Rain, rain, go away

[jadesfire]

It's a gloomy Saturday morning, with the most exciting thing I have to look forward to being sewing up my trousers later on. Oh yeah, I know how to live.

In the meantime, O Wise and Wonderful Flist, I find myself in need of some advice:

~ I want a new rucksack for work. There's nothing actually wrong with mine, except that it's gone a bit shabby and I want something smarter. But buying rucksacks is proving surprisingly difficult. Anyone know of good shops for this kind of thing? I don't really want to pay more than £25 ideally, which I'm thinking may be what's tripping me up :S

~ Does anyone have any experience of free web-hosts? I'm about 1/3 of the way towards having a website, thanks to my awesome husband, but I currently don't have anywhere to put it. I only want to put my stories on it, so I don't need oodles of space, and while I can find lots of 'Free Web Host' lists, I'd rather go with someone recommended if possible.

~ Do any of you read Merlin fic? Do you have any recs? (not for me, btw - just passing on a request) Merlin/Arthur preferred, but anything good, really. Thanks :)

Comments

[naye]

I am totally useless in every way in regards to your questions, but - hi~! ♥

It's gray and rainy here too. And I want to be in Switzerland celebrating my mother's country's national day. ...though I guess I could sew up my pants instead. It's true that they've needed sewing for a while.

*hangs around*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Aw, sweetie, you're never useless, and it's always nice to see you :)

Sewing was always my mother's 'rainy day' job. She hated it, so used to save it up for when there was no other choice.

*passes coffee* It's pretty quiet around here at the weekends, especially when it's raining.

[naye]

Aw! ♥

Here - something that made me smile when I clicked my way through the collection of people's impressions of the Internet.

Mmm. I hate sewing so much that I still haven't done it...!

Hope you're having a good day.

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Try Argos. I get all my backpacks from there. They tend to last three or four years, or two under hard use.

As to the web hosts - I just tend to use what comes free with the internet package. I remember Angelfire, Tripod and Geocities being popular several years ago, but they all tend to have lots of ads and pop-ups as part of the package.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Argos is definitely on my list - I just wasn't sure if the bags would actually last! Thanks :)

Sadly, O2 don't offer you any webspace with their packages, so I'm still having to look around. I'm also a little cautious about these things since Geocities are shutting down this month. Obviously anyone can go out of business, but I thought it was worth asking for a recommendation for someone who might last a bit longer!

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Is raining here in Liverpool too, but that ain't surprising.
I have work soon so I am *hoping* for boring as exiting in a hospital generally doesn't mean good.

As for free hosts, there's the one I'm with for my fic stuff - http://byethost.com/ (my site is http://www.aeronlanart.byethost13.com/gateway.html) and I've had not trouble with them. Geocities is about to die so don't go near that and tripod has big ads - which can be done away with by using firefox with adblock plus.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Heh, that's true - boring is often good :)

Ooh, that's just the kind of thing I'm looking for, thanks. There's so many out there that it's hard to choose between them. A personal recommendation is always my preference.

Much appreciated!

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

Well, at least you know how to sew. The only thing I'm capable of sewing on is a button. Couple pair of my pants got torn a few weeks ago, nothing major, just that they're a few years old and the stitches has gotten a bit weak, and I had to bring it to the tailor's. Given that my mum's a professional tailor, it's rather shameful... LOL!

Don't know about free web hosts, half of my stuff is on slashcity, which I pay $48 per year for and the other half is on space that I've been leeching off a friend's since she's got waaay too much space to spare. Oh, and my older stuff is on yet another server which I've been paying part of the costs for. I used to use free sites but all the ads and stuff just got really annoying.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*g* I can't actually sew buttons on - they always fall off again! - but I'm okay with hems, and I want to be able to wear these trousers again :)

Hmmm...okay, that's worth knowing, thanks. I'm torn at the moment, but given I'm not expecting high traffic at the site, I'm going to risk a free provider for the time being. Since I won't be uploading huge numbers of pictures, I think they'll have enough space as well. Will report back!

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

I've bought my last couple of rucksacks from emo/rock type shops - you know the ones with the kids in hoodies hanging around outside, and music you probably don't like blaring out the doors? There's one in Cardiff - Blue Banana - but I don't think they have one in Oxford... Anyhoo, yes. Those kind of shops usually sell Eastpak or JanSport rucksacks, both of which are sturdy and last for years (and are priced in the £18 - £30 bracket, depending on size and design). If you want leather as opposed to fabric, then TKMaxx is probably your best bet :)

Have fun sewing your trousers! *waves*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Huh, I hadn't thought of that. We don't have one of those in Oxford, but we have some equivalents - our guys tend to be tracksuit folks rather than emo, but the shops are similar ;) Fabric is absolutely fine, and TKMaxx has always been a washout, so maybe I'll try Cult Clothing instead. Thanks :)

*g* Oh yes, I'm expecting it'll be thrilling. Assuming I stab myself as often as usual ;)

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

That sounds like the right kind of place. If you don't have any luck, we'll put it on the list for when we meet up in a couple of weeks - I'm good at tracking down bags :)

(Although sadly not for myself. I found a handbag today that I loved but which I couldn't justify the pricetag. And I tried, I really, really did. *sulks*)

That's what thimbles are for! And plasters :)

[hllangel]

I'm afraid I can't help you out with the rucksack, but I do have a Merlin rec! Modern AU, by rageprufrock (who is an absolute genius) Arthur/Merlin

Drastically Redefining Protocol

Everyone in Merlin fandom needs to read this one. And people who aren't in it, too.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you! I told her it existed, but couldn't remember what it was called.

Pru's "Bang" is one of my favourite SGA fics of all time, so I'm happy reccing it without having read it ;) Much appreciated.

[hllangel]

I'm not much into Merlin fandom, but this is one fic that I read over and over again. (Just did it yesterday, in fact). Enjoy!

And link me to her SGA fic? I'd LOVE to read it!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Bang is here (http://glitterati.talkoncorners.net/fiction/bang.php), although personally, I'd recommend the audio version here (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/bang-audiobook) (audiobook) or here (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/bang).

I'm not that fond of her other SGA stories for some reason, although she's an incredible writer, but Bang just...works for me, for some reason. And the audio version makes me laugh out loud, even though I practically know it by heart now.

[hllangel]

Thanks! Will definitely look into the audio version. :)

[fish-echo.livejournal.com]

I'm useless on the first two points, but as to the third: http://ladycat777.livejournal.com/1050570.html?thread=16718538#t16718538 It's a link to my response last time someone on my flist asked for Merlin rather than a copy&paste because this way your friend can peruse everyone else's responses too.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Ooh, handy, thank you :) I'm sure she'll appreciate it!

Rain, rain, go away

[thalia]

I'd be happy to host your site at destinysgarden.net, if you want. I've got oodles of space.