an apology, an explanation and some thank yous

[Andy Hamilton]

first of all the apology and an explanation, i have not been around the forum much recently and i won't be around much for a couple of weeks or so. this is for 2 reasons. firstly the deadline for the book is rapidly approaching and i simply don't have as much spare time to spend on here. secondly I have started to get rsi and can't type without some pain, in fact i am in constant dull pain.

I have decided to take time away from the computer until it starts to heal. I am writing the book by hand at the moment, but if still the same amount of pain i am going to have to dictate it. bit of a bugger really.

the thank you is to all of the moderators and admin on here. It is now very much there website (and yours) as it is mine and Dave's. Despite that it has been a real blessing to know that they are here to keep things in order while I am forced to take time off.

I am missing the daily banter on here, but i know that the best thing is to not type for a while. So please pm any of the other moderators with any problems instead of me and also give them all a big thank you.

[the.fee.fairy]

Aw, its a pleasure Andy.

I hope that you can deal with your RSI and get back to typing mode soon!!

[glenniedragon]

Take it easy, don't let lifting that beer glass aggrivate the injury-use a straw! does voice recognition software work?

kind thoughts
Deb

[Shirley]

Take it easy, don't let lifting that beer glass aggrivate the injury-use a straw!

That's good advice!!! :)

Take it easy Andy - and if there is anything I can do to help let me know... I can audio type :D

[Thomzo]

Oh Andy - I can sympathise. I had a job once that involved a lot of inputting data and it has left me with a small amount of residual rsi. If I do a lot of typing now it is really painful.

Cheers
Zoe

[ina]

Yes, Andy - I also know what it means needing both hands to raise a pint glass... The only thing to do is not do what aggravates it, hard as it seems. ANd keep it bandaged. (Vet wrap works well for that, I find - if you know somebody who has horses or other four legged lifestock, they might be able to help you out!)

And I wholeheartedly join in you in thanking all the mods (and cons ) for all their hard work!

[Millymollymandy]

Cons? Oh that'll be them lot of convicts down under!

Get well soon Andy (I used to audio type too, no idea if I still could though!).

[Andy Hamilton]

voice recognition software would be good I don;t think I could afford it though but worth looking into.

I sort of took you advice Ina and have bought an arm brace, it does seem to help.

thanks as well for the offers of audio typing I spoke to our editor today about it and she said that if it comes to it she would get someone there to type it up. writing by hand and having a break every half hour seems to be doing the job at the moment.

zoe - sound a bit scary that the pain can continue, I really hope that this gets back to normal soon. Stange it seems worse in the morning.

Straws and beer, yes that is the way forward

[Thomzo]

Hi Andy

I think the problem I had was that nobody had heard of RSI when I was doing that job. It was about 20 years ago. When I mentioned the pain in my hands I was just told not to worry. So I kept on doing it. If I had rested my hands at the time I don't think it would have been so bad.

The best advice is to rest and not do anything that causes the problems. The funny thing is that typing doesn't really cause me a problem any more but gripping something (particularly chopsticks for some reason) still does. It is much better now than it was though.

Zoe

[pskipper]

What software are you using for word processing Andy, I don't mind having a look around for free speech recognition software for you.

[Andy Hamilton]

I’m using text to speech software it’s a bit crap. Well, more frustrating as have to talk to word then copy and paste this over to the forum. Not only that but it seems to not know how to interpret my voice that well. For instance every B It thinks is a P and sometimes the silly computer thinks that I’m saying something completely different.

I might end up throwing my computer across the room in frustration. I’m using the Microsoft free software I’m sure they’re better ones on the market than this well hope so anyway it has taken me a lawn time to write this.

i will now sing three blind mice to you to show you how crap it can be.

Three fine lines
three online
C hello mum
C hello mum

they your own after the farms were
recovered some of the carving knife
did he ever see such a site in all your life is three blind mice

[Millymollymandy]

Oh Andy, are we allowed to laugh at that given your predicament?


I'm so sorry but I just have to!

[Andy Hamilton]

That's why I posted it, I have been in fits trying to use it myself.

[the.fee.fairy]

Do you have to get a special 'Bristolian' version ?

[Millymollymandy]

He's from Notts! Mind you if he has an accent anything like my in-laws (from there) it is not suprising the poor software can't cope!!