wattsitallabout's posterous

Apr 24

Life Skills Day 16 - How to read an ordnance survey map

Not doing very well on this blogging front. Missed another night last night because we were out on the razzle dazzle. But trying to keep it going - tempted to give up but that's not very dedicated!

So, tonight I'm continuing on the walking theme and learning how to read an ordnance survey map. Probably would have made sense to learn this skill whilst away but better late than never.

Picture above is of me (note real ale - a must for map reading) at the Punch Bowl in Crossthwaite getting to grips with an OS map. First up, why on earth do they make them so large!? You have to fold them the wrong way if where you are going is on the other side of the regular fold, which then just makes things messy. But that's enough of my OCD...

Where to start. Breaking it down, the key things I have learnt are:

What the symbols mean - this is just a case of reading the key at the bottom of the map! Who thought them up in the first place? What a great job...."Hi what do you do?"...."well I decide on the symbols at the bottom of a map, now, what to put down for a mole hole!?...."

Which direction to go in - courtesy of the last blog, I'm slowing getting to grips with using the compass. Interesting tip from the OS peeps (see their great OS mapreading pdf below - definitely going to use this with the boys to help them learn about maps) - if you want to know how far the distance you aim to travel is, use a piece of string to follow the route then straighten that against your ruler, measure it and convert it using the relevant scale calculation.

How to read grid references - now I know you go along the corridor and up the stairs (i.e. across then up rather than up then across to get to the correct grid position) things make a bit more sense. I'm even pretty nifty at the four figure and six figure grid references.

How steep is the area I'm walking - by understanding that the closer the contour lines, the steeper the area, I'll be a little more prepared. Last week in the lakes, we thought where we were walking would be a small incline.... it turned into a mountain that completely wiped us out. But the views from the top were totally worth it.

Life skills top tip site:

www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone

http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/PagesHomeworkHelp/docs/easypeasy.pdf

Apr 22

Life Skills Day 15 - How to use a compass

Today's life skill started life on my hols last week in the Lake District. Having been kitted out in top to toe walking gear I purchased an ordnance survey map and a book of walks and set off.

Rather swiftly, I realised I didn't have a clue what I was reading and couldn't remember any of the geographical terminology. Last time I learnt this stuff I was in school uniform, stuck at the back of the class doing everything but listen to what the teacher was saying.

(Thanks to www.eylerz.net for use of the above image)

So, first stop, learning how to use a compass. Said life skills was taught by Mr W on a boat, crossing Lake Windermere on our way to Beatrix Potter's house. The lesson was short and sweet but came in extremely handy on the last day of our travels as we got lost half way up a mountain. But more on that tomorrow!

To explain here how to use the compass would be far too long winded and there are a million and one videos on Youtube that do it far more easily for me. There are some pretty dodgy ones out there so the one recommended below is one of the better ones I found.

I'm heading up onto the north coast this weekend to try out my new found skill. I've got a pencil, as advised, for marking up the map if needed. And of course my trusty compass which will hopefully get me to the pub for a swift half at the end of the walk. Coming up tomorrow... how to read an Ordnance Survey Map.

Life Skills top tip site:

Apr 21

Life Skills Day 14 - How to buy a second hand piano

Right, back from a FAB holiday away. Slight delay in resuming blog service as stuck in ash suspension! But back safe and sound now on the rock and ready to start learning again.

Today's life skill jumped off the pages of the JEP last night when we saw a second hand piano for sale. Son number one is taking an interest in playing a musical instrument and we've mentioned once or twice that a piano would be a) a good start and b) somewhere useful to put a pot plant should the musical genius in him not bubble to the surface.

So today l have learnt about buying a second hand piano. I have a viewing booked in in two days, but where do I start in terms of knowing what to look for, what to listen for, and ultimately what said piano is worth? I could end up parting with a not insignificant amount of hard earned cash so I don't want to mess up and pay through the nose for something slightly better than firewood.

So, trek to the internet and I've thrown up the following great tips.

What do I really want?

Firstly, I have decided it really is an acoustic piano I want and not a digital piano or keyboard. I appreciate the latter is great because you can play with earphones and not disturb those around you. BUT, the aesthetics simply aren't a patch on a glistening piano standing proud in the corner of the dining room.

Now, do I want an upright or a grand? Simple. Space dictates an upright. Should son turn out to be musical genius, thereby rendering a move to a larger house possible (from musical royalties) then we will consider investing in a grand piano at that time.

Which make should I buy?

There are a staggering amount of piano manufacturers worldwide. The major UK brands to look out for are Kemble; Chappell; Collard and Collard; Whelpdale; Knight; Bentley; Welmar; Marshal & Rose; Broadwood and Woodchester. But I have learned it is better to ask a local music teacher or piano technician what piano brands and models are, in their experience, the best quality and the most-trouble free. Next stop, telephone directory, to get in touch with 'a man in the know'.

What should I look for?

Great top tip is to take a torch, a tuning fork and a recorder with me to the viewing. The torch to have a good look inside and the tuning fork and recorder to compare the notes. The note 'A' on both instruments is meant to be very similar.

- Does it have a pleasant tone?

- Is it a responsive touch?

- What is the size and general condition of the piano?

- Look at the frame, soundboard, bridges, tuning pins, ribs, string laying, hammers, dampers, pedals and keys.

What next?

Many sites advise checking out three or four pianos before you settle on the one you are going to buy. Then, consider negotiating on price and check whether there is a warranty still covering the piano. If it is an old second hand model though, this will be unlikely.

Finally, I need to think about how I am going to get the beast home and who will re-tune it once it is in situ. There are more than 1,200 parts in a piano so moving it is a delicate operation and shouldn't be undertaken by any old man with a van.

Having considered all the above, I'm actually tempted to hang fire with the second hand option and save up for something new. I now realise a good piano is an investment - with many people keeping theirs for, on average, 40-50 years. Unlike a car or appliance, a piano can hold its value for upwards of 10 years so if I buy right and do my homework, it probably makes sense to go this route. So glad I did this blog today. I may well have saved myself from making a costly mistake in my haste to purchase.

Life Skills top tip site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4135655

Apr 11

Life Skills Day 13 - How to lose weight

Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh deary me.

I have just weighed our cases on the scales to check we aren't over our meagre BMI Baby allowance and I stupidly thought I'd hop on to weigh myself whilst I was at it. Big mistake. Huge. Now I am heading off on a week's indulgent food and real ale holiday in the Lake District knowing I am weighing more than I ever have. Joy. The planned walks are going to have to be that little bit hillier and a tad longer to try and shift these muffin tops.

So, today's life skill - Learn how to lose weight. But in a way that will be easy, pain free, not include loss of chocolate and will keep the weight off once it's gone!

Top tips I've discovered for getting some way there...

First up, what will I need in order to start shifting some of my bulk?

- Willpower (not too much of a problem)

- Self control (fine if I stay in bed all day and avoid sweet shops and bakeries)

- Motivation (yep, ok with this one)

- Balance (easier when not holding doughnuts in one hand)

- Exercise (I have a gym membership, I simply need to start using it)

- Proper eating habits (I try, honest... must try harder)

The site highlighted at the end of this blog has a really good, healthy, list of ideas for managing weight loss. I'm going to really try to stick to them and...

- Drink water before every meal which means I get my daily allowance and will be inclined to eat less.

- Eat less calories than I burn.

- Increase the amount of fibre in my diet.

- Stop eating sugary foods but maintain a healthy mix of dairy, fruits and vegetables.

- Watch my portion sizes.

- Make sure I do more exercise. If I can commit to three sessions a week to start with I'll be pleased.

Alas, I may have to defer this life skill till after my holiday. But a good start is reading up and learning what to do and how to go about it. Watch this space for muffin top updates...

Life Skills top tip site: http://www.ehow.com/how_2203108_lose-10-pounds-week.html

Apr 10

Life Skills Day 12 - How to speed read

I've learnt a skill today that will become more useful as time marches on. If you can do it already, you'll have finished this blog in the time it takes to say 'Bob's your Uncle'! And for that, I am envious.

For today I started to learn speed reading.

I have piles of publications to read every day - work mags, books, papers and of course Grazia! But alas they pile up. If I'm lucky I'll flick through three or four in a week and the rest remain bound for recycling, still nestled in the plastic coats they arrived in.

But no more! I have started to learn this hugely valuable skill. I've often wondered how it is done and from reading up on the subject it is a skill that will only improve with daily practice. So today is just the start. But what a great start.

First stop was an online speed reading test. My initial hunt for info led me to expensive software and workshop courses.... by all accounts speed reading is now big business. But you don't have to go down that route because free online tests are a good starting point. I was pleasantly surprised to learn I read at 320 words per minute with 80% comprehension. Average reader is up to 250 words per minute and a good speed reader is topping 1000 wpm! So, I've got some way to go. Also, reading on a computer is meant to be slower than reading on paper. Not sure why.

There are many elements that affect the quality of your reading, including what you are reading, where you are reading, whether you are on or offline, and how much distraction is around you. For a great overview, look at the site mentioned below and watch the video with it. I'm sure there are thousands more on YouTube too. But for now, I'm heading for bed with a few nuggets in my head:

* To train myself not to re-read chunks of text. This is more habit than necessity and inevitably slows you down.

* To stop reading to myself. Again, a classic habit that makes the process more protracted.

* To practice reading blocks of words rather than every word individually.

* To remember to practice every day. That is the only way I will crack this nut!

So that's it from me. Thinking ahead, I'm off to the Lake District on holiday next week. Am planning some appropriate skills to learn and welcome suggestions! Initial ideas include learning to spot five different stars at night; learning how to tell the time without a watch and also how to read an Ordnance survey map. Can't wait.

Life Skills top tip site: http://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Speed-Reading

Apr 9

Life Skills Day 11 - How to manage conflict

Missed my Life Skill yesterday because I finally closed my laptop for work at 1am! So will make it up with three over the weekend.

For today though, I've thought about my past week and am surprised by how much conflict I've been party to. I hasten to add I wasn't the cause! But I found myself twice acting as mediator. And boy was I flying by the seat of my pants in managing each situation. Putting all my listening skills to the test from previous Life Skill blog helped but I really didn't know if I was handling things the right way. So, I've turned to the trusty web to find top tips for managing conflict.

Thinking about it conflict inevitably happens at home, at work or at play on a regular basis. Not always at epic world war proportions. But from siblings bickering, to getting caught in the crossfire when friends fall out to managing challenging business relations. Anywhere where two people or parties interact there is potential for disagreement, misunderstanding and fall out. How we manage these scenarios, whether we are part of them or called upon to mediate and resolve the issues, is critical - not only for our own sanity and peace of mind but also for those at war!

So, here are some top tips I've learnt for managing conflict. I'm looking forward to putting them to the test next time we get the 'but it's my turn with the remote control' argument!

1. Listen to both sides of the conflict in order to fully understand the situation. Often, the issue isn't what it seems at first. Conflict can't be solved till you have gone through this period of investigation and fully identified the core issue. This will take patience and time, to evaluate all the information in order to progress in the most appropriate way.

2. Make it clear you are only there to facilitate and help resolve the issue, not to solve it.

3. Ask both sides to tell you what they think the issue is and ask them why they think that is the case.

4. Keep everyone calm, by remaining in charge and preventing their anger and irritation from controlling the situation. Focus on the problem, not the individuals. If the individuals turn out to be the problem then that is when you focus on the personality.

5. Once you've identified the issue, clearly reiterate it to both sides and see if the agree with you. See if they can see the other side's point of view. Ask each side what they would like to see happen. This way, you will understand their expectations and if these are met, then they will feel the issue has truly been resolved.

7. Remind them, if necessary, to be reasonable with each other. A resolution will inevitably require an element of compromise.

8. Keep listening and negotiating till a fair and reasonable compromise has been found. You can't force an agreement on people if they don't agree with it so no-one should walk away until both sides are happy with the resolution.

Life Skills top tip site: http://helpguide.org/mental/eq8_conflict_resolution.htm

Apr 7

Life Skills Day 10 - How to make a ringtone for your iphone

Hee hee. Want the world to call me tonight to try out my new ringtone. I've finally sussed out how to convert music in my itunes library in to a new ringtone.

It's really not that complicated - not sure why I paid to download one from a commercial site before.

Quick steps to convert a top tune into a ringtone...

1. Right click on the chosen tune in iTunes and select 'get info'

2. Go to the options tab

3. Select 'start time' and 'stop time'

4. Put in a value for both intervals, make sure it doesn't exceed 40 seconds

5. Click ok and close the 'get info' window

6. Now right click on that music again and select 'covert to AAC'

7. You should find the same music name file in iTunes but with the shorter length

8. Drag that file onto your desktop

9. Delete the new AAC file from iTunes

10. On the desktop, rename the extension from '.m4a' to '.m4r' of the file that you dragged from iTunes

11. Drag the file back into iTunes library

12. It should now be in your ringtone section. Just sync your iPhone and there you go!

Now if you call me my life song will blast out. Wahay.

Right, early to bed again cos I'm still feeling pants with cold.

Apr 6

Life Skills Day 9 - How to cure a cold

I'm feeling really rather sorry for myself tonight. Ache all over. Sneezing. Coughing. Shattered.

So, nothing for it than to retire to bed and learn a few things about dealing with the common cold for today's life skill. Why not? Haven't got the energy for what I had planned. If any of these tips work I'll be a slightly happier camper.

Having read up on the common cold, I know that a blighter called the rhinovirus is stampeding through my nostrils as I type. There are 250 strains of this pesky virus - so you can catch any one of 250 types of cold. Whichever you catch, you're likely to end up feeling pretty rough for up to a week. You can't cure a cold but you can take steps to limit the effects and reduce the period of time you will feel under the weather. Here are a few pointers:

1. Drink plenty of fluids. If your body is hydrated it is far more able to heal itself.

2. Have some vitamin C supplements - not too many because your body will only digest what it needs. Eating foods high in vitamin c will also help.

3. Work on the principle that steam is good. It can clear your nasal passages, eliminating bugs early on, break down build up of mucus and prevent irritation. So when you first feel a bit iffy, take a hot shower or put your head under a towel over a bowl of steaming hot water for five minutes. Continue doing this at the end of each day till you are on the mend.

4. Gargle with warm salt water to soothe your sore throat. This shrinks the mucous membranes in the throat and decreases the pain of inflammation.

5. Chill out. A cold takes its toll on your body making you tired and lacking in energy. So, best thing is to turn in early. Put a couple of extra blankets on the bed to help with body heat variation and get some sleep.

And on that night, I'm turning out the light and going to sleep. Achoooo!

Life Skills top tip site: http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Cold

Apr 5

Life Skills Day 8 - How to play Kubb

Now for a more lighthearted life skill.

Today I discovered the ancient game of Kubb. How had I not heard of this game? It's addictive and I'm going online after this blog to get hold of my own set for the summer.

Knocking about for 1000 years, courtesy of the Swedes, this game came to our shores with our Au Pair's family. They're visiting Jersey and brought a set for us to play with on the beach after lunch.

Some interesting facts about Kubb:

- There are world championships held annually in Gotland.

- The Canadian equivalent of the game is called Bunnock.

- It is best described as a combination of bowling and horseshoes.

- Kubb is originally a lawn game but can be played anywhere... perfect on a beach.

- Rules vary from country to country.

- The ultimate object is to knock over the 'king' before your opponent does.

- Before this, you have to knock over the other wooden blocks by throwing wooden sticks at them!

Suffice to say I lost (well, my team lost, twice) - I was officially a useless tosser! My sons however were not. They wiped the floor with us, which made them feel fantastic and me quietly proud as punch.

I'm not going to try and explain the rules and regs in my own words as I will get them totally wrong! So, please feel free to refer to the top tips site at the end of this blog.

What the game taught me is the skill of patience, throwing, not sulking when losing (need to work on this one) and that you really shouldn't give nine and six year olds second throws for luck. Because they will beat you.

On to day nine....

Life Skills top tip site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubb

Apr 5

Life Skills Day 7 - How to listen

I didn't blog about this last night because by the time I'd stopped listening it was late! So double whammy blog today.

A good friend needed me this weekend. She'd had some bad news and needed to talk. Not me to talk, her to talk. What I had to do was listen.

Because of this blog, I decided to really think about listening. Sounds strange, but I knew I could be a lot better at it.

The art of listening is actually easier said than done. For most of us, we hear but rarely do we actively listen. According to research, we remember a pretty poor 25 to 50% of what we hear. So that's 2.5 to 5 minutes of a ten minute conversation at work, at home or at play. Just imagine what we are missing by simply not listening properly.

Active listening is listening to words as well as body language, what is said as well as what isn't. Basically trying to understand the total message being sent, not just the bits we want to tune in to and take notice of.

When I listen, I'm very often thinking about what I will say next, in response to the conversation. But to actively listen I now realise you have to remain focused on the person talking and not be distracted by what your response will be. The top tip site at the end of this blog gives a great overview of the subject. In a nutshell, they recommend the following to be a good, active listener:

1. Pay attention

2. Show that you are listening

3. Provide feedback

4. Defer judgement

5. Respond accordingly

Suffice to say, I'm really glad I thought about this skill. It helped and I came away from my friend's house feeling like I truly understood where she is at. I hope, in some way, that my listening helped.

Life skills top tip site: http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm