Frizz

Last week I had news from a friend that his father had died and then this week that M and P had a little boy.

Have you checked your bin to see if it's been microchipped? I'm not sure how I feel about this - I guess it's a question of where else they can put microchips and not tell us. I am also aware that we don't have a compost and really should have one. So I'd be happier for the council to give us whatever we need for composting and encourage that, which would reduce our waste considerably, rather than trying to spy on us.

Have you got into YouTube yet?

Apple have a new battery recall out.

I bought a Madonna 'designed' tracksuit and I've got no idea why. I think I might need help. [ All's OK, it's going back].

I had my Saturday yesterday: I raced over to the Apple store to pick up my computer. They were rather on the disorganized side, which doesn’t really work with Apple, I really think the brand image doesn't do them any favours; they have so much to live up to. They took an age bringing out my computer from the back, there seemed some confusion and of course I was in a rush and I started thinking that I'd gone all the way to Brent Cross, which for a South Londoner is aways, for nothing, but just as I was starting to panic, out it came. The guy had promised to do a service and clean it up, only as soon as I saw it, I knew they hadn't done the clean up and they couldn't tell me what data had been restored and I didn't have time to start turning it on and checking... I'd just wanted to grab and run. A sweet guy called Mat swiftly lifted the computer away from me to do a quick clean, which made up for things a little. All this made me very late for my next appointment which was to see the most expensive hygienist I've ever been too. I got an A*^ for all my flossing and as I was the last appointment we had a nice chat about children, pets and bikes, although I’m not sure that makes up for the ridiculous cost. Then it was off to the theatre, if you haven't yet seen Sunday in the Park with George - I highly recommend it, it was just wonderful and the most ingenious use of technology I've seen in the theatre. Poor S had to put up with me trying to sing all the way home, I really can't sing, he'll be more than happy to confirm that... "Piece by piece, putting it together." Oh yes and I had my hair cut, see what I mean about a Saturday. I guess that means I'm working Saturday.

^ Can someone tell me why we need A*’s surely either you have an A or if you don’t it’s a B.

Continuing on the musicals theme here is a history of the various productions of The Sound of Music and in the course of looking things up I found this, which I think is great... Maria was Jewish - which makes so much sense. [Actually, I've just realised the original post is here].

A new Eye for Brighton - looks good.

So being without my computer means: not being able to login to any sites I usually use as my brain is mush and I can't remember the usernames and passwords (believe me I've tried). I can't download my emails to my phone, because by now there are too many. I can't carry on with work, as if I needed any more excuses. I don't have anyone's address, which is actually a blessing; I can avoid the whole stamp thing going on. What is that about? I think it goes with a choice of directory inquiries, 30 odd different train ticket prices and choice under the NHS, when you are sick you want the experts to be able to make 'good' choices for you and when you want to send something in the post you don't want to have to get out the tape measure. What this has taught me is that I should get an external hard drive and back up, often. I should upload more photos to Flickr.com and I should print out all my login info and work stuff. In the mean time perhaps I should give in and take a holiday...

I mentioned last night that I'm going to see Sunday in the Park with George, which led to being asked if I liked musicals. I started to say no not really, except for and reeled off a number of titles that was not inconsiderable. I mean I really want to go and see Mary Poppins and I saw and loved My Fair Lady, and then there's the Sound of Music and well the list goes on. So I realised that I have to come clean and admit it, I like a good musical.

OK that’s enough, I’ve been stuck in front of this computer all afternoon. I'm dragging myself out now to go and meet friends and be sociable, even though I'd be happy to stay in, I think I'm becoming quite boring.

I meant to say that I did end up going back to the Ortho to get rid of the poking wire. He drilled it, which took me by surprise. It was a tiny piece, but very sharp, so had managed to poke wholes in my gum and a couple of days in, it was all swollen. I stopped being silly and got the wax and salt out and was much better the next day. It's all fine again now.

I can't get over the title Snakes on a Plane - is it a metaphor, was someone trying to be clever? It should win an award, although I'm not sure if it would be best title of the year or worst.

P.S. I want my computer back-now!

A reminder that if you are in London on the 16-17 September it's Open House weekend. I've had a look at the listings for this year and there are some interesting looking buildings open. Here's where you need to go if you fancy volunteering, which gets you a queue jumping badge.

They have taken my computer away.... to replace the hard drive.

After very stressful post midnight and early morning attempts to book a spot at the Regents Street store, unsuccessfully, I managed to get one at the Brent Cross store (from where I am posting this). The guy decided it was my hard drive after my list of problems. Throughout our discussion I thought they were going to fix it while I waited (which did seem very impressive) until right at the end the guy said that'll take 7-10 days and I nearly fell off the stool and went into shock. So I had to fork out £79 for ApplePro as I can't wait that long and then pay another £35 for them to restore all my stuff, this is on top of AppleCare, so I am feeling a bit ripped off. Now it should take a few days, hopefully, as I jump to the top of the queue. With ApplePro you can get an hour a week tuition, so damn it, I'm going to make use of that! Also, you get a yearly service, which is quite good. I feel bereft.

Over 6000 miles of sea: Home and dry

Depending on who you read it is possible that 4 x 4 (SUV) sales are finally dropping...

I had the niece to stay over the weekend, I sort of had to kidnap her, or otherwise she was going to be home alone. So I was introduced to the whole (two) Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. We saw the second one in the cinema and the first the next day on DVD. The Johnny Depp thing seems to work better in memory than whilst watching, which perhaps explains that Oscar nomination. I quite enjoyed them though (I haven't been to the cinema for a while), except for the half human half sea creatures in the second one, which made me very uncomfortable indeed. I think it was the whole something living inside sort of thing - anyway I wanted them to go away.

Well the lack of posts are still due to the wrist, but also now because I've been a bit busy and not near a computer and away a little (more of which when I've sorted things out - like being able to download the photos (see next sentence). Now I'm back to find my computer is having a perpetual kernel panic and I think I might join it. So it just about starts, has time to think a little and dies. I have Apple Care and I ring the number on the info pack only to get the answer that it is indeed an apple number, but it is no longer in use, with no alternative number given before it cuts out - so Apple (it's that love/hate thing). So via a third party I call Apple Care and get a guy in India. The thing with call centres in India - that I find anyway - is that they may speak the same language in theory, but not in practice. There is much more of a gap than between English and American or that might just be because I'm used to American. It's the whole way of using the language and speaking, it's just much slower, so this guy, who was very nice considering my bad mood, took about three times as long to answer a question as someone here would, I mean he used whole sentences and nobody does that anymore - I could have gone and made a cup of tea and he would still be speaking. The upshot is that I have to take it to an Apple shop for them to have a look at it. I did do a backup before I went away, but I forgot to back up my pictures, however the guy in India assured me that for a price (that love/hate thing again), they will be able to save everything… and I was just about to make some CD’s for friends of recent photos I’ve taken.

The trailer for Marie Antoinette.

Had a lovely day at Fruitstock in Regents Park yesterday - (Hi M, R and L who might possibly read this!). We picked the right day - Saturday was apparently too crowded, but yesterday was fine and there was a relaxed and chilled atmosphere. Here is Sandy making the most of her chance to scavenge at the crepe stand. Others queued, but not her, she went straight to the front...

More 4 has started* showing The West Wing from the beginning on Sunday evenings. I watched the first season again recently and it's still brilliant, so I highly recommend catching it if you can.

* Sorry this should have been posted yesterday, it's still worth watching if you missed the first episode.

I really didn't know this about 35mm film, but I think I should have. [via]

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I had an Ortho appointment yesterday, two and a half months having whizzed by. I had both wires changed and an elastic band to close a gap that's opened up between my bottom two front teeth. I resisted the elastic band to the point of saying that I didn't mind the gap, but what do I know, the Ortho said it didn't look good and it should go! I was relieved to discover that with my type of braces the elastics go behind the brackets, so its hardly noticeable or irritating, although the curry staining still applies - so no visits to Geeta's. The wire is pretty thick now, but I've had less pain today than last time - except for the teeth with the elastic band that are very sore, on this occasion pain equals gain as the gap is already about half the size it was yesterday. He said it was all going well, and it's really quite exciting to see all the changes. Disappointingly, the bite turbos are still there, at my last appointment he said he'd probably take them out when he saw me again, but having read other people's stories about having them in for most of the time, I wasn't holding out that much hope and he ended up saying he'd probably remove them next time. However, I did get an opportunity to say that I hated them, which I still do. I don't know whether I didn't notice yesterday or my teeth have just moved enough today to leave one of the end wires poking out for the first time (not bad for six months in) - not a pleasant experience and I think the Ortho might be seeing me rather sooner than he expects, for a bit of wire cutting.

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that Jigsaw's sale starts today.

Did you see that a Professor Dwight Barkley, of the mathematics department at the University of Warwick has come up with an equation to work out when your kids are going to ask that genetically inherited phrase.. Are we there yet?