Fun With Tech?

Friday.  9.15 a.m. I always have a problem trying to find a title for each blog post. I sometimes start off with anything which comes to mind, often a song title, and, as the contents of the post reveal themselves, I change it to suit.

It's really sunny and bright as I write this post. I have been out, as usual, with Alfie, and found it was dry. I have an idea it rained in the night. I'm waiting for my washing to dry. Most of it is in the drier and should be done by around 9.35 a.m.

Saturday. 2.00 p.m. Here I am, sitting here in my sitting room (do people ever speak of their 'lounge'? Is it middle class to have a sitting room? Is a lounge what you have in a pub? I don't know. If you're further up the social scale, perhaps you'd refer to a drawing room. Interesting thought. It always made me wonder what a drawing room was for. Not drawing, in the sense of drawing on a piece of paper. It's a contraction of withdrawing, when the upper echelons of society went after they'd had their dinners, the ladies probably went to the drawing room, and the men withdrew to the smoking room to talk about things such as politics without the ladies) 

The weather is more settled today. It's somewhat overcast, a bit dull, no sunshine and there is a bit of a breeze. Considering me almost into December, it's unseasonably mild for the time of year.

I went to Sainsbury's at around 9 o'clock this morning. It was quiet, which is one advantage of going early. I attempt to find a trolley which doesn't have wonky wheels. It surely can't be difficult to keep these vital pieces of equipment running smoothly. Just an occasional spray with WD-40 on each wheel would most likely prevent wobbliness (is that even a word?) Some squeak and others have one or two wheels which refuse to turn, or they bump along when you push them. 

There was only one operator on the manned tills when I came to pay. Why on earth don't they put on more operators, particularly on a Saturday, when there's bound to be more people shopping? It was the same last week when I was in John Lewis's and in the restaurant. Just take staff off other areas. I think they are attempting to wean people off manned tills and onto self-service. The problem is, whenever I use them there is a problem. It always seems to happen, the old thing of 'item unknown' or' 'item in bagging area' or something really strange and unnecessary. They still need someone to be available when there's a problem, as there was this morning. The confounded thing kept going wrong, and I had to have a staff member come and deal with it. I think the machinery is far too sensitive, for whatever reason.

The same situation as I've mentioned before, since they've relocated many items, but I'm beginning to adjust to the new locations of many items I buy. 

10.30 p.m. I've been watching one of the 'extras' on the three-set DVD, 'Lord of The Rings.' It turns out that there is an 'extended' 'Director's Cut' set which has around 30 minutes of material which was excised from the original theatrical version of the films. I want to get this, if it's still available. I have read the novels around four times, probably once every decade since the 1970s and each time I read the books I find something which I didn't notice on previous readings. The Peter Jackson films, which this three-DVD set is directed by, are about as close to what I envisioned the look and feel of the books as you could get and are a remarkable work of sheer genius. It's incredible to think that it's twenty years since the first film was released.

February Fun

 I have to have a blog post title that's alliterative.  It adds to the fun, if my blog can ever be fun. I expect there's someone out there in cyber space who finds it funny. 

It's almost a year since the pandemic began. How much longer is it likely to continue? Scientists are saying that the Oxford vaccine prevents the virus being spread to other people. I just hope this is right, because it would mean we can get back to some sort of normal.

Alfie was staring at me. I was doing some work on my MacBook. It was quite obvious what he was trying to tell me: take me out, so I just gave in and we went out, through the side door into Strudwick Drive. We can't go out through the main entrance today because workmen are removing asbestos in the area around the office and main entrance. I have a key to get back in, although it can be somewhat difficult. I think the door needs a spray of WD-40 or light oil. So we walk along the pavement towards Oldbrook Green. We meet one of our regulars, man with the odd-faced dog, which makes me think of the dog that chases Tom and Jerry in the cartoons. It's got sticky-out teeth and looks a bit gormless. Not sure what breed it is, but it always looks at me as if expecting to get a treat, but I have none on me. Alfie barks and tries to make friends, but this dog just stares at him, making absolutely no sound. Alfie is miles ahead in the intelligence stakes in my opinion. This dog is SO ugly, poor thing, it can't help it I suppose.

We walk on around Oldbrook Green and then get to the point where we have to cross over Oldbrook Boulevard on our way back to Dexter House, and I see a low loader with a van going past. It has on the back a van with 'Hotpoint repairs' written on it, and it makes me think, how ironic, the Hotpoint repair van . . . now needs repairing! Just my sense of humour. You have an appointment to have your washing machine repaired and then the man who comes out to visit to do the work can't get the van started for whatever reason and it needs repairing.

I attempt to reenter Dexter House with the key, but the lick is being difficult, but after some effort I manage to get it to open the door, but as soon as I enter my ears are assaulted by the fire alarm. It's not clear whether it's a test or for real. No smoke or fumes comes out of any of the flats. I go into my flat, but the sound of the alarm is far too loud and Alfie barks. He really doesn't like loud noises, and neither do I. I come out and stand in the corridor and eventually the alarm stops. Something of nothing it would seem.

I go out with Alfie around 2.15 this afternoon and have just got outside onto the pavement when I hear a voice behind me and this individual comes right up behind me on one of those electric scooters which are seen all around Milton Keynes. It makes me virtually jump out of my skin as you can never hear them coming. I'm not sure they're such a good idea as they're left all around the place when they've been finished with and the fact that you can't hear them coming might be dangerous for those whose eyesore is bad or even their hearing. They shouldn't be ridden on the road because they're an accident waiting to happen.

The business of Alfie has been resolved. I should have known, of course. He's hungry! How stupid of me to not realise? No sooner had I put his food out in his bowl, he gobbled it down really fast. Now he's stopped staring at me. You would have thought I would have cottoned on a bit sooner. But he doesn't usually have his food until a lot later.

(Thursday) A mild but foggy morning when I took Alfie out for his walk at 7.20.

Chris Witty, the scientist who guides the government on the pandemic, has now stated that the worst of the pandemic has reached its peak. But such things as social distancing and all the other regulations may need to remain for the foreseeable future.