The thing to remember when you run a garage sale is to have plenty of change handy. I usually go to the bank the day before and get at least $50 worth of change.  You can lose an early sale by just not being able to change a $50 note!  My best garage sale netted me nearly $7,000 – whats yours?

By Jacqueline at PositiveConnexions West Auckland – Computer Training for Westies

In the year BC (Before Computers), blackberries, apples and oranges were simply fruits, a window was an opening in a wall, a platform was for trains, Java was a neighbouring island, a web was something a spider created and a wireless connection was nothing more than a radio. An application was something we’d ask for in writing and we’d climb Pukematekeo for an outlook to excel all others. The only memory we considered was the loss of our own and a hard drive was literally that –like inching home on the causeway blinded by the sun setting in the Ranges.

Our language in the year AD (After Digitalisation), is full of familiar words – it’s generally assumed that everyone speaks ‘Geek’ and knows how to use their computer – after all:

We all use computers at work every day so of course we know how to use them effectively right?

If Only!

The majority of New Zealanders are self-taught, with help from family, friends and work colleagues. Most of us have gaps in our computer skills, whether we realise it or not!

Even if we do realise that we have a problem, who wants to admit they are struggling? If we “don’t know what we don’t know”, how do we know what we need to learn? Where do we go to get help and how do we afford the time and financial investment?

Help is now at hand in the Valley.

We’ll be here every month with real stories to encourage ‘lifelong learning’ and, hints and tips to help you along.

Our first little gems for you to try:

• Pressing F4 is the fastest way to repeat the last thing you did in a Word Document.
• Selecting your spreadsheet and pressing F11 is the fastest way to create a chart in Excel.
•  CTRL + ESC is the shortcut to know! Why? So you can access your files and programs if your mouse stops working.

Next month we’ll start unravelling The Ribbon in Office 2007 & 2010.

Gina has been passionately involved in soapmaking since the nineties when searching for a solution to her irritated skin – irritation caused by harsh additives in soap and lotions.  She researched recipes and began making soap using natural ingredients. A passion that has not faded, and so in 2009 she launched Soapcraft with an e-commerce website. Having a sale within half an hour of going live was very encouraging and as the business took off she decided to purchase a similar business, Aromatics and More.  The two sites are combined into one now, and traffic and sales have never been better.

Gina took a pro-active approach to being on the web, by engaging with her customers and finding out what people wanted and supplying those needs.  Gina is a new businesswoman – previously in paid employment – and it is a credit to her to that she has taken on new technology and learn the marketing techniques that have made her so successful. Her website includes a gallery of photos that soapmakers supply of their work, and two very handy calculators. One to work out how much a bar of soap costs to make when you feed in the cost of the ingredients, and one to generate the lye calculation - which is very technical and needs great precision. These calculators are extremely popular.  Another innovation was forming a Google email group so that the soapcrafters could chat with each other privately and discuss recipes and organise ‘Soap Swaps’ etc.

Gina has just had her website upgraded to the popular WordPress format to enable more interaction and to showcase the many recipes that she has acquired, courtesy of the previous owner of Aromatics and More.

You can contact Gina on 0800 SOAPCRAFT or visit the website www.soapcraft.co.nz

UPDATE – Voting Closed

The Voting is open for the Web Awards – Vote for us – show those big corporate sites what the West is made of!!

Vote in the Category Trading Sites We are up against the biggies like TradeMe Localist and the new Yellow Local.

Give us a go West Auckland!!

I am ready to admit that I was wrong! Lorene Blundell is a West Aucklander who practices at a Clinic on the North Shore – but also sees clients here in West Auckland. She is a certified relaxation masseuse and she does these amazing Hot Stone Massages! I can take quite a bit of heat, but she made sure the stones weren’t too hot. It was so delightful I forgot all my cares for one glorious hour of back and shoulder massage. I carry my tension in my neck and lower back and for a little wee lady she has a powerful strong touch!

I felt quite giddy at the end and she advised me to drink plenty of water.  The effects were very noticeable and my tension just left me.  I have decided to treat myself at least once a month apparently the health benefits are much more than just feeling relaxed for a bit.  I encourage anyone to talk to Lorene, book an appointment and find out for themselves.

Lorene Blundell
North Shore Massage Therapy and Osteopathy
Phone 09 479 1379

They look a little odd, but QR codes are really catching on.  In a recent article Debbie Mayo-Smith gives the run-down on this very cool way to give out your business card.  All anyone needs to interpret them is a smart phone with a free app installed. They can also contain links to websites – so the phone reads the QR code and zips off to the website. Brilliant!

As a demonstration – I have used a QR code in my latest website ad here on West Auckland Classified. And if you think the black and white squares are a little boring – well QR codes can be pimped up using colours and sometimes patterns.

Using a QR code on your West Auckland Classified advert is a very good application of this cool new technology as people with a Smart phone can capture your contact details without having to type a thing.

How to get one?

Just google QR Code Generator and you will find dozens of websites where you can get the code for free. If you are like me and a little skeptical, get two done from two different sites and compare the two to make sure they are the same!

Bricklane did not disapoint us. As usual the staff were friendly and attentive. Our meal took a little longer than expected and the waitress kindly explained the delay. The food was great. My partner is a fish person, and is often disappointed by less than fresh fish, but Bricklane’s fish always pleases him.

The decor isn’t super flash – it’s a comfortable family restaurant, but the pictures of the Crown Lynn pottery and snippets of history are very interesting. There is a big brick fireplace and a warming fire in the winter. To me, it’s very West Auckland – glad I have a restaurant whos quality I can rely on.

Bricklane’s website is: http://bricklane.co.nz/  They are in Clark St New Lynn

For the 2011 programme there is a series of lectures and workshops with tutors providing an opportunity to work in different genres.

An Anthology of member’s poetry and prose, including junior and senior 2010 competition winners is due out in June. This is the third Anthology to be published by the group since its establishment by west Auckland writer Bernard Holibar in 2003.

They welcome new members to their friendly, diverse group, where they share knowledge and experience. Writing expertise is not a prerequisite – just enthusiasm. For further information visit their website at:

www.waitakerewriters.co.nz

Remeber to place your adverts in time folks. A lot of people have signed up but not place their ads. Please let us know if you are having any problems – I’m only too happy to talk you through the process.