Nokia N95 Shortcuts on the Main Phone Desktop

I just bought a Nokia N95 on the O2 UK Network, but when I switched it on I noticed that the shortcuts were not on the desktop as they usually are on the Nokia Symbian Software. However after a bit of searching around I managed to get it working. If you want the shortcuts on your phones desktop follow these instructions.




Before


After

Menu ---> Tools ---> Settings ---> General ---> Personalisation ---> Standby Mode ---> Active Standby (set this to ON)!

There you are! Another handy tip from AskYourBlog!

For Nokia N95 owners this website has more tips and information

http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/tipsn95.htm

Tying a Woolly Bugger with the Terry Griffiths Book

Ok I have to admit, this is starting to get a little bit easier. I decided to tackle something with a little bit more going on. An olive Woolly Bugger. This is one of the most popular lures in a fly-fishermans box.

This fly needed me to be able to first tie the thread on, tie on some lead, then tie on some maribou tail with a sparkle bit, a gold wire, some pipe cleaner looking stuff and of course ye olde hackle.

The vice I got was pretty good for the money I'd like to point out. I bought it for £11.00 at FastMail Tackle.

There were some issues tying this fly, firstly my tying thread snapped. I ended up taking the pipe cleaner off and rethreading a new one on. The instructions were very clear and concise again, and the photos in the book really helped me understand what I was to do.

I must say I am starting to like this book. Maybe next week I will be ready to start in the world of Dubbing. If you have any tips for me as I tie my flies please leave a comment. This is only my 4th fly. I started tying yesterday! If I can do it, then anyone can.

If you are a fly fisher I would definitely recommend tying your own flies, it adds a whole new dimension to the sport. Its the difference between a McDonalds ready made predictable meal and a Slap up dinner at a posh restaurant. You know what you get with McDonalds and enjoy it but theres always something missing. With a slap up dinner you might not like it but you appreciate the ingredients that went into it.

I love analogies.

Fly Tying a Montana from the Terry Griffiths Book Again

My Fly Top, A Bought Montana Bottom

Hello Again,

The saga continues, only this time I have tried tying the Montana Fly from the book

I learned from some of the mistakes of the first time. For instance I learned how to actually put a hackle on, and how to tie a half hitch knot so this should have been a better experience.

In some ways it was but it was still difficult.

This fly was basically floss and the hackle feather tops were used as a tail.

One thing I would note about this book, the step by step instructions are actually pretty useful, and they each match up with a picture that shows you what the fly should look like. However what it doesnt tell you is how each thing should be tied on but most of the time you just have to make 2 or 3 turns with the main thread and your laughing.

Also when putting the hackle on, hackle pliers come in very very useful.

Any comments on my second attempt at fly tying are of course welcome!

After my semi-success with the montana I decided to revisit the Black Pennel. Again Hackle Pliers are very useful.

Adding Categories to Your Blogger Account

I was wondering how I could categorize my blog material on blogger as there is so much content and not alot of ways to sift through this content to find what you want.

I then found a blog that teaches you how to put categories into your blog via simply signing up for del.icio.us.

This is the categories adding post here at http://blogger-tricks.blogspot.com/

Update on the Terry Griffiths Fly Tying for Beginners book

Ok, Here it goes.

I was reading the book during the evenings just before bed waiting for my fly tying vice to arrive. Once it finally did arrive my enthusiasm was at an all time low because I had been out all day and was pretty shattered. However. That aside, I decided to attempt the first fly in the Beginners Guide to Fly Tying Book. That all elusive Black Pennell.

The Black Pennell is quite a popular fly in the Irish Lough Fishing Scene so I was excited about tying my first.

Shown in the photo is my fly left against a real Black Pennell right (Like its hard to guess)!


I attached the vice to the nearest desk, got my tools at the ready and reached for the black thread. I watched the videos on you tube by David Cammiss who made it look easy but it couldn't be farther from the truth. Tying flies is harder than first anticipated.

I managed to get the thread onto the hook after a battle with my loose ends and wound it amateurishly up to the end of the hook. In books and videos professionals bunch the wraps expertly. Mine was just a tangle on a hook!

The feathers were first, and it said pluck 4-8 strands. I plucked 4-8 which turned out to be half the feather. Hastened to add this was tied on expertly.

In went the Black felt for the body of the fly which wouldnt stay in the right place and this was wound on again like a big tangle.

Then for the tinsel and the head another tangle.

Dont even get me started on the hackle! How on earth do you tie a hackle on without it looking like an Afro haircut with alapetia.

The end result can be seen in the image below.

Any improvement tips would be very very welcome. Tune in again for the next fly! The Montana..

Tying Flies

Andy at andyfishing.blogspot.com called me on Friday past to tell me he had tied some of his own flies and wanted me to join him in a spot of fishing to see what they were capable of. However I was unfortunately stuck working an all day shift at work which saw me folding paper. (Maybe I should put a post up to show how this exotic task is done!)

I digress. Andy managed to catch 2 trout using an orange cats whisker. (See the story here)

It got me thinking and spurred me into action. How does one tie a fly. To answer this question I visited probably Irelands best fly tier Frankie McPhillips in his shop in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. He recommended a book writin by Terry Griffiths called a Beginner's Guide to Fly Tying and a bag of materials which accompanied this book. Frankie was lucky he caught me on a day where I couldn't care less what I spent money on so I took it off his hands.

Maybe once my vice and assorted Flytying tools arrive I will put this book to the test and have a sort of mini review somewhere in this blog.

Anyhow the punchline of this post is that I found some brilliant Flytying videos for the real beginner that make it all look so easy.

All the videos can be found here from topflyman

This is a sample of what he has in store for you.



I found these videos inspiring and cant wait to tie some flies and catch some trout!

The Apprentice

Ive just watched The Apprentice and my goodness there are so many look a likes in that show


Kevin Shaw Daffyd the Only Gay

Raef Bjayou Roger Federer

Michael Sophocles Jim from American Pie

Split Brain

Ever wondered how the brain would function if the two lobes were not attached to one another? Look no further. This man had an operation after severe brain damage to separate his lobes.

Take a look