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Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

This chameleon looks like "I swear to god, I've had just about enough of your bullshit"

A green and grey chameleon on a branch. It looks like it's rolling its eyes in exhaustion.

June 4, 2025 at 1:21 PM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Kilimanjaro, which according to noted geographers, Toto, rises like Olympus above the Serengeti. Except it's not the blimmin Serengeti, is it Toto? That's nearly 300 miles away!

Anyhoo... Hello from Tanzania! 🇹🇿

Mount Kilimanjaro, with the snowy summit visible above the clouds

June 3, 2025 at 12:39 PM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Me: Just over a week until my trip, I will just update my packing list 📋

Also me: Maybe I'll get out a few things for packing 👕👖

Also also me: This seems to have escalated into a full-on trial packing event! 👕👚👖👗🧢👙🥾🧦🩲🪥📸

Also also also me: Welp, I'm ready to go!! 🧳🎒

A woman grinning and holding a large purple kit bag

May 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

After 2 months as a Dorset digital champion, I did an interview with local radio ThisisAlfred.com with fellow volunteer, Chris. If you know someone in Dorset who needs help with digital stuff, there's 50+ of us across the county

🎙️ soundcloud.com/thisisalfred...

#dorset #shaftesbury #dorsetcouncil

A man and woman smiling at the camera under the caption "Tech help at Shaftesbury Library - Volunteers guide locals through online world as Dorset services go digital". Other text on the image refers to "Shaftesbury Local radio 107.3 FM", "Alexa open radio player and play Alfred", and the URL thisisalfred.com

Text from an Instagram post which says "From booking GP appointments to managing your bank account, everyday tasks are moving online – and for many Shaftesbury residents, that’s a challenge. With just one town centre bank left and more public services set to go digital this summer, knowing how to use websites and apps is becoming essential. Fortunately, two volunteers at Shaftesbury Library are making that transition easier.

LISTEN: https://soundcloud.com/thisisalfred/shaftesbury-volunteers-offer-friendly-tech-help-as-more-local-services-go-online

Chris Robinson and Lorena Sutherland are Dorset Council’s local ‘Digital Champions’. Every week, they offer free, one-to-one support at the library, helping locals navigate phones, tablets, laptops, and the internet – patiently and without judgement.

Chris, a former BT engineer, handles the basics. “It can be as simple as ‘this is how you turn it on’,” he said. “Or, ‘how do I email a photo?’ It’s all about building confidence.”

Lorena, who worked in digital government services, understands the frustration that poorly designed websites can cause. “Some people get stuck on a dropdown menu,” she said. “Not because they don’t understand the question – but because they don’t know how the menu works.”

Text from an Instagram post continuing from the other text image, which says "She added: “It’s not just about tech knowledge. It’s about sitting beside someone and saying, ‘let’s figure this out together’.”

Dorset Council also lends devices like iPads for six-week trial periods. “People try it, then decide whether to get their own,” Lorena explained. “It’s about curiosity and confidence.”

The pair are seeing increasing demand as online services expand. “Doctors, councils – everything’s digital now,” Chris said. “You need to be able to do it.”

And the service is flexible. “People can come back more than once,” Chris said. “

Appointments last 45 minutes and are free. Chris is available Mondays from 10:10am to 12:10pm. Lorena offers Thursday afternoon sessions from 1:15pm to 3:30pm. Appointments can be booked by calling 01305 221048, speaking to library staff, or visiting the Dorset Council website.

#Dorset #Northdorset #Semley #Motcombe

May 23, 2025 at 7:10 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Searched for the full wording of the "funeral baked meats" quote from Hamlet. The phone misheard, thought I said "funeral bacon meats". Cue AI slop. Tried it again deliberately with "bacon". Slightly different AI slop, but slop nevertheless.

Google AI Overview saying: The query "the funeral's bacon meats" likely refers to the meat-based foods that might be served at a funeral, specifically bacon. While bacon is a common food, its association with a funeral might be somewhat unusual. However, some funeral receptions or memorial gatherings may include a breakfast-style spread that includes bacon as one of the meat options.

Google AI Overview saying: "The phrase "funeral bacon meats" doesn't refer to a specific type of bacon or meat. It's a colloquial term for a dish or type of meat that is often associated with funerals, particularly ham salad. In some traditions, ham salad sandwiches are served at funerals."

It then goes on to elaborate about nicknames, ham sandwiches and other nonsense.

May 6, 2025 at 2:47 PM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Good chat

Screen grab of a conversation underneath a listing for a screen protector that fits a Samsung galaxy s21 phone. Someone called Gil says "hi is this still available". Lorena says "yes it is" and a couple of days later asks "are you still interested?" Gil replies "I have a Moto which is a different size"

May 3, 2025 at 2:21 PM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Yes Copilot, these are precisely the 3 options I had in mind when I opened this Word doc

AI suggestions for prompts at the top of a blank Word document. They include "write a bedtime story for an eight year old about dinosaurs", "write a witty blog about a sailing trip" and "create an outline for a resume with headings"

May 1, 2025 at 6:44 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Gorgeously sunny weather in Shaftesbury all week, so of course I'm here in Valencia in the rain 🇪🇸

Nevertheless I'm singing, not whinging, in the rain ☔

Woman in rainy plaza with cathedral tower in background

March 3, 2025 at 8:54 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Watched #NationalTheatreLive The Importance of Being Earnest this weekend. It was brilliant - joyful, colourful, physical, witty (obvs), and with a fabulous curtain call that proves yet again that every film or play should end with a dance 👜

Scene from a play with characters seated or standing around a table on which a man is standing with his arms thrown upwards joyfully

February 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Thanks eBay

An alert from eBay which says "Just for you: Trousers"

February 13, 2025 at 11:24 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

1970s photography: "Let's photograph Lorena with our precious camera and film, which costs quite a lot to get developed. And let's make her stand in the hedge for some reason. In fact why don't you stand in the hedge with her?"
"Shall we move the rake out of shot?"
"Nah, not worth the effort."

A girl aged 8 wearing a smart trouser suit, standing in the edge of a concrete path so that she's partly in the hedge

A girl aged 8 wearing a smart trouser suit, standing in the edge of a concrete path so that she's partly in the hedge. Her mother is standing behind her, not quite as much in the hedge but still not firmly in the path either

A girl aged 8 wearing a brownie uniform, standing in the edge of a concrete path so that she's partly in the hedge. There's a rake leaning against the hedge just behind her.

February 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

On 31 January 2020 we were in a slightly rainy Lisbon, avoiding Brexit Day. I had to be far enough away not to see a single celebratory firework or hear one note of triumph in anyone’s voice. The distraction worked – at least for a couple of days. The catastrophe has lingered. #brexit

A man and woman in a joint selfie with the city of Lisbon behind them

January 31, 2025 at 4:52 PM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Small, pissed-off fish

A small dried fish being held between a thumb and forefinger, which looks quite pissed off with its situation

January 19, 2025 at 2:37 PM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

So @easymungo.bsky.social's birthday treats have proliferated as the day wore on. The lovely people at our hotel have looked after him very well (and most unexpectedly) 🎂🎈

January 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

And to finish? Chocolate cake, delivered by a group of the breakfast waiters singing "Happy birthday". I think the champagne took the edge off the embarrassment.

A piece of chocolate cake on a plate which has happy birthday inscribed in chocolate icing. There are flowers and a candle on top of the cake.

January 18, 2025 at 2:37 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Champagne with his cornflakes? What better way to kick off @easymungo.bsky.social's birthday? 🥂

A man and a woman holding up classes of pink champagne

January 18, 2025 at 1:38 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Langkawi Sky Cab and Sky Bridge are not for the acrophobic. But hey, what's 650 metres high, dangling on a single cable, between friends?

A man standing on a single span curved bridge held up by one pylon. There's a glimpse of c and forest beyond

Around a dozen cable car gondolas suspended on thick cables going up and down a very steep mountain

A man and a woman smiling from inside a gondola with a view of the mountain and some other gondolas behind them

Of you downwards through the floor of the gondola which is made of glass and reveals the forest canopy below

January 17, 2025 at 3:51 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

The reef of a cave with dozens of small bats hanging upside down

A man pointing at a sign that says "Warning. Beware of monkey. You have been warned. Not responsible for injury or death" and there's a silhouette of a monkey on the sign

Several monkeys sitting amongst mangrove roots

About passing through a narrow gap in the limestone rocks with forest beyond the gap

January 17, 2025 at 3:47 AM

Lorena Sutherland

@lolylena.bsky.social

Hooning around the mangroves at Kilim Geoforest Park, with added kite feeding, bat cave (no sign of the Batmobile), monkeys (of course), and the crocodile cave (named because it looks a bit like a crocodile if you've consumed enough of the right sort of drugs).