And I have got 6000 files; Spring becomes autumn; I whack some noobs

No. of pictures still in my Second Life folder: 6000+ (worrying); No. of noobs whacked: 17 (unimpressive); No. of giant pink flamingos bought: 1 (v. good); Season following on from Spring on Infolit iSchool: Autumn (because I can); Parts of SL disappearing in random fashion: lots (bad)
As can see from above, SL continues as per normal. Was trying to upload some pics to Flickr but Second Life folder on my PC (where save said pics) refused to be ordered by date rather than by name. Upon investigation realised that this folder had approx 7,200 files in it, most of them pictures, and presumably am testing some kind of Windows limit for the no. of files you can have in one folder without it curling up and waving legs in air.
Did a quick transfer of the 1000+ SL pics taken in 2013 (that averages 3 a day hmmm, perhaps ought to reflect on that statistic) anyway even after that there were still 6000 pics left. However, it seems like Windows can cope with sorting that number so, hey, won't have to worry about that again for at least 6 months.
Probably need to say asap that noobs being whacked (see item 2, above) were of course not REAL noobs (i.e. not the 3D embodiments of real living human beings who have only just embarked on the adventure which is SL) but rather a twisted version of Whack a Mole, produced by designers Weather or Not.
Just searched this blog and realise with dismay that it contains little about Whack a Mole in fact only a passing reference namely here http://adventuresofyoshikawa.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/three-weeks.html. Have had Whack a Mole game on Infolit since (evidently) 2008 and jolly fun it is, little moles and rabbits pop up and you have to whack the moles and avoid whacking the rabbits. Good healthy fun for all the family. It essentially looks much like the Whack a Noob machine you see above/right.

In the noob version, heads pop up for you to whack, and you get some noob-like random chat generated e.g.
[13:52] Whack-a-Noob: What am I supposed to do?!
[13:52] Whack-a-Noob: So, what is there to do here?
[13:52] Whack-a-Noob: Help!
[13:52] Whack-a-Noob: this game sux!!!!
[13:52] Whack-a-Noob: the graphics aren't as good as WOW
[13:52] Whack-a-Noob: $100L please?
[13:52] Whack-a-Noob: are you a boy or a girl RL?
As can be seen in first pic, I whacked only 17 noobs. One problem, which was what decided me against buying it, was that you have to go into mouselook view (interface disappears, you have to target and click), so it requires more skill/patience than I have to master the whackery. Also, would only be amusing if you were sufficiently un-noob to recognise the noob responses and go hohoho so true so true. And is trifling matter of it being a teensy weensy bit anti-noob.  So on balance will stick with mole version.

Still, is against nature to leave a shop without shopping and could not not resist this giant flamingo with multiple sit options. Particularly like the "dangling from the flamingo" pose (2nd pic). You can also see other tempting items in Weather or Not's shop e.g. giant sushi and giant hamburger, but resisted those. Giant Flamingo joins the normal sized unanimated flamingos that already grace my inventory.
The third pic shows giant flamingo in situ on Infolit iSchool, with a little flock of pose-less flamingi, including one discovered in Inventory's Library ie everyone has it for free (go look!), but like most Library items it is constructed of zillions of prims and is endearingly retro. It's the borked-looking flamingo at the back. Felt impelled to put it out of its misery (Right Click, delete!) as soon as the pic was taken. (Question: why did Linden Lab think its users would be in need, specifically, of a mishapen virtual flamingo rather than (say) a mishapen virtual cat? Discuss)

So, onwards to final items in check list above, i.e. springing into autumn and random disintegration of Infolit iSchool. Had left Infolit in spring mode because had been filming for the MOOC on Play (of which more in future posts, if can be bothered) and was concerned that might need to do some extra filming to fit in with what was already done. However, filming over now, and appear to have passed summer by, so straight to autumn it is. Must be said that, in SL terms, summer is dullest of 4 seasons and one with least special trees, ground textures etc. So, not a problem to skip it, really.

Deleted or took various cherry trees, ground cover, and the odd lurking narcissus or snowdrop, changed all the alder trees to autumn using a HUD (one click and they all turn brown) and then brought out some old favourites such as the mixed leaf cover and the Heart brand autumn oak. Finally changed ground textures so the spring carpets of flowers turned to mossy and leafy greeny-brown.

Only blight on proceedings was that noticed later on that some buildings/trees/etc. were disappearing until you got v.v. close. Can see this in final pic; is blank space where you ought to see Sakura House (which, being called sakura (=cherry blossom) house retains its sakura even when everything else is autumnal/ covered in snow). Not sure whether disappearing was due to my graphics card or SL playing up, but think probably the former, as seemed a lot better after restarted computer.

Anyway, there I am contemplating the unusually bare horizon, waiting to hitch a ride in an automobile that will never, ever come, unless, that is, a passing noob finds one of the free vehicles in  the welcome pack and gets his kicks on route 66 by crashing into me.

Spending spree

Pianos bought: 1 (good); Carpets bought: 2 (good); Morrocan lamps bought: 2 (good); Small palaces bought and converted to charming woodland folly: 1 (v. good); Callie Cline bean chairs bought: 4 (good); Callie Cline chairs lost somewhere underground whilst positioning: 1 (v. bad)

As can see from above list am making up for lost shopping time in SL and currently all shopping seems good shopping to me. Have not even included clothes purchased in above list e.g. Japanese schoolgirl outfit (as seen in pics) including shoes and 2 poses, and Empress Tang costume (in blue) which cost more than either palace or piano but is v. sumptuous.

Had planned over Xmas to buy piano and hope will be happy with purchase: is upright as that fitted better in house and more to point was less than half price of grand piano. Both have same set of music e.g. Beethoven Moonlight (extract), Gymnopedie, Scott Joplin, plus something by maker of piano (I think) which am sure is v. delightful.

Unfortunately music kicks in some time after click keyboard and select work, and also continues for while after have left the instrument, but precise realism not name of game. Also notice that fingers some way short of keys which might be graver problem in RL.

Am setting up Cosy Home in a town house manufactured by Ingrid Ingersoll, which have placed wittily above beach with boardwalk and steep sand dune behind which is where chair disappeared when attempting to manipulate it into place by crackling fire. Am sure have read that one can make terrain invisible and retrieve objects which have zoomed off out of control but perhaps this is a setting for regions and this occurred on my private land so obviously do not own whole sim.

Tried changing various settings in own Preferences with zero effect, and also tried Lowering land, but to no avail. At least chair is only 3 prims and only cost 98 Linden to start with.

In another part of same parcel of land Unlinked some bits of the Petite Castle (manuf. October Rust and cost $L750, one of new year resolutions is to be bit more informative in blog) and detached and/or clicked bits away, so now rises in tasteful semi-ruin with pleasing area on top surrounded by leafy branches. Am shown here from a distance and also (in Tang gown) close up. Would emphasise that this semi-ruin was deliberate unlike usual semi-ruin of houses e.g. when discover have accidently unlinked whole caboodle before have got properly in place and bits go everywhere. Is always a bit of window that you overlook deleting and notice weeks later floating in air.

The very first pic shows me reading in relaxed fashion with bit of ruined castle just visible in background. Can see that have retained sparkly lights post-Christmas, although have Taken or Deleted Xmas trees. Is still dark and gloomy in RL weather-wise so need a bit of sparkle.