greentapestry : Lifelong Learning

Sunday 12 January 2014

Lifelong Learning


A big birthday looms on the imminent horizon. If I was to say that it's one of those that end in an 0 and that I've just applied for a Senior Railcard, I don't think that you'll need any more clues. I've got mixed feelings about the forthcoming event which isn't really surprising but funnily enough I'm feeling happier about it than when I was approaching the big 4-0. I wonder why.

To help celebrate this auspicious occasion himself, the lovely man that he is, has treated me to a special joint Christmas and birthday present in the shape of a DSLR camera with various accessories. It arrived yesterday either late or early depending on which way you look at it. I'm now on a steep learning curve as I get to grips with a new item of modern technology. There was no time to play yesterday whilst today after an initial bright start, soon turned on to one of those lights on before lunch time January days. I still managed to fit in a little time this morning though photographing some of the snowdrops in the greenhouse. They are coming on in leaps and bounds and are much earlier in flower than last year. I'm hoping that one or two favourites will get there this week so I should be able to practise more. I've already learned that I am not able to take a photo with the lens cap still in place. 


"Lifelong learning" - was a phrase that left my lips many times in my working days and this is a case in point - another challenge to look forward to. No doubt there will be many more lessons learned along the way. In the meantime it's back to studying the manual! 



29 comments:

  1. Happy special birthday.
    I have a new camera but it's still a point and click. My brain won't cope with all that technology

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    1. Thanks for the good wishes Helen. Im not sure if my brain is up to all that technology either :)

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  2. Advanced Happy Birthday Anna! And enjoy your new toy!

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  3. Ooooh, you'll have such fun with that! Happy birthday, and your snowdrop pic is gorgeous.

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    1. Thanks for your comment Jessica which is much appreciated.

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  4. How lovely! I think the fact that you can keep learning new skills for ever is brilliant. My mum ( aged 91) has just decided she want to learn yoga!!

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    1. Thanks for your comment and welcome :) How brilliant that your mum wants to learn a new skill and I hope that she has lots of fun doing so. I'm keeping fingers crossed for years of learning ahead of me - think I might need them to to get to grips with the new camera let alone anything else.

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  5. That snowdrop is wonderful. I am impressed. What fun you are going to have with it. The problem for me would be reading the manual. I am a compulsive reader, I read everything, even cornflake packets but manuals make my eyes glaze over. But you figured out how to take the lens cover off all by yourself, I bet the manual didn't tell you that. well done. I look forward to seeing your photos. Happy Birthday.

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    1. Thanks for your comment Chloris and good wishes. The manual is not particularly what you might call compulsive reading. It may have reminded me to take the lens cover off but I've not got that far if even it does :)

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  6. Many Happy Returns on your special birthday Anna. What a super gift, I do hope you get to grips with all it's functions - we shall be waiting for all those wonderful images you capture.

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    1. Yes it's indeed a lovely gift Angie and I hope to be posting images soon but not sure whether they will be wonderful :) Thanks for your comment.

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  7. The big *0 is not so bad after all, Anna, and it does mean reduced prices for lots of things. The railcard is great if Himself is also *0+ - and if you both are then don't forget to ask about your NT membership as that's a nice reduction too. See - lots of benefits, even if we still have to wait a few more years for our state pensions! I felt a huge pang of ... erm.... not envy, but certainly delight for you that you have decide to branch out with a DSLR camera as in the last week or two I, during moments of dissatisfaction with my own photos, had been wondering whether I should have gone down that line instead of a slightly up-market auto-focus.... I certainly need to go back to the Manual, and shall be watching your progress with great interest. Today's snowdrop is certainly a brilliant photo! Have a lovely birthday, whenever it looms - will you be doing anything special?

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    1. Reduced prices will be a perk Cathy :) Thanks for the tip about the National Trust which I had not considered. Will make enquiries forthwith. Your birthday wishes are appreciated. Not sure what we will be doing on the big day yet. It depends on the weather and having a January birthday can limit activities somewhat :)

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  8. Happy Birthday to you, you are going to have a super time with your new camera. Learning new skills keeps us young, I decided that when I got to 70, it was the new 50! Have fun!!

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    1. Oh many thanks for your salutations Pauline. I like your line of thought :)

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  9. Hope you have a wonderful birthday Anna, with plenty of bright sunshine and blue skies for taking photos! I'm looking forward to more pretty snowdrop pictures. Have fun! :)

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    1. Cathy I'm keeping fingers crossed for a dry day which is also fog, snow and ice free. January babies can't be too fussy when it comes to the weather for the big day :) Thanks for your birthday wishes. I will try to oblige with some snowdrop photos soon.

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  10. Such a wonderful gift, Anna, lucky girl! I also wish you all the best and much fun with your camera. I'm relieved that 50 feels better than 40 which was rather difficult for me, and I'm not one for fussing about age and birthdays ;)

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    1. Thanks for your comment and good wishes Annette :)

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  11. Many happy returns for your special day. I got a DSLR last year and I'm still reading the manual, there's so much to learn. I'm sure we'll both figure it out all in good time.

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    1. Oh that's encouraging to hear Jo :) Well we can share our experiences. Thanks so much for your birthday greetings.

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  12. What a great birthday present - I started using a DSLR about 6 months ago and whilst it has been a steep learning curve I get so much pleasure from the images of flowers and plants that I have been able to take. If I have any advice it would to be practice everyday - I use my camera all the time and it is starting to become second nature to shoot in manual. Good luck and happy birthday!

    Julie (www.peoniesandposies.com)

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    1. Thanks for the birthday wishes Julie and for the encouragement. I've been trying to get outdoors every day to take a few photos and think little and often will be my motto. Not sure yet when I will feel confident enough to shoot in manual. Time will tell :)

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  13. I passed that milestone a little while ago. I'm a believer in that you should never stop learning. My husband and I both have relatively new bridge cameras which we are finding new things out and I had an iPad for Christmas. I became an ICT consultant with our education authority in my late 40s and was always found it so sad when people said they were too old to learn new things.I did find being older though meant teachers on courses couldn't say I was younger than them so it was easy for me to use technology.

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    1. Thanks for your comment and welcome Sue. It's indeed sad when people think they are too old to learn new skills and not a good indicator for future mental or physical well being :( Hope that we both continue learning for many years to come.

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  14. hurtling to sixty, but not quite yet. My himself is drawing his Swiss pension and bought me a new laptop (he inherits the other one ...) After the hate change technophobe was quelled, I'm revelling in stylus and touchscreen - it reads so gracefully.
    A happy birthday in kind weather to you!

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  15. Not far behind me then Diana :) Glad that you are enjoying your new laptop - a stylus and touchscreen sounds a most satisfactory state of affairs. Many thanks for your birthday greetings.

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  16. Hope you have a lovely birthday when it comes. And what a fab pressie. I'm a great believer in doing and learning. There are so many things I want to fit in there never feels as if there is enough time. I love the snowdrop image. Stunning.

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All your comments are much appreciated and treasured. I wil try to reply to everyone who leaves a comment, but it may take me a few days, especially when I start spending more time in the garden and at the lottie. I know that you will understand :) I am sure that I will also visit your blog if I have not already done so. If you have any specific questions I will either reply to them here or you can email me at : thegreentapestry@gmail.com

Namasté

- Anna.