Camcorder...feeling gutted

[Amy]

Hiya all,
Sitting here blubbing.
I have two or hree pictures that I look at of mum..one wastaken on her golden wedding, the other two 12 years ago when I took her out for a day with my son who was then 3, and we had a lovely day....a daft picture of her trying to climb a wall, and one of her showing my son tadpoles in a pond....never look at any others...dont remember anything else.

On Monday I start a new life...I am doing a Nursing Course....more about that later....but this morning decided to get out old camcorder and films ....and find mum....I know that shes on there..can remember taking film one Christmas about 10 years ago when she was disappearing fast before our eyes...but it wont play..think its the camcorder ...hasnt been used for years...and I feel that I have lost her all over again...I so want to see her....
Helen

 

[Skye]

Dear Helen

I'm not surprised you're gutted, you feel as if you've lost a link with your mum. Even though you didn't look at it often, you knew it was there, and that was a comfort.

But please don't give up. Take your camcorder to a specialist camera shop, it may be possible for them to recover the memory, even though the recorder won't play.

If they can, you could get your films transferred to DVD, and have them on your computer, or play through your TV.

It's worth a try.

And good luck with your new career.

Love,

 

[Amy]

I;ve never looked at it Hazel...never been able to face it...never wanted to remember,,,always believed had to love mum just as she was...dont look back...dont hanker after the past...but today it felt right.

My middle son goes away to university tomorrow...leaves just me and the yougest at home..thats going to be a big adjustment, middle one makes a lot of noise!! After mum died I looked again at my life....asked if i were to die what would I regret....and knew I had to apply for the Nursing....want to get into elderly/dementia care. So just wanted to see her today for some reason. The camcorder has tapes....not a memory...so maybe I can find somewhere that will transfer them to a disc. Thing is....she was there in the cupboard under the stairs...ready for me to take out jhen I was ready....and now that choice has been taken away....just as she was. Sorry...this is not rational...and in a sec I will pull myself together.
Love Helen

 

[Skye]

No need to be rational, Helen, I know the feeling!

If it has tapes, there's no problem about getting them transferred to DVD -- try yellow pages! I had lots of tapes of Katie transferred to videotape -- now I have to get them transferred again, before my video gives up the ghost!

Like you, I rarely watch them, but I ned to know they're there!

But that's not really the problem, is it? You want them NOW!

Your life is in turmoil, again, and you need that comfort. Your life is changing, and that's a bit panic-making. But you can do it, you know you can. And you'll be brilliant!!!

And wouldn't your mum be proud?

Love,

 

[Amy]

Thanks Hazel...yeh..just need her arms I think.
Will go and soak in a bath.
Love Helen

 

[Taffy]

Dear Helen,

I truly hope that there is a way you can retrieve your mum's photos. We lost both mum and dad this year I had videos of both their funerals so I could send them to my sister in the UK it wasn't until last weekend that she was ready to watch them but mum's DVD wouldn't work so this is very upsetting for her. Both DVD's worked here in Australia before I sent them.

Good Luck with the nursing, I hope that your feeling better soon.

Caring Thoughts, Taffy.

 

[alex]

Hi Helen

Sorry you seem to be having a down day today, it gets you like that.........when your least expecting it!!!! creeps up from behind and hits you over the head

I still can't look at any photo's and im not strong enough to watch video's yet and i'm further down the road than you........ its still early days for you yet, so take your time honey.

Your bound to be feeling a little apprehensive, you've given up a successful carer in teaching to follow your heart, hats off to you for your courage hon, i've no doubt you'll make a brilliant nurse........and when you get to specialize in dementia care, well.......we'll all be richer for that........its what dementia care needs......love and dedication.

Your mum would be sooooo proud of you......and so are we.

Life is short honey (so is wendy ) so make the most of it (Wendy does)

Go for it girl.........we're all behind you

Much love
Alex x

 

[angela.robinson]

hi helen ,does your camcorder not have an adapter that you put the tapes in and play through the tape recorder , i had dozens of old holiday tapes the mini sized ones,i was afraid of playing them as the tape recorder seemed to be chewing some tapes up ! so i had all the tapes put on to cd and had them edited to show mostly the parts jim featured in,i find them a great comfort to watch occasionaly,not too often as i can become a bit weepy . good luck on your change of career,i am sure it is a good move .

 

[Amy]

Hiya Angela,
Where did you get the tapes put onto dvd...think thats what i need to do.
Tried playing them through the tv but wouldnt work. Think the camcorder is kn.......d. It is 20 years old!! Hoping the tapes themselves have survived.

Love Helen

 

[mel]

Hi Helen

Spooky.....I have exactly the same problem!!!

In 1998 i used the camcorder for the last time....at mum and dads golden wedding....the cassette inside is firmly stuck!!!

I had promised mum and dad to get it sorted but never did ...in order to give them a record of their day

Since mum and dad died i have often thought of going through thetapes we've got....for comfort...to rekindle memories but haven't made that step to get it fixed..... i think,as hazel suggests i will take it along to a specialist shop to get it sorted....

I am sorry you feel so low today.....I think you are apprehensive about Monday.....you are bound to be....but you know you will be fine....it's just taking that step.

You coped well with your eldest leaving home last year.....
You'll cope with your second eldest too.....I have seen how much they love their mum...they aren't far away love...

As for your youngest....I think he will take over the roles of the other two.....if he gets a bit loud...just get the earplugs out!!!!

I bet your mum is sitting there thinking how proud she is of you....

Good luck for tomorrow and Monday....you will get there love

I must point out it's good to see Alex is in fine form today...She says we're all behind you ....I agree.....but Alex has more behind than the rest of us

Love and <<<<HUGS>>>>

Wendy xxxxxx

 

[Brucie]

Hi Helen

I've had lost of old 8mm ciné film converted to DVD and photographic shops in the high street generally link into the service - they have to send things away.

These services handle all sorts of formats.

Here's one I picked off a Google search [there are many many more around and I haven't used this particular one] http://www.video2dvdtransfers.co.uk/

I tend to import the DVDs so produced onto my PC and edit them to include just the bits I want, then export them to a new DVD for viewing, but only an anorak like me would do that.

It is a good idea to be able to put the contents on to PC because if something were to happen to the original DVD you always have a backup.

Good hunting!

 

[Jase]

Hi Amy
Sorry if this advice seems 'obvious'
We had this trouble with our camcorder a while ago, we looked on the internet at the instruction book and it mentioned that the cancorder can do this when it has had changes in temperature. In other words if it has been stored in the back of a cupboard where it may be cool and damp and then brought out to room temperature. The advice was to leave the camcorder, with the tape part open, overnight and try again when it had time to 'climatise'
It did actually work for us and we could play things the following day.
Good Luck.
Worth a go xxx

 

[jenniferpa]

Taffy - you mentioned that you made the DVDs in australia but they were being played in the UK, correct? Are not those places different "regions" for DVD formatting. I have a DVD player that is region free so that I can play DVDs from the UK in my US machine otherwise they wouldn't work. Some (maybe most) DVD players have "secret" codes to make them read DVDs from all regions. if you google "region free DVD secret code" and the model of the DVD player (or something similar) you might well be able to find the code for that DVD player.

 

[Skye]

Jennifer, as far as I know Australia uses the same format as UK. I've sent DVDs (and copies of DVDs) to my sister in Australia, as she has to me. There has never been a problem.

Could it be that as one DVD played, and the other didn't, that it was simply faulty?

 

[jenniferpa]

Really? I know things can be dual region so maybe that's why it worked? I mean there are so many variables here but at the most basic level the UK is region 2 while Australia is region 4. Mind you, I hadn't picked up that one of the DVDs worked while the other didn't so your explanation is almost certainly the right one

 

[Brucie]

Don't forget there are also +R and -R formats and that different manufacturers can read one or the other.

Lots of variables.

Even though I had my DVD player re-chipped to be multi region so I could play Region 1 [USA] DVDs, I still had to buy an extra box because the Region 1 DVDs are recorded NTSC and came out black and white. the extra box converted to PAL and colour.

So many cables!

 

[Amy]

Thanks Bruce and Jase for the advice....I will try and leave the recorder out tonight and see if it makes a difference...if not will go and talk to the man in the camera shop in town next weekend.

Just about packed for tomorrow....if we can get my dad in the car he has offered to come with us so that I have company on the way home.Last week it was Manchester....leaving at 4pm...ended up ignoring the sat nav and turning left at every junction and roundabout....ok ended up heading towards Liverpool...but eventually got on M62 eastbound.

Thanks for your support ...got the sensible head on tonight.
Love Helen

 

[angela.robinson]

hi helen ,mine were done by a young nephew who is working abroad just now ,iwill ask around see if any one else does them , how are you trying to veiw the tapes?. ,by leads from cam to telivision?i have an adapter with mine that you put the mini tape in and then use like a normal tape so it does not matter if the camcorder is working.could loan you that if you want.

 

[angela.robinson]

just had word that MAX SPEILMAN ,do them.

 

[Amy]

Thanks Ange. Will try the shop...but if no luck I may take you up on your offer.
Love Helen