Two Picture Books : How Frustating August 8, 2006

Two weeks ago I made two picture books as gift to friend of mine. Both I am using different software dan company to deal with it. First, I created a book in iPhoto then send it electronically via the Apple server. The problem I had was the account details. The system did not recognised my new UK address and turned out with an ‘unexpected error’. Dazzling with these I updating the .mac account stright from server. Another problem turned out that my billing address was different with the delivery address (all right silly sod..!). Again the system failed recognised the change and I endup setting my friend’s house as a default address.

Weird that when I ordered it did not let me go through. It just stopped. Really strange indeed. I waited for another 3 days to see any email or massages dropped onto my .mac email. None. I contacted apple customer service which gave an email address. I sent email and email was returened. Again I sent email but now using their general enquiry of the .mac account. I haven’t got answer yet.

Puzzled with these I took a change to order it again in a risk that I might double order and apple ripped my money off. The file of the book only about 17.1 MB which is quite small regarding the bandwith. It took about under 10 minutes to tranfer and went the 1-click paying system well. Done that….finished? Nupppss…

I decided to go to the Apple Forum to see what people say about printing services of apple. Lots people had a similar problems specially dealt with the server and iPhoto. But for my comfort some reader gave another printing company that provide good printing services. One of them is MyPublisher. I found it great because they provide plug in to iPhoto to order the book direct to their server. Anyway I will try their service next time as they gave discount for the first order just in case I want to publish my own blog book.

Another book I created using BookSmart from Blurb. This company introduced by tWIT (or Mac Break not sure..) Podcasting program. Based in California Blurb gave more freedom to create wonderful picture book. It won’t take very long to actually setting up as your pictures ready after I did some editing on it before -this could take longer though. The problem was about sending file to the server. It was 88.7MB for 24high quality pages took …unbelievable 2 hours !!!

The other problem was their service only covers USA and Canada, also receive billing/delivery address in both country. But their team was great and really helpful. They put me through (oh..with a funny US address) with little less money than the UK apple. I was not happy with the .mac services in UK as Apple should provide better services for their applications market (uh.. I remember how Steve Jobs did it front thousands people at WWDC 2005).

As I wrote this, I am waiting two books on the hand of my friends. Most will need at least three days to see the result. Pfuhhh….. I am not relieved yet.

Welcome to Weymouth May 24, 2006

England appeared to be friendly for me. It was cold, oh yeah for 12C it must be nice for Briton. Little bit windy but many rains. Spring nearly end to see more sunshine in the summer. Talking about weather is always interresting for British people. You can start conversation with, ” It’s a nice day, isn’t ?” and cheer up for the whole day, even when the weather become dull and grey-ish.

I enjoyed little walk in the Weymouth town. It lied just by the beach, also known for the fisheries. There is the curves of Georgian Esplanade that looks out over Weymouth Bay. Weymouth is best visited in summer. In the Victorian era this place was a favorite holiday including King George III. Also the town played a key role in the D-Day invasion of World War II. It’s busy with ferry connection to Channel Island and France.

Not far from Weymouth there is Portland which is famous for the Chesil Beach -forms of pebbles stretched nearly 18miles along. I was there few years ago. It was lovely. The beach really clean and the waves attracks wind surfers or surfers (the difference of the two is the board attached with sail for the wind surfer).

On Saturday I had nice walking up to Osmington Mills which is only about two hours easy route. We went just right behind the Smuggler Inn then continued up hill along the beach line. It was fantastic day. Walking in the British country site was always inspiring. The hundred years houses, the fields, the cows, the meadows and smell of the flowers.

After little walk we managed to get some ‘decent’ food : the fish’n chips. This dish is famously for take away on day-out. Chips (or french fries) is basically deep fried potatoes. And cod fish with battered then fried in high temperature created crispy coating and lovely texture. Sometimes served with boiled peas, or if you wish add curry sauce/chili sauce on it.

I almost forgotten about British food. After been indulged with so many options of Asian food in Singapore, here we don’t have many choices. You’ve got to be careful with your diet or you end up being supersize me.

Also I managed to watch the Da Vinci Code in the local cinema. It was OK. I was little bit dissapointed about the script. Anyway Sir Ian Mc Kellen was a saviour. The ticket cost me 5pounds compared with SGD$8 in Singapore (about twice). Outrages !

London : not just BIG Ben May 17, 2006

This Thursday would be my last day in Singapore. I will move back to England, Weymouth to be excact. I am looking forward to this as I am never live in southern part of UK. I used to live in Birmingham, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Stratford-on-Avon. All were in Midlands and Warwickshire. What a nomad !

Being in London always enchanting for me. I love the architecture, language and fish’n chips. Most of my adventures in London were either paperwork things (facing immigration officer in the Indonesian Embassy), or having little walk or struggling looking for schengen visas. In London so many places that offer me a new horizon. My favorite actually Natural History Museum and Science Museum (for the genius Babbage Machine) and St Paul Cathedral (for the view from top).

The great buildings such as Gherkin and Llyod Buildings were among them. They are strange, unusual but full of imagination. Millenium Bridge was quite controversial when it need re-design after been found in terrifiying wobble (see picture with people’s silhoutte).

On my arrival day will be time for release Da Vinci Code movie. Some of the setting on the book or in the movie I haven’t visit them, such as Temple Church and Saint James Park. Next : might be going to Stonehenge (ancient rock formations) and the Royal Kew Garden (for their collection of tropical plants). Whaaaaaawwww…how I manage to visit them all ?

Down the Mountain-third vblog June 22, 2005

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Third v-blog. With size 5.5MB won’t take very long for upload into ourmedia.org. Only 1.09minutes long of last year climbing at Nevis Range in Scotland with friends : Debbie and Jon. Learn how to stop sliding from top of the mountain. Fun though…
Taken with Nikon Coolpix 5700 which didn’t work very well at low temperature. Soundtrack : Flat Bottomed Girls from yesss the Queen !!