Ixus i7

My new toy

Originally uploaded by MissChick

I bought a Canon Ixus i7 in May of this year. I was so pleased with it. It’s compact, has good picture quality, user friendly, some nice features like colour accent and stitch assist…. I recommended it to many people.

Now I feel like throwing the damn thing.

It comes with a little ‘cradle’ in which it sits while it is being charged or your photos are being downloaded from it. A lead connects the cradle to your computer.

I don’t know whether the problem lies with the camera or the cradle but my success rate at downloading pics is somewhere in the region of 33% at the moment.

I’ve tried reformatting the memory card; changing memory card; ensuring camera is fully charged; wiggling the cables (very technical) – evrything I can think of. And still it’s hit and miss whether I manage to download my pictures.

I nearly threw the thing across the room tonight in a fit of pique. Googling has not brought me any answers – i think the thing is doomed.

Oh – and the macro function is shite.

The Queen of product placement

M is a formidable ruler of the salon she manages.  A German mistress of all she surveys – and boy, does she survey.   She’s able to give her client attention whilst still keeping an eye on everyone – and everything – in her salon.  Haircuts are punctuated with her calling over a staff member to give orders, excusing herself to sort out problems at the cash desk and giving advice to other stylists (whether they want it or not).

She seemed to remember me, despite only having cut my hair once about 2 months ago.  I wondered whether she has a photographic memory or a file on each customer.  She cuts my hair with almost military precision, managing to be complimentary whilst also slightly critical (“Great colour, you clearly had it done ages ago [points to visible roots] but it’s still vibrant” – which reminds me, I need to make an appointment with Marcus, my colourist).

And then we have the products.  All the styling products are available to buy in the salon and she really works the product thang.  “I’ll just use this GHD styling spray, spray it on damp hair to protect it from heated appliances… Smells great doesn’t it? Reminds me of holidays, sun lotion I think… It’ll leave your hair soo shiny… Feel how soft your hair is now….” and then she places the product on the  ledge in front of me, taking care to do so in such a way that I can see the front of the bottle clearly.

The most entertaining thing though is that she has clearly learned English from a Welsh person.  So her usual clipped German accent sometimes gives way to a Welsh drawl, and she uses locally idiosyncratic phrases like ‘now after’.  Very amusing.

Oh – and she’s a great stylist.  What more could you ask for?

Toe socks

Toe socks

Originally uploaded by MissChick

So I recently purchased some toe socks. I’ve been hankering afte a pair of these little beauties for a long time and recently stumbled across some so simply had to buy some. Two pairs in fact…

And today was their first airing.

Putting them on is a bit of an experience. Much like gloves, you have to ensure that each digit is in its own pouch. However, unlike my fingers, my toes don’t spead easily so some ‘working down’ is required.

Once on, the socks are very warm and each toe is enveloped in its own comfy warmness. On the down side, it does feel like your toes have plasters around them.

The freakiness factor is surprising. Dexter wants to eat them (socks and toes); ade looks askance; I look down occasionally and think WTF?!

They’re long (to my knees) so great under my wellies and my feet are toasty warm. In terms of cool they don’t register; in terms of ‘I don’t give a damn’ they score high. I’m trying to ignore the slightly claustrophobic feeling in my toes in favour of the quirkiness….

We’ll see.