Thursday 31 January 2013

Seemed ages

Now once more I have a computer it makes me realise just how much we depend on the internet.
 I was offline I suppose for over 2 weeks, it seemed ages. My mate bought me that computer from Currys in good faith, the trouble was that it was useless so he had to order another one for me, this took over a week and it is the very latest Windows 8. this is new to him and completely alien to me, mind you most of the computer systems are alien to me. At least we are back online now.
It is sods law that when you make an appointment something happens. It was so with me. I had booked a service for my car yesterday and my mate told me that he would bring the computer the same day.
 I went to the Garage and explained all, they were waiting for me and as soon as I arrived, the work started on the motor. I spent about 10 minutes with his wife talking then off I went to get my Pension and my weekly television paper. It was only about 500 metres to walk and it was fine, except for the start and end of the walk as there was no footpath, but all went well.
 When I got back I was given a cup of coffee, well mug really. I asked her if she sold dust caps as I had one stolen from my car and it was a pity as it was only 2 years old. She told me she would not sell  me any but give me one, that was nice of her.
 The car was duly serviced by 10.30am and I managed to get back home just before my mate arrived. More soon.

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Hurrah

Well! At last I am online once again, thanks to my mate. Mind you he had trouble with this new windows 8. He managed to get things working though, but not my mail on my preferred  mailbox. Window 8 was not supported by my ISP which incidentally is Plus Net a subsidiary of B.T.
 My mate spent about 75 minutes checking, rechecking and checking again. When he clicked on it stated that the system was not supported by windows 8. Oh well such is life.
 At least I have my webmail from them and as I use gmail I am satisfied.
  Like most since I was offline we have had some bad weather. As I am a little unsteady on my feet, I didn't venture out of my home for 8 days. With one of my chronic illnesses, I lose much of my calcium so my bones are getting brittle so better to be sure than sorry.
 The old, well new computer was dreadful. My mate came originally to clean and reinstall everything but when he came it was impossible for him to get any life out of the machine. The computer was not talking to the monitor at all. The only message I had was on the monitor stating that it was shutting down to save power. He was sure surprised, I was actually pleased because he had seen for himself just a little of the problems I had with the machine.
 Anyway he took it back to the chain store and went online to get this computer. It is a Compaq. If both of us had had our own way we would have had windows 7 but this was the very latest. My mate did tell me that his Brother had windows 8 on his new computer and had warned him that it was totally different to everything before. He was sure right about that. At least we had been forewarned. Windows 8 is really designed for a mouseless key with a touch screen . This will do me though. I will keep trying I am sure I will get the hang of it all. The new mouse is very sensitive to the touch, not so good for my heavy hand. Anyway more soon. By the way I am glad to be back, thanks to my mate.

Monday 14 January 2013

troubles

Oh dear, what a time I have had with this computer. I am talking to someone who is in Hospital abroard so an internet connection is important. He, unfortunately has a problem with emails. He can send but can not receive.
Anyway I went online several times today without any problems at all. Around 1.45pm I decided to make some more bread rolls and also went online. I put the rolls to prove I then noticed that I had no connection. There is a programme which helps fix problems. I went through every thing they requested. In the finish it told me that the problem couldn't be fixed and gave me a telephone number. I duly rang and I must admit every time I have been on their technical site they all have been most helpful.
 What a performance I went through. He was so patient and nice but it was not easy for me. At one stage I was asked to change my router. I told him that it was like a rats nest with cables and wires all over the place. He burst into fits of laughter but eventually composed himself. He kept asking me to do all sorts of things, He told me at one stage that he was asking me to do things that he had never asked anyone to do before and it was new to him. You name it I did it including turning off the computer, rebooting both routers several times. I told him I had done all of this. He then told me he knew and I had done everything in accordance of what they would have expected and told me I had done nothing wrong at all.
 Eventually he admitted defeat. He told me that he could not send anyone to help me as he and I had confirmed by my actions that the internet was getting to the computer but he told me that there would be a glitch saying that the computer was probably blocking  a demand to let the internet in and that I should get someone who was technically minded to sort the problem out. He didn't think it was so serious. I certainly did at that time as I could not have access to the internet.  By the time he rung off, well in excess of an hour my bread rolls had over prooved. I put the first lot in, I generally manage to cook half first then the remainder after the first lot were taken out. When I took the first lot out and put the second lot in I decided to delete what few things I had on the computer. I was amazed to see that I had internet access once again. needless to say my second lot of bread rolls were well overcooked. I will have to eat them anyway.
 Now to something different.
 I guess I am getting very old probably senile. I went on this site and it told me it had a security to stop anyone entering. It then gave a page stating " solve this problem." There was this" mares tail" I thought about it for a while and put the answer Filly. Wrong came the reply. Another question came up which had a double meaning I put what I thought would be the right answer. Wrong again. The third question came up. For the life of me I could't see any connection at all so left the site. About 30 minutes later I wondered if what the site wanted was confirmation of the words printed. I went back to the site and sure enough that is all they needed. What a fool I am I thought.
By the way there is plenty of snow about tonight, I have no intention of venturing out for the next couple of days unless there is a sudden improvement.
  Finally I have found out how to make my text larger. It is to use Google not google chrome. If I use gmail through google it is great. That's me sorted. More soon.

Friday 11 January 2013

something different

I only hope this gets posted. I have a new computer and I got message service unavailable then I got a roundabout way to write the latest blog.
  It was yesterday that my mate bought me the new computer. As always there are troubles. The first is the extremely small print that is on some of the pages. Namely this one, with my poor eyesight it makes it almost unbearable to type and read what I have written.
 Another huge problem is with windows mail. Well to be honest, the complete lack of mail. After spending several hours trying without any luck, I eventually found in a long winded way, to send an email to my gmail. I did eventually receive it so I decided to reply using the same mail I received. No joy at all. It was sent but it never arrived at my inbox on windows. I did this several times but each time it was a complete failure. I looked everywhere for a prompt to say send mail There was no such prompt. I think my mate has downloaded a wrong mail for the windows 7. Either that or there is a terminal fault in the computer. Either way it is a huge disappointment, and as for this tiny print. It annoys me. I have managed to increase the print on the computer but it seems as if it will not work on my blog. I only hope that when it is posted the size is the normal size it should be.. Oh well, hardly anything runs smoothly. More soon, Perhaps.

Thursday 3 January 2013

Help computing

When my Sister called to see me over the New year she told me that her Daughter had applied for a cheap computer as hers is getting old and slow. I know the feeling sp well as mine is getting like that too.
 Anyway she told me that the Government had a scheme where anyone on any sort of benefit could apply for a refurbished computer for £99. Also that because most things the Government have anything to do with will be going online only so a computer is essential. For this reason they are offering the same deal to those who do not qualify. When I say the same deal, I mean the same sort of refurbished computer but the cost would be £149.
 My Sisters daughter, my Niece applied for one and I asked my Sister if all was well. Not a good idea at all. She told me that the tower had arrived but the remaining bits had not. That is  the keyboard, mouse and monitor was still to be delivered. My Niece then took a good look at the tower and was so disappointed as it was a lot older than the computer tower she already had. My Sister told me that she was returning the computer as it was not good value for money. My mate told me that she could probably pick up a higher spec. computer for around the same price.
 Typical of the Government making out they are doing folks who are not in a great financial position a big favour.
 Back to me an my computer. My mate saw the tower only, that is no keyboard and mouse or monitor in Currys and it was a better specification than mine, he also knew that mine was getting rather slow so he has bought it for me. Hopefully next week I will have it installed, by him of course as I would not be able to install a new computer.
 This morning I turned on my computer just to see if I had any mail. I noticed that it told me it could not access my mail. After several checks I noticed that my router was showing red meaning I had no connection. I then got a prompt on my monitor. I have an assist downloaded from my ISP. It is automatic if they find a fault it will just load and tell you that you have a fault. Following the instructions it told me to reset my router. I did this  but all I did have was a connection to local network only. It then asked me for my username and password. It didn't recognise that at all. However up came a telephone number so I rang it. I got a message "Trying to connect you". Soon after that I was told to hang up. I tried it again a few minutes later. I did get through but all it gave was the usual info such as going online to get the answers, the line once again went dead. Another 5 minutes went by and tried again. The phone rang on and on but no reply. I eventually  hung up. I was just about to give up when I noticed that my mail was responding and I had no unread mail. Obviously there had been some trouble with my connection from their end. Let us hope that this thing does not happen again. More soon.

Wednesday 2 January 2013

Lancaster Bomber

I saw this evening a bit of news on National Television that the Lancaster Bomber that has been restored at East Kirkby Heritage Centre is hoping to eventually have a licence to be able to fly. It has been allowed to taxi on the runway for quite some time.
 It has been restored by two Brothers who must be commended for their work.
 I do go by the place on my way to and from Grantham when visiting my Sisters. I have thought of passing my little knowledge of the Cobblers Corner cafe which is now closed but still standing. As you can guess it is on the sharp bend less than 100 yards fron the Heritage Centre.
 In 1947 my Parents moved house and we lived next door to a retired Policeman and his wife. They were both very nice and as was the norm in those days, he  then worked as a security guard at a local factory.
 One day he told us when he found we were going to the seaside to look out for Coblers Corner Cafe as his son and a friend went into partnership to run the cafe. This I think was during the war because he told us that the Americans were based at the nearby Airfield.
 I do believe I have mentioned this before but the old spire at Partney village was struck by lightening and his son who he called Bernard made a ship and had it fitted on the steeple and had a lightening conductor fitted. I noticed this several times and often wonder how many know this story as it is most unusual to have a ship as a weathervane on top of a church.
 Incidentally Partney is only  a few miles from the Heritage Centre.
 Now it is bypassed so it is not easy to see the weathervane. More soon.

Tuesday 1 January 2013

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to those who bother to read my blog.
  I had a quiet Christmas as I have had these last few years. It was while I was eating my Christmas dinner I thought about the meals we had in the 50s. I had roast chicken with the usual trimmings but I did spoil myself by making an apple pudding. It was very nice and I did make it last 3 days.
 Back to the chicken. When I was young it was a luxury We managed to have chicken 3 times a year. Christmas Day New Year and at Easter and than was the lot. It was also very expensive too. Now of course it is one of the cheapest meats.
 Yesterday my Sister called to see me. Her and her Husband were staying for a few days in Skegness. Her Husband's family have a get together a few times a year and always book in at an Hotel for the New Year. This year due to bereavements there were just 14 of them. They seem to enjoy it so that is all that matters. Mind you my Brother-in Law told me that the Police had cordoned off some of the main road along the seafront. Apparently some person had got on top of a roof and was threatening to throw themselves off. Exhibitionist I presume.
 Today has been one of the nicest days for a few weeks, almost unbroben sunshine. Let us hope that this is the start of a better year for all of us. More soon.