TV and chatted about it being a computer in our sitting room, even if we didn't quite think of (or use) it as such. "Indeed", said Mr MS "you could completely rethink your technology set up".
Well, like almost everyone we know, our straightforward working set up at home has evolved over the years. We each have a PC and we share a wifi printer/scanner. We each have a tablet and mobile phone, have a laptop PC to take on holiday and the house is broadband enabled by means of a fast modem and a new mesh network. We listen to music by means of a Sonos network, have two smart TVs and Alexa in the kitchen. How many computers is that, then? Ten? (aaaagh!) Eleven?!
The JL/MS chap described an alternative, replacing my PC with a simple monitor to whichthe new MS Surface detachable tablet or our existing phones could be connected. His suggestions were persuasive - after all, we can only use one PC at a time and the flexibility (simplicity?) of the concept started us thinking. The real selling point was the idea that we wouldn't need to carry both laptop and tablet on holiday with us, because, my Hero explained, "we only take the laptop PC so Gill can do her blog".
Well yes. Hands up! My current Squarespace 5 blog platform doesn't work well as an Android app. For that, the newer, upgraded Squarespace7 is better...and you can see where this is going, perhaps? SqSp7 has a far more intuitive interface, is more powerful and the design is bang on trend. But it's different.
You might have noticed I've been quiet this last week? So far, it's all been behind the scenes and although it’s almost done, I still have a long list of things to resolve. In my usual infuriating way, I seem to be sorting out change for my car parking purse, getting lunch together, deciding what to cook at the weekend and chatting to a friend online whilst designing icons, trying to work out how to edit a website menu and identifying fonts.
Before too long, I might have to hit "publish" and be delighted!
Fingers crossed. Everything crossed! I'm holding my breath and making long lists.
