Category: Diary

Yes, I know it’s geekish but I love getting a new manila folder and setting it up for the tax year ahead. Dates go on the tab and a check list of all the things I’ll need for next year’s return is written on the front. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve done this now but it’s a ritual that has become one of my favourite moments of the year. I think it has something to do with my love of numbers, making lists and collating.

I should have listened to my mother, I would have made a great accountant.

Things have been busy here. Since their birthday the twins have been quite industrious and have opened their own businesses.

For Mr Henry it’s always safety first at his work bench.

Please don’t tell Brimbank Council but Moo has opened an exclusive cafe in her bedroom.

I’m wondering if I should move to America for an hour or so. I’m reading Last Call by Daiel Okrent, a fantastic read about the prohibition era in the US. My only problem is that it’s a book, a real paper one, and I’m struggling. I’ve blogged before about how I love my Kindle and now I’m beginning to realise it really has changed how I read.

I swear if I had the book on my Kindle I would have finished it by now, as it is I’m less than a quarter of the way through. The Kindle version isn’t available to Australian residents but I’m reliably informed that if I change my address online I’ll be able to purchase it as an e-book. So, what do you think? On this 4th of July should I move to the US for a few minutes so I can get the book finished?

Ah, the joy of being dad to Lego loving kids. Henry received this set from Nana Lois for his birthday so we got to sit and make it this morning. Unlike other other airlines this one has CASA, and Henry, approval.

Four years ago today our beautiful twins were born.

Mr Henry and Miss Kennedy, happy birthday.

You just know those days, the ones that start off bad and continue on down? Yep, welcome to today. However there may be hope.

After a morning of yelling, screaming, generally feral children it was time to drop Bert off to school. Everybody in the car, turn the key. Turn the key. Turn the key. Nothing. Bloody flat battery on the last morning of school for the term. Right, just enough time if we hustle to walk to school so off we go. Five meters in and Mr Henry lands flat on his face. Sorry Mr, no time for sympathy today Mr. Around the corner and we’re powering along when a car pulls up.

“Excuse me, do you want me to drop Albert off to school?”

Yes, Valarie’s mum to the rescue! Valarie is in Bert’s class. I’m now very grateful that  Bert is a lot more social than his dad ever was. I’m taking this as a sign that a day that was heading downhill pretty quickly has turned around. Thanks Valarie’s mum.

Look what I got in the mail today – my very own knitted TARDIS Kindle cover.

Mum, you rock!

I’ve had my Kindle for about six months now and have to say it’s one of the best gadgets I’ve ever bought. It took me a little while to get in to it, even though I could see how good it was but now I’m a confirmed Kindleite. The conversion has come about as I make my way through all of Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus novels, in order, and on the Kindle. I started reading Rebus at about the half way mark of the series so my understanding of his timeline was way out. Rebus’ history is making a lot more sense now and, who would have thought, reading the books in order gives you a real sense of growth of in the recurring characters. I’ve just read the 5th of 17 novels. Number 6 will come after a short break while I tackle a non-fiction work on the prohibition era in the US.

What do I like about the Kindle? Glad you asked. I love that’ it’s so slim and easy to take with me, although I don’t have to take it out of the house to keep on reading if I don’t want to. It has a fantastic form factor and is so much easier to hold than a book. The pages are as easy to read as a book, it really does feel like you’re reading on paper. It’s so simple to buy a book and within 30 seconds it’s been delivered to the Kindle ready to read. Indeed, with one click purchasing it can be too easy to buy a book at times. And books are cheap, cheaper than books from Book Depository.

I especially like that books purchased from Amazon synch across a range of devices. I generally buy the book on my Kindle and then have it sent to my phone or (soon) to my tablet. No matter where I finish reading it syncs automatically so I can just pick up the story on my phone and when I get back to the Kindle a quick sync and it will pick up where I finished on the phone. This is especially helpful because a lot my reading time comes when I’m waiting to pick up Bert from school. I can just whip out the phone and have a good 15 minute read.

I like the count at the bottom of the screen that tells me the percentage I’ve read, love that I can tweet extracts and it automatically encourages me to leave a tweet when I finish a book.  The built in dictionary has also come in handy for some of the more esoteric Scottish words in the Rebus books.

I’m not sure why, and would love to hear theories, but I find I read quicker on the Kindle and seem to take more in. Can’t for the life of me think why that would be.

Of course there are some drawbacks to the machine. One is it’s not backlit (although that’s a plus as it’s no strain on the eyes) so you have to have a light source handy and while not a complaint or problem I’m so accustomed to touch screens on digital devices it seems odd to have to use the arrow keys for navigation.

The biggest complaint I have, however, is that not every book is available on Kindle and not every Kindle book is available in Australia. The book I’m reading before heading back to the mean streets of Edinburgh is Last Call and it hasn’t been released as a Kindle yet. Same with The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. There have also been a couple of books I wanted that weren’t available to Australian readers, a ludicrous situation in this age..

I wouldn’t swap the Kindle for the world, and when I get my knitted TARDIS Kindle case from mum it may just be perfect.

I love working from home, it’s something I always wanted to do and I hope that I’ll be able to continue until they (well, Rae) trundle me off to a retirement home. I love it for all the usual reasons but there’s one that most people wouldn’t have on their list.

School noise.

Today I had the door open and could hear the sounds of the kids running around, screaming, laughing, just generally being kids at play time. It’s great knowing that Bert is contributing to that general hub bub and before long it will be even louder. I’m sure I’ll be able to pick Moo out with no worries.