We’re still away at Lanzarote, and will be for another week. The work I expected to do during this visit has not been possible. But good will come from it!
Technically, I’ve had a couple of challenges this time with the computer and the internet. The laptop is a few years old and using a file drive on it has proved to be annoyingly slow. To compound the issue, the Wi-Fi connection is set off balanced at this apartment, with priority set to optimise downloads. The download speeds are good, but the upload speed is dire. Every large file I’ve tried to get on the website has failed to complete, so several of the articles I’ve created here have had to be put in draft mode, for completing when I return to a proper connection at home!
For our next visit in December, I’m going to bring a cat5 cable and plug straight into the router at the apartment. Although that won’t increase the speeds, it will offer me more stability in my file shifting processes. Don’t you just hate the hassle created by so many seemingly essential components of working away from home! I know – I should be out in the sun, like Jane is now. But that’s not for me!
I have thought of several changes I’m going to do when I return home. I’m working on a way to make the process of producing the WFSIW editions a little faster to create. Each takes about 3 hours at the moment, which means I only have time to produce 2 every week. Here’s my thinking moving forward.
A NEW STAGING PAGE FOR ENVOYS
I’m going to design a simple template page where I can present just the WFSIW messages, without the other elements, Preamble, Post Script, Spirit-Inspired graphic, Summary notes, and Favourite line. The staging page will be without images and will only contain the actual transcribed message. I don’t want to make this a top feature section, because I like the full production better for value. The staging page will only be where the transcriptions are stored online before a full production is completed on each one.
With eight days still to go and with already 15 new WFSIW messages complete for The Lanzarote Sessions – Series 7, the time before the visitors will read them on this website is too long. On the current plan, most of these new messages won’t be available until the end of this year. At least with the new Staging Section, the envoys will be able to read them a lot quicker, even if it is without all the bells and whistles attached.
Yes there was a hint then! The Staging Section will be made only available to current Envoys that have donated funds towards my work. The section will be password protected from everyone else.
It would allow me to add new transcriptions as they happen, within hours, not weeks or months as it currently is. As I write this, I still have a few more of Lanzarote Sessions Series 6 to add to the main public WFSIW section, before the new series begins, so a staging page will allow the dedicated followers of my work to have early access of this popular feature.
OTHER NEWS
- Visitor numbers to the website have increased a little, but we’re only talking in the tens, not hundreds. The website has a collective total of 400 visits since adding the tracking software back in May.
- A polite reminder that when you add comments, which are always welcome, they are held for approval before they appear live on the site. I had to do this after being pestered by autobots adding nonsense comments to the website.
- I have been filming a lot of Playa Blanca port action whilst here this time. Back home, I’ll be compiling a collection of the clips into a video which will be over an hour long with a selective music sound track. The video will be intended for those people that operate two computers at home and would like a background video for one of the screens when they’re working. Something to accompany the computer worker!
- The podcasts have not been uploaded for a while, due to the internet speed mentioned above. I had planned to get several of them added this month, but that will have to go on hold until back in the office.
- Would you believe, I think I’ve a reading to do tonight. We’re meeting a couple who we met in a restaurant the other night. When the lady asked what I do for a living, Jane was quick to mention I’m a medium! Guess what, they want a reading.
Enjoy your week ahead.