What are you doing today (Number 2)

[LovelyLadyLux]

Same type rules here. If you're catching Fish X you can't keep Fish Y even though it is dead in the net. So sad and such a ridiculous waste.

[Grandad]

Grandad. NEVER repair front tyres, the tyre has a weakness, it is unimportant how much tread it has. I have always bought new tyres,

Utter rubbish Jay. A pinhole in a tyre PROPERLY REPAIRED FROM THE INSIDE is as safe as new. Perhaps in Portugal they still repair with a plug from the outside, in which case I would agree with you.

Back to today, monthly trip to Bluewater for Mrs G to spend some money and, for a change, I got to treat myself as well. Stocked up with coffee pods at Nespresso boutique, then the usual toastie with salad and a pot of tea at a late lunch in M & S. Home by 3pm and that is about the extent of my shopping experiences this month I hate it

[Jayway]

Either comp or screen is bust. So using crap tablet that won't support flash player an took me twenty mins to get on here. have a better day than me....the man wanted forty four euros just to plug my comp into his screen to see what is actually bust. asshole.

[Horus]

Oh dear Jay. more problems for you and I agree that is a bit steep just to plug your laptop into another screen, Can you not do it yourself on someone elses PC monitor and see if yours boots up OK? The problem with laptops is that the connection between the fold down screen and the machine can come loose, or the flat cable connector gets broken, unfortunately it means the laptop being opened up to check it out, so no good news there, if it is fairly old it may pay you to look around for a replacement.

[Jayway]

Comp coomes on.I see start and my stuff then the screen goes black the comp is still going I flick the screen on and off and get ten second of picture then black. My comp is old and heavy a large black box and the screen is two years old. This comp has used about seven screens in its lifetime as I play my games at night and wet days.

[Horus]

From what you describe Jay you have a 'Desktop' and not a laptop. If I am correct and you have a seperate monitor, then it sounds very much like your 'Video' card is faulty, but first of all check the cable connections. You probably have a VGA type cable which has ends that will look like a small flattened 'D' shape with small pins sticking out, or the same with small holes, they often have a blue coloured centre. They push into the PC and monitor sockets and are usually held in with two small knurled screws, one on each side of the plug. Undo these plug ends and then carefully put them back in again being careful not to damage the pins as you do so, retighten the knurled screws once they are pushed fully in, do not over tighten. If that does not cure it, listen to see if you can hear a series of 'beeps' from your PC, often it sounds like "Beeeeep, Beep, Beep, Beep" (one long and three short beeps), if you hear this it usually indicates a faulty 'Video Card' Should that be the case they are usually quite cheap to buy and easy enough to fit, I can easily talk you through the proceedure

[Jayway]

Thankyou Horus. This. Tablet is evil as it won't do what I want. I will return when I have new screen if I am not insane ...,...

[Horus]

Jay I forgot to say that the series of 'beeps' can only be heard as you first start up the PC, so you have to listen carefully because you have no monitor to tell you what the fault is, only the beeps.

[Jayway]

I heard no beeps, I go to another place tomorrow to see how much a screen is. With my comp to test it all works OK.......

[LovelyLadyLux]

Today visited all the different lumberyard and hardware stores today looking for shelving that is 1" thick. Finally found it! ONE job down.

Visited a couple garden centers but didn't find anything interesting.

Now I've been sitting feeling twinges of pain - am pretty sure I've got kidney stones again or at least one that is moving! Been reading home remedies.....I was to the doctor for this a little over 2 weeks ago and 'voila' got an app't for an ultrasound May 27th! So much for our FREE health care here. I absolutely HATE our health care system here.

[Horus]

We have the same problem with our overstretched National Health Service, at most levels it is excellent, but doctors appointments can be a nightmare.

[Jayway]

Shop said comp is OK so looked at monitors in radio popular.....24 inch lg is 179euros. so may buy tomorrow.Was surprised shop said no cost ....my angry tirade worked manager is a verynasty man.

[Horus]

At least you know what the problem is, although I am surprised it is your monitor as they are quite reliable as a rule. The price sounds about right for a 24" LCD, but make sure that (1) the new monitor has all the appropriate inputs (usualy DVI, VGA & HDMI) so that it will run off your older PC connections and (2) that your current PC's graphics card can support the higher screen resolution that your new monotor will be capable of displaying.

[Mad Dilys]

I am mostly catching up on correspondence with one eye while watching racing on TV with the other - before going to get some potting compost for my increasing family of baby bedding plants.

[Ruby Slippers]

My day has been spent mostly offline! For the second time this week, the shower cut out as I was using it! Unfortunately, I was covered in soap when it did! Anyway, DH had a look and discovered that the wiring at the ceiling switch was almost burnt through, so after going and buying a new box, the electricity went off until 2.30 pm, while he fixed it. He's still fiddling with it but at least I have my internet back. Just as well because my iPad was down to 12%!

[Horus]

Stripped the bed as usual and put the duvet outside slung over the rotary clothes line for a good airing, changed the matress and pillow protectors and bunged everything else in the washer. Just brought the duvet back in after being out all day and letting it warm up to room temperature before putting the clean cover back on, I was going to put another set on, but saying as I have been out a lot today the other stuff is all dry and aired, so it can go straight back on again. Had some sort of mad blip on my car when I reckon the computer got its knickers in a twist, I popped the central locking and opened the boot to get some stuff out and for some strange reason the radio came on and so did several dash lights. It did this with no key in the ignition and they stayed on regardless of what I did, weird, I started the car, switched it off, locked it, but still the lights stayed on. In desperation I disconected the battery for a few seconds and then reconnected it and .......... all seems to be OK very strange!

[Jayway]

Oooooo errrrrr! Aliens in your car, scary!!! My car was covered in muddy cat prints, think they have sliding competitions down the back window- huh.

[Grandad]

Lunch again today at Ala Turka with Dtr and Sil. We are fast gaining affection for this little restaurant, 30 covers in a rather small room but a great atmosphere. Because a large meal at mid day is too heavy for us, we decided on a lunch of assorted meze's finished off with Baclava and ice cream. We wanted to try a Turkish wine but couldn't decide which of the two preferred. No problem; the waitress brought an open bottle of each for us to taste....how often do you get that service?
There is a current debate nationally about opting to have free of charge water with your meal instead of overpriced 'spring water'. But we didn't have to ask; a large carafe of water and glasses was offered as if it was expected as part of the service.
So a most enjoyable lunch with a few little finesse points about their service. Oh! Forgot to mention they also add a small meze or two, complimentary with the meal; and bring Turkish delight on sticks with the bill.

[LovelyLadyLux]

@Grandad - are you charged for water in your restaurants? Here it is almost automatic that a glass of water is put down for you soon as you sit. If you drink it the waiter/waitress will top it up. If you specifically ask for Spring water they'll bring you a bottle and charge you for it but otherwise an open glass of water is free.

Today I'm waiting for the landscape/carpenter guy to come and make my garden box, lay down the pavers and cement in a tall post I can hang bird feeders off or wind chimes. Once I get the raised bed in I'll be planting veggies. It is only going to be 3' x 12' so not huge but that should be plenty to feed me fresh veggies.

[Grandad]

LLL, you are entitled to have tap water free of charge BUT most restaurants do not offer hoping that you will buy very expensive spring water. It seems there is a reluctance to ask for something for free for fear of appearing to be a scrooge. (That English reserve I suppose ) I was particularly impressed with Ala Turka because not only did they bring glasses already filled but also a very nice hand beaten jug full of water. (The sort of jug you might buy in a souk)

Our regular fish restaurant just across the road always brings a large jug of water as soon as you sit down.
There is a story behind this in that, in the past, if you asked for tap water they would make a charge.

I have a very old memory of this. In 1940 my mother, brother and I were evacuated to Devon. My father , in the army, had a short leave to take us by train. On a London station waiting for the train to Devon we were thirsty and my father (in uniform) asked at a cafe if he could have a glass of water. They gave it to him but charged him.