A matter of principle (I suppose)

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed that a number of items I've posted on forums and blogs other than this one have been deleted by the moderators/bloggers.

I have absolutely no problem with this. It's the prerogative of the bloggers or moderators to assess whether any posted items are worthy of publication and are not just the witterings of people (such as I) who occasionally have too many shandies down the Dog and Dinosaur and come home in the wee small hours to type total "ráiméis". The world doesn't need it, quite frankly...

I have this principle that I try to live by:- if it can't happen, it won't happen. This principle can be applied successfully to almost any element of modern, everyday life, not least the posting of idiotic tosh on blogs and such.

So in an effort to make less of a nuisance of myself, I now intend not to look at any blog or forum between today and 1 September next. Just as a trial period. If I can't look at a blog, then I won't post a comment. Seems like a simple proposition...

Regards,


djp

God, Ted, I'm an awful eejit...

I had a dentist's appointment today for 2 p.m., and I forgot it...

I was working "á l'ordinateur" all day today and was quite happily uploading some shite online when the thought crossed my mind that I was supposed to be going to the dentist today...

...checked my watch...

...3.30!

Bollocks...and I wouldn't mind, but I'd thought about the appointment sometime before noon, as in "Mustn't forget to brush, floss and gargle before my dental appointment. At 2.00 p.m."

Losing it bigtime...:-^)

Regards,


djp

Tech trouble

Looks like there could be some significant financial issues ahead...:-)

My 6-year old Dell laptop is due for retirement in the Autumn, but I'm not sure it's going to make it that far. It's a Dell Inspiron, but it's performance these days is dull and uninspiring. It's been very slow to start-up these last two days, at least 15 mins and a couple of "hard-reboots", but unless I really have to, I don't want to splash out on a new laptop in a hurry. I want to do a lot of research and get the best I can afford - when I can afford it...:-)

And then there's my iPod. I reckon the battery's on the fritz, so a trip to Mr. iPod Repair Guy in Dublin looks likely. As it happens, I'm going there next Monday to see Elbow live, so I might just take the iPod along with me to see what happens.

Of course, you'll well remember the little spot of bother I almost got myself into in relation to iPods on Ebay last year. I still wouldn't mind a larger iPod (even an old 60Gb model would do, I'm not terribly fussy). Maybe Mr. iPod Repair Guy might have a re-conditioned model for sale at the right price. Might be worth a try.

We'll see. Whatever happens with either the laptop or the iPod (or both), my credit card might be taking a bit of a hit...:-^)

Regards,


djp

Creative inertia

A few weeks ago, we had problems with leaks from our bathroom into our kitchen.

After much beard tweaking, cursing and swearing (OK, in reality, effin' and blindin'), we discovered that the source of the leaks was a disconnected downpipe in the bathroom w.h.b.

I called Mr. Builder Guy and he sorted out the problem. But it was still necessary to rectify the consequences of the leaks:- water stains on the kitchen ceiling (multiple coats of paint has remedied this) and a jamming kitchen door. Water had been leaking through a small little hole in the edge between the kitchen ceiling and the supporting wall where the door lives. As a result, water had dripped down through the door jamb and on to the door itself, causing it to swell and stick in the doorway.

It had been my intention to sand the area of the door that had swollen. In order to identify that area, I hit upon the delightful wheeze of rubbing pencil graphite on to the door jamb above the door. The graphite would mark the door where it was sticking. Tried it out and, sure enough, it worked - I could see exactly where the door was sticking.

The next step would be to get some sandpaper and, well, sand. However, for whatever reason, I didn't get around to that task. As days passed, the door seemed to be less inclined to stick. Today, I discovered that the door wasn't sticking at all. Obviously, it has dried out in recent days and the swelling has reduced.

So that was a job saved, then...

Sometimes the best thing to do is to do nothing at all. As I say, creative inertia.

Regards,


djp

Wonders will never cease No. 1

I was in Limerick today to pick up some materials from a builders' providers.

Having paid for the materials, I was given a docket and then sent around to the warehouse to make the pickup. Parked the old VW van round the back and went inside to meet the guy with the forklift truck.

I was amazed to hear some familiar music over the speakers in the warehouse:- "Flamenco Sketches" from Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue" album.

I mean, Miles Davis. In a builders' providers' warehouse.

I blame the Celtic Tiger. Warehouse people won't put up with any old shite being played these days. Only the best.

Far from Miles Davis we were reared. An entire ocean and part of a continent away, in fact.

Regards,


djp