Hi Dave, What a good article! Thanks for giving me some insight into the 'how it works' aspect of all this stuff. I often wonder if anything I'm doing is making a dent in the 'machine'. I guess you spend most of your time on forums/discussion groups--I should probably take a look at some of the ones you've listed and try to make some time, but I have difficulty keeping up with Adland alone sometimes! I'm a firm believer in 'if you have nothing to contribute, don't post'. Which is why sometimes I visit forums and keep my hands off the keyboard! What you said about sig lines was news to me! I'm going to re-think what I have in mine. Norman, you know what they say about 'all work and no play'......You might want to spend some time outside with your obviously very patient wife

Hi Loraine,

many thanks for the comment.  Actually as Dave knows, I am one of those extremely fortunate people for whom my life's work was, and is my hobby as well.  One of the joys of an international ad-man's life was travelling and living in other countries for 50 years or so, and nothing reveals a society - both culture and history (usually combined) than a review of their advertising past and present.

It STILL fascinates and absorbs me, which is why I produce the Poster Books at the moment, and have planned a new series of other areas - such as Graphic Styles of the 20th Century (current project), and a review of Graphic Design with Tobacco products. I also re-create Poster artwork - and the house has several on the walls (original prints can cost thousands - much cheaper this way!)

The computer bit drives me nuts, but as replacement programmes are so expensive, I find myself hunting up cheaper alternatives (even freebies).

My wife of 34 years actually has a 'proper' job, whilst I am past official retirement age by a couple of years.  I mentioned in earlier posts that thanks to Skype I talk to friends in the UK, Belgium and Australia - but apart from her, I never speak to a living soul for months on end, as we live deep in the heart of the French countryside.  So without my work/hobby it would be a very lonely life.

When we do get outside the 3,500 sq. metres of garden is also fully occupying and THAT is real work as far as I am concerned. Now the weather is finally starting to improve - the bikes will be out again, and the daily rides doing the fitness bit.

All the best,

Norm

Ad Books fro Fun & Education

http://www.lulu.com/norman-clark

 

Addendum - sorry I spelt your name incorrectly.  Infuriating that isan't it?

Hi Norm, I just got in - wow! This forum has really opened up. It's nice to see everyone here and I'll will be trying to answer a few more as things wind down here. (crazy schedule and a house full of relatives - great, but... crazy...) I just wanted to mention that I've used Open Office for years, and download it onto every computer I buy as I prefer it hands down over Microsoft, which I still have, but which doesn't work anywhere near as well. I have OpenOffice Suite - a superb word processing program with more features than I could list without developing carpal tunnel... Anyway, if UBUNTO has that incorporated into it, my interest level has just gone up, again. God bless, Dave

Great advice Dave,

thanks,

Ed