h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Even better, this is freeware:

http://3d2f.com/programs/16-733-serif-photoplus-download.shtml

Thank you, I'll investigate tomorrow, I'm too tired tonight.

It has just struck me to ask: have you tried Irfanview? It's a very useful freeware program, with an option of downloading filters that have Photoshop quality.

I like messing about with colour, so it gives some unusual effects.

Yes, after I had a look at the links you posted, i thought they looked just like irfanview. I don't know what I did wrong, but whenever I try to work with it (text or something), it says I don't have the tools I need. I guess it's just me, I'm too daft to understand it all.

If you can explain where the difficulty lies, I'll try to help. Perhaps downloading anew might solve your problem, as the developers are forever fixing bugs in their programs and making improvements.

Now you've got me intrigued by adding text to photos, so I made a photo with the freeware, Serif Photoplus 6.0. It is simplicity itself to use. It needs to be registered in order to work. Download from:

http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/photoplus/default.asp

The result is at:

http://photographedublin.blogspot.com/

Yes, I thought about that, but then, it's not really that important. I wanted to create soem sort of birthday card, but the birthdays are over now, and the next ones will only be in July, I think, and until then, I'll have forgotten about all this anyway.
But thanks very much for trying and reporting back.
I've had a look at your blog, I don't think I could ever start blogging, either. I mean, people don't even read or reply to my few journals here, so who would i write a blog for?

Have you analysed why there is not enough response to your efforts? There is a lot of quiet communication among bloggers, who post comments on one another's work. I find that if you go to a Blogger site you like and post a postive comment, leaving a link to your own work, there is a good chance of getting a return visit. It does not have to be self regarding or seeming to blow one's own trumpet. I have learned a considerable amount by looking at other photographers' work.

Oh, but there isn't anything worthwhile I could blog about, there are just the few entries I have written, which very few people are interested in.
The last journal I published was about a very positive reaction by the owner of the museum I had written about - so that got some replies, but I soon changed topic to wishing people a merry christmase etc, or else it would have gone quite afetr about ten posts. That's life, there are times when i don't mind at all, and times when it makes me wonder whetehr it's worth writing them in the first place.

Now you've really got me thinking. At dinner with friends two nights ago I found myself making a very lucid series of points in defense of blogging as a lively way of sending little snippets of news or up to date photos to friends. Considering that a few years ago I was a card- carrying technophobe, I'm amused at how change is possible.

Everybody else's life is a source of total interest, or so I've found from surfing the Web. A good blog is simple, to the point and grows from the blogger's everyday concerns. If you look more closely at the comments that were made to my blog they will lead you to some interesting sites. Recently a street artist from France just dropped by to say "Hello".

I'll certainly take some more time to look at your h2g2 work. Perhaps you might take a moment to post your favourite moments here. I'm still getting used to the site's protocol.

Maybe you're right about blogging, I really have no idea. All I've ever known was h2g2, all this blog sites are quite a recent development, and I've always been content to be here, I never felt the need to blog elsewhere, although I have the possibilty.
I'm not quite sure what you mean with 'my favourite moments'. You can find the entries I have written if you go to my PS (just click on my name) and go to where it says: Last but not least, which is a drop-down menue.
I have removed all my journals from my PS, I always do after they have 'died', i.e. faded out.

Thanks.

I'll look at the drop-down menu.

I do hope you'll come back to me afterwards

I hope itÄ'll not put you off the idea writinfg an entry yiourself one day. The pressure cooker entry inspired a newbie to write an entry about cooking with steam, and a brilliant entry he wrote. I'll search for the Anumber of that if you're interested.

No worries. I worked out the entries and shall do some more reading there tomorrow. I very much liked the entry about Frankfurter Sauce
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A11504666

Pressure cooking is one way of cutting down on fuel and time. I'm a great fan.

If this continues, I'll have to be surgically removed from the computer.

Thanks for all your kindly help.

It has just struck me... steaming and pressure cooking are not quite the same thing. I'll look forward to seeing the article you recommend.

My husband has given up hoppe of removing me from the computer, thisa site is definitely addictive.
And I haven't helped you at all, on the contrary, you helped me a lot, so thanks for that. One day, I'll work aon a good photo, and then I'll post the link here for you.

Hi, again, Bel. I've focused on the Pressure Cooker piece, which is incredibly interesting. M. Papin was a knacky guy. I've established a connection with a maths buff, Icy, at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F4996925?thread=3782680 Thought you might enjoy this.

Oh, you've made the acquaintance of Icy? Thanks for posting the link.

He's a very dear friend, and a genius, he just created a pretzel smiley for me to cheer me up in my gloom. If you go to my PS, you'll see the smileys he created for me: the Bel-smiley (which was his first attempt), the Belana-smiley, The Ace of Hearts -smiley, and now the Brezel smiley. He's so sweet, he really just made my day.

The smilies here are excellent.

I've just found a page on blogging that you might like to read, Bel. It demystifies the whole process.

http://www.i-dentity.com/whatisblog.htm

Thanks for that.
It's not that the blog as such is a mystery to me, it's just that currently, i don't have a use for it. None of my relatives who live far away have internet access, so I have to use the phone or snailmail to exchange news.
And all my friends from abroad are here from h2g2, so I am in touch with them here anyway.
Oh, and I didn'tz talk about the official smileys, which are indeed great, but about those Icy created especially for me.

The Smiley compliment was meant generally. I haven't been able to find the famous pretzel one, so perhaps you could take a moment to head me in the right direction, please, Bel.

I've just found a link to one of my old graphic attempts which might be of interest:

http://www.p45rant.net/boards/attachment.php?attachmentid=9637&stc=1&d=1132520785

P45 is an Irish Chat Room where robust exchanges and slagging is encouraged. The Irish past time of debunking everthing lives happily there.