I'm very happy with Ubuntu. If you want to save yourself from buying Windows, trying to avoid catching viruses online and find yourself able to work faster (well, your computer will be faster) switch to Ubuntu Linux.

You can switch from Microsoft Windows to Ubuntu (a user friendly version of Linux) very easily. It's much simpler and less dramatic than you think. You don't have to be a computer programmer, you don't have to be someone who can repair their own computer or take it apart. You can be anyone who has never done anything more complicated than check your own email, start a basic blog, downloaded a file or joined an online forum.

Changing your computer operating system from Windows to Ubuntu can be done in a few minutes (in addition to the time the computer does the work of installing the software). Note, the computer is going to do most of the work, not you.

If you have ever installed Windows yourself you will find the Ubuntu install pretty simple.

Links to Ubuntu

• Ubuntu Guide

• Ask Ubuntu

Save Your Data/ Files First

When you change your computer's OS you will be wiping your hard drive clean. So, make a copy of any files you have in Pictures, Documents, etc. Don't forget to save files from your desktop too. I also save my bookmarks from Firefox or Chrome.

Make Sure your Computer Can Run Linux

Unfortunately, not every computer will run on the Ubuntu system. I found this out the hard way. I had been running Ubuntu on my computer, an Acer I bought more than five years ago. Then I had the money to buy myself a new computer and I rushed out and bought a new HP computer. I took the time to look at features and prices and stores. What I didn't check was whether the computer I was buying was Linux friendly.

I had told the sales people in the store I was going to be installing Linux. They never mentioned a problem. I don't think the sales people even knew anything about the computer. They didn't know if my monitor would work with it - and it was an HP monitor too. So, don't hope the sales people will be able to tell you anything useful when you are computer shopping.

Go to the website of the computer manufacturer and send them an email, ask them if the computer you are using (or thinking to buy) will run on Linux. You can be sure I will be double checking next time I'm looking at new computers. For now I've kept my old computer in the other room and I have it as a back up, still running Ubuntu. I found I missed Ubuntu and I'm okay going back to Windows, but it's not as much fun as being part of the Ubuntu community.

Before you Begin to Install Ubuntu

First, make a back up copy of your Windows OS on DVDs. Don't skip this step. As long as you have a back up you can go back to Windows if you decide Ubuntu isn't for you (or on the small chance you have a problem installing Ubuntu). If you don't know how to burn Windows on a DVD, check the site. You will likely need more than one DVD if you have Windows 7 or later. I did.

Second, get the latest Ubuntu. Burn it to a DVD as well. This will be your back up copy of the Ubuntu operating system. Ubuntu updates their OS twice a year. You can choose to upgrade then or skip it. Upgrading is simple however and keeps you on track for new developments and fixes.

I strongly suggest you run Ubuntu alone on your computer. For one thing, it makes the install process really simple and uncomplicated. For another, if you give yourself a month to adjust to the little changes you will see between the Windows desktop and the Ubuntu desktop, you won't notice the difference between running Ubuntu or Windows.

The only real challenge to changing operating systems is the software you are used to using. In the case of Internet browsing, you can use Firefox or Chrome, just as you would have been doing while you had Windows. However, MS Internet Explorer won't run on a Linux OS (operating system).

In fact, you will find little change at all in your usual Internet activities. It will only be secondary software which you used for image editing, games, etc which you may not be able to use. In many cases you can find a web version or a Linux-friendly version of the same software. Check the Wine HQ site and see if you can run your Windows applications/ software via Wine. There is an extensive list of Windows software which can be run on a Linux computer.

It's worth taking a look at the software you use before you begin the install. Make your decision based on knowing where you will be after the install. Don't make an impulsive decision to change and then blame Linux/ Ubuntu for your software trouble. Plan ahead and you will find the problems can be resolved easily enough.

If you have come this far...

The actual install and switch to Ubuntu is as simple as following the instructions on the screen. Slip the DVD into your computer and let it run. You will be asked if you want to install Ubuntu alongside Windows or by itself. Choose to have Ubuntu without Windows. Don't let Windows intimidate you or Ubuntu scare you.

Eventually, the install will be complete. Your computer will leave you on the Ubuntu desktop. It's different, chances are it will be shades of orange. Along one side you will see some icons. With Windows the icons are in different locations on the screen. Explore a little.

If you can't wait to get online, install your web browser of choice and get surfing again. That's really all you need to do.

Pauline Gedge is a Canadian fiction writer of ancient history. Most of her books are about ancient Egypt. But, the book I most remember is the very first of her books I ever read: The Eagle and the Raven. It was a book about the British Queen Boudicca. At that time I just had to know more about this ancient Queen who commanded an army and sacked a city. Her husband was killed, her daughters molested and yet Boudicca fought on. Rome had to step up it's game to defeat the Celtic Queen.

The book is about other important people in history at that time and place. Caradoc, the leader of another British tribe and the soldiers and leaders sent from Rome too. I do remember the character of Caradoc (I even got a little fictional crush on him while reading the book). None of the others can hold a candle to Boudicca. She stayed with me and has never stopped being an interest of mine every since I first read her story in Pauline Gedge's book.

But, that is all ancient history. Boudicca, Caradoc and the others are all long dead. I wish the book had become a series of books as Pauline has done with her books about people and times in ancient Egypt, but it didn't turn out that way (so far).

If you like reading historical fiction I highly suggest you pick up The Eagle and the Raven. It was an epic story. I read it when I was still a school girl and then read it again 30 years later and just found more to love about it.

Why isn't there a Halloween tree? I love the Christmas tree, it's one of my favourite Christmas things. So, why not a tree just for Halloween?

I think it would be a great way to decorate for Halloween. the tree could be a real big size, the sort to stand in the room at Christmas, or the size of a centrepiece which you could sit on the table. You could also have the tree in the doorway for trick-or-treaters to see. I love to have my tree sitting in the middle of the room because it shows up in the window to everyone outside.

What kind of tree would you like for Halloween?

The tree could be decorated with humour, with spookiness or you may be Pagan and want a spiritual theme. Each style would have different decorations/ ornaments and even a different style of tree.

A traditional tree would be something natural looking, something you could see outside your window but with extras all on one tree. Most likely the tree would be bare branches, due to the season of Autumn when trees are loosing their leaves. On the bare branches you could have birds, crows and ravens being great and traditional choices. Add little jack-o-lanterns as ornaments.

A creepy tree could have a bloodier look with zombies, ghouls, demons and body parts. Anything gross, horrifying and gruesome which you can fit onto the tree would work for a really frightening Halloween tree.

Trees could have a funny theme with googly eyes. You could also use decorations from other holidays and give them a Halloween make over. Like turning Santa Claus into a vampire, the Easter bunny into a skeleton and a leprechaun into a rabid zombie.

I'd put lights on the tree too. Halloween colours would be orange and black but the black wouldn't show very much. You could switch it out to orange and red for a scarier look or orange and white for a prettier tree.

Last of all - a tree topper. This tree doesn't have one but you could easily add something.

Any of these trees from Amazon could be great as a Halloween tree. Have fun adding your own finishing touches to give the Halloween tree your personal touch.

Some day there will be a traditional Halloween tree. The idea just has to catch on. Meanwhile I found four which you can choose from on Amazon. Which would you pick? Each has it's own style. I'd like one tree with something from each of these. Of them all, I think I would choose the one with the curved, Gothic-looking branches. I like that touch of romance and traditional in mostly everything. I'm not the sort to enjoy horror in my Halloween.

As a kid, I really wanted to be one of those early explorers of the world. Travelling on a tall ship, braving the elements and the dragons at the edge of the map... Of course, as a kid, I ignored all the practical things like asthma, allergies, my financial allowance from my parents at the time and assorted other stuff that just gets in our way as adults.

It is sad how far we 'grow' from those days of being a care-free kid who thinks we can do so many things if we can just figure out how to make it get started and get our parents to understand and let us do all these great things. Still, now we are the adults and we can actually do some of the world exploring we wanted to do as bold adventurers when we were younger.

You don't have to take on the world, drain your bank account or find yourself a tall ship to be an explorer. Just get the basics: a map, a camera, maybe a flashlight, sturdy footwear, maybe a jacket if things get wet or messy and a good backpack to stash it all in for easy carrying around. Bring a few bags or something practical for any treasures you pick up along the way. Maybe some bottled water too, for yourself to drink or they also make good storage for plant cuttings, seeds, small fish or assorted other interesting finds.

Now, just take yourself out there, into the world. You can plan a destination, or just move your feet, pay attention to your surroundings (don't watch your feet - look up and really see where you are and what is around you, all the things you usually take for granted and miss). You might plan an adventure which ends up with you at your favourite coffee shop - an adventure doesn't have to be an all day or all week event. An hour is good. Just see something new - new to you. Stop and smell the roses as they say. But, I would say, you should touch some of those roses and not just settle for smelling and seeing them.

Explore your neighbourhood. Explore the alley behind your house. Explore your driveway if you broke your leg and can't get around much. Or, be braver and explore another town, an old house, a rooftop with a view, a cave, a museum, an art gallery, pick something interesting and find something new there. Explore your world.

This summer just past my nephew, Zack, and I did a little exploring together. I told him about some places to see in his town and area. Then we explored this school, which he had found, together. The school has been closed a few years but is not abandoned, just not still being used. Once a year it is open with the Doors Open event for people who come to tour the historical places.

Keri Smith has impressed me with her lust/ zest for life. We could all use more adventure and exploration in our day to day lives.

The Christmas tree for your computer - or yourself if you spend most of your time sitting in front of the computer. This bright little tree can plug into one of the USB ports on your computer and it will light up and change colours.

When I think about Christmas it is the Christmas tree, all lit up, which comes into my mind first. I love the bright colours, the sparkling ornaments, the smell of everything around the tree as people tended to gather there. We had our tree set up in the front room. Usually, this was the forbidden room. In a house with four children the front room was the fancy room, no kids allowed. But, when it came to family holidays we gathered there, with the fireplace in winter.

We would make so many goodies: pumpkin pie, apple pie, gingerbread, sugar cookies and have them all out there with the tree and the fireplace. My Grandparents (and some of their siblings too) would bring boxes of chocolates and candy canes too. We turned down the electric lights so most of the light came from the colourful lights on the Christmas tree. In the room people chatted, played cards and other games. I can remember the smell of gingerbread, the sound of people and the glow of the tree.

We had an artificial tree because my brother was allergic to the real trees. I never missed the real tree. No pine smell but no dry tree, shedding pine needles either. Plus, we had the same tree each year. Bringing it out was like having a friend come back again each year.

Now, so many years later, most of the family is gone or living far apart in one way or another. I don't mind being alone at Christmas. I have had the kind of family Christmases which people make movies about, so there are a lot of great memories I can look back to. Mainly, I love getting out there and seeing lights and decorations and displays at other houses, other places and being put up and taken down again by other people. I can have my own little Christmas and make it as big or little as I want. I had all my Christmas training. I can now bake the pies, cook the dinner, put up the decorations and enjoy the holiday season in the glow of my own Christmas tree.

Having a little tree just for the computer is a great touch. I can bring Christmas to my desk and have the big tree in the other room too. Every room can have a tree all lit up!