Katie Writes Stuff » So you can read stuff

@ktwritesstuff reads a book with exaggerated excitement to promote the idea of saving bandwidth by reading books instead.

Save Bandwidth – Read a Book!

by Katie 27th March 2020

written by Katie

Times are certainly strange right now. I’ve been working from home since Tuesday and let me tell you, it’s boring. It turns out my cats are the most invasive micro-managers you could ever come across and I miss those chats with the IT team around the coffee machine.

The best thing about my work is the students and they’re obviously not turning up to my house because a) I live 75 minutes away from my work, and, b) that would be all kinds of wrong.

Today is my last day of work before I’m officially on holidays and I’m itching to get to grips with that stash of wool and fabric that I’ve been stockpiling for the past few years. So I can’t go out except for essentials? That’s OK – I have all the essentials I need right here.

27th March 2020 2 comments

Blog Op Shopping Roadtripping

An Op Shop Roadtrip

by Katie 2nd March 2020

written by Katie

Winter is here.

According to the official calendar, we’ve barely reached the start of Autumn, but that’s a lie. As I write, the grey clouds are gathering, the rain is falling, and the cold breezes are blowing against the window.

There’s also a guy with some sort of power tool outside, which is rather ruining the chilly ambience.

But let’s return to the issue of queue-jumping seasons: I’ve known Summer was finished since a day in late January when I bundled myself up in long sleeves, stockings, and a capelet for a daytrip with the Chef.

2nd March 2020 6 comments

The caneles in their bag - Katie Writes Stuff

Blog Country Life

The Consolations of Canelé

by Katie 4th February 2020

written by Katie

When you live in the country, you get used to compromise.

You might have to drive forty minutes to get a nice platter of sashimi, but if you just want a couple of sushi rolls, the bakery in the next town over does those.

The place might be packed full of tourists every Summer and Easter holiday, but on the other hand, there are a LOT of great cafés that you can enjoy when the tourists are gone. And three pizza shops, for some reason. (We’ve only been to two so far. And one of those is in a shop that used to be an amazing tea shop, so I have conflicted feelings about their pizzas.)

And when it’s time for something sweet, we might be miles away from the best vanilla slices in the world, but we’ve found something that’s almost as good.

4th February 2020 0 comment

The new lens looms over all - Katie Writes Stuff

Blog Photography

Looking through a New Lens

by Katie 30th January 2020

written by Katie

Every time I buy a new lens for my camera, I tell myself it’s the last item I need. The set is complete at last! I am prepared for every photographic eventuality!

And then I find out I’m completely wrong and there’s something else I need to add to my kit.

I’ve been happy with my set-up for a long time now: my lovely Olympus OM-D with three prime lenses. I love prime lenses. You could even call me a prime lens snob (I certainly do) and I wouldn’t mind a bit. I love those little lenses. I love their great quality. I love the fact that I can’t zoom at all and if I want to get closer to, or further away from, my subject, I need to use my legs.

But recently I wondered if I should invest in a general-use zoom lens that I could take on all those roadtrips I plan on doing this year.

30th January 2020 2 comments

The long jetty at Port Welshpool in Victoria - Katie Writes Stuff

Blog Roadtripping

Catching Up and Looking Ahead

by Katie 24th January 2020

written by Katie

The other day, I was suddenly filled with the vague idea that I’d forgotten about something a bit important. Something I’d neglected by accident. What could it possibly be?

Oh, you know – just this blog of mine.

I’m a bit annoyed at myself because not only have I forgotten about an entire blog – I’ve forgotten why I started it in the first place. What I really want is for it to be a record of Things That Happen and, instead, I’ve been trying to turn it into a ‘proper’ blog with a purpose and a niche and who knows what else. I suppose it would be nice to earn a living from blogging, but all I really want is to be able to browse back through 2019 and remind myself of the fun things I did and shared with my lovely readers.

Instead, I’ve been lamenting the fact that I haven’t posted anything about op shops and that’s meant to be one of my main themes. And the last Roadtrip Diaries entry was from 2018 and I really need to catch up on that before I can even think of posting about more recent adventures…

No.

If my blog had a theme, it would be: I did stuff and here are the photos to prove it.

So before we head into 2020 – the year where I update my blog more regularly and do stuff so I can share the photos that prove it – I’d like to catch you up on those three months where I forgot I had a blog.

24th January 2020 10 comments

Blog Photography

The Life of a Camera

by Katie 25th September 2019

written by Katie

If you’ve been following along for a while, you might have picked up the hint that I like photography a little bit.

And when I say “little bit” I mean “in much the same way as I enjoy breathing”. Take my camera away from me and you might as well help yourself to a lung or two while you’re at it.

I can even recite the list of cameras I’ve had, should you be having some trouble sleeping and need someone to bore you into unconsciousness. We’d start waaaay back with the light blue Hanimex that took a cassette of film (yes: a cassette of film), then we’d move on to my dad’s Pentax before taking a break for digital to get going, at which point we’d pick up with the chunky Kodak and head forward to…

25th September 2019 4 comments