I spent an enjoyable day with my old (well, not so old) friend Tim C, helping him to sort out a few headaches with his sparkly new Samsung/Windows 8 laptop. Having only Windows 7 PCs here, it made me realise the steep learning curve that users are going through making the switch from ‘7’ to …
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Time Travelling – for real!
In spite of my near-obsession with Doctor Who, I was transported back in time today without the need for the TARDIS! How? By looking at some up-to-date photographs of the house where I grew up with Mum, Dad and my Brother. The two-bedroom semi is up for sale for 190k and Neil had found them …
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Malware Monday Morning
I spent this morning over at Paul and Sue J’s helping them to rid themselves of a rather nasty piece of malware on one of their PCs. Whilst I was there, we attempted to get their XP PC to ‘talk to’ their Windows 8 over the network. Whilst the malware exercise went well, the latter …
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Doctor Who – Second Official BBC TV Trailer
Click HERE #SaveTheDay
Doctor Who – Transmission Time
At last, the time has been confirmed for transmission! – 7.50pm.
John Lewis Christmas Advert (2013)
…and here it is – the NEW John Lewis Christmas TV Ad for 2013 – ‘The Bear and the Hare’. The commercial uses a unique animation style that combines traditional 2D hand-drawn, stop frame, and 3D model made sets. The story is set to a cover of Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ performed by Lily …
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Wi-Fi Range Extenders
Those with technophobia, should look away now! If you live in a house where certain parts of it don’t receive a very good wireless signal from your router (because of thick walls or just physical distance), then there’s a good cost-effective solution available. Called a ‘range extender’, these bits of tech, ‘do exactly what they …
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Wallpaper sorted!
In what what seemed like a few gazillion hours searching the internet, and as a result, enough samples in the post to cripple the postman, we eventually tracked down what we’d been searching for: “Lucia Wallpaper in Gold with a Textured Vinyl finish” Wallpapering begins in a few weeks – a big job needing 18 …
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Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary
Not an official BBC trailer, but hints that it is – a very good production, if you like ALL your Doctors in one place! #SaveTheDay #SaveTheCopyright
Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary – The Official BBC Trailer
The official trailer released a few weeks ago – now being shown on BBC TV at every opportunity! #SaveTheDay #SaveTheTrailer #GettingBoredNow
Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary – For Non-Who Fans
This video released recently by BBC Worldwide, helps to explain what all the 50th-Anniversary-fuss is about. Sort of! #SaveTheDay #SaveSomeAspirin
Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary Cinema Trailer
A nice clip for those who want to try and understand the whole ‘Doctor Who thang’ [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmsKrx_kGMM] #SaveTheDay #SaveForLater
Who Needs the HS2?
Who needs the HS2? Our investment here is in ‘the HSL’ (Hall, Stairs and Landing!) The project started today with our textured ceilings being ‘flattened’. Next on the list is to re-site the burglar alarm panel, then paint, then wallpaper, change the lighting (to LEDs) and finally source some new wall decorations/pictures. Unlike the HS2, …
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Wibbly Wobbly, Timey, Wimey Stuff!
Doctor Who fans: Don’t blink!Non-Doctor Who fans – look away now!
Chimichanga’s – The Return of the Tormented Tortilla
After last week’s visit to Kettering’s latest eatery, Chimichanga’s, that left Ann and I slightly underwhelmed, I was still looking forward to going there tonight with good friends Ian and Mags to see if things had ‘moved up a notch’. When we arrived just before 7.30, the same very warm welcome awaited us, and we …
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4G’s a Jolly Good Dealo
Possibly the corniest blog title ever! I’ve been with O2 for what seems like forever, and I always seem to end up on a good tariff from them. However, I’ve also found it helps to ring every so often to see whether I’m still getting the best and latest deal. Today was no exception, as …
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Count Clockula Lives! – an OCD confession
No, not the latest timepiece from Transylvania, but a cheap trick to get you to read this far! In many places, the clocks have just been altered – back an hour – and it got me thinking about the process of changing the times of ALL the timepieces in a typical 21st century household – …
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Ola Chimichanga!
There’s a famous military quote: “Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted”. and it turned out to be so appropriate for tonight, as Ann and I checked out Kettering’s latest eatery – ‘Chimichanga’s’, in preparation for the meal there with friends Ian and Mags next Monday. As you might guess, if you’re not familiar with …
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Messing about in a Boat!
I spent some time with David on his boat today. More of a ‘winter-prep’ session than a proper trip-down-the-river – but great fun anyway even though the man event was emptying the on-board chemical toilet!!!! The weather was unbelievable warm for (almost) November!! Afterwards, we had lunch at the Marina – a first visit for …
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5ive Go to Bath
After last year’s very enjoyable Trainers Go to… event in beautiful Stratford-upon-Avon, this year, we headed for a weekend in Bath. Carey had to drop-out at the last minute (which was a great shame), but we know she was there in spirit! It was my turn to organise it all and after some initial difficulties …
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DVD: Fast and Furious 6
Those that know me, know that I like my cars – the faster, the shinier, and the more more unusual, the better! So, as Ralph and I sat down to watch Fast and Furious 6, I thought I was in for a real treat! Oh dear, what a disappointment! Maybe I’m getting old, but this …
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Tech Alert: The Kindle HDX
We love Kindles – any shape, any size, anywhere! Now Amazon here in the UK has followed the US and launched a new super-duper version (just in time for Christmas!) called the ‘HDX’. Scrummy spec and a good looker too. Have a read HERE.
Indians!
Rabbit! Jo, Janet, Ann and I drove into town to pay a return visit to the rather splendid ‘The Exotic Dining ‘ Indian restaurant. Courtesy of J and J, we discovered this unsung hero of Indian fusion cuisine about two years ago – and we were blown away. The menu is extremely varied, offering standard …
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Brass Monkeys and Grey Dustbins
So, the Winter preparation of the garden continues – but with soooo much to do, and a less-than-enthusiastic team member (me!), it was now time to call in the ‘big-guns’! No sooner had my neighbour, David, returned from his holiday, he was then in the thick-of-it (quite literally) at ours, and adding ten very green …
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Keep taking the Tablets!
Our septuagenarian friend, Lee just bought a new Google Nexus 7 Tablet – all I did was place the order for her online! This is the latest Tablet to join the gazillions of others on the market. What makes this so different is that it’s got a better display and is more powerful than an …
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Too Early to Mention ‘Christmas’?
Yes, quite possibly! Today, we began to get into ‘Christmas-mode’. First task of the day was to review our Christmas card address list. This is always worthwhile, but always takes far longer than I think it’s going to. Every year, I think ‘Oh, there won’t be many address changes’, and every year, I discover there …
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Preparing the Garden
I love a nice looking garden (who doesn’t?) but I HATE the physical preparation side of it with a passion! Give me a non-functioning PC or a web-site to design and I’m happy, but weeding, planting bulbs and pruning is just sooooo un-rewarding for me. Tough luck then, because our garden needs a shed load …
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Beans on Toast – Not!
Ann’s home this week – can you tell? Well, it beats my normal Monday lunch – Beans on toast!
Antique Chair
After a brief visit to Neil’s and then Mum’s, I was then off to the annual reunion & AGM of the OCA, and hopefully my re-election as Chairman. It was a good turnout by recent standards and I wasn’t completely surprised that in spite of contacting every member (all 500+), a month-or-so ago, to ask …
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You wait for ages and then..
…loads come along all at once! I was London-bound today to meet up with my good friend Angela C – and a trip round the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. On the way down, I was surprised to see Denise M join the train at Bedford and so we spent the rest of the …
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