K's Learning Diary

Hugo is an immersive and visually stunning film that transports viewers to the enchanting world of Paris in the 1930s. The intricate details of the trains, station, and clocks, along with the contrast of the bluish winter and warm yellow lights, create a mesmerizing backdrop for the story. The warm human interactions and relationships between characters add a depth of emotion that makes the film truly special. The characters in Hugo are expertly crafted, each with their own unique personality and backstory. Through subtle repetition and clever use of character traits, viewers are able to get to know the characters on a deeper level with just a hint of familiarity. It's a testament to the skillful storytelling of director Martin Scorsese and the talented cast. The story itself is captivating, exploring themes such as the purpose of life, love, friendship, family, ambition, the whims of fate, career, magic, and dreams. There's so much to think about and reflect upon long after th

  Here are the steps to add a password to a Word document in Microsoft Word: Open the document you want to protect and click on the "File" tab. Click on "Info" in the left pane. Click on "Protect Document" and then select "Encrypt with Password". Type in the password you want to use to protect the document in the "Password" field, and then click "OK". Confirm the password in the "Reenter password" field, and then click "OK". Photo by  Towfiqu barbhuiya  on  Unsplash The document will now require the specified password to open, modify, or remove protection. It is important to note that password-protected documents in Microsoft Word cannot be recovered if the password is lost or forgotten, so it is recommended to store the password in a secure location. ********* Do you use wifi in public places or travel abroad often? Do you worry about cyber security? Get added security with a reliable VPN.   Get a reliable

I have a slight suspicion that I have written a similar post about this before. But since I could not remember how to carry out this particular task myself without looking it up, I ought to write it into my learning diary again. To join up two words that are in different cells in Excel, what you do is something similar to this. For example. The word Jon is in cell A1 and the word Smith is in cell A2. To join them and enter into A3 you go to cell A3 and type: =A1&A2 The & sign links the words together. However, you will notice that there is no gap between the words. To add a single space, you need to add something in-between. To insert any text in between, you need to use " " around them. So to add a space in between Jon and Smith you need to add a single space as text. So the formulae should be: =A1&" "&A2 This should give you the correct result.

Suffragette, the 2015 British historical period drama film, is a powerful depiction of women's suffrage in the United Kingdom. Directed by Sarah Gavron and written by Abi Morgan, it is a must-see movie that inspires and educates about the struggles of previous generations. It stands alongside other inspiring political films like Milk, Pride, and The Post, which serve as reminders that many of the privileges we take for granted today, such as equality and freedom of the press, are the result of hard-fought battles won by our predecessors. Suffragette is a testament to the resilience and determination of women who paved the way for future generations to enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms. The film portrays the life of a typical English working-class woman during a time when fighting for women's rights was considered taboo and even criminal. It's hard to imagine the struggles and sacrifices these women endured to bring about change in society. Personally, I found the film t

For foreigners who have to relocate to the UK for whatever reason, navigating through the British healthcare system can be a bewildering experience. In the United Kingdom most health services are free of charge for British residents, provided under the National Health Service (the NHS). If you are only visiting and do not meet the residency rules, you will now have a cover the cost yourself, so make sure you have suitable insurance coverage before you travel. Here is a video explaining how the NHS works: If all that sounds too complicated, that's because it is.  Luckily  however, it will go a long way just by understanding some of the basic services: NHS services includes Primary Care (General Practice GP, Walk-in Centres, Pharmacies, Dentist, Opticians), Secondary Care (hospital services, specialists), Emergency Services (A&E), Mental Health services and a wide range of Community Based services.  Most Primary Care services you can access directly you

After successfully testing my slow cooker with the Taiwanese Beef Noodle recipe, I'm excited to explore other delicious possibilities. The convenience and ease of slow cooking have truly won me over and I can't wait to try out more mouth-watering recipes. This week, I've decided to whip up some Chicken Fajitas in my trusty slow cooker. Not only is this recipe healthy, but it also requires minimal effort - perfect for busy weekdays. With only 15 minutes of prep time, I can make a big enough portion to serve up to 4 people. Plus, the recipe comes from Cooking Classy, a trusted source for delectable dishes. Be sure to check out the images below for step-by-step instructions. Are you curious about all the hype about AI? Want to write reports and emails more effectively?  Try Jasper writing assistant today for free .

I had a frustrating experience today with my UK trading platform, IWEB. Upon logging in this morning, I was startled to see a message that my account was restricted and to call a provided number. I was perplexed about what could have triggered this. I called customer service, who speculated that an expired debit card on file may be the issue. After updating my details, I was told access would resume shortly. However, I remained unable to access my account the entire day, which was aggravating. While I understand technical problems occur, clearer communication and urgency from IWEB would have been appreciated in resolving this issue faster. IWEB is one of the ISA providers and shares dealing platforms in the UK, part of Lloyds Banking Group. I have been with them for several years. Customer service is usually friendly, and there is a web-chat service which I like. They offer the most competitive 'cost per trade' without a minimum number of trades per month (that I know of), and

A friend recently told me about this new platform that offers exchange rates as you see them online, which are much better than what you can get at the banks. I have mentioned peer-to-peer lending in a previous post . Here is yet another example where technology is enabling smaller firms to challenge the dominance of traditional banks, and sometimes allowing service users to bypass the banks altogether. The idea seems obvious. Use technology to match up people who need to exchange money. If this is managed well, the overall movement of money in both directions should cancel each other out and the money never have to leave the respective countries. Instead of having a middle-man (i.e. a bank) the money is exchanged directly between individuals.  Simple yet innovative, and very convenient. I will try this next time I need to make an overseas payment. If you have used TransferWise before please share your experience with us. Recommended Book

Are you looking for an exciting way to experience London this September? Look no further than Open House, where you can visit some of the city's most iconic buildings and landmarks for free! With over 800 buildings, walks, talks, and tours available, there's truly something for everyone. Stay tuned for the full building listings closer to the event date, and be sure to check out their website by clicking the picture below. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to explore London in a unique and unforgettable way. ********* Do you use wifi in public places or travel abroad often? Do you worry about cyber security? Get added security with a reliable VPN.   Get a reliable VPN  today for less than £3/$5 a month. 

This came through to my inbox from British Red Cross the other day. This is David's story. David is from Kenya and he is gay. He is fleeing persecution and attacks in his own country. His family and friends have suffered brutal attacks. He is waiting for his refugee status to be granted in the UK.  “I left Kenya because I was fleeing not only persecution but unjust abuses. It’s still happening now. It’s even worse.”   Before he left Kenya, David worked for the Kenyan Election Board. “I was being forced to do illegal activities… to steal the election,” he said.   David was attacked and stabbed when he was still in Kenya. Later, his former manager was murdered. David is now claiming asylum in the UK. If the Home Office decides that his case is strong enough, he will be allowed to live in Britain as a refugee.   Like many people in his position, David has to report to the Home Office regularly.   Reporting to the authorities probably seems reasonable and straightforward, and so it sho

Homelessness is a growing problem in some of our major cities. The problem of donating to the homeless was one of the things I have wondered about recently. Local authorities tend to take the view that people can access available services if they need them, so there are no reasons why someone should be rough-sleeping in the streets. They also urge people not to give cash to the homeless directly, as it will keep rough-sleepers in the streets rather than encouraging homeless people to find help from statutory or voluntary sector services. In reality, the system is far from perfect and it's not always that simple. Without opening a discussion on all the reasons why someone may still end up in the streets, I was wondering about the act of donating cash itself. How do you distinguish between people that genuinely need your help and the professional beggars? How do you stop your money being spent on cigarettes or drugs? These thoughts usually put me off giving any money at all, I w

I read on computer screens for at least 8-9 hours a day. The bright white/blue light from the screens can make my eyes tire easily so I use high contrast mode whenever possible. On a Windows computer you can switch between the default view to High Contrast Mode by pressing Alt + Shift + PrintScreen. However, this will turn everything on the computer high contrast which may not be what you want. I use Firefox and Chrome for web browsing. Both of them have high contrast add-ons that you can enable to easily switch to high contrast mode. For Firefox, find the add-on here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/dark-background-light-text/ After you have added the add-on, a new icon should appear on the top right corner. You can now switch between the different views by simply clicking the icon. It looks like this: There is a similar add-on on Chrome, you can get it here if you are using Chrome as your browser: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/high-c

Not sure how many of you have tried to include Google's AdSense onto your blogs or websites. Most instructions online said it would normally take about 1 day to activate. After applying, my blog was accepted to allow AdSense widgets. However, when I log on to AdSense, I always get the same page saying "We are working on setting you up".  It has been almost a week now. I have tried to leave a feedback but no response from AdSense so far. Not sure why it's taking so long. Without access to the background settings, I can't really use AdSense to display the appropriate ad contents. My hope is that once AdSense is setup, relevant amazon links will be available on the page automatically depending on the subject matter, without me having to insert the relevant links to the posts. Anyone else had a similar experience? How long did it take you to set up AdSense?

Beef noodle dishes vary greatly across Asia, each with their unique flavor profile and ingredients. While I adore the fiery kick of Szechuan spicy beef noodles, my taste buds can only handle it occasionally. That's why I was delighted to discover the Taiwanese-style beef noodle dish. It's more warming than spicy, which suits my palate perfectly. Taiwanese cuisine is also renowned for being less salty and more health-conscious, adding to its appeal. With countless beef noodle recipes out there, don't hesitate to experiment and find your favorite. The recipe that caught my attention was one that had a 'family feel' to it. There's something truly special about enjoying a meal that's made with love and has deep cultural roots. I'm excited to announce that I've been experimenting with adapting Taiwanese beef noodles to cook in a slow cooker. Stay tuned for the results, which I'll be sharing later this week! Fingers crossed that it turns out perfectly!

The second game we ended up playing at a different dinner party last weekend was very different to Balderdash. And it took a lot longer to play. Railways of the World is a strategy game. You have to build railway tracks to connect up cities and gradually build up your railway empire. You decide where the lines should go and you gain points every time other players use your railway line. There are many variations to this game, and very quickly every player will emerge with their own unique strategy on how to play. Some will borrow heavily to build quickly, some will focus on a handful of strategic cities, some will look for loopholes and bonus points by completing certain events.  The game is very well made and a lot of fun to play. Sadly, this doesn't seem to be available on Amazon. If you are a retailer selling this game it might be an idea to seize this opportunity and open an online shop! Good points about the game : A sense of achievement to see you gra

The increasing popularity of board games is evident as it has become the main attraction at dinner parties. Despite the advancement in console and computer games, board games offer a unique social appeal and can engage more players. The trend is surprising as not long ago, people would play Wii or Xbox Kinect at such gatherings. However, board games have resurged in fashion due to their distinct charm. Board games have a unique social appeal and can entertain more guests simultaneously. Families and guests can spend hours enjoying a well-designed board game. Unlike console games, board games encourage social interaction and offer an opportunity to bond with others. The popularity of board games at gatherings shows that people value these benefits. Absolute Balderdash is an exceptional board game that we played last weekend. It is a highly interactive game where players create believable made-up answers to various categories. The game's website describes it as trying to 'con'

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If you are keen on philanthropy, I would recommend that you take a look at  givewell.org/ Have you ever wondered which charities are more effective in terms of how they use your donations? How do you compare a good cause against the other? Should you donate to fund a project closer to home or abroad? GiveWell is an organisation that does some of this research. They also give suggestions on what to look out for before you decide who to donate to. If you care deeply about this line of work and would like to read more about it, an excellent book is  Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference. If you know any other useful references regarding this topic, please share them below. I would be interested to hear any other recommendations.