I launched a new service for my business last week and as I made a graphic to use in promoting it, my daughter Caitlin suggested that I should be putting it on Instagram. The problem with that is that I didn't have a smart phone and Instagram isn't designed for use from a PC.
Caitlin decided to ask all her siblings for a contribution and they bought me my first ever smart phone, which arrived today.
The photo above is my first ever smart phone photo, poorly lit but still, a photo taken by a phone.
The cake is an orange, blackberry and mascarpone cake that we had for Liam's birthday. He turned 23 yesterday but we did the whole cake thing tonight. It followed a dinner of mashed potato, broccoli and slow cooked pork shoulder. Simple, home cooked food but all delicious and the girls organised all of it. After all of that, it makes a whinge about waiting for the bathroom sound pretty petty :)
I was glad to welcome a new visitor to my blog last week: Country Mum from the blog [Farm-ily]
She takes spectacular photos from her family farm in the NSW Riverina so if you don't know her, it's worth a visit. There is also a brand new photography blog on the block "A Year in the Life", it's creator, Amanda is posting a picture for each day of this year and so far she covers a range of styles and subjects. You might like to pay a visit there, too.
I expect tomorrow will be comparatively boring, it's hard to top a new phone and delicious cake!
I guess that a smartphone is better than a dumbphone but ever since my wife got hers her face has been turned to it. At Christmas we went for a family meal at Nando's and at the next table were a family of six. As they waited for their meals to arrive all six were checking out their smartphones instead of chatting with each other.
ReplyDeleteI can't see the darned thing without glasses and they are always where I am not so i don't think I'll get addicted.
DeleteI often see families out for a meal and they don't get their eyes off their phones. I find it even more sad when it appears to be a couple on a date
Is there a recipe someone will share? I hope you learn your phone faster than I am! Congratulations on the phone. Waiting on the bathroom is plenty for me to complain about!
ReplyDeleteThe recipe is here
Deletehttp://www.foodtolove.com.au/recipes/blackberry-and-orange-mascarpone-cake-25421
If you don't want to make it fancy, the basic cake recipe makes a delicious moist cake.
I will eventually figure the phone out, I have plenty of willing helpers
I did use Instagram for a while, but it was such a time-sink I deleted my account.
ReplyDeleteI also permanently deleted my Facebook account in an effort to purge social media from my life. Apart from my blog. For now....
I have never used instagram so I don't know how I'll react to it. I'm a bit addicted to facebook but i don't plan to use it on the phone. Avoiding becoming an addict is one of the reasons i have resisted a smartphone
DeleteCongratulations on the smart phone. The smart phone that I use now was also gifted to me by my children. When I asked why spend so much on a telephone, my son responded "Dad, this is a smart phone. It is meant for people like you." I am still trying to understand that statement.
ReplyDeleteyou're a funny man!
DeleteThanks for the links, Kylie. I had a look and they’re very talented. As for smartphones I can see they’re pretty useful. I’ve never really bothered having one though and don’t intend getting one either. You can keep them. Taking photos is something I used to do.
ReplyDeletei was always happy with my basic little phone but i started to feel like i should be ashamed of it
DeleteI hope you enjoy your smart phone. I do not own a mobile phone but have been wondering whether I now should as I think I'd enjoy instagram which I know you need a phone to use. That cake looks very tasty!
ReplyDeletePopping over to see the blogs you've mentioned.
you probably would really enjoy instagram!
DeleteThe cake looks delicious. I was given a smart phone some time back. Like you, I need my glasses to see it, so it remains smarter than me. And doesn't get used often.
ReplyDeleteIt's not smarter than you, there's nothing smart about being uncommunicative!
DeleteYou're up to date now!
ReplyDeleteyes. Yes i am!
DeleteA propos the comments about phones when families are having meals I meet for once a month with a group of people (ranging from 6 to 26 in number) and we have a rule 'no phones'. In any case none of us is likely to be checking our phones every minute when there is interesting conversation flowing. However I get a bit bemused sometimes to get a call from the other end of the table "Graham, will you look up so and so on your phone." I suppose in 'the old days' we'd have just consulted the pocket version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (which would have been out of date these days before it even came off the press).
ReplyDeleteI had never used Instagram until I wanted a particular image recently and Google referred me to it. I had the app on my phone and I found the image I was looking for. Somehow I think I'll leave it at that.
I like the "no phones" rule but I am quietly appalled that anybody needs to actually have it
DeleteNice one Kylie! Phones today have really good cameras, and your first shot is quite literally good enough to eat. Can you send a slice to the UK pretty please?
ReplyDeletethere's none left! sorry, Gary
DeleteWedcome to the 90's my daughter would say :) Technology has left me far behind, though I was drooling over those plump blackberries! We're in the dead of winter here and local berries are available only in my dreams!
ReplyDeleteI always feel as though the only fruit available here in winter is apples but that's not really the truth. Right now we are in the middle of the summer bonanza: stonefruit, mangoes, dragonfruit, lychees, kiwis....
DeleteThank you so much for the link Kylie! That is very kind of you.
ReplyDeleteLove the look of that cake. It looks delicious!!
You are very welcome and the cake was superb! That boy has a knack for choosing great cake recipes!
DeleteSmartphones? The work of the devil. Satan's brew. Harumph.
DeleteThe cake looks wonderful. You'd have to cut it carefully though to make sure everyone got their fair share of blackberries.
Oh my, that cake does look delicious ... and a smart phone! what a nice thing for your daughter to organize and your kids to contribute to. They take very nice pictures, actually. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThat sounded like I already have one, but I'm still using a flip phone here! My husband has one for work and doesn't like it at all. He is not into social media of any kind. I think I could get used to one, but I don't like the thought of having the internet even more accessible. If I have to be at home on the computer to access any of it, it does limit me.
DeleteGreat looking cake Kylie! Unfortunately I've never (successfully) baked a cake in my life. Gary and tried, one Christmas, to bake a cherry cake - me not being a particular fan of the traditional heavier fruit variety - but after 3, yes THREE, attempts the best we had managed was singed and solid on the outside and claggy and uncooked in the middle! Happily our elder daughter has turned out to be a great little cake baker - where she got it from goodness only knows! - you I may point her towards the link you gave.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of links ..... so kind of you to give me a mention Kylie! I enjoyed welcoming Terry and LL Cool Joe, and hope to see them again sometime. It really was thoughtful of you to provide a link, thank you so much!
You are very welcome to the little plug I gave you, I'm sure my readers are always interested to visit a new blog!
DeleteI have to admit I didn't make the cake, my daughters did. I hung up my apron when they became competent. I wash so many dishes I don't want to create more...even for cake!
As for your cherry cake, blame the recipe!