Well, I’ve just ordered a new inkjet printer (HP D5460) not because I need one – my old inkjet still works fine – but because it’s cheaper than buying a new set of cartridges for my old one. The upside is that it’s a much higher quality than the old one, which I’ve had for nearly four years. The downside is; what do I do with the old one? Any suggestions welcome.

…from Michael Smethurst of the BBC (PowerPoint presentation via SlideShare entitled ‘Designing for you least able user’).

All you need to know about getting listed with Google – and other search engines. There’s no rocket science here, just good practical advice.

I had a long play with the Google Earth API over the weekend and created a UK Kite Sites page (and a Google Maps version just in case anyone can’t install the plug-in).

I met a guy on Clapham Common yesterday who I noticed taking some photos of my Blue Moon Exile. He sent me a few and I thought they looked very pretty and he said it was OK to share. Turns out he’s a film/video director, so no wonder he has a good eye. His company’s got a great name, too – Rubberductions.

Round 10 of the Virtual Freestyle kite flying competition is now under way with the largest ever field of entries (28) from nine different countries. You can see my entry for this round in the kites section of this site. It was filmed by Dave (popeye) Hearn – another entrant – at Epsom Downs Race Course a couple of weeks ago when we had a rare bit of good weather.

ReedDesign has just produced a new colourizer for Kite Related Design’s Fury.

The colourizer has a built-in ordering system which means no more screen grabs to show which colours you want on your custom designed kite. Just click the button and your scheme will be sent straight to Carl ready for production.

Despite the weather which gave us three heavy and prolonged showers, the 11th Streatham Common Kite Day was a great success.

It is always invidious to try and single out particular people for thanks over and above others but on the kite flying front Carl from Team Spectrum and the Brighton Kite Flyers deserve special thanks for their presence and perseverance in the face of the inclement weather.

Tom Apurba and his team put on a great display of kite fighting and we had the added bonus of Keith and Vee Griffiths of the STACK pair Ex Grads. Team Adrenalyze took the honours in the power kite field.

As most of the top freestyle flyers were at a competition in France I put on a display in the arena flying to two of my favourite tracks: Let’s Dance by Chris Montez and Putting on the Ritz by Ella Fitzgerald.

The Mothers’ Bridge of Love gave some added colour to the day with Chinese kites and two dancers dressed in Lion and Panda costume.

Many thanks to Gavin Love who not only did all the organisational work on the refreshment front but also did a very full day on the Common as traffic meister amongst other duties.

Gordon Richardson was as ever supportive and we welcome all the help we get from the Friends of Streatham Common.

On the food front welcome too to Ishmael’s Mother for what was the best curry on the Common; the hog roast and bar provided more traditional fare and Posh Pancakes did the business.

The Highwaymen did good business selling both clothes and kites, as did Ramnath Pupkin of Hanuman Kites who sells ‘the smallest kites in the world that actually fly’ – they’re not (not even close) but I don’t think anyone’s had the heart to tell him.

So all in all a great day and thanks to everyone who came.

Well, it’s been a busy week. I had three new websites go live on Thursday.

• Amplifying Intuition
• Rob Lees (Rob Lees is no longer trading)
• Willington Independent Preparatory School

The Willington School site has been a long time in the making, as
always seems to be the case with school sites. It was co-produced with Reed Brand Communication (not related – the names are just a coincidence).

The logo for the Amplifying Intuition website is based on a variation of the Penrose triangle by Oscar Reutersvärd created in 1934.

I’ve just added a video of my provisional entry for round 9 of Virtual Freestyle to the kites section of this site. It was filmed by two-times winner Piero Serra at Purley Way a couple of weekends ago. First time for a while that I’ve flown there and it was good to meet up with the Purley Posse again.