My sweetheart gave me a Nikon Coolpix for my birthday yesterday - I am sure he is sick of me lugging my big Canon, and the tripod, too, for Pete's sake, along when we go out to eat, on the off chance that I might get a good shot of some of the food - and leaving it under the table the whole night, because it's too big to haul out.

It's purple. Maybe plum. It'll fit into the same Timbuk2 bag as my iPod.

It's cute, and of course I accepted the gift with my usual charm and grace - he said, "if you don't like it I can return it."

I want another lens for my Canon (and a rack and paniers for my bike), so it's not that I don't like the Coolpix, it's just not the direction I was going. I was going digital SLR, better lens, tripod, so point and shoot takes some getting use to, and I have to overcome my initial, "oh great, now I have a cute little camera to take bad digital pictures with" reaction.

I think I'm getting there - it takes good pictures. At least when there's enough light ... I have been guided by 101 Cookbooks Heidi, who says "No Flash. Ever. Unless you want your food to look sweaty and greasy" - but, who knows, maybe I can use the night time spot flash on the teeny tiny camera to good effect. We'll see.