Saturday 10 October 2009

Computer failure


I've spent half the night reinstalling the system software on my computer after it had a complete mental breakdown. It's a scary feeling when you think you may be cut off from the outside world. I hadn't realised how much the blog and the internet have managed to keep me sane over the past six weeks. Now suffering nervous exhaustion. Mrs TM will arrive at 10.30am with supplies and will spend the day here as she can only visit once a week. Blogging may be a bit light. If so, you'll know why.

29 comments:

  1. Yowsa! Glad you're back on the air. The good news is that your machine will probably run heaps quicker now that it has only the bare essentials on it :)

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  2. I feel for you TM, I am having to rebuild my home server for web hosting, Email and work I run from home :(

    If I was still in the UK I would offer Tech support free of charge (with food supplied while I am doing the job, as I think it is inhumane and against the Geneova treaty to server food to a prisoner like you are getting ;)

    Unfortunately I am in Perth Au, if ever you are out this way I will shout you a beer, as your blog is keeping me sane :), I know the feeling, when I am in hospital for long stints, I have my Partner bring in Sushi, potato chips and soft drink :)

    I really hope you can get out soon, I know what it is like to live a life in hospital :(

    Regards,

    Kat from Perth.

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  3. Glad you're reconnected.

    I know the feeling of being cut off, and it induced panic in me (was without computer for the first week of being out here, in new life, new country where I am not sure of the language, new work etc; felt very isolated indeed).

    Reminded me of an SF story I vaguely remember reading as a child, where because society was completely computerised (how unthinkable it was at the time!), the punishment for wrongdoing was being unable to in effect log on - thus you couldn't even get at your own money. Wish I could remember more about it, as I'd love to re-read it now.

    Keep going; you're propping up my sanity too! ;-)

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  4. I could murder some sushi! I really love it. Strangely, the hospital doesn't have sushi on the menu. Can you imagine what it would be like if they did?

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  5. Hospital sushi is when they cook frozen fish without cooking it for long enough and they serve it with the inside still raw.

    You're better off with the smoked salmon bagels.

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  6. Yeah TM, it would be nemo in the middle with sloppy rice, brown nori and no WASABI :( probably a black water as soy sauce :(

    Oh noooooo I am going to have nightmares now :(

    They can not do that to MY sushi ;)

    BTW if you have a bit of time at home, you can make Sushi VERY easily, I usually make about 15 rolls at a time, then cut into 8 pieces and enjoy for a day or two, when I make it at home, I eat it for all my meals and snacks ;)


    Regards,

    Kat from Perth :)

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  7. Bagel is on it's way. Can't wait. I have ordered a hospital lunch in case the bagel is delayed.

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  8. I don't think you should refer to your wife as 'bagel', even if she is late.

    'Dearest one' or 'Love of my life' is far more likely to bring beneficial results.

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  9. Well it 'ill teach you not to mess with computers.... "If it's ain't broke ..."

    did we do breakfast yet? Thought you got up a the crack o' dawn? Just been catchin' up on the last few days posts ... good article by the Clarkson fellow .. did I say he hailes from these neck o' the woods?

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  10. Didn't do anything. It had a funny turn on it's own.

    Breakfasted, washed and ready for visitors.

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  11. Vista is it?

    check for malware. What virus protection you got running?

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  12. Sorry to hear about your computer woes TM.

    Something I've been meaning to ask - how are you accessing the Internet from Hospital? Is it hard-wired via a cable into a suitable wall socket, or Wi-Fi ?

    Is it Broadband ?

    Do you need to pay for access?

    I only ask as I'm surprised that NHS hospitals have any kind of Internet access for patients.

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  13. I'm using Mac OS 10.6. My broadband access is via a 3G dongle from vodafone. There is wireless access in the hospital but it costs £6 for 90 minutes. The 3G is not so expensive and works very well.

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  14. Hmm I knew when I posted that question you'd be the kinda person to have a mac. :-)

    I hear you can get free internet at McDonalds and now at Little Chef too. Bet it's quicker than that 3G dongle too. Mind you, who would want to suffer a McBurger or an Olympian breakfast for the superb offerings so lovingly served up at your bedside?

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  15. why don't we have a 'Can you guess what it is before it's served" spot? I bet by now we can all get at least a point for peas on that question :-)

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  16. Save some money and just convert the atoms from the food served. Well it isn't fit for much else.
    Have a nice time with the family.
    Soo

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  17. A thought just crossed my mind. Once, donkey's years ago, we were on hols in Minorca - food terrible - chef died suddenly - food improved. Not that I wish any ill to anyone but ................

    Susan

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  18. hope that by now you're enjoying your bagel and the company of the lovely Mrs TM
    must make life a bit more bearable
    Cheers
    Mich

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  19. Hello Mrs TM! I bet you could barely walk with the weight of the extra supplies! Just think - Mr TM will be home soon. Not long. Big wave from all of us!

    Must be difficult to talk to a man with his mouth stuffed with fruit, nuts, and salmon.

    D at 10.22 made me laugh out loud! Residual points for peas .. love it.

    Have a great day TM. Mrs TM and good food all day! Hooray!

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  20. As a SAHM who is 9 months pregnant, when the internet goes out I kind of freak out...I know the feeling!

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  21. Eating bagels and thinking of you :-)

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  22. B#gger!!!! mind you, at least with OSX it only took an hour to reinstall. My last Vista install took 4 hours because vista didn't include any generic drivers for the network card and i couldn't download any of the other drivers it needed to function properly.......

    Glad you are back online though. The ability to take 5 mins to catch up on your plight is the bright spot of my day at work at the moment!

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  23. I spent six years as technical editor of a Mac magazine. I'm really glad of that sometimes. I'm just so relieved it all worked. Vista is crap. I hope Windows 7 does a bit better.

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  24. Windows 7 is a whole lot better - in my opinion it is the best thing Microsoft has produced in years ! May your incarceration come to an end soon.

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  25. Windows 7 is just the same old t*rd re-polished. MS-ware is now so completely broken and unmaintainable that it's simply not viable for anything other than playing silly games.

    You're MUCH better off with a proper operating system (either Linux or OSX on laptops). The sooner that MS dies out, the better off we'll all be!

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  26. I have to agree... I'd quite like a netbook with Ubuntu or OS X if I can rig it properly.

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  27. I made the mistake of thinking a media box would be fun, so I now have a pretty high end box running a pre-service pack 1 version of Vista (I should really have known better!!!). I seldom even turn it on. I use my 6 year old bottom of the line MacBook for everything. Its tiny HDD is now cramping my style (30gig is NOTHING) but I cant justify an upgrade at the moment.... the damn thing just wont die!!!!!!!

    Come on Microsoft, its time for a new beginning - give up on legacy and employe decent programmers!!!!!!!

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  28. I couldn't help but notice that in your TM 'almost revealed' snap you most definitely have put on weight. Give it a few more weeks and you could make it to "Health Visitor" level. This is where you become morbidly obese and drive round in a diesel fuelled Golf, waking up new Mum's who've just managed to get their baby off to sleep and eating all their chocolate Hob-Nobs while you sit on the floor ticking boxes on the child's progress. Was planning to come and visit you this week but gone down with man/swine flu and thought it best to steer clear.

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  29. With an insult like that it's probably a good job that you didn't manage to get up here. I've a good mind to post you some of my food.

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