Loot in the Loft

Wednesday 10th May 2006

testing times ..

The late nights have finally caught up with me. We're off on holiday this Saturday. A week in Spain to relax, sink a few San Miguels and get my thoughts down on paper. Liz deserves the break more than I do though. Anyone who can patiently serve up tea and cakes (mmmm ....) without touching them herself and supporting me in my most 'hair pulling out' times deserves a medal. Tried some flavoured tea the other day for the first time. Yuk. I prefer Tetleys any day. Let me know your thoughts (and your favourite buns) and you may get a mention here.

Anyway, an update on Loot in the Loft. Making sure all the angles are covered and everything I've done so far is working correctly have been the major tasks undertaken since my last blog and as the site is not yet finished, I need to make sure that the remainder of the pages (i.e. the 'My Account' and financial pages) don't have a negative impact on the overall operation of the current pages.

See you after the hols.

Posted by Mark @ 23:15 pm

Saturday 22nd April 2006

milestone ..

The database is now complete and works. Yee harr.

Evening all. After much working during the day and Loot in the Lofting at nights, I've finally finished off the database and the links to the site. It's now possible to display items for sale on the category pages, just need to make the pages so that adverts can be created online. Onward and upward to the Sell pages.

Seems Liz has got her hands a box of chocolate eclaires (my favourite) - I'll be drooling over the keyboard until they're all gone, which would be sometime tomorrow if I had anything to do with it. Good job she keeps me rationed.

Posted by Mark @ 21:00 pm

Tuesday 11th April 2006

more cakes, more pages ..

Hi all. Couple of busy (read as frustrating) weeks working on the site. The more pages I create, the more I want to do. My mind is full of ideas of what I want, trouble is, how do I make it happen? I could do with someone who is more proficiant than me in web site programming to make some of my crazier ideas come to fruition.

As for the site itself, the categories are now thought out and added to the home page, just need to complete the pages I've referenced in the links, finish off the relevant tables in the database so the pages actually display something online.

Quick update on the cake situation, jam doughnuts today ... mmmm ... keep 'em coming.

Posted by Mark @ 16:50 pm

Wednesday 29th March 2006

more pages, adding functionality ..

Greetings from 'The Loft'. My God, where does the time disappear to? It's nearly the end of March and just over a month since I started. Mind you, a week of that was spent skiing in Austria (cracking B&B in Kaprun called Haus Patricia - cheers guys). Came back all refreshed after the (very) late nights of the previous few weeks with more ideas on functions for the site. It's a good job I have such an understanding wife who keeps me supplied with tea and cakes. Thanks for the support luv.

Posted by Mark @ 23:27 pm

Sunday 19th March 2006

and on it goes ..

Well -- I've finally finished adding the content to the Help pages -- there's quick links to get you started and an A - Z help menu all of them full of useful info and tips. I could do with the days being 48 hours long just so I can get more time to work on the site, this standard 24 hour day just isn't long enough. It's good to see it forming though and as each completed page is uploaded, a great sense of achievment washes over me.

It's at this point I need to say a special thanks to Liz (my wife) as it's her who has the thankless task of keeping the cups of tea (oh.. and the occasional bun) flowing and generally being a supportive voice when the tasks ahead seem daunting. What would I do without her?

Onward to the next phase, mySQL databases - don't you just luv 'em.

Posted by Mark @ 16:29 pm

Thursday 2nd March 2006

Continued ..

Added Help, Contact and Member Sign In / Register pages. The site is getting bigger every time I go to it. The amount of detail and information is mind-boggling. Oh well, back to it, another long night ahead and work again tomorrow. Wonder if I'll sleep tonight - can't seem to get loot out of my mind. Price of being passionate about it I suppose ;)

Posted by Mark @ 10:51pm

Tuesday 28th February 2006

Development begins - watch this space

Well -- I had this idea the other day (shortly after trying to sell something on a rather famous auction site), that what if there was an easier and more importantly, cheaper way to clear my loft of all the 'treasures' I've collected over the years.

That started me thinking why don't I create a site of my own that I could advertise my stuff on -- but wait, why not make it so that anyone could advertise their stuff on it as well ? I'm sure there's not only me who has 'treasures' stashed away. A place where an advert is a low fixed cost (to help me pay for my hosting and bandwidth - hee hee) and can stay there until the said 'treasure' is sold -- not just for 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days -- and if it doesn't sell, pay again !!

What's that all about ?

Anyway, life from the loft is looking good so far. With the development of the site now underway, I can look forward (?) to an exciting and fun time ahead.

I'd love you to share it with me and and it would be great if you let me know your thoughts or suggestions for improvements. For now though, check out my FAQ page for more answers than you can shake a stick at, oh yeh, and don't hesitate to place your ads.

Posted by Mark @ 11:16pm