tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46091181205515059362024-03-29T04:30:08.213+01:00Beyond the Lone IslandsDawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.comBlogger2314125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-78305135567673798672024-03-28T22:30:00.001+01:002024-03-28T22:30:38.505+01:00Printer Trouble<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc2F2i_FLsjmKZfBp0NryYv5Tj37n2TEj6lqUviuCKYPEOUYwORuqY9ZsTqlkqKb30v-XxC-yOahtBBRt5pkwie8G-lkv7DYnIZYh9X_qvYp_0TJ-TMRUfRfCnlA8bSs3HDw79m_EEXkWciTsvXhhW_FvCigMw-UrvhYvysrO14p356RUTzGKUsqz1ERx/s1024/_9881c457-6b2a-4e7f-9697-600eec8f8e6e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc2F2i_FLsjmKZfBp0NryYv5Tj37n2TEj6lqUviuCKYPEOUYwORuqY9ZsTqlkqKb30v-XxC-yOahtBBRt5pkwie8G-lkv7DYnIZYh9X_qvYp_0TJ-TMRUfRfCnlA8bSs3HDw79m_EEXkWciTsvXhhW_FvCigMw-UrvhYvysrO14p356RUTzGKUsqz1ERx/s320/_9881c457-6b2a-4e7f-9697-600eec8f8e6e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">If anyone is wondering what's been keeping my busy over the past couple of days since Monday, the answer is that my computer suddenly stopped communicating with my (HP) printer/scanner. All my "computer time", two days in a row, had to be spent on trying to solve this. It was utterly annoying, since there seemed to be nothing at all wrong with the printer itself. But my laptop kept insisting that it was unavailable, not connected, or "idle". Of course I tried the standard "turn off and turn on again" tricks on both machines, but to no avail. Then I tried exchanging the printer cable (I found a spare one in one of my drawers) but that made no difference either. I also tried uninstalling and reinstalling the printer app, but that did not help. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Had to give up on Tuesday evening; and did not have time
to try again until Wednesday afternoon.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now I got messages saying that the printer was not connecting with my WiFi. But it never <i>has </i>been connected to WiFi... I've been using in on cable, and that had so far worked fine... But okay, if using WiFi was what was needed now... So I tried loooking for instructions <i>how</i> to connect the printer to WiFi - but I could not find any. I was just repeatedly told to do it - but without any suggestion how...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, somehow, somewhere, I must have done <i>something </i>right, because a message turned up to say there was no printer "driver", and also suggested where I might find and download that. Didn't manage that on my first try either, but eventually I did, and <i>then </i>suddenly, somewhere in the installation process, I was also presented with the option to connect by cable instead of WiFi. And then, some time late last evening, all was finally back to normal, in both directions, with both printing and scanning. As if nothing had ever happened in the first place to break that connection...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_KIntxGa4t8bTcQgXaUV-mplBMcPGsOACEiKmMTWNyFEyLNmYZsjL-CEnUJD64z36VuqyiESAG30aQ_WcKbc0n2AA6eWhF25-JTw0dGAqGDBKNq38uej7SaMlpiR97igqYlzbGmjcnWvs7SEYUYLF7GxVq4F9GimN-qtlIDMQneweWNi57xlc74j0JRt/s1024/_d9c79d6a-2016-4257-b1db-4ac0b7b08552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_KIntxGa4t8bTcQgXaUV-mplBMcPGsOACEiKmMTWNyFEyLNmYZsjL-CEnUJD64z36VuqyiESAG30aQ_WcKbc0n2AA6eWhF25-JTw0dGAqGDBKNq38uej7SaMlpiR97igqYlzbGmjcnWvs7SEYUYLF7GxVq4F9GimN-qtlIDMQneweWNi57xlc74j0JRt/w400-h400/_d9c79d6a-2016-4257-b1db-4ac0b7b08552.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Now I only wish I could retrace my steps properly and write it all down (in case it happens again) - but the truth is I still don't know neither what went wrong in the first place, nor what I finally did right to get back on track. (I do have my suspicions that a background Windows update may have been what caused the breakddown. But I can't prove it...)</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today I've been busy with other things and now it's already bed-time again. Ooops! <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-50572460660543267652024-03-25T19:15:00.003+01:002024-03-25T19:15:48.167+01:00Easter Decorations<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEWEgmmsp8LbhO8PhmnHcBtiiwuxvFRKmdoRHy7gder3fzIVRHxKMjCHKASh0GIxis6WcoXVOQQFQyjEBGLw7y4lQx5XIdtyZ0VUiQUVJn63OeHwzoQZfE487tmrgCFTwTfSfKJPznbGFRrBjjFo9u_QXhGZK8c5mknp-dQHtnJWC17qfZNQiNJfaouTN/s1398/20240321_163301.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1398" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEWEgmmsp8LbhO8PhmnHcBtiiwuxvFRKmdoRHy7gder3fzIVRHxKMjCHKASh0GIxis6WcoXVOQQFQyjEBGLw7y4lQx5XIdtyZ0VUiQUVJn63OeHwzoQZfE487tmrgCFTwTfSfKJPznbGFRrBjjFo9u_QXhGZK8c5mknp-dQHtnJWC17qfZNQiNJfaouTN/w640-h360/20240321_163301.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The top of an old flat-topped chest in the living room is one of the main spots where I'm in the habit of changing decorations according to the seasons. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp1aU6YINTzGfPkERf9yDz-hKuEgzupzlIO9MYpXZK6_R12RPpExtilSMitM-VEyKqBMynx1D4BvhQSfUoQlduiZ5IquIDgLWKpXjEE5aXG80y-B2cGeO2EUjG1F3SDHfcpAP4c5R_IZmYz13XghSe6y-CK6nfCeMgh2saIKoUJh9VA7aoqcoEQCnMm5O/s787/20240321_163240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="442" height="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp1aU6YINTzGfPkERf9yDz-hKuEgzupzlIO9MYpXZK6_R12RPpExtilSMitM-VEyKqBMynx1D4BvhQSfUoQlduiZ5IquIDgLWKpXjEE5aXG80y-B2cGeO2EUjG1F3SDHfcpAP4c5R_IZmYz13XghSe6y-CK6nfCeMgh2saIKoUJh9VA7aoqcoEQCnMm5O/w297-h529/20240321_163240.jpg" width="297" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I bought a new yellow table runner for my living room table. <br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gtMbdPJ2U8f81sUobso4yYPf9pt5dBpVEOUMnySEKeREhqYb_uCzJaaQeeLZrPwleRdKbFBUFQ1ViPzYx4m_YvqIwvi34DeDIxeNQ7lr4-CtulLrnMWdPh8xptRXwPqdOLrqkH6E-bYBazL-fClPiQqEXBn0PX9ySXzu-pH9XN-T75z4sODfCSZ_9sfm/s787/20240321_163537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gtMbdPJ2U8f81sUobso4yYPf9pt5dBpVEOUMnySEKeREhqYb_uCzJaaQeeLZrPwleRdKbFBUFQ1ViPzYx4m_YvqIwvi34DeDIxeNQ7lr4-CtulLrnMWdPh8xptRXwPqdOLrqkH6E-bYBazL-fClPiQqEXBn0PX9ySXzu-pH9XN-T75z4sODfCSZ_9sfm/w300-h400/20240321_163537.jpg" width="300" /> </a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My collection of old Easter Eggs (all from the previous century) is divided between the bowl in the living room (first photo) and the top of the bookshelf in the hall.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOfdQdf-WVWPNQ_JBSTqN_DVH0ruRazoClCc4RMDVgkwwsBQrogDAkRlHAUjEMCFwRr5fLnhODb2uRbIY0RwxR7QIIK1ArYJae98Vg4_rBsGv6WSynN-pSiuJyIiBBjf_fLnBp0rQ4fUzf2sLy99hX8G8QD86zQfc27lcf4gfc3RfJiPFsVVcLh0zpbIA/s994/20240321_164301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="994" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOfdQdf-WVWPNQ_JBSTqN_DVH0ruRazoClCc4RMDVgkwwsBQrogDAkRlHAUjEMCFwRr5fLnhODb2uRbIY0RwxR7QIIK1ArYJae98Vg4_rBsGv6WSynN-pSiuJyIiBBjf_fLnBp0rQ4fUzf2sLy99hX8G8QD86zQfc27lcf4gfc3RfJiPFsVVcLh0zpbIA/w400-h316/20240321_164301.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These sit on the window sill in my living room... <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GZKkPbY97A4o1QZ-x9hrEheclaLr1Y6N49vHsaXhzi4dMzNHpc0D2LvTJxeCgKJW-JMNXOb31wk_GQBEqk8jyeB7OMTJlAx-ijRqLwVgNJ7uhBymsOgWhMkFfgmtz3ju9YDWzr8jy6kqCH76ABJpqShlePspPNrsyhpWODIPVT54TbaSVQzAgTYW-NRD/s944/20240321_164211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="944" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GZKkPbY97A4o1QZ-x9hrEheclaLr1Y6N49vHsaXhzi4dMzNHpc0D2LvTJxeCgKJW-JMNXOb31wk_GQBEqk8jyeB7OMTJlAx-ijRqLwVgNJ7uhBymsOgWhMkFfgmtz3ju9YDWzr8jy6kqCH76ABJpqShlePspPNrsyhpWODIPVT54TbaSVQzAgTYW-NRD/w400-h297/20240321_164211.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />... and these on the one in my kitchen.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkSx36ZdH3NmiftYXQmPxMgAE5kJy_Q1omIJOVuuvFlQ-7d1mLSrvrvLLmM_bpAIBAavScfhxCmoRstiq25GHeElieNkZbp8UUSxjVr106d4EA_IA18U_O2ip5v5jC8OfWwAv-MqnZ0ykaL5CQ4l38eyhOufOHFIlTQ9E8BcbLwzs8GiNqN56rOCp8AYp/s787/20240318_190149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="786" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkSx36ZdH3NmiftYXQmPxMgAE5kJy_Q1omIJOVuuvFlQ-7d1mLSrvrvLLmM_bpAIBAavScfhxCmoRstiq25GHeElieNkZbp8UUSxjVr106d4EA_IA18U_O2ip5v5jC8OfWwAv-MqnZ0ykaL5CQ4l38eyhOufOHFIlTQ9E8BcbLwzs8GiNqN56rOCp8AYp/w400-h400/20240318_190149.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Small daffodils on my kitchen table. This photo is from a week ago. They tend to rapidly grow too tall and start to wither indoors; but I just bought some new ones to replace them today, which will hopefully last through Easter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkxpjkbaaopjCZpqePqVI0c8Wd2Qf2PO8oLFcFosUJouVVBBJazmHGx77A3-Hls3fH9RbOJN1Od4XZhmbvp1h_nPeqFwB3461wGN1cc7v14hRl0dfkVGrLscx7TZ0RyYJqO5lg6gEgRuY1lmu450OEtHjwGAPsvWbHAbvX9SkwBOsmsnF99YBxfN7vrAc/s1049/20240325_152039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkxpjkbaaopjCZpqePqVI0c8Wd2Qf2PO8oLFcFosUJouVVBBJazmHGx77A3-Hls3fH9RbOJN1Od4XZhmbvp1h_nPeqFwB3461wGN1cc7v14hRl0dfkVGrLscx7TZ0RyYJqO5lg6gEgRuY1lmu450OEtHjwGAPsvWbHAbvX9SkwBOsmsnF99YBxfN7vrAc/w400-h300/20240325_152039.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I also bought some paper napkins with Easter patterns today.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOGLtNPp3MvJeHfzcpBpJiz3KFTTanx6ukXPgrOlMysYgHhuHe94cWHAHQKh7bfxjkGe3lw9q7N_aUjw5euGHNCPqGNcr8Ywlvg4uUBzeO6DeeWagTFJsvJQuFYUbcYtVZiNgcCuEdqUY7LWB-jKoGG63wwbCxV1TVCUg-rNBaj1UG331oDXl7Typ7D-Q/s1049/20240325_152026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOGLtNPp3MvJeHfzcpBpJiz3KFTTanx6ukXPgrOlMysYgHhuHe94cWHAHQKh7bfxjkGe3lw9q7N_aUjw5euGHNCPqGNcr8Ywlvg4uUBzeO6DeeWagTFJsvJQuFYUbcYtVZiNgcCuEdqUY7LWB-jKoGG63wwbCxV1TVCUg-rNBaj1UG331oDXl7Typ7D-Q/w400-h300/20240325_152026.jpg" width="400" /> <br /><br /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ6dt_ynGFe70p3bru8v0P8zYGATghHL32bvPIno8Oq_Xcq-IzVQm5G8-1G5A-xtOdU9gbKZan6jVL68nfz0ML5kTr0AAsizz2AP6M1X4MWMkk0zdcxkIbxDUnqidO9k3efEUIx5tnGrzLOIt5sg1XyrBBk2rl7CeZmT_8TF51XhQ8X7Ab_V-Sh6CcBbM/s787/20240325_091328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ6dt_ynGFe70p3bru8v0P8zYGATghHL32bvPIno8Oq_Xcq-IzVQm5G8-1G5A-xtOdU9gbKZan6jVL68nfz0ML5kTr0AAsizz2AP6M1X4MWMkk0zdcxkIbxDUnqidO9k3efEUIx5tnGrzLOIt5sg1XyrBBk2rl7CeZmT_8TF51XhQ8X7Ab_V-Sh6CcBbM/w300-h400/20240325_091328.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And Barbie and Skipper have changed outfits again, displaying more items sewn by my mum back in the 1960's. Barbie is wearing a blouse and skirt in yellow, Skipper a kind of pinafore dress, dark blue with red buttons and decorative red seams. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-22282009896539826092024-03-23T19:11:00.001+01:002024-03-23T19:18:01.939+01:00A Book Fair<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_M-D1_Az-Wm68cFZtxElkl_N_slsfuq8uo6ltlVqiJ96CcoBgJdtatu4odn84ymtGL5HTRumz98ki7OKW-g84rBaIa5HxqyL92d3jac-yLblAHCdPk4nroQ3ub54c1BDrGUMkZD4ruRYL4vaTApgcO2D0QNE0LgDRnSJM8141j1MYqYjlfRmDWOgfVvvM/s1049/20240323_114540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_M-D1_Az-Wm68cFZtxElkl_N_slsfuq8uo6ltlVqiJ96CcoBgJdtatu4odn84ymtGL5HTRumz98ki7OKW-g84rBaIa5HxqyL92d3jac-yLblAHCdPk4nroQ3ub54c1BDrGUMkZD4ruRYL4vaTApgcO2D0QNE0LgDRnSJM8141j1MYqYjlfRmDWOgfVvvM/w640-h480/20240323_114540.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This old wooden building in our city centre is used for various activities and study circles etc organized by local associations. A few times they've also held book fairs, with focus on books and authors with local connection. I think the last time I attended one of these was back in <a href="https://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/2019/03/visiting-book-fair.html" target="_blank">2019</a>. (Link to a post of mine from back then.) After that the pandemic probably put a stop to this kind of event for a few years... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I wasn't aware that there was going to be one this year either; until last week I came across an ad announcing a combined <i>Books and Crafts Fair</i>, taking place today. They were also featuring an author, Maria Bouroncle, whose recently published new book I had intended to buy anyway. (Actually I bought her first one at that 2019 book fair.) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Maria was also going to speak about her books today at noon; so I decided to go and listen. I arrived a little bit early and had a look around some book stalls first (everything was indoors as it's still rather chilly here, and raining on and off). I found Maria's table, and there was no other customer there just then, so I got to chat a bit with her, bought her book, and also got it signed. I'm looking forward to reading it as it is about (or is at least inspired by) a relative of hers (back then a young woman) who emigrated to Chicago in 1921. My own grandmother had a sister who emigrated to Chicago in 1902; so I'm curious to see what Maria has made of her relative's story. (My own great-aunt I've blogged about now and then on my family history blog 'Greetings from the Past', while sorting out inherited photos and postcards.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also talked to (or rather, listened to) a couple of more authors selling their books, but I did not buy any more - excusing myself by saying I wanted to have a look around before deciding. The main reason, though, is that I find reading small print is increasingly tiring for my eyes. (There are still a few books that I feel worth buying, like if they're part of a series and I may want to be able to go back to them later and check things etc. But I try to avoid piling up too many new ones that may never get read at all...)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3pROMNfAZmf3g16FRnUcLR_C4fmtriA2X6JYgUfRAasDfbXkc_-tn4bXrnr90t4SqPKKJl1a81oXiANwQchbB5mMVg-outRe3u9UEoHhCYMlJDvDN52_y3LHctgeS6NEmsLapw1qlynnG674KvAUdopbKfH-91-C7GgWB08nJfn93DtpZY4HcAs_-kAX/s767/20240323_121053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="767" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3pROMNfAZmf3g16FRnUcLR_C4fmtriA2X6JYgUfRAasDfbXkc_-tn4bXrnr90t4SqPKKJl1a81oXiANwQchbB5mMVg-outRe3u9UEoHhCYMlJDvDN52_y3LHctgeS6NEmsLapw1qlynnG674KvAUdopbKfH-91-C7GgWB08nJfn93DtpZY4HcAs_-kAX/w640-h428/20240323_121053.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I then went across (a courtyard) to the café building, where I had a cup of tea and a piece of pie while listening to Maria (on the right in the photo) interviewed</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> by a local representative about her books,</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> on a small stage at one end of the café</span><span style="font-size: medium;">. I could only find a seat at the other end near the counter, though, where it was a bit noisy. But I heard most of it ok. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also had a look at some "crafts" tables (Easter decorations and whatnot), but did not buy anything, as I didn't see anything that I felt immediately drawn to. (The best items had probably already been sold - most of those tables were rather empty by the time I got there.) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I felt quite pleased with my little outing though, as I haven't really been "anywhere special" this side of New Year. And before I went back home, I also made a detour to my favourite tea shop at the main square to stock up on a couple of favourite tea blends.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmxJldkEbyHgBElJ1tlytR_6PzEi58F2nuPnkky6dtrO0hP7a15vMDaqYrocMLtLSr8j_5Fx01yY4WqE0WT7mg36ZYhFzyojnQDpPBrcpOjfOEIGjt7lrAW_HHpMXp7fSa41WXZzDQw-mfPwbznp-KZZKS9v3eh_5XpEumx8GYmqSPeqgKPjtn9uAoX1a/s1049/20240323_133210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmxJldkEbyHgBElJ1tlytR_6PzEi58F2nuPnkky6dtrO0hP7a15vMDaqYrocMLtLSr8j_5Fx01yY4WqE0WT7mg36ZYhFzyojnQDpPBrcpOjfOEIGjt7lrAW_HHpMXp7fSa41WXZzDQw-mfPwbznp-KZZKS9v3eh_5XpEumx8GYmqSPeqgKPjtn9uAoX1a/w640-h480/20240323_133210.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These are my three books by <a href="https://www.mariabouroncle.com/home" target="_blank">Maria Bouroncle</a>, in Swedish. (Link to the author's website.) I learned today that the first book, on the left, which I bought back in 2019, has since been translated into English, Dutch and Finnish, and is currently used on a Scandinavian Crime Literature course at the University of California in Los Angeles. It's </span><span style="font-size: medium;">available for Kindle on Amazon, entitled: <i>It Came to me on a Whim - The Story of Ingeborg Andersson, Child Murderess</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The second book is about to be published in Finnish as well - that one is about a little girl from Finland who came to stay in Sweden during WW2. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hopefully the third book will also later be translated into English. <i>(Chicago Dreams)</i> </span><br /></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-74730272871746051542024-03-22T19:23:00.005+01:002024-03-22T19:31:53.765+01:00From Green Gables to Ingleside<p> Auido Book Review(s)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI9RLmkqiQWiTRACMI4wGk-Upx8QAmQ0quDLqE-Zn0DQY_alEcHF_LFvBXt5Gc1b5RebB-Gkq3m7M_iznd0mXOesnoWqGJjUlm0P1BXVPxq0CLGA-lREA5WAQLSugj8QDhP5YepKhy0iSXZUcrJq5QWpKbo0KKPH4h2_JY0_8ejMdYgEy5pYjrmRvI_8X/s500/41prfrNyecS._SL500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI9RLmkqiQWiTRACMI4wGk-Upx8QAmQ0quDLqE-Zn0DQY_alEcHF_LFvBXt5Gc1b5RebB-Gkq3m7M_iznd0mXOesnoWqGJjUlm0P1BXVPxq0CLGA-lREA5WAQLSugj8QDhP5YepKhy0iSXZUcrJq5QWpKbo0KKPH4h2_JY0_8ejMdYgEy5pYjrmRvI_8X/w320-h320/41prfrNyecS._SL500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Anne of Green Gables - The Collection</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Author: <i>Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942)<br /></i>Collection of six books written between 1908-1921<br />Audio books narrated by: <i>Beth Kesler (2021)</i> <br />Total length: <i>55 hrs 18 min</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">(<b>Note:</b> The same collection is available for Kindle, for less than 1 dollar.)</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I listened to the whole Audible collection during February and into the month of March. The original Anne of Green Gables book I have read many times. The second and third I've read before as well, but never the last three. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALyna8dsLbPnXs8f7U4P1_vgi6H0qKbQ8qj7Vj84BzMdLJcbVRHXIYCPGar3v7Y9FY8nBmqJsmSJNImNXXysqkBazYyQPn1sTxrNIDCxlLKAgPgNsjiozZ_flLrW6hlpvTclKqB-WXTlncKfnL_MSSFWNW3NGiUppiuiYltsK3Nz7j4uiwFk6wstHVy02/s750/20240322_185055.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="532" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALyna8dsLbPnXs8f7U4P1_vgi6H0qKbQ8qj7Vj84BzMdLJcbVRHXIYCPGar3v7Y9FY8nBmqJsmSJNImNXXysqkBazYyQPn1sTxrNIDCxlLKAgPgNsjiozZ_flLrW6hlpvTclKqB-WXTlncKfnL_MSSFWNW3NGiUppiuiYltsK3Nz7j4uiwFk6wstHVy02/w227-h320/20240322_185055.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Swedish copy of <i>Anne of Green Gables </i>from the 1960s</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Book 1: Anne of Green Gables (1908)</i></b>, is a well known classic; and for me it's one I've kept returning to now and then over the years, ever since I first read it in my pre-teens. (My own copy in Swedish was printed in 1961 but probably bought a few years later.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This book was first published in 1908. It tells the story of Anne Shirley, a talkative orphan girl with vivid imagination, who is mistakenly sent to live with two middle-aged, unmarried siblings, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, on their farm Green Gables in the fictional town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The brother and sister originally intended to adopt a young boy to help with farm work; but due to a mix-up, they received Anne instead. Anne, a red-haired eleven year old girl, turns out to have a certain talent for getting in trouble, but at the same time she's very resourceful and loyal, and Matthew and Marilla decide to keep her. Anne finds a close friend in Diana Barry, a girl of her own age living on a neighbouring farm. In the village school she's in constant competition with a boy called Gilbert Blythe, whom she finds it hard to forgive for initially having teased her about her red hair. We follow Anne and her schoolmates and neighbours through her school years until her mid teens. Towards the end of the book, Anne and Gilbert finally decide to put old animosity aside and be friends rather than rivals. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Book 2: Anne of Avonlea (1909).</i></b> Anne is now 16 years old, and from having been a pupil, she takes on the role as teacher in the same school - a challenge which is not all easy, but she also learns a lot from it. Matthew has died, and Marilla, with help from Anne, takes on two more young orphans to bring up: Davy and Dora (twins). In their spare time, Anne and Gilbert plus Diana and some other old school friends of theirs start a Village Improvement Society - an initiative met with some skepticism from other villagers at first, but they manage to achieve some good after all. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Book 3: Anne of the Island (1915). </i></b>Anne leaves Avonlea to attend college; and so does Gilbert. Anne's friend Diana stays behind in Avonlea and gets married. Anne makes a couple of new friends at college, and they move into a boarding house together. She also remains friends with Gilbert; but there are also other boys in the picture. Gilbert expresses his love for Anne, but she hesitates to do the same, and prefers to just stay friends.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Book 4: Anne's House of Dreams (1917). </i></b>Somewhat to my surprise*, in the next book I found Anne and Gilbert (the latter now a doctor) getting married. Gilbert is taking over a medical practice from an uncle of his, and finds them a house at the seaside nearby.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">* I say "to my surprise", because I recall in the past having read a book dealing with events taking place between books 3 and 4 in this collection, with Anne teaching at some other countryside school after college. A bit of research tells me that such a book does indeed exist - entitled <i>Anne of Windy Poplars</i><b><i>. </i></b>But that books was not written (or at least not published) until 1936. So I guess there are copyright reasons behind why that one, + another one written in 1939, were not included in this collection. (The earlier six books are now all 100 years old; but the two later ones are not...) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway: In <i>Anne's House of Dreams</i>, Anne and Gilbert get married, move into a little house at the seaside, and are making new friends in their new neighbourhood. Anne also gives birth to their first child - a girl who sadly dies shortly after birth. This loss brings Anne close to a neighbour, Leslie, who has suffered some tragedies of her own, being trapped in a love-less marriage. As a young girl Leslie was forced to marry a cruel man, who did not treat her well. He was later lost at sea and was thought to have died - but one day came back, now brain-damaged and helpless. His temper is now meeker, but he depends on Leslie for everything - more like a child than a husband. Meanwhile, Leslie meets another man she falls in love with. But as she's already married, nothing can come of that. However, the whole story takes an unexpected turn when Gilbert examines Leslie's husband and comes up with the suggestion that he might be helped by brain surgery. And in connection with that, it turns out that nothing about this whole sub-story is quite as it has seemed to be, after all...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anne herself has another baby, a son; and this time all goes well. At the end of the book, Anne and Gilbert decide to move to a bigger house in the same neighbourhood, with their new baby and their faithful maid/housekeeper Susan. </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Book 5: Rainbow Valley (1919)</i></b>. Again a big time-jump from the previous book: Anne is now married to Gilbert since 15 years, and they
have six children. The focus in this book is mainly on the children; but also on a new minister moving into the village, a widower with four children. The children from both families become friends; and they also rescue an orphaned girl and find a new home for her.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Again, some further research tells me that the author later filled in the years between books 4 and 5 with one written twenty years later, in 1939: <b><i>Anne of Ingleside. </i></b>(I've never read that one. I might seek it out and read it later.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Book 6: Rilla of Ingleside (1921). </i></b>And once again a big leap in time for the reader: Almost a decade after the events in <i>Rainbow Valley</i>, this book starts on the brink of the outbreak of World War I, with the events in Europe also affecting Canada. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Rilla, the youngest of Anne's and Gilbert's children (named after Marilla, who adopted Anne as a child)</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> is now 15 years old. Her parents worry about her, as she does not seem to have any ambitions, and is not interested in attending college. When the war breaks out in Europe, many young men in Canada enlist, including Rilla's oldest brother Jem. Her other siblings return to school, but Rilla does not. She stays in the village, but becomes involved in forming a junior Red Cross organisation. In connection with this, she also happens to find a two-week-old baby whose young mother has just died, while the husband is away at war. Finding no other solution, Rilla takes the child back home with her, and ends up caring for him herself (even if with some assistance from her family). As the war continues, her brother Walter also enlists; and so does another boy for whom Rilla cares very much. Finally her youngest brother Shirley also makes the same decision, once he's old enough. Walter ends up killed in action. Jem is reported missing, but later turns out to have been taken prisoner in Germany, and eventually returns. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To me, <b><i>Rilla of Ingleside </i></b>was the most interesting book in the series since the original book <i><b>Anne of Green Gables</b></i>. It's the one that in my opinion comes closest to the spirit of the original, although it is now Anne's daughter Rilla who is in focus, and is struggling to "find her place, and herself" in the circumstances she finds herself thrown into. And another reason is the setting of this last book, as we get to follow the development of World War I from the Canadian point of view, and through the eyes of a family step by step following every piece of news made available, as they have close family members actively fighting in that war. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Wikipedia article about this book also adds that <i>"<b>Rilla of Ingleside</b> is the only Canadian novel written from a woman's perspective about the First World War by a contemporary." </i></span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-19541494250307796702024-03-19T17:36:00.000+01:002024-03-19T17:36:08.856+01:00BING & BING<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOYqZVm90FnetZIu3vA6-cN5qZpXnhyU0zWYcTgIDvAxQzEVlXvZVHC_8Fm5Qjh2Ia7rO8z1KcC5lVh-26FJwJ_l27Z59d1FaPybqGKjv33DyltVi0RXF8Y_y9hn4eXYllPbrntwhw36xTn7Vhk2D6ibDY4RCQHA5fq_r6yBty0xVPG3GDnk4Qb_4wZF3/s1024/_120a6ae2-a5f8-40a2-b31a-198bf6f95eed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOYqZVm90FnetZIu3vA6-cN5qZpXnhyU0zWYcTgIDvAxQzEVlXvZVHC_8Fm5Qjh2Ia7rO8z1KcC5lVh-26FJwJ_l27Z59d1FaPybqGKjv33DyltVi0RXF8Y_y9hn4eXYllPbrntwhw36xTn7Vhk2D6ibDY4RCQHA5fq_r6yBty0xVPG3GDnk4Qb_4wZF3/w400-h400/_120a6ae2-a5f8-40a2-b31a-198bf6f95eed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In a comment to yesterday's post, Mr Yorkshire Pudding asked if Bing Copilot was related to Bing Crosby. Always taking comments from my readers seriously (<i>hrm</i>), I went directly to the source for an answer...</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Me:</b> Why is Bing called Bing? <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Copilot:</b> Bing, the search engine owned by Microsoft, has an interesting backstory behind its name. Let’s delve into it:<br /><br /><b>1. Dr. Richard Bing: </b>The name “Bing” is attributed to <b>Dr. Richard Bing</b>, who was 99 years old when he reached out to Microsoft. In a fax to Mich Mathews, the Senior Vice President of Marketing, Dr. Bing expressed his interest in collaborating with Microsoft because they had “used his name for our new search engine”. (<b>1</b>) It’s quite remarkable that a nonagenarian played a role in naming a major search engine!</span> <br /></p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2. Origins and Interpretations:</b> The name “Bing” has various interpretations and meanings. One theory suggests that it originated from the Germanic word “bion,” which means “to stay” or “to dwell.” Over time, “bion” evolved into “bing,” a term associated with a heap or pile. (<b>2</b>) Perhaps this reflects the idea of accumulating information and knowledge through search.<br /></span></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>3. Integration with Microsoft:</b> In 2020, Microsoft rebranded Bing as “Microsoft Bing” to better reflect its integration with other Microsoft products. The new name emphasizes how Bing seamlessly integrates with the broader Microsoft ecosystem.<b> (3</b>)<br /><br />So, whether it’s a nod to Dr. Richard Bing or a play on words related to gathering information, the name “Bing” has become synonymous with online search.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(1) thewindowsclub.com <br />(2) letslearnslang.com <br />(3) windowscentral.com</i></span></p></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_TzTQfNK_rCeo0vNBeSvzMB7lCN07kNqSbp68dh9wO7ebAbVR38RxQqBUpI6AGmjtLnLAqCM_1hLNo1zH_gv4mbuQj1ZAtDkTI5B41Yf1vyqtbpNSJncta3NRmHDaxM22-6ql7ayUAOYE4f5cCbRNc-K7q7PkKGausAgufUgu_kwoht3f-5RPOC6yobm/s5120/Bing%20AI%20designer%20at%20work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_TzTQfNK_rCeo0vNBeSvzMB7lCN07kNqSbp68dh9wO7ebAbVR38RxQqBUpI6AGmjtLnLAqCM_1hLNo1zH_gv4mbuQj1ZAtDkTI5B41Yf1vyqtbpNSJncta3NRmHDaxM22-6ql7ayUAOYE4f5cCbRNc-K7q7PkKGausAgufUgu_kwoht3f-5RPOC6yobm/w640-h640/Bing%20AI%20designer%20at%20work.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #1b1a19; color: white; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bing AI designer at work in his office</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />And apparently, this is what Bing looks like. No doubt about it - I got four pictures of the same guy. (He does seem to take pride in changing his shirt every day, though.)<br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Judge for yourselves whether he might be related to Bing Crosby or not. <br />I actually can't rule it out... <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYyTHjlfWJdQd2Vwqo0yeP5LNaLNcSEdE-1CxBnP3N1Qq69i_K7Q170QKd-QXubOPZ9H2N4Va7W4QVL8UWv-vpxh7iaHVLq-E1bnLc0RG0_fqRIyGqd7JZ-rlEaJK_kAm_jUAHT5CQLv9O78vDQNs9Fa4XFSLx4E2Psz5c-hZb2CDiUuMIK5duRZcslY-/s5120/Bing%20AI%20designer%20at%20work1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYyTHjlfWJdQd2Vwqo0yeP5LNaLNcSEdE-1CxBnP3N1Qq69i_K7Q170QKd-QXubOPZ9H2N4Va7W4QVL8UWv-vpxh7iaHVLq-E1bnLc0RG0_fqRIyGqd7JZ-rlEaJK_kAm_jUAHT5CQLv9O78vDQNs9Fa4XFSLx4E2Psz5c-hZb2CDiUuMIK5duRZcslY-/w400-h400/Bing%20AI%20designer%20at%20work1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span><p></p><p></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-64740991668271875152024-03-18T19:17:00.000+01:002024-03-18T19:18:09.974+01:00Yellow Crocuses<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8yS1YZRGHqFLnF2ue1lFHQi_O9m52iWWHnVVZIR1Kspzw-5MhVmh0grGk2M-EhzpbefSr35Tf_-gavgAhvWj9GW82Q3KuLAk0vC-kH9ov-bU13F6dKB_OkDcYkDz-tZhSHeT_vpBR2BiUUM4sh6kEXUM_FZgoTgfw-_KN5CoKx2naCXur-ZhL5JybJYm/s1049/20240318_114953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8yS1YZRGHqFLnF2ue1lFHQi_O9m52iWWHnVVZIR1Kspzw-5MhVmh0grGk2M-EhzpbefSr35Tf_-gavgAhvWj9GW82Q3KuLAk0vC-kH9ov-bU13F6dKB_OkDcYkDz-tZhSHeT_vpBR2BiUUM4sh6kEXUM_FZgoTgfw-_KN5CoKx2naCXur-ZhL5JybJYm/w640-h480/20240318_114953.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyx6voQF46nSFdWvwy8IVxGKY1ROM-mheTEJ4S_8Px4FoySqu9HfCAeW06buPv0xzoXH2vLavh1HGVHd5yGtlpuTFc1r3v3pJeLWib2TXrTXd3RsJqNrNE9dIVfkp3sBxPwGvWeXp8FhGk7eHLTrqNH8cBT48TXp6Uq4nKI3181mKmTyXdUh6bmvd0AV3/s1049/20240318_115012.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyx6voQF46nSFdWvwy8IVxGKY1ROM-mheTEJ4S_8Px4FoySqu9HfCAeW06buPv0xzoXH2vLavh1HGVHd5yGtlpuTFc1r3v3pJeLWib2TXrTXd3RsJqNrNE9dIVfkp3sBxPwGvWeXp8FhGk7eHLTrqNH8cBT48TXp6Uq4nKI3181mKmTyXdUh6bmvd0AV3/w640-h480/20240318_115012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yay Hooray! I spotted the first yellow crocuses today, in a sunny spot in an old cemetery. (Not the one where I usually walk, but an older one, situated a bit closer to the city centre.)</span></p><pre style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: var(--cib-color-syntax-background-surface); border-radius: var(--cib-border-radius-large); border: 1px solid var(--cib-color-stroke-neutral-primary); box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; orphans: 2; padding: 10px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><code class="language-markdown" style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body1-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body1-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body1-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body1-line-height); white-space: pre-wrap;">In the thawing heart of winter's chill,
Beneath the snow, a secret thrill.
A tender shoot, a splash of light,
Yellow crocuses bloom so bright.
They whisper tales of spring's return,
As icy grips of cold adjourn.
With petals spread like sunlit rays,
They end the white and wintry days.
A golden bloom with velvet touch,
Their beauty speaks, yet says not much.
For in their silence lies the power,
To herald spring's triumphant hour.
So let the yellow crocuses come,
And with their bloom, let spring succumb.
For they are nature's gentle spies,
Announcing winter's sweet demise.</code></pre><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> (Yes. It's another poem generated by Bing Copilot.)<br /></span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-30448301991253518232024-03-17T19:42:00.036+01:002024-03-18T19:17:29.240+01:00Azure Skies<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjTJPNSI8LYxT_XTwnKG4dbwd6e8_V_43z06PY8O3wTWTb6YXyj1-HUCUD9ZoN5gjrBEWwZyPrM_rHkpMMxLuvyXPUCOvVDMqQWkN52rPWFnMwa3f-nodyjPC4YcjozgiyX6gIFGkfHRFwIeW7jO6bEfd6zjuszj7l9X4Hm48dz250vc7I6zZK0sPn21w/s1049/20240317_153052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjTJPNSI8LYxT_XTwnKG4dbwd6e8_V_43z06PY8O3wTWTb6YXyj1-HUCUD9ZoN5gjrBEWwZyPrM_rHkpMMxLuvyXPUCOvVDMqQWkN52rPWFnMwa3f-nodyjPC4YcjozgiyX6gIFGkfHRFwIeW7jO6bEfd6zjuszj7l9X4Hm48dz250vc7I6zZK0sPn21w/w640-h480/20240317_153052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Woke up to the lawns outside covered by a thin layer of snow this morning - but that soon disappeared as the day turned out sunny. Good to see a clear blue sky reflected in the river again, after a grey and rainy week. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I asked Bing Copilot for a positive poem about the colour blue, and got this:<br /></span></p><pre style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: var(--cib-color-syntax-background-surface); border-radius: var(--cib-border-radius-large); border: 1px solid var(--cib-color-stroke-neutral-primary); box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; orphans: 2; padding: 10px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><code class="language-markdown" style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body1-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body1-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body1-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body1-line-height); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="hljs-strong" color="var(--cib-color-syntax-gray-strong)" style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle1-font-variation-settings); font-weight: 700;">**Azure Skies**</span>
Beneath azure skies, dreams take flight,
A canvas of hope, bathed in pure light.
Ocean waves whisper secrets untold,
Bluebells dance, their petals unfold.
In twilight's embrace, stars softly gleam,
Bluebirds sing melodies, a celestial theme.
Blue, the hue of serenity and grace,
A tranquil refuge in life's bustling race.
So let us embrace this calming hue,
In every shade of cerulean and true.
For in blue's embrace, we find our way,
Guided by its gentle touch each day.<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></code></pre><pre style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: var(--cib-color-syntax-background-surface); border-radius: var(--cib-border-radius-large); border: 1px solid var(--cib-color-stroke-neutral-primary); box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; orphans: 2; padding: 10px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><code class="language-markdown" style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body1-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body1-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body1-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body1-line-height); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Then I got curious to know more about AI's creative process... <br />Did you know they actually write by hand?? ;-)</span></code></pre><pre style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: var(--cib-color-syntax-background-surface); border-radius: var(--cib-border-radius-large); border: 1px solid var(--cib-color-stroke-neutral-primary); box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; orphans: 2; padding: 10px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTFsIEQJAnRShF997vFuRKVvFxPT5VaX4R62cgcx71MC1fABAuEaFMR1VhanRmj1QBB2ioRd46vhEbKiNjMeEfrw-L3jY2GrpnRt73SslB3ekCJpPrfEnEo8TtlC4nEc6QLtcsyoFV-T-Uij24WNQmj7ZocSQ28cWLmxRSV4516bo9a779W_fga2OwGPQ/s1024/_f2550953-0442-4703-bc84-4527eabff3aa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTFsIEQJAnRShF997vFuRKVvFxPT5VaX4R62cgcx71MC1fABAuEaFMR1VhanRmj1QBB2ioRd46vhEbKiNjMeEfrw-L3jY2GrpnRt73SslB3ekCJpPrfEnEo8TtlC4nEc6QLtcsyoFV-T-Uij24WNQmj7ZocSQ28cWLmxRSV4516bo9a779W_fga2OwGPQ/w400-h400/_f2550953-0442-4703-bc84-4527eabff3aa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MOtTW90dO7YcGH70ppgJ_aKeeAkR5CokugOTN30ejFVuAz9AQAJ_-ECmdm59Se_CIko-zaIyoQnJCidoan7Go0NUWsFhbl5txUV0EMyJcjGC7qMjAaobqpXruxhZJk7qD15Ke5w1yUEeKD0Zaz0esd8V63eEKDZ8Zymuy1_1R9Clg8CmkVUuM6bPrcmF/s1024/_f6efda88-d3cb-44c4-91f7-2cc51e9cd637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MOtTW90dO7YcGH70ppgJ_aKeeAkR5CokugOTN30ejFVuAz9AQAJ_-ECmdm59Se_CIko-zaIyoQnJCidoan7Go0NUWsFhbl5txUV0EMyJcjGC7qMjAaobqpXruxhZJk7qD15Ke5w1yUEeKD0Zaz0esd8V63eEKDZ8Zymuy1_1R9Clg8CmkVUuM6bPrcmF/w400-h400/_f6efda88-d3cb-44c4-91f7-2cc51e9cd637.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjakehuWh23gb1nTKrAmnYiorNuX9vN0F5xu5hdPdI0xVyZZFOJNOVIMsyyCB9qWIXAsORs_CxoLOieq6RkpSS2GeP36Kh8OS09riSuHaykpdcOOL_f1NrixedaBQesvme3LP4PWKztP0AmLlOYKaHT_flnhyphenhyphenvEUR5QWj_jnF4RMpGzkXC2lEO0DnULeo0/s1024/_1ba10743-bb99-42df-afb7-f907eb671909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjakehuWh23gb1nTKrAmnYiorNuX9vN0F5xu5hdPdI0xVyZZFOJNOVIMsyyCB9qWIXAsORs_CxoLOieq6RkpSS2GeP36Kh8OS09riSuHaykpdcOOL_f1NrixedaBQesvme3LP4PWKztP0AmLlOYKaHT_flnhyphenhyphenvEUR5QWj_jnF4RMpGzkXC2lEO0DnULeo0/w400-h400/_1ba10743-bb99-42df-afb7-f907eb671909.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqZgVS8Bx5_sanEBEPi9CL0eVgtIfqmLkaYALjUZSFei0WxDMyb4-7en1htwDETTvA69b2BrW_mL6CwXUTPEoSjbDNcizMUITT6usPdSEj4_F-u-H_R8-6UBCYdrLffIYgLE_SsxFZ0EX2WFMvH6uvYNz-VWoKqQ05akElfS-ZJSFg1HKNOlr4oVzn-2s/s1024/_e78a254e-753b-4312-83d1-427a739954ef.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqZgVS8Bx5_sanEBEPi9CL0eVgtIfqmLkaYALjUZSFei0WxDMyb4-7en1htwDETTvA69b2BrW_mL6CwXUTPEoSjbDNcizMUITT6usPdSEj4_F-u-H_R8-6UBCYdrLffIYgLE_SsxFZ0EX2WFMvH6uvYNz-VWoKqQ05akElfS-ZJSFg1HKNOlr4oVzn-2s/w400-h400/_e78a254e-753b-4312-83d1-427a739954ef.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><code class="language-markdown" style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body1-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body1-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body1-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body1-line-height); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></code></pre><p></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-35290430241952532612024-03-14T20:00:00.001+01:002024-03-15T11:34:44.220+01:00Reading Difficulties<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhyphenhyphenTQYqe6A-LwkeqwTyyaIB9z6uGekHU-aNLtcP4Js0I5uCuIgaTBMe_CcAJtvxOnwW-2TIzY41ZGuHu85Wb2q2UJwYzCkh9NEJt0gJp_OEeiihb6v_UEQj8Dklwzv3VIq2DvgI-xVcReBUZAWYIJMNuWZ19Sq6OTCdg0mjxp_136F9gBmlWh3U5tjq6U/s5120/240314%20reading3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhyphenhyphenTQYqe6A-LwkeqwTyyaIB9z6uGekHU-aNLtcP4Js0I5uCuIgaTBMe_CcAJtvxOnwW-2TIzY41ZGuHu85Wb2q2UJwYzCkh9NEJt0gJp_OEeiihb6v_UEQj8Dklwzv3VIq2DvgI-xVcReBUZAWYIJMNuWZ19Sq6OTCdg0mjxp_136F9gBmlWh3U5tjq6U/w640-h640/240314%20reading3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm struggling to find blogging inspiration at the moment. The weather is still mostly grey and rainy, with nothing outdoors to inspire photograpy (or long walks). It could be a great time to settle down with a good book - and I tried to, as I had a newly bought Swedish book I wanted to read (third in a series). But alas I find myself really struggling to read small print now, due to the macular degeneration on my left eye (with which I was <a href="https://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/2023/12/if-not-one-thing-its-another.html#comment-form" target="_blank">diagnosed back in December</a>). I tried using a magnifying glass, but that's really not relaxing either... However, I have now found the book in question in a special library audio book app </span><span style="font-size: medium;">which I have access to since before</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> (for people with various kinds of visual impairments) - it had just recently been added there. So I guess I'll be able to finish the book while resting my eyes at the same time after all. (</span><span style="font-size: medium;">Reading E-books has advantages over printed books as
well, as one can adjust the text. I still need breaks from too much "screen time"
as well, though - so am very grateful for audio books.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bing AI was in fairly cooperative mode when I asked for illustrations - but it obviously has not yet grasped the concept of audio books. (It seems to think that it involves connecting headphones directly to a printed book... Still a challenge for technology to make possible!) (AI also seems to have certain problems with keeping the rain on the outside of the windows - which luckily I do not...)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-80585200689165067352024-03-10T12:25:00.000+01:002024-03-10T12:25:04.181+01:00Spring Cleaning<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Aso3DJtb5mEpfRxSLhgWe2uKPLcnXeNHCspWt0neJ6OTcDoN98dgfthHRZKiY5VLIrKxNi0pUYKR9zhIdbS3ybPoBNf-cEf654C1gVlJSi1pgjmxs9MDyPMFcXdN-fkAufSC20gzNMG04VPKjBDzT0fLaIz2z2ejyoRMKK2a6V0c96cvmNU_tz4Y3i2n/s1049/20240310_103409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Aso3DJtb5mEpfRxSLhgWe2uKPLcnXeNHCspWt0neJ6OTcDoN98dgfthHRZKiY5VLIrKxNi0pUYKR9zhIdbS3ybPoBNf-cEf654C1gVlJSi1pgjmxs9MDyPMFcXdN-fkAufSC20gzNMG04VPKjBDzT0fLaIz2z2ejyoRMKK2a6V0c96cvmNU_tz4Y3i2n/w640-h480/20240310_103409.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We're still having frosty nights here, and not all that much warmer in the daytime either, unless the sun happens to be shining in the afternoon. Today so far it's overcast, only +1-2C, and bitterly cold winds blowing outside. (I've just come in from a short 20 min walk, mainly to "get my circulation going".) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All the old snow is gone, though, and the street where I live has been swept clean from winter grit - which inspired me to a bit of extra "spring cleaning" indoors as well, this week. Mainly the hall, which also got a new door mat to celebrate. (I discovered the old one was hardly serving its purpose any more as its bottom had started to disintegrate...) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also bought a pot of small daffodils for the living room. They have already grown at least twice as tall in just three days, though! (Photos from today.)<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbhy7C_SCpoK539A2L_ONNwDDQfAptaJbWvQI_WrsojsIdFMrn6jL178XguLkhgGmCBqFT62TBThHN9yfzGYDVgPzpu0UtmGzMdWOFwLOVwrj_U1xcqJPwvuJNMz74fNieYSxY12zg3cpNuDuFKiOcUoJ3suTdvufHy30tieQKPSmuGaB9frXMBTPJug7/s737/20240310_103346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbhy7C_SCpoK539A2L_ONNwDDQfAptaJbWvQI_WrsojsIdFMrn6jL178XguLkhgGmCBqFT62TBThHN9yfzGYDVgPzpu0UtmGzMdWOFwLOVwrj_U1xcqJPwvuJNMz74fNieYSxY12zg3cpNuDuFKiOcUoJ3suTdvufHy30tieQKPSmuGaB9frXMBTPJug7/w320-h400/20240310_103346.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> * * *<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And no, dear Bing, I'm afraid this is not <i>quite </i>what it looks like in my part of the world when we have machines cleaning the streets... (lol) </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUDDQHbzmx2Su4ZArGF2PHOzmLKVTBU0CmyiHZfugB7oUEZE-BeTFyCVEQHBqis3CAwCn-Zx_AgIzmVo1bKT5FvjQAwXKtqkueEBBu5JIk4Zoo50h-LZ697Ig3SsdYTF_Qn4ZRWiUMjLkIuOvhS8eM9n0og46lDiS5VaK5Uxi1fKUzgw01f0z5g8bKzFN/s1024/_85bef413-8f3a-455e-9424-86b27d57fe62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUDDQHbzmx2Su4ZArGF2PHOzmLKVTBU0CmyiHZfugB7oUEZE-BeTFyCVEQHBqis3CAwCn-Zx_AgIzmVo1bKT5FvjQAwXKtqkueEBBu5JIk4Zoo50h-LZ697Ig3SsdYTF_Qn4ZRWiUMjLkIuOvhS8eM9n0og46lDiS5VaK5Uxi1fKUzgw01f0z5g8bKzFN/w400-h400/_85bef413-8f3a-455e-9424-86b27d57fe62.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-28091312640209336022024-03-08T17:55:00.001+01:002024-03-08T18:34:53.088+01:00March 7, 2024 - A Historic Day<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREHcNRPY01TSGxd3kXt6TXQgmankmv_EoN4kiO_771OB-u-3ihVx8i9AKqpfUjgODM0xSnAYq4i4jUvHod8Geh26ic5WKCIFLur9DqJBF9SVUp8cJTGjBL_h2HqQ-M__b-wnOHwqC436rbv544xGr27d7deQykHVV1IhrGcJC6-dX2pWzWrdqoXUkd-Rs/s419/20240307_180119.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="419" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREHcNRPY01TSGxd3kXt6TXQgmankmv_EoN4kiO_771OB-u-3ihVx8i9AKqpfUjgODM0xSnAYq4i4jUvHod8Geh26ic5WKCIFLur9DqJBF9SVUp8cJTGjBL_h2HqQ-M__b-wnOHwqC436rbv544xGr27d7deQykHVV1IhrGcJC6-dX2pWzWrdqoXUkd-Rs/w640-h390/20240307_180119.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE7hrrDV2Kda1gEvscZJvMkULzSNdgKKH1oswJ1Ha7NqNu_EIidK3X4n7HhmAT0VrucPLw5jRXgYuuYcMbe_mmhYY0-quKhbmOhHIQ0thVPeAcnoyNXVbrTsIS_Ye5DCVkLFT4jAW0r-39dWwpQahLD6RgZ30PshlbWjdFdR-U_mWsNUuCPBgvadlHJnI/s1420/20240307_180109%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1420" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE7hrrDV2Kda1gEvscZJvMkULzSNdgKKH1oswJ1Ha7NqNu_EIidK3X4n7HhmAT0VrucPLw5jRXgYuuYcMbe_mmhYY0-quKhbmOhHIQ0thVPeAcnoyNXVbrTsIS_Ye5DCVkLFT4jAW0r-39dWwpQahLD6RgZ30PshlbWjdFdR-U_mWsNUuCPBgvadlHJnI/w640-h354/20240307_180109%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Sweden is now a member of Nato"</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't normally write much about politics, but yesterday the top news here in Sweden (and probably in some other countries too) was that we have now officially joined Nato - every time with the additional comment quoted, that from now on, 7th March 2024 will be "a historic day" for our country, marking the end of around 200 years of Swedish neutrality (even if that "neutrality" may also be, and has often been, discussed...)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The decision to apply to be members of Nato was taken together with Finland in May 2022, triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland was officially welcomed as member in April 2023. It took Sweden a year longer because two countries (Turkey and Hungary) hesitated to give their approval. The issues behind that (whatever they were) were somehow eventually resolved, though; and yesterday the final papers were signed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course various reporters were also out on the streets yesterday, asking "ordinary people" how they feel about it. For my own part, I have to confess I'm still in two minds about it. On the one hand, I suppose a joint decision from Sweden and Finland makes sense. On the other hand, I still really wish that humanity would learn better ways to "fight for peace" than keeping up the arms race...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Mind you, I was young back in the 1970s, which (at least among young people, as I remember it) was a time very much characterized by peace-, disarmament-, and anti-nuclear movements... </span></p><p></p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/MMFj8uDubsE?si=05uNGmoGBdPtLIQD" width="480"></iframe> </p><div><div class="ujudUb"><span>How many roads must a man walk down</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Before you call him a man?</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>How many seas must a white dove sail</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Before she sleeps in the sand?</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Before they're forever banned?</span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span> </span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span>The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>The answer is blowin' in the wind</span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span> </span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span>Yes, and how many years must a mountain exist</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Before it is washed to the sea?</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>And how many years can some people exist</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Before they're allowed to be free?</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>And pretend that he just doesn't see?</span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span> </span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span>The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>The answer is blowin' in the wind</span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span> </span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span>Yes, and how many times must a man look up</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Before he can see the sky?</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>And how many ears must one man have</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Before he can hear people cry?</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>That too many people have died?</span></div><div class="ujudUb"><span> </span></div><div class="ujudUb WRZytc"><span>The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span>The answer is blowin' in the wind</span></div></div><div class="yp" data-async-type="lyrics_translate" data-jiis="up" data-ved="2ahUKEwit3LWXjeWEAxUJJhAIHQnfC7MQqP0CegQIJRAC" id="gws-plugins-knowledge-verticals-music__translated-lyrics-container"></div><div data-ved="2ahUKEwit3LWXjeWEAxUJJhAIHQnfC7MQnc4DegQIJRAD"><div class="Z5umpb" data-ite="false"><div class="XEByrf"><br /></div></div></div><p></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-17757317244527778882024-03-06T21:19:00.000+01:002024-03-18T19:17:54.964+01:00Whispers of Spring<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="message"><div aria-description="" class="content text-message-content" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); gap: 6px; line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); min-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); padding: 0px !important; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;" tabindex="0"><div aria-level="2" role="heading" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Me: </i></b><i>Copilot, write a short poem about looking for signs of spring in nature</i></span></div><div aria-level="2" role="heading" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Copilot: </i></b><i><span style="white-space: normal;">Certainly! Here’s a short poem about the arrival of spring:</span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: normal;"> <br /></span></span></i></div></div></div><div class="message"><div aria-description="" class="content" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); min-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); padding: 0px !important; position: relative; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;" tabindex="0"><div class="ac-container ac-adaptiveCard" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><div class="ac-textBlock" style="color: var(--cib-color-foreground-neutral-primary); display: flex; flex-direction: column;"><p style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-variation-settings); line-height: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-line-height);"></span></b></span></p><blockquote><p style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-variation-settings); line-height: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-line-height);">Whispers of Spring</span></b></span></p><p style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amidst the thawing earth and sun-kissed breeze, I seek the subtle signs that spring unfurls: The crocus, brave and purple, pushing through, And daffodils that nod in golden swirls.</span></p><p style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The trees, once bare, now wear a tender green, Their branches stretching toward the azure sky. A robin’s song, a hopeful melody, As buds emerge, their secrets held inside.</span></p><p style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The air smells fresh, of rain and blooming life, And daylight lingers, chasing away the cold. In every dew-kissed petal, I discern The promise of renewal, ageless and bold.</span></p><p style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So let us wander, eyes wide open wide, And find the magic hidden in each nook. For spring, with whispered secrets, softly calls, And bids us seek its signs in every brook. 🌸</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now I'm wondering if AI creates a new poem for everyone
who asks, or if it reuses ones it has already created for someone
else!</span> <br /></p><p style="font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p></div></div></div></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdV9PXgo95M_H9f5oAGZvQjvRp8W2komblNO9DSKbwrMRtedCwcLiCt1jTqyr2ClrHazu0fyefdkRhqxAMjLPLpYiO2e1eSHV2xInJTnYXjOX5aflOYEKfqQv9OfyWCvR1I2KYuRj5VXfvXuXY2AVZQKu_xbbMlfT7PbxRNaj6I0VgrO04vod5YGcVJfy/s5120/2024_031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3413" data-original-width="5120" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdV9PXgo95M_H9f5oAGZvQjvRp8W2komblNO9DSKbwrMRtedCwcLiCt1jTqyr2ClrHazu0fyefdkRhqxAMjLPLpYiO2e1eSHV2xInJTnYXjOX5aflOYEKfqQv9OfyWCvR1I2KYuRj5VXfvXuXY2AVZQKu_xbbMlfT7PbxRNaj6I0VgrO04vod5YGcVJfy/w640-h426/2024_031.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The photos above are my own, <i>not </i>created by AI. I've not yet seen any crocus or daffodils; but I did spot these "promising" azalea buds in the old cemetery today... (It will probably be a good while yet until they're actually in bloom, though.) </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-87337002202180157882024-03-04T19:16:00.001+01:002024-03-04T19:16:31.316+01:00A Touch of Spring<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1ZLOQuMjQdzsE1q0lW58au6hfYN9hw1weZClU0OjmsP_FQHrbH-WObtQLd0VN6enILf2Kp7ua5VS1yPfT5B7ddNRwx5YOKnUUJNP4Zw9mWeaD3oatTBRPTkmpOqj8YEC0NTwqoQGEmTNIgO8sEJKdtRKIywbp_D8FH4ny8_SixtdjohERcB-AAH-HBXj/s787/20240304_120741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="629" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1ZLOQuMjQdzsE1q0lW58au6hfYN9hw1weZClU0OjmsP_FQHrbH-WObtQLd0VN6enILf2Kp7ua5VS1yPfT5B7ddNRwx5YOKnUUJNP4Zw9mWeaD3oatTBRPTkmpOqj8YEC0NTwqoQGEmTNIgO8sEJKdtRKIywbp_D8FH4ny8_SixtdjohERcB-AAH-HBXj/w320-h400/20240304_120741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The clouds gave way to sunshine today, and that seems likely to continue for a while now - so I was inspired to change to my spring/summer curtains in the kitchen again (after 3+ winter months with my redcheckered ones). Long term followers will recognise them... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also put up these hens (cross-stiched by my mum) on the door between the kitchen and the hall (usually kept open):<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIWuPVg8Xjg1iLAyyAb-KPQpTuypYTXY4JTsC7O1LZVaRr5l4SYh2aGwD_kGwB9hUNv0lOIOTYAY8is4H87joRcfLk_fVER5LRTSoB-CVMaegeLTgwZHeIPeGjx60AwLk_qoHPPhxp99bz7CX6nUF3ptdne3CtPjfANVWU4i3PJbja-Nks_jT7PN5QlOM/s787/20240304_185058%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIWuPVg8Xjg1iLAyyAb-KPQpTuypYTXY4JTsC7O1LZVaRr5l4SYh2aGwD_kGwB9hUNv0lOIOTYAY8is4H87joRcfLk_fVER5LRTSoB-CVMaegeLTgwZHeIPeGjx60AwLk_qoHPPhxp99bz7CX6nUF3ptdne3CtPjfANVWU4i3PJbja-Nks_jT7PN5QlOM/w300-h400/20240304_185058%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Other Easter decorations will have to wait a bit yet; I don't like to put those up too early. But the hens came up as I keep them in the same chest as the curtains and table cloths...</span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-1148066640692716142024-03-03T16:36:00.001+01:002024-03-03T17:14:13.979+01:00I Spy ... Clown Town<p><span style="font-size: medium;">The weather is still rather grey and dull, and nature offering very little to tempt my camera. However, on a walk to the supermarket today I "spied with my little eye" two rather unusual displays... Whether enough to constitue a new trend, I don't know!<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF1oKDy63Q8ovdJwB8RBGfwOhdd3ADrZ-fV_9gIS50phbAuJgqrHB-w3rBM8nj9l3m2oV-TDiyuX_jaa1VpnY82GEVv_D2Jr3DIoneWEQomsHgCMNX4YWHpbq3sPuLD2_djqUJXa5ONKqyge08bfmxJ8dRKCzf9N1i0p557eSrZrzD1Hp_LkIS1EW9WMg/s787/20240303_121423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF1oKDy63Q8ovdJwB8RBGfwOhdd3ADrZ-fV_9gIS50phbAuJgqrHB-w3rBM8nj9l3m2oV-TDiyuX_jaa1VpnY82GEVv_D2Jr3DIoneWEQomsHgCMNX4YWHpbq3sPuLD2_djqUJXa5ONKqyge08bfmxJ8dRKCzf9N1i0p557eSrZrzD1Hp_LkIS1EW9WMg/w300-h400/20240303_121423.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This clown is a well-known symbol for a Swedish ice-cream conmpany. In this size they are often seen outside kiosks and grocrery shops. Of course it also happens that pranksters get into their head to move them - but this is definitely the first time I've seen one on display on a private balcony. (I think they're student flats in that building though - which might perhaps go some way towards "explaining" how it ended up there...)</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On my way back, passing a different building, I also happened to notice these figurines in a window - facing the street rather than the room inside!<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi247NG8aXzob8QKG94GoYRIvHWrYhP81bMWZr4ChAH3QMzVBxm6TGEew5-Cyu958RJpqbIofSxxH5GF-UEHtooPBGKTBrwYZKu6qhOka94VC2tVefrs-Qa886s1sJ_eSI8M5Bs8MhbBXC1sE8qQJj7XBRf7_Rzef0ttcT_6ukvPfynG2mv1V6J21OrBtdz/s1049/20240303_124608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi247NG8aXzob8QKG94GoYRIvHWrYhP81bMWZr4ChAH3QMzVBxm6TGEew5-Cyu958RJpqbIofSxxH5GF-UEHtooPBGKTBrwYZKu6qhOka94VC2tVefrs-Qa886s1sJ_eSI8M5Bs8MhbBXC1sE8qQJj7XBRf7_Rzef0ttcT_6ukvPfynG2mv1V6J21OrBtdz/w640-h480/20240303_124608.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> "<i>A wise man can play the part of a clown,<br />but a clown can't play the part of a wise man."<br />- Malcolm X - <br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“Just because everyone is behaving <br />like a clown, it doesn’t mean <br />you have to join the circus.”<br /> - Matshona Dhliwayo -<br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-91595701498082369912024-03-01T19:10:00.000+01:002024-03-01T19:10:17.236+01:00Rainy Week, and Discussions with AI<p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's been a grey and rainy week, and as you may already have gathered from yesterday's post, I've not been in my most inspired mood. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Before I asked Bing AI for illustrations of <a href="https://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/2024/02/why-cant-ai-spell.html" target="_blank">"tired and uninspired" yesterday</a> (the results of which actually cheered me up!), I had made some attempts to explore another AI image generator: <a href="https://www.craiyon.com/" target="_blank">Cr<b>ai</b>yon</a>. It did not impress me, though. I only downloaded a very few examples:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSxyYm8EF3d1Mmnwd-PEXEqXNBauIhO5blOI6rx2fLnhkjZvQDYXfD3KhZs0RH321ZxLTq2CMBBEEsCITeWTZTAd8ccChvoB2QCdZkmNVhbLSJF7MTT7GHeyzTvGQsCnGmH0Y897ITJ1F8ue9gC7tp_IQytVzZkxXKfVlL1oP2ll9EV_HMM3-kbJWwKTX/s256/aAnjp42WRTmqlPkQaD-v9w.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSxyYm8EF3d1Mmnwd-PEXEqXNBauIhO5blOI6rx2fLnhkjZvQDYXfD3KhZs0RH321ZxLTq2CMBBEEsCITeWTZTAd8ccChvoB2QCdZkmNVhbLSJF7MTT7GHeyzTvGQsCnGmH0Y897ITJ1F8ue9gC7tp_IQytVzZkxXKfVlL1oP2ll9EV_HMM3-kbJWwKTX/w400-h400/aAnjp42WRTmqlPkQaD-v9w.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYbr_iURmMJ2OKCByXlp2J_Z49sW_Qka2DhkIX2OwpiUxZWxdx1kwWRutLXn3tDC9I4KB126SMqXGVqPJdRujegKC9LBvzieTai7gD3DweWm6HbkwB79QlQ8LF81ddF1LewCzGs8eNxSmTabDxYLAgCifb9KlI9T_Zi91HVhPY-NSBfF-hDF33M1Mc81S/s256/l281QVXaSdyr8dfoPChRRA.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYbr_iURmMJ2OKCByXlp2J_Z49sW_Qka2DhkIX2OwpiUxZWxdx1kwWRutLXn3tDC9I4KB126SMqXGVqPJdRujegKC9LBvzieTai7gD3DweWm6HbkwB79QlQ8LF81ddF1LewCzGs8eNxSmTabDxYLAgCifb9KlI9T_Zi91HVhPY-NSBfF-hDF33M1Mc81S/w400-h400/l281QVXaSdyr8dfoPChRRA.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3TASkxzZ-HRhkSIdopNSkCylVe2QL9TZI-jho09Hc_A2_fwa3TM9Efn7P7M-RxQMlpWMIVl11OJ5IhN26y7VZF9u7-VZXT5iqQAq51HJ3paCgUtWg_B-J_aLM7igS3O6sxxp0eQu4c8mEHSUbcj4vNJYhnXq_ag6XD2WeIJplWyE5GqXHwDDjOA-7k8d/s256/ryyY4qwwQ_aoNx0CNLtEMQ.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3TASkxzZ-HRhkSIdopNSkCylVe2QL9TZI-jho09Hc_A2_fwa3TM9Efn7P7M-RxQMlpWMIVl11OJ5IhN26y7VZF9u7-VZXT5iqQAq51HJ3paCgUtWg_B-J_aLM7igS3O6sxxp0eQu4c8mEHSUbcj4vNJYhnXq_ag6XD2WeIJplWyE5GqXHwDDjOA-7k8d/w400-h400/ryyY4qwwQ_aoNx0CNLtEMQ.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YVPUc5_VTumCXXC6MRIbDsBRHW1_Z8ghTdFwUCZxT-HJm5IzzRfjscqnMe6JjofXDdYtZKONXAblacLmlXNt6sLlYI5Z4PxE_plTJVvakpvKIXMjZ58kRowOH3m2lfr2ir-eFDZ-_cKE4NBVUqJ4_uj32AkVzbbJdmgfTHUIyWbK7qoXdfij3lPejCUU/s256/S1KJbtIkQtmwOXfaWnq1fA.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YVPUc5_VTumCXXC6MRIbDsBRHW1_Z8ghTdFwUCZxT-HJm5IzzRfjscqnMe6JjofXDdYtZKONXAblacLmlXNt6sLlYI5Z4PxE_plTJVvakpvKIXMjZ58kRowOH3m2lfr2ir-eFDZ-_cKE4NBVUqJ4_uj32AkVzbbJdmgfTHUIyWbK7qoXdfij3lPejCUU/w400-h400/S1KJbtIkQtmwOXfaWnq1fA.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, it occurred to me to ask Microsoft's new Copilot the question from my post yesterday: <i>"Why can't AI spell?" </i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In my first attempt I'm afraid I phrased the question a bit too personal...</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #111111; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, Roboto, SegoeUI, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Microsoft YaHei", "Meiryo UI", Meiryo, "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Me:</b> Why can't Bing Image Creator spell?</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></p><div class="message"><div aria-description="" class="content text-message-content" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); gap: 6px; line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); min-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); padding: 0px !important; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;" tabindex="0"><div aria-level="2" role="heading" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div aria-description="" class="content" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); min-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); padding: 0px !important; position: relative; user-select: text; white-space: normal; word-break: break-word;" tabindex="0"><div class="ac-container ac-adaptiveCard" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><div class="ac-textBlock" style="color: var(--cib-color-foreground-neutral-primary); display: flex; flex-direction: column;"><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #111111; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, Roboto, SegoeUI, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Microsoft YaHei", "Meiryo UI", Meiryo, "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Copilot:</b> I apologize if there was any inconvenience caused. As an AI language model, I don’t have direct control over the Bing Image Creator, but I appreciate your feedback. If you have any other questions or need assistance, feel free to ask! 😊</span></p><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oops, in spite of the smiley, someone seems to have taken offence... Better rephrase!</span></p><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #111111; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, Roboto, SegoeUI, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Microsoft YaHei", "Meiryo UI", Meiryo, "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Me: </b>Why can't AI image creators manage spelling?</span></p><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, Roboto, SegoeUI, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Microsoft YaHei", "Meiryo UI", Meiryo, "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; user-select: text; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-break: break-word; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Copilot: </b>AI image creators, like any other technology, have their limitations. While they excel in certain areas, they may struggle with others. Here are a few reasons why spelling errors might occur in AI-generated images:</p><ol style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #111111; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: -apple-system, Roboto, SegoeUI, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Microsoft YaHei", "Meiryo UI", Meiryo, "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; gap: 4px; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 12px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding-inline-start: 24px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p style="display: inline; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><b><span style="font-size: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-variation-settings); line-height: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-line-height);">Training Data</span>: </b>AI models learn from vast amounts of data, including text. However, if the training data contains spelling mistakes or inconsistencies, the AI might inadvertently reproduce those errors.</p></li><li><p style="display: inline; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><b><span style="font-size: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-variation-settings); line-height: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-line-height);">Context and Ambiguity</span>:</b> Spelling correctness often depends on context. AI image creators lack the understanding that humans have, which can lead to misinterpretations. For example, the word “lead” can refer to both a metal and a verb, leading to different spellings (“lead” vs. “led”).</p></li><li><p style="display: inline; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><b><span style="font-size: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-variation-settings); line-height: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-line-height);">Noise and Noise Tolerance</span>:</b> AI models are sensitive to noise (irrelevant information). If an image contains noise (such as artifacts or distortions), it might affect the generated text, including spelling.</p></li><li><p style="display: inline; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><b><span style="font-size: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-variation-settings); line-height: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-line-height);">Complexity of Language</span>:</b> Spelling involves intricate rules, exceptions, and regional variations. AI models may not always capture these nuances accurately.</p></li><li><p style="display: inline; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><b><span style="font-size: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-variation-settings); line-height: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-line-height);">Trade-offs</span>:</b> AI creators balance various factors, such as fluency, coherence, and relevance. Sometimes, spelling correctness takes a back seat to other priorities.</p></li><li><p style="display: inline; font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><b><span style="font-size: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-font-variation-settings); line-height: var(--cib-type-subtitle2-stronger-line-height);">Feedback Loop</span>: </b>AI models improve over time with feedback. If users report spelling errors, developers can fine-tune the model to enhance accuracy.</p></li></ol><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, Roboto, SegoeUI, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Microsoft YaHei", "Meiryo UI", Meiryo, "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin: 12px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; user-select: text; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-break: break-word; word-spacing: 0px;">In summary, while AI image creators have made significant strides, they are still evolving. As users, we can provide feedback to help improve their performance. 🤖📝</p><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"></p><p style="font-size: var(--cib-type-body2-font-size); font-variation-settings: var(--cib-type-body2-font-variation-settings); font-weight: var(--cib-type-body2-font-weight); line-height: var(--cib-type-body2-line-height); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Excuses, excuses... (LOL)<br /><g clip-path="url(#clip0_3984_10372)"><br /></g></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-81396589310216358372024-02-29T19:41:00.001+01:002024-02-29T19:41:08.997+01:00Why Can't AI spell??<p> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9TslfjS4m0Mr9hZucdg8DJEjGp7SQ929euFUXUGVOdBP5A6sCYqFh4CDzpSVveTrvQ5y6hh2JnziXaIdrp2ofFPGNwOXT_kKRbaxDsHZHtyHHRObGzE4CC3FF_1tT7tmzQon-ConHYjO94Cxode5GRm-lK0SSkygQREBTpx9HfvkNZs_vw8lAIKJ-lje/s5120/240229%20tired%20and%20uninspired.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9TslfjS4m0Mr9hZucdg8DJEjGp7SQ929euFUXUGVOdBP5A6sCYqFh4CDzpSVveTrvQ5y6hh2JnziXaIdrp2ofFPGNwOXT_kKRbaxDsHZHtyHHRObGzE4CC3FF_1tT7tmzQon-ConHYjO94Cxode5GRm-lK0SSkygQREBTpx9HfvkNZs_vw8lAIKJ-lje/w640-h640/240229%20tired%20and%20uninspired.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-55279791459692712952024-02-28T12:09:00.000+01:002024-02-28T12:09:18.330+01:00Small Scale Recycling<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqvNRWoMbN18TTIbPJc7wOaqwOdRE9gNOjtlSv34FFh0vaE5wJIQ1xXlttawzvi0NWAdjj3njNb5TRhWVYftivwsDNTO6d0lV-Pcg7sqwPwjPSTmkv0y0RU4kL9kHRv4C_T6v4Sen1y3M3I0jD5j54LapSfftarlJH-KePZc1tvoUPAMvoCM-karV7xos/s731/20240228_104712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqvNRWoMbN18TTIbPJc7wOaqwOdRE9gNOjtlSv34FFh0vaE5wJIQ1xXlttawzvi0NWAdjj3njNb5TRhWVYftivwsDNTO6d0lV-Pcg7sqwPwjPSTmkv0y0RU4kL9kHRv4C_T6v4Sen1y3M3I0jD5j54LapSfftarlJH-KePZc1tvoUPAMvoCM-karV7xos/w284-h400/20240228_104712.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember my Barbie & Skipper dolls? Last spring I gave away most of my childhood "collection" of them (six out of eight) to a charity shop; but decided to keep these two + a selection of clothes made by my mum back in the 1960s. And instead of just going back into their box, they've continued to be on display on one of my bookshelves, and I've kept changing their outfits now and then, "just for fun". The other day, I was inspired to make them new casual tops out of a pair of old socks. Barbie's did not require any stitches at all, just cutting. On Skipper's I had to add a few stitches by hand for a better fit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When "playing" with them, I keep getting impressed by my mum's details on some of their clothes from around 60 years ago... Like Skipper's pair of jeans:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-33yrZ9Hf5kPqEfueqn_WTM5329Foi1KTi-d2GTV1KK0vKzk9BToOwDHz9bZ2yUsPeouBunyYxufMgeo3vbJeocxaQGGk66MFt9Sy1WuTH_y51VtDA0E4xOazFVc-y7XvQv8SNZXXu9abVUV0ubIIz2uzeXT_ll6CZPRjcZevBLTA0xFfdkllCLewKSAk/s363/20240228_093717-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="241" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-33yrZ9Hf5kPqEfueqn_WTM5329Foi1KTi-d2GTV1KK0vKzk9BToOwDHz9bZ2yUsPeouBunyYxufMgeo3vbJeocxaQGGk66MFt9Sy1WuTH_y51VtDA0E4xOazFVc-y7XvQv8SNZXXu9abVUV0ubIIz2uzeXT_ll6CZPRjcZevBLTA0xFfdkllCLewKSAk/w265-h400/20240228_093717-001.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In our local newspaper this morning (which nowadays I subscribe to online), one of the local news was that another second hand shop for charity is about to be opened in the city centre (we have a number of them since before, but none of them right in the middle of the city). I have to confess that so far, I've been giving away a lot more clothes and things to collections for charity, rather than buying second hand myself - especially clothes. But I'll certainly at least pay the new shop a "curiosity" visit when it opens!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">How about you? Are there many second hand shops where you live, and do you like shopping clothes second hand? <br /></span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-56827546737289564232024-02-25T16:42:00.001+01:002024-02-25T16:42:32.771+01:00Tulips & Prayers<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHbelO9Q4wXoC5qQCcuHE3Txl-FLxerRIieOuE3oewp_RwZqeHOXRg0PWqXkeLK6P9WkzfDU3lrM-hOjfrr_483wEVv3WM_TItXD0YF6ba-LC5Po35av-nL4GfvY_tzyro5EG8Z-h3zcS1XN_GJID5XTE8Pas8TpJkHHmunX8zOMVVNEVUDoOXZ0aIoYd/s5120/2024_026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3413" data-original-width="5120" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHbelO9Q4wXoC5qQCcuHE3Txl-FLxerRIieOuE3oewp_RwZqeHOXRg0PWqXkeLK6P9WkzfDU3lrM-hOjfrr_483wEVv3WM_TItXD0YF6ba-LC5Po35av-nL4GfvY_tzyro5EG8Z-h3zcS1XN_GJID5XTE8Pas8TpJkHHmunX8zOMVVNEVUDoOXZ0aIoYd/w640-h426/2024_026.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI73gfJVpg41f3293YT55wUjhDcRtef8lC15GsBBAFSO6ulrBkL4kCWXQl0xczFIFp_yhuXD_3O5Ktp3R0AQZ9r56N0yGNnc97ugjFn-vYXU0lCv0rCha7HTaPqGqJbq-04zkeFvmQzcAV1yREPrfBSbd7eRZHi1c8nXotDSirEa7Du4tCZKXyUkNpWb0/s5120/2024_027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3413" data-original-width="5120" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI73gfJVpg41f3293YT55wUjhDcRtef8lC15GsBBAFSO6ulrBkL4kCWXQl0xczFIFp_yhuXD_3O5Ktp3R0AQZ9r56N0yGNnc97ugjFn-vYXU0lCv0rCha7HTaPqGqJbq-04zkeFvmQzcAV1yREPrfBSbd7eRZHi1c8nXotDSirEa7Du4tCZKXyUkNpWb0/w640-h426/2024_027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When in town yesterday, I bought myself some more tulips. They're sold in bunches of 10, and this time I divided them between two vases: one for the living room table, and a smaller one for the kitchen table. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluO79veyzpsr2O1VLBZ9Gb1sj8gO2-_-Nb-0Fe8fl9depnWjxTrmcEm6BGTHwzw-lKtyzfoEd7cm7kJ94ZQqmJAg-zkIcJ4qSwwMNKXKpnBbHiHNeld4ZwsopBXQKQatQQHifVfmIfL6za-Y0NZb8oqvy4WugEXx3cWBnSnbyAymWwk0n6hfhu2nfN7g5/s1049/20240225_133503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluO79veyzpsr2O1VLBZ9Gb1sj8gO2-_-Nb-0Fe8fl9depnWjxTrmcEm6BGTHwzw-lKtyzfoEd7cm7kJ94ZQqmJAg-zkIcJ4qSwwMNKXKpnBbHiHNeld4ZwsopBXQKQatQQHifVfmIfL6za-Y0NZb8oqvy4WugEXx3cWBnSnbyAymWwk0n6hfhu2nfN7g5/w640-h480/20240225_133503.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />My thoughts & prayers just now are very much with a Swedish friend of mine (in another town) who will be having brain surgery (again) on Tuesday. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6elO0pjirHn-nNtGw7UHYT7uGdWLGfsSyi1FzWXP71XOMPD7CNQXaK0miCCJ4lJGElZj72fpe2TaJS5uYtpYj03fwszWmr7s-8rX5gAjI8IYjzNakoQzjfjyFLufquhgOjFW_u2r2WrrhuEPFzqcBAJulJsLltP0EphVWYA-J4cRO_1GYE_j1zqnrlqVh/s3840/Quotefancy-361916-3840x2160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6elO0pjirHn-nNtGw7UHYT7uGdWLGfsSyi1FzWXP71XOMPD7CNQXaK0miCCJ4lJGElZj72fpe2TaJS5uYtpYj03fwszWmr7s-8rX5gAjI8IYjzNakoQzjfjyFLufquhgOjFW_u2r2WrrhuEPFzqcBAJulJsLltP0EphVWYA-J4cRO_1GYE_j1zqnrlqVh/w400-h225/Quotefancy-361916-3840x2160.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /></span><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-43653105706299133502024-02-24T17:46:00.005+01:002024-02-24T17:46:58.444+01:00The Calm After the Storm<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday, stormy weather moved in over western Sweden, and several warnings for strong winds were issued. Train departures in the region were cancelled, as part of the roof at Gothenburg Central Station blew off in the morning, cutting off electricity to several tracks at the station for several hours. Many buses were cancelled as well, as fallen trees were blocking roads etc. A major bridge in the archipelago north of Gothenburg was also closed to traffic. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As for myself, I was in the lucky position of not needing to go anywhere, so I just stayed in. I had ordered groceries with home delivery, which arrived on time; and I also had electricity and internet as usual all day. So personally, I was really not affected at all. But looking out, I could hear and see that the wind outside was really strong even in my neighbourhood (all kinds of debris flying about; but nothing "major"). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This morning the storm had passed on. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">All was still and quiet compared to yesterday, and the </span><span style="font-size: medium;">trees that I see from my window were hardly moving. We even had a bit of blue sky and sunshine for a while. That might quickly change again, though - so I grabbed the opportunity to go for a walk into town again, and pick up a few things from the pharmacy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I could see no major damage from the storm along the paths I walked (only small branches and litter blown about). And the river was still as a mirror - or at least very nearly so.</span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDspPJ6gAHZhLrE44KffVBDt5NMb9Qq9QqEgwEOkEH2TN55Fg_4ikCtr8A1n8k2RZDMMyqojY-myTQ_iCCk8FSI-O-Pc4VlFf-lx9V2iEu1JK4gGVWNgRvR8uUuqmd8gez2CO1kO8BElwwb5ywCtEEhePZxe5RcAow_cpdhbTF65f9F2Ir5n2jBzQSqBgv/s1049/20240224_104451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDspPJ6gAHZhLrE44KffVBDt5NMb9Qq9QqEgwEOkEH2TN55Fg_4ikCtr8A1n8k2RZDMMyqojY-myTQ_iCCk8FSI-O-Pc4VlFf-lx9V2iEu1JK4gGVWNgRvR8uUuqmd8gez2CO1kO8BElwwb5ywCtEEhePZxe5RcAow_cpdhbTF65f9F2Ir5n2jBzQSqBgv/w640-h480/20240224_104451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEImWnxtXp1_6jiGLo1XHODiOxWdQJqkWXAneG4n2-m2TCBtiuQJQ0binQp6axpidgaToc3uJ67bsSBEjqBwq1HevI_1l0DirvnqDOLs9tgttZbdVjwnE8R05ahFxRkd34KC_PihIFYqbm696kwyLxsO0CiTKhPeK7SUy3D-YRkS00dSqP6TyXXv1g1VKx/s1049/20240224_104505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEImWnxtXp1_6jiGLo1XHODiOxWdQJqkWXAneG4n2-m2TCBtiuQJQ0binQp6axpidgaToc3uJ67bsSBEjqBwq1HevI_1l0DirvnqDOLs9tgttZbdVjwnE8R05ahFxRkd34KC_PihIFYqbm696kwyLxsO0CiTKhPeK7SUy3D-YRkS00dSqP6TyXXv1g1VKx/w640-h480/20240224_104505.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLFPHYlybZ1BBu87zdccRgSAcLaG0NSCpphJElMh6mKw3iSpqKokEZJqVXig7jFJ-PjB1cBB2Y1Zw_PdgWfXVq11_0pdcc1Z_AGKbVefz-PD3P18Y4cLfhTgNn0KMyds_me4DycQ0t85LCB3srchgPQ-Y9Cqxxy6ZtQTgN2jfOoR7FE3q3jBZ5XcuwI3_/s823/20240224_112601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="823" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLFPHYlybZ1BBu87zdccRgSAcLaG0NSCpphJElMh6mKw3iSpqKokEZJqVXig7jFJ-PjB1cBB2Y1Zw_PdgWfXVq11_0pdcc1Z_AGKbVefz-PD3P18Y4cLfhTgNn0KMyds_me4DycQ0t85LCB3srchgPQ-Y9Cqxxy6ZtQTgN2jfOoR7FE3q3jBZ5XcuwI3_/w400-h383/20240224_112601.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIMZt3k7BqF9tuE3cwR2EEJ79aWdW90g9McLsE9M6lkQPxGrMFNlMLUuANKDA666isNaw7lQs9eX_nnWiJ7CJqIj0Q46XzgwVj5B7CgWaRPx7ci6a1ig20X50Fuoc01ehPwLjfRrVvM-OlO1rnPj5FE93BIZWwA2zkVPTDMG3AEL-6aU0qNbr8nbxSR8X/s1049/20240224_112712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIMZt3k7BqF9tuE3cwR2EEJ79aWdW90g9McLsE9M6lkQPxGrMFNlMLUuANKDA666isNaw7lQs9eX_nnWiJ7CJqIj0Q46XzgwVj5B7CgWaRPx7ci6a1ig20X50Fuoc01ehPwLjfRrVvM-OlO1rnPj5FE93BIZWwA2zkVPTDMG3AEL-6aU0qNbr8nbxSR8X/w640-h480/20240224_112712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzVgBLQ3tyjvDXjzBv6uHuD1J5-RjXS2diI77lBFzbzObez2dh_Vosb6NIcgfdFCNkZugrvgdZhFbbfn7XZSrsFYB0xBpo8JKvuvyjqiujUWvI2N34AXWTog1d5u6pqR5mbX3iohjKYf_HkOLs1aw_aM8yvz45XxAGJgAb8QJOKm7cwwJ5LY-WTo14AND/s1049/20240224_113050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzVgBLQ3tyjvDXjzBv6uHuD1J5-RjXS2diI77lBFzbzObez2dh_Vosb6NIcgfdFCNkZugrvgdZhFbbfn7XZSrsFYB0xBpo8JKvuvyjqiujUWvI2N34AXWTog1d5u6pqR5mbX3iohjKYf_HkOLs1aw_aM8yvz45XxAGJgAb8QJOKm7cwwJ5LY-WTo14AND/w640-h480/20240224_113050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7Ww2tcT928747AnBM89R8Vo8tzaVN9GrIbw3A6t7aWOkq64nscEVK_SdTVxlAL0Rx15iGqaloaehfHkbur41j-072wfuPGOlP2YxwY6cZXZeeOxMZsP5P24BTvu7n0W1R0W6yQ5WUuaSXyx8D1nyLsqWTfLZBcBtpqQPaDtOt3UNid_x7Th01D5RfyLV/s1049/20240224_112739.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7Ww2tcT928747AnBM89R8Vo8tzaVN9GrIbw3A6t7aWOkq64nscEVK_SdTVxlAL0Rx15iGqaloaehfHkbur41j-072wfuPGOlP2YxwY6cZXZeeOxMZsP5P24BTvu7n0W1R0W6yQ5WUuaSXyx8D1nyLsqWTfLZBcBtpqQPaDtOt3UNid_x7Th01D5RfyLV/w400-h300/20240224_112739.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I even found the first real "sign of spring" on my way back along the river: Snowdrops growing in a flower bed by the river, near the condominiums on the other side of the path.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Linking to Weekend Reflections</span><br /></p><p><a href="https://weekendreflection.blogspot.com/2024/02/une-sirene-dans-le-bus-weekend.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Weekend Reflections" height="151" id="Image3_img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwOMpmpax0RcatGTMplCpXMAMNCFAsl1iYzx1zyRehN1otuMmUfhnVPNJhI-ppt53Luhqpug7-ANS1IJijVdN_MJvueGKNEwhrZBj_bbAV-vvEY8zElQ_wrS_8jCPsVdJWmxfxjmPi_Y/w200-h151/IMG_0624+copy1+Weekend+Reflections.jpg" width="200" /><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></a></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-3968795063884871712024-02-21T21:02:00.010+01:002024-02-21T21:07:09.045+01:00Two for One<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiI66faXaqSqd-PHb_SdHoarwqkcdFCYhQji7UTGa9aBdVxJzMqmN4K5R5LZHbiY0mB9WPAxKaylfLZ7S8KBvf-OeJ6Qbnb4FgElmQfv1e0-i22fRSdljuESM9c70lw7J1fmHiwmOKFfZHmdKkRy6os9JEI0oB-Wv45FknvgWXBnrmt4Q-748YGaqEtwo/s1024/_fe5d761b-a34b-4c29-9a5c-003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiI66faXaqSqd-PHb_SdHoarwqkcdFCYhQji7UTGa9aBdVxJzMqmN4K5R5LZHbiY0mB9WPAxKaylfLZ7S8KBvf-OeJ6Qbnb4FgElmQfv1e0-i22fRSdljuESM9c70lw7J1fmHiwmOKFfZHmdKkRy6os9JEI0oB-Wv45FknvgWXBnrmt4Q-748YGaqEtwo/s320/_fe5d761b-a34b-4c29-9a5c-003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is as close as AI & I will get with an illustration for today's adventure, I think - even if I can't quite figure out which rubber tube in the image goes where and does what... ;)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, once again I had to get up early for a walk into town to my primary health care centre, this time to see the doctor and get the results from my blood tests last week, and discuss whatever else might need discussing. (A standard check-up of this and that.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As with all my health appointments this winter, I'd been worrying weeks ahead about what the weather might be like on the actual day. But so far this week the temperatures have stayed above freezing point; so there was no snow and ice on the ground today. Raining a little, but not much wind. So no problem walking into town as I usually do.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the illustration above, there are <i>two </i>doctors, because while I was expecting a <i>tête-à-tête </i>with "my" doctor (whom I'd met once before, at a previous check-up 1½ year ago, and quite liked), this time he had a young medical student with him, who was to go through things with me, while the senior dr would just sit quietly in a corner and pretend not to be there (but listen in, and be at hand). <i>"If that was all right with me"...</i> And as I do realise that medical students do need to practice to learn, of course it had to be...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And yes, the young man was nice enough. He may well become a good dr. I just really miss the times when I had one and the same doctor for many years, and knew that she actually <i>knew </i>me. Since the last one of that kind, it's been a new face every time for a number of years, and varying routines. Some do a lot of talking and very little listening... This student, on the other hand, pretty much left all the talking to me! (Luckily, the senior dr had not been asleep in his corner, so he did provide further comments at the end about some things that I felt I had not really got answers to...) (Afterwards it struck me, though, that neither of them said a word about the results of my blood tests. But I assume that must mean they were all okay, and did not need discussing!)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As for my blood pressure, that tends to rocket as soon as I set foot in a dr's office (no matter which dr), and this time was no exception. Knowing that, I had actually checked it at home in the morning though, and then it was just fine. And they took my word for that. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Remains to be seen if they sorted out the prescriptions as discussed. (I trust the senior dr has to sign those, though, so no real worries.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The good news (besides no bad news!) was that the senior doctor is a permanent member of the staff there now, and confirmed that I'm "listed" with him now. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nevertheless, I hope I won't be needing any further appointments for a while!<br /></span></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-27832262409734096632024-02-18T17:21:00.001+01:002024-02-18T17:42:07.401+01:00Stained Glass Windows <p><span style="font-size: medium;">The past three weeks or so for me have involved quite a few reminders of "life and death" - either because of recent happenings, or related to anniversaries, or just one memory stirring another... The other day my fluttering thoughts led me to turn to the Bing Image Creator and ask for some stained glass windows - like in a church or chapel. I named certain things that I wanted included (like cross, sunset, leaves and flowers, birds and butterflies); and I actually love all four of the designs that AI came up with on this theme. So I just want to share those with you - with some quotes picked from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/sorrow" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6pty-A1OyrjWUbFSgEYbU5Ax5uZbuG8Hmh9fokmrk9l2XcY0PDVCVWhWdz6cGM_sPRRusW32UIfCPNyJsJrARdxlpULwQTWcyhD34nzoar5yjHgHm0DVzJqG2Ie0gAvkvUGgGZ2P-I07TdHgAg08J_dfJt8R1u92Yxu3zhPE1NppbPm8xQh57Adypo12/s1024/_3c89643b-ad07-4920-9db6-cae285f7a025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6pty-A1OyrjWUbFSgEYbU5Ax5uZbuG8Hmh9fokmrk9l2XcY0PDVCVWhWdz6cGM_sPRRusW32UIfCPNyJsJrARdxlpULwQTWcyhD34nzoar5yjHgHm0DVzJqG2Ie0gAvkvUGgGZ2P-I07TdHgAg08J_dfJt8R1u92Yxu3zhPE1NppbPm8xQh57Adypo12/w400-h400/_3c89643b-ad07-4920-9db6-cae285f7a025.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground.”
<br />
―
<span class="authorOrTitle">
Oscar Wilde,
</span>
</span></i><span id="quote_book_link_5297"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">
The Picture of Dorian Gray</span></i>
</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD038hTXBbIIeV5jC6HpX5EdjLv-1kfL2LVN5Js8-rtpX7-rdDFc_1k8ng856dF05Wm7R5pX8-KmcGqzxuiNH4hR1k_OFKEvqQw4oU8dB0pHJASDF1OSEMkFtlqVFumayfH7wa_5Ne7tOKoy0cckrceMleeKJZK-lPCVXDQDLLlYi28jWMONDbeQ3psj6G/s1024/_9aa5c01b-87b6-4978-a816-50b967d0a34f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD038hTXBbIIeV5jC6HpX5EdjLv-1kfL2LVN5Js8-rtpX7-rdDFc_1k8ng856dF05Wm7R5pX8-KmcGqzxuiNH4hR1k_OFKEvqQw4oU8dB0pHJASDF1OSEMkFtlqVFumayfH7wa_5Ne7tOKoy0cckrceMleeKJZK-lPCVXDQDLLlYi28jWMONDbeQ3psj6G/w400-h400/_9aa5c01b-87b6-4978-a816-50b967d0a34f.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“I hold it true, whate'er befall;<br />I feel it when I sorrow most;<br />'Tis better to have loved and lost<br />Than never to have loved at all."<br /><br />Verse XXVII
<br />
―
<span class="authorOrTitle">
Alfred Lord Tennyson,
</span>
</span></i><span id="quote_book_link_294399"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">
In Memoriam</span></i>
</span></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3XX9n2kmk2EILXSqAmcjixbYQJO6m5uzSq-T9qGt5KLMUHGe62Cm5JPL8nbaldK4tnLxN8ixYWxPt2Wre3u02rj8FJYhQ3H95fu9IHHXpwcj2xfT-jn3sAfEWvY4BR8UqPTRXM9dy6RrY-FwZbt7St12MUYrFEWxQjt735mBTXuWtIT53rlFShcYsKlX/s1024/_9861432d-0b65-408a-ad61-c223610e9ab4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3XX9n2kmk2EILXSqAmcjixbYQJO6m5uzSq-T9qGt5KLMUHGe62Cm5JPL8nbaldK4tnLxN8ixYWxPt2Wre3u02rj8FJYhQ3H95fu9IHHXpwcj2xfT-jn3sAfEWvY4BR8UqPTRXM9dy6RrY-FwZbt7St12MUYrFEWxQjt735mBTXuWtIT53rlFShcYsKlX/w400-h400/_9861432d-0b65-408a-ad61-c223610e9ab4.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“I thought I could describe a state; <br />make a map of sorrow. <br />Sorrow, however, turns out to be <br />not a state but a process.”
<br />
―
<span class="authorOrTitle">
C.S. Lewis,
</span>
<span id="quote_book_link_49221">
A Grief Observed
</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="quote_book_link_294399">
</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7zSHMMwWA86zBkNSpoYEQAsII8RHmjRy72f03-spdUAtby75y3R0d3dflhvn4uoJVig7PuyUa8oXg3jtBJbVSgVXJ8BlOqy415LDmh88bblygyW8aUlfjkrItGeePOhJl7LEAQmnfWkbV4bLTcIkriiHidO46TaE96SUXBc2vBwAbaEHMPffxQcmHS9t/s1024/_c1096566-39a8-4fd5-b2cd-a00db9a07af3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7zSHMMwWA86zBkNSpoYEQAsII8RHmjRy72f03-spdUAtby75y3R0d3dflhvn4uoJVig7PuyUa8oXg3jtBJbVSgVXJ8BlOqy415LDmh88bblygyW8aUlfjkrItGeePOhJl7LEAQmnfWkbV4bLTcIkriiHidO46TaE96SUXBc2vBwAbaEHMPffxQcmHS9t/w400-h400/_c1096566-39a8-4fd5-b2cd-a00db9a07af3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i>“Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the
end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do
not weep; for not all tears are an evil.”
<br />
―
<span class="authorOrTitle">
J.R.R. Tolkien,
</span>
</i><span id="quote_book_link_18512"><i>
The Return of the King</i>
</span></span><p></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-81564941081356912142024-02-17T18:45:00.000+01:002024-02-17T18:45:42.221+01:00All Hearts<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJekUn-8nWaZqhi_ir1AwFIXxdiCtai2Y0oHVl3mXz6JlweXvAuPWLfNkBGTDP_7Ntfz6IfydO65HyvS03JnH6S65Lkbt3sN-R8OaPCh8M67KbqkvInpxDRzatMSyNzJjaw8jZUmycZ0_Dah6YL5HL6hX_pdGzxjAjnUjXzaAb7oKN1UEGBexGRMHAkGcq/s496/20240217_150554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="494" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJekUn-8nWaZqhi_ir1AwFIXxdiCtai2Y0oHVl3mXz6JlweXvAuPWLfNkBGTDP_7Ntfz6IfydO65HyvS03JnH6S65Lkbt3sN-R8OaPCh8M67KbqkvInpxDRzatMSyNzJjaw8jZUmycZ0_Dah6YL5HL6hX_pdGzxjAjnUjXzaAb7oKN1UEGBexGRMHAkGcq/s320/20240217_150554.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In Swedish, Valentines' Day (14 Febr) is called <i>Alla Hjärtans Dag = All Hearts' Day. </i>(Often just referred to as "All Hearts".) This year, the day arrived accompanied by awful weather, and my guess is that not many couples around here tried to celebrate it by going for a romantic walk. On the 13th, we had lots of snow falling down us once more; and on the 14th it all started turning to rain, slush and ice again. I hardly set foot outside for four days (Tuesday through Friday). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, however, I woke up to sunshine, a blue sky, and almost every trace of snow and ice gone again - for now. So I grabbed the opportunity to go for a walk into town and check out the City's effort earlier in the week to create a bit of Valentine's mood in the main square. (I had seen photos of and read about it in the local newspaper.) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJRcaHbn_A7iZdAJb_nfxYVC-D4oiSD1yJ0amxvXd-l7olX2BwsjNwcXeXo895RYEUNFHE6hHOwWhOAGRcVhqOKuOFpSWI-uo7T7MNQ2xywKZcUe5rdsdTL7-u6mkUQ_glU_OyGfybrD6PtPoYCmkjHiN7PRhRE9RUUKzzow-Rr7jxXIOs2KvGPcJeqs_/s1049/20240217_111956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJRcaHbn_A7iZdAJb_nfxYVC-D4oiSD1yJ0amxvXd-l7olX2BwsjNwcXeXo895RYEUNFHE6hHOwWhOAGRcVhqOKuOFpSWI-uo7T7MNQ2xywKZcUe5rdsdTL7-u6mkUQ_glU_OyGfybrD6PtPoYCmkjHiN7PRhRE9RUUKzzow-Rr7jxXIOs2KvGPcJeqs_/w640-h480/20240217_111956.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBypgzL0zljULhk6EZctyv7iNnG2VU7AQEg8orJVGk5djzzd_YqtzMdleznIKT2er47-13932J0OpljDztGziNS2OYiRhGTM9FYB9XBZXspBsYniPhmAHFU2uy0gtNByQahk9mZBqFRh_vIQEPdHEk8I9V4BWoXo_aUrLX-SnsXQEAv6DduoVluZEtK56/s1049/20240217_112009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBypgzL0zljULhk6EZctyv7iNnG2VU7AQEg8orJVGk5djzzd_YqtzMdleznIKT2er47-13932J0OpljDztGziNS2OYiRhGTM9FYB9XBZXspBsYniPhmAHFU2uy0gtNByQahk9mZBqFRh_vIQEPdHEk8I9V4BWoXo_aUrLX-SnsXQEAv6DduoVluZEtK56/w640-h480/20240217_112009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cLxKtjtDA9luOjEQT_MSIvYHQG0ipVh8sxyXKj5HEHvDzhTsNKSpWddRxZ-fXgY5teaCFqWjz8IEkJnlqHTL9GoXoZ87_Ya07i4kVKKXWkGlq6a7w3s4HX45izBaysvZKItOTk6T1lY61jInNo1X05_RgAMdPtfCYICKJ5U7MSvF4yKvPEvjycgBrNW8/s5120/2024_024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3413" data-original-width="5120" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cLxKtjtDA9luOjEQT_MSIvYHQG0ipVh8sxyXKj5HEHvDzhTsNKSpWddRxZ-fXgY5teaCFqWjz8IEkJnlqHTL9GoXoZ87_Ya07i4kVKKXWkGlq6a7w3s4HX45izBaysvZKItOTk6T1lY61jInNo1X05_RgAMdPtfCYICKJ5U7MSvF4yKvPEvjycgBrNW8/w640-h426/2024_024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Crossing a footbridge over to the Park on my way back, I also noticed quite a few padlocks along the railing there. I believe some of those have been there for quite a while - but maybe some new ones were also added on All Hearts' Day? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-Yh4Mu3q7ZpZTl_DcQwlLtiuX9B2Worp4t4Hkof3PTQb-YMYwg2obK5fG3OO2BMhGLXmieipnK8mzj-ycVowv-YCjjKDFvtF55NFUUbCorrj10W9nXBNuMOTQ2jJP45ZFBXecEzR3qVYoBG8izapNOyNi86Ofd6Qix2W-wWft2Hxbf3BAtvpIYWIf9hU/s1049/20240217_113333.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-Yh4Mu3q7ZpZTl_DcQwlLtiuX9B2Worp4t4Hkof3PTQb-YMYwg2obK5fG3OO2BMhGLXmieipnK8mzj-ycVowv-YCjjKDFvtF55NFUUbCorrj10W9nXBNuMOTQ2jJP45ZFBXecEzR3qVYoBG8izapNOyNi86Ofd6Qix2W-wWft2Hxbf3BAtvpIYWIf9hU/w640-h480/20240217_113333.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvN9-w80FsCceDtzv_9T_5DzNFINNn94NZfAIaB5QW_DgUtJfW01diH6yqLZwr6XYIIqRCi0pyJzz9mMAOQeaLyzgXPOlDdeHyx9QaAc8MheY9YWvfers0I3LUmhQ_Phe_SUZ-ZcenPsPh6WE4XX_yHTK6M6ytzyNkxsu-60-8UwljvyC7wkmU_33ucYS6/s110/20240217_113333-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="110" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvN9-w80FsCceDtzv_9T_5DzNFINNn94NZfAIaB5QW_DgUtJfW01diH6yqLZwr6XYIIqRCi0pyJzz9mMAOQeaLyzgXPOlDdeHyx9QaAc8MheY9YWvfers0I3LUmhQ_Phe_SUZ-ZcenPsPh6WE4XX_yHTK6M6ytzyNkxsu-60-8UwljvyC7wkmU_33ucYS6/w200-h196/20240217_113333-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxT7m_dbSe-YGW19eVwRhJOSdwHHzXgUqFF4zLgLdCDSq03Tz_qoEZFYXi1I0GDtVbpaoDGsApebafZQptEhDWxwZt5xBoDLp2z6rXMuQd1JzAxep9QrUQ2-8g1SAsMgfVUmd69tl-ihO844lNqKFKeaLrdzmkNOk6IGQ1sI-TAyOL7YU7cL6mVJpSzPfL/s1049/20240217_113346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxT7m_dbSe-YGW19eVwRhJOSdwHHzXgUqFF4zLgLdCDSq03Tz_qoEZFYXi1I0GDtVbpaoDGsApebafZQptEhDWxwZt5xBoDLp2z6rXMuQd1JzAxep9QrUQ2-8g1SAsMgfVUmd69tl-ihO844lNqKFKeaLrdzmkNOk6IGQ1sI-TAyOL7YU7cL6mVJpSzPfL/w640-h480/20240217_113346.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">My other purpose for going into town today (besides snapping a few photos of The Big Heart) was to buy myself some tulips. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">It's also my mum's birthday on Tuesday next week (or was). She used to get tulips for her birthday (it's the most common cut flower sold at the florists' this time of year); and after she died (15 years ago in May), it's become a sort of tradition for me to buy some tulips for myself around this date, "to remember her by". </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8wip6AFgzRlEbGOlCmGxDGSNR7pkWZX4Rm1JTcFRbRsTfLjKT09iiq4Z1-bxIRVvRoxp7DAdWfCVeL19aRTknXdcakzIaxF8lhKRx11BIZT-QzpDhZGxKKdloedtV35mkXXq51z6408Lo0fDg1rDtSKd9mow1PAVlDFzz8jsyu-d-YwQs9LPviShoj4X/s5120/2024_025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8wip6AFgzRlEbGOlCmGxDGSNR7pkWZX4Rm1JTcFRbRsTfLjKT09iiq4Z1-bxIRVvRoxp7DAdWfCVeL19aRTknXdcakzIaxF8lhKRx11BIZT-QzpDhZGxKKdloedtV35mkXXq51z6408Lo0fDg1rDtSKd9mow1PAVlDFzz8jsyu-d-YwQs9LPviShoj4X/w640-h640/2024_025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">- - -<br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also popped into a clothes shop for "a quick look" (mostly really to seek shelter from the wind for a little while). But happened to lay eyes on a denim jacket that tempted me to also try it on - and then buy it. The thing is, I have an old one, but it is very short (to the waist only) and also really too tight now when buttoned up... So I have been on the lookout for a while for one a bit longer and wider. That has not seemed to be the fashion in a while - but looks like they're back now... The photo below shows the new one to the left, and my old one to the right. The sleeves on both are the same length, but the new one is both longer and wider. (I'll be able to wear a cardigan or sweater underneath it in spring/autumn.) I decided to buy it while still available in "my size"... (Even if with the shifting fashions, it's getting increasingly difficult to say what that is supposed to be!!)<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JfnUAY8CDIGfYWq-rj9rYxQarJ11EFbtqjovqHnOmXOYKWl3A2FyihPC1UiZQF2gvDqiMwrRA8bjR67mebRbBZz-0Prstbt2Dbp-cSbhDiajyqdkumyB-C4DUpW4vm16ibpEmk9kxcimyEWLDa4JA3_Ru_s1NJn8elfDTVK2qJCTYJib5t6xyfkG0ZCi/s787/20240217_120944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JfnUAY8CDIGfYWq-rj9rYxQarJ11EFbtqjovqHnOmXOYKWl3A2FyihPC1UiZQF2gvDqiMwrRA8bjR67mebRbBZz-0Prstbt2Dbp-cSbhDiajyqdkumyB-C4DUpW4vm16ibpEmk9kxcimyEWLDa4JA3_Ru_s1NJn8elfDTVK2qJCTYJib5t6xyfkG0ZCi/w300-h400/20240217_120944.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-32777577661786274172024-02-13T17:20:00.003+01:002024-02-13T17:20:49.346+01:00The Opposite of Fun <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Having posted <a href="https://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/2024/02/sepia-saturday-fun.html" target="_blank">my own childhood memories</a> from the amusement park <i>Liseberg </i>in Gothenburg for "Sepia Saturday" this weekend, it felt extremely weird yesterday (Monday) to hear the news of a devastating fire having broken out there - in their new 'water world' called Oceana, still under construction... The photo below snapped from my TV screen today; the English text below copied from <a href="https://www.mynewsdesk.com/liseberg/pressreleases/update-regarding-the-fire-at-liseberg-oceana-water-world-in-gothenburg-sweden-3303394">www.mynewsdesk.com<br /></a></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4WtahFHQ7YcnVEcrIo9Dx8wU1B0dTgq7S_wDlCRelicXeqd7HT7NVpJO9cVhTH5-JEpLkgaZNTbaASFb24icQnLE_QbaGNRT1HHJHwYJthLnC2m8nsZno72x7ui9f8HqTcGUCA69QTywXdCaHHqaJXpzX0xBj3qoO_uNjUutQ9eBZwzU-RPM1bCwhF_x/s1138/20240213_160111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1138" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4WtahFHQ7YcnVEcrIo9Dx8wU1B0dTgq7S_wDlCRelicXeqd7HT7NVpJO9cVhTH5-JEpLkgaZNTbaASFb24icQnLE_QbaGNRT1HHJHwYJthLnC2m8nsZno72x7ui9f8HqTcGUCA69QTywXdCaHHqaJXpzX0xBj3qoO_uNjUutQ9eBZwzU-RPM1bCwhF_x/w640-h414/20240213_160111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><blockquote><p>Press release - 12 February 2024 18:19 <br />Update regarding the fire at Liseberg Oceana Water World in Gothenburg, Sweden <br /></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><i>A fire broke out on Monday morning at Liseberg Oceana Water World in
Gothenburg, Sweden, resulting in total destruction of the building. The
fire, which started on the outside of the southern part of the building,
quickly spread to parts of the pool hall. </i></p><p><i>One person contracted
by Liseberg is still missing, and the police have filed a report of a
missing person. A total of <strike>sixteen</strike> 22 individuals have sought medical care
for minor injuries ---<br /></i></p><p><i>- We are deeply
saddened by the devastating event. Our primary task now is to assist the
police in the search for the missing person and to support everyone
affected, said Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen. </i></p><p><i>The main focus
throughout the day has been to prevent further injuries and to avoid the
fire from spreading to adjacent structures and nearby buildings. </i></p><p><i>Liseberg
Grand Curiosa Hotel and Liseberg's nearby office buildings have been
evacuated. --- <br />Liseberg has established continuous communication with
the fire department, police, the local hospitals, and the construction
contractor NCC to coordinate efforts. </i></p></blockquote><p></p><p></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-72676896038540210072024-02-12T17:16:00.000+01:002024-02-12T17:16:14.419+01:00Monday Morning<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVr1RyAHe6Lesy71IZw3Th9DqnmINoOwH7i5yFHQf0issZdWj-e36fyiaCypBQc_eo0y0n2ZKNyksXqo-_C_DBcJNeHGNOrqVjhEttEwRI5yOl5ZCbU1AbuvsuI629KGeFfcvYSifEJyXtBUDYgeEDsQW0mqdyGr-3DaA19VMEhcazXRQKIb9gc6IiTNu/s1024/_19099303-b4c3-496e-bfa1-e02297dc9433.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVr1RyAHe6Lesy71IZw3Th9DqnmINoOwH7i5yFHQf0issZdWj-e36fyiaCypBQc_eo0y0n2ZKNyksXqo-_C_DBcJNeHGNOrqVjhEttEwRI5yOl5ZCbU1AbuvsuI629KGeFfcvYSifEJyXtBUDYgeEDsQW0mqdyGr-3DaA19VMEhcazXRQKIb9gc6IiTNu/w400-h400/_19099303-b4c3-496e-bfa1-e02297dc9433.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Slippery" illustration by Bing AI<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today was one of those days I would have preferred to just stay in - if not for the fact that I have a primary health care check-up coming up next week; and before that, they need a fasting blood sample from me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd been keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts for a week, hoping for "a better day" to get that done - but just now, only worse seems to be expected. So this morning, and without breakfast, I ventured out not long after 8 a.m. Weather: Freezing drizzle falling on snow and ice... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had actually intended to try and catch the bus half the way (two stops); but when I reached the bus stop, the printed timetable there was different from what I'd tried to figure out at home (using an app) - so not knowing when to actually expect the bus, I just sighed and continued on foot. (Probably both saved me time and kept me warmer...) I was of course dressed for the weather, including the right kind of footwear; but it certainly wasn't the most fun day to be out and about anyway. (But tomorrow might well be worse!) Anyway, once I reached my destination, there was no queue at the lab, so it was all over very quickly. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPndqFHRdGJTwvqEuxToyKnRzTXXQGVywH6fR27r1zIc6kQxhLSQU3pIlyB5pVBK7_JDik6nXzAjvzo99kr9HYNViD8SsIwX6lke0eL-7SrKu4rMXtkCze03xauRdKcXQFommfkvw_lgWyhEj806TRoisDp4k_3EL6oaDckE7KSj6zkeaYGEHU-gkbUclh/s1024/_2002bc77-7840-43d3-ac62-955b0a344718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPndqFHRdGJTwvqEuxToyKnRzTXXQGVywH6fR27r1zIc6kQxhLSQU3pIlyB5pVBK7_JDik6nXzAjvzo99kr9HYNViD8SsIwX6lke0eL-7SrKu4rMXtkCze03xauRdKcXQFommfkvw_lgWyhEj806TRoisDp4k_3EL6oaDckE7KSj6zkeaYGEHU-gkbUclh/s320/_2002bc77-7840-43d3-ac62-955b0a344718.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by Bing AI<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had brought a small thermos of tea so then had some of that + a banana in the waiting room before I ventured back out again. And back home, more tea + a sandwich... But after that, I was so tired that I actually went back to bed and fell asleep for another hour or two; before I got up to make lunch!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">PS-1: Walking down outdoor icy steps one step at a time (outside the health care centre), very slowly, holding on to the icy rail with one hand, and a firm grip on your walking pole with the other, being as careful as anyone possibly can, turns out to be a great way to get strangers smiling at you and saying: "Be careful now, it's really slippery..." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">PS-2: When I asked Bing for a slippery illustration, cartoon style (see the image at the top), I did <i>not </i>ask for it to involve animals of any kind... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Below is a photo of "the real thing", somewhere along my way:<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORwLB6BpNubVHzPZIO2PzN5iOft9KdZG5GKyKp11n2dqdDo3CRWNVHcMQnyP_QGVzvbHn828-LvPMmbIPkq1nP1a1b1hKB85UhogkW58q3FqegPQPzQZTQqZR9hIa-hTFPSf52ItSxwt2G8lPwTCGm7V2w20kixPYKTQKHuUTpZmOkDdd7NdkUfEOeXCP/s894/20240212_093213-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="894" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORwLB6BpNubVHzPZIO2PzN5iOft9KdZG5GKyKp11n2dqdDo3CRWNVHcMQnyP_QGVzvbHn828-LvPMmbIPkq1nP1a1b1hKB85UhogkW58q3FqegPQPzQZTQqZR9hIa-hTFPSf52ItSxwt2G8lPwTCGm7V2w20kixPYKTQKHuUTpZmOkDdd7NdkUfEOeXCP/w640-h485/20240212_093213-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-51306454299416522872024-02-11T11:33:00.004+01:002024-02-11T12:31:22.870+01:00Sepia Saturday Fun <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Normally I participate in <a href="https://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sepia Saturday</a> from my family history blog <i>Greetings from the Past</i> (see link in my sidebar). But the SS prompt picture this week made me think of my own childhood rather than going further back in history - and nothing to do with my grandparents. So I decided to put this post here instead. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5caN7du8ez-0Y4oLMYRpFFScBD5oVAFID0MKoOkYvidoBQeHG76rHSPg0dIPHUQ-m7qo5EuUlKLT2A0yyAt72uqHFu7u-KAKlgXyObxKQBVhEwtnb64B2xp5CjNRQbbmsrYhnppmxIrhzb8jH65yNOVyK06maM01FCpQcP6VxuQO1vXfELbKs11NBlUmX/w400-h400/2401060sepia.jpeg" width="400" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have actually never been all that fond of amusement parks - or even simpler playgrounds - as I've always preferred my surroundings to stay still rather than going round and round, or up and down. Carousels make my head spin, boats make me sea-sick, and even riding in the back seat of a car tends to make me car-sick... So I'd never volountarily even try a contraption like the one in the Sepia prompt picture above. It was never my idea of "fun"!<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Children are <i>supposed </i>to enjoy amusement parks, though. So when I was six years old (in 1961), my parents brought me to the well-known amusement park <i>Liseberg </i>in Gothenburg (Sweden's second largest city, on the west coast); and evidently got me to at least try a slow carousel and the bumper cars:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesQvWVUZhqK3tKRAecFsurw5KzXD-6eU_WuS0XWnwLZVX5NVVpOvlXYjKQbryXjsYKswqu11LNogqCZUhAxkP7Z1oeYH0ApPsGjI6UBdkegJ52sCo_V8Y7KAZ9sqFLKGLddPFbPHmtYpM3KWzVCWt6MZvOJrr6omL7hJk87PxT0bwR5FsrV8qcKCgrb2r/s1681/2024-02-011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1681" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesQvWVUZhqK3tKRAecFsurw5KzXD-6eU_WuS0XWnwLZVX5NVVpOvlXYjKQbryXjsYKswqu11LNogqCZUhAxkP7Z1oeYH0ApPsGjI6UBdkegJ52sCo_V8Y7KAZ9sqFLKGLddPFbPHmtYpM3KWzVCWt6MZvOJrr6omL7hJk87PxT0bwR5FsrV8qcKCgrb2r/w400-h266/2024-02-011.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgedbI4zrfxtVRJMhvrCF1nZYjDUusI20CAg3eadYysMK9lzlvScLdLDA9HePCink7WJ3x8t2NXRMOCu2xw0GngbhweziFKVwubx0AdDWC9YXTiy47ehODFMgjxTRQMGQyGaOqc-vx43vWS9t8YEM-n5SIJ9x7uM_-PoHWGsPJ6gLqSyYyVq5S6CvFfwsX/s1133/2024-02-012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1128" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgedbI4zrfxtVRJMhvrCF1nZYjDUusI20CAg3eadYysMK9lzlvScLdLDA9HePCink7WJ3x8t2NXRMOCu2xw0GngbhweziFKVwubx0AdDWC9YXTiy47ehODFMgjxTRQMGQyGaOqc-vx43vWS9t8YEM-n5SIJ9x7uM_-PoHWGsPJ6gLqSyYyVq5S6CvFfwsX/w399-h400/2024-02-012.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on the right; temporary friend on the left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9HywgVCH9MODKHYNFQEhLEQWbS8aq5FzfaXwI7LvhrEMo3JJPymEHUC1XPshgWKNs9us9vmXyiWIuw38qAZzH66FiP3ANY9KFglns3sIjvbQS81dT0ZWHdXvF6oXzkWEhyVf2CzylaIg6iGyvLsGt2KYoNcDZ6VCNwZLSGe_3Sz3ZCzOOOYbSrAArbNP/s5120/1961%20Liseberg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="3414" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9HywgVCH9MODKHYNFQEhLEQWbS8aq5FzfaXwI7LvhrEMo3JJPymEHUC1XPshgWKNs9us9vmXyiWIuw38qAZzH66FiP3ANY9KFglns3sIjvbQS81dT0ZWHdXvF6oXzkWEhyVf2CzylaIg6iGyvLsGt2KYoNcDZ6VCNwZLSGe_3Sz3ZCzOOOYbSrAArbNP/w426-h640/1961%20Liseberg.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I also visited Liseberg on a few more occasions: with the family once or twice when my brother was little, and it was also the goal of a school outing or two. I know I once did go up in the Ferris wheel (with a good view over the city), but even that was an experience I've never really wished to repeat. (I'm no good with heights either.) My preferred "rides" were on the Ghost Train (in a dark tunnel with scary things jumping out at you and screaming - which on the whole I preferred to getting motion sick); and one that took you through some kind of fairy tale landscape. My memories of that very vague, but it was my favourite because it was slow and totally non-scary... <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Linking to <a href="https://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2024/02/sepia-saturday-710-10th-february-2024.html" target="_blank">Sepia Saturday 710</a></span><br /></p><p> </p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609118120551505936.post-37252990623680047942024-02-10T13:12:00.000+01:002024-02-10T13:12:24.962+01:00The Boy and the Turtle<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJ-qS8AUWrgbwrVxUYdFniU0WI0UzfzqY65IOKqCQ9ZMF2tpOpG7jl-0SEU-lYMUQNqv0Z1SNP0RIZDJrqPwjbHjp7saqYDtKCprQck90WdqO5DJ1x4Pw3WbefgILufFhJCoaKEX6EfB10-auIwJ3P_sIZG-oUOBmlq6ftrCnCbJpHW0weU9EFu9DMjS2/s5120/2024_022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3413" data-original-width="5120" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJ-qS8AUWrgbwrVxUYdFniU0WI0UzfzqY65IOKqCQ9ZMF2tpOpG7jl-0SEU-lYMUQNqv0Z1SNP0RIZDJrqPwjbHjp7saqYDtKCprQck90WdqO5DJ1x4Pw3WbefgILufFhJCoaKEX6EfB10-auIwJ3P_sIZG-oUOBmlq6ftrCnCbJpHW0weU9EFu9DMjS2/w640-h426/2024_022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In a playground park close to where I live, there is this statue of a boy balancing on a turtle - looking rather like he's using it as a surfboard. I understand that originally they belonged in a pond with a fountain; but that's long gone - only the statue left. And just now, in the snow, perhaps more accurate to say the boy is using the turtle as "snowboard"! (Brrr. I feel a bit like dressing him up warm...)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I snapped this photo yesterday when walking through that park. When uploading it to my computer today, I did a bit of "online surfing" to see if I could find out more about it. Turns out it was made in 1945 (when this whole housing estate was new), by an artist named Bror Chronander (1880-1964). What inspired the statue I've not been able to find out, though. Its title does not include the word surfing - it's just "The Boy and the Turtle".<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It occured to me to also ask Bing Image Creator for "a young boy surfing on a turtle", and below is what I got. One of the four actually comes pretty close to the statue!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lukhjiVi8FCLdP6PPikmVeWyOeVNcHs2uQmqH1CV_38P44bSz5SPCFGzwb27H2q9dp7v8c0BBeAChahEEhne6AzAfDKzZOTvnPgnfrdwnQQ8jqU2UMEXO2H6NC7eGkkXQ41vYcydGtud0OppUz0WajpuPsiskT_jESumt7P9plaR7aBi_lNviaM0lreW/s1024/_9c6aceef-3a36-41f5-af5a-d0c0bf7ca04d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lukhjiVi8FCLdP6PPikmVeWyOeVNcHs2uQmqH1CV_38P44bSz5SPCFGzwb27H2q9dp7v8c0BBeAChahEEhne6AzAfDKzZOTvnPgnfrdwnQQ8jqU2UMEXO2H6NC7eGkkXQ41vYcydGtud0OppUz0WajpuPsiskT_jESumt7P9plaR7aBi_lNviaM0lreW/w400-h400/_9c6aceef-3a36-41f5-af5a-d0c0bf7ca04d.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VQKTsrxhspL9YfG43idMxjuqaWsViSmdlw8zDUORSwh45IfB7KNsgpX7R_ZcI2p4rShkCHATsojPdMyP6EVlUTWqp9nnnoO9GgjeeDWC15rvz1652rU0xiCZnC8s9rztj4wynf1lHrx7ZfZFIi_tqXBxf4-cQX7Jkph4AUUYZtuj-AntQQKySCLZwgNe/s5120/240210%20Boy%20surfing%20on%20a%20turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VQKTsrxhspL9YfG43idMxjuqaWsViSmdlw8zDUORSwh45IfB7KNsgpX7R_ZcI2p4rShkCHATsojPdMyP6EVlUTWqp9nnnoO9GgjeeDWC15rvz1652rU0xiCZnC8s9rztj4wynf1lHrx7ZfZFIi_tqXBxf4-cQX7Jkph4AUUYZtuj-AntQQKySCLZwgNe/w640-h640/240210%20Boy%20surfing%20on%20a%20turtle.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>DawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com5