I seem to going through one of those spells when stuff over
which I have no control starts behaving, if not plain wrongly, then at least
alarmingly unexpectedly. This happens
every year or two; I’m probably just unlucky in having bought the various
chunks of stuff at just the right times for their built-in obsolescence curves
to all peak simultaneously. At least
that’s what it feels like.
My iPhone, for example, gave me the jitters this afternoon
by getting confused about whether or not I’d installed the latest iOS update,
and threatening dire consequences if I hadn’t.
Then sending me another text telling me to ignore the previous one
because everything was probably all right.
(I paraphrase, but it was the implied ‘probably’ that threw me.)
Just as I was busy ignoring that, the phone told me I had to
dial 121 for a new voicemail, so I did, and the lady told me I had no new
voicemails. Eek!
And this computer has taken to showing me random green
flashes, like a kind of off-kilter Northern Lights, when I open the lid. It’s going wrong, obviously, and will get
replaced, but it’ll have to hang on till mid-August when Windows 10 comes
on-shelf, because I’m beggared if I’m gonna body-surf through the horror
rip-tide of W8 just to get to that remote, enticing shore. So it’s down to you, computer. I’m learning to remember to leave the lid
open, but habits are not instantly breakable.
Oh, (and this is where I came in), last time I was down
there, the TV in the caravan finally broke down. I mean, really
down. It’s been glitching for a couple of years,
and I’ve got through a truckload of remote batteries which have often done the
trick, but not this time. Zilch. Nada.
Niente … you know the rest.
So I’ve bought a new TV, and a Freesat box into the bargain,
and I’ll be off down the M4 on Tuesday, to celebrate the evening in solitary style
with a bottle of Cloudy Bay Pelorus, which I know is in the fridge there
(assuming the latter hasn’t snuffed it too, aaargh!), before the man I’ve
booked turns up Wednesday afternoon to install it all. His name is Steven, which is as good a piece
of anagrammatic nominative determinism as they come, innit?
That’s as long as that amber light in the car doesn’t come
on again.
That was the latest Doctor Who in a car on a Highland Road heading for Pennan but spookily "St Steven's Day" was a 1965 episode of Doctor Who. Events, dear boy...
ReplyDeleteI've downloaded the updates onto the computer but not transferred them onto the phone or iPad yet. Life seems to be too short as yet, you know? But it'll be more annoying not to in a while, I daresay,
ReplyDeleteMy young helper is called Steven, I hadn't thought about the anagram before.
Wales or somewhere would be nice, I don't think I'll go away again this summer. I liked Llangollen and will go there again some time. If I ever have time.
Well, if you can't make it to Wales tomorrow, raise a birthday glass to me in the evening.
DeleteI certainly will. Happy birthday xx
DeleteYour machines know your birthday Tim and they are just showing their age, unlike you.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday bro, I'll certainly raise one to you.
Slàinte mhath!