…grayblog…

Category: old blogging

  • “Plug and Play” modem, my

    “Plug and Play” modem, my arse. Just spent the last hour fiddling with a freshly purchased modem, trying to get the thing to work. It seems to work fine up until the last stage of the installation of the driver, when it asks for the “region” that I am in so that it can set up the dialling parameters. It offers a pull-down menu of options – or at least, that is what it should do. Only the pull-down is empty, and it will not let you bypass the window to the next stage of the process, or manually type in your location. Pants. And, to top it all, the box says there is a telephone helpline – however, it fails to actually give a number. Customer service at its finest, I’d say. There is a number for head office of Modular Technologies, but when you dial there is only a machine – “we are open from 9am to 5pm” – so will have to call them from work when I do not have my machine in front of me to describe the problem. Pants.

  • watched the BBC news at

    watched the BBC news at lunch time. The national news featured a Mr Fudge (a solicitor, would you believe! I mean, if you were up before the beak, would you feel happy with Mr Fudge on your case?) and a Mr Ferret (representing the interests of country folk in the New Forest). Fudge. Ferret. Well, it made me laugh.

  • it’s funny how things sometimes

    it’s funny how things sometimes do not turn out how you hoped, but actually don’t turn out too badly. I’m in that situation today, and I feel ok about it. And who knows what’ll happen in the future? Whatever happens, I know a strong friendship and bond is being cemented at the moment, and that is a good thing.

  • TPL update: a feeble 5

    TPL update: a feeble 5 points (mainly due to most of my team not playing) taking my total to 826. Transferred Solksjaer and Rowett out yesterday (just in time for Solksjaer to score a goal last night – guh) and replaced them with Stewart and Silvestre.

  • I’m beginning to think that

    I’m beginning to think that Amaryllis Day and Night is going to be an excellent book – and I’m only on page ten:

    “At South Kensington I rose from the depths, escalated to the upper world, passed through the arcade and the queue at the 14 bus stop, crossed between the cars and walked up Exhibition Road where soft ice-cream and hot dogs sweltered and coachloads of emptiness waited for their children to return. The sunlight, crazed with detail, explored every wrinkle, whisker, pore and pimple of tourists consuming Coca-Cola, mineral water, coffee, tea, hot dogs, soft ice-cream, exhaust fumes and culture.”

  • wow! what a productive evening.

    wow! what a productive evening. Not only did I sort out this PC, but I also painted the bathroom walls AND made it to see the last 40 minutes of tonight’s gig by Could Be Good. Paul splendidly came up with a new version of Walking The Dog, since I was there: yes, laydeeez and gennermen, tonight saw the world premiere of “Walking The Blog”. Cheers mate.
    So, all that remains is to sit and listen to the last 45 minutes of John Peel (excellent Low track just been played), poke about the net for a while, and then go to bed. I’m in a remarkably good mood, partly because of Paul’s song, partly because my optimism has been renewed (not sure quite why!), partly because I got so much done again this evening, and partly because I’ve had two pints of good beer. I hope you’re feeling good too.

  • hurrah! At last my new

    hurrah! At last my new (to me) PC is up and running. Almost sad to see my old one go – it has been a loyal servant for around 5 years, at work before I brought it home. Now, sadly, it is destined for the scrap heap, although I’m half tempted to give it to mum to get her to try the interwebnet thing.
    I’m tempted to upgrade this machine a bit. The processor is upgradable (currently a P1 133) and there are acres of spare slots in the box – so a faster modem is on the cards, more RAM and probably a sound card – the modem and sound card will probably be the first additions.
    Unfortunately, although I did touch up the ceiling paint that I applied last night, I haven’t made any time to put the second coat of paint on the walls in the bathroom this evening, and I’m supposed to be going out to see Paul and the band – hmmm. Well, I suppose I could go and quickly slap some on…

  • I’ve just done something I

    I’ve just done something I have always wanted to do. Along with my decorating detritus, I have just taken an old TV belonging to my parents to the refuse centre. Chichester refuse centre is great in that you park your car alongside a low wall and throw your rubbish over it – to a 15 feet drop below.
    Now I have always always always wanted to do one of those television-dropped-from-a-great-height things that you see in films where the telly goes bang, so I was really looking forward to that. But when I threw it over, it rolled over as it fell and landed on its back. No spectacular “bang”, merely a muffled “whump”. The tube remained intact.
    How disappointing.
    Almost as disappointing as the fact that the council don’t have recycling facilities for these things.

  • bit worried about Seamus (the

    bit worried about Seamus (the nursery cat) – looks like he has hurt his tail. off to the v..e..t.. tomorrow methinks.

  • tonight’s plan: go to the

    tonight’s plan: go to the refuse centre with my decorating detritus, visit Waitrose, paint the second coat of ivory on the bathroom walls and then, if energy permits (as I’m reallllllly tired), head down to The Fountain around 10-ish to see Paul F and the band. Phone calls/IMs/emails of encouragement always welcome (though if I don’t answer right away, I’ll be up the ladder – but I will get back to you, I promise!).